Lan Yu Case

Timeline

1. 1392Yingtian Prefecture (Nanjing) · Yingtian PrefectureLan Yu repeatedly commanded large armies, privately kept estate slaves and adopted sons, seized fields and drove out an imperial censor, and once smashed through Xifeng Pass at night to enter; the emperor repeatedly rebuked him. In the fourth month of Hongwu 25 Crown Prince Zhu Biao died; in the eighth month the emperor executed Lan Yu's in-law Marquis of Jingning Ye Sheng on charges of colluding with Hu Weiyong, and transferred meritorious officials close to Lan Yu to outer posts. Distrust between ruler and minister became public.
2. 1393Yingtian Prefecture (Nanjing) · Yingtian PrefectureJinyiwei commander Jiang Huan denounced Lan Yu, Marquis of Jingchuan Cao Zhen, Marquis of Heqing Zhang Yi, Marquis of Zhulu Zhu Shou, Earl of Dongguan He Rong, Minister of Personnel Zhan Hui, Vice Minister of Revenue Fu Youwen, and others of treason, planning to rise when the emperor went out for the plowing ceremony. The case was concluded; Lan Yu was executed with his clan and his household confiscated. The emperor issued an edict proclaiming it to all under heaven.
3. 1393Yingtian Prefecture (Nanjing) · Yingtian PrefectureThe case's charges spread by association; those below marquis-level convicted of party membership and exterminated were innumerable. The emperor compiled the indictments into the Nichen Lu, listing one duke, thirteen marquises, and two earls. Cao Zhen and others were named chief offenders. Civil and military officials, military officers, even those who had inscribed paintings or tutored for Lan Yu could be implicated. Historically called the Lan party.
4. 1393Yingtian Prefecture (Nanjing) · Yingtian PrefectureA decree in the ninth month stated: 'The Lan rebels rebelled, the plot leaked, and 15,000 were clan-executed. From now on, Hu partisans and Lan partisans are all pardoned and not to be pursued.' Together with the Hu Weiyong case it was called the Hu-Lan purges. Afterwards Fu Youde, Feng Sheng, and others were also granted death or took their own lives within a year or two; the founding meritorious generals were all gone. Military power was further recovered by the emperor and princes, profoundly affecting the force structure after the Jianwen succession.