Huangming

Chapter 386 Young Talents Take the Stage, Hetu is Trembling

Jizhen.

Jizhou City.

Compared to when Yang Lian first arrived, Jizhen has completely changed its appearance.

I still remember how desolate the city of Jizhou was when Yang Lian received the imperial decree to take up his post a month ago:

At the corners of the walls on both sides of the city gate, there were bankrupt military households and refugees. They wore tattered clothes and clutched chipped earthenware bowls in their hands, which were blue with cold. They stared longingly at the gate of the prefecture, waiting for the daily distribution of porridge, which was as thin as rice soup.

There were emaciated children nestled in their mothers' arms, their lips cracked and bleeding; there were elderly soldiers leaning on canes, their legs bearing scars from years of fighting, yet they couldn't even get a decent meal.

The crenellations on the city wall were rusty, and the patrolling soldiers of Jizhou were listless, emaciated, and their spears looked like fire pokers.

That was the state of long-term arrears in wages and low morale, a microcosm of the long-standing problems in Jizhou.

But the city of Jizhou today presents a completely different scene.

The number of refugees under the city gate had decreased by more than half, and the few remaining were no longer as critically ill as before.

They sat under makeshift thatched huts, holding the coarse grain cakes they had just received.

Or they would gather around the job postings and talk to the clerks in charge of recruitment, hoping to get a job.

Pedestrians gradually appeared on the street. Peddlers carrying their wares walked and called out as they went. Steam rose from the hot soup stall, and several new recruits who had just finished training were buying soup from the stall, their faces beaming with long-lost smiles.

All these changes stemmed from Yang Lian's iron-fisted reforms.

From the day he arrived in Jizhou, Yang Lian gave the corrupt generals no chance to catch their breath.

He first discovered that more than a hundred generals had engaged in misconduct such as "drinking the blood of soldiers and receiving salaries without working."

Then, without any leniency, they were dealt with according to the law:
Those who committed heinous crimes were executed in public as a warning to others; those whose crimes were less serious were exiled to Liaodong and never to be employed again; all the property of corrupt generals was confiscated, and their land, shops, gold and silver were all registered.

Not all of the confiscated money was turned over to the national treasury. After Yang Lian petitioned the emperor, 30% was retained to supplement the military pay.

When the military pay, which had been in arrears for three years, was handed heavily to the soldiers, many veterans' eyes welled up with tears, and their hands trembled as they held the silver.

Everyone was completely convinced of Yang Lian's abilities and deeply grateful to the emperor.

People's hearts were thus united.

As for the confiscated farmland and shops, Yang Lian ordered them to be nationalized:
The shops were entrusted to reliable officials for management, and the profits were deposited into the Jizhou garrison's military coffers.

The land was divided into two parts. One part was rented to landless military households, charging a meager rent to provide them with a stable livelihood.

Another portion was incorporated into the garrison fields, which were cultivated by soldiers in rotation. This not only supplemented the army's food rations but also gave the soldiers something to do when there was no war.

The vacant military positions also became an opportunity to resettle displaced people.

Yang Lian ordered an expansion of the military, prioritizing the recruitment of able-bodied refugees. Anyone who was healthy and had no criminal record could enlist.

After enlisting, you will not only receive your full military pay, but you will also be allocated a small plot of farmland.

For desperate refugees, this was undoubtedly a lifeline in their dire situation.

In just one month, Jizhou recruited more than 5,000 new soldiers, and the once empty military camp became full again. Every morning, the shouts of soldiers training could be heard throughout half of Jizhou City.

In addition, Yang Lian used the popularity gained from the reorganization to address the fundamental problems of Jizhou:

He sent people to survey all the land in the prefecture, clarify the ownership of the land, and severely punish the landlords who concealed their land holdings.

With its immense prestige, the matter progressed rapidly and soon yielded many results.

after that.

He also organized soldiers and refugees to dredge the long-silted-up river channels and repair abandoned canals.

After the irrigation canal was completed, the surrounding farmland was irrigated, and many displaced people took the initiative to apply for land reclamation and planted beans and cold-resistant vegetables.

