Wu Mingche 吳明徹

Wu Mingche 吳明徹 (504-580), courtesy name Tongzhao 通昭, from the commandery of Qinjun 秦郡 (today's Luhe 六合, Jiangsu), was a general of the Chen dynasty 陳 (557-589), one of the Southern Dynasties 南朝 (420-589).

As a young man, he ardently studied ancient writings, and Zhou Hongzheng 周弘正 (496-574) instructed him in astronomy, astrology and various popular divination methods. Under Emperor Yuan 梁元帝 (r. 552-554) of the Liang dynasty 梁 (502-557), he was appointed regional inspector (cishi 刺史) of the province of Anzhou 安州. The Chen dynasty transferred him to Jiangzhou 江州, and then to Xiangzhou 湘州 in central China, where he was also responsible for military affairs with the title General Pacifying the South (annan jiangjun 安南將軍).

In 573, he conducted a large military campaign against the empires in northern China, and was able to reconquer the Huainan region 淮南 (today's northern Jiangsu). As a reward, he was invested as Commandery Duke of Nanping 南平郡公. From Renzhou 仁州, he pressed on to Shouyang 壽陽 and captured the northern commander Wang Lin 王琳. By imperial decree, he was appointed General-in-Chief of Chariots and Cavalry (cheji da jiangjun 車騎大將軍). In 577, he advanced to attack Pengcheng 彭城, dealt a significant defeat to the Northern Qi 北齊 (550-577) forces at Lüliang 呂梁 (in today's Shanxi province), and was appointed regional inspector of Southern Yanzhou 南兗州.

In 577, he was defeated by Liang Shiyan 梁士彥 (515-586), the Commander of Xuzhou 徐州 under the Northern Zhou 北周 (557-581). Unable to continue the fights, he was captured by Wang Gui 王軌 (d. 579) and brought to Chang'an 長安 (modern Xi'an 西安, Shaanxi), where he was treated with great respect, but died from a disease soon.