[Romantic Anecdotes of the Qing Dynasty Court] [19-20] [Author: Xu Xiaotian]

page views:1 Publication date:2023-03-24

Chapter Nineteen: Crimson Lips Meet the Virgin, Sister-in-Law Acts as Matchmaker, Yellow Banners Unfurl, Ministers Respect the Emperor's Title. It is said that Dayuer was a natural beauty. When she was seven years old, she went to play on the pasture with her servants. A lama saw her and said, "This princess has the countenance of great nobility." The servants laughed and said, "Our princess of the Khorchin Beile is already noble, why do you need to say more!" The lama shook his head and said, "The nobility I'm referring to is the nobility of an emperor." The servants laughed again and said, "You monk, your words are getting more and more absurd. Where in Manchuria and Inner and Outer Mongolia can we find an emperor? Are you suggesting our princess marry the Ming emperor?" Dayuer's mother often joked about this, and Dayuer had heard it all. Now, seeing Huang Taiji, and remembering that his father was now emperor, she wondered if he might become a crown prince in the future. Furthermore, given their past kindness and her current hardship, she harbored a secret affection for him. The two whispered intimately in the palace, while the palace maids stood outside the door, hesitant to enter. After a while, a message came from inside: prepare the horse for the Princess Consort. Huang Taiji and Dayuer walked out of the palace hand in hand. Dayuer then called to her four personal maids, and they all mounted their horses. Led by Huang Taiji, they hid in her own camp.
From then on, Dayuer became Huang Taiji's concubine, known in the palace as Consort Jit. Huang Taiji, out of respect for Jit, pleaded with his father to spare Deergel's life.
These were all past events. Now, upon his ascension to the throne, Huang Taiji made his beloved Jit Empress, known as Empress Xiaozhuangwen. His first wife was only granted the title of Consort Chen of Guanju Palace. The palace where Empress Xiaozhuangwen resided was called Yongfu Palace, where Emperor Taizong stayed every day; no other concubine could hope to receive his favor for even a night.
Although Huang Taiji became emperor, he often had to accompany the empress, so all state affairs were managed by the eldest, second, and third princes. At this time, Prince Dorgon, the fourteenth prince, was only fifteen years old, and Prince Dodo, the fifteenth prince, was only thirteen years old. Because Empress Wen favored the two brothers, they stayed in the palace and often kept her company. Emperor Taizong, feeling remorseful for their mother's tragic death, treated them with extra kindness. Dorgon was clever and handsome, and Empress Wen especially liked him. Empress Wen had a younger sister named Xiaoyu'er, who also lived in the palace with her sister. She was the same age as Dorgon and they saw each other every day, so they naturally became close. In addition, Xiaoyu'er looked exactly like her sister. Both sisters had flawless white skin, so their parents named her "Yu" (jade). It was a quiet time during the long summer. Empress Wen woke from her afternoon nap and, finding Xiaoyu'er and Dorgon missing, assumed they had gone to play in the garden again. She then led a few palace maids towards the garden. Reaching a grove of tall locust trees, their shade spread out, and from afar, she saw Xiaoyu'er sitting on a lakeside rock at the base of one of the trees. Something seemed to have upset Xiaoyu'er, and Dorgon hurriedly bowed to her repeatedly, but Xiaoyu'er simply turned her face away, ignoring him. Empress Wen, seeing this, couldn't help but find it amusing and said, "Little girl! Always so stubborn, never willing to change." Saying this, she sat down on a lakeside rock and ordered a palace maid to fetch the two of them. Dorgon walked to the Empress, and she reached out and embraced him. Dorgon knelt on the ground, his face upturned. The Empress placed her hands on his shoulders and looked down at him, saying, "He is truly handsome, with delicate features and fair skin." She couldn't help but lower her head and kiss him on the lips, saying, "Good uncle, have you fallen in love with her? I will give her to you, okay?" Dorgon, being quite obedient, immediately kowtowed in gratitude. Xiaoyu, standing to the side, though also loving Dorgon, felt a pang of jealousy seeing her sister kissing him. Later, upon hearing that her sister had pledged her life to Dorgon, she blushed and fled as fast as she could. That evening, the Empress conveyed this to the Emperor, who was delighted and immediately summoned the Minister of the Imperial Household, ordering the construction of a grand palace for the Fourteenth Prince, behind the Yanqing Palace.
The following year, Dorgon and Xiaoyu, both sixteen, held their wedding ceremony.
The celebration was lively, and the young couple were deeply in love.
However, this... This left Empress Wen feeling quite lonely. Although Emperor Taizong was by her side every day, as the saying goes, "time breeds contempt." Even the most loving couples, if inseparable day and night, extremely sweet and intimate, will eventually grow weary. Moreover, an emperor has countless concubines, waiting to be favored. When an emperor grows tired of something, how can he not crave something different? Therefore, when Taizong had free time, he often went to other palaces, further leaving the Empress feeling lonely.
