The Turbulent Backdrop of Late Yuan China

The mid-14th century was a time of chaos and rebellion in China. The Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty, weakened by corruption and natural disasters, faced widespread uprisings. Among the rebel leaders, Zhu Yuanzhang emerged as a formidable contender, but his path to power was fraught with political intrigue and ruthless strategy. One of the most dramatic episodes in this saga was the demise of Han Liner, the so-called “Little Ming King,” in December 1366—a shadowy event that cleared the way for Zhu’s imperial ambitions.

Han Liner, son of the Red Turban Rebellion leader Han Shantong, had been a symbolic figurehead of the rebel movement. After his father’s death, he was proclaimed emperor of the short-lived Han Song regime, though real power lay with commanders like Liu Futong. By the 1360s, Zhu Yuanzhang had consolidated control over much of southern China, but Han Liner remained a nominal superior, complicating Zhu’s claim to legitimacy.

The War Against Zhang Shicheng: A Strategic Masterclass

While Han Liner’s fate loomed, Zhu Yuanzhang was locked in a protracted conflict with his rival, Zhang Shicheng, a salt smuggler-turned-warlord who controlled the prosperous Jiangnan region. The campaign against Zhang unfolded in three phases, with the second phase—targeting Huzhou and Hangzhou—proving decisive.

In August 1366, Zhu’s general Xu Da led a 200,000-strong army toward Lake Tai, feigning an attack on Suzhou to mislead Zhang. The ruse worked. By the time Zhang realized the true target was Huzhou, Xu Da had already dismantled key outposts like Sanli Bridge. The Huzhou garrison, led by the aggressive Zhang Tianqi, initially attempted bold counterattacks but collapsed after Xu Da exploited weaknesses in their southern flank.

Zhang Shicheng’s reinforcements, commanded by his loyal but inept general Li Baisheng, failed to turn the tide. A second relief force under Lü Zhen stalled at Jiuguan, where Xu Da outmaneuvered them by cutting supply lines. Zhang’s desperate naval sortie was crushed by Zhu’s superior fleet, a legacy of his earlier victory over Chen Youliang. By November 1366, Huzhou and Hangzhou had fallen, isolating Suzhou for the final siege.

The Silent Coup: Eliminating Han Liner

As Zhu’s armies encircled Suzhou, an ominous rumor spread in Yingtian (Nanjing): “When the Year of the Sheep arrives, the Wu Kingdom shall rise.” 1367 was a Sheep Year in the Chinese zodiac, and Zhu interpreted this as divine endorsement for his imperial bid. But one obstacle remained—Han Liner, the puppet monarch whose existence undermined Zhu’s authority.

Rather than an open purge, Zhu orchestrated Han’s disappearance with calculated deniability. He entrusted the task to Liao Yongzhong, a fiercely loyal general. In December 1366, Liao escorted Han and his family by boat from Chuzhou. Near Guabu Mountain, Han’s vessel “mysteriously” sank, drowning all aboard. Contemporary records blamed accident, but the timing and Liao’s subsequent execution (1375) suggest a cover-up. Han’s last words—”Why the rush?”—hinted at his awareness of the inevitable.

Cultural and Political Repercussions

The elimination of Han Liner was more than a personal tragedy; it marked the end of the Red Turban’s ideological influence. Zhu, once a rebel subordinate, now positioned himself as a restorer of Han Chinese rule, distancing his regime from the messianic Buddhism of the Red Turbans. His propaganda emphasized Confucian values, appealing to the scholar class whose support was crucial for governance.

Meanwhile, Zhang Shicheng’s defeat in 1367 showcased Zhu’s military pragmatism. The “besiege the city to strike reinforcements” tactic, repeatedly used against Zhang, became a textbook example of psychological warfare. Zhu’s ability to grind down opponents through attrition and deception foreshadowed the Ming Dynasty’s centralized, authoritarian rule.

Legacy: From Warlord to Emperor

With Han Liner gone and Zhang Shicheng crushed, Zhu declared 1367 the first year of his “Wu” era. By 1368, he proclaimed the Ming Dynasty, presenting himself as heaven’s chosen unifier. The events of 1366–67 reveal the dark pragmatism behind his rise: the manipulation of omens, the silencing of rivals, and the rewriting of history.

Modern historians debate whether Han Liner’s death was necessary for stability. Some argue Zhu’s ruthlessness prevented civil war; others see it as the first step in his tyrannical reign. Either way, the episode underscores a timeless lesson of power transitions: symbols of the old order rarely survive the birth of the new.

For readers standing today on Nanjing’s city walls—built under Zhu’s orders—the shadows of 1366 linger. The Ming Dynasty’s brilliance was forged in blood, and its founding emperor’s triumph was as much about intrigue as it was about battles.