Battle of Byeokjegwan

Battle of Byeokjegwan
Part of the Japanese invasions of Korea (1592–1598)
Date27 February 1593
LocationByeokjegwan, a postal station on the road to Hanseong
Result Japanese victory
Belligerents
Japanese Sixth Division and reinforcements Ming dynasty army and Korean allies.
Commanders and leaders
 Li Rusong
Zha Dashou
Go Eonbaek
Yang Yuan
Zheng Wenbin
Li Rumei
Li Yousheng
Strength
41,000[1] 20,000[1]
Casualties and losses
? 6,000[2]

The Battle of Byeokjegwan was a military engagement fought on 27 February 1593 between the armies of the Ming dynasty led by Li Rusong and Japanese forces under Kobayakawa Takakage. It resulted in Japanese victory and Ming retreat.[1]

Background

After taking Pyeongyang, Li Rusong sent out Li Rubai, Zhang Shijue, and Yang Yuan with 8,000 troops. They retook Gaeseong on 19 February, and then the provinces of Hwanghae, Gyeonggi, and Gangweon.[3]

Next Li sent out scouting parties toward Hanseong. Yang Yuan, Li Rubai, and Zhang Shijue were given 2,000 men and ordered to take positions north of Hanseong. When reports that the Japanese were pulling out of Hanseong came in, Li himself decided to head out with his vanguard, leaving the artillery behind. He sent Li Ning and Zu Chengxun even further ahead.[4]

The advance force led by Zha Dashou, Zu Chengxun, and Go Eonbaek encountered a Japanese force of about 500 led by Jūji Den'emon, killing 100.[5]

Upon nearing Hanseong, Li Rusong spotted Japanese scouts watching them from a hill and charged them with 1,000 cavalry, right into a trap.[1]

Battle

The Japanese occupying the hills around Byeokjegwan, a postal station, fired on the Ming army and closed in with swords to finish them off. Seeing the situation, Yang Yuan rushed in as well with the main body of the Ming army, bringing their forces to 20,000.[1]

Li Rusong's horse was shot out from under him and was almost killed, however Li Yousheng used his body as a shield to cover him. Li Rusong's brother, Li Rumei, then shot out the assailant's horse from under him.[5]

Reinforcements led by Yang Yuan and Zheng Wenbin arrived at that moment, catching the Japanese in a pincer attack.[5]

The battle lasted from late morning until noon. Finally Li Rusong was forced to retreat in the face of superior numbers.[1]

Aftermath

The Japanese burned all the grass within the vicinity of Hanseong to deprive the Ming cavalry of fodder. This led to the death of some 10,000 horses within a few days.[1]

After the failure at Byeokjegwan, some Koreans called for the replacement of Li Rusong with Luo Shangzhi. Li also came under fire from his own subordinates. Wang Bidi accused him of denying his men adequate food and drink, directing battles from the rear, and refusing to give out the money or titles he had promised to those who first ascended the walls of Pyeongyang. Li defected the blame towards Song Yingchang, a civil official.[6]

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Hawley 2005, p. 314.
  2. ↑ Turnbull 2002, p. 148.
  3. ↑ Swope 2009, p. 159.
  4. ↑ Swope 2009, p. 160.
  5. 1 2 3 Swope 2009, p. 161.
  6. ↑ Swope 2009, p. 164.

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