朱元璋

While the tragic event at Ganshiqiao (甘石橋) in 1630 flashed through my mind, it was actually the last day of two of my friends - GY and JF.

JF wrote to me a day earlier; we decided to lunch together before he left the public sector.

And, by coincidence, my friend kept talking about Zhu Yuanzhang (朱元璋), or, really, in JF's own words, the mordern version of the Hongwu Emperor.

No, my friend was not talking about the Emperor, but actually his right-hand men whom paved his way to the crown.

• Chang Yuchun (常遇春) died of some acute illness during war - thank goodness.
  
• Hu Weiyong (胡惟庸) was the last chancellor in the history of China; he was sentenced to death for suspected attempt to rebel.
• Li Shan Long (李善長) was the retired chancellor, and was also sentenced to death for supporting Hu.
• Feng Sheng (馮勝), the chief army general, was also executed - apparently for some minor charges.
• Li Wenzhong (李文忠), the deputy army general, was (probably) poisoned by Zhu.
  

And, amongst the six persons who took major roles in the establishment of the Ming Empire, only Xu Da (徐達) died a natural cause.

PS. Don't be paranoid - I don't think you are the modern version of Xu Da.