Chen Youliang

Chen Youliang (1320–1363) founded the Chen Han regime on the middle Yangtze and was the strongest rival of Zhu Yuanzhang. Born to a fishing family in Mianyang, Hubei, he joined the Red Turban movement under Ni Wenjun. In 1357 he killed Ni Wenjun, who was plotting against Xu Shouhui, then overran Jiangxi, Anhui and Fujian.

In 1359 he seized Xu and made himself King of Han at Jiangzhou, and in 1360 had Xu murdered and proclaimed himself emperor. That year he attacked Zhu's base at Yingtian, but Zhu ambushed him at Longwan and he fled to Jiangzhou.

In 1363 he returned with a fleet reported at 600,000 men and fought Zhu on Lake Poyang. Zhu's smaller fleet won with fire attacks after three days, and a month later Chen was killed by an arrow breaking out of a blockade. His second son Chen Li surrendered in 1364.