Chapter Nine

From the perspective of sociological theory, the peasant uprising that erupted in 1674 appears to defy the usual patterns of history. According to the principle of chaos preceding order, the last great turmoil led by Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong swept across most of China, and the contradictions within society should have been released by then. After the establishment of a new dynasty, a period of stability lasting several centuries would have been expected. Yet, judging by the current situation, this theory clearly does not apply.

Frankly, Lin Feng’s mindset at this time was extremely conflicted. This large-scale civil war did not exist in the history he knew; in a sense, it had arisen almost entirely because of him. Yet, he felt no pride in having shaped history or changed the fate of the nation. On the contrary, upon receiving war reports from various regions, Lin Feng grew increasingly uneasy. After all, the prospect of millions losing their lives was no laughing matter. Despite his considerable political experience, he could not help but feel a sense of guilt. But this was no time for regret or remorse. After careful consideration, he assigned a task to Zhou Peigong and Li Guangdi, ordering them to produce a comprehensive analysis report on the ongoing peasant war.

In truth, the Qing court had endured its share of hardship over the years. From the very founding of the dynasty, there had been no peace. During the Shunzhi era, China was divided between north and south; the drive to eliminate the Southern Ming government and unify the country left little room for rest or recovery. When Nanjing finally fell, remnants of Li Chuang and Zhang’s rebel forces merged with Ming loyalists, continuing their resistance in Sichuan, Guangdong, and Hunan. The imperial armies had no choice but to keep fighting. After painstakingly crushing these opponents, the court had to allocate a third of the national revenue to appease three notorious traitor leaders. Even so, peace lasted only a few years before Wu Sangui rebelled, and the war machine rolled once more, launching a full-scale suppression campaign. All of this depended on enormous military expenditures, and the people of the northern provinces, conquered first, never experienced a respite from their burdens.

Now, with Lin Feng’s cannon firing outside the Forbidden City, the empire—already teetering on the brink of economic collapse—suffered another devastating blow. The northern provinces, almost devoid of troops, were gripped by terror. To confront the imminent threat, provincial governors and viceroys, freed from central control, blindly expanded their armies and prepared for war, pushing the peasants beyond the limits of endurance, as if the last straw had finally broken the camel’s back.

Both sides, caught by surprise, plunged into fierce combat. Compared to the rebel army, Tuhai’s forces were well-armed and expertly trained, having triumphed over the Mongol cavalry. At first, they regarded the peasants with contempt. But these rebels were not as weak or easily cowed as expected. In fact, after surviving Wang Jinbao’s cavalry pursuit and ambushes along the way, the remaining rebels had become true warriors through the crucible of war—fearless, fierce, and experienced. Naturally, they showed no mercy to the Tuhai troops blocking their path to escape.

The battle entered a feverish pitch from the outset. The recklessness of the rebel commanders astonished Tuhai, for as soon as the armies engaged, the entire rebel force surged forward without care for formation or order. At the front were fully armed men, followed by adolescent boys, and finally, even strong women hurled themselves into the fray. Many, lacking proper weapons, fought with fists and feet. Some dying rebels would suddenly spring up and grab a Qing soldier, biting and clawing in a desperate attempt to bring their enemy down with them. Faced with such savage determination, Qing troop morale suffered a severe blow, and the vanguard quickly collapsed under the rebels’ relentless pressure.

Tuhai was enraged—how could elite imperial troops lose to a band of peasants? He could not accept such an outcome. After executing the deputy commander of the vanguard, he immediately ordered the elite central division forward. But by then, dusk was falling, and poor visibility slowed the advance. The troops, exhausted from months of marching and unfamiliar with the terrain, moved sluggishly. With other officers advising caution, Tuhai reluctantly withdrew his order for immediate battle, setting up camp to confront the rebels from a distance.

This homesick army soon began its journey back north. Under the pretext of pursuing escaped rebels in Shaanxi, Tuhai refused all requests for reinforcements from Shanxi and Henan, pressing northward with single-minded determination. An army desperate to return home is a formidable force, and their combat prowess on the return journey stunned all observers. Within a month, they had fought their way from Shaanxi to Henan, earning a fearsome reputation on both rebel and Qing battlefields. By the time Lin Feng and his associates realized that this vengeful force was now targeting them, Tuhai’s army had already entered the Zhili region.

Although there were some rebel activities in Zhili, they were far less extensive and influential than in Henan, Shanxi, or Anhui. This was partly due to Lin Feng’s private agreement with Yang Qilong, and partly because Zhili, as the outskirts of the capital, enjoyed slightly better conditions. Even so, the arrival of Tuhai’s army delighted the provincial governor, Tong Dagang, who, to demonstrate his enthusiasm, personally traveled a hundred miles outside Baoding to greet and reward the troops.

According to reports from spies in the capital, most rebel soldiers had been conscripted by force, so their morale was predictably low. Tong Dagang clasped his hands in salute to Tuhai, saying, “General, with your victories over Chahar and your sweeping campaign through Shanxi and Henan, rebels flee at the mere mention of your name. Your fame is unmatched—if you can crush Lin Feng’s main force, these rabble will surely collapse!”

Tuhai felt slightly reassured, but dared not trust Tong Dagang’s words entirely. This man, a civil official by background, had been famous as a playboy in the capital. Experience suggested that such people tended to oversimplify warfare—terrified when weak, but immediately arrogant when bolstered by strong reinforcements, as if a single blow from the imperial army would instantly annihilate the rebels. Tuhai forced a smile and asked, “Governor Tong, how many troops do you have in Zhili?”

“Recently, with upheaval sweeping the land, I have had to recruit and train new forces. At present, Zhili province can muster about twenty thousand troops, stationed in Baoding and Tianjin. There are over ten thousand in Baoding, the rest in Tianjin. However… only a few thousand are seasoned soldiers; the rest are raw recruits, currently under intensive training.”

Tuhai calculated that if his own army joined forces with Zhili’s troops, they would have more than forty thousand men, and Tianjin’s fortified city could serve as a stronghold. Together, they would have the strength to fight the rebels. But he was unsure whether Tong Dagang would relinquish command, so he hesitated to speak.

As if sensing his thoughts, Tong Dagang suddenly bowed deeply to Tuhai, saying, “Though I am entrusted by the court with the defense of the province, I know my abilities are lacking. Therefore, I shamelessly ask you to take full charge of military affairs! All officials and soldiers of Zhili are at your command.” Seeing Tuhai about to decline out of courtesy, Tong Dagang forced a smile and added, “Ah, General, for the sake of our ancestors’ hard-won legacy and the late emperor’s gracious favor, please don’t refuse!”

His words struck both a dignified and practical note, and Tuhai, now satisfied, smiled slightly, realizing that this man was not entirely useless—at least he knew how to conduct himself as an official.

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PS: That’s all for today’s update. I’m exhausted. Next chapter, the war begins—brothers, remember to cast your votes. Thank you.