The Emperor’s Commission and the Five-Year Promise
Emperor Ming Sizong (Chongzhen) decided to entrust the entire defense of Liaodong and its surrounding regions to Yuan Chonghuan. He was generous with his authority, appointing Yuan as Minister of War and Left Chief Censor, granting him supreme command over military and administrative affairs in Ji Province, Liaodong, Dengzhou, Laizhou, and Tianjin. This gave Yuan the power to mobilize resources across a vast area, unifying the front and rear defenses.
Upon arriving in Beijing, Yuan was granted an immediate audience. When the Emperor asked for his plan, Yuan replied, “My strategy is written in my memorial: use the people of Liaodong to defend the land of Liaodong, and use the land to sustain them. Strict defense is the foundation; offensive strikes are the surprise tactic; negotiations are auxiliary. If Your Majesty trusts me, I can recover the lost territories within five years.” He requested full support regarding supplies and personnel. The Emperor agreed readily, assigning the relevant ministries to assist.
Sensing the precarious nature of court politics, Yuan hesitated before speaking again. “My ability is sufficient to govern Liaodong, but I cannot prevent slander. Being far from the capital, I fear malicious gossip…” The Emperor smiled, reassuring him, “You need not worry; I have my own judgment.” He bestowed upon Yuan the Imperial Sword (Shangfang Baojian), saying, “With this, you may act according to circumstances without prior approval.” Moved to tears, Yuan expressed his deepest concern: “It is not fear that makes me speak, but necessity. Military affairs are complex, and the enemy will surely use deception. Please judge me by the success of the campaign, not minor errors. Trust me completely and doubt me not.” The Emperor promised he would not listen to slander.
Consolidation and the Problem of Mao Wenlong
Arriving in the northeast, Yuan deployed his generals: He Kegang to guard Ningyuan, Zu Dashou to guard Jinzhou, and Zhao Shuaijiao at Shanhai Pass. To further secure the flank, Yuan turned his attention to Dongjiang Town (Pidao Island), located near the mouth of the Yalu River. He realized this island could serve as a strategic “chess piece” to harass the Later Jin. However, the commander there, General Mao Wenlong, was a difficult variable.
Mao Wenlong, originally a merchant turned soldier, had established a semi-independent fiefdom on the island. While he did conduct guerrilla raids against the Jin and supported Korea, he operated with little discipline. He inflated his troop numbers to embezzle pay, engaged in private trade (including banned horses), and often exaggerated his victories. He even corresponded with Hong Taiji, threatening to defect if his demands weren’t met.
Yuan, a strict disciplinarian, could not tolerate such autonomy. When asked about his five-year plan, Yuan stated, “I must start with Dongjiang. As for Mao Wenlong, if he can be used, I will use him; if not, I must kill him.”
Yuan traveled to the island and initially praised Mao, rewarding his troops to lower their guard. He then proposed sending a civil official to supervise the island’s finances. Mao refused bluntly. Yuan suggested he retire due to his age; Mao retorted that he was indispensable. Realizing reconciliation was impossible, Yuan made his move. The next day, during an archery demonstration, Yuan had Mao arrested. He listed twelve capital crimes, including killing civilians to claim credit, embezzlement, and treasonous correspondence. Despite Mao’s kowtowing and pleas for mercy, Yuan displayed the Imperial Sword and executed him, declaring, “Only Mao Wenlong is guilty; the rest of you are innocent.”
The Breach at Xifengkou and the Defense of Beijing
After consolidating the coastal defenses and reducing expenditures in Dengzhou and Tianjin, Yuan prepared for the next phase. However, the political consequences of killing Mao began to surface immediately. While some officials approved, others argued it was rash and risked alienating Mao’s subordinates – some of whom did indeed defect to the Later Jin. Although the Emperor initially reprimanded Yuan for acting without reporting back, he ultimately accepted the justification, citing the authority of the Imperial Sword.
Meanwhile, Hong Taiji, facing a solid defensive line from Jinzhou to the sea, devised a new strategy. In the autumn of 1629, he led a massive army westward, bypassing the main forts. They marched rapidly to Xifengkou Pass, breached the defenses, and swept towards Zunhua and Jizhou.
Yuan had previously warned the Emperor to strengthen Jizhou, but his advice had been ignored. Upon hearing of the breach, Yuan immediately ordered Zhao Shuaijiao to intercept. Zhao, a sixty-year-old veteran, engaged the Jin cavalry on open ground at Zunhua and was killed in action. Grieving but determined, Yuan led his main force, including Zu Dashou and He Kegang, to block the enemy. Hong Taiji, unwilling to clash directly with Yuan, maneuvered west to Shunyi and Tongzhou, aiming straight for Beijing. Yuan force-marched his troops, arriving at the Guangqu Gate of Beijing just one day ahead of the Jin army, successfully blocking their path. General Man Gui also arrived with reinforcements from Datong.
The Anti-Between Stratagem and the Fall of a Hero
The battle outside Beijing was fierce. Both sides fought desperately. The Ming forces eventually held the line, inflicting heavy casualties, but at a high cost: Man Gui was killed in action, and Yuan Chonghuan was wounded by several arrows.
Frustrated by the stalemate and Yuan’s presence, Hong Taiji sought a way to remove his nemesis without fighting. His scouts captured two eunuchs from the palace. Seizing the opportunity, Hong Taiji orchestrated a deception. He ordered his men to “casually” discuss within earshot of the prisoners that Yuan Chonghuan had a secret pact with the Jin to allow them passage in exchange for a treaty. The prisoners were then allowed to escape and report this to the Emperor.
When the eunuchs returned to the Forbidden City with this news, Emperor Ming Sizong fell into a panic. He remembered the previous peace talks between Yuan and Hong Taiji and began to suspect treachery. Coincidentally, another escaped captive confirmed the rumor, claiming to have heard of a secret agreement in the Jin camp. Blinded by paranoia, the Emperor disregarded Yuan’s loyalty and ordered his arrest.
Yuan denied the charges, and many officials pleaded his innocence, but the damage was done. Watching this unfold, General Zu Dashou, fearing for his own life and disgusted by the injustice, led his troops away from the capital in anger. The Emperor, terrified of losing the army, forced the imprisoned Yuan to write a letter recalling Zu. Despite Zu’s return and subsequent victories to prove his loyalty, the Emperor remained unmoved.
After the Jin forces withdrew, Emperor Ming Sizong sentenced Yuan Chonghuan to death by lingchi (slow slicing). The public proclamation blamed Yuan for everything: treason, the death of Man Gui, and the execution of Mao Wenlong. The citizens of Beijing, believing the propaganda, hated Yuan as a traitor. On the day of execution, crowds gathered, cheering and even buying pieces of his flesh to eat.
Before his death, Yuan wrote a final poem: “A lifetime of career has come to nothing; half a lifetime of fame is but a dream. After death, I shall not worry about brave generals; my loyal soul will still guard Liaodong.” He died never understanding why he was branded a traitor. His tragic end, like so many loyal ministers and generals before him, chilled the hearts of the people, leading many scholars to turn away from politics and focus instead on the study of nature and science, finding more freedom and impact outside the treacherous imperial court.
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