When the Empress was feeling particularly calm, she would take a group of palace maids, falcons, and horses, and go hunting as usual. Manchus, regardless of gender, considered hunting a... The emperor, knowing of her pastimes, did not stop her. Who knew that the empress's hunting trips, day after day, would lead to an unexpected and wondrous encounter? One day, while hunting at Huagangzi, the empress was chasing a wild boar. Her horse was fast ahead, leading the chase into the woods. The boar was clever, weaving left and right through the forest; the empress, riding swiftly and drawing her bow, chased it east and west, but could not hit it. The empress was panting heavily, her body drenched in sweat. In the midst of this chaos, the boar suddenly became enraged, roared, turned, and charged straight at the empress, its jaws wide open, revealing teeth like steel. The empress was terrified, screaming softly. Just then, a sudden "whoosh"... With two sharp "whoosh" sounds, two arrows flew out from the woods on either side, striking the wild boar squarely in both ears. A loud howl followed, and the boar collapsed dead. The palace maids arrived shortly after. The Empress, regaining her composure, ordered a search of the woods.
But there was no need to search; two burly men emerged from the woods and knelt before the Empress's horse. The Empress instructed the maids to ask them: "Where are you from? What are your names? Why are you hiding in this woods?" One of the men, kowtowing, replied: "Our servant is named Wang Gao, and he is named Deng Kuaizi. We are both from Shandong. Our ancestors were merchants outside the Great Wall, but lost their capital and ended up in Liaoyang, unable to return home. Because of poverty, we were fortunate to learn archery and made a living by hunting. We often caught wild boars in Fushun to survive. These past few days, because wild animals were scarce there, we came to Shenyang to find some." "Because I was unfamiliar with the place and didn't know this was forbidden territory, I mistakenly offended Your Majesty's presence. I beg Your Majesty to spare my life!" The Empress, hearing his quick wit and imposing appearance, felt a stirring in her heart. Remembering her earlier panicked state, she felt grateful that these two had saved her from danger. She thought, "I'm so tired of being surrounded by palace maids all day. These two are so quick-witted and cheerful; I might as well bring them into the palace. They'll be good conversation starters when I have free time." With this thought, the Empress turned her horse around and rode to the edge of the woods. She called a close palace maid to her side and whispered her intentions, while she waited outside the woods. After a while, the maid brought out Wang Gao and Deng Kuaizi. The Empress couldn't help but laugh: they had disguised these two men as palace maids, taking advantage of the Empress's... Upon returning to the palace, they sneaked in.
From then on, these two hunters rose to prominence, serving the Empress. In their spare time, they would tell many stories from the countryside. Empress Wen, having grown up amidst the hustle and bustle of the palace, had never heard of such things before, and she found the two men increasingly endearing. Therefore, Empress Wen lived quietly in the palace and stopped hunting. Emperor
Taizong, ultimately a hero, grew tired of spending time with the Empress and concubines in the palace, and began attending court daily to discuss state affairs with the princes and ministers. In November of the fifth year of the Tiancong reign, a scout suddenly reported: "Lindan Khan of Inner Mongolia has accepted a bribe of 40,000 taels of silver from the Ming Dynasty and is now leading troops to the Shangyuan area of Xilamulun, spying on our borders." Emperor Taizong was furious upon hearing this, saying: "Our country and Lindan Khan formed an alliance to jointly resist the Ming Dynasty. Now he has betrayed his principles for personal gain, and his crime is self-inflicted. I swear to punish him." "On the one hand, he entrusted state affairs to Prince Rui, Dorgon, and on the other hand, he mustered a large army and personally led it to attack Chahar. Emperor Taizong had not fought a war for many years, and he was very happy to lead his troops out now. The following year, he summoned many Mongol tribal chiefs who had submitted to him, went to the Xilamulun River, crossed the Xing'an Mountains, and reached the Libo area, where he defeated Ligdan's army. Ligdan Khan led his people to flee past Guihua City, crossed the Yellow River estuary, and suddenly fell ill and died at the Dacaotan area. Emperor Taizong then withdrew his troops and returned. Passing through the border areas of the Ming Dynasty, he crossed the Great Wall and went to the Datong and Xuanfu areas, walking around arrogantly, and the Ming people could not do anything to him."
In the ninth year of the Tiancong reign, it was learned that Ejei, the son of Ligdan Khan, had fled to the Tuolitu region and established a separate tribe. Although Xiaoyu'er was a woman, she advised Dorgon to lead troops to subdue Ejei, thus gaining merit in the process. Dorgon listened to Xiaoyu'er and informed Emperor Taizong, who then dispatched troops to Tuolitu, subdued Ligdan's people, and retrieved Ligdan's imperial seal. From then on, all the tribes of Inner Mongolia were completely under Emperor Taizong's control. Seeing Dorgon's achievements, Emperor Taizong became especially close to him, often summoning him and his wife to the palace, where the four siblings would drink and laugh together. The Empress, who had watched Dorgon grow up, was naturally particularly affectionate towards him. The Empress was as beautiful as Xi Shi, a beauty that would move even the most hardened heart. At this moment, the Empress personally handed a fruit to Dorgon. Dorgon hurriedly stepped forward to take it, and as he rubbed it against the Empress's arm, he felt its smooth, silky texture. A sudden stirring in his heart arose within him. He thought, "Xiaoyu'er's skin is as fair and smooth as her sister's. I wonder what's so interesting about the Empress's body; if I could truly experience such bliss with her in this life, I would die content." He was lost in thought, oblivious to the Empress's words. Seeing his dazed expression, the Empress knew he was harboring ill intentions. Looking at his face, still handsome with clear features and bright teeth, she suddenly recalled their kiss under the locust tree years ago. A sudden pang of emotion stirred within her, and she quickly turned her face away, feeling a surge of embarrassment as her cheeks flushed. Fortunately, the Emperor was talking to Xiaoyu'er and didn't notice them. However, since that moment planted the seeds of love, the two of them couldn't resist, and a romantic tale unfolded—a predestined fate. But that's a story for another time.
