My father is Chongzhen? Then I have no choice but to rebel.

Chapter 195 Want to make peace? Send Dorgon here first!
Moreover, if we really want to raise an army to attack Shengjing, in order to be more secure, we will need to deploy a large number of troops and spend more manpower and material resources to transport food, weapons and other supplies.

It's a long journey with huge losses. If you're not careful, you might get into trouble. It's really not worth it.

Then, Hong Chengchou bowed and said:
"In this case, I suggest accepting the Jiannu's request for peace."

"However, since they are seeking peace, they should pay a corresponding price."

"All the property and food that was previously looted from our Ming Dynasty must be returned in full, and the civilians that were abducted must also be sent back."

"In addition, the Jiannu must send a hostage, and it must be Huang Taiji's son."

hostage?

When Zhu Cilang heard this, he was stunned at first, and then he couldn't help laughing.

He actually forgot this point. As the victor of this war, the Ming Dynasty could have asked the Jiannu to send a hostage.

This can not only demonstrate the majesty of the Ming Dynasty, but also control the situation to a certain extent.

However, for the sake of future plans, Zhu Cilang cannot take Hauge or Fulin as hostages, otherwise what will happen if the Jiannu army does not fall into internal strife?
It would be better to just let Huang Taiji send one of his sons over, since he has many sons anyway.

However, Hauge was the eldest son of Huang Taiji, and Fulin was Dayuer's son. It would never be their turn to be the hostage. It was estimated that they would just send one at random to get the matter over with.

But it doesn't matter, it's just a formality.

At this moment, Chongzhen, who had been silent all this time, could not help but speak:

"In fact, I also think we can agree to the Jiannu's request for peace."

"Because this will not only not hinder our original plan, but will also allow us to more smoothly take back the land that originally belonged to the Ming Dynasty."

"It can also prevent more casualties among soldiers, which is really killing two birds with one stone."

After hearing this, Zhu Cilang and Hong Chengchou nodded in agreement.

In this way, the Ming Dynasty agreed to the Jiannu's request for peace.

However, this matter is of great importance, involving a series of things such as territory, property, population, etc., and it is difficult to explain it clearly with just a letter.

The Jiannu side must send an important figure who has enough weight and can make the decision to come and discuss the matter in person.

Then, Zhu Cilang said:

"Since we have decided to agree to the Jiannu's request for peace, then let Huang Taiji send someone to discuss this matter with us!"

"But the choice is up to us!"

When Hong Chengchou heard this, his heart suddenly moved. With the political acumen he had acquired after years of working in officialdom, he keenly realized that the prince must have other plans in mind.

So, Hong Chengchou immediately asked:

"I wonder if His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has a suitable candidate in mind?"

Zhu Cilang's lips curled up slightly, revealing a meaningful smile, and then he slowly uttered two words:

"Dorgon."

Dorgon?
When Hong Chengchou heard the name, he couldn't help but frown slightly, his eyes full of confusion.

Having dealt with the Jiannu for so many years, he naturally knew Dorgon.

Previously, the 20,000 cavalry led by Dorgon were completely wiped out in a fierce battle with the Ming army and the Mongolian coalition forces.

Logically speaking, after this great defeat, even if Dorgon had returned to Shengjing, his status in the Jiannu would have plummeted, and he might even be marginalized.

What is the significance of specifically asking him to come and negotiate peace at this time?
Hong Chengchou subconsciously touched his beard and fell into deep thought.

Zhu Cilang seemed to see through Hong Chengchou's doubts, and then explained with a smile:
"I know what you're thinking. You simply feel that after the previous disastrous defeat, Dorgon's current status is no longer what it once was."

"But it is precisely because of this that we want to use the peace proposal to help him improve his status among the Jiannu."

When Hong Chengchou heard this, he was stunned.

Not
What did he hear?
He heard that Zhu Cilang actually wanted to help Dorgon improve his status in the Jiannu army?

For a moment, Hong Chengchou's face was full of confusion. He really didn't know what Zhu Cilang was going to do.

