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

As he was walking, an officer dressed in the uniform of a chiliarch rode up, dismounted in front of him, and knelt on one knee:

"Your Highness! Commander Zu has ordered me to inquire about the fate of the bodies of Prince Hauge of the Jurchens, who committed suicide yesterday, and several of his personal guards who died with him. Should their heads be displayed publicly, or..."

Zhu Cilang paused slightly.

He was so busy with things when he entered the city yesterday that he almost forgot about this matter.

He remained silent for a moment. Officially, Hauge was an enemy of the Ming Dynasty, a prince of the Jurchen people, and his family's hands were stained with the blood of Ming soldiers and civilians. Displaying his head publicly as a warning to others and deterring the remaining Ming forces was the proper course of action. But…

Haug ultimately chose to give up resistance and sacrifice his own life to ensure the safety of the city's elderly and weak. His actions were pitiful, and his will... was also lamentable.

"Tell Commander Zu."

Zhu Cilang spoke slowly, his voice calm.

"Although Hauge was the enemy chieftain, in his final moments, he did not resist stubbornly, nor did he harm the people. He committed suicide to die for the city, which can be considered as preserving some of his integrity. There is no need to desecrate his body. Find a secluded place and bury him properly. Those personal guards who died with him... should also be buried in the same grave. There is no need to erect a monument, just let him rest in peace."

"Your subordinate obeys!"

The commander bowed in agreement, mounted his horse, and galloped away.

Zhu Cilang watched his departing figure, then turned to look at the figures with braids, holding broken bowls, squatting in the corner drinking porridge, and the majestic Shenyang Imperial Palace in the distance, which had changed hands. A mix of emotions welled up in his heart.

Reclaiming lost territory and sweeping away the enemy's strongholds is only the first step.

How to revitalize this scarred land, how to win the genuine allegiance of its people, how to digest the fruits of victory, and thus... achieve even more far-reaching goals—the road ahead remains long.

In mid-September of the seventeenth year of the Chongzhen reign (1644), in Shenyang.

The autumn wind grows stronger day by day, and the chill in the borderlands is already intense, as if snow could fall at any moment.

The city of Shenyang, once a symbol of the glory of the Qing Dynasty, appeared solemn and silent in the autumn wind. The red flags of the Ming army had been planted all over the city walls, replacing the brocade dragon banners of the past.

Although the streets remained desolate, the smoke rising daily from the soup kitchens, along with the ruins cleared and the streets and alleys restored by the Ming army, ultimately injected a faint but real sense of order and vitality into this city that had just experienced a catastrophe.

In the temporary "General's Headquarters for Pacifying Liaodong" set up in the former Prince Su's residence, Zhu Cilang was facing a huge map of Liaodong, making the next steps for the recapture of Shenyang.

The complex emotions he felt when he first arrived in Shenyang had faded from his young face, replaced by a calm and focused deliberation.

While the recapture of lost territory was certainly gratifying, for him, this game of chess called "Pacifying Liaodong" was far from over.

“Zu Dashou, Sun Chuanting, Cao Wenzhao, Zhou Yuji, Li Dingguo... have come to discuss matters.”

Zhu Cilang put down the register in his hand that marked the troop strength and garrison points of each unit, and gave instructions to Li Hu, who was standing to the side.

A moment later, all the core generals gathered in the council hall.

After several days of rest and the exhilaration of the recapture of Shengjing, the generals were in high spirits, though their brows were filled with anticipation and curiosity about the Crown Prince's next arrangements.

Zhu Cilang got straight to the point, pointing to the map and saying:
"Shenyang has fallen, but the main force of the Jurchens has not been destroyed. Dorgon has fled north with the false emperor, which is a major threat and must be eliminated. However, Liaodong is a vast area with treacherous mountains and forests. If they are allowed to disperse into the mountains and forests, it will be difficult to pursue and wipe them out. Therefore, I have already made a plan."

