Battle of Gaoping

The Battle of Gaoping was a hard-fought battle in spring 954 during ancient China's Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. In this battle, the Later Zhou Dynasty resisted incursions by joint Shatuo-ruled Northern Han and Khitan-ruled Liao Dynasty forces in Gaoping, near Luzhou (潞州; today's Changzhi, Shanxi).

The Later Zhou emperor Chai Rong had just been in power for a few weeks and personally led the resistance troops. Meanwhile, the Northern Han emperor Liu Chong, who harbored hatred against Later Zhou since his son Liu Yun (劉贇) died at the hands of Chai's predecessor Guo Wei, also came to the front line in person. He delegated his general Zhang Yuanhui (張元徽) and the Liao general Yang Gun (楊袞) to lead two troops to frank his main army.

The unified northern army were initially victorious as the Later Zhou general Fan Aineng fled the battleground, resulting in the surrender of thousands of his soldiers. However, Chai bravely challenged great danger, including arrows and stones, in the front line, which encouraged soldiers around him. Eventually the Later Zhou army came back to steal the victory, even killing Zhang Yuanhui.

With Chai Rong in hot pursuit, Liu Chong retreated back to the Northern Han capital Taiyuan. After laying siege to Taiyuan for 2 months, Later Zhou troops retreated. Liu died soon afterwards.

In the Later Zhou ranks, Fan Aineng, He Hui (何徽) and 70 other officers were executed for desertion, while general Zhao Kuangyin, who greatly distinguished himself in this battle, was promoted to a marquis position and became one of the most trusted generals of Chai Rong's. The fast ascension of Zhao paved the way for him to found the Song Dynasty 6 years later.