On the battlefield filled with smoke and dust, the battle flag of the Ming army fluttered, marking the arrival of a new era. It was an exciting moment in history – the Ming army had invaded the core of the Yuan Dynasty, Dadu, heralding the decline of a powerful empire. However, at this seemingly decisive turning point, the fate of the Yuan Dynasty did not end as quickly as expected. On the contrary, it unexpectedly lasted for decades under the crucial decisions of an emperor. This emperor is Emperor Yuan Shun, and his escape is not only a personal escape, but also a turning point in the fate of an empire.
The second year of Hongwu: a key turning point in the Ming-Yuan dispute
In June of the second year of Hongwu, the summer sun shone on the city wall of Daning Prefecture, and the banner of the Ming army on the city wall hunted in the breeze. Ming soldiers patrolled the city walls, their steps firm, their eyes shining with victory. On this day, the occupation of Daning Prefecture by the Ming army marked a major victory for the Yuan Dynasty. The inhabitants of the city walked cautiously through the streets, their expressions filled with fear and curiosity, and they whispered and discussed the new ruler.
Immediately afterwards, the Ming army quickly shifted the battlefield and attacked Xinkailing. The battle of Xinkailing was even more intense, and the soldiers of the Ming army and the Yuan Dynasty fought to the death in the mountains and forests. Arrows flew like rain, and swords collided with each other with a clanging sound. Under the command of Zhu Yuanzhang, the Ming army showed extremely high combat effectiveness and tenacious will. The defenders of Xinkailing were defeated by the onslaught of the Ming army and were finally forced to surrender.
The victory of the Ming army in Xinkailing made their troops point directly at the heart of the Yuan Dynasty - Shangdu. When the news reached Shangdu, the whole city was thrown into chaos. The soldiers and officials of the Yuan Dynasty hurried around the city, delivering the shocking news. Citizens gathered in the streets, privately discussing their impending fate, their voices filled with fear and uncertainty.
In the court of the Yuan Dynasty, Emperor Yuan Shun urgently summoned his ministers to discuss countermeasures. In the main hall of the palace, the ministers gathered with serious faces. They debated different strategies, but in the end, none of them could come up with effective solutions.
Emperor Yuan Shun's dilemma and decision-making
As the ministers spoke one by one, an atmosphere of heaviness and disappointment permeated the room. Anxiety and despair were written on everyone's face. Emperor Yuan Shun listened in silence to their discussion, but none of the proposals could move him or give him a glimmer of hope.
Finally, Emperor Yuan Shun stood up, his voice low but firm: "Since you can't hold it, then retreat." "The decision, while painful, seemed to be the only option under the circumstances.
The order to retreat soon spread throughout Shangdu. Officials began to rush to pack their belongings and arrange for the evacuation of their families. In every corner of the city, scenes of tension and panic can be seen.
Emperor Yuan Shun stood on the walls of Shangdu for the last time before leaving, looking out over the capital that he was about to lose. On the city walls, the flags of the Yuan Dynasty fluttered in the wind, and the houses and streets in the city seemed unusually quiet. The entourage beside Emperor Yuan Shun stood silently, and no one spoke.
Eventually, in the midst of chaos and worry, Emperor Yuan Shun rode in his carriage and slowly left Shangdu. The carriage drove along the dusty road in the direction of Yingchang. Along the way, Emperor Yuan Shun saw the panicked faces of the people and the fleeing crowd, all of which deeply pierced his heart.
After arriving in Yingchang, Emperor Yuan Shun was once again faced with a difficult choice. Ying Chang's palace is much smaller than the above, and it seems a little narrow and simple. Emperor Yuan Shun summoned the remaining loyal ministers in the palace to discuss whether to continue to flee north and flee to Horin.
Ying Chang's strategic choice
An elderly minister was the first to speak, pointing to the direction of Horin on the map and suggesting that he flee north to Horin to preserve his strength. His voice was steady and firm, but there was a sense of helpless reality in his words.
