Summoning of the Great General of the Great Qin Empire

Chapter 191

The seventh person, Hong Chengchou, a traitor in the late Ming Dynasty, scored 74 in force, 94 in commander, 95 in intelligence, and 92 in politics;

In the 21st year of Wanli (1593), Hong Chengchou was born in Yingdu, Nan'an, Quanzhou, Fujian.He studied in Xiyi library in his childhood.Due to his poor family, he dropped out of school at the age of 11 and helped his mother make dried tofu at home. Every morning, he would go to Yingweipu to sell dried tofu on the streets.

At that time, Hong Qiyin, a gifted scholar from Xixuan Changfang, ran a village school in Shuigou Pavilion. When Hong Chengchou sold dried tofu, he often attended lectures outside the school, and occasionally helped students make pairs.Hong Qiyin found that Hong Chengchou was extremely talented and ambitious, so he accepted Hong Chengchou as a disciple for free and returned to school.

Hong Chengchou studied hard and read a lot.Hong Qiyin's "Historical Records", "Zi Zhi Tong Jian", "Three Kingdoms", "Sun Tzu's Art of War" and other books were all borrowed by him to study carefully.Hong Qiyin once commented in an article by Hong Chengchou that "a family is thousands of miles away, and a country is ten thousand miles away".After Hong Chengchou studied in Shuigou Museum for five years, he went to Quanzhou Chengbei Academy to study.

In the 43rd year of Wanli (1615), 23-year-old Hong Chengchou went to the province to take part in the provincial examination, and was the No. 19 candidate in Chinese style of Yimao Branch.In the 44th year of Wanli (1616), Hong Chengchou went to Beijing for the examination, and Lian Jie was admitted to the imperial examination.

At the beginning, Hong Chengchou was appointed as the head of the Jiangxi Qingli Department of the Ministry of Punishment. He worked in the Ministry of Punishment for six years.In the second year of Apocalypse (1622), he was promoted to be a scholar in Zhejiang.In the seventh year of the apocalypse (1627), Hong Chengchou was promoted to the governor of Shaanxi Province to participate in the council.

In July of the first year of Chongzhen (1628), a peasant uprising broke out in northern Shaanxi.The Ming court ordered Yang He, the governor of the three sides, to "do both suppression and appeasement, and focus on appeasement".

In the second year of Chongzhen (1629), the peasant army Wang Zuogua and Miao Mei led troops to attack Hancheng.Yang He, governor of Shaanxi, had no generals in his hands. In desperation, he ordered Hong Chengchou, who was still participating in politics at the time, to lead his troops into battle.Hong Chengchou beheaded 300 enemy soldiers and broke the siege of Hancheng, and he became famous immediately.

In June of 1630 (the third year of Chongzhen), Hong Chengchou was appointed governor of Yansui.Wang Zuo surrendered and rebelled, and was executed by Hong Chengchou.As a general under Yang He, he should have supported his boss's recruitment policy, but Hong Chengchou instead vigorously suppressed the bandits.And not only suppressed bandits, but also killed surrenders.At that time, tens of thousands of surrendered bandits were killed by him.

In fact, if you have read the history of the "thief army" in the late Ming Dynasty, it is not difficult to find that Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong feigned surrender many times, and then rebelled after recharging their energy for a period of time.The Ming Dynasty suppressed the "thief army" many times without dying because of this false surrender.It can be seen from this that Hong Chengchou is quite prescient in this regard.The Ming court was unable to feed a large number of starving people, and those who had been caressed came back one after another.Soon, he defeated Zhang Xianzhong with Du Wenhuan, the general soldier, in Qingjian County.

In the fourth year of Chongzhen (1631), the trilateral governor Yang He was dismissed from office and imprisoned for this, and Hong Chengchou succeeded the trilateral governor of Shaanxi.Hong Chengchou changed Yang He's policy of "suppressing the frontier and enforcing surrender (to induce surrender)" into the policy of "cleaning up the enemy with all his strength" and "suppressing with all his strength, suppressing first and then appease", and concentrated his forces to attack the Shaanxi peasant army.

