Mao Wenlong

Mao Wenlong (Chinese: 毛文龍; pinyin: Máo Wénlóng; 10 February 1576 – 24 July 1629), courtesy name Zhennan, was a Chinese military general of the Ming dynasty, best known for commanding an independent detachment based in Dongjiang, a strategically important island in the Yellow Sea that defended the coastal corridor into the Ming tributary Joseon, where he engaged harassing naval and amphibious battles against the Manchu-led Later Jin (which later became the Qing dynasty). He was also known for excelling in artillery warfare and successfully incorporating Western-style tactics into the Chinese military. Mao later fell victim to power struggles with the newly appointed governor Yuan Chonghuan, who had him summarily executed upon the latter's arrival to take over the command of Liaodong. His death effectively destroyed the morale of his old subordinates, many of whom mutinied and defected two years later, and led to the de facto collapse of the Dongjiang defensive line. This eventuated in the Qing invasion of Joseon at the end of 1636, allowing the Qing forces to eliminate further threat in the rear, and paved the way for Qing's successful invasion and conquest of China proper two decades later.