Thousand years ago, the land of Hoai Nhon-Binh Dinh – part of the Quang Nam Thua tuyen, the 13th feudal administrative division set up King Le Thanh Tong in 1471 – used to see many decisive battles between Dai Viet and Champa troops. The land also retained traces of brilliant victories by feudal military leaders and martial arts geniuses like Le Hoan, Ly Thuong Kiet, Uy Minh Vuong – Ly Nhat Quang, Le Thanh Tong, Pham Nhu Tang, Da Thuy, Ba Thai, Le Y Da and Do Tu Quy. Among them, the military general Pham Nhu Tang won a lot of resounding victories and left various important marks in Hoai Nhon – Binh Dinh.
History acknowledged the cause of Emperor Le Thanh Tong and his military generals in the expansion of Dai Viet territory. In early years of the Early Le Dynasty, the Champa King Tra Toan attempted to ignite a war against Dai Viet. On the one hand, Tra Toan sent his people to China with aim of seeking reinforcements from the Ming Dynasty.
On the other hand, he ordered his Champa army to constantly attack the southern border area of Dai Viet. In such situation, in 1470, Emperor Le Thanh Tong sent a delegation to the Ming court condemning Tra Toan and laying out the reasons for Vietnam's counter attack. Meanwhile, Emperor Le Thanh Tong personally commanded his troop to Champa kingdom, having it in for Tra Toan. The military general Pham Nhu Tang was one of the military leaders accompanying Emperor Le Thanh Tong in the “conquest” of Champa kingdom.
According to many historical materials, including books available now at Cultural Centre of Que Son suburban district, Quang Nam Province, military general Pham Nhu Tang was the fourth generation descendant of Pham Nhu Duc – the fifth son of Pham Ngu Lao, the illustrious general of the Tran Dynasty.
In the crucial war against Champa kingdom, Emperor Le Thanh Tong conferred Trung quan Đo thong title on Pham Nhu Tang and ordered him to command the front guard of 100,000 men. Before attacking Thi Li Bi Nai (Cri-Banoi) harbor (present-day Thi Nai Port of Qui Nhon City), Emperor Le Thanh Tong ordered his military generals to have map drawn carefully. Therefore, Dai Viet troops led by Pham Nhu Tang quickly forced the Champa troop to withdraw from Thi Li Bi Nai habour, trying to maintain its control over capital city of Vijaya (now Do Ban Citadel or Hoang De -Emperor Citadel near modern-day Qui Nhon City in Binh Dinh Province).
Taking advantage of the victory, Pham Nhu Tang ordered his army to surround Vijaya, wiping out the Champa troop and capturing Tra Toan. Champa general Bo Tri Tri fled to country of Phan Lung. According to Dai Viet Su ky Toan thu (A complete history of Great Viet- Volume III, Social Science Publishing House –1982), Dai Viet army captured 30,000 of Champa men as prisoners. On March 1, 1471, territory of Dai Viet country was expanded to Thach Bi Mountain (present-day bordering area between the two provinces of Phu Yen and Khanh Hoa).
After the glorious victory, Emperor Le Thanh Tong had a stele engraved with words announcing the war loss of Champa kingdom. The stele was then erected at the highest mountain by the seaside to mark the new border between Dai Viet and the Champa lands. According to Phu bien Tap luc (Miscellanies on the government of the marches) wrote by Le Quy Don in 1776 (and translated in 1964, Social Science Publishing House), “the stele looked southwards”. On May 1, 1471, together with Dai Viet’s people and thousands of its military men, General Pham Nhu Tang joined a triumph ceremony. In June 1471, Emperor Le Thanh Tong officially named to the newly-conquered land Hoai Nhon district, belonging to the region of Quang Nam Thua tuyen. It was the time Binh Dinh land was born. Pham Nhu Tang was one of the righteous dignified forefathers accredited with founding the land of Hoai Nhon – Binh Dinh. As soon as Quang Nam Thua tuyen was established, Pham Nhu Tang was assigned by Emperor Le Thanh Tong to “stay at the region”, governing the newly conquered land of Dai Viet with the bestowed title Head of Quang Nam region’s army.
On February 21, 1477, Pham Nhu Tang drew his last breath in deteriorating health associated with his old age at Do Ban Citadel, where he and other military officers of the Early Le Dynasty had commanded many of the vital battles together, and winning lots of splendid feat of arms. His remains was later exhumed by descendants of the Pham’s family at Que Mountain, Huong Que village, Que Phu commune, Que Son suburban district, Quang Nam provine.
Front of his tomb still lays a pair of parallel sentences composed by Emperor Le Thanh Tong in commemoration of the heroic general. The sentences generally say: “It was Pham Nhu Tang and righteous men that drew up strategic plans to defeat the Champa troop. Soul of the departed man venerated at this magnificent shrine will glorify Dai Viet country forever.” Specially, a folk verse has been handed down from generation to generation among the common people. “If Que Mountain ever had no tree anymore, Sanh Pond ever had no water any longer; the tomb would rest no general”.
More than 525 years have passed by since the decease of the famous general Pham Nhu Tang. The past land of Hoai Nhon, which he jointly set up, becomes an emerging well-off province of Binh Dinh. Binh Dinh people will never forget the glorious reputation, career and victories of the renowned general Pham Nhu Tang.
|