Chapter 577: How Is He Still Not Dead?

Old White Ox: Yesterday I sorted out the plot and cross-checked casualty numbers for both sides. I spent several hours on it — too many uncontrollable factors. From now on I won’t give a specific daily update time; I’ll just do my best to update. Sometimes I think being a reader is more comfortable, but then I remember that an author can depict and build the world in his mind, and I feel at peace.

……

The nineteenth day of the ninth month, fourteenth year of Chongzhen.

Early in the morning, the Qing army withdrew across the entire front from Jinzhou. Not only the Two White Banners and Two Blue Banners at Jinchangbao, the Two Red Banners beneath Jinzhou’s walls, and the various Eight Banner Mongols — even the Manchu and Mongol Two Yellow Banners near Xingshan, and the troops of the Outer Vassal Mongols, all pulled out completely.

In particular, aside from the losses in officers and men the Two Yellow Banners suffered at Mount Changling in yesterday’s battle, they had reaped considerable gains elsewhere. But under Huang Taiji’s strict edict, they were forced to abandon all of those gains. The Liaodong Regional Commander Liu Zhaoji and his men at Xingshan seized the chance to retake Daxingbao and Dongqingbao, which were now nothing but broken walls.

The Qing army’s withdrawal drew serious attention from the Ming forces. The various officers and commanders held emergency discussions, and under Wang Dou’s forceful advocacy, the Ming army assembled its troops and gave pursuit!

Of course, that was only the official account. In reality, the two sides kept strictly to themselves, staying a full twenty li apart — rather like two men beating a wolf with hemp stalks, each afraid of the other. Both sides maintained their distance and stayed on strict alert.

The Qing army used the Two White Banners as rearguard, moving slowly the whole way. The Ming army pursued slowly the whole way, victoriously retaking Jinchangbao, Xiaolinghebao, the Dalinghe forts, and more along the route…

On the twentieth, Huang Taiji lay in a brocade carriage, staring blankly out the window at the great army crossing the river. Countless pontoon bridges had been thrown across the Dalinghe, and an endless stream of Qing troops and horses was steadily crossing to the far bank.

Unlike when they had set out on campaign, the Qing soldiers now all hung their heads in dejection. Some wounded men lay in carts or were tied to horses, shivering ceaselessly in the cold wind, letting out groans now loud, now faint.

Many of their wounds came from firearms and cannon; the agony was indescribable. And with the Qing state lacking physicians and its medical care backward, many wounded soldiers and officers would, in the months or years to come, suffer bitterly unto death.

Their spirit and morale were utterly gone — a complete contrast to the high spirits they had shown while besieging Jinzhou. Returning in crushing defeat dealt the Qing people a psychological blow and setback more severe than any before. The Mongol Eight Banners and the Outer Vassal Mongol tribes, in particular, complained endlessly.

Moreover, military intelligence from Yizhou indicated that the Jingbian Army’s grassland force had indeed arrived. Se Leng had been flogged and dismissed — what an injustice! Though he might be restored to his Jasagh position after some time, the Mongols all voiced strong discontent that Huang Taiji had concealed the grassland situation from them.

And at this moment, the Manchu banner lords, who in the past had always flaunted their sense of superiority before them and considered themselves high above all others, all pretended to be deaf and mute, acting as if they had not heard a word of such treasonous talk.

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The Jingbian Army was pressing in from the grasslands. Many men’s home regions had surely been plundered bare. The bitter winter was fast approaching, and if they returned now without grain or fodder, they would truly have nothing to eat but the northwest wind.

Huang Taiji kept staring blankly outward. By now, his long, thin queue — the “coin-string rat-tail” — had turned completely white, and his expression was aged beyond measure. All along the journey, his coughing had never ceased; at times he even vomited great mouthfuls of blood. The Qing ministers were all deeply anxious, their view of the future dark and bleak. And with Dorgon, Dodo, and others behaving strangely, it seemed an undercurrent was stirring.

Ying’erdai, the Minister of Revenue, staggered forward, his expression equally haggard. He came before the brocade carriage and said in a low voice, “The forward scouts report that the Two Red Banners have gone to Yizhou to provide support. Wen Fangliang’s and Gao Shiyin’s units of the Jingbian Army, upon hearing that the main army is approaching, have already ceased their assault on Yizhou and established a strong stockade several li west of the city. The Prince of the Second Rank has received the imperial edict and resolved to withdraw. Only… he requests instructions: when leaving Yizhou, may he burn to ashes the grain, fodder, and bean provisions stockpiled within the city, so as to deny them to the Ming state?”

