Huangming

Chapter 279 Driving the Han to Attack the Ming, Hostages Force War
From the day Liu Xingzuo betrayed the Jin and returned to the Ming, the Han Chinese officials who surrendered to the Jin became thorns in the side of the Eight Banners Jurchens.

In that battle at Hunhe, the two Blue Banner cavalry were ambushed by Liu Xingzuo and then defeated by the Ming cavalry. When the news reached Fushun, the Jurchen princes were furious and their gazes toward the surrendered Han officials were filled with icy suspicion.

Although there was oppression in the past, there was still some superficial politeness. But now, that politeness has been completely torn apart, leaving only naked humiliation.

This humiliation initially stemmed from the theft of some valuables.

The jade and silk artifacts of Han Chinese officials who had surrendered to the Qing dynasty were often "borrowed" by passing Eight Banner soldiers. In reality, it was no different from robbery.

But gradually, the oppression intensified, and they even turned their attention to his wife and daughters.

Fan Wencheng and his younger brother Fan Wencai held high positions and wielded great power among the Han Chinese officials who surrendered, but their families were not spared either.

Under the guise of discussing matters, the eldest prince Daishan frequently visited the Fan residence. He took a fancy to Fan Wencheng's concubine and actually led his men to break into the inner courtyard and forcibly seize her.

Even worse, some Jianzhou Jurchens with little military merit, relying on their "noble" status, would get drunk and stand at the gate of the Fan residence, demanding to "taste the women of Han officials." If the maids and servants in the residence tried to stop them, they would be slapped until their faces were covered in blood.

Those Han Chinese officials who surrendered saw this and felt the pain in their hearts, but dared not speak out. They could only watch helplessly as their wives and concubines were dragged out by Jurchen soldiers. Their humiliating cries pierced through the courtyard walls, lashing their faces like whips.

Li Yongfang, unable to bear it any longer, dragged Fan Wencheng and Tong Yangxing to Nurhaci to complain.

The three knelt outside the Fushun Khan Palace, waiting from dawn till dusk, finally hoping that Nurhaci would come out, only to be met with a barrage of reprimands.

"You Han people are fickle and treacherous. If it weren't for the fact that you still have some use, I would have killed you all long ago! You're just a few women; are you really worth bothering me, Khan?"

Tong Yangxing mustered his courage and argued, "Your Majesty, they are our family members..."

"family?"

Nurhaci sneered and pointed his whip at the three men.

"In Fushun, your lives belong to me, let alone your families! If you dare to say another word, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

The three were thoroughly berated and slunk away.

As Li Yongfang walked outside the palace gate, gazing at the city wall of Fushun, he suddenly vomited blood.

He surrendered the city back then, thinking he would gain wealth and honor, but he never expected to end up in such a state, unable to even protect his wife and children.

From then on, resentment among the surrendered Han officials grew wildly like weeds.

From strategists like Fan Wencheng to Han soldiers under Li Yongfang, and even Han civilians who were captured, everyone harbored a burning anger within them.

They watched as Jurchen soldiers rode their stolen warhorses, carrying Han women they had abducted, rampaging through the streets. They watched as their hard-earned wealth was wantonly plundered. Their sense of belonging to the Jurchens had long been crushed by this daily oppression.

"This isn't submission; it's utter subjugation!"

The news coming from Shenyang left them scratching their heads in frustration.

First, it was said that the Ming emperor sent envoys to give the Ming army in Shenyang a mountain of reward silver. The families of the soldiers who died in battle would receive ten taels of silver as compensation and be exempted from taxes for three years.

Then there's Liu Xingzuo, the Han Chinese who had betrayed the Jin and returned to the Ming just a month ago. He was directly granted the title of "Earl of Weilu," rewarded with a thousand taels of silver and two hundred acres of farmland, and his troops were even made into the "Loyal and Righteous Camp," becoming the regular army of the imperial court.

What really stirred people's hearts was the surrender order that spread throughout Liaodong.

It is said that the Ming emperor issued a decree: any Han Chinese who surrenders to Jianzhou, regardless of their past actions, as long as they are willing to turn back and can produce a pledge of allegiance, will either have the head of a Jurchen general or present a map of the city's defenses.

The imperial court did not investigate at all, and the silver rewards and official titles that were due were all given without fail.

When the news reached the ears of the Han Chinese officials who had surrendered, those who had been oppressed by the Jurchen nobles felt as if a stone had been thrown into their hearts, causing ripples to spread.

