皇太極 Huángtàijí
Biography
太宗應天興國弘德彰武寬溫仁聖睿孝敬敏昭定隆道顯功文皇帝，諱皇太極，太祖第八子，母孝慈高皇后。上儀表奇偉，聰睿絕倫，顏如渥丹，嚴寒不栗。長益神勇，善騎射，性耽典籍，諮覽弗倦，仁孝寬惠，廓然有大度。
天命
天命元年，太祖以上為和碩貝勒，與大貝勒代善、二貝勒阿敏、三貝勒莽古爾泰為四大貝勒。上居四，稱四貝勒。
太祖崩，儲嗣未定。代善與其子岳託、薩哈廉以上才德冠世，與諸貝勒議請嗣位。上辭再三，久之乃許。
天命十一年丙寅九月庚午朔，即位於瀋陽。詔以明年為天聰元年。初，太祖命上名，臆制之，後知漢稱儲君曰「皇太子」，蒙古嗣位者曰「黃台吉」，音並闇合。及即位，咸以為有天意焉。
辛未，誓告天地，以行正道，循禮義，敦友愛，盡公忠，勖諸大貝勒等。甲戌，諭漢官民有私計遁逃及令奸細往來者，雖首告勿論，後惟已逃被獲者論死。丙子，諭曰：「工築之興，有妨農務，前以城郭邊牆，事關守禦，有勞民力，良非得已。茲後止葺頹壞，不復興築，俾民專勤南畝。滿洲、漢人，毋或異視，訟獄差徭，務使均一。貝勒屬下人，毋許邊外行獵。市稅為國費所出，聽其通商貿易，私往外國及漏稅者罪之。」丁丑，令漢人與滿洲分屯別居。先是漢人十三壯丁為一莊，給滿官為奴。至是，每備御止留八人，餘悉編為民戶，處以別屯，擇漢官廉正者理之。設八固山額真，分領八旗。以納穆泰為正黃旗固山額真，額駙達爾漢為鑲黃旗固山額真，額駙和碩圖為正紅旗固山額真，博爾晉為鑲紅旗固山額真，額駙顧三泰為鑲藍旗固山額真，托博輝為正藍旗固山額真，徹爾格為鑲白旗固山額真，喀克篤禮為正白旗固山額真。又設十六大臣，贊理庶政，聽八旗訟獄。又設十六大臣，參理訟獄，行軍駐防則遣之。乙未，蒙古科爾沁土謝圖汗奧巴遣使來吊。
Taizong, the Emperor Wen (in full, Yingtian Xingguo Hongde Zhangwu Kuanwen Rensheng Ruixiao Jingmin Zhaoding Longdao Xiangong Wen Huangdi), whose personal name was Huangtaiji, was the eighth son of Taizu; his mother was the Empress Xiaoci Gao. The emperor was remarkable and imposing in bearing, intelligent and wise beyond compare, with a face as ruddy as if painted with cinnabar, and he did not shiver in the bitterest cold. As he grew up he became still more marvellously brave, and was a fine horseman and archer; by nature he delighted in books, and never tired of reading and asking questions; he was humane and filial, generous and kind, open-hearted and of great magnanimity. Edit
Tianming
In the first year of Tianming, Taizu made the emperor a Heshuo Beile; with the Great Beile Daishan, the Second Beile Amin and the Third Beile Manggu'ertai, he was one of the Four Great Beile. The emperor ranked fourth and was called the Fourth Beile. Edit