The next day, Emperor Taizong held court when Prince Wuying, Ajige, stepped forward and reported: "Today, the Ming generals, Grand Marshal Kong Youde and Commander-in-Chief Geng Zhongming, have led 13,874 soldiers to surrender to our dynasty. Their troops are currently stationed in Andong, and their letter of surrender is here. We request Your Majesty's decree." With that, he presented the letter of surrender to the emperor. When Emperor Taizong read it, it roughly stated: "Yesterday, I was ordered by the Ministry to reinforce the west. We lacked funds and provisions, and the markets along the way were closed, leaving us without food or shelter. We endured this hardship and proceeded to Wuqiao, where, due to corrupt officials, the soldiers rose up in rebellion. We subsequently captured Xincheng and Dengzhou, and then took over the prefectures and counties of Fuzhou. Then, with reinforcements arriving from all sides, we were besieged for half a year. Our troops, lacking provisions, had no choice but to abandon Dengzhou and sail to Guanglu Island. My army then seized the opportunity to subdue Guanglu, Changshan, and Shicheng islands. I have long admired the Khan's ability to gather heroes from across the land, possessing the magnanimity of Yao, Shun, Tang, and Wu. I wish to lead my people to surrender, and I have specially dispatched Vice Generals Liu Chengzhu and Cao Shaozhong as our envoys. Khan, seize this opportunity to accomplish your great task; it would be a blessing from Heaven for you, and also a great fortune for me." Emperor Taizong was overjoyed upon reading the letter of surrender and immediately summoned Liu Chengzhu and Cao Shaozhong, praising them in person. He then dispatched the Second Prince, the Third Prince, Beizi Bolone, and Minister Turge with a large contingent to Andong to welcome them. The Ming Dynasty and Korea, hearing that Kong Youde and Geng Zhongming had landed in Andong, also mobilized troops to intercept them. However, the Manchu troops were extremely powerful, and Kong and Geng's soldiers fought valiantly, managing to land safely. Emperor Taizong issued an edict granting them land and houses in Liaoyang. Kong and Geng were deeply grateful and wanted to personally go to the capital to pay homage to Emperor Taizong and express their gratitude in person. They immediately wrote a memorial of thanks, saying: "Your Majesty, may you enjoy boundless blessings and peace! Kong's troops arrived first, and the officers and soldiers have been settled and given provisions. Your kindness is as boundless as heaven! We wish to go to the capital to express our gratitude and await Your Majesty's decree. We
will go to the capital to kowtow and bow our heads, trembling with fear!" When Emperor Taizong heard that Kong and Geng were coming to the capital, he personally led many princes and ministers to welcome them. Reaching the stone bank of the Hun River, they encountered Emperor Taizong, who was residing in a yellow satin tent. Kong Youde and Geng Zhongming entered the tent, prostrated themselves on the ground, and kowtowed, saying, "Thank you for your divine grace, Your Majesty!" Emperor Taizong hurriedly went to help them up personally, then wrapped his arms around their waists; the ministers standing on both sides couldn't help but show expressions of surprise. This gesture of embracing was highly valued by the Manchus, and the ministers were quite astonished that Emperor Taizong and Kong and Geng were performing this gesture. After the ceremony, Emperor Taizong hosted a banquet in the tent and appointed Kong Youde as Grand Marshal and Geng Zhongming as Commander-in-Chief. The next day, Emperor Taizong returned to the capital, and Geng and Kong followed him. For several days, Prince Xu and ministers took turns hosting a welcoming feast for them.
Every day after court, Kong Youde would return to the guesthouse and discuss with Geng Zhongming the Emperor's kindness, lamenting that they had no way to repay it. Later, Kong Youde devised a method for choosing an honorific title. He immediately invited many Manchu and Mongol princes and ministers to a guest house to discuss the emperor's title. The princes and ministers unanimously agreed, and asked Fan Wencheng to draft a memorial, which was then written in Manchu, Mongol, and Han languages. The next day, during the grand court assembly, the Ministry of Personnel's Heshuo Mergenqing and Prince Dorgon presented the Manchu memorial, the Khorchin's Tushetu Jinong presented the Mongol memorial, and Kong Youde presented the Han memorial. They all knelt before the emperor, and the guards presented the memorial to the emperor's desk. When Emperor Taizong read it, it read: "All princes, ministers, civil and military officials, and princes of the outer vassal states, respectfully acknowledge that His Majesty, blessed by Heaven, has risen in accordance with the times; in a time of chaos, he cultivates virtue and morality, punishing the rebellious with force and pacifying the compliant with kindness. His magnanimity and benevolence extend to all corners of the land." Having conquered Korea, unified Mongolia, and obtained the Imperial Seal, internal and external affairs were harmonized; this was in accordance with the will of Heaven and the sentiments of the people. Therefore, we, your humble servants, respectfully submit to the Emperor's will and bestow upon him the title of Emperor. All the necessary ceremonies are complete. We humbly request the Emperor's permission to grant this honor and not disappoint the people's expectations.
