Huangming

Chapter 352 People's hearts are scattered, and destiny attacks the dynasty.

Yang Lian's anti-corruption campaign in Jizhou is in full swing. Although the rectification of defenses and the reimbursement of military salaries are progressing in an orderly manner, it will still take time for this northern gateway to fully recover.

Meanwhile, a thousand miles northeast of Jizhou, the Liaodong region was covered by a heavy snowfall, creating a vast and desolate landscape. Only the banners of the Eight Banners fluttered in the wind and snow on the walls of Hetu Ala, the capital of the Jurchens, conveying a sense of desolation and tension.

This year, the Jurchens are having an exceptionally difficult time.

In early spring, Nurhaci personally led a large army to besiege Shenyang, thinking he could take this important town in Liaodong in one fell swoop. However, he did not expect that the Ming army would resist tenaciously with the city's fortifications. The Jurchen army launched a fierce attack for more than a month, but not only did they fail to break through the city, they also lost more than 10,000 elite troops and finally had to retreat in a sorry state.

House seemingly endless rain.

While the army was retreating, Mao Wenlong led several thousand elite troops to launch a surprise attack while Hetu Ala's forces were weakened.

This Ming army not only captured Hetu Ala, slaughtered all the nobles of the Eight Banners, and plundered the noblewomen and their families, but also besieged the city and attacked the reinforcements, causing heavy losses to the elite Eight Banners troops in the surrounding cities of Hetu Ala.

Finally, they set Hetu Ala ablaze.

When Nurhaci heard that the capital had been attacked and the grain supplies destroyed, he was so angry that he spat out a mouthful of blood and fell into bed.

This surprise attack became the final straw that broke the morale of the Jurchens.

In the past, when the Jurchen army went on expeditions, they were always able to obtain abundant resources by plundering Ming Dynasty cities and Mongol tribes. Every member of the Eight Banners got a share, and the Mongol allies also got a share. Therefore, the soldiers were all eager to fight.

This year, not only did Shenyang fail to fall, but the army suffered heavy losses, and Hetu Ala was also attacked by surprise, resulting in heavy losses of food and military equipment. Not to mention looting property, even food for the winter has become a problem.

In the snow-covered Jurchen army camp, the once deafening bugle calls were now sparse. The soldiers huddled in their tents, wrapped in tattered fur coats, gnawing on wheat cakes mixed with sand, their faces full of exhaustion and discontent.

If the Eight Banners soldiers were like this, the Mongol tribes that were dependent on the Jurchens were even more restless.

The Khorchin, Jarud and other tribes originally wanted to get a share of the benefits from the Jurchens' military strength, but now they not only have not gained any benefits, but they also have to fight against the Ming Dynasty alongside the Jurchens, and even share the burden of food supplies.

This also caused dissatisfaction among them.

"Following the Khan in battle, we used to be able to plunder silver and women, but now, we can barely even get enough to eat!"

A knight from the Khorchin tribe complained to his companions inside his tent.

"I think it's better to leave as soon as possible and go back to the grasslands than to wait here to die!"

"Keep your voice down!"

His companion quickly covered his mouth, his eyes darting warily towards the outside of the tent.

"If the people of the Wise Khan hear this, you'll be in big trouble! But... what you said makes sense. I heard the Great Khan is seriously ill, and several princes are still vying for the throne. We shouldn't be dragged down with him!"

Such discussions are commonplace in the tents of Mongolian tribes.

Disloyal thoughts are like wild grass, quietly growing in the wind and snow, waiting only for the right opportunity to spread.

Deep within the Khan's palace of the Jurchens, the atmosphere was even more somber than in the military camp.

Nurhaci lay on his sickbed, his face sallow and his breathing weak. His once sharp, eagle-like eyes were now clouded and weary.

Since he vomited blood last time, he has not left his tent to see anyone for many days, and even the daily court meetings have been handed over to his sons to preside over.

This "wise Khan," who dominated Liaodong for decades and single-handedly established the Jurchen dynasty, is now powerless to control the situation, and the struggle for the Khanate has gradually surfaced from the shadows.

