Editor's note: Hai Duong Newspaper has started publishing a series of articles "The life and career of famous general Vu Van Dung from Hai Duong" by folk culture researcher Nguyen Quoc Van. The work is excerpted from a research article in the author's book "200 years of the mandarins in charge of the town and province of Bac Ky (1745-1945)".
According to our research, the famous general of the Tay Son period, Vu Van Dung, whose courtesy name was Vinh Thanh and posthumous name was Chieu Vien Vuong Dai Tuong Quan, was born in 1744 in Dan Giap village, Mi Dong commune, Thanh Mien district (now Dan Giap village, Thanh Giang commune, Thanh Mien district, Hai Duong). He was the eighth generation descendant of the noble ancestor Vu Dinh, his father was Vu Vinh Long. He was the grandson of Vu Vinh Lam - a populous family, accounting for more than half of the mouths in the commune. In his youth, Vu Van Dung was exceptionally strong and proficient in martial arts.
One day, while sitting at the foot of a banyan tree at the village entrance, Chanh Dinh from Phu Cu and some of his entourage followed him to the village entrance to rest. Then Chanh Dinh jerked his chin and ordered him to carry the pipe. Angry at his arrogant actions, he had a bamboo stick in his hand and hit Chanh Dinh with one blow, killing him instantly.
The work led to hard labor, after his term ended he traveled the world, and met the time when the Tay Son army rose up, causing him to seek out the commander Tran Quang Dieu. The two fought a few battles without a clear winner, which was Quang Dieu's plan to test his talent. When he heard the news, Nguyen Hue persuaded him to join the Tay Son army and assigned him the task of recruiting brave soldiers to serve in the first liberation front of Bac Ha. He was given the title of Chieu Vien Hau.
In 1789, he was appointed as Hai Duong Admiral with the title of Duke. According to the Complete Annals of Vietnam, Volume XX, Volume 46-47, 53rd year of Qianlong, the king ordered troops from Hai Duong to attack Thai Binh and Tien Hung citadels. The resistance against the Qing invasion was successful, Le Chieu Thong surrendered and fled to Yen Kinh with the enemy.
In 1790, he was appointed as Chief Envoy to the Qing Dynasty. When he left, the Emperor firmly told him: "The East, the West, and Liangguang always have plots to watch, we cannot fight them out of anger. You must be careful, ask for a princess and wait to see how the work goes." He received the order and traveled for more than a month to the Celestial Dynasty to fully thank them. The next day, he reported the matter and was invited to a banquet by the Qing Emperor and received a poem as a gift. When he returned, he brought a set of dragon poles (two mother dragons and eight child dragons) to give to Dan Giap village. In 1951, the Dan Giap village communal house was burned by the French, and the set of dragon poles no longer exists.
To show gratitude for his great contributions to the country, today the Party Committee, the government, and the Vietnam Fatherland Front of Hanoi City have decided to name a street after him in Dong Da District. In addition, many provinces and large cities across the country have also named solemn streets after him, especially Hai Duong City.
In 1802, Tay Son was defeated. Nguyen Anh ascended the throne, proclaimed himself Emperor Gia Long, then led his army to reclaim Bac Ha. Later, he launched a revenge campaign against Tay Son mandarins, causing Vu Van Dung and his concubine Le Thi Vi (from La Chu village, Hue) to be executed.
From then on, the Vu family of Dan Giap village had to change their name to Vu Dinh, and the Vu family's ancestral grave had to be leveled to avoid excavation.
In addition to the above evidence, there is a second evidence that he was from Hai Duong province. That is the article: "Is it true that the Qing Emperor Qianlong agreed to return to King Quang Trung the province of Guangdong - Guangxi as the capital and marry the princess"... (Central North Weekly Sunday, Tet Quy Ty 1943 issue, pages 20-21-28). According to this article, the Vu family genealogy compiled by Vu Vinh Thu, the third generation grandson of Vu Van Dang in 1846, has the following passage:
"On the full moon day of the fourth month of the fourth year of Quang Trung, Tan Hoi (1791), the king sent someone from Phuong Hoang Trung Do in Nghe An to deliver the royal decree to Grand Admiral Vu Quoc Cong Vu Van Dung, who was resting at home and received the decree. Specifically, the transcription: Sac Hai Duong Chieu Vien Vuong, Admiral and General, Duc Van, the meritorious minister, Vu Quoc Cong, advanced to lead the Northern envoy, the Chief Envoy, concurrently, petitioned the East and West of the two Quang provinces, to dispel their hearts and minds, to provoke their anger and hatred, to be careful, to use troops in the current situation. That day, the man in the front line, the man in charge, issued an imperial order. Quang Trung year four, April fifth day. "The Imperial Envoy of Hai Duong Chieu Vien, the Grand Admiral and General of the Winged Vehicle, Vu Quoc Cong, was promoted to the position of chief envoy to travel by ship and concurrently have full authority in reporting and requesting the return of the two provinces of Quang Dong and Quang Tay, to probe the mind and propose to a princess, to provoke her, be careful! Be careful! The situation of military use depends on this trip. One day, the vanguard will be you, respectfully speaking on behalf of this imperial envoy. April 5, the 4th year of Quang Trung, Tan Hoi (May 17, 1791)''.
The above is one of three royal decrees from the Quang Trung period affirming that Vu Van Dung was originally from Hai Duong. Based on recent verification documents from the Vu family in Ninh Giang district (Hai Duong) and the Vu branch in Thanh Hoa city, there is evidence to show that Vu Van Dung was originally from Hai Duong. In addition, some other documents also confirm that Chieu Vien Vu Quoc Cong's hometown was in Hai Duong.
Next: Hero of many misfortunes
NGUYEN QUOC VAN