When Taizu died, the succession had not been settled. Daishan and his sons Yuetuo and Sahalian, holding that the emperor's talent and virtue surpassed all others of the age, consulted with the other Beile and asked him to succeed to the throne. The emperor declined again and again, and only after a long while agreed. Edit
On the first day, gengwu, of the ninth month of the eleventh year of Tianming, a bingyin year, he took the throne at Shenyang. An edict made the next year the first year of Tiancong. At first, when Taizu named the emperor, he made the name up as it came to him; later it was learned that the Chinese called the heir to the throne huangtaizi, Crown Prince, and that the Mongols called the heir of a khan huangtaiji, and both matched the sound of his name. When he took the throne, everyone held that this had been the will of Heaven. Edit
On xinwei he swore an oath before Heaven and Earth, and urged the Great Beile and the others to walk the right way, follow ritual and righteousness, be warm in brotherly love, and be wholly public-spirited and loyal. On jiaxu he decreed that Chinese officials and people who had privately planned to flee, or who had sent spies back and forth, were not to be prosecuted even if informed against; from now on, only those who had actually fled and been caught would be put to death. On bingzi he decreed: "Building works interfere with farming. Earlier, because city walls and frontier walls concerned our defence, we laboured the people's strength, and truly we had no choice. From now on we shall only repair what has collapsed or decayed and build nothing new, so that the people can work wholly at their fields. Manchus and Chinese are not to be looked