When Dong Min stood on the Xiwu city tower and saw Huangfu Song's army attacking Wubao , he wondered if he remembered He Jin's younger brother He Miao who had been killed by him.
Just three years later, as the younger brother of Dong Zhuo, , now, like He Miao back then, he experienced the betrayal and despair that everyone pushed him against.
He and his whole family, who were once glorious, are now in ruins.
was born in Yingchuan and grew up in Longxi
The ancestral home of the Dong family is Lintao County, Longxi County, Liangzhou. ("Three Kingdoms·Dong Zhuo Biography")
Lintao in the late Han Dynasty was not the current Lintao County, Dingxi City, Gansu Province, but in the current Minxian County, Dingxi City, located at the southern end of Longxi County at that time.
(Lintao was located at the southwest end of Longxi in the late Han Dynasty)
(Dong) Zhuo's father (Dong) Junya was appointed as the Lunshi Lieutenant of Yingchuan from a micro official. He had three sons: the eldest son (Dong), named Meng Gao, died early; the second was (Dong) Zhuo; Zhuo's younger brother (Dong) Min, named Shuying. --Pei's note "Three Kingdoms: Biography of Dong Zhuo" quoted from " Heroes "
Dong Zhuo's father Dong Junya was promoted from a junior official to the Lunshi County Lieutenant in Yingchuan County, Yuzhou.
Judging from the fact that the last two sons have the character "ying" in their names, here he gave birth to his second son Dong Zhuo and his third son Dong Min.
From 's "Three Kingdoms·Dong Zhuo's Biography", it is said that Dong Zhuo "rarely traveled to Qiangzhong, but always married handsome men." It can be seen that Dong Junya later brought his family back to Longxi.
(Dong Zhuo often went to the Qiang gathering area when he was a boy)
Dong Min grew up here with his brothers.
Conscription was the forbidden army
The Western Han Dynasty continued the conscription system of the Qin Dynasty . All men must perform military service when they reach the specified age.
During the rise of the Han Dynasty, the good family members of the six counties were selected to serve as officials in Yulin and periods. They were officials based on their talent and strength, and there were many famous generals. --"Hanshu·Geographical Chronicles"
"Liangjiazizi of the Six Counties" had the custom of being recruited to the imperial court to serve as the Yulin Imperial Army and to protect the Imperial Army, and many famous generals came out of this way, such as Li Guang, Zhao Chongguo, etc.
Emperor Guangwu of the Eastern Han Dynasty Liu Xiu stopped the army. The prefectures and states no longer had so many standing armies, and changed to the recruitment system , that is, recruiting troops temporarily when the country needs them.
But the Eastern Han Dynasty still retained the conscription system in some counties, and the "six counties" retained their traditions.
At the end of Emperor Huan of the Han Dynasty, Liangjiazi from the six counties was appointed as Yulin Lang - "Three Kingdoms·Dong Zhuo Biography"
(Location map of the six counties)
The "six counties" refer to the four counties of Longxi, Hanyang (formerly known as Tianshui), Anding, and Beidi in Liangzhou, as well as Xihe and Shangjun in Bingzhou. ("Hanshu Geography")
This area is located on the border. The people often suffer from the Qiang, Di, Xiongnu , Xianbei . The people are tough and good at riding and shooting. There is no doubt that the source of soldiers here is very good.
"Liangjiazi" refers to the children of families who are not too smart and do business in the market, such as industry, business, witchcraft, medicine, etc., but choose those children of families with upright roots and loyalty to the Han Dynasty.
Father Dong Junya was an official, and the Dong family in Longxi was undoubtedly such a "good family".
Due to the compulsory nature of the "military conscription system", every young man from a good family of suitable age is obliged to participate. Moreover, this is a promising promotion path. With the care of his brother Dong Zhuo, Dong Min was also drafted at the same time.
(The Yulin Army is responsible for the palace guards)
However, because Dong Zhuo had previous experience as an official (Pei annotated "The Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms·Dong Zhuo Biography" quoted from "Wu Shu") , after this conscription, he directly became Yulin Lang, an official.
Dong Min should be just an ordinary Yu Lin or a soldier guarding the Imperial Army. Judging from the number of positions he later served as the captain of Fengche, it is more likely that he was recruited to the "Qimen" to guard the Imperial Army.
