Chapter 56: Dorgon: Chongzhen Lacks Strategy, Ming Officials Are Short-Sighted!

Yongle Era.

“Hiss!”

Zhu Gaoxu grimaced in pain. “Be gentle!”

The Princess of Han, Lady Wei, looked at him with deep concern and couldn’t help reproaching him: “My lord, how did you manage this? Look at your back, your legs, your… it’s been more than half a month, and your injuries haven’t improved at all!”

“Don’t ask. Later, I’ll have to go to the palace and pay my respects to the old man. Just put on some medicine, it’ll do,” Zhu Gaoxu replied perfunctorily. Limping, he stood up, and with the Lady’s support, climbed into the sedan chair.

Inside the imperial palace.

The old Emperor Zhu Di reclined against the dragon throne, his expression stern as he listened to the eldest son report on troop deployments across the realm.

“Father, forty thousand troops have been mobilized from various regions. Twenty thousand have marched through Korea and are stationed in the capital’s vicinity, while another twenty thousand are traveling by water and waiting to enter Tianjin’s garrison. Admiral Sanbao replied that the seventh day of the fourth month will see calm seas, ideal for departure,” Zhu Gaochi announced, holding a stack of memorials.

Since the winter of the nineteenth year of Yongle, when the Grand Ancestor arrived, until now, the seventeenth day of the first lunar month, more than three months had passed. The mobilization of troops had been rushed. With the Three Yangs absent and Minister Xia away on assignment in the Chongzhen court, Zhu Gaochi’s workload had increased greatly.

These days, he had barely gained three pounds, just enough to see this mission through.

“There are still more than two months. Let’s provisionally set that date,” Zhu Di said after a moment’s thought.

The portly Zhu bowed respectfully. “We also need to borrow troops from the Chongzhen court. However, among the three reigns, Yongle was the first to campaign against the Japanese. This time, our troops will take up the rear.”

“That’s nothing to worry about,” Zhu Di waved dismissively. With a million troops from the three courts, they could frighten the Jianzhou Jurchens to death. This was just the ancestor making a show of force.

Zhu Di then turned and asked, “Third son, has Oirat handed over the person?”

Half a month earlier, after taking some pills to ease his wounds, he had immediately sent an edict to Oirat demanding the person. After the calamity at Tumu Fortress, he’d become keenly aware that Esen was both bold and cunning—a future menace!

He would not allow Oirat to harbor such a formidable figure!

“Father, you know how I get things done. These days, I’ve been running all over—”

“Speak plainly!” Zhu Di barked.

Zhu Gaosui dropped the pretense and, grinning sheepishly, said, “The Oirat chief, Toghon, has long been bullied by Arughtai and kept his head down. As soon as your order arrived, Esen was sent over at once…”

He dared not joke—after all, the Ming had mobilized forty thousand troops at the border for days. Did they think Oirat was blind?

Toghon, already suspicious and on edge, was terrified for days. Once he received the imperial edict, he didn’t care if the man he handed over was his own son with the bearing of a king.

He sent Esen over immediately!

At this time, Toghon was the lowest-ranking among the steppe chieftains. It was only after the Yongle Emperor’s fourth northern campaign that he defeated Arughtai and truly rose to power!

Now, Toghon was a mere minor chief—how could he dare provoke the mighty Emperor?

“Find a pretext and kill him,” Zhu Di said, nodding in satisfaction, finally feeling at ease. He waved his hand for the third son to leave.

“Yes, Father!”

Zhu Gaosui bowed and withdrew. Just as he reached the palace doors, he was dragged aside by the stealthy Zhu Gaoxu.

“Ow, you—”

“Third brother, is Father in a better mood today?” Zhu Gaoxu whispered, covering his mouth.

“Just executed Esen by imperial order. He’s in a great mood. Now get lost,” Gaosui replied with annoyance.

Zhu Gaoxu released him, then limped into the audience chamber, immediately kneeling and kowtowing. “Greetings, Your Majesty. May you enjoy perfect health!”