on differently; in lawsuits and in labour service they must be treated alike. The people under the Beile are not allowed to hunt beyond the frontier. Market taxes are the source of the state's revenue; let the people trade freely, but those who go abroad privately or evade the tax shall be punished." On dingchou he ordered the Chinese and the Manchus to live in separate villages. Before this, every thirteen Chinese able-bodied men had made up a farmstead and been given to Manchu officials as slaves. Now each Company Captain kept only eight, and the rest were all registered as commoner households and settled in separate villages, with honest and upright Chinese officials chosen to govern them. Eight gushan ejen were set up, each to command one of the Eight Banners. Namutai was made gushan ejen of the Plain Yellow Banner, the efu Da'erhan gushan ejen of the Bordered Yellow Banner, the efu Heshuotu of the Plain Red Banner, Bo'erjin of the Bordered Red Banner, the efu Gusantai of the Bordered Blue Banner, Tuobohui of the Plain Blue Banner, Che'erge of the Bordered White Banner, and Kakeduli of the Plain White Banner. Sixteen ministers were also set up to assist in the general business of government and to hear the lawsuits of the Eight Banners. Another sixteen ministers were set up to take part in trying lawsuits, and to be sent out when the army marched or garrisons were posted. On yiwei Aoba, the Tushetu Khan of the Mongol Ke'erqin, sent envoys to offer condolences. Edit
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冬十月己酉，以蒙古喀爾喀札魯特部敗盟殺掠，私通於明，命大貝勒代善等率精兵萬人討之，先貽書聲其罪，上送至蒲河山而還。癸丑，別遣楞額禮、阿山率輕兵六百入喀爾喀巴林地，以張軍勢。丙辰，科爾沁土謝圖汗奧巴及代達爾漢等十四貝勒各遣使來吊。達硃戶征卦爾察部，獲其人口牲畜以歸。明寧遠巡撫袁崇煥遣李喇嘛及都司傅有爵等來吊，並賀即位。甲子，大貝勒代善等大破札魯特，斬其貝勒鄂爾齋圖，獲貝勒巴克及其二子並拉什希布等十四貝勒而還。
