As a dynasty that upheld Buddhism as the state religion and valued humanitarianism and righteousness, the Lý Dynasty consistently advocated for harmonious relations with neighbouring countries to safeguard the country’s independence. When forced into wars of resistance against invaders, the dynasty was determined to achieve victory to defend the nation and secure its borders, using all available means to defeat the enemy. Even after victory, they pursued a policy of reconciliation with the invaders in the hope that “no more wars would come” and “a lasting peace would be built”.

Despite suffering a devastating defeat in their first invasion of Đại Cồ Việt (later renamed Đại Việt during the Lý Dynasty), the Song Dynasty intended a second invasion once the Lý Dynasty took the helm in Dai Viet. They calculated that achieving a victory in the south would not only consolidate their position domestically but also serve as a stern warning to the Liao and Western Xia states in the north, which frequently caused trouble and disturbances along the border regions.

Learning from their previous failure, the Song Dynasty secretly and cautiously prepared for their malign plot. They sought to bribe some local tribal chiefs in our mountainous regions and entice the Champa and Chenla kingdoms into joining the impending conflict. Additionally, they covertly and urgently recruited soldiers and established logistical bases close to the Đại Việt border, among other preparations. Clearly grasping the enemy’s schemes, the Lý Dynasty proactively and shrewdly developed strategies to defend the nation, leveraged the strength of the entire populace, and implemented multiple measures simultaneously to swiftly end the war and establish peace, with the combination of military offensives and diplomatic measures being kept at the forefront.

First, implementing a friendly foreign policy to delay the enemy’s invasion plans. Inheriting the shrewd diplomatic practices of the preceding Đinh and Lê dynasties, the Lý Dynasty sought to maintain and strengthen friendly relations with the Song Dynasty with great flexibility. This approach aimed to make the most of peacetime for the sake of strong defence capabilities, maximal combat readiness and the protection of territorial integrity. Being fully aware of the Song Dynasty’s invasion schemes, immediately after his ascension to the throne, Lý Thái Tổ sent two emissaries, Lương Nhậm Văn and Lê Tái Nghiêm, to take local staples to the Song court as a goodwill gesture. At first, mandarins advised Emperor Song Zhenzong against Đại Việt’s gifts. However, due to the Lý Dynasty’s diplomatic finesse andthe Song Dynasty’s inadequate valid reasons, Emperor Song Zhenzong had to accept the gifts and establish diplomatic relations. He even decided to name Lý Công Uẩn as Prince of Jiaozhi and Military Commissioner of Jinghai Jun. Thanks to flexible diplomacy, a spirit of friendship and a steadfast commitment to national independence and territorial integrity, the Lý Dynasty managed to handle the challenges and expansionist pressures effectively, which ensured friendly diplomatic relations between the two countries for over 50 years. Consequently, despite being well-prepared, the Song Dynasty hesitated to attack Đại Việt. They were still haunted by their previous defeat in Đại Cồ Việt and were deterred by the diplomatic approach of “Southern Princes”, which gave even the most belligerent elements in the Song court no pretext for war. Indeed, during every northern feudal dynasty with the evil intention of conquest, there were hawks on the one hand who favoured military force and doves on the other hand who preferred peaceful domination over other nations. Additionally, rank-and-file soldiers were often reluctant to   be sent to distant, treacherous battlefields of Đại Việt, characterised by a notoriously inhospitable environment. Thus, friendship diplomacy did bear fruit, without resort to “a single arrow or spear” as it helped to divide the enemy and extend peacetime, allowing the country to strengthen itself. Understanding the internal dynamics of the Northern court, the Lý kings always pursued the goal of “peace for the people” through friendly and flexible relations with the Song Dynasty, outwardly presenting themselves as “a small country submitting to a greater power”. This façade of being a “prince” masked the reality of being an “emperor” as expressed in the immortal poem “Rivers and mountains of Southern land” with the lines “Over mountains and rivers of the Southern land reigns the Southern Emperor / As it stands written in the celestial book”.

It was no coincidence that between 1010 and 1073, 23 Đại Việt envoys were sent to deliver tribute to the Song court as part of a policy of goodwill and peace. And traditionally, when a king of Đại Viet passed away, the Song Dynasty always sent emissaries to offer condolences and confer titles upon the new monarch. Establishing diplomatic relations with the Song Dynasty to some extent indirectly confirmed the legitimacy of the Lý Dynasty and the independent, sovereign existence of Đại Việt. This approach was not a sign of weakness but a comprehensive diplomatic strategy that was both flexible and resolute. It was a millennia-old tradition of peaceful coexistence and steadfast defence of its borders upheld by a peace-loving nation.

