Zuo Liangyu

Zuo Liangyu (Chinese: 左良玉) (15991645) was a Ming dynasty general. He was born in Linqing, Shandong Province.

Campaign against Zhang Xianzhong

After defeating peasant rebels at She County, Hebei, Huixian and Wu'an and eliminating their presence in Shanxi and Henan provinces, Zuo went the forces of Zhang Xianzhong who were threatening Xiangyang in Hubei province (then part of Huguang). After setting up camp at Yunyang District and Fang County, Zuo's army fell into an ambush at Gucheng County, Hubei. 10,000 Ming soldiers were killed and only a few thousand escaped alive. During this campaign, soldiers consumed peach and jujube due to a shortage of grain. Zhang eventually led his followers to Sichuan province.

Campaign against Li Zicheng

Zuo, meanwhile, was forced to head back to Henan to confront the followers of the rebel leader Li Zicheng. Unsuccessful in his request for reinforcements to the Prince of Chu in Wuchang, Zuo and general Sun Chuanting engaged Li's forces at Zhuxian. Their defeat enabled Li to capture the city of Kaifeng.

Service under Southern Ming

After the fall of Beijing to Li Zicheng and the death of the Chongzhen Emperor, Zuo declared his loyalty to the Hongguang Emperor of Southern Ming. On May 13, 1645, his forces surrendered to the Manchu general Ajige at Taiping Prefecture, Anhui Province. Zuo refused to serve the Manchus and was later executed.[1][2][3][4][5]

References

  1. 《石匮书后集·左良玉传》
  2. 《三垣筆記.下.弘光》:“左兵兩三萬,一湧入城,城中無一家無兵者,淫汙之狀不可言。數日啟行,復罄沒其家以擊。去十許日而予至,米菜俱無可覓。士民相見,無不痛哭流涕。不恨賊而恨兵。”
  3. 王鳌永:《抚郧疏稿》,〈为塘报贼情事〉
  4. 《明史·左良玉传》,卷273
  5. 吴晋锡《半生自记》
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