The Ming Dynasty: Starting with the border troops, it was overthrown and the Qing Dynasty was destro

Chapter 283 The Later Jin Dynasty Changed its Era Name
Just as Emperor Chongzhen was still basking in the joy of his great victory over the peasant army, Huang Taiji, the Khan of the Later Jin Dynasty, far away in Liaodong, also learned of the news within the territory of the Ming Dynasty.

Shengjing, Chongzheng Hall.

Outside the hall, the wind howled, but inside, the hearth burned warmly.

Huang Taiji leaned back on a large reclining chair covered with tiger skin, his eyes half-closed, listening to the kneeling guards in the hall report the news from inside the pass.

"...In the ninth year of the Tiancong reign, the capital of the Ming Dynasty, Fengyang, was destroyed, and the Zhu family imperial tombs were burned down by several bandit groups, including Gao and Xian..."

Upon hearing this, Huang Taiji merely twitched his eyelids slightly, a cold smile playing on his lips, and commented indifferently:

"Yes, the Zhu family is getting worse every year."

His tone was indifferent and he seemed uninterested. In Huang Taiji's view, the destruction of an imperial tomb was nothing more than good news that the Ming army had suffered heavy losses.

If the Ming army inside the pass is severely damaged by the bandits, he can immediately lead his troops into the pass.

Huang Taiji's concern was nothing more than the fear of venturing too deep into the territory and being trapped and beaten by the Ming army.

The guard, holding the letter, continued his report:
"...The seven provincial leaders Lu Xiang-sheng, Zu Kuan, Zhu Da-dian, and others defeated the bandits outside Chuzhou City, killing countless enemies."

Upon hearing this news, Huang Taiji half-opened his eyes, looking slightly surprised:
"Oh?"

"Even the Zu family's Liaodong troops were transferred there?"

He hesitated for a moment, then lightly tapped his fingers on the armrest.

"It seems that the Zhu family's son is quite angry and has become very fierce."

Huang Taiji smacked his chin, seemingly savoring the name.

"The Prime Minister of Seven Provinces... Lu Xiang-sheng, it seems that the Ming Dynasty still has some capable people."

His words carried a hint of appreciation, but more so an instinctive wariness and assessment.

"Your Majesty, according to information from spies in the capital region, a group of rebels from the Northwest has conquered Sichuan and declared themselves kings, calling themselves the King of Han."

The guard then added.

Huang Taiji was initially uninterested in these chaotic news from within the Great Wall. In his view, the bandits within the Ming Dynasty were nothing more than a minor ailment that would be eradicated sooner or later, or they would become pawns he could use when he entered the Great Wall to plunder again.

However, when he heard the news that someone had actually declared himself king and established a system in a remote corner of the southwest, he was startled, as if pricked by a needle. He suddenly sat up straight in his chair, and the laziness on his face was instantly replaced by surprise and doubt.

"To become king? In Sichuan?"

His voice suddenly rose in pitch.

"Who is this Prince of Han? How could he possibly occupy an entire province in the southwest?"

"As far as I know, Hong Chengchou, the governor-general of the three border regions of the Ming Dynasty, has been relentlessly pursuing these bandits. How did they manage to withstand the Ming army's encirclement and suppression and occupy Sichuan?"

Faced with Huang Taiji's question, the guards in the hall were somewhat helpless:
"Great Khan, we've only ever been to the Xuanfu and Datong areas, so we're not very well-informed about the Northwest."

"Even this news came from the Jiangnan region to the capital."

"I heard that this Prince of Han was just a minor officer in the Ming army. In the third year of Tiancong, when our army entered the pass, he took the opportunity to launch a mutiny in the loyalist army. After that, he was active in the Shanxi and Shaanxi areas."

"I heard that he also killed the Prince of Qing of the Ming Dynasty in Ningxia, and later killed the Prince of Shu in Sichuan..."

This news was like a boulder thrown into a lake, stirring up a storm in Huang Taiji's heart.

At this time, although the Later Jin was growing stronger under his leadership, it still faced considerable difficulties.

Through repeated raids into the Central Plains, the Later Jin dynasty acquired a large number of people and valuables.

