In 1234, after the fall of the Jin Empire, the Mongol forces, led by Ögedei Khan, turned their attention to the Southern Song Dynasty, which had been contentedly existing in the south of China. This set the stage for a series of fierce conflicts, one of which would forever change the course of Chinese and world history—the Battle of Diaoyu City.

The Prelude to War

In 1234, the Song forces launched the “Duanping Entry into Luoyang” campaign, aiming to reclaim lands south of the Yellow River, but they were severely defeated. This setback provided a perfect excuse for the Mongols to break their peace agreement with the Song. By the end of the following year, Ögedei Khan dispatched his son, Kublai Khan, to march into the Sichuan region, initiating the Mongol-Song Sichuan Campaign.

By 1236, the Mongol forces, after conquering key mountain passes, surged into the Sichuan Basin, which was left defenseless against the Mongol cavalry. They took the city of Chengdu, divided their forces, and proceeded to raid and burn the entire region. Within a month, 54 out of 55 states in Sichuan had been destroyed, leaving only the far eastern city of Kuizhou (modern-day Fengjie, Chongqing) untouched.

The Struggle for Survival

The Southern Song military was in a dire position. After losing their northwestern horse-breeding grounds during the Tang Dynasty, their cavalry forces were significantly weakened. The Mongol cavalry, disciplined and powerful, used guerrilla tactics to constantly harass and overwhelm the Southern Song forces.

However, the relentless Mongol raids stirred up fierce resistance among the Sichuan locals, and despite the chaos, the region refused to fall under Mongol control. By 1237, the Mongols were forced to withdraw from the Sichuan Basin temporarily, though they continued to raid the area regularly, devastating towns and villages.

The Defiant City of Diaoyu

In 1241, the Mongols launched another massive invasion of Sichuan, this time led by their general, Tukhai. After capturing Chengdu, they launched a fresh campaign to break the Southern Song defenses. Meanwhile, in the face of Mongol brutality, the Southern Song government appointed the famous general, Yu Jie, to restore order in Sichuan.

Yu Jie, utilizing the natural geography of the region, began constructing a series of mountain fortresses along key riverways and passes. Among these fortresses, Diaoyu City became the crown jewel. Perched on Diaoyu Mountain, it was surrounded by steep cliffs and the confluence of three rivers, making it almost impossible to breach. This mountainous stronghold would become the primary resistance against the Mongols.

The Siege of Diaoyu City

By 1250, the Southern Song defense system in Sichuan had been fully established, and the Mongols, under new leadership, launched another major offensive. Mongke Khan, after solidifying his power, turned his attention to breaking the Southern Song’s last stronghold in Sichuan.

In December 1258, Mongke’s forces reached Diaoyu City. The Mongol cavalry attempted to breach the city from multiple directions, but the defenders, led by the indomitable Wang Jian, repeatedly repelled them. With its formidable defenses, abundant supplies, and a motivated populace, Diaoyu City stood resilient against the Mongol onslaught.

In January 1259, after months of fierce attacks and repeated failures, Mongke decided to change tactics. His troops, suffering from diseases like malaria and heatstroke, were weakening. At this point, a diplomatic offer was made, but when a former Song general, Jin Guobao, came to persuade Wang Jian to surrender, the city’s defenders hurled him off the mountain as a warning. The Mongols’ morale began to falter.

Mongke Khan’s Death: The Turning Point

After nearly five months of siege, Mongke Khan fell ill, reportedly from a combination of injuries and illness. Some sources claim he was struck by a cannonball, while others suggest he contracted dysentery. Regardless of the exact cause, his death marked the end of the Mongol siege of Diaoyu City and a monumental turning point in the Southern Song’s fight for survival.

The Aftermath: A Victory That Changed the World

Mongke’s death sent shockwaves throughout the Mongol Empire, bringing the invasion of the Southern Song to a temporary halt. The prolonged siege of Diaoyu City had not only preserved the Southern Song Dynasty for two more decades but also had far-reaching consequences.

The death of Mongke delayed the Mongol conquest of the Song and also had significant geopolitical impacts. In the west, it forced Hulagu, the Mongol general leading the invasion of the Middle East, to abandon his campaign, thus sparing the Islamic world from Mongol domination for a while. Similarly, the infighting over the Mongol throne between Kublai and Ariq Böke caused further disruptions in Mongol expansion, allowing Europe to breathe easier as the Mongol Empire fractured.

The Fall of Diaoyu City and the End of the Southern Song

Despite the epic resistance, Diaoyu City finally fell in 1279, after the Mongols overran the Southern Song capital of Lin’an (modern Hangzhou). The last defenders of the city, led by Wang Li, surrendered under the condition that no civilians would be harmed, marking the end of the Southern Song Dynasty.

The fall of Diaoyu City marked not just the end of the Song Dynasty but also the close of one of the most heroic chapters in Chinese history. The city’s defiance against Mongol forces was a testament to the indomitable spirit of the Southern Song people, and its legacy remains as a symbol of resilience against overwhelming odds.

Conclusion

The Battle of Diaoyu City is not just a tale of military strategy and heroic defense; it’s a story that reshaped the course of Chinese and world history. It delayed the Mongol conquest of the Song and altered the trajectory of world events, proving that even in the face of seemingly unstoppable forces, a determined defense can make all the difference.