# Ordos campaign (1592)

The Ordos campaign of 1592, also called the Ningxia campaign (寧夏之役), Ningxia mutiny (寧夏兵變), or Pubei rebellion (哱拜之亂), was a rebellion of the garrison in Ningxia against their regional commanders. It took place in March 1592 in Ningxia, which was one of the nine military regions on the border of Ming China with Mongolia. The rebellion was led by Chinese officer Liu Dongyang and possibly Mongol general Pubei, who was serving in the Ming army. They successfully overthrew the commanding generals and took control of the city and its surrounding fortifications. The Ming army, led by Wei Xueceng, quickly regained control of the region and laid siege to the city in mid-May. The rebels had a sizable force of 20,000–30,000 soldiers, while the city's population was 300,000. In response, the Ming government gathered 40,000 soldiers, armed with hundreds of cannons, to suppress the rebellion. The siege lasted for several months, with neither side gaining the upper hand. The rebels attempted to gain support from the Mongol khans, but were unsuccessful. The stalemate was broken when the Ming army built a dam around the city, which, when filled with water, flooded the city and destroyed its castles. The defenders' morale was further weakened by a lack of food. On 20 October 1592, the city was finally captured and the rebel leaders were either killed or captured and executed.

## Background

After the settlement of relations between Ming China and the Mongol Altan Khan in 1571, and the resumption of Sino-Mongol trade, the Ming state's interactions with its northern neighbors were generally peaceful. The Mongols were not seen as a serious threat, although there were occasional armed clashes, sometimes involving tens of thousands of men. Ming troops also conducted raids into Mongolia and Manchuria, burning settlements, killing rebellious leaders, and seizing livestock. These actions were organized by Zhang Juzheng, who was the head of the Ming government from 1572 to 1582, and continued in the following years with the support of the Wanli Emperor (r. 1572–1620). For example, in 1591, General Li Chengliang destroyed a Mongol camp during a raid, resulting in the deaths of 280 Mongols and the scattering of over a thousand. Despite the active defense of the empire's borders and military support from Zhang Juzheng and Wanli Emperor, the Ming armies guarding the northwest border were not in the best condition. Several minor rebellions occurred in the 1580s, mostly due to delays in the payment of wages and food.
At the end of the Jiajing Emperor's reign (r. 1521–1567), Pubei, a Mongol chieftain from Chahar, defected to the Chinese side with several hundred men from his household. His clan in Chahar had been causing unrest by constantly raiding their neighbors, leading to the execution of Pubei's father and older brother by the chieftain of their tribe. With no other choice, Pubei fled to Ming territory. Known for their exceptional skills in warfare, Pubei and his horsemen were able to cover 150–200 km on horseback in a day, ambush and disperse enemy camps, and plunder cattle. The Mongols feared his name and did not dare to attack Ming villages within a 150 km radius of Ningxia. Within ten years, Pubei became the regional military commissioner of Huamachi, a strategically important fortress in the northwestern borderlands southeast of Ningxia. He played a significant role in Ming raids against Mongol chieftains in and around Ordos. Despite some complaints from officials, Pubei was highly respected and honored by both Zhang Juzheng and the Wanli Emperor. In 1589, he was appointed regional vice commander of Ningxia, with his son Bo Cheng'en taking over his previous position. Pubei had a personal guard of 3,000 men at his disposal, a common practice among senior late Ming commanders. However, due to his advanced age (over 60 years old), Pubei wanted to step down from his new position and pass it on to his son. Grand coordinator in Ningxia, Dang Xin (党馨), protested, citing Pubei's power and potential danger.
Pubei and Bo Cheng'en's disputes with Dang Xin lasted for several years. Dang Xin consistently denied providing equipment and supplies to Pubei's soldiers, and even had Bo Cheng'en punished for kidnapping another officer's wife. He also arrested those who supported Pubei and Bo Cheng'en. Despite their complaints to Beijing, no resolution was reached. The soldiers and officers, left without resources, repeatedly protested and demanded payment for their services, as well as basic necessities such as food, clothing, and equipment. However, Dang Xin refused to comply for a long time. It was not until 1592 that he finally paid them a year's salary, but he still owed them three years' worth of payment, so the situation did not improve significantly. In February of that year, the government received yet another complaint against Dang Xin and decided to launch an investigation. Dang Xin managed to manipulate the situation by having his relative, Shi Jifang (石繼芳), appointed as the investigator.

