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Battle of Gaoyou

Type Event Region China Time 1356

During the Zhizheng era of the Yuan, Zhang Shicheng held the fortified city of Gaoyou against the Yuan, and the Yuan court sent Chancellor Toqto'a wi…

Timeline

  1. 1354–1355Gaoyou · JianghuaiZhang Shicheng led his troops in holding Gaoyou city, while Yuan Chancellor Toqto'a besieged it with combined land and naval forces, building a long siege wall and diverting canal water to flood the city. Zhang Shicheng's army defended day and night, with Red Turban banners covering the city; it became one of the most brutal sieges of the late Yuan.
  2. 1355Gaoyou · JianghuaiDue to court power struggles, the Yuan emperor Shun issued an edict stripping Toqto'a of military command, and the besieging army disintegrated and scattered. Zhang Shicheng counterattacked, inflicting heavy losses on the Yuan forces, lifting the siege of Gaoyou; the Yuan court's Jianghuai strategy suffered a fatal setback.
  3. 1356Jianghuai region · JianghuaiAfter the Battle of Gaoyou, Zhang Shicheng's power expanded rapidly; in 1356 he successively took Pingjiang, Huzhou, Hangzhou and other places. The Wu state regime based on Gaoyou took initial shape, and Jianghuai became the core region of one of the three great separatist forces of the late Yuan.

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