Yuan Chonghuan

A loyal minister wronged through the ages, a distinguished scholar of Lingnan, and commander of Liaodong. Yuan Chonghuan (1584–1630) was a Ming dynasty general. A native of Dongguan, Guangdong, his courtesy name was Yuansu. He passed the imperial examinations in 1619 and was appointed magistrate of Shaowu. In 1622, he was promoted to Director of the Bureau of Military Personnel in the Ministry of War. In 1623, he built Ningyuan City. The following year, he led troops on an inspection tour eastward and was promoted to Deputy Commissioner of Military Affairs and then Right Assistant Regional Inspector. In 1625, he stationed generals at Jinzhou, Songshan, Youtun, and other locations, repaired the cities and fortifications, and expanded the territory by more than 200 li, bringing Ningyuan into the heartland. In 1626, when Later Jin (Qing) forces attacked Ningyuan, he organized its defense and artillery fire wounded Nurhaci, who later died. Yuan was promoted to Right Vice Censor-in-Chief and Governor of Liaodong. In 1627, Huang Taiji led troops against Jinzhou and Ningyuan, but Yuan defeated them both times. Later, pushed out by Wei Zhongxian, he left office. After the Chongzhen Emperor took the throne, Yuan was recalled and appointed Minister of War and commander of the Ji-Liao forces. In 1629, Later Jin troops bypassed the Great Wall through Gubeikou and advanced on Beijing. Yuan led his army a thousand li to the capital's aid. The Later Jin employed a scheme of sowing discord, and the Chongzhen Emperor mistakenly believed Yuan had secretly agreed to collude with the enemy. He was arrested and imprisoned, impeached by remnants of Wei Zhongxian's faction, and executed by quartering.