## Rebellion

In late March 1592, the soldiers and officers who were owed money by Dang Xin became increasingly frustrated with his refusal to pay their salaries. Led by Chinese officer Liu Dongyang (劉東暘), they rose up and killed Dang Xin and Shi Jifang, and the military commander of the area was forced to commit suicide. Liu Dongyang was then appointed as their commander, with Pubei as chief strategist and Bo Cheng'en and Xu Chao (許朝), an experienced officer whose abilities are on par with Pubei's, as deputy commanders. Tu Wenxiu (土文秀), the son of one of Pubei's original Mongol loyalists, and Pubei's adopted son Bo Yun (継雲) served as the commander's assistants. The government believed that Pubei, due to his Mongol origins, was the mastermind behind the rebellion. The rebels successfully captured Ningxia and 47 surrounding forts, while the pro-government officers and their troops retreated in confusion. In an attempt to expand their control, Tu Wenxiu led 500 men to attack Pinglu, a city 200 km south of Ningxia, but the city was successfully defended by the local Ming commander Xiao Ruxun (蕭如薰). In late April, several thousand Mongols, led by Jorightu, joined the rebels and were welcomed in Ningxia. On 9 May, they launched another unsuccessful attack on Pinglu. The Mongols then withdrew, plundering the countryside.
The rebels demanded recognition from the government, threatening to form an alliance with the Ordos Mongols. Ningxia was a heavily fortified city with a population of 300,000 and an armed rebel force of 30,000 (or possibly 20,000). The city walls were six meters thick and nine meters high, and the rebels were skilled and experienced soldiers.
On 19 April, the Wanli Emperor was informed of the rebellion. He immediately summoned the Minister of War, Shi Xing (石星), and, upon the minister's suggestion, issued a decree to mobilize 7,000 soliders from the garrisons in Xuanfu, Datong, and Shanxi. The Wanli Emperor also appointed several officers and officials to suppress the rebellion, including Ma Gui, a powerful general with his own guard. Additionally, Wei Xueceng (魏學曾), a military experienced official and commander-in-chief of the three border regions, was assigned to crush the rebellion. Wei Xueceng acted swiftly and effectively, securing the south bank of the Yellow River, capturing key points, and recapturing the surrounding border fortresses within a few weeks. The only remaining stronghold for the rebels was the city of Ningxia. The rebels slowed the Ming army's progress by ambushing roads and destroying government supplies. However, after reclaiming the region, Wei Xueceng declared that he did not have enough resources to take the city and took a passive approach. Despite the emperor and his advisors providing additional forces, Wei Xueceng still insisted on a peaceful resolution, citing concerns for the safety of civilians in Ningxia. This decision was criticized by some officials in Beijing, particularly Mei Guozhen (梅國楨), a censor with a military background. After discussing the situation with the supervising secretaries of the ministries and then with the ministers and censors, the emperor took a decisive stance, stating that the rebellion must be suppressed as quickly as possible, especially given the ongoing Japanese invasion of Korea.
Over the course of six weeks, the Ming forces laid siege to Ningxia while also facing occasional harassment from the Mongols. On 22 May, a group of one thousand rebels, led by Pubei's son Bo Chengchong (哱承寵), attempted to join forces with the Mongols. However, they were unable to reach their destination due to blocked roads and were forced to return to the city. The Ming's initial attack on 23 May was unsuccessful, and they tried again on 27 May, resulting in the deaths of approximately three thousand defenders, but the Ming's attempt to break through the northern gate was unsuccessful and caused heavy casualties among their own troops. After receiving news of the Mongols' arrival, the Ming forces withdrew, but resumed their attacks after three days and began constructing ramparts around the city in preparation for a prolonged siege. On 1 June, the rebels joined forces with two thousand Mongol cavalry and launched an attack on the besiegers, but were repelled by artillery fire. In mid-June, Wei Xueceng sent reinforcements to the passes north and east of the city, just in time for a group of 10,000 Mongols to appear 70 km north of Ningxia and another group of 2,000 to 3,000 to appear at Huamachi, southeast of the city. Both groups were driven back, but Wei felt that he did not have enough forces to both defend the border and launch a decisive attack on the city. When bad weather set in, he withdrew his troops from the city to nearby forts, which boosted the rebels' morale. The rebels attempted to persuade the Mongols to join forces against the Ming, but Jorightu remained skeptical of their plans to conquer the province together. In an effort to isolate the rebels, the Ming government offered gifts and trade to the Mongols, specifically to chieftain Curuke.
