weaving

Chapter 1512 The Campaign Against the Ming Dynasty: Abatai Receives Orders
Liaodong, Shenyang, inside the main hall of the puppet Qing dynasty's imperial palace.

"Your Majesty, this humble general requests permission to fight." Ajige, the Prince of Wuying of the pseudo-Qing dynasty, stepped forward from the crowd, knelt before Huang Taiji's large table, and loudly requested permission.

Prince Dorgon sat upright in his seat with a serious expression, not even raising his eyebrows. Although he appeared calm and composed with his eyes lowered, he was actually terrified inside.

He cursed Ajige inwardly, thinking, "What a useless piece of trash."

At the same time, he thought of his other younger brother, "Prince Yu, Dodo," and lamented the family's misfortune, even thinking, "Why wasn't it that fool Ajige who died? Why did it have to be Dodo?"

Like Dorgon, the banner princes, such as Prince Li Daishan and Prince Zheng Jirhalang, all kept their heads down and remained silent, completely adopting an attitude of "it's none of my business."

If this was the case with the banner lords of the Manchu Eight Banners, then Han officials and civil and military officials such as Fan Wencheng, Ning Wanwo, Zhang Cunren, Shi Tingzhu, and Zu Zerun dared not even breathe loudly.

However, Huang Taiji did not intend to let them off the hook.

"Go back and sit down," Huang Taiji said irritably, then ignored Ajige.

He looked at Daishan and asked, "What did the First Prince say?"

Daishan bowed slightly, as if to pay his respects to Huang Taiji, before speaking: "I fully support the campaign against the Ming. Last year, we did not gain any advantage in Jinzhou, and all the banners suffered losses. We need to attack the Ming to make up for the losses."

However… the Battle of Jinzhou also showed that the Ming army was not invincible. Now that we are going to attack the Ming, we cannot be careless and must plan carefully. If we can fight, then we will fight; if we cannot, we must know when to stop and retreat quickly. Therefore, the person chosen should be prudent and cautious.”

Huang Taiji did not express his opinion, but nodded slightly. However, Ajige, who had already returned to his seat, glared fiercely at his elder brother Daishan.

"Jirhalang, tell me, who is more suitable to lead the army to attack the Ming?"

Prince Zheng, Jirhalang, hurriedly stood up and bowed. Seeing Huang Taiji wave weakly at him, he sat back down and replied, "Your Majesty, I believe that in this campaign against the Ming, not all troops should be sent. Some elite troops should be left to contain the Ming army in Liaodong, so that they dare not return to reinforce."

Huang Taiji was clearly asking about the selection of a leader, but Jirhalang pretended not to understand and cleverly avoided the question. What a cunning old fox!

In fact, figures like Daišan, Dorgon, and Jirhalang, as well as quick-witted individuals like Ying Erdai, Fan Wencheng, and Ning Wanwo, had mostly guessed Huang Taiji's preferred candidate. However, they did not want to reveal it themselves to avoid incurring unnecessary hatred from some people.

Huang Taiji sat on his throne, feeling dizzy. This was the third time today. His health was deteriorating. He didn't know how much longer he could hold on.
He forced himself to stay awake, glanced sideways at Dorgon, then at his son Hauge, and sighed inwardly.

Only you know best what's going on in your own life.

Huang Taiji knew that his body was probably too weak to continue living and that he might pass away at any time. Therefore, he attached great importance to this war against the Ming Dynasty.

Although the strategy was decided as early as June, the person in charge of the battle has not yet been decided.

Huang Taiji and everyone else knew that Prince Rui, Dorgon, was actually a very suitable candidate. His strategic acumen and composure were second to none in Jianzhou. But it was precisely because of Dorgon's excellence that Huang Taiji was increasingly hesitant to let him lead the army to attack the Ming!
It should be understood that although the army that attacked the Ming Dynasty was not the entire force, at least half of the Jianzhou elite troops were sent to fight. If Dorgon were to lead the army, and something really happened to me, how could I let him feel at ease with more than half of the country's troops in his hands?
In fact, Huang Taiji had already decided on the person to lead the campaign against the Ming Dynasty, and he had already privately discussed this with his confidants, including Jirhalang, Ying'erdai, and Fan Wencheng.