In the spring of the fifth year of Chongzhen (1632), a peasant army broke through to Qingyang because it could not withstand the pressure of the official army.Hong Chengchou went to Qingyang in person to command the battle, and together with the commander-in-chief Cao Wenzhao and He Huchen, encircled and suppressed the peasant army.The two sides fought dozens of times in Western Australia, the peasant army suffered heavy losses, the leader Ke Tianfei was beheaded, and the general Bai Guangen surrendered.Cao Wenzhao also suppressed the bandits in Zhuizi Mountain, Yaozhou. The bandits surrendered after killing Lone Wolf and others. Hong Chengchou ordered the massacre of 400 people, and the rest were dismissed.

In the winter of the sixth year of Chongzhen (1633), the Peasant Army moved to western Henan and northern Chu, where the Ming army was weak. With Yunyang as the center, the branches interspersed between Henan, Chu, Sichuan and Shaanxi, and carried out guerrilla mobile operations.In order to change the passive situation, Hong Chengchou surrounded the central area of ​​the uprising with heavy troops and carried out key attacks. Gao Yingxiang's rebel army was defeated in Queshan, Zhuxian Town (now southwest of Kaifeng City, Henan Province) and other places, and was forced to transfer to the western mountainous area.In order to change the passive situation of "differing powers and watching each other", the Ming court switched to the policy of "concentrating troops and encircling and suppressing in an all-round way".

In December of the seventh year of Chongzhen (1634), Ming Sizong Zhu Youjian removed Chen Qiyu, who had failed in the encirclement and suppression. Hong Chengchou was still the governor of the three sides of Shaanxi, but he was awarded the title of Prince Taibao and Minister of the Ministry of War with meritorious service. The governors of Henan, Shanxi, Shaanxi, The military affairs of the five provinces of Huguang and Sichuan became the main military commander of the Ming court to suppress the peasant uprising.When he mobilized the army into Shaanxi and reorganized the siege, there were more than 20 peasant troops gathered in Shaanxi at that time, among which the Chuang Wang Gao Yingxiang and his subordinate Li Zicheng were the most powerful.Hong Chengchou ordered the generals He Renlong and Zuo Guang to attack first, and the rebels broke through the siege and went east, turning to Lingbao and Sishui (both in Henan).

In January of the eighth year of Chongzhen (1635), Hong Chengchou led the main force out of Tongguan and gathered the generals in Xinyang, Henan, to prepare for a large-scale military encirclement and suppression of the rebel army.Seeing that the situation was not good, the peasant army split up and rushed back to Shaanxi. Zhang Xianzhong also looted Fengxiang and joined Gao Yingxiang. Ming Dynasty deputy generals Ai Wannian and Liu Guozhen were killed in the battle.Cao Wenzhao suppressed bandits from Ningzhou, and his general Cao Bianjiao defeated the peasant army in Qiutou Town. He pursued the victory and was ambushed. Hong Chengchou failed to rescue him, and Cao Wenzhao committed suicide.Hong Chengchou's jurisdiction was too broad to take care of all, so he appointed Lu Xiangsheng as prime minister of military affairs in Jiangbei, Henan, Shanxi, and Sichuan and Hu to manage the Ming army outside the pass, while Hong Chengchou was in charge of the military inside the pass.

At this time, the Qing army entered the border and broke through 16 cities in Changping. Zhu Youjian urgently dispatched Lu Xiangsheng to lead the army to help, and the pressure on the Central Plains eased.Taking advantage of the opportunity, Zhang Xianzhong recovered, and together with more than 20 people from Luo Rucai and other ministries, they marched eastward along the river and dispersed their activities in Qizhou and Huoshan.