Today, walking through the countryside of Jizhen, you can see busy figures on the ridges of the fields, hear the gurgling water in the irrigation ditches, and even the air is filled with the fresh scent of soil.

If you were to look down from a high place right now...

Then you can see smoke rising from all directions in Jizhou City.

Their lives have visibly improved.

soon.

It's late at night.

The inner hall of the Jizhou government office was already shrouded in the deep darkness of night.

Only the candlestick on the desk flickered, casting a dim light on the documents scattered across the table, and also casting Yang Lian's long, slender shadow onto the mottled wall.

He had been working at his desk for nearly three hours, dipping his wolf-hair brush in and out repeatedly, the documents on his desk piled up like a small mountain.

On the left was the land survey register, with several "landlords concealing information" marked in red pen. Next to it were several petitions from local gentry, which he casually flipped aside.

In the middle are the case files sent from the criminal investigation department. The top one is titled "The Wang Family Murder Case in the East of the City," and the margins are covered with dense annotations listing the witnesses who need to be reviewed.

On the far right was a trivial complaint, the ink still wet, which read, "Zhang Da, a rough man from the east of the city, kicks down the door of widow Li." Yang Lian had already written on it, "Summon both parties to confront each other tomorrow and inquire whether there is any neighborhood dispute."

"call……"

Yang Lian put down her pen and rubbed her aching temples.

He stared at the bowl of tea on the corner of the table, which had long since gone cold. Just as he was about to pick it up, a series of hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the room.

The "tap tap tap" sounded particularly loud on the bluestone slabs, breaking the silence of the night.

The curtain was suddenly flung open, and Li Hongji, the adjutant, rushed in.

At this moment, he didn't even bother with the formalities and said anxiously:

"Lord Du! People from the palace have arrived! They say it's an envoy sent by His Majesty, and they've already reached the government office!"

"Someone from the palace?"

Yang Lian was suddenly stunned, and the teacup in his hand froze in mid-air.

He immediately realized what was happening.

The secret letter from His Majesty from three days ago is still under my pillow. In the letter, he is told to accompany the imperial envoy to Liaodong to reward the troops, but in reality, he is instructed to investigate the military affairs in Liaodong in the same way that he reorganized the Jizhou garrison.

He had thought he would have to wait at least a few more days, but he hadn't expected the angel to arrive so quickly.

"Quickly! Come with me to greet them!"

Yang Lian didn't even have time to rub his temples. When he got up, he accidentally knocked over the documents on the table, and several sheets of paper fell to the ground. He didn't bother to pick them up. He just hurriedly straightened the wrinkles in his official robe and followed Li Hongji outside.

Just as they reached the entrance to the inner hall, a soft, feminine voice came from inside: "No need for you to come any further, Your Excellency, we have arrived."

As the words were spoken, a person slowly walked out of the inner hall's doorway.

The man was dressed in a dark blue robe with python patterns, and a jade belt around his waist. Although he did not wear the crown of a court official, he exuded the composed demeanor of a close courtier.

With a fair complexion and clear eyes, he was none other than Wang Chengen, the eunuch who had been ordered by the emperor to escort the bestowed titles and come to meet Yang Lian.

Yang Lian immediately stopped, straightened his robes, and bowed respectfully to Wang Chengen in a standard official salute, his tone deferential:

"Yang Lian, Left Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, greets the imperial envoy. I was unaware of the envoy's arrival and have failed to greet you properly. Please forgive me."

"No need for such formalities, Your Excellency."

Wang Chengen stepped forward and offered Yang Lian a helping hand, but his gaze had already swept over the scene on the table in the inner hall.

The land survey register, murder case files, and neighbors' complaints were piled up on the table, even the candlesticks were squeezed into the corner.

A hint of approval flashed in his eyes, and his tone was tinged with emotion: "It's almost midnight, and there are still so many documents piled up on the desk in the capital. He's still handling government affairs. His dedication is truly admirable."

Yang Lian straightened up, looked at the documents on the table, and a helpless bitter smile appeared on his face.

"What the angel may not know is that things have only just begun to settle down in Jizhou. The land survey has only been completed for about 70% of the fields, the newly built irrigation canals haven't even reached the western countryside yet, and the 5,000 new recruits enlisted last month have only trained for half a month..."

