Chapter Summaries

Lu Xiangsheng prepared to turn the Jurchens’ planned night raid against them despite having only twenty thousand men and facing interference from Gao Qiqian. As Hao Ge’s forces approached the camp through the rain, Lu’s ambush was ready to begin.

• Lu Xiangsheng burned Gao Qiqian’s refusal to return the Heavenly Hero Army and sent Chen Guowei to retrieve the troops with an important order.
• Lu Xiangsheng told Yang Guozhu, Hu Dawei, and Wang Pu that the Jurchens would raid the camp and ordered Yang and Hu to ambush them outside while he and Hu’s men remained inside.
• Hu Dawei apologized after arguing with Wang Pu, and Lu Xiangsheng ordered every soldier to fight fiercely and punished anyone who disobeyed with execution.
• Lu Xiangsheng learned from Yang Lukai that Gao Qiqian had taken supplies, leaving fewer than ten days of food and fodder.
• Hao Ge led the Jurchen force through the rainy darkness toward Lu Xiangsheng’s camp and spotted its glow.

Chen Guowei fought through a Jurchen ambush and learned that Dorgon had launched a night raid against Governor Lu. He reached Gao Qiqian's camp to request reinforcements, but Gao refused to act, leaving Wang Shi to plead for permission to send troops.

• Chen Guowei led his riders into a Jurchen ambush, then counterattacked and killed the scouts who blocked their way.
• A captured Han Chinese scout revealed that Dorgon had led a night raid against Governor Lu and had stationed men to prevent Gao Qiqian from sending reinforcements.
• Chen Guowei reached Gao Qiqian's brightly lit camp and found the chief supervisor drinking while Governor Lu faced the attack.
• Chen Guowei asked Gao Qiqian to send reinforcements, but Gao questioned the report and refused to commit troops.
• Wang Shi offered to lead Lu Feng and troops to help Governor Lu.

Chen Guowei and his allies confronted Gao Qiqian after Li Zhongzhen confirmed that the Jurchen were attacking Lu Xiangsheng’s camp, but Gao Qiqian refused to march before dawn. As the confrontation threatened to become a mutiny, Chen Guowei remembered a wooden box and opened it, leaving Wang Shi and Li Zhongzhen delighted by what was inside.

• Gao Qiqian dismissed Chen Guowei’s warning and the generals mocked the request for reinforcements.
• Li Zhongzhen arrived with a captured Tartar scout who confirmed that the Jurchen were attacking Lu Xiangsheng’s camp.
• Gao Qiqian agreed to march at dawn, and Chen Guowei argued that the army needed to move immediately.
• Chen Guowei drew his sword, and Wang Shi and Li Zhongzhen joined him as Gao Qiqian called for his guards.
• Chen Guowei sheathed his sword and opened a wooden box, surprising Gao Qiqian and delighting Wang Shi and Li Zhongzhen.

Chen Guowei used the Golden Token to order Gao Qiqian to send the Heavenly Hero Army to rescue Lu Xiangsheng, while Lu Xiangsheng’s forces ambushed the Jurchens. In the capital, Zhu Youjian asked Luo Yangxing how to address the Jurchen agents hidden in the court and among the people.

• Chen Guowei displayed the Golden Token, compelled Gao Qiqian to kneel, and ordered the Heavenly Hero Army to muster for Lu Xiangsheng’s rescue.
• Hao Ge, Yoto, and Aobai led Jurchen forces into the Ming camp, where they discovered the tents were empty and came under attack.
• Yoto rallied his troops and fought Lu Xiangsheng as Hu Dawei’s cavalry struck the Jurchens.
• Yang Guozhu and Wang Pu arrived on opposite sides of the camp, trapping the Jurchen forces in a pincer attack.
• Zhu Youjian asked Luo Yangxing about the lack of a response to peace negotiations and raised the threat posed by Jurchen agents.

Zhu Youjian ordered Luo Yangxing to develop a plan for planting spies among the Jurchens and to continue investigating the Shanxi merchants’ collusion with them. Empress Zhou, worried about Zhu Youjian’s burdens, decided to donate most of her jewelry to help reward the soldiers and encourage the other consorts to contribute.

• Zhu Youjian told Luo Yangxing to monitor Jurchen spies and use captives and merchants to build an intelligence network inside Jurchen territory.
• Luo Yangxing proposed establishing a caravan to infiltrate Jurchen lands, and Zhu Youjian ordered him to present a plan and selected men within five days.
• Luo Yangxing reported evidence that the Fan family had colluded with Chen Zhiguo and that the Jin and Wang families had stockpiled ironware, while the Zhai family remained under surveillance.
• After Luo Yangxing left, Zhu Youjian reflected on his burdens in the palace as Wang Cheng'en urged him to retire.
• Empress Zhou saw Zhu Youjian looking troubled and returned to the Palace of Earthly Tranquility without disturbing him.
• Empress Zhou set aside most of her jewelry to give Zhu Youjian for rewarding the soldiers and told Qiu Mei to spread the word so the other consorts would contribute.

