The matter of sending Hongguang south is still being planned, but it has basically been decided. However, because of the vastness of Huguang, there are now some voices in the Qing court that oppose the peace negotiation, thinking that Can Ming is not as powerful as imagined, and only needs to add more
Fire and Canming will be unable to hold on and completely collapse.
Negotiating peace at this time would be a mistake, even greater than the mistake of stopping the army after taking Jiangning and Hangzhou in the summer.
The great scholar Gang Lin also said that one should work hard to bring down the remaining light.
"Your Highness, urgent report."
Prince Regent Dorgon invited his sister-in-law to go on an outing yesterday, but they ended up having a bad time and was very angry.
"What happened again?"
"Is it good news from Huguang or Jiangnan?"
"It was Zheng Jiwu, the admiral of Zhejiang. After he regained the north of Qiantang River, he took advantage of a severe drought and the water in Qiantang dried up. He led his troops directly across the river and captured Shaoxing."
Dorgon was stunned for a moment.
He sighed and said, "Since the Marquis of Haining joined us in the Qing Dynasty, he has saved Haining's recovery, defended Jiaxing, pacified Hangzhou, and captured Shaoxing. It can be said that he has made great achievements." Dorgon thought about Zheng Jiwu's contribution, and he felt a little bit proud.
I can't believe that this achievement is no worse than that of King Sanshun and others. After all, King Sanshun and Wu Sangui have basically never led an army alone since they surrendered to the Qing Dynasty.
Especially with the current situation in Jiangnan, it is even more rare. Governor Zhang Cunren of Zhejiang abandoned the city and fled, Admiral Tian Xiong committed suicide in fear of crime, Admiral Wu Shengzhao of Su Song seized the county and returned, General Li Chengdong led his troops to rebel, and Liu Liangzuo first
Surrender after escaping...
Those people were originally much better than Zheng Jiwu in terms of position and reputation, but they were so miserable.
On the contrary, Zheng Jiwu's performance was much better.
"Reward for merit!"
The national crisis calls for good generals. Although the Qing Dynasty has now sent troops to enter the Pass, Dorgon, the regent, has felt mentally and physically exhausted in recent months. From sweeping the Central Plains when he first entered the Pass to now struggling, he even has a sense of what Chongzhen was like back then.
The difficulty.
At this time, slaves like Zheng Jiwu should be put to more important use.
"The Jin Dynasty made Zheng Jiwu, the Marquis of Haining, a third-class Duke. He was given the title of Chaoyong and entered the Han army under the Zhengbai Banner."
Since the founding of the Qing Dynasty, it has actively recruited surrenders and rebels, and was very generous to the generals of the Ming army who came to surrender, such as King Sanshun and Wu Sangui, both of whom were princes of the county.
Another example is that after the death of Shen Shikui, the former commander-in-chief of Dongjiang Town, his nephew rebelled and surrendered to the Qing Dynasty, and he was granted the title of Duke Shun.
Even many generals who surrendered to the Ming Dynasty retained their titles and titles. For example, the two counts Liu Liangzuo and Liu Zeqing still retained their titles.
After Zuo Liangyu's son surrendered to the Qing Dynasty, he was also given the title of first-class viscount.
However, after entering the customs, the Qing government became more cautious about granting titles, especially to those who surrendered to the Han army. If they did not have heavy troops and a lot of territory, they would not be able to get titles.
Just like Ma Degong, when Tian Xiong captured Hong Guang and surrendered, he was only awarded a baron. Historically, it was only after he fought for the Qing court for many years that he was promoted to a marquis.
Originally, a marquis like Zheng Jiwu who was conferred by Lu Jianguo, who was recruited by Yan Wogong, was just a general occupying a county. It was said that he retained the title of Marquis of Haining, but this kind of title was different from the formal title of the Qing Dynasty.
In fact, they cannot be compared.
But who would have thought that when Duke Yan recruited and surrendered a bunch of Hou Bozi's male generals and lieutenants under Lu Jianguo, there would actually be such an outstanding person.
Dorgon felt that the current corrupt situation in the south was related to the unwillingness of the green camp generals to use their intentions. In addition to the fact that these people were not useful, there were also reasons such as insufficient food and pay, and not generous rewards.
