Research On Military Status In Fengzhou Area In The Early Tang Dynasty

After the establishment of the Tang Dynasty, the Turk in the north was always a threaten of the young dynasty, so, rely on the topography of the Guannei Circuit, the Tang Dynasty had to set up layers of defenses. Fengzhou in the south of Yin Mountain and the due north of Chang’an, the Yellow River winded through the city. This city was the so called "northern gate" of the Tang Dynasty and it was the key point of the kingdom’s north defense system. Its military statue had been important through the early Tang Dynasty.The turkic handled great power at the beginning of the dynasty of Wude (the title of Tang Gaozu’s reign). Tang Dynasty was established thanks to the support of Turk so facing the other powers which went and sought refuge with Turk, Tang Dynasty failed to try its best to fight with them and had no way to set up an effective defense system after destroying the separatist forces. Though Tang Dynasty fortified along the Great Wall, it was weak in defense so that Turk could invade Chang’an easily. Tang Dynasty even considered to moveing the capital to avoid the intrusion of Turk. In fact, Fengzhou had been controlled by Turk then. After overthrowing the Turk, Tang Dynasty became the only ruler in the north. Tang Taizong meant to rule the nomads from north directly to prevent their invasion. So he fought against the powerful nomads and they were administered by Jimo Prefectures and Protector General. With the expansion, Tang Dynasty put the Fengzhou under control but finally was abandoned, though it once was administered by Protector General. During this period, Fengzhou was not so important in military.During the dynasty of Tang Gaozong and Wu Zetian, the late Turks grew up to invade the north. Tang Dynasty fought against them. In the process of suppressing, Tang Dynasty gradually lost its positive position and it had to turn into defense. On one hand, Tang Dynasty stepped up all efforts to strengthen the army in order to against the Turkish invasion. On the other hand, it devoted to rebuild the original defensive system to protect the town. After the rise of the late Turks, Fengzhou took up an increasing position in military. Further for the build of defense system, Fengzhou gradually turned the key area of defense in the north.During the dynasty of Tang Ruizong and Tang Xuanzong, the turks kept a good relationship with Tang Dynasty. However, Tang Dynasty still remained vigilant to them and it continued to strengthen the army power of the north. Furthermore, it sent distinguished military officers to hold the chief leader of the north. With the situation of north changing again, the power of Turks declined, so the Tubo turned the defensive center of north instead of Turk. Turk was not the center for defense to the north any more. In this period, though the military status of Fengzhou was not important as before, it was still vital of importance for the defense of the northern army.