Stealing the Ming Dynasty [Complete] - Chapter 35 (End)

Can the towering peak bear the weight of this heavy responsibility?

On November 13th of the second year of the Chongzhen reign (1643), the Later Jin army crossed Jizhou and entered the plains surrounding the capital, advancing as if into an uninhabited land. Along the vast land from Jizhou Gate to Sanhe, every village was ablaze. By day, thick smoke billowed into the sky; by night, flames illuminated the darkness, proclaiming the impending catastrophe to the people of the surrounding area. Fourteen days later, after occupying Sanhe, the Later Jin army opened the gates to the capital.

At this time, Yuan Chonghuan reported that he had only just learned of the Later Jin army's "secret crossing" into western Jizhou, justifying his failure to intercept or warn them. The

perilous exit of Jizhou Gate was about three li wide, with a central, flat passage suitable for warhorses and handcarts running roughly from the foot of the western mountains to the lake in the east, a distance of about one kilometer. The city walls of Jizhou County faced this one-kilometer-wide exit. The distance between the two sides was no more than two li (approximately 1 kilometer). If the Guan Ning cavalry were to move outside the city to block the breach, there could be an average of twenty men standing per meter.

Therefore, before Yuan Chonghuan's arrival, Liu Ce's 5,000 Zhen Ding troops had been firmly blocking the main force of the Later Jin army east of Ji. After all, Liu Ce was commanding his troops to defend outside the city, and there could be an average of five men standing per meter, so the Later Jin had never found an opportunity to "sneak in." Before Yuan Chonghuan's arrival, Liu Ce was also very confident in blocking the Later Jin's advance.

After the arrival of the Guan Ning cavalry, it is unknown whether they abandoned the Zhen Ding army's camps and fortifications outside the city. However, even if they dared not go out to fight, they could certainly see the Later Jin army passing by from two li away from the city walls. After all, this was tens of thousands of troops, not just one or two small bandits. Without a special reason, it is impossible to explain why the Guan Ning army did not light the beacon fires to raise the alarm.

Yuan Chonghuan's confidants, Cheng Zhiben and Zhou Wenyu, later defended him as witnesses. Cheng Zhiben stated that the 20,000 Guan Ning cavalry had been locked in a stalemate with the Later Jin army for five hours, making the Later Jin army's "infiltration" into Jixi entirely understandable.

Zhou Wenyu echoed Cheng Zhiben's account, saying that Yuan Chonghuan bravely ordered 20,000 troops out of the city, intending to fight and defend earnestly, just like Liu Ce's 5,000 Zhen Ding troops. Unfortunately, the Later Jin army used a deceptive tactic, sending 200 cavalry to confront the 20,000 Guan Ning cavalry.

According to Cheng Zhiben, these 200 cavalrymen confronted Yuan Chonghuan outside the city for five hours, and then left after Yuan Chonghuan ordered the cannons to fire. Zhou Wenyu lamented that since the two hundred cavalrymen retreated from the 20,000 Guan Ning cavalry, "not a single rider returned all day, leaving me with no opportunity to fight."

This was likely because Yuan Chonghuan had focused too much attention on this small group of Later Jin soldiers. Meanwhile, the main force of the Later Jin, numbering tens of thousands, took the opportunity to "sneak past" Yuan Chonghuan and the 20,000 Guan Ning cavalry, just a few hundred meters away. While Yuan Chonghuan, Zhou Wenyu, Cheng Zhiben, and others were wondering why the Later Jin army hadn't "returned," leaving them with "no opportunity to fight," the Later Jin army had already begun raping and looting around Sanhe, causing widespread chaos. Zhou Wenyu explained to the court that only then did Yuan Chonghuan "scout out the large force of the enemy troops that had secretly crossed west of Ji." He then "commanded the Liaodong troops to pursue them westward."

Tens of thousands of enemy soldiers had passed within a thousand meters. Whether Yuan Chonghuan and the 20,000 Guan Ning cavalry genuinely failed to see them due to a major oversight, or for some other reason deliberately failed to see them, or even if they saw them but pretended not to, remains unclear. In short, Huang Taiji once again accomplished a military miracle, flying across the heavily fortified natural barrier with horses, supplies, and a large number of handcarts.

...

November 15th, Beijing.

A eunuch rushed in shouting, "Your Majesty, beacon fires have been seen in the direction of Tongzhou!"

Chongzhen, Sun Chengzong, and Cao Huachun all paled instantly.

"Tongzhou, but there are no soldiers left in Tongzhou." Chongzhen stared intently at the location of Tongzhou on the map, as if trying to see through the thick map. But he could only watch helplessly as things unfolded, because even the military strength in Beijing was insufficient. Chongzhen had already ordered martial law in the capital. Now, the 20,000 troops from the three major camps and 3,000 Jinyiwei (Imperial Guards) had entered the city to defend it, but the long Beijing city wall was still too weak to be defended by just over 20,000 troops.

"Grand Secretary Sun, what should we do now?" Chongzhen looked helplessly at Sun Chengzong, as if hoping that the latter could conjure up 100,000 troops for him.

Sun Chengzong, lacking exceptional military talent, could only kneel and kowtow, saying, "Your Majesty, this old minister is willing to lead my sons and nephews to the city walls to defend the capital!"

Chongzhen was speechless, stunned. At that moment, another eunuch rushed in, shouting to the emperor, "Your Majesty, this humble subject has visited Old Zhang's home."

These past few days, Chongzhen had been somewhat unfriendly to Zhang Heming, and thus had not summoned him to the palace. Old Zhang himself seemed to have sensed this; the day before yesterday, he had submitted a memorial claiming illness, which Chongzhen had granted as an excuse not to attend court. However, given the current critical situation, Chongzhen had again sent someone to summon Zhang Heming, hoping against hope that Zhang Heming might have any solutions.

"Your Majesty," the eunuch, panting, still rushed over without hesitation, "Old Zhang's leg ailment has flared up, and he can't even get out of bed. It's said he has difficulty walking, so he probably won't be able to come."

"That scoundrel..." Chongzhen shouted angrily, raising his hand almost to slam it on the table. However, his outburst was only momentary; he quickly recovered, coughing awkwardly. Those around him lowered their heads, pretending not to hear. The emperor cleared his throat and said gently to the eunuch, "Issue an imperial decree to send a physician to treat Old Zhang, and also bestow upon him two ginseng roots, and convey my condolences."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Just as the eunuch left, another eunuch rushed into the hall: "Your Majesty, the Governor-General of Jiliao has a memorial."

"Present it quickly." Chongzhen, while having Sun Chengzong helped to sit up, hurriedly took Yuan Chonghuan's memorial, his hands trembling as he opened it to read. After reading it, Chongzhen angrily exclaimed, "Without prior reconnaissance, the Jurchen cavalry managed to sneak through! How could Commander Yuan be so careless?"

Sun Chengzong hurriedly asked, "Your Majesty, where are the troops of the Commander of Ji and Liao?"

"They are pursuing the Jurchen cavalry day and night." Chongzhen put down Yuan Chonghuan's memorial, somewhat annoyed but also relieved, and said, "Although the Commander of Ji and Liao made a mistake, I believe he will never betray me. Just give him a light reprimand in your reply; I will allow him to atone for his crime through meritorious service."

...

On the 16th, at dawn, Shunyi.

"Reporting to the Commander-in-Chief, Jurchens have been spotted in the direction of Tongzhou."

The scout's face was full of anxiety. The troops of Xuanzhen and Datong were rushing to Beijing to defend the emperor. They thought the roads would be full of Ming troops, but the three thousand troops of Xuanzhen suddenly encountered the Later Jin army during their march and lost more than a thousand men.

Man Gui looked bewildered upon hearing this, muttering to himself in confusion, "The imperial gazette didn't report the fall of Jizhou. How did the interior suddenly become engulfed in flames? And how could Tongzhou fall so quickly? There should be a large force protecting the capital there."

Fifteen days later, after the Later Jin army captured Tongzhou, they encountered two battalions of three thousand Xuanfu soldiers who had marched hastily from Yanqing, Changping, Huairou, and Shunyi to come to the aid of the emperor. The two armies immediately engaged in close combat. Facing an enemy force of twelve thousand armored soldiers, the three thousand Xuanfu soldiers fought fiercely against the Later Jin army south of Shunyi for a day, only managing to escape the encirclement and return to Shunyi under cover of darkness. In that single day, the Xuanfu army suffered nearly half its losses, severely weakening its forces.

On the sixteenth, Man Gui led the Datong troops to Shunyi. At this time, the Later Jin army split its forces to pursue the Xuanfu soldiers, now aiming to capture Shunyi to cut off the Ming army's southward reinforcements. The 1,700-plus Xuanfu soldiers resisted while simultaneously sending messengers to the Datong troops in the rear for reinforcements.

"General, what should our army do?"

"Is that even a question?" Man Gui spurred his horse and shouted, "Men, kill them!"

"Kill them!"

"Kill them!"

Man Gui's four thousand personal guards leaped onto their horses, brandishing their swords, and rushed after him towards Shunyi…

With the addition of these four thousand troops, the Xuanda army now numbered nearly six thousand. They engaged in a series of fierce battles with the Later Jin army around Shunyi. Man Gui intended to break through the Later Jin army's flank and directly penetrate to block their route to the capital. With such a force present, the Later Jin army could not advance westward with peace of mind, forcing Huang Taiji to continuously send reinforcements. They were locked in a fierce battle with the Xuanda army on their flank.

On the afternoon of the sixteenth,

"General, the Jurchens are increasing in number."

"Indeed." Man Gui nodded. Fortunately, it was an inside line operation, allowing the wounded of the Xuanda army to be continuously sent to local government offices for treatment, so Man Gui's burden was not yet too heavy. However, after a morning of fierce fighting, the Xuanda army had lost several hundred more soldiers.

"But the enemy outnumbers us; we cannot linger in the open." Man Gui commanded the Xuanda army to fight and retreat, marching alongside the Later Jin towards Tongzhou.

Man Gui took a large gulp of water. Wiping the water droplets from his beard, he drew his sword and shouted, "Kill the slaves! Kill the slaves! Men, we must squeeze through here!"

"Kill the slaves! Kill the slaves!"

The Xuanda army, tightly arrayed in battle formation, charged forward, the fighting becoming even more intense.

Yuan Chonghuan's nine thousand Guan Ning cavalry arrived at Sanhe. Upon hearing of the fierce battle between the Xuanda army and the Later Jin army to the west, Yuan Chonghuan immediately ordered his army to continue westward towards Tongzhou. That night, the Guan Ning army encamped fifteen li away from Tongzhou. At dawn the next day, Yuan Chonghuan hurriedly commanded the Guan Ning cavalry to cross the river south of Tongzhou. As soon as they set foot on the Hexi Corridor, Yuan Chonghuan immediately led his troops straight to the capital.

At this time, Man Gui was still north of Tongzhou, commanding his several thousand Xuanda troops in a fierce battle against the main force of the Later Jin. He exploited the Later Jin army's weakness of needing to attend to multiple directions, tenaciously engaging in parallel movements with the Later Jin army. Huang Taiji was now in hostile territory, so he had to attend to the surrounding areas of his army and could not immediately spare all his forces to capture Man Gui. Therefore, the Later Jin army's advance was slowed by the Xuanfu-Dalian army, with both advancing side-by-side towards the Ming capital at a pace of about ten li per day.

On the night of the 17th, Yuan Chonghuan led nine thousand Guan Ning cavalry to Guangqumen outside the capital. He immediately requested to enter the city to rest that night. The emperor did not grant the Guan Ning cavalry's request, but still greatly praised Yuan Chonghuan's speed again; he had traveled 150 li in three days and three nights, rushing from Jizhou Gate to the capital to provide relief at an average speed of fifty li per day.

On the morning of the 18th, Emperor Chongzhen sent eunuchs to check on the Guan Ning army. Then, the Emperor Chongzhen ordered the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War to discuss rewards. After the Ministry of Revenue transported the military rations to Yuan Chonghuan's army, Emperor Chongzhen used imperial funds and dispatched the eunuch Lü Zhi of the Directorate of Ceremonial to distribute 1,000 catties of imperial salt, 100 shi of rice, 10 jars of wine, 100 sheep, and 10,000 taels of silver to reward Yuan Chonghuan's Guan-Ning cavalry.

Yuan Chonghuan then requested to enter the city to defend it. Emperor Chongzhen comforted him with kind words but still did not agree to the request.

At this time, Man Gui was still commanding his 5,000 Xuan-Da army to fight the Later Jin army. In the afternoon, after Huang Taiji concentrated his forces to scare away Man Gui, he commanded the central army to cross the river at Tongzhou and move further towards the capital of the Ming Dynasty. Man Gui then pursued from behind, and the two armies clashed again northeast of Tongzhou.

While the Guan-Ning army was well-fed and clamoring to enter the city, the Xuan-Da army was fighting fiercely with the Later Jin army near Tongzhou. The Later Jin army had marched all the way from Shunyi to Tongzhou. The once prosperous plains of the capital region are now littered with ruins, smoke rising everywhere, and the corpses of innocent civilians are scattered about.

Seeing the banners of the Later Jin army appear in greater numbers, Man Gui quickly led his personal guard to retreat. The Later Jin army should have been isolated, but Man Gui hadn't seen any allies along the way, leaving him the isolated force. Therefore, the Xuanda army dared not engage the main Later Jin force. Man Gui consistently adopted a hit-and-run strategy, circling back and forth with the Later Jin army. Because the enemy had to protect their supplies and captured children, Man Gui, though exhausted, managed to hold his own.

"Ha, ha, good heavens, we almost got captured by the Jurchens!" After retreating several miles, Man Gui dismounted to rest, the main force of the Xuanda army following behind his personal guard, providing them with cover and a hiding place. Man Gui hurriedly ate lunch in a makeshift tent, then picked up his lance and strode towards a new warhorse. After mounting his horse, he instructed his deputy on the next marching location, maintaining a state of neither too close nor too distant contact with the Later Jin army.

"Still can't see the reinforcements! Men, let's go fight again!" Man Gui shouted, and set off once more. He estimated the reinforcements were still on their way, so he tried his best to buy time for the capital. Even now, Emperor Chongzhen still had Yuan Chonghuan in charge of all the reinforcements. Man Gui was completely unaware that, to this day, the reinforcements scattered in various locations still hadn't received orders to assemble in Beijing.

At this moment, 20,000 Imperial Guards of the Beijing Garrison were tensely guarding the city gates, with 2,000 soldiers stationed at each of the nine gates of the capital. The Embroidered Uniform Guards, also fully armored, patrolled back and forth along the roads of the capital. Commander Zhang Gaosheng looked at the dark mass of the Guan Ning Army camp outside the city. "Brother Chen," he asked anxiously, "are these Liaodong soldiers reliable?"

Chen Ruike asked in surprise, "What's wrong?"

"I heard there's been fierce fighting in Tongzhou. Why are they just watching without coming to our aid?"

"This is the capital. We don't have enough troops to defend the city." Chen Ruike hadn't thought too much about it. After the beacon fires came from Tongzhou, Emperor Chongzhen ordered the imperial treasury to be opened to recruit people from the capital to help defend the city. But Beijing was so large that tens of thousands of able-bodied men were like a drop of water scattered on the desert—they disappeared in an instant. A few days ago, someone recommended a gang leader to the emperor, and Chongzhen immediately summoned him for an audience and even bestowed upon him the position of guerrilla commander, allowing him to lead his men to participate in the defense of the city walls. This showed that the Ming Dynasty's military strength was truly in dire straits.

"Then why not let these Liaodong troops come in to help defend the city?" Zhang Gaosheng pointed to the troops below the city walls. Thousands of Guan Ning soldiers had been clamoring to enter the city all day. "Is it because some officials in the court think they are unreliable?"

"Is that so? Border troops are not allowed to enter the capital. They can only guard the city gates from outside. This is a rule established by Yu Qian, and it has always been done this way during the Jiajing era." Back then, Yu Qian did not allow border troops to enter the capital to prevent them from disturbing the people and to prevent them from not fighting to the death. As long as the border troops set up camp close to the city gates, not only would the gates of Beijing be safe, but the enemy would also be unable to cut off the connection between the foreign troops and the capital. They could always receive supplies and fire support from the capital.

Zhang Gaosheng pondered for a moment, then asked Chen Ruike, "If it were Commander Huang's troops, the Emperor would surely gladly let them into the city, and the people would welcome them, wouldn't they?"

Chen Ruike laughed heartily, but his smile quickly turned bitter: "If Commander Huang were here, would the Northern barbarians have reached the gates of the capital?"

He then let out another cold laugh: "I wonder what the officials in the court are thinking, and I wonder how this Ji-Liao Commander-in-Chief has been commanding the campaign. Five years to pacify Liaodong, and he's almost at the capital!"

...

November 19th.

Yuan Chonghuan had built a temporary camp outside Guangqumen, and another 5,000 Guan-Ning cavalry arrived at Guangqumen, bringing Yuan Chonghuan's forces to 14,000. Chongzhen ordered Yuan Chonghuan to defend the city gate there, but Yuan Chonghuan was very dissatisfied and again requested to enter the capital, but Chongzhen politely refused again. On the morning of the 19th,

after the main force of the Later Jin crossed the river at Tongzhou, the vanguard was still 30 li from the capital. Man Gui pursued the Later Jin army from behind, attempting to follow them across the river in pursuit. The Xuanda army and the Later Jin army then engaged in fierce battles around various ferry crossings near Tongzhou. The Later Jin army still hadn't reached the outskirts of the capital.

November 20th, the second year of the Chongzhen reign, Laolongtou.

A sentry lazily yawned, gripping his rifle and maintaining his guard post.

In the distance, where the water met the sky, the tip of a mast slowly emerged, followed by a second, then a third.

Each of the three masts had a flag flying, with the bright red flag of the Ming Dynasty's Fuzhou Garrison atop the tallest mast. The words "General Commander of Fuzhou Garrison" were written in large characters along the edge of the flag. A slightly lower mast in front also carried a flag, depicting a viper writhing and leaping amidst cloud patterns. The flag on the last mast featured a dolphin crouching and leaping.