Lu Xiangsheng’s outnumbered forces fought the Jurchens at Changping as Wang Pu fled and reinforcements failed to arrive. Chen Guowei eventually led the Heavenly Hero Army to the battlefield, forcing Yoto to retreat, and found Lu Xiangsheng alive among the exhausted survivors.

• Lu Xiangsheng learned that Chen Guowei had not returned and that Wang Pu had fled after encountering Oboi, leaving Yang Guozhu’s forces under heavier pressure.
• Yang Guozhu and Hu Dawei rallied their exhausted soldiers to keep fighting despite Wang Pu’s flight.
• Lu Xiangsheng ordered the army to withdraw in small groups, but Yoto rallied the Jurchens to block their retreat and Lu charged at him.
• Chen Guowei arrived with the Heavenly Hero Army and led a charge that turned the battle, prompting Yoto to order a retreat.
• After the fighting ended, Chen Guowei found Lu Xiangsheng sitting with Yang Guozhu and Hu Dawei, alive but drenched in blood.

Zhu Youjian received Empress Zhou’s jewelry donation and learned from Lu Xiangsheng’s bloodstained dispatch that the battle had gone badly and Wang Pu had fled. He replaced Lu with Sun Chuanting and ordered Lu back to the capital to face trial in the Imperial Prison.

• Empress Zhou sent jewelry to help reward the soldiers, and Zhu Youjian decided to dine with her.
• Zhu Youjian read Lu Xiangsheng’s dispatch and learned that Yoto had raided the camp, Chen Guowei had sought reinforcements, and Wang Pu had fled.
• Zhu Youjian summoned Yang Sichang and Sun Chuanting, while Yang urged him to dismiss Lu Xiangsheng.
• Sun Chuanting defended Lu Xiangsheng and suggested Hong Chengchou take command, but Zhu Youjian appointed Sun instead.
• Zhu Youjian ordered Lu Xiangsheng to return to the capital and enter the Imperial Prison for trial.

Zhu Youjian appointed Sun Chuanting to command the relief effort while ordering Lu Xiangsheng imprisoned, and reflected on Sun’s future role in the fall of the Ming. The chapter ended when a panicked young eunuch rushed in with news of a disaster.

• Zhu Youjian appointed Sun Chuanting and gave him an Imperial Sword, warning him against reckless warfare.
• Zhu Youjian ordered Luo Yangxing to take Lu Xiangsheng to the Imperial Prison, bring back anyone who resisted, and ensure no one was harmed or tortured.
• Zhu Youjian considered why he had chosen Sun Chuanting over Hong Chengchou and recalled Sun’s history and eventual death before the Ming fell.
• A young eunuch rushed into the hall shouting that something terrible had happened, and Zhu Youjian demanded to know what it was.

Zhu Youjian ordered Luo Yangxing to bring the officials kneeling at Huangji Gate into the Imperial Prison, where they would be treated well and their choices recorded. After spending the day reviewing memorials, he remembered his appointment with the empress and headed to the Palace of Earthly Tranquility with a box of Acacia Incense, leaving their meeting yet to come.

• A young eunuch reported that Fan Fucui, Liu, Huang, and other officials were kneeling at Huangji Gate to protest Sun Chuanting's appointment and plead for Lu Xiangsheng.
• Zhu Youjian told Luo Yangxing to offer the officials shelter and food, send home those who chose to leave, and take the rest to the Imperial Prison without torturing them.
• Zhu Youjian pardoned the young eunuch for interrupting the hall, while Wang Cheng'en scolded him outside and urged him to serve more carefully.
• After reviewing memorials until nightfall, Zhu Youjian remembered his appointment with the empress and ordered a box of Acacia Incense from the Imperial Treasury.
• Zhu Youjian walked to the entrance of the Palace of Earthly Tranquility with Wang Cheng'en carrying the incense.

Zhu Youjian visited Empress Zhou in the Palace of Earthly Tranquility, gave her Acacia Incense, and spent the night with her. The chapter ended with an envoy calling Lu Xiangsheng away from his army camp outside Changping.

• Zhu Youjian found Empress Zhou asleep in the inner chamber and gently covered her with a cloak.
• Zhu Youjian gave Empress Zhou Acacia Incense and explained its romantic name, prompting her to embrace him.
• Zhu Youjian reflected on his new appearance and identity as Chongzhen, then told Empress Zhou he would stay with her for the night.
• Zhu Youjian and Empress Zhou shared an intimate evening, ate their reheated meal, and he promised to visit her whenever he could.
• Luo Yangxing corrected himself after almost addressing Lu Xiangsheng by his former title, then ordered him to come with the envoy.

