A Study On Wang Shao And Xihe Campaign In Northern Song Dynasty

During the period of Xining ruled by Shen Zong Emperor in Northern Song Dynasty, Wang Shao charged the action of appeassing the dispersive Tibetan tribes in the Tao He Basin and regained the Xi, He, Tao, Min and some othe areas.This action with its purpose of subjugating the West Xia Was known as the"Xihe Campaign"in history. The Xihe Campaign was an important strategic practice to alleviate the border crisis in northwest areas of the Song. And this event had a profound impact to Northern Song on the political, military, economy and ethnic relations.Shen Zong Emperor began to assume a strategic offensive to the West Xia after his enthronement. After the split of the Gu Siluo regime, the Tibetan tribes in the Tao He Basin became scattering again. Under this circumstances , the campaign was launched in order to expand the geographical advantage to the West Xia. In the first year of the Xining period, Wang Shao presented his material named "Pin Rong Ce"(A strategy to subjugate the West Xia) which was appreciated and accepted by Shen Zong Emperor and Wang Anshi. In the "Pin Rong Ce" , Wang Shao contended that appeassing the Tibetan tribes was the best way to subjugate the West Xia. In the process of the campaign, Wang Shao showed his brilliant talent in military. He deserved to be a eximious strategist that was rare in late period of the Northern Song Dynasty.The Xihe Campaign's prosess can be broadly divided into two stages. The main activity in the early phase was appeassing the Tibetan tribes in the border area and operating the Guwei area. In the second stage, the campaign's main activity is the military action of regaining the Xi, He, Tao, Min and some othe areas. The Northern Song's strong strength decided the victory,and Wang Shao's brilliant talent in military was also one of the most important reasons. Meanwhile, Shen Zong Emperor and Wang Anshi's support was an important guarantee for the victory. The government's administration had an active function to develop the Xihe area, and the relations between the Hehuang Tibetans and the Northern Song soon reconciled after conflicts for a short time. The new Xihelu became an important base to attack the West Xia. The Xihe Campaign with close ties to Wang Anshi's reforms attracted lots of criticisms at that time because of its huge cost. However, the Xihe Campaign obviously was an active attempt to alleviate the border crisis in northwest areas of the Northern Song Dynasty.