Yuan Chonghuan - The Legend of a Loyal Soul

Author: Lin Zhuo / Country: Mainland China
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-06-01
Features: In the history of the Chinese nation, there is a national hero as renowned as Yue Fei, and he is the celebrated Ming Dynasty scholar Yuan Chonghuan. As a scholar, he joined the frontier defenses, causing the mighty Nurhaci, who had conquered the world, to suffer his first defeat and die in sorrow. He repeatedly defeated the ambitious Hong Taiji, and even at the outskirts of Guangqi Gate, with only nine thousand weary troops, he crushed Hong Taiji's ten thousand elite cavalry, forcing them into a panicked retreat. As a result, Hong Taiji had to sigh in admiration: "Over the past fifteen years, I have never encountered such a formidable enemy!" Before him, the Ming Dynasty had suffered repeated defeats in battles against the Manchus. From his time onward, the Ming Dynasty completely reversed the situation, with the small city of Ningyuan resisting the Manchu cavalry for twenty-one years. He was appointed as the commander-in-chief, overseeing all military forces, yet he could not earn the trust of the Ming Emperor Chongzhen. Instead, his outstanding talent, noble demeanor, and the selfless spirit of a "fugitive" and "obsessed man" earned the respect of his enemies. After using the "betrayer's trick" to manipulate Emperor Chongzhen, Hong Taiji executed Yuan Chonghuan. Following his death, the Manchus launched a massive southern invasion, captured the capital, and established the last feudal dynasty in Chinese history—the Great Qing Empire.
Combining historical records with passionate and vivid prose, this book presents a panoramic portrayal of those turbulent and fierce years of war, creating a lifelike and deeply moving image of a national hero. A nation without heroes is pitiful, and a nation that forgets or disregards its heroes is even more unforgivable. We hope more people will come to know and understand Yuan Chonghuan, so that the torch of national spirit may be passed down through generations, illuminating the path forward!