In the tenth year of Chongzhen (1637), Zhu Youjian appointed Xiong Wencan as the governor of the five provinces, and sent 1200 additional imperial troops to organize a new encirclement and suppression campaign.Li Zicheng marched into Sichuan and once captured more than ten cities. He also captured Ningzhou and Qiangzhou in Gansu and entered Qipanguan. However, when he returned to Shaanxi in the 11th year of Chongzhen (1638), he was attacked by Hong Chengchou and Sun Chuanting's troops in the Taohe area. Defeat Minzhou.At the same time, Zhang Xianzhong was also defeated by Zuo Liangyu's army in Nanyang and retreated to Gucheng injured.Xiong Wencan then changed the siege to appeasement.Liu Guoneng, Zhang Tianlin, Zhang Xianzhong and Luo Rucai came to Ming Dynasty or cared for him one after another.Li Zicheng led the remaining troops to operate in the mountainous areas on the Sichuan-Shaanxi border.

In October of the 12th year of Chongzhen (1639), Li Zicheng, the last "thief army" in Shaanxi, was intercepted by Hong Chengchou's commander-in-chief Ma Ke and Zuo Guangxian while fleeing.Li Zicheng returned to his army and turned east, and Hong Chengchou ordered Cao Bian to set up an ambush at Jiaotongguan. Li Zicheng was defeated, and only 18 riders walked into Shangluo Mountain in southern Shaanxi, and the peasant uprising fell into a low ebb.

In September of the 11th year of Chongzhen (1638), the Qing army moved south in two directions and the capital was under martial law.The Ming Dynasty, which was surrounded by enemies on both sides, had to transfer its coach Hong Chengchou from the western front to lead the army with Sun Chuanting into the defense.In the autumn of that year, Huang Taiji led his troops to capture Yizhou and used it as a base to launch a siege of Jinzhou.Emperor Chongzhen also tried his best to strengthen the defense of Shanhaiguan and Jinzhou.

At the beginning of the 12th year of Chongzhen (1639), Hong Chengchou was transferred to the governor of Jiliao, and led the Shaanxi soldiers to the east, and joined forces with Make in Shanhaiguan and Wu Sangui in Ningyuan.Jinzhou has three cities, Songshan, Xingshan and Tashan, which form the corners of each other.

In the winter of the 13th year of Chongzhen (1640), the Qing army attacked Jinzhou and Ningyuan. Hong Chengchou sent troops to help, but was defeated in Tashan and Xingshan.

In the spring of the 14th year of Chongzhen (1641), in order to save the dangerous situation in Liaodong, the Ming court sent Hong Chengchou to lead Xuanfu General Yang Guozhu, Datong General Wang Pu, Miyun General Tang Tong, Jizhou General Bai Guangen, Yutian General Cao Bianjiao, Shanhaiguan The so-called Eight Commanders, including Ma Ke, the former commander-in-chief of the Tunwei, Wang Tingchen, and Wu Sangui, the commander-in-chief of Ningyuan, led 13 elite soldiers and [-] horses to aid them, and assembled Ningyuan to fight against the Qing soldiers.

In March, Huang Taiji sent out troops to adopt the policy of besieging Jinzhou for a long time, which was bound to be defeated.Hong Chengchou advocated approaching Jinzhou slowly, setting up camp step by step, fighting and defending, and not fighting lightly.However, Chen Xingjia, Minister of the Ministry of War, promoted the war and adopted the policy of quick war and quick decision when Emperor Chongzhen also wanted to be cautious.In August, Huang Taiji learned that the Ming reinforcements had arrived, so he personally led a large army from Shengjing to come to the rescue. They stationed themselves between Songshan and Xingshan and deployed to the south of the Ming army. The Jilharang army attacked the outer city of Jinzhou and cut off the army. The connection between Song and Xingjian of the Ming army cut off the Ming army's food route and cut off Hong Chengchou's return route.

Hong Chengchou advocated a decisive battle, while the general officers of the various ministries advocated withdrawing to the south, and finally gathered to break through the mountain.In the end, tens of thousands of people collapsed.In January of the 15th year of Chongzhen (1642), Hong Chengchou heard that the imperial reinforcements had arrived, and sent 6000 troops out of the city to attack at night, but was defeated by the Qing army.Songshan has been besieged for half a year, and the food in the city is exhausted. Songshan's deputy general Xia Chengde begged the Qing army, willing to take his son Xia Shu as a hostage and make an agreement to surrender.