Emperor Taizong, upon reading this, said, "The current situation is still unsettled, and we are currently engaged in military campaigns. There is no time for such matters." The princes and ministers all urged the Emperor, saying, "As the saying goes, 'a legitimate title is essential.' Your Majesty's achievements are unparalleled. Now that we are going to wage war against the Ming Dynasty, you must bestow upon him the title of Emperor Taizong in order to issue a declaration of war against the Ming Emperor." Emperor Taizong found their words reasonable and agreed. He chose an auspicious day to offer sacrifices to Heaven and Earth, received the title of "Kind and Benevolent Emperor," changed the country's name to the Great Qing, and changed the era name to the first year of Chongde. The next day, Emperor Taizong led the princes to offer sacrifices at the Imperial Ancestral Temple, honoring his founding ancestor as Prince Ze, his great-grandfather as Prince Qing, his great-great-grandfather as Prince Chang, and his grandfather as Prince Fu; he also offered sacrifices to his great-grandfather Nurhaci, calling him Emperor Wu, and the temple his ancestors visited the Imperial Ancestral Temple and his mausoleum the Fu Mausoleum. He enfeoffed Kong Youde as Prince Gongshun and Geng Zhongming as Prince Huaishun, and all other princes and ministers were granted additional titles and ranks. Meanwhile, he appointed Prince Rui of the First Rank, Dorgon, as commander-in-chief, and led his troops to Dalinghe. After a fierce battle lasting three days and three nights, they captured Dalinghe, seized the Ming general Zu Dashou, and then released him to return to his country, where he served as a spy for the Qing Dynasty.
Dorgon then advanced and besieged Jinzhou. When news reached the Ming Dynasty, Emperor Xizong appointed Hong Chengchou as military commissioner, and Hong led eight generals—Wang Pu, Cao Xiejiao, Ma Ke, Wu Sangui, Li Fuming, Tang Tong, Bai Guang'en, and Wang Tingchen—along with over two hundred lieutenant generals, guerrillas, and garrison commanders, and 130,000 cavalry and infantry to relieve Jinzhou. They established their camp on the hilltop of Rufeng Mountain north of Songshan City. Dorgon, having learned of the Ming army's overwhelming strength, feared he could not withstand them and sent his officers back to Shengjing to request reinforcements. Upon receiving this news, Emperor Taizong immediately mobilized a large force, personally leading it to Jinzhou; matters in the capital were left to Prince Zheng, Jirhalang.
A few days later, Emperor Taizong's army arrived on the west bank of the Liao River. Dorgon came to greet him and recounted how Hong Chengchou's troops had attacked his right wing and the camp of Prince Tushetu, but had been repelled by his soldiers. Emperor Taizong, upon hearing this, remained silent. He rode his horse, accompanied by many princes and ministers, to the foot of Songshan Mountain to assess the enemy's situation. Returning to his camp, he ordered his troops to disperse and encircle the section of road from Songshan to Xingshan. He then set up camp along the Wuxin River, extending all the way to the sea, blocking a major road. The Ming soldiers, seeing themselves surrounded by the Qing army, panicked and plotted to escape. Early the next morning, the eight Ming generals led their troops, beating drums and blowing horns, charging straight into Gabushixian's position. However, Gabushixian had already received instructions from Emperor Taizong and remained silent, guarding the camp gates. As the Ming soldiers entered the camp, a single movement of the red flags triggered a volley of arrows from the camp, each arrow killing one enemy soldier. Four or five hundred Ming soldiers were shot down in the vanguard.
The Ming soldiers were terrified and hastily turned to flee. Those behind, propelled by the advance of the vanguard, retreated like a receding tide. All that could be heard were shouts and howls; countless soldiers trampled themselves to death. The Qing army, seizing the opportunity, launched a four-pronged attack, led by the Bordered Blue Banner's Baiya La, Prince Wuying Ajige, Beizi Bolone, and Minister Tuerge, pursuing the Ming army all the way to Tashan. The Ming army had twelve heaps of grain at Bijia Mountain, which were all seized by the Qing.
The Ming generals, having suffered this defeat, planned to flee back to their homeland, withdrawing seven battalions of infantry and encamping near Songshan City. The Qing Bordered Red Banner troops blocked the Ming army's path.
