Balhae's Preemptive Strike on the Tang Dynasty Mainland

Balhae was not a nation that merely responded passively to the Tang Dynasty's pressure. During the reign of King Mu, the second king, when the Tang Dynasty attempted to isolate Balhae by allying with surrounding powers, Balhae made the bold decision to preemptively attack the Tang mainland. In 732, Balhae's navy, led by General Jang Mun-hyu, launched a swift attack on Dengzhou, a strategic point on the Shandong Peninsula, killing the Tang governor of Shandong and capturing the city. This is the only naval battle record in our history where China's mainland was attacked first, resulting in a great victory, demonstrating Balhae's strong national power and bold spirit.