Moreover, he conquered Korea, defeated Ligdan Khan, and unified the various Mongol tribes.

However, the Guan-Ning-Jin defense line remained as solid as a mountain, and Shanhaiguan was even more unreachable, making it difficult to break through head-on.

The climate in Liaodong is becoming increasingly harsh, and the situation facing Huang Taiji is far from optimistic.

Huang Taiji was currently contemplating his next strategic move: whether to try again to breach the pass or to continue consolidating his internal strength and digesting what he had gained.

The sudden change of control of Sichuan was completely unexpected for him.

Sichuan is a prosperous region known as the Land of Abundance, far better than Liaodong, the desolate wasteland of the Later Jin dynasty.

If the southwest region were to fall firmly under the control of a new power, it would undoubtedly drastically alter the global landscape.

In Huang Taiji's view, as long as Sichuan is captured, the loss of Yunnan and Guizhou is only a matter of time.

This will be a far more troublesome separatist regime than the bandits.

"Where did this person come from, and how did he manage to take over Sichuan without making a sound?"

An inexplicable sense of urgency gripped Huang Taiji's heart.

He sensed that the global situation was rapidly deteriorating in an unpredictable direction, and he had to respond immediately.

Huang Taiji immediately gave the order to the guards in front of him:

"Quickly, please bring Mr. Fan over here!"

The person whom Huang Taiji respectfully addressed as "Mr. Fan" was none other than his trusted advisor, Fan Wencheng, a Grand Secretary of the Inner Secretariat.

Fan Wencheng, courtesy name Xiandou, style name Huiyue, came from a distinguished family; his ancestors were of great renown.

Fan Zhongyan, the famous minister of the Northern Song Dynasty who uttered the famous saying "Be the first to worry about the world's troubles and the last to enjoy its pleasures," was his ancestor.

Soon, a middle-aged man of about forty years old and with a robust build hurriedly arrived at Chongzheng Hall.

"Your humble servant Fan Wencheng pays his respects to the Great Khan."

He bowed respectfully.

Upon seeing Fan Wencheng arrive, Huang Taiji immediately rose and personally stepped forward to support his arm, displaying great warmth.

"Mr. Fan, there's no need for such formalities!"

"You've come at the right time. A message has come from within the pass, and I, the Khan, feel it is of great importance. I have many doubts and cannot make a decision, so I have specially asked you to come and help me make a decision."

As he spoke, Huang Taiji pulled him to sit down on the heated kang (a traditional heated platform bed) and handed him the letter containing intelligence from Sichuan.

Fan Wencheng first repeatedly said "I dare not," and then took the letter with both hands and read it carefully.

At first, his expression was calm, but the more you looked at him, the more serious he became.

When Fan Wencheng saw the phrases "dominantly ruling Sichuan, establishing his own kingdom," he was first greatly surprised, then as if he had just realized something, his face lit up with ecstatic joy, and even his hands trembled slightly.

Fan Wencheng was so excited because he keenly realized that the opportunity he had been waiting for—the chance to take revenge on the Ming Dynasty—had finally arrived!
Huang Taiji, to whom he served, was undoubtedly the best candidate among them.

Fan Wencheng and the Zhu family were enemies.

The Fan family's ancestral home was originally in Jiangsu. After the Jingkang Incident, Fan Zhongyan's grandson, Fan Zhengguo, moved south to Linchuan, Jiangxi, and then to Leping.

This branch of the Fan family seems to have a grudge against the Zhu family, and has been repeatedly attacked by the Ming Dynasty.

During the Hongwu era, Fan Wencheng's seventh-generation ancestor, Fan Yue, committed a crime while serving as the county magistrate of Yunmeng County, and was thus exiled to Shenyang Guard in Liaodong. From then on, this branch of the Fan family lived in Shenyang.

Although they were exiled, fortunately, the Fan family was a prestigious lineage, and many officials came from their descendants.

Fan Wencheng's great-grandfather, Fan Cong, was one of the best among them, having served as the head of the Ministry of Works in the imperial court.

Unfortunately, Fan Cong encountered the old Taoist priest Jiajing.

During the dispute between the civil officials and the Jiajing Emperor over the "Great Rites Controversy," Fan Cong was flogged and imprisoned by the Jiajing Emperor.