The next day, Hong Chengchou ordered a fierce attack on the Bordered Red Banner troops. Both armies charged out, fighting fiercely. Just as the battle was raging, the Ming soldiers saw a group of people ahead, with yellow umbrellas over which a man rode imposingly on horseback. Terrified, they abandoned their troops and fled back to their camp. Emperor Taizong sounded the retreat and immediately summoned his generals to his tent for a meeting. Emperor Taizong said, "I see that the Ming army's banners are disheveled; the enemy will surely flee tonight." He immediately ordered the four banners on the left wing to form a long, winding formation, together with the Al-Kha Mongol troops and the Gabushi Xian troops, all the way to the sea to block the Ming army's path. To find out the Ming army's victory or defeat, please read the next chapter.
Chapter Twenty: A Mysterious Case Unfolds; Consort Chen's Death is a Stunning Encounter with Commander Hong and His Surrender.
It is said that as the first watch of the night drew to a close, the north wind howled and the bugle sounded. The Qing army's camp was ablaze with torches, and Emperor Taizong sat on a leopard-skin chair, with many fierce generals standing to his left and right. A map lay open on the imperial desk, and Taizong pointed to it, explaining the enemy's situation to his generals. As they were talking, a general suddenly entered the tent and said, "The Ming army is moving covertly and may launch a surprise attack on our camp tonight. Your Majesty, please take care." Emperor Taizong sneered and said, "These cowards would never dare!" Before he could finish speaking, a scout reported, "The Ming soldiers have fled! Generals Wu Sangui, Wang Pu, Tang Tong, Ma Ke, Bai Guang'en, and Li Fuming have led their cavalry and infantry towards the Gabushixian position.
" Upon hearing this, Emperor Taizong only uttered the word "pursue!" His two fierce generals rushed out of the camp, each leading their troops, creating a whirlwind as they pursued the Ming soldiers towards the sea. Emperor
Taizong also dispatched the Mongol generals Alaiku, Lukerhan, and Chahar, each leading their troops, to ambush along the Xingshan route. If any enemy troops were spotted, they were to immediately intercept and attack them, forbidding them from pursuing them too far or returning to their own lines. He then ordered Prince Rui, Dorgon, Beizi Luotuo, Gongtunji, and other generals to lead the troops of the Four Banners and the troops of Prince Tushetu to intercept the enemy on the main road outside Jinzhou City at Tashan. He also ordered Daxian Kanxin Dalinalin to lead gunners to Bijia Mountain to guard the grain. He further ordered Aliha Chaoha of the Plain Yellow Banner, General Babuhaidao of the Imperial Clan, and Zhangjing Tula to lead troops to intercept the enemy on the Tashan Road. He also ordered Prince Wuying, Ajige, to intercept the enemy on the Tashan Road. If the enemy tried to sneak across Tashan, he was to lead Babuhaitulai to pursue them from Ningyuan directly to the Lianshan Road. He also ordered Beizi Bolo to lead troops to intercept the enemy at Sanggarsai Fortress. Upon learning that Zhang Ruoqi, a physician of the Ming Dynasty, had escaped by boat from Xiaoling River Estuary, he ordered Laihu, Zhangjing of the Bordered Yellow Banner Mongol Gushanmeile, and Batba, a subordinate of the Chahar, to lead troops to pursue him. The various armies, following orders, marched out in all directions, some chasing, some killing. The poor Ming soldiers were slaughtered by the Qing army, their corpses strewn across the fields, rivers of blood flowing, fleeing in all directions, wishing they had more legs.
Emperor Taizong, seeing the military progress going smoothly, ordered Dorgon and Ajige to persuade the main army to besiege Tashan; he also deployed ten cannons to aid in the attack, breaching Tashan city and capturing Ming deputy general Wang Xixian, adjutant Cui Dingguo, and commander Yang Chongzhen alive. Ming generals Wu Sangui and Wang Pu fled towards Xingshan city. Taizong's army advanced towards Songshan, digging trenches on all sides and tightly encircling it. That night, Ming general Cao Xiejiao withdrew his troops from Rufeng Mountain, abandoned his camp, and fled into Taizong's imperial camp. Emperor Taizong mounted his horse, sword in hand, and personally supervised the battle. Cao Xiejiao was wounded and fled back to Songshan City. Meanwhile, Gabushixian led his troops in an ambush at Xingshan. On the third day, they saw a cloud of dust rising ahead as a Ming army approached. They learned that General Wu Sangui and Wang Pu were leading their troops to escape towards Ningyuan. Gabushixian held his troops still, waiting until half of the Ming army had passed before a cannon fired. The ambush troops sprang up like hungry wolves pouncing on sheep, slaughtering three or four thousand Ming soldiers. The rest scattered and fled. Wu Sangui led his defeated troops to Gaoqiao. A horn sounded, and the Qing ambush troops rose up again. A general named Dodo blocked their path, shouting battle cries that shook the heavens and the earth. The Ming soldiers panicked and stumbled into the Qing camp, where the Qing soldiers closed the gates and slaughtered them all. Wu Sangui and Wang Pu fled alone on horseback. This battle was fierce, resulting in the deaths of over 53,780 Ming soldiers, the capture of 7,440 horses, 66 camels, and 9,346 sets of armor.
