5 replies to this topic

[snowybeagle]

Introduction

Since I'm on the subject of Imperial princes of Ming Dynasty rebelling, I suppose I should include the failed rebellion of Prince Zhū GāoXù of Hàn (汉王朱高煦) though it happened much earlier in the Dynasty's timeline.

Zhū GāoXù was the second son of the YŏngLè Emperor (永乐), who himself successfully usurped the throne from his nephew the JiànWén Emperor (建文帝) in AD 1403. The civil war devastated much of China and left a lot of people dead - it took years for YŏngLè to restore a measure of stability. At the same time though, YŏngLè's foreign wars and naval expeditions continued to put heavy pressure on the resources of the State.

YŏngLè's successor was his eldest son Zhū GāoChì (朱高炽), known as Emperor RénZōng (明仁宗) and the reign name of HóngXī (洪熙, AD 1424-1425). Zhū GāoChì's ill-health led to his demise a mere 8 months after inheriting the throne, and the crown was in turn passed to his eldest son Zhū ZhānJī (朱瞻基), known as Emperor XuānZōng (明宣宗) and the reign name of XuānDé (宣德).

Both Zhū GāoChì and Zhū GāoXù contributed to their father's efforts to seize the throne. Seeing a 27-year old nephew inheriting the throne he had fought hard to obtain for his father, which had gone to his only older brother by reason of primogeniture, Zhū GāoXù harboured thoughts of repeating his father's "JìngNàn coup" of seizing the throne from a young inexperienced nephew (靖难之变) on the pretext of ridding evil ministers from the ruler's side.

I suppose since Zhū GāoChì was on the throne for only 8 months and his father Zhū Dì (朱棣) had obtained the throne by force, the dynastic succession at this time could not be considered as stable yet, unlike the later rebellions of imperial princes during the reign of Emperor WŭZōng (明武宗).


Background of Zhū GāoXù
While Zhū Dì was the Prince of Yān (燕王), Zhū GāoChì was the designated heir to the principality and the highest Zhū GāoXù could aspire to was the title of Prefectural-Prince or jùn wáng (郡王). That was the traditional title of sons of "prince of the blood" or qīn wáng (亲王) who were not heirs of the principality.

After Zhū Dì seized the throne, Zhū GāoXù was duly promoted from jùn wáng to qīn wáng with his own principality. But he was not content and chaffed having to settle for second best to his brother Zhū GāoChì who got to become Imperial Crown Prince (皇太子).

Despite being brothers born by the same mother, Zhū GāoChì and Zhū GāoXù were very different people.

Zhū GāoChì (AD 1378-1425) showed great talents and promise, and was well thought of by his grandfather founding Emperor TàiZŭ (明太祖), who confirmed him as designated heir to the title of Prince of Yān (燕世子) in AD 1395. Despite the brief rule, his reign was noted for his policies and measures to alleviate the burden of the populace, reduction in State expenditure, being able to take wise advise from the Court officials, relaxing some of the harsher punishments etc. His reign, together with his successor's, were known as an era of good governance (仁宣之治).

Zhū GāoXù on the other hand was said to be ferocious by nature, frivolous in conduct, preferring martial activities and disliked studying. It was said Emperor TàiZŭ did not like this grandchild.

During the reign of the JiànWén Emperor, though harbouring ambitions for the throne, Zhū Dì despatched the brothers Zhū GāoChì and Zhū GāoXù from his fief based in Beijing to go to Nanjing, the then Imperial Capital, as hostages to his good conduct.

Their mother was a granddaughter of Xú Dá (徐达), a pioneer general of the Ming Dynasty who served Emperor TàiZŭ. In the Imperial Capital, their maternal uncle Xú HuīZŭ (徐辉祖), son of Xú Dá, noted Zhū GāoXù behaving outrageously and severely reprimanded his nephew.

The haughty and arrogant Zhū GāoXù could not take the admonishment. He stole a precious steed belonging to his uncle and sneaked out of the capital with no thoughts to the consequences. Apparently, he disregarded he was suppose to be a hostage, and that his wilful and illegal departure would jeopardise his father's plot and his brother's well-being. En route, he even killed local officials and citizens to vent his frustrations. This action cause a lot of censure for his father by various officials.

References:
自寻死路的汉王朱高煦

[to be continued ...]

Edited by snowybeagle, 20 October 2005 - 10:27 PM.

