Bailang Mountain

　　Bailang Mountain is situated on Dayang Mountain in Yangshugou Village and Daxishan Village, Batazi Town. Majestic and towering, it stands tall and handsome with an imposing yet graceful presence, rising high into the clouds at an elevation of 881 meters, making it one of the most prominent peaks among the county’s numerous mountains. On an overcast autumn day, when fine drizzle enveloped the landscape, Dayang Mountain was shrouded in mist. Viewed from afar, it exuded a sense of profound mystery, refreshing both the mind and the spirit.

　　Bailang Mountain, now known as Dayang Mountain, is situated among Batazi Town, Pingfangzi Town, and Shanzuizi Town in Kazuo County, standing 881 meters above sea level and stretching across 12 square kilometers. The mountain features over 20 caves, among which the larger ones are Qiantiger Cave and Houtiger Cave. Mountain cherries, wild azaleas, and mountain grapes bloom all over the slopes. Birch, linden, maple, bitter katsura, and mountain elm trees grow intertwined, while shrubs like wax willows blanket the mountainside, turning Bailang Mountain’s shady slopes into a natural botanical garden.

　　Majestic and awe-inspiring, Bailang Mountain is a historically renowned peak. In the autumn of the 12th year of the Jian’an era, Cao Cao led his army on an eastern campaign against the Wuhuan and climbed this mountain. He subsequently defeated the Wuhuan forces at its base, with their leader Tadun left dead in the wilderness and over 200,000 Hu and Han people surrendering. With the east pacified, Cao Cao was overjoyed and composed timeless masterpieces such as “Viewing the Ocean,” thus enshrining Bailang Mountain in the annals of history as a famous historical mountain.

　　The mountain is horseshoe-shaped, extending from northwest to southeast. Viewed from afar, it appears upright, thick, and steep, with ridges and peaks elegantly arching, enveloped in clouds and mist, exuding grandeur. On the mountainside southwest of Bailang Mountain’s main peak, along the ridge, lies a flower-white cliff approximately 50 meters long and 15 meters high. From a distance, it resembles a white wolf, a white deer, or even a sheep, with its head facing the peak and lying atop the east-west watershed. The origin of the name “Bailang Mountain” is tied to this wolf-shaped stone. Inside the mountain, streams babble, forests are lush, weeds tower over you, and pheasants fly while magpies dart about—nature’s beauty greets you at every turn. Cupping spring water to drink, it is cool, sweet, and faintly fragrant with grass, refreshing the heart and soul. From the mountaintop, the view opens up magnificently, with ranges of mountains spread out as far as the eye can see, offering an unobstructed panorama of the surrounding landscape. It truly captures the feeling of: “At the summit, one stands near the red sun; toward the far east, the sea mingles with the white clouds.”

　　According to historical records, Dayang Mountain was called Bailang Mountain in the Han Dynasty, Bailu Mountain in the Northern Wei Dynasty, and Dayangshi Mountain in the Qing Dynasty. On the watershed west of the mountain’s main peak stands a massive white rock formation that resembles a sheep from afar, as well as a white wolf or white deer, hence the name. The mountain also has the ruins of the “Bailu Mountain Shrine,” the very Bailang Mountain that Cao Cao ascended during his northern campaign against the Wuhuan.

