Xu Da, as the founding military commander of the Ming Dynasty, was deeply relied upon by Zhu Yuanzhang. In the process of defeating Chen Youyu, eliminating Zhang Shicheng, and overthrowing the Yuan Dynasty, he could be said to have made great achievements in battle, and he was even enfeoffed as the Duke of Wei. And even in his personal life, after the death of Xu Da's wife Zhang Shi, Zhu Yuanzhang was the master to marry Xie Zaixing's second daughter to Xu Da. After his death, Zhu Yuanzhang posthumously awarded him the title of King of Zhongshan, and also deserved to enjoy the Taimiao Temple, which was the first meritorious hero of the founding of the Ming Dynasty. According to the Ming Shilu, there were four sons and four daughters. After Xu Da's death, his eldest son Xu Huizu inherited the title of Duke of Wei, while his fourth son, Xu Zengshou, became the Governor of Zuo.
But what followed was an insight into the importance of choice. At the beginning of his rise to power, the Jianwen Emperor Zhu Yunjiao began to cut the domain. And his uncle Zhu Di, among all the princes, was strong and had a hidden heart of disobedience.
And the words are divided into two ends, the eldest daughter of the Xu Family, Xu Shi married Zhu Di. He also had an in-law relationship, and Xu Huizu, the Duke of Wei, chose to side with Emperor Jianwen and support his actions to cut the domain, but the fourth son, Xu Zengshou, chose to support Zhu Di, the King of Yan. In the face of Emperor Jianwen's questioning, he chose to cover up for Zhu Di: "The King of Yan was born noble, and he and His Majesty are flesh and blood relatives, and they are prosperous and rich, so why should they rebel?" ”
In 1399, Zhu Di raised an army with the "Side of the Qing Dynasty". Even so, Emperor Jianwen still did not blame Xu Zengshou, who was opened by Zhu Di, the King of Yan, but it was a pity that "the benevolence of women" was never a big deal. Emperor Jianwen, who had an army of 500,000, appointed Li Jinglong and others, so that the situation took a sharp turn for the worse. And Xu Zengshou has also been secretly transmitting information on the capital to Zhu Di, and even more so, sending out the information that the Beijing division is empty and can be taken directly.
In 1402, Zhu Di had already crossed the river, and emperor Jianwen, who realized it later, realized his disobedience and asked him if he had ventilated the news, Xu Zengshou naturally did not dare to answer, and the angry Jianwen Emperor personally swung his sword and beheaded him. In the Ming Shi Gong Min Emperor Benji, it is said: "The Yan soldiers invaded the Jinchuan Gate, and xu Zengshou, the governor of zuo, plotted internal responses and ambushed him. ”
Unfortunately, at this time, for Emperor Jianwen, the trend has gone. And when Zhu Di entered the palace and saw the brother-in-law next to the corpse road, he couldn't help but cry in the sky, and he was able to win the victory in the Battle of Jingnan, it can be said that the brother-in-law was the most powerful. He was posthumously created the Duke of Dingguo, which was succeeded by his 15-year-old son Xu Jingchang.
In this way, Xu Da's family is "one door and two gong". Empress Xu was even more resolute in her opposition, but Zhu Di was deeply impressed by his merits and insisted on being knighted.
Duke Guo of Wei, Xu Huizu, although also Zhu Di's brother-in-law. However, he did not support Zhu Di's rebellion and seizure of power, and even insisted on refusing to welcome him, and was imprisoned by Zhu Di and stripped of his titles and titles. In 1407, he died. Zhu Di also had his affection and had his eldest son succeed the Duke of Wei. However, his eldest son Xu Qin was not pleased with Zhu Di, and was deposed by him until emperor Akihito succeeded to the throne, and then restored to the throne. The Duke of Wei has inherited 11 generations since Xu Daqi.
Xu Jingchang, the Duke of Dingguo, acted arbitrarily from the beginning, and Zhu Di was particularly conniving, but during the reign of Emperor Akihito, he took his duke, but soon recovered. In the next 200 years, the Duke of Dingguo passed down 9 generations, and when Li Zicheng attacked the city of Beijing, it was his heir Xu Yunzhen who opened the Desheng Gate and was later executed by Li Zicheng.
Looking at the many heroes of the Hongwu years, only Xu Da's descendants can have two dukes, although the Duke of Wei and the Duke of Dingguo live in two places, and the Duke of Dingguo is more loved by the emperor, even if the Wanli Dynasty is faced with advice, the Wanli Emperor also ignored it. On the other hand, the descendants of the Duke of Wei, even those who were wise and wise, were not valued. What caused this difference of more than 200 years was undoubtedly the choice of Xu Da's two sons, Xu Zengshou and Xu Huizu, on the basis of the Battle of Jing.
Reference: Ming Shi Vol. 125 Liechuan XIII