The Battle of Xianyang - From South China Warning Post

Nan Chao opened hostilities in Spring 1263 with an attack on the Sung Empire. Their forces marched on Xianyang from Chongqing. The Sung army intercepted them by a major river, hoping to force the invaders into a choke point where they could be shot down. Naturally the attackers attempted to circumvent this. The fast moving Nan Chao pikes rushed through the steep hills on the Sung right flank quickly overwhelming the crossbowmen stationed there, however the slower moving centre of the Nan Chao army came under fire from Sung artillery and started to suffer losses. As the Nan Chao flanking force swung around to engage the Sung centre, the Sung commander threw his mounted troops forward to hit the Nan Chao cavalry. In a confused melee the Sung gained the upper hand and as Nan Chao casualties mounted, the invaders broke and ran leaving four elements behind. The defenders lost two elements of their own, losses that they could ill afford.

Ratings: Nan Chao – 386, Sung Empire – 291

Pretige: Sung Empire – 2.6