Preface
When the spring breeze blew in 1644, a peasant-turned-leader had the opportunity to rewrite history, a loyal frontier general was faced with the choice of sacrificing his life for the country or turning against each other, and a Manchu regent who was ready to move was looking forward to the Central Plains surrendering his hand.
When the wheel of history rolls forward, the fate of three men is intertwined, triggering a bloody battle, and the outcome of this battle will determine the survival of a nation. So, in this era of change, who can reverse their fate and finally laugh at the tide of history?
The Rise of the Dashun Dynasty: A Peasant's Son's Path Against the Heavens
Before 1644, Li Zicheng was just an ordinary peasant child. After the early death of his parents, he was forced to live on the streets, and the hardships of life honed his tenacity and fortitude. From a small thief, to leading an army of peasants, to establishing his own "Dashun" dynasty – Li Zicheng's life can be described as ups and downs and legends.
At first, Li Zicheng was unknown, but he had enthusiasm and ambition. With his extraordinary courage and resourcefulness, he gradually rose to prominence and gathered a group of enthusiastic young farmers near Yanjing. These people are resentful of the current injustices in the countryside and are eager to make a difference. It is Li Zicheng's frank, honest and impassioned character that has won the support and followers of these people.
However, the road was still bumpy, and Li Zicheng not only had to face the repression of the government, but also had to fight fiercely with other rebels. It was in the baptism of blood and fire that Li Zicheng became more and more iron-blooded and resolute, and also cultivated a unique talent for war. He gradually gained a foothold, built up a military force, and commanded the world, vowing to overthrow the corrupt Ming Dynasty and establish a peasant-dominated Dashun dynasty.
In 1641, Li Zicheng was proclaimed emperor in Xiangyuan, and the founding year was called Dashun. Since then, the self-formed army has been invincible. Within a few years, the corrupt rule of the Ming Dynasty collapsed in the face of this storm of popular upheaval. And when Li Zicheng finally conquered Beijing in March 1644, Ming Sizong hanged himself, this peasant-born young man completely rewrote history and approached the highest goal of his life.
However, just when Li Zicheng achieved this unprecedented victory, the gears of fate had quietly turned, and a big battle that could decide the fate of him and the country was brewing in Shanhaiguan. When Li Zicheng learned that a Ming Dynasty border general named "Wu Sangui" was making a move, he was faintly uneasy in his heart. Because he knows very well that it is this person's choice that will affect the future of the Dashun Dynasty.
Loyal border guards: a tangled inner world
For Wu Sangui, he has done everything a courtier should do in the Ming Dynasty. This general, who came from a humble background, was dressed in cloth, but he repelled the Qing soldiers many times on the border and was known for his loyalty and bravery. If it weren't for a general like him, the northern frontier of the Ming Dynasty would have fallen long ago. It is this kind of loyalty and meritorious service that makes him more and more valued in the army.
However, it is such a loyal border general who has mixed feelings in his heart at this time. Seeing the turmoil at the end of the Ming Dynasty, he knew that the royal family was already in decline and could not continue. "Do you want to protect yourself?" is a choice that keeps him awake at night. He would rather die on the battlefield than defect to the enemy. However, reality forced him to make a difficult choice.
Li Zicheng sent someone to visit, lured him with a lot of money, and wanted to win over Wu Sangui, the character. But how could he easily surrender and turn his back on the territory that he had guarded for many years? When the envoy said the words "the general trend of the world" with a smile on his face, Wu Sangui felt all kinds of emotions in his heart.
He looked at the yellow sand and the lonely Great Wall, and his eyes flashed with hesitation. He did not want the blood of his officers and soldiers to be shed in vain, and he was even more unwilling to feel sorry for his subordinate brothers who had worked with him for many years. Loyalty and ideals have made the burden on his back heavier, and in the face of this unpredictable and chaotic world, what should he do?
In the end, when Li Zicheng led the army to Shanhaiguan, Wu Sangui finally made up his mind to fight to the death with this peasant-born new dynasty. He looked at the soldiers overlooking the pass, the army of peasants who were full of wolf smoke, his eyes were resolute, and he secretly described a tragedy in his heart. "Let's be buried with him!" when he turned and announced the order of defiance to the commanders, everyone saw decisive courage in his eyes.
The Manchus are eyeing it: Dorgon's ambitions
At the same time, there is a third force that is eyeing and poised to attack. As the regent of the Manchu Dynasty, Dolgon had coveted the Central Plains for a long time. This ambitious ruler knew that the Northeast was inhospitable and barren, and it was difficult to gain a foothold for long. All along, he was constantly maneuvering with the Ming Dynasty army on the border, looking for a glimmer of opportunity. And now the good situation really makes him eager to try.
