My father is Chongzhen? Then I have no choice but to rebel.

Furthermore, this is enough to illustrate one point!
That means today's events were a conspiracy between Dorgon and Dayuer!

really!

The rumors are true; these two have probably been secretly dating behind Huang Taiji's back for a long time!

The prince that Huang Taiji truly wanted to pass the throne to was not Fulin at all, but Hauge!

Even Jirgalang is now leaning towards Dorgon.

This wasn't because Dorgon had spoken to him. Given Jirgalang's big mouth, Dorgon didn't dare to say too much to him, for fear of accidentally revealing the news.

Jirhalang was willing to support Fulin's succession because the imperial edict in Dayuer's hands clearly stated that after Fulin ascended the throne, he could jointly assist in governing with several other princes.

This was undoubtedly a huge temptation for Jirhalang.

He knew in his heart that if Haug succeeded to the throne, he would certainly not receive such treatment.

After all, once an adult prince ascends the throne, he will inevitably wield absolute power, and at that time, his status as a prince will likely become nothing more than a figurehead.

Since Fulin was young and needed someone to assist him, he had the opportunity to play a greater role in the court and wield more power.

Therefore, after weighing the pros and cons, Jirgalang already knew who to support as emperor!
At this moment, the atmosphere in the palace was as oppressive as the sky before a storm, so heavy that it was hard to breathe.

Sunlight streamed through the carved window frames, dappling the floor, but it couldn't dispel the tension and unease that permeated the air.

Although everyone present remained silent, Dorgon clearly sensed that most people were actually on his side and intended to support Fulin's succession.

Dorgon was secretly pleased with himself, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up slightly, revealing a barely perceptible smile.

He knew this was bound to happen, because allowing the young Fulin to succeed to the throne was undoubtedly the decision that best served everyone's interests.

First, just as Jirgalang had worried, if an adult prince were to succeed to the throne, the power of the princes present, who held considerable authority, would inevitably be greatly diminished.

Because once an adult prince ascends the throne, the first thing he must do is to consolidate all power, especially the crucial military power.

At that time, these princes who held real power would be like eagles with clipped wings, unable to fly freely anymore, and could only gradually become bystanders on the edge of power.

Moreover, there are precedents for this kind of thing. When Huang Taiji ascended the throne, he treated his uncles in the same way!

Secondly, it is also thanks to Dorgon having already spoken with some people here beforehand, subtly mentioning what might happen today.

These people were all intelligent. They knew that if Dorgon's plan failed, he could very well expose them all and then turn around and accuse them of orchestrating today's events.

Do you think Hauge will let them off the hook?
They will inevitably fall into an abyss of no return, and may even meet a terrible end!
Therefore, for the sake of their own lives and future, they now have no choice but to stand on Dorgon's side!

In addition, Dorgon had made other comprehensive plans.

He had already secretly dispatched a group of elite troops to the capital long before.

This army, like a giant dragon hidden in the darkness, silently surrounded the entire capital.

Even the palace guards were now all under Dorgon's control.

It is no exaggeration to say that the entire palace is currently under his control.

In other words, if Hauge does not acknowledge Fulin's imperial status today, then Hauge will absolutely not be able to leave the palace today.

Of course, Dorgon didn't intend to do anything too outrageous to Hauge; he just wanted to force Hauge to acknowledge Fulin's identity.

At this point, some people may wonder why Dorgon didn't just kill Hauge.

Wouldn't that solve everything and resolve all the problems?

If that's really what you think, then you're just being naive.

Simply put, it wasn't that Dorgon didn't want to kill Hauge, but rather that he couldn't simply kill Hauge like that.

The political cost and risk of taking direct action were too high for him to bear.

It is important to understand that the core strength of the Jurchens was the Eight Banners, but these Eight Banners were not a monolithic entity. Upon closer examination, they were like a pile of loose sand, each with its own interests and sphere of influence.

If Dorgon kills Hauge, it would be tantamount to declaring war on the Two Yellow Banners and the Plain Blue Banner.

