Chapter 114: The Human Heart Is Precarious

The Grand Coordinator of Jiliao, Yuan Chonghuan, set out on the twenty-fifth day of the fifth month. On the twenty-ninth, he met with Mao Wenlong at Shuangdao. This meeting had been arranged as early as the fourth month. Yuan Chonghuan also rewarded the Dongjiang troops accompanying Mao Wenlong. They then talked intermittently for several days, discussing matters such as funds and provisions, relocating the garrison, and establishing circuit officials, but achieved no results. On the surface, both sides remained amicable, hosting banquets for each other daily. On the fifth day of the sixth month, Yuan Chonghuan feigned preparations to depart, moving one hundred thousand taels of military pay ashore and having Mao Wenlong's soldiers carry it. He invited all the officers to come ashore to speak, and told the assembled Dongjiang officers: "In the days to come, I will not be able to pay my respects in person. The empire's vital trust overseas rests upon you all; accept this one bow from me." This deeply moved the Dongjiang men. Mao Wenlong, however, did not realize that everything preceding this was merely to lull him into complacency. Afterward, the group ascended the island's hill together.

After climbing the hill, His Excellency Yuan suddenly turned hostile. He ordered Assistant Regional Commander Xie Shangzheng to lead troops to cordon off the perimeter, charged Mao Wenlong with twelve capital offenses warranting execution, then knelt facing west to request the imperial decree. After rising, he ordered the Central Army's warrant officer, Zhang Guobing, to behead Mao Wenlong outside the tent with the imperial sword. Mao Wenlong was fifty-three years old that year.

Upon hearing the news, the Dongjiang troops on Shuangdao beat their chests and wept bitterly. The crowd's emotions surged, and at one point, they stood at drawn swords with the Guanning Army. Yuan Chonghuan, falsely invoking the Emperor's name and declaring that only Wenlong alone was to be killed, suppressed the Dongjiang officers. He appointed Chen Jisheng to temporarily manage Dongjiang, then divided Dongjiang into four brigades, one of which was led by Liu Xingzuo, who had only surrendered in the first year of the Chongzhen reign.

Mao Wenlong was born in Hangzhou. Destitute in his youth, he went to Liaodong to inherit his uncle Mao Dechun's post as Company Commander of the Haizhou Guard. He was promoted slowly thereafter. Over twenty years, he traversed every mountain and river of Liaodong. Since the Liaodong crisis began, he seized the opportunity to display his talent. In the first year of the Tianqi reign, he distinguished himself by efficiently managing the preparation of gunpowder. Later, when all of Liaodong was lost and the various Ming armies quaked at the mere name of the Jianzhou Bandits, he dared to sail out with one hundred and ninety-seven men to launch a surprise attack on Zhenjiang. He single-handedly established the Dongjiang Garrison, which dominated the enemy's rear, sweeping away the Later Jin forces along the Liaodong coast. He saved hundreds of thousands of Liaodong civilians and formed the Dongjiang Army from the sons of Liaodong. Though they lacked clothing and food, and their equipment was incomplete, their bone-deep hatred made them utterly unafraid of the barbarians with their sharp weapons and sturdy armor. They fought tenaciously between the white mountains and black waters, penetrating deep into the Liaodong heartland countless times. They successively attacked Later Jin's Shenyang, Liaoyang, and the old stronghold of Hetu Ala, and in the first year of the Chongzhen reign, they captured the key Later Jin city of Saerhu. Their tally of severed heads far exceeded that of the Guanning Army, which received ten times their pay. During His Excellency Yuan's tenure as the Ningqian Circuit Intendant alone, the genuine barbarian heads he personally inspected numbered three hundred and seventy-one, far surpassing the two hundred-plus from the Great Victory at Ningyuan. The existence of the Dongjiang Garrison effectively pinned down Later Jin. Without the Dongjiang Garrison, the Ming dynasty would have fallen into a strategic disadvantage during the Tianqi reign.

In the several years since he established the garrison, he quarreled with civil officials almost annually over troop quotas and military pay, yet he never secured treatment equal to that of the Guanning Army. The officers he appointed also received no official salaries. Apart from shipwreck losses, even the porterage fees from Dengzhou and Tianjin were deducted from his military funds.

On the eighteenth day of the fourth month, he sent the last field report of his life. In it, he reviewed the course of the Dongjiang Garrison, from the initial attack on Zhenjiang to the recent arrears in pay and provisions. It seemed to be his farewell summary of his eight years commanding the garrison.

Regardless, the man who gave Later Jin no peace, whom Nurhaci gnashed his teeth in hatred for, was finally dead.

