The Fragile Alliance Against the Qing

In the turbulent years following the fall of the Ming dynasty, resistance against the newly established Qing regime coalesced around unlikely alliances. One such coalition emerged in 1645, when Ming loyalist Du Yinsi brokered an agreement with Li Jin (also known as “One-Eyed Tiger”) and other commanders of the former Shun rebel army—now reorganized as the “Loyal and True Battalion.” Their objective was audacious: to reclaim Hubei province from Qing control.

This partnership was born of desperation. The Ming remnants, led by figures like He Tengjiao and Zhang Kuang, were scrambling to mount a credible defense, while the Shun remnants—once bitter enemies of the Ming—saw collaboration as their best chance for survival. The Qing, meanwhile, had overextended their forces after their rapid conquest of northern China, leaving Hubei vulnerable. As recorded in Qing archives, local officials like Governor Tong Yanghe lamented the failure to pacify former Shun troops, noting their “growing boldness” and refusal to adopt the Manchu queue hairstyle—a potent symbol of resistance.

The Two-Pronged Campaign and Its Fatal Flaws

Du Yinsi’s strategy was clear: a coordinated strike to divide Qing forces. The Loyal and True Battalion would besiege Jingzhou, a key stronghold, while He Tengjiao’s army advanced north from Yuezhou toward Wuchang. Success hinged on timing and unity—both of which unraveled spectacularly.

He Tengjiao’s forces, plagued by indecision and infighting, never reached their objective. Commanders like Ma Jinzhong and Wang Yucheng abandoned their posts at the mere rumor of Qing reinforcements, allowing the strategic city of Yuezhou to fall without a fight. Contemporary accounts like The Records of Three Xiang paint a damning picture: He and his officers, “stunned and bewildered,” retreated to Changsha rather than rallying their troops.

Meanwhile, Du Yinsi and Li Jin’s assault on Jingzhou initially showed promise. The Qing garrison under Zheng Siwei was on the brink of collapse when the Qing regent Dorgun dispatched a relief force led by Prince Lekdehun. In a brutal surprise attack on February 1646, Lekdehun’s cavalry routed the Loyal and True Battalion. Li Jin’s forces, caught off guard, fled westward into the mountainous borderlands of Sichuan. The betrayal of key Shun leaders—including Li Zicheng’s own brother—who defected to the Qing sealed the disaster.

Why the Campaign Collapsed

Three critical failures doomed the operation:
1. He Tengjiao’s Incompetence: His failure to secure Yuezhou allowed Lekdehun to bypass Ming defenses and attack Jingzhou unimpeded.
2. Intelligence Breakdown: Li Jin’s forces, unaware of Qing movements, were outmaneuvered by Lekdehun’s forced march.
3. Fragile Loyalties: The defection of Shun generals revealed the tenuous nature of the Ming-Shun alliance.

As scholar Wu Jinsi noted in his memoirs, the defeat “shattered the prestige” of the Loyal and True Battalion, forcing them into a marginal existence in remote highlands.

The Ripple Effects of Defeat

The battle’s aftermath reshaped southern China’s resistance:
– Strategic Stalemate: The Ming lost their best chance to reclaim the Yangtze heartland. Qing control of Hubei and Hunan became entrenched.
– Moral Collapse: He Tengjiao’s credibility evaporated. His later inaction—even after Lekdehun withdrew—allowed the Qing to consolidate power.
– Legacy of Distrust: The Shun remnants, disillusioned by the Ming’s failures, grew wary of future collaborations.

Echoes in History

This campaign underscores a recurring theme in dynastic transitions: the difficulty of unifying fractured resistance movements. The Ming’s inability to coordinate with former rebels mirrored challenges faced by the Southern Song against the Mongols or the Later Tang against the Khitan. Modern historians often cite it as a case study in how logistical disarray and leadership failures can outweigh tactical opportunities.

In the end, the battle for Hubei was not just a military defeat but a symbol of the Ming resistance’s fatal disunity—a lesson that resonates in studies of civil wars and revolutions worldwide.