As the captain of Fengche
Dong Zhuo followed Zhang Huan to pacify Bingzhou in 167 ( "Three Kingdoms·Dong Zhuo Biography") , and then fought all the way for the imperial court. By the time of He Jin's death in 189, he had become a former general, and he could not go to Bingzhou.
At this time, Dong Min, who was in Luoyang , also achieved the rank of Fengche Xiaowei with two thousand stones.
Fengche Xiaowei's job was to manage the emperor's carriage. Huo Qubing's son and Huo Guang both held this position. Dou Gu even used this position to fight against the Huns.
In the Eastern Han Dynasty, this position was reduced to an honorary position and was subordinate to Guang Luxun. He had no real power, but he was allowed to participate in court meetings, and his status was still not low.
(Dong Min was granted permission to attend court meetings)
Dong Zhuo led troops away all year round. His military power was too heavy, and many people in the court disliked his character. If Dong Min in the court also holds real power, the consequences of collusion will be disastrous.
But for Dong Min, this is undoubtedly a lie. I am me, and my brother is my brother. How could you ruin my future as a good young man just because you are worried about my brother?
Since hard work is useless, let’s see if there is an opportunity!
Killed the cavalry general He Miao
In April 189, He Jin summoned Dong Zhuo, Ding Yuan, Wang Kuang and other soldiers and horses to Luoyang. Later he regretted it and asked the admonishment doctor kinds of Shao to persuade Dong Zhuo to return.
Finally, under Zhong Shao's strong persuasion, Dong Zhuo retreated to Sunset Pavilion, twenty miles away from Luoyang. ("Book of the Later Han·Zhang Wangzhong's Biography")
At this time, Dong Min in Luoyang City must be afraid and happy. The fear is that He Jin and Dong Zhuo accidentally misfired and sacrificed themselves as flags; the joy is that the second brother is now ready to do something big, and the Dong family and he have a chance to stand up.
In this mood, he will definitely make some contingency preparations.
At dusk on August 25th, Shi Chang's servants killed He Jin in front of the Jiade Hall in the Nangong ("Book of the Later Han·Biography of Dou He") . He Jin's troops from all walks of life in Luoyang City went to the palace to avenge him, and Dong Min was also among them.
(Location map of Jiade Hall and Zhuque Tower)
(He) Miao and (Yuan) Shaonai led troops to garrison under Zhuque Tower, captured Zhao Zhong and others, and beheaded them. - "Book of the Later Han·Biography of Dou He"
Although He Miao and He Jin had different opinions on the issue of killing the ten regular servants, seeing He Jin being killed, he obviously stood with Yuan Shao and other He Jin's men. He also killed Zhao Zhong, one of the two leaders of the Ten Changshi, under the Suzaku Tower at the south gate of the North Palace.
But the soldiers' knowledge is limited.
He Jin's general Wu Kuang was the father of the later Shu Han Hussars Wu Ban and the uncle of Wu Yi and Queen Wu .
Under the Suzaku Tower, Wu Kuang met He Miao. He had always complained to He Jin that He Miao was not of the same mind as his brother, and he suspected that today's killing of He Jin was done by He Miao in collusion with Shi Changshi, so he shouted to the soldiers present:
"The one who killed the general was the general of chariots and cavalry. Are you willing to avenge the general?"
Although He Jin was hesitant in doing things, he was very kind to the soldiers. All the soldiers present shed tears and said: "I am willing to die for revenge!" ("Book of the Later Han·Biography of Dou He")
(Menque)
So Wu Kuang and this group of revengeful soldiers killed He Miao, including Dong Min.
Dong Min felt so happy at the moment. After He Jin died, you, the cavalry general He Miao, had the most power in the city. No matter whether you were wronged or not, whether you were wronged or not, if I kill you, I will get rid of my second brother's biggest opponent.
Everyone pushed against the wall, especially because there were people with ulterior motives inside. Without He Jin, He Miao's life was like a straw. He was killed and abandoned in the back garden of the palace. ("Book of the Later Han·Biography of Dou He")
After the death of the cavalry general He Miao, there was no more powerful army than Dong Zhuo in Luoyang City, and Dong Zhuo began to dominate.
