When Nurhaci first established the "Eight Banners" system, there were only four banner colors: yellow, white, blue, and red. Four bordered banners were later added: the Bordered Yellow Banner, Bordered White Banner, Plain Blue Banner, and Bordered Red Banner. Before Dorgon, the Plain White Banner was not one of the "Upper Three Banners." Hong Taiji personally commanded the Plain Yellow Banner, Bordered Yellow Banner, and Plain Blue Banner.
Although the Plain Yellow Banner was an imperial banner, most of its bannermen were bondservants, and their status was far below that of the Bordered Yellow Banner. Oboi of the Gūwalgiya clan belonged to the Bordered Yellow Banner.
Both Fulin and Hongli ascended the throne as children, and real power was actually held by the regents. The hair-shaving order issued in the first year of Shunzhi Emperor's reign had in fact been ordered by Regent Dorgon. The Qing court had only recently entered the passes then, and considering that the time was not yet right, it suspended enforcement after carrying it out for a while.
The following year, Dorgon issued the order again: ten days for the capital, and ten days from the day the document arrived in the various provinces of Zhili. Everyone was to shave their heads.
Along with the hair-shaving order came the clothing-change order. Those truly unwilling to obey the law entered religious life. They could become Taoist priests and keep their topknots, or become monks and shave their heads entirely. Either was better-looking than keeping a "coin-tail queue."
In the Soulstealers case, what worried Hongli was that rebels might be hiding among monks and Taoist priests. The note Nick received read: "The Manchus seized an opportunity and occupied our Central Plains. If this hatred is not avenged, we will be unworthy of our ancestors."
During his missionary