Southern Ming Rebel Army

Chapter 410 Peace Conditions

The envoy sent by Meng Jun was Xiong Ruolin, a former minister of Prince of Lu, and the deputy envoy was Shen Congwen, a close confidant of Meng Jun. The Zhou army delegation consisted of more than a hundred people. After arriving in Beijing, although the Eight Banners soldiers were deeply disgusted, nothing happened because of Empress Xiaozhuang's repeated orders.

The Qing court sent Fan Wencheng, an old minister of the court.

Fan Wencheng was born in the 25th year of the Wanli reign of the Qing Dynasty. He was a descendant of Fan Zhongyan, a famous minister of the Song Dynasty. Fan Wencheng was studious and intelligent when he was young. At the age of 18, he and his brother Fan Wencai were both students in Shenyang County.

In the 46th year of the Wanli reign, the Eight Banners Army of the Later Jin captured Fushun and looted it wantonly. They gave away the 300,000 people and livestock they captured as rewards to meritorious officers and soldiers, and organized the surrendered civilians into 1,000 households.

Fan Wencheng was among the captured and surrendered people, and was later incorporated into the Manchu Eight Banners under the Red Banner as a slave. After being captured, Fan Wencheng endured discrimination and humiliation every day, and he spent nearly nine long years in depression.

Fan Wencheng really couldn't stand the life of a slave, so he surrendered to Nurhaci. However, after his surrender, Fan Wencheng made great contributions to the Qing court.

Especially when entering the Pass, Fan Wencheng wrote the manifesto by hand, which confused most of the gentry in the north at that time and reduced a lot of resistance for the Qing court to pacify the north.

"The righteous army comes to avenge your king and father, not to kill the common people. Now those who are to be punished are the rebels. Officials who come back will be restored to their posts, civilians who come back will be restored to their jobs. The army has always been strict in discipline and will not harm each other." This proclamation was quite effective. After the Qing army entered the pass, most of the northern regions surrendered at the first sight of the surrender.

To this day, Fan Wencheng, in accordance with the imperial edict, sits and talks with the Zhou army envoys Xiong Ruolin and Shen Congwen.

Fan Wencheng said with a smile: "The envoy has come from afar, I wonder what important matter your Excellency has?"

Xiong Rulin said sternly: "You and I have fought on the battlefield, and countless soldiers have been buried in a foreign land. My king's benevolence and righteousness can move the heavens. Now my king has sent me here for only one thing."

Fan Wencheng immediately said: "Messenger, please speak freely!"

Xiong Ruolin said: "My king has said that as long as the Qing court withdraws from the interior, the two countries will be friendly and will not fight again!"

Fan Wencheng laughed: "Although the Qing Dynasty was defeated, we still have the land in the north. Isn't what King Zhou said too arrogant?"

Shen Congwen continued, "The land in the north? Where does the Qing Dynasty get the land in the north now? Shanxi is controlled by my king's subordinate Jiang Xiang, and Shaanxi and Nanyang are controlled by Wu Sangui. Under the rule of the Qing Dynasty, only Henan and Hebei remain. Most of the north is no longer in the hands of the Qing Dynasty."

"The envoy is wrong. The King of Pingxi is still conferred by our dynasty..."

Before he could finish his words, Shen Congwen interrupted him: "What's the point of saying these things that you and I both know?"

At this time, Xiong Rulin said, "My king has said that our army is ready to go and will march north soon. Jiang Xiang of Shanxi will also respond soon. My king will send troops to Liaodong to attack from all sides. Can your country still rest easy?"

Upon hearing this, Fan Wencheng's face changed slightly, and he slowly replied: "Mr. Xiong, Mr. Shen, I understand your intention. However, our dynasty has not established itself in the Central Plains in a day. The Hebei Plain is a place where cavalry can run freely. If you start a war lightly, you may not be able to gain the upper hand. Besides, the current strategy is to seek peace and not to use weapons lightly."

