Chapter 48: Hong Taiji's Ambition

For Hong Taiji, the primary purpose of today's grand assembly was to establish the primary strategic objectives of Later Jin for the next one to two years.

And the target of these strategic objectives was naturally the Ming Dynasty.

Following a nod and a gesture from Hong Taiji, a general sporting the queue hairstyle typical of the Jurchens stepped forward first and began to speak:

"Master, this humble servant believes that for the next two years, our Great Jin should focus its military might on continuing the offensive against the Liaodong frontline."

"A few months ago, you personally led our forces to attack Ningyuan and Jinzhou to test their defenses. Although we did not breach them in one fell swoop, this tentative assault showed that these two cities are not as formidable as one might imagine."

"Furthermore, if we can capture these two cities, the entire Liaodong region will lie completely devoid of natural barriers for the Ming Dynasty. Our Great Jin could then use them as a stronghold, advancing to attack and retreating to defend."

"It is even safe to say... that relying on this to march south and contend for the Central Plains in the future is by no means impossible."

Facing the strategic counsel of this direct subordinate, Hong Taiji did not immediately reply. He merely nodded slightly to encourage others to continue.

Back in May or June, he had indeed led his forces in successive attacks against the twin cities of Ningyuan and Jinzhou within a single month.

Although the garrison generals of the two cities had cowered inside and dared not give battle in the open field, for the Great Jin, it was truly no easy task to crack open those two strongholds. They excelled at mobile field warfare rather than protracted sieges.

Yet Hong Taiji did not reprimand his subordinate's proposal.

As the Great Khan, his duty was to sift through the various proposals and discern the most suitable one, rather than immediately barking rebuttals whenever something sounded amiss.

As for his subordinate's mention of marching south to contend for the Central Plains...

Hong Taiji indeed harbored this ambition.

However, for the present, it was far too distant a prospect.

Seeing that the previous general's proposal had not been adopted, a Han Chinese official stepped forward in succession:

"Great Khan, this subject believes it is not worth wasting too much military strength on the two cities of Ningyuan and Jinzhou."

This Han official did not address Hong Taiji with the subservient terms of master and bondservant.

Of course, it was not because he lacked the desire. After all, expecting too much moral integrity from a surrendered turncoat was out of the question.

The main reason was that within the current court of Later Jin, only Hong Taiji's closest personal generals were permitted to use such forms of address as a mark of special favor.

After a brief pause, the Han official continued:

"Some of the prominent aristocratic families of the Ming Dynasty rely on the Liaodong region to conduct trade with our Great Jin. Therefore, they will never sit idly by and watch Ningyuan and Jinzhou fall!"

Seated upon the throne, Hong Taiji nodded, casting an appreciative glance toward the Han official.

Since ancient times, the fundamental purpose of their nomadic peoples continually pushing southward had actually been border trade.

Plundering and pillaging were merely the means; trade was the ultimate goal.

Because the ultimate goal was not easily achieved, they had continually resorted to these means over and over again.

Take the territory of Later Jin as an example.

They lacked grain, cloth, and various manufactured handicrafts... but they did not lack hard currency such as gold and silver, especially given how much gold and silver they had plundered over the years.

Yet the problem was that having wealth alone was useless; their lands did not produce these daily necessities.

Consequently, Han merchants from the south smuggled these goods into Liaodong, and then sold them into their hands through local smuggling networks.

The profit margins involved multiplied several times over.

Based on this point alone, Hong Taiji knew that the prominent aristocratic families of the Ming Dynasty would certainly not allow the Liaodong frontline to fall easily.

Otherwise, how could they turn a profit?

Having won Hong Taiji's approval, the Han official immediately put on a flattering expression of pleasant surprise and said:

"Therefore, this subject believes we should directly bypass the cities of Ningyuan and Jinzhou. Our Great Jin could break through the Great Wall directly from Mongolia and enter the passes."

"To those aristocratic families, the Great Wall passes defending against Mongolia offer no profit, and the Ming court is plagued by corruption and chronic military pay arrears, so they will certainly be unable to organize an effective defense."

