Privy Council (Volume Six) My Perspective on the Battle of Shandong
Author: cxinlu
I usually enjoy saving up books to read, and it’s been nearly two months since I last picked one up. Today, after reading again, I must say—what a thrill!
Regarding the battle in Shandong, in my opinion, though young Deng did not achieve a sweeping victory, it would be wrong to call it a pyrrhic one!
Why? In this campaign, young Deng wholly accomplished the strategic objectives he set out for when advancing into Shandong:
1. Liaodong is a remote land. If he advances, he faces Liaoxi and the capital of the Yuan, the heart of their military power—a battle that cannot be won. If he retreats, there’s nothing but deep forests and the peninsula’s vast seas, with no room left to fall back. The land is barren, there is a scarcity of talent, and the region is mostly populated by nomadic tribes whose loyalty is uncertain. To simply defend this place would mean eventual destruction by others or being forced into vassalage. By breaking out of Liaodong’s encirclement and evading the Yuan army’s grasp around the capital, he freed himself from this desolate trap. He opened a new front, granting access to the rich heartlands of the Central Plains and the Huai region, and the ability to threaten the capital from the north, forming a pincer movement—a true leap over the dragon’s gate.
2. Crossing the sea to invade Shandong and setting foot in the Central Plains placed him on equal footing with the other warlords of the realm, making the heroes of the land take the Eastern Sea seriously. By seizing Shandong’s fertile coastal lands, the number of Han Chinese under his rule increased dramatically, especially as it became easier to recruit refugees to strengthen Korea. His name spread across the world, making it easier to attract talented people, thereby laying a solid foundation for eventually seizing the realm.
3. In the battle against Chahan, though at first glance the Eastern Sea army suffered heavy losses, in reality only Deng’s own elite, Yang Wanh’s command, was severely depleted; the rest of his forces sustained acceptable casualties. Shandong’s troops, in contrast, were decimated, greatly weakening local power and making future reorganization easier. The joint fighting fostered camaraderie and won hearts, while providing Deng with the chance to observe the loyalties of Shandong’s people firsthand, eliminate many local landlords to remove future threats, and assess the abilities of Shandong’s generals and officials—gaining several outstanding commanders and able administrators in the process. Most importantly, his fame now resounds throughout the land, establishing him as a regional hegemon.
As for Chahan, though he seems undefeated, having seized Jinan and Jining and linked north and south, thereby encircling Shandong, he has, in fact, lost the greater initiative. Upon first arriving, Chahan swiftly defeated Tian Feng, eager to exploit the fact that young Deng’s forces were new to Shandong, had not yet reorganized local troops, nor consolidated political control, and lacked reinforcements—hoping to catch Deng unprepared and sweep through Shandong. This was truly a matter of timing. Chahan’s army attacked from both north and south, capturing Jinan and Tai’an, wielding strength to oppress the weak, easily bypassing Yidu, and rampaging across Shandong—a clear advantage in terrain. His soldiers were hardened veterans, led by many valiant generals, any of whom could have held a region on their own, all united under Chahan’s command—a testament to the harmony among men. Yet, after being stymied at Tai’an and repulsed beneath Yidu’s walls, he failed to expel Deng from Shandong. Later, instability in his rear forced him to withdraw, allowing Deng to stand firm in Shandong and making his advance into the Central Plains inevitable. The Eastern Sea army may be battle-hardened but lacks many great generals; this campaign has tempered Deng and his officers, bringing forth a new generation of talented young commanders, and the Shandong forces have been further honed in combat. The enemy, despite all advantages of timing, terrain, and unity, failed to defeat Deng at his weakest—how much less could they hope for in the future?
In this campaign, Deng first lost the initiative through poor preparation and was caught off guard; later, besieged in a perilous city, he was unable to effectively command or deploy his troops and could only passively endure attack. The Eastern Sea’s predicament began with the loss at Jinan; Jinan’s defeat stemmed from the loss along Shandong’s southeastern coast; and the southeastern defeat, in turn, was due to inadequate preparation and failure to swiftly mobilize the garrisoned troops. For the Eastern Sea, the greatest variable in this battle lay with Zhao Guo’s contingent. Had Deng followed Pan Xian’er’s plan and cut off the enemy’s supply lines, the situation in Shandong would have changed dramatically, freeing Deng from his constraints. However, Deng’s entrapment at Yidu rendered Zhao Guo’s force immobile—a dead piece on the board. Yet, having just captured Yidu, Deng had no choice but to defend it, sharing hardship with his men—a true dilemma.
Some readers have suggested resorting to guerrilla tactics, but in reality, that’s impractical. Guerrilla warfare involves maneuvering the enemy, concentrating superior numbers against isolated foes, and requires splitting and combining forces as needed to destroy the enemy’s effective strength. But in ancient times, without radio or telephone, real-time communication was impossible. Furthermore, Chahan’s army was always tightly grouped, and the Shandong peninsula, being so small and lacking in depth, offered no room for maneuver. Most crucially, the loss of Yidu and Tian Feng’s surrender would mean instant defeat for the Eastern Sea.
At present, Tian Feng should not be eliminated. First, the Eastern Sea has just emerged from a major battle and needs time to recover and sort out relationships with the various Shandong factions—consolidation and absorption are the proper course. Second, Tian Feng serves as a buffer against Chahan. Third, if Tian Feng is truly as weak as a clay rooster, he can be destroyed at any moment. Fourth, there is the matter of legitimacy—both are Song subjects, and it would be improper to move against him without just cause. Fifth, for the Eastern Sea, the priority now is the capture of Jinan and Jining, not Tian Feng’s force. As for whether to eliminate him or not, one can wait and see how the broader situation unfolds.
Finally, thanks to old Zhao for crafting such a remarkable piece, and I look forward to what’s to come.
These are my humble thoughts; should there be any inadequacies, I welcome your guidance.