Chapter 286

Below Dalinghe City, over a hundred Later Jin mounted scouts rode slowly with heads high and spirits soaring, holding aloft captured Ming army banners; two soldiers even used the great flags of Zhang Chun and Wu Xiang to play at exchanging signals.

Some captured Ming army officers were escorted past below the city walls, calling out their names and official posts in turn toward the ramparts. On the walls of Dalinghe City, not a sound was heard — the last hope had been shattered.

The Later Jin Khan's great gold-embroidered banner stood high on Nanshan Ridge. Huang Taiji sat composedly in a captured pear-wood armchair. He had just finished the sacrificial rites to Heaven, attended by the various Banner Lords and officials of the rank of Gushan Ejen and above. The Banner Lords had all dispersed; he had kept only Yue Tuo behind.

< ceremonial parasol, according to Ming regulations, used in the ceremonial retinue of civil officials of the third and fourth ranks.

A light breeze brushed the ridge, and the silk gauze beneath the parasol swayed gently. Huang Taiji rubbed his hand several times over the armrest of the armchair; the smooth, cool sensation pleased him.

Although he was the honored Later Jin Khan, his ceremonial display had always been very simple — a convention inherited from Nurhaci, who had always maintained extremely frugal habits, traveling with a retinue of only four or five riders and never any other adornments. Given Huang Taiji's current circumstances, he had not yet reached the point of facing south to receive homage, and even though he very much wished to use such methods to increase his sense of authority, he could not yet put them into practice.

"Your slaves kowtow before the Great Khan!" A disorderly clamor of shouts rose from below.

Huang Taiji lowered his gaze. Before him stretched a field of bare, dark-shaven pates; the clothes they wore, however, were still Ming official robes. These were the Ming army generals captured in the Battle of Changshan — among them three Vice Regional Commanders and four Mobile Corps Commanders. He had netted the greater part of the Great Ming's commanding generals from Beizhili and Liaodong in one sweep. The troops of Zhang Chun's Yongping command had fought with firm resolve; the soldiers mostly came from the volunteer militia that had captured Luanzhou during the Four Cities campaign. They all had family members killed during the Later Jin incursion, and after the Four Cities campaign they had been organized and trained into an army by Zhang Chun. They proved even more steadfast than those old soldiers of Liaozhen. In the end, Huang Taiji had mobilized the Ujen Cooha to join the battle, blasting open the wagon fort with Hongyi cannons, and the armored soldiers had surged in, slaughtering most of this Ming force.

Having annihilated these troops, Huang Taiji could be said to have avenged the great grudge of the Four Cities campaign, and this was exactly what he proclaimed to the various banners. The only regret was that Wu Xiang and Song Wei had fled again. Under the cover of their retainers, these two had broken through the Later Jin mounted scouts' blockade and bolted straight back to Jinzhou; most of their retainers had also escaped. But those two were now like birds startled by the mere twang of a bowstring — if encountered in the future, they would only flee. With that thought, Huang Taiji let it go.

"Gentlemen, please rise." Once these men had gotten up trembling with fear, Huang Taiji swept his gaze across their faces and continued in a gentle tone, "You are all brave generals of the Southern Court. This defeat was not due to any lack of effort in battle, but truly because your Ming Emperor is without benevolence, and thus has incurred Heaven's punishment."

Huang Taiji's tone was mild, and his words were refined, yet having occupied a superior position for many years, he naturally possessed a certain majesty. The assembled surrendered generals felt slightly relieved after hearing his praise, but they still kept their heads lowered, fearful that any movement might anger this barbarian chieftain.

"Weapons are instruments of ill omen; war is a perilous affair. Is there any man who does not desire peace and instead longs for arms and strife? You Southerners mostly regard us Jurchens as barbarian bandits, and every time we fight you say, 'They've come to plunder us again.' Little do you know how greatly mistaken this notion is. I truly do not raise troops for slaughter and plunder. In years past, the Wanli Emperor oppressed and persecuted us Jurchens, wantonly slaughtering us at every turn. The Old Khan could not endure such humiliation, and because the Ming State had committed the Seven Great Grievances against us, he therefore raised an army. The Ming State possesses all under Heaven and has subjects and people in the millions upon millions. Had we not been driven beyond endurance, how would I dare to attack a great state with a small one?"