I originally planned to run the business for another six months, settle everything properly, and then set off, but I never expected..."

He shook his head slightly before he finished speaking.

Seeing the concern in his eyes, Wang Chengen felt a little more understanding and immediately smiled, his tone softening considerably:
"I understand the governor's intentions. But who could have predicted that Liaodong would win such a great victory?"
His Majesty specifically appointed the Commander-in-Chief to Liaodong because he remembered the Commander's meritorious service in reorganizing the Jizhou Garrison.

Wang Chengen smiled and comforted Yang Lian.

"The affairs of Jizhou are being handled by others, and there will be no trouble. Your Excellency should rest well today and get plenty of rest. Tomorrow morning, we will take the rewards and supplies and head to Liaodong together."

Upon hearing this, Yang Lian took a deep breath.

He looked at the final plan for land surveying, the schedule for new recruit training, and the detailed list of materials to be used for irrigation canal repairs on the table.

Upon hearing that Wang Chengen would be departing tomorrow, he could no longer suppress his lingering concern for Jizhou and couldn't help but ask:
“My lord, I am going to Liaodong. I do not know who His Majesty prefers to take over the affairs of Jizhou. This place has just been sorted out. If the person in charge is not right, I am afraid that all the previous efforts will be in vain.”

Jizhen is the place where he poured his heart and soul, and the people there regard him as a benevolent and upright official. He cannot let down the people of Jizhen!
He won't accept it if the person chosen is inappropriate!
Wang Chengen had anticipated this question and slowly replied:

"His Majesty has already made arrangements. Liu Qu, the General Commander of Jizhou, Man Gui, the Deputy General Commander, and Lu Xiang-sheng, the Imperial Envoy sent from the capital, will jointly manage the affairs of Jizhou."

Routine military affairs were handled by Liu Qu and Man Gui; civil administration and investigation matters were overseen by Lu Xiang-sheng.

"Liu Qu, Man Gui, and Lu Xiang-sheng?"

Yang Lian repeated the three names in a low voice, her mind racing with calculations.

Liu Qu had served in Jizhen for many years and was a smooth talker. Although he had not been implicated in the previous anti-corruption campaign, he often shirked his responsibilities because he was "afraid of offending people." Yang Lian was really worried about letting him take on the main task alone.

Man Gui is indeed a brave general, but he is ultimately a military man, and he is probably not up to the task of handling delicate matters such as civil administration and land surveying.

So, the one who can really handle things is actually that unfamiliar "Lu Xiang-sheng".

Yang Lian frowned slightly and looked at Wang Chengen, his tone tinged with doubt: "Lu Xiang-sheng? I have never heard of this person before. I don't know his background or his resume. Jizhou is in dire need of reconstruction and cannot afford to be messed up by a novice."

"Your Excellency may not know this, but this Lu Xiang-sheng is the second-place scholar in this year's Gengshen imperial examination."

Wang Chengen explained with a smile: "Although he has only recently entered officialdom, he was known for his outspokenness and pragmatism when he served in the capital. His Majesty greatly appreciated him and specially sent him to Jizhou this time because he values ​​his talent."

"This year's runner-up?"

Upon hearing this, Yang Lian was genuinely taken aback, her eyes filled with even greater confusion, and she couldn't help but shake her head, her tone tinged with worry.

"Please forgive my frankness, my angel. The affairs of Jizhou are complex, involving military affairs, civil administration, and the investigation of corruption. It is by no means a matter of mere theoretical discussion."

How can such an important task be entrusted to a mere 'youngster' when a candidate who has just passed the imperial examination with the second-highest score probably hasn't even grasped the ins and outs of local affairs?

In his view, the rising stars who came from the imperial examination system, although knowledgeable, often lacked local experience. When dealing with the affairs of a border town like Jizhou, which was riddled with deep-rooted problems, they were prone to the problem of being "bookish and idealistic," and could easily cause trouble if they were not careful.

Wang Chengen sensed his concern but did not refute it; he simply smiled gently.