After the outbreak of the war in Korea in May, the emperor and government urged Wei to speed up the siege, but he continued to use delaying tactics. This caused criticism in Beijing, leading Mei Guozhen to suggest that Li Chengliang, the Count of Ningyuan, an experienced and respected veteran, be placed in charge of the counter-insurgency forces. Li Chengliang's sons, Li Rusong, Li Rubai, and Li Ruzhen, were also capable generals, and his other sons, Li Ruzhang and Li Rumei, as well as his cousin Li Ruwu, also served in the army. The family held significant influence in the northeast of the empire, specifically in Liaodong. However, they were disliked by officials due to their disregard for Confucian values and their association with Zhang Juzheng. Additionally, the position of military superintendent (tidu) was typically reserved for officials, and Li Chengliang was already retired and living in distant Liaodong. The officials viewed them as "wolves" who should not be trusted with such an important position. Despite this, the war party in the government supported Mei Guozhen. The emperor ultimately appointed Li Chengliang as military superintendent and Mei Guozhen as his assistant with the title of army inspecting censor for Ningxia. However, Li Chengliang declined the assignment, citing his advanced age and the Japanese invasion of Korea, which was adjacent to Liaodong. As a result, his son Li Rusong was given the positions of military superintendent of Ningxia and commander in Shaanxi.
In mid-July, Ming reinforcements led by censor Ye Mengxiong (葉夢熊) arrived at Ningxia. They brought with them four hundred cannons, "fire carts", and a thousand Miao warriors. The besiegers were divided into five divisions, with each division assigned to one of the major gates. There was also a mobile corps under the command of Ma Gui. Towards the end of July, the Ming army, which had approximately 40,000 troops in the city, launched an attack from all sides. However, the rebels were able to repel the attack, causing heavy losses for the Ming army. The following night, the rebels made a surprise attack through the north gate and clashed with Ma Gui's cavalry. Both sides suffered significant casualties, but the Ming artillery was able to drive the rebels back. After witnessing the rebels' failure, the Mongols refused to support them with an attack from the rear. On 30 July, Li Rusong and Mei Guozhen arrived with reinforcements from Liaodong, Xuanfu, Datong, and Shanxi. They also brought a large amount of equipment and supplies, including 30,000 uniforms. Li Rusong took command and began attacking the city day and night in early August. The rebels struggled to defend themselves and resorted to executing hostages. As the situation worsened, civilians in the city began to die from lack of food and disease. Some of the rebels started to lose their resolve. Even the Ming army was facing challenges due to a shortage of iron, wood, and skilled craftsmen needed to make and repair weapons.
Meanwhile, the Japanese were attacking Korea, and the emperor was disgusted by the pacifist stance of Wei Xueceng, who tried to appease the Mongols with titles and bribes and sought to negotiate with the rebels. In late August, he was arrested and taken to Beijing. The emperor then approved Shi Xing's plan to build ramparts around the city and flood the interior, including the city itself, with water from lakes and rivers located 15 km away. Wei Xueceng was replaced by Ye Mengxiong, who had previously written the treatise on warfare, Yunchou gangmu (運籌綱目), in 1562. In this treatise, he emphasized the importance of water in warfare. Meanwhile, in Korea, the Korean king fled to the northern border of his country at Uiju on the Yalu River and sought asylum in Ming Liaodong. In response, the Wanli Emperor sent a relief expeditionary force of 3,000 soldiers to Korea. In late August 1592, the Japanese defeated the Ming force near Pyongyang. The troops that were tied up in the northwest in Ningxia were urgently needed in the east in Korea.
Meanwhile, in Ningxia, as of 23 August, a 5.3 km long dam encircled the city. The rebels' attempt to establish contact with the Mongols failed when the Ming captured and executed Pubei's envoy, who was also his adopted son, along with 29 soldiers. However, the rebels were able to secure an alliance with the Mongol chieftain Bushugtu. Li Rusong then sent Ma Gui and Dong Yiyuan (董一元) to attack Bushugtu, and they successfully occupied the passes east of the city. The Mongols were repelled by the Ming forces. On 6 September, the water level in the city reached almost three meters, and the rebels' boat attack on the rampart failed. Inside the city, rebel officers resorted to eating horses, and civilians were forced to eat tree bark. On 7 September, a section of the dam collapsed, resulting in the execution of the responsible officer. The rebels attempted another assault but were once again repelled. The city's residents demanded the rebels' surrender, and on 17 September, Ma Gui also appealed to them to save lives. Despite this, the rebels made another attempt to break out on 22 September. On 25 September, 18,000 Mongols led by Jorightu were blocked north of the city. Li Rusong and Ma Gui launched a counterattack and successfully drove the Mongols back. The morale of the rebels began to decline. On 12 October, the water breached the northern gate, and the Ming soldiers were able to overcome the southern walls. The Ming promised the rebel leaders clemency if they killed their accomplices. As a result, before the fall of the city, Bo Cheng'en killed Liu Dongyang. The city was finally captured on 20 October 1592, and Pubei committed suicide. Bo Cheng'en surrendered and was executed, along with several other captured leaders.

## Aftermath

Ming commanders were promoted and honored—Li Rusong was promoted to supreme commander, while Ye Mengxiong became censor in chief of the right. A large part of the troops from Ningxia was sent to Korea, including Li Rusong, who was appointed supreme commander of the Eastern Expedition to chastise the Japanese. Wei Xueceng was (after the intervention of Li Rusong and Mei Guozhen with the emperor) released from prison and died in obscurity. On the northwestern frontier, more border markets were opened during the 1590s, and the Mongol raids subsequently lost strength and intensity.