Battle of Canhe Slope

The Battle of Canhe Slope, alternatively the Battle of Canhebei (Chinese: 參合陂之戰), was a battle in the history of China in 395 where the Xianbei-led Later Yan dynasty, then ruling over northern and central China, had launched a punitive campaign against its former vassal, the Northern Wei dynasty, also of Xianbei extraction.

Later Yan forces were led by its crown prince Murong Bao and enjoyed some initial successes, but after being frustrated by the containment strategy of the Northern Wei ruler Tuoba Gui (Emperor Daowu), withdrew.

Tuoba Gui then gave chase and crushed the Later Yan forces at Canhe Slope (Canhebei, 参合陂). He captured a large number of the Later Yan forces, but in fear that releasing them would allow a future Later Yan campaign against the Northern Wei, slaughtered them.

The battle reversed the power relations between the Later Yan and Northern Wei. After Later Yan's emperor Murong Chui (Emperor Wucheng) died in 396 and Murong Bao (Emperor Huimin) succeeded to the throne, the Northern Wei would launch a debilitating campaign of conquest against the Later Yan, and by 398 had captured most of the Later Yan's territory, reducing the Later Yan to a small regional state.