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On the twelfth day of the sixth month, the seventh night after Mao Wenlong's death, within the palace north of Shenyang city, Huang Taiji looked at the document in his hand, his face unable to conceal his delight. Mao Wenlong was finally dead. In recent days, people fleeing Dongjiang had been coming ashore continuously, and relay horses had brought back news without pause. The strength that the Dongjiang Garrison had accumulated over eight years had suffered severe losses in just a few short months and was still steadily declining. According to those who had fled, provisions had still not been delivered. Huang Taiji could foresee that without Mao Wenlong, the Dongjiang Garrison would become scattered sand. This hateful ulcer clinging to the bone could finally no longer affect his grand strategy. Today, during the council, he had already decided to launch a punitive expedition against Ming in the tenth month.

At that moment, a guard reported that Beile Haoge sought an audience. Huang Taiji was most fond of this son. Hearing it was him, he immediately said, "Let him enter."

Shortly after, the guard led in a robust young man with a rough-hewn, imposing appearance. The young man strode in with a vigorous air before Huang Taiji, knelt, and said, "Greetings to Khan Ama!"

Huang Taiji looked at him with a smile. Haoge was his favorite son, his intended successor. On the battlefield, Haoge was brave and skilled in combat, with a nimble mind. Huang Taiji saw many reflections of his own younger self in him. Yet his flaws were also evident: his character was slightly irresolute and hesitant, lacking decisiveness. But in Huang Taiji's view, these were all remediable.

"My son, rise quickly."

Huang Taiji sat steadily in his chair, raising one hand slightly in a gesture. This ambitious tyrant, feared by all in Later Jin and Great Ming, was at this moment merely a kindly father. "Coming here late at night, is there some important matter?"

After rising, Haoge replied, "Your son and minister comes first to pay respects to Khan Ama, and second, because there is a matter in my heart that I do not understand. I pondered it during the day without success and wished to ask Ama for guidance."

"Oh? Very good. If there is anything you do not understand, you may ask your father at any time. Tell me, what is it that you do not understand today?" Huang Taiji still spoke with a smile. He truly wished he could pour all his statecraft and military strategy directly into Haoge's head.

"Today, Khan Ama and the Three Great Beile decided to raise troops this year to punish Ming, yet the route goes through Kalaqin territory, breaking through via Jizhen. It is a thousand li from Liaodong, a weary army striking far, and you intend to go straight to Jingshi, deep in enemy territory for hundreds of li. If anything goes wrong, your son and minister fears unrest among the banners."

Huang Taiji paused briefly before speaking, but what he said was not about the question Haoge had asked: "Yesterday, you beat a slave of your Fourteenth Uncle's household?"

Haoge stole a glance at Huang Taiji's expression, which remained very kind. He then said indignantly, "He referred to Khan Ama behind your back as merely the Beile of the Two Yellow Banners. How could I spare him?"

Huang Taiji shook his head and said flatly, "He was not wrong. Khan Ama is indeed the Beile of the Two Yellow Banners. Although Dorgon is three years younger than you, he is still your elder. Be more mindful of propriety in the future."

Haoge stared at Huang Taiji in astonishment and was about to defend himself when Huang Taiji waved his hand and said, "Since the Old Khan established the system of the Eight Kings' Council, none of the eight houses can control the others. Lands, men, equipment—all belong to the banners. I, this Later Jin Khan, am far inferior to the Old Khan and am indeed merely the Beile of the Two Yellow Banners. Why fear what others say? Since my succession, the strategies in my breast have always been constrained by shortsighted men. From this, I understand that without achieving a merit that shakes heaven, it is insufficient to overawe men's hearts. Therefore, I intend to strike directly at the Ming capital. Even if we merely make a trip to the walls of Jingshi, whether we fight or negotiate in the future, the initiative will lie with us, not with Ming. The Mongols and Koreans will view our Great Jin differently than they do now, and the Jurchens will view me differently than they do now."

Haoge tilted his head, still not understanding how this related to his question. "This plan was decided by Khan Ama. If we win, all the houses benefit. But if chaos ensues, the other houses will lay all the blame on Ama."

Huang Taiji laughed. "Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Just as when the Old Khan raised troops against Ming back then, who could have known that our Jianzhou would come to possess all of Liaodong? Extraordinary men do extraordinary things. Only thus can one achieve the effect of overawing men's hearts."

"Khan Ama, this 'men's hearts' is invisible and intangible. What use is it?"

"This is precisely what I wish to teach you today. Men's hearts and the affairs of the world are one and the same. Knowing them makes things easy; not knowing them makes things difficult. Men's hearts cannot be seen, but they can be discerned through subtle details. It is like when I sit with the Three Great Beile—it is merely three extra stools. But men's hearts do not see it that way. At this moment, those stools are men's hearts."

Haoge began to understand somewhat and pressed further, "Then how should one remove the other stools?"

