# Jiang Bin (Ming dynasty)

Jiang Bin (d. 1521) was a Chinese officer and a favorite of the Zhengde Emperor, the emperor of the Ming dynasty. He rose to become one of the most influential men in Ming China, starting from 1512. However, after the Zhengde Emperor's death in 1521, Jiang Bin's attempts to gain power were unsuccessful. The new government, led by Grand Secretary Yang Tinghe, ultimately executed him.

## Biography

Jiang Bin was a cavalry officer from a military household who was assigned to the garrison at Xuanfu. He was known for his exceptional archery skills and in 1511, he proved his bravery in battles against rebels in South Zhili. Despite being hit by three arrows, including one in the ear, Jiang Bin continued to fight. In 1512, he was able to secure an audience with the Zhengde Emperor through a bribe to Qian Ning. The emperor was impressed by Jiang Bin's strength, imposing presence, and his wealth of exciting battle stories. However, Qian Ning, who initially supported Jiang Bin, turned against him when he realized that he was losing influence.
Jiang Bin proposed a reform to the emperor, suggesting a rotation of units. He believed that the garrison in the capital lacked combat experience and was unable to effectively fight against rebels. His proposal was to bring experienced units from the borderlands to Beijing and send soldiers from the capital to the borders to gain experience. Despite opposition from Grand Secretary Li Dongyang, the emperor implemented the reform and placed Jiang Bin in charge of the troops.
In 1516, the Zhengde Emperor, tired of constant criticism from officials, began to consider the idea of going to Xuanfu. Jiang Bin, in an attempt to distance the Zhengde Emperor from Qian Ning, convinced the emperor that Xuanfu had better musicians and women, and that he would have real skirmishes with the Mongols in the borderlands instead of simulated battles in Beijing. In the fall of 1517, the emperor traveled to the borderlands and stayed there for two years. Jiang Bin served as his first adjutant, and for his role in a successful battle with the Mongols in October 1517, he was appointed as a count. Specifically, he was given the title of Count of Pinglu (平虜伯; Pinglu bo).
In the years 1519–1521, Jiang Bin accompanied the emperor on his journey to Nanjing in the south. However, upon their return to Beijing, the emperor passed away without naming a successor. Jiang Bin saw this as an opportunity to seize the imperial city and place Zhu Junzhang, a prince from Datong and a distant relative of the emperor, on the throne. His first step was to forge a decree on 15 April, declaring himself in charge of the border troops stationed in Beijing. However, his plan was unsuccessful as he was not present when the emperor died on 20 April. Instead, two eunuchs recorded the emperor's supposed last words, stating that his mother, Empress Dowager Zhang, and the Grand Secretaries would rule the empire. Grand Secretary Yang Tinghe then proposed that the emperor's closest cousin, thirteen-year-old Zhu Houcong, son of the recently (in 1519) deceased Zhu Youyuan, Prince of Xing, be named as the new emperor. He gained the support of Lady Zhang and the government for this decision.
However, Jiang Bin still had an army at his disposal. He returned to the Forbidden City on 22 April, when Yang Tinghe informed him of the decree to return the border troops from Beijing to the border, effectively stripping him of his main support. Despite persuasion from his allies to take action, Jiang hesitated, and was ultimately arrested on 24 April. Yang Tinghe obtained consent for his arrest from the eunuch-heads of the Directorate of Ceremonial—Wei Bin (魏彬) and Zhang Rui (張銳)—in exchange for the immunity of the other eunuchs—only Jiang's allies among the officers were also arrested. Jiang's fortune, consisting of 70 chests of gold, 2,200 chests of silver, and other valuables, was confiscated and he was subsequently executed.