Even Chongzhen, who was standing by, was a little confused.

But Chongzhen was not as fond of guessing as Hong Chengchou. He looked directly at Zhu Cilang and said:
"Alright, alright! Stop keeping me in suspense and just tell me what you want to do!"

Seeing this, Zhu Cilang continued:

"According to the secret report from the Jinyiwei sent to Liaodong, Huang Taiji's health is deteriorating and he may not live long."

"According to common sense, after his death, his son Hauge should have succeeded him."

"However, Haoge's prestige in the army is far inferior to that of the other princes."

"I had originally hoped that after Huang Taiji died, Dorgon would compete with Hauge for the throne, causing internal strife within the Jiannu."

"But I didn't expect that Dorgon's entire army would be annihilated by us. As a result, his position in the Jiannu army is already precarious. This is not a good thing for us."

"Because if that happens, when Huang Taiji dies, it will be a foregone conclusion that Hauge will succeed him."

"Therefore, we must find a way to support Dorgon and let him return to his original position. At the very least, he must be able to compete with the other princes and Haoge for the throne."

Hearing this, Hong Chengchou suddenly understood.

It turned out that Zhu Cilang specifically asked Dorgon to come in order to give him a chance to make meritorious deeds on the Jiannu side so that he could regain his previous status and prestige.

When Huang Taiji dies in the future, Dorgon will have the strength to compete with others for the throne.

In this way, the Jiannu would inevitably fall into chaos, and the Ming Dynasty would be able to reap the benefits.

Even if Huang Taiji passed the throne to Hauge before his death, whether he could sit firmly on the throne was another matter.

After understanding this, Hong Chengchou couldn't help but applaud:

"Your Highness the Crown Prince is truly brilliant. If this plan succeeds, it will surely weaken the Jiannu's power once again."

Chongzhen on the side also nodded in agreement.

In fact, Zhu Cilang originally wanted to let Dorgon and Fan Wencheng come together, and then take the opportunity to get rid of Fan Wencheng.

In his heart, although the Jiannu were hateful, traitors like Fan Wencheng who betrayed their country and surrendered to the enemy were even more hateful.

However, he did not say it in the end, because he knew that Fan Wencheng's position in the Jiannu side was extremely important, almost equivalent to the prime minister of the Ming Dynasty cabinet.

Huang Taiji would never let him come.

In order to ensure the smooth implementation of the next plan, Zhu Cilang decided to let Fan Wencheng live a few more years.

In this way, the matter was basically settled, and Zhu Cilang left immediately.

After returning to the room, Zhu Cilang immediately wrote a letter to Zu Dashou, in which he clearly stated that Huang Taiji must send one of his sons to the Ming Dynasty as a hostage.

Dorgon was also required to go to Jinzhou City in person to discuss peace.

If Dorgon does not come, we will resolutely refuse to agree to the peace request. At that time, we will send 200,000 troops to the city and destroy the Jiannu in one fell swoop!
The letter was sent at full speed and reached Zu Dashou in the evening of the same day.

In Liaodong, Zu Dashou stood in front of the tent, holding the letter he had just received tightly in his hand, with a somewhat strange look on his face.

Because he didn't expect things to develop to this point.

But soon, his eyes revealed determination and resoluteness, and then he went straight to find the Jiannu messenger.

Since the two Jiannu messengers and three hundred Jiannu cavalrymen arrived here, they have been surrounded by more than 100,000 Han people.

Even though they had made sufficient mental preparation, they were still frightened by the ferocious looks of hundreds of thousands of people and broke into cold sweats.

It seemed as if these people would rush out and hack them all to death the next moment!

In fact, if Zu Dashou had not issued a military order in advance not to harm these Jiannu, the local Liaodong people would have killed them long ago!

For example, at this moment, these people are mixed in the Ming army, looking at these Jiannu with blue eyes, wishing they could eat them alive.

There was no way. When the people of Liaodong saw these Jiannu, they would think of their family members and loved ones who starved to death.

Because of this, these Jiannu people didn't even dare to breathe, for fear that they would die without a burial place if they were not careful.