"Thus, this strategy is far more practical than stubbornly hammering away at Ningyuan and Jinzhou."

As his voice trailed off, a Jurchen general stepped forward in refutation:

"Hmph! Utter nonsense! If that were the case, once our Great Jin soldiers enter the passes from Mongolia, wouldn't we fall directly into a situation where the Ming Dynasty attacks us from the front and the rear?"

"In my view, you clearly still harbor lingering attachments to the Ming! You are scheming and plotting on behalf of the Ming!"

Seeing someone dare to question the loyalty of a Han turncoat, the official's temper flared. He instantly dropped his flattering demeanor and retorted righteously:

"My lords! I desire to see the Great Jin march south and destroy the Ming far more than any of you do!!! How dare you doubt my loyalty to the Great Jin?!"

"Enough!" Hong Taiji, seated upon the throne of the Great Khan, waved his hand to halt the brewing dispute.

He then looked back at the Han official: "Continue."

The Han official glared at the Jurchen general who had challenged him before proceeding: "Great Khan, you may run through the simulation in your mind."

"If you were in the shoes of those aristocratic families, seeing the Great Jin directly bypass Liaodong to march south through the passes, would you still exhaust yourselves trying to block us?"

Hong Taiji's expression grew stern: "Of course not."

To those aristocratic families, his southern raids did not affect their interests in the slightest.

Even more, having plundered and amassed greater wealth after a raid, it would only become more convenient for them to conduct business with him.

Realizing that Hong Taiji was already leaning toward his proposal, the Han official raised his voice and continued:

"Therefore, this subject believes that bypassing Ningyuan and Jinzhou to enter the passes directly from Mongolia is the strategic direction for our Great Jin in the coming years!"

"Even if it fails, relying on this act of entering the passes, our Great Jin will have the bargaining chips to negotiate a peace with the Ming Dynasty!"

The word "peace" struck a deep chord within Hong Taiji's heart.

He desired peace far too much; he dreamed of peace day and night.

Peace meant that they would no longer need to rely on smuggling networks to procure supplies from Liaodong.

Who would willingly spend ten taels of silver for something they could buy for one?

This was precisely why he had been so ecstatic when Yuan Chonghuan had privately sought him out to discuss peace some time ago, and why he had completely lost his composure and flown into a rage upon discovering he had been deceived.

Looking back on it now, Hong Taiji felt that he might have been a bit too impulsive at the time and should not have stood up to curse him directly.

As the garrison commander of Ningyuan, Yuan Chonghuan was the representative pushed forward by the prominent aristocratic families.

Reasoning by conventional logic, regardless of his motives, he should not have privately raised the matter of peace talks.

Since that was the case, Yuan Chonghuan must have had a deeper, hidden purpose.

It was a pity... Yuan Chonghuan had already been relieved of his post and was no longer the garrison commander of Ningyuan.

Otherwise, having figured out the twists and turns behind the matter, Hong Taiji would have insisted on seeking out Yuan Chonghuan to hash it out and demand an explanation of what was truly going on.

At this moment, Hong Taiji had been persuaded by the arguments of his Han official.

Bypassing the fortifications via Mongolia to enter the passes would not only avoid encountering heavy resistance, but it would also earn him the capital needed for peace negotiations.

Just as he was about to open his mouth and have the assembly deeply contemplate the feasibility of this move, he heard one of his trusted confidants and generals speak up.

This general was not well-versed in military tactics, but in Hong Taiji's eyes, his status and responsibilities were far more important than those of the other formidable warrior generals.

Because this person was primarily in charge of intelligence operations concerning the Ming Dynasty.

The general with the braided queue spoke: "Master, this humble servant has heard that the newly enthroned young emperor of the Ming Dynasty employs ruthless methods and possesses the ambition to revitalize the state."

"Therefore, if we rashly bypass the defenses to enter the passes and march south, I fear unforeseen complications may arise!"