(He Miao died unjustly)
Dong Min took advantage of the chaos to kill He Miao, which made an extremely important contribution to his brother Dong Zhuo.
controls Chang'an
Before moving the capital to Chang'an, Dong Zhuo kept a low profile in Luoyang and did not treat Dong Min and other relatives in particular.
But Yuan Shao and other Kwantung coalition forces gathered together, and after Dong Zhuo left Luoyang and arrived in Chang'an in 192, the spring of these relatives came.
(Dong) Zhuo's younger brother (Dong) Min was the general of the left and was granted the title of Marquis; his elder brother (Dong) Huang was the military commander of the Shizhong Military Academy, and the imperial court was paralleled both inside and outside the clan.--("Three Kingdoms·Dong Zhuo Biography")
General Zuo was not a permanent official in the Han Dynasty. He had a gold seal and a purple ribbon. He was second only to Shangqing. His position was either responsible for the military defense of the capital or stationing troops on the border. (Toutiao Encyclopedia)
Dong Zhuo definitely does not need Dong Min to fight. This general Zuo obviously controls the military power within Chang'an City ; his nephew Dong Huang is in charge of the young emperor's food, clothing, housing, transportation, words and deeds, and his safety and security; his son-in-law Niu Fu and other Xiliang Army are responsible for the security defense outside Chang'an.
(The three-tier structure of Dong Zhuo’s rule)
Many of Dong Zhuo’s relatives and relatives held official positions in the imperial court.
The second son, who was still in the arms of the concubine, was made a marquis and awarded a gold seal and purple ribbon. The granddaughter Dong Bai was not yet fifteen years old and was named Lord Weiyang, and a grand conferment ceremony was held for her. (Pei's note "Three Kingdoms·Dong Zhuo Biography" quotes "Heroes")
Among these relatives, the most reused are Dong Min, Dong Huang, and Niu Fu, and the one with the highest status is Dong Min.
Dong Min was granted the title of Huhou, and the fiefdom of Huxian County was located at the eastern end of youfufeng, very close to Chang'an.
(Location map of Dong Min's fief Hu County)
He died in Xiwu
Dong Zhuo built a Xiwu in his fief Xian County, which was as high as Chang'an City. The grain stored in the dock was enough for the defenders to eat for thirty years.
He once said that if the great cause can be achieved, he will dominate the world; if not, he can stick to Xiwu for the rest of his life. ( "Three Kingdoms: The Biography of Dong Zhuo")
However, the strongest fortress is always breached from within first.
After (Dong) Zhuo died, the sun and moon were pure and clear, and there was no breeze. (Dong) Min, (Dong) Huang, etc., as well as the old and weak of the clan, were all in Xi (Wu). They all returned and were shot by their subordinates. --Pei's Note "Three Kingdoms·Dong Zhuo Biography" cited from "Heroes"
On this day in April 192, Dong Min and Dong Huang were far away in Xiwu and not in Chang'an. Dong Zhuo was assassinated by Wang Yun and Lu Bu.
(Wang Yun) sent Huangfu Song to attack (Dong) Zhuo's brother (Dong) Min in Xiwu, killing his mother, wife, men and women, and completely annihilating his clan. - "Book of the Later Han·Biography of Dong Zhuo"
(The city wall of Xiwu is as high as Chang'an)
The imperial court sent Huangfu Song to attack Xiwu. Without the support of his second brother Dong Zhuo, Dong Min now assumed the mission of protecting the entire family.
Just like three years ago, He Miao was shouldering the fate of the He family after losing He Jin.
Destiny is so ridiculous, as if it is a cycle of reincarnation. The wall fell down and everyone pushed back. The defenders in Xiwu betrayed the Dong family. The entire Dong family was hacked to death and shot to death by these rebels and Huangfu Song's army. The entire Dong family was wiped out.
Both Dong Min and He Miao met the same end.
summary
Dong Min and He Miao had limited abilities after all. After their elder brother, who was the backbone of the family, was suddenly killed, they were unable to continue to take charge of the family, and they died quickly.
Compared with the He family, the Dong family was even more unpopular, and their final fate was even worse.
Dong Min killed He Miao, and then himself was killed. Is it his historical mission to speak out from his own experience and tell us a cycle of cause and effect?