Lu Xiangsheng was escorted from his army to Beijing and imprisoned despite his commanders’ protests. In the Imperial Prison, he met officials jailed for defending him, while Zhu Youjian prepared to interrogate him personally.

• Chen Guowei and Hu Dawei tried to resist Luo Yangxing’s order to take Lu Xiangsheng to the capital, but Lu stopped them and submitted to the decree.
• Luo Yangxing escorted Lu Xiangsheng to Beijing, where Zhu Neng struck him and Luo punished Zhu for his disrespect.
• Lu Xiangsheng entered the Imperial Prison and found Fan Fucui and Huang Daozhou imprisoned for pleading on his behalf.
• Huang Daozhou urged Fan Fucui to resist disgrace and give their lives for Great Ming, and Fan took heart from his words.
• Luo Yangxing reported to Zhu Youjian, who ordered preparations to interrogate Lu Xiangsheng himself that night.

Zhu Youjian visited the Imperial Prison and privately reassured Lu Xiangsheng that he still trusted him and needed him to fight the Jurchen. He left the prison preparing to bring Lu Xiangsheng back into service.

• Zhu Youjian traveled to the Imperial Prison with Luo Yangxing and Wang Cheng'en, then noticed Fan Fucui and Huang Daozhou sleeping beneath a brocade quilt.
• Zhu Youjian ordered the others away and entered Lu Xiangsheng's cell to speak with him privately.
• Lu Xiangsheng confessed that his failed strategy had nearly cost twenty thousand soldiers their lives and said he deserved punishment.
• Zhu Youjian urged Lu Xiangsheng to redeem himself through service and help Great Ming drive out the Jurchen.
• Lu Xiangsheng promised not to betray Zhu Youjian's trust, and Zhu Youjian ordered Wang Cheng'en to bring him Embroidered Uniform Guard clothes.

Zhu Youjian secretly freed Lu Xiangsheng from the Imperial Prison and warned Luo Yangxing and Wang Cheng'en to keep it quiet. On his way back, he learned Empress Zhou had fallen ill; after tending to her, he saw her identify something in her chamber as the cause.

• Lu Xiangsheng asked Zhu Youjian to spare Fan, Elder Huang, and the other officials who had pleaded for him, and Zhu Youjian cautioned him against appearing to collude with them.
• Zhu Youjian gave Lu Xiangsheng clothes and secretly let him leave the Imperial Prison, while Luo Yangxing and Wang Cheng'en promised to conceal what had happened.
• A eunuch from the Palace of Earthly Tranquility reported that Empress Zhou was ill and would not admit physicians, so Zhu Youjian hurried to her.
• Zhu Youjian found Empress Zhou feverish and distressed; she clung to him and asked for intimacy, and he stayed with her until she regained her senses.
• Empress Zhou feared Zhu Youjian would punish her for her behavior, but he comforted her and suspected someone had tampered with something in the palace.
• Empress Zhou examined the chamber and suddenly said she knew what had caused her illness.

Zhu Youjian realized Acacia Incense had caused Empress Zhou’s alarming reaction, then ordered Wang Cheng'en to trace and retrieve all of it. Meanwhile, Sun Chengzong returned to Beijing after Yang Tinglin drugged him and resolved to confront the emperor.

• Zhu Youjian and Empress Zhou concluded that Acacia Incense had caused her symptoms, and he left with the box after assuring her he would visit again.
• Zhu Youjian ordered Wang Cheng'en to identify the incense’s source and distribution and retrieve every remaining portion.
• The imperial physicians left puzzled about Empress Zhou’s condition and chose not to pursue the matter.
• Yang Tinglin escorted Sun Chengzong and his family back to Beijing after drugging Sun Chengzong, who angrily vowed to impeach him.
• Sun Chengzong asked for a blank memorial so he could question the emperor about Yang Tinglin’s actions.

Dorgon entered the evacuated Gaoyang after cautiously watching the city for several days, and his army looted its empty homes. Though Yoto urged him to move on to Jinan, Dorgon remained wary and ordered the scouts to investigate first.

• Dorgon dismissed his officers’ concerns about entering Gaoyang and ordered the army to enter at daybreak.
• The Jurchen entered the empty city and ransacked wealthy homes, while Dorgon settled in the Sun Residence.
• Yoto asked Dorgon when they would march on evacuated Jinan, but Dorgon ordered the mounted scouts to investigate before deciding.

Zhu Youjian met with Sun Chengzong, who confronted him about being drugged and brought to the capital but then dropped the complaint. Sun Chengzong tried to argue against peace negotiations, but Zhu Youjian refused to reconsider and asked about his sons instead.

