The Prelude to Conquest: Religious Suppression and Military Reform

In May 574, Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou (Yuwen Yong) made a bold decision that would reshape his empire’s fortunes: the confiscation of Buddhist and Daoist temple wealth to bolster state finances. This move was not merely an economic policy but a strategic masterstroke. Temples, which had amassed vast resources, became an immediate source of revenue. By year’s end, Yuwen Yong redirected these funds to overhaul his military, transforming the imperial guard into a loyal, professional fighting force.

Soldiers were elevated to “serving officials,” a status upgrade accompanied by generous pay raises. More critically, Yuwen Yong expanded recruitment, enticing commoners to enlist by offering military exemptions from civilian taxes. This policy not only swelled his ranks but also cultivated a martial ethos—good men should serve as soldiers. Within three years, these reforms enabled Northern Zhou to launch a full-scale invasion of its rival, Northern Qi.

The 575 Campaign: A Strike at the Heart of Northern Qi

Yuwen Yong, ever the secretive strategist, confided his plans to only three trusted advisors: Prince Yuwen Xian, Minister Wang Yi, and General Yu Yi. On July 24, 575, he stunned his generals by announcing the invasion at the Great Virtue Hall. His target: Henei (河阴), the linchpin of Northern Qi’s defenses.

The next day, Northern Zhou forces mobilized in a multi-pronged assault. Columns led by Yuwen Chun, Sima Xiaonan, and Daxi Zhen advanced as vanguard units, while Yuwen Sheng, Houmo Chenqiong, and Yuwen Zhao formed the rear. The elite Yuwen Xian commanded 20,000 troops toward Liyang, while Yang Jian (later founder of the Sui Dynasty) and Xue Jiong led a 30,000-strong naval force up the Yellow River.

Despite advisors urging caution—arguing that Northern Qi’s defenses at Henei were impenetrable—Yuwen Yong insisted on attacking the strongest point. By August 25, Zhou forces captured Henei’s outer walls, cutting off Qi reinforcements by destroying the floating bridge. Yet, the fortress of Zhongtan City held firm, defended by the tenacious Fu Fu. After 20 days of failed sieges, Yuwen Yong abandoned the campaign—not due to military defeat, but because he fell gravely ill. Northern Qi, spared by this twist of fate, gained a 500-day reprieve.

The Decisive 576 Campaign: Turning the Tide at Pingyang

Recovered by 576, Yuwen Yong shifted strategy. Instead of Henei, he targeted Jinyang (晋阳), Northern Qi’s secondary capital. The campaign began with a lightning strike on Pingyang (平阳, modern Linfen). Here, luck favored Zhou: defectors opened the city gates, allowing a swift capture on October 27.

Northern Qi’s Emperor Gao Wei, infamous for his incompetence, rushed south with 100,000 troops. In a pivotal blunder, he halted his army’s assault to let his consort, Feng Xiaoling, witness the siege. This delay allowed Zhou forces to reinforce Pingyang’s crumbling walls. By December, Gao Wei’s demoralized troops collapsed at the Battle of Pingyang, fleeing after minimal resistance.

The Fall of Jinyang and the End of Northern Qi

Gao Wei’s flight left his cousin Gao Yanzong to defend Jinyang. In a desperate last stand, Gao Yanzong declared himself emperor and nearly crushed Zhou forces in a nighttime counterattack, trapping Yuwen Yong himself. Yet, victory slipped away as celebratory Qi troops drunkenly neglected defenses. Zhou regrouped, stormed Jinyang on December 17, and captured Gao Yanzong.

With Jinyang fallen, Northern Qi’s fate was sealed. On January 15, 577, Zhou forces entered the Qi capital, Ye. Gao Wei, captured while fleeing, was paraded in Chang’an before being executed later that year.

Legacy: The Unification of the North and the Dawn of a New Era

Yuwen Yong’s conquest had far-reaching consequences:
– Religious Reforms: He dismantled 40,000 temples, returning 3 million monks to civilian life—a drastic measure to reclaim labor and taxable population.
– Administrative Overhaul: The Xing Shu Yao Zhi legal code imposed harsh penalties for corruption and tax evasion, centralizing state control.
– Cultural Integration: By erasing Northern Qi’s institutions, Yuwen Yong accelerated the blending of Han and nomadic traditions, paving the way for the Sui and Tang dynasties.

His death in 578 at age 36 cut short further ambitions, but his legacy endured. The once-divided north was unified, setting the stage for China’s golden age. As the Zizhi Tongjian notes: “He was frugal in life, stern in law, yet loved by soldiers—a ruler who feared no hardship and whose deeds echoed for generations.”

In the end, Yuwen Yong’s campaigns were more than military victories; they were the final act in a 300-year saga of fragmentation, forging a foundation for the reunified empire that would follow.