Nghe An province and its resistance wars against the Ming invaders.

Hoan Chau - Outpost of Dai Viet

(Baonghean.vn) - During the Ly and Tran dynasties, Hoan Chau/Nghe An, once a remote border region, made significant contributions to the defense and expansion of the country's territory. This period (approximately 400 years) also marked the flourishing economic and cultural development of Nghe An at that time.

In the year Canh Thin (1400), Ho Quy Ly dethroned King Tran and proclaimed himself emperor.established the Ho DynastyDespite many important political, economic, and social reforms, the excessive mobilization of public funds, labor, and the national treasury for building the army and fortifications led to widespread resentment, discontent, and resistance from the people.

Ho Dynasty Citadel was built in 1397. (Archival photo)

Meanwhile, in China, the Ming dynasty was at its peak and plotting to conquer Dai Viet and other Southeast Asian countries. Taking advantage of the fall of the Tran dynasty and the difficulties faced by the Ho dynasty, at the end of the year Bing Tuat (1406), the Ming attacked Dai Viet. In the year Dinh Hoi (1407), after some weak resistance, the Ho dynasty was quickly defeated.

In April 1407, the Ming dynasty changed the Đại Ngu kingdom into Giao Chỉ district under Ming control; below the district were prefectures, counties, and districts. The entire country was divided into 15 prefectures, and the area of ​​present-day Nghệ Tĩnh at that time consisted of two prefectures: Nghệ An and Diễn Châu. In the year Đinh Dậu (1417), the Ming army again separated Châu Quỳ from Diễn Châu prefecture and incorporated it into Thanh Hóa prefecture. The colonial administration later extended its control down to the village and hamlet level. In addition to officials and generals, the Ming also recruited many local collaborators. They built many fortifications and outposts, including Nghệ An and Diễn Châu (Trài) forts, to suppress the resistance of the Vietnamese people. They destroyed all Vietnamese cultural heritage in an attempt to assimilate the Vietnamese culture.

Participating in the resistance movement of the Later Tran Dynasty

On October of the year Dinh Hoi (1407), Tran Ngoi, the second son of Tran Nghe Tong, proclaimed himself Emperor Gian Dinh, adopted the reign name Hung Khanh, and organized an uprising in Mo Do (Yen Mo, Ninh Binh). Repressed, the rebels retreated to Nghe An. Several rebel leaders and patriotic officials of the Tran and Ho dynasties, along with a large number of people from Nghe An, joined the uprising. By the end of 1407, Nghe An and Dien Chau were liberated.

The Ming invaders implemented a brutal and harsh policy against our people. (Illustrative drawing)

Dang Tat, originally from Thien Loc/Can Loc, served as an official during the Ho Dynasty, later accepting a position from the Ming Dynasty to hide himself. In 1407, he raised an army in Hoa Chau and joined Tran Ngoi's rebellion. Along with Nguyen Canh Chan, from Thanh Chuong, he was one of the two main figures in the rebellion. In 1408, the Ming army counterattacked, and the rebels temporarily retreated to Hoa Chau. After the Ming army withdrew to Dong Quan, the rebels recaptured Nghe An, then returned south to liberate Tan Binh prefecture, and continued north to attack Dien Chau. Following their victories, they advanced as far as Binh Than (Hai Duong), Ham Tu (Hung Yen), and Tam Giang (Phu Tho). The Ming Emperor sent reinforcements, but on December 14th, 1408 (the year of Mau Ty), Dang Tat defeated them at Bo Co, forcing them to retreat to defend Dong Quan. However, Dang Tat and Nguyen Canh Chan were later suspected and killed by Tran Ngoi.

Dang Dung and Nguyen Canh Di, sons of Dang Tat and Nguyen Canh Chan, left Tran Ngoi and returned to Nghe An to organize a new uprising. On March 17, 1409 (the year of Ky Suu), they established their new kingdom.Tran Quy KhoangHe was a nephew of Tran Nghe Tong who ascended the throne, taking the reign name Trung Quang. To unify the forces of the two uprisings, the rebels went north to capture Tran Ngoi, brought him back to Nghe An, and proclaimed him the Retired Emperor. King Trung Quang's headquarters were in Binh Ho (Chi La/Duc Tho), opposite Nghe An citadel across the Lam River. From Nghe An, the rebels advanced north, capturing Ham Tu, Binh Than, etc., causing great difficulties for the Ming army, which had to send reinforcements twice. However, from 1042 onwards, the rebels gradually weakened and were defeated in 1413.

The Trần Quý Khoáng Uprising. Painting.

The "foothold" of the Lam Son Uprising

The resistance of the Later Tran Dynasty failed, but the people of Nghe An continued to rise up against the Ming invaders.