Huang Taiji shook his head, coughing without pause. “No… there is no need. Have Daišan, Luoluohuan, and the others each carry… carry several days’ rations and come swiftly to rendezvous. As for the rest, they need do nothing at all.”

Ying’erdai was greatly alarmed and urged, “Your Majesty, the grain and horse fodder stockpiled inside and outside Yizhou city exceeds seventy thousand shi — enough to feed a host of one hundred thousand for over a month. If we do not burn it, will that not only strengthen the Jingbian Army further? Once they obtain ample provisions, they may press their advantage and continue pursuing…”

Ying’erdai estimated that the Jingbian Army had suffered considerable casualties in the great battle on the north bank of the Nüer River, but their forces at Yizhou were intact. Once the two armies joined up, their prestige would be even greater. The Manchu and Mongol ministers were all deeply worried that Wang Dou would suddenly launch an attack.

Huang Taiji still shook his head and said quietly, “The Ming army does not wish to fight anymore — Wang Dou included. I also understand Wang Dou. Has he ever launched a campaign without taking some advantage back with him? If the Yizhou grain and fodder are burned, Wang Dou will certainly fly into a rage from shame and pursue relentlessly. With the grain and fodder there, he has a step to climb down on… Send word to Luoluohuan at Yizhou: carry out Our will.”

Ying’erdai’s expression was one of sorrow. The Great Qing now feared the Jingbian Army, feared Wang Dou, like a tiger — so much so that they dared not even burn grain and fodder. How grievous, how lamentable. Still, he obeyed and transmitted the order.

Seeing his expression, Huang Taiji instead gently consoled him: “We know the Minister’s loyalty. You may also set your mind at ease. The battle of Jinzhou has left both Ming and Qing wounded. Our Great Qing has suffered heavy losses, but has the Ming state fared any differently? …cough… After this battle, the Great Qing can only bide its time and build its strength. It would be best to negotiate peace with the Ming state, so that we may rise again another day. Did our ancestors not do just that…”

He coughed and continued: “…Right now Wang Dou appears to be at the height of glory, but in truth he is beset by crises on all sides. His achievements are too great — his merit overshadows his sovereign. The days ahead will certainly not be easy for him… If… if we could use the hands of the Ming people to eliminate him, nothing could be better… only… it will be difficult…”

Hearing the Emperor speak such intimate words to him, recalling the Emperor’s past kindness toward him, and then reflecting that the Emperor might not have long to live — and what his own future in the Great Qing would be thereafter… Ying’erdai was overcome with grief, and tears rolled down his cheeks in streams.

Seeing Ying’erdai weep, Huang Taiji sighed and said, “Enough, let us not speak of these things. The casualty tallies for each banner have been compiled — tell me.”

Ying’erdai checked his tears, hesitating slightly. Huang Taiji sighed, “Speak. We… We can bear it.”

Ying’erdai said, “Yes.”

He unfolded a military roster and began to read slowly. Huang Taiji listened in silence, closing his eyes wearily. The battle of Jinzhou — the Great Qing’s losses… were heavy.

The total casualties from before and during this battle — counting Han troops, Korean troops, banner soldiers of every banner, and Aha servants and laborers — reached a staggering sixty thousand. The Great Qing had mobilized a total of two hundred fifty thousand troops for this campaign. Casualties were now approaching forty percent.

At the outset, in the fighting at Huangtuling and other places, the various banners had already suffered over eight thousand casualties, nearly half of them banner soldiers and armored troops. Prince of the Martial Valor Commandery Ajige, along with many officers of the Niru Janggin rank from various banners, had died in battle.

During the standoff period, though there were intermittent casualties, they were still acceptable. The most devastating losses came from this final decisive battle.

On the battlefield on the north bank of the Nüer River, on the right wing: over forty thousand men of the Han Eight Banners and Korean troops were routed and fled. The Korean Right State Councilor Kim Ja-jeom, along with five Han Chinese Gūsa Beise — Kong Youde, Zu Zerun, Shi Tingzhu, and others — went missing. Needless to say, they were either killed by the Jingbian Army and their allies or taken captive. The Qing side now counted them all as dead.

The Great Qing also lost all of its cannons and artillerymen, as well as a great number of Han Eight Banner and Korean officers. Fortunately, with infantry pursuing infantry, many were still able to flee for their lives. In the end, Geng Zhongming, Shang Kexi, Ma Guangyuan, and a few Korean officers and commanders rallied the remaining Korean and Han troops, totaling just over twenty-two thousand. The other twenty thousand were either dead or captured.