　　Speaking of Cao Cao’s ascent of Bailang Mountain, we must go back to the 12th year of the Jian’an era (207 AD) during the Eastern Han Dynasty, when the northern Wuhuan gradually grew powerful and settled within the five commanderies of Shanggu, Yuyang, Youbeiping, Liaoxi, and Liaodong. At that time, Kazuo was part of Youbeiping Commandery (modern-day Lingyuan). In the late Eastern Han, the Wuhuan tribes of Liaodong, Liaoxi, and Youbeiping formed a powerful tribal alliance, with Liucheng (modern-day YuanTaizi in Chaoyang) as their political center, occupying the Liaoxi region, historically referred to as the “Three-Commandery Wuhuan.” Tadun was the most powerful among them, serving as the chieftain of the Three Commanderies. This was a time when warlords in Central China vied for supremacy. Yuan Shao, who dominated the north, allied with the Wuhuan to defeat Gongsun Zan. In 199 AD, after occupying Youzhou, Yuan Shao, in order to reward the Wuhuan, falsely appointed their chieftains as chanyus in the name of Emperor Xian of Han, even forming marriage alliances with them. Yuan Shao even married his own daughter to Tadun, the chieftain of the Three-Commandery Wuhuan. After Yuan Shao was defeated by Cao Cao at the Battle of Guandu, his second and third sons, Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang, fled to Tadun, “plotting to reclaim Ji Province” and attempting to recover their lost territory. Thus, Cao Cao resolved to lead a distant campaign against Tadun to eliminate this future threat. Before the battle, his generals all deemed it unwise, but only the strategist Guo Jia strongly advocated for the campaign, arguing that unless Tadun was crushed, the regions of Qing and Ji would never be stable. Cao Cao also worried that Liu Bei, former Governor of Yuzhou, might incite Liu Biao, Governor of Jingzhou, to attack Xudu (modern-day Xuchang, Henan). Guo Jia believed Liu Biao to be suspicious and indecisive, knowing his own talents were inferior to Liu Bei’s and fearing Liu Bei would surpass him, and thus would never heed Liu Bei’s counsel. Cao Cao then immediately marched north to Yi (modern-day northwest Xiongxian, Hebei), bringing along his son Cao Pi and general Zhang Liao. Following Guo Jia’s advice to launch a surprise long-distance strike, where speed was essential, Cao Cao ordered all supplies to be left behind and personally led a light cavalry unit on a rapid forced march day and night. At the same time, he enlisted the reclusive scholar Tian Yu to serve as the magistrate of Yuxian County and act as their guide. When Cao’s troops passed through Wuji (modern-day Jixian, Tianjin), they encountered the rainy season with muddy and treacherous roads. Adopting Tian Yu’s suggestion, Cao Cao had a large wooden sign erected beside the main road inscribed with “Due to the summer heat, the roads are impassable; we shall postpone the campaign until autumn or winter,” in order to mislead and distract the Wuhuan. Meanwhile, he took a detour through Xuwu Mountain, climbing rugged paths, exiting through the Lulong Pass, trekking over 500 li, crossing Bai Tan, Ping Gang, and the Xianbei Court, and marching directly east toward Liucheng. When they were 200 li from Liucheng, the Wuhuan forces finally discovered them. Tadun, Yuan Shang, and Yuan Xi hastily gathered Wuhuan cavalry along with the Liaoxi Chanyu Lou Ban and the Youbeiping Chanyu Nengchen Dizhi to prepare for battle. In August, they encountered Cao Cao’s forces at Bailang Mountain. The “Records of the Three Kingdoms · Book of Wei · Annals of Emperor Wu” states: “(Cao Cao) ascended Bailang Mountain in August and suddenly encountered the enemy, whose forces were vast in number. The baggage train was left behind, and few soldiers were armored, causing fear among his men. Cao Cao ascended a height and saw that the enemy’s formations were disorganized, so he deployed his troops to attack. He ordered Zhang Liao to lead the charge, causing the enemy lines to collapse. Tadun and other chieftains were slain, and over 200,000 Hu and Han people surrendered.” Cao Cao’s forces then swiftly captured Liucheng. Yuan Shang and Yuan Xi fled to the Governor of Liaodong, Gongsun Kang. Following Guo Jia’s strategy, Cao Cao did not pursue them further but instead waited and watched the situation unfold, claiming he would await Gongsun Kang’s delivery of the heads of Yuan Shang and Yuan Xi. In September, Cao Cao’s army withdrew from Liucheng, and soon after, Gongsun Kang ambushed and killed Yuan Shang, Yuan Xi, and the Liaodong Chanyu Subuwan, sending their heads to Cao Cao as a token of submission.

　　After defeating the Wuhuan and completely eliminating the remnants of the Yuan clan, Cao Cao essentially unified the north, with the exception of the Guanxi region, which was still occupied by Ma Teng and Han Sui. Cao Cao’s unification of the north ended the long period of division and chaos in the region, brought peace to the northern borders, and laid the foundation for further social development in the north.

　　Source: Tourism Bureau of Harqin Left Wing Mongolian Autonomous County