Later artistic portrait of 陆仲亨, left page of Wanxiaotang Zhuzhuang Huazhuan (1743); complete scanned spread.
1390 CE
Founding GeneralMilitary CommanderMarquis of Ji'an
Lu Zhongheng
陆仲亨
Lu Zhongheng (1336–1390), courtesy name Guxiang, was a native of Haozhou (modern Fengyang, Anhui Province) and a prominent founding commander of the Ming dynasty, celebrated as one of the original "Twenty-Four Generals of Huaixi." Orphaned at age seventeen during the chaos of the late Yuan dynasty, he was discovered hiding in the marshes by Zhu Yuanzhang and enlisted into his personal bodyguard. Lu fought with exceptional…
1390 CEMing Dynasty
PROFILE
Lu Zhongheng (1336–1390), courtesy name Guxiang, was a native of Haozhou (modern Fengyang, Anhui Province) and a prominent founding commander of the Ming dynasty, celebrated as one of the original "Twenty-Four Generals of Huaixi." Orphaned at age seventeen during the chaos of the late Yuan dynasty, he was discovered hiding in the marshes by Zhu Yuanzhang and enlisted into his personal bodyguard. Lu fought with exceptional bravery in the Yangtze crossing, the capture of Jiqing (Nanjing), and the campaigns destroying Chen Youliang's regime in Jiangxi. In 1368, he served under Liao Yongzhong in the amphibious expedition that subdued Guangdong, securing the surrender of He Zhen. Stationed along the northern frontiers, he defended Yanmen Pass against Mongol counteroffensives. During the grand investiture of 1370, he was created Marquis of Ji'an with an annual stipend of 1,500 shi and granted an iron exemption patent. In 1390, he was implicated in the sprawling treason trial of Hu Weiyong and executed.
Era
Yuan-Ming Transition
Dynasty
Ming Dynasty
Identity
Founding General, Military Commander, Marquis of Ji'an
Date of Birth
1336 CE（2nd year of the Zhiyuan era, Yuan）
Date of Death
1390 CE（23rd year of the Hongwu era, Ming）
Ethnicity
Han
Ancestral Home
Linhuai, Haozhou (modern Fengyang, Anhui)
Place of Birth
Haozhou, Anhui
Place of Death
Nanjing
Lifespan
Unconfirmed; not explicitly stated in the
Highest Office
Vice Commissioner of Central Military Commission, General Pacifying the South
Peerage
Marquis of Ji'an
LIFE TIMELINE
Haozhou ｜ Born into an agricultural family; orphaned during localized Open
Haozhou ｜ Born into an agricultural family; orphaned during localized warfare at age seventeen.
Chuyang ｜ Enlisted under Zhu Yuanzhang, demonstrating reckless courageOpen
Chuyang ｜ Enlisted under Zhu Yuanzhang, demonstrating reckless courage in initial skirmishes.
Taiping ｜ Followed the army across the Yangtze, storming Taiping and JOpen
Taiping ｜ Followed the army across the Yangtze, storming Taiping and Jiqing; named Left Flank Marshal.
Poyang Lake ｜ Fought in the decisive Poyang campaign, conquering JiujiOpen
Poyang Lake ｜ Fought in the decisive Poyang campaign, conquering Jiujiang and Anqing from Chen Youliang.
Guangzhou ｜ Served in the maritime expedition to Guangdong under Liao Open
Guangzhou ｜ Served in the maritime expedition to Guangdong under Liao Yongzhong, accepting He Zhen's surrender.
Yanmen Pass ｜ Directed garrison defenses at Yanmen Pass in Shanxi agaiOpen
Yanmen Pass ｜ Directed garrison defenses at Yanmen Pass in Shanxi against Northern Yuan cavalry raids.
Nanjing ｜ Ennobled as Marquis of Ji'an with hereditary status and ironOpen
Nanjing ｜ Ennobled as Marquis of Ji'an with hereditary status and iron exemption credentials.
Nanjing ｜ Implicated in the treason conspiracy of Hu Weiyong by househOpen
Nanjing ｜ Implicated in the treason conspiracy of Hu Weiyong by household retainers; executed and posthumously stripped of nobility.
Aged twenty-seven ｜ He took part in the campaign against Chen YouliangOpen
Aged twenty-seven ｜ He took part in the campaign against Chen Youliang with many merits and was advanced to commander of the Chariot and Cavalry Guard.
Aged twenty-eight ｜ He campaigned against Ganzhou with Chang Yuchun, rOpen
Aged twenty-eight ｜ He campaigned against Ganzhou with Chang Yuchun, received the surrender of Xiong Tianrui and was appointed commander of the Ganzhou Guard.
Aged twenty-nine ｜ He moved troops to take Meizhou, Huichang and XiangOpen
Aged twenty-nine ｜ He moved troops to take Meizhou, Huichang and Xiangxiang and cleared all the mountain strongholds.
