The Collapse of the Shun Dynasty in Context

The mid-17th century was a period of immense upheaval in China, marked by the fall of the Ming Dynasty and the rise of the Qing. Amid this chaos, Li Zicheng, leader of the peasant rebellion that toppled the Ming, established the short-lived Shun Dynasty in 1644. However, his rule was quickly challenged by the invading Manchu forces of the Qing. By early 1645, the Shun Dynasty was in retreat, with its armies scrambling to defend their territories against the superior Qing military machine.

The northwestern campaign, particularly the battles in Shaanxi province, became a decisive theater in this conflict. Li Zicheng’s forces, led by key generals such as Li Guo (also known as Li Jin) and Gao Yigong, fought desperately to hold strategic cities like Yan’an and Yulin. Yet, despite fierce resistance, the Shun forces were ultimately overwhelmed by the disciplined Qing armies under commanders like Ajige and Dodo.

The Qing Advance and the Defense of Shaanxi

In late 1644, the Qing launched a two-pronged assault on Shaanxi. While Dodo’s forces pressed toward Tong Pass, Ajige led a formidable army into northern Shaanxi. His troops included elite Manchu banners under Tuntai, as well as surrendered Ming generals like Wu Sangui and Shang Kexi, bolstering Qing numbers significantly.

The Shun forces, though determined, were stretched thin. Li Guo defended Yan’an, while Gao Yigong held Yulin. The siege of Yan’an was particularly brutal. According to Qing records, Li Guo’s forces resisted for over twenty days, even launching nighttime counterattacks. However, Qing artillery eventually breached the city walls, forcing a retreat. Yan’an fell in December 1644, and Li Guo’s forces withdrew westward.

Yulin proved a tougher challenge. Gao Yigong, a veteran of Li Zicheng’s rebellion, refused to surrender. The Qing, prioritizing the capture of Xi’an, left subordinate commanders like Jiang Xiang to besiege the city. Despite initial resistance, Gao abandoned Yulin in January 1645, retreating with minimal losses.

The Shun Army’s Strategic Retreat

With Xi’an lost and Qing forces dominating central Shaanxi, Li Guo and Gao Yigong had no choice but to retreat southward. Their path was fraught with obstacles. Former allies, such as the turncoat general He Zhen, now blocked their advance through Hanzhong. After fierce fighting, they broke through, moving into Sichuan before finally reaching Hubei by mid-1645.

This western route of retreat was distinct from Li Zicheng’s own eastward flight. Many historical accounts conflate the two, but evidence shows that after the fall of Shaanxi, Li Zicheng and his northwestern generals never reunited. Li’s eastern forces suffered devastating losses, with key leaders like Liu Zongmin killed. Meanwhile, Li Guo and Gao Yigong’s army remained intact, later becoming a core component of the Southern Ming resistance.

The Aftermath and Historical Legacy

The fall of Shaanxi marked the end of the Shun Dynasty as a viable power. Li Zicheng’s death shortly afterward left his remaining forces fragmented. Some, like Hao Yaoqi, joined the Southern Ming; others, like Wang Tizhong, surrendered to the Qing. Yet Li Guo and Gao Yigong’s army endured, playing a crucial role in the anti-Qing resistance.

This episode underscores the chaotic nature of the Ming-Qing transition. The Shun Dynasty’s collapse was not just a military defeat but a disintegration of alliances, as former Ming officers defected and regional warlords seized opportunities for survival. The resilience of Li Guo and Gao Yigong’s forces also highlights the tenacity of peasant armies, even in the face of overwhelming odds.

Today, the Shun Dynasty remains a fascinating, if tragic, chapter in Chinese history—a fleeting moment when a rebel leader nearly reshaped an empire, only to be swept aside by the tides of conquest.