Aspects of this topic are discussed in the following places at Britannica.
From 1267 onward the Mongols, this time assisted by numerous Chinese auxiliary troops and technical specialists, attacked on several fronts. The prefectural town of Xiangyang (present-day Xianfan) on the Han River was a key fortress, blocking the access to the Yangtze River, and the Mongols besieged it for five years (1268–73). The Chinese commander finally surrendered in 1273, after he...
...some technical capacity. Once and very abruptly, a glimpse in Il milione is obtained of them acting as military advisers during the siege of “Saianfu” (formerly Xiangyang, now Xiangfan), a city that was finally taken, according to Marco, thanks to some “great mangonels” (missile-throwing engines) built according to the Polos’ specifications. The...
...important strategic and commercial centre. The modern municipality was formed in 1950 by combining the two cities of Fancheng (a commercial hub and river port) on the north bank of the Han River and Xiangyang (an administrative, political, and cultural centre) on the south bank.
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