In 1368 ｜ In 1368, he served under Liao Yongzhong in the amphibious exOpen
In 1368 ｜ In 1368, he served under Liao Yongzhong in the amphibious expedition that subdued Guangdong, securing the surrender of He Zhen.
Age 32 ｜ During the Southern Expedition of 1368, Lu accompanied naval Open
Age 32 ｜ During the Southern Expedition of 1368, Lu accompanied naval commander Liao Yongzhong on an amphibious advance along the southern coast, subduing Chaozhou and Guangzhou without bloodshed.
Yanmen Pass ｜ He campaigned north into the central plains with the GenOpen
Yanmen Pass ｜ He campaigned north into the central plains with the General-in-Chief Xu Da, leading troops to hold the key pass of Yanmen against the Northern Yuan counterattack.
Aged thirty-three ｜ He replaced Deng Yu in guarding Xiangyang, was traOpen
Aged thirty-three ｜ He replaced Deng Yu in guarding Xiangyang, was transferred to be associate commissioner of the Chief Military Commission and in the eighth month acted as its administrator.
During the grand investiture of 1370 ｜ During the grand investiture ofOpen
During the grand investiture of 1370 ｜ During the grand investiture of 1370, he was created Marquis of Ji'an with an annual stipend of 1,500 shi and granted an iron exemption patent.
Age 34 ｜ During the grand investiture of 1370, he was created Marquis Open
Age 34 ｜ During the grand investiture of 1370, he was created Marquis of Ji'an with an annual stipend of 1,500 shi and granted an iron exemption patent.
Aged thirty-five ｜ He went out to guard Yanmen Pass at Daixian, distinOpen
Aged thirty-five ｜ He went out to guard Yanmen Pass at Daixian, distinguished himself in capturing raiders and had his title restored together with Tang Shengzong.
Aged forty-two ｜ For failing to answer a summons on time his public fiOpen
Aged forty-two ｜ For failing to answer a summons on time his public fields were confiscated.
Aged forty-three ｜ He drilled troops at Linqing with Zhou Dexing, HuanOpen
Aged forty-three ｜ He drilled troops at Linqing with Zhou Dexing, Huang Bin and Tang He, and was soon arrested and brought to the capital, then released.
Aged forty-four ｜ When the Hu Weiyong case broke the judges asked thatOpen
Aged forty-four ｜ When the Hu Weiyong case broke the judges asked that Zhongheng be punished with him, but Zhu Yuanzhang, mindful that he had been a trusted intimate from the first risings, ordered that he be spared.
Aged forty-five ｜ He was moved to guard Chengdu and accompanied Fu YouOpen
Aged forty-five ｜ He was moved to guard Chengdu and accompanied Fu Youde in putting down the risings of the Wusa tribes.
Aged fifty ｜ He put down the rising of Anucong, the local chief of JujOpen
Aged fifty ｜ He put down the rising of Anucong, the local chief of Jujinzhou in Yunnan, capturing and executing more than four hundred men.
In 1390 ｜ In 1390, he was implicated in the sprawling treason trial ofOpen
In 1390 ｜ In 1390, he was implicated in the sprawling treason trial of Hu Weiyong and executed.
Age 54 ｜ In 1390, he was implicated in the sprawling treason trial of Open
Age 54 ｜ In 1390, he was implicated in the sprawling treason trial of Hu Weiyong and executed.
BIOGRAPHY
Biography
From Peasant Orphan to Huaixi General
Lu Zhongheng's early life reflected the sheer desperation of late Yuan China. When pillaging warlord armies burned his village in Haozhou, his parents and brothers perished. Clasping a single pint of wheat, the seventeen-year-old Lu concealed himself in the tall grass. Zhu Yuanzhang discovered him while foraging and took pity on his plight, enlisting him into the rebel forces. ### Conquering the South and Guarding Yanmen Lu Zhongheng proved to be a natural shock cavalry leader. During the Southern Expedition of 1368, Lu accompanied naval commander Liao Yongzhong on an amphibious advance along the southern coast, subduing Chaozhou and Guangzhou without bloodshed. Later transferred to Shanxi, he entrenched defenses at Yanmen Pass, repeatedly beating back Northern Yuan raids.
Major Activities
Frontier Colonization and Imperial Reprimand
Despite his bravery, Lu developed a reputation for arrogance and corruption in peacetime. While supervising horse breeding and postal relays in Shanxi, he illegally commandeered government post horses and private peasant couriers. Zhu Yuanzhang severely reprimanded him, stripping his stipend before restoring him to rank after he demonstrated repentance on military campaign.
Traditional Ming dynastic records rank Lu Zhongheng among the finest combat officers of the founding campaigns, yet note that his inability to curb aristocratic hubris led directly to his ruin in the ruthless purges of the late Hongwu reign.