Fortunately, Zu Dashou finally arrived.

Seeing Zu Dashou walking quickly towards them, the two Jiannu messengers stood up hurriedly, sweating all over from nervousness.

Because they know that the next moment will decide life or death!

If the Ming army agreed to their peace request, then they would naturally be able to return to Shengjing safely, but if the Ming army refused to negotiate peace, then they would probably have to die here!
Don’t say that when two armies are fighting, they don’t kill envoys. You have to know that we are now in the deep mountains and forests of Liaodong. Even if Zu Dashou really killed them, who would know about this?

Just as they were thinking about it, Zu Dashou had already arrived in front of them.

"Sir, may I ask if there is any result? Has His Majesty the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty agreed to our request for peace?"

A Jiannu messenger asked cautiously.

The other Jiannu soldiers also swallowed nervously, waiting for Zu Dashou's answer.

There's no way around it, it's a matter of life and death, they can't help but be nervous!
Zu Dashou stared at the Jian slaves in front of him with a look that seemed to penetrate everything, then suddenly smiled and said:

"You are lucky. Our Emperor has agreed to your request for peace!"

When the Jiannu heard this, they couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

at last!

Their lives were saved!
But then, Zu Dashou continued:

"However, there are some conditions. Dorgon must come to Jinzhou City in person to discuss peace, and one of Huang Taiji's sons must be sent as a hostage."

"If you agree, my 200,000-man army will remain stationary for now and await news of peace talks."

"But if you don't agree, that's fine. It won't be long anyway, and the army will be at the gates of the city. By then, you'll be on your own."

Zu Dashou's words were filled with unquestionable majesty, and every word struck heavily at the hearts of these Jian slaves.

After hearing this, the two Jiannu messengers turned pale with fright. How could they dare to raise any objection?

He quickly responded:

"Don't worry, sir, don't worry, everything will be fine."

"When we return to Shengjing, we will immediately report your request to His Majesty. I'm sure he will agree."

Are you kidding? What can’t you agree to at this time?

If you agree, you can live and also convey the Ming army's demands to Shengjing.

But if I refuse now, I'm afraid it will be like being chopped into pieces.

Seeing this, Zu Dashou didn't say anything more, but just waved his hand, signaling his men to let these Jian slaves leave.

In this way, the Jiannu envoys who came to seek peace left here safely.

In accordance with Zhu Cilang's request, Zu Dashou did not advance any further, but ordered the army to set up camp on the spot.

While waiting for news of the Jiannu's request for peace, he sent people to recruit Han people in the surrounding areas.

The army escorting the food was already on the way and would arrive soon. He could take this opportunity to recruit more civilians.

If the Jiannu fail to seek peace, then these people can serve as logistics and manpower for the army. If the Jiannu succeed in seeking peace, then these people can be directly converted into military households in Liaodong.

In short, population is the greatest resource!

On the other side, two Jiannu messengers returned to Shengjing and went straight to the palace.

The palace in Shengjing was magnificent with carved beams and painted buildings, but there was also a sense of oppression in the air.

After these days of careful care, Huang Taiji's mental state was obviously much better than before, and his face had some color.

However, the imperial physician also solemnly warned Huang Taiji not to have too much emotional fluctuation, otherwise if he vomited blood and fainted again, it would be impossible to save him.

Therefore, Huang Taiji has been acting extremely cautiously recently, fearing that he might really die.

At this moment, he was sitting on the dragon throne, leaning forward slightly, with a hint of fatigue and worry in his eyes.

Huang Taiji has been hesitant about the issue of succession and has not yet made up his mind.

Originally, choosing Hauge as the heir was the best choice, but for some reason, Huang Taiji always felt some resistance deep in his heart.

This was because Hauge had repeatedly opposed some of Huang Taiji's important decisions, which made Huang Taiji very angry.

For example, when Huang Taiji was preparing to take back the power of the Eight Banners and then implement the policy of replacing the Eight Banners system with the Six Central Ministries, Hauge openly expressed his dissatisfaction with the new policy to Huang Taiji.

