Si Renfa (?–1446; ; ), was the ruler of Möng Mao from 1413 to 1442. During his reign, he repeatedly attempted to recover Möng Mao's former territory from the Ming dynasty, ultimately leading to the Luchuan–Pingmian Campaigns and the fall of Möng Mao.
Name Si Renfa's name is recorded differently across languages. Chinese records such as the History of Ming and Ming Veritable Records refer to him as Si Renfa ()., volume 314, page 8114, entry of Luchuan-Pingmian (麓川平緬): "十一年，行發請以其弟思任發代職，從之。", volume 136, page 1659, entry of 26 Feb 1413 (永樂十一年正月丙午): "麓川平緬宣慰使思行發孟外南硬陶孟土官刀發孟等各遣人貢馬思行發請以弟思任發代其職從之". English translation in This name is also rendered in English as Sz-jên-fah. Burmese records such as the Hmannan Yazawin refer to him as Tho Ngan Bwa ()., volume 2, page 82 and 88: Great grandson of Tho Chi Bwa Tai-Shan records call him Hsö Ngan Pha (), as well as Sao Ngan Hpa, and Chau Ngan Pha, where Sao/Chau is an abbreviation of Chaopha. English sources have also romanized Hsö Ngan Pha as Soognampha, Sugnamphâ, and Sungamphâ.
Due to variations in nomenclature among sources and temporal discrepancies in early historical records, certain historical works—for instance, Phayre’s History of Burma—have erroneously regarded Sugnamphâ in Tai/Shan records and Tho Ngan Bwa in Burmese records as two separate individuals.
Early life Si Renfa was the son of and the younger brother of the previous Möng Mao ruler, Si Hangfa. In 1397, , a subordinate ruler of Hsenwi, rebelled in what became known as the Dao Ganmeng rebellion, driving Si Lunfa out of Möng Mao., volume 255, page 3679, entry of 10 Oct 1397 (洪武三十年九月戊辰): "麓川平緬宣慰使司刀幹孟叛逐其宣慰使思倫發". English translation in At the time, Si Renfa was still a child, and he fled with his father to Yunnan where he was then kept as a political hostage, growing up in the residence of Mu Sheng, who treated him as a son., volume 11, page 308: "洪武时，思任随父北奔，尝质晟府，晟儿子畜之。" Eventually, Dao Ganmeng was ousted and Si Lunfa returned to Möng Mao, but he died soon after in 1399., volume 314, page 8114, entry of Luchuan-Pingmian (麓川平緬): "又命都督何福往討，未幾，擒幹孟歸，倫發始還平緬，踰年卒。" After Si Hangfa succeeded to the throne, the Ming court took advantage of the chaos and established numerous Tusi polities subject to their own rule, of which the major ones included Hsenwi, Möng Yang, and . Si Hangfa was unable to cope with further attacks from Hsenwi and Möng Yang, and he abdicated in favour of Si Renfa in 1413.
Reign Expansion As ruler, Si Renfa would attempt to reassert control over Ming territory by invading the neighbouring tusi polities which had previously been subordinate to Möng Mao. He simultaneously attempted to gain the favour of the Ming court, sending a total of 15 tribute missions between 1414 and 1440. In 1422, Si Renfa launched a military campaign against the neighbouring polity of , which then appealed to the Ming court for help. Si Renfa dispatched envoys to the Ming capital to present tribute and apologise., volume 254, page 2360, entry of 29 Dec 1422 (永樂二十年十二月己亥): "麓川宣慰使思任發遣使奉表貢方物謝興兵侵南甸州之罪仍遣中官雲仙等賫敕戒之并賜之絨錦文綺表裏". English translation in Afterwards, he turned southwards, contesting territory with Hsenwi. Both states lodged complaints to the Ming court, prompting the Xuande Emperor to send envoys to mediate the conflict., volume 314, page 8115, entry of Luchuan-Pingmian (麓川平緬): "宣德元年遣使諭西南夷，賜麓川錦綺有差，以其勤修職貢也。時麓川、木邦爭界，各訴於朝，就令使者諭解之，俾安分毋侵越。"