He drew an arc with his finger from Shenyang northeastward, eventually dotting the Korean Peninsula across the Yalu River:

"Our next step is not to pursue the fleeing enemy aimlessly, but to drive them away!"

"Drive them away?"

Cao Wenzhao, unaware of Zhu Cilang's plan, asked in confusion:
"Your Highness, the Jurchens are like stray dogs. Why not press on with our momentum, send troops to pursue them swiftly, and annihilate them all in Liaodong?"

"General Cao is commendable for his bravery."

Zhu Cilang gave him an approving look, then shook his head.

"The terrain in Liaodong is complex. Our army consists mostly of infantry and wagon troops, carrying heavy weapons and moving slowly. Although the Jurchens have been defeated, their main force still exists, and they have many cavalry who are familiar with the terrain. If they flee into the wild lands of Changbai Mountain and Heilongjiang, our army will have difficulty resupplying if we venture deep into the region, making us vulnerable to their attacks. Rather than going on a long and arduous expedition and getting bogged down in a quagmire, it would be better to... drive them to one place and annihilate them."

His fingers landed heavily on the banks of the Yalu River:
"This is the pre-arranged battlefield—Korea!"

Although Zu Dashou and Sun Chuanting already knew something about the Crown Prince's plans for Korea, they were still shocked when he said it outright.

Generals Cao Wenzhao, Zhou Yuji, and Li Dingguo, among others, were hearing about such a grand and unexpected strategic shift for the first time, and all showed surprise on their faces.

Before anyone could ask a question, Zhu Cilang continued:
"Starting tomorrow, our army will divide its forces. Zu Dashou and Cao Wenzhao will lead 100,000 elite troops as the vanguard, advancing steadily northward from the direction of Fushun and Qinghe. We need not seek a quick victory, but rather a steady advance. If we encounter small groups of Jurchens, we will defeat them; if we encounter their main force, we will not engage in direct combat, but will harass them from a distance with firearms to force them to move. Remember, you are the 'shepherds,' and Dorgon's remnants are the 'flock.'"

"Sun Chuanting and Zhou Yuji led 80,000 troops as the central army, stationed in Shenyang to consolidate the city's defenses, pacify the local area, ensure the supply lines, and be ready to advance and provide support at any time."

"Li Dingguo".

Zhu Cilang looked at the young general.

"You will lead 10,000 cavalrymen to form a rapid mobile force, equipped with double the amount of fixed ammunition, specializing in patrolling, reconnaissance, and flank harassment. You will work closely with Zu Dashou's troops to ensure that you grasp the exact movements of the main Jurchen force and cut off any possible routes for them to flee west or disperse."

After the assignments were completed, Zhu Cilang's gaze swept over the generals:

"The key to this battle lies in 'driving' rather than 'encircling,' and in 'forcing' rather than 'annihilating.' We must put pressure on Dorgon, making him feel that staying in Liaodong is like being surrounded by enemies, but at the same time, we must give him a seemingly feasible 'way out'—that is, to cross the Yalu River and enter Korea! The Joseon Dynasty of Korea is small and weak, and has never experienced a major war. In Dorgon's eyes, it is nothing less than a piece of fat meat."

"But Your Highness."

Zhou Yuji couldn't help but say:
"If the Jurchens truly enter Korea, the Korean king will surely seek help from our dynasty. At that time, our army's entry into Korea to fight will be perfectly justified. However... what should be done with Korea after the war?"

This was also the question in the minds of many generals present. Had all this effort been put in just to help a vassal state drive away bandits?
Zhu Cilang's lips curled slightly, revealing a mysterious smile:

"General Zhou's concerns are very valid. I have already made plans for this matter. After the army departs, I will write two letters. One will be sent to Uiju, in the name of the Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty and the General Who Pacifies Liaodong, to inform King Injo of Joseon that the remnants of the Jurchen tribes may have infiltrated his country, and to order him to strengthen his border defenses and be ready to receive my royal army to assist in the suppression. The other letter..."