Then Huang Taiji demoted his title to Duolo Beile and took away his position in the Ministry of Revenue.

This incident made Huang Taiji see Haoge's political immaturity. If you really pass the throne to Haoge, who knows whether Haoge will overturn all the systems he has established before?
If that's the case, he won't be able to rest in peace even after his death!
Moreover, Brother Hao is not his favorite son.

He seemed to think that his youngest son Fulin was more suitable.

But Fulin was too young to take on the responsibility of leading the Qing Dynasty. If he were really chosen, Hauge and his other brothers would definitely not accept it, which might lead to civil unrest.

Furthermore, the current Qing Dynasty still retains the tradition of the Eight Banners discussing politics. The heir to the throne is not entirely decided by the emperor alone, but must be jointly discussed by important forces such as the Eight Banners leaders.

Even the reason why Huang Taiji was able to inherit the throne was because of this!

In other words, even if Huang Taiji wanted to make one of his sons his heir, he would still need to discuss it with his younger brothers and other banner owners.

If they did not agree, Huang Taiji would not be able to make the decision.

In addition, Huang Taiji's authority had been severely damaged after he had just suffered a devastating defeat, making him even less capable of deciding the succession issue on his own.

And the most important thing right now is to seek peace. As for other things, they can actually be put on hold.

At this moment, Fan Wencheng suddenly came hurriedly and said:

"Your Majesty, the people sent to ask for peace from the Ming army have returned!"

When Huang Taiji heard this, his eyes lit up instantly and he quickly said:

"Let them in quickly!"

Soon, two Jiannu soldiers walked in.

"Tell me quickly, did the Ming army agree?"

Huang Taiji asked impatiently, his eyes full of anxiety and expectation.

The two Jiannu envoys knelt on the ground politely and quickly replied:
"Your Majesty, the Ming army has agreed to our peace talks, but they have put forward a condition."

"What conditions?"

When Huang Taiji heard this, his expression tightened and he hurriedly asked.

A Jiannu envoy swallowed nervously, then said cautiously:
"The Ming army said they want Your Majesty to send a prince as a hostage, and also want Prince Heshuo Rui to go to Jinzhou City to discuss peace in person."

"If you don't agree to this condition, then there's no room for negotiation on this matter."

what?
You want me to send a prince as a hostage?

Does Dorgon have to go to Jinzhou in person to negotiate?
Huang Taiji immediately became angry, slammed the table and stood up, his face flushed red!

He originally thought that peace talks meant ceding some land and paying some money, but he didn't expect that the Ming army actually wanted his son as a hostage?

Even though he has many sons, he just doesn't want to send them as hostages!
And then again, why did the Ming army insist on asking Dorgon to go and negotiate peace?
You know, Dorgon had nothing to do at home for some time because he lost 20,000 cavalrymen and was almost forgotten by everyone.

Although Huang Taiji once said that he would forgive Dorgon and entrust him with important tasks, that was just talk.

After all, he had committed such a serious mistake, and it was a great favor from the emperor not to kill him. How could he still use him as much as before?

But it must be said that this request from the Ming army forced him to be cautious, and he secretly wondered in his heart what kind of conspiracy was behind this?

Huang Taiji pondered for a moment and said slowly:
"You guys go down first. Have someone call Dorgon. I want to see him."

When the two Jiannu heard this, they didn't dare to say anything more and immediately retreated.

After they left, Huang Taiji frowned and looked at Fan Wencheng and said:
"Mr. Fan, what exactly is going on? Why did the Ming army insist on sending Dorgon to negotiate peace? Could it be that Dorgon has betrayed us?"

When saying this, Huang Taiji's eyes were full of suspicion and worry, and he stared at Fan Wencheng closely.

When Fan Wencheng heard this, he shook his head repeatedly and said seriously:

"Your Majesty, please do not let your imagination run wild. I can guarantee that this is absolutely impossible."

"In my opinion, this may be another divisive tactic of the Ming army."

