The Strategic Context of the 1653 Campaign

By 1653, the Southern Ming resistance against the newly established Qing Dynasty had entered a critical phase. Zheng Chenggong (Koxinga), the Ming loyalist commander, faced mounting pressure after setbacks in Zhangzhou. Seeking to regain momentum, he adopted a bold two-pronged strategy: while his ally Zhang Mingzhen led a naval expedition up the Yangtze River to threaten Qing supply lines, Zheng personally returned to defend the vital coastal stronghold of Haicheng. This fortress guarded the maritime approaches to Xiamen (Amoy) – the heart of Zheng’s Fujian-based resistance movement.

The Qing response came swiftly. General Jin Li, commanding superior forces, sought to crush Zheng’s defenses through overwhelming artillery superiority. What followed would become one of the most tactically significant engagements of the Ming-Qing conflict – a brutal siege demonstrating Zheng’s military ingenuity against numerically superior Qing forces.

The Siege of Haicheng: A Tactical Masterclass

In April 1653, Jin Li’s forces established positions at Zushan Mountain, preparing for a full assault. Zheng’s defensive arrangements reveal meticulous planning:

– Layered Defenses: Three concentric rings protected Haicheng, with Chen Liuyu’s troops holding the inner city walls, flanked by specialized units like the “Righteous Martial Camp” at key choke points.
– Strategic Positioning: Veteran commanders like Gan Hui guarded critical positions near Guandi Temple, while Zheng himself directed operations from the Tianfei Temple vantage point.
– Artillery Duel: The Qing opened their assault on May 4th with hundreds of cannons, systematically destroying Zheng’s wooden fortifications.

Facing devastating bombardment, Zheng’s officers Chen Kui and Ye Zhang proposed a daring counterattack. Though initially repulsed with heavy casualties (including Ye’s death), this bold move bought crucial time for Zheng’s masterstroke.

The Gunpowder Gambit: Turning the Tide

Recognizing the limitations of conventional defense, Zheng authorized a revolutionary tactic:

1. Underground Shelters: Soldiers dug protective “earth nests” to survive the bombardment.
2. Psychological Warfare: Zheng circulated his official seal among troops, vowing to fight to the death while offering command honors to any officer who could turn the battle.
3. Explosive Trap: Under cover of night, the Shenqi artillery corps planted massive gunpowder charges along the riverbank approach.

At dawn on May 7th, as Qing troops massed for their final assault, Zheng’s forces detonated the hidden explosives. Contemporary accounts describe the cataclysm: “Flames blotted the sky” as the riverbank erupted, annihilating the advancing Manchu battalions. Gan Hui’s subsequent counterattack routed the survivors, forcing Jin Li’s humiliating retreat.

Military Innovations and Strategic Consequences

The Haicheng victory showcased several groundbreaking developments:

– Early Combined Arms Warfare: Zheng synchronized infantry, artillery, and combat engineering with unprecedented coordination.
– Psychological Resilience: His leadership transformed demoralized troops into determined defenders through symbolic gestures and shared sacrifice.
– Fortification Science: Post-battle upgrades created a model early modern fortress, featuring:
– 6-meter high limestone walls
– 3,000 artillery emplacements
– Expanded moats creating artificial lakes

The Qing response proved equally significant. Emperor Shunzhi recalled the disgraced Jin Li, temporarily abandoning Fujian campaigns – a strategic pause Zheng exploited to consolidate his maritime kingdom.

Cultural Legacy and Modern Memory

Beyond its military importance, the battle entered East Asian cultural memory through:

– Martial Folklore: Zheng’s gunpowder tactics became legendary, inspiring later resistance movements.
– Historiographical Debates: Discrepancies in primary sources (like the exact date of Zheng’s return to Xiamen) continue to fuel academic discussion.
– Modern Commemoration: Haicheng’s defenses are studied in military academies as early examples of explosive battlefield engineering.

The engagement’s legacy endures in contemporary cross-strait relations, where Zheng remains a potent symbol of Taiwanese identity. His victory at Haicheng demonstrated that even against the ascendant Qing empire, determined resistance backed by innovative tactics could succeed – a lesson that resonates through centuries of East Asian history.

Conclusion: Haicheng’s Place in Military History

More than a local victory, the 1653 battle marked a watershed in early modern warfare. Zheng’s successful defense against superior forces using coordinated artillery, field engineering, and psychological warfare anticipated later developments in global military science. The rebuilt fortress became the cornerstone of his maritime network, enabling continued resistance that would eventually lead to his legendary conquest of Taiwan. In the grand narrative of Ming-Qing transition, Haicheng stands as testament to how tactical brilliance can alter strategic trajectories – if only temporarily – against overwhelming odds.