Li Siye

Li Siye (李嗣業) (died March 2, 759), formally Prince Zhongyong of Wuwei (武威忠勇王), was a general of the Tang Dynasty. He was known to have fought valiantly at the Battle of Talas after the defeat of the primary army commanded by Gao Xianzhi, and his efforts allowed Gao to escape from the pursuit of the Abbasid Caliphate forces. Li Siye later died from battle injuries while fighting against rebel forces during the An Lushan Rebellion.

It is not known when Li Siye was born. His family was from Jingzhao (京兆) -- i.e., the area around and including the Tang Dynasty capital Chang'an. He was said to be over two meters tall, and was strong and brave. Early in Emperor Xuanzong of Tang's Tianbao era (742-756), he was conscripted and stationed at the Protectorate General to Pacify the West, also known as the Anxi Protectorate, and made his career there. At that time, Tang soldiers had just adopted the use of a heavy sword known as the "Mo sword" (陌刀), possibly a variation of the Changdao, and it was said that Li Siye was particularly skillful in its employment. He often served as a forward commander and was usually successful in battle. The jiedushi of Anxi, Fumeng Lingcha (夫蒙靈詧), recognized his abilities and often had him serve in military campaigns. He was eventually promoted to a commanding officer with the rank of Zhonglangjiang (中郎將).

In 748, when Gao Xianzhi, then the deputy military governor of Anxi, led an army against Lesser Bolü (小勃律, a city state centering modern Gilgit, Pakistan), then a vassal of the Tibetan Empire, Gao selected Li Siye and Tian Zhen (田珍) to serve as his deputies. The Tibetan army was then stationed at Suole (娑勒), near Lesser Bolü's capital. At Gao's direction, Li Siye and Tian launched a surprise attack on Suole by leading their soldiers through a path that involved climbing a cliff. They caught the Tibetan army by surprise and defeated them. They then advanced on Lesser Bolü's capital and captured its king and queen (a Tibetan princess). As a result of the battle, 72 city states in the region submitted to Tang. For his contribution, Li Siye was made a general.

...
Wikipedia