After learning that the Dashun army and the Ming army would fight to the death at Shanhaiguan, Dolgon immediately decided to send troops. He knew it was a great opportunity. "We want to reap the benefits of the fishermen and take the passes and mountains and rivers in one fell swoop!" When he stood in the camp tent and tried every possible way, a glimmer of light suddenly flashed in his eyes. The imperial power, the territory, the country, the people's hearts, everything is under control, how can he, the regent of the Manchu Dynasty, tolerate the loss of this piece of fat?
So, when the first rays of sunlight in the early morning of 1644 shone on Shanhaiguan, the Manchu army had quietly assembled not far away. A bloody battle in which the outcome will determine the trend of this nation has officially kicked off at this time. And the key to the outcome will depend on the intricate contest between these three forces. So, who can reverse the destiny of heaven and return triumphantly?
Aggressive: A big battle outside Shanhaiguan
In the spring of 1644, Shanhaiguan ushered in a decisive offensive and defensive battle. Fierce battles broke out between the Dashun army and the Ming army here, and the fighting between the two sides was full of tragedy and tragedy. And this is just the beginning, and then the sudden attack of the Qing soldiers made the whole battle open and colorful.
In the early morning of the same day, the Shanhai Pass, which stretched for several miles, was surrounded by the Dashun army. Li Zicheng sat in the coach, secretly calculating the odds of winning this battle. He knew that after this battle, he would be able to dominate the Central Plains and make the Dashun Dynasty prosperous. Although the morale of the army was high, they were also faintly jealous of the Guanning Iron Cavalry. When that order was given, the whole valley resounded with neat footsteps and shouts, and the peasant army rushed away like a tide, with great momentum.
On the other side, Wu Sangui sat at the head of the city, staring intently at the approaching enemy army. He took a deep breath and once again conveyed his determination to the soldiers outside the city. Although outnumbered, everyone was moved by his indomitable and faithful and vowed to live and die with him. After that order was given, all the elites who were in battle rushed out of the city gate and went straight to the enemy's vital point. The horses neighed, the swords and swords shadowed, and the valley was dusty in an instant, and the two armies fought to the death.
The fierce battle began in the morning, and the battle was carried out until the harvest was reached. However, Wu Sangui's Guanning army repeatedly defused the offensive of the Dashun army, which made Li Zicheng feel slightly tricky. And at this moment, the Qing soldiers, who had been secretly about to move, suddenly beat the snare drum and killed from the other end of the valley!
This sudden turn of events caught both sides off guard. Li Zicheng was shocked, and then fell into the attack of external enemies and internal worries. The Dashun army, which had already suffered heavy casualties, was immediately defeated. On that fierce battlefield, corpses were strewn all over the field, full of misery and sorrow. Under the afterglow of the last Yang, Li Zicheng felt powerless, so he could only lead the remnants to retreat westward, and since then he has been in a slump.
Although Wu Sangui also suffered heavy casualties in this battle, he was relieved because of Dolgon's help. He looked at the remnant sun in the west, and the miserable battlefield, not knowing what to think. Perhaps, Li Zicheng also took away some of his dreams and ideals. However, the reality is harsh. When he knelt before Dorgon to pledge allegiance to the Qing Dynasty, the name of betrayal would remain with him to the end.
Ups and downs: The fates of the three are very different
The battle of Shanhaiguan not only determined the end of the Ming Dynasty, but also determined the very different fates of the three people. Li Zicheng, Wu Sangui and Dolgon, they are so different, yet so similar. They all have their own ideals, but they all have to obey reality.
Li Zicheng went from a small thief to a whole dynasty step by step. In the end, however, it fell short, and the hard work came to naught. His Dashun is just a passer-by in the long river of history, and he himself has been in a slump since then, and he will eventually grow in the northwest. Who would have thought that the high-spirited peasant leader would end miserably in the end?
Wu Sangui was originally a loyal defender of the Ming Dynasty's frontier. However, for the sake of reality, he had to defect in shame. Although the meritorious lord was later crowned king, he could never erase the stigma of betrayal. There was destined to be a large gap in his tombstone. The general, who once vowed to live with the country, finally succumbed to reality and ambition.
And if there was one winner in this war, it was Dolgon and the Manchu dynasty. With this dispatch, Dolgon finally opened a breakthrough and gradually marched towards the Central Plains. A few years later, he established the Tatar Qing Empire in a piece of flesh and blood, and since then he has been in charge of the Central Plains for more than 200 years.
When the fates of the three people are intertwined in the land of Shanhaiguan, it is also destined to the rise and fall of the entire nation for two hundred years. Can we assert that the scales of history are always fair, and when the smoke of the last war has cleared, what will remain in people's memory?
epilogue
History does not need to assert who is right and who is wrong, because victory always belongs to the harsh reality. However, the names and stories of those martyrs who sacrificed their lives for their ideals will also be the carriers of this national spirit and will be passed on forever. When we stand on the historical land of Shanhaiguan and look at the familiar winding Great Wall, we will think of the ups and downs of fate in this battle, as well as the many lives lost......