When we mention Zhu Yuanzhang of Ming Taizu, we always mention his ruthless side. He is cruel and treats heroes as well as he treats revenge.
However, he was unusually merciful to his subordinates. Especially for Chen Youliang's son, his tolerant behavior is even more jaw-dropping.
So, how did Zhu Yuanzhang deal with the son of his enemy? Wasn't he afraid of endless troubles?
All of the information stated in this article is based on reliable sources of information and is detailed at the end of the article.
The controversy between Zhu and Chen
At the end of the Yuan Dynasty, the peasants revolted, and the heroes were divided, among which Zhu Yuanzhang, Chen Youliang, and Zhang Shicheng were the most powerful.
Among them, there are irreconcilable contradictions between Zhu Yuanzhang and Chen Youliang.
Zhu Yuanzhang planned to go north to the Central Plains and overthrow the rule of the Yuan Dynasty; And Chen Youliang is determined to protect himself, and he is wary of Zhu Yuanzhang, who has a clear anti-Yuan attitude.
In 1360, Chen Youliang occupied Hunan and Hubei, and was called the King of Han, at this time the third force Zhang Shicheng also rose and occupied the lower reaches of the Yangtze River.
Zhu Yuanzhang was sandwiched between the two armies of Zhang and Chen in Jiangnan, and his situation was precarious.
Zhu Yuanzhang was worried that Chen Youliang and Zhang Shicheng would unite and start a decisive battle with Chen Youliang.
In this battle, Chen Youliang relied on his strong soldiers and bravery, and lightly advanced the enemy, and ordered all the warships to be chained together to show his momentum.
This gave Zhu Yuanzhang an opportunity.
Zhu Yuanzhang took the opportunity to fill seven small boats with straw, ignited and rushed to the main fleet of Chen's army.
In an instant, the fire spread, and more than 100 of Chen Youliang's giant ships were reduced to ashes. Chen Youliang was defeated without a fight, and the victory at Poyang Lake made Zhu Yuanzhang's prestige great.
Although Chen Youliang was defeated, he refused to accept it, and then led heavy troops to counterattack. The two sides launched a battle of the Baili River at Poyang Lake, and the battle was dark. Chen Youliang was defeated and was seriously wounded in the battle, and died soon after.
Why didn't Zhu Yuanzhang kill Chen Li?
After the Battle of Poyang Lake, Chen Youliang's subordinates appointed his son Chen Li as emperor and defended Wuchang. At this time, Chen Li was just a 14-year-old ignorant teenager.
In the first month of 1372, Zhu Yuanzhang personally led a large army to attack Wuchang. The situation is extremely unfavorable to Chen Li, and the day of the city's destruction is just around the corner. When he really faced the pressure of Zhu Yuanzhang's army, the young Chen Li had to raise the white flag and surrender.
It stands to reason that Zhu Yuanzhang should go on a killing spree at this time and wipe out the Chen family to prevent future troubles. After all, the lord of the founding of the country has never had much tolerance for the orphans of the enemy country, and mostly kills to prevent future troubles.
However, to everyone's surprise, Zhu Yuanzhang showed mercy to Chen Li's subordinates, not only did not kill him, but named him the Marquis of Guide. This is very different from Zhu Yuanzhang's brutal image in the future.
There are two main reasons for this:
First, Zhu Yuanzhang wanted to establish the image of a benevolent, righteous and generous monarch.
He has just completed reunification and needs to reassure the people. Mass killings will undoubtedly arouse popular discontent and can easily arouse hostility.
Letting go of Chen Li can show that he is magnanimous and benevolent in his administration, so as to calm people's hearts.
Second, Zhu Yuanzhang hopes to avoid Chen Li from causing trouble in the future.
Chen Youliang has a wide range of subordinates, and once Chen Li is killed, it is likely to arouse their resonance and even resistance. Letting them go can weaken their sense of rebellion.
Combined with the envelope, it can avoid recurrence.