Shen Congwen said firmly: "My king has issued a strict order. If the Qing court does not withdraw from the interior, we will definitely mobilize the army. When the time comes, the army will march north and swallow up thousands of miles like a tiger. I am afraid that in the future, you will not be able to find a place to rest!"

Since he couldn't win on the battlefield, Fan Wencheng couldn't change the situation at the negotiating table even if he was eloquent.

Fan Wencheng pondered for a moment, and then said: "I will report what you two said to the court to seek a proper policy, but war or peace is a major national issue, which cannot be decided by an official alone. We should put the overall situation first and not let the war continue and the people suffer."

After a pause, Fan Wencheng continued, "Since the Zhou army intends to march north, our dynasty is not without preparation. Can you two take a rest first and wait for me to make a decision after I ask for the emperor's judgment?"

Xiong Ruolin and Shen Congwen hummed, then turned and left. Fan Wencheng looked at their backs, leaned back in his chair tiredly, and sighed deeply.

Shen Congwen and Xiong Rulin smiled at each other. Xiong Rulin even had tears in his eyes and sighed: "It has been more than 50 years since the Liao incident. Today I feel like I have let out some air!"

Shen Congwen also said with some emotion: "Yes, the current situation is clear at a glance. The king will unify the country, shock the world, and achieve the supreme feat."

Xiong Ruolin smiled bitterly when he heard this. By now, he had long given up his illusions. The Emperor Longwu, who had once fought with Prince Lu, was no longer around. Prince Lu was even living in seclusion in Fujian with his ambitions no longer there. Xiong Ruolin had been under Meng Jun's command for so many years that he had already been thoroughly marked with the mark of Meng. The Ming Dynasty had finally become a thing of the past.

………………

In Beijing.

Hauge jumped up and down, contacted ministers everywhere, and intended to remove Dorgon from the position of regent. Hauge even blamed Dorgon for the loss of Jiangnan, Jiangxi, Huguang, and even Shandong, Shaanxi, and Shanxi.

Haoge even said openly in the court meeting: "Prince Rui ordered shaving hair, then stopped it, then issued another order, and now stopped shaving hair again. It can be said that he changes his orders every day. Shaving hair has caused rebellions in all directions. If it weren't for the shaving order, how could the Meng thieves take advantage of the situation and rise up! I really don't understand why Prince Rui has to make things difficult for the Han people's hair!"

He Luohui immediately retorted, "The traitor Meng rebelled because he had ulterior motives. If it weren't for the regent's efforts to enter the pass, why would we be discussing matters in the Forbidden City now?"

Haoge said disdainfully: "What about now? How many Eight Banners brothers died in the battlefield, but what did they get in return? Meng Jun has already reached Shandong, there is Jiang Xiang in Shanxi, Wu Sangui has also rebelled and seized Shaanxi. If this continues, we will not have many opportunities to hold court meetings in the Forbidden City!"

Then Hauge shouted in a stern voice: "How can Dorgon be worthy of the responsibility of regent after what he did? As the eldest son of Emperor Taizong, how can I sit back and watch? How can I be worthy of the foundation laid by my father and grandfather?"

Haoge's words were powerful and many ministers nodded in agreement after hearing them. It was obvious that they were moved by him. Seeing this, Haoge was secretly delighted and struck while the iron was hot. He said, "I want to ask the Queen Mother to remove Dorgon from the position of regent to enforce discipline and turn the tide. I hope you will help me and support the country."

The more Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang listened, the more frightened she became. She unconsciously squeezed Fulin's arm until Fulin whispered, "Mother, it hurts." Only then did Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang come to her senses and let go of Fulin's hand.

While Haoge was talking, Fan Wencheng presented the words of the Zhou army envoy. The information in it immediately caused an uproar in the court. The voices were so loud that they seemed to make people deaf. A group of nobles of the Eight Banners said in a hurry: "The ancestral land outside the Great Wall must not be lost!"

For a moment, the sound shook the palace. The emperor was so frightened that he burst into tears and even drowned his clothes in the empress's clothes. Even Empress Xiaozhuang bowed her head and cried, her clothes wet with tears.