November twenty-ninth.
Liaodong, Shenyang (Shenyang).
A month after leaving the border, the large army finally reached Shengjing from the grassland.
Inside the Chongzheng Hall, Duoduo's quartermaster was reporting on the spoils of the plunder.
"This time we captured 162,400 people and livestock, as well as gold... and silver..."
"The return journey was long and difficult, and the weather was freezing cold, with a lack of food and clothing. More than 22,000 people and 360 animals died on the way, but the rest of the supplies were not lost."
Duoduo glanced around, and finally looked up: "Your Majesty, did you hear it clearly? If you heard it clearly, I will let him go."
Fulin, who was only seven years old, sat on the throne, staring with his eyes wide open, at a loss.
I heard it clearly, but I didn't know how to respond.
In fact, he didn't know why he came here today, let alone what happened outside.
Fulin looked around, searching for a figure in the crowd.
After searching for a while, I found nothing.
He frowned and looked towards the seat closest to him in the audience.
There were a lot of people standing there.
Sony, Tan Tai, Tulai, Gong Adai of the Plain Yellow Banner; Xihan and Aobai of the Bordered Yellow Banner were on the left and right.
The six of them were important officials of the Zhenghuang and Xianghuang banners.
It was they who went against all odds and supported the ninth prince Fulin to ascend the throne and become emperor.
Before enthroning Fulin as emperor, they swore an oath together in the Sanguan Temple: they would live and die together, swear to assist the young master, and the six of them would be as one.
A little further away from them, Daishan of the Plain Red Banner, Luoluohun of the Bordered Red Banner, Duoduo of the Bordered White Banner, Haoge of the Plain Blue Banner, and Jirgalang of the Bordered Blue Banner stood respectively.
All the banner owners were present, except Dorgon, the leader of the Plain White Banner.
Fulin asked Sony in a low voice: "Sony, why can't I see Prince Rui?"
The muscles on Sony's face twitched uncontrollably, and he replied in a low voice: "Your Majesty, please be patient. Prince Rui will be here soon."
Fulin nodded and said to the quartermaster, "Go down."
"As you wish."
The quartermaster turned around and fled away.
Seeing that Dorgon had not arrived yet, Jirgalang deliberately asked loudly: "Your Majesty, everyone is here. When do we start the meeting?"
"Yes, we have gained a lot from this entry into the pass. Those supplies are still waiting to be distributed to the bannermen for the New Year." Hauge followed suit.
The atmosphere in Chongzheng Hall quickly cooled.
No matter how mature Fulin was, he was just a seven-year-old child. Faced with the questions from these adults and elders, he didn't know how to answer.
In desperation, he had to look at Sony again.
Sony gritted his teeth and signaled with his eyes that Fulin should ignore them.
Duoduo took the opportunity to come to Jirgalang and asked with his hand covering his mouth: "Prince Zheng, I heard that Prince Rui went to the palace to see the Holy Mother Empress Dowager (Xiaozhuang) again?"
"What else? Where else can he go?"
"You can't let so many people wait for him! You are the faithful and loyal regent uncle, responsible for assisting the emperor. Now that the regent is away, you should take up the responsibility."
Just as Jirgalang was about to speak, heavy footsteps were heard outside the hall.
Immediately afterwards, the palace door opened, and Dorgon walked in accompanied by heavy breathing.
It was freezing cold outside, with heavy snow and wind.
Maybe it was because of walking, or maybe it was for other reasons.
Not only did Dorgon not show any fear of the cold, but sweat was breaking out on his forehead and his face was flushed.
After entering the palace, he went straight to Fulin and knelt down to salute: "Dorgon greets the emperor. Long live the emperor."
"No need to bow, just stand up!" Fulin said with a smile on his face.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
"Let's discuss the matter!" After saying this, Fulin leaned comfortably on the throne, motionless.
It would have been better if Fulin didn't say anything. After he finished speaking, the Chongzheng Hall fell into an eerie silence.
After a moment, Dorgon came out and knelt again: "Your Majesty, I am guilty."
"This time we were besieged by Ming troops that were several times our size, and the White Banner...were completely wiped out!"
"Ah?" Fulin jumped up from the throne.
Although he was only seven years old, he was well aware of the harm that would result from the complete loss of the Plain White Banner.
The reason why he can live to this day is not only due to the contribution of his great aunt, but also because of Dorgon, the leader of the Plain White Banner.
(Empress Zhezhe, Xiaozhuang's aunt, persuaded the Zhenghuang and Xianghuang banners to support her and her son.)
"What...what...is going on?" Fulin was panicked, completely panicked.
Of course Dorgon would not tell the truth.
He recounted what he had encountered inside the pass.
All the parts that were unfavorable to him were deleted and modified.
He would exaggerate and speak of things that were beneficial to him in a vivid and moving manner.
In order to shirk responsibility, he even brought up Wu Sangui.
"Your Majesty, I was chased and intercepted by Huang Degong, Tang Tong, Liu Wenyao, Wang Yongji, Wu Sangui and other 100,000 soldiers and horses. I was exhausted after a long battle and unfortunately suffered a great defeat."
"At that time, the Wenyu River was dry, and I and more than a thousand of my personal soldiers were lucky enough to cross the river. When the Ming army was halfway across the river, the river suddenly rose sharply, and the Ming army suffered heavy losses and had to give up the pursuit."
"I was lucky enough to escape with my life, and then I fled all the way south to Shandong. I met Duoduo in Juzhou before returning to Shengjing!"
Looking at Dorgon crying and sobbing, the flag leaders present all showed contemptuous expressions.
Too good at pretending!
Jirgalang stood up and said, "Your Majesty, no matter what, Prince Rui was defeated this time when he entered the pass, resulting in heavy losses for the Eight Banners soldiers."
"We don't have many bannermen to begin with. In order to appease their anger, I think we should strip him of his title of prince and put him in jail to try his crimes."
"I second the motion." Hauge stood up.
"I second the motion." Daishan and Luo Luohun also stood up.
In addition to Fulin, there were six other banner leaders in the Eight Banners.
Four banner chiefs stood up at once to convict Dorgon.
The pressure suddenly came to Fulin.
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