"The third-class super brave Duke Zheng Jiwu is given a ruby crown, a four-clawed python square patchwork, and an imperial gift of additional flower feathers, sable, and sapphire blue forged robes.
The reward is two thousand taels of silver."
Today's titles in the Qing Dynasty are divided into clans and ministers, each with its own system.
The title of the ministers is Gonghou Bozinan, and then there are three levels each. There are also special princes, such as King Sanshun and King Pingxi, these four princes are all princes.
Each of the five nobles is divided into three ranks. For example, the Duke was changed from the former Chief Military Officer of Wu Beiyu, the first rank of Chief Soldier was changed to Ang Bangzhangjing, and then the first rank was changed to public rank.
After entering the customs, the name of Ang Bangzhangjing was changed to Jingqinihafan, and Melezhangjing was changed to Ashanihafan. In fact, he was a sub-baron.
However, the official title is the third-level worldly title of Gonghoubo and the fifth-level world titles of Jingqinihafan, Ashanihafan, Adahahafan, Baitalabulha and Tashalehafan.
Among these five levels of rank, the first two actually mean viscount or baron, while the last three correspond to the Han names of Qingche Duwei, Qiduwei and Yunqiwei respectively.
The old name of the last one, Shalehaban, was also called Half a Future.
It is said that it is divided into Spyker and World Class, but in fact, his Spyker and World Class are a system, with half a future as the minimum, and after two and a half futures, he will be promoted to a higher level.
For example, if the Yunqi Lieutenant gathers up one more, he will be a Cavalry Commander. If he moves up one level, he will be a third-class Cavalry Commander and a Cloud Cavalry Lieutenant. Then if he gathers another half-prospective Yunqi Lieutenant, he will be directly promoted to the second-class Cavalry Commander, and so on.
Ascending, he is promoted to the first-class marquis who also serves as a Yunqiwei, and then goes up to the third-class Duke who does not also serve as a Yunqiwei. There are twenty-seven levels in total.
Wang Jue is a special exception.
Even recruiting and surrendering Ming generals and retaining Dukes, Marquises, Counts, and other titles are actually outside of his system. For example, Dukes are usually called Buyan Waiting for the Duke.
Another characteristic of the titles of heroes of the Qing Dynasty is that they are basically not hereditary and replaceable. Instead, they are mostly demoted to the title, and there are even stipulated times for the number of titles.
For example, a first-class duke is generally required to have twenty-six raids, but in fact, depending on the merit, the number of titles awarded is not certain.
The same titles and worldly positions were awarded, and the Han people were ranked according to the order of Manchuria, the Eight Banners of Mongolia, and the Han Army Flags, with decreasing status.
Moreover, the Manchus attached great importance to military merit and stipulated that Han civil servants were not allowed to be granted the title of third-level Duke, Houbo or Bo.
For example, Fan Wencheng, a great traitor, was only granted the title of second-class fine Qinihafan after entering the customs, that is, second-class viscount.
Another big traitor, Hong Chengchou, a great scholar who now manages six provinces in Huguang, did not even have a promising career. Historically, it was not until the 18th year of Shunzhi that Shunzhi died, and Zi Xuanye was already sixty-nine years old.
Hong Chengchou, a great scholar at the age of 18, begged for retirement and retired from official service. After several discussions in the court, the king and ministers meeting finally granted him the third-class rank of Adahahafan (Captain of Light Vehicles), which was promised to be hereditary for four generations.
Dorgon directly gave Zheng Jiwu a third-class title, and even made an exception by adding the title of Chaoyong before the title, which is even more remarkable.
"Is it too much favor?"
Several academicians were sitting there feeling jealous. None of them could even get half a career in the world. Zheng Jiwu was very lucky.
"In today's current situation, such loyal, brave and capable people are increasingly needed."
Dorgon paused and said, "Zheng Jiwu was the one who surrendered to Duke Yan at the beginning. He is also a wise man who knows people, so he should be rewarded. It was not easy for him to rectify the situation in Jiangnan. Now the situation is getting better a little bit.
Then I was granted the title of third-class cavalry captain, Feng Yan, and was allowed to attack three times."
"Li Yuchun, the governor of Zhejiang, was considered to have meritorious service, so he was awarded the third-class Ashanihafan (third-class baron), and he was allowed to attack eight times."
