Battle of Mount Li
The Battle of Mount Li (Li Shan) was a decisive clash occurred in Ancient China in 771 BCE near the twin cities of Haojing and Fengjing, often referred to together as Fenghao. The battle was fought between the dynastic army of Zhou Youwang and the combined armies of the rebel states of Shen and Zeng and the vicious Quanrong barbarians. The outcome was a crushing victory for the insurgents that led to the dynasty's weakening and fragmentation.
Background
King You of Zhou assumed the throne at a very young age. Being immature and rebellious, he couldn't care less for state affairs. He was married to the daughter of the mighty Marquess of Shen, a fieflord under Zhou vassalage, and they had a son named Yijiu. You was given a concubine named Baosi as a state gift from one of his vassals, and he was immediately attracted to her. Unwisely, he expelled his wife and son from the royal palace in order to make Baosi the new queen and his son with her, called Bofu, the new crown prince. The Marquess of Shen was rightfully outraged and began to conspire against the king. In order to have his revenge, he made an alliance with the savage Quanrong nomads, old enemies of the Zhou house. He also received support from a minor vassal state of Zhou called Zeng.
Meanwhile, Youwang was deeply amazed by Baosi. He didn't yet suspect that the long and great reign of the Zhou house was about to suffer a deadly blow, of which it would never recover. He hardly thought of anything but Baosi, but there was something about her that made him concerned: she hardly smiled. Being an unwilling wife and state gift, she naturally had few reasons to be happy, but it didn't prevent You from trying his best. At first, none of his efforts was successful. She showed little interest in music, drink, jokers, and anything else. The king went to such state of despair that he merged all of the court officers and offered the wealthy reward of one thousand pieces of gold to anyone who could make the queen laugh. A corrupt officer suggested using the beacon towers of Mount Li to call the allied armies. Youwang liked the idea and brought Baosi in his chariot to the top of the mountain, bringing drink and the whole court with him. The beacons were lit and the vassal states sent their armies in a hurry to the capital, where they met in great numbers. Messengers were sent from the top to inform them there was no danger and the sign was nothing but a prank. Baosi was caught giving laughter as the allies left the mountain foothills in confusion. The king liked it so much that he repeated the prank many times. One day, however, he saw in the horizon a huge army in fury led by the Marquess of Shen.
The Battle
The people was shocked as news of the attack arrived sudden and terrifying. The armies of the rebels gathered swiftly around the borders while the king promptly had his army to march against them. However, upon seeing his numerical disadvantage, he retreated to Mount Li and lit the beacon, but no ally came in his aid. Along his host was Duke Huan of Zheng, his uncle, the only vassal noble to fight for Zhou in that battle. The royal army was besieged and destroyed at the mountain foothills after a fierce resistance. When the other vassals perceived what was going on, they could no longer help.
No major strategic details about the battle remain, but there was probably not much more than that to tell.
Aftermatch
The battle ended in a decisive victory for Shen. The twin cities were sacked and left in ruins, Baosi was captured and Bofu, still a child, was killed in front of her. The Son of Heaven was slain in Mount Li side by side with Huan, Duke of Zheng. The land surrounding Fenghao and Lishan was conquered and occupied by the Quanrong. Yijiu was made king in Shen with the name Ping of Zhou, but his coronation was supported only by three states, including Shen and Zeng. The vassal nobles sent escorts to rescue treasures and survivors in the ruined capital.
The states of Qin and Jin thought of Yijiu as the only possible person to inherit the throne in order to preserve the Zhou dynasty, so together they helped him and his court move to the new capital at Wangcheng. The Qin soon partially avenged the fallen king by attacking and destroying the Quanrong and taking back the lost territory for the Zhou. The new king was unpopular and poorly supported by most states due to the circumstances of his coronation, and Wangcheng was never as great and imposing as Haojing. Besides, the Zhou dynasty relied totally on its allies for protection since its own army had just been annihilated in battle.
Although the Mandate of Heaven remained with the Zhou, China became increasingly fragmented after that, and would soon fall into a long age of conflict for hegemony that would last over five centuries.
References
Template:Sima Qian, Records of the Grand Historian