Second, preventing enemy invasions from early and afar through the strategy of pre-emptive strike. Despite fostering good diplomatic relations with neighbouring countries, Đại Việt was not solely reliant on these ties but remained proactive and resolute in bracing themselves for invasions. When forced to wage war to “secure the borders”, the Lý Dynasty adopted the strategic principle “Launching a pre-emptive strike to break the enemy thrust is better than waiting for them to attack” to weaken the enemy’s strength, morale, and will to invade, laying the groundwork for victory. Being cognisant of the Song Dynasty’s intense preparations for invading Đại Việt, Lý Thường Kiệt proposed a proactive approach during a Council of Ministers’ meeting: To gain the upper hand, it was necessary to destroy the enemy’s invasion bases at the border before withdrawing to defend the country. With the court’s approval, after strengthening forces and making plans to ensure stability in the south, Lý Thường Kiệt organised a strategic raid on the enemy’s supply depots and military bases near the border, which served as launching pads for the invasion. Executing this plan, Lý Thường Kiệt led over 100,000 elite troops in a surprise attack via both land and waterways on the southern territories of the Song Dynasty. They swiftly destroyed enemy camps and key logistical bases along the border from Qinzhou and Lianzhou to Yongzhou. This strategic, innovative strategy led Đại Việt to a significant victory, forcing the enemy into a reactive and confused state, setting the stage for the overall success of the war and securing the nation’s independence and sovereignty. This offensive, which was defensive in nature, demonstrated a proactive strategy in the early phase of the resistance against the Song invasion. By launching this daring attack, Lý Thường Kiệt pushed  the enemy into strategic passivity, damaging the enemy’s morale in their subsequent campaign, and buying more time for Đại Việt to prepare for the resistance. This highly effective strategy showcased the unique aspects of Vietnamese military art. Although being a military offensive, it held substantial diplomatic significance: using military might to warn the Song invaders and thwart the treacherous intentions of the Champa rulers in the south, who were eager to take advantage of the situation, stabbing us in the back.

Third, defeating the enemy on the Như Nguyệt line and gaining the upper hand in peace negotiations. After destroying the enemy camps and logistical bases, Lý Thường Kiệt withdrew his troops to the previously established defensive line along Như Nguyệt River, wherethey successfully repelled the Song Dynasty’s 100,000-strong invading force. The experience drawn from the resistance showed that, following Đại Việt’s' excellent counterattack at the Như Nguyệt River defensive line, which struck the enemy’s main force — particularly the decisive victory against Zhao Xie’s army that killed about half of their troops — the Song invaders’ will to conquer was effectively crushed. As a result, the Song forces were placed in a “desperately precarious” and “disorganised” situation, with dwindling supplies, a decreasing number of troops, and harsh weather conditions further weakening them. In such a short period, the unique military strategy of the Lý Dynasty posed an extremely difficult dilemma to the Song army: they were unable to concentrate their forces to break through the Như Nguyệt River defensive line to advance towards Thăng Long, and at the same time, retreating would mean losing face and serious felony.

Being fully awareof the overall situation, particularly the dire circumstances of the enemy, Đại Việt had the potential to launch a major offensive to end the war. However, with strategic foresight, Lý Thường Kiệt decided to initiate peace negotiations with the noble aim of “avoiding the exhaustion of generals and soldiers, saving bloodshed, and protecting the ancestral temples”. As a small country facing a greater power to defend its independence, Đại Việt never relied solely on military force for the total annihilation of the enemy. All military actions were aimed at forcing the invaders into a “dilemma” where their only option was to agree to an armistice and withdraw. Thus, the Lý Dynasty’s proactive move to negotiate peace provided an “exit” for the Song troops to withdraw “with honour”. This meant if the enemy agreed to retreat, Đại Việt would “lay out a mat to see them off”, which could be considered a “lifeline” for the Song commander, Guo Kui. This approach also avoided prolonged conflict between the two nations, fostering sustainable peace. Consequently, Guo Kui, who was already demoralised by our strikes, quickly seized this “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity to withdraw his troops.

However, to save face, he demanded that the Lý kings send a formal apology to the Song court in the future. Enraged by the defeat, the Song emperor initially intended to send reinforcements to prolong the invasion of Đại Việt, but found himself unable to do so. Additionally, our diplomatic efforts indicated to the Song court that an armistice was the “wisest” and the “only right” choice at that time. The Song court consoled itself by reasoning that Đại Việt, a remote and hazardous land filled with wild beasts and poisonous air, was of no real value.

Building on these glorious victories, after the war ended, Đại Việt engaged in proactive, flexible, and steadfast diplomacy, compelling the Song Dynasty to return previously occupied territories. This completed the mission of defending the nation’s territorial integrity and maintaining border security.

By combining military offensives with diplomatic measures to end the war and establish lasting peace, the Lý Dynasty maintained the nation’s sovereignty and fostered enduring relationships with neighbouring countries, particularly with the powerful Song Dynasty. This is truly a valuable lesson that warrants further study and creative application in the cause of building and defending the Homeland today.

HA THANH – VU TRANG