User:Wnq0516/Jingnan Campaign

Jingnan Campaign or Jingnan Rebellion was the civil war in Ming Dynasty. On August 6, 1399, Prince of Yan, Zhu Di, who hold the strongest forces of all princes dissatisfy with cutting down the prince’s reign and raised an army rebellion. The war lasted three years. On July 13, 1402, Zhudi’s army captured the capital, Nanjing. Jianwen Emperor disappeared, and Zhu Di boarded the throne, and is known as Yongle Emperor.

Background
The first Ming emperor, zhu yuan zhuang in order to consolidate the rule of himself and sons, so he set up twenty-five princes to govern twenty-five regions throughout the country with security armies. The number can vary from 3,000 to 9,000. The princes stationed in the north side of the border (Liao Ning, Yan Gu, Dai, Jin, Qin, Qing, Su) have greater military power, such as ning have a army of 80,000. In 1398, the first Ming emperor died, and Zhu Yunwen, the grandson of the first emperor, gets the throne known as Jianwen emperor. Jianwen emperor fears the power of each prince particular Prince Yan he discusses with his ministers Qi Tai and Huang Zicheng about cutting down each prince’s power. They decide to cut the Prince with weaker power and then cut the power of the largest prince, Prince Yan Zhu Di, and make all princes not to control civil and military officers in their regions. Jian wen emperor monitors Zhu Di, and took the opportunity to arrest him. But Zhu Di to get this message, and kills the officers that Jianwen emperor sends, In 1399 July Zhudi revolted against the Ming central government. The first Ming emperor gives the right of the prince to clear the bad ministers with military force to help the central government control. Zhu Di use this as an excuse, state that Qi tai and Huang Zicheng is the traitors, and need to be punished, and name his actions as " Jingnan" which means pacify disaster.

Main Campaign
In the beginning, Zhudi’s north army have only area around Beijing, the strength is very weak, on the other hand the central government is overwhelming, has advantages in every sides. So Jianwen emperor intended to use superior force to surround and annihilate the north army in Beijing. Zhu Di focused on the local area first, he quickly control north of Beijing, Huailai, Miyun and east of Ji Zhou, Zunhua, Yongping, and other areas, wiped away the periphery of Beijing. After the first emperor’s mass killings, there not much generals are available, Zhu Yunwen had to use an old general, Geng Bingwen. Let him command 130,000 troops to attack Zhudi. In August, the south army moves to the Hebei Hutuo river region. Zhudi attack the vanguard units of south Army in mid-Autumn in XiongXian and defeat their main force in the north side of Hutuo River. After hear the news of defeat of Geng Bingwen, Jianwen emperor change the general to Li Jinglong, son of Li Wenzhong according to Huang Zicheng’s recommendation.

In September, Li Jinglong drive the army to Dezhuo, gather Geng Bingwen’s the remaining troops, and summon the troop from other areas in total of 500,000, stations at Hejian. When Zhu Di detected the Lijing Long’s deployment of the army, he find out that south side have five weaknesses, no order, shortage in supply, pushing the force too deep, troops lack of courage and without unity. Zhu Di order Yao Guangxiao to assist Zhu Gaochi defend Beijing, he lead a force attack Yongping. After controls the Yongping, Zhudi heads towards Daning. Daning is the land of Prince Ning, Zhuquan. He owns army of Mongol horsemen, brave and fierce. After breaks Daning, Zhu Di takes Prince Ning as hostage back to Beijing, merged his Mongol army. In November, he breaks Li Jinglong’s siege of Beijing. Li Jinglong retreats and flees back to Dezhuo.

In April 1400, Li Jinglong assembles the troops with Guo Ying, Wu Jiedeng with total of 600,000 men. Both armies engage at Baigou River, after intense fighting, the south side defeats again. Li Jinglong again recedes to Dezhuo. After north force chases to Dezhuo. Lijing Long flees to Jinan in May. Zhudi siege the city for three months without any progress, then he retreats back to Beijing. Jianwen emperor removed duty of Li Jianlong, and let General Sheng Yong replace him. Shengyong stationed the troop in Dezhuo, to defend the north troop. In September 1400, Shengyong push his force north, and defeat at Changzhou in October. In December both armies face again at Dongchang, the north army repeatedly underestimate the enemy, defeated by the south army, generals Zhang Yu killed in the battle, Zhu Di himself was surrounded save by the Zhuneng’s reinforcements. The south army made the first major victory. In 1401, Zhu Di leads his army battle and defeat the south army for several times. But he still only gains control of Beijing, Baoding and Yongping. While Zhu Di is frustrated, he is advised not to siege the cities over Shandong regions, but headed towards the Jinling, since Jinling is potential weak and unprepared, the operation will be successful. So Zhu Di decided to jump across the Shandong and destroy Jinling. Zhu Di decided accordingly went south, directly at the capital.

In 1402, the north troop pushes into Shandong, instead of attack they cross Jinan, breaks to Donga, Wenshang, Zouxian, Peixian, Xuzhou, straight south. After they pass Xuzhou, the south army starts to chase them. In April, north army arrives in Suzhou, and fight with south army at Qimei Mount, and north army defeats. Both sides are locked in a stalemate at the Fei River River. In this critical moment, Jianwen emperor transfer the Xuhui Zu’s army back to Nanjing to defense, this weakened the military force of front line. North army seizes the opportunity defeated Southern Army in Lingbi. Zhu Di led his army crush the defense line of Huai River, and pass Yangzhou, Gaoyou, Tongzhou, Taizhou and other important places, and ready to across Yangtze River. At this time, the son of Zhu Di, Zhu Gaoxu arrives and join army to his force, this boost the morale of is north troops. Jianwen emperor wants to make peace with Zhudi, Zhudi refused. On June third, North army cross the river from Guazhuo, Zhenjiang City defender surrenders, Zhu Di led his army directly towards Jinling. Li Jinglong and Prince Gu surrender to Zhu Di and open the door to him. He head into the capital, all the officials knee him alone the side of the roads and support him as the emperor, named as Yongle Emperor or Yongle reign.

Aftermath
After Zhudi got the throne, he massive kills the officers, ministers and generals who support the Jianwen emperor or disagree with him as emperor include their relatives. Jianwen emperor himself get disappeared.