was also siding with the Ming troops under the command of Li Chengliang. Li Chengliang fostered and protected Nurhaci, Taksi's son. With Li's support, Nurhaci gradually grew his strength in the following years. Early in 1583, Nurhaci obtained from Li Chengliang the right to succeed his father as a minor Jurchen chieftain. Later Li Chengliang gave Nikan Wailan to Nurhaci in 1587, who beheaded him immediately. Through a series of alliances and military victories, Nurhaci eventually managed to unify all Jurchen tribes under his own leadership. Having named himself khan of the Jurchens, he rose in rebellion against the Ming. The first of his Seven Grievances against the Ming, promulgated in 1618 as a casus belli, was that the Ming, "with no justification whatsoever, violated our borders and killed my father and grandfather." Patronage Li Chengliang enjoyed the patronage and support of the Wanli Emperor (r. 1572–1620) and his powerful Grand Secretary Zhang Juzheng (1525–1582), who controlled the Ming government during the first 10 years of the Wanli reign. Together, Zhang and the emperor granted Li and his sons "titles and responsibilities never before enjoyed by hereditary military officials." In addition to receiving stipends from the Ming capital, Li enhanced his wealth through "war booty, horse rustling in the borderlands, and coercive manipulation of prices in border markets." Descendants Of Li Chengliang's nine sons, Li Rusong, Li Rubai would rise to become "regional commanders" (zongbing 總兵) and "assistant regional commanders" (canjiang 參將) for the Ming. Li Rusong would eventually be executed by the Mongols, and Li Rubai committed suicide when he lost to Nurhaci. Footnotes Works cited 1526 births 1615 deaths Ming dynasty generals Chinese people of Korean descent People from Tieling Generals from Liaoning