These surrendered generals were all rough, unlettered men. They had never imagined that this queue-wearing Later Jin Khan could actually lay out such a grand, refined argument. They were instantly lost in a fog. They did not know that this barbarian had, in fact, read Chinese books since childhood. Huang Taiji's Chinese studies teacher was named Gong Zhenglu. Before he became Later Jin Khan, he had already read books such as Water Margin, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, and History of Jin, and had some understanding of Great Ming culture and the history of the Central Lands. After becoming Later Jin Khan, he had also ordered the scholars in his study to select various classics for his own study. His level of cultural attainment was, in truth, far higher than that of these rough men groveling on the ground.

Huang Taiji continued in a tone of compassionate sorrow: "Heaven took pity on the Jurchens and gave Liaodong to us. This is a land bestowed by Heaven, and I have no other demands. Yet the two emperors, Tianqi and Chongzhen, did not follow Heaven's will. They did not begrudge the people the suffering of taxes and levies, nor did they pity the soldiers and generals their misery of death in battle. Single-mindedly they used military force to oppress us. It was Heaven's will that brought them repeated defeats. Yet I still harbor the intention of negotiating peace. The year before last, when our army reached Beijing, I sent letters to the Ming Emperor six or seven times expressing my wish to discuss peace, yet not a single word came in reply. Grand Secretary Sun and Viceroy Qiu, stationed on the frontier, also never showed any intention of discussing peace. Though I am loath to use force, neither will I sit idle and wait for death. Thus I had no choice but to besiege Dalinghe. The heavy slaughter yesterday was truly not my wish."

A Ming army officer suddenly knelt and cried out loudly, "Your slave was deceived by that Ming State emperor for many years, believing the Great Jin to be a savage land. Only today, beholding the Heavenly countenance of the Great Khan, does your slave understand that the Great Khan is the true dragon who cares for the people. Your slave begs to follow the Great Khan and is willing to serve as the vanguard to chastise the Ming State."

Huang Taiji smiled. "What post did this brave general formerly hold?"

"Your subject — your slave, Jiang Xin, was an Assistant Regional Commander of Guanning in the Ming State."

"Come forward." As soon as Huang Taiji finished speaking, a Later Jin general beside him stepped over.

"Bestow upon him three fox-fur coats and three sable hats, five saddled horses with full armor, one carved quiver and one carved belt, and five Ming women for Jiang Xin."

Jiang Xin crawled on the ground and said loudly, "Your slave thanks the Great Khan for his reward, but your slave has just entered the Great Jin and has not yet achieved even an inch of merit. He is too ashamed to receive the Great Khan's generous reward."

Huang Taiji stood up, walked over, and helped Jiang Xin to his feet. "I grew up by the seashore among the forests and hills, and only have a rough knowledge of military affairs. In matters of educating and nurturing the people, and soothing and caring for soldiers, I am still ignorant in many respects. You gentlemen come from the Ming State and are thoroughly familiar with the perils of its mountains and rivers, and are also skilled in command and training. I have considered this and would like to invite you generals to take up these duties. I am willing to share both toil and ease, both wealth and honor, with you all. Since Assistant Regional Commander Jiang has entered my camp, though he was captured in battle, his discernment surpasses others. He is hereby promoted to Vice Regional Commander of the third rank. Other posts will be arranged upon our return to Shenyang."

"Your slave kowtows in thanks to the Great Khan. In the future, when the Great Khan marches to attack the Ming State, your slave is willing to serve as the vanguard."

The other officers, seeing that Jiang Xin's opportunism had succeeded, hurriedly knelt one after another. For a moment, a tide of flattery and sycophancy surged forth.

Jiang Xin, however, remained a step cleverer than the rest. He said loudly, "Your slave feels uneasy receiving a salary without merit. Now that Dalinghe City has not yet fallen, I imagine that Zu Dashou has been too deeply deceived by the Ming Emperor and harbors misunderstandings toward the Great Khan. Your slave is quite well acquainted with Zu Dashou and is willing to go personally to the city walls to act as a persuader for the Great Khan, so as to relieve the soldiers and people of Dalinghe from their suffering and hardship, and bring them together under the Great Khan's command."

"Your slave is also well acquainted with Zu Dashou…"

"Your slave and He Kegang have been close friends for many years…"

The other surrendered generals were again a step too late and hurriedly vied to express themselves. Huang Taiji smiled and offered them a few words of encouragement. He only needed one person to serve as an example; the others would naturally gather around him. This was also his advantage as the Later Jin Khan.

