Li Guangbi vs Li Rusong

Li Guangbi was appointed military governor of Shuofang, a key frontier command. He was of Khitan origin but loyal to Tang, and he began organizing defenses against the An Lushan Rebellion.

Li Guangbi defeated a Yan army at Jiayuguan (in modern Gansu), securing the northwestern frontier. This victory prevented the rebellion from spreading to the Silk Road regions and bought time for Tang counterattacks.

Li Guangbi led a campaign to recapture Taiyuan from Yan forces. Using a combination of siege tactics and cavalry raids, he retook the city, a major logistical center, and inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy.

Li Guangbi's forces were defeated by Shi Siming at Yancheng. The loss forced him to retreat and regroup, but he avoided total destruction and continued to harass Yan supply lines.

Li Guangbi played a key role in the final campaigns against Shi Chaoyi, the last Yan emperor. He coordinated with Uyghur allies and Tang forces to crush the rebellion, leading to its end in 763.

Li Rusong was appointed supreme commander of the Ming expeditionary force sent to aid Joseon Korea against the Japanese invasion led by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. He led a combined Chinese-Korean army to counter the Japanese advance.

Li Rusong led the Ming-Joseon forces in a decisive assault on Pyongyang, which was occupied by Japanese troops. The battle resulted in the recapture of the city and inflicted heavy casualties on the Japanese army, marking a turning point in the war.

Li Rusong's forces were ambushed and defeated by a Japanese army at Byeokjegwan near Seoul. Li himself was wounded in the battle. This setback forced the Ming army to retreat and temporarily halted their advance southward.

Following the military stalemate, Li Rusong participated in negotiations with Japanese representatives for a ceasefire. The talks led to a temporary halt in hostilities and the withdrawal of Japanese forces from the Korean peninsula to the southern coast.

Li Rusong was recalled to China after the ceasefire. His recall was due to political rivalries at the Ming court and disagreements over war strategy. He was replaced by other commanders for the later phases of the Imjin War.