In March, the Qing army was invited to attack at night, the city of Songshan was broken, Hong Chengchou and governor Qiu Minyang were captured, and generals such as Cao Bianjiao, the general soldier, were killed.After Hong Chengchou was captured, Jinzhou defender Zu Dashou walked out of the inner city and led his troops to surrender.Tashan and Xingshan also fell into the hands of the Qing army one after another, and the Jinning defense line of the Ming army actually ceased to exist.

Hong Chengchou went on a hunger strike for several days and refused to surrender.Huang Taiji sent all the people he could use to persuade him to surrender, but they were all scolded and turned back.Huang Taiji still refused to give up and ordered Fan Wencheng, the most favored official minister, to persuade him to surrender to see if he was determined to die rather than surrender.When Fan Wencheng arrived, Hong Chengchou roared loudly, but Fan Wencheng was patient and did not mention the matter of surrender. He talked with him about the past and the present, and at the same time quietly observed his words.

During the conversation, a piece of dust fell from the beam and landed on Hong Chengchou's clothes.While Hong Chengchou spoke, he "wiped it repeatedly".Fan Wencheng said goodbye calmly, and returned to Taizong: "Chengchou is not dead. Chengchou still cherishes this robe, let alone his body?" Huang Taiji accepted the professional advice of Fan Wencheng, Zhang Cunren, etc., and Hong Chengchou Take extra care, be kind and courteous.The next day (May [-]th), Huang Taiji visited the Taimiao in person, and Hong Chengchou stood instead of kneeling.Huang Taiji asked about the cold and warmth, and seeing that Hong Chengchou's clothes were thin, he immediately took off his sable fur and put it on Hong Chengchou's body.

After Hong Chengchou surrendered to the Qing Dynasty, Emperor Taizong of the Qing Dynasty ordered him to be subordinate to the Han Army of Xianghuang Banner. On the surface, he was kind to him, but in fact he did not relax his guard against him, so that he was not allowed to come and go at will at home.In the last emperor Taiji Dynasty, he did not hold any official position except for consulting.

On the ninth day of April in the first year of Shunzhi (1644), Hong Chengchou led an army of 10 from Prince Rui Dorgon to attack the Ming Dynasty. Hong Chengchou's scheme "surprisingly, he marched quickly from Jizhou and Miyun near Beijing" and headed straight for Beijing.

After the Qing army entered Beijing, Emperor Shunzhi attached great importance to Hong Chengchou. He appointed Hong Chengchou with his original titles as Prince Taibao, Minister of the Ministry of War, and Yudu Yushi of the Metropolitan Procuratorate. The prime minister of the Han people.

In May of the second year of Shunzhi (1645), Duoduo led his troops to capture Nanjing. Dorgon issued a "head-shaving order" to arouse the resistance of the people in Jiangnan.In the midst of the crisis, Dorgon hurriedly sent Hong Chengchou to replace Duduo in the sixth month of the month, and ordered him to act expediently.

In the fourth year of Shunzhi (1647), Hong Chengchou returned to his hometown to guard the system due to the death of his father.In April of the fifth year of Shunzhi (1648), he was summoned to return to Beijing and once again entered the inner courtyard to assist in engine maintenance.Dorgon, the regent, showed great sympathy and favor to him. He summoned him for several days to inquire about the reform and development of various provinces. All suggestions were adopted.

In the second month of leap in the eighth year of Shunzhi (1651), Hong Chengchou was also in charge of the Zuodu censor affairs of the Metropolitan Procuratorate. He identified the censors as six grades. Approve court officials.Yu Shi Zhang Xuan and others impeached Hong Chengchou and Shangshu Chen Zhilin repeatedly discussed the Huoshen Temple's conspiracy to rebel, and sent his mother back to Fujian privately without requesting an order.

