Hero Chen Youliang

Hero Chen Youliang Chen Youliang (1320-1363), courtesy name Jiu Si, was born in Mianyang, Hubei Province. He was the leader of the Red Turban Army in the late Yuan Dynasty and the founder of the Chen-Han regime. He was a highly controversial hero in troubled times. He was born into a fishing family and served as a county official in his early years. He was talented in both civil and military affairs and had extraordinary courage. At the end of the Yuan Dynasty, when the world was in chaos, he joined the Tianwan Red Scarf Army under Xu Shouhui in 1355. With his outstanding combat power, he made many military exploits and rose rapidly. In 1357, Chen Youliang attacked and killed the rebel general Ni Wenjun, recruited his troops, and took sole control of Tianwan. He successively conquered many places in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, and his power grew rapidly. As his desire for power expanded, he gradually concentrated power. In 1359, he killed general Zhao Pusheng, kidnapped Xu Shouhui, and proclaimed himself King of Han. In 1360, he killed Xu Shouhui, proclaimed himself emperor, and named his country Dahan, also known as Chen Han in history. However, his actions of killing his master and usurping power caused disloyalty among his subordinates and laid hidden dangers for subsequent defeat. After proclaiming himself emperor, Chen Youliang worked hard to build an elite navy to compete with Zhu Yuanzhang in the world. In 1363, he personally led an army to besiege Hongdu for a long time but could not defeat it, and later fought a decisive battle with Zhu Yuanzhang at Poyang Lake. Due to rigid tactics and the defection of his subordinates, the army suffered a disastrous defeat. Chen Youliang was killed by an arrow when he broke out. He was only forty-four years old. The Chen Han regime was subsequently destroyed. He was brave and good at fighting throughout his life, severely damaged the Yuan Dynasty, promoted farming, respected the virtuous and valued Confucianism. He had the characteristics of a heroic hero and a hero who was jealous and violent. He was the most representative tragic hero in the troubled times of the late Yuan Dynasty.