In the twenty-seventh year of the Jiajing reign, Grand Secretary Xia Yan was killed, and Yan Song succeeded him.

While helping Yan Song reorganize the cabinet, Jiajing once again thought of Fan Cong and wanted to appoint him as Minister of War.

However, Fan Cong disliked Yan Song and did not want to be used by the incompetent Jiajing Emperor, so he declined the offer because he was old and would not comply with the emperor's wishes.

Emperor Jiajing was furious and simply stripped Fan Cong of his official rank.

(The Emperor was very talented. When Zhao Tingrui, the Minister of War, was dismissed, the Emperor ordered Zhao to replace him. Zhao declined, citing his old age, and also said that he was not suitable for the task of governing. The Emperor was angry, reprimanded Zhao for his disrespect, and stripped him of his official rank.)
From then on, the Fan family gradually declined from a prestigious family to a poor one.

Fan Wencheng was born under these circumstances.

Even worse, in the 46th year of the Wanli Emperor's reign, the Later Jin dynasty captured Liaodong, and Fushun, where Fan Wencheng was located, became an occupied territory.

The Later Jin troops looted extensively in the area and distributed the 300,000 people and livestock they obtained as rewards to the meritorious officers and soldiers.

Nurhaci organized the surrendered people into one thousand households and bestowed them upon the Eight Banners nobles as slaves.

Fan Wencheng happened to be among the captives who surrendered. He was incorporated into the Bordered Red Banner and became a bondservant.

That year, Fan Wencheng was twenty-one years old.

For more than a decade afterward, he lived in constant fear under Nurhaci's threat of execution, enduring discrimination and humiliation.

Not everyone is Xin Qiji.

In despair and suffering, Fan Wencheng attributed all of this to the incompetence and immorality of the Ming Dynasty.

If Zhu Yuanzhang hadn't exiled his ancestors, Fan Wencheng wouldn't have been born in Liaodong.

If Zhu Houcong hadn't stripped the Fan family of their official status, Fan Wencheng wouldn't have become a commoner and fallen into the hands of foreign tribes.

The young emperor surnamed Zhu in the capital is the real culprit behind all this! With this in mind, Fan Wencheng resolutely chose to surrender to the Later Jin and joined their army.

Fortunately, he was not only intelligent, but also very strong.

According to Qing Dynasty history, Fan Wencheng was a Confucian scholar, but he was handsome and robust, with a broad waist and thick back, and was very strong.

After joining the Later Jin army, he started from the bottom and followed the army on every expedition. He not only charged into battle but also offered advice and strategies, gradually gaining some trust.

But as long as the old boar hide doesn't die, he will still just be a slave.

Fan Wencheng's fate finally took a turn for the better after Nurhaci's death.

When Huang Taiji succeeded to the throne of Khan, he changed Nurhaci's barbaric attitude towards the Han people and began to vigorously discover and make good use of Han talents.

In the third year of the Tiancong reign (the second year of the Chongzhen reign), Huang Taiji ordered that the imperial examination system be modeled after the Han Chinese system, and that the examination be held in Liaodong. He also personally issued an edict allowing bondservants of all ethnic groups to participate, and those who passed the examination would be promoted and given important positions.

Fan Wencheng seized this opportunity and stood out from the crowd.

When Huang Taiji learned that he came from a prestigious family, he valued him highly and immediately promoted him to the literary academy, making him a close advisor.

In a short period of time, Fan Wencheng rose from a slave to a member of the core decision-making circle of the Later Jin.

Huang Taiji's patronage, coupled with his hatred for the Ming Dynasty, made Fan Wencheng even more devoted to serving the Later Jin.

In the fifth year of the Tiancong reign (the fourth year of the Chongzhen reign), Huang Taiji led his troops to Dalinghe.

Fan Wencheng volunteered to ride alone into the Ming army camp to persuade them to surrender. He successfully recruited a number of important generals, including Kong Youde and Geng Zhongming, and brought much-needed Western artillery technology and naval forces to the Later Jin.

