Lan Yu — An Extraordinary General of the Ming Dynasty and a Victim of Politics

Lan Yu (? — 1393) was an accomplished general of the early Ming Dynasty who led the Ming army and successfully won the Battle of Buir Lake, which perished the Northern Yuan's remaining forces and contributed significantly to Ming's expansion in the southwest and northwest of China.

Besides his exceptional military success, Lan Yu was also a very close friend of the Ming's powerful crown prince and the father-in-law of another prince.

However, the early departure of the crown prince changed everything.

Also, Lan Ye's aggressive personality together made him a tragic victim of politics that had to be buried with his best friend.

General Lan Yu of Ming Dynasty in History of China

Brilliant General Lan Yu and His Early Military Career

There were two most talented and contributive generals in Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang's army, who started serving in his army when he only had a few soldiers.

They were brave and extraordinary and played essential roles in establishing the Ming Dynasty (1368 — 1644).

One was the famous General Chang Yuchun (1330 — 1369), and Lan Yu (? — 1393) was his brother-in-law.

Therefore, Lan Yu started his military life in Chang's army, and he impressed Chang soon with his extreme braveness and decisiveness.

Under Chang's recommendation and his remarkable military performance, Lan Yu achieved more success and almost cooperated with all the amazing generals.

He kept winning on battlefields and made significant contributions to Ming's expansion.

Besides Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang, Lan Yu was widely considered one of the top three marshals in the early Ming Dynasty (the other two were Xu Da and Chang Yuchun).

Cavalry Army of the Ming Dynasty in the Painting "Ping Fan De Sheng Tu", Painted Around 1573－1620 － National Museum of China

Establishment of the Northern Yuan Dynasty

Among Lan Yu's invincible military accomplishments, the most noteworthy achievement was the sixth Northern Expedition against the nomad government established by Genghis Khan's Golden Family of the former Yuan Dynasty (1271 — 1368).

In 1368, when Zhu Yuanzhang's army was marching toward Yuan's capital city, Yuan's Emperor Toghon Temür (1320 — 1370) took his forces and fled northward after seriously reading astrological signs.

His escape lost Yuan's reign in the middle kingdom, but he also retained Yuan's government and strong armies that supported him in establishing the Northern Yuan Dynasty (1368 — 1402).

Hence, after the Ming Dynasty was established, Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang organized several Northern Expeditions to eliminate Northern Yuan's forces.

Toghon Temür the Emperor Shun of Yuan in Painting "Fo Lang Guo Xian Ma Tu", By Artist Zhou Lang of the Yuan Dynasty — Palace Museum

Lan Yu's Most Remarkable Military Achievement

In the year 1388, Lan Yu was commanded as the chief commander of the Ming Empire's army in Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang's sixth Northern Expedition.

He led 150,000 soldiers and marched into Buir Lake, now called Bell Lake.

Lan Yu's troops carried limited food and water, a considerable challenge marching in the endless desert.

They also needed to search for their cavalry enemy and stay prepared to fight.

Therefore, the ruling class and warriors of the Northern Yuan believed that the Ming army wouldn't dare to go this far because of the bad weather and limited water and food.

On the other hand, Lan Yu led his soldiers to overcome these difficulties, identified the effective strengths of the Northern Yuan, and achieved a sudden victory with minimal losses.

Lan Yu captured over 80,000 of their people, including hundreds of their royal members, and obtained large numbers of their treasures and livestock.

After this war, Genghis Khan and Kublai Khan’s honorable Golden Family lost control over the Mongolian Plateau forever.

The rest of the Mongolians were then separated into three smaller regimes.

This was the Battle of Buir Lake in Chinese history.

Jade Horse of the Ming Dynasty — Capital Museum (Photo by Dongmaiying)

Friendship with the Perfect Crown Prince Zhu Biao

Zhu Biao (1355 — 1392), Lan Yu’s best friend, was the first son of Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma and the crown prince of the Ming Dynasty.

Prince Zhu Biao was a very kind and talented person who was highly appreciated and loved by his parents.

After the Ming Dynasty was established, Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang immediately nominated Zhu Biao as the crown prince and sent the best marshals and ministers to teach and assist him.

Zhu Biao participated in politics and governance very young and did an excellent job.

Everyone respected and supported him, including important ministers, generals, and other princes, let alone his beloved parents.

Moreover, he was a perfect big brother who always cared for his siblings and covered up for them when they made mistakes.

Dragon Shaped Jade Belt Hook of Ming Dynasty — Xi'an Museum (Photo by Dongmaiying)

The perfect heir Zhu Biao married a niece of General Lan Yu and nominated her as his queen; this marriage made Lan Yu and Zhu Biao get even closer.

Lan Yu also suggested that Zhu Biao eliminate his fourth younger brother Zhu Di, saying that Zhu Di was ambitious about the throne and could rebel in the future.

