Zhang Fu: Zhu Di’s most powerful general, died for his country at the age of seventy-five.

Do you know the story of Zhang Fu? Let me explain it to you next.

In June of the fourth year of Jianwen (1402), the army of King Zhu Di of Yan came to the gate of Nanjing. King Zhu Su of Gu and Duke Cao Li Jinglong opened the Jinchuan gate and surrendered. Nanjing city fell and a fire broke out in the palace. Emperor Jianwen Zhu Yunwen didn't know where he ended up. King Zhu Di of Yan became the final winner of the four-year "Battle of Jingnan". After that, Zhu Di proclaimed himself emperor in Nanjing and changed his reign name to Yongle, becoming the Yongle Emperor. In September of the same year, Zhu Di, the founder of the Qing Dynasty, granted the title of Duke, Marquis, and Bo to the "Jingnan heroes". The first person to be awarded the title was Zhang Yu, who died in the battle of Jingnan. Zhu Di praised Zhang Yu: "You are so talented." He is wise and courageous, and he should be the first in terms of peace and hard work!" Zhang Yute was awarded the title of Dr. Ronglu, Youzhu Kingdom, Rongguogong, and worthy of enjoying the Imperial Ancestral Temple. In line with the old saying "a tiger father has no dog son", Zhang Yu's eldest son Zhang Fu was also awarded the title of Marquis of Xincheng for his merits in conquest. However, the glory of Zhang Fu's life would not stop here. Over the years, he will lead the Ming Dynasty's powerful army to conquer Annan and become the first general of the Yongle Dynasty.

Zhang Fu, courtesy name Wenbi, was born in Kaifeng, Henan. He was the eldest son of Zhang Yu, the famous general of Jingnan and the king of Hejian. When King Zhu Di of Yan raised an army, he followed his father to fight and served as commander and advisor. In the battle to capture Dongchang City, Zhang Yu sacrificed his life for his savior and died in a tight siege. Zhang Fu inherited his father's position and led his army. After Nanjing was captured, Zhang Fu was awarded the title of Marquis of Xincheng for his outstanding military exploits. Although this Marquis was created by himself with swords and spears, because his father Zhang Yu was so famous, in the eyes of everyone in the court at that time, he was just a second-generation official who relied on his father to rise to power. His true strength was highly doubted by others. Zhang Fu is also waiting for the opportunity to prove himself again. In the fourth year of Yongle (1406), this opportunity came. As early as the first year of Jianwen (1400), a rebellion broke out in Annan (now Vietnam), which was a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty. Li Jisu, a relative of the Ming Dynasty, usurped the throne. The grandson of the original king fled from Laos to the Ming Dynasty and asked Zhu Di for help. Zhu Di sent The envoy led five thousand elite soldiers to escort him back to his country and ascended the throne. However, what is unexpected is that the new king of Annan, Li Jishou, ambushed the army in Qin Station. Not only did he kill the grandson of the original king, but also the five thousand elite soldiers sent by the Ming Dynasty were wiped out. The vassal state dared to kill the officers and soldiers of the Celestial Dynasty. Zhu Di was furious and ordered Zhu Neng, Duke of Cheng, to conquer the Yi generals. Zhang Fu was the right deputy general and led 18 generals including Fengcheng Hou Li Bin to lead an army to attack Annan. However, Zhu Di soon after Neng died of illness in the army, and Zhang Fu succeeded him in commanding the troops.

Zhang Fu marched from Pingxiang, crossed the Po Lei Pass, looked at the mountains and rivers in Annan, and enumerated the 20 crimes of Li Jixi. During the battle, Zhang Fu used a painted lion on his horse to attack, and then used magic weapons to defeat Annan's elephant formation. Annan's army was defeated, and the Ming army beheaded tens of thousands of people. In May of the fifth year of Yongle (1407), the Ming army took advantage of the victory and pursued them, capturing Annan King Li Jiya, as well as the prince, kings, generals and ministers appointed by the Li family, and sent them to the capital in carriages. After Annan was pacified, there were 48 prefectures, 180 counties, and 3.12 million households. The Chief Secretary of Jiaozhi was established, and the area was once again included in the territory of the Ming Dynasty. Since the fall of the Tang Dynasty, Jiaozhi has been independent for more than 400 years, and has now been included in the territory. In the summer of the sixth year of Yongle (1408), Zhang Fu reorganized his army and returned to the capital. Zhu Di made him a British Duke, with an annual salary of three thousand dan and a hereditary title. Soon after Zhang Fu returned to the army, Chen's old minister Jian Ding rebelled again. Therefore, from the seventh year of Yongle (1409) to the thirteenth year of Yongle (1415), Zhang Fu led his army to conquer Annan three times to quell the rebellion. The only one who was afraid was Zhang Fu. Zhang Fu had conquered all over the country and gained a great reputation. From the 20th year of Yongle (1422) to the 22nd year of Yongle (1424), Zhang Fu participated in the third, fourth, and fifth northern expeditions to Mongolia. Zhu Di appointed Zhang Fu as the vanguard general each time.

In the first year of Hongxi (1425), after Zhu Gaochi, Renzong of the Ming Dynasty, came to the throne, Zhang Fu took charge of the affairs of the Governor's Office of the Chinese Army and was promoted to the title of Grand Master. He was ordered to take charge of the affairs of the banquet and supervise the compilation of "Records of Emperor Taizong of the Ming Dynasty". In the tenth year of Xuande (1436), Zhu Qizhen, the Yingzong of the Ming Dynasty, came to the throne. Zhang Fu added the title of Yilian to assist the meritorious officials, and he was still in charge of banquets and supervising the compilation of records. When Wang Zhen was in power, all the civil and military ministers bowed to him. Only Zhang Fu stood up to him. Although Wang Zhen hated him deeply, he did not dare to touch him because of his high rank and great contributions to the country. In the 14th year of Zhengtong (1449), Wala also invaded first. Wang Zhen instigated the Yingzong to conquer personally. Yingzong ordered his younger brother Zhu Qiyu, King of Yin, to defend Beijing and led an army of 500,000 people from Beijing. The British Duke Zhang Fu, Chengguo Duke Zhu Yong, and the Ministry of War Shangshu Kuang Ye and nearly a hundred ministers accompanied him. Due to improper organization, all military and political affairs were arbitrarily handled by Wang Zhen. Therefore, the marching route was frequently changed, which led to the exhaustion of the soldiers. The Ming army was surrounded by the Ola army in Tumubao. In the end, the entire army was annihilated. Zhang Fu died in the army at the age of seventy-five. age. In the first year of Jingtai (1450), Zhu Qiyu posthumously named Zhang Fu the Prince of Dingxing County, with the posthumous title of "Zhonglie".