No matter how much Qing Dynasty historical records praise Huang Taiji's great talent and strategy, before Fan Wencheng appeared and was highly valued, Huang Taiji's strategy was more of an inheritance from Nurhaci's predatory expansion.

The Later Jin's military operations against the Ming Dynasty were more like periodic "hunting" by nomadic tribes for survival, lacking a clear blueprint and political structure for conquering the world.

It was Fan Wencheng who first proposed to Huang Taiji a top-level strategy: to break through Shanhaiguan Pass, seize Beijing, and then take control of the Central Plains.

It was with the assistance of Han officials such as Fan Wencheng that Huang Taiji began to stop simply plundering the Ming Dynasty and instead systematically unify Mongolia, coerce Korea, and establish a Han-style bureaucratic system, laying the foundation for his future conquest of the world.

Faced with Huang Taiji's question, Fan Wencheng suppressed his excitement and gathered his thoughts:

"Great Khan, this is a golden opportunity!"

Huang Taiji stared at him intently:

"Please explain in detail, sir."

Fan Wencheng said:

"The internal strife in the Ming Dynasty has reached this point, and the imperial tombs in Zhongdu have been destroyed. This is a clear sign that Heaven has abandoned the Ming!"

"Although famous generals like Lu Xiangshan occasionally won minor victories, bandits were rising up everywhere and spreading to several provinces, which had long been a major threat."

"Now, another warlord has seized Sichuan and declared himself king, carrying out acts of dividing up the territory, which has completely destroyed the prestige of the Ming court."

"In order to quell the internal strife, the Ming court will inevitably send more elite troops from the nine border regions into the pass to quell the rebellion, leaving the defenses of Liaodong, Xuanda, and Shanxi vulnerable."

"Now is the time for our Great Jin to wage war!"

He paused, observed Huang Taiji's expression, and continued his analysis in depth:

"However, the use of troops is secondary."

"In my opinion, the most important thing right now is to establish proper titles and positions, stabilize the situation, and unite the people's hearts!"

His voice grew increasingly firm.

"Since some have claimed the throne and coveted the divine power, how can Your Majesty, whose achievements surpass the world and whose virtue commands respect from all nations, still remain on the throne?"

"In my opinion, the Great Khan should follow the will of Heaven and the people, change the era name, and become Emperor!"

Upon hearing this, Huang Taiji was greatly shocked. Although he had long harbored the ambition to become emperor, he had not yet made up his mind about the timing.

"To declare oneself emperor now? Isn't that too early?"

"There may still be objections within the country..."

When Huang Taiji referred to "the country," he meant the Eight Banners and the princes and ministers who still retained traditional tribal values.

Fan Wencheng shook his head, his tone resolute:
“Not early!”

"Great Khan, the time has come!"

“Previously you suppressed the Second Prince Amin and annexed the Zhenglan Banner, eliminating a powerful enemy.”

"Then he won over the Grand Prince Daishan by treating him well, thus securing his position."

"The practice of the four great princes taking turns to receive court rites has long been abolished. Now, you are the sole ruler of the south, and all power is in your hands."

"The mighty Eight Banners troops follow your lead; the Mongol tribes have submitted, and Korea has become your sworn brother."

"not to mention……"

Fan Wencheng lowered his voice, a sly glint in his eyes.
"Last year, didn't Ejei, the son of Ligdan Khan, present the Great Yuan Imperial Seal? This is a symbol of the Great Khan's divine mandate!"

"To ascend the throne at this time is in accordance with the will of Heaven and the hearts of the people, and will intimidate the ministers internally and awe the nations externally."

"If one's name is legitimate and one's words are lawful, then one can command the world and none will dare to disobey."

"The Ming Dynasty possessed three fire virtues: the virtue of the Han Dynasty, the virtue of the Zhu family, and the fire of the sun and moon."

"Now that the Great Khan has changed his name to Manchu, which is two waters, in my humble opinion, it would be better to add a third water and change the country's name to Qing."

"If water can overcome fire, then the Ming dynasty can be extinguished!"

"At that time, my Great Jin will be an imperial dynasty, not just a corner of the country. Only in this way can we command heroes and compete for supremacy in the Central Plains!"

Fan Wencheng's advice struck a chord with Huang Taiji.

