In the process of entering the Qing Dynasty, several Han generals played a great role, and they were crowned kings by the Qing Dynasty, the most famous of which was San Fan, namely Wu Sangui, the king of Pingxi, Shang Kexi, the king of Pingnan, and Geng Zhongming, the king of Jingnan. Among the Three Domains, Wu Sangui died of illness after the rebellion, and Shang Kexi was imprisoned and died by his son, but Geng Zhongming committed suicide! Geng Zhongming did not participate in the San Francisco Rebellion because he died earlier. So, why did Geng Zhongming commit suicide?
First, the Ming will be lowered
Geng Zhongming was a native of Gaizhou, who surrendered to Jin in the early years and later defected to Mao Wenlong, who was stationed on Phi Island. At that time, Mao Wenlong admired Geng Zhongming, adopted him as an adopted grandson, and gave him the name Mao Youjie. In 1629, Mao Wenlong was killed, and Geng Zhongming was transferred to Shandong to serve as a staff general under Inspector Sun Yuanhua. In 1631, the Ming Dynasty broke out the "Wuqiao Mutiny", Kong Youde and Geng Zhongming joined forces with the outside world, and took Dengzhou in one fell swoop, making the Ming Dynasty miserable.
In 1633, Kong Youde and Geng Zhongming were forced to flee to the sea under the blows of the Ming army, and then surrendered to Houjin. Emperor Taiji personally went out of the city to greet him, and "awarded Geng Zhongming the title of Chief Soldier and His Soldier Heavenly Soldier". After that, Emperor Taiji also sent Geng Zhongming and Kong Youde to garrison Liaoyang. In 1636, Emperor Taiji proclaimed himself Emperor, changed the name of the country to Qing, and he crowned Geng Zhongming as the King of Huaishun. After that, Geng Zhongming led his troops to follow emperor Taiji to "go out to cut down the Ming dynasty and fight for Korea".
2. Meritorious service in entering the customs
In 1644, Geng Zhongming followed the regent Dolgun into Shanhaiguan to pursue and kill Li Zicheng's army. After that, Geng Zhongming fought with Duo Duo, the Prince of Yu, "to the west to li zicheng and to move to Dingjiangnan". After the return of the banshi to the dynasty, Geng Zhongming was praised by the Qing Dynasty, "Sable Qiu, Python Clothing, Good Horse, Golden Hundred and Two, Platinum Ten Thousand Two Sable Qiu, Python Clothing, Good Horse, Golden Hundred Two, Platinum Ten Thousand Two". In 1646, the Qing Dynasty sent Kong Youde, Geng Zhongming, and Shang Kexi to lead troops to conquer the Yongli regime of the Southern Ming.
Geng Zhongming has made a lot of military achievements.""
He fought with the Ming general Yang Guodong at Cowhide Beach and broke through the counties of Keheng Prefecture, Qiyang, and Wugang; and won the Ming general Guo Zhaoji
”。 In 1648, Geng Zhongming and others were ordered to return to the dynasty. After returning to Beijing, the three princes of the clan were again rewarded, and their titles were changed, and Geng Zhongming "changed the title of King of Jingnan and gave him the golden seal of the golden book.". In 1649, the Qing Dynasty sent three more clan kings to march south, and Geng Zhongming "combined 2,500 old soldiers and 7,500 new soldiers into 10,000 people" and was ordered to conquer Guangdong.
Third, commit suicide in fear of sin
However, Before Geng Zhongming arrived in Guangdong, he committed suicide in Ji'an, Jiangxi! It turned out that shortly after Geng Zhongming set out, officials of the Punishment Department impeached Geng Zhongming."
His subordinates, Mei le Zhangjing, Chen Shaozong, and other longitudinal guards escaped and deserved to die
”。 At the beginning of the Qing Dynasty' entry into the customs, a large number of land was occupied and Zhuangding was abducted as a serf, which led to the problem of "fleeing people". So the rulers of the Qing Dynasty formulated a harsh "Fugitive Law", stipulating that "
The fugitives nested the fa, and the wife's family property was not given to the Lord
”。
After being impeached by the officials of the Punishment Department, the rulers of the Qing Dynasty ordered Geng Zhongming to investigate the situation of the fugitives in the army, "to check the fugitives who have fled with the soldiers, and to return to hiding." As a result, there were actually more than three hundred "fugitives" in Geng Zhongming's army. Imperial court officials discussed that Geng Zhongming should be stripped of his title, but the rulers of the Qing Dynasty did not agree, saying that they wanted to pardon Geng Zhongming. Before Geng Zhongming could get news from the imperial court, he committed suicide in fear of his sins.
Resources:
1. Draft History of the Qing Dynasty; 2. Biography of the History of the Qing Dynasty