Shuixi Ancient Battlefield

Shuixi Ancient Battlefield

Shuixi Ancient Battlefield — Nayong

Nayong was the ancient battlefield where Wu Sangui advanced into Shuixi.

16

16th

60

century history is widely talked about in northwestern Guizhou, yet the exact location of the main battlefield remains little known.

The route taken by Wu Sangui during his advance

The Shuixi region “guards the throat between Yunnan and Chu, and stands at the strategic passage between Wu and Yue.”

In the third year of the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty

(

AD

1664

year

)

, Wu Sangui led ten regiments from Yunnan into Shuixi territory, advancing from Bidé in Shuicheng, crossing the Nayong River to reach Haizuo. After the Battle of Hou'er Pass, he proceeded to Haiziqingkou in Yangchang, ascended Ma'zong Ridge, passed through Shuowo, descended to Yongxi, and arrived at Luzhi Wozhaochang.

(

Ruins of the Xuanweishi Mansion of Shuixi

)

, then exited Nabu Bridge and entered Zhijin’s Yinajia. The frontline stretched over

100

kilometers, with battles raging across the entire territory of Nayong.

Several major battles

Fierce Battle at Hou'er Pass

After several days of intense fighting between Wu Sangui and the troops of An Kun, the Xuanweishi of Shuixi, at Azhatun in Shuicheng, An Kun gathered heavy forces to defend Hou'er Pass.

Hou'er Pass is located

40

kilometers southwest of Nayong County and is one of the four perilous routes leading to Baini Tun. The pass is crescent-shaped, with cliffs approximately

60

meters high and

300

meters wide, commanding the strategic point between Baixing and Yangchang. To the east lies a horse-blocking wall, and to the west is the stronghold of Baini Tun, making the terrain extremely treacherous.

When Wu Sangui's troops arrived, they set up camp in Haizuo, first dispatching Liu Anbang with a thousand soldiers to establish a camp at the front of the pass, facing off against those on the pass. The Shuixi forces “hung ropes on the cliffs and rang bells with night fires.” Suspecting a night attack by Shuixi troops, Wu Sangui ordered Buzong Wang Yi to lead three hundred cavalry to engage the enemy. Due to the nighttime operation, the charging horses were hard to control, and unfamiliarity with the terrain led to Wang Yi and his three hundred men falling off the cliff and dying below the pass. Taking advantage of the situation, An Kun sent fifteen thousand troops to charge out, encircling Liu Anbang. After fierce combat, Liu Anbang and his thousand men perished near the pass, with only dozens managing to escape. To this day, in Baixing Town, the legend of An Kun cutting down the chain bridge is still told.

, with flickering night fires and the sound of bells. Wu Sangui suspected that the Shuixi troops were launching a night raid, so he immediately ordered Battalion Commander Wang Yi to lead three hundred light cavalry to engage the enemy. Because they set out at night, the galloping horses were hard to control, and coupled with unfamiliar terrain, Wang Yi and the three hundred men all fell off the cliff and died below the pass. Taking advantage of the situation, An Kun dispatched fifteen thousand men to charge out, surrounding Liu Anbang on all sides. After a fierce battle, Liu Anbang and his one thousand soldiers all perished by the side of the pass, with only dozens managing to escape. To this day, the story of An Kun cutting down the vine bridge is still passed down in Baixing Town.

1990

In the year

10

, Fu Chuanyue, former Party Secretary of Nayong County, composed a poem titled “In Memory of the Ancient Battlefield at Hou'er Pass”:

Sangui led troops to seize the pass,

Broken weapons and drifting corpses returned.

No ruins or shattered cauldrons seen today,

Qingkoumen is located at the junction of today's Yangchang Town and Zongling Town. The mountain features a majestic landscape with two peaks rising abruptly, sheer cliffs, and a height of

250

meters, resembling a stone gate locked shut, forming the strategic throat between Nayong and Shuicheng. Below it lies Yangchang

(

Yangchang

)

Haizi, a lake with emerald-green water of unfathomable depth. A single rugged mountain path from the eastern end of the lake leads straight up to Qingkoumen. The path is so narrow that only one person or one horse can pass at a time; a slight misstep could send one tumbling into the lake below, truly embodying the phrase "one man can hold the pass against ten thousand."

After the fierce battle at Hou'er Pass, An Kun's forces retreated to Mazongling and held their ground at Qingkoumen. Wu Sangui led thirty thousand troops in pursuit and, upon seeing the treacherous and nearly impregnable terrain of Qingkoumen, stationed his army at Dapingdi. From there, they observed the defenders of Qingkoumen across Yangchang

(

Yangchang

)

Haizi. The two sides remained deadlocked until Wu's forces launched an attack. Despite several days of fighting and heavy casualties, they failed to advance. Following the advice of his subordinates, Wu deployed cannons known as "General One" and "General Two" to bombard Qingkoumen. Legend has it that just three cannon shots split the pass in half, leaving it resembling two open doors. Since then, the towering cliffs on both sides have stood facing each other, reaching high into the clouds. With Qingkoumen breached, Wu Sangui advanced his troops aggressively. The Shuixi forces were unable to hold their ground, and An Kun retreated to Wozhe.