"I understand your concerns, Your Majesty. But since His Majesty has made this arrangement, he must have his reasons. Perhaps meeting Lu Xiang-sheng tomorrow will bring you a pleasant surprise?"
Now that the imperial decree has been issued, Your Excellency only needs to focus on your journey to Liaodong. His Majesty will take care of the affairs of Jizhou.

Yang Lian remained silent for a moment, gazing at the stack of documents on the table covered with annotations. Although he still had doubts, he knew that he could not disobey the emperor's orders.

Hey ~
He sighed and nodded slowly: "In that case, I will say no more. I only hope that the person who takes over will do his best and not fail His Majesty's trust, nor fail the people and soldiers of Jizhou who have endured this month of hardship."

"In that case, Your Excellency should rest well."

Wang Chengen and Li Hongji both withdrew to rest.

however.

Yang Lian was still worried.

He barely slept that night.

Yang Lian compiled a list of all the affairs in Jizhen, from the hidden details of land surveying to the key points of new recruit training, and even clearly marked which local gentry was the most troublesome and which official was the most reliable.

He was busy until dawn before he finally sealed the thick "Ji Town Affairs Handbook" and prepared to hand it over to the person who would take over.

The next morning.

It's just dawn.

The sound of horses' hooves could be heard outside the government office.

Just as Yang Lian put away the letter, a clerk came to report: "Your Excellency, the imperial envoy from the capital has arrived."

Yang Lian's heart stirred, and she quickly walked to the front hall.

A young man in a blue official robe was standing in the hall. He was tall and handsome. Although he was only in his early twenties, there was no trace of immaturity in his eyes. Instead, he exuded a sense of composure.

Upon seeing Yang Lian enter, the young man quickly stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and spoke in a clear and respectful voice:
"This humble official, Lu Xiang-sheng, greets Governor Yang. I am new to Jizhou and still need your guidance on many matters."

"No need to be polite."

Yang Lian helped him up, scrutinizing the young man before her, still harboring some doubts.

He gestured to the chairs in the hall and cut to the chase: "The imperial envoy has just arrived and is probably not yet familiar with the situation in Jizhou. Let me ask you, if you were to take over the civil administration of Jizhou, what would be your first step?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Xiang-sheng knew that Yang Lian was testing him.

His face showed no sign of panic as he slowly said:
"When I arrived, I had already read the brief report on the reorganization of Jizhou sent by His Majesty. In my humble opinion, the most important thing for Jizhou right now is to safeguard the results of the 'land survey'."

Previously, the governor had discovered many landlords who had concealed their land holdings. My first step will be to send people to verify the ownership of these lands to prevent landlords from secretly transferring them.

At the same time, the surveyed land will be cataloged and made public so that both soldiers and civilians can see the fairness and avoid any gossip.

He paused, then added, "Secondly, although the new recruit training is overseen by two generals, I will also regularly visit the camp to check on the distribution of military pay, ensuring that the 'full pay' rule previously set by the governor is not broken."

As for the resettlement of displaced people, I intend to continue recruiting able-bodied men into the army, while the remaining elderly and weak will be assigned to repair irrigation canals and reclaim wasteland, so that everyone has a livelihood and will no longer be homeless.

These words were well-organized and logical, grasping the core of the affairs of Jizhou while also taking into account the details. They were not words that a newcomer to officialdom would say.

The doubt in Yang Lian's eyes gradually dissipated, replaced by a hint of surprise and admiration.

He then asked several more questions about the investigation into corruption and the management of military farmland, to which Lu Xiang-sheng answered fluently and even proposed several more detailed plans than Yang Lian's original plan.

For example, "involving village elders in the verification of land ownership to reduce corruption by officials" and "linking the harvest of generals' land to soldiers' subsidies to increase their enthusiasm for farming."

"Great! Great!" Yang Lian couldn't help but clap her hands in praise, her worries completely vanishing.

He got up, took the "Jizhen Affairs Handbook" from the table, and handed it to Lu Xiang-sheng with a somewhat solemn tone.

"Second-place scholar, this is a handbook of Jizhou affairs compiled by this hall. It contains all the details you need to pay attention to."

Take this and examine it carefully. Since His Majesty has entrusted you with this matter, he must have given it considerable thought. I hope you will serve as an official well, keep the people's welfare at heart, and live up to the Emperor's grace.”

