Siege of Pyeongyang (1593)

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Siege of Pyongyang
Part of Hideyoshi's invasions of Korea
Date January 1593 Location Pyongyang city Result Strategic Chinese victory
Combatants
Japanese army	Ming army and Korean allies
Commanders
Konishi Yukinaga	Li Rusong Li Rubo Song Yicheng
Strength
42,000	43,000
Casualties
16,000	Approximately 800 deaths

The siege of Pyongyang was a battle fought between the Ming-Korea alliance and Japanese forces during Hideyoshi's invasions of Korea. The Ming army crossed the Yalu river and after a number of small engagements with the Japanese, arrived at the walls of Pyongyang where they met with Korean forces. A Japanese attack on the encampment of Li Rusong's brother, Li Rubo, was defeated. Early the next day, Li Rusong ordered the Korean armies to assault the eastern walls. Meanwhile, Li's forces bombarded the other walls with cannon and launched many thousands of fire-arrows into the city.

After a fierce battle, the ferocious assault of the Korean army at the east of the city was repulsed by the Japanese defenders. Then, the Ming army under Li Rusong and his brother launched a major attack on the western wall, the fighting was so intense that Li's horse was shot from underneath him. After beating off the defenders, Chinese forces used giant ladders to enter the city, after which a confined, bloody street battle raged between the two armies. It is said the Chinese soldiers were ordered to dress an extra layer of Korean military uniform but once they approach the Japanese soldiers, they took it off and greatly panicked the Japanese.

Encircled, Konishi attempted to break out of the city, but the artillery of a Ming army under Song Yichang forced him to turn back. Konishi then planned to retreat to the southwest, where an army he believed to be Korean was stationed. However, they revealed themselves to be Ming troops, which was said to have greatly shocked the Japanese forces. Although he lost the battle, Konishi managed to retreat south with his remaining men.