Immediately afterwards, a military general stood up against the idea of fleeing north. He believed that he should stay in Yingchang and continue to resist the Ming army. His attitude was resolute, and his tone was full of fighting spirit. He succinctly analyzed the military advantages of remaining in Yingchang, although these advantages were not obvious.
Next, another minister spoke, and he proposed a compromise strategy, suggesting that the defense at Yingchang should be secured first, and at the same time send envoys north to Holin to explore a way out. His proposal sought to balance the two extremes, but it also exposed the hesitation of decision-making at the end of the Yuan dynasty.
The last speaker was a civil servant, who drew attention to the influence of popular sentiment. His tone was gentle, but there was a deep apprehension in his words. He spoke of the long-term damage that could be done to the Yuan dynasty's influence among the people if he retreated to Horin.
Emperor Yuan Shun listened quietly to their discussion and did not respond immediately. The air in the hall was unusually heavy. Everyone's expressions were serious, and the atmosphere was tense.
After the meeting, Emperor Yuan Shun was left alone in the palace. He stood up and walked over to the map, staring at the lines and markings on it. His gaze wandered between He Lin and Ying Chang.
At this time, a close guard entered the hall and reported the latest situation outside to Emperor Yuan Shun. He told Emperor Yuan Shun that Xue Xian, the general of the Ming army, had led his army out of Gubeikou and was approaching in the direction of Yingchang. The news made the atmosphere in the conference room even more tense.
The news quickly spread throughout Yingchang City, and officials and soldiers began to discuss it nervously. Some ministers began to persuade Emperor Yuan Shun to abandon Yingchang and flee north to Horin. They put forward their opinions to Emperor Yuan Shun, but Emperor Yuan Shun still did not make a decision immediately.
Defeat and Flight to the North: Emperor Yuan Shun's Last Struggle
Meanwhile, on the battlefield, Treb and Khonsing commanded their troops, trying to stabilize the tide of the battle. However, as the battle continued, the Yuan army's army suffered heavy losses and morale gradually declined. During the battle, Deleber was hit by the arrows of the Ming army and fell to the ground with serious injuries, Kong Xing saw this and led the remaining soldiers to retreat.
Li Wenzhong commanded well on the battlefield, and his army showed extremely high combat effectiveness and strict discipline in this campaign. After defeating the Yuan generals, Li Wenzhong ordered his troops to pursue the enemy forces and ensure the complete crushing of the Yuan resistance.
The defeat of this battle was catastrophic for the Yuan Dynasty. When the news reached Huichang, the entire imperial court shook. When Emperor Yuan Shun received the news, he was reviewing the documents. In the court, there was an uproar, and the ministers looked at each other and were at a loss.
Emperor Yuan Shun's flight north represented the dashing of the Yuan Dynasty's last hope for the Central Plains. He left Yingchang in a hurry with a small group of cronies and guards. They rode through the wilderness and valleys to avoid the pursuit of the Ming army. The fleeing procession was bumpy and dusty on the rugged mountain road.
On the way, Emperor Yuan Shun's procession passed through a number of small villages and towns. The villagers looked in horror at the flamboyantly dressed but exhausted procession. They were whispering and discussing what was happening, but no one dared to come closer.
Emperor Yuan Shun stopped at a humble post station on the way to escape. He sat around with his entourage, hurriedly eating dry food and cold water. At this time, a messenger arrived in a hurry, and he brought more news about the movements of the Ming army.
As Emperor Yuan Shun fled north, the news became more and more difficult to deliver. His ranks grew smaller, and many ministers and generals chose to leave or were arrested. Emperor Yuan Shun's authority and influence declined dramatically, and his regime remained in name only.
On the way, Emperor Yuan Shun would occasionally stop to take in the surrounding mountains and rivers. He looked at the mountains and rivers in the distance, but his eyes gradually lost their sharpness.
