Background
Nurhaci unified all the Jurchen tribes except the Yehe and took a hostile attitude towards the Ming. In 1618, he proclaimed Seven Grievances (nadan amba koro 七大恨) against Ming government to Heaven and declared war on the Ming forces. He occupied Fushun (撫順), Qinghe (清河) and other cities, and then pulled out. The death of Ming Vice-General (副總兵/副將) Zhang Chengyin (張承蔭) stunned the Ming court. In 1619, he attacked Yehe (葉赫) in an attempt to provoke the Mings.
The Ming Dynasty eventually decided to dispatch massive expeditionary forces, led by Military Commissioner Yang Hao (楊鎬). The Mings planned to besiege Hetu Ala, Nurhaci's home, from four routes.
| Unit | Commanders | Estimated size |
|---|---|---|
| HQ | Military Commissioner (經略) Yang Hao (楊鎬) | several thousand |
| Left Wing West Route Force | Regional Commander (總兵) Du Song (杜松, Route Commander) Regional Commander Wang Xuan (王宣) Regional Commander Zhao Menglin (趙夢麟) Army-inspecting Censor (監軍) Zhang Quan (張銓) |
30,000 |
| Mobile Corps Commander (游擊) Xi Niansui (襲念遂) Mobile Corps Commander Li Jibi (李季泌) |
2,000 | |
| Left Wing North Route Force | Regional Commander Ma Lin (馬林, Route Commander) Vice-General (副將) Ma Yan (麻岩) |
10,000 |
| Army-inspecting Censor Fan Zongyan (范宗顏) | 10,000 | |
| Mobile Corps Commander Bao Yongcheng (寶永澄) Gintaisi (金台石) (Yehe) |
10,000 | |
| Right Wing East Route Force | Regional Commander Liu Ting (劉綎, Route Commander) Army-Inspecting Censor Kang Yingqian (康應乾) |
30,000 |
| Mobile Corps Commander (游擊) Qiao Yiqi 喬一琦 Joseon (Korea) Expeditionary Force Commander Gang Hong-rip (姜弘曆) |
20,000 | |
| Right Wing South Route Force | Regional Commander Li Rubai (李如栢, Route Commander) Regional Commander He Shixian (賀世賢) Army-inspecting Censor Yan Mingtai (閻鳴泰) |
40,000 |
Read more about this topic: Battle Of Sarhu
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