Wei River
The Wei River (渭河) is the largest tributary of the Yellow River. It is akin to a straight tail extension of the Yellow River from the Ordos Plateau, where it bends at a roughly 90° degree angle to run the rest of the way into the East China Sea. As a result, the cities built along the Wei River are directly upstream of those along the Yellow River in the Central Plains.[1] These cities include some of the most significant in the history of China, among them, Xianyang, the capital of the Qin dynasty on the northern bank;[1] and Chang'an, the capital of the Han[1] and Tang dynasties on the southern bank.[2]
In contrast to the Central Plains downstream, the Wei River valley is enclosed by mountains on all sides, with the only easy access being the route along the Yellow River.[1] This made the region a naturally defensible position for dynastic regimes, and the confluence of the Wei and Yellow Rivers was historically protected by the strategic fortress at Tong Pass.[3] Conversely, when Tong Pass fell in 756 during the An Lushan Rebellion, it left Chang'an exposed to invasion. An Lushan's Yan forces simply made a beeline up along the Wei River to seize the Tang capital unopposed.[4] Having anticipated that resistance would fail, Emperor Xuanzong fled the city in advance on 14 July 756[2][5] with his family and highest officials. Although their destination was the southwest region of Shu, their route required them to first cross the Wei River to the north. To the Emperor's displeasure, the prime minister Yang Guozhong ordered that the bridge be burned to complicate Lushan's pursuit. The Emperor commanded that the order be rescinded so as not to trap other citizenry that might be fleeing after them.[2]
Appearances[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Lewis, Mark Edward. (2007). "The Geography of Empire". In The Early Chinese Empires: Qin and Han. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, pp. 5–29.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Assassin's Creed: Dynasty – The Hidden Ones (Part 4)
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Dynasty – Golden Turtles (Part 4)
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Dynasty – The Last Stand of Justice (Special)
- ↑ 兩千年中西曆轉換 [Chinese–Western Two Thousand Years Calendar Converter] (in Chinese). Academia Sinica Center for Digital Cultures. Retrieved on 6 June 2023.