Sui and Tang · General

Gao Xianzhi 高仙芝

Attested AD 747 - AD 751

Passages: 6
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Gao Xianzhi was a general.

Life and dates

Attested activity

AD 751 襲取石國及大食之敗
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 138, passages 15-16
AD 747 討勃律
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 138, passages 6, 8

Places and affiliations

Polity Tang 唐 · Relation Served
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 138, passage 6

Works and attributed material

Order · Speaker · Direct quotation
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 138, passage 8
Speech · Speaker · With Li Siye (李嗣業) · Direct quotation
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 138, passage 19

Events and relationships

Campaigned
Military · Commander · At Balur 勃律
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 138, passages 6, 8, 11
Defeated by Arabs
Military · Commander
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 138, passage 16
Seized by stratagem
Military · Commander · At Stone Kingdom 石國
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 138, passage 15

References in the histories

New Book of Tang, Chapter 138Volume 138 Biographies 63: · 6 passages

高仙芝討勃律，署嗣業及中郎將田珍為左右陌刀將。 During Gao Xianzhi's expedition against Balur, Siye and Central Regiment Director Tian Zhen were appointed commanders of the left and right mo-blade units.

仙芝潛軍夜濟信圖河，令曰：「及午破賊，不者皆死。」 Xianzhi stole across the Xintu River at night with his army, declaring: "Break the enemy by noon, or every man dies."

初，仙芝特以計襲取石，其子出奔，因構諸胡共怨之，以告大食，連兵攻四鎮。 Xianzhi had earlier taken the Stone Kingdom by surprise; the ruler's son fled abroad and stirred the western peoples to common grievance, appealing to the Arabs to join forces against the Four Garrisons.

仙芝率兵二萬深入，為大食所敗，殘卒數千。 Xianzhi marched twenty thousand men deep into enemy country and was beaten by the Arab army, escaping with only a few thousand survivors.

仙芝曰：「吾方收合餘盡，明日復戰。」 Xianzhi replied: "I am still rallying what is left of the army—we will fight again tomorrow."

會拔汗那還兵，輜餉塞道不可騁，嗣業懼追及，手梃鏖擊，人馬斃僕者數十百，虜駭走，仙芝乃得還。 Ferghana troops were returning on the same road, their wagons choking the pass so that no one could ride freely. Fearing pursuit, Siye fought hand to hand with a club, killing scores of men and horses until the enemy fled in terror and Xianzhi could at last escape.