Today, Qingkoumen has become the Nayong Qingmen One-Line Sky scenic spot, with the highway between Nayong and Shuicheng passing through it. What was once a formidable stronghold has now become an accessible thoroughfare.

Outwitting Wu Sangui with Wisdom

Bailongpo is situated in the triangular area where Tongde River and Yudong River meet, located north of Nayong County. To the east are sheer cliffs and towering precipices, while to the northwest, rolling peaks stretch continuously from Shabao Qingtonglin to Tongchang Pass, spanning nearly

19

kilometers.

After the loss of Qingkoumen, An Kun retreated to Wozhe to regroup his forces and engaged in battles with Wu Sangui across Duichabadi and Lianhuatang. Learning that Lu Tianjue, a descendant of the Wumeng people from Tongde River and the brother of An Kun’s wife Lady Lu Hua, might come to reinforce the Shuixi forces, Wu Sangui sent troops to block him. Upon receiving this intelligence, Lu Tianjue immediately convened his subordinates for a strategy session. Zhao Guanzhi suggested that, given Wu Sangui’s overwhelming strength, they should rely on cunning and make use of the rugged terrain to wait for the right moment to strike. Lu Tianjue agreed and devised a plan to set up a deceptive force. He ordered his men to place straw figures holding lanterns with lit candles in the trees along Bailongpo. When night fell, the lanterns were all lit, creating the illusion of a long, glowing dragon. When Wu Sangui’s troops reached Longgu Pass and saw the bright lights and imposing display around Bailongpo, they realized Lu Tianjue was well-prepared and ordered a retreat. Sensing the enemy’s fear, Lu Tianjue then commanded his soldiers to charge down the tail end of Bailongpo, achieving a great victory. He subsequently renamed Bailongpo to Deshengpo (Victory Slope). A later poet commemorated the event with the verse: "In days of war and chaos, this pass was adorned. In peril, a clever plan was laid, and the enemy of Shuixi was dismayed."

Besieging Guoyongdi

After suffering defeats at Hou'er Pass, Qingkoumen, and Lianhuatang, An Kun consulted with Pi Xiong and decided to withdraw his troops to Naya for rest and recuperation, planning to devise a new strategy to turn the tide of war.

Nabapu is a single-arch stone bridge on the ancient post road of Wozhe. Both ends of the bridge are built atop sheer cliffs and serve as a vital chokepoint between Nayong and Zhijin Counties. The area features overlapping mountains, deep valleys, and the Wuzu River, which winds through here, roaring and rushing with fierce currents, making it extremely perilous. Nabapu spans the Wuzu River, connecting the northern and southern mountains. An Kun used this location to lure the enemy deep into Guoyongdi City.

After Wu Sangui arrived at Guoyongdi and set up camp, he first sent envoys to issue proclamations across Guizhou, requesting reinforcements and grain supplies to be transported to Liugui River for support. He then ordered Ma Sanbao, He Bing, and eight others to lead

24000

soldiers into battle. The Shuixi forces, numbering tens of thousands, launched a fierce counterattack. Wu Sangui’s side was overwhelmed and had to resort to artillery fire before managing to retreat back to camp. Pi Xiong seized the opportunity to muster his forces and surround Guoyongdi City. At the same time, he dispatched troops to guard Nabapu and Liugui River, cutting off the enemy’s supply lines. Originally, when Wu Sangui sent out the proclamations, a clerical error mistakenly wrote "Liugu" as "Liuguang." The Sichuan and Guizhou grain supplies were all stockpiled at Liuguang, and communication between the three routes was cut off. With no food supplies, Wu Sangui’s troops were besieged in Guoyongdi City for several months.

When Wu Sangui’s forces were exhausted and cut off from all support, if An Kun had followed Pi Xiong’s advice and launched an attack to seize the city, victory would have been easily within reach. Unfortunately, An Kun heeded the erroneous counsel of Cha Jiana and missed the opportunity to strike. As a result, Wu Sangui narrowly avoided total annihilation. Later, he was rescued by the arrival of Li Ben Shen, the Governor-General of Guizhou, and General Li Rubi, who led elite troops and transported grain supplies. Once the grain arrived, the soldiers had to survive on porridge for three days before they could don their armor again. Wu Sangui’s forces fired cannons from within the city to coordinate with the relief troops, launching a combined attack from inside and outside. The Shuixi forces were defeated and scattered. An Kun fled to Jiuliqing and was eventually captured and executed at Fadi Tun. This battle marked the final decisive confrontation between the Shuixi forces and Wu Sangui, as well as the most pivotal battle determining the outcome of their struggle.

The former battlegrounds of fierce warfare—Hou'er Pass, Lanmawall, Qingkoumen, Deshengpo, and Nabapu on the ancient post road of Wozhe—have now become historical sites and scenic spots in Nayong. They stand as symbols of Nayong’s turbulent wartime history and embody the essence of its ancient culture.

The Shuixi Wars, which began in March of the third year of the Kangxi reign

(

(

1664

1664

)

) and lasted until February of the fourth year of the Kangxi reign

(

(

1665

1665

)

), spanned a full year. Thereafter, the "Gaitu Guiliu" (abolishing native chieftainships and establishing direct governance) policy was implemented, bringing an end to

1000

centuries of the native Yi chieftainship system in Shuixi.