The warship cut through the waves, leaving two white streaks on the mirror-like Bohai Sea. Behind it followed a line of ships stretching to the horizon.

"General! Old Dragon Head!"

"Yes, I see it." Huang Shi, holding his binoculars, squinted at the land gradually emerging from the sea; the beginning of the Great Wall appeared directly ahead of his ship's bow.

Yang Zhiyuan stood beside Huang Shi, giving a final check: "General, we'll say we got lost, right?"

"Yes, we'll say we were heading to Tianjin, but couldn't determine our direction at sea. We ended up at Shanhaiguan." Huang Shi put away his binoculars. It seemed they could land at Shanhaiguan before nightfall, and the army would be able to recover its fighting strength in two days at most. Then they could begin implementing their battle plan.

The order Huang Shi received only called for surrounding armies to reinforce the capital region; it didn't specify that the reinforcements should head directly for the capital. Theoretically, the order only required the reinforcements to quickly engage the invading army, but such operations were generally aimed at protecting the capital and the emperor, as exemplified by the operations of the Zhengding and Xuanda armies.

Jin Qiude's initial plan was to land at Dagukou and then rush to the capital to defend it, repelling the Later Jin army.

However, Huang Shi ultimately ordered the army to head directly for Shanhaiguan instead of Dagukou. He planned to take the Fuping, Yongning, and Qian'an route, first sealing off Xifengkou. Huang Shi believed that once Huang Taiji discovered his snake flag, his strategic objective would immediately shift to safely leading his troops out of the pass. Given the terrain around Jizhou and the enemy's command capabilities, Huang Shi believed Huang Taiji could still take most of his troops and spoils.

Therefore, Huang Shi was unwilling to take the Dagu Pass route; he hoped to leave at least half of Huang Taiji's main force behind. Once Xifengkou was sealed off, Huang Taiji would only have the option of either turning back for a battle or attempting a breakout in another direction. A breakout in another direction would be extremely difficult, much like the German army's attempt to break out of Siberia to Japan at Stalingrad. Of course, given the Ming army's fighting spirit, Huang Shi acknowledged a considerable possibility that Huang Taiji could successfully break out of the pass.

However, this success would depend on the absence of the Fuling army in hot pursuit. Having plundered the capital region and marching with so much baggage across hostile land, Huang Shi believed the main force of the Later Jin army could not march more than twenty li per day. Moreover, the arrival of the Fuling army would also give other loyalist armies a boost of morale, and they would certainly begin their pursuit and interception with great enthusiasm. Therefore, Huang Shi believed that it would be difficult for Huang Taiji to break through the border in less than a few months, and in those months, they would have already been overtaken by the Fuling army countless times.

Looking at the increasingly close mainland, Huang Shi sighed confidently, "Alright, as long as we can seal off Xifengkou, then the Jurchens will be ours for the taking."

"The Jurchen chieftain might abandon the Mongols and their supplies, and rush all the way from Xuanda Town to break through the border wall and break out," Jin Qiude added from behind Huang Shi. As the chief of staff, he had not been idle these days, making various analyses of the battle situation.

Huang Shi smiled and said, "Perhaps. But that would mean the Jurchens are finished. This time, they coaxed and lured a large group of Mongols in, just to prove that our Great Ming is vulnerable. They're nothing but a bandit alliance. Even if the Jurchen chieftain abandons the Mongols and flees, or even if they can't get anything back, this bandit group will fall apart."

"You're right, sir."

"I don't plan to go to the capital because I'm worried we'll end up helping that corrupt official Yuan." Huang Shi knew that Chongzhen's trust in Yuan Chonghuan was irrational. Historically, Yuan Chonghuan had done so many things, and afterwards, almost no one in the Ming court spoke well of him. Sun Chengzong hadn't confirmed that Yuan Chonghuan had plotted treason, but he considered Yuan a complete military idiot.

Yet Chongzhen still trusted Yuan Chonghuan, repeatedly defending him in front of his officials, and even openly declaring, "The pacification of Liaodong depends on that barbarian Yuan." If the crimes weren't so undeniable, Chongzhen might have withstood the pressure and exonerated Yuan Chonghuan. Although Huang Shi didn't know exactly what Yuan Chonghuan had tricked the young Emperor Chongzhen into believing, he knew that even with overwhelming evidence, Chongzhen had reduced the punishment and ultimately pardoned Yuan Chonghuan's family.

"If I drive the Jurchens out of the capital, I'm sure the Emperor will continue to use that corrupt official Yuan. Don't try to reason with me; the Emperor just likes him, trusts him, and will do everything in his power to exonerate him." Huang Shi didn't care at all about Jin Qiude and the General Staff's concerns about granting permission. While Chongzhen wasn't a wise ruler, Huang Shi knew his stubborn nature well.

What worried Huang Shi more was that his chosen marching route clearly disregarded the Emperor's personal safety, seemingly using the court and the Emperor as bait. Jin Qiude and others therefore had some reservations about Huang Shi's choice, believing that Huang Shi's plan wasn't a military mistake, but a political one.

"General, it is my duty to say this one last time." The rules of the Fuzhou military are that one can speak freely, but orders must be carried out without fail. Therefore, for Jin Qiude, formulating a military plan according to Huang Shi's ideas and offering defiant advice were not contradictory: "General, your political enemies will certainly attack you on this issue in the future. In any case, even if the Emperor doesn't say it, he'll have a grudge." "

I know, I understand that perfectly well, but the state of the capital is not my fault, I have a clear conscience." Huang Shi knew that many people would be abducted and taken away, separated from their families, and enslaved: "But if I knew I could save at least tens of thousands of lives, and yet I didn't do it because of personal honor or loss, I would have nightmares every night."

Besides this reason... Huang Shi also had military considerations: "If the Jurchens were allowed to withdraw safely from beyond the Great Wall and bring back rich spoils, the Western barbarians would probably be very envious." Huang Shi did not intend to give Huang Taiji the opportunity to establish a solid military alliance. If Huang Taiji successfully won over the Mongols, the Later Jin would no longer be a small rebellion that could be easily destroyed.

Moreover, once Huang Shi returned to the north to command the battle, the troops' pay and food would again depend on the court's supply, and the court would definitely not allow Huang Shi to have absolute power. It would certainly arrange some allied forces... most likely the Guan Ning Army to work with him.

"Hmm, let the Donglin Party be responsible for the logistics of the long-term, possibly several-year, campaign, and then fight alongside the Liaoxi Army, going deep into the desert to fight a protracted war against people like Hong Taiji." There was an even greater concern that Huang Shi could not voice: the Chongzhen Emperor, sitting on the throne like Yao and Shun, whose eagerness for quick success and short-sightedness was also a huge threat that Huang Shi had to face.

Thinking of the bad hand he was dealt, even with 20,000 to 30,000 elite troops, Huang Shi's job wasn't entirely secure. He gave a bitter smile: "This is truly a comprehensive test. Even horses can stumble, and people can make mistakes. If I'm not careful and Hong Tai breaks through again, I'll be doomed."

Seeing that Huang Shi was determined, Jin Qiude didn't try to persuade him further.

...

On the 20th, another 2,000 Guan Ning cavalry arrived at Guangqumen, bringing Yuan Chonghuan's forces outside Guangqumen to 16,000. That afternoon, the Later Jin army and the Xuanda army clashed and arrived near the outskirts of the Ming capital. After continuous fierce fighting in the fields from the 16th to the 20th, Man Gui and the Xuanda army successfully delayed the Later Jin army's advance, forcing them to advance only 60 li in five days.

Subsequently, Man Gui ordered the Xuanda army to disengage from the Later Jin army and set up camp outside Deshengmen to rest. Emperor Chongzhen immediately ordered the gates to be opened so that the Xuan army could enter the barbican to rest. He said that it was already late and there was no need for him to bother building a camp. At the same time, the emperor also ordered that Man Gui be given a python robe and jade belt as a reward.

Hearing that several thousand Xuan army troops had entered the city, Yuan Chonghuan went into the city again to see Emperor Chongzhen, insisting that he be treated the same as Man Gui, at least allowing the Guan Ning army to rest inside the barbican. Chongzhen bestowed silver and food upon Yuan Chonghuan, and again comforted him with kind words. However, he still did not agree to the request to allow the Guan Ning army into the city.

After seeing Yuan Chonghuan off, Chongzhen discussed the issue of warfare with Sun Chengzong. Just as the two were discussing, a eunuch reported that Zhang Heming requested an audience.

After Zhang Heming entered, Chongzhen asked with a kind smile, "Old Zhang, is your leg much better?"

"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty." Zhang Heming had been recuperating at home today, but upon hearing that the vanguard of the Later Jin army had reached the capital, the old man rushed to see the emperor. He stood up and cried out anxiously, "Your Majesty, quickly summon Huang Shi to the capital to defend the emperor! Quickly summon Huang Shi to the capital!"

...

On the 21st, the main force of the Later Jin army approached the capital of the Ming Dynasty, and Man Gui led the remaining five thousand troops out of the city. They set up camp outside Desheng Gate…

After arriving at Shanhaiguan, Huang Shi immediately ordered the garrison to make way for the Fu Ning Army. Fortunately, Huang Shi encountered an old acquaintance at Shanhaiguan—General Yao Yuxian.

This time, General Yao Yuxian did not accompany the main force of the Guan Ning Army to Beijing, but was temporarily assigned to take charge of the defense of Shanhaiguan. Deputy General Jin Guan was also working at Shanhaiguan, and since becoming deputy general, Jin Guan seemed to be getting younger and younger. With the help of these two, Huang Shi quickly settled his troops.

“General Huang, the Jurchens have crossed Qian’an and are approaching Yongping, 150 li away. They are trying to cut off our Liaozhen’s supply line!” Yao Yuxian said anxiously. Fifty li south of Yongping is Weizhou, which is also the supply route from the interior to Shanhaiguan.

However, Huang Shi was not too worried about this. He believed that with sea transport, the Later Jin army could not cut off Liaozhen’s supply, and judging from the current situation, the Later Jin army did not yet have such an appetite or ability.

Yongping Prefecture is located at the confluence of the Qinglong River and the Luan River, both of which lead to the area beyond the Great Wall. The Luan River's exit to the outside world is Xifengkou. In Huang Shi's personal opinion, the Later Jin army's desire to capture Yongping was primarily driven by transportation considerations. Several months after Mao Wenlong's death, Huang Taiji ordered the Mongol tribes to rush to build ships, clearly indicating that he had long planned to utilize the water power of these two rivers. Huang Taiji probably hoped that he could still use the Yongping River to transport goods after spring arrived.

However, Huang Shi thought that Yao Yuxian and Jin Guan's mentality could be exploited, so he generously patted his chest and assured them, "I should head to the capital immediately. However, my troops haven't all arrived yet, so it's alright if I leave a few days later. How about this, after I rest for a while, I'll lead this battalion to relieve the siege of Yongping, and then seize the opportunity to defeat Qian'an, cutting off the Jurchens' eastward advance. During this time, my follow-up troops should be rested enough, and then I can rush to the capital."

Huang Shi's chivalrous actions surprised Yao Yuxian and Jin Guan quite a bit. After a while, they hesitated and asked, "Won't this cause any major problems for Commander Huang?"

"Originally, I was going to Dagukou in Tianjin. Now that I've reached Shanhaiguan and met you, it can only be said to be fate. Besides, a general in the field may not obey the emperor's orders. Since I've encountered the Jurchens here, I have no choice but to defeat them first." Huang Shi then made some requests regarding supplies, hoping that Yao Yuxian and Jin Guan could do their best to assist him, and the two of them naturally agreed without hesitation.

Meanwhile, Huang Shi also instructed them to keep his arrival a secret as much as possible. Yao Yuxian readily agreed and strictly ordered the Shanhaiguan Guard to tighten their guard and not allow any unauthorized personnel to appear. Although it was only a matter of time before the news leaked out, Huang Shi still hoped that Huang Taiji would find out as late as possible. After arriving at Shanhaiguan yesterday, he did not even immediately send a messenger to Beijing, but instead used the excuse that it was too late and delayed until today.

...

The 22nd day of the second year of Chongzhen.

Today, Huang Taiji personally commanded 10,000 main force of the Later Jin to attack 5,000 Xuanda troops outside Deshengmen, while ordering Mangultai to lead 2,000 troops to attack 16,000 Guan Ning cavalry and 2,000 Jingying garrison

troops outside Guangqumen. Emperor Chongzhen paced back and forth in the inner palace. Eunuchs would occasionally run in to report on the battle situation outside the city. The more Chongzhen listened, the more his brows furrowed. Sun Chengzong, Qian Longxi, Li Biao, and others around him also looked solemn and dared not utter a sound.

Minister of War Wang Qia had already been imprisoned by the emperor for the breach of the Jizhou garrison, so now Chongzhen would directly consult Sun Chengzong and the cabinet on any military issues. According to the report from the civil officials supervising the army at Deshengmen, Huang Taiji and Man Gui were fighting fiercely, with the two armies engaging in hand-to-hand combat at one point, to the point that even the cannons deployed on the Deshengmen tower were accidentally hit, several times hitting the Xuan-Da army.

By the afternoon, Man Gui's Xuan-Da army was finally defeated and slowly retreated towards Guangqumen, hoping to receive support from the Guan-Ning cavalry.

Sun Chengzong hesitated and said, "Commander Man has done his best."

"I know!" Chongzhen shouted angrily. He stopped and asked sternly, "What about the Guan-Ning army? What do you think?"

According to the report from the supervising officers outside Guangqumen, when the Later Jin army robbed civilians in the suburbs of Beijing a few days ago, the Guan-Ning army also joined in the looting, showing no intention of protecting the people of the capital region. Today, Mangultai led two thousand cavalry in a charge, and the Guan Ning cavalry scattered and fled. Many Guan Ning soldiers ran all the way to the moat of Beijing, jumped into the river, and swam towards the city walls. This enraged the Beijing residents on the city walls, who pelted them with bricks and stones.

The troops stationed outside Guangqumen also reported that the Guan Ning cavalry outside Guangqumen collapsed at the first contact, seemingly fleeing without even engaging the Later Jin army. However, the Beijing garrison claimed to have launched a preemptive strike, repelling the Later Jin offensive.

The supervising official between Deshengmen and Guangqumen reported that the Guan Ning cavalry stood by and watched while the Later Jin army clashed with the Xuanda army

…

Reports continued to arrive, and Emperor Chongzhen's face grew increasingly grim. During his audience with the emperor at the Imperial Secretariat, Yuan Chonghuan had expressed his concern that a "petty person" might frame him. Therefore, for a long time, Emperor Chongzhen had consistently forgiven Yuan Chonghuan for his actions, including the unauthorized execution of Mao Wenlong, the sale of grain

to the Later Jin army, the breaching of the Jizhou defenses, and the allowing the enemy to pass through the strategically important Jizhou Gate. Even after Yuan Chonghuan arrived outside Beijing, Emperor Chongzhen, aside from preventing the Guan-Ning army from entering the city, still tried his best to appease him, rewarding him with gold coins and fine clothes. However, now Chongzhen was becoming increasingly uneasy. He muttered to himself, "Surely all the civil and military officials and eunuchs in the capital are plotting against the Jizhou-Liaoning Governor-General?"

Although Chongzhen had his suspicions, he ultimately restrained himself, saying, "I must emulate the sages of the past, employing people without suspicion, and not employing those I suspect."

Just as Chongzhen had calmed down, Yuan Chonghuan's own memorial was sent to the capital. In this memorial, Yuan Chonghuan unusually refrained from mentioning the outcome of the battle, only requesting to move his camp to a more remote location.

"Your Majesty, the Guan Ning Army's camp outside Guangqumen has been burned down by the Jurchens."

Upon hearing the whispered words of a young eunuch beside him, Emperor Chongzhen's hand, holding the memorial, trembled uncontrollably. His face flushed and paled in turns; the hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Cheng Zhiben and Zhou Wenyu later wrote books to defend Yuan Chonghuan.

Cheng Zhiben extensively described the battles of Ningyuan and Ningjin, which no one in Beijing had witnessed firsthand. However, he only briefly mentioned what happened outside Guangqumen, as if it were insignificant.

Zhou Wenyu, on the other hand, admitted that the Guan Ning cavalry had all fled upon arrival, but he insisted that neither Yuan Chonghuan nor he had run away. He claimed that they fought valiantly with only a hundred soldiers, and that they were the ones who ultimately repelled the retreat of the more than two thousand Jurchen troops.

Zhou Wenyu vividly described how Yuan Chonghuan led from the front, his body riddled with arrows like a hedgehog. Fortunately, his thick armor prevented even a scratch. Zhou Wenyu added that the Later Jin soldiers' steel swords nearly struck Yuan Chonghuan's neck, only to be blocked by his guards. Even in this critical moment, Governor Yuan remained mounted, shouting and fighting fiercely… Oh, it was while Governor Yuan himself was riddled with arrows like a hedgehog, his mount was still lively and energetic, carrying him and shouting as they fought, ultimately inflicting a crushing defeat on the Later Jin army.

Unfortunately, Zhou Wenyu's book was not yet finished at this moment. The suspicious Emperor Chongzhen finally began to doubt Yuan Chonghuan. He paced back and forth a few times, feeling that he was about to give up his principle of trusting people: "Hmm, it seems best to summon the Jiliao Commander-in-Chief into the city so that I can ask him personally."

Just as Emperor Chongzhen made up his mind, a eunuch's voice came from outside: "Commander-in-Chief Man Gui requests an audience with Your Majesty."

Soon, Man Gui rushed in, covered in blood, holding five arrows in his hand. Man Gui did not even glance at the cabinet members on either side or Sun Chengzong, and rushed to Chongzhen's feet: "Your Majesty, Commander-in-Chief Yuan wants to shoot me to death!"

...

Man Gui had been leading the Xuanda army in a fierce battle against the Later Jin army for a day but was defeated. So he retreated towards the direction of the Guan Ning army, but the enemy launched a rain of arrows, killing many Xuanda soldiers. Man Gui was also hit by five arrows. Man Gui's armor was clearly inferior to Yuan Chonghuan's, so although he wasn't riddled with bullets, he was already covered in large, bleeding wounds.