Si Renfa gradually increased his military strength through years of preparation and recovery. In 1428, he launched further attacks on Nandian, Tengchong, and the region., volume 42, page 1025, entry of 17 May 1428 (宣德三年闰四月乙酉): "雲南總兵官太傅黔國公沐晟奏麓川宣慰使思任發侵奪南甸騰衝等處地方請發雲南貴州四川官軍五萬人及各處土兵討之". English translation in , volume 42, page 1033, entry of 1 Jun 1428 (宣德三年闰四月庚子): "雲南總兵官黔國公沐晟言麓川宣慰思任發侵奪南甸路江等處村寨議調軍勦捕". English translation in The Ming dynasty had just concluded its campaigns against the Lam Sơn uprising in Vietnam and the Songpan rebellion in Sichuan, leaving both the army and the populace exhausted. The Ming emperor rejected Mu Sheng’s proposal to mobilise 50,000 troops for a punitive expedition, declaring that armies would only be sent if absolutely necessary, and instead issued an imperial admonition to Si Renfa., volume 314, page 8115, entry of Luchuan-Pingmian (麓川平緬): "敕任發保境安民，不得侵鄰疆，陷惡逆，以滋罪咎。晟以任發侵奪南甸、騰沖之罪不可宥，請發官軍五萬及諸土兵討之。帝以交址、四川方用兵，民勞未息，宜再行招諭。不得已，其調雲南土官軍及木邦宣慰諸蠻兵剿之。"
In 1430, Si Renfa occupied Möng Yang., volume 315, page 8151, entry of Mengyang (孟养): "宣德五年，刀玉賓奏：「伯父刀木旦被殺，蒙朝廷遣官訪玉賓，授同知，又阻於緬難，寄居金齒者二十餘年。今孟養地又為麓川宣慰思任發所據，乞遣兵送歸本土。」" In 1433, Hsenwi complained to the Ming court that Si Renfa had invading its territory, while Si Renfa countered that Hsenwi’s ruler, Han Menfa (), was invading his territory., volume 106, page 2372, entry of 15 Nov 1433 (宣德八年十月癸丑): "時木邦宣慰罕門法奏麓川平緬宣慰使思任發等據占境土思任發及緬甸宣慰莽得剌亦奏罕門法稱兵入境". English translation in The Ming court sent the eunuch Yun Xian () to Möng Mao with gifts of banknotes and other valuables, and instructed Si Renfa to make peace with Hsenwi., volume 314, page 8115, entry of Luchuan-Pingmian (麓川平緬): "八年遣內官雲仙賫敕至麓川，賜思任發幣物，諭其勿與木邦爭地抗殺。" In 1436, Si Renfa made a petition to the Ming court to have his debt of 2,500 taels (92 kilograms) of silver cancelled, claiming that Hsenwi’s incursions had caused his subjects to flee, which the young Zhengtong Emperor approved despite complaints from others in the court., volume 314, page 8115, entry of Luchuan-Pingmian (麓川平緬): "正統元年，免麓川平緬軍民宣慰司所欠差發銀二千五百兩。以任發奏其地為木邦所侵，百姓希少，無從辦納。部執不可，帝特蠲之。"
After a decade of attacking neighbouring polities without facing any punishment from the Ming court, and now with an ample supply of grain and manpower from Möng Yang, Si Renfa launched a large-scale campaign aiming to restore the extensive territory previously held by Si Kefa and ., volume 314, page 8116, entry of Luchuan-Pingmian (麓川平緬): "次子任發襲為麓川宣慰，狡獪愈於父兄，差發金銀，不以時納，朝廷稍優容之。