In the second year of Jianwen , his father Chen Heng died of severe injuries. According to the convention in the army at that time, all the troops under Chen Heng were handed over to Chen Mao for management, and made military achievements in many battles and were gradually promoted to the right governor.
After Zhu Di succeeded to the throne, Chen Mao was awarded the title of Ningyang Bo, with an annual salary of 1,000 stones. In March of the sixth year of Yongle , Chen Mao wore the seal of the General of the West and was appointed by the court to guard Ningxia. After he arrived there, he successfully recruited many surrendered soldiers. Even the former Prime Minister Zan Bu, Ping Zhang, Situ, Duke Guo and others led their troops to surrender one after another after hearing the news. Soon after, Chen Mao was promoted from Count to Marquis for his merits, and his salary was increased by 200 stone.
When it was the eighth year of Yongle, Chen Mao followed the large army to participate in the northern expedition, and was mainly responsible for supervising the division Zuoye. In the 11th year of Yongle, he ran to Ningxia to train the border again. Later, he was able to command the guards of Shanxi and Shaanxi, Gongchang and Pingliang, and were responsible for stationing in Xuanfu.
In the second year, Chen Mao followed Zhu Di to participate in the northern expedition again and led the left scepter. At that time, he and Wang Tong, the Marquis of Chengshan, fought fiercely in the Hulanhushuwen area, which is the northwest of Wenduer Khan of Mongolia. Zhu Di's army won a great victory, killing more than 10 princes of Ola and thousands of soldiers.
In the following days, Chen Mao was basically appointed by the court to guard the northwest areas such as Ningxia. When there was a war, Zhu Di would pull him to the front line together.
Time came to the end of Yongle. Zhu Di died of illness on the way to the fifth Northern Expedition in Yumuchuan . At that time, the imperial army was still outside, and the garrison in the capital was very weak.
Crown Prince Zhu GaochiQuickly recruit Chen Mao and Yangwuhou Xue Lu , and asked them to bring three thousand cavalry to the capital to guard the city to prevent accidents. After Zhu Gaochi successfully succeeded to Mingrenzong , he needed to reward Chen Mao and others and add him to Taibao. Not long after, Zhu Gaochi died quickly, and his eldest son, Zhu Zhanji, succeeded to Emperor Xuanzong, and treated Chen Mao very well. Chen Mao also participated in the subsequent battle to pacify the king of Han, and Zhu Zhanji still asked Chen Mao to garrison in Ningxia.
Chen Mao was stationed in Ningxia for such a long time, and was famous in the northern desert and guarded the peace of the northwest border for Ming . But as An Yi lived too long, Chen Mao's mentality gradually changed. He began to become self-poetic and accepted a lot of bribes. He was repeatedly impeached by the court, while Zhu Zhanji had always been protecting him.
In the next ten years, Chen Mao has been in a state of ups and downs. For example, in Yingzong Emperor Zhu Qizhen Just as he succeeded to the throne, someone impeached him because of his personal mistakes, which led to foreign tribes invading the border. In order to win military achievements for his subordinates, there were also situations of killing good people and taking credit for them. According to the Ming Dynasty, he should be executed. When Zhu Qizhen forgives him, he just removes his title. After a few years, he finds a reason to restore his title.
Chen Mao was able to get up quickly every time he fell, and finally enjoyed his old age. He did not die in seven years at the age of 85.