After Man Gui removed his armor to show the emperor and cabinet ministers his wounds, Chongzhen was completely dumbfounded. He asked the cabinet ministers, somewhat at a loss, "Do any of you have any insights?"

Upon hearing this, Man Gui immediately started shouting again, "Your Majesty, Commander Yuan is deliberately trying to kill me! He's already harmed Marshal Mao and Marshal Zhao, and now it's my turn!"

Sun Chengzong and several other cabinet ministers were also stunned. Since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, Yuan Chonghuan had committed too many shocking acts. Last time, he had killed an imperial envoy and a first-rank general without authorization. This time, he was accused of murder in court by a general, which was unheard of. "Your Majesty," the emperor said, "I think it is better to let the commander-in-chief of Jiliao confront the Manchu general."

On November 23, Chongzhen summoned Yuan Chonghuan and Man Gui to confront each other in front of the cabinet. Yuan Chonghuan could not answer. The suspicious emperor Chongzhen finally exploded and ordered the Imperial Guards to imprison Yuan Chonghuan. "I entrusted the affairs of the east to Yuan Chonghuan, but the barbarian cavalry acted recklessly. As the commander-in-chief, Chonghuan failed to conduct prior reconnaissance and defense, allowing them to penetrate deep into the interior. Although he rushed to the aid, he also controlled his soldiers and watched as they plundered and committed crimes. His merits and demerits cannot be

concealed. He is hereby temporarily released for investigation!" Emperor Chongzhen was quite satisfied with this statement. It praised Yuan Chonghuan's achievements without imposing any fabricated charges on him, and it also indicated that this dismissal was temporary and that he would be reinstated after the matter was clarified. However, less than an hour after Emperor Chongzhen began to feel pleased with himself, a eunuch rushed in to report:

"Your Majesty, Zu Dashou incited a mutiny as soon as he returned to camp, and the flag officer Zhou Wenyu seized the commander's sword and seal and fled. Now the Guan-Ning army has already rebelled and left the capital!"

After the Guan-Lin army's rebellion, Emperor Chongzhen finally flew into a rage and ordered a thorough investigation into Yuan Chonghuan's command during the battle in Beijing. Soon, the command and deployment along the Jizhou line were presented to the emperor. A few days earlier, after Yuan Chonghuan let the enemy enter the pass, Emperor Chongzhen had personally defended him, saying that Yuan Chonghuan had only "failed to send scouts and allowed the enemy to sneak across."

However, it could be explained that tens of thousands of people sneaked across in front of one person, and it could also be explained that one person sneaked across in front of tens of thousands of people, but tens of thousands of people sneaking across in front of tens of thousands of people was simply beyond human comprehension, especially considering that Yuan Chonghuan had previously diverted Liu Ce and You Shiwei's troops away from the Later Jin army's routes.

After the Later Jin army entered the pass, Yuan Chonghuan and the Guan Ning cavalry circled around, ignoring friendly forces in Tongzhou and Shunyi, focusing solely on retreating to the capital, leaving the Beijing area to be ravaged by the enemy. Emperor Chongzhen, initially shocked, flew into a rage: "Avoiding the enemy and letting them advance unchecked! Issue an edict to immediately arrest Liu Ce and You Shiwei and bring them to the capital for thorough punishment!"

Cao Huachun hesitated for a moment, then cautiously suggested, "Your Majesty, they both have the written order of the Ji-Liao Commander-in-Chief."

"Can such an absurd order be carried out?" Chongzhen was so enraged he had lost his reason; he forgot who had supported Yuan Chonghuan, leading to this consequence: "Avoiding the enemy is avoiding the enemy! Immediately imprison these two!"

"Yes, Your Majesty." Seeing the emperor's extreme anger, Cao Huachun stopped trying to persuade him. Later, both were sentenced to death by beheading.

Sun Chengzong did not speak up for Yuan Chonghuan. Instead, he suggested to the emperor that he write a letter to the Guan Ning army to recall these rebels. Sun Chengzong was the first Liaodong military governor and held considerable prestige within the Guan-Ning army. Emperor Chongzhen's anger subsided slightly: "In that case, I'll trouble you, Grand Secretary."

After Yuan Chonghuan's capture and the Guan-Ning army's rebellion, the Later Jin army began to withdraw from the capital, lifting the siege the next day and turning in other directions. After the siege of the capital was lifted, a popular folk song went, "Half the people of the east fled after surrendering to Governor Yuan."

The Later Jin army abducted many civilians outside the capital, and Emperor Chongzhen immediately ordered Man Gui to pursue and reclaim them. Man Gui pleaded with the emperor to rescind his title, arguing that "the enemy outnumbers our reinforcements, and we cannot rashly venture out," but Chongzhen refused, granting Man Gui the title of Military Commissioner and giving him full authority to reclaim the people of the capital region from the Later Jin army.

Man Gui then led the Xuan-Da army out of the city to pursue the Later Jin army. After several fierce battles, Man Gui reclaimed several thousand civilians. However, after several battles, Man Gui's arrow wounds flared up, possibly due to infection from sweat or dirt from his armor entering the wounds. He finally died from the arrow wound inflicted on him by the Guan Ning army.

After Man Gui's death, the Xuanda army was thrown into chaos, and the Later Jin army launched a night attack on the camp, defeating the Xuanda army. After that, no field force was able to pursue the Later Jin army. On

November 27th of the second year of Chongzhen's reign, in the capital,

news of Man Gui's death reached Beijing, and the Chongzhen Emperor's palace fell silent once more. A few days earlier, at Zhang Heming's suggestion, an urgent envoy to Fujian had departed, and the emperor estimated that Huang Shi would not arrive in the capital region for another month to a month and a half. Almost no one in the cabinet objected to sending Huang Shi north. Zhang Heming requested another month to recover from his leg ailment before agreeing to take command of the Liaodong campaign.

There was still some debate within the cabinet about how long Huang Shi should remain in the capital region. Some believed that once the Later Jin army was driven out of the border by the loyalist forces, the matter was considered closed, and the Guan Ning army should handle the rest. As some cabinet members put it, Huang Shi shouldn't be sent wherever trouble arises, as this would disrupt the Ming Dynasty's military garrison system.

Of course, another voice began to emerge in the court. Li Biao and Zhou Yanru of the Donglin Party, as well as the non-partisan Wen Tiren, did not oppose the complete transfer of Huang Shi back to the north. They believed that Huang Shi's military registration could be reassigned to Liaodong. This would solve everything. Moreover, Li Biao, Zhou Yanru, and Wen Tiren all expressed their intention to oversee Liaodong.

But another faction felt that this was just a change in name only. They questioned whether Huang Shi and his troops would be transferred to Qin Army again if trouble arose in the northwest. Qian Longxi and others believed that this was treating the Ming Dynasty's border military system lightly, and that Huang Shi traveling around with a large group of men would easily cause internal conflicts in the local military garrisons.

In short, the strategy for pacifying Liaodong that Chongzhen hoped to know was still nowhere to be seen. At present, the Later Jin army was still ravaging the local people near the Ming capital, but the civil officials were still debating the potential dangers to the Ming military garrisons in the years, decades, or even centuries to come. Upon hearing the controversy, Zhang Heming also adopted a low profile, refusing to mention his request to oversee Liaodong, seemingly wanting to gauge public opinion before making a decision.

After a brief silence in the court, the officials resumed their incessant arguing, shifting blame and unable to offer a solution.

"Your Majesty," Sun Chengzong said again after hearing the devastating news about Man Gui, "I recommend Ma Shilong as Left Commander-in-Chief to unify command of the loyalist armies and drive the Jurchens out of the pass." He argued that Ma Shilong was a seasoned general with many years of experience and should be more knowledgeable in warfare than others.

Emperor Chongzhen glanced at the other civil officials, none of whom could offer any meaningful words, so he said helplessly, "Then summon Ma Shilong."

After Ma Shilong met with the emperor, Chongzhen encouraged him a few words, then sent Ma Shilong and Sun Chengzong to discuss military affairs. After they left, Chongzhen looked at the lifeless hall again, feeling as if a heavy stone was pressing on his heart. He couldn't help but think to himself, "No one is perfect, everyone makes mistakes. It seems that pacifying Liaodong will still depend on Yuan Chonghuan."

However, Chongzhen did not say this aloud. The mess Yuan Chonghuan had made was too big, and there was much discussion in the court and among the people, with many directly accusing Yuan Chonghuan of colluding with the enemy. A rumor even broke out in the capital, with tens of thousands of people spreading the word that Yuan Chonghuan was going to open the gates for the Later Jin army. The Embroidered Uniform Guard cracked down hard and later arrested the person who spread the rumor. The person was a carpenter in the north of the city. After the Embroidered Uniform Guard found that no one was behind him, Chongzhen ordered him released.

Although Emperor Chongzhen had nothing to say, he didn't intend to adjourn the court. So the cabinet ministers and elders stood silently in their seats, gazing at the emperor, wasting time.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!" Wang Chengen, the Grand Secretary of the Directorate of Ceremonial, rushed in, beaming with joy. He held a newly arrived memorial in his hands, reporting loudly, "Your Majesty, General Huang Shi of Fuzhou arrived at Shanhaiguan six days ago and is leading his troops to come to the emperor's aid."

This announcement immediately caused a buzz among the cabinet ministers and elders, who couldn't help but whisper among themselves, all finding Huang Shi's appearance unbelievable. Emperor Chongzhen jumped up from his throne and hurriedly took the memorial to read.

Huang Shi first explained why he was in Shandong, then apologized for getting lost at sea. Huang Shi claimed that his army lacked sufficient supplies and needed rest for its soldiers to recover their strength, therefore they could not immediately depart for the capital. Besides this, Huang Shi offered other excuses, such as his army having fallen behind in large numbers when they reached Shandong, and becoming lost on the Bohai Sea, further dispersing the troops. Upon reaching Shanhaiguan, he only had a ship with a hundred or so personal guards, so Huang Shi claimed he would need more time to reach the capital.

Currently, loyalist armies from Shandong, Shaanxi, Shanxi, and Henan are pouring into Beijing, with numerous generals and deputy generals, so Huang Shi's memorial as a general wouldn't have much priority. Of course, given Huang Shi's reputation, he could have easily obtained an urgent dispatch, but this time he was honest and straightforward, refusing to use connections, which made his memorial's delivery extremely slow, with various urgent dispatches constantly ahead of it.

Especially after Zu Dashou led the Guan Ning cavalry in a mutiny, looting all the post horses between the capital and Shanhaiguan, Huang Shi's memorial took even longer, finally reaching the capital after six days.

"Where is Commander Huang now?" Chongzhen read the memorial several times, then ordered a map to be spread out and went to examine it closely. "I wonder if Commander Huang's army has completed its assembly?"

Before Chongzhen finished speaking, Zhang Heming stood up and said, "Your Majesty, I am willing to leave the capital overnight and go to Shanhaiguan to oversee the repelling of the Jurchens!"

Li Biao cursed Zhang Heming inwardly for being too quick, but he also hurriedly stood up. "Your Majesty, Elder Zhang is commendable for his loyalty and bravery, but he is old and has a leg ailment. I think it would be better for me to go to Shanhaiguan to oversee the troops."

"Your Majesty, my leg has fully recovered, and I have worked with Commander Huang for a long time..."

"Your Majesty, as the Grand Secretary, I bear great responsibility for the Jurchen invasion. I humbly beg Your Majesty to grant me the opportunity to atone for my sins by going to Shanhaiguan to oversee the campaign." Wen Tiren, abandoning all pretense, jumped in to compete with Zhang Heming and Li Biao: "I am willing to drive the Jurchens out of the border within four months and pacify Liaodong within five years!"

"I am willing to drive the Jurchens out of the border within three months and pacify Liaodong within four years!"

"This old minister is willing to drive back the Jurchens within two months and pacify Liaodong within four years!"

"I..." "

I am deeply moved by the loyalty and patriotism of all you ministers." Chongzhen quickly stopped their bidding for the pacification of Liaodong. The once lifeless hall was now filled with excitement. Emperor Chongzhen had already made up his mind. He first said to Wen Tiren and Li Biao, "My two beloved ministers are loyal and diligent in serving the emperor, but you are my chief minister and second-in-command, and cannot leave the capital for even a moment. As for the matter of supervising the army, I think we should let it go."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Heming couldn't help but show a hint of smugness. The emperor then turned to him and said, "Minister Zhang, you are still vigorous despite your age, which greatly pleases me. However,

Minister Zhang's leg ailment has not yet fully recovered. I think you should stay home and rest." Zhang Heming anxiously explained, "Your Majesty, my leg ailment has indeed fully recovered."

"No, I think Minister Zhang's illness is not yet cured. I think Minister Zhang's illness is still quite serious." Chongzhen finished speaking with a smile, feeling that he had finally vented his anger. If Wei Zhongxian hadn't abolished the court flogging system, Chongzhen would have wanted to beat people several times in recent days. The Donglin Party members always said that Wei Zhongxian had done nothing but evil. These past few days, Emperor Chongzhen had been pondering whether to reinstate the court flogging system, and the more he thought about it, the more tempting it became.

Wen Tiren then asked, "Your Majesty, should the position of Grand Coordinator be nominated by the Cabinet?" During

the Tianqi reign, Grand Coordinators and Military Commissioners were nominated from among the civil officials, but Chongzhen disliked this idea: "No need, I have my own plans."

Before the cabinet ministers could ask further, Chongzhen stood with his hands behind his back and loudly announced to Wang Chengen, "Huang Shi has traveled thousands of miles to serve the Emperor, his loyalty and bravery are commendable. He is hereby granted the title of Earl of Rongcheng, with a hereditary fief of five thousand households."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Rongcheng is located at the tip of the Shandong Peninsula, southeast of Weihaiwei, and is under the jurisdiction of the Shandong Provincial Administration Commission.

This appointment caused the cabinet ministers' expressions to change drastically. After being granted a title, Huang Shi's status was no longer that of an ordinary military general; his position was higher than that of a civil official. If the Emperor granted a military general a title but did not strip him of his military power, it could only mean one thing.

And indeed it did.

After Wang Chengen recorded the imperial edict bestowing the title, Chongzhen loudly announced without hesitation: "Promoted to Earl of Rongcheng, concurrently serving as Privy Councilor, and granted the seal of General Who Conquers the Barbarians."

Wang Chengen responded loudly, "As you command!"

"Granted the General Who Conquers the Barbarians a golden token; all local officials of the third rank and below, regardless of whether they are civil or military, shall be under the command of the General Who Conquers the Barbarians." "

As you command!"

"Your Majesty." Although everyone knew the emperor was furious with them, and although everyone knew the cabinet's idleness these past few days had thoroughly disgusted the emperor, this matter was far too important. Wen Tiren had no choice but to bite the bullet and say, "Your Majesty, I humbly request that you reconsider."

Chongzhen stopped speaking and coldly swept his gaze across the cabinet ministers and elders in the room. The others also showed resentment, but none of them wanted to step forward and anger the emperor. Now everyone knew that the emperor's mood was completely ruined, and they were all utterly disappointed in him. Chongzhen sneered inwardly, then said calmly, "My mind is made up. Reopen the Grand Military Commission."

After saying this, Chongzhen ignored Wen Tiren and continued, "The Earl of Rongcheng is appointed Left Grand Military Commissioner of the Grand Military Commission, with the additional title of Grand Military Commissioner, in charge of the Grand Military Commission, assisting in the command of the Five Military Commissions, and overseeing the military affairs of the Six Armies. He shall not interfere in the affairs of the Six Ministries and Nine Ministers."

Chongzhen paused, took a deep breath, and finished his final order: "Military officers below the fifth rank shall be assessed by the Grand Military Commissioner; military officers of the fourth rank and above shall be appointed by the Grand Military Commissioner and submitted to the Directorate of Ceremonial for approval. This is the imperial decree."

Wang Chengen immediately replied, "Yes, Your Majesty."

The cabinet ministers and elders remained deathly silent, but as the emperor's gaze swept over them, they all knelt down, saying, "Your Majesty, we obey!"

...

Changli.

Huang Shi, looking through his binoculars at the approaching flags and troops, whispered, "Prepare for battle."

"Yes, Commander-in-Chief."

The Firefighting and Rock-Stone battalions had already deployed into battle formation. With the officer's loud command, the artillerymen loaded their propellants, and the gunners stood solemnly behind the nine-pound cannons, torches in hand. Behind the line of nine-pound cannons were neat rows of infantry, thousands of soldiers carrying flags, arranged in dense squares. Drummers rested their hands firmly on their drums, listening intently to the officer's orders.

"My resolve will never change."

"Your Majesty, the Cabinet will certainly not countersign."

Chongzhen's eyes blazed with anger. He sneered through gritted teeth, "What a stubborn Grand Secretary Sun! The Cabinet's lack of countersignature doesn't matter; I'll just issue a decree directly to Marshal Huang."

In Sun Chengzong's mind, Huang Shi was a loyal and patriotic man, someone who understood the importance of things and lacked personal ambition. Therefore, Sun Chengzong firmly believed that Huang Shi would never accept such an imperial edict. He was confident that he had not misjudged Huang Shi, so he shook his head and sighed softly, "Your Majesty, this old minister guarantees that Commander Huang will not accept the edict."

"No, Commander Huang will definitely accept it. Commander Huang will never betray me."

On the 29th, Chongzhen sent someone to Shanhaiguan with the fastest speed, and at the same time announced the news in the official gazette of the capital.

"Commander Huang is here!"

"The end of the Tartars has come!"

"May Commander Huang live a long life!"

The cheers of the people reached the palace. Several officials in the Wenyuan Pavilion, upon hearing the faint cheers outside, all put down their pens and their work, frowning and pondering.

...

On the first day of the twelfth month of the second year of Chongzhen, in Luanzhou.

In the early morning, Sun Chengzong's letter was the first to arrive in Luanzhou. In the letter, he guaranteed that generals such as Zu Dashou could be pardoned. The cannibal felt even more at ease after seeing this. With Sun Chengzong and Huang Shi jointly guaranteeing it, the cannibal felt that his life was absolutely safe. The remaining task was to follow Huang Shi and secure a share of the war merits.