Daishan, the second son of Nurhaci, held two red banners. His generals were mostly veterans who had followed Nurhaci in his uprising, making him the most senior and powerful.

On the surface, he remained obedient, but in secret he was trying to win over the Eight Banners nobles, attempting to inherit the Khanate by virtue of his status as the "eldest son" (his eldest son, Chu Ying, had died young) and his military power.

of course
Even if they cannot inherit the Khanate, they must control more resources.

In the future, when the Eight Banners hold political discussions, he will be able to gain the upper hand.

The Fourth Prince Huang Taiji was the most cunning of them all.

Although he only controlled one banner, he won the support of many bannermen with his bravery and wisdom, and secretly arranged marriages with the Khorchin Mongols to accumulate strength.

The Third Prince Mangultai was hot-tempered and held the Plain Blue Banner, but he had a bad reputation because he had killed his mother who had made a mistake in his early years.

Although he also coveted the Khanate, he lacked Daishan's qualifications and Huang Taiji's wisdom. He could only rely on military force to barely occupy a place in the struggle and occasionally clashed with Daishan.

at this time.

The remaining snow in the capital city of Hetu Ala had not yet melted, and the black marks on the city walls scorched by fire were particularly glaring in the pale sunlight.

The palace that Mao Wenlong burned down during his surprise attack is still under repair. Timber and bricks are piled up in the streets and alleys, and the cold wind sweeps by with wood chips, carrying a burnt smell.

Although the capital of the Jurchens was habitable, it was in a state of decay and desolation, much like the mood of Huang Taiji in the Fourth Prince's mansion at that moment.

In the study of the Fourth Prince's residence, the underfloor heating was not burning very brightly, and the air was filled with a faint smell of mutton and the aroma of charcoal.

Huang Taiji wore a black mink coat, the fur of which was fluffy and thick, yet it still couldn't keep out the chill emanating from him.

The chill didn't come from the harsh cold of Liaodong, but from seeped into his heart, making his fingertips stiff.

He sat in a chair covered with a fox fur, his brows furrowed, his gaze fixed on the unopened letter on the table, his face as cold and stern as the ice outside the window.

"Still no response from the Khorchin tribe?"

Huang Taiji's voice was low and deep, carrying a hint of barely perceptible repression.

He looked up at his trusted confidant Baksh (the clerk) standing below, his tone revealing a hint of impatience.

Bakshi bowed and replied, his head lowered even further: "Your Highness, the messenger sent to Khorchin brought back news this morning that Obataji and Mingantabunang only said that 'tribal affairs are busy and the marriage needs to be discussed in detail,' without giving a clear answer."

"Long-term plan?"

Huang Taiji sneered.

“They didn’t say that when we were exchanging letters before! Back then, they readily agreed to ‘strengthen the Mongol-Jin alliance,’ but now they’re making excuses and delaying. Do they really think I’m a fool?”

The chill in his heart intensified, not because of the Khorchin tribe's delay, but because of the treacherous intentions hidden behind it.

Since Zhe Zhe was abducted by the Ming army and taken to Beijing to become a concubine of the Ming emperor, the attitude of the Khorchin tribe has become increasingly subtle.

Everyone thought he would be furious because of being cuckolded, but Huang Taiji knew in his heart that Zhe Zhe was just a pawn in a political marriage and her whereabouts were irrelevant.

What is truly important is that the Khorchin tribe, a key piece in containing the Ming Dynasty and stabilizing Mongolia, must not be lost.

These days, he frequently corresponded with Oba and Mingantabunang of the Khorchin tribe, the core of which was to reiterate the marriage alliance:
He wished to marry the daughter of Borjigit Buhe, the Beile of the Khorchin Mongols, in order to continue the bond of the Mongol-Jin alliance.

Buhe has two daughters. His eldest daughter, Hailanzhu, is twelve years old and has grown into a beautiful and charming young woman. She is already of marriageable age.

