The Rise of the Wokou and the Fall of Zhu Wan
Since the late Yuan Dynasty, Japanese pirates known as “Wokou” – comprising ronin, merchants, and Chinese smugglers – had plagued China’s coast. By the Zhengtong era, weakened coastal defenses allowed these pirates to occupy islands and raid inland. Official Zhu Wan was appointed to suppress them. He successfully captured notorious pirate leaders like Li Guangtou but faced backlash from corrupt officials who had vested interests in the smuggling trade. Accused of overstepping his authority, Zhu Wan was dismissed and committed suicide, famously lamenting that destroying internal traitors was harder than defeating foreign bandits. His death led to a resurgence of piracy under leaders like Wang Zhi.
Hu Zongxian’s Strategy
Grand Coordinator Hu Zongxian adopted a dual strategy of appeasement and force. To secure political cover from the powerful Yan Song faction, he sent auspicious gifts (like a white deer) to the Jiajing Emperor. He attempted to negotiate with Wang Zhi, offering amnesty in exchange for loyalty. However, local official Wang Bengu arrested and executed Wang Zhi against Hu’s wishes, causing Wang’s followers to seek revenge and intensify their raids. Realizing diplomacy had failed, Hu turned to military suppression, relying on generals like Qi Jiguang and Yu Dayou.
The Birth of the Qi Family Army
General Qi Jiguang realized the existing troops were undisciplined and cowardly. He recruited miners and farmers from Yiwu to form a new force, the “Qi Family Army.” He trained them rigorously in the “Mandarin Duck Formation,” a twelve-man squad tactic suited for narrow terrain. Qi enforced strict discipline inspired by Yue Fei’s army; soldiers were forbidden from looting or disturbing civilians. This earned them immense popularity and high morale. In battle, they refused to be distracted by gold dropped by retreating pirates, focusing solely on victory.
The Battle of Hengyu and Pinghai
In Fujian, the pirates held the island of Hengyu, protected by tides and mudflats. Qi Jiguang devised a plan where soldiers carried straw bundles to pave a path across the mud during low tide, attacking shirtless to reduce weight. They achieved a total victory. Later, at the Battle of Pinghai, Generals Yu Dayou and Liu Xian prepared the battlefield by digging trenches to hinder the enemy. Qi Jiguang led the central assault while Yu and Liu flanked the pirates, resulting in the recapture of Xinghua and the rescue of thousands of hostages. The campaign eventually extended to Guangdong, effectively ending the Wokou threat.
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