十一月辛未，上發瀋陽迎大貝勒代善，師次鐵嶺樊河界。癸酉，行飲至禮，論功，頒賚將士。戊寅，上還瀋陽。察哈爾阿喇克綽忒部貝勒圖爾濟率百戶來歸。乙酉，遣方吉納、溫塔石偕李喇嘛往報袁崇煥，且遺書曰：「頃停息干戈，遣使弔賀，來者以禮，故遣官陳謝。昔皇考往寧遠時，曾致璽書言和，未獲回答。如其修好，答書以實，勿事文飾。」崇煥不以聞，而令我使繼還。卓禮克圖貝勒之子衛徵巴拜手巂其家屬來歸。科爾沁貝勒青巴圖魯桑阿爾齋、台吉滿珠什哩各繼鞍馬牛羊來吊。
十二月庚子，禁與蒙古諸籓售賣兵仗。壬戌，黑龍江人來朝貢。
天聰元年
天聰元年春正月丙子，命二貝勒阿敏，貝勒濟爾哈朗、阿濟格、杜度、岳言乇、碩托率兵征朝鮮。上曰：「朝鮮累世得罪，今明毛文龍近彼海島，納我叛民，宜兩圖之。」復遣方吉納、溫塔石遺書明袁崇煥，言興師由七大恨，並約其議和，及每歲餽報之數。
二月己亥，以書招諭蒙古奈曼部袞出斯巴圖魯。
三月壬申，阿敏等克朝鮮義州，別遣兵搗鐵山，明守將毛文龍遁走。又克安州，進至平壤城，渡大同江。朝鮮國王李倧遣使迎師。阿敏等數其七罪，仍遣使趣和。倧懼，率妻子遁江華島，其長子李𣳫遁全州。阿敏復遣副將劉興祚入島面諭倧。倧遣其族弟原昌君李覺獻馬百匹、虎豹皮百、錦苧各四百、布一萬五千。庚子，與朝鮮盟，定議罷兵。壬申，明袁崇煥遣杜明忠偕方吉納等以書來，並李喇嘛書，欲釋恨修好。惟請減金幣之數，而以我稱兵朝鮮為疑。辛巳，阿敏等遣使奏捷。乙酉，命留滿洲兵一千、蒙古兵二千防義州，滿洲兵三百、蒙古兵一千防鎮江城。並諭李倧曰：「我留兵義州者，防毛文龍耳。」阿敏等旋師，以李覺歸。
夏四月甲辰，遺袁崇煥書曰：「釋恨修好，固所原也。朝鮮自尊輕我，納我叛亡，我遲之數年，彼不知悔，是以興討。天誘其衷，我軍克捷。今已和矣，而爾詭言修好，仍遣哨卒偵視，修葺城堡。我國將帥，實以此致疑。夫講信修睦，必藉物以成禮，我豈貪而利此，使爾國力不支？可減其半。歲時餽答，當如前議，則兩國之福也。」書成，聞崇煥方築塔山、大凌河、錦州等城，遂罷遣使，而以書付杜明忠還。更責崇煥曰：「兩國修好，當分定疆域。今又修葺域垣，潛圖侵逼。倘戰爭不息，天以燕、雲畀我，爾主不幸奔竄，身敗名裂，為何如也。自古文臣不更事者徒為大言，每喪師殃民，社稷傾覆。前者遼左任用非人，而河東西土地盡失，今尚謂不足戒而謀動干戈耶？」癸丑，阿敏等自朝鮮凱旋，上迎於武靖營，賜阿敏御衣一襲，餘各賜馬一匹。乙卯，論征朝鮮將士功，擢賞有差。戊辰，上還瀋陽。乙丑，以書諭察哈爾台吉濟農及奈曼袞出斯巴圖魯來和。
五月戊辰，遣朝鮮國王弟李覺歸國，設宴餞之，並賜鞍馬裘帶等物。辛未，上聞明人於錦州、大凌河、小凌河築城屯田，而崇煥無報書，親率師往攻之。乙亥，至廣寧，乘夜進兵。丙子，明大凌河、小凌河兵棄城遁，遂圍錦州。明台堡兵二千餘人來降，悉縱之歸。丁丑，明鎮守遼東太監紀用、總兵趙率教遣人詣師請命。上開誠諭之，並許紀用親來定議。用不答，遂攻錦州。垂克，明援兵至，退五里而營，遣人調瀋陽兵益師。庚寅，固山額真博爾晉等以兵至。癸巳，攻寧遠城，殲其步卒千餘人。既，明總兵滿桂出城而陣，上欲擊之，三大貝勒均諫止。上怒，趣諸將戴兜鍪，率阿濟格疾馳而進，敗其前隊，追至寧遠城下，盡殪之。諸貝勒不及冑而從，濟爾哈朗、薩哈廉、瓦克達俱被創。錦州守兵亦出城合戰，我軍復迎擊之。游擊覺羅拜山、備御巴希陣歿，上臨其喪，哭而酹之。我軍還駐雙樹舖。乙未，復至錦州。
六月己亥，攻錦州，值天溽暑，士卒死傷甚眾。庚子，班師。丁未，上還瀋陽。是歲，大饑，斗米值銀八兩，銀賤物貴，盜賊繁興。上惻然曰：「民饑為盜，可盡殺乎！」令鞭而釋之，仍發帑賑民。
秋七月己巳，蒙古敖漢瑣諾木杜稜、塞臣卓禮克圖、奈曼袞出斯巴圖魯舉國來附。朝鮮國王李倧遣使報謝，並獻方物，命阿什達爾漢等往報之，尋以義州歸朝鮮。是月，明袁崇煥罷歸。
八月辛亥，察哈爾阿喇克綽忒部貝勒巴爾巴圖魯、諾門達賚、吹爾扎木蘇率眾來歸。是月，明熹宗崩，其弟信王嗣位，是為莊烈帝。
