Author: CHUNG Yoon Ngan
Date: 03-18-04 21:32
The Province of Taiwan (03)
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[Dear Andries, Thank you for your support. At that time Taiwan was still occupied by the Dutch. Zheng Chenggong fought many battles with the Dutch.He killed the Dutuch Governor in Taiwan and repulsed the Dutch reinforcement sent from the East Indies. Eventually, the Dutch surrendered to Zheng Chenggong on the 1st February 1662. There is the copy of the surrendering document, in Dutch, I think, in my book. Shall I scan it for your perusal?]
Yoon-Ngan
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北戰南征收寶島---Bei zhan nan zheng shou bao dao
Fighting in the north and the south
As well as to restore the Treasure Island
The motto of Zheng Chenggong (鄭成功)
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In the same year, 1644AD, Fu Wang (福王 or Prince Fu), Zhu Yousong (朱由崧), the first cousin brother of Emperor Yi Zong, was installed the new Emperor of the Ming Dynasty in Nanjing (南京) in Jiangsu province (江蘇省). Zheng Chenggong was 21-years-old and he went to Nanjing to study at a University. His father and his uncle Zheng Hongkui (鄭鴻逵) were supporting Zhu Yousong. Zheng Chenggong was told by his father and uncle to serve Zhu Yousong. Zheng Chenggong was charmed by the charisma of Zhu Yousong and became a staunch supporter of Zhu Yousong. Seeing him so loyal to him Zhu Yousong bestowed upon Zheng Chenggong the title of the Loyal Viscount (忠孝伯).
In the 6th Month of 1645AD the Qing Army captured Nanjing. While fleeing south Zhu Yousong was captured by the Qing troops at Wuhu (蕪湖) in Anhui province (安徽省). He was sent to Beijing and executed in a market place.
In the intercalary 6th Month, Zheng Zhilong the military commander of Fuzhou (福州) installed Zhu Yujian (朱聿鍵) as the new Ming Emperor in Fu Zhou in Fujian province. However, Zheng Zhilong was only using Zhu Yujian to raise his prestige. Zheng Zhilong had no intention to become a loyal general to the extinct Ming Dynasty. Secretly Zheng Zhilong sent messages to the commander of the Qing troops and inviting them to come to Fuzhou. In the 8th Month the Qing Army entered Fujian province without a fight. Zhu Yujian, the newly installed Ming Emperor, was captured by the Qing troops while trying to escape. He was brought back to Fuzhou and executed.
In the 11th Month Gui Wang (桂王 or Prince Gui), Zhu Youlang (朱由榔), the elder cousin brother of Zhu Yousong, was installed as the third Emperor of the Ming since the establishment of the Qing Dynasty, in Zhao Qing (肇慶 present day Gao Yao county 高要縣) in Guangdong province (廣東省).
Zheng Chenggong, who was 23-years-old, went to a Confucius temple in Feng Chuan town (豐川鎮) of Quan Zhou (泉州) in Fujian province. In the temple he burned his scholar attire. He swore, "我現在是孤臣遺子﹐應該幹我的事了 Now I
am a subject without a Lord and I should go and do my own business." He raised an army to fight against the Qing Authorities. He captured Hai Cheng (海澄), Quan Zhou (泉州), Tong An (同安), Zhao An (詔安), Hui Lai (惠來), Chao Yang (潮陽),Sha Men (廈門), Jin Men (金門), Zhang Pu (漳浦) and Zhang Zhou (漳州).
It was a shocked to the Qing Authorities and the whole country knew that Zheng Chenggong might revive the Ming Dynasty. Zhu Youlang, the newly installed Ming Emperor In Guangdong province, heard the good news and rewarded Zheng Chenggong the title of Zhang Guo Gong (漳國公) or the Duke of the State of Zhang. The Qing Authorities forced Zheng Zhilong to write to his son telling him to surrender. Zheng Shizhong (鄭世忠), the youngest son of Zheng Zhilong went to Hai Cheng to deliver the letter to Zheng Chenggong, but he refused to surrender. Zheng Chenggong replied his father, "豈有捨鳳凰而就虎豹者哉. How can I depart from the phoenix and go to live with the tiger and the leopard." Zheng Chenggong broke off his relationship with his father and he supported Zhu Youlang. Zheng Chenggong formed an alliance with Zhang Huangyan (張煌言), who had been leading an army fighting the Manzhous trying to reconquer the north.
In the first Month of 1647AD, the Qing Army attacked Zhu Youlang in Zhao Qing. Zhu Youlang fled to Guilin ( 桂林) in Guangxi province (廣西省). Again in the 11th Month the Qing Army attacked Zhu Youlang and he fled to Wu Gang (武岡) in Hunan province (湖南省).
In 1655AD Zheng Chenggong established an Administration Office in the present day of Shamen which he renamed it Si Ming Zhou (思明州) or the State to Remember the Ming. In 1657, Zhu Youlang, the new Ming Emperor, bestowed upon Zheng Chenggong the title of Yan Ping Wang (延平王) or the Prince of Yan Ping.
In 1658AD Zheng Chenggong and Zhang Huangyan marched north to reconquer the territory that was lost to the Manzhous. They started from Chong Ming (崇明) at the mouth of the Yangtze River. They captured Gua Zhou (瓜州)﹐Zhen Jiang (鎮江), Wu Hu (蕪湖), the four prefectures and twenty four counties. Zheng Chenggong's objective was the city of Nanjing (南京). In the north gate of Nanjing city Zheng Chenggong was defeated by the Qing Army. He lost more than 500 battleships and thousands of men. Zheng Chenggong retreated back to Shamen.
In 1660AD, the Qing Army attacked Shamen with a large force. Zheng Cheng Gong repulsed the attack. The following year on the 23rd day of the 3rd Month Zheng Chenggong left Shamen (金門) for Taiwan Island with a force of more than 20,000 and 900 ships. He left his son Zheng Jing (鄭經) behind to guard Shamem.
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CHUNG Yoon-Ngan (鄭永元)
All rights reserved 18032004
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CHUNG Yoon
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