Chapter 46: Nurhaci

"This servant will arrange for people to handle it right away." Chen Hong quickly acknowledged and replied respectfully.

Zhu Youxiao had thought of many methods before, such as how to improve the treatment and status of craftsmen, but most methods were slow to show results and faced great resistance—even if achieved, they would be time-consuming and laborious.

When Zhu Youxiao stopped confining his thinking to the orthodox path, his mind was like a wild horse that had broken its reins, and he immediately thought of a solution.

Take this Hundred Crafts Institute for example—just as the Jiajing Emperor had believed in the Daoist faith, what status did Daoist priests enjoy back then? As long as he displayed this hobby of his, craftsmen would naturally be treated as honored guests. Especially those with exquisite skills.

Those officials who presented these highly skilled craftsmen would receive rewards—this was a shortcut to promotion and wealth. Everyone wants to take shortcuts.

The capital was full of noise and commotion, but Liaodong did not have so much turmoil, because Liaodong was about to go to war.

"Commander, the Jurchen troops are fifteen li from the city."

The scout knelt before Xiong Tingbi and said loudly.

Xiong Tingbi nodded, then said: "Good! Scout again and report again."

After the scout left, Xiong Tingbi turned to the Regional Commander Li Guangrong beside him and said: "Have the soldiers guarding those Mongols enter the city. From now on, we do not leave the city—we wait for the Jurchen to come and attack."

At this time, within the main body of the Jurchen forces, Nurhaci was also listening to the reports of his own scouts.

Only, his expression was growing uglier and uglier.

Ever since the Battle of Sarhu, Nurhaci's grand ambitions had been stirred. As long as he took Shenyang and Liaoyang, he could take the entire Liaodong and drive the Ming army back behind Shanhai Pass.

In this way, the territory under his control would be large enough, and the population numerous enough, that he could attack the Mongols to the west and Joseon to the east. By that time, he could establish a great Jurchen nation, and could even forge the Aisin Gioro clan into a golden family.

Originally the plan had been proceeding very smoothly—he had even sent out spies to lure the Ming army out of the city to fight. When that happened, the spies hidden among the Mongol refugees would stir up chaos, and Shenyang would surely fall into great disorder, allowing him to take it in one stroke.

But as Yuan Yingtai was dismissed and Xiong Tingbi returned to Liaodong, things changed.

First, Xiong Tingbi dug trenches and reinforced the city walls, looking as if he intended to defend to the death.

As for clearing the fields and fortifying—at this season there was no need for clearing the fields at all! His spies, along with those Mongol refugees, had all been driven outside the city walls, making it impossible to stir up any chaos.

Now Xiong Tingbi had again put on the posture of a death-defending stance, and all of Nurhaci's plans had come to nothing. How could he possibly be happy?

No one around dared to speak; the atmosphere was somewhat oppressive, because everyone knew the situation had become awkward.

If the Ming army would not leave the city, then the only option was a direct assault—but how great would the losses of a direct assault be? Yet if they did not fight, could they simply retreat like this?

"Daišan." Nurhaci turned to look at his second son and said loudly: "Go and bring those Mongols back. I want to question them."

"Yes, Father Khan." Daišan acknowledged, then pulled on his horse's reins and immediately left the main force, leading his men toward Shenyang.

Nurhaci truly could not understand—why did Xiong Tingbi dare to do this?

Nurhaci actually understood the Great Ming quite well. They would not fear battle; they would come out and fight him. Because once they showed fear of battle, that would mean the Great Ming was afraid of him—how could that be allowed?

Someone in the Great Ming would be the first to be unable to bear it, and they would attack their own people.

But this time, Xiong Tingbi had actually managed to pull it off. Indeed, this Xiong Tingbi was a difficult character to deal with.

In fact, in the original course of history, things had happened exactly as Xiong Tingbi had predicted.

Nurhaci led his men to attack, and Yuan Yingtai ordered the Regional Commanders He Shixian and You Shigong to leave the city and fight fiercely. He probably still thought of himself as Zhuge Liang reborn, certain he could win this battle.

