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Bas-relief of Li Su’s Snowy Night Assault on Cai Prefecture

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The bas-relief of Li Su’s Snowy Night Assault on Cai Prefecture is located beside Hongji Bridge at Beiguan in Runan County. Made of granite, it depicts the story of General Li Su’s surprise attack on Cai Prefecture on a snowy night in the 12th year of the Yuanhe era (817 AD) during the reign of Emperor Xianzong of the Tang Dynasty, which helped quell the rebellion in Huai-Xi. The artwork employs a highly segmented and composited artistic technique, resulting in a concise and vivid composition with clear storytelling. Each organically shaped section, combined with seal-style textual titles, creates a layered yet interconnected visual narrative. The entire military campaign is divided into six chapters: Li Su volunteers for the mission and is appointed to suppress the rebels; Wu Yuanji amasses troops and dominates the region; the snowy night assault on Cai Prefecture achieves a great victory; training troops while feigning weakness deceives the enemy and builds morale; discerning talent and skillfully using surrendered generals to undermine enemy morale; the legendary Chinese general, Li Su, leaves his name in history. Photo by Li Feng.

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The bas-relief of Li Su’s Snowy Night Assault on Cai Prefecture is located beside Hongji Bridge at Beiguan in Runan County. Made of granite, it depicts the story of General Li Su’s surprise attack on Cai Prefecture on a snowy night in the 12th year of the Yuanhe era (817 AD) during the reign of Emperor Xianzong of the Tang Dynasty, which helped quell the rebellion in Huai-Xi.

The bas-relief uses an artistic technique of highly segmented composition, resulting in a simple and lively visual presentation with clear content. The organic shape of each panel, along with seal-like text titles, gives the whole piece a distinct layering effect while maintaining conceptual continuity. The entire campaign is divided into six sections: Li Su volunteers for the mission and is tasked with suppressing the rebellion; Wu Yuanji gathers forces and rules as a local warlord; the daring snowy night assault on Cai Prefecture leads to a heroic victory; feigning weakness while training troops confuses the enemy and boosts our morale; recognizing talent and strategically deploying surrendered generals to weaken enemy resolve; the extraordinary Chinese general, Li Su, earns everlasting fame in history. Photo by Li Feng.