Lu Xiang-sheng knew that he had passed Yang Lian's test.

But he showed no pride. He took the letter with both hands, held it solemnly in his arms, and said firmly, "Rest assured, Your Excellency! I will certainly live up to His Majesty's trust and Your Excellency's expectations."

Passing Yang Lian's test is nothing special.

Now that His Majesty has placed such trust in him, he has come to handle the affairs of Jizhou.

These myriad of miscellaneous tasks are his ultimate test.

It's done.

Soaring to great heights!

If this is not handled well, it will be a disgrace to His Majesty, and his career will suddenly become bleak and full of twists and turns.

therefore.

Lu Xiang-sheng remained highly aware of the crisis and showed no signs of slackening.

Looking at the young man before him, Yang Lian could certainly see that Lu Xiang Sheng was extraordinary.

He couldn't help but sigh:
Your Majesty truly knows how to judge people!
A young man who just ranked second in the imperial examination has such insight and composure.

However, Yang Lian also discerned the emperor's approach to personnel management from Lu Xiang-sheng.

His Majesty is making extensive use of young and promising officials.

These people, as long as they are capable, will be on the fast track to officialdom.

Within a few years, His Majesty's confidants will likely be placed in many key positions in the court.

Only then will His Majesty's word truly be law!

of course
These are no longer things he should be considering.

Let's just focus on doing the things at hand well!
Yang Lian suppressed his thoughts and turned to Wang Chengen, saying, "My lord, I have no more worries. I can set off for Liaodong today."

Seeing that the person promoted by the emperor had gained Yang Lian's approval, Wang Chengen felt relieved.

"Very good! Let's set off now, lest we fail His Majesty's instructions."

The sound of horses' hooves rang out again.

Yang Lian set off, seeing off the entire city's residents.

They gradually disappeared into the morning light of Jizhou, along with Wang Chengen.

the other side.

Hetu Ala.

This capital city, once regarded by the Jianzhou Jurchens as the "land of their rise to power," is now shrouded in an inescapable cloud of sorrow.

The black flag on the city wall hung crookedly, its corners torn by the wind; the patrolling Jurchen soldiers hunched their shoulders, their armor covered with a thin layer of snow, their eyes no longer showing their usual ferocity, but only numbness and fear.

The entire city resembled a wounded wild beast, huddled in the cold winter of Liaodong, exuding an aura of impending death.

The disastrous defeats in the battles of Fushun and Honghe Valley had already spread like a plague throughout every street and alley of Hetu Ala.

The news of Khan Nurhaci's death in battle was the first straw that broke people's hearts.

The "Heavenly Mandate Khan" who once led them to rise from the mountains and forests, swept across the Haixi Jurchens, and forced the Ming Dynasty to retreat in succession, was actually killed by the Ming army in the ambush in the Red River Valley, and only his body was retrieved.

Immediately following, news of the death of the First Prince Daishan and the capture of the Third Prince Mangultai arrived one after another. The core leadership of the Jianzhou Jurchen was lost by more than half overnight.

What's even more alarming is the sharp decline in troop strength.

More than 20,000 elite Eight Banner soldiers were killed or wounded in the two battles, including many "Baturu" who had followed Nurhaci since the founding of the dynasty.

Nowadays, the garrison inside and outside the city is mostly made up of old, weak and disabled soldiers, or vassal soldiers borrowed from Mongolian tribes. Even the once bustling drill ground is now only filled with a few teams of new recruits training sparsely, their shouts as faint as mosquitoes.

The streets and alleys were desolate.

Almost the entire city was in mourning.

The stalls that used to be filled with furs and medicinal herbs are now mostly closed.

Occasionally, a grain shop would open, but it would be surrounded by hungry soldiers clutching the devalued Jurchen "destiny money," which they could not buy much grain.

The war in Liaodong was critical, and the supply lines had long been cut off by the Ming army. The grain reserves in the city were only enough to last for half a month.

Some nobles secretly instructed their servants to gather gold and silver, planning to flee further north into the mountains if the Ming army attacked.