九月甲子朔，諭國家大祀大宴用牛外，其屠宰馬騾牛驢者悉禁之。
冬十一月庚午，察哈爾大貝勒昂坤杜稜來降。辛巳，薩哈爾察部來朝貢。
十二月甲午朔，察哈爾阿喇克綽忒貝勒圖爾濟伊爾登來降。
天聰二年
二年春正月戊子，格伊克裡部長四人率其屬來朝。
二月癸巳朔，以額亦都子圖爾格、費英東子察哈尼俱為總兵官。朝鮮國王李倧遣其總兵官李蘭等來獻方物，並米二千石，更以一千石在中江平糶。庚子，以往喀喇沁使臣屢為察哈爾多羅特部所殺，上率師親征。丁未，進擊多羅特部，敗之，多爾濟哈談巴圖魯被創遁，獲其妻子，殺台吉古魯，俘萬一千二百人還。丁巳，以戰勝，用八牛祭天。
三月戊辰，上還瀋陽，貝勒阿敏等率群臣郊迎，行抱見禮。以弟多爾袞、多鐸從征有功，賜多爾袞號墨爾根戴青，多鐸號額爾克楚虎爾。庚寅，以賜名之禮宴之。戊子，給國人無妻者金，使娶。以貝勒多爾袞為固山貝勒。
夏四月丙辰，巴林貝勒塞特爾，台吉塞冷、阿玉石、滿硃習禮率眾來歸。明復以袁崇煥督師薊、遼。崇煥素弗善毛文龍。時文龍據皮島，招集遼民，有逃亡則殺以冒功，遂得擢總兵，便宜行事。後更致書與我通好。上遣科廓等賚書往報。既，文龍執科廓等送燕京。崇煥以文龍私通罪紿殺之。
五月辛未，明人棄錦州。貝勒阿巴泰等率兵三千略其地，隳錦州、杏山、高橋三城，毀十三站以東墩台二十一。先是顧特塔布囊以其眾自察哈爾逃匿蒙古地，遇歸附者輒殺之。辛巳，命貝勒濟爾哈朗、豪格率兵討顧特塔布囊。乙酉，顧特伏誅，俘其人口牲畜以萬計。長白山迤東濱海虎爾哈部頭目裡佛塔等來朝。
八月辛卯，與喀喇沁部議和定盟。乙未，賜奈曼貝勒袞出斯號達爾漢，札魯特喀巴海號衛徵。乙卯，朝鮮來貢。
九月庚申，徵外籓兵共征蒙古察哈爾。癸亥，上率大軍西發。丙寅，次遼陽。敖漢、奈曼、喀爾喀、札魯特、喀喇沁諸貝勒、台吉各以兵來會。己巳，駐師綽洛郭爾。甲戌，宴來會諸貝勒。科爾沁諸貝勒不至。土謝圖汗額駙奧巴、哈談巴圖魯、滿硃習禮如約，請先侵掠而後合軍。上怒，遣使趣之。時奧巴違命，逕歸。滿硃習禮及台吉巴敦以所俘來獻，上賜滿硃習禮號達爾漢巴圖魯，巴敦號達爾漢卓禮克圖，厚賚之。丙子，進兵擊席爾哈、席伯圖、英、湯圖諸處，克之，獲人畜無算。
冬十月辛卯，還師。丙申，諭敖漢、奈曼、巴林、札魯特諸貝勒，毋得要殺降人，違者科罰。壬寅，上還瀋陽。以劉興祚詐稱縊死，逃歸明，繫其母及妻子於獄。
十二月丁亥朔，遺土謝圖汗額駙奧巴書，數其罪。巴牙喇部長伊爾彪等來朝貢。蒙古郭畀爾圖、札魯特貝勒塞本及其弟馬尼各率部來歸。
天聰三年
三年春正月庚申，土謝圖汗奧巴來請罪，宥而遣之。辛未，敕科爾沁、敖漢、奈曼、喀爾喀、喀喇沁諸部悉遵國制。丁丑，諭諸貝勒代理三大貝勒直月機務。
二月戊子，諭三大貝勒、諸貝勒、大臣毋得科斂民間財物，犯者治罪。己亥，合葬太祖高皇帝、孝慈高皇后於瀋陽之石嘴頭山，妃富察氏祔。喀爾喀札魯特貝勒戴青、桑土、桑古爾、桑噶爾寨等率眾來附。甲辰，上南巡，閱邊境城堡，圮薄者修築之。戊申，次海州，有老人年一百三歲，妻一百五歲，子七十三歲，召見賜牛種。辛亥，上還瀋陽。
三月戊午，申蒙古諸部軍令。
夏四月丙戌朔，設文館，命巴克什達海及剛林等繙譯漢字書籍，庫爾纏及吳巴什等記注本朝政事。
五月丁未，奈曼、札魯特諸貝勒越界駐牧，自請議罰。上宥之。
六月乙丑，議伐明，令科爾沁、喀爾喀、札魯特、敖漢、奈曼諸部會兵，並令預采木造船以備轉餉。丁卯，喀喇沁布爾噶都戴青、台吉卓爾畢，土默特台吉阿玉石等遣使朝貢。辛巳，土默特台吉卓爾畢泰等來朝貢。
秋七月辛卯，喀爾喀台吉拜渾岱、喇巴泰、滿硃習禮自科爾沁來朝。甲午，孟阿圖率兵征瓦爾喀。乙未，庫爾喀部來朝貢。
八月庚午，頒八旗臨陣賞罰令。乙亥，諭曰：「自古及今，文武並用，以文治世，以武克敵。今欲振興文教，試錄生員。諸貝勒府及滿、漢、蒙古所有生員，俱令赴試。中式者以他丁償之。」
九月壬午朔，初試生員，拔二百人，賞緞布有差，免其差徭。癸未，貝勒濟爾哈朗等略明錦州、寧遠諸路還，俘獲以三千計。丙戌，阿魯部杜思噶爾濟農始遣使來通好。癸卯，喀喇沁布爾噶都來朝貢。