“Hmph!”

At the sight of him, Zhu Di’s anger flared. “The Prince of Han, instead of recuperating at home, comes to the palace to check if I’m dead yet. You really do have experience.”

“Calm yourself, Father. I truly know I was wrong!” Zhu Gaoxu forced a bitter smile. Learning that the old man had recovered, he finally dared to come request medicine. After all, he needed to go to Tianjin to join Zheng He in three days, but his injuries made travel difficult.

Any more delay, and he truly feared being executed!

Zhu Di eyed him askance, then took out a Rejuvenation Pill and tossed it over. “Take it and go assume your post. By decree of the Grand Ancestor, during the campaign against the Japanese, you and your third brother are not permitted personal guards. If you die, let Zhanqi inherit your fief.”

“That’s perfect! That little wretch is out to kill me anyway—might as well send him to Japan, and I’ll stay by your side to fulfill my filial duty,” Zhu Gaoxu said, swallowing the pill and feeling much better. He chuckled at the words.

Zhu Zhanqi, as the second son of the Prince of Han, resented his father for his mother’s death and accused him of crimes every year, never tiring of it.

“You and your son—must it come to this?” Zhu Di sighed.

“Go on, then.”

“Yes, Father.”

…

Chongzhen Era.

Shengjing, Hall of Government.

“So the news of those hundred thousand troops is false?” Dorgon’s brows knit tightly, unable to believe the report.

“That’s right, our men personally scouted it. Inside and outside the capital, they searched thoroughly. Apart from the newly formed three grand camps with several thousand new recruits, there’s no trace of a so-called hundred-thousand-strong army!”

Dodo’s shiny forehead glistened, and an oily queue hung behind his head. He said grimly, “Those Ming people must have switched sides after the emperor of Ming repelled Li Zicheng, and spread rumors of a heavenly army of a hundred thousand descending to suppress the rebels, causing us to miss our chance to march into the heartland!”

Dorgon relaxed, then burst out laughing. “Heaven truly favors me!”

“Why do you laugh, my lord?” Dodo asked, puzzled.

“I laugh at Chongzhen’s lack of strategy and the shortsightedness of his ministers!”

(It’s said that every Qing commander carried a copy of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, so it’s not impossible they’d talk like this.)

Dorgon sneered, “The Ming emperor has made yet another foolish move—he has deposed Wu Sangui, who refused to surrender to the Qing!”

“That… is indeed good news,” Dodo frowned slightly, still not understanding.

With a flick of his sleeve, Dorgon’s oily queue swished as he gazed out the window, his eyes growing deep. “With Wu Sangui dismissed, the general now guarding Shanhaiguan is Hao Yongzhong, a former rebel who surrendered. If he could submit to Ming, he can just as easily submit to us. I have already secretly bought him over. The army can march through the pass at any time!”

“If Ming’s claim of vast forces is just a bluff, then if we don’t strike now, when will we?” Dodo’s eyes lit up, but he hesitated. “But Shi Kefa’s relief army is already marching north. That could bring a major change to this campaign.”

Dorgon shook his head, fixing Dodo with a shrewd look. “Shi Kefa has led his troops on a forced march for a thousand miles. His men and horses are exhausted, their supplies are short, and he acted without imperial orders. After the rebel army collapses, he’ll have to retreat, or else that suspicious Ming emperor will surely take his head!”

“This army is not to be feared! Assemble the Eight Banners at Ningyuan City and await my command!”

“Yes, my lord!” Dodo withdrew in excitement.

Once he had gone, Dorgon hurried to the residence of Lady Dayu’er and entered without knocking.

A beautiful woman sat there, cradling a six-year-old boy—Fulin, son of Hong Taiji, the future Shunzhi Emperor of the Qing, who would one day even have Dorgon’s tomb exhumed.

Dorgon shooed Fulin away, unable to contain his delight. “Dayu’er, when I take the heartland, your son shall be emperor!”

…