Chapter 22: Section One

After breaching the west gate, the Later Jin army did not immediately assault the government office. Instead, they moved along the city wall, seizing all the gates one after another, then promptly shifted to a defensive posture, with most of the assault troops beginning to rest on the spot. Huang Shi forced a joyful expression and congratulated Hong Taiji. In the age of cold steel, once a city gate fell, the battle was essentially at its end — no matter how one responded, it was a dead end, merely a question of how long it would take.

The Later Jin did not even leave the Guangning army much time. Once every gate was under control and it was clear the Guangning army had no intention of breaking out, the reserve units entered through the gates and advanced along the main roads to attack the Zhenjiang government office. The Guangning army set fire to the piled firewood on the main roads and the houses on both sides. This caused some trouble for the Later Jin archers, but it also made the defenders' maneuvering space increasingly cramped and prevented them from using the buildings to ambush the invaders. This indicated that the defenders were running low on arrows and had already lost the ability to use terrain to snipe at the enemy; otherwise, it should have been the attackers setting the fires.

The common people of Zhenjiang finally lost the courage to resist. Crude weapons were thrown all over the ground, and people knelt everywhere, begging for the Later Jin's mercy. The Later Jin soldiers did not mistreat them either. The Han army soldiers made them report the positions of Guangning soldiers hiding among the civilian dwellings, while confiscating all their kitchen knives and other implements that could be used for resistance.

By noon, the Later Jin army had completed its encirclement of the government office, and the city-wide manhunt was drawing to a close. The stubbornly resisting Guangning soldiers had been largely wiped out, and all the fires in the city had been extinguished. Only the lonely Ming army battle flag still fluttered above the Zhenjiang government office. Mounted on his horse, Huang Shi dared not approach and could only watch the activity there from a distance. The Guangning army clearly had no intention of abandoning resistance. Without hesitation, Later Jin soldiers drove the common people to fill in the moat and forced them to carry firewood to pile in front of the government office gate.

One by one, the people of Zhenjiang were shot down mercilessly, but the fuel in front of the government office gate kept piling higher. When the first torch was thrown, Huang Shi sighed inwardly. Watching the Han Chinese blood flowing everywhere and the Ming army resisting to the death, Huang Shi's soul was also being interrogated. For the first time, he felt as if he had done something wrong. "No, I have no power. I must survive first, then we can talk..."

After about two shichen, Later Jin soldiers brought over a bound Guangning officer. When he saw Hong Taiji, this man still held his head high, unyielding. The soldier on his left kicked him hard in the bend of his left leg. Because his leg was locked tight, he only stumbled sharply forward a step, still refusing to kneel. The Later Jin soldiers grabbed him, reversed their spear shafts, and swung a wide circle. With a sickening crack of breaking bone, the Guangning officer was finally forced to the ground.

Watching the man's face contort in agony on the ground, Huang Shi's knees trembled slightly. When that club had come down, he had almost turned his face away. Huang Shi secretly regulated his breathing, not letting any unusual expression show. He heard Hong Taiji ask, "What is your name?"

Hearing Hong Taiji's fluent Chinese, the Guangning officer was briefly stunned before raising his head and shouting, "Your grandfather is called Chen Zhong."

"Where is Mao Wenlong?"

"Your grandfather is called Chen Zhong!"

"When did Mao Wenlong leave?"

"Your grandfather, I, am called Chen Zhong!"

"Answer the question and you can die quickly!"

"Grandfather is called Chen Zhong, fuck your grandmother!"

As Chen Zhong was dragged away, he still cursed without cease. The Later Jin soldiers dragged up several other Guangning officers and soldiers, each with a similar reaction. After a long while, someone finally could not withstand the harsh torture and confessed that Mao Wenlong had fled alone two days earlier, leaving Su Qimei, Zhang Yuanzhi, and Chen Zhong — three senior Company Commanders — in charge of the defense. Su Qimei had been pierced by ten thousand arrows atop the city wall. Zhang Yuanzhi and Chen Zhong were both executed by lingchi. The remaining Guangning army officers and soldiers were all put to death shortly after.

After hearing the report, Hong Taiji immediately issued a long string of orders to several commanders. When only Huang Shi remained at his side, he gave a cold laugh: "I underestimated that scoundrel Mao Wenlong. I thought he was nothing more than reckless personal courage."

Seeing that Huang Shi did not respond, Hong Taiji put on a kindly expression: "Tonight we slaughter the city. Will you take part too, Huang Shi?"

