Some people say that Zheng Chenggong has a pirate personality. Let's not talk about what kind of personality a pirate is like. Just look at Zheng Chenggong's lifelong pursuit and practice and you will understand.
Due to his wealthy family, Zheng Chenggong received a good traditional Chinese education from the age of seven. Zheng Chenggong has been smart, agile and eager to learn since he was a child. The private school teacher valued him very much and named him "Sen", which means "talent that can be cultivated".
Zheng Chenggong was admitted as a scholar at the age of fourteen. After passing the exam, he became one of the twenty "Lin Shan students" in Nan'an County. Linshan students receive money and food from the county government every month. In today's terms, people who are registered are entitled to subsidies, right?
At the age of twenty, Zheng Chenggong entered the Nanjing Imperial College for further study and became a disciple of Qian Qianyi, a famous Confucian from Jiangsu and Zhejiang. Qian Qianyi paid special attention to Zheng Chenggong. The nickname "Damu" was given to him, which means a pillar, to encourage Zheng Chenggong. At that time, Zheng Chenggong once expressed his ambition with the title "Tang and Wu conquered and executed, Yao and Shun surrendered". After studying in the Imperial College for one year, it was said that there was a saying in Nanjing that "only Zheng Sen is the only one in the world".
1644, Li Zicheng invaded the capital, and the Ming Empire was destroyed. In 1645, Emperor Zhu Yujian founded the state in Fuzhou, and the year was changed to the first year of Emperor Longwu. Zheng Chenggong was twenty-one years old. Zheng Chenggong's father led Zheng Chenggong to visit Emperor Longwu. Emperor Longwu liked Zheng Chenggong very much when he saw his handsome appearance. He was even more happy when he heard that Zheng Chenggong was elegant and polite in conversation.
Emperor Longwu stroked Zheng Chenggong's back and said, "It's a pity that I don't have a daughter to marry you as your wife. You must be loyal to my Zhu family and don't forget it." Then he gave the country's surname "Zhu" and his first name "Success". He was given the title of "Commander of the Imperial Camp and Central Army". This is the reason why people call Zheng Chenggong "the surnamed master of the country".
from now on. Zheng Chenggong had great ambitions and took the revitalization of the Ming Dynasty as his own responsibility. He stayed up all night writing "Key Strategies for Restoring the Great Cause, Managing the Army, Raising Pay and Elite Weapons" and submitted it to Emperor Longwu for reading. Emperor Longwu was filled with admiration after reading it.
The Qing army attacked outside, and the rebels surrendered inside. Emperor Longwu was trapped externally and internally anxious. In 1646, when Emperor Longwu was driving through Yanping, Zheng Chenggong had the opportunity to meet Emperor Longwu many times. When talking about the future of the Ming Dynasty and its military defeat, they were so excited that the emperor and his ministers could not help crying.
At that time, Zheng Chenggong's father Zheng Zhilong 's determination to support the Ming Dynasty had been shaken. Emperor Longwu felt that Zheng was difficult to rely on. One day, when Zheng Chenggong saw Emperor Longwu's sad face, he knelt down and said, "Your Majesty is depressed. Do you think my father has evil thoughts? I have been deeply favored by the country and have no hesitation to defend Your Majesty with my life!"
Since then, From then on, the 23-year-old Zheng Chenggong gained the respect of Emperor Longwu and ordered him to lead the army in battle. Zheng Chenggong opposed his father's surrender to the Qing Dynasty, set up a banner to resist the Qing Dynasty, and fought in the north and south. By 1658, Zheng Chenggong had made three northern expeditions to Jiangsu and Zhejiang, and nine southern expeditions to Fujian and Guangdong. After more than 120 large and medium-sized battles, he won more than he lost.
1661, Zheng Chenggong marched to Taiwan. After the treasure island was recovered in February 1662, county and town institutions were established according to the Ming Dynasty system, various policies were compiled, troops were stationed to cultivate land, agriculture was developed, ethnic minorities were appeased, and schools were opened... Zheng Chenggong received a good education since childhood. The calligraphy is well written, and the poetry is also well written. For example, the popular " Returns to Taiwan ", " Sets Out to Conquer Manchu Yi from Guazhou to Jinling ", etc. It is a pity that he died young and few of his works have been handed down from generation to generation.
Of course, Zheng Chenggong had his shortcomings, especially his strict military management, excessive punishment and killing, impatience and refusal to persuade, etc. But looking at Zheng Chenggong’s lifelong spiritual pursuits and practices, why do we say he has a pirate personality? Why do you say he has a pirate personality?
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