That night, Emperor Taizong rewarded his soldiers with a grand banquet in the camp. While the feast was in full swing, Prince Yuetuo stood up and said to Emperor Taizong, "Your Majesty, I request that you order a brigade to take advantage of the bright moonlight tonight and attack Songshan City." Emperor Taizong shook his head and said, "No! Our soldiers have fought bloody battles for days; they should rest tonight. Besides, don't underestimate Songshan City. I've heard that there are many Ming soldiers in the city, including generals like Hong Chengchou, Qiu Minyang, Zhang Dou, Yao Gong, and Wang Shizhen, as well as generals Wang Tingchen, Cao Xiejiao, and Zu Dale, leading 30,000 troops to defend the city. Among them, General Hong is my favorite; I've heard he is a native of the Central Plains..." "Son, you are familiar with Chinese politics and customs. If I wish to conquer the Central Plains, I must first persuade this Grand Coordinator to surrender before I can succeed." As Emperor Taizong spoke, a minister stepped forward from his tent and said, "This is easy. I have a good relationship with Xia Chengde, the Deputy General of Songshan. Now, I will personally deliver the letter of surrender to Songshan City. After persuading Xia Chengde to surrender, I will ask him to help me persuade Grand Coordinator Hong to surrender as well. Wouldn't that be ideal?" Emperor Taizong looked and saw it was Prince Dodo. He was overjoyed and said, "It is a great fortune for the Qing Dynasty that my brother is willing to personally persuade them to surrender!" He then drafted the letter of surrender, took five hundred soldiers, and entered Songshan City.
Emperor Taizong craned his neck to watch him until sunset before Dodo returned. He said Xia Chengde was quite...? Despite his intention to surrender, Hong Chengchou stubbornly refused, saying, "The city can fall, my head can be severed, but the Grand Commander of the Ming Dynasty cannot surrender!" Emperor Taizong frowned upon hearing this and summoned Fan Wencheng, ordering him to write another letter of surrender and deliver it himself. Grand Commander Hong remained unyielding. Emperor Taizong sent six letters of surrender in succession. Eventually, Hong Chengchou simply closed the city gates, refusing all envoys. Emperor Taizong, at his wits' end, had the surrender notice attached to an arrowhead and shot into the city. The notice roughly stated: "I led my troops here, knowing your reinforcements would surely flee; I dispatched troops in advance to besiege Songshan, preventing them from entering. From Tashan south to the sea, and north to the mountains, all routes are cut off; I also divided my troops to intercept them on various routes. Those who were beheaded piled up across the fields, and those who threw themselves into the sea turned the water red. Now your reinforcements are cut off; this is Heaven's blessing upon me. If you surrender early, you will not be killed, and your positions and salaries will be preserved. You may consider this carefully."
On the first day of the ninth month, seeing that Hong Chengchou showed no intention of surrendering, Emperor Taizong led all the princes, nobles, and ministers to offer incense and pray to Heaven. He simultaneously dispatched Prince Rui, Dorgon, and Prince Su, Hauge, back to Shengjing to defend the capital, while he himself led his troops to Songshan.
He issued the order: "If you encounter Hong Chengchou, capture him alive, do not kill him." He personally led the artillery corps to attack Songshan. Hong Chengchou fought desperately in the city, and the two armies were locked in a stalemate. Suddenly, a horse galloped towards the imperial camp. The guards seized it, and a general dismounted, carrying a document. He ran into the tent and presented the document to the emperor. When Emperor Taizong read the document, he was greatly startled.
The messenger had come to report a death: Emperor Taizong's first wife, Consort Chen of Guanju Palace, had died. Although Emperor Taizong favored Empress Zhuang, Consort Chen was his wife from childhood, and they shared a deep affection. Emperor Taizong burst into tears and immediately entrusted military affairs to the princes, rushing back to Shengjing overnight. Speaking of Consort Chen, she was quite beautiful, though not as alluring as Empress Zhuang.
Out of consideration for their marriage, Emperor Taizong often visited her. Empress Zhuang, seeing this, couldn't help but feel a little jealous. When Emperor Taizong went to war, Consort Chen was perfectly healthy, without a trace of illness. However, just a few days after his departure, she suddenly died. Grand Secretary Xifu Ganglin and the Imperial Secretary Leng Sengji received news of Consort Chen's passing and rushed to the palace to investigate. They
found Consort Chen to be very beautiful, with a full and radiant appearance, and did not seem to be ill. Xifuganglin, upon seeing this, was greatly surprised and said, "The Emperor has gone far away, and the palace has undergone great changes. If the Emperor returns and asks me, what am I supposed to say in response?" Leng Sengji, standing nearby, said, "That's easy. We just have the palace maids in Guanju Palace arrested and interrogated about who was with Consort Chen when she died. We can arrest that person and find out." These words reached the ears of Empress Zhuang of Yongfu Palace, who panicked. She hurriedly sent a palace maid out to summon the Grand Secretary to the palace, and also summoned Prince Rui, Dorgon, to the palace. With a few words, a major incident was averted.