"The Jurchens should still be near the capital. They won't leave until the reinforcements from the provinces enter the capital region. They'll definitely plunder extensively, then use the spoils to win over more Mongols and completely crush the Chahar Mongols." Since learning of Yuan Chonghuan's imprisonment, Huang Shi wasn't worried about any problems in Beijing. Now, he was focused on how to severely damage the Later Jin.

Although the Later Jin had won many battles in the past, the Ming Dynasty's immense national strength allowed the strategic situation to automatically shift to Ming's offensive posture and the Later Jin's defensive posture. It was like two people playing chess; if one side didn't have two rooks, even a master player could be easily put in a precarious position by an ordinary opponent.

But once the Later Jin brought the Mongols into their military alliance, it was like giving the Later Jin two rooks, requiring both sides to be of equal skill to engage in a battle of offense and defense. Historically, the Ming Dynasty never produced a military strategist comparable to Huang Taiji, and from then on, the balance of power shifted between the Ming and the Later Jin. Huang Shi suspected that even replacing Sun Chengzong with Xiong Tingbi at that time might not have turned the tide.

Although Huang Shi now possessed an army far ahead of its time, he still had to work with political groups like the Donglin Party, so he hoped to prevent Huang Taiji from gaining an alliance with the Mongols. Huang Shi was determined to make Huang Taiji pay the price, and to keep as many of the Mongols who had come with Huang Taiji to plunder as possible, lest other Mongol tribes also think the Ming Dynasty was easy to bully.

After Huang Shi finished explaining his plan, the generals watched him silently. Huang Shi smiled and said, "I originally only intended to relieve the siege of Yongping first, and then at most attack Qian'an to protect the flank. But then I thought, if we can really capture Qian'an, why not take the opportunity to seal off all the passes on the border wall? Our generals need the enemy's heads. As long as we can keep the Jurchens inside the pass, I think the number of beheadings this time will not be less than 20,000, right?"

Yao Yuxian nodded in agreement, "More than that. After the Jurchens broke through Xifengkou, I'm afraid that in recent days, Western barbarians have been constantly pouring in to take advantage of the situation. In the past two years, there has been a severe drought in southern Mongolia, and many herders in the Western barbarians are on the verge of starvation."

Jin Guan added, "Amin and Daishan are still in Liaoyang, and the Jurchens also have to guard against the entire Liaodong region, so the number of Eastern barbarians will not increase much."

"According to General Zu, Hong Tai brought all those who entered the pass in uniform white armor, right?" Huang Shi estimated that the Later Jin's white armor soldiers were not even a few thousand. Huang Taiji, holding the idea that quality is more important than quantity, had no interest in fighting a hard battle. Huang Shi wasn't too afraid of having more Mongol allies; the fighting spirit and equipment of the Mongol army were probably no match for the core elite of the Later Jin, the White-Armored Soldiers.

"Yes, it looks like there are three or four thousand," the ogre whispered. This time, Huang Taiji wasn't acting according to the banners, but rather drawing the best from each Niru (military unit) to form an army; this force of four thousand men was roughly the entire core elite of the Later Jin.

"Alright. As long as we can seal off all the passes of the Jizhou border wall in time, the Liaodong affair will be settled in one battle." Huang Shi knew what his allies were worried about—they were all afraid of trouble if they didn't go to Beijing: "The heads of those who achieve victory will be divided equally among you all. If the court blames us, I, Huang Shi, will bear the responsibility alone." Huang Shi

's reputation was excellent, and Yao Yuxian and the others quickly said they wouldn't dare, but secretly they were all eager to try. Huang Shi was invincible; if they could really stop tens of thousands of northern barbarians inside the pass in time, each of them would certainly receive a considerable share of heads.

After the group reached an agreement, they discussed when to break camp and depart. Huang Shi's elite vanguard had only just arrived at Shanhaiguan today, so he originally planned to set off tomorrow. This was mainly for secrecy reasons. He estimated that once he appeared before the Later Jin army, they would report to Huang Taiji as quickly as possible. Therefore, Huang Shi believed it was best to be fully prepared beforehand and strike with lightning speed.

Although Huang Shi reported his arrival to the court, he wasn't too worried about the court leaking the news. Even if Huang Taiji heard about it, he would suspect it was a deliberate ruse by the Ming court. The Mongol allies were currently vying for control; if Huang Taiji fled upon hearing the news and only realized he had been tricked after rushing across the border, how would his Mongol allies view him?

Just as they were finalizing the departure date, they heard a commotion outside. Soon, an inner guard loudly reported from outside the tent: "General, an imperial envoy has arrived, saying he has brought the Emperor's decree."

Yao Yuxian and the others immediately showed expressions of envy. Imperial edicts that don't require the cabinet's signature are usually rewards. Huang Shi, far from reaching the capital, is already receiving a reward simply by reporting to the emperor—a favor unmatched by other military generals. Other loyalist armies, even reaching the capital, might not receive immediate imperial rewards, yet Huang Shi's reward was delivered all the way to his camp. It couldn't be a small reward; otherwise, it would be an overreaction.

Huang Shi initially thought similarly to Yao Yuxian and the others. He estimated it would be nothing more than gold coins, silver, armor, and fine clothes, and calmly went out to kneel and receive the edict. However, after the messenger read a few lines, those accompanying Huang Shi at the incense table were all stunned. After the entire edict was read, Huang Shi didn't immediately express his gratitude and accept the edict.

"May Your Majesty be well, long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!

Long live the Emperor!" After a long pause, Huang Shi finally uttered these words. The envoy's tense expression relaxed instantly, but he immediately straightened up again and replied solemnly, "May Your Majesty be well."

Huang Shi knelt upright solemnly for a moment. Then he bowed deeply again: "Thank you for Your Majesty's grace, long live the Emperor!

Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!" "Your Majesty's grace is boundless—"

"General!" Before the envoy could finish speaking, Jin Qiude and Li Yunrui, who were standing on either side, rushed forward at the same time, shouting in unison, "General, this decree cannot be accepted!"

Without further ado, the two of them pulled Huang Shi up from the ground, one on each side. They apologized desperately to the envoy while pulling Huang Shi aside. Jin Qiude said anxiously, "General, if you accept this decree, you will become the public enemy of all civil officials in the court, and possibly even the public enemy of all civil officials in the world!"

“Yes, Commander. Refusing the decree would at most—” Li Yunrui glanced at the imperial envoy, then pulled Huang Shi a step further away, lowering his voice to say, “Commander, refusing the decree would at most displease the Emperor, but as long as we win the battle, his displeasure will pass. But once you accept the decree, you will become a thorn in the side of the civil officials.”

Huang Shi sighed.

This time, Chongzhen had given him full authority to command the troops in the capital region, and demanded that he do his utmost to rescue the people, “so that the slaves will not abduct a single one of my people beyond the border.” Huang Shi had originally planned to secretly block Huang Taiji’s retreat. He had been worried that the civil officials supervising the army would force him to withdraw, but now, as long as he accepted the decree, Huang Shi could launch a legitimate military operation without worrying about anyone giving orders: “The Emperor wants me to rescue the people; this order aligns with my own thoughts. I cannot betray these people for the sake of self-preservation.”

The imperial envoy in the distance was already furious, his face turning ashen, and he was almost about to storm off. Yang Zhiyuan was pleading with the envoy, glancing at Huang Shi every now and then. Yao Yuxian and the others were also pleading with the envoy, while the cannibal, all smiles, blocked the envoy's path.

Jin Qiude and Li Yunrui exchanged a glance, then together pulled Huang Shi back a couple of steps.

"General—" Jin Qiude squeezed out an extremely faint voice through gritted teeth, barely audible even to Huang Shi beside him: "General. You have accepted this decree today, and you will surely die without a burial place in the future. When that time comes, will you just sit idly by and await your death?"

Li Yunrui also leaned closer to Huang Shi and asked in a voice barely audible: "General, when that day comes, and the massacre begins, we who follow you will also be crushed to pieces. General, if you do not betray the people today, you will betray us. General, we still have parents to support, wives and children to raise."

Huang Shi glanced back and saw Yang Zhiyuan squeezing into the crowd, saying something. A large number of officers wearing white feathered hats looked at him with trusting eyes. Huang Shi took a deep breath and said to the two men beside him, "I have not failed the people today, and I will never fail you in the future."

Jin Qiude and Li Yunrui gently released his hands. Huang Shi turned and strode back to the incense table. The officers, who had been in a chaotic state, quickly ran back to their positions. Huang Shi bowed deeply again:

"Your subject, Huang Shi, forever submits to your command! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

...

"Marshal!"

"Marshal!"

After the envoy left, the Fuzhou army erupted in thunderous cheers. Their highest commander had finally reached the pinnacle of military power in the Ming Dynasty, sitting in the position once held by Xu Da and Li Wenzhong.

Huang Shi solemnly put away the golden command token. With this gift in hand, even the governor had to obey Huang Shi's command. Ten thousand Fuzhou soldiers, fifteen thousand Guan Ning soldiers, and tens of thousands of able-bodied men from Liaoxi military households had already lined up outside the camp. Surrounded by his generals, Huang Shi walked out of the camp, ready to lead them to Yongping immediately. Secrecy was no longer of any use.

"Plagiarism is shameful, but I have no choice but to use it this time." Seeing that the morale of the Guan Ning Army was far lower than that of the Fu Ning Army, Huang Shi called over a few of his guards and gave them a detailed instruction. The guards then gladly accepted the order and left.

After the troops lined up along the road, Huang Shi began to inspect the fully equipped army on horseback. Several guards, carrying tin megaphones, followed closely behind Huang Shi, shouting at the tens of thousands of Ming soldiers:

"Who was it in Jinzhou—who, with six hundred soldiers, decisively defeated eight thousand Jurchens?"

Countless Fuzhou and Ningzhou soldiers enthusiastically answered: "It was the Marshal!"

"Who was it in Gaizhou—who drove the Jurchens so far that they dared not leave their homes?"

More soldiers responded loudly: "It was the Marshal!"

"Who was it in Nanguan—who routed the Jurchen chieftain?"

This time, thousands of Guan Ning soldiers joined the Fuzhou and Ningzhou soldiers in cheering: "It was the Marshal! It was the Marshal!"

"Who was it in Fuzhou…"

"It was the Marshal!"

"Who was it in Juehua…"

Yao Yuxian vigorously waved his fist, his voice almost hoarse from shouting: "It was the Marshal! It was the Marshal! It was the Marshal!"

"Who was it in Haizhou…who was it in Chishui…who was it in Fuqing…who was it in…"

The guards shouted the last question in unison: "Who rode into Liaoyang and killed the Jurchen chieftain?"

"Marshal!"

"Marshal!"

"Marshal!"

...

The cheers of tens of thousands of people rose in waves. Huang Shi rode straight to the front of the army. He gently removed his helmet, blew on the white feathers, and then stretched out his arm as high as he could, raising his helmet high so that more people could see it. Then, Huang Shi vigorously shook the helmet from side to side twice.

The noise behind him immediately subsided. Huang Shi swung the helmet behind his head and pointed straight ahead—in the direction of Yongping—before spurring his horse and heading north.

At the same time, the loud drumbeats sounded, and the large Ming army marched with firm steps, closely following behind Huang Shi, advancing in a mighty procession towards Yongping.

Huang Shi spread out a map on his horse and explained the situation they faced to several generals from other factions.

"From the capital to Zunhua, the Jurchens need to travel approximately 270 li (about 135 kilometers) along the way. They have plundered a large number of people, money, grain, and valuables this time. I estimate they can't travel too fast, at most 15 li (about 7.5 kilometers) per day, so it will take them 15 to 20 days to reach Zunhua. That means even if they started retreating three days ago, their main force would still arrive in Zunhua in ten days."

After Huang Taiji's invasion, the average daily marching speed of the Later Jin army's main force was 14 li (about 7.5 kilometers), and that was before they began plundering. Now, it seems there's no reason for them to march faster, only slower. Moreover, this invasion has lasted for several dozen days, and Huang Shi estimates that the Later Jin army's horses are also losing weight after repeated battles, so the main force's marching speed cannot be too fast.

Huang Shi moved his finger slightly to the left, pointing to their current location, Yongping. He then glided along the official road to Zunhua, raising his head to look at the several generals from other branches of the imperial family around him: "Gentlemen, we have 160 li to go. After Yongping, we will enter the Jurchen-controlled area. We need to conquer the fortresses occupied by the Jurchens, secure our supply lines, and deal with their constant harassment. But we must reach Santunying within five days and attack Zunhua before the main Jurchen force returns, blocking their retreat."

"The Marshal is right."

"A few days ago, we received a report that the Jurchen troops are advancing from the Xifengkou direction towards Qian'an, seemingly intending to attack Yongping. Undoubtedly, to ensure the safety of their main force, the Jurchens will try to expand their flanks and rear as much as possible. This force will probably number one or two thousand. I need a fierce general to repel them for me." Huang Shi did not intend to deploy his elite troops too early. He planned to allow his troops to conserve their strength and maintain their organization as a final strategic reserve, to be deployed only at the most critical moment.

"Marshal, this humble general is willing to be the vanguard."

"Marshal, this humble general is willing to ride swiftly to support Yongping."

"Marshal, this humble general is willing to atone for his crimes through meritorious service.

" Huang Shi looked at the several men who had spoken so passionately, finally fixing his gaze on Yao Yuxian: "General Yao, then go."

With that, Huang Shi drew a command arrow and handed it to Yao Yuxian, instructing him: "General Yao, speed is of the essence in war. Whatever method you use, you must reach Yongping as quickly as possible and advance towards Qian'an, reclaiming the official road to avoid delaying the army's journey."

"Marshal, rest assured, this humble general will not sleep tonight. I will urge the troops to set off immediately."

"Good, with General Yao's words, I can rest easy tonight."

Yao Yuxian left excitedly after receiving the command token. Huang Shi smiled at the other two men who looked unwilling, "General Jin, General Zu, I have an important task for you two."

Jin Guan and Zu Dashou were both invigorated upon hearing this and quickly cupped their hands, saying, "Marshal, please give your orders, we will not dare to refuse."

"General Yao rushed to Yongping overnight and will definitely need to rest tomorrow afternoon. Therefore, I need another general to attack Qian'an, and at the same time, I need a swift-footed general to cross Qian'an without stopping and head straight for Santunying to scout out the enemy situation for me." Huang Shi now had control over all the Ming troops, so he did not intend to force his two elite battalions to march, but instead wanted to use the other Ming troops to share the burden.

These Ming generals were all eager to be assigned by Huang Shi. Jin Guan wasn't concerned with victory or defeat, but rather with how much credit he could gain. He immediately volunteered loudly: "Marshal! Tomorrow at dawn, I will prepare breakfast at the first watch; we will depart at the second watch, then march swiftly to Qian'an, determined to capture this city for you."

Although the cannibalistic Zu Dashou knew that sweeping through Santunying was a far more dangerous task, he understood that Yao Yuxian and Jin Guan had a special relationship with Huang Shi. If he wanted to avoid being at a disadvantage in the credit distribution, he had to take on a heavy responsibility to leave a good impression on Huang Shi.

These Mongols were originally just scattered groups, even less organized and disciplined than those who initially accompanied Huang Taiji into the pass and attacked Beijing. They entered the pass with a show of support; they would naturally take what was available. But it was absolutely impossible for them to fight to the death against Ming troops ten or even dozens of times their size for Huang Taiji and the Later Jin regime.

Before Jin Guan could even finish setting up the ladder, a group of Mongols escaped through the north gate. With the gate open, more than half of the Mongols in the city fled. Jin Guan, being experienced and prudent, couldn't immediately understand what was happening and didn't send anyone to seize the gate. When Jin Guan finally figured out what had happened, the Manchu soldiers inside the city closed the gate again, infuriating him.

However, Jin Guan also received good news: several dozen Mongols who had left hadn't fled towards Xifengkou. They felt that since they had entered the pass, they shouldn't leave empty-handed; they wanted to earn some money for their wives and children back home. So these Mongols came to the Ming army camp and asked Jin Guan if he would hire them as scouts for a few days, each asking for ten taels of silver.

After some haggling, Jin Guan settled on five taels of silver per person. He also gave their leader the title of a Tatar official. After the deal was made, these laborers took off their Later Jin uniforms and put on Ming army uniforms, becoming "Ming scouts." However, before they went to scout the surrounding area, they also told Jin Guan everything about the city's situation.

After hearing that there were only a little over three hundred people in the city, Jin Guan ordered more than three thousand Ming soldiers to attack from all sides, determined to keep the defenders busy.

However, the efficiency of the swarm attack was still low. The Ming army tried to climb the city walls several times, but they were all driven back by the Later Jin soldiers defending the city. The city gate could not be opened for a long time, making Jin Guan very anxious.

"Father, General Zu is already ten miles away." Jin Shiqi walked to Jin Guan's side and whispered the news from behind. Although Huang Shi said that it didn't matter if the official road and supply line couldn't be opened for a day, Jin Guan was eager to make a name for himself in front of Huang Shi, so he had to take Qian'an as quickly as possible.

"Okay, I understand." Jin Guan reached for his beloved Green Dragon Crescent Blade, let out a loud shout, and slashed it through the air with great flourish. Then he strode towards Qian'an City.

"Father, Father!"

Jin Shiqi hurriedly tried to pull Jin Guan back, but his father pushed him away. "Boy, whether I can become a general in my life depends on this one act."

The brave Jin Guan was the first to climb the city wall of Qian'an. Right in front of more than three thousand Ming soldiers, Vice General Jin stood on the edge of the city wall, wielding his broadsword with reckless abandon, engaging in fierce combat with the Later Jin soldiers. Jin Guan's personal leadership in climbing the wall greatly boosted the morale of the Ming army. He managed to create a tiny gap with his broadsword, through which his son, servants, and the Ming soldiers behind him continuously climbed.

The dying struggle of the Later Jin army in Qian'an was finally crushed. As the gates of Qian'an were opened one by one, the sound of ten thousand horses galloping could be heard in the distance. A seemingly endless column of cavalry began its rapid charge. Leading them was a Ming general with thick eyebrows, large eyes, and a full, bristling beard—none other than the Flying General, the Ogre, and Commander-in-Chief of Ningyuan, Zu Dashou. He was hunched over his horse, charging first through the south gate of Qian'an City.

