The New Destiny of the Ming Dynasty

This Tulai is none other than Guargia-Tulai.

He is currently under the direct command of the Manchu Plain Yellow Banner, personally led by Huang Taiji, and is the current Manchu Plain Yellow Banner Bayara Banner Commander (the character "纛" is pronounced "dao").

He later became the commander of the Imperial Guard Battalion, one of Huang Taiji's most trusted generals in the Manchu Plain Yellow Banner.

He was instructed to go and convey Huang Taiji's oral instructions to Prince Li Daishan, Prince Sanshun, Prince Wuying, and Prince Raoyu. No written order or other written command from Huang Taiji was required as a token.

After watching Tulai turn and leave, Huang Taiji sighed again, then turned to the other somewhat doubtful close advisors and said:

"The main force of the Southern Dynasty's reinforcements has not yet arrived, so my plan to besiege the city and attack the reinforcements is also impossible to realize! Moreover, the cities of Jinzhou and Songshan are well-fortified and cannot be taken quickly in a short time!"

"The grain and fodder of the rear camp north of Xiaoling River were burned. My army could not hold out against the Songshan army for long. Yesterday, we were ambushed in Alsalan. Gabuxi Xianchaoha's entire army was wiped out. The sound of cannons roared along the coast, and the explosions could be heard at the foot of Songshan City. The garrison commander in the city must have heard it too!"

"Seeing this, Jin Guofeng, Xia Chengde, and the others will likely be even more determined to defend the city! In that case, what benefit would it bring for me to stay?"

Huang Taiji's words sounded like he was persuading others, as if he were also persuading himself; they sounded like he was asking others a question, as if he were asking and answering his own.

The close advisors who had been by his side—Darhan, Baiyintu, Sony, Tantai, and Nikan—looked at each other, but none of them spoke.

Huang Taiji looked at them and finally addressed them directly, asking, "Darhan! You are the Minister of Banner Affairs of the Bordered Yellow Banner appointed by me. This time, Arsalan was defeated and killed, and more than four hundred elite Gabuxixians of the Bordered Yellow Banner's Bayara Camp died in battle. Do you have any explanation for this?"

Darhan was about the same age as Huang Taiji, around fifty years old, and was considered one of Huang Taiji's trusted confidants.

He listened to Huang Taiji's question but couldn't quite grasp its meaning, yet he had no choice but to answer.

He glanced at Nikan, and seeing that Nikan was keeping his eyes down and refusing to take responsibility, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and step forward half a step, saying to Huang Taiji:

"Your Majesty! The death of Arsalan, the Jiala Zhangjing of the Bayara Battalion of the Bordered Yellow Banner, along with the loss of 426 Gabuxi Xianchaoha of the Bayara Battalion of the Bordered Yellow Banner, is an unprecedented loss for our Great Qing in recent years! As the Minister appointed by Your Majesty to oversee the Bordered Yellow Banner, I have no choice but to accept your punishment! I dare not utter a word!"

As Darhan finished speaking, he quickly lifted his robe and knelt down on the stone-paved ground.

"Nikan! And you?! As the Banner Bearer of the Bordered Yellow Banner appointed by me, don't you have anything to say to me?!"

Nikan was one of the sons of Chu Ying, the elder brother of Huang Taiji, and could be considered Nurhaci's grandson and Huang Taiji's nephew.

However, Nurhaci's family was large and numerous, and they fought fiercely for power and profit among themselves, showing little regard for the kinship between brothers.

The Nikan brothers had a rather miserable life in previous years.

In recent years, Huang Taiji deliberately cultivated several of Chu Ying's sons in order to leverage the special status of Nikan and his brothers as the eldest grandsons of Nurhaci to counter the increasingly powerful Daishan and Dorgon factions.

As the third son of Chu Ying, Nikan was favored by Huang Taiji at a young age and was granted the title of Dorobele. He was also appointed as the assistant minister of the Bordered Yellow Banner, which is the banner beile. Moreover, as a member of the Aisin Gioro clan, he was put in charge of the Bayala Camp of the Bordered Yellow Banner.

I came here to earn merit, but I never expected that this would happen.

Huang Taiji did not want to punish him, but if he did not give him a punishment, he would not be able to explain it to others. If he did not punish him, how would Huang Taiji punish others if similar things happened in the future?

So, after thinking about it all night, Huang Taiji finally decided to give an explanation.

Nikan first saw Huang Taiji question Darhan, thinking that Huang Taiji was giving him a way out and asking Darhan to share the blame. However, upon suddenly hearing Huang Taiji question him again, he panicked and quickly stepped forward, knelt down, and said:

"It is my fault for failing in command and discipline, and for greatly underestimating the reinforcements sent by Ningyuan. This led to Arsalan's impulsive and reckless advance, resulting in his being ambushed by the Ming army and the deaths of over four hundred elite Gabuxi Xianchaoha in my Bayala camp! Now that Arsalan is dead, I will take full responsibility for his reckless advance! I am willing to accept Your Majesty's punishment!"

Nikan's words, spoken in a moment of desperation, actually contained many hidden meanings, which everyone else understood.