He paused, lowering his voice slightly, yet it carried an even stronger penetrating force:

"It was a secret letter, sent to Pi Island and given to Zheng Zhilong. He ordered his navy to assemble and deploy troops on the west coast of Korea, making it appear as if they could land at any time to intercept the Jurchens' rear, or even advance directly to Seoul. At the same time, he ordered him to send envoys to secretly contact forces within Korea that were dissatisfied with the Joseon Dynasty, or local powerful figures, and to give them a slight... hint." "As for Abunai Taiji..."

Zhu Cilang pointed towards the Liaohetao Grassland:

"I have already sent a letter requesting him to lead the cavalry of the Khorchin and other Mongol tribes that have submitted to the Mongols, from east to west, to slowly squeeze along the foothills of the Changbai Mountains, forming a pincer movement with Zu Dashou's tribe, and further driving the Jurchens eastward and towards the Yalu River. Abu Naijiu is in southern Mongolia and has trade relations with Korea. He is familiar with the border situation, so it is most appropriate to entrust this matter to him."

The plan was well-organized and logical, combining military pressure, diplomatic intimidation, and internal disintegration, with the aim of completely diverting the remnants of the Jurchen forces to Korea and paving the way for the Ming Dynasty to eventually take control of Korea.

After hearing this, the generals felt that the plan was quite risky and that using it against vassal states was not in accordance with the "kingly way." However, upon careful consideration, they realized that it was indeed an excellent strategy to resolve the problems in Liaodong and even Northeast Asia with the least cost and the greatest benefit. They were all convinced of its effectiveness.

"Your Highness, we will obey your orders!"

The generals responded with a resounding roar.

Ten days later, at the Jinzhou Imperial Palace.

Night had fallen, and the cold wind was rattling against the windowpanes.

Emperor Chongzhen, wearing a thick fox fur coat, sat behind his desk in the warm pavilion, reviewing ordinary memorials from Beijing that were unrelated to the Liaodong war, by candlelight.

Detailed military reports from the Liaodong front were routinely sent directly to the Crown Prince's residence, where the Crown Prince would then summarize them or add his own comments before presenting them to the Emperor. Therefore, although Emperor Chongzhen was concerned about the war, he had no urgent reports at hand at the moment.

He rubbed his slightly sore eyes, about to call the eunuch to add tea, and prepared to go to bed.

Suddenly, a series of extremely abrupt and uncontrolled running sounds came from outside the hall, along with the old eunuch's hoarse shouts, distorted by extreme excitement and even bordering on sobs:
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Great news! Heaven blesses the Ming Dynasty! Heaven blesses the Ming Dynasty!!!"

Emperor Chongzhen's heart skipped a beat, and the vermilion pen in his hand fell onto the memorial with a "thud," staining it red.

He looked up abruptly and saw a eunuch tumbling in, disregarding his decorum. He held a military bulletin tube sealed with sealing wax and adorned with a red feather representing "urgent dispatch from 800 li away." Tears streamed down his old face, yet he smiled like a blooming chrysanthemum.

"Your Majesty! Shenyang... Shenyang has been liberated! His Highness the Crown Prince... His Highness the Crown Prince recaptured Shenyang without shedding a drop of blood! The false slave capital, Shengjing, has already raised the dragon flag of our Great Ming!!!"

Although he was mentally prepared, knowing that the army was approaching Shenyang and that its restoration was only a matter of time, the words "without bloodshed" and "already restored" struck Chongzhen like a thunderbolt.

He jumped up from his throne with a jolt, and in his haste, his wide sleeves swept the pen holder and inkstone off the table with a crash, but he was completely unaware of it.

"Quickly! Bring it here! Bring it to me right now!"

Chongzhen's voice trembled with excitement, and his outstretched hand was somewhat unsteady.

Immediately afterwards, Chongzhen almost snatched it, his fingertips trembling slightly as he unscrewed the copper clasp, pulled out the tightly rolled silk military report inside, and eagerly began to read it by the flickering candlelight.