A few years later, Lan Yu was proved quite correct; however, Zhu Biao didn’t believe that his behaved younger brother would do things like that.

Zhu Biao was a polite and loyal kid whom his outstanding parents loved and a brilliant and highly respected crown prince who obtained support from everyone.

He would be a perfect emperor of the Ming Empire.

Beacon Towers on Ming Great Wall in Jinshanling Section

Ming Dynasty Great Wall in Jinshanling Section in Hebei Province, Photo by Gucheng.

The Departure of the Crown Prince and Lan Yu's Dilemma

Unfortunately, crown prince Zhu Biao died from sickness when he was only 36.

After a long time of grief and serious consideration, Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang decided to nominate his grandson Zhu Yunwen (1377 — ?), the oldest son of Zhu Biao, as the new crown prince.

Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang never doubted Lan Yu's loyalty to Zhu Biao; however, his fidelity to Yunwen, no one could be sure.

Zhu Biao's first son died very young; Zhu Yunwen, his second-oldest son, was given birth by another concubine, not Lan Yu's niece.

That means Lan Yu was never close to the young heir Zhu Yunwen.

However, Lan Yu's only daughter was the queen of the King of Shu, Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang's eleventh son.

Royal Nine-tasselled Crown (Jiu Liu Mian), Unearthed From Tomb of Prince Zhu Tan, the Tenth Son of Hongwu Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang of the Ming Dynasty

Royal Nine-tasselled Crown (Jiu Liu Mian), Unearthed From Tomb of Prince Zhu Tan, the Tenth Son of Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang — Shandong Museum (Photo by Dongmaiying)

Lan Yu's Pride and Arrogance

Besides his exceptional military talent, indifference to the new heir, and closeness to the King of Shu, Lan Yu's personality was an important reason that made Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang consider him a huge threat to Zhu Yunwen's reign in the future.

Lan Yu occupied land illegally and angrily expelled officials sent to investigate him.

When he was marching back to Ming after the big success of defeating the Northern Yuan, a general of an important military pass refused to open the gate for him at night, just as the law regulated.

However, Lan Yu led his soldiers, attacked this site, and came in.

In some gossip, Lan Yu also flirted and even slept with an imperial concubine of Northern Yuan.

Lan Yu also expressed dissatisfaction with his rewards, believing that his military achievements and extraordinary contributions warranted higher titles and positions.

Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang only demoted and warned Lan Yu when the perfect crown prince Zhu Biao was alive.

Ivory Tablet (Hu Ban) that Higher Rank Officials Hold When they Met with the Emperors in the Ming Dynasty — Ningxia Museum (Photo by Dongmaiying)

A Controversial Rebellion that Sealed Lan Yu's Fate

However, the year following Zhu Biao’s departure, someone reported that Lan Yu was planning to rebel.

Soon, Lan Yu was put to prison and then sentenced to death. Many people who had connections with Lan Yu were also involved and executed.

Some believed that Lan Yu did plan to rebel after Zhu Biao’s death since he was unsatisfied with some of Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang’s policies, and his title was not as noble as he had expected.

More people thought Lan Yu was framed because of his potential to threaten the new heir.

Indeed, Lan Yu had the reason and ability to overthrow Zhu Yunwen and make his son-in-law, the King of Shu, the new emperor.

The truth about whether General Lan Yu had planned to rebel was still unclear, for every side of the story was possible.

Crystal Drum of the Ming Dynasty — Zhongxiang Museum (Photo by Dongmaiying)

Ironic End to the Competition for the Throne

But, his friendship with crown prince Zhu Biao was sincere and genuine.

If Zhu Biao were alive, Lan Yu would stay alive and be a great and loyal marshal who could protect his best friend's reign and assist him in keeping the empire in peace; Zhu Di, the next emperor who snatched the throne from Zhu Yunwen, probably would always be a behaved younger brother and a lord in his vassal state.

If Lan Yu hadn't been sentenced to death and kept serving Emperor Zhu Yunwen, Zhu Di would never have had the chance to win over the throne through the rebel war.

But there were no ifs.

Lan Yu and many other excellent generals were executed soon after Zhu Biao's death.

Prince Zhu Di, whom Lan Yu had always believed was a snatcher of the throne, rebelled and then imprisoned or murdered most of Zhu Biao's descendants.

Unearthed Stone Dragon Stigma of the Relic of The Forbidden City of Nanjing (Built in 1366 — 1392) of the Ming Dynasty

Stone Dragon Stigma of the Relic of The Forbidden City of Nanjing (Built in 1366 — 1392) that was Burnt Down After Zhu Di's Army Occupied Nanjing — Nanjing Museum (Photo by Dongmaiying)

Next Story: Snatcher of Imperial Throne and Creator of Forbidden City — Zhu Di