Imagine Dorgon openly murdering Hauge, the eldest son of the late emperor and a representative of the Two Yellow Banners and the Plain Blue Banner. This was tantamount to inserting a sharp dagger into the hearts of the three upper banners.

This would immediately trigger a civil war within the Eight Banners, at which point the Qing Dynasty might disintegrate and be reduced to ruins.

As a shrewd politician, Dorgon knew that he had to maintain a facade of unity and avoid an open break, otherwise the power empire he had painstakingly built would collapse in an instant.

Secondly, as Fulin's half-brother, Hauge was a close relative of the royal family, and their blood ties were stronger than water.

If Dorgon were to kill the emperor's brother without any solid evidence, it would not only be a blatant challenge to the emperor's authority, but would also instill great fear and threat in Fulin and Dayuer.

They might think, if Dorgon can kill Hauge today, will it be Emperor Fulin's turn tomorrow?
This would undoubtedly exacerbate the conflict between Dorgon and the emperor prematurely, breaking the already delicate balance of power and hindering the consolidation of his power.

Then there's the lack of a legitimate excuse and charge.

In politics, to execute a prince who has made great contributions and holds a high position, one needs an absolutely convincing reason.

Although Hauge had a personal grudge against Dorgon, he had made great contributions on the battlefield and enjoyed high prestige in the army.

He also wielded considerable influence within the imperial family and the court, and many people held him in high esteem.

This meant that even though Dorgon could easily kill Hauge, he dared not do so, because it would make all the members of the royal family and ministers feel insecure and alienate them!
After all, if Dorgon could kill Hauge, the eldest son of the late emperor, because of a personal grudge, wouldn't it be his turn tomorrow?
In this way, Dorgon will lose the support of the people and become completely isolated.

Of course, Dorgon could also use the charge of forging the will to kill Hauge, but anyone with eyes can see what really happened.

If this excuse is used, those members of the imperial family and ministers who originally wanted to maintain the balance and support Fulin's succession might jump out to oppose it.

At that point, Dorgon would immediately find himself isolated and abandoned by everyone, which would be counterproductive.

Moreover, although the edict was forged very convincingly, it was still easy to spot the irregularities upon closer inspection.

The strokes and ink density of the handwriting differed subtly from Huang Taiji's usual writing habits. It was precisely because of these complex and crucial reasons that Dorgon would not directly and fatally harm Hauge, at least not now.

In the original history, Dorgon did not do that, but instead used other methods to deal with Hauge!
Starting from the first year of the Shunzhi Emperor's reign, Dorgon began to constantly cause trouble for Hauge.

He repeatedly demoted him, fined him, and stripped him of his power, gradually diminishing Hauge's influence.

It wasn't until the fifth year of the Shunzhi Emperor's reign that Dorgon finally found a "perfect" excuse.

At that time, Hauge had just returned from a great victory in Sichuan and was ready to celebrate his glory. However, he never expected that a conspiracy was waiting for him.

Dorgon imprisoned Haoge on minor charges such as his subordinates claiming credit for others' work and employing the brother of a criminal. Under Dorgon's manipulation, a meeting of princes and ministers decided to sentence Haoge to death.

Dorgon then feigned leniency and rejected the proposal to execute him, instead ordering him to be imprisoned.

This both eliminated Hauge and won over a group of people.

Ultimately, Hauge died soon after being imprisoned at the young age of forty. Historical records state that he died in confinement.

Similarly, even if Hauge were to become emperor, he would not kill Dorgon immediately, but would instead use a similar method to deal with him.

See? Although they are called Jurchens, their political maneuvering skills are in no way inferior to those of the Han people.

In short, politics is like a war without gunpowder, full of intrigue and deception.

Simple killing is just the most inconspicuous tactic!

Getting back to the point, at this moment, Haug finally realized that something was wrong.

That means that everyone present seems to be secretly supporting Dorgon and planning to let Fulin succeed to the throne!
Although these people didn't say or do anything, he wasn't stupid and actually noticed this subtle change.

For a moment, Haug felt terrified, yet he was powerless to do anything about it.

