A Dynasty in Crisis: The Fall of Zhang Xianzhong’s Rebellion

The winter of 1647 marked a pivotal moment in China’s tumultuous Ming-Qing transition period. Zhang Xianzhong, the fiery leader of the peasant rebellion that had established the short-lived Daxi regime in Sichuan, met his end during a Qing ambush near Xichong County. His death could have spelled doom for his movement – pursued by the relentless Manchu forces under Prince Haoge from the north and blocked by Ming loyalist troops along the Yangtze to the south, the Daxi remnants appeared trapped in a deadly vise.

Yet against all odds, Zhang’s four adopted sons – Sun Kewang, Li Dingguo, Liu Wenxiu, and Ai Nengqi – engineered one of history’s most remarkable military recoveries. In a daring maneuver, they shattered Ming commander Zeng Ying’s defenses at Chongqing, killing the general and securing passage across the Yangtze. This bold stroke not only saved their forces from annihilation but set the stage for an extraordinary southward campaign that would reshape China’s southwestern frontier.

From Chaos to Discipline: The Daxi Reformation

Leadership naturally fell to Sun Kewang following Zhang’s death, and he immediately implemented crucial reforms. At a January 1647 gathering in Qijiang, Sichuan, Sun abolished Zhang’s notorious policy of indiscriminate slaughter, decreeing: “From this day forward, no killing shall occur except in battle.” This marked a profound strategic shift – where Zhang had ruled through terror, Sun sought legitimacy through discipline.

The transformed Daxi army marched into Guizhou with unprecedented restraint, occupying Guiyang without pillaging. When Ming loyalists regrouped at Dingfan, Sun dispatched Ai Nengqi to crush them in February 1647, eliminating key Ming officials. The Qing pursuit faltered as their supply lines collapsed in Sichuan’s devastated landscape, allowing the Daxi forces precious breathing room.

The Purge That Saved a Movement

Beneath this newfound discipline simmered a power struggle. Zhang’s widow and chancellor Wang Zhaoling clung to extremist policies from their base at Taoyuan Cave. Recognizing this as existential threat, the four generals made a fateful decision – executing the queen and Wang, abandoning their adopted Zhang surname, and establishing a collective leadership.

This coup proved transformative. Sun, the literate and experienced strategist, emerged as first among equals. His diplomatic acumen soon became apparent when reports arrived of Yunnan’s chaos under rebel leader Sha Dingzhou. The generals saw opportunity where others saw only wilderness – but their connection to Yunnan ran deeper than opportunism.

The Yunnan Gambit: A Masterstroke of Strategy

The decision to invade Yunnan was no reckless gamble. During Zhang’s 1638-39 ceasefire in Hubei, his forces had developed close ties with Yunnan’s Tusi (local chieftain) mercenaries under commander Long Zaitian. These connections provided invaluable intelligence about Yunnan’s terrain and politics. When Long learned of Sha Dingzhou’s rebellion against Ming loyalist Mu Tianbo, he reportedly urged Sun to intervene, seeing the Daxi as potential liberators.

Sun launched a brilliant deception campaign, spreading rumors that his army consisted of Mu family allies coming to avenge the governor. This psychological warfare proved devastatingly effective – as the Daxi advanced in March 1647, town after town opened their gates. By April, they took Kunming with minimal resistance, their “autumn harvest” discipline winning over skeptical locals.

Consolidating the Southwest Base

The occupation of Kunming inaugurated a sophisticated governance phase. In May 1647, the generals formalized Sun’s leadership to streamline decision-making. They then divided responsibilities: Li Dingguo crushed resistance in Lin’an (modern Jianshui); Liu Wenxiu secured the northwest; while Sun personally led the critical western campaign against Ming holdouts.

Their treatment of captured Ming officials revealed strategic flexibility. When apprehending anti-Sha rebel Yang Weizhi, Sun negotiated remarkable terms: no mandatory Daxi calendar use, no civilian killings, and no property destruction. This pragmatism allowed cooperation with former enemies like Mu Tianbo, whose family prestige helped pacify local tribes.

The 1648 campaign against remaining Sha loyalists showcased the Daxi’s operational sophistication. Facing treacherous terrain near Aimi, Li Dingguo implemented an ingenious water blockade strategy, starving Sha’s forces into submission. By October 1648, Sha’s execution marked the rebellion’s end and Daxi control over all Yunnan.

Legacy of the Phoenix Army

The Daxi remnants’ Yunnan campaign represents one of imperial China’s most astonishing military-political recoveries. Within two years of near-annihilation, they established a stable regime that would become the last major anti-Qing resistance under the Yongli Emperor. Their success stemmed from:

1. Strategic Adaptation: Abandoning Zhang’s extremism for disciplined governance
2. Cultural Leverage: Skillful manipulation of Ming loyalist networks and local Tusi politics
3. Operational Innovation: Combined arms warfare across Yunnan’s diverse terrain

Contemporary observers like Ouyang Zhi noted even Qing loyalists later acknowledged “Sun Kewang’s righteous reputation remains praised by people today.” The campaign’s modern significance lies in its demonstration of how fractured rebel movements can reinvent themselves through pragmatic leadership and cultural assimilation – lessons resonating far beyond seventeenth-century battlefields.

The Daxi remnants’ Yunnan odyssey transformed them from marauding rebels to legitimate regional rulers, proving that in the chaos of dynastic collapse, even the most battered forces could rise again through adaptability and vision. Their story remains a masterclass in military-political revival against impossible odds.