All Factors Are Unfavorable
Year Seven of the Shunzhi reign, the twelfth day of the second lunar month.
Though it was early spring, the chill still bit fiercely.
Since taking the reins of power, Shunzhi was filled with ambition, vowing to emulate the likes of Emperor Qin Shi Huang and Emperor Wu of Han to secure an enduring place in history.
With a small knife, he carved onto the pillar of the Hall of Supreme Harmony the words: “Civil Governance, Martial Achievement, All Nations Paying Tribute.”
In the court, he continuously appointed loyal Yellow Banner troops and Han officials to key positions, gradually consolidating his influence.
Within the imperial harem, he had already taken four changzai and three daying concubines.
Once tasted, the desire only deepened.
Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang had grown quieter, spending her days tending flowers and birds, only conveying one message through Sonni:
“Do not dredge up Dorgon’s old grievances. You may arrest or exile his trusted aides as needed. Wait two or three years before revisiting his past.”
Calming himself, Shunzhi reluctantly agreed.
Their mother-son relationship softened somewhat.
...
In the Wenhua Hall,
Shunzhi received the latest military reports from the southwest.
“The Prince of Pingnan, Shang Kexi, reports that the army has captured Shaoguan, Nanxiong, and Meiling. The false emperor Zhu Youlang of the Yongli regime has fled to Wuzhou in Guangxi. Factional struggles within the Ming court intensify.”
“The Prince of Dingnan, Kong Youde, reports that Ming Grand Secretariat and commander Du Yinxie has died of illness.”
“The Prince of Pingxi, Wu Sangui, reports a decisive victory over bandits in Shaanxi; the province is pacified.”
“Excellent!”
Brimming with confidence, Shunzhi saw the dawn of unifying the empire.
He declared loudly:
“Hang a large map here marking the battlefield advances. I want to see a complete and unified realm as soon as possible. Issue an edict to the Ministry of Revenue to generously reward frontline soldiers and ensure military supplies are fully stocked.”
“As you command!”
Leaving the Wenhua Hall, Shunzhi’s enthusiasm remained undiminished.
“Aobai.”
“At your service.”
“What kind of brains do Zhu Youlang’s men have? Our army presses at their gates, yet they are still busy fighting each other. Kong Youde says even Li Dingguo and Sun Kewang’s relationship has soured. I simply cannot fathom it—they can’t prioritize the bigger picture? Ha ha ha!”
“Your Majesty is blessed with great fortune.”
“Yes, you are right. It truly is heaven’s aid.”
Seeing Aobai suddenly reminded Shunzhi of someone.
...
“What has Jiang Qingyun been up to lately?”
“Your Majesty, he is verifying the military merits reported from the battle in Shanxi. Some have falsely claimed credit, including a boy servant under a certain Cao Xi.”
“Hm?”
“This man even claimed in his confession that he single-handedly cut down forty Ming soldiers without ever changing his sword.”
Seeing Shunzhi’s stunned expression, Aobai hurriedly explained,
“I am a military man; even the best sword’s edge would dull after slashing five or six men, requiring replacement before continuing the fight. This boast only shows his ignorance of the battlefield.”
“What kind of scoundrel is he tagging along with the army?”
Shunzhi’s face flushed slightly; he did not understand this common knowledge either.
“Cao Xi is a Plain White Banner boy servant who stayed off the battlefield attending to Dorgon during the Shanxi campaign. He never actually fought.”
...
“Aobai, what do you think of Jiang Qingyun?”
“He is loyal and righteous, brimming with heroic spirit—a straightforward man, rare among the Han, more like us Manchus.”
Aobai spoke highly of Jiang Qingyun.
Shunzhi nodded:
“I hereby decree Jiang Qingyun’s promotion to Left Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, a fourth-rank official. He will continue to oversee the Wucheng Military Command.”
With rewards come punishments.
Shunzhi’s face turned stern as he asked:
“What has Hong Chengchou been doing lately? The collective inoculation of the Eight Banners is a major state affair that cannot be delayed. Tell him to hurry; the pilot test in the Plain Blue Banner must be completed within a month, or else his head is at risk.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
...
Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang understood Hong Chengchou’s importance!
The Prince of Sanshun was at best a military talent, whereas Hong Chengchou had served as provincial governor and commander-in-chief, commanding hundreds of thousands in coordinated campaigns. If he turned rebellious, the damage would be immense.
Thus, he was kept in the capital—both employed and monitored.
With smooth progress at the front and a strong Qing advantage, Hong Chengchou was considered expendable.
When the front faced crisis, he became valuable.
This was true in history as well.
Now with success on the front, Shunzhi saw no reason to treat the old man with undue favor.
This was the Qing way!
...
One could say Hong Chengchou was struck by misfortune upon misfortune.
Every factor worked against him.
Under immense pressure, he and his son even moved their bedding to a “smallpox inoculation workshop” dozens of miles outside Deshengmen, working day and night to supervise production.
“Father, the soldiers sent to collect the smallpox scabs are utterly foolish. They even brought back scabs from the newly infected, the recently deceased, and severely ill patients. This is no inoculation; it’s poisoning!”
Hong Chengchou glanced at his agitated son.
“Ming’er, anger harms the liver. Sit down and have some tea with me.”
Hong Shiming looked disheveled, stripped of his former noble bearing.
“Father, I should ask Jiang Qingyun for help again. If he agrees, we could get through this.”
“Father?”
Hong Chengchou shook his head.
“Finish this tea, then come with me for some fresh air.”
...
Outside the camp, the father and son rode leisurely to a small hillock.
Hong Chengchou shaded his eyes and looked southward.
The mountain outline was faintly visible.
“That is Jingshan. Six years ago, the late Emperor Chongzhen was buried there.”
Hong Shiming’s eyes widened; he quickly checked that the guards were at least fifteen yards away.
“Father, be cautious with your words.”
“Ming’er, dismount. I have something to tell you.”
They sat on the ground. Hong Chengchou took a deep breath:
“Ming’er, my days are numbered.”
“Father?”
“Calm yourself, say nothing, and hear me out.”
...
Hong Chengchou spoke calmly:
“At this point, I realize I have been pushed step by step into a deadly trap overseeing inoculation within the inner city. There is no way out.”
“Originally, the court had no plans for large-scale inoculation. But Jiang Qingyun’s success in the southern city and the emperor’s recent ascension with great ambition combined to make this inevitable.”
“When we took over, we found flaws in the formula, personnel, and selection process. These defects combined led to a 40% smallpox infection rate among senior officers of the Plain Blue Banner.”
“Father, are you saying Jiang Qingyun deceived everyone?”
Hong Chengchou waved his hand.
“At this stage, the truth no longer matters. The important thing is that the emperor believes him, and I have been thrown onto the pyre.”
“Then why don’t you resign?”
“Resigning is death too. I have read the memorials: Zhu Youlang is incompetent, the war is in disarray; losing Guangzhou is only a matter of time. Once Guangzhou falls, Wuzhou will soon follow, and the entire Liangguang region will collapse. The Yongli regime’s demise is imminent; I have no more use to the Qing court.”
“Then inoculate! Take the gamble!”
“The result of large-scale inoculation was half the Plain Blue Banner infected with smallpox—I won’t survive.”
...
“Father, let us petition to expose Jiang Qingyun’s deception! Even if we die, we’ll take him down with us.”
“It’s useless. He has the emperor’s favor and cannot be overthrown. To turn things around, we need time—but we have none left.”
The cold wind swept over the hilltop. Father and son sat silently, caught in a long, heavy silence.
Hong Shiming asked unwillingly, “Are we just to sit here and await death?”