Huang Taiji raised a hand to halt the other surrendered generals' jostling. He summoned an attendant and said, "Sonin Baksi, take Vice Regional Commander Jiang to Vice Regional Commander Shi's place and have him take charge of communications with Zu Dashou."

Sonin acknowledged the order and then went to have Jiang Xin rise. Jiang Xin offered profuse thanks and followed Sonin away, bowing and scraping the whole way as he curried favor with this close attendant named Sonin.

Huang Taiji turned to face the other hopeful surrendered generals. His expression became stern as he said, "You may all set your minds at ease. In past years, each served his own master, and there was mutual slaughter. That was the fault of the Ming Emperor and has nothing to do with you. So long as you serve me loyally, I will treat you no differently from the Jurchens. There is only one warning: in future battles and engagements, you must strictly follow the military laws of the Great Jin. Any who shrink back in the face of battle will be beheaded without fail. For today, you may all return to your tents to rest. Tomorrow afternoon, a banquet will be held in your honor."

As soon as his order to leave was given, the surrendered generals all fell silent and obediently departed, escorted by several White Armor Soldiers.

Yue Tuo, who had been attending Huang Taiji the entire time, said in a low voice beside him, "The Great Khan's learning spans both ancient and modern times. Even though these southern barbarians are from the Ming State, they are far from your equal."

Among the Later Jin military aristocracy, Yue Tuo was considered relatively intelligent and cultured, which was why Huang Taiji regarded him highly. Compared to the other Banner Lords, Huang Taiji was more willing to discuss certain issues with him. Although Yue Tuo was Daišan's son, he greatly admired Huang Taiji and often played the role of a lubricant between the two.

Huang Taiji returned to his seat and sat down, his hands again rubbing the armrests. Only after a moment did he sigh and say, "The land of China has a continuous cultural tradition stretching back a thousand years. What I have learned is but a drop in the vast ocean, yet I have occasionally gained some insights. Would Prince Yue Tuo care to hear them?"

Yue Tuo hurriedly said, "To receive the Great Khan's guidance would be this slave's good fortune."

Huang Taiji had someone bring over a stool and dismissed everyone else. The two men sat facing each other like friends on the slope of Nanshan Ridge. Huang Taiji spoke calmly, "When the Old Khan was alive, he was ever victorious in battle and irresistible in attack. His mastery of military affairs truly surpassed my own. But by the tenth year of the Tianming reign, Liaodong was sparsely populated. In places like the four southern garrisons, not a soul could be seen for a thousand li; it was nearly a realm of ghosts. In Shenyang, a dou of rice cost eight taels of silver. Whether Han commoners or Jurchens, no one had food to last the night. The corvée labor and banner taxes on the Jurchens grew heavier by the day. Even the elderly, those sixty or seventy years old, and the disabled were not exempt from the able-bodied men's levies. Among those who fled, Jurchens were not few in number."

Yue Tuo nodded gently. He had lived through that period. Although he himself had not lacked food or clothing, every day the banners reported how many had starved to death. Those memories were equally bleak.

"Our Great Jin appears to possess Liaodong in its vastness, but in reality, we have not reaped Liaodong's benefits. The Jurchen and Han peoples are both trapped in hardship. The solution, however, was the wanton slaughter of the Han people of Liaodong — a thing I truly deplore in my heart. From this, I have reflected: the great plan of governing a state lies in nothing more than sufficient food; only then can one speak of military affairs. Yet our Great Jin has never had established institutions. The Southerners have dwelt in the Central Plains for a thousand years, and their Chinese institutions are precisely what we can emulate."

Yue Tuo showed a slight hint of disagreement. Huang Taiji pointed at Dalinghe City. "In Dalinghe City, there were tens of thousands of people; now there are less than ten thousand. And though they know full well there is absolutely no path to survival, even eating human flesh, they still refuse to surrender. Changli, a mere tiny city, dared to block our great army. Circuit Intendant Zhang, though captured, sought only death with all his heart. This is the result of the Southerners' thousand-year cultural tradition. Look, by contrast, at Amin and the others — at Luanzhou, they collapsed at the first touch. This comes from not reading books, not knowing shame, and having no learning or skill."