Amidst the cheers of thousands of Ming soldiers on the city walls, General Zu and his cavalry thundered past the center of Qian'an Fortress, their hooves pounding the ground without pause. They sped off towards the north gate. On

the city wall, Jin Guan shouted to Zu Dashou, "General Zu, be careful on your journey!"

As he spoke, General Zu was running towards him, but before he could finish his sentence, he had already passed through the gate at Jin Guan's feet. Jin Guan quickly turned back towards the city, sending the last few words to Zu Dashou's retreating figure.

Zu Fei's reply was carried back by the north wind: "The greatest credit for annihilating the Jurchens this time will surely belong to my Zu Dashou!"

Jin Guan laughed heartily as he watched Zu Dashou disappear into the distance, the large contingent of Guan Ning cavalry rolling out of the city gate beneath his feet. Just now, as Jin Guan turned around, the wound on his shoulder reopened, and Jin Shiqi quickly ran over to bandage his father's wound.

"Alright, let someone else do this," Jin Guan called over a personal guard from behind. As the guard bandaged his wound, Jin Guan called to his son, "Go to the Marshal immediately and report the victory to him as soon as possible!"

"Yes, Father," Jin Shiqi replied softly, turning to leave.

"Wait, I haven't finished yet." Jin Guan grabbed his son and pressed, "What should you say when you see the Marshal?"

"Of course, it's that Father was the first to scale the city walls..."

"Foolish!"

Jin Shiqi was interrupted by Jin Guan before he could finish his sentence. He exclaimed in exasperation, "Foolish! Of course, it's that you were the first to scale the city walls and thus captured Qian'an."

"This, how could your son..." Jin Shiqi was taken aback, then he understood Jin Guan's meaning, but he was still somewhat unwilling to take credit for his father's achievements.

"Sigh, your old man is already so old, he doesn't need too many military merits, but you must leave a good impression on the Marshal." Although the Grand General's Office had no authority to appoint military officers of the fourth rank and above, only if Huang Shi submitted a list of personnel could the Directorate of Ceremonial approve it. Besides, the specific achievements of the personnel were all reported by the Grand General's Office to the Directorate of Ceremonial.

Jin Guan grabbed his beloved Green Dragon Crescent Blade, which he had never abandoned even in the most critical moments—such as when he was being chased around Ningyuan City by the Later Jin army. Now, Jin Guan solemnly handed the blood-stained broadsword to his son: "Here, you used this to conquer Qian'an. Take it to see the Marshal. Last time in the Battle of Juehua, your old man used it to cut down a Jurchen who was fighting the Marshal. The Marshal is a very sentimental man, and his rewards and punishments are very fair. I think he will give you a great credit as soon as he sees this sword."

Jin Shiqi took the broadsword from his father with both hands, and Jin Guan continued to instruct him: "Remember to go and see a guerrilla from the Fuzhou Army named Ouyang Xin. He is a favorite of the Marshal. I found out yesterday that he was not yet engaged, so I immediately betrothed your sister to him. Don't forget to go and cultivate a relationship with him this time. Remember! If you want to get promoted and make meritorious contributions in your life, you must cling tightly to the Marshal's powerful backer."

...

On the second day, Huang Shi's troops crossed Qian'an, and Jin Guan had already led the main force north to blockade the northern section of the border wall at Lengkou. Huang Shi was very satisfied with Jin Guan's performance, so he kept his son Jin Shiqi by his side and accompanied him to Santunying.

Shortly after crossing Qian'an, a troop of cavalry came galloping up from behind. The inner guard, after ascertaining the situation, rushed to report to Huang Shi: "Marshal, Zhang Guoqing, the military commander of Ningyuan, has been ordered to enter the pass to defend the emperor. He requests to be under your command."

"Alright, let him join the troops." Huang Shi remembered this fellow; he was one of the two men who, along with Jin Guan, had been chased around Ningyuan Fort by the Later Jin cavalry.

After Zhang Guoqing had his troops join the ranks, he hurriedly approached Huang Shi to ingratiate himself: "Marshal, upon hearing that you had landed at Shanhaiguan, I hastily mustered my troops and came to serve you." "

General Zhang's righteousness is deeply moving,"

Zhang Guoqing said with a broad smile, bowing respectfully: "Marshal, you flatter me."

Huang Shi and Zhang Guoqing hadn't seen each other for a long time, so they chatted about their experiences since their separation. After a while, the inner guards rode up again, loudly reporting to Huang Shi, "Marshal, Wu Yu, the military commander of Juehua, has been ordered to enter the pass to defend the emperor and has arrived behind our lines."

"Let him come."

"Yes, sir!"

Wu Yu, Zhang Guoqing's sworn brother from the last battle, rushed over and hurriedly explained to Huang Shi, "This humble general heard that the marshal had landed at Shanhaiguan and was determined to follow him to the capital to defend the emperor. However, Juehua was breaking ice, so we couldn't land for a while, which delayed us until today."

After the battle of Juehua, Wu Yu had been breaking ice like a madman every winter, so this time he was a little later than Zhang Guoqing in both receiving the news and setting off. Huang Shi laughed after hearing this, "Breaking ice is indeed a foolproof plan. General Wu is truly a great general."

"Marshal is too kind. This humble general is unworthy of such praise."

On the afternoon of the second day, the inner guards ran over again to report, "Marshal, Shang Keyi, the guerrilla commander of Changshan Island, has led his personal troops to defend the emperor and requests the marshal's command."

"Let him follow."

"Yes, sir.

...

"Marshal, Guerrilla General Shang Kexi of Deer Island has led his personal guards to defend the emperor and has come to request to be under your command."

"Let him in."

"Yes, sir." "

After Huang Shi set off for Shanhaiguan, news of his arrival in Dengzhou reached the Shang brothers. They simultaneously sent messengers to Dengzhou to investigate. Once they confirmed that Huang Shi was heading to Tianjin to defend the emperor, they hurriedly led their elite troops to Tianjin. Upon arriving at Dagukou in Tianjin, they saw the imperial edict ordering Huang Shi to establish a Grand Commandery.

The brothers then rushed to Shanhaiguan, turning north from Huizhou, searching for Huang Shi's trail. It wasn't until they met in Huang Shi that they learned they had both sent messengers to inform each other. They chuckled, assuming their messengers were still on their way.

On the third day of the twelfth month of the second year of Chongzhen's reign, Huang Shi's forces continued to expand. Many well-known and lesser-known generals from Laideng, Liaodong, Jizhou, and Dongjiang garrisons arrived with their retainers to defend the emperor.

'Marshal, Deputy General Mao Chenglu of Guanglu Island has arrived with his personal guards to defend the emperor.'" "

...

Marshal, the brothers Kong Youde, the guerrilla commander of Lushun, and Geng Zhongming, the garrison commander, have led

their personal guards to defend the emperor." Accompanying Kong Youde and his men were the coastal defense guerrilla commander of Laiden Town and several generals. Huang Shi's forces now consist of more than a dozen generals from various military garrisons, and they have brought over two thousand elite cavalry. And the force is still growing. Among the trusted officers Kong Youde brought this time were Ji Tuisi, Xiao Bailang, and others. These men were also extremely excited to see Huang Shi. Years ago, after hearing that Huang Shi had killed the slave chieftain, they all praised him for keeping his word. After

Mao Wenlong's death, the Shang brothers, Kong Youde, and Geng Zhongming all reverted to their original surnames. When Huang Shi saw Kong Youde and Geng Zhongming arrive, he dismounted and clasped his hands in a fist salute to Kong Youde, saying, "Brother, it's been a long time."

Huang Shi's actions startled the surrounding generals, and Kong Youde was also taken aback. He quickly bowed deeply in return, saying, "Marshal, how dare this humble general accept the title of Marshal in the army?"

Although Kong Youde still addressed Huang Shi respectfully as Marshal, everyone understood immediately that this man's relationship with Huang Shi was definitely not ordinary. Geng Zhongming, behind Kong Youde, even looked smug. "

Brother, why can't you accept this? We haven't even reached the battlefield yet," Huang Shi said with a smile, recounting the scene of his first meeting with Kong Youde. At that time, Kong Youde was a patriotic general who protected refugees and fought against tyranny. It was precisely because of these actions that Huang Shi considered Kong Youde a confidant.

"Without you, brother, I would have died on the road long ago. How could I have achieved what I have today?" Huang Shi told everyone without reservation about the hardships they had endured together, and the old story of how Kong Youde had defeated him so badly: "It was Brother Kong's teachings that allowed me to glimpse the way of a general. Our long talk eight years ago seems like it was just yesterday."

After a moment of excitement, Kong Youde sighed, "A true hero doesn't dwell on past glories. Brother, your current military strategies and martial arts achievements are beyond my reach in this lifetime." "

Today, let's drink together, brother!" Although their statuses were now vastly different, since Kong Youde had reverted to his original name, Huang Shi could revisit their sworn brotherhood. They hadn't used that title since parting ways in Dongjiang for seven years. Huang Shi then added with a smile, "However, on the battlefield, I will treat you all equally."

"Of course," Kong Youde replied, "I know that perfectly well. " Seeing that Huang Shi hadn't forgotten their shared hardships after all these years, Kong Youde was deeply moved, completely unaware of the profound meaning behind Huang Shi's words. Huang Shi, meanwhile, secretly rejoiced that Kong Youde's history had finally changed, and he wouldn't have to face him on the battlefield.

At the banquet, Kong Youde discovered that he and Hu Yining, the former deputy commander of the front garrison, got along very well. After a few drinks, the two became acquainted: "Brother Kong, do you have any children?"

Kong Youde chuckled and replied, "I'm poor; I can't even afford a wife, how could I possibly have children?"

Hu Yining was greatly surprised and quickly pressed, "Brother Kong, as a guerrilla commander of Dongjiang, how come you can't even afford a wife?" Kong

Youde chuckled a few more times. Because of the poverty of Dongjiang Town, officers had never received a salary, so Kong Youde had never married. In the original history, his wife and those of Geng Zhongming were married during the Dengzhou Rebellion when they seized land.

"I have a daughter, born of the principal wife, sixteen years old, still unmarried. She's from a military family, I suppose. I wonder if she's fortunate enough to marry General Kong?" Hu Yining was about the same age as Kong Youde, but had both a son and a daughter. He immediately offered Kong Youde his daughter, whom he had originally intended to marry his son.

Kong Youde was overjoyed, but repeatedly said he wouldn't dare. This Hu Yining was already a deputy general of Liaozhen, from a wealthy, hereditary military family. For him to be interested in a poor man like Kong Youde was clearly an honor.

...

December 3rd, early morning.

A personal guard rushed to the side of the cannibalistic ancestor, Zu Dashou, and handed him a document with both hands: "Sir, the Marshal has an urgent matter."

In the letter, Huang Shi asked where the vanguard had gone and how far they were from Santun Camp. Zu Feijiang squinted as he read the letter, then stroked his beard, looked down at the city below, and said, shaking his head, "Reporting to the Marshal, I am already standing on the city wall of Santun Camp, awaiting your army." On

the fifth day, outside Santun Camp,

Zu Feijiang led nine thousand Guan Ning cavalry several miles out of the city to meet Huang Shi's central army. Huang Shi rode ahead to Zu Feijiang's side, dismounted, and laughed loudly, "General Zu is truly a flying general! You have traveled nearly two hundred miles in two days. To capture Santun Camp in a single day deserves the greatest credit!"

"Marshal is too kind," Zu Dashou replied. "My humble efforts are nothing to worry about." After saying this, Zu Dashou looked to his side and pointed to a man, saying to Huang Shi, "This time, I was able to capture Zunhua City entirely thanks to the assistance of this brave man."

"Oh?" Huang Shi turned to look at the stranger, asking with interest, "What is this brave man's name, and what are his achievements? Tell me quickly."

Upon hearing Huang Shi's words, the man immediately knelt down, kowtowed three times, and then respectfully said, "This sinner, Liu Xingzhi, pays his respects to the Marshal."

During this invasion, Liu Xingzhi belonged to the second wave of mobilization troops in the rear, responsible for transporting the captured people and supplies out of the pass and organizing the scattered Mongol herders into troops. He was already a Manchu of the Later Jin Plain Red Banner, but after hearing that Huang Shi was personally supervising the army, Liu Xingzhi's mind became active again.

A few days ago, the Mongols from the direction of Qian'an began to flee back, indicating that the Ming army was launching a major counterattack. Liu Xingzhi was certain that this must be Huang Shi's main attack direction, so he took it upon himself not to warn the Zunhua direction. After Zu Fei's troops arrived outside Santunying, Liu Xingzhi led his confidants in a sudden attack, opening the gates of Santunying for the Ming army.

There were only two hundred Manchu soldiers in the city to begin with, and Liu Xingzhi led several dozen more to defect. While the remaining Mongols were in a state of panic, Zu Fei led nine thousand Guan Ning cavalry into the city, and the Santun Camp fell.

"Oh, so you're Liu Xingzhi! Please rise quickly," Huang Shi laughed, helping Liu Xingzhi to his feet. Now, he was surrounded by a large group of traitors. Besides Zu Dashou, several others from Guan Ning were also future bannermen, and all three princes were present. One more Liu Xingzhi wouldn't make a difference, nor would one less.

Huang Shi immediately appointed Liu Xingzhi as the guerrilla commander of Xifengkou, ordering him to set off immediately to try to close the eastern border wall of Xifengkou. He also granted him the authority to launch a preemptive strike, allowing him to cross the wall and attack the Duoyan region: "The Kharachin Mongols are aiding the Jianzhou Jurchens and should be punished. General Liu can act as he sees fit, without initiating a border conflict."

"Yes, Marshal."

More than eight hundred Mongols from Santunying surrendered to the Ming army. Liu Xingzhi persuaded Zu Dashou not to kill them, and now he wanted to incorporate these surrendered soldiers into his own troops.

"If we can capture Hong Tai this time, I will definitely recommend you as a lieutenant general, just as I promised you before, it will be easy."

"Marshal's kindness is deeply appreciated."

That very night, Huang Shi ordered a celebration for Zu Dashou and had the troops set up camp to rest. That same night, Zu Dashou and He Dingyuan formed a relationship, with He Dingyuan arranging for Zu Dashou's youngest daughter to marry his son. It wasn't just He Dingyuan; all of Huang Shi's other favorites became the focus of attention for the external generals. The only consolation for Huang Shi was that, for the time being, no one had made a move on his daughter.

The sixth day.

Liu Xingzhi had only been gone a day when he returned with his brother, Liu Xingzuo. The latter immediately prostrated himself upon entering the tent: "The sinner Liu Xingzuo pays his respects to the Marshal, I deserve death, I deserve death!"

"Please rise," Huang Shi said casually from his seat. If Liu Xingzuo hadn't brought any great merit, Huang Shi felt he didn't need to be too polite to him.

"Thank you, Marshal." After Liu Xingzuo stood up, his brother went out and dragged in two women bound hand and foot. He shoved them forcefully, causing them to fall to the ground.

Liu Xingzuo pointed to the two women slumped on the ground and said, "Marshal, these are the two concubines of Chief Hong Tai. They are the daughters of the Khorchin Mongol chieftain."

Liu Xingzhi immediately pounced on them, grabbing their hair and tilting their faces up to show Huang Shi.

“The older one is called Hailanzhu, and the younger one is called Dayuer.”

Huang Shi glanced at the sisters and nodded. “Liu Xingzuo, you have done a great service. Release them.”

As soon as Liu Xingzuo released them, the two sisters from the Khorchin Mongols collapsed to the ground again. Their mouths were tied with ropes, so only soft sobs could be heard.

According to Liu Xingzuo, he had brought the sisters with him when Huang Taiji invaded, but a few days earlier Huang Taiji had ordered a full retreat. He insisted that the main force leave first, so he had the sisters sent across the border first. Liu Xingzuo was in charge of logistics in the Khorchin Mongol territory. When they crossed the border, Liu Xingzuo heard that the Ming army had reached the outskirts of Santunying. He made up his mind, led his men to kill several escorts, kidnapped the sisters, and escaped. He planned to defect with his brother, Liu Xingzhi.

Liu Xingzuo and his dozens of men scaled the border wall east of Xifengkou and headed straight for Santunying, where they encountered his younger brother, Liu Xingzhi.

"Marshal," Liu Xingzuo said, "Chief Hong Tai of the Jurchens has learned of your return to the capital. The Jurchen elite troops are rushing back day and night, intending to hold Zunhua and Xifengkou to cover the main force's exit. They'll reach Zunhua in a day or two."

"So fast?"

"Yes, I heard Hong Tai left only a small force to protect the rear guard, while the main force abandoned the main force and returned at full speed. He also ordered the troops in the Kharachin Mongol territory to prepare to regroup and enter the pass to assist in the defense of Zunhua and Xifengkou." If the main force were abandoned, the combat troops could travel over fifty li a day, but Liu Xingzuo told Huangshi that there weren't enough supplies along the way, and the cavalry couldn't sustain such a long march.

Liu Xingzuo had been working in the Khorchin Mongol territory for days, so he knew Huang Taiji's trump cards perfectly well. He pointed menacingly at the two women on the ground: "Marshal, they should know quite a bit too."

The Liu brothers didn't know how Huang Shi planned to deal with the women, so they hadn't been rough with them. However, they both suggested that Huang Shi use torture to extract information from them.

"I won't ask my wife how to kill their husbands, and I won't ask my daughter and sister how to deal with their father and brothers." This time, the Khorchin Mongol chieftain and several of his sons had also accompanied Huang Taiji on the invasion. Their Khorchin clan had sent twenty-three beile (princes) and over two thousand armored soldiers.

The Liu brothers looked puzzled, but Huang Shi ignored their confusion and summoned several female medics to help the two Mongol women down. He also instructed them to prepare bathwater and comfortable accommodations for them. Of course, anything the two women might use as weapons should be confiscated, and they should be kept under strict guard to prevent them from committing suicide.

After handing over the instructions, the medics took the two sisters away. When Huang Shi turned around, he saw the Liu brothers' faces showing expressions of sudden realization. Huang Shi smiled slightly and didn't intend to explain. Besides, they had also seen their female soldiers; in this era, having women in the army would naturally cause misunderstandings.