會緬甸之危，任發侵有其地，遂欲盡復其故地，稱兵擾邊，侵孟定府及灣甸等州，殺掠人民。" In 1436, he dispatched troops to attack Möng Ting and , and the Ming court approved plans for a campaign against Möng Mao,, volume 24, page 477, entry of 20 Dec 1436 (正統元年十一月甲辰): "至是雲南總兵官黔國公沐晟奏思任發侵占孟定府及灣甸等州殺掠人民焚毀甸寨事下行在兵部請令晟等計議撫捕何者為便從之". English translation in but it ended up not happening. In 1437, he occupied areas under Nandian’s jurisdiction, including Luobosi Zhuang ()., volume 35, page 683, entry of 12 Nov 1437 (正統二年十月辛未): "雲南南甸州土官知州刀貢罕等奏麓川宣慰思任發侵奪其所轄羅卜思莊等處二百七十八村乞朝廷遣官齎金牌信符諭之俾退還所侵地". English translation in In 1438, he launched further attacks on Nandian, , Tengchong, Lujiang, and Jinchi,, volume 43, page 832, entry of 28 Jun 1438 (正統三年六月己未): "雲南總兵官黔國公沐晟等奏麓川宣慰思任發累侵南甸干崖騰衝潞江金齒等處". English translation in constructing 300 boats on the Nu River to signal his intention to seize Yunlong., volume 44, page 862, entry of 15 Aug 1438 (正統三年七月丁未): "雲南總兵官黔國公沐晟奏麓川賊思任發沿江造船三百艘欲取雲龍州等處". English translation in
Luchuan–Pingmian Campaigns
After seizing the territory of neighbouring polities, Si Renfa replaced Ming native officials with local rulers who were loyal to him, acts that were tantamount to rebellion., volume 314, page 8116, entry of Luchuan-Pingmian (麓川平緬): "於是晟奏：「思任發連年累侵孟定、南甸、幹崖、騰沖、潞江、金齒等處，自立頭目刀珍罕、土官早亨等相助為暴，叛形已著。近又侵及金齒，勢甚猖獗。已遣諸衛馬步官軍至金齒守禦，乞調大兵進討。」" In response, the Ming court dispatched the generals Mu Sheng, , and at the head of 39,000 troops to suppress him in 1438., volume 6, page 292-293: "时，思任势甚猖獗，欲侵金齿。云南镇守三司奏调川、贵官军，令都督沐昂统往腾冲，相机剿捕。命调四川官军九千、云南官军三万，遣右都督布政署都督佥事张荣等率师讨之。悉听晟、昂节制。" Due to his personal relationship with Si Renfa, Mu Sheng was reluctant to resort to large-scale hostilities and hoped to bring him to submission through conciliation., volume 2, page 71, entry of Luchuan Barbarian (麓夷): "师至潞江，晟以思任幼尝育子于家，决意招之。" He therefore sent Che Lin (), a commander of the Jinchi Guard (), to persuade Si Renfa to surrender. Si Renfa feigned submission, and Mu Sheng believed him, making no move to cross the river., volume 30, Luchuan–Pingmian Campaigns (麓川之役), page 454: "至是晟遣指揮車琳等諭之降，思任佯許諾，晟信之，無渡江意。" Fang Zheng, greatly angered, refused to follow Mu Sheng’s command, and led his own troops across the river to engage Si Renfa’s general Mian Jian ()., volume 314, page 8116, entry of Luchuan-Pingmian (麓川平緬): "政亦至軍，欲出戰，晟不可。政造舟欲濟師，晟又不許。政不勝憤，乃獨率麾下與賊將緬簡戰，破賊舊大寨。" He pursued the army deep into Möng Mao's territory, as far as Kongni (), and Fang’s forces were ambushed by a war elephant phalanx. The Ming forces suffered a crushing defeat, and Fang Zheng was killed in action., volume 30, Luchuan–Pingmian Campaigns (麓川之役), page 454: "政渡江追至空泥，知晟不力援己，賊伏兵四起，出象陣衝擊，乃遣其子瑛還曰：「若急歸，吾死分也。」遂策馬突陣死，軍殲焉。"
After defeating the Ming army, Si Renfa advanced further, attacking , Möng Ting, and Dahou. Several polities, including Möng Lem, surrendered to Möng Mao., volume 314, page 8117, entry of Luchuan-Pingmian (麓川平緬): "時任發兵愈橫，犯景東，剽孟定，殺大侯知州刀奉漢等千餘人，破孟賴諸寨，孟璉長官司諸處皆降之。" In 1439, the Ming court again ordered Mu Ang to lead 100,000 troops, volume 67, page 1291, entry of 14 Jun 1440 (正統五年五月丙辰): "勑諭雲南總兵官都督同知沐昂曰…朕以爾籌之必熟處之必當故命充總兵統衆十萬冀能成功豈意爾怯懦無為行師失律". English translation in in another campaign against Si Renfa, but this ended in another Möng Mao victory., volume 67, page 1288, entry of 11 Jun 1440 (正統五年五月癸丑): "先是雲南總兵官左都督沐昂副總兵右都督吳亮左參將都督僉事馬翔右參將都督僉事張榮太監吳誠吉祥奉詔征麓川賊思任發至金齒逗遛不進昂等令榮率軍先至芒部等處出哨賊窺伺至營榮但令都指揮盧鉞與之敵致賊殺敗官軍榮悉棄符驗軍器以遁昂等相距甚邇弗為策應". English translation in The successive defeats strengthened the “pro-war” faction at the Ming court, prompting the Yingzong Emperor to send Wang Ji, the Minister of War, at the head of 150,000 troops on an expedition against Möng Mao.
