Chapter 582: Huang Taiji Is Dead

Old White Ox: Many thanks to book friend Wang Sun Wuyang for the Ming dynasty noble rank materials — far more detailed than what I had collected.

Also grateful for the support from friends; the posts in the book review section are increasing, and I'm very pleased.

The twentieth day of the tenth month, Chongzhen Year 14.

Wang Dou's Jingbian Army and the others had long since passed through Shanhai Pass and Funing, reaching Yongping Prefecture. After the detailed victory report was sent out, the various garrison relief troops in Liaodong soon received the imperial edict to withdraw, so in early tenth month, all the garrisons returned as a group.

Because of this great victory, Ji-Liao Viceroy Hong Chengchou, Ningyuan Regional Commander Wu Sangui, Liaodong Regional Commander Liu Zhaoji, and others would all go to the capital to receive rewards and attend the grand victory banquet. They left their subordinates to garrison, bringing only some retainers and personal guards as they traveled with the main army.

In the Battle of Jinzhou, the Great Ming lost five Regional Commanders — Zu Dashou, Ma Ke, Bai Guangen, Li Fuming, and Zuo Guangxian — along with tens of thousands of officers and soldiers. When the news reached the court, it shocked the government and the public. Moved by their sacrifice for the nation, the court pressed ahead intensely with honoring them. Temples would be built for worship, and their coffins would also be brought to the capital to receive the mourning and lamentation of the sovereign and his ministers.

Since the army was withdrawing to court and also escorting coffins to the capital, it moved very slowly. Just as they reached Yongping Prefecture, Wang Dou received a piece of intelligence: Huang Taiji was dead.

He died on the retreat route; the cause of death was unknown. After returning to Shengjing, Dorgon immediately proclaimed himself emperor. The dynastic name remained Great Qing, and the reign title was Shunzhi.

It seemed that when Huang Taiji died, some chaos and infighting broke out among the retreating Eight Banner troops, continuing all the way back to Shengjing. There may have been some conspiracy within, but the Two White Banners, with the greatest momentum, still controlled the overall situation. After a series of struggles and compromises, Dorgon proclaimed himself emperor with lightning speed.

Word also came that after Dorgon proclaimed himself emperor, he and Dodo immediately divided up the wives and concubines of Huang Taiji and Hooge. Dorgon took Bumbutai, and Dodo took Jeje. Though Jeje was already past forty, Dodo was still ecstatic to have her.

Wang Dou analyzed that perhaps Dodo lost his mother at a young age and had an Oedipus complex. Although Jeje was somewhat older, as the empress she was graceful and noble, possessing a certain allure, and with the charm of a mature woman, she held great temptation for a young man like Dodo.

Dorgon generously bestowed the former empress upon Dodo. Apart from Dodo's request, there may also have been the intention of winning over his younger brother.

Dorgon had long coveted the Great Jade Consort Bumbutai; obtaining her now could be considered a wish fulfilled. He also became Fulin's stepfather. It was fortunate that the Lesser Jade Consort Harjol had just died recently; otherwise, Dorgon would have taken her too.

Although Dorgon proclaimed himself emperor, men like those of the Two Yellow Banners, Jirgalang, Daišan, and others were hardly ordinary figures. The Qing troops had just been defeated, the Mongols and Koreans were restless in their thoughts, and the Qing state still faced a period of turmoil — a point advantageous to the Great Ming.

Holding this intelligence, Wang Dou's thoughts were complicated. After Huang Taiji ascended the throne, Manchuria transformed from a tribe into a formal state, and also broke free from the three-sided encirclement of Ming, Korea, and the Mongols.

He developed production, consolidated national strength, continuously waged war against Ming, and invaded several times, expanding the Qing state's power and laying a solid foundation. He could be considered a figure of some stature. Yet a hero to his people is a bandit to ours. His death was a good thing. But after Huang Taiji's death, what would become of the Qing state, and what would become of the Great Ming?

At this moment, the group was by the banks of the Luan River. The next step was to head toward Fengrun. The cold wind from time to time swept up the river water, surging wave after wave. Fine snowflakes drifted down. The weather was truly growing colder and colder.