• Zhu Youjian fought off his sleepiness and received Sun Chengzong in Wuying Hall.
• Sun Chengzong asked whether Zhu Youjian knew that Yang Tinglin had drugged him and brought his family to the capital; Zhu Youjian feigned outrage and ordered Yang Tinglin arrested.
• Sun Chengzong stopped the order, saying Yang Tinglin was needed for the war effort, and let the matter go.
• Sun Chengzong raised the issue of peace negotiations, but Zhu Youjian said his decision was final.
• Zhu Youjian asked about Sun Chengzong's sons and their scholarly achievements, and Sun Chengzong said only Sun Yue had passed the provincial examination.

Zhu Youjian heard Sun Chengzong’s concerns and then kept the Prince of De waiting, while ordering secret surveillance of him. Zhu Youshu returned to his cramped lodgings without learning when he could go back to Jinan and asked his consort to approach the Empress and Noble Consort for information.

• Zhu Youjian reassured Sun Chengzong, promised compensation for the Sun family’s lost property, and sent him away before receiving the Prince of De.
• Zhu Youshu grew impatient outside Wuying Hall and kicked young eunuch Wang Jiadong when he believed the eunuch had failed to announce him.
• Wang Cheng'en told Zhu Youshu that Zhu Youjian was too busy to see him, then gave the silver ingot Zhu Youshu had offered to Wang Jiadong.
• Zhu Youjian dismissed Zhu Youshu’s apparent poverty as a pretense and ordered Luo Yangxing to assign two Embroidered Uniform Guard men to watch the prince and record his words and actions.
• Zhu Youshu returned to his lodgings, told his consort that Zhu Youjian had refused to see him, and asked her to sound out the Empress and Noble Consort.

Luo Yangxing struggled to understand the emperor’s intentions as he guarded the imprisoned officials and treated them well, while Lu Xiangsheng’s army hid in the mountains near Jinan under a plan devised by His Majesty. The Heavenly Hero Army wondered whether their emperor was truly as capable as the operation suggested.

• Luo Yangxing refused Yang Sichang entry to the Imperial Prison and warned that anyone who disobeyed the restriction would answer with his head.
• Luo Yangxing visited Fan Fucui and Huang Daozhou, then arranged warm bedding, braziers, food, and tea for them despite their confusion about his behavior.
• Luo Yangxing reconsidered whether the emperor’s apparent support for peace negotiations was a deception intended to mislead the Jurchens.
• Lu Xiangsheng’s Heavenly Hero Army stayed in small groups in the mountains ten li outside Jinan, avoiding fires to conceal themselves from the Tatars.
• Chen Guowei, Hu Dawei, and Li Zhongzhen questioned whether His Majesty had devised the plan and wondered if the emperor was truly capable.

Lu Xiangsheng's army waited in ambush as Dorgon sent Tatar scouts to inspect Jinan and the surrounding wooded hills. The scouts searched the hills and narrowly passed the hidden Heavenly Hero Army, leaving the confrontation unresolved.

• Lu Xiangsheng ordered his army to remain silent and wait after Night Patrol scouts reported that Tatar scouts had appeared outside Jinan.
• Dorgon's scouts found Jinan empty and returned to camp with stolen valuables, prompting Dorgon to order another search of the wooded hills.
• Yoto arranged the second scouting party, and Oboi led about a hundred men toward the hills after Hao Ge demanded a quick return.
• Oboi's men searched the lower slopes while the Heavenly Hero Army hid nearby, with Lu Xiangsheng and Hu Dawei keeping the soldiers still.
• A severed branch struck a young soldier and nearly gave away the ambush, but a crow's call distracted the Tatars, who left the woods without finding the army.

Lu Xiangsheng’s forces let the Jurchen enter Jinan, where they discovered the city had been stripped of food and its cannons destroyed. Dorgon realized the Ming army had lured him into a trap and found himself surrounded inside the city.

• After the Jurchen scouts passed, Lu Xiangsheng ordered the Night Patrol to monitor their movements, but the enemy did not immediately approach Jinan.
• Dorgon and Yoto discussed Jinan’s defenses, and Dorgon ordered the Jurchen to enter the city and leave after three days.
• Dorgon, Yoto, and Hao Ge entered Prince De's Residence while Oboi went to open the granaries.
• Oboi found the granaries empty and discovered that the people of Jinan had dumped their remaining food into Great Ming Lake.
• Dorgon learned that the city had no food and its Red-Clad Cannons had been destroyed, then ordered the gates closed when Ming troops appeared outside.
• Dorgon saw Ming forces occupying the surrounding high ground and recognized Lu Xiangsheng at their head, realizing the Jurchen had been trapped.