When Emperor Yuan Shun arrived in Horin, he was no longer leading a powerful empire, but a tired army. He was greeted by the Mongol tribal leaders of Horin, but their eyes no longer had the reverence of Emperor Yuan Shun in their eyes.
In Helin, Emperor Yuan Shun's life became simple and low-key. He lived in an inconspicuous palace, and his days were peaceful and monotonous. He would occasionally summon the remaining loyal ministers to discuss state affairs, but these discussions could not change anything.
Emperor Yuan Shun's flight north marked the end of an era, and the Yuan Dynasty's centuries-long rule in the Central Plains came to an end. This historical turning point is not only the personal fate of Emperor Yuan Shun, but also an important chapter in the entire Yuan Dynasty and even Chinese history.
The legacy and historical evaluation of the Yuan Dynasty
In the process of Emperor Yuan Shun's flight north to Horin, although he could not retain the rule of the Central Plains, he succeeded in bringing the power of the Yuan Dynasty to the north, which meant that the Great Yuan regime could continue for several more decades for the Mongols. In Horin, Emperor Yuan Shun re-established the core of his power, although it was far less glorious than it once was.
In Horin, Emperor Yuan Shun and his retinue began to rebuild government institutions. In a humble palace, they re-established the functioning of the imperial court. Emperor Yuanshun's ministers began to organize their archives and record the decrees, although they were not as influential as they once were.
Emperor Yuan Shun also tried to rebuild the army. He summoned the remaining Mongol nobles and generals to discuss the possibility of rebuilding military power. In a rudimentary tent, they discussed recruiting soldiers, training war horses, although all this was done in difficult conditions.
In addition, Emperor Yuan Shun also tried to rebuild relations with neighboring tribes and countries through diplomatic means. He sent emissaries to various Mongol tribes, as well as to countries bordering Horin, hoping to gain support and recognition.
During the days of Helin, Emperor Yuan Shun's regime gradually stabilized. His government, though small in size and limited in influence, struggled to maintain some of the basic institutions and cultural traditions of the Yuan dynasty. In the court, the courtiers and civil officials still maintained the etiquette and rituals of the Yuan Dynasty, although all this seemed a little lonely.
At the same time, Emperor Yuan Shun also continued to formulate domestic policies in Helin. He is concerned about people's livelihood issues and tries to solve the problems of displacement and food shortages. At the court meetings, the ministers discussed how to increase agricultural production and how to resettle the displaced people.
In addition, Emperor Yuan Shun also attached great importance to the development of culture and education. He encouraged the spread of Confucianism and Buddhism and supported academic research. In a modest academy in Horin, scholars continue to study classical texts and impart knowledge.
Emperor Yuan Shun also struggled to maintain diplomatic ties with the Ming Dynasty in the south. He sent emissaries to the south with a message of peace, although these efforts did not receive a positive response from the Ming dynasty.
In Horin, Emperor Yuan Shun managed to preserve the political and cultural heritage of the Yuan dynasty, although he lost the land of the Central Plains. His regime, although limited in size and influence, maintained the continuation of the Yuan dynasty in Mobei, leaving an important chapter in the history of the Mongols.
Although this history may seem like a failure at the time, from a longer-term perspective, Emperor Yuan Shun's flight north and efforts in Helin did contribute to the historical and cultural inheritance of the Mongolian people. His actions preserved part of the legacy of the Yuan dynasty and provided the basis for the later development of Mongolian history.
In the last years of his reign, although the regime of Emperor Yuan Shun gradually dimmed, he still insisted on maintaining the traditions of the Yuan dynasty. Under his leadership, although the Yuan Dynasty lost the rule of the Central Plains, it did not completely disappear, and it was always necessary for the early years of Yongle after the accession of Guilichi to the throne, under his announcement, the Great Yuan was completely dissolved, and the title of emperor was canceled to restore the title of the earliest Mongolian Khan.
"Yuan History", "Ming History"