On the left wing: Dorgon and Dodo’s Two White Banners together comprised over ninety Niru and more than twenty thousand banner soldiers. Adding the Mongol Two White Banners under Yibai and Suna, the total strength was over thirty thousand. Their total casualties were just over two thousand. Adding the losses from the Huangtuling battle and the standoff period, total casualties came to over three thousand — and banner soldiers and armored troops were only a portion of that.

They suffered the lightest casualties of the entire Jinzhou campaign. The greatest loss for the Two White Banners was Ajige’s death in battle, along with the deaths of some Plain White Banner soldiers and officers. Perhaps, for Dorgon, those deaths were actually to his advantage: with Ajige gone, the Plain White Banner was now completely under his control.

On the central battlefield…

The Manchu Plain Blue Banner: forty-two Niru, totaling over twelve thousand banner soldiers. Casualties reached a staggering four thousand-plus. Hooge died in battle. The Bayara Guard Commander Arjin died in battle. And the casualties were all banner soldiers and armored troops.

The Bordered Blue Banner: thirty-three Niru, over ten thousand banner soldiers. Casualties approached three thousand. The two Mongol Two Blue Banners together suffered nearly two thousand casualties.

Here, the Manchu and Mongol Two Blue Banners’ combined casualties approached nine thousand.

As for the Manchu Two Red Banners, with over sixty Niru in total, they had split their forces with the Mongol Two Red Banners into two locations. Beneath the walls of Jinzhou, they had been continuously engaged in combat with Zu Dashou, Wu Sangui, and the others — reaping great gains while suffering few losses. For all four banners combined, from the siege to the present, casualties were only just over two thousand.

If Luoluohuan at Yizhou could withdraw safely, he would not lose many men either.

Then there were the Two Yellow Banners at Xingshan, which likewise suffered grievous losses…

The Manchu Two Yellow Banners had a total of seventy-five Niru. Adding the Mongol Two Yellow Banners and the Outer Vassal Mongol tribes, after their assault on Mount Changling, their combined casualties reached a shocking fifteen thousand-plus. Among them, the Manchu Two Yellow Banners alone suffered over five thousand casualties. Counting the bondservants and the like, total casualties exceeded twenty thousand.

One small mountain ridge had buried so many of the Great Qing’s men. It was fortunate that the Two Yellow Banners had split their forces to attack other places around Xingshan; otherwise…

Listening to Ying’erdai’s report, Huang Taiji’s face was expressionless, but his heart was in agony. Sixty thousand casualties — the Manchu banners alone accounted for nearly twenty thousand. Many of the wounded had been struck by firearms and cannon, and would continue to die one after another. The final death toll would reach over ten thousand.

The Great Qing… had suffered a grievous wound to its vitality.

A sudden dread seized Huang Taiji’s heart. The Ujen Cooha artillery camp, which had consumed countless silver and immense effort, was gone. How should the Han Eight Banners be handled from now on? The Two Blue Banners and Two Yellow Banners had suffered devastating losses, while Dorgon and Dodo grew ever more powerful. How should he deal with them?

Aside from the thought of lying low and building strength, one other thought struggled desperately in Huang Taiji’s mind: “We cannot die. We will certainly return to Shengjing alive!”

……

“That fellow has vomited several buckets of blood by now — how is he still not dead?”

Among the rearguard army, Dodo frowned and peered ahead again and again. He could not understand how Huang Taiji’s life force could be so tenacious.

He and Dorgon had been ordered by Huang Taiji to serve as the rearguard. Dodo had wanted to argue, but Dorgon had held him back.

Fortunately, neither the Ming nor the Qing side had any stomach for battle. Not only did they keep far apart, but when their respective scouts sighted each other from a distance, each simply went their own way. Someone who didn’t know better would think they were allied forces. Thus the army had traveled the whole way safe and sound, which somewhat eased Dodo’s mind. He, too, feared that Wang Dou might suddenly launch an attack against them.

Dorgon flicked his riding whip casually. “Fourth Brother’s patience — I have always admired it.”

He smiled, then his eyes turned cold and sinister. “He has lost troops and officers — a fatuous and inept ruler. Many Mongols have already voiced their discontent. For the sake of the Great Qing, we cannot let him return to Shengjing alive.”

Dodo nodded emphatically. “True. Once we return to Shengjing, the two of us will be in grave danger. Only… how should we do it?”

Dorgon suddenly cracked his whip in the air with a sharp snap. “Very simple. Ubai, the Gabshiyan Gala Amban of the Vanguard, has secretly expressed his intention to come over to my side!”

He looked at Dodo and laughed. “Once the great deed is done, Jeje and Bumbutai — one for each of us brothers!”

Wang Duoduo was overjoyed and nodded repeatedly: "Good, good…"

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