Zhu Yuanzhang was deeply disturbed by the power of the ministers and nobles and the misdeeds of some of the newly promoted elites, especially the treachery of his former comrades-in-arms and old generals, and suspected that they would covet the throne. Therefore, after he ascended the throne, he carried out a large-scale killing of the former heroes, and almost all of his old friends who had fought side by side with him were cut down by him, including Hu Weiyong, Song Lian, Xu Da, Lan Yu, Li Shanchang, Fu Youde, Feng Sheng and others, none of whom were spared his cruel hands.
Hu Weiyong (?——1380), who followed Zhu Yuanzhang in his early years, was deeply trusted by him. The latter officials worship the prime minister, and the power leans towards the government and the opposition. With the expansion of power, Hu Weiyong became more and more arrogant and domineering, appointing and dismissing officials without authorization. He also colluded with Lu Zhongheng, the Marquis of Ji'an, and Fei Ju, the Marquis of Pingliang, who were punished for their crimes, in an attempt to recruit troops and buy horses abroad, in an attempt to misbehave. In the first month of 1380, Tu Jie and the provincial officials of Zhongshu wrote to accuse Hu Weiyong of rebellion. Zhu Yuanzhang executed Hu Weiyong, Tu Jie, Chen Ning and others on charges of "illegally framing virtuous people" and "sabotaging politics". In order to eliminate the "anti-party", more than 30,000 people were implicated and killed. Hu Weiyong's case made Zhu Yuanzhang have great suspicion of the heroes and generals around him, which triggered a bloody purge.
Song Lian (1310-1381) came from a poor family but was tireless in learning. In 1360, he, along with Liu Ji, Zhang Yi, and Ye Chen, was hired by Zhu Yuanzhang as a teacher of the "Five Classics". During the Hongwu period, he presided over the compilation of the "History of the Yuan", and the official to the bachelor undertook the order to know the system. Later, because he was involved in the Hu Weiyong case, he was demoted to Maozhou and died of illness on the way.
Xu Da (1332-1385), the founding minister of the Ming Dynasty, was brave and resolute, brave and strategic, and governed the army strictly. He commanded the army many times, fought in the north and south, and made great achievements, and was praised by Zhu Yuanzhang as the "Great Wall". However, Zhu Yuanzhang was still suspicious of him, fearing that he would threaten the imperial court in the future. In 1385, Xu Da had a tumor in his back and was unable to go to court. Zhu Yuanzhang gave him steamed goose, Xu Da knew that his illness was not suitable for consumption, but in the face of the emperor's reward, he swallowed it with tears and died mysteriously soon after.
Li Shanchang (1314-1390), an important minister in the early Ming Dynasty. After he defected to Zhu Yuanzhang, he served as a staff officer, participated in confidential affairs, presided over the supply of military supplies, and was deeply trusted. He is good at reconciling the relationship between the generals and making each have their own strengths. In 1367, he was named the Duke of Xuanguo, and later promoted to Zuo Xiangguo, ranking first among the hundred officials. In 1390, Li Shanchang was convicted of being involved in the Hu Dang, accused of not reporting and harboring ill intentions, and was executed along with more than 70 people, including his wife, daughter, brother, and nephew.
Lan Yu (?—— 1393), the brother-in-law of Chang Yuchun, King of Kaiping. At first, he served under Chang Yuchun, who was brave and strategic, and made many achievements. Later, he gradually rose to the position of the Metropolitan Governor's Office. In 1881, he was named Marquis of Yongchang. In 1387, he was worshiped as a general, and later named the Duke of Liangguo. However, Lan Yu is proud of her achievements and becomes more and more arrogant. In 1393, Jin Yiwei reported Lan Yu's rebellion, and Zhu Yuanzhang executed Lan Yu and other human races, and implicated in the killing of about 20,000 civil and military officials.
Fu Youde (?——1394), the founder of the Ming Dynasty, a famous general, and outstanding military achievements. At first, he was named the Marquis of Sichuan, and later he was promoted to the Duke of Guo, and he was crowned the prince and the prince. In 1393, he angered Taizu by asking for land, and was recalled to Beijing, where he died the following year.
Feng Sheng (?——1395), a general in the early Ming Dynasty. At the beginning of the country, he was named Guosheng, and at the end of the Yuan Dynasty, he and his brother country used the organization to protect themselves. Later, he was attached to Zhu Yuanzhang and served as the commander of the pro-army. He participated in many important battles and made great achievements. After the Central Plains was pacified, he was named the Duke of Song. Later, he led the army out of the fortress many times to conquer and expand the country, and Naha went out. After the Lan Yu case in 1393, two years later, Feng Sheng was given to death for implicating the Blue Party.
Zhu Yuanzhang's nephew Zhu Wenzheng, nephew Li Wenzhong and others, although they made great contributions, they were not spared, and they were all executed or given death by him. A large number of bureaucrats were executed, and the people of the court were panicked. At that time, the Beijing officials had to say goodbye to their families every morning before entering the court, and explain the aftermath, and if they could return safely in the evening, the whole family would be happy. After several years of killing, the heroes and generals passed away one after another, and there was not much left.
The reason why Zhu Yuanzhang wantonly killed heroes is actually very simple, whether it is Zhu Biao, the crown prince who was established first, or Zhu Yunwen, the grandson of the emperor who was established later, they all have benevolent personalities and lack his ruthlessness and toughness. Zhu Yuanzhang naturally did not worry that after his death, he would leave behind those old ministers with outstanding military achievements, so before he abdicated, he must try to eradicate these old ministers to ensure the stability of future generations. Once, the crown prince Zhu Biao (1355-1392) admonished: "Your Majesty kills innocents indiscriminately, and I am afraid of hurting the country." Zhu Yuanzhang was silent after hearing this, and after a long time, he threw a thorn full of thorns on the ground and ordered the prince to pick it up. Faced with the spikes of the cane, the prince felt embarrassed. Zhu Yuanzhang said: "You are afraid of thorns and dare not take them, wouldn't it be better for me to pull out these thorns for you and give them to you?" This sentence profoundly revealed Zhu Yuanzhang's true intention of wantonly killing heroes.