As is well known, the Ming dynasty was associated with the element of fire, and the change to the Manchu Qing dynasty was a perfect way to extinguish the fire by drawing water.

After all, his father Nurhaci established the Later Jin Dynasty, which was defeated by fire, and Nurhaci was eventually worn down and died at the gates of Ningyuan.

Now that he is in harmony with nature, he might actually achieve something great.

Furthermore, declaring himself emperor was not only to satisfy Huang Taiji's personal desire for power, but also a pressing political necessity.

The title of "Great Khan of the Later Jin" was not considered prestigious even among the Mongol tribes, let alone among the Han Chinese and surrounding vassal states who were deeply influenced by the Ming Dynasty.

Only the title of emperor could allow him to stand on equal footing with the Ming emperor, better attract Han Chinese officials and gentry, and at the same time give legitimacy to the Later Jin regime, gradually shedding the shadow of the allied tribes.

At this time, after years of management by Huang Taiji, the power structure within the Later Jin Dynasty had become so rigid that the co-rule of the four Beile (princes) was no longer a reality, greatly reducing the obstacles to Huang Taiji's ascension to the throne.

Huang Taiji listened to Fan Wencheng's analysis, pondered for a long time, and the hesitation in his eyes was gradually replaced by fervor.

Finally, he slapped his thigh and made up his mind:
"it is good!"

"What you say, sir, is absolutely right, like the sun shining through the clouds!"

"I, the Khan, am determined to immediately prepare for my coronation ceremony, to proclaim to Heaven and Earth that I shall change the era name and become Emperor!"

Upon hearing this, Fan Wencheng immediately knelt down, touched his head to the ground, and performed the grand ceremony of three kneelings and nine kowtows:
"Long live my emperor! Long live! Long live!"

Seeing this, Huang Taiji was filled with pride and laughed heartily.

He personally got up and helped Fan Wencheng up, patted him on the shoulder forcefully, and encouraged him:

"Mr. Fan, there's no need to rush. It's not too late to say 'Long live the Emperor' after the ceremony!"

"After you return, immediately convey my message to all the princes and ministers, and first create a buzz for me!"

"All matters concerning the coronation ceremony are entrusted to you, Xifu, and Ganglin to make full preparations. It must be grand and magnificent, showcasing the grandeur of our new dynasty!"

Upon hearing this, Fan Wencheng bowed again:
"twitter!"

"Your humble servant Fan Wencheng will certainly live up to His Majesty's trust!"

Fan Wencheng's tone was filled with unprecedented enthusiasm.

Twenty years have passed, and through his planning and tireless efforts, he finally saw a glimmer of hope for revenge.

In March of the tenth year of the Tiancong reign (the ninth year of the Chongzhen reign), under the planning of Fan Wencheng, Huang Taiji officially announced the institutional reform of the Later Jin dynasty.

The original library was renamed the National History Academy, the Inner Secretariat Academy, and the Inner Grand Literature Academy, collectively known as the Three Academies, analogous to the Grand Secretariat of the Ming Dynasty.

Fan Wencheng was appointed as a Grand Secretary of the Inner Secretariat, in charge of confidential documents, similar to the Grand Secretary of the Ming Dynasty.

At the same time, the Later Jin Dynasty further established the official positions of the ministries and established six ministries. Each ministry had a Manchu councilor, and under them were left and right councilors, directors, deputy directors, etc.

This system was almost a direct copy of the central structure of the Ming Dynasty.

In terms of domestic policy, Huang Taiji also made major adjustments based on the suggestions of Fan Wencheng and others, and began to emphasize the unity of Manchu and Han people and protect the production rights of Han people in Liaodong.

He proposed the management concept of "focusing on the southern fields and prioritizing fundamental tasks," and stopped the forced conscription of all kinds of labor services;
At the same time, he also ordered that all villages and fields should not be easily changed since the Eight Banners had already stabilized, and that the property and livestock such as chickens, ducks, cattle, and sheep of the people should not be arbitrarily seized.

These policies have greatly reduced the burden on farmers in Liaodong.

After completing the political reforms, the moment that Huang Taiji had been longing for to become emperor finally arrived.

(End of this chapter)