Wang Dou stood silent and dazed. Those around him were all puzzled. At this time, Wang Dehua had already returned to the capital ahead of them. The people beside Wang Dou were Hong Chengchou, Wang Chengen, Zhang Ruoqi, Yang Guozhu, Wang Pu, Cao Bianjiao, Wang Tingchen, Wu Sangui, and others.

Hong Chengchou still coughed from time to time, sometimes even coughing up blood. Because treatment had not been timely, the hidden ailment from the campaign would accompany him for the rest of his life.

Seeing everyone's expressions, Wang Dou smiled faintly and handed the report to Hong Chengchou. Hong Chengchou took it with puzzlement and read. After reading, no matter how deep his composure, he could not help but burst into loud laughter, his beard and hair flying. Laughing, he coughed at the same time: "Hong Tai, oh Hong Tai, I never thought you would see this day!"

Zhang Ruoqi also took it with puzzlement. Upon reading it, he likewise roared with laughter: "The slave chieftain has perished! Dorgon proclaims himself emperor, reign title Shunzhi?"

His finger pointed straight, and amid the snowflakes, he jabbed forcefully at a spot on the report, nearly poking a hole through it: "Disaster arises from within the walls, dying under one's own blade — such is the deserved retribution! This is the clarity of heavenly justice, karma never misses. The slave chieftain died a good death!"

Wang Pu, Yang Guozhu, Fu Yingchong, Wu Sangui, and the others, upon hearing this, were all both shocked and delighted. They passed the intelligence among themselves, and none could help but weep and laugh at once.

Yang Guozhu prostrated himself on the ground and wailed: "Heaven has eyes! The slave chieftain is dead! Marshal Li, Marshal Zuo — your spirits in heaven can now be comforted."

Wu Sangui, in hempen mourning garments and a white headband, after reading the report, was also overcome with shock and joy. Then rolling tears gushed forth. He knelt down at once on the icy ground, wailing loudly: "Uncle, Uncle, do you hear? The slave chieftain is dead! The slave chieftain is dead! Your vengeance is fulfilled!"

Zu Dale and Zu Dabi likewise knelt beside him, weeping until tears and mucus streamed down their faces.

As the news spread, throughout the many relief army camps, there was likewise a chorus of weeping and laughter.

The common people of Yongping Prefecture also set off firecrackers one after another, their cheers rumbling like thunder.

After Huang Taiji founded his state, he invaded several times, bringing profound calamity to the people of the northern lands. Soldiers and civilians alike all gnashed their teeth in bitter hatred. Now that he was dead, the masses all clapped and cheered, the firecrackers exploding.

Wang Chengen likewise had tears streaming down his face. He murmured: "Your Majesty, the slave chieftain is dead. You can catch your breath a little now."

After his initial shock and delight, Tang Tong's eyes darted about as he secretly calculated. With the slave chieftain dead, the frontier might see a period of peace. He must seize this opportunity to urgently train his new army.

In the Battle of Jinzhou, although he had defended with some distinction, he lacked offensive initiative and did not gain much military merit. Even Wang Pu, whom he privately looked down upon, had performed more outstandingly than he had. This made Tang Tong secretly envious and resentful.

Not only that, he also had trouble on his hands. Because during the great battle beneath Jinzhou's walls, when Ma Ke died heroically in battle, the surviving officers and soldiers of the Shanhai Army unanimously accused Tang Tong's Miyun Army of watching without coming to the rescue, leading to their commander's death. They also insisted they would submit a memorial of impeachment.

The officers of the Miyun Army naturally retorted in kind. The two sides went from verbal disputes to physical clashes, and finally brawled into a tangled mess.

This not only alarmed Hong Chengchou, Wang Chengen, and others, but Wang Dou also participated in the investigation. Earlier, he had issued stern words: anyone who dared not rescue friendly forces would be severely punished without leniency.

Tang Tong argued that at the time, he was besieged by heavy enemy troops and had indeed attempted a rescue, only that it was too late.

The final investigation result was that Tang Tong indeed participated in the rescue. It was just that under those circumstances, with the combat strength of Tang Tong's old-style troops, he was powerless to reverse the situation. That he could achieve that much could not be called a crime. One could only lament that Marshal Ma's luck was poor.

