Li Siye

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Li Siye (李嗣業) was a Tang commander in the Battle of Talas. His birthname was not Li Siye, but Ho Li Yang. He was given the name Li Siye (meaning small rabbit) by a buddhist priest when he was a young man coming of age. He fought valiantly at the Battle of Talas, leading his men to a moderate victory. While his forces gained control of the territory in question, they also suffered great losses and were not able to immediatly fortify their position. As a result, they lay in wait, hoping that supply lines would reach them soon. This, however, was not the case as the Tang supply lines had been unknowingly cut off from his forces by the enemy. Ultimately, the enemy surrounded Li Siye's weakening forces and setup a blockade. Without the necessary supplies in store for a lengthy siege, Li was forced to surrender and his troops were taken as prisoners of war.