In the last years of the Ming Dynasty, a Jurchen leader named Nurhachi was unstoppably unifying the Manchurian tribes. This iron-blooded general who later founded the Qing Dynasty, but when his career was in full swing, he made a decision that was puzzling to future generations: to execute his eldest son Chu Ying, who he relied on the most.
In the forty-third year of Wanli (1615), on the eve of the Mid-Autumn Festival, Nurhachi suddenly made a decision that shocked the entire Jurchen tribe: he wanted to execute his favorite eldest son, Chu Ying. This decision is undoubtedly earth-shattering, because Chu Ying is not only his successor, but also a great hero who has made great contributions in countless battles.
Chu Ying's fame is not in vain. Having followed his father on the battlefield since childhood, the teenage hero made his mark as early as the age of 17. He led his troops on the first expedition and won a great victory, taking many enemy villages in one fell swoop, and making great achievements. This not only made Nurhachi very happy, but also made Chu Ying a hot hero among the Jurchen tribe.
Chu Ying's military talent became more and more significant, and he was not only named "Baylor", but also given the name "Guangluo", which is an extremely rare honor among the Jurchen tribe. Especially in the Battle of Wujieyan in 1607, Chu Ying strategically defeated a strong enemy with his own strength, and this victory made his reputation even more sky-high.
Just when people thought that Chu Ying would indisputably inherit his father's mantle, things took a dramatic turn. Nurhachi began to doubt his eldest son's abilities and ambitions. Although Nurhachi had hoped to imitate the dynastic system of the Central Plains and let his eldest son inherit the throne, he was never at ease in his heart. He was worried that Chu Ying was narrow-minded and not enough to take on the heavy responsibility of governing the country.
Nurhachi's suspicions were not unfounded. According to the "Retranslation of Old Manchu Files", he felt that Chu Ying was not mellow enough in his actions, and often seemed too rigid and self-serving in handling government affairs. In Nurhachi's eyes, it is difficult for a leader with this personality to cope with the complex and volatile political situation, and even more difficult to maintain a fragile alliance with the various tribes.
Nurhachi had to make a painful choice. One night when the moon was high, he ordered the execution of his eldest son. This decision, although kept secret, quickly spread throughout the Jurchen tribe and caused an uproar. Chu Ying, who was originally regarded as the future leader, fell, and his tragic fate made countless people sigh.
The story behind this is far more complicated than it seems, though. Some historical sources mention that Chu Ying was very emotionally unstable after the death of his biological mother Zhan Tai, which is undoubtedly a huge hidden danger for leaders who need to be shrewd and calm. And Nurhachi, as a visionary ruler, needed internal stability far above all else.
It is said that before Chu Ying's execution, Nurhachi tried several times to persuade Chu Ying to change his way of dealing with the problem, but to no avail. In many political decisions, Chu Ying's extremism and straightforwardness attracted the disgust of many nobles, which was undoubtedly worse for Nurhachi. What he needed was a leader who could unite the Jurchen tribes closely, not an autocratic who could cause internal conflicts.
In addition to political considerations, Nurhachi's execution of Chu Ying may also involve concerns about the control and inheritance of power. Nurhachi had 16 sons, each with political ambitions and tribal support. In this case, any early distribution of power could become the trigger for a future civil war. Nurhachi knew that if he named an heir too soon, he could provoke discontent and revolt among other potential heirs.
On the scales of power, Nurhachi had to weigh each of them with the utmost care. Chu Ying's character and behavior obviously no longer meet Nurhachi's expectations for the future monarch. It may seem to many to be a brutal political reckoning, but in an era of intrigue and bloodshed, such decisions may have been made for greater stability and long-term planning.
Nurhachi's decision has undoubtedly left a strong mark in history. Chu Ying's tragedy is not only the collapse of personal fate, but also a microcosm of the complex relationship between power struggles and family responsibilities. In those times of change, every decision could make or break a race. Nurhachi's choice, though brutal, also demonstrates the historical responsibility that a monarch must bear at a critical juncture.