Although Fan Wencheng had some disagreements with Dorgon and did not like him very much, he was also well aware of Dorgon's identity and position.

As a member of the Qing imperial family, Dorgon had no reason to betray the Qing as it would do him no good but only harm.

Huang Taiji also came back to his senses from his previous doubts at this moment, with a wry smile on his face, and said slowly:

"You're right. I overthink it. How could Dorgon betray the Qing Dynasty?"

He paused, looked into the distance, as if thinking about something, and then continued:
"Then let's send Dorgon to negotiate peace. However, the Ming army's intentions are unpredictable. I really don't know what they want." "What if they ask for too much and we can't give it?"

Fan Wencheng bowed slightly and responded respectfully:

"Your Majesty, rest assured. Before departure, I will explain these matters in detail to Prince Heshuo Rui and give him a bottom line."

"If the conditions proposed by the Ming army exceed this bottom line, then we must not agree to them. If they are within the bottom line, then we can consider agreeing to them."

"I believe that even if the peace talks ultimately fail, the Ming army will not attack Prince Heshuo Rui."

"After all, the Ming army has always claimed to be a righteous army, and would never do something as unbecoming as killing someone."

After hearing this, Huang Taiji nodded thoughtfully, and seemed to feel a little relieved.

Not long after, Dorgon was summoned.

When Fan Wencheng saw him come in, he instinctively wanted to avoid him.

However, Huang Taiji raised his hand to stop him, with a somewhat earnest tone:

"Mr. Fan, there's no need to avoid this matter. I'll need your attention."

Fan Wencheng had no choice but to sit down again.

As soon as Dorgon arrived at the palace, he felt a depressing atmosphere in the air, as if an invisible hand was tightly strangling his throat, making him feel very uncomfortable.

After seeing Huang Taiji, Dorgon immediately kowtowed respectfully.

"Your Majesty, I, Dorgon, pay my respects to you."

"Get up."

A faint smile appeared on Huang Taiji's face, and he spoke gently.

But in this depressing environment, this smile actually had a bit of unfathomable meaning, as if it was hiding endless secrets and calculations.

Then he turned around and instructed the attendants around him:
"Go, bring a chair and let Prince Heshuo Rui sit down and talk."

When Dorgon heard this, his heart suddenly sank, and a look of disbelief and surprise flashed across his face, mixed with a hint of panic.

You know, ever since the last defeat and the loss of 20,000 elite soldiers, he has felt alienated and rejected by the people around him.

In the court, everyone's eyes were always distant. Whenever he walked in, the lively conversation would come to an abrupt end, leaving only awkward silence.

The silence was like a sharp knife, piercing his heart.

In the military camp, the generals' conversations always avoided him. He could only watch them sitting together from afar, while he himself was isolated.

This made Dorgon feel confused. He kept thinking about his way out in his mind, but he could not find the answer and did not know what to do.

Unexpectedly, Huang Taiji not only summoned him, but also treated him with such courtesy.

This sudden change really left him at a loss.

At the same time, after Dorgon sat down, Huang Taiji was too lazy to exchange pleasantries with him.

Instead, he cut straight to the point:
"I summoned you here today to discuss peace with the Ming Dynasty."

When Dorgon heard this, he became more confused.

Negotiate peace?

What does this have to do with him?

He is not a civil official and knows nothing about these matters!

Just as he was about to ask, the next second, his head suddenly made a 'boom' sound, as if struck by thunder, and a terrible idea flashed through his mind.

etc.
Could it be that Huang Taiji wanted him to negotiate peace with the Ming army?
Sure enough, the next second, he heard Huang Taiji say:
"The Ming army specifically wants you to represent the Qing Dynasty in negotiating peace, so this time you might have to work hard."

what?
Hearing this, Dorgon suddenly stood up from his chair, his face full of disbelief.

He never thought that the thought that just flashed through his mind would actually come true.

Then, as if realizing that his reaction was a bit excessive, Dorgon quickly sat down again and asked:

"Your Majesty, is there some misunderstanding here? I am only a military commander, and I don't understand the ins and outs of peace negotiations. Why do you want me to negotiate peace?"