At this moment, Huang Taiji knew he could not wait any longer. He struggled to raise his head, his tiger-like eyes sweeping over the people in the hall, and said in a slightly weak voice, "Where is Abatai?"

Doro Raoyu Beile Abatai was taken aback upon hearing this. Although he did not know what Huang Taiji wanted to do by summoning him, he quickly got up, walked to the center of the hall, knelt down and said, "Your subject, Abatai, will obey Your Majesty's orders."

"Ahem... Abatai, I hereby appoint you as the Grand General and order you to lead the army to attack the Ming Dynasty."

Abatai's astonishment was palpable; he even forgot to accept the imperial decree and express his gratitude. However, he quickly recovered and hurriedly kowtowed to thank the emperor and accept the decree.

“Your Majesty…” Jirhalang seemed to have something to say.

Huang Taiji seemed to lack the strength to speak, but simply waved his hand to indicate that he could speak.

"Your Majesty, I believe it would be more prudent to send an experienced and prudent person to assist Abatai."

Huang Taiji had been waiting for these words. He smiled slightly and said, "Issue the decree that Grand Minister Turge shall be the deputy commander-in-chief, assisting the General-in-Chief in leading the army to attack the Ming."

Dorgon sighed inwardly, "Hong Tai, you still don't trust me, you actually sent that fool Abatai to attack the Ming..."

Before he could think any further, Huang Taiji’s faint voice came again: “Order Tan Tai, Baiyintu, Ye Keshu, Wu Lai, Malaxi, Batma, Shi Tingzhu, Zu Zerun, Li Guohan, Jin Li and others to lead half of the soldiers of the twenty-four banners of the Manchu Eight Banners, the Mongol Eight Banners and the Han Eight Banners.

Furthermore, the eight tribes of Chahar, the five tribes of Khalkha, the Nenwujian Khorchin, the descendants of Angbang Tumen Zasaktu of the Aru tribe, the descendants of Tuidulun of the Ongniud tribe, the descendants of Xilahan of the Aru Khorchin tribe, the descendants of Aohan, Naiman, the descendants of Kundulun Khan of the Kharachin tribe, the descendants of Zhongneng Guying and Zhongtu of the Erhei Kharachin tribe, and the descendants of Gegen Khan of the Shimot tribe, also led half of the Mongol soldiers from various places to submit to the Mongol army.

Divided into left and right wings, the army set out in September to conquer the Ming Dynasty.

The Manchu Eight Banners, Mongol Eight Banners, and Han Eight Banners Gushan Ejen whose names were called all loudly accepted the decree, while the rest of the civil and military officials also rose to congratulate the war against the Ming Dynasty, believing that it would surely be a great victory.

…………

With just over a month left until the date set by Huang Taiji for the campaign against the Ming Dynasty, the Gushan Ejen of the Manchu, Mongol, and Han Eight Banners returned to their camps and immediately began to organize their troops. They first determined the personnel to be sent to each Niru (military unit) and then prepared their armor, weapons, warhorses, and provisions.

When the soldiers of the puppet Qing army went on expeditions, they prepared their own warhorses, armor, weapons, and provisions. Some well-off families would also bring one or two bondservants to help take care of their warhorses and pack their belongings.

Meanwhile, swift horses carrying the edict of the pseudo-Qing Khan Huang Taiji galloped out of Shenyang and rushed towards the Mongolian lands to the north.

They needed to convey the imperial decree to the various Mongol tribes that had submitted to the Ming Dynasty, so that they would have time to organize their troops and join the campaign against the Ming!