On the 2nd day of the first lunar month of the year Mau Tuat (February 7, 1418), Le Loi raised the banner of the Lam Son Uprising (Thanh Hoa) and quickly attracted the support of people throughout the country. In Nghe An, there were the Nguyen Bien brothers,Nguyen XiThey participated from the beginning in Thuong Xa (now Nghi Hop commune, Nghi Loc district).

In the early period, the rebel army mainly operated in the mountainous region of Thanh Hoa. With few troops and insufficient supplies, they suffered more defeats than victories, being besieged in many battles by the Ming army, the Lao army, and mountain chieftains. They had to retreat to Chi Linh mountain three times in 1418, 1419, and 1422, and once held out in Sach Khoi in 1422.

In 1422, Le Loi requested a truce, awaiting a more opportune moment. In 1423, with their strength consolidated, the Lam Son rebels resumed the war, but still faced numerous difficulties, especially in determining the direction of the battlefield for the uprising. In this situation, General Nguyen Chich offered a plan: “Nghe An is a strategically important place, with vast land and a large population… Let us first attack Tra Long, seize Nghe An to establish a foothold, and then, relying on the manpower and resources of that land, turn towards Dong Do (Hanoi), and we can then achieve the goal of pacifying the entire country.”

September 20th, Year of the Dragon (1424),Lam Son rebel armyThe rebels launched a surprise attack on the Da Cang outpost (Tho Xuan, Thanh Hoa) to open a route to Nghe An. On their way to Tra Lan, the rebels continued their victory at Trinh Son village (now Thach Ngan commune - Con Cuong district) - the northeastern outpost of Tra Lan citadel. In October 1424, the rebels began besieging Tra Lan citadel while simultaneously blocking enemy reinforcements from Nghe An and Dien Chau. After two months of siege and without reinforcements, Cam Banh and all his soldiers had to open the citadel and surrender. A vast area in western Nghe An was liberated, and the people enthusiastically responded. Leaders of the Nghe An uprising, such as Cam Quy, Phan Lieu, Lo Van Luat, Nguyen Vinh Loc, etc., came to join the rebels.

Suspension bridge over Khe Ran stream (Con Cuong). Photo: Hai Vuong

In the spring of 1425, the enemy concentrated their forces from Dong Quan and Nghe An to counterattack, attempting to retake Tra Lan citadel. Our main army set up an ambush at Kha Luu and Bo Ai passes – strategically important locations on the road to Tra Lan citadel. A great victory in this battle opened the way for the resistance army to advance into the Nghe An plain. The Ming invaders were put on the defensive, forced to "hold their city gates tightly."

The rebel army advanced to besiege Nghe An city and then moved to Do Gia (Huong Son) to establish a base in Dong Tien Hoa/Dang Phu - the area at the confluence of the Khuat River (Nam stream) and Ngan Pho. Here, the rebel army was welcomed and supported by the people with manpower and resources.

The rebel army's strength grew steadily. The Ming dynasty sent reinforcements from Dong Quan and urged the troops in Nghe An to suppress the rebellion. On April 27th, 1425 (May 14th, 1425), Ming troops in Nghe An and reinforcements from Dong Quan counterattacked the Do Gia base. The rebel army set up a series of ambushes stretching from the Tam Soa junction (the intersection of Ngan Sau, Ngan Pho, and the La River - at the end of Chi La district and the beginning of Do Gia district), up to the Nam junction, and into the Khuat River. The rebel army lured the enemy from Nghe An along the Lam and La rivers to Ngan Pho, into the ambush at the Khuat River before counterattacking. The enemy was defeated and fled. Upon reaching the Tam Soa junction, they fell into another ambush set by Dinh Liet, where almost all of them were killed.

After the victory at Do Gia, the rebel army moved their headquarters there.Six YearsOn Thien Nhan Mountain, the enemy forces in Nghe An and Dien Chau were weakening, mainly holding out within the citadel. The liberated areas expanded throughout both prefectures. The rebel army decided to besiege Nghe An citadel while simultaneously advancing to liberate Dien Chau prefecture. After a period of siege, Dinh Le set up an ambush to intercept and annihilate the enemy troops coming from Dien Chau citadel to receive reinforcements.

Remnants of the Luc Nien Citadel on Thien Nhan Mountain. Photo courtesy of Ho Phuong.

At this point, except for two besieged and isolated towns, the entire Nghệ An and Diễn Châu regions were liberated. The rebel army, emboldened by this victory, advanced to liberate Thanh Hóa, then Tân Bình and Thuận Hóa.

Based on their foothold in Nghe An and the vast rear area stretching from Thanh Hoa to Thuan Hoa, in September 1426, the Lam Son rebels launched an attack northward. At the end of 1427, with the victory at Chi Lang-Xuong Giang, the national liberation war against the Ming dynasty ended, ushering in a new dynasty – the Later Le Dynasty.