A Han soldier serving under Li Yongfang hid in the barracks at night and whispered to his fellow villager, "Tell me... how much reward would we get if we also ran to the Ming camp?"

His fellow villager quickly covered his mouth, but his eyes shone with a frightening light: "Keep your voice down! Didn't you hear that Lord Liu has already been ennobled as a marquis? Even if we don't have that ability, at least we can live a peaceful life, which is better than being treated like pigs and dogs here!"

Such whispers quietly spread in the Han Chinese barracks and the residences of surrendered officials.

Some people began secretly hiding small amounts of silver, some stared at the heads of Jurchen generals and plotted, and some even stared blankly in the direction of Shenyang at night.

There, it seems, the days are warmer than in Fushun.

But the moment this thought crossed his mind, the vigilance of the Jurchen nobles descended upon him like frost and snow in the dead of winter, pressing down from all sides.

"Han people are all ungrateful dogs!"

The Gushan Ejen of the Bordered Red Banner smashed his wine bowl in the main tent, pointed at the armored soldiers below, and cursed: "Liu Xingzuo is a prime example! Keep a close eye on those Han people, and if anyone dares to whisper, skin them alive!"

With the order issued, life became even more difficult for the Han people outside Fushun.

When the Jurchen soldiers on the street saw Han Chinese, they would raise their hands to hit them and kick them, cursing them as "traitorous bastards."

The armor and weapons in the homes of Han Chinese officials who surrendered were confiscated under the pretext of "inspection," and even Li Yongfang's personal sword was taken away, the reason being "to prevent you from following Liu Xingzuo's example."

Even worse, they would break into Han Chinese courtyards at night and drag away any woman who was even slightly attractive. Fan Wencheng's daughter, who had just turned fifteen, was almost abducted by a few drunken Jurchen soldiers.

The Han people were treated like walking livestock; beatings and verbal abuse were commonplace, and their dignity was trampled and crushed in the mud.

Just when things were getting tense, guards from the Khan's Palace suddenly burst into Li Yongfang and Tong Yangxing's residence.

"The Khan has ordered you to enter the palace immediately!"

The guard's scabbard slammed heavily against the door, the sound as cold as ice.

"You've delayed us! You'll be in for a beating!"

Li Yongfang and Tong Yangxing exchanged a glance, both seeing panic in each other's eyes.

Is being summoned at this time a blessing or a curse?
Li Yongfang and Tong Yangxing walked one after the other towards the palace, led by Nurhaci's personal guards.

Although it is called a temporary palace, it is actually the original Fushun Guerrilla Headquarters.

The copper rings on the vermilion gate were already rusted, and a corner of the plaque above the gate that read "Guarding the Liaodong Fushun Guerrilla Prefecture" had been chipped off and replaced with a rough wooden sign with four crooked Manchu characters that read "Khan's Camp".

Before they even entered, two burly bodyguards stepped forward and searched them thoroughly, even prying open their boots to check for weapons. Only after confirming that they weren't hiding any weapons did they shove them roughly and say, "Go in!"

Passing through the front yard, the atmosphere in the lobby was so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.

Li Yongfang looked up and saw Nurhaci sitting upright in the main seat, his silk yellow robe trailing on the ground. His face was as dark as a stormy day beyond the Great Wall, and his hawk-like eyes were fixed on them, as if trying to see right through them. "Your servant Li Yongfang (Tong Yangxing) greets the wise Khan!"

The two men knelt down with a thud and then kowtowed heavily.

Nurhaci, sitting in the main seat, remained silent, only stroking his beard, his gaze like a poisoned knife, repeatedly cutting into the backs of the two men.

The hall was eerily quiet, with only the crackling of the flickering candlelight and the suppressed breathing of the two people.

After a long while, Nurhaci finally let out a cold snort, his voice full of mockery.

"Shwulli and Fushun, you two, tell me, do you also want to follow Liu Xingzuo's example and grovel before the Nikan Kingdom?"

He paused, then his voice suddenly rose, taking on a sharp, sarcastic tone: "So that brat from the Tianqi Kingdom will grant you counts? By then, the riches and honors I have here won't be enough to keep you here!"

These words struck them like a thunderbolt. Li Yongfang trembled violently, and cold sweat instantly soaked through her inner clothes.

He knew that Nurhaci was not joking.

After Liu Xingzuo's defection, the Khan's suspicion of Han Chinese officials who had surrendered reached its peak. The slightest misstep could result in the execution of their entire families.

"Slave dare not!"

Li Yongfang was the first to react, and her head slammed against the ground with a thud, blood quickly seeping from her forehead.