Hong Chengchou defended: The purpose of the meeting at the Fire Temple was to identify the poor censors, and there was no other reason for this. He did not ask for the order first, so he willingly admitted his guilt.The edict: "When discussing matters in the temple, there is no need to speculate; for the sake of relatives, it is excusable. I will remain in office to see the consequences." In May of the ninth year of Shunzhi (1652), Hong Chengchou's mother died and he lived in private according to the order. Stay convinced and enter as usual.

In the tenth year of Shunzhi (1653), hundreds of thousands of peasant rebels led by Sun Kewang and Li Dingguo joined the Ming clan Zhu Youlang, King Gui of the Ming Dynasty in Yun and Gui.In May, Hong Chengchou, who had served as a bachelor of Hongwen Academy in the Imperial Academy, Minister of the Ministry of War and right deputy capital censor of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, assistant engineer, and chief executive officer of "Records of Emperor Taizong of the Qing Dynasty", was appointed as "Caibao and Taishi Taishi, Traveling through the five provinces of Huguang, Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan, and Guizhou, the governor of military affairs also manages food and pay", "the two departments of officials and soldiers must not be restrained, and the Ministry of households must not be delayed", and it was reported afterwards.

At this time, Hong Chengchou was 61 years old. Before leaving, Emperor Shunzhi hosted a farewell banquet and gave him a BMW and a sword.In May of the 12th year of Shunzhi (1655), Sun Kewang attacked Yuezhou (now Yueyang, Hunan), but was defeated by Hong Chengchou's ambush and retreated to Guizhou.When Hong Chengchou visited Hunan in the 14th year of Shunzhi (1657), he stationed himself in the Ming Dynasty Jifan Four Generals' Mansion (today's Youth Palace) in Youyi Village, Huangxing North Road, Changsha, and built a gathering hall.To the east of the department is the Zhenwu Palace, which was built by Mingji Fan.In the early Qing Dynasty, Zhenwu Palace became a prison for those who opposed the Qing Dynasty and restored the Ming Dynasty. The famous scholar Tao Runai was imprisoned here.

Later, because of the "Dongting incident" case, more than 300 famous scholars from Huxiang were interrogated in Zhenwu Palace.The case was not released until Hong Chengchou arrived in Changsha.In the 14th year of Shunzhi (1657), conflicts occurred within the Yongli regime of King Gui. Sun Kewang failed in the civil war with Li Dingguo and asked to surrender.On the one hand, Emperor Shunzhi ordered Hong Chengchou to lead his troops to advance, on the other hand, he ordered Wu Sangui, the general of Pingxi, to march from Sichuan, and Zhuobutai, the general of the southern conquest, to march into Guizhou from Guangxi.In February of the 15th year of Shunzhi (1658), Shizu ordered Doni, the king of Xinjun, to be the general of Anyuan Jingkou, and lead the army to march south.In September, Qing soldiers from all walks of life joined forces and entered Yunnan.

In the first month of the 16th year of Shunzhi (1659), the Qing army captured Kunming and Yunnan was pacified.Hong Chengchou Shangshu said that Yunnan was a dangerous place with many ethnic minorities, making it difficult to govern. Therefore, troops should be stationed in the town, so Shunzhi appointed Wu Sangui as King of Pingxi to stay in Kunming.He also saw the suffering of the poor people in the Yunnan-Guizhou region, so he asked for internal funds to be used to help the poor. He suggested that he postpone the march on the remaining troops of King Gui who fled to Burma, so that the social order in the Yunnan-Guizhou region would gradually stabilize and production began to recover after the war.In August, Hong Chengchou requested to return to Beijing due to old age, physical weakness, and worsening eye diseases. In the first month of the following year, he was relieved of his post and returned to Beijing for medical treatment.

In the first month of the 18th year of Shunzhi (1661), Emperor Shunzhi died, and his son Xuanye (Kangxi) succeeded him.At this time, Hong Chengchou was 69 years old and still a bachelor, but he felt lonely, so he begged to retire in May.After several disputes by the imperial court, Kangxi granted the third-class Adahaha Fanmu (Qingche Duwei) hereditary fourth generation.

On February 1665th in the fourth year of Kangxi (73), Hong Chengchou died in his private residence in Dumen at the age of [-].

(End of this chapter)