Prince of Yu
Wuxia: Starting Out with Zhang Sanfeng's Template
Biodata
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Zhu Yunluo 47 |
| Alias(es) | Prince of Yu (豫王); “demonic dragon incarnate” in hostile propaganda 38 45 |
| Gender | Male 37 |
| Affiliation | Great Qian imperial family; allied with the Heavenly Principle Sect and Dragon Gate 37 38 45 |
| Occupation/Role | Vassal prince enfeoffed in Kaifeng; rebel leader who briefly seized the imperial throne 38 47 |
| Status | Deceased; committed suicide on the dragon throne after his army’s defeat 47 |
| First Appearance | Chapter 37 37 |
Background / History
Prince of Kaifeng
The Prince of Yu was a younger brother of the reigning emperor and had been enfeoffed in Kaifeng as a child. According to Zhu Qizhao, he was the mildest and most well-behaved of the emperor’s younger brothers, attracting so little attention that people often forgot Kaifeng had a resident prince 38.
Although he desired the throne, he had not contemplated an actual rebellion before the drought. Xiahou Jue, leader of the Heavenly Principle Sect, persuaded him that the disaster and the emperor’s failing health offered an opportunity: gather starving refugees, arm them, and attack the capital while the imperial sons fought over the succession 37.
Exposure of the Rebellion
The prince controlled five grain depots in Kaifeng Prefecture. Zhang Qingyuan destroyed the northernmost, Listening Wind Stronghold, and distributed its grain to disaster victims. Besides costing the prince hundreds of thousands of shi of provisions, this disrupted his recruitment plans in the north and threatened to expose the wider conspiracy 37.
Judging that further delay could bring the court’s army down on him, the prince accelerated his preparations and authorized Dragon Gate experts to kill Zhang Qingyuan. The assassination force was wiped out. Furious at losing twenty first-rate experts, he nevertheless accepted Xiahou Jue’s advice to prioritize raising the army over revenge 37 45.
Mobilization and Public Opposition
The prince gathered refugees under the banner of disaster relief, recruiting soldiers from among them and stockpiling weapons. He also had to support the elderly, weak, women, and children: abandoning them would undermine his claim to righteousness, and many were relatives of his recruits 44 45.
News of the emperor’s death delighted him. His allies planned to portray the succession struggle as the cause of Heaven’s displeasure, presenting his uprising as a means of restoring order. Zhu Qizhao’s supporters countered with propaganda blaming the Prince of Yu for hoarding relief grain and neglecting his subjects; rumors branded him a demonic dragon responsible for the drought 45.
When Zhu Qizhao mobilized and General Huang Ze’s hundred-thousand-man army crossed the Yellow River, Liu Xiangquan urged surrender. The prince refused, believing Nanjing and the throne were already within reach, and ordered the advance to continue 46.
Seizure of the Throne and Death
The Three Great Camps defended Nanjing for less than a day. The Prince of Yu entered the capital with 120,000 men, killed Zhu Qizhen in the Palace of Heavenly Purity, and took the imperial throne. Three days later, Zhu Qizhao and General Huang joined forces outside the city 47.
After two days of fighting, the city gates fell and the prince’s refugee army collapsed into surrender. Confronted by Zhu Qizhao, he acknowledged that everyone had underestimated his nephew, drew his treasured sword, and slit his own throat. He remained seated on the dragon throne as he died 47.
Appearance
- Age and bearing: A middle-aged man with an imposing presence, able to command respect without displaying anger 37.
- Clothing: Introduced wearing a yellow robe embroidered with dragons 37.
- Expression: Usually maintained a calm, controlled face; his eyes were described as hawklike when ordering Zhang Qingyuan’s death 37.
Personality
The prince’s refined, gracious public manner concealed his desire for the throne. He initially received news of Listening Wind Stronghold’s destruction without visible anger, but the subsequent loss of twenty experts shattered his composure: he smashed a celadon teacup and openly raged at Zhang Qingyuan 37 45.
He recognized that his rebellion was rushed, yet repeatedly allowed Xiahou Jue’s assurances to strengthen his resolve. Near Nanjing, ambition became an unwillingness to accept defeat. Even after learning of Huang Ze’s approach, he rejected surrender and staked everything on capturing the capital; the narration compares him to a gambler determined to remain at the table even if he died there 37 46.
Military Resources
| Resource | Documented Strength or Function |
|---|---|
| Grain depots | Five in Kaifeng Prefecture before Listening Wind Stronghold was destroyed; the lost depot supported recruitment in the north 37. |
| Refugee recruitment | Initially sheltered 300,000 disaster victims, with 40,000 enlisted. Officials expected arrivals to reach 800,000, yielding approximately 120,000–130,000 soldiers 45. |
| Field army | Led 120,000 men into Nanjing; ultimately unable to withstand General Huang’s battle-experienced troops 47. |
| Dragon Gate experts | Supplied martial specialists. Twenty first-rate experts were lost in the attempt to kill Zhang Qingyuan 45. |
| Heavenly Principle Sect network | Relayed intelligence nationwide and intercepted or killed couriers carrying imperial mobilization orders 43. |
Relationships
- Xiahou Jue — Principal instigator and sect ally. Encouraged the rebellion after Zhu Qizhao rejected his earlier offer of support; sought imperial backing to elevate the Heavenly Principle Sect 37 38 44.
- Liu Xiangquan — Subordinate prefect who reported intelligence, recruitment figures, and military developments. His eventual recommendation to surrender was rejected 37 45 46.
- Dragon King — Allied leader of Dragon Gate. Offered to kill Zhang Qingyuan personally after the assassination force was destroyed 45.
- Zhang Qingyuan — Enemy whose disaster-relief efforts deprived the prince of grain and recruits. Helped Zhu Qizhao organize resistance and discredit the rebellion 37 44 45.
- Zhu Qizhao — Nephew and rival claimant. The prince underestimated his apparently carefree disposition before being defeated by his alliance with General Huang 46 47.
- Zhu Qizhen — Nephew occupying the imperial throne when the prince attacked Nanjing. Killed by the prince in the Palace of Heavenly Purity 45 47.
Notable Quotes
“He ruined my plans. How could I let him live?” 37
“Victory is already in sight. Order the army to continue marching.” 46
“Everyone under heaven underestimated you!” 47