Huang Shi knew this was the Later Jin custom, but a look of reluctance still showed on his face. This subtle change was immediately noticed by Hong Taiji. Suppressing his displeasure, he said appreciatively, "I was right about you. You are a man of true character. If you were not such a man, I would not value you. But this is not directed against you Han people; it is merely to intimidate the nearby populace. This way they will not cooperate with the Ming army in battle and can naturally live in peace and work happily. So slaughtering Zhenjiang can save more Han lives. Do you understand, Huang Shi?"

"This humble man understands."

The Later Jin's city slaughter was still conducted with technique: to prevent a breakdown in military discipline, Hong Taiji forbade private killing. After the city was taken and resistance overcome, districts were allocated according to each unit's merit. During this time, some units that had not contributed or had held back were responsible for guarding the city perimeter, guarding against enemy raids and also preventing residents from fleeing.

Three days later, the Later Jin army completed the mopping-up work. Not a single male in the entire city was left alive. At the same time, Joseon explicitly refused the Later Jin's demand, unwilling to hand over Mao Wenlong and Chen Liangce. Huang Shi knew that an invasion of Joseon was now inevitable. Joseon's historical records clearly documented the state of the Guangning army there at this time: several thousand unarmed able-bodied men, possessing neither fighting spirit nor training, and burdened with the heavy baggage of tens of thousands of refugees.

Before the Battle of Zhenjiang, Huang Shi had harbored the intent of using both sides. He neither planned to become a Han traitor, nor did he want to exert himself to save the sinking ship of the Ming dynasty. But now he found his state of mind undergoing subtle changes. The thought of the impending tragedy in Joseon made him somewhat uncomfortable. Therefore, he found an excuse and requested Hong Taiji to let him return to Guangning to continue his work.

"Very well, Huang Shi, when do you intend to return to Guangning?" Hong Taiji did not even ask for the reason and agreed without the slightest hesitation.

"This humble man plans to depart tomorrow, because I think that if I am gone too long, it will inevitably arouse Wang Huazhen's suspicion." Huang Shi still gave the reason he had prepared.

"Your considerations are always sound, Huang Shi. This Beile completely agrees. What story have you prepared for Wang Huazhen? Do you need this Beile's assistance?"

"There is nothing to trouble the Beile with. It is just that this humble man's plan still requires the Beile's approval." Huang Shi took out a plan and was about to present it for Hong Taiji's perusal.

"No need. Do as you see fit. Can I not trust your ability, Huang Shi? Moreover, since it concerns your personal safety, it will certainly be flawless." Hong Taiji refused outright and said to him easily, "If you need money, do not hesitate to ask."

"I need some."

"How much?"

"Three hundred taels."

"Good, I will write you a note." Hong Taiji did not ask about the purpose and casually handed the note to Huang Shi.

"Thank you for your trust, Beile. This humble man is deeply grateful."

Hong Taiji said in a flat tone, "I have heard that if you wish to be repaid with the service of a kingdom's finest, you must first treat a man as a kingdom's finest. How you repay me, Huang Shi, is your own affair, not something I can control. But how I treat you is my affair."

Huang Shi took a deep breath and was about to swear a venomous oath when Hong Taiji continued, "Lately I have often thought, if you had come under my Great Jin banner a few years ago, the Fushun Imperial Son-in-Law might not necessarily have fallen to Li Yongfang."

Li Yongfang was no Huang Shi. He was Li Chengliang's godson, held heavy troops, and had considerable prestige among the Liaoxi military men. If these words got out, it would mean nothing to Hong Taiji, but Huang Shi would be in trouble. As he pondered how to respond to this, Hong Taiji took the initiative to rescue him from the predicament: "This is just my own musing. It has nothing to do with you, and I certainly will not tell anyone else. It will not bring you any trouble."

"Thank you, Beile."

"Do well. You should know I have more than one sister."

Huang Shi organized his thoughts and replied loudly, "Yes, I am unworthy of the Beile's misplaced favor, but please rest assured, Beile, I will certainly establish meritorious deeds so that others will have nothing to say about this matter."

This answer satisfied Hong Taiji greatly: "Good. For now, this promise remains a secret between us, but I believe it will soon become reality."

On the road back to Guangning, Huang Shi felt waves of relief. The oppressive gloom that had weighed on him for days was swept clean away: "Finally free of Hong Taiji. Guangning, I have returned. Sun Degong, I have returned."