"Even if Hong Taiji enters Zunhua, he might not be able to transport the Jurchens out, but at least some of them can escape." Huang Shi opened the map and looked at it. He planned to attack Zunhua first. Then, as long as a portion of his troops held Zunhua, he could safely turn around and attack Xifengkou without worrying about any unexpected situations. Once

Zunhua, Xifengkou, and Santunying fell into the hands of the Ming army, Huang Taiji's main force would be destined to be unable to leave the pass from there. On a wider scale, the Qin army, the Bian army, the Lu army, and even the White-Spear Army from the southwest were all heading towards Beijing. Within three months, the number of troops coming to the aid of the emperor around the capital would exceed 100,000, and within six months, it would exceed 200,000. It would be impossible for Huang Taiji to play hide-and-seek with Huang Shi.

"How many troops are garrisoning Xifengkou?"

"Reporting to the Marshal, 1,000 to 1,500 Mongol soldiers, mostly men from the Kharachin Mongols, old and weak, hastily conscripted."

"Good, let's put that aside for now. They have no chance of rescuing others or holding out for long. Hmm, Zunhua is 50 li away from Santunying. How many troops are garrisoning Zunhua?"

"Reporting to the Marshal, there are 500 Manchu soldiers in armor and 300 unarmored, and about 1,000 Mongol soldiers. The garrison commander is Fan Wencheng, a Han Chinese promoted by Hong Taixin. It's said he was a scholar before."

"Fan Wencheng, Fan Wencheng." Huang Shi chewed on the name, nodding slightly. "Alright then, we'll attack Zunhua next and capture Fan Wencheng alive." (

Chapter 62 (Final Conclusion) Betrayal)

Huang Shi remembered that Fan Wencheng, this notorious traitor, was also greatly praised, possessing titles such as "Master Strategist" and "Reincarnation of Zhuge Liang." This Mr. Fan Wencheng was originally a scholar from Liaodong. During Nurhaci's reign, the Later Jin dynasty launched a massacre of Han scholars, and Fan Wencheng was originally among those who would not have escaped. However, because he was tall and appeared quite strong, he was not buried alive with his companions but was instead sent to the Plain White Banner as

a bondservant to farm. Huang Taiji, who admired Han learning, held Fan Wencheng in high regard. After Nurhaci's death,

Huang Taiji officially promoted Fan Wencheng from a bondservant to a Manchu of the Plain Yellow Banner. According to Liu Xingzuo's intelligence, Fan Wencheng was now a Plain Yellow Banner Commander, fully responsible for protecting Huang Taiji's rear route to Zunhua, and also handling logistics and transportation. Huang Shi always admired Huang Taiji's eye for talent, but at this time, Fan Wencheng was still a novice, lacking any military training. Although Huang Shi believed this man was a promising talent, he figured it would be a decade or more before he reached his full potential, and in the present, he shouldn't be considered a particularly troublesome figure.

However, on the other hand, a great reputation is never undeserved. Fan Wencheng's historical fame was a testament to his exceptional intelligence. Huang Shi, always considering himself of average ability, decided to follow the old path of "a tiger hunting a rabbit." He wouldn't be arrogant, nor would he engage in a battle of wits with historical figures; he was determined to deploy an overwhelmingly superior army and take Zunhua honorably.

"If we let Huang Taiji go and only kill this loyal dog, Fan Wencheng, it would be a huge waste," Huang Shi thought. He remembered Fan Wencheng as a man utterly loyal to Huang Taiji. Historically, Dodo had forcibly taken Fan Wencheng's wife, yet Fan Wencheng still dutifully fulfilled his duties. This dog-like loyalty even impressed Huang Shi.

Despite his admiration, Huang Shi was determined to capture Zunhua. With Huang Taiji's main force almost completely under his control, the only escape route for the enemy was to hold Zunhua and Xifengkou, covering the retreat of some troops and their escape through the pass. Huang Shi didn't want any complications at this critical juncture: "However, no matter how much military talent Fan Wencheng possesses, he can't just conjure up tens of thousands of troops, armor, and cannons out of thin air, can he?"

Huang Shi believed that strategy was worthless in the face of overwhelming strength. He had considered it repeatedly but couldn't figure out what tricks Fan Wencheng could pull. His staff had also conducted offensive and defensive simulations based on the terrain map, and they also believed that Zunhua was almost impossible to defend. Satisfied with this conclusion, Huang Shi ordered a military conference to assign the next military tasks. Both he and his staff were full of confidence.

While Huang Shi was calculating the possible reactions of the Zunhua defenders, those he had outmaneuvered had already finalized their battle strategy.

Now, inside Zunhua, Fan Wencheng, the Later Jin's foremost strategist, was quietly reading by candlelight. His face was completely absorbed in the story, seemingly oblivious to the approaching Ming army.

"Master,"

a soft call from a member of the Later Jinniu Regiment pulled Fan Wencheng from his book. He sighed softly, reluctantly shifting his gaze from the book, and calmly looked at the newly arrived Later Jinniu Regiment member: "Has the horse tail I requested been cut?"

"Yes, Master," the Later Jinniu Regiment member hurriedly replied, presenting a long horse tail with both hands.

Fan Wencheng gently stroked the soft horse's tail, a confident smile on his face, as if he had everything under control. His tone remained calm and unperturbed: "Come, help me grind the ink."

"Yes, Master."

While the Later Jin soldier was grinding the ink, Fan Wencheng inquired about the situation regarding wood, stone, arrows, and the troops in the city. Just as he was frowning in thought, another Later Jin soldier ran in to report: "Master, someone is knocking at the gate outside the city."

"Who is it?"

"Reporting to Master, it is Prince Dorgon. He has led four hundred white-armored soldiers and a thousand Mongol troops back overnight to reinforce Zunhua and secure the retreat route."

"Good!" Fan Wencheng shouted. He quickly stood up and walked to the door: "Quickly welcome him, quickly welcome him."

...

When Dorgon arrived in Zunhua to assist in the defense, the Ming army camp at Santunying was also brightly lit. Upon hearing that his opponent was merely a scholar and that the city only had eight hundred Manchu soldiers, Zu Dashou once again volunteered: "Marshal, this humble general is willing to lead my troops to capture Zunhua City. I will certainly bring back the head of the traitor Fan for you."

"Marshal, this humble general is also willing to go!"

"Marshal, give this humble general a chance to earn merit!"

The military tent erupted in shouts vying for the opportunity to fight. Zu Dashou, who spoke first, was met with unanimous contempt; everyone was extremely dissatisfied with his attempt to monopolize the credit. Zu Fei, red-faced and vehemently arguing, said it wasn't a matter of being unfair due to a shortage of soldiers, but rather that he, Zu, needed these merits to save his own life. Therefore, Zu Fei insisted that he should be the one to attack Zunhua.

This caused an even greater uproar. Everyone said that Zu Dashou's military achievements were already enough for him to redeem himself. Everyone had come with great difficulty to defend the emperor, and many hadn't even had a glimpse of merit yet. They absolutely couldn't let Zu Dashou take it all.

However, Zu Dashou's advantage lay in his 9,000-strong main force. The other two commanders, Yao Yuxian and Jin Guan, who commanded larger armies, hadn't followed. The remaining generals typically had only a few dozen or a hundred personal guards each. Therefore, Zu Dashou was confident and loud, infuriating many who nearly punched him.

Finally, Huang Shi intervened, offering Zu Dashou two options: one was that he could claim all the credit for retaking Zunhua and Santunying, but in return, he would have to give more heads to other generals; the other was that he could relinquish the credit for capturing the city, but Huang Shi would give him a larger share of any heads collected later.

Zu Dashou gritted his teeth and thought for a long time, repeatedly hesitatingly stating that he wanted both, but was met with unanimous condemnation and Huang Shi's firm refusal. Finally, Zu Dashou, with a mournful face, declared that he wanted the credit for retaking the city, and would accept a smaller share of the heads collected later.

Huang Shi's Funing army didn't care about the reward money for the heads taken, and Huang Shi himself had ways to get a share for his men. So Huang Shi generously declared that no matter how many heads were captured, he would only take 30% for his own men, and the rest would be given to those who had made meritorious contributions as rewards. This announcement naturally caused another round of cheers, and the generals in the tent praised Marshal Huang as a truly heroic figure.

However, Huang Shi also made it clear to them that his method of calculating merit was not based on the number of heads taken, but on whether the generals obeyed Huang Shi's orders and whether they worked hard to carry out Huang Shi's requirements. Huang Shi had always felt that calculating merit based on the number of heads taken was very unreasonable, as everyone would want to eat meat, but few would be willing to gnaw on bones.

Therefore, starting from the Juehua incident, Huang Shi made the issue clear beforehand. Those who obeyed orders would certainly not be let down by Huang Shi; but those who tried to seize or take advantage of others on their own would certainly not be treated well by Huang Shi.

Now, as the Grand Commander, Huang Shi naturally had the loudest voice. All the generals pledged to strictly obey Huang Shi's orders and never act independently. If they could stop the main force of the Later Jin army, the number of beheadings was estimated to be no less than 20,000. Therefore, everyone was eager to participate; they all knew that their fate depended on their performance before Marshal Huang.

Huang Shi's demand for 30% of the heads was primarily for promoting his own loyal subordinates. He himself was indifferent to the number of heads. Huang Shi was already the Left Commander-in-Chief of the Grand General's Office, and if he could quickly drive the Later Jin army out of the pass, he would certainly be officially appointed Grand General of the Grand General's Office. As an officially appointed Grand General, the emperor would at least grant Huang Shi a marquisate to match his status.

Therefore, the number of beheadings was actually irrelevant to Huang Shi; he would soon have no further promotions. Moreover, whether it was his own or collateral relatives, any beheadings would be attributed to Huang Shi. Huang Shi's desire for fewer battle merits for his own troops was also to win over his collateral relatives to fight to the death. Sharing benefits was Huang Shi's long-standing philosophy.

Currently, only the Firefighting and Panshi battalions of the Funing Army have arrived at Santunying. The Vanguard Battalion is en route to Santunying. Twenty-five of the forty nine-pound cannons from the first two battalions have arrived, and the remaining fifteen will arrive around the same time as the Vanguard Battalion. The artillery unit of the Vanguard Battalion will also arrive within three days.

"General Zu, the two Generals Shang, General Mao..." Huang Shi called out the names of Zu Dashou, Shang Keyi, Shang Kexi, and Mao Chenglu in one breath, organizing them into the left wing of the loyalist army, led by Zu Dashou to attack Zunhua. Hu Yining, Zhang Guoqing, and the brothers Kong Youde and Geng Zhongming formed the right wing, led by Hu Yining to attack Xifengkou.

General Huang Shi of Jizhou, who came to report to Huang Shi, also scattered them and incorporated them into the left and right wings, while Huang Shi's main force remained in Santunying as the general reserve of the loyalist army, ready to reinforce the two wing at any time.

Knowing that Huang Shi's elite main force was right behind them, the other ground crew soldiers were filled with confidence, because they knew Huang Shi wouldn't abandon them. The fact that Huang Shi's main force wasn't vying for credit also gave them a stage to shine. Everyone understood that their promotions depended mainly on Huang Shi's whims, but Huang Shi told them that after the battle, everyone's contributions would be discussed publicly, and he would never engage in any underhanded dealings. After

the generals left, Huang Shi chatted with his confidants again. He joked to Yang Zhiyuan, "Brother Yang, you always lose at gambling! This time you lost another hundred taels of silver to Jin Qiude."

Jin Qiude's calculations about Yuan Chonghuan largely matched what happened afterward. Yang Zhiyuan could only accept his defeat. Hearing Huang Shi's mockery, Yang Zhiyuan sneered, "Actually, I should have won the Zhao family matter, but never mind, I won't hold it against you. Jin Qiude did win this time, but I don't think the Emperor will convict Yuan Chonghuan of treason."

"Brother Yang, do you still think Yuan Chonghuan didn't commit treason?"

"I didn't say that. I only said the Emperor probably won't convict Yuan Chonghuan of treason. As long as Yuan Chonghuan denies it, the charge won't be established." Besides being well-versed in the military law of the Fuzhou Army, Yang Zhiyuan was also very familiar with the laws of the Ming Dynasty: "In our Fuzhou Army, this would undoubtedly be treason, because we only look at what a person does, not what they think. However, according to the laws of the Ming Dynasty, for someone to be labeled a treasoner, besides committing the crime, they must also personally admit that they actually intended to betray the country."

"Then, according to the laws of the Ming Dynasty, what crime do you think Yuan Chonghuan will be convicted of?"

“If the Emperor hadn’t protected him to the death, hmm…” Yang Zhiyuan lowered his head in thought, then slowly said, “Leaving aside his past dereliction of duty, the Emperor ultimately entrusted him with the responsibility of protecting the capital region, and Yuan Chonghuan also promised not to let the enemy army cross the Jixi border, but the enemy army came right under his nose. He can’t escape being accused of failing in his duty… He repeatedly submitted memorials guaranteeing that he would cooperate sincerely with Mao Zedong, and on several occasions concealed his private peace negotiations with the Jurchens, secretly buying rice for them. The court didn’t ask about it, so it’s not an exaggeration to say that he relied solely on deception.”

Huang Shi interjected, adding, “He killed Mao Zedong to negotiate peace with the Jurchens, you forgot to mention that.”

Yang Zhiyuan scratched his head and said, “If there’s evidence…”

“Even if there is.”

"Then we must add the crime of 'killing the commander for plotting to collect money'; hmm, tens of thousands of troops passing through in front of tens of thousands of other troops in a single day must have been intentional, therefore there's also the crime of letting the enemy advance unchecked; the Jurchens passed through Jizhou on the 13th, taking the Sanhe and Tongzhou routes directly to the capital, while Yuan Chonghuan set off on the 14th, claiming to be pursuing the enemy, but instead bypassed the Hexi Corridor to avoid battle, arriving in the capital three days earlier than the Jurchens who took the shortcut. That's practically desertion, and calling it simply 'laying down troops without fighting' wouldn't be an exaggeration. Oh dear, there's too much, too much."

Huang Shi gave a bitter laugh: "Continue, what else?"

"Disbanding the loyalist troops is also a crime; and insisting on entering the city is almost equivalent to desertion; moreover, I heard that Yuan Chonghuan, even after reaching the capital, didn't forget to bring in the lamas for peace negotiations. Normally, this wouldn't be a problem, but seeing the Jurchens ravaging the capital and poisoning the people, instead of fighting them to the death with righteous indignation, he brought lamas to demand peace from the court. This is outrageous, and one can't help but suspect he was leading the enemy into the pass to coerce the emperor."

Yang Zhiyuan snapped his fingers: "If Yuan Chonghuan doesn't admit to colluding with the enemy, the crime that can be established is 'failing to fulfill his duties, relying solely on deception. Using rice to supply bandits, using requests for payment to execute the commander, allowing the enemy to advance unchecked, halting the army without fighting, and dispersing all reinforcements that arrived. When the enemy was at the city walls, he secretly brought lamas and insisted on entering the city.' That's roughly it."

"What punishment should he receive under the Ming Dynasty law?"

"His crime deserves to be punished by death by dismemberment. His relatives over sixteen years of age will be beheaded, those under sixteen will be enslaved as meritorious officials, and his female relatives

will be sent to the Imperial Music Bureau." "That's about it," Huang Shi agreed softly. Historically, Emperor Chongzhen attempted to release Yuan Chonghuan so he could return to pacify Liaodong, but the cabinet and the Ministry of Justice opposed it. However, Chongzhen ultimately pardoned Yuan Chonghuan's family. His relatives were spared, and his brothers and wives were merely exiled. It seems that until the very last moment, Chongzhen still felt Yuan Chonghuan's actions were excusable. He hadn't considered how many people had died at his hands, nor how many more Chinese people would die because of him in the future.

But Jin Qiude and the others believed Yuan Chonghuan still had a chance to be released. If he annihilated the Jurchens at Xifengkou, Chongzhen might be so pleased that he would attribute the credit to Yuan Chonghuan again. Whether it was killing Mao Wenlong, buying rice for the Later Jin without authorization, or failing to establish a supervisory body, Chongzhen showed an almost obsessive trust in Yuan Chonghuan.

Thinking of this, Huang Shi couldn't help but grumble again, "If he could come out, it would be so unfair."

Yang Zhiyuan looked at Huang Shi strangely, "Sir, you seem to hate that corrupt official Yuan very much?"

"Yes, I hate Yuan Chonghuan as much as I hate Qin Hui." Huang Shi secretly added the names of Wang Jingwei, Shi Lang, and others to his mind: "The green hills are fortunate to bury loyal bones, while the white iron is innocent in casting traitors. We still have descendants, and among them there will be unworthy ones, so we need to erect a kneeling statue for Qin Hui, so we need to let that corrupt official Yuan be executed by slow slicing, so that we can point at them to educate our descendants: Kids, look carefully, this is the end for traitors!"

...

The sixth day.

Mangultai got up early in the morning. He knelt facing the rising sun in the east, praying devoutly. After a long time, he skillfully drew a cross, slowly stood up, his knees already sore and numb from kneeling. Upon hearing that Huang Shi had returned, Mangultai's first thought was that the whole world had collapsed. Huang Taiji quickly devised a strategy and immediately ordered his troops to return to the capital.

The spoils were already substantial; the gold and silver they had seized were enough to supply the Later Jin army with food for several years, and they had captured over a hundred thousand people. Vast tracts of barren land in Liaodong awaited their cultivation. Therefore, Huang Taiji left in good spirits. However, bad news followed: Huang Shi not only failed to enter the capital but headed straight for their rear. Upon

hearing this, Huang Taiji shook his head repeatedly, saying that Huang Shi's strategy was mutually destructive and would clearly incite criticism and suspicion within the Ming court. Yet, they had no choice but to hasten their departure. Jirgalang and others were not particularly afraid of Huang Shi; on the contrary, they seemed somewhat eager to try their luck. But Mangultai had no desire to see Huang Shi's serpent banner. He even suggested that Huang Taiji detour through Juyong Pass or Gubeikou, breaking through the border wall from there to return to southern Mongolia.