"This servant has been favored by the wise Khan for generations, and even if I were to be crushed to pieces, I would never dare to have a disloyal heart! As for Liu Xingzuo, that traitor who seeks personal gain, this servant wishes he could eat his flesh and sleep on his skin!"

Tong Yangxing also kowtowed frantically, his voice trembling uncontrollably: "This servant is utterly loyal to the wise Khan, as Heaven and Earth can attest! If I have uttered even the slightest lie, I will gladly accept any punishment from the Khan, even unto death!"

Nurhaci squinted at the two men, who were weeping and snotting, and a cold smile appeared on his lips, but he still did not make them get up.

"Don't you dare?"

"I can see what you're all thinking; you've been planning to rebel for a long time!"

Li Yongfang's forehead was bleeding from the kowtow, and bright red blood dripped down his cheeks. His throat tightened, and he cried out in a sob, "Great Khan, please forgive me! If this servant has even the slightest disloyalty, may the heavens strike me with lightning and may this servant die a gruesome death!"

Tong Yangxing kowtowed until his forehead was bruised and swollen, and his voice trembled: "This servant's hands are stained with the blood of the Ming Dynasty. Those Nikan have long regarded this servant as a thorn in their side. Going back will only lead to death! Great Khan, please be aware that this must be a Ming Dynasty plot to sow discord! They want the Great Khan to cut off his own arm. The Great Khan must not fall for their trick!"

Nurhaci looked at the two men, tears streaming down their faces, and suddenly sneered, his laughter filled with coldness: "How could I not see through the tricks of the little brat Tianqi and the barbarian Xiong? But you... do you really think you're innocent?"

"How can you prove your loyalty?"

Prove loyalty?

Li Yongfang and Tong Yangxing exchanged a glance, both seeing panic in each other's eyes.

More and more cold sweat seeped from his forehead, sliding down his temples and sticking to his hair.

Nurhaci slowly stood up, walked to the two men, and looked down at them:

"After last month's flooding, the official road is almost cleared. You have ten days to lead your troops to attack Shenyang."

"Take Shenyang and bring me the head of that Xiong Manzi. Then I will believe you are truly loyal."

Attack Shenyang?

Their hearts felt as if they had been gripped by a giant hand, instantly turning ice-cold.

After Xiong Tingbi's reforms, Shenyang's defenses were impregnable. The White-Spear Army, the Liaozhen Army, and the newly arrived reinforcements numbered at least tens of thousands of elite troops.

They only had a few thousand Han soldiers, mostly a hastily assembled rabble. Let alone attacking the city, they probably wouldn't even be able to touch the gates of Shenyang!

This isn't about making them prove their loyalty; it's about forcing them to their deaths!

But when you look up, Nurhaci's eyes are full of murderous intent, and the slight upturn of his lips hides undisguised malice.

If they dared to utter even a single word of "no," they would probably be dragged out and beheaded right now.

Li Yongfang took a deep breath, suppressing the metallic taste in his throat, and said in a hoarse voice, "This servant... obeys."

Tong Yangxing also kowtowed: "This servant... obeys the Khan's order."

Nurhaci nodded in satisfaction, but then threw out an even harsher statement: "In addition, send your sons and families to Hetu Ala."

He spoke as if it were a trivial matter.

"You can focus on fighting abroad. Your families are in Hetu Ala, and I will take care of them for you."

These words sound like a show of compassion, but they are actually a blatant threat.

If they dare to rebel, these people will be the first to suffer.

Li Yongfang and Tong Yangxing shuddered violently, a chill running from their feet to the top of their heads.

They knew that this had completely cut off their escape route.

"This servant... obeys."

The two people's voices were devoid of any emotion, only utter despair remained.

As we left the lobby, the wind in Fushun was blowing hard, stirring up dust that stung our eyes.

Li Yongfang raised her hand to wipe her face, but found her hand covered in blood and tears.

He looked at Tong Yangxing, who was equally distraught beside him, and suddenly sighed softly.

Being a slave in this Jurchen territory is harder than living as a roadside weed.

Even in their twilight years, they have to be mindful of others' opinions; the slightest misstep could lead to the destruction of their families and the loss of their lives.

This mission to attack Shenyang is clearly a dead end.

But they had no other choice.

ps:
I played some late Ming Dynasty games for a while.
I've already gotten a refund, but the main problem was that I couldn't actually kill the Tartars. It's much more satisfying to write about killing Tartars!
(End of this chapter)