Sky Curtain: The Overlord Charges into Battle, Shocking Emperors of All Dynasties

While serving as Li Chengliang's servant, Nurhaci gained considerable knowledge about the Ming Dynasty's military system, the terrain of Liaodong, and the Ming court, or rather, Li Chengliang's attitude towards the Jurchens.

[It may be due to Li Chengliang's guilt over accidentally killing Nurhaci's father and grandfather, but more likely it's because he wanted to establish a power base under his control in Liaodong.]

[Li Chengliang tacitly approved Nurhaci's integration of the Jianzhou Jurchens and other Jurchen tribes. After unifying the Jianzhou Jurchens and inheriting his father's position as Commander of the Jianzhou Left Guard, in the 23rd year of the Wanli reign, the Ming court, citing Nurhaci's repeated defense of the borders and his killing of Jurchen raiders, officially conferred upon him the title of Great Ming Dragon and Tiger General, the highest official position a Jurchen leader could obtain.]

As for Li Chengliang, Nurhaci never truly escaped his control, or rather, he intended to leave Nurhaci to his son Li Rusong, so that Nurhaci could become Li Rusong's first military achievement after succeeding him.

However, the final outcome was beyond his expectations. He was also transferred away from Liaodong by the court, his son Li Rusong died in battle in Korea, and the subsequent Liaodong commander-in-chief was far less capable than Li Chengliang. Nurhaci had thoroughly developed his power over the next ten years.

When Li Chengliang was reappointed as the commander-in-chief of Liaodong, he was already 76 years old and powerless to suppress his former servant Nurhaci.

The year after Li Chengliang's death, Nurhaci declared himself Khan and established the Later Jin dynasty. In 1618, he formally launched a rebellion against the Ming dynasty, citing the "Seven Grievances."

"Emperor Gaozu of Qing, what a great Emperor Gaozu of Qing!!!"

"They nurtured a bandit to enhance their own power, but they messed it up!"

"A sinner for all time!!!"

The imperial court during the Wanli era was in complete chaos, with ministers gritting their teeth and chanting the name "Li Chengliang."

The reason why the Manchus were able to seize power lay in this moment.

"Zhang Taiyue!!!"

"This is the Liaodong General you risked your life to protect!!"

"They raised a band of thieves to enhance their own power, but what did they end up with?!"

Some court officials who were already dissatisfied with Zhang Juzheng seized this opportunity to launch a barrage of attacks on him, hoping to use this chance to bring him down.

Zhang Juzheng ignored them, glancing at them coldly from the side.

Under Zhang Juzheng's indifferent and cold gaze, these court officials fell silent, their voices gradually fading, and they returned to their ranks.

He was cursing inwardly.

Just you wait, Zhang Juzheng, you won't have a good end!!!

Zhang Juzheng paid no attention to the opinions of these insects. Previously, when Tianmu mentioned that the Jurchens would unify the world,

He then ordered Li Chengliang to eliminate the Jurchens, and, just in case,

Zhang Juzheng transferred Qi Jiguang's Qi Family Army to Jizhou to prevent any unforeseen events.

If Li Chengliang were smart, he probably would already have Nurhaci's entire family's heads on their way to the capital!

At this moment, they saw the Qing Dynasty emperor recounting their rise to power on the sky.

They already understood in their hearts that their ancestor's life was in danger.

Ugh!

All we, as your descendants, can do is burn more paper money for you!

After raising his army, Nurhaci quickly captured Fushun, and it was at this time that Fan Wencheng surrendered to Nurhaci. Subsequently, the Ming Dynasty mobilized 110,000 troops and divided them into four routes to encircle and suppress the Later Jin. Nurhaci used the tactic of "no matter how many routes you come from, I will only go in one direction" to defeat the Ming army, annihilating about 50,000 of the main Ming army and killing more than 300 civil and military generals. This battle is known as the Battle of Sarhu.

[After this battle, the Ming Dynasty's elite border troops were wiped out in one fell swoop, completely losing the initiative in the war. The Ming Dynasty turned to strategic defense against the Later Jin, and the situation in Liaodong deteriorated day by day.]

After the defeat at Sarhu, Wanli Emperor appointed Xiong Tingbi, granted him the imperial sword, distributed funds from the imperial treasury, investigated cases of unpaid salaries, and transferred troops from the nine border regions to fill positions in Liaodong, gradually stabilizing the situation there.