In the end, he was defeated and returned.

The next day, the surrendered Mongols indeed acted as internal collaborators, causing the two great generals to die in battle.

Regional Commanders Chen Ce and Tong Zhongkui went to reinforce them, and they too fell in battle.

Yuan Yingtai then ordered the troops at Fengji and Xianning to retreat, concentrating all efforts on defending Liaoyang. He diverted water to fill the city moat, lined the riverbank with cannons, and had soldiers guard in a ring around the city.

On the nineteenth day, the Later Jin army arrived at the city walls. Yuan Yingtai personally led the Regional Commanders Hou Shilu, Li Bingcheng, Liang Zhongshan, Jiang Bi, and Zhu Wanliang out five li from the city to meet the enemy in battle. They were defeated, with numerous dead and wounded.

That night, Yuan Yingtai did not enter the city but lodged in the military camp.

The next day, the Later Jin army dug open the sluice gate on the west side of the city to drain the accumulated water from the moat, then sent troops to hold the water outlet on the east side of the city. They crossed the city moat shouting loudly and arrived at the foot of the walls, where both sides fought fiercely for a long time.

Many Later Jin cavalry charged to the edge of the city. The defeated Ming soldiers fled toward the outside of the city—some drowned, some were killed by the Qing army. Casualties were severe.

At dawn, Yuan Yingtai entered the city and, together with the Regional Inspector Censor Zhang Quan and others, divided up the crenellated battlements to defend firmly.

The intendants Gao Chu and Hu Yingdong climbed over the city walls and fled, and the morale of the people scattered.

On the eleventh day, the Later Jin army attacked the city again. Yuan Yingtai led the soldiers holding shields in fierce battle, but they were defeated once more.

By evening, the watchtower caught fire, and the Later Jin army entered the city through the Small West Gate. The city fell into great chaos.

Seeing this situation from the city tower, Yuan Yingtai felt that the tide had turned and could not be reversed. He sighed to Zhang Quan and said: "You bear no responsibility for defending this city—leave quickly! I will die here!"

Having said this, Yuan Yingtai wore his sword and seal, and hanged himself.

His wife's younger brother Yao Juxiu also followed him in suicide.

The servant Tang Shiming embraced Yuan Yingtai's corpse and wept bitterly, then set fire to the tower and died in the flames.

When this matter reached the court, the Tianqi Emperor posthumously conferred on Yuan Yingtai the title of Minister of War, held a grand funeral and burial, and appointed his son to an official position.

But now things were different—Xiong Tingbi did not have as many troubles as Yuan Yingtai. From beginning to end, Xiong Tingbi felt that the Liaodong people could not be trusted, the Mongols could not be trusted—what was the point of leaving the city to fight?

Old Xiong felt that one should first hold a wave of defense. Wear down a wave of the Jurchen, and when they had attacked for a long time without success and their morale had sunk low, then leaving the city for a counterattack was the true way.

The Liaodong army could no longer fight hard battles, but fighting battles with the wind at their backs was still no problem. Xiong Tingbi had a very clear understanding of this point.

Soon the spy was brought back by Daišan. Nurhaci questioned the Mongol spy in detail and discovered that things were even worse than he had imagined.

Xiong Tingbi had these people digging trenches all day, building walls, and carrying stones up to the city walls—in short, making all sorts of defensive preparations. I simply will not come out—if you have the ability, break in.

"Give those Mongols weapons and make them the vanguard. Prepare to attack the city." A flash of ruthlessness crossed Nurhaci's face as he directly issued the order.

At this point, fighting was inevitable anyway—but Nurhaci could not bear to send his own sons and men to fight, so he simply let these Mongols do it.

Hadn't they accumulated plenty of resentment against Xiong Tingbi? Their morale was just right for use—so let them go fight.

If there was an opportunity to exploit, he would seize Shenyang city by surprise; if not, then he could retreat. After all, if one could not take the city, retreating was nothing to make a fuss about.