Chen Min (Jin dynasty)
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Chen Min | |
|---|---|
| 陳敏 | |
| Inspector of Yangzhou (self-appointed) (揚州刺史) | |
| In office 305 – 307 | |
| Grand Marshal (self-appointed) (大司馬) | |
| In office 305 – 307 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | unknown |
| Died | 307 |
| Children | Chen Jing |
| Courtesy name | Lingtong (令通) |
| Peerage | Duke of Chu (self-proclaimed) (楚公) |
Chen Min (died c.April 307[1]), courtesy name Lingtong, was a military general and rebel of the Jin dynasty (266–420). He was initially a logistics director who rose to prominence for his role in Zhang Chang's rebellion, in which he defeated the rebels' top commander, Shi Bing. However, during Sima Yue's coalition against Sima Yong in 305, Chen Min took the opportunity to rebel and occupy the Jiangnan region with the backing of the former Eastern Wu gentry clans. He controlled Jiangnan until 307, when the gentry clans, angered by his lackluster rule, revolted and killed him.
Chen Min was a native of Lujiang Commandery (廬江郡; around present-day Lu'an, Anhui). He was talented at a young age and became an official in the same year as a fellow commandery native, Tao Kan.[2] Eventually, he was nominated as Filial and Incorrupt and became a Granary Clerk of the Masters of Writing.
In 301, the three princes, Sima Ying, Sima Yong and Sima Jiong, held a coalition to overthrow Emperor Hui of Jin's regent and usurper, Sima Lun. The coalition forces occupied the capital of Luoyang and stayed there for a lengthy period. The city had to keep the soldiers fed, and eventually, there was a food shortage. To resolve this crisis, Chen Min suggested to the court that they transport the abundance of food from southern China to the capital. The court agreed with his proposal, so they appointed him Logistical Director and transferred him to Hefei and later to Guangling.[3]
Shi Bing's rebellion
In 303, a Man official named Zhang Chang started a rebellion in Jingzhou, which later spread to Jiangzhou, Xuzhou, Yangzhou and Yuzhou. The Inspector of Jingzhou, Liu Hong, defeated him and forced him into hiding, but Zhang Chang's general, Shi Bing, still had a sizeable army under his command. Shi Bing had captured Yangzhou when Zhang Chang fled and was marching his troops to take Shouchun. The commander in Shouchun, Liu Zhun (劉準), panicked and was indecisive on what to do. Chen Min was in Shouchun at the time, and he reassured Liu Zhun that morale in Shi Bing's army was low. Chen Min also volunteered to lead the army against the rebels, which Liu Zhun permitted.[4]
Chen Min and Shi Bing fought each other in several battles. Shi Bing's soldiers vastly outnumbered Chen Min's, but Chen Min won in every bout they engaged.[5] In 304, Chen Min and another general, Zhou Qi, besieged Shi Bing at Jiankang. Shi Bing fled to Xuzhou to seek refuge with a fellow rebel leader, Feng Yun (封雲), but Chen Min turned around and attacked Feng Yun. Eventually, Feng Yun's general, Zhang Tong (張統), beheaded the two rebel leaders and surrendered in c.May.[6] Shi Bing's death effectively ended the rebellion, although Jin would only capture Zhang Chang later in the year. For his contributions, the court made Chen Min the Chancellor of Guangling.