In 1626, Yuan Chonghuan defeated Nurhachi in the Battle of Ningyuan and created the Guanningjin Defense Line. This line of defense was once a solid barrier to the northern frontier of the Ming Dynasty, but why did it eventually collapse and lose the strength to resist the Later Jin army?
First, the cost of preparation: a huge economic burden.
During the Apocalypse, the Later Jin Dynasty rose, and the northern frontier of the Ming Dynasty faced a serious threat. In response to this threat, Sun Chengzong proposed the idea of building the Guanningjin defensive line. This defense line is 200 kilometers long, traverses Shanhaiguan to Jinzhou, and consists of Shanhaiguan, Ningyuancheng and Jinzhou.
The construction of the Guanningjin defense line is costing a huge amount of money, and the cost is not only money, but also includes manpower and material resources. Despite all the difficulties it endured, such as harassment by the Houjin cavalry, it was finally completed in 1626 under the command of Yuan Chonghuan.
2. Achievements of the defensive line: containment of the Houjin army.
The completion of the Guanningjin defense line has brought great results. After the Battle of Ningyuan, Nurhachi was forced to retreat for more than 700 li, and a relatively stable living environment was formed in the north of the Ming Dynasty. The defense line was equipped with forts in the north and south sections, making full use of the Ming army's advantages in muskets and artillery, forming a solid joint defense system.
The rise of the Guanning Iron Cavalry also benefited from the stable environment of the defensive line. The Ming army successfully drove out the Houjin army, and the iron cavalry became a brave and warlike elite general, roaming around the Guanningjin defense line to deter the Houjin army.
3. Cause analysis: natural disasters and man-made disasters are intertwined.
1.Natural disaster factors: the great drought in the Chongzhen period.
After Emperor Chongzhen ascended the throne, problems began to arise in the Guanningjin defense line. The severe drought led to no harvest in Shaanxi and Henan, and the imperial court was in financial difficulties and could not maintain the daily expenses of the defense line. At the same time, Chongzhen abolished the commercial tax, which exacerbated the financial pressure.
2.Man-made factors: corruption and civil strife in the imperial court.
Chongzhen killed the eunuch Wei Zhongxian in order to solve the financial crisis, but then had to borrow money from his courtiers. The abolition of the commercial tax led to the collusion of southern merchants with the Donglin Party, which led to further financial difficulties for the imperial court.
What's even more deadly is that when Emperor Chongzhen was in power, he killed the general Yuan Chonghuan. This made the generals of the Guanningjin defense line feel the distrust of the imperial court, which led to the discouragement of the army and low morale.
Fourth, the Guanningjin defense line collapsed: the last fortress was lost.
In 1640 AD, the Battle of Songjin broke out, and the Ming and Qing dynasties engaged in fierce large-scale battles in the area of the Guanningjin defense line. However, the Ming court was already corrupt and adopted retreat tactics, and the defensive line had long since lost its former solidity.
The battle ended in the defeat of the Ming army, the Guanningjin defense line was basically lost, and the last Shanhaiguan became the last resistance. Li Zicheng attacked Beijing, Emperor Chongzhen committed suicide, and the Ming Dynasty fell. The Guanning Jin Defense Line, once an impregnable wall, finally collapsed under the double attack of natural disasters and man-made disasters.
Conclusion: Momentary courage is difficult to save the fate of the Ming Dynasty.
The fall of the Guanningjin defense line was a tragedy in which natural disasters and man-made disasters were intertwined. Huge economic pressures, corruption in the imperial court, and dishonesty in generals caused this once impregnable barrier to finally collapse. The fall of the Ming Dynasty was an irreparable fate of momentary bravery.
The rise and fall of the Guanningjin defense line is the epitome of the grand epic at the end of the Ming Dynasty, and the article profoundly reveals the glory of the early construction of the defense line and the reasons for its later collapse. This historical story is not only a war chapter about military strategy, but also a social picture about the corruption of the imperial court and natural and man-made disasters.
First of all, the construction of the Guanningjin defense line was one of the strategies of the Ming Dynasty to deal with the threat of the Later Jin. The victory of Sun Chengzong and other famous generals in the Battle of Ningyuan laid the foundation for this plan. However, it was this majestic line of defense that eventually became a burden for the Ming Dynasty. Natural disasters continued, the imperial court's finances were tightened, and the continuous harassment of the Houjin further exacerbated the difficulty of construction. It also made me think deeply about how a country can better deal with internal problems while dealing with external enemies, and ensure social stability and financial sustainability is crucial.
Secondly, the article points out that the natural disasters in the Chongzhen period became the fuse for the collapse of the Guanningjin defense line. The drought paralyzed the imperial court's finances, and Chongzhen's policy mistakes were made even worse. Chongzhen's murder of Wei Zhongxian and the abolition of commercial taxes made it impossible for the imperial court to maintain the operation of the defensive line. This also reminds us that political stability and correct policy decision-making play a non-negligible role in the construction of the world. ** It is necessary to keep a clear mind and correctly handle internal and external issues in order to ensure the overall security of the country.
The article also emphasizes that the rise of the Guanning Iron Cavalry is inseparable from the stable environment of the Guanning Jin Defense Line. The formation of this army formed a virtuous circle with the successful construction of the defensive line. However, after the collapse of the defensive line, this force lost its solid backing and was ultimately unable to stop the rise of Houjin. This makes me think that the strength of an army depends not only on the level of equipment and training, but also on stable logistics support and political support.
Overall, this article profoundly outlines the rise and fall of the Guanningjin defense line, showing the rise and fall of a frontier defense line in history. We can draw many lessons from it, and there are many enlightenments worth pondering for the construction of contemporary society, political decision-making, and the handling of internal and external problems. History has always given us profound reflections, and we hope that we can draw wisdom from the lessons of our predecessors and better face the challenges of the future.
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