However, there was a suspicious point: when Ma Ke died in battle, the wound on his neck was rather peculiar, somewhat resembling a shot fired from within his own camp. Yet the surviving officers of the Shanhai Army spoke with one voice, stating that at the time, the main battalion had been breached by the slave bandits, the enemy was locked in chaotic melee, and ultimately the Grand Marshal was shot dead by the slave bandits, dying in battle for his country.

The matter was thus dropped. The Shanhai Army officers, after mediation by Wang Dou and others, no longer pursued the issue with Tang Tong, focusing only on the compensation and posthumous rewards for Grand Marshal Ma, as well as each man's own rewards and commendations.

Of course, Tang Tong did not feel he was in the clear. The censors of the Great Ming were renowned for having nothing better to do. In the future, he feared they would seize on his minor failings and not let go.

"If only I had a powerful army!"

Tang Tong sighed inwardly. In the Battle of Jinzhou, the combat strength of the Jingbian Army had once again opened his eyes. The new armies of Yang Guozhu, Wang Pu, Cao Bianjiao, and Wang Tingchen had also performed well. Especially Wang Dou — having a strong army in hand was his capital for building achievements and acting without restraint.

There were particularly rumors that during this withdrawal to court, His Majesty's rewards for the generals would be unprecedentedly generous. Not only would a large batch of men be enfeoffed as counts, but Yang Guozhu and Wang Dou might even be enfeoffed as marquises. The noble titles of the Great Ming were so precious; such a mass distribution was unprecedented in Ming history.

Yet his own name was not on the rumored list of those to be enfeoffed as counts. This disheartened Tang Tong and also made him somewhat fearful. Because of the Zu Dashou affair, the various Liaodong generals all looked upon him with ill favor. Tang Tong felt he had no one to rely on, and these days had been currying favor with Wang Dou, hoping to cling to his coattails.

Fortunately, the Loyal and Brave Count treated him amiably, which set Tang Tong's mind slightly at ease.

But the stimulus of the Battle of Jinzhou, and years of bureaucratic experience, told Tang Tong that relying on others was useless. The key was to have a powerful army in one's own hands — just like the Jingbian Army.

Only, where would the money and provisions come from?

Back then, prompted by Yang Sichang, the entire court and country vigorously trained troops. Cao Bianjiao and Wang Tingchen used court provisions and pay to train their new armies. Wang Pu relied on his Datong clan. But at the time, the provisions and pay allocated by the court had been embezzled by himself to recruit retainers. This filled Tang Tong with regret. He had truly made a wrong choice back then.

The opportunity had already passed. Even if the court now wanted to train new armies on a large scale, it had the will but not the means.

Expecting anything from the court was impossible. He would have to think of other ways to fund his troops.

At the same time, he was also pondering the style of his future new army. The Miyun Army was renowned for its outstanding defense. The new army must also inherit this strength — first establish an invincible position, then talk of building achievements. Yet he could not just defend; he must have offense within defense. Yes, just so!

Like Tang Tong, Wang Pu at this moment was also turning over in his mind the idea of vigorously training a new army after returning to his garrison.

In the battle on the north bank of the Nüer River, the various battalions of the Datong Garrison had collapsed at the first rout, making him realize that old-style troops were ultimately useless. He had to build new army battalions on a large scale. This was his capital for building achievements — especially after the rumors of being enfeoffed as a count came through.

Yet although his new army was splendid and noble-looking, because it was heavily funded by his clansmen, it had somewhat the flavor of a clan army. To expand the new army, he still needed to persuade his many clansmen.

However, after news of the great victory was sent back, there would presumably be very few voices of opposition. At the same time, he also needed to secure more support from the Loyal and Brave Count.

The death of the slave chieftain elated the army withdrawing to court. Because the source of the news was Wang Dou, Hong Chengchou and the others had not the slightest doubt. After the three armies celebrated, they immediately dispatched this intelligence by fast horse back to the capital, seeking to bring great joy to His Majesty's dragon countenance.

Sure enough, the death of Huang Taiji once again sent the capital into a boiling uproar. The celebrations in court and among the public need not be elaborated.

In late tenth month, the army reached Tongzhou. Wang Dou suddenly received another piece of intelligence delivered by fast horse from the Intelligence Division.

After reading it, Wang Dou could not help but be taken aback: "Li Zicheng has already captured Luoyang?"