Xu Da, Duke of Wei

Xu Da,known by his title as Duke of Wei, later posthumously as Prince of Zhongshan, was a Chinese military general and official who lived in the late Yuan dynasty and early Ming dynasty. He served as a general who helped the founder and first emperor of the Ming dynasty, Hongwu (reigned 1368–98), to overthrow the Yuan (or Mongol) dynasty (1206–1368).

Xu joined the future emperor’s rebel band in 1353 and became the leading general, engineering the capture of the capital at Beijing so perfectly that, it is said, commerce in its market did not stop for a single day. He was cautious and skilled in governing the army, making outstanding contributions to the establishment of the Ming Dynasty and the recovery of Chinese territory. Zhu Yuanzhang praised him as "the Great Wall" of the Ming Dynasty.