Map Introduction

Background of Establishment

To defend against incursions from the Rouran, the Northern Wei Dynasty established the Six Garrisons successively between 433 and 447 AD along the northern foothills of the Yin Mountains. Among them, the Wuchuan Garrison was located west of modern Wuchuan County, Inner Mongolia. These garrison towns were initially manned by the sons of Xianbei military commanders. Because postings there offered tax exemptions and opportunities for promotion based on military merit, they became highly desirable assignments.

Functional Shift and Decline in Status

As Rouran raids diminished and Emperor Xiaowen moved the capital south to Luoyang in 493 AD, the Six Garrisons gradually lost their strategic importance and became marginalized. By the reign of Emperor Xiaoming (515-528 AD), they had been turned into places of exile for criminals. The soldiers and common people stationed there endured great hardship, and the local economy deteriorated.

Outbreak of the Revolt of the Six Garrisons

In 523 AD, renewed incursions by the Rouran triggered resistance from the populace of the Huaihuang Garrison. The following year, Poliuhan Baling rallied followers in the Woye Garrison and launched a full-scale rebellion, capturing Woye, Wuchuan, Huaishuo, and other garrisons, spreading like wildfire. The rebel forces once advanced near Luoyang, compelling the Northern Wei court to mobilize multiple armies to suppress the uprising.

Subsequent Impact

Although the rebellion was eventually quelled, the military personnel from the Six Garrisons became a core force in the subsequent regime changes. The founders of the Northern Qi and Northern Zhou dynasties both emerged from this group of garrison soldiers. For instance, Gao Huan (Northern Qi) and Yuwen Tai (Northern Zhou) built their power bases around veterans of the Six Garrisons, profoundly influencing the historical landscape of the late Northern and Southern Dynasties period.

Note: Direct historical records concerning the "Yuyi" Garrison are scarce. It might have been a specific military unit within the Six Garrisons system or an alternative name for one of them. Its precise evolution requires further research combining archaeological evidence.