There was a hint of anxiety and confusion in his tone, and his voice trembled slightly.

The reason is simple, because he really doesn't want to negotiate peace with the Ming army!

If you really go, you might never come back!
Huang Taiji was not surprised by Dorgon's reaction.

There was still a hint of smile on his face, and he said slowly:
"To be honest, I don't know why the Ming army made such a request, but since they made it, we can only do it."

"You should be aware that this matter concerns the rise and fall of the Qing Dynasty, so don't refuse."

"Go back and make good preparations, then negotiate peace with the Ming army."

"Of course, I will definitely not let you take risks alone. Mr. Fan will arrange everything for you before you leave."

"Mr. Fan will explain in detail the specific details, including the ceded land, compensation, and population."

"You just need to do what Mr. Fan says, and nothing will go wrong."

"Remember, this is an important task I have entrusted to you. You must complete it well."

At the end of his words, Huang Taiji's tone involuntarily became heavier, his voice was low and powerful, and his eyes revealed majesty and warning.

That gaze was like a heavy yoke, pressing on Dorgon's heart and making him feel breathless.

At the same time, Dorgon knew that he could not refuse this time.

If he refused, given Huang Taiji's current state of mind, he might really kill him.

After all, he was the one who made the big mistake before. If he doesn't do something to atone for his sins now, it seems that it will be difficult for him to gain a foothold in the Qing Dynasty.

But asking him to go to the Ming army to negotiate peace, he always felt that it was like a sheep walking into a tiger's mouth. If he went this time, he was afraid that he would never come back.

But now that things have come to this, what right does he have to refuse?

Thinking of this, Dorgon could only grit his teeth and say:

"Your Majesty, rest assured. I know what to do. I will not let you down."

After saying this, Dorgon stood up again and kowtowed respectfully, and did not get up for a long time, as if he was surrendering to fate.

Huang Taiji nodded with satisfaction, and then said:
"Okay, go down first. Mr. Fan will discuss this matter with you later."

"Remember, don't let me down, and don't let the Qing Dynasty down."

"My dear brother, please retire."

Dorgon kowtowed again, then stood up and left with heavy steps.

By the time Dorgon left the palace, the sky was gradually darkening. The afterglow of the sky sprinkled on the palace walls, adding a layer of sad color, as if sighing for his fate.

Suddenly at this moment, a group of people appeared towards us.

The person in the lead was extremely pretty and had a graceful figure. She was the Dayuer he had been thinking about day and night.

But at this moment, he was in the palace, surrounded by ears and eyes, and Dorgon did not dare to show any unusual behavior. He could only pretend to be calm and continue to move forward.

But at the moment when they passed each other, he couldn't help but turn his head slightly and glance at Dayuer, his eyes full of attachment and reluctance.

Dayuer was also looking at him at this moment. Their eyes met, and a thousand words were contained in this one glance. Tenderness instantly spread in their hearts.

Immediately afterwards, Dorgon came to his senses in an instant and realized that it was not appropriate to stay here for long. He did not dare to look at Dayuer again, and hurriedly lowered his head, quickened his pace and left in a hurry.

Just as Dorgon's figure disappeared from the palace gate, the air in the palace seemed to freeze for a moment.

The heavy feeling of depression brought about by the peace talks, like a thick haze, tightly enveloped this place and did not dissipate for a long time.

Previously, they had not seriously discussed this matter because they were not sure whether the Ming army would agree to peace talks.

But now that the Ming army has agreed to peace talks, they must come up with a comprehensive plan.

This plan must satisfy the Ming army without causing too much loss to the Qing Dynasty.

Huang Taiji looked at Fan Wencheng with eyes full of expectation and concern and said:

"Mr. Fan, if you have any ideas in your mind, feel free to speak them out. As long as you can successfully facilitate this peace proposal, you will be the greatest hero of the Qing Dynasty."

When Fan Wencheng heard this, his right hand unconsciously touched his beard, and his fingers rubbed back and forth in his beard. After hesitating for a moment, he stood up and said respectfully:
"Your Majesty, since you trust me so much, I will tell you everything I know."