[snowybeagle]

During the Battle of DōngChāng (东昌之役), in present day LiaoCheng of Shandong province (山东聊城), during Zhū Dì's bid for the throne, in the 12th month of the second year of the JiànWén Emperor (AD 1400), Zhū Dì's forces after enjoying a string of successes, became complacent.

The loyalist forces (on the side of the incumbent Emperor) under General Shèng Yōng (盛庸) got there first and arrayed their formation, waiting for the challengers to arrive.

When Zhū Dì's army showed up, they underestimated their opponents and rushed headlong into battle. The loyalist army waited until their opponents were near, and then launched devastating attack using firearms and poisoned bolts shot from crossbows, inflicting heavy casualties on the other side.

Seeing carnage, Zhū Dì lost his cool and rushed into battle, leading his crack troops, to break into the loyalist lines. General Shèng Yōng ordered his forces to split into two wings to allow Zhū Dì and his van to pass through, and then close up, surrounding Zhū Dì in a massive encirclement.

Zhū Dì was in danger of being captured when his subordinate general Zhāng Yù (张玉) managed to fight a bloody escape route for Zhū Dì, and died in the process of arrow shots. Had the JiànWén Emperor not in foolish sense of familial ties ordered Zhū Dì not to be killed, it would have been easy for the Imperial army to kill Zhū Dì in battle by launching countless shots.

Nevertheless, Zhū Dì was still in danger of being taken alive when Zhū GāoXù arrived with a rescue force, holding back the pursuers to enable Zhū Dì to escape.

Zhū GāoXù scored a number of such military merits, and won the support of some of his father's followers; such as Qiū Fú (淇国公丘福) who was later conferred as Duke of QíGuó, to be the father's successor. Zhū Dì was supposed to have in a moment of pride seeing Zhū GāoXù fighting boldly at great personal risks, said he would make Zhū GāoXù heir. This story is an uncanny echo of history when the founding emperor of the Tang Dynasty, Li Yuan, also made a similar promise to Li Shimin after Li Shimin fought successfully in battles to establish their dynasty. As such, I have doubts about its veracity.

This picture showed the series of battles during the JìngNàn coup. The Battle of DōngChāng was the first defeat tasted by Zhū Dì. Henceforth, he was determined to be cautious.

[snowybeagle]

After Zhū Dì was enthroned as emperor, Zhū GāoXù saw his older brother Zhū GāoChì, whom he despised as weak and without impressive military achievements, appointed as Crown Prince. On the other hand, he was conferred as Prince of Hàn (汉王) with a fief (封国) in the faraway region of Yunnan (云南).

Though it was said Zhū Dì was not particularly disposed towards Zhū GāoChì, he did favour Zhū ZhānJī who had been designated as heir apparent after Zhū GāoChì. Zhū ZhānJī had accompanied Zhū Dì on three of the northern expeditions.

Zhū GāoXù did not bother hiding his unhappiness and complained aloud that he had done nothing wrong to deserve being "banish" to such a remote place. He refused to go to his appointed fief and continued staying in the Imperial Capital (Nanjing).

Zhū Dì apparently felt he did let down Zhū GāoXù and did not force his son to go. Later, the enfeoffment was transferred in AD 1415 to QīngZhōu (青州) in the Shandong (山东) peninsula, and Zhū GāoXù finally left to take up his appointment.

In QīngZhōu, Zhū GāoXù had not given up eyeing the throne. He began to build up a strong army, and allowed his subordinates to flaunt the law and harass the populace.

Zhū Dì was aware that Zhū GāoXù would not be content with his lot (Zhū Dì himself was a living example of an ambitious younger brother who thought himself better than the designated heir). Zhū Dì had Zhū GāoXù recalled to the capital and was prepared to strip him of his royalty status and reduce him to a commoner. It was only on the pleading of the Crown Prince Zhū GāoChì whom Zhū GāoXù despised, that the recalcitrant prince was spared and transferred to LèĀnZhōu (乐安州) in AD 1417, in present day GuangRao of Shandong province (今山东广饶), but not before stripping Zhū GāoXù of two units of his household guards.

After Zhū GāoChì ascended the throne, he continued to treat Zhū GāoXù well and gave him several awards. When Zhū GāoChì passed away after 10 months on the throne, Zhū GāoXù thought his chance came.