"To remove these stools, the trick lies in just two things: creating momentum and borrowing momentum. You must know that men's hearts most of all chase profit and shun harm. For private gain, they will abandon great righteousness; for heavy power, they will destroy human bonds. Once the greater momentum is established, removing the stools is merely a matter of time. Statecraft is also like military strategy: the subtlety of its application lies wholly within the mind. Does Beile understand?"

Haoge's eyes lit up. "Khan Ama's momentum is the punitive expedition against Ming."

Huang Taiji nodded approvingly. "My son grasps it at once. The Old Khan conquered Liaodong but never went inside the passes. If I lead the eight houses there, everyone will believe I can achieve what others cannot. Moreover, the gains will far exceed those of the previous two years, and their hearts will surely be grateful. Then the momentum will be established."

"But Khan Ama, even if we win and seize goods, seventy percent is divided equally among the eight houses, and only thirty percent enters the public treasury. Each house will still dominate on its own. Dorgon and his two brothers hold three banners and are likewise growing ever stronger. Your son and minister feels that they still cannot forget the matter of Abahai."

Huang Taiji laughed coldly. "So what if they cannot forget? The matter of Abahai was decided jointly by the Four Great Beile. The three brothers are not entirely without discord among themselves either. This is precisely why Abahai had to die. Without Abahai, the three of them cannot twist together into a single force. Killing a person is not random killing; one must kill for the benefit it brings. Even if they hate me, they must still honor me as Khan. I know they hate me, yet I still use them. This is men's hearts."

Haoge nodded, accepting the lesson. "Your son and minister understands. One must use the great and small beile to check each other."

"That is the general idea, but your vision must be broader. Do not always focus solely on the eight houses. The eight houses are the pillars of our Great Jin; the system is set and cannot be rashly altered. However, the Mongols, the Han Chinese, and the Koreans are all forces that can be drawn upon. Why do I vigorously promote Han ministers and Mongols, and treat surrendered generals well, increasing the Mongol and Han elements within our Great Jin? It is all because no single side can be allowed to dominate alone. Use the Eight Banners to suppress the Mongols and Han, and in turn use the Mongols and Han to check the various banners. Within the banners themselves, there are also divisions. Only this is the way of checks and balances."

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On the nineteenth day of the sixth month, in the Western Warm Pavilion of the Qianqing Palace in Jingshi, the supreme Chongzhen Emperor of the Great Ming Empire was reviewing memorials. This young Son of Heaven wore a yellow round-collared, narrow-sleeved robe, embroidered with golden coiling dragon patterns on the chest and back, and a winged dragon cap atop his head. His youthful face, only nineteen years old, was somewhat pale but showed no trace of childishness. Ice blocks had been placed in the room to cool it, and two palace maids gently fanned him from behind with palm-leaf fans, so the oppressive, stuffy heat was not felt within the room.

The sound of footsteps came from outside. A eunuch entered to announce that Cao Huachun had arrived. A smile appeared on the Emperor's face, and he nodded. Moments later, Cao Huachun, wearing a beam crown and a red inner robe, came before the imperial desk and knelt, his forehead already covered in sweat.

Chongzhen smiled and said, "Cao Banban, why such haste?"

"Your Majesty, there is a routine memorial submitted by the Grand Coordinator of Jiliao. The Grand Secretariat dared not draft a rescript. The Senior Eunuch Scribe said it should be presented for Your Majesty's perusal."

"Bring it here."

Cao Huachun shuffled forward two steps on his knees and presented the memorial with both hands. A nearby eunuch received it and placed it before Chongzhen.

Chongzhen said with slight displeasure, "Cao Banban is an old servant from my residence at the Xin Palace. There are no outsiders here. In the future, there is no need for such excessive ceremony."

"Yes, your slave thanks Your Majesty for the grace." Only then did Cao Huachun rise, stand to the side, and wipe the sweat from his forehead, stealing glances at Chongzhen's expression from the corner of his eye.

Chongzhen opened the memorial and read the first line: "Your servant, Imperial Commissioner for Border Defense and Grand Coordinator, Minister of War Yuan Chonghuan, respectfully reports on the island commander's perverse and manifestly evident conduct, a crisis that brooks no delay, and his expedient execution. Your servant now humbly awaits punishment, looking up to receive the sage judgment."

"Expedient execution?" Chongzhen straightened up with some bewilderment and continued reading. "... Yet Regional Commander Mao Wenlong, relying on the sea, has acted with reckless self-indulgence, and various lawless deeds have been reported...... Grand Secretary Qian Longxi, troubled by this matter, came to your servant's residence for private discussion. Your servant said: 'Entering his army and beheading its commander, as the ancients did, is something your servant is capable of.'...... Your servant's purpose in rerouting the tribute route through Ningyuan was to use this as a pretext, all to plot against Wenlong. It was also thanks to Your Majesty's heaven-sent divine might that everything was granted to your servant. Since the twelfth month of last year, your servant's plans were set; Wenlong was doomed to die."