Ordinary Jurchen people kept their doors tightly shut, and even when they went out to fetch water, they would go in groups, for fear of being conscripted into the army.

Just when everyone was in a state of panic and on the verge of collapse, a group of people slowly made their way through the snow from the mountain road outside the city.

Jeong Hwang Taiji returned with the army that had conquered Korea.

At the head of the procession stood Huang Taiji, clad in a black fox fur coat, his face grim, followed by carriages laden with spoils of war.

Bags of rice and soybeans, herds of cattle and sheep, and thousands of North Korean prisoners, bound by ropes, their heads drooping.

The return of this team acted as a shot in the arm, temporarily stabilizing the situation in Hetu Ala.

When the soldiers guarding the city gate saw the grain, a glimmer of hope finally appeared in their eyes.

The nobles temporarily abandoned their thoughts of fleeing and gathered around the city gate, eager to see how much "lifesaving food" Huang Taiji could bring back.

Huang Taiji didn't say much, but ordered half of the grain to be distributed to the garrison and the other half to be stored in the granary. He also ordered the Korean prisoners to be sent to cultivate wasteland on the outskirts of the city.

Huang Taiji understood that only "tangible benefits" could temporarily quell the panic in people's hearts.

But this "stability" is ultimately superficial.

Within three to five days, desertion began to appear.

The Mongols were the first to flee.

They were originally vassal soldiers sent by the Mongol tribes, fighting alongside the Jianzhou Jurchens only to plunder some wealth.

Now that Nurhaci is dead, and the Jianzhou Jurchens are on the verge of collapse, they naturally do not want to die with him.

Furthermore, the Khorchin tribe had already begun working for the Ming Dynasty, and there was a constant temptation to lure them back:

Gold bars have been distributed on the grasslands! Come back quickly!

At night, Mongol soldiers would often secretly untie their horses, take their weapons and looted items, and slip out of the city gates during breaks in patrols, heading towards the Mongolian grasslands.

Immediately afterwards, the soldiers of the Han Army Banner also began to flee.

Most of these people were Ming Dynasty civilians who had been captured by the Jianzhou Jurchens in the early years, or Ming soldiers who had surrendered.

Because of the previous anti-Han incident, they already had little sense of belonging to "Daikin".

Now, upon hearing that the Ming Dynasty had won a great victory in Liaodong and that even Nurhaci had been killed, my "Ming Dynasty complex" surged up again.

Under the cover of night, many people fled towards Fushun, which was controlled by the Ming army, preferring to return to being ordinary people rather than "be buried with" Huang Taiji.

In the end, even some of the Haixi Jurchen soldiers who had been incorporated into the Eight Banners began to secretly escape.

The Haixi Jurchens and Jianzhou Jurchens had a long-standing feud. After being conquered by Nurhaci, they were forced to be incorporated into the Eight Banners.

Now that the Jianzhou Jurchens have suffered heavy losses, they see no hope of victory and are unwilling to be oppressed by the Jianzhou Jurchens any longer, so they flee back to their hometowns in small groups.

Some noble families of the Haixi Jurchens even took their slaves and property and went directly to the neighboring Mongol tribes.

Mele'ezhen, who was in charge of guarding the city gate, could catch several deserters every day, but the more he caught, the more people escaped.

The deterrent effect of punishment is ultimately no match for the desire to "survive".

The Manchu nobles were in a panic and could only run to Huang Taiji's residence every day to report and ask him for advice.

Huang Taiji was naturally aware of these reports.

He felt very heavy-hearted.

Without Nurhaci's protection, he felt immense pressure!

At this moment, the "Great Jin" was like a ship with holes in it, with cold seawater outside (the threat of the Ming army) and cracks inside that kept leaking (deserters, lack of food, and demoralization).

If we don't find a way to stop this, the ship will sink on its own without the Ming army even attacking.

If morale is low, the team becomes difficult to lead; if the team falls apart, the Great Jin Dynasty will truly perish.

Huang Taiji took a deep breath, the cold air filling his lungs, instantly clearing his muddled thoughts.

He looked up at the guards standing beside him, his voice no longer hesitant.

