Sandyboxy
My paragraph
Wang Xiaojie, assisted by Su Honghui, and some other Chinese generals lead a 170,000 troop army to the area of the Xiashi Gorge. Wang Xiaojie's army was destroyed by the Khitans and he was killed in the process while Su Honghui fled. As a result the Khitans captured Youzhou.
In a fourth campaign (fifth month, 697)Empress Wu sent Lou Shide and Shatuo Zhongyi to lead 200,000 troop army northward to stop Sun Wanrong who was advancing towards the south. The Turks refused a Khitan-Turk alliance and launched an attack on Xincheng. The (Kumo) Xi betrayed the Khitans and gave their support to China. The Khitan population was now facing Turkish plunders to the north, while the the Khitan army was facing 200,000 Chinese soldiers and they were gacing Xi soldiers on the south. The situation the Khitan was in caused the cohesion in Khitan's headquarters collapsed. This ended when Sun Wanrong was assassinated by ome of his own subordinates. The remaining Khitan, together with the Xi, made an alliance with the Turks. A new chieftain was proclaimed, Li Shihuo.
First paragraph
Also, the powerful Wang Xiaojie assisted by Su Honghui and some others Chinese generals lead a third 170,000 troops strong army to the area of the Xiashi Gorge, but were also crushed by Khitan, who mastered in battlefield and ambuscades. Wang Xiaojie was killed while Su Honghui fled, Khitan were allowed to capture the following frontier garrison of Youzhou, south of Yingzhou.[2]
In a fourth campaign (fifth month, 697), Empress Wu sent Lou Shide and Shatuo Zhongyi leading a 200,000 troop strong army northward to stop Sun Wanrong who was advancing southward. Despite previous victories on battlefields, Turks refused the proposed Khitan-Turk alliance a launch a massive attack on Xincheng, while the helpful (Kumo) Xi betrayed Khitan to support China. Khitan populations were now facing devastating Turkish plunders on north, while successful Khitan army was now facing Chinese 200,000 troops plus Xi troops on south.
In such critical situation, cohesion in Khitan headquarters collapsed, ending by the assassination of Sun Wanrong by one of his own subordinates.
The Khitan troops, without clear leader and in such critical situation collapsed too, while the remaining Khitan, together with Xi, gave allegiance to Turks, as formerly planned between Mochou khaghan and empress Wu Zetian in early 696, while a new chieftain was proclaim: Li Shihuo (697-717, [李]失活).[2]