Although the second daughter, Bumbutai, was only nine years old, age was never an obstacle in the political marriages of the grasslands.

Initially, the Khorchin tribe responded very positively. Oba even praised Hailanzhu in his letter as "intelligent and virtuous, worthy of a prince," and Mingantabunang also promised to "send the noble lady to Hetu Ala once the ice and snow melt."

However, ever since the news spread that Zhe Zhe had been taken as a concubine by the Ming emperor, the attitude of the Khorchin tribe changed drastically. Letters became less frequent, and the envoys were always vague.

"They must have heard the news of Father Khan's serious illness and the struggle for the Khanate, and seeing that our Great Jin has suffered heavy losses and is short of food, they want to sit back and wait and see, or even... seek another patron!"

Huang Taiji's eyes suddenly sharpened, like an eagle lurking on the grassland.

"In Nikan Kingdom, Yang Lian is reorganizing Jizhou, and Mao Wenlong is eyeing Dongjiang Town covetously. If the Khorchin tribe side with the Ming Dynasty, or colludes with Daišan and Mangultai, we will be attacked from both sides, and there will be no hope for the Khanate!"

He stood up and paced around the study, the hem of his mink coat sweeping across the floor, stirring up a gust of cold wind.

The support of the Khorchin tribe was not only crucial to the stability of the Mongol alliance, but also to his bargaining power in the struggle for the Khanate.

With the two Red Banners under his control and the Plain Blue Banner supporting Mangultai, if he could obtain the support of the Khorchin cavalry, he could suppress his opponent in terms of military strength and win the support of the Eight Banners nobles by virtue of the "Mongol-Jin Alliance".

"I must marry Buhe's two daughters no matter what!"

Huang Taiji stopped in his tracks, his face contorted with rage.

“Send another envoy to Khorchin and tell Oba and Mingantabunang that if they are willing to send their noble daughters for marriage, I promise that after I inherit the Khanate, I will grant part of the Chahar tribe’s pastures to Khorchin; if they delay again or collude with other Beile, I will lead my army to flatten the Khorchin grasslands if I come to power!”

Just as he was about to order the envoy to go to Khorchin with threats, a calm voice suddenly came from below: "Your Highness, please calm down."

Huang Taiji looked in the direction of the voice and saw a middle-aged man dressed in coarse blue clothes, with a man's hair styled in the distinctive Manchu hairstyle of a rat's tail, and a thin face.

It was Fan Wencheng, his most capable Han Chinese strategist.

By this time, the situation of the Han people in the Great Jin Dynasty was far worse than it had been in the past.

After the defeat in Shenyang and the attack on Hetu Ala, the Eight Banners soldiers, having failed to plunder, turned their anger on the Han Banners and Han people within their territory. Looting grain, seizing property, and enslaving people were common occurrences, and the lives of the Han Banners were even more difficult than those of the nomadic herders on the grasslands.

Huang Taiji was able to win over Han Chinese strategists like Fan Wencheng not because he had any real "goodwill" towards the Han people, but simply because he did not condone his subordinates' plundering of Han bannermen's assets like Daishan and Mangultai did.

This single act of "restraint" earned him a reputation for "benevolence" among the starving and freezing Han Chinese.

To be honest, these Han Chinese are really shameless.

Despite being bullied by the Manchu bannermen to the point of losing his wife and children and being destitute, he still dreamed of gaining a foothold in the Jin Dynasty and begging for mercy from them.

But upon further reflection, Huang Taiji realized that Fan Wencheng's wisdom was indeed useful. He suppressed his impatience and asked in a cold voice, "Then tell me, what should I do? I can't just stand by and watch the Khorchin tribe side with Daishan, or simply surrender to the Nikan Kingdom, can I?"

Fan Wencheng bowed slightly, holding a warm cup of milk tea in his hands, his tone composed:
“My Lord, the reason why the Khorchin tribe is delaying the marriage alliance is not because they are unwilling, but because they do not believe in you. They do not believe that you can win the struggle for the Khanate, they do not believe that the Great Jin can overcome its current predicament, and they do not believe that they can gain any benefits by following you. If you want them to willingly send their daughters here, threats alone will not work. You have to let them see hope.”