However, Huang Taiji opposed this proposal. After Man Gui's death, the Ming troops in the capital region had kept their distance from the Later Jin army. But now, hearing that Huang Shi had become Grand Commander, although they still dared not attack, they were increasingly approaching, their desire to attack clearly increased.

Traveling from the Ming capital to Gubeikou would add hundreds of miles to the Ming territory, and would involve passing through undamaged border towns and fortified areas. The journey would be predictably slow. Huang Taiji estimated that 200,000 Ming troops had already responded to the call to defend the capital and were marching towards the Ming capital. If the Later Jin army didn't quickly cross the border, he estimated that even without Huang Shi's intervention, he wouldn't be able to escape.

Huang Taiji worried that even if they took the Gubeikou Pass, they would be overtaken by Huang Shi. The Funing army, moving within Ming territory, had a significant speed advantage over the Later Jin army. Moreover, Huang Taiji suspected that even if they successfully breached the Gubeikou Pass, it wouldn't be a clean break, as they would still have to cross the southern Gobi Desert and return to Liaoyang via Xifengkou.

The Later Jin army's entry into the pass greatly shocked the Ming court. Huang Taiji felt that Huang Shi might exit through Xifengkou, blocking their retreat. If this happened, Huang Taiji and his allies would have to traverse the vast desert in handcarts. Even if they managed to cross, they would still face the menacing Chahar Mongols and their allies.

This year, Ligdan Khan had become unwilling to fight the Later Jin, not only because he had suffered repeated defeats but also because he considered the Ming Dynasty unreliable and weak. Therefore, Ligdan Khan seemed to be considering emulating the Later Jin by plundering the Ming Dynasty. However, times have changed. If Huang Taiji were forced into a corner by the Ming army and had no choice but to flee into the desert, he believed that Ligdan Khan would still rush back with a vengeance.

Therefore, Huang Taiji ultimately decided to force his way out through Xifengkou. The Later Jin army had been advancing rapidly, but it would still take them at least three more days to reach Zunhua. The Later Jin army could not rely on horses to march away, otherwise at least 60% of their 25,000 troops would be lost. It was winter now. There was a shortage of fodder in the wild, and if the cavalry did not travel with the supply train, most of their mounts would be dead by the time they reached Xifengkou. If things came to that, even if Huang Taiji wanted to walk home, he would have to ask the Ming army and Ligdan Khan for permission first.

"Dorgon should have arrived in Zunhua by now, and the Ming army will probably arrive around the same time as us." Huang Taiji counted on his fingers, calculating the time for Huang Shi. He believed that Huang Shi must have fought his way from Yongping on his own, so his army must be exhausted. "Even if Huang Shi recklessly charges to the city, Fan Wencheng is quite shrewd. He and Dorgon are united in defending Zunhua and will definitely be able to hold out until we arrive. We can fight and retreat, and we have a good chance of breaking out of the pass."

"Hmm, Eighth Brother, what you said makes sense." Mangultai, after calming down, agreed with Huang Taiji's view. If they ran away without fighting, the morale of the Mongols would collapse, and many of them would probably desert and try to escape through Xifengkou. If things continued this way, by the time the army reached Juyong Pass or Gubeikou, only half of them would remain. Whether they could break through was uncertain, and the future was bleak. It was far less certain than racing against Huang Shi for time. "Eighth Brother, don't worry,"

Huang Taiji said with a wry smile, "I have prayed fervently. God will surely protect us." He trusted Dorgon's courage and Fan Wencheng's wisdom more than the shaman.

"Dorgon, Fan Wencheng, you must not disappoint me," Huang Taiji thought.

...

After the artillery of the Vanguard Battalion arrived at Santun Camp on the evening of the sixth day, Huang Shi ordered the Firefighting Battalion to break camp and depart the next day, preparing to advance towards Zunhua. The soldiers of the Funing Army, after a short rest, were even more in high spirits, and their strength had returned to its peak. Huang Shi planned for the Firefighting Battalion to march at a normal pace, catching up with Zu Dashou as a backup.

Huang Shi estimated that Zu Dashou would definitely attack Zunhua City with all his might, and the garrison of Zunhua City was already very exhausted after two days. Once the fire brigade arrived, Zu Dashou's left wing could rest for a day. Huang Shi hoped the fire brigade could easily defeat the Later Jin defenders who had been fighting for two days. While the fire brigade rested, the left wing of the loyalist army could recover its fighting strength and prepare to defend against the enemy's attack. The Panshi Battalion would then advance towards Xifengkou, replacing the exhausted right wing of the loyalist army. With such a significant numerical advantage, the Ming army needed to maintain morale and stamina through rotating troops. Huang Shi himself set off with the fire brigade, as the threat from that direction was still considerable. The Xuanfeng Battalion, on the other hand, began to rest and prepared to be deployed as needed.

At dawn on the seventh day, Huang Shi set off with the fire brigade, but they hadn't gone far when Zu Dashou's messenger came running from the opposite direction, excitedly reporting to Huang Shi: "Marshal, the left wing of the loyalist army has captured Zunhua!"

This news stunned Huang Shi. According to his calculations, Zu Dashou's left wing had set off on the morning of the sixth and the vanguard had arrived at the walls of Zunhua by evening. The attack should have been delayed until the seventh day. But now, a messenger reporting victory was right before them, meaning Zu Dashou launched a fierce attack as soon as he arrived at Zunhua, and Zunhua fell that very night.

—Wow, this cannibal is too ruthless!

Huang Shi, though he wanted to disbelieve it, was faced with the facts and couldn't help but look at Zu Fei with new respect.

The fire brigade was still slowly advancing behind, while Huang Shi, with a few guards, rode swiftly to Zunhua. He arrived on the evening of the seventh day. Zu Fei was beaming; he had once again secured a great victory. When the military merits were discussed, Zu Fei believed no one would dare to utter a word of complaint. The

other Ming generals were also very happy. Since the start of the campaign, the Ming army had been invincible, swiftly breaching the Later Jin army's strategic depth of two hundred li on their flanks and rear.

Upon seeing Huang Shi arrive, thousands of rescued civilians knelt and kowtowed in gratitude, chanting, "May Marshal Huang live a long and healthy life, and may your descendants be numerous and prosperous!"

These civilians were mostly from the capital region. After Yuan Chonghuan allowed the enemy to enter the pass, the elderly and children of these people were brutally murdered and then captured by the Later Jin army and sent beyond the pass. Today, after being rescued by the Ming army, these people felt as if they had been reborn. Remembering their tragically killed parents and elders,

they wept bitterly, wailing loudly. In this catastrophe, many parents also lost their young children. After releasing their pent-up emotions, they unanimously cursed Yuan Chonghuan for betraying the country. This overwhelming outcry made Zu Dashou and others somewhat embarrassed, but the people did not hold a grudge against the Guan Ning army. Seeing that they had been rescued, the people chose forgiveness and pardon. Upon hearing that Yuan Chonghuan had been imprisoned, thousands of people roared in unison, "Slice Yuan the traitor! Slice Yuan the traitor!"

Amidst this cacophony of gratitude, sorrow, and fury, Huang Shi strode into the Ming army's central camp in Zunhua. The Ming generals on either side bowed in salute, saying, "Marshal."

After settling into his seat in the center, the hero who had made the great contribution to the fall of Zunhua was summoned. Fan Wencheng prostrated himself and kowtowed several times, saying, "This sinner, Fan Wencheng, pays his respects to the Marshal." Within

Zunhua, there were over two thousand Later Jin soldiers under Fan Wencheng's and Dorgon's forces. Fan Wencheng commanded five hundred armored soldiers and three hundred unarmored soldiers, many of whom were his trusted confidants. Dorgon had four hundred soldiers in white armor and over a thousand Mongol soldiers. The left wing of the loyalist army comprised over ten thousand combat troops, two thousand of whom were elite retainers and personal guards.

Yesterday, Zu Dashou's vanguard had barely arrived outside the city when they received a secret envoy from Fan Wencheng. That very night, Fan Wencheng, along with his trusted men, set fires throughout the city, then led his troops to scatter the guards at the east gate, allowing the Ming army to enter the city. After entering the city, the two armies fought fiercely for most of the night. Fan Wencheng's troops contributed the most, beheading the most enemy soldiers; the entire Later Jin army in the city was wiped out, and Dorgon was captured alive. Li Yongfang, who was escorting supplies out of the pass, happened to be in Zunhua City and was naturally captured along with Dorgon by the Ming army.

Huang Shi looked at the man's black hair and asked hesitantly, "You are Fan Wencheng? What happened to your hair?"

"Reporting to the Marshal, I am Fan Wencheng." Fan Wencheng then ripped off his hair, revealing a bald head. "Marshal, I am unfortunate, forced to live in a bandit's den and shaved my head. Every time I think of this, my heart aches terribly, so I secretly made this wig for myself. For the past few years, in the dead of night, I have secretly put it on and looked at myself in the mirror for a while, but the pain in my heart only intensifies."

Fan Wencheng lay on the ground, choking back tears, and said, "My family and fellow countrymen were mostly killed by the slave chieftain. The reason I refused to die immediately was that I wanted to endure this humiliation and find an opportunity to serve the royal army. Today, I have finally waited for that opportunity, and I can die in peace."

After speaking, Fan Wencheng, the former top strategist of the Later Jin, burst into tears, his voice filled with sorrow, moving all who heard him to pity. The Ming generals on both sides of Huangshi also showed expressions of reluctance.

Fan Wencheng wailed for a while, then put his ink-dyed ponytail wig back on, sobbing, "Thanks to the Marshal's might, this sinner can finally wear this wig openly today. Thinking of all the humiliation I've endured over the years, my grief is overwhelming and unending."

Looking at Fan Wencheng's black hair and hearing his earnest words, Huang Shi felt a sense of absurdity. A moment later, Huang Shi snapped out of his daze. Wasn't this good? General Zu Dashou was advancing triumphantly, the generals of Guan Ning were vying for merit, and the Three Princes of Shun had all gained wealth and futures in the Ming Dynasty… Since even this traitor Fan Wencheng was wearing long hair, then the common people of China would naturally no longer have the possibility of wearing queues.

This omen was quite good, making Huang Shi feel instantly relieved, and he couldn't help but laugh at his previous thoughts. Expecting a traitor like Fan Wencheng to be loyal to Huang Taiji was like trying to catch fish by climbing a tree: "Fan Wencheng, what are your plans for the future?"

Huang Shi didn't intend to take on any advisors; his staff was already capable enough for all tasks. Therefore, he originally planned to give Fan Wencheng a sum of money to encourage him to retake the imperial examinations. Unexpectedly, Fan Wencheng had other plans. He intended to join Zu Dashou's ranks as his strategist and later strive for military merit to become a military officer.

Seeing that his mind was made up, Huang Shi didn't press the matter. He comforted Fan Wencheng, telling him to rest assured that if he could truly achieve success in national defense, the Grand Commander's Office wouldn't discriminate against him.

After Fan Wencheng's matter was settled, the guards dragged Li Yongfang in for Huang Shi to examine him. The once arrogant son-in-law of Fushun was now trembling like a leaf in the cold wind, his face as pale as a corpse. Huang Shi ordered the guards to loosen the rope around Li Yongfang's mouth and said with emotion, "Your Highness, it's been eight years since we parted in Liaoyang. It seems we'll meet again. Your Highness has committed many blood debts in Kaiyuan, Tieling, and Guangning; it seems Heaven has finally paid for this."

Knowing he was doomed, Li Yongfang steeled himself and began to curse, "You dog

! I may have been blind back then, but you are far too cunning. You, you dog, have acted despicably and shamelessly, stealing the name of loyalty and righteousness. Such deceit and thievery is truly rare in this world!" The surrounding Ming generals all changed color and shouted insults. Li Yongfang retorted without backing down, starting with the spies and merchants in Liaoyang and how he acted as a go-between with Sun Degong, hurling a torrent of abuse at Huang Shi. Huang Shi shook his head and sighed repeatedly, listening silently to Li Yongfang's hysterical rant for a while before waving his hand to have the guards take him away and immediately send him to the capital in chains.

After Li Yongfang, it was Dorgon's turn. As soon as the guards untied the rope from Dorgon's mouth, he screamed, "Marshal, Marshal, this servant has long harbored the intention to return to the Ming Dynasty. It was my father and brothers who deliberately rebelled against the court, and it has nothing to do with me!"

If Huang Shi had heard this earlier, he might have been greatly surprised. Having just witnessed Fan Wencheng's display of unwavering loyalty, Dorgon was no longer too surprising: "You are Dorgon?"

"It is indeed this servant. Marshal, Marshal, this servant truly had no intention of rebelling! This servant has been trying to persuade my father and brothers to surrender, but they just wouldn't listen to me!"

Ignoring the shouting Dorgon, Huang Shi turned to Fan Wencheng and asked, "Is it truly correct?"

Fan Wencheng hurriedly nodded: "Reporting to the Marshal, it is indeed correct."

Huang Shi also nodded slightly and was about to wave for the soldiers to drag the man away when Dorgon, who had been carefully observing Huang Shi's expression from below, became extremely anxious upon seeing this. He struggled and lunged forward. Although he was bound with thick ropes, Dorgon fought with all his might, and the two guards couldn't hold him back for a moment. Dorgon managed to struggle forward a few steps before being pushed down again.

Dorgon shouted wildly at Huang Shi, "Marshal, Marshal, I swear I have always been loyal to the Ming Dynasty. In all these years, I have never killed a single chicken, let alone a human... Heavens above, earth below, Marshal, I have secretly let many Han people escape. Marshal, if I have told even a single lie, I would rather be struck dead by lightning!"

Although Huang Shi had already raised his hand, he couldn't bring himself to swing it down after hearing these words. Dorgon knew that if he were escorted to the capital like this, there would be no chance of survival. He burst into tears, "Marshal, I also want to be an ordinary Ming citizen, that's better than being a Tartar. But I have no choice. I have truly never killed a Ming citizen. Heaven has the virtue of cherishing life, please, Marshal, spare my life. I am willing to write letters to my brothers, urging them to surrender to you immediately."

Seeing that Huang Shi remained silent, and with his body pinned to the ground, Dorgon shook his head, flicked his braid in front of his eyes, and spat loudly. Spitting a few times, he said, "Marshal, I've always felt this braid looks like a pig's tail. Every time I walk with this pig's tail, thinking of the magnificent Ming Dynasty attire, I feel both envious and sad. Even if you must kill me, please cut off this pig's tail first, Marshal. I absolutely refuse to die with it."

Huang Shi laughed heartily, withdrawing his hand that had been hanging in mid-air. The people in the tent didn't understand why Huang Shi was laughing, assuming he was just mocking Dorgon's cowardice, so they all joined in the laughter.

Seeing Huang Shi's attitude soften, Dorgon's eyes darted around, and he cried out again, "If Marshal doesn't kill me, he'll be my second father! Father, Father, Father..."

Dorgon shouted as he kowtowed repeatedly on the ground, drawing blood from his forehead.

Huang Shi shook his head and sighed, "Truly Nurhaci's son, indeed inheriting his father's style."

"Old slave, you've ruined my entire clan!" Dorgon cursed again, spitting on the ground. He then shouted, "I was so happy when I heard Father killed that old slave! That old slave should have died long ago! Father did the right thing! Father did the right thing!"

Now Huang Shi understood why Liao Commander Li Chengliang had shown leniency towards Nurhaci. It's likely that Nurhaci himself used to berate his father and grandfather in front of Li Chengliang in the same way. Huang Shi calmly said to Dorgon, "The Ming Dynasty has a law that traitors under the age of sixteen can be pardoned, but those over sixteen cannot. You're unlucky; you're far too old."

Dorgon struggled on the ground a few more times, desperately raising his head and shouting at the top of his lungs, "Father, I'm a wild woman from beyond the borders. I really can't say when I was born. I'm at most seventeen, not much older. I've really wanted to submit for a long time. Father, you must save me!"

Huang Shi sneered again: "The pardon for those under sixteen is nothing more than castration and entry into the palace; there's nothing good about it."

Upon hearing this, Dorgon's face lit up with joy. He laughed and said, "Father, this servant is willing, willing! Father, you don't know, this servant has hated women since birth. This servant is willing to enter the palace to serve the Emperor. Oh, that would be a great blessing! Father, please send this servant away quickly; this servant doesn't want to be a man at all."

Fan Wencheng suddenly interjected, "But you married a wife a long time ago, and it seems you have two concubines."

"That's right, but I've never touched them," Dorgon hurriedly protested. He then desperately looked up at Huang Shi and shouted, "Father, heavens and earth, that was just a cover-up! I've never touched a woman! Father, look, there are women around me, but none of them are pregnant. It's because I only like men, not women!"

Huang Shi recalled that Dorgon had no children in history, so it seemed he might indeed be homosexual. Dorgon was still wailing below. Huang Shi pondered for a moment and then suddenly smiled. "Alright, I can send you to the palace, but your name won't work. Hmm, you're very clever and rational, so let's call you Rui. Haha, from now on, you'll be Eunuch Rui."

"Thank you for the name, Father!" Eunuch Rui Dorgon quickly thanked him loudly.

Huang Shi waved his hand again, ordering someone to take Eunuch Rui away: "Send someone to escort him to the palace."

"Thank you, Father, thank you, Father, thank you..." Dorgon was dragged out of the tent, and he kept thanking everyone loudly, his booming voice carrying far and wide.

After dealing with the Zunhua matter, Huang Shi left Zu Dashou to guard the city, while the remaining troops attacked Xifengkou. The Later Jin forces concentrated there were larger than Huang Shi had anticipated, and Hu Yining's attack was not going smoothly.

...

The next morning.

Zhang Zaidi hurriedly accompanied Huang Shi towards Xifengkou again; he too had been brought out by Huang Shi for military training. Everyone thought they could finally breathe a sigh of relief after capturing Zunhua, but Huang Shi still looked worried and far from relaxed. Zhang Zaidi smiled at Huang Shi, "Brother, the Jurchens are practically trapped now, no need to be so tense."

"Basically, yes, but they still have one option: abandon their supplies in front of Zunhua, have their cavalry fight their way through our blockade, and then escape through Xifengkou." Huang Shi was always worried that Huang Taiji would escape with only a small number of trusted men if Xifengkou wasn't captured.