Unfortunately, Wanli died at the worst possible time. He passed away a year later, and his successor, Emperor Guangzong Zhu Changluo, although he supported Xiong Tingbi in rebuilding Liaodong, also died a month later.

[Xiong Tingbi completely lost his support in the court and was impeached and attacked by civil officials. The military and political power in Liaodong was seized by Wang Huazhen, a civil official who knew nothing about military affairs. After the Battle of Guangning, he was imprisoned and executed.]

"Isn't this tactic of the Ming Dynasty essentially setting up an ambush? If they can hold out, Nurhaci will be completely surrounded!"

"That Ming Dynasty general was a complete idiot; he was definitely defeated piecemeal by Nurhaci, and his four armies couldn't possibly encircle him!"

Many generals thought that if they had been in charge, they would never have ended up in such a predicament.

The ancients before the celestial canopy watched as two Ming Dynasty emperors died one after another, yet their measures were both able to stabilize Liaodong.

Were the Qing Dynasty really that lucky?!

After Nurhaci occupied Shenyang, the Later Jin dynasty firmly established itself in Liaodong. After Nurhaci's death, his son Huang Taiji succeeded him and implemented a series of reforms, transforming the Later Jin from a tribal military alliance into a central dynasty.

This Qing Taizong Emperor consolidated the power of the Later Jin, unified southern Mongolia, established the Eight Banners (both Mongol and Han), expanded military strength, and proclaimed himself emperor, changing the country's name to the Great Qing.

It can be said that Huang Taiji was a key figure in the Qing Dynasty. During his reign, his policies were relatively moderate. He did not discriminate based on ethnicity or origin, but only on ability. He promoted Sinicization, stopped large-scale killings, and treated Han Chinese officials who had surrendered with kindness.

In this respect, Huang Taiji was comparable to Kublai Khan, and unlike his brother and son, he was not as ruthless.

Meanwhile, the Ming Dynasty was in dire straits, plagued by peasant uprisings, land annexation, and constant natural disasters, including droughts, locust plagues, epidemics, earthquakes, and floods. Countless people had no way to survive and had no choice but to rise up in rebellion.

In 1644, Li Zicheng's Shun dynasty captured Beijing, and Emperor Chongzhen, Zhu Youjian, hanged himself on Coal Hill, marking the end of the Ming dynasty. This can be seen as preserving a last shred of dignity for the Ming dynasty.

The scene on the screen changed; now, Beijing was shrouded in thick smoke, a scene of devastation.

The capital of the Ming Dynasty had already been captured by Li Zicheng's Shun army, and they had begun to divide the spoils of victory.

On Coal Hill, Emperor Chongzhen, Zhu Youjian, wearing his crown and dragon robe, stood before the crooked tree.

The guards and eunuchs who had been by his side were nowhere to be seen; only Wang Chengen remained by his side, kneeling and weeping uncontrollably.

Zhu Youjian's eyes revealed endless sorrow.

The Ming Dynasty ultimately perished in my hands.

I am not a ruler who would bring about the downfall of a nation; all my ministers are ministers who would bring about the downfall of a nation!

At this point, they were probably all thinking about kneeling down and flattering the new emperor in order to preserve their power.

Zhu Youjian took one last, lingering look at the Ming Dynasty, then removed his crown and handed it to Wang Chengen.

The strong wind blew all his hair up.

Zhu Youjian stood tall and straight, never betraying the integrity of his ancestors even when the country was on the verge of collapse.

At this moment, the crowd in front of the canopy clenched their fists, and the Ming emperor stared intently at this scene, witnessing the fall of the Ming Dynasty.

"Respectfully seeing off the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty on his journey!"

"Respectfully sending off the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty on his journey!!"

Wang Chengen knelt down and prostrated himself before shouting.

The scene shifts, and when the Da Shun soldiers finally arrived, two corpses were hanging from a crooked tree, one at a higher height and the other at a lower.

The words spoken by Emperor Chongzhen before his death echoed slowly in the sky as the bodies of Zhu Youjian and Wang Chengen swayed.

"In the seventeen years since I ascended the throne, the enemy has invaded the country four times, allowing the rebels to directly threaten the capital. I am of meager virtue and lowly conduct, and have offended Heaven. However, all of this is due to the mistakes of my ministers!"

"When I die, I will have no face to meet my ancestors in the underworld. Remove my crown, cover my face with my hair, and let the traitors tear my body apart!"

"Do not harm a single civilian!"