Returning to Thanh Hoa to help the Le Dynasty
Mr. Dang Huan was from Mac Xa village, later changed to Luong Xa, Chuong Duc district, now Luong Xa village, Lam Dien commune, Chuong My district, Hanoi city. Born in the year of Ky Mao (1519), under King Quang Thieu, early Le dynasty. His given name was De, his given name was Huan. Born in a time of turmoil, he experienced many hardships, moved many times, and lived in a poor family lacking everything: "Since he was a child, he (Dang Huan - Tg) experienced many hardships and difficulties, followed his father to migrate to Boi Khe commune, then built a house in Thinh Phuc commune, and lived a very poor life" (Dang family genealogy, continued edition. Translated by Ngo The Long, page 362).
He was an upright man, with extraordinary strength, skilled in swordsmanship and horseback riding, and had the strength to fight a thousand men. At first, he joined the army of Thuan Quan Cong Le Ba De, working as a servant in the palace tent. When the Mac dynasty recruited strong men, he applied, passed the exam and was promoted to strong man. He was trusted by the Mac dynasty and promoted to Commander of the Guards, with the title of Khong Ly Ba, commanding the guards guarding the inner palace. At that time, in Ai Chau, Nguyen Kim had restored the Le dynasty and was training troops to march north to destroy the Mac dynasty.
Before that, Mr. Huan intended to leave the Mac dynasty and join the army in Thanh Hoa to help the Le dynasty restore. According to "Dai Viet Su Ky", (continued version), in the year Canh Tuat (1550) of the 2nd year of Thuan Binh, King Mac Phuc Nguyen listened to the slander of Pham Quynh and Pham Dao and surrounded the palace of Le Ba Ly. Therefore, Thai Te Phung Quan Cong Le Ba Ly, Pho Quan Cong Le Khac Thuan, Thuan Quan Cong Le Ba De, along with the civil mandarin Thu Quan Cong Nguyen Thien and his son Nguyen Quyen, Nguyen Phu brought the army to Thanh Hoa pass to surrender to the Le dynasty. The book "Dang Gia Pha Ky Toan Chinh Thuc Luc" recorded that this event happened in March of the year Tan Hoi (1551). Le Ba Ly, Nguyen Khai Khang, Nguyen Thuyen, Le Ba De, Le Khac Thuan, Le Ba Doan, Nguyen Huu Lieu, Dang Huan and Nguyen Quyen, Nguyen Duyet fled to Thanh Hoa to surrender, welcomed the Le king's carriage back to the capital, analyzed the situation and offered strategies to attack the Mac dynasty.
Also about this event, the book “Dang Gia Pha Ky Tuc Bien” recorded: “In the year of Tan Hoi, the third year of Thuan Binh (1551), the Grand Chancellor Thuan Quan Cong Le Ba De married his daughter to the old lady (Le Thi Lu) who was only 14 years old. When she had a housekeeper, she was even more determined to make achievements outside. The old ladies secretly prepared their luggage, brought their entire family, and followed Dien Quoc Cong Le Ba Ly and Thuan Quan Cong, and escaped at night. At that time, she was only 33 years old, and together they went to see King Le at the palace in Ngoc Khe book”.
Dang Huan, Le Ba Ly's son-in-law, went to pay respect to the king and Grand Tutor Trinh Kiem at the camp. Trinh Kiem asked him questions, appointed him as Khong Ly Marquis and granted him 50 quan of money, 50 barrels of rice, cloth, and silk. He was also allowed to build a house outside the palace gate, ordered to give Mr. Huan a stallion and 100 elite soldiers, appointed him as a vanguard general, and helped the king lead troops to defeat the Mac dynasty.
A thousand soldiers are easy to find, but a general is hard to find.
In 1553, Grand Tutor Trinh Kiem marched along the mountain road, sending Dang Huan to fight the Mac army: “Our grandfather Dang Huan brought his army and fought with the Mac general in My Luong district. He gave his horse to the reviewer to ride to see him fight. He only wore armor, held a sharp spear, and jumped off the horse to fight. No matter which direction he went, no one could defeat him” (Sdd), the Mac army lost the battle and fled. The Grand Tutor happily said: “A thousand soldiers are easy to find, but a general is hard to find. Using Khong Ly Hou as a general means I have found a talented person”. For his achievements in this battle, the Grand Tutor rewarded him with an elephant and 200 elite soldiers. From then on, he was trusted and used by the Grand Tutor.
At that time, the Le - Mac war was in a stalemate, with no clear winner or loser. In August, the first year of Thien Huu (1557), Grand Chancellor Le Ba Ly and Thu Quan Cong Nguyen Thuyen died. Thuyen's sons Nguyen Quyen and Nguyen Phu (some books say Duyet) fled back to the Mac dynasty. In November, the year Nham Tuat (1562), the second year of Chinh Tri, Grand Tutor Trinh Kiem withdrew his troops to Thanh Hoa, assigning Nghia Quan Cong Dang Huan to guard the camp in Son Minh district. Because of his isolation, Dang Huan reluctantly returned to the Mac dynasty. In September, the seventh year of Chinh Tri (1564), Trinh Kiem attacked the districts in Truong Yen prefecture (Nam Dinh). When he arrived at Chu Tuoc gate to set up camp, General Dang Huan brought his army to the gate of the palace to plead guilty. Trinh Kiem pardoned him and allowed him to keep his old title, and sent Dang Huan to Hoai An and Son Minh to take care of the march to attack Mac.
