Chapter Twenty-Three: News from Songsan Pond

When Hong Chengchou sent an urgent dispatch to the capital at a speed of eight hundred li, Wang Pu and his eight hundred retainers had already advanced to Jiulian City. Not far ahead lay the Yalu River, and beyond it, the border of the Korean kingdom.

[Jiulian City, also known as Zhenjiang, was the site where Mao Wenlong, the general of the Ming Empire’s Eastern Jiang Garrison, fought a bloody battle against the Jurchens. This battle made Mao Wenlong famous, though he was later killed by Yuan Chonghuan, and the Jurchens moved from the barren Changbai Mountains to the fertile Liao River plain. Jiulian City was abandoned and now, like Liaoyang, lies in ruins.

A brief introduction to Korea: In 1392, Yi Seong-gye dethroned the last Goryeo king and established the Joseon Dynasty, also called the House of Yi. At its peak, Joseon’s population exceeded a million, but after invasions by Japan and two massacres by Qing forces, its vitality was shattered, and the population plummeted from over a million to less than three hundred thousand. The capital Hanyang's population dropped from one hundred thousand to less than thirty thousand.]

Wang Pu pointed his horsewhip toward the dilapidated city ahead and asked Zhen Youcai, who followed behind, “Youcai, what’s up ahead?”

Zhen Youcai replied, “General, that’s Jiulian City. The river south of the city is the Yalu. Crossing it brings us into the Korean kingdom. Before the rise of the Jurchens, Jiulian City was a trading hub between Ming and Korea. I’ve even come here to buy Goryeo ginseng.”

Seeing dusk approaching, Wang Pu ordered the scar-faced man beside him, “Scarface, pass the order: we camp here in Jiulian City tonight and cross the river early tomorrow.”

“Yes, sir,” Scarface replied and went off to carry out the command.

Wang Pu dismounted, flexing legs numbed from long hours of riding. He turned to Zhen Youcai and said, “Youcai, if we just march into Korea like this, will the Koreans give us trouble? After all, they've been terrorized by the Jurchens and are now their vassals.”

Zhen Youcai responded, “I’ve been thinking about this along the way. I believe we should proceed cautiously.”

Wang Pu asked, “Do you have any good ideas?”

Zhen Youcai said, “Disguise ourselves as Jurchens.”

“Disguise as Jurchens?” Wang Pu nodded. “Hmm, that’s a good idea. We have the uniforms and armor ready. To mislead the Jurchens when necessary, we kept over a hundred sets of Red Banner armor and a thousand Jurchen cavalry tunics from the capture at Changyong Fort.”

Zhen Youcai added, “For caution’s sake, I think we should shave our heads in the Jurchen style as well.”

“That’s no problem,” Wang Pu said. “Once on board, the brothers can shave the top of their heads, turning everyone into bald men.”

[Note: Early Qing hairstyle was not the half-shaved head and long braid seen in palace dramas. Initially, only a small tuft was allowed, tied into a little braid, called the ‘coin mouse tail.’]

Zhen Youcai’s eyes gleamed as he continued, “General, there’s an extra advantage to having the brothers disguise as Jurchens.”

Wang Pu asked, “Oh? Let’s hear it.”

Zhen Youcai said, “If the brothers pretend to be Jurchens, they can plunder, burn, and kill within Korea without restraint, and the Koreans will blame the Jurchens. The general and the brothers get the spoils and pleasure, while the Jurchens take the blame. Why not?”

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“Zhen Youcai, you’ve got a sharp mind,” Wang Pu said with a sly smile. “Let’s do it. Xiao Qi, come here.”

Wang Xiaoqi trotted over and asked, “General, you called?”

Wang Pu said, “Pass the order: all brothers shave their heads in the Jurchen style. Select a hundred men to wear Red Banner cavalry armor; the rest put on Jurchen battle robes.”

“Shave in Jurchen style?” Wang Xiaoqi frowned. “General, as the saying goes, the body and hair are inherited from our parents; we shouldn’t shave lightly. If we do and return to Ming, others might accuse us of surrendering to the Jurchens. Won’t we be unable to clear our names?”

“Stop your nonsense,” Wang Pu said impatiently. “Tell the brothers: if they shave their heads, once we enter Korea, they can do whatever they want. I don’t believe these rascals will refuse.”

“Do anything?” Wang Xiaoqi’s eyes sparkled. “Even with Korean women…”

“Fine,” Wang Pu said. “Pleasure is permitted, but no women on the march.”

“No problem,” Wang Xiaoqi said, grinning. “I’ll deliver the order right away.”

■■■

Meanwhile, Prince Yu of Qing, Dodo, led five thousand cavalry in a forced march, only to find upon reaching Lianyun Island that the Ming army had never been there. Dodo thought Prince Zheng, Jirgalang, wouldn’t deceive him. If the Ming army hadn’t come to Lianyun Island, they must have changed direction.

