The Ming Dynasty: A History of China, PART THREE
, takes you into a world where emperors, generals, rebels, and courtiers shaped the destiny of an empire. It begins with
Nurhaci
and his
Seven Grievances
, leading to the fateful
Battle of Sarhu
that shook the Ming. From there, the story unfolds through dramatic court cases like the
Tingji Case
and the
Palace Mystery Case
, where power struggles involved figures such as
Wei Zhongxian
and the reformist
Donglin Party
.
On the military front, the dynasty saw both triumph and tragedy. Commanders like
Yuan Chonghuan
stood out in the
Victory at Ningyuan
Great Victory at Ning-Jin
, only to face a wrongful execution that shocked the empire. The rise of
Emperor Chongzhen
brought hope, yet his reign ended in despair at
Coal Hill
, a moment that has haunted Chinese history ever since.
Rebellion soon surged across the land, led by the charismatic
Li Zicheng
. His campaigns, including the
Three Sieges of Kaifeng
, pushed the dynasty to its breaking point. The clash at the
Battle of Shanhai Pass
further changed the balance of power, while the short reign of
Zhu Yousong, the Hongguang Emperor
highlighted the chaos of
One Land, Two Emperors
. Betrayals like
Li Chengdong switching sides
showed how fragile loyalties had become.
Meanwhile, the struggle didn't end with the fall of Beijing. In the southwest,
Sun Kewang
and
Li Zicheng's followers
fought bitterly in the
Sun-Li Civil War
, while loyalists continued to dream of a Ming restoration. These chapters reveal how the empire's legacy lived on, even in its darkest days.
The final act belongs to Zheng Chenggong, also known as Koxinga. His daring Northern Expedition and his determination to recapture Taiwan from the Dutch colonizers became lasting symbols of resilience and defiance. His story closes the book not with silence, but with the echo of a dynasty that refused to be forgotten.