Grand Tutor Trinh Kiem was seriously ill and passed away on February 18, Canh Ngo year (1570). Trinh Coi and Trinh Tung were at odds. The king ordered Tuan Duc Marquis Trinh Coi to command the army to attack Mac. According to historical records, Coi was a man addicted to wine and women, arrogant, did not love or respect his soldiers. Therefore, the generals under his command were not convinced and left. In April 1570, Le Cap De, Trinh Vinh Thieu, Trinh Bach, Phan Cong Tich... brought their family members and soldiers to Phuc Luong Marquis Trinh Tung's gate to discuss strategies. Trinh Tung and his generals, at night, went to Yen Truong, at Kim Thanh palace, forced Nghia Quan Cong Dang Huan to enter the gate to pay homage to the king, denounce Trinh Coi's crimes, and demand back the right to command the army to attack Mac. The brothers Trinh Coi and Trinh Tung lined up their troops to fight each other, competing for the right to command.
On August 20, King Le appointed Trinh Tung as Chief Duke to command the entire army and navy. Nghia Quan Duke Dang Huan, along with 30 military generals and 12 civil officials, united in fighting against the Mac army invading Thanh Hoa. At that time, Mac Kinh Dien and Nguyen Quyen invaded Thanh Hoa, King Le himself became the Commander-in-Chief, Trinh Tung became the Left General, and led the army to Thuy Nguyen and Yen Dinh districts. The King stationed troops in Dong Son district and ordered Hoang Dinh Ai, Dang Huan, Phan Cong Tich... to lead the army to Loi Duong and Nong Cong districts to attack and take Quang Xuong district. Fighting fiercely, the Mac army was defeated and fled back to the capital. In the spring, February, year Chinh Tri 14 (1571), the merits of fighting against the Mac army were reviewed and the generals were awarded titles. Nghia Quan Duke Dang Huan was promoted to Thieu Pho, a lower rank.
In the year of Ky Mao (1779), Quang Hung 2, Mac Kinh Dien attacked Thanh Hoa, plundered along the Tong Son and Ha Trung rivers, and attacked Chuong Cac commune: "The Commander Trinh Tung ordered Thai Pho Nghia Quan Cong Dang Huan to urge the resistance against Mac's army in Thai Duong, and ordered Dien Quan Cong Trinh Van Hai to be the vanguard to challenge and attack Kim Au mountain. Dang Huan urged the army to secretly advance to Tong Son area, to Muc Son on Binh Hoa river, and to block the Mac army behind" (Continued Chronicle).
Honoring the founding father of the Le Dynasty
According to the historical records, on June 18, the 6th year of Quang Hung (1583), the Grand Tutor Nghia Quan Cong Dang Huan died. He was awarded the titles of Left Admiral of the Southern Army, Chief of the Palace, Grand Commander, and Nghia Quoc Cong. The death of Nghia Quoc Cong Dang Huan between the historical records and the genealogy is not consistent in terms of the year of death and age. The genealogy records that the famous general Dang Huan died on August 6, the 13th year of Quang Hung (1590), with the posthumous name Cuong Chinh, and was buried in Thinh Phuc commune, Phu Xuyen district. Nghia Quan Cong Dang Huan was the father-in-law of Thanh To Triet Vuong Trinh Tung. He was the father of Thai Phi Dang Thi Ngoc Dao. Mrs. Dao was the mother of Van To Nghi Vuong Trinh Trang, the 3rd successor of the Trinh family.
The genealogy continues to record: “He (Huan) was a meritorious official in the restoration of the country, leaving blessings and happiness for his descendants, sharing joy with the country. When the Supreme Saint King (Lord Van To Nghi Vuong) ascended the throne, continuing the great career, thinking of the hardships he (the Lord's maternal grandfather) had gone through and the great achievements he had left behind, he built a temple, and gave it the title of Huu Phu Tu. He allowed him to enjoy four seasons of worship, to show his eternal admiration. He also gave him the title of Hau Trach Cong, a beautiful envelope with a red letter and iron lock to point to the mountains and rivers”. The money collected each year was paid into the Phu Tu, and given to the people of Thinh Phuc and Luong Xa in the two districts of Chuong Duc and Phu Xuyen, according to the custom of worshiping Nghia Quoc Cong Dang Huan, a famous meritorious general in the restoration of the Later Le Dynasty.
The Lord gave 300 taels of silver, bought 50 acres of land in Thinh Duc commune, and gave them to the people of Ha and Thuong villages to cultivate every year, and took the profits for the death anniversary and the four-season offerings. There was an inscription engraved on a stele and it was passed down in Thinh Duc Palace. In the second year of Thinh Duc (1654), the head of the village, Mr. Dang Huan, was placed in the Son Nam temple to enjoy in the four seasons. In the fourth year of Thinh Duc (1656), he was awarded a silver medal and the title of descendant was given to Dang Huan. In the second year of Vinh Tri (1676), there was an edict to thank the meritorious officials and to reward the village chief (i.e. the head of the village), Quoc Cong Dang Huan, and bring him to the main temple to enjoy in the main temple.