However, everyone knew that even if they succeeded, only a small number of trusted men could escape. Zhang Zaidi laughed heartily, "Brother, you're overthinking it. Even if they manage to escape in such a sorry state, how many of them could actually get away? They'd just be barely clinging to life."

"I know the chances are slim, but there's always a slight flaw. I won't be at ease until it's fixed."

Seeing Huang Shi's persistence, Zhang Zaidi stopped trying to persuade him, though a hint of confusion appeared on his face.

Huang Shi didn't turn around. He said calmly to Zhang Zaidi, "Little brother, do you remember when your father and brothers rescued me?"

"Yes, I remember."

Huang Shi sighed deeply. "Before I woke up, I kept having a terrifying dream—in my nightmare, the Jurchens entered the pass, plunging the entire land of China into a sea of blood, followed by overwhelming darkness… The blood on the ground never disappeared, but the sky became so dark that it was almost invisible."

Zhang Zaidi chuckled softly. "I see, brother, you're overthinking it. With so few Jurchens, how long could they last?"

"Yes, it shouldn't have been like this! But that dream was so real that I couldn't believe it was just a dream," Huang Shi echoed softly. Seeing Huang Shi's serious expression, Zhang Zaidi's smile faded. Huang Shi continued, "I've had this nightmare for eight years, and now it's finally leaving me. I'm determined to free myself from it myself."

December 10th, Zunhua.

Zu Dashou stood imposingly atop the city wall, pointing his halberd and shouting down, "Jiang barbarians, this is where you will meet your end!"

Fan Wencheng stood beside Zu Dashou. He wasn't even wearing a helmet; his black wig cascaded down his shoulders. Upon hearing Zu Dashou's curses, Fan Wencheng nodded repeatedly and joined in, roaring down towards the city walls, "You slave chieftain, I wish I could eat your flesh and sleep on your skin to vent my hatred!"

Hearing this, Huang Taiji sighed quietly without reacting, but this angered Mangultai, who pointed at Fan Wencheng and roared, "You cowardly, fickle slave! If I catch you, I'll tear you to pieces and eat your heart and liver with wine!"

Faced with Mangultai's fury, Fan Wencheng simply laughed heartily.

Mangultai cursed Fan Wencheng a few times, then turned and began to berate Zu Dashou: "Coward! You're a dog relying on your master's power! If it weren't for Huang Shi, would you dare to look people in the eye?"

Zu Dashou was furious upon hearing this and shouted: "Men, prepare the horses! I'm going out of the city to kill the enemy and tear this slave's mouth apart with my own hands!"

Fan Wencheng hurriedly called out: "My lord, please wait! The marshal has ordered you to defend this city. You have a heavy responsibility on your shoulders. Why bother with this Jurchen slave?"

Zu Dashou stroked his beard and remained silent, seemingly harboring some resentment.

Seeing this, Fan Wencheng loudly pleaded, "My lord, though you are brave and invincible, you must know that the Jurchens are cunning. This is precisely a tactic to provoke us. Please, my lord, see

this clearly." Zu Dashou feigned sudden realization, turned around, and bowed deeply in gratitude, saying, "Sir, your insightful observation has enlightened me. If it weren't for you today, I would have fallen into the Jurchens' trap."

Fan Wencheng quickly returned the bow and loudly praised, "General, you did not raise an army out of anger, and you saw through the Jurchens' treacherous scheme. This is truly a great fortune for this city and for the nation."

While Zu Dashou and Fan Wencheng were exchanging words on the city wall, Huang Taiji had already ordered the army to continue advancing: "Send out more scouts to reconnoiter all directions, and leave another four hundred soldiers to block the four gates of Zunhua to intimidate Zu Dashou."

Before they had gone several miles, scouts reported that they had spotted a Ming army blocking their way. The banners flying above them were three kinds of viper flags, and the number of men was about six or seven thousand.

Huang Taiji urged his army forward without a word, and soon the Ming army appeared before him. Huang Taiji saw the opposing banners and military bearing with his own eyes, and for a moment, he was speechless.

"Let's retreat, we'll go to Gubeikou." Mangultai quickly regained his composure; he was already mentally prepared for this.

These words drew Huang Taiji's gaze from his stare. He turned to look at Mangultai and said coldly, "Retreat? Retreat to where? Today we will fight Huangshi to the death."

"If we can't win, let's go. Abandon the main force, take only the elite light troops, and we can surely fight our way back to the pass." "

Impossible! And even if we escape the pass, what good will it do if we abandon the main force and our allies?" Huang Taiji pointed his whip at the Ming army opposite him: "Rather than die without a fight, why not fight to the death and decide the victor?"

"This is suicide!"

"Advancing offers a glimmer of hope, retreating means certain death. Our own morale has crumbled without anyone else's help." Huang Taiji clasped his hands together and murmured a prayer. Then he turned his gaze back: "The Ming army seems to have a large number of men, but they are only relying on Huang Shi's power. As long as we fight to the death and take Huang Shi's head in one fell swoop, then no matter how many Ming soldiers there are, they will scatter like birds and beasts! Now our army is in a desperate situation, and everyone will fight bravely . Who will win and who will lose is still unknown!"

After saying this, Huang Taiji turned

his head and shouted an order: "Announce to the whole army, if you don't want to die here, then you must defeat the enemy. Our hometown is only a few dozen miles away. If we defeat them, we can go home immediately, we'll be home immediately!" Mangultai grabbed Huang Taiji and stared into his eyes: "What if we can't defeat them? Then we won't even have a chance to retreat."

"We don't have any left," Huang Taiji suddenly shook off Mangultai's hand and continued to order the people around him: "Unload all the packhorses. Every horse must go to the battlefield. Every man who can hold a knife must go to the battlefield. Leave only the fewest people in the back to guard the prisoners..."

"No." Mangultai shouted and interrupted Huang Taiji. He grabbed Huang Taiji's reins and pulled his horse backward: "Let's retreat, let's find another way."

"Fifth Brother, let go!" Huang Taiji shouted, struggling with Mangultai for the reins.

Mangultai ignored him, pulling the reins forward with all his might, shouting without turning his head: "Eighth Brother, I always listen to you, but this time you have to listen to me..."

Mangultai's words stopped abruptly. The reins slipped from his hand, he slowly turned around, his gaze falling on the knife stuck in his waist for a moment, then slowly raising his eyes to look at his younger brother. The look in his brother's eyes had become very unfamiliar, as if Mangultai had never known this person before.

Huang Taiji's lips tightened, he gripped the hilt of the knife and twisted it forcefully. As the blade churned, Mangultai spat out a large mouthful of blood. Huang Taiji pulled the sword outwards again with force. Mangultai's lips moved a few times, as if he wanted to say something, but finally he fell backwards, crashing heavily to the ground. His head lolled to the side and hit the ground, his eyes wide open as he died.

Huang Taiji wiped the blood from the sword, then pointed it straight at the corpse on the ground, and shouted sternly to those around him: "Anyone who dares to retreat a single step will be punished the same as him!"

...

The two cavalry battalions had been handed over to He Dingyuan's command. He and a large number of other Ming generals remained behind the infantry. The two cavalry battalions, along with dozens of generals' personal guards, totaled nearly three thousand cavalrymen. Once the Later Jin army began to crumble, they would launch a relentless pursuit.

This time, He Dingyuan had specially transported a giant horse from Hokkaido. The 1,200-jin (approximately 600 kg) horse made the other Ming generals drool, and they all asked He Dingyuan to lend them the horse for breeding. He Dingyuan first made them drool, then generously promised to give each of them ten giant horses a few years later. Of course, these horses were all crossbred with local horses; He Dingyuan would never give away the purebred horses, Huang Shi, let alone the original ones.

Huang Shi put He Dingyuan in charge of the pursuit, while reminding him to be extremely careful. He Dingyuan laughed heartily, "Marshal's strategy is flawless. The Jurchens are doomed, and I have such a fine steed. Marshal, rest assured, I won't lose a single hair."

Huang Shi divided the Vanguard Battalion into two parts. The majority remained at Xifengkou, where Jia Minghe guaranteed that any small groups of enemy troops who wandered there would not be allowed to leave the pass. A smaller portion was placed at Santun Camp, where Yang Zhiyuan would prevent them from fleeing in another direction.

Huang Shi himself chose a hillside to set up his formation, saying that even he couldn't blindfold his horse on this spot. The large Jurchen cavalry slowly assembled before him, a dark mass covering the hillside.

The forty nine-pound cannons of the Firefighting Battalion and the Rock Reef Battalion were already lined up, with eight hundred artillerymen standing spiritedly at their posts. Behind the artillery positions, six thousand four hundred infantrymen in sixteen squadrons stood in neat square formations, countless banners fluttering above their heads, silently watching the distant, dark cloud of cavalry.

Huang Shi, mounted before the army, also silently observed the dense mass of Later Jin cavalry opposite him, numbering at least fifteen thousand, if not twenty thousand. This number exceeded the number of armored soldiers Huang Shi knew, indicating that the enemy was making a desperate mobilization for a final stand.

"I have never felt the burden on my shoulders as heavy as it is today." Huang Shi was alone; the barbarian troops before him were his most hated enemies, and now they were trapped. Huang Shi believed he was about to defeat the enemy he most desired to defeat.

A lone knight galloped towards them, dismounting far in front of Huang Shi's formation. Several guards rushed forward, searching him as he respectfully approached Huang Shi's horse. The messenger brought Huang Taiji's plea: he begged Huang Shi to spare his life at this crucial moment, leaving only some Mongols and bondservant soldiers behind. Huang Taiji said that if Huang Shi agreed, he would not launch a desperate charge, but would deliberately arrange for some Mongols to die so that Huang Shi could safely gain rich merit and the head of his brother Mangultai.

Huang Taiji's ultimatum was very blunt; he directly exposed the ambition and vigilance hidden in Huang Shi's heart. Huang Taiji told Huang Shi that whether for self-preservation or to dream of climbing to a higher position, Huang Shi should leave a way out for the Later Jin. Huang Taiji stated that the Later Jin regime was both Huang Shi's lifeline and a stepping stone.

Hearing these words from this man he once dared not look up to, Huang Shi felt not pride but sorrow. He politely declined Huang Taiji's envoy's offer and countered with his own suggestion: "Go back and tell your Khan that for the sake of his people and for his own sake, lay down your weapons and surrender. As long as he doesn't let my men shed blood, I will repay him. I promise not to kill anyone indiscriminately and will do my best to save his life so that he can reunite with his wife."

Before the envoy turned to leave, Huang Shi called him back: "Go back and tell your master that, in any case, I have always admired his magnanimity and talent."

Huang Shi was facing the most ferocious enemy of the Han people in thousands of years—after entering the pass, the Manchus slaughtered nearly 200 million Han people down to 40 million, and in the nearly 300 years that followed, large-scale massacres continued one after another, with more victims than all the previous massacres in the previous two thousand years combined.

He was also facing the most ferocious enemy of the Mongols in history—the Manchus' strict population reduction policy against the Mongols. If any Mongol tribe exceeded its male population limit, then the excess males would be killed by lottery to reduce the population. This indiscriminate slaughter even included staunch supporters of the Aisin Gioro family, the Khorchin Mongols. The Khorchin Mongol male population was capped at 80,000, and their chieftain Fulin and his son Xuan Ye slaughtered them with equal ruthlessness. In just forty years, the father and son alone massacred 300,000 Khorchin Mongol men.

He also faced enemies of the Hui people—the Manchu Qing dynasty carried out a persistent genocide against various Hui tribes, implementing a policy of "using Hui to control Han, and Han to control Hui," actively inciting ethnic hatred and encouraging ethnic violence between Hui and Han.

He also faced mortal enemies of the Miao people…

he also faced mortal enemies of the Yi people…

Huang Shi faced the greatest and most brutal enemy of all the ethnic groups that had lived on this continent for thousands of years. The thousands of soldiers behind him carried the lives of hundreds of millions of innocent people on their shoulders—never before had so few people decided the happiness of so many!

The envoy had already run back to the opposite formation and never came out again; the enemy army began to slowly advance…

Huang Shi was also facing an enemy of Chinese civilization:

the Ming Dynasty had brilliant achievements in music and art, such as the twelve-tone equal temperament, which was proposed during the Ming Dynasty and remained a cornerstone of modern music until Huang Shi's time—but it could not survive in its motherland because it was banned by the Manchus.

Medicine in the Ming Dynasty was developing rapidly; for example, traditional Chinese medicine first proposed that humans think with their brains rather than their hearts—but it lost the opportunity for further development because these new theories were banned by the Manchus.

The Ming Dynasty translated Euclid's Elements… Ming Dynasty women knew that the earth might be round and debated it, even writing notes on it… Some people in the Ming Dynasty were preparing to write technical books on how to smelt steel and iron—these books were all banned by the Manchus.

The Manchu chieftain Fulin launched a literary inquisition on average once a year, his son on average once every five years, his grandson on average once every two years, and his great-grandson Hongli, on average twice a year!

The Manchu chieftain Hongli also compiled the Siku Quanshu (Complete Library of the Four Treasuries), declaring that only 3,000 books were allowed to exist in China, while nearly 7,000 were banned but their titles were preserved. Countless others were banned without their titles—good heavens, let alone the glorious two thousand years of Chinese history! In the Ming Dynasty alone, Emperor Tianqi approved the publication of over 20,000 books.

In Huang Shi's personal impression, turning the pages of Qing Dynasty history, besides "massacres," only two words come to mind: ignorance and treason—from the Qing Dynasty until the Xinhai Revolution of 1911, there was not a single Chinese scientist or technological invention in world history; this regime, during its more than two hundred years of rule, signed 1,100 treasonous treaties, an average of three per year!

The enemy army once again halted and began to deploy. Huang Shi knew that a major battle was inevitable, so he turned his horse to look at his loyal and brave troops—his completely Westernized army. Huang Shi also had a completely Westernized system, and he also had a completely Westernized ideology.

"The great civilization created by my Chinese ancestors has been ravaged to such an extent that it cannot revive on its own and must draw nourishment from foreign civilizations to stand up again.

Countless books have been lost in this darkness; I don't even know what my ancestors created. When the Jurchens slandered the Ming Dynasty as an ignorant nation like theirs, I couldn't even find enough concrete reasons to refute them.

...

"My loyal and brave soldiers of the Ming Dynasty, I am not speaking to you now as the Commander-in-Chief of the Fuling Army, nor in the name of the General Who Conquers the Barbarians. I am not giving you orders in the name of the Grand Commander of the Ming Dynasty." Huang Shi spurred his horse

forward in front of the officers and soldiers of the Fire Rescue and Rock Reef battalions: "Brothers, brothers who have shared hardships with me on Changsheng Island, please treat me as the Commander of Changsheng Island as before, and lend me, Huang Shi, a helping hand!"

Huang Shi dismounted at the front of the battle, patted his horse's rump twice, and strode among his soldiers.

The enemy troops opposite him began to accelerate, and artillery fire opened fire on the enemy.

Huang Shi gently drew his sword, the one the Tianqi Emperor had bestowed upon him, vowing to let it drink the blood of traitors. Traitors were easy to deal with, but what about traitors?

—I am merely a military officer. I can do my utmost in campaigns, I can remove one festering sore after another from the body of the Ming Empire, but that is my limit. Countless corrupt officials are like termites, stealing the foundation of the nation, leaving the motherland riddled with holes.

—I quelled the She'an Rebellion, I quelled the pirates of Fujian and Guangdong, and today, I will deliver a devastating blow to the Jurchens here. The Ming Dynasty should not be in turmoil anymore; countless people in the Central Plains could have their taxes reduced, and the country should have funds for disaster relief and river management. However, those who steal the Ming Dynasty are unreasonable.

—But if…if the people still rise up in rebellion…I, Huang Shi, will absolutely not wield a butcher's knife against starving people. I built this army not to slaughter innocent civilians, and I and my army are not tools for thieves to slaughter the people.

—Behind the enemy army are countless civilians, people who have suffered because of Yuan Shikai's treason. If I weren't here, they would undoubtedly have been abducted and taken away, living a miserable life under the whips of slave owners. Yuan Shikai is not the first, nor the last, traitor who enriches himself at the expense of the public; their crimes have brought about the downfall of the nation, the annihilation of civilization, and the suffering of the people.

—Yes, I have betrayed many people, whether it be Sun Degong, Miss Sun, or Huang Taiji; they all trusted me and confided in me. But I must betray them, because I cannot betray my nation. Whether it was Emperor Chongzhen or Emperor Tianqi, they both showed me profound kindness, but if that day truly came, I would betray them just the same. I don't care how future historians will judge my life, because I cannot stand against the millions of people.

—From the time I learned to read in elementary school, my teachers taught me: Always love your nation, always love the people of your motherland. I've witnessed the angry gazes of Sun Degong, Miss Sun, and Huang Taiji; perhaps later, I'll add that innocent boy to the list. I don't know if there truly is a God, or if I will have to face the condemnation of those I betrayed after death. But whether facing a court in heaven or on earth, I can look the judge directly in the eye and say: I am the person I am because my motherland educated me into the person I am.

Huang Shi slammed his sword into the ground and roared with all his might, "Today, not a single civilian will be led out of the pass, and not a single enemy will be able to break through our defenses!"

...

Squad leader Song Jianjun, watching the approaching enemy troops, said to his men in a deep voice, "Gentlemen, I am proud to fight alongside you."

The drums sounded, and Song Jianjun took a deep breath and shouted, "The whole squad—form a hollow square formation! Front row—fix bayonets!"

"Kill!"

Dugu Qiu and his comrades responded to the order with shouts...

Ten thousand horses galloped! With the momentum to shatter mountains and rivers, the black torrent roared and rushed northward. Everything on the plain—the official road, the bushes, the houses... everything trembled before this torrent and was swallowed up in an instant. The black army, like boiling lava, screamed as it tried to burn everything in its path to ashes... Countless hollow square formations of the Fuling army, blocking the black flood, stretched diagonally from the bottom of the slope to the top, as majestic as mountains! (

End of Chapter 1 of "Can the Ten Thousand Ren Peak Bear It?")

(End of Book 1 of "Stealing the Ming Dynasty")

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