Battle of Lake Poyang facts for kids

The Battle of Lake Poyang (Chinese: 鄱陽湖之戰; pinyin: Póyáng Hú Zhīzhàn) was a huge sea battle fought in China. It happened between August 30 and October 4, 1363. This battle was a key part of the Red Turban Rebellion. This rebellion eventually led to the end of the Yuan dynasty.

The battle was fought between two powerful rebel leaders: Zhu Yuanzhang and Chen Youliang. Chen Youliang had a very large fleet on Lake Poyang. This is one of China's biggest freshwater lakes. Zhu Yuanzhang arrived with a smaller fleet to challenge him. After some fighting, Zhu used special fire ships to burn Chen's fleet. This big victory was the last major battle before Zhu Yuanzhang started the Ming dynasty.

Why the Battle Happened

On August 30, 1363, Chen Youliang's forces tried to attack Nanchang. This city was very important because it guarded Lake Poyang. The lake connected the Yangzi River to other rivers. Chen's attack failed because the city defenders used cannons.

In the early 1360s, Zhu Yuanzhang controlled important areas around the lake. He managed them from Nanjing. Chen Youliang used huge "tower ships" to move his troops. These ships were like floating castles. He tried to attack Nanchang's walls. But the city walls were no longer right on the shore. Chen's attack was pushed back by many cannon shots.

After this, Chen decided to block the city. He wanted to starve the people inside. But a small fishing boat managed to sneak out. It reached Nanjing and warned Zhu Yuanzhang about the blockade.

The Battle Begins

A historical depiction of a naval battle.

Zhu Yuanzhang's fleet arrived at Hukou on August 24. They reached Nanchang on August 28. Chen Youliang then moved his forces north into Lake Poyang. The two fleets met on August 29. Zhu's army was much smaller than Chen's. It was only about one-third the size.

Zhu's forces had many different gunpowder weapons. These included "fire bombs," "fire guns," and "fire arrows." They also had "fire lances" and "iron bombs." There was even a new weapon called the "No Alternative." This weapon was a long reed mat filled with gunpowder. It was hung from a ship's mast. When an enemy ship came close, it was lit. It would then fall onto the enemy ship and burn everything.

On August 30, Zhu arranged his fleet into 11 groups. He ordered them to get close to the enemy ships. First, they were to use gunpowder weapons. Then, they would use bows and crossbows. Finally, they would attack with short-range weapons. Zhu's forces used large trebuchets to throw fire bombs. They managed to burn over 20 enemy ships. Many enemy soldiers were killed or drowned. However, Zhu's own main ship also caught fire. It got stuck on a sandbar.

Chen's warships pushed Zhu's ships back. Zhu's fleet had to retreat to a shallow area. Chen's ships could not follow them there. Zhu tried to fight Chen's fleet again. But he was pushed back with heavy losses. The next day, the wind changed. Zhu sent burning ships into Chen's fleet. This destroyed hundreds of their vessels. Even though guns were used, fire weapons were the main reason for Zhu's success.

On September 2, the two fleets fought again. Zhu's forces were still outnumbered. But they managed to separate and destroy larger enemy warships. This forced Chen's fleet to pull back. Zhu's fleet then blocked Chen's ships for another month. On October 4, Chen decided to try and break through the blockade. Zhu was ready. He sent more fire ships. This scattered Chen's ships. The battle became many smaller fights. During one of these fights, Chen Youliang was killed by an arrow to his head.

What Happened Next

After Chen Youliang died, his son, Chen Li, took over. But Chen Li surrendered to Zhu Yuanzhang in 1364.

Zhu Yuanzhang's victory made his group the strongest rebel force. Five years later, his forces defeated the Yuan dynasty. Zhu Yuanzhang then became the first emperor of the Ming dynasty. He was known as the Hongwu Emperor.

See also

• Red Turban Rebellions
• Ming campaign against the Uriankhai
• Battle of Buir Lake