"Haiyan Bo Zhu Gugang was awarded the title of first-class Bo with half a future, and he was attacked nineteen times."
Those who have merit should be rewarded, and those who have made mistakes will naturally be punished.
Liu Liangzuo and other Xu Huai generals who surrendered to the Ming Dynasty were ordered to capture their families and send them to the capital. Cheng Dingwen and beheaded them, while the rest were exiled to Ning Guta and Pijia as slaves.
Wu Shengzhao, Li Chengdong, Zhang Guozhu, Gao Jinzhong, etc. who came to the Ming Dynasty from Jiangnan were also dealt with in the same way.
"Chentai and Kangkara lost their masters and humiliated the country. They were each demoted to one rank, fined half a year's salary, and ordered to make atonement for their sins."
"If you obey King Kong for your virtue, you will be fined one year's salary."
Kong Youde was given the lightest punishment. Dorgon thought for a long time and gave him a mild punishment.
For the actual helmsman of the Qing Dynasty, now that the situation suddenly took a turn for the worse, he did not dare to mess with a Han general like Kong Youde.
After all, there is no need to doubt Kong Youde's loyalty, and it is not a big deal to underestimate the enemy's losses for a while. The most important thing now is loyalty, and other things are secondary.
What we have to guard against now are damned capricious Han thieves like Wu Shengzhao and Li Chengdong, and then incompetent officers like Pan Shiliang.
Just two days after the decree of commendation and reward was issued, another memorial arrived from Mr. Yan.
Zheng Jiwu, who was newly awarded the title of Third-Class Super-Yong Gong, reported that Shaoxing was destroyed by Ming thieves, and the surrounding area was also fortified and cleared. The Ming thieves retreated to Yanzhou, Ningbo, Taizhou and other places to resist stubbornly.
Although Zheng Jiwu captured Shaoxing in one fell swoop, he was short of food and weapons, and suffered many casualties during the attack on Shaoxing. He needed to replenish his troops, armor, and food.
But now Shaoxing has not received food and wages, and Hangzhou itself is an empty city, waiting for relief from Jiaxing, Susong and other places. Therefore, Zheng Jiwu had to withdraw to Qiantang Jiangbei three days after occupying Shaoxing.
"Shaoxing is the capital of Nanming. How can we give up after winning it?" Chen Qixia expressed dissatisfaction.
Feng Quan believed that since there was no food and no pay, the Ming army might counterattack at any time, so it was right to temporarily retreat to Hangzhou. He could not be trapped in Shaoxing alone and hungry to defend the city. If he divided his troops to defend Shaoxing and Hangzhou, he might be able to defend the city by then.
Neither city was defended.
Dorgon was a little disappointed. He originally thought that Zhejiang might also have a breakthrough across the board.
Unexpectedly, this was the result.
Yan Wogong also told the truth as always, saying that Zheng Jiwu's victory over Shaoxing this time was actually not a great victory, because the Ming army had already completed the transfer of materials and the withdrawal of personnel, and there were not many soldiers left behind.
Zheng Jiwu fought and only defeated the remaining troops, but the main force in eastern Zhejiang was still in Ningbo, Taizhou, Yanzhou and other places.
Yan Wogong said that this operation was supported by him and the governor of Hangzhou. Although he knew that Shaoxing could not be defended if attacked, Jiangnan was in urgent need of a victory, so he supported General Zheng Jiwu in sending troops to capture Shaoxing.
Even if it only lasted three days, it was exciting news for the Qing army.
Of course, the current situation is still unsatisfactory. Kang Kara and other four generals are blocking Changzhou. Although Tu Guobao recovered Suzhou for the third time, Suzhou has been almost completely destroyed.
Changsu's Second Mansion is now completely corrupted, and the Green Camp in Jiangnan is now almost completely destroyed.
He needed time to reorganize the Green Camp, but he also needed money and food support from the court. Without money and food, it would be impossible to reorganize the Green Camp. Without the support of the Green Camp, it would be difficult to carry out the 20,000 to 38,000 banners in Jiangnan.
The implication is that not only is it impossible for Jiangnan to pay half a grain of grain tax to Beijing this year, but it also requires the imperial court to mobilize a lot of money and grain from other places to restore Jiangnan.