Yue Tuo was somewhat moved. He had indeed been impressed by the tenacity of Dalinghe and had even developed a trace of respect for Zu Dashou. Hearing Huang Taiji speak of it now, it did indeed seem to be the case. Yet he still did not know what Huang Taiji was driving at.

He probed, "Does the Great Khan mean that our Great Jin must adopt the institutions of China and read the books of China before we can provide enough food for the people and strengthen our army?"

Huang Taiji continued, "Not exactly. I have read the History of Jin. Wanyan Aguda founded the Jin dynasty — how similar it was to our own state. The Jin dynasty also adopted the institutions of China. Where is it now?"

A look of astonishment appeared on Yue Tuo's face. Huang Taiji smiled. "In former years, Kurcan and Dahai urged me to adopt Chinese clothing and headdress. It is not that I was unwilling to accept their counsel. You must understand that our state was founded on martial strength. Wide robes and large sleeves would be no different from binding our own hands and feet. If even a child were to observe this, how would a martial spirit arise? How would our descendants know by what means we Jurchens were able to hold Liaodong? Moreover, I have never heard of the people of one state learning the language of another. Our Manchu language and our clothing and headdress must absolutely not be changed. This is a plan for our descendants for ten thousand generations."

Ever since Huang Taiji succeeded as Later Jin Khan, he had begun to undertake cultural reforms for the backward Jianzhou tribes, but still with the Manchu script and language as the core. He had arranged for some scholars to translate Chinese classics into Manchu.

He had long had plans for the Six Ministries. In order to obtain the necessary talent, in the third year of the Tiancong reign he had instituted the imperial examinations to select scholars. All the former Liaodong licentiates belonging to the Eight Banners and the Mongol Left and Right Wings were to sit for the exams, in the hope of selecting some talented individuals. However, his father had killed rather too many. Out of the millions of people in Liaodong, there had been tens of thousands of licentiates, but in the end, only three hundred were left for him. As a result, the Later Jin civil service examination probably had the lowest examination-to-admission ratio in history: over two hundred were admitted. Those admitted this time were all freed from the bondservant class, but their treatment was truly not high. The first rank received only two bolts of satin; the second and third ranks received only two bolts of cloth. Moreover, they were given no specific posts, only told to await organizational arrangements.

Yue Tuo said, as if grasping something, "The Great Khan means that we must both learn from Chinese institutions to nurture the Han people and also preserve our Jurchen customs."

"This is why I am willing to speak with Prince Yue Tuo. Discussing the establishment of the Six Ministries with the likes of Manggūltai would be like playing the lute to a cow. The Six Ministries system had its embryonic form as early as the Zhou dynasty. Afterward, feudalism was destroyed and the commandery-county system was established. The emperor governed all under Heaven through the Six Ministries, a system that has endured in the Central Lands for a thousand years. Our Great Jin is now like that era of feudalism. To reform the Six Ministries and conduct administration — the time is precisely right. Yet we cannot copy it wholesale. In brief, it comes down to fourteen words."

Yue Tuo listened with rapt attention. Huang Taiji extended one hand and fixed his gaze on Yue Tuo. "Model the ancient and emulate the present; consult the Han and weigh the Jin; gradually adopt the advantages of China."

Upon hearing this, Yue Tuo revealed a thoughtful expression. After a moment, he lowered his head in contemplation. Huang Taiji quietly waited for his reaction.

After a long while, Yue Tuo finally raised his head, his eyes now filled with admiration.

"Regarding the Great Khan's previous discussion of the Six Ministries, your slave has always deeply agreed, only I had never thought as deeply as the Great Khan. Your slave thanks the Great Khan for his guidance."

Huang Taiji waved his hand. In truth, he had wanted to establish the Six Ministries as early as the seventh month of the previous year and had basically discussed and agreed upon it with several of the lesser beile. But then came the great defeat at Shenmi Island. Daišan and Manggūltai, those diehards of the old system, seized the opportunity to stir up trouble, forcing him to postpone the plan. As a result, the Later Jin's awkward, neither-fish-nor-fowl Six Ministries had yet to appear, far later than in history.

"Prince Yue Tuo understands both military affairs and Chinese institutions. I intend for you to serve as Minister of War, with overall command of all military affairs of the Great Jin."