The next day, Dorgon sent Leng Sengji out of the city to welcome the Emperor. Leng Sengji was Dorgon's confidant, and upon seeing Emperor Taizong, he naturally made some attempt to conceal the truth. Here, Xifuganglin, following the Empress's instructions, hastily prepared Consort Chen's body for burial. When Emperor Taizong arrived, he saw only a coffin and said nothing. Empress Zhuang, fearing for Taizong's grief, mustered all her strength to fawn upon him. With such a beautiful woman by his side, Taizong chatted and laughed, quickly dispelling all his sorrow. Knowing Taizong's fondness for hunting, the Empress coaxed him to go hunting with the Yehe tribe. They reminisced about their past love, their affection growing stronger, and that night they slept together in the tent. From then on, the Empress possessed the Emperor's entire affections, with no one else to share his favor.
On the fourth day of the hunt, his eldest son, Su Junhaoge, walked in with a smile. Upon seeing Emperor Taizong, he bowed and said, "Father, great joy! Songshan City has been captured by your son." Emperor Taizong was overjoyed and took his son's hand, sitting down to ask for details. He said, “It was Xia Chengde, the deputy general guarding Songshan, who sent word beforehand that he was guarding the south of the city and that tonight he would erect a siege ladder and climb into the city from the south, where he would provide support from inside. That night, I led a large force and indeed stormed in from the south. We captured the Ming general Hong Chengchou, the governor Qiu Minyang, the generals Wang Tingchen, Cao Xiejiao, and Zu Dale, and the guerrilla commanders Zu Daming and Zu Dacheng, among other officials; we also killed 3,063 Ming soldiers, captured 1,249 women and children alive, and seized over 15,000 sets of armor, bows and arrows, and 3,273 cannons and muskets. Please, Father, return to the capital quickly to settle them.” Upon hearing this, Emperor Taizong laughed heartily and hurriedly prepared the hunting grounds to return to Shengjing. Upon arriving at the palace, ministers came one after another to report the military situation. Emperor Taizong comforted them all with kind words and ordered that the Han people not be mistreated. The emperor approved Beile Yuetuo's memorial: for a first-rank Han official, a princess of a noble family would be given to him as his wife; for a second-rank official, the daughter of a high-ranking minister would be given to him as his wife. He also issued a special edict sending Hong Chengchou to a guest house, treating him well, and sending him banquets daily; four palace maids were also selected to serve him.
Hong Chengchou was originally a loyal minister of the Ming Dynasty and a famous general. Now captured by the Qing army, he was willing to fight to the death. However, when he was sent to Shengjing, Emperor Taizong neither summoned him nor executed him.
Looking at the generals, some killed, some surrendered, none were left by his side. Looking at himself in the guest house, eating delicacies and sleeping in luxurious beds, he knew that the Qing still intended to persuade him to surrender. He then made up his mind that from that day on, he would not eat a single grain of rice, and would sit facing west all day long. Emperor Taizong sent people to persuade him to eat, but he refused; he was persuaded to surrender, but he refused. Later, angered by this, he locked the house doors, forbidding all servants and palace maids from entering. Two days passed, and Hong Chengchou still hadn't eaten a single grain of rice. This news reached Emperor Taizong's ears, who was deeply worried. He said to his ministers, "If Hong Chengchou refuses to surrender, it seems we will never be able to conquer the Central Plains!" He then issued an imperial edict, promising a reward of ten thousand taels of gold to anyone who could devise a clever plan to persuade Hong Chengchou to surrender. With this edict, who wouldn't want gold? Many ministers tried every means to persuade him. But Hong Chengchou simply refused to appear. On the fourth day, Hong Chengchou was so hungry he was unrecognizable. Dodo then seized one of Hong Chengchou's personal servants, a boy named Jinsheng, and threatened him in every way: "What does General Hong love most in his life?
" Jinsheng initially dared not answer. Later, Dodo ordered his maids to take Jinsheng away, and they coaxed him, urging him to drink and engaging him in frivolous conversation. Among them was a maidservant with fair skin. Jin Sheng initially dared not speak, but when he took a liking to her, the maidservant slept with him. In bed, she would occasionally mention that her master was only interested in women.
Once this news spread, Jin Duo reported it to the emperor, who selected four exceptionally beautiful palace maids and four beautiful Han women from among the captured women, sending them all to the guesthouse. However, Hong Chengchou didn't even glance at them, leaving Emperor Taizong anxiously scratching his head and sighing in the palace. Empress Wen, watching from the side, was puzzled. When she asked, Emperor Taizong revealed that Hong Chengchou refused to surrender. Empress Wen smiled slightly and said, "I believe that although Hong Chengchou is lustful, he would never love such a lowly woman. Your Majesty, rest assured, entrust this matter to me. In these three days, I will surely persuade General Hong to surrender." Emperor Taizong said, "How can that be? You are my beloved, and a dignified Empress. If word gets out, where will I put my face?" Empress Wen replied, "Your Majesty, for the sake of the country, why should you begrudge an Empress? Besides, even though I am going to serve Your Majesty, our love will remain. If Your Majesty is worried about the secret being revealed and affecting Your Majesty's reputation, this matter can be kept secret." As Empress Wen spoke, Emperor Taizong looked at her face. She was truly beautiful, and he thought to himself, "Even a heart of stone would be moved by her." She sighed and said, "Be discreet, lest they laugh at me." Empress Wen received the imperial decree and returned to the palace. She changed into a splendid dress, styled her hair in a high bun, and applied bright red rouge. Her hair swayed and gleamed, making her appear pleasing to the eye with every step. Once dressed, Empress Wen hired a small carriage and, accompanied by a personal maid, secretly slipped out through a narrow passage behind the palace. Upon arriving at the guesthouse, the carriage was pulled directly into the inner courtyard.