But this time the new young ruler Zhū ZhānJī was not like the hesistant Zhū YŭnWén (朱允炆) who was the JiànWén Emperor driven from the throne by Zhū Dì nearly a quarter of a century before.

Neither were Zhū ZhānJī's advisors mere armchair strategists without practical experience; such as-
the Crown Prince's Aide Jiăn Yì (太子詹事-蹇义), Minister of the Population Xià YuánJí (户部尚书-夏原吉) - collective known as Jiăn-Xià (蹇夏);
the "Three Yángs" (三杨): Yáng Róng (工部尚书-杨荣), Hanlin Academician and Cabinet Secretary Yáng Pŭ (翰林学士,掌阁事-杨溥), and Yáng ShìQí (礼部尚书-杨士奇).
All these and others served in the staff of Zhū GāoChì when he was a Crown Prince in the Eastern Palace (东宫).
These bunch of wily old foxes were not to be compared to the pedantic Qí Tài (齐泰) and Huáng ZĭChéng (黄子澄) who assisted Zhū YŭnWén.

Some considered Zhū GāoXù's rebellion a suicidal act with no hope of success.

Additional References:
中国通史（8） - （五）皇位之争与宣德诸政

[Wei Feng]

Great article snowybeagle

[snowybeagle]

[Thanks for the encouragement, Wei Feng]

When Zhū GāoChì died in Beijing in the 5th month of his first year (洪熙元年 AD 1425), the Crown Prince Zhū ZhānJī was appointed to Nanjing due to earthquake-proness. Zhū GāoXù laid on ambush for the Crown Prince who went north for the mourning and funeral, but the ambush failed.

Coincidentally, in the 7th month, there was an earthquake in Nanjing (References :明史 : 本纪第九 - 宣宗).

On the 1st day of the 8th month in AD 1425 (or 1426 according to some sources, not certain which), Zhū GāoXù staged his rebellion at LèĀn and organised his troops into 5 armies. He took personal command of the central army, appointed Wáng Bīn (王斌) in charge of the van, Wéi Dá (韦达) in charge of the left army, his own son and heir Zhū ZhānTăn (朱瞻坦) in charge of the rear army.

Zhū GāoXù also despatched his trusted confidant of Méi Qīng (枚青) to infiltrate the capital to secretly liase with Duke Zhāng Fú of YīngGuó (英国公张辅) to act as the fifth column. The same night he was contacted, Zhāng Fú had Méi Qīng apprehended and reported.

Another Imperial Inspector (御史) by the name of Lĭ Jùn (李浚) who was native to LèĀn also went to the capital to report the rebellion plot despite being in mourning for his father.

Instead of taking immediate action to crush the plot, the new emperor Zhū ZhānJī despatched an emissary (中官侯泰) bearing his seal and a letter to LèĀn, the letter stating that Méi Qīng had lodged a charge of rebellion against the Imperial prince (“昨枚青来言，叔督过朝廷，予诚不信”。), and incidentally, the capital had increased its security measures in response to rumours of banditry.

This warning and last chance of reprieve for Zhū GāoXù to stop his plot was ignored. Instead, Zhū GāoXù despatched a minor official in charge of a hundred household (百户) by the name of Chén Gāng (陈刚) to complain that the new emperor was going against tradition in appointing the civil officials and petition for the removal of "treacherous" ministers such as Xià YuánJí.

Seeing his imperial uncle committed to rebellion, the young emperor despatched Marquis Xuē Lù of YángWŭ (阳武侯薛禄) to suppress the uprising. Yáng Róng and Xià YuánJí advised the Zhū ZhānJī to lead the expedition in person, telling him that speed was of the essence and the rebellion could then be crushed in one blow (“兵贵神速，一鼓可平”). This was accepted by the new emperor.

[to be continued ...]

Edited by snowybeagle, 25 October 2005 - 08:25 PM.

[snowybeagle]

On the 10th day of the 8th month, the young emperor personally led the punitive military expedition compromising of troops from 5 armies, accompanied by his advisors, including Jiăn Yì, Yáng ShìQí, Xià YuánJí and Yáng Róng. Xuē Lù and Earl Wú of Chéng of QīngPíng (清平伯吴成) were appointed as the vanguards.

En route, the emperor asked his advisors, "What do you think will be his move when the Prince of Hàn learns of my personally leading this expedition?"