"Seeing hope?"

Huang Taiji raised an eyebrow, his tone somewhat displeased.

"What you said is as good as saying nothing at all. Now that Father Khan is seriously ill, the army is running out of food, and the morale of the Mongol tribes is wavering. What can I, Your Highness, offer them hope?"

"Conquer North Korea." Fan Wencheng put down his milk tea, his gaze suddenly sharpening.

"Now is the time to act. If we delay any longer, not only will the Khorchin tribe become disloyal, but the Eight Banners soldiers and Han soldiers under our command will also likely fall into disarray."

"Conquer Korea?"

Huang Taiji suddenly looked up, his eyes flickering, his tone filled with obvious hesitation.

"Haven't you thought about this, Prince Ben? But you've forgotten that those Nikans won't sit idly by! Xiong Tingbi is training troops in Shenyang, and Sun Chengzong is stationed in Liaoyang. If our main force goes to attack Korea, they will definitely launch a surprise attack on Fushun, Kaiyuan, and Tieling!"
Those three locations are garrisoned by Daišan and Mangultai, and their defenses are already lax. Once they are breached by the Ming army, our Great Jin will likely be driven out of the Great Wall region, and the situation will only be worse than it is now!

This is precisely Huang Taiji's biggest concern.

The Jin dynasty is already short of troops. If it were to divide its forces to attack the Ming dynasty, the Ming dynasty could take the opportunity to launch a northern expedition. He absolutely does not want to experience the feeling of being attacked from both sides.

But Fan Wencheng shook his head, a sinister smile curving his lips.

“Your Highness, that is precisely the beauty of this matter. Fushun, Kaiyuan, and Tieling are garrisoned by the First Prince and the Third Prince. If the Ming army attacks, it will be their troops and territory that suffer losses, not Your Highness’s.”

He took a half step forward, lowered his voice, and spoke words that struck at Huang Taiji's heart:
"If Daišan and Mangultai are defeated, they will not only lose the trust of their father Khan, but also let the Eight Banners nobles see their incompetence."

If Your Highness can conquer Korea in one fell swoop, the grain, gold, silver, and cloth of Korea will be enough for our Great Jin to survive this winter. It can also be used to reward our soldiers and appease the Mongol tribes. At that time, the hearts of the people will all be with Your Highness.

More importantly, once the Great Khan sees that you have been able to expand the territory of the Jin Dynasty and resolve its difficulties, he will surely look at you with new respect, and the matter of the Khan's throne will naturally fall into place.

Upon hearing this, Huang Taiji's expression changed drastically.

He had only seen the risks of attacking the Ming Dynasty, but he did not expect that Fan Wencheng would turn the "Ming army's sneak attack" into an opportunity to strike the enemy!

Daišan and Mangultai suffered defeats and losses, while he conquered Korea and made great contributions. With the balance of power shifting, wouldn't the scales of the Khanate tilt completely in his favor?

"You mean... just let Daishan and his men be attacked by the Ming army?"

Huang Taiji's voice was somewhat hoarse, not out of sympathy for Dai Shan, but out of surprise at Fan Wencheng's ruthlessness.

For the sake of the Khanate, he could watch helplessly as his own brother fell into danger, and even rejoice in it.

Fan Wencheng, however, remained calm: "Your Highness, those who achieve great things do not concern themselves with trifles. The Great Jin is currently in disarray. If a successor to the Khanate cannot be decided soon, it will sooner or later perish at the hands of the Ming army or due to internal strife."

If Prince Beile wants to stabilize the Jin Dynasty and seize the Khanate, he cannot be swayed by womanly compassion. Besides, Daišan and Mangultai, who command large armies, have never taken Prince Beile seriously; if they are defeated, it would actually clear the way for Prince Beile.

Huang Taiji fell silent, his gaze shifting between Fan Wencheng and the wind and snow outside the window.