However, he is still young, and he also has a lot of trouble with Zhu Yuanzhang in his heart. In front of Zhu Yuanzhang, Chen Li sometimes behaved disrespectfully, and often revealed dissatisfaction in his words.
Over time, Chen Li's existence made Zhu Yuanzhang extremely angry.
An unreasonable little emperor dangles under his nose, in case he is bewitched by others one day and causes a catastrophe, it will be more than worth the loss.
So Zhu Yuanzhang decided to take action and send Chen Li away from the future forever.
Chen Li began to live in Goryeo
In 1372, Zhu Yuanzhang sent 22-year-old Chen Li to be escorted to Goryeo in the far east along with another deceased monarch, Myeongsheng.
Goryeo is located on the Korean Peninsula, far away from Nanjing, which is just the right place for Chen Li to be placed at the ends of the earth and supervised for a long time. Zhu Yuanzhang also sent envoys many times to express condolences, asking Goryeo to treat Chen Li well and relieve him of his worries.
When he first arrived in Goryeo, Chen Li was treated very well. The king of Goryeo personally received him, named him "King Chen", arranged for him to be escorted by the army, and his food, clothing, housing and transportation were very good.
However, the good times did not last long, and the Goryeo Dynasty was soon overthrown by Yi Sung-gye, and the new dynasty's attitude towards Chen Li plummeted.
King Li directly deprived Chen Li of his power and treatment, kicked him off the throne, and only gave him a small amount of grain and land, allowing him to farm and make a living by himself.
From a small emperor to a self-made poor peasant, this blow to Chen Li can be imagined.
He was pampered and didn't understand the rough work in the rice fields. At first, there were large and small blisters on his hands, and then they were simply covered with calluses.
But in order to survive, Chen Li could only endure humiliation and work in the fields.
It's not easy to live under the fence. He spent a short life of poverty in Goryeo and died in a foreign country at the age of 45.
Although Chen Li was in a miserable situation in Goryeo, his son Chen Mingshan married a local woman and had children, and integrated into the Korean nation.
Today, there are many families surnamed Chen in South Korea, and they all claim to be the descendants of Chen Li. These Koreans with the surname Chen can be found in Seoul, Busan and other places, and have become a big surname in South Korea.
After the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and South Korea, these South Korean people surnamed Chen returned to China to find their roots, claiming to find their ancestors. They came to Chen Youliang's hometown of Jiangxi, held a cocktail party, and recognized their ancestors and returned to their ancestors in a high-profile manner.
Although it is impossible to fully verify their blood relationship, the descendants of Chen Li are indeed prosperous.
epilogue
Zhu Yuanzhang's handling of the virtuous and avoiding taboos not only shows benevolence and tolerance, but also demonstrates his political foresight. Chen Youliang was a big trouble, but Zhu Yuanzhang did not put him to death, but transferred out of his homeland to prevent future troubles.
This move reflects benevolence and seeks the overall situation, which can provide reference for the wisdom of future monarchs.
Zhu Yuanzhang's way of letting go of the virtuous and avoiding taboos, comprehensively using benevolent government and vigilance, and being open-minded and tolerant to resolve crises is exactly where the true meaning of "benevolent people are far from harming others".
bibliography
[1] "History of the Ming Dynasty": This child is too small to hear, afraid of being bewitched by small people, and is not full of grace, and it is suitable to be in a distant place.
[2] "History of the Ming Dynasty, Volume One Hundred and Twenty-Three, Biography Eleventh": Taizu Ping Wuchang, Feng Pucai Cheng Enhou, Friends Rich Return to Renbo, Friends Zhi Huai Enbo, Gift Friends Renkang Mountain King, Ordered to set up a temple to worship it, and to be a friend of Gui.
[3] "Taizong Gongding King Record Volume 15.8 December Yisi": ○ Yisi, Shunde Hou Chen Li. The son of the Rational Friendship is also. There is a son who is said to be good. and died, 50 stones of rice beans, 100 rolls of paper, and a coffin, which was still reported to the Ministry of Rites.
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