The Rise of Zhang Liangchen and the Yuan’s Last Stand

As the Ming forces under General Xu Da swept through northern China in their campaign to dismantle Yuan Dynasty remnants, few expected the fierce resistance they would encounter at Qingyang. The city’s defender, Zhang Liangchen, was no ordinary warlord. A brilliant tactician and charismatic leader, he had earned the nickname “Little Chancellor” for his administrative acumen and martial prowess. More crucially, he commanded the loyalty of seven elite cavalry commanders—his adopted sons, collectively feared as the “Seven Spears.”

Zhang’s brother, Zhang Side (also called Zhang Liangbi), had previously ruled Qingyang but was captured by the Yuan loyalist Köke Temür (Wang Baobao) in a betrayal that left Liangchen embittered yet defiant. Rather than surrendering to the Ming, Zhang Liangchen saw an opportunity to strike back, setting the stage for one of the most dramatic sieges of the early Ming era.

Xu Da’s Gamble and the Trap at Qingyang

Xu Da, one of Zhu Yuanzhang’s most trusted generals, had initially pursued a strategy of concentrated force, avoiding the conventional wisdom of dividing his troops to attack both Qingyang and Linbao simultaneously. This decision proved effective against Li Siqi’s Yuan forces but left Qingyang as a lingering threat.

When news arrived that Zhang Liangchen offered surrender—presenting registers of civilians and horses as proof—Xu Da dispatched his deputy Xue Xian with 5,000 cavalry to secure the city. Unbeknownst to the Ming, this was an elaborate ruse. Zhang had no intention of capitulating. His plan: lure Ming officers into a banquet, imprison them, and use them as bargaining chips.

Xue Xian, a veteran praised by Zhu Yuanzhang as “unmatched in courage and strategy,” narrowly avoided disaster by refusing to enter Qingyang, citing military regulations. This inadvertent caution saved his life but not his army.

The Midnight Massacre and Ming Retribution

On the night of the supposed surrender, Zhang Liangchen launched a brutal ambush. His rallying cry—”One tael of silver per head! Why so cheap? The goods are plentiful!”—spurred his troops into a frenzied attack. The Seven Spears led the charge, torching Ming camps and slaughtering disoriented soldiers. Xue Xian, wounded by one of the spears, barely escaped with a fraction of his force.

The betrayal enraged Xu Da, who mobilized the entire western Ming army for vengeance. His strategy shifted to total encirclement, cutting Qingyang off from potential Yuan reinforcements. Generals like Feng Sheng and Fu Youde rushed to reinforce the siege lines, while Xu Da vowed: “Not a single man or horse shall leave Qingyang alive.”

The Protracted Siege and Strategic Consequences

What followed was a grueling three-month blockade. Qingyang’s natural defenses and Zhang Liangchen’s leadership turned the city into a fortress. Meanwhile, Köke Temür seized the opportunity to attack Ming positions in Lanzhou and Datong, stretching Ming resources thin.

The siege became a microcosm of the broader conflict: the Yuan’s desperate attempts to retain footholds versus the Ming’s relentless consolidation. Zhang’s resistance bought time for Yuan loyalists but ultimately underscored their fragmentation. Without coordinated support from Köke Temür or other warlords, Qingyang’s fate was sealed.

Legacy: Tactics, Loyalty, and the Ming’s Northern Frontier

The Qingyang campaign revealed critical lessons. Xu Da’s initial underestimation of Zhang Liangchen nearly cost the Ming dearly, while Zhang’s short-lived triumph highlighted the perils of isolated defiance. The Ming’s eventual victory demonstrated their ability to adapt—switching from rapid conquest to methodical siege warfare.

Culturally, the tale of the Seven Spears entered regional folklore, symbolizing both martial excellence and tragic loyalty. For the Ming, Qingyang became a cautionary tale about the dangers of underestimating residual Yuan resistance, shaping their frontier policies for decades.

Today, the siege stands as a testament to a pivotal transition—where the Ming’s rise met the Yuan’s last gasps, and where individual brilliance clashed with the inexorable tide of a new dynasty.