When Nikan sent all of his Gabuxi Xianchaoha to pursue Xu Changyong, those who knew about it said he was too timid and cautious.

At the time, who could have predicted that this Ningyuan Vanguard Battalion would be so bold, use such a fighting style, and be so combat-effective?!

Huang Taiji understood this as well, but since hundreds of elite soldiers of the Bordered Yellow Banner Bayala Camp had died, he had to give an explanation.

"Since you know your guilt, that makes things easier! Darhan and Sony, remember my decree: effective immediately, the title of Dorobele Nikan is demoted to Gushan Beizi! Gushan Beizi Nikan is relieved of his post as Assistant Minister of the Manchu Bordered Yellow Banner!"

"Furthermore, Gushan Beizi Nikan is fined one thousand taels of silver, and all the property of the Guarjia clan's Arsalan family is confiscated to be used as compensation for Gabuxi Xianchaoha, who died in battle under the Bordered Yellow Banner! Gushan Beizi Nikan is hereby ordered to continue leading the Bayara Battalion of the Bordered Yellow Banner to atone for his crimes!"

Hearing Huang Taiji say these words, Nikan felt resentful, but the punishment was not actually that severe.

Gushan Beizi is only one rank lower than Duoluo Beile. Although he can no longer serve as Guanqi Beile, as long as he is still allowed to lead the Bayala Battalion of the Bordered Yellow Banner, he will still have the opportunity to make meritorious contributions and be promoted.

Immediately, Nikan grasped the pros and cons and bowed, saying, "Your subject—Nikan, the Prince of Gushan, receives the imperial decree and expresses his gratitude!"

Darhan, the chief minister of the Manchu Bordered Yellow Banner, Sony, the chief minister of the Plain Yellow Banner who had been standing silently, and Bayintu, the Gushan Ejen of the Bordered Yellow Banner, and Tantai, the Gushan Ejen of the Plain Yellow Banner, upon hearing Huang Taiji's decree and Nikan's words after receiving the decree, immediately said:

"Your subject, this humble servant, obeys the decree!"

—Members of the imperial family within the Eight Banners were generally addressed as "subjects," while non-members were generally addressed as "slaves."

The matter did not end there. After dealing with the matter, Huang Taiji gestured for several close advisors to rise, and then said to Darhan:

"Since Arsalan is dead, I intend to confiscate his property to provide relief to Gabuxi Xianchaoha, who died in battle. This should be enough to atone for his crimes! However, under the Manchu Bordered Yellow Banner, Gabuxi Xianchaoha cannot be eliminated from this life!"

"Darhan, Baiyintu! Go back and convey my decree to select another batch of Bayara from my Manchu Bordered Yellow Banner to make up the original number, and then select another batch of Gabuxi Xianchaoha from the replenished Bayara!"

"Gabhi Xianchaohan is the vanguard of the Manchu Eight Banners. I intend to select the best of the best, even if it means fewer but more qualified candidates! Those under my Bordered Yellow Banner who hold the title of Baturu and who were the first to breach the walls in past campaigns will be given priority!"

Upon hearing this, Darhan, Baiyintu, and others immediately accepted the order.

"There is another matter. Now that Arsalan has passed away, the Bayara Battalion of the Bordered Yellow Banner is lacking a commander, the Jala Zhangjing, who will lead the Gabuxi Xianchaoha. I intend to select one from the Alha Chaoha Battalion under the Plain Yellow Banner and the Bordered Yellow Banner to fill the position! Do you have any candidates? Which one is suitable?"

At this time, Gabuxi Xianchaoha had not yet established its own independent camp. Because of its important status, each banner was almost always led by a Jiala Zhangjing from a Bayala camp.

Even though the number of people in Gabuxi Xianchaoha was not enough to fill a single Jiala, somewhat like the high-ranking but low-ranking positions of later generations, this person was still highly sought after and was usually a fierce general who already held a high position.

After Huang Taiji finished asking his question, Baiyintu, who was attending him, immediately said, "Your Majesty! In my army, Aliha Chaoha has a fierce and unparalleled general who I believe is capable of fulfilling the important task of serving as the Chief of the Gabuxi Xian Guard!"

Baiyintu spoke first, then looked up at Huang Taiji and, seeing Huang Taiji looking at him, immediately said to Huang Taiji:

"This valiant general, as His Majesty surely knows, is from the Manchu Bordered Yellow Banner, and shares the same Guarjia clan as Arsalan. His Majesty even bestowed upon him the title of Baturu!"

"Is the person you're referring to Oboi of the Guarjia clan?"

Upon hearing Baiyintu's words, Huang Taiji had already guessed who it was. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Since he and Arsalan both come from the Guarjia clan, let Aobai receive the imperial decree and take up his post!"

"I hope that this Guarjia clansman will learn from his mistakes and not repeat Arsalan's errors! Tell him to follow Nikan and Turg well from now on! I value him highly!"

Huang Taiji knew Ao Bai, so he approved of him and decided on him without consulting anyone else.

Upon hearing Huang Taiji's words, Baiyintu quickly accepted the decree, and no one else dared to express their opinions.