Lu Xiangsheng

Timeline

1. 1622–1630Daming · DamingFrom Zhangzhu, Yixing; jinshi of Tianqi 2, he went from a Ministry of Revenue secretaryship to prefect of Daming. In Chongzhen 2, when Qing forces entered the passes and threatened the capital, he raised ten thousand men to defend it. In year 3 he was promoted to right administration vice commissioner, reorganizing military preparedness in Daming, Guangping, and Shunde prefectures; his forces were called the Tianxiong Army and became the fighting force of the southern capital region.
2. 1630–1636Henan—Huguang—Jiangbei · HenanFrom Chongzhen 6 onward, Lu used the Tianxiong Army as the backbone in suppressing Gao Yingxiang, Li Zicheng, and others, campaigning across Henan, Huguang, and Jiangbei, repeatedly forcing rebel forces to split. He was famed as a capable fighter but well aware of inadequate troops and pay. In September of year 9 he was transferred to governor-general of Xuanda and Shanxi, shifting the battlefield from internal rebellions to the Great Wall frontier against the Qing.
3. 1636–1638Xuanfu—Datong · XuandaAt Xuanfu and Datong he reorganized the army and raised supplies, preparing for the Qing. In winter of Chongzhen 11 Qing forces entered the passes by several routes, the capital was placed under alert, and the court recalled him to defend it despite mourning. He and Yang Sichang held opposite views on war and peace: Sichang leaned toward negotiation and controlled central military authority, while Lu insisted on fighting, laying the groundwork for his isolation without relief.
4. 1638–1639Haoshui Bridge, Jiazhuang, Julu · JuluNominally governor-general of all relief forces, after Yang Sichang withdrew elite troops and cut off supplies he had only about five thousand exhausted soldiers left. In December he advanced to Jiazhuang in Julu; Gao Qiqian camped with Guanning troops at Jize, fifty li away, and did not come to his aid. The army ran out of supplies for days and civilians donated grain. Lu was surrounded by tens of thousands of Qing cavalry at Haoshui Bridge; from chen to wei his cannon and arrows were exhausted, he personally killed dozens of men, and died after being struck by four arrows and three blades; his entire army was wiped out. He died in mourning hemp garments beneath his armor.