Huang Taiji casually tossed out a huge olive branch. The Six Ministries were a crucial step in his plan to use administrative power to divide the power of the banners, which was why he had to expend so much breath and find all sorts of reasons to move Yue Tuo. The Later Jin was founded on military strength, so the Ministry of War was certainly the most important. By offering this post to Yue Tuo, he hoped to thereby sway Daišan, who stood behind Yue Tuo, and thus isolate Manggūltai, whose edge had already been greatly blunted.

Shortly after the siege had begun, Manggūltai, because he had been assigned to the southern sector, had been ambushed by Zu Dashou multiple times. In a moment of agitation, he had drawn his sword and roared in front of Huang Taiji. Huang Taiji seized on this minor transgression and handed the matter over to Daišan to organize a council of princes to deal with it, while he himself, citing his involvement in the incident, did not participate.

However, his prestige, due to several defeats, was far from being as high as it was in history when he was far away. Daišan was not cowed by his overwhelming aura and merely fined Manggūltai three niru, transferring them to the jurisdiction of his younger brother Degelei. He also made Manggūltai apologize to Huang Taiji with ten saddled horses and give one saddled horse to each of the other Banner Lords. And with that, the matter was concluded — entirely in the manner of a tribal practice.

Therefore, Huang Taiji could now only try to sway Daišan through Yue Tuo, to gain his support for the establishment of the Six Ministries.

Yue Tuo understood, to some extent, what Huang Taiji meant. He hurriedly expressed his gratitude.

Huang Taiji let out a breath and said to Yue Tuo, "From now on, you shall take charge of the Ministry of War's affairs. The Ming soldiers captured at Changshan will still be distributed among the various banners, but for now, none of these surrendered generals are to be assigned to the banners. Keep them in the Ministry of War to do some work for you. There must always be some regulations and procedures for them to handle."

"Yes, Great Khan. Then what of Kong Youde and Li Jiucheng, who were reported from Fuzhou some time ago? Are they also not to be assigned to the banners?"

Huang Taiji said, "They came to submit of their own accord. Do not absorb their soldiers; let them form a separate army. Kong Youde and Li Jiucheng, both of them, will be placed under the Two Yellow Banners and stationed in Gaizhou for now. You may go and deliver the order."

Yue Tuo immediately grasped the mindset of a Minister of War. "Your slave understands. But Fuzhou is in imminent danger. Today's relay-horse urgent report says Ming naval camps have appeared on the coast. Is it appropriate to transfer Li Jiucheng away at this moment?"

Huang Taiji, however, smiled faintly and did not answer. Instead, he drew something from his bosom. Yue Tuo looked — it was actually a short firearm.

He asked in surprise, "Great Khan, where did you obtain this arquebus? So short and small?"

Huang Taiji pulled back the hammer and squeezed the trigger. The flintlock gave a crisp *snap*. "This is a short gun that needs no matchcord. It was seized by Li Jiucheng and the others from the corpse of a Wendeng soldier when they were in Dengzhou. Who would have thought that today, a relay-horse report from Fuzhou would say that when the Jinzhou garrison sallied out for a reckless battle, they also captured one from a Wendeng cavalryman."

"Great Khan, this Wendeng Battalion... I fear they will not come to Dalinghe. It seems this Chen Xin is quite cunning."

Huang Taiji smiled as if finding it very amusing. "Indeed. This man has some skill. He knows I am besieging a city to strike at reinforcements, and I also know he is besieging Wei to rescue Zhao. If he truly has the guts to lead a large army to attack Fuzhou, I would be interested in meeting him, capturing him, and asking how he devised such a peculiar firearm. As for now... Fuzhou is the administered territory of the Plain White Banner. Have Dorgon lead the mounted armored soldiers of his Plain White Banner to provide relief. Let them lie concealed north of Fuzhou. If Chen Xin comes to attack, do not engage him in direct battle. Send a man swiftly to inform me. Before my main army arrives, tie down that Wendeng Battalion."

Yue Tuo was quick-witted and understood Huang Taiji's intent immediately. He would send only three hundred armored soldiers to Fuzhou to strengthen its defense, forcing the Wendeng Battalion to mobilize in large numbers. Then, he would use the Plain White Banner cavalry to delay them while the main army rushed over to annihilate this Ming force completely.

If Chen Xin did not come to attack, he could hold Fuzhou, making the Plain Blue Banner's defeat at Jinzhou all the more conspicuous, thereby further striking at Manggūltai. No matter the situation, it was advantageous to Huang Taiji.

"Your slave understands."