The Rise and Fall of the Zheng Dynasty

The Zheng family’s maritime empire emerged from the turbulent Ming-Qing transition period, establishing one of the most formidable naval forces in East Asian history. Zheng Chenggong (Koxinga), the dynasty’s founder, famously expelled the Dutch from Taiwan in 1662, creating a loyalist base that defied Qing authority for decades. However, the dynasty’s downfall would come not from external pressure alone, but from internal strife and personal scandals that weakened its foundations.

At the heart of the Zheng regime’s troubles was the controversial figure of Zheng Jing, who inherited leadership at just 21 years old. His reign would be marked by poor personal decisions that eroded the loyalty of his commanders and undermined his father’s legacy. The young leader’s illicit affair with his younger brother’s wet nurse, Chen Shi, and his attempt to pass off their illegitimate child as that of a concubine, sparked a political crisis when discovered by his father-in-law, the influential Tang Xianyue.

A Dynasty Divided: The Succession Crisis

The scandal triggered a chain reaction that would fracture the Zheng power structure. When the enraged Zheng Chenggong ordered the execution of both his son and daughter-in-law, his commanders refused to comply, creating the first major rift between the leadership and military. This disobedience marked a significant erosion of Zheng authority that would have lasting consequences.

Following Zheng Chenggong’s sudden death in 1662, the succession crisis deepened. Military leaders Huang Zhao and Xiao Gongchen supported Zheng Chenggong’s brother Zheng Xi as ruler, rejecting Zheng Jing’s claim. This forced Zheng Jing to mobilize his forces, leading to a decisive confrontation where he defeated the opposition and uncovered evidence of betrayal within his own family – correspondence from his uncle Zheng Tai that revealed plans to support Zheng Xi’s claim while maintaining control over Jinmen and Xiamen.

The Downward Spiral: Defections and Decline

Zheng Jing’s subsequent execution of Zheng Tai proved disastrous, triggering mass defections to the Qing. Zheng Tai’s brother Zheng Mingjun and son Zheng Zuanxu surrendered to the Qing with:
– 137 ships
– 431 officers
– 5,300 soldiers
– Over 10,000 family members
– 2,000 suits of armor
– 300 large cannons
– 403 smaller artillery pieces

This defection stripped the Zheng forces of half their defensive capabilities in Jinmen and Xiamen. Dutch observer Maurice Janzen Vis noted the dramatic weakening, reporting only 4,000-5,000 poorly equipped troops remained in Xiamen without artillery, and a mere 100-150 men similarly unequipped in Jinmen.

The Dutch-Qing Alliance: A Formidable Threat

As the Zheng regime weakened, a new threat emerged from their old adversaries – the Dutch. In July 1662, Dutch commander Miao Jiaoshaowu arrived in Fuzhou with 12 ships, offering an alliance against the Zheng forces. Their proposal was clear: help the Qing eliminate the Zheng regime in exchange for support regaining Taiwan.

After initial negotiations and trade, the Dutch returned in spring 1663 with 15 ships, formalizing their military cooperation with the Qing. This alliance created the most powerful naval force in Asia at the time:
– 400+ Qing warships
– 15 Dutch East India Company vessels (each with at least 36 guns)
– Potentially over 1,000 cannons combined

The Battle for Jinmen and Xiamen

The joint Qing-Dutch forces launched their offensive in October 1663. Zheng Jing attempted to replicate his father’s successful defensive strategy at Xiamen, concentrating his smaller fleet of about 100 ships at Dadan. The battle that followed demonstrated both the skill of Zheng sailors and the weakness of Qing naval forces.

Despite being outnumbered, Zheng commander Zhou Quanbin executed brilliant tactical maneuvers, exploiting gaps in the Qing-Dutch formation. His forces:
– Broke through enemy lines
– Killed Qing admiral Ma Degong
– Captured the Qing flagship
– Destroyed 300 elite armored troops
– Escaped with minimal losses (only 3 ships lost)

Dutch commander Balthasar Bort praised Zheng sailors’ exceptional performance while criticizing Qing forces as cowardly. However, these tactical victories couldn’t alter the strategic reality. The Dutch fleet remained intact, and Zheng forces had already begun evacuating to Taiwan. By October 21, both Jinmen and Xiamen fell to the alliance.

The Final Chapter: Qing Preparations to Conquer Taiwan

With the mainland bases lost, the Zheng regime’s days were numbered. After Zheng Jing’s death in 1681, power struggles further weakened the administration. The Qing capitalized on this instability, appointing the experienced but controversial admiral Shi Lang to lead the invasion.

Shi Lang’s preparations were meticulous:
– Assembled 21,000 troops
– Gathered 238 warships (including 70 large “bird ships”)
– Carefully studied weather patterns and ocean currents
– Collected extensive intelligence on Zheng defenses

The stage was set for the decisive Battle of Penghu in 1683, which would mark the end of Zheng resistance and complete the Qing conquest of Taiwan.

Legacy of the Zheng Regime

The fall of the Zheng dynasty represented more than just a military defeat – it marked the end of an era of Chinese maritime power and independent trade networks. The Qing victory consolidated their control over China’s coastline and began Taiwan’s formal incorporation into the imperial administration. Yet the Zheng legacy endured, remembered both for their resistance against foreign powers and their remarkable naval prowess that dominated Asian waters for generations.

The internal conflicts that weakened the Zheng regime serve as a cautionary tale about how personal scandals and family disputes can undermine even the most formidable political structures. Their story remains a pivotal chapter in the history of East Asia, illustrating the complex interplay between domestic politics, military strategy, and international relations in the early modern period.