Entering Gaoyang

Sun Chengzong of Gaoyang had returned to the capital, but Gaoyang itself was far from quiet.

A military camp had already been set up outside the city. Dorgon sat in his tent, a mounted scout reporting before him.

"There really isn't anyone left in Gaoyang. They've all gone!"

Huang Taiji had entrusted Dorgon with great responsibilities because he always thought things through. The people of Gaoyang had evacuated with such fanfare that he feared it might be a trick.

Even after arriving outside the city, he had not rushed to enter. Instead, he established a camp and watched for several days, sending mounted scouts into the city daily and ordering men to guard the surrounding area.

Throughout those days, the waters had indeed remained calm.

"The Ming State's emperor has already hauled Lu Xiangsheng back. What the hell is there to fear?" Hao Ge glanced at Dorgon with disdain.

"Uncle Wang, Hao Ge is right. Our men saw the Ming State's Embroidered Uniform Guard escort Lu Xiangsheng back with their own eyes. The Ming State is eager to negotiate peace. Gaoyang shouldn't be a trap!" Yoto said from beside him.

Dorgon did not answer. Frowning, he considered everything that had happened since they crossed the pass. After the Ming State issued its summons to defend the emperor, many more government troops had appeared in the Capital Region. Yet as long as his forces stayed away from Beijing, those troops would not pursue them.

Beijing City could not be taken. They were fighting far from home, relying entirely on plunder for supplies. What they needed was a swift campaign and a swift victory.

"The way I see it, the Ming State's emperor emptied Gaoyang and Jinan so that if we refuse peace talks, we can take what we want and leave quickly!" Hao Ge snorted again. "It's been so many days. Have we seen so much as the shadow of a government soldier?"

"Your Highness, I volunteer to enter the city and test the waters!" Oboi suddenly said.

But Hao Ge objected the moment Oboi spoke. Without waiting for Dorgon to respond, he said, "Let you go in first, so your Bordered Yellow Banner can take all the good things?"

Hao Ge commanded the Plain Blue Banner, while Yoto belonged to the Bordered Red Banner. As members of the imperial clan, they might look down on the goods inside the city, but as commanders, they had to consider the men beneath them.

Only rewards could fire up their morale.

How could they yield such an opportunity to anyone else?

"Enough! Not another word!" Dorgon thundered. "We enter the city at first light tomorrow!"

Only after Dorgon gave the order did Hao Ge relent. He rose, snorted at Oboi once more, then lifted the tent flap and strode out.

Oboi bowed his head to see him off, but he could not conceal the anger in his eyes.

He merely relies on being the emperor's eldest son. In truth, he's nothing but a brainless sack of straw.

Watching Hao Ge's retreating back, Yoto shook his head helplessly. "Uncle Wang, he's still young. Don't stoop to his level."

Dorgon had no interest in stooping to Hao Ge's level. He waved a hand and said, "I, your Wang, was overthinking it. It seems the Ming State is behaving just as it has before."

Pride and satisfaction appeared on Yoto's face. "Naturally. Still, His Majesty hasn't agreed to peace talks. It looks like the Ming State's emperor will be disappointed again!"

Yoto was speaking cheerfully when a sudden pain shot through his chest. His smile vanished, and he hissed, raising a hand to clutch his chest.

"What's wrong? Are you wounded?" Seeing Yoto's face suddenly pale, Dorgon asked with concern.

Yoto rubbed his chest. The pain had come quickly and vanished just as quickly. Within moments, he felt nothing unusual. Lowering his hand, he replied, "Don't worry, Uncle Wang. I'm not wounded. Perhaps I strained something."

"You must never be careless while on campaign. Have an army physician examine you!" Dorgon said.

Yoto chuckled. "All right, this Wang understands."

News that they would enter the city at daybreak soon spread throughout the army. The Jurchen had long awaited this day. Gaoyang was a county seat, after all; surely there would be plenty of good things.

At long last, dawn arrived. At Dorgon's command, the army entered the city.

The gates stood wide open. Their horses passed leisurely through, and before them lay disorderly streets lined with empty houses.

Dorgon watched for a moment, then waved his hand. Behind him, the army cheered and galloped away.

The wealthy households' mansions bore the brunt. In their haste, the owners had been unable to take everything. The Jurchen searched room after room, stuffing their clothes until they bulged, smiles never leaving their faces.

But there were only a handful of wealthy households. The rest were ordinary people's homes. What did they contain? Broken baskets and battered jars, with at most a few copper coins to shake out of them.

Some chickens and ducks had been kept in the courtyards. At the sight of people, they scattered wildly. Unable to find anything valuable, the Jurchen could only catch the poultry, thinking that at least it would improve their meals.

With no one left in the city, the army settled in.

Beds were far more comfortable than sleeping in camp tents.

With keen interest, Dorgon chose the Sun Residence. This was the home of Sun Chengzong, the Ming State's former minister of war. It was spacious but not luxurious, and Dorgon had a deep interest in this general.

This Ming State commander had built the two-hundred-li Ningjin defensive line, only to be impeached by his own people and sent back to his hometown. Had he still been there, breaking through the pass would surely not have been so easy!

Thinking this, Dorgon entered the main hall of the Sun Residence.

Unfinished food still lay scattered across the table in the middle of the hall. The cold weather had kept it from smelling. Dorgon glanced over it: ordinary fare, with barely a few pieces of meat.

Yoto followed him inside and signaled to several servants beside him. They immediately stepped forward and deftly cleared away the cups, bowls, and plates.

"They really did leave in a hurry..."

Yoto looked around and saw several garments discarded on the floor. He picked one up and examined it. It must have belonged to a servant; it was patched. Tossing it aside again, he continued, "From the way they left, you'd think we were already at their doorstep."

Dorgon nodded and had just found a place to sit when he heard a noisy commotion outside. "What is it now?" he asked irritably.

Yoto glanced outside and said, "There isn't enough loot to go around. They've started arguing."

They were all servants. Dorgon could hardly blame them for quarreling over these things, and he did not interfere. If they wanted to argue, let them argue. Even if they fought, let them fight.

Whoever won the argument or the fight would get the goods.

"Uncle Wang, Jinan has been evacuated too. When are we going?"

Only a fool would pass up a chance to seize rich supplies without a fight. Naturally, Yoto wanted to go. Quite apart from Jinan's many wealthy households, Prince De's Residence alone was sure to hold plenty of fine things.

Wouldn't failing to go waste all the goodwill of the Ming State's emperor?

Dorgon murmured an acknowledgment but did not immediately answer. For some reason, he still felt uneasy.

Would the Ming State really be so kind?

Or was some scheme still lurking behind all this?

"Have the mounted scouts investigate thoroughly before we decide!" Unwilling to be careless, Dorgon gave Yoto the order.

Listening to the commotion outside, Yoto sighed. "As you say, Uncle Wang."

Dorgon was cautious, but Yoto thought it unnecessary. More and more troops would gather in Beijing to defend the emperor. What if the Ming State's emperor changed his mind one day and refused peace talks?

If Jinan's gates closed, they would have to fight their way in!

But Dorgon was the commander, after all. Yoto turned to relay the order, sighing silently to himself.