Ding Yu (Ming dynasty)

Ding Yu (Chinese: 丁玉; pinyin: Dīng Yù; ?–1380), born Ding Guozhen (simplified Chinese: 丁国珍; traditional Chinese: 丁國珍; pinyin: Dīng Guózhēn), was a Chinese military general during the early Ming dynasty. He was a native of Hezhong (河中; present-day Shanxi).

In his early years, he followed Han Lin'er (韓林兒) and served as a censor. After Lu Zhen (呂珍) seized Anfeng, Ding Yu surrendered to Zhu Yuanzhang (the future Hongwu Emperor). After that, he participated in the campaign in Pengli, served as the prefect of Jiujiang. He also led the crowd to put down the Pengze rebellion (彭澤叛乱). Zhu Yuanzhang admired his military strategy, ordered Ding to concurrently serve as a commander (指揮), and changed his name to Yu. Later, he followed Fu Youde to conquer Hengzhou, served as vice commander (指揮同知) to guard Hengzhou, and later moved to defend Yongzhou.[1]

In 1368, he was promoted to the rank of Military Commissioner-in-chief (都指揮使) and concurrently served as Assistant Administiontrator (行省參政), guarding Guangxi. In 1377, he became the Right Censor-in-chief (右御史大夫). Later, as a general of Pingqiang (平羌將軍), he put down the rebellion of Dong Tieli (董貼里), a native chieftain of Weimao, Sichuan. Two years later, he pacified Songzhou (松州; Songpan 松潘). At that time, the Hongwu Emperor believed that Songzhou was too mountainous and had few fields, so it was not suitable to retain. Ding Yu, however, believed that it was an important place in Western Qiang (西羌) and military facilities should not be abandoned. Therefore, the Hongwu Emperor followed his opinion. At that time, Peng Pugui (彭普貴), a native of Sichuan, rebelled, and commander Pu Liang (普亮) was unable to quell it; later, it was suppressed by Ding Yu. The Hongwu Emperor wrote a letter praising Ding Yu and awarding him the title of Left Censor-in-chief (左御史大夫). After the army returned, he was promoted to the Left Commissioner-in-chief of the Grand Chief Military Commission (大都督府左都督). In 1380, the Hu Weiyong case occurred, and Ding Yu was later executed due to his connection to Hu Weiyong through marriage.[2]

References

History of Ming, Volume 134:「丁玉，初名國珍，河中人。仕韓林兒為御史，才辨有時譽。呂珍破安豐，玉來歸。隨征彭蠡，為九江知府。大兵還建康，彭澤山民叛，玉聚鄉兵討平之。太祖嘉其武略，命兼指揮，更名玉。從傅友德克衡州，以指揮同知鎮其地。復調守永州。玉有文武才，撫輯新附，威望甚著。」
History of Ming, Volume 134:「洪武元年，進都指揮使，尋兼行省參政，鎮廣西。十年召為右御史大夫。四川威茂土酋董貼里叛，以玉為平羌將軍討之。至威州，貼里降。承製設威州千戶所。十二年平松州，玉遣指揮高顯等城之，請立軍衛。帝謂松州山多田少，耕種不能贍軍，守之非策。玉言：松州為西羌要地，軍衛不可罷。遂設官築戍如玉議。會四川妖人彭普貴為亂，焚掠十四州縣。指揮普亮等不能克，命玉移軍討滅之。帝手敕褒美，轉左御史大夫。師還，拜大都督府左都督。十三年坐胡惟庸姻誅。」

Bibliography

Zhang Tingyu. History of Ming.

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[1] History of Ming, Volume 134:「丁玉，初名國珍，河中人。仕韓林兒為御史，才辨有時譽。呂珍破安豐，玉來歸。隨征彭蠡，為九江知府。大兵還建康，彭澤山民叛，玉聚鄉兵討平之。太祖嘉其武略，命兼指揮，更名玉。從傅友德克衡州，以指揮同知鎮其地。復調守永州。玉有文武才，撫輯新附，威望甚著。」

[2] History of Ming, Volume 134:「洪武元年，進都指揮使，尋兼行省參政，鎮廣西。十年召為右御史大夫。四川威茂土酋董貼里叛，以玉為平羌將軍討之。至威州，貼里降。承製設威州千戶所。十二年平松州，玉遣指揮高顯等城之，請立軍衛。帝謂松州山多田少，耕種不能贍軍，守之非策。玉言：松州為西羌要地，軍衛不可罷。遂設官築戍如玉議。會四川妖人彭普貴為亂，焚掠十四州縣。指揮普亮等不能克，命玉移軍討滅之。帝手敕褒美，轉左御史大夫。師還，拜大都督府左都督。十三年坐胡惟庸姻誅。」