"Issue my order: at 3:45 AM tomorrow, all Beile, Gushan Ejen, and Meile Ejen must gather at the palace for a meeting. Those who are late will be punished according to military law!"

The guard, already uneasy due to the desertions and chaos of the past few days, was now intimidated by the sharpness in Huang Taiji's eyes. He subconsciously straightened his back, clasped his hands, and bowed in response:

"Yes! This servant will go and relay the order immediately, and will not allow anyone to be late!"

Having said that, he practically ran out of the room, being extra careful even when lifting the curtain, for fear of disturbing the imposing Fourth Prince.

Huang Taiji was the only one left in the room. He slowly walked to the sheepskin map hanging on the wall.

The flickering lights cast shadows on the mountains and rivers on the map, making them appear and disappear.

This also added a touch of ferocity to his expression.

In recent days, news from Fushun has been constant:

Ming scouts patrolled around Hetu Ala like hunting dogs, sometimes even daring to approach as close as thirty miles outside the city to shoot arrows with warning notes attached, which read, "Those who surrender will be spared death, those who resist will be massacred."

Whenever the people in the city saw Ming scouts flying across the horizon, they would rush home in a panic and lock their doors. Even the hawkers' cries in the market sounded guilty.

Huang Taiji understood the Ming army's intentions.

It's not that they don't want to fight, it's that they need to rest after winning two major battles.

They replenished troops, transported provisions, and integrated newly subjugated Mongol tribes.

After they have rested and recuperated, they will march north and flatten the last corner of Hetu Ala.

"time is limited……"

He murmured quietly.

"The time left for me, and for Da Jin, is running out."

His father, Nurhaci, spent half his life fighting, rising from humble beginnings to unify Jianzhou and annex Haixi, eventually establishing the "Great Jin" dynasty, which even forced the Ming dynasty to avoid his advance.

But now?

After the defeat at Fushun and the disastrous defeat at Honghe Valley, the Khan was killed in battle, the Beile were lost, and most of the elite Eight Banners were gone. Even the morale of the people was scattered like sand in the wind.

If he cannot reunite these scattered individuals within this limited time, and cannot give hope to the wavering nobles and terrified soldiers, then the empire his father had built with blood and sweat will truly fall into his hands.

Thinking of this, Huang Taiji clenched his fist tightly.

He slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, which condensed into white mist in the cold air before quickly dissipating into the room.

When he looked up again, the anxiety in Huang Taiji's eyes had vanished, replaced by an almost obsessive confidence.

His body straightened unconsciously, his chest lifted slightly, and even his originally slightly hunched shoulders and back became as upright as a pine tree.

"We should show them that there is still hope for the Great Jin."

"Although my father Khan died in battle, the Great Jin Dynasty cannot perish."

Suddenly, as if he had made up his mind, he abruptly raised his hand and tore off the "Huang Taiji" jade pendant hanging from his waist.

That was the name given by Nurhaci.

“Huang Taiji…”

He murmured the name and shook his head.

"From this day forward, I will no longer be called Huang Taiji."

He walked to the desk, picked up the wolf-hair brush, and forcefully wrote three Chinese characters on a piece of rough paper:

Huang Taiji!
His brushstrokes were sharp and his ink was dark, yet the Chinese characters he wrote were surprisingly beautiful.

Clearly, Huang Taiji is very knowledgeable about Han Chinese culture.

"Huang Taiji" not only implies "glorious unification" but also carries the profound meaning of "Taiji generates Yin and Yang" in Han Chinese culture. He is no longer a prince who relies on his father's name, but a leader who will create his own era.

At this moment, there was no longer any confusion in his eyes, only a desire to control power and ambition for the future.

Tomorrow's meeting.

He not only wanted to integrate the remnants of the Great Jin, but also to let those wavering Mongol tribes and the hesitant former Haixi tribes know that the Great Jin still had a capable leader and the confidence to confront the Great Ming.

Although the Khan of Heaven's Mandate died in battle.

But I am Huang Taiji.
Oh no!

I, Huang Taiji, can also lead the Great Jin forward!

I, Huang Taiji, will avenge the deep-seated hatred of the Jin dynasty!
ps:
A long chapter of 7800 words!
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(End of this chapter)