"I have a bold suggestion. Your Majesty can remove the name of our country and make the Qing Dynasty a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty."

what?
When Huang Taiji heard this, he suddenly stood up from the dragon throne and slammed his hands on the armrests of the dragon throne, making a loud "bang" sound.

His originally peaceful eyes suddenly burst into a sharp murderous intent.

He stared at Fan Wencheng intently, as if trying to find a hint of joking on his face.

He could never have imagined that Fan Wencheng, who had followed him for many years and was always resourceful, would come up with such a shocking suggestion.

However, facing such a Huang Taiji, Fan Wencheng did not show any panic, but just looked at Huang Taiji with a calm look.

Huang Taiji now knew that he had overreacted. He took a few deep breaths and tried to calm himself down before sitting down again and speaking:

"Mr. Fan, please continue and make your thoughts clear."

Fan Wencheng then went on to explain:
"I know full well that Your Majesty will find this suggestion humiliating at first."

"But now this is the only way to show our utmost sincerity to the Ming army and ensure that they will not attack us again."

"After all, in the past three hundred years, the Ming Dynasty has never actively attacked a vassal state."

"And this is just a superficial effort for the Ming Dynasty. In reality, it will not affect Your Majesty's ruling status in the Qing Dynasty at all. Your Majesty is still the supreme and final emperor of the Qing Dynasty."

After hearing these words, Huang Taiji's frown gradually relaxed.

If that's the case, it's acceptable.

So, Huang Taiji nodded.

"If that's the case, I agree!"

Hearing this, Fan Wencheng finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Sure enough, Huang Taiji was not an ordinary person and knew how to make choices.

But then he seemed to have thought of something, and said with a slightly restrained look:
"Regarding the matter of the proton, I implore Your Majesty to quickly select the candidate."

When he said this, an unnatural expression flashed across Fan Wencheng's face.

Because he knew in his heart that this was not something he should rush, but he was really worried that Huang Taiji would forget this important matter.

However, Huang Taiji seemed very calm and composed at this time. He said calmly:
"I have already made up my mind about this matter. Let the Fourth Prince Ye Bushu go."

Yebusu, whose full name is Aisin-Gioro Yebusu, is the fourth son of Huang Taiji and just turned thirteen this year.

When Fan Wencheng heard the name, he weighed the pros and cons in his mind and felt that there was nothing wrong with it, so he bowed and agreed:
"Your Majesty is wise, I think it is feasible."

Then, the two of them had an in-depth discussion on other related matters.

By the time everything was discussed, it was already getting dark.

Fan Wencheng left the palace only after bidding farewell to Huang Taiji.

However, after leaving the palace, Fan Wencheng did not rush home, but turned and walked towards Dorgon's mansion.

Soon, they arrived at Dorgon's Heshuo Rui Prince's Mansion.

The Prince Heshuo Rui's Mansion, which was once bustling with guests, is now deserted and almost deserted.

The willow trees on both sides of the street swayed gently in the breeze, and their slender willow branches intertwined with each other, as if they were also sighing for the desolation of the palace.

When Fan Wencheng arrived at the gate of the palace, the servants at the gate saw him from afar and immediately put on respectful smiles on their faces. There was a bit of flattery in the smiles, as if they had already known that he would come to visit.

Then he respectfully brought Fan Wencheng into the mansion.

At this time, Dorgon was sitting alone in a dim room. The room was filled with a strong smell of alcohol, and the table in front of him was filled with empty wine jugs.

His face was filled with worry, and he thought to himself that this time he would be in great danger and it would be difficult for him to return safely.

It was not until he heard the servant announce that Fan Wencheng had arrived that Dorgon put down the wine glass in his hand, then tidied up his slightly messy clothes and went out to greet Fan Wencheng.

Although he had never looked down on Fan Wencheng in the past, he now knew very well that in this predicament, the only person who could save him was Fan Wencheng.

Soon, Dorgon met Fan Wencheng.