Fan Wencheng's words were all reasonable, and now he had no time to hesitate any longer.

They either conquer Korea and seize the throne, or they watch as morale collapses and rivals grow stronger, ultimately becoming victims of a power struggle.

After a long silence, he suddenly clenched his fist, a resolute glint in his eyes:
"Alright! We'll do it your way! As for Daišan and Mangultai... whether they can hold Fushun and Kaiyuan depends on their own abilities!"

Upon seeing this, Fan Wencheng smiled with satisfaction and bowed, saying, "Your Highness is wise! As long as we take Korea, the Khorchin tribe will surely send their noble daughters for marriage, and the Khanate will undoubtedly belong to Your Highness!"

"Let's hope so."

Although Fan Wencheng's "Korean strategy" gave him hope of seizing the throne, Huang Taiji also realized the deadly risks hidden within it after calming down.

If Daišan and Mangultai abandon their defense due to dissatisfaction, the consequences will be unimaginable.

Although he and Daišan were rivals in the struggle for the Khanate, they had also reached a secret alliance to counterbalance Mangultai.

If we rashly launch an attack on the Ming Dynasty now without consulting Daishan, given Daishan's suspicious and greedy nature, it is hard to guarantee that he will not deliberately relax his defenses or even secretly collude with the Ming army.

Once Fushun, Kaiyuan, and Tieling are captured by Xiong Tingbi's army, the Ming army's advance will be aimed directly at Hetu Ala. The families of the soldiers in the city will be in danger, and the soldiers on the front line will certainly have no heart to fight. The army attacking Korea will have to retreat hastily. At that time, not only will Korea not be able to be captured, but even the foundation of the Great Jin may be shaken.

"Your Highness, are you worried about the Great Prince?" Fan Wencheng asked tentatively when Huang Taiji remained silent for a long time.

Huang Taiji raised his eyes, a hint of seriousness flashing in them: "Daishan is greedy and vengeful. If we don't give him some benefits so that he can focus on defense, our plan to attack the dynasty will be nothing but empty talk."

He turned and walked to the desk, picked up the wolf-hair brush, but then put it down again, and ordered Bakshi: "Draft a secret letter immediately and send it to Grand Prince Daishan."

Bakshi quickly ground the ink and laid out the paper, holding his breath and waiting.

Huang Taiji paced back and forth for a moment, then slowly spoke: "The letter says: This Beile is secretly ordered by my father, the Khan, to prepare for an attack on the Ming Dynasty in order to obtain provisions and wealth to relieve the Great Jin's urgent crisis. Fushun, Kaiyuan, and Tieling are the gateways to the Great Jin, and I need to trouble the First and Third Beile to guard them with all their might, and not let the Ming army have any opportunity to take advantage of the situation."

Once this prince conquers Korea, half of the spoils, including gold, silver, grain, and cloth, will be given to the eldest prince; if any members of the Korean royal family are captured, the eldest prince will have priority in selecting their treasures and artifacts.

He paused, then added, "Furthermore, we must hint to Daishan that if this battle is successful, I, the Prince, will speak well of him to my father and help him consolidate his power over the two Red Banners; if the territory is lost due to poor defense, and my father investigates, I, the Prince, will be powerless to exonerate him."

The document was written down quickly, and the secret letter was completed in no time. It was then presented to Huang Taiji with both hands.

Huang Taiji took it, reviewed it word by word, and nodded in satisfaction.

He had long since figured out Dai Shan's greed.

Back then, Daishan could argue fiercely with his younger brother over a few ranches; now, tempted by the wealth of half of North Korea, he will surely put aside his personal grudges for the time being and do his best to guard the border.

"that is it."

Huang Taiji folded the secret letter, sealed it with sealing wax, stamped it with his princely seal, and handed it to his trusted guards.

"Send it to Daishan's army immediately by fast horse, and be sure to hand it over to the Grand Prince personally. There must be no mishaps along the way."

"As ordered!"

The guard bowed and accepted the order, then quickly left the study.

Watching the guards' departing figures, Huang Taiji felt a weight lifted from his heart.