Because the imperial edict in his possession has now been determined to be fake, while the one in Dayuer's possession is the real one.

At this moment, Haug's mind was in chaos, with all sorts of thoughts intertwined, and even his breathing became rapid!
But he still did not intend to admit defeat, because he now controlled the troops of the Three Banners, which accounted for almost one-third of the military strength of the Eight Banners.

As long as he can leave the palace and Shenyang, he can lead his army back and reclaim the throne that rightfully belongs to him!

Thinking of this, a glimmer of hope rekindled in Haug's heart.

The next second, Haug took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down, and then shouted loudly to the people around him:
"Release me, and I will not lay a hand on you again!"

His voice echoed loudly in the silent hall.

Upon hearing this, the members of the royal family who had previously restrained Hauge exchanged glances, and ultimately they silently released their grip.

After regaining his freedom, Haug did not actually do anything; he simply stretched his body a little.

Then, he glared at Dorgon again, gritting his teeth as he said, word by word:

"Dorgon, don't think this matter is over. I will not let it go!"

After saying this, Haug strode out.

He was thinking that as long as he left the palace, he could mobilize his army and reclaim the throne that rightfully belonged to him!
But before he could take a few steps, a group of guards suddenly rushed in.

Clad in armor and wielding long swords, their eyes revealed a coldness and resolve as they blocked Hauge's path!
The next second, Dorgon's deep and authoritative voice rang out again from behind:
"Hauge, do you think I don't know what you're thinking? You just want to get out of the city as soon as possible, mobilize the army, and then rebel. Am I right?"

When Dorgon said this, his eyes revealed a hint of mockery and disdain, as if everything was under his control.

Seeing his plan exposed by Dorgon, Hauge's face turned deathly pale, devoid of any color.

But then, Hauge felt even angrier, veins bulging on his forehead, his hands clenching into fists involuntarily, wishing he could rush up and kill Dorgon again!

Because once the plan was exposed, Dorgon would definitely not let him leave so easily!

At the same time, Jirhalang, who was standing next to him, also realized what was happening.

He inwardly cried out in alarm, knowing that the situation was on the verge of erupting and, if not handled properly, would inevitably lead to a bloodbath.

He then quickly looked at Hauge again and urged him rapidly:
"Hauge, calm down! What time is it now? How can you do something like this, killing your own people?"

"His Majesty is still lying in bed. He devoted his entire life to the Qing Dynasty and has not yet been laid to rest. How could you do such a treasonous thing in front of his spirit tablet?"

"Are we trying to make him die with his eyes wide open in disbelief?"

He paused, took a deep breath, and continued:

"Furthermore, the Qing Dynasty is currently beset by internal and external troubles, and the situation is extremely precarious. His Majesty has just passed away, and the court is filled with anxiety. Meanwhile, the Ming army is eyeing us like hungry wolves."

"If you were to start a civil war now, the Qing Dynasty would truly be doomed!"

"At that time, we will both become sinners of the Qing Dynasty, and be infamous for eternity!"

The surrounding members of the royal family and ministers also realized what was happening. Their expressions were filled with fear, and they quickly gathered around Hauge, offering their advice in a flurry of voices:
"Prince Su, don't be impulsive! This kind of thing can't happen! If you really do this, our Great Qing Dynasty will truly perish!"

"How will you face your ancestors then?!"

"Prince Su, I know you are heartbroken. After all, it would be difficult for anyone to bear such a thing, but there is nothing we can do about it. After all, this is His Majesty's last edict!"

"His Majesty was wise and powerful throughout his life. His decisions must have profound meanings. Do you really want His Majesty to die with regrets and not find peace even in the afterlife?"

As they said this, these people deliberately squeezed out a tear or two to make it seem more genuine.

Of course, these seasoned veterans have already seen through the truth behind this matter.

It was nothing more than Dayuer conspiring with Dorgon to alter Huang Taiji's will and seize the throne that originally belonged to Hauge.

But things had come to this point, and for the sake of the greater good and the future of the Qing Dynasty, he had no choice but to go against his conscience and say these words. (End of Chapter)