Dorgon stepped forward and asked worriedly:

"Mr. Fan, do you think I can come back alive after this trip?"

Fan Wencheng looked at Dorgon's anxious expression, a gentle smile appeared on his face, and he comforted him:

"Your Highness, don't worry. Good fortune will come to you. You will definitely return safely."

After hearing this, Dorgon's tense shoulders relaxed a little and he felt a little more at ease.

Then the two of them sat opposite each other, and servants brought them tea.

Fan Wencheng picked up the teacup, took a sip, and then told Dorgon in detail what he had discussed with Huang Taiji before.

When Dorgon heard that the country's name was to be removed and the Qing Dynasty would become a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty, his originally dull eyes suddenly widened, his eyeballs almost popped out of his eye sockets, and his face was full of disbelief.

After a while, he finally said:

"Your Majesty agrees?"

Fan Wencheng nodded and said affirmatively:
"It's just a show for the Ming Dynasty. Your Majesty will naturally agree."

Dorgon was speechless for a moment, as if something was stuck in his throat, thinking:

Not only did he send his son as a hostage, but he also lowered the country's name. How could my elder brother really endure this?
At this moment, he suddenly thought of a key question and asked anxiously:
"Mr. Fan, if that's the case, how should I deal with myself in the future?"

He was originally a prince with an extremely noble status, but if the Qing Dynasty lowered its name, would his status as a prince still be valid?
When Fan Wencheng heard this question, he looked embarrassed.

But soon he said:
"In the Qing Dynasty, your status is still a prince, but in the Ming Dynasty, in order to show sincerity, it is best not to call yourself a prince."

When Dorgon heard this, his brows furrowed even more tightly, and he asked:
"Then tell me, what should I call myself then?"

Although Fan Wencheng was a little embarrassed, he still replied:

"Your Highness, you may call yourself a guilty subject to show your submission to the Ming Dynasty. Moreover, when you see the Ming Emperor, you must kneel and bow."

When Dorgon heard this, the color on his face instantly faded and turned extremely pale, and he was shocked to the extreme.

He really couldn't accept such humiliation, and then he stood up suddenly and roared:
"No! I would rather die than suffer such humiliation!"

Fan Wencheng hurriedly stood up and came to Dorgon and advised:

"Your Highness, the Han Chinese have a saying: 'Only those who endure the most hardships can become the best.'"

"Your Highness, you have made such a big mistake before. Don't you want to find a chance to make amends?"

"Your Majesty is fully aware that this action has wronged you, so as long as this peace negotiation is successful, I will allow you to reorganize the Plain White Banner."

Upon hearing this, Dorgon's originally angry expression froze for a moment, and a hint of hesitation flashed in his eyes.

You should know that when he went to Mongolia before, he led the Zhengbai Banner to which he belonged.

As a result, everyone knows that the Zhengbai Banner was almost wiped out in this battle.

From then on, his status in the Qing Dynasty plummeted.

But if he could reorganize the Zhengbai Banner, he would be able to restore his former prestige and glory.

With this balance in mind, the humiliation before me doesn't seem completely unbearable.
Thinking of this, Dorgon finally calmed down and fell into a fierce struggle in his heart.

But soon, he nodded at Fan Wencheng.

"In that case, this king agrees!"

Seeing this, Fan Wencheng finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Immediately afterwards, Fan Wencheng explained in detail to Dorgon the relevant matters such as ceding territory, compensation, and population.

Of course, this only gave Dorgon a general understanding of these matters, and the specific matters were handled by specialized literati.

Considering that the Ming Dynasty was extremely disgusted with traitors, all matters concerning the peace talks were handled by the literati among the Jiannu.

Because of this, Fan Wencheng had to explain all matters clearly, after all, the cultural level of the Jiannu people was generally not high.

That's it. After five days of intensive and careful preparation, a peace negotiation team of about 500 people finally set out from Shengjing, preparing to go to Jinzhou to negotiate peace with the Ming Dynasty.

The leader was none other than Dorgon!
(End of this chapter)