A good diplomat must be as cunning as a fox, as agile as a cheetah, and as changeable as a butterfly.
He jumps among the enemies and is good at dancing on the tip of the knife. He is proficient in everything and changes as he goes.
Lu Guangzhai and others began to embark on this road.
The six-month-long training is a hellish torture they must go through. Once they get through it, they will surely become legends in the history of diplomacy.
In October, the Qing army that went south to invade the Ming Dynasty finally returned to Shengjing.
Huang Taiji personally went ten miles out of the city to greet him as a solemn sign.
This time when they invaded, the Qing army fought brilliantly, and their gains were extremely rich.
The country, which was originally turbulent due to the disaster, immediately stabilized.
Huang Taiji, who was confident enough, finally began to set his sights on North Korea.
He sent envoys to various Mongolian tribes and invited their leaders to come to Shengjing for an alliance. At the same time, he surveyed the Mongolian population, compiled cattle records, and recruited troops from foreign Mongolian vassals.
Following the invasion of the Qing army, the various Mongolian tribes also grabbed a lot of money. Therefore, facing Huang Taiji's invitation, all the tribes came happily.
It happened that at this time within North Korea, after repeated persuasion by Cui Mingji, Li Jie loosened his attitude and knew that he could not go head-on with the Manchus.
The North Korean envoy Park In-beom brought the official document to Huang Tae-gil.
"Why don't you kneel down?"
Seeing Park In-beom standing and saluting, all the civil and military officials of the Qing Dynasty were furious.
Even though he was being stared at, Park In-beom still tried to stay calm.
"We are two countries of brothers, and we should abide by the righteousness of brothers. As the ministers of brothers, I should treat each other with courtesy."
With that said, he took out his credentials and wanted to hand it to Huang Taiji.
Huang Taiji didn't answer at all.
Since North Korea is unwilling to surrender, what else can be said?
He asked Sony to throw North Korea's credentials on the ground and directly issued a declaration of war.
"We, the Qing Dynasty, have now become the common rulers of the world. North Korea does not know the inferiority of dignity, and is arrogant and self-destructive. Go back and tell the leader of your country that if the prince cannot be sent away before November 25th, the ministers will come to replace it.
After making an agreement, I will come to Hanyang in person to show my conquest."
Park In-beom was stunned, and a cold air rushed from the soles of his feet to his forehead.
He knew that Huang Taiji's patience had finally come to an end and he no longer wanted to argue with North Korea.
There are only two options left for North Korea.
Either surrender or perish.
Park In-beom was frightened and did not dare to stay. He ran back to Hanyang at night and reported Huang Taiji's attitude to Li Jie.
Knowing that the Qing Dynasty was about to attack, the whole country was shaken.
At this point, they are still divided into two factions.
Kim Sang-heon is impassioned and his ambition remains unchanged.
"Since the founding of the Eight Paths of Korea, we have respected Ming as our master. This is the way to prosper the country. How can it be changed by barbarians? How can we be human when we kneel down in front of wild beasts? What good will the country survive if people will no longer be human? Your Highness, please return
Please order the mobilization of troops and horses to defend Korea."
This time Cui Mingji couldn't bear it anymore.
He crawled out on all fours and shouted loudly: "Your Highness, North Korea is a small and weak country. There are no generals who are good at fighting, and there are no brave soldiers below. The treasury is empty, and the food and grass are cut off. The people are struggling to beg for a living, so how can we listen to it?
The king ordered us to fight against a powerful enemy? If we want to continue our Korean state, we should act cautiously."
Hong Yihan roared: "The enemy is currently facing us, and there is still Xiaoxiao who is deceiving people. Please kill Cui Mingji to strengthen the people's morale."
"That's enough! Stop arguing!"
Li Zhu is old, lacks energy, and has long lost his ambition. What he longs for most is a stable life.
He was very irritated by the scolding and shouting of beatings and killings.
He was very dissatisfied with these ministers.
The country is gone, and people like them can still live a comfortable life. But as a king, how can he still survive?
The heavens and the earth are not as important as your own authority and life.
"Where is Park Lan Young?"
A general ran out.
Looking at this person, Li Zhu's eyes were full of hope.
"You have lived with the Jurchens for many years and have brokered contracts. Now the country's security hangs on a thread. I hope you will go to Liaodong as an envoy and eliminate the chaos no matter what."
This Pu Lanying once followed Jiang Hongli to participate in the Battle of Saerhu, and then followed Jiang Hongli to surrender to Houjin.
This man also married Tong Qigong's daughter and had a deep relationship with the Manchus.
During the Battle of Dingmao, he went out with the Qing army. Through his efforts, North Korea and Hou Jin finally reached an agreement and quelled the war.
Moreover, over the years, he has served as an envoy between North Korea and Houjin many times, and he can be regarded as an authoritative figure in the relations between the two parties.
Now that we are on the verge of war, Li Shu, who is greedy for life and afraid of death, thinks of him again. He hopes that he can reverse the situation and preserve peace.
Although Pu Lanying had a premonition that the trip would be difficult, she did not postpone it and quickly embarked on the journey to Liaodong.
Unfortunately, by this time, everything was too late.
On November 19, Huang Taiji summoned all ministers to Dugong Hall. Even Yue Tuo showed up sick and read out the imperial edict to send troops on his behalf.
"North Korea is treasonous and unethical, so it should be conquered to promote Wang De. According to each cow, there are fifteen cavalry, ten infantry, and thirty-two sets of armor. The Han army led by Zhangjing Shitingzhu in Angbang has fifty arrows per soldier.
Twelve people in A, one spear, two oxen and a ladder, one pair each for playing cards. The rest of the equipment, horses, and half a month of food and grass must not be missing. We must gather at midnight on the 29th without delay."
All the ministers of His Highness threw themselves down one after another, shouting "Long live the mountain" and received the general's order.
November 25th, winter solstice.
Huang Taiji offered sacrifices to Heaven and Earth and the Imperial Ancestral Temple, and read out the charges against Korea in public.
On the first day of the twelfth lunar month, various Mongolian tribes led their soldiers and horses to join together. For a time, soldiers gathered inside and outside Shengjing, and the city was shaken by the sound of people neighing and horses roaring.
After gathering all the troops and horses needed for the expedition, Huang Taiji began to make arrangements.
He ordered Prince Zheng Jierhalang to stay in Shengjing to ensure the safety of the center; he also asked Azig to go out to Fuzhou Guard to monitor the Xia army's movements.
Then he ordered Sony to guard Panshan and monitor the Ming army in the Liaoxi Corridor.
After making arrangements for my hometown, the next step is the candidates for the expedition that everyone has been waiting for.
The Manchu Qing Dynasty built its country by force, and its military achievements were the most abundant. Therefore, everyone was warlike and fought bravely to be the first.
And in everyone's eyes, North Korea is extremely weak and effortless in fighting. How can we not look forward to this good time to grab the glory?
Huang Taiji's eyes swept down and he quickly made up his mind.
"Mafuta, Rausa, you two will lead 300 elite soldiers as the vanguard of the entire army."
This appointment comes as no surprise.
After all, Mafuta and Rausa had just served as envoys to North Korea and had some understanding of the situation in North Korea.
It was the next appointment that caught everyone's attention.
"Prince Su Hauge and Beizi Nikan, you two will lead a thousand elite soldiers as a guard. Follow the vanguard to ensure smooth passage of the army."
Everyone was stunned, having no idea that such an important position would fall on Hauge.
Even Hauge himself was a little flattered. Fan Ji coughed next to him before he came back to his senses. He quickly knelt down and accepted the order happily.
