Xu Da

Xu Da (徐達) (1332—1385) was a talented general who helped found the Ming Dynasty. Prior to being a good friend of the first Ming Emperor, Zhu Yuanzhang, he was also the father-in-law of the third Ming emperor, the Yongle Emperor.

He joined the Red Turban rebels in 1353. He was put under Zhu Yuanzhang's command, and helped the future emperor put down various warlords. In the year 1369, two years after the founding of the Ming dynasty, he, along with various deputies, attacked the Yuan capital of Beijing and forced the Yuan Emperor to flee. [http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/273994/Xu-Da "Xu Da." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2008. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 09 Oct. 2008] ] Xu Da followed the retreating Mongols and at one point were checked by the Korean general, Yi Seonggye, who was commanded to take out the Chinese army. Xu Da's presence struck fear into the Korean generals, who in turn allied themselves with the Chinese instead. Yi Seonggye would later found the Joseon Dynasty. Afterward, Xu Da entered Mongolian territory and routed Mongol reinforcements throughout the empire. Eventually, he sacked the Mongolian capital at Karakorum, and captured thousands of Mongol nobles in 1370. He died in 1385 under mysterious circumstances; gossip would have it that Zhu Yuanzhang died from jealousy.

Cause of Death

Rumour has it that, having suffered from an illness (a disease where his back developed a big swollen lump), Xu Da died. Zhu Yuanzhang wanted to kill Xu Da by serving his favourite food: roast goose meat, but the lump on his back prevented him from eating the goose as he would have a detrimental reaction if he ate it. When the meal was served to Xu Da, he understood the meaning of the meal that the Emperor delivered to him, so, he ate the roast goose meat while crying & remembering the good old days with Zhu Yuanzhang. Afterwards, the goose meat cause his back lump to have a reaction and died.

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