Battle of Liantai

The Battle of Liantai (simplified Chinese: 廉台之战; traditional Chinese: 廉台之戰; pinyin: Liántái zhī zhàn) was fought between the states of Former Yan and Ran Wei on 17 May 352 AD during the Sixteen Kingdoms period of China. The battle concluded with the capture of the Wei emperor, Ran Min and a decisive victory for the Yan, establishing the Murong-Xianbei as the dominant power on the Central Plains for years to come.

In 350, the Later Zhao dynasty in northern China underwent a rapid collapse as the prince, Ran Min, formerly known as Shi Min, took the capital of Ye by force and founded his new state of Wei. Many Zhao generals rejected his authority, breaking away to form their own states such as the Di-led Former Qin, while the prince, Shi Zhi challenged his claim from the old capital of Xiangguo. With the Zhao in disorder, the Eastern Jin dynasty in the south began launching northern expeditions to reclaim lost lands, and in the northeast, the Former Yan dynasty, led by the Murong clan of Xianbei ethnicity, saw an opportunity to expand their influence into the Central Plains.

By February 352, Ran Min had exterminated the Shi clan and conquered Xiangguo from his general-turned-rebel, Liu Xian. However, while he was at war with Zhao, the Yan had penetrated as far as Zhongshan and Bohai commanderies to the north, even moving their capital westwards from Longcheng to Jicheng. After his victory at Xiangguo, Ran Min left the city with his army to scour for food around Changshan and Zhongshan commanderies, but on 5 May 352, the Prince of Yan, Murong Jun ordered his brother, Murong Ke, and the Chancellor of State, Feng Yi, to invade Wei from Zhongshan and Bohai respectively.

In response to Yan's invasion, Ran Min wanted to fight Murong Ke in direct battle. He was opposed by his generals, Dong Run (董閏) and Zhang Wen (張溫), who argued that the Yan outnumbered them and were still reeling from their recent string of victories. Instead, they proposed that they take the time to recruit more soldiers while they wait for the Yan to grow complacent and strike at the right time. However, Ran Min was enraged and reportedly said, "I am heading out with the army to conquer You province and kill Murong Jun! If I turn my back on Murong Ke now, the people will make a mockery of me!" Two officials, Liu Mao (劉茂) and Lang Kai (郎闓), were certain that Ran Min would not return from his campaign and killed themselves.

Meanwhile, Murong Jun also led his main force out of Jicheng to camp at Zhongshan, providing support to Murong Ke and Feng Yi, but also to another brother, Murong Ba, who was on a separate campaign against the warlord, Duan Qin at Yimu (繹幕; northwest of present-day Pingyuan County, Shandong).

Ran Min led his troops to Anxi County (安喜; east of present-day Dingzhou, Hebei), enticing Murong Ke to march there as well. He then marched towards Changshan Commandery with Murong Ke pursuing from behind. On 17 May, Murong Ke's forces finally caught up with Ran Min at Liantai (廉台; located west of present-day Wuji County, Hebei). Ran Min was known for his valour and his soldiers were hardened, so the Yan troops were fearful of them. They fought ten initial bouts with each other, all of which were won by Wei. Murong Ke soon met his officers and soldiers in his camp to raise their morale, telling them, "Ran Min is brave but without strategy; our enemy is but one man! His soldiers are hungry and tired, and though equipped with the best weapons and armours, they are difficult to use. They will not break us!"

Most of Murong Ke's soldiers were cavalry units, while Ran Min had mostly infantry. Ran Min decided to lead his soldiers into a nearby forest, hoping to lure the Yan cavalry into fighting in a disadvantegous terrain. However, Murong Ke's advisor, Gao Kai (高開) saw through his strategy and urged Ke to keep the battle in the open field. He further advised his commander to send light cavalries after them and then feign retreat, luring them to an ambush on level ground. Murong Ke adopted his plan.

The light cavalry were successful in their task, and Murong Ke divided his forces into three. Ke presumed that Ran Min thought highly of his own military prowess, and being outnumbered, he would be desperate to win the battle in one blow. Acting as bait, Ke commanded the central division, while the other two waited in hiding until the battle began. He also picked 5,000 of his best archers and placed them at the front on horses, linked together with iron chains in a square formation.