Some courtiers replied, "The fief city of the rebel, LèĀn, is too small. He would probably rush to seize JĭNán (济南, capital of present day Shandong province) as his base."

Emperor XuānZōng shook his head.

Another courtier suggested, "The Prince of Hàn lingered in Nanjing previously, putting off taking up his appointment. This time, he would surely march south."

Emperor XuānZōng disagreed again, and laughed, "JĭNán is in close proximity to LèĀn, but it is a strongly defended city and would not fall easily. As for Nanjing, the soldiers following the Prince of Hàn are native of LèĀn, the southern capital is far from their familiar grounds."

"The Prince of Hàn thought to take advantage of my youth and frighten me, trying to stir up chaos to his own gains. He displays a lot of bravado but is actually lacking in strategic thinking and quite nervous inside. When he learns I am actually taking the field myself, all his blustering will disappear and he will hole up in LèĀn. That is as good as waiting for death."

It happened as the emperor predicted. Zhū GāoXù was not unduly worried when he heard Xuē Lù appointed to lead a force to deal with him. But he panicked upon learning the emperor was leading an army in person.

The vanguard of the imperial punitive expedition arrived in LèĀn on the 19th of the 8th month, and the main force with the emperor in command arrived the day after.

Zhū GāoXù had originally got other military commanders into the conspiracy to rally to the uprising, including Jìn Róng, the military commander of Shandong (山东都指挥靳荣). These conspirators were prevented from acting by other senior officials of Shandong.

After besieging the city, the imperial forces deployed firearms, including the famed 神机铳箭, to use shock and awe tactic against the city.

The emperor then ordered letters calling for surrender to be shot into the city. The rebel's army became demoralised.

On the 21st day, Zhū GāoXù surrendered and was brought back to Beijing in chains. He was not executed but confined to a cell in a quarter ironically called Xiāo Yáo Chéng (逍遥城) or literally free-roaming city, located at the Gate of Western Peace (西安门).

One day, when the emperor visited him, Zhū GāoXù managed to trip the emperor and cause the latter to fall down. Enraged, the emperor ordered him to be weighed down by a huge jar of 300 catty (jīn, 斤, = 0.5 kg). Zhū GāoXù was a strong man who managed to lift the jar up. The emperor ordered his men to bring the rebel down and added coal into the jar, and burnt Zhū GāoXù alive in the jar.

Thus ended the rebellion of the Prince of Hàn. More than 2,000 people implicated were either executed or banished as corvees.

Epilogue
The Prince of Hàn's rebellion also implicated his younger brother Prince Zhū GāoSuì of Zhào (赵王朱高燧), the 3rd son of Zhū Dì. The Court ministers submitted a petition accusing the Prince of Zhào of colluding with the Prince of Hàn.

The Emperor had the petition sent to the Prince of Zhào, who fearfully gave up his military command of ChángShān Central Guards (常山中护卫).

Other imperial princes who had to respectively give up one or two of their military units were Zhū MèngWán - Prince Zhūang of Chŭ (楚庄王朱孟烷), Zhū YŏuYù - Prince Jìng of Shŭ (蜀靖王朱友堉), and Zhū ZhānYàn - Prince Sù Kāng (肃康王朱瞻焰).

Henceforth, reducing military powers of princes became permanent, and no increase was ever allowed. It made it difficult for the princes to ever stage another rebellion.

The emperor instituted other measures to restrict the powers of the imperial princes:
(1) Imperial princes were henceforth forbidden to interfere with the administration of the local authorities. Staff of the imperial prince were not allowed to be transferred elsewhere.

(2) Imperial princes were forbidden to have marriages between their household and the household of Imperial Court ministers and nobilities. They could only select marriages from the common populace, to prevent them from influencing Court affairs.

(3) Imperial princes and their household members were forbidden to go to the Imperial Capital on their own accord, even for official business. Heavy punishment for offenders include being reduced to commoner status.

(4) Imperial princes were forbidden to fraternise with each other. They were to remain in their appointed fiefs/marches.

(5) The honouring of ancestors during the QingMing Festival (清明), as well as marriage arrangements of their children, must be approved by the Imperial Court.

Faced with numerous restrictions which curtailed their influence in the military and in the Court, many princes turned towards literary or artistic pursuits, or holidaying. Some turned to commerce or become land-barons. Their numbers proliferated and many became tycoons. The Imperial Court continued to provide generous stipends, and this became a major burden on State finances.