The military report was jointly submitted by Zu Dashou and Sun Chuanting, and its wording was respectful and detailed.

The opening lines read, "Thanks to His Majesty's divine might, His Highness the Crown Prince's strategic planning, the soldiers' valiant efforts, and the imperial weapon's triumph..."

He then gave a detailed report on the situation, including the approach of the enemy to Shenyang, Hauge's suicide, the garrison opening the city gates, and the people providing food and drink.

When he saw the lines, "The false Prince Su, Haoge, knowing his time was up, committed suicide on the city wall, and the rest of his troops surrendered," and "Our army entered the city without committing any offenses, and the people of Liaodong wept and bowed in welcome, all shouting 'Long live the Emperor!'," Chongzhen felt a surge of heat rush from his chest to the top of his head, instantly spreading throughout his body! His eyes uncontrollably welled up with tears and felt hot.

We've taken it! We've really taken it! Shenyang! This city, which the Jurchens had occupied for over thirty years, which they called "Shengjing" and regarded as the place where the Ming dynasty rose to power, this city that brought shame to the Ming emperor and his officials and caused countless soldiers to shed their blood on the battlefield, has finally... finally returned to the hands of the Ming dynasty!

This is an unprecedented and decisive victory since the deterioration of the situation in Liaodong at the end of the Wanli era! It is enough to comfort the ancestors in the Imperial Ancestral Temple and enough to wash away decades of humiliation!

"Okay! Okay! Okay!"

Emperor Chongzhen said "good" three times in a row, his voice choked with emotion. His knuckles turned white from gripping the military report tightly, and his face flushed with a sickly redness from excitement.

"Lang'er...well done! Soldiers...well done!"

However, the excitement did not last long.

As he continued reading, and came across the words, "The false regent Dorgon, along with the false emperor Fulin and his mother, and 200,000 able-bodied men and over 300,000 men, swept through the treasury and fled north into the mountains, their trail pointing towards Changbai and Yalu..." his brows furrowed, his earlier elation receded like a tide, and a shadow fell over his heart.

"Escape north...escaping north with the crowd..."

Emperor Chongzhen muttered to himself, put down the military report, and slowly sat back down in his chair. The joy on his face gradually faded, replaced by a complex expression that mixed worry and understanding.

He recalled the audacious plan about Korea that Zhu Cilang had mentioned a few months earlier, a plan so daring it kept him up at night.

At the time, he remained noncommittal, but in reality, he opposed it. However, he was powerless to refute his son's meticulous logic and amazing courage, so he could only give vague answers.

Now, Dorgon has indeed abandoned the city and fled north, and he has taken a large number of people with him... How similar this situation is to what his son predicted!
"Using a tiger to devour a wolf...borrowing a path to destroy Guo..."

Emperor Chongzhen rubbed his forehead, feeling a familiar headache caused by the complex and thorny state of affairs.

He could almost foresee how the script would unfold.

When the Jurchens entered Korea, Korea sought help, and the Ming army "accepted the invitation" and entered Korea. Then... the fate of Korea was no longer up to the Yi family, nor to any "ancestral precepts".

This plan seems perfect, but which of the seasoned and shrewd cabinet ministers and censors in the court is an easy opponent? They may be blinded by victory at first, but once they calm down, they will surely see the crux of the matter. At that time, a fierce debate about "morality" versus "practical benefits" will likely erupt in the court.

As emperor, he will once again face a difficult choice.

"Your Majesty...you...what is this?"

Seeing the emperor's joy turn to melancholy, the old eunuch felt uneasy and cautiously asked.

Emperor Chongzhen was jolted awake from his reverie. Looking at the old, bewildered face of the eunuch before him, still bearing traces of tears, he suddenly felt a loss of interest.

The twists and turns, the calculations, the helplessness, and the ambition involved—how could an old eunuch possibly understand? (End of Chapter)