Cheon Man-ri

Cheon Man-ri (千萬里, 1543 – ?) was a general of the Ming dynasty who served as Sushiwei concurrently Zongdu Zhangjiang (守衛使兼總督將). He distinguished himself in battle in Joseon during the Imjin War and the Jeongyu War, then naturalized and became the revered founding ancestor of the Korean Yeongyang Cheon clan. His courtesy name was Yuanzhi (遠之), his art name Sa'am (思庵), and his posthumous name Chungjang (忠壯). His tomb is located in Bangchon-ri, Geumji-myeon, Namwon, North Jeolla Province.

Life

His father was Cheon Jong-ak (千鐘嶽), and his mother was the daughter of Jeon Tak (錢鐸), Vice Minister of War. At the age of nine he was placed in the care of his maternal uncle Jeon Ryun (錢倫), where he studied.

In 1571 he placed first in the military examination, and in 1575 he became Zongjieshi (總節使), in which capacity he repulsed Mongol forces. For this achievement he was appointed to the inner post of Neiwei Zhenfushi (內衛鎭撫使), but he was slandered by others and exiled to Yangling (陽陵). After eight years of exile, he concurrently held the posts of Taiqing Hall Sushiwei (太淸殿守衛使) and Zongdu Wujunshi (總督五軍使). While serving as Taiqing Hall Sushiwei, the Imjin War broke out, and Joseon requested reinforcements from the Ming dynasty. In 1592, during the Imjin War, by order of the Chinese emperor of the Ming dynasty, he was appointed Diaobing Lingliangshi (調兵領糧使) concurrently Zongdu Zhangjiang (總督將). He came to Joseon with his two sons, Cheon Sang (千祥) and Cheon Hui (千禧), following Li Rusong, and was in charge of transporting military provisions.

Leading 20,000 iron cavalry, he followed Commander-in-chief Li Rusong, crossed the Yalu River, and won the first battle at Gwaksan (郭山). He then advanced to Pyongyang (平壤) and surrounded the enemy stationed there. In the 3rd Battle of Pyongyang, he attacked Chilseong Gate, broke the gate with cannon fire, then organized his troops, entered, and fought with the momentum of victory, taking more than 1,280 heads (級). Continuing the fight all the way to Dongnae (東萊), he won every battle, thereby breaking the enemy's sharp edge.