Fu Youde

Fu Youde (1327 – 20 December 1394) was a prominent Chinese military leader and one of the top generals under the Hongwu Emperor, the first emperor of the Ming dynasty. He played a crucial role in the Red Turban Rebellion, which resulted in the expulsion of the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty from China. Initially, he fought in different armies before joining the Hongwu Emperor in 1361. He served in the emperor's army and led the successful conquest of Sichuan in 1371. Ten years later, he also led the conquest of Yunnan for his emperor. Throughout his career, he alternated between serving on the northern border and in Yunnan.

Biography

Fu Youde was from Suzhou in northern Anhui. He lost his family during an epidemic in the 1340s and subsequently relocated to northern Anhui Province. In 1351, he joined the Red Turban Rebellion in Suzhou and in 1355, he became a member of the army led by Han Song emperor Han Lin'er. He rose through the ranks and eventually became an officer in the army of General Li Xixi (), participating in military campaigns in Shandong and the metropolitan area. However, after facing several defeats, the army was forced to retreat to the northwest in 1357 and then to Sichuan in 1358. Dissatisfied with Li's leadership, Fu left his service and joined Ming Yuzhen. He felt undervalued in this new position and when Chen Youliang overthrew and killed Xu Shouhui in 1360, establishing the state of Han, Fu defected to him. Despite his loyalty, he did not receive a promotion and in September 1361, he and his troops joined Zhu Yuanzhang. At the time, Zhu Yuanzhang was a general of the rebel state of Song and later became the first emperor of the Ming dynasty in 1368, known as the Hongwu Emperor.

Under Zhu Yuanzhang, Fu Youde found a commander who appreciated his qualities. Fu Youde was not only an excellent tactician, but also personally brave, always leading his troops from the front. As a result, he quickly rose to prominence and served under Generals Xu Da and Chang Yuchun. Due to his similar background, he fit in well with Zhu's commanders, who all came from the same social classes and region. Fu Youde played a significant role in the victories against the state of Han in 1363–64, the Kingdom of Wu (1366–67), and the conquest of northern China from the Mongols in 1368–1370. His military prowess was further demonstrated during the conquest of Sichuan and Yunnan, where he led successful campaigns. In November 1370, he was appointed Marquis of Yingchuan (; at that time, the Hongwu Empror appointed 6 dukes and 28 marquises).

He was given independent command in the campaign against Sichuan. In January 1371, he joined forces with Tang He's army and Liao Yongzhong's fleet to launch a surprise attack on the enemy from the north, while the Hongwu Emperor's main attack was expected to come from the east along the Yangtze River. The conquest of Sichuan was achieved with relative ease, and both Fu and Liao received praise from the emperor, but despite their significant contributions to the campaign, they were not promoted to duke, which they rightfully deserved.

Fu successfully led campaigns in the northern border and Gansu, constructing fortifications and teaching the emperor's sons the art of war. In 1381, the Ming government decided to forcibly annex Yunnan, which was still under Mongol control, after diplomatic negotiations failed. Fu was appointed as the commander-in-chief of the attacking troops, with Lan Yu and Mu Ying as his deputies. He had a large army of 300,000 soldiers, while the enemy had about a third of that number. The campaign began in the fall of 1381 and by January 1382, Kunming (the capital) had fallen, followed by Dali in April. The Mongol governor of Yunnan, Basalawarmi, and his associates committed suicide before Kunming fell, but resistance continued from commanders in the region. Fu established a provincial administration, but the war continued for several more years. It was not until April 1384 that Fu and Lan Yu were able to return with part of the army. Fu was promoted to Duke of Ying (), while Lan and the other generals received financial rewards and minor titles.

In 1385, Fu was assigned to Beijing, but in the following year, he was tasked with suppressing a rebellion in Yunnan. In January 1387, he was appointed as Feng Sheng's deputy for the Liaodong campaign against the Mongol chieftain Naghachu. During this campaign, Fu distinguished himself in battle, while Feng was dismissed for his unsatisfactory performance. As a result, Fu was given command of the northeast region of Beijing. In the latter half of 1388 and 1389, he was once again called upon to fight against rebels in Yunnan. From 1390, he served on the northern frontier.

In March 1392, he requested nearly 1,000 ''mu'' (about 58 ha) of land, but the emperor angrily refused. A year later, in March 1393, Lan Yu was executed as a traitor, followed by thousands of his relatives who were also put to death. Then, on 20 December 1394, Fu Youde died, officially declared a suicide. Historians believe that his death was linked to the deaths of Generals Wang Bi () and Feng Sheng within the next two months, and that the emperor wanted to eliminate any potential threats to his successor, and Fu was the most hated of the three due to his successful career and loyalty.

In 1391, Fu Youde's daughter became one of the secondary wives of Zhu Jixi, the eldest son of Zhu Gang, the third son of the Hongwu Emperor. In the same year, his son Fu Zhong () married the Hongwu Emperor's ninth daughter, Princess Shouchun (, married 1386, died 1388). Both Fu Zhong and Fu Youde's second son Fu Zhang () were officers, but it is unclear if either of them survived their father.

See also

* Ming campaign against the Uriankhai

Notes

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Fu, Youde
1394 deaths
Ming dynasty generals
Ming dynasty government officials
Politicians from Suzhou, Anhui
Suicides by sharp instrument in China
Year of birth unknown
14th-century Chinese people
Generals from Anhui
People executed by the Ming dynasty
Executed people from Anhui
Forced suicides of Chinese people
Red Turban rebels
14th-century executions by China
Taizi taishi (Ming dynasty)