Chongzhen's face was solemn. He murmured to himself, "Everything granted to your servant, all to plot against Wenlong." Cao Huachun did not hear clearly and stood to the side with his head lowered, not daring to make a sound. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed that the Emperor's hand holding the memorial was trembling slightly.

"On the twenty-ninth day of the fifth month, I arrived at Shuangdao, and Wenlong arrived as well. Your servant humbled himself to treat him, toasted him with wine. Wenlong seemed to hold your servant in contempt. Your servant proclaimed: 'His Majesty is divine and sage, uniting Yao, Shun, Tang, and Wu into one sovereign. We ministers should exert ourselves on the battlefield.' Yet Wenlong appeared disgruntled and frustrated, speaking only of the late Xizong (Tianqi) Emperor's generous favor. Your servant could not help but change countenance..."

Chongzhen's face began to flush red, and his breathing quickened slightly. He sneered, "Does he take me for a three-year-old child?" This time, Cao Huachun heard Chongzhen's words. He glanced at the surrounding eunuchs and palace maids and waved his hand. They all tactfully withdrew, leaving only Cao Huachun to attend.

Only then did Cao Huachun say, "Your Majesty..."

Chongzhen raised his hand slightly, signaling Cao Huachun not to speak. He had already reached the middle section of the memorial. "... He paid homage to Wei Zhongxian as a father, and painted an image of him in ceremonial crown and robes on the island. To this day, a clique including Chen Ruming still entrenches themselves in the capital. The rewards granted at Your Majesty's ascension were all kept back in the capital. What is the reason for this? Fraternizing with close attendants—this is the tenth capital offense. When the Jianzhou Chieftain breached Tieshan, killing countless Liaodong people, Wenlong fled to Pi Island and covered up defeat by claiming victory—this is the eleventh capital offense. In eight years commanding the garrison, he has not recovered a single inch of Liaodong territory, merely watching and nurturing the enemy—this is the twelfth capital offense."

The flush on Chongzhen's face deepened. He finally reached the end of the memorial. "Your servant then knelt facing west and kowtowed, requesting the decree, saying: 'Your servant now executes Wenlong to purify military discipline. Should there be any among the garrison commanders like Wenlong again, they shall be executed by this same law. If your servant cannot pacify the slaves within five years, I beg Your Majesty to execute your servant by the same law used to execute Wenlong...'"

"'But Wenlong was a grand commander, not one your servant could execute without authorization. Your servant could not avoid overstepping by this expedient execution. Yet if it benefits the frontier, your servant will not shirk death...'"

Chongzhen's eyes suddenly narrowed. "'Not one your servant could execute without authorization'—so you knew that after all!" His hands gripped the memorial so tightly that it began to crumple. Reading this, he suddenly cursed loudly, "How dare that brat!" Both hands swept out simultaneously, knocking the brushes, ink, and inkstone from the imperial desk to the floor with a clattering din.

Cao Huachun was so frightened that he knelt on the ground, offering words of consolation: "Perhaps the Grand Coordinator of Jiliao had unavoidable difficulties, or perhaps Mao Wenlong truly committed unlawful acts."

Chongzhen shook his head. Cao Huachun did not understand the imperial court's system, and he did not explain it to him. The reason for his fury was that he had suddenly realized that Jiliao now seemed to be beyond the court's control.

"Cao Banban, accompany me for a walk." After a few breaths, Chongzhen stood up. Cao Huachun followed a step behind, attending him. Chongzhen walked slowly all the way to the main gate of the Qianqing Palace, then subconsciously walked inside, deep in thought with his head lowered the entire time. Cao Huachun did not dare disturb him. Reaching the center of the great hall, Chongzhen stopped. After standing silently for a long while, he seemed to suddenly recall something. He raised his head and looked at the couplet in the Qianqing Palace, written in his own hand.

The central plaque bore the four large characters "Respect Heaven, Emulate Ancestors." The two pillars were inscribed with "The human heart is precarious, the moral heart is subtle," and "Be utterly refined, be utterly single-minded, hold fast to the mean."

Chongzhen recited a line under his breath: "The human heart is precarious, the moral heart is subtle."

After a moment, Chongzhen slowly turned around, his face now completely composed. He said to Cao Huachun, "Cao Banban, relay my oral decree to the Ministry of War: We entrusted frontier affairs to Grand Coordinator Yuan Chonghuan, granting him discretionary authority over military matters beyond the passes. Yet the island commander Mao Wenlong, stationed overseas and commanding the garrison for years, under the pretext of pinning down the enemy, achieved nothing. He deceived the court with false claims of persuasion and victory, and misappropriated equipment and armor... Chonghuan, witnessing the imminent crisis, personally carried out the lawful execution..."