Stabilizing Daishan was equivalent to securing the Jin dynasty's rear, thus providing a basis for the attack on the dynasty.

Next, preparations for the war began in earnest.

He immediately summoned his generals.

Ajige, the military commander Turge, and Tong Yangxing, the general of the Han army banner, ordered them to immediately take stock of their troops, weapons, and provisions, select elite troops, and assemble them outside Hetu Ala City three days later.

At the same time, he also asked Fan Wencheng to draft a proclamation listing the crimes of "Korea assisting the Ming Dynasty in resisting the Jin Dynasty," in order to find a legitimate reason to attack Korea and boost morale.

A few days later.

The lights in the study of the Fourth Prince's mansion remained on all night. Huang Taiji sometimes discussed the marching route with the generals, and sometimes discussed contingency plans for dealing with a surprise attack by the Ming army with Fan Wencheng. His eyes were bloodshot, but he showed no signs of fatigue.

This battle was his last chance; the attack on Korea could not afford the slightest mistake.

As for the reason, it's because the hole we dug before was too big.

Since the beginning of this year.

He launched a water attack on Shenyang, but the Ming army saw through his plan and he suffered heavy losses. He then led his army to besiege Shenyang, but was defeated again because Xiong Tingbi held firm in Shenyang.

The people of the Jin Dynasty are now restless, and his father, Nurhaci, is increasingly disappointed in him.

If he couldn't even defeat Joseon, which was far weaker than the Ming Dynasty, his prestige would be completely wiped out, the Eight Banners nobles would no longer support him, and his father, the Khan, would certainly lose all faith in him.

"If we can't defeat Korea, losing the Khanate is a minor matter; I'm afraid we won't even be able to save our lives."

Huang Taiji gazed at the gradually brightening sky outside the window and muttered to himself.

Daishan was eyeing him covetously, and Mangultai was eager to make a move. If he lost his usefulness, the two of them would not hesitate to eliminate him to prevent future troubles.

Three days later.

On the training ground outside Hetu Ala, 20,000 elite soldiers stood in formation, ready to fight.

The soldiers of the Bordered Yellow Banner and the Two White Banners were dressed in armor, holding long spears, and had sharp eyes.

As for why there were traces of the Bordered Yellow Banner, it was naturally because in order to attack Korea, the two White Banners alone were not enough, so Nurhaci temporarily placed the Bordered Yellow Banner under the command of Huang Taiji.

Besides the Eight Banners soldiers, there were also soldiers from Han Banners and Mongol tribes.

The soldiers of the Han army were pushing siege ladders and red-coated cannons. They looked pale and their morale was low.

The Mongol cavalry, leading their warhorses, stood by, ready to fight.

Huang Taiji, dressed in military attire and holding a riding whip, stood on a high platform, his gaze sweeping over his soldiers, his voice booming like a bell:
"Soldiers! The small country of Korea has repeatedly aided the Ming Dynasty in resisting the Jin Dynasty and plundered our great Jin merchants! Today, I, your Beile, will lead you to conquer Korea, seize grain and wealth, and let your wives and children live a good life!"

If we conquer Korea this time, I, the Beile, will allow you to plunder at will!

In this battle, victory is the only option; defeat is not an option!

"Crush North Korea! Victory is the only option; defeat is not an option!"

The soldiers shouted in unison, their voices shaking the heavens and the earth, temporarily dispelling the low morale of the past few days.

The promise of wanton plunder, in particular, ignited the bestiality deep within them.

Huang Taiji nodded in satisfaction and waved his hand: "Let's go!"

The 20,000-strong army marched in a mighty procession toward North Korea.

Huang Taiji reined in his horse and walked at the front of the procession, gazing at the vast snowfield ahead, with only one thought in his mind:
We must give it our all in this battle!

Only by defeating Korea could he reverse the decline, seize the throne, protect his life, and perhaps even... lead the Great Jin Dynasty to a wider world.

Let's see if I, Huang Taiji, am truly the chosen one!

(End of this chapter)