Dodo wasted no time and sent out scouts. Soon, he learned that a Ming force was heading openly toward Jiulian City. As he prepared to pursue them, Dorgon sent a secret letter by fast horse, warning that a major upheaval was about to occur in Shengjing and ordering Dodo to rush his troops back.

[It’s worth introducing the relationship among Ajige, Dorgon, and Dodo. Ajige was Nurhaci’s twelfth son, Dorgon his fourteenth, and Dodo his fifteenth, all born to Lady Abahai. Dorgon led the Plain White Banner; Ajige and Dodo led the Bordered White Banner.]

Dorgon’s purpose in recalling Dodo and his five thousand Bordered White Banner cavalry to Shengjing was simple: to prepare for the impending imperial succession struggle.

Dorgon’s chief rival was Prince Su, Hooge, eldest son of Hong Taiji. The Plain Yellow and Bordered Yellow Banners were loyal to him, and Hooge himself was master of the Plain Blue Banner—a formidable power. At such a critical moment, Dodo and his five thousand cavalry could not be away from Shengjing.

Without hesitation, Dodo abandoned the pursuit of the Ming army. The most important task now was to return to the capital and help his fourteenth brother Dorgon seize the throne.

Dodo’s thoughts were identical to those of Jirgalang and the others. Though they claimed to spare no effort to rescue Hong Taiji, everyone knew it was impossible. Their fine words were mere show. In their hearts, each had begun to calculate which faction to support in the coming struggle for the imperial succession.

■■■

Purple Gold City, Palace of Heavenly Purity.

At dawn, the officials formed a long queue, led by eunuchs into the grand hall. As usual, Emperor Chongzhen was already seated on the Dragon Throne. Of the sixteen Ming emperors, Chongzhen was the most diligent, more so even than the founding emperor Zhu Yuanzhang.

Some historians claim that from his enthronement to his death at Coal Hill, Emperor Chongzhen never missed a single morning court, averaging less than two hours' sleep per day. Though this is doubtful, that he was a rare, hardworking ruler in over two thousand years of feudal history is indisputable.

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The officials performed three kneelings and nine kowtows, shouted three times for long life, then withdrew to their places, lowering their heads in silence. The Ming dynasty’s fortunes were failing: the Jurchens rampaged in the north, rebels ravaged the heartland, and for years drought plagued Huguang, Zhejiang, Shandong, Henan, Hebei, and Shanxi. The land was scorched, locusts swarmed, and in many prefectures people resorted to cannibalism.

The national situation was perilous, almost beyond salvation. In such dire times, silence was the safest course.

Emperor Chongzhen’s brows drew ever tighter. The officials’ behavior displeased him deeply. They took the emperor’s pay, owed him loyalty, yet in these troubled times, they played deaf and dumb. What was this?

His gaze settled on Minister of War Chen Xinjia. “Chen, have reinforcements been dispatched to relieve Songshan?”

Chen Xinjia hurried forward and replied, “Your Majesty, I have arranged for three columns to cross the pass and relieve Songshan.”

“Good.” Emperor Chongzhen nodded, his grim face easing slightly. “When will the three armies reach Songshan? How many troops?”

Chen Xinjia hesitated. “That…”

Emperor Chongzhen asked, “What’s the difficulty, Chen?”

Chen Xinjia had no choice but to answer, “Your Majesty, the three columns total just over nine thousand men.”

“What! Only nine thousand?” Emperor Chongzhen thundered. “With so few troops, how can Songshan be relieved?”

Chen Xinjia, face mournful, replied, “Your Majesty, the garrisons of the capital, Jizhou, Xuanfu, Miyun, Datong—all have been stripped bare. Truly, there are no more reinforcements to send.”

“I care not for excuses,” Emperor Chongzhen roared. “If reinforcements cannot be sent, it is your incompetence. If Songshan and Jinzhou are lost, I will hold you to account!”

Terrified, Chen Xinjia kowtowed, not daring to say another word.

“Report, Songshan dispatch…”

At that moment, a young eunuch strode into the hall, holding the dispatch high.

The ministers’ faces were blank. They had received dispatches from Songshan almost daily, each reporting dire straits at Songshan and Jinzhou and urging the court to send aid.

The eunuch hurried to the jade steps, where Chief Eunuch Wang Cheng’en took the dispatch and presented it to Emperor Chongzhen. The emperor opened it and read, expressionless. After a few lines, his face suddenly changed, and he rose from the throne, his hands trembling as he held the dispatch.

The ministers, peeking up from their lowered heads, felt their hearts pound. They guessed Songshan and Hong Chengchou were lost, or else the emperor would not be so agitated.

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