Suddenly, an imperial edict was announced and posted outside the guesthouse door, stating: "No one, regardless of rank or social status, is permitted to enter." Empress Wen entered the guesthouse and saw Hong Chengchou, who was indeed handsome. He sat cross-legged in a chair, having not eaten for five days, leaving him dizzy and disoriented. Empress Wen instructed the maid to help him down from the chair and lay him on the kang (heated brick bed). The palace maids all withdrew, and Empress Wen climbed onto the kang (heated brick bed), sat cross-legged, and gently helped Hong Chengchou's body up, leaning it against the edge of the kang. Hong Chengchou was drowsy, initially letting her do as she pleased, his eyes always closed. But now, he felt his body fall into a gentle embrace, waves of perfume wafting into his nostrils. Hong Chengchou was a naturally amorous man; nothing else could move his heart, only women could stir his emotions, even on his deathbed. Moreover, the fragrance was unique to Empress Wen, and found it strangely alluring, causing his heart to pound. He couldn't help but open his eyes and saw a stunningly beautiful woman, with bright eyes, white teeth, and delicate lips, smiling at him with a graceful and alluring demeanor that could truly captivate. Hong Jinglue couldn't help but ask, "Who are you?" He then heard the woman chuckle and say, "What a loyal subject who died for his country! You die, don't ask me who I am." Hearing her sweet voice, Hong Jinglue's spirits lifted, and he sat up, saying, "What does my dying for my country have to do with you?" The woman said, "I am a very compassionate person. Seeing you suffering here, I came specifically to rescue you from this misery." Hong Jinglue sneered, saying, "You dare to try and persuade me to surrender? But my mind is made up. In a day or two, my wish will be fulfilled. Although you are beautiful, I am willing to listen to anything else you say; but if you try to persuade me to surrender, I will not listen." "I heard you. Go quickly!" The woman smiled slightly, moved even closer, and said, "Although I am a woman, I greatly respect the integrity of the General. Now that the General has made this decision, how could I dare to undermine his ambition? But I think the General is quite pitiful!" General Hong asked, "Why do you pity me?" The woman said, "I see the General as a fine man. At home, he had three wives and four concubines, servants at his beck and call, living a life of luxury and comfort. How noble he was! Now he is all alone, without any relatives or friends, wishing for death but unable to. Although it will only take a day or two to accomplish, I think the suffering in those one or two days will be several times worse than the previous five days. Isn't it pitiful for a fine man to suffer like this?
" As the woman spoke, the fragrance of her lip rouge wafted into his nostrils; Hong Chengchou's heart stirred again, and he quickly closed his eyes, trying to push the woman away, but his arms were limp and powerless. Then he heard the woman's sorrowful voice say, "The strategist refuses to surrender, and he doesn't want to die quickly. Now I have a bowl of poisoned wine here. The strategist should drink it quickly and die immediately, thus avoiding suffering here. I pity the strategist, and this is the compassionate heart that has come to save him from this sea of suffering." Hong Chengchou was suffering from hunger at this time. Hearing about the poisoned wine, he opened his eyes and saw the woman holding a bowl with a jade-like hand, filled with a bowl of golden wine. Hong Chengchou hardened his heart, snatched it away, tilted his head back, and gulped it down, drinking every last drop. The woman took back the bowl, turned around, and helped him lie down; she herself lay down on the same pillow as him, the fragrance of her perfume and the scent of flowers in her hair filling her nostrils. Hong Chengchou just lay on his back, eyes closed, waiting to die; the woman remained silent. But the more he slept, the less soundly he fell asleep; the more he wanted to die, the less he wanted to die, and the stronger the fragrance became.
Every time Hong Jinglue smelled this fragrance, his heart stirred; each time, he quickly tried to stop himself. He endured this for a long time, becoming increasingly awake, tossing and turning, unable to fall into a deep sleep. Seeing his restlessness, the woman began to chat with him casually. At first, Hong Jinglue ignored her, but later the woman asked, "How many concubines do you have in your household, Jinglue? Which one is the youngest and most beautiful?" Hearing this, Hong Jinglue was stirred by countless thoughts, his heart churning as if being fried in hot oil. The woman continued, "It's alright that you, Jinglue, are away from home for so long, serving in this inn; but that beautiful woman in your household, from now on, will only dream of spring flowers and autumn moons, how painful it must be for her!" Upon hearing this, Hong Jinglue could no longer hold back. With a loud "waa," he turned around and sobbed uncontrollably towards the woman. The woman gently comforted him, speaking softly and repeatedly.
To find out what became of Hong Jinglue, please read the next chapter.

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[Romantic Anecdotes of the Qing Dynasty Court] [19-20] [Author: Xu Xiaotian]

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