The expedition was launched in 1441, and the Ming court called on Hsenwi, Ava, Chiang Hung, Lan Na, and other local states to mobilize their troops against Si Renfa., volume 76, page 1488, entry of 3 Mar 1441 (正統六年二月戊寅): "給雲南木邦緬甸車里八百大甸威遠大候施甸各長官司信符金牌各一命其合兵勦麓川叛寇思任發也". English translation in The Ming army first defeated the Möng Mao general Dao Lingdao () at Dahou., volume 82, page 1653, entry of 12 Sep 1441 (正統六年八月辛卯): "行在兵部郎中侯璡奏麓川叛寇思任發令賊首刀令道等十二人賊徒三萬餘象八十隻到大候州欲往景東威遠等處攻刼臣督同都指揮馬讓盧龯等率領官軍迎敵銃矢俱發一鼓而賊衆大敗斬首三百五十二級獲賊帳房旗鼓銃砲盔甲等物". English translation in Their forces then split into two columns, one captured Wandian and advanced to occupy and Möng Ting,, volume 314, page 8117, entry of Luchuan-Pingmian (麓川平緬): "右參將冉保從東路攻細甸、灣甸水寨，入鎮康，趨孟定。" the other seized Shangjiang Fort (), a key Möng Mao stronghold,, volume 314, page 8118, entry of Luchuan-Pingmian (麓川平緬): "至期，合攻之。賊拒守嚴，銃弩飛石，交下如雨。次日，乘風焚其柵，火竟夜不息。官軍力戰，拔上江寨，斬刀放戛父子，擒刀孟項，前後斬馘五萬余，以捷聞。" before breaking through Si Renfa’s defensive works at Shamulong () and Ma’anshan ()., volume 314, page 8118, entry of Luchuan-Pingmian (麓川平緬): "驥由南甸至羅卜思莊，前軍抵杉木籠。時任發率眾二萬余據高山，立硬寨，連環七營，首尾相應。驥遣宮聚、劉聚分左右翼緣嶺上，驥將中軍橫擊之，賊遁。軍進馬鞍山，搗賊寨。寨兩面拒江壁立，周回三十里皆立柵開塹，軍不可進，而賊從間道潛師出馬鞍山後。驥戒中軍毋動，命指揮方瑛率精騎六千突入賊寨，斬首數百級，復誘敗其象陣。" In early December of 1441, the two columns converged at the Möng Mao capital for a decisive battle with Si Renfa. Defeated, Si Renfa fled with his family along a side route, crossing the Shweli River and escaping to Möng Yang., volume 314, page 8118, entry of Luchuan-Pingmian (麓川平緬): "齊集麓川，守西峨渡，就通木邦信息。百道環攻，復縱火焚其營，賊死不可勝算。任發父子三人並挈其妻孥數人，從間道渡江，奔孟養。"
Death In 1442, the Burmese Kingdom of Ava sent an expedition north to Möng Kawng against Si Renfa. Thihapate, the governor of Taungdwin, captured Si Renfa and presented him to Ava's king, Narapati. In March 1443, Narapati reported to the Ming court that he had taken Si Renfa prisoner, volume 101, page 2039, entry of 11 Mar 1443 (正統八年二月丙申): "勑總督雲南軍務兵部尚書靖遠伯王驥曰得奏緬甸宣慰使卜剌浪等報稱擒獲賊首思任發爾等已遣人諭令觧京具見用心及覽進到緬書彼切切以麓川地方為言盖論功行賞國家成憲如彼能擒恩任發觧京恩賞之施必不吝惜爾等即將附近彼處土地人民計議奏來處置". English translation in and used this as leverage to demand territory as a reward., volume 314, page 8118, entry of Luchuan-Pingmian (麓川平緬): "未幾，任發為緬人擒，緬人挾之求地。" The Ming court agreed to cede Möng Mao lands near the Burmese border to Ava. Ava then declared that it would only hand over Si Renfa if the Ming first executed his son, Si Jifa., volume 104, page 2110, entry of 17 Jun 1443 (正統八年五月甲戌): "麓川叛寇思任發竄身逃命苟延殘喘為爾緬甸所得爾嘗奏報欲送與總兵官解京及總兵官屢令人接取爾乃云必俟擒殺其子思機發等分撥與地方然後送來". English translation in