Cao Bin vs Guo Ziyi

Cao Bin led Song forces to conquer the Later Shu kingdom in Sichuan. He ordered his troops to refrain from looting and killing civilians, earning a reputation for humane treatment of conquered cities. This set a precedent for Song military conduct.

Cao Bin commanded the Song army that conquered the Southern Tang kingdom, capturing its capital Jinling (Nanjing). He again enforced strict discipline, preventing massacres and protecting cultural artifacts, which enhanced his reputation as a humane general.

Cao Bin was appointed as grand councilor (zaixiang) by Emperor Taizu of Song. His promotion from general to high civil office reflected the Song dynasty's policy of civilian control over the military, though he remained influential in military affairs.

Cao Bin commanded a Song army in a failed campaign against the Liao dynasty. His forces were defeated at the Battle of the Qigou River, leading to a retreat. This defeat contributed to the Song's shift toward a defensive strategy against the Liao.

Emperor Suzong appointed Guo Ziyi as commander-in-chief of Tang forces to suppress the An Lushan Rebellion. This appointment gave him authority over all imperial armies and marked the start of his decisive role in the war.

Guo Ziyi, as commander of Tang forces, recaptured Chang'an and Luoyang from rebel forces. This campaign restored the Tang emperor to the throne and preserved the dynasty's rule over China.

Guo Ziyi led Tang and allied Uyghur forces to victory against the rebel army of An Qingxu at Xiangzhou. This battle broke the back of the rebellion and led to the recapture of the eastern capital Luoyang.

Guo Ziyi, with a small force, faced a Tibetan army that had captured Chang'an. Through diplomacy and a show of force, he persuaded the Tibetans to withdraw without a major battle, restoring order.