697 years ago today, on November 19, 1328 (October 18, 1328 lunar calendar), Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty, was born. Zhu Yuanzhang (1328.11.19~ 1398.6.24), the first emperor of the Ming Dynasty. Originally named Chongba, later named Zhu Guorui (1328-1398), was born on the eighth day of August in the first year of the Yuan Dynasty, Wenzong Tiancalendar (November 19, 1328 Gregorian calendar) Ding Weishi (another said: the 18th day of the ninth lunar month is October 21), Han nationality, Haozhou (now Fengyang County East, Anhui Province) Zhongli Taiping Township, a poor peasant family. Ranked fourth, the family brothers ranked eighth. Since he was a poor child, his parents and brothers died of the plague, and he was lonely. He entered Huangjue Monastery (located outside the west gate of Fengyang City) as a little novice, and served as a cleaner, warehouse keeper, and oil worker. Less than two months after entering the monastery, due to the difficulty of collecting the rent of the Temple in the year of barrenness, the owner of the temple closed the warehouse and dismissed the monks. Zhu Chongba had to leave his hometown to become a wandering monk. He returned to Huangjue Monastery in the eighth year of Zhizheng. He joined the uprising army because of a letter from his friend Tang and (suspected), and changed his name to "Zhu Yuanzhang", which means to kill (Zhu) the Zhang (an ancient jade ware) of the Yuan Dynasty. At the age of 25, he participated in the Red Scarf Army led by Guo Zixing to resist the tyranny of the Mongolian and Yuan Dynasties. Under Guo Zixing, he led his troops to go out and attack Bike; therefore, Guo married his adopted daughter Ma's family to him, which was the famous "Ma Dazu" Empress in history. After Guo's death, he commanded Guo's ministry and served as the left deputy marshal of King Han Lin'er of Xiaoming. Then he was promoted continuously with his military achievements. In the 16th year (1356), the generals appointed Zhu Yuanzhang as the Duke of Wu. In the 24th year (1364), he was the king of Wu. In April of the 27th (1367), King Zhu Yuanzhang of Wu named Xu Da, the prime minister on the right, as the captured general, and Pingzhang Chang Youchun as the deputy general. He led his army to 250,000 and entered the Central Plains. In the Northern Expedition, a proclamation was issued to the officials and people of the north. The proclamation put forward the program of "expelling the Hu prisoners, restoring China, establishing an outline for Chen Ji, and relieving the people", in order to inspire the people of the north to rise up against the Yuan. Zhu Yuanzhang conformed to the trend of the times, and with his talents and far-sightedness, he made careful arrangements for the Northern Expedition, proposing to take Shandong first and remove the barrier of the Yuan Dynasty; invade Henan, cut off its wings, capture Tongguan, and occupy its threshold; then invade most of the capital. At this time, the Yuan Dynasty was alone and took it without a fight; then send troops westward, and Shanxi, northern Shaanxi, Guanzhong, and Gansu could sweep down. The army of the Northern Expedition proceeded according to the plan. Xu Da led his troops to take Shandong first, then westward, attacked Bianliang, and then waved his troops to Liguan. Zhu Yuanzhang went to Bianliang to take command. In the first year of Hongwu in the Ming Dynasty (1368), he became emperor in Nanjing, and his country name was Daming and his era name was Hongwu. In the first year of Hongwu (1368) in July, various armies went straight along the canal to Tianjin, and on the 27th they entered Tongzhou. Emperor Yuan Shundi Tuhuantie Muer led his concubine, crown prince and minister, opened Jiande Gate and escaped from Dadu, and fled to Shangdu through Juyong Pass. On August 2, the Ming army entered Dadu, and the Yuan Dynasty came to an end. Mongol rule in China ended, and the Ming Dynasty gained the right to rule within the Great Wall. Zhu Yuanzhang reigned for 31 years, overthrowing the tyranny of the Mongolian and Yuan Dynasties and establishing a unified feudal regime across the country, the Ming Dynasty. Zhu Yuanzhang's body is a collection of Qin Shi Huang's wisdom and brutality, Emperor Gaozu of Han's employment wisdom, Emperor Taizong of Tang's people-oriented thought, Emperor Gaozu of Song's autocratic centralization, these emperors have all he has, and beyond his predecessors, he can be said to be a collection of many emperor characteristics. During Zhu Yuanzhang's reign, in order to ease the sharp and complex class contradictions, ethnic contradictions and contradictions between various groups within the ruling class, he implemented a series of policies conducive to social progress, such as fighting foreign aggression, reforming politics, developing production, and stabilizing people's livelihood. He vigorously strengthened the centralized rule of the autocratic monarchy in politics, economy, military, and ideology. In line with this, in legal thought, in view of the various drawbacks caused by the relaxation of laws and regulations at the end of the Yuan Dynasty, he believed that "I have to take China flat, and I have to be fierce". Zhu Yuanzhang arranged for a simple funeral, and built his mausoleum at the southern foot of Zhongshan Mountain, which was known as the Xiaoling Mausoleum. The Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum was 45 miles in radius and was magnificent in scale. On June 24, 1398, Zhu Yuanzhang, 71, died and was buried in the Xiaoling Mausoleum. His posthumous name was "Holy Spirit Wenwu, Qin Ming, and Junde succeeded in reigning Tianda Xiaogao Emperor", and the temple name was "Taizu". The Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum was built in the 14th year of Ming Hongwu (1381). Empress Ma died the following year and was buried in this mausoleum. Because Empress Zhu Yuanzhang died in the 31st year of Hongwu, and was buried in the underground palace with Empress Ma. Note: Emperor Taizu of Ming Zhu Yuanzhang has 13 portraits, one is in the collection of the Palace Museum in Beijing, and 12 are in the collection of the Palace Museum in Taipei. It is puzzling that the owners of these 13 portraits are all Zhu Yuanzhang, but they show very different appearances.