冬十月癸丑，上親征明，徵蒙古諸部兵以次來會。庚申，次納裡特河，察哈爾五千人來歸。壬戌，次遼河。丙寅，科爾沁奧巴以二十三貝勒來會。上集諸貝勒大臣議征明與征察哈爾孰利，皆言察哈爾遠，於是征明。辛未，次喀喇沁之青城。大貝勒代善、三貝勒莽古爾泰止諸貝勒帳外，入見密議班師。既退，岳託等入白諸將在外候進取。上不懌，因曰：「兩兄謂我兵深入，勞師襲遠，若糧匱馬疲，敵人環攻，無為歸計。若等見及此，而初不言，朕既遠涉，乃以此為辭。我謀且隳，何候為！」岳託堅請進師。八固山額真詣代善、莽古爾泰議，夜半議定。諭曰：「朕承天命，興師伐明，拒者戮，降者勿擾。俘獲之人，父母妻子勿使離散。勿淫人婦女，勿褫人衣服，勿毀廬舍器皿，勿伐果木，勿酗酒。違者罪無赦。固山額真等不禁，罪如之。」乙亥，次老河，命濟爾哈朗、岳託率右翼兵攻大安口，阿巴泰、阿濟格率左翼兵攻龍井關。上與大貝勒代善、三貝勒莽古爾泰率大兵繼之。丁丑，左翼兵克龍井關，明副將易愛、參將王遵臣來援，皆敗死。漢兒莊、潘家口守將俱降。戊寅，上督兵克洪山口。辛巳，上至遵化。莽古爾泰率左翼兵自漢兒莊來會。遺書明巡撫王元雅勸降。
十一月壬午朔，右翼諸貝勒率師來會。先是濟爾哈朗等克大安口，五戰皆捷，降馬蘭營、馬蘭口、大安營三城，明羅文峪守將李思禮降。山海關總兵趙率教以兵四千來援，阿濟格迎擊斬之。甲申，諸貝勒攻遵化，正白旗小校薩木哈圖先登，大兵繼之，遂克其城。明巡撫王元雅自經死。上親酌金卮賜薩木哈圖，擢備御，世襲罔替，賜號巴圖魯，有過赦免，家固貧，恤之。蒙古兵擾害羅文峪民。令曰：「凡貝勒大臣有掠歸降城堡財物者斬，擅殺降民者抵罪，強取民物，計所取倍償之。」己丑，敘克城功，將士賞賚有差。壬辰，參將英俄爾岱、文館范文程留守遵化，大軍進逼燕京。有蒙古兵殺人而褫其衣，上命射殺之。甲午，徇薊州。乙未，徇三河。丙申，左翼貝勒赴通州視渡口。明大同、宣府二鎮援兵至順義，貝勒阿巴泰、岳託擊敗之。順義降。上至通州，諭明士民曰：「我國夙以忠順守邊，葉赫與我同一國耳，明主庇葉赫而陵我，大恨有七。我知終不相容，故告天興師。天直我國，賜我河東地。我太祖皇帝猶原和好，與民休息。爾國不從，天又賜我河西地。及朕即位，復徇爾國之請，遂欲去帝稱汗，趣制國印，而爾國不從。今我興師而來，順者撫，逆者誅。是爾君好逞干戈，猶爾之君殺爾也。天運循環，無往不復，有天子而為匹夫，亦有匹夫而為天子者。天既佑我，乃使我去帝號。天其鑒之！」辛丑，大軍逼燕京。上營於城北土城關之東，兩翼營於東北。明大同總兵滿桂、宣府總兵侯世祿屯德勝門，寧遠巡撫袁崇煥、錦州總兵祖大壽屯沙窩門。上率右翼大貝勒代善，貝勒濟爾哈朗、岳託、杜度、薩哈廉等，領白甲護軍、蒙古兵進擊桂、世祿，遣左翼大貝勒莽古爾泰、阿巴泰、阿濟格、多爾袞、多鐸、豪格等，領白甲護軍、蒙古兵迎擊崇煥、大壽，俱敗之。癸卯，遣明歸順王太監賚書與明議和。乙巳，屯南海子。戊申，袁崇煥、祖大壽營於城東南隅，樹柵為衛，我軍偪之而營。上率輕騎往視。諸貝勒請攻城，諭曰：「路隘且險，若傷我士卒，雖得百城不足多也。」因止弗攻。初，獲明太監二人，令副將高鴻中，參將鮑承先、寧完我等受密計。至是，鴻中、承先坐近二太監耳語云：「今日撤兵，乃上計也。頃上單騎向敵，敵二人見上語良久乃去。意袁都堂有約，此事就矣。」時楊太監佯臥竊聽。翌日縱之歸，以所聞語明帝，遂下崇煥於獄。大壽懼，率所部奔錦州，毀山海關而出。諸貝勒大臣請攻城，上曰：「攻則可克，但恐傷我良將勁卒，余不忍也。」遂止。
十二月辛亥朔，大軍經海子而南，且獵且行，趣良鄉，克其城。壬子，總兵吳訥格克固安。辛酉，遣貝勒阿巴泰、薩哈廉以太牢祀金太祖、世宗陵。丙寅，復趨燕京，敗明兵於盧溝橋，殲其眾。明總兵滿桂、孫祖壽、黑雲龍、麻登雲以兵四萬柵永定門之南。丁卯黎明，師毀柵入，斬桂、祖壽及副將以下三十餘人，擒黑雲龍、麻登雲，獲馬六千，分賜將士。戊辰，遣達海賚書與明議和。壬申，貝勒阿巴泰、濟爾哈朗略通州，焚其舟，攻張家灣，克之。達海賚議和書二分置安定、德勝門外。乙亥，復遣人賚書赴安定門。俱不報。丙子，駐師通州。丁丑，岳託、薩哈廉、豪格率兵四千圍永平。遂克香河、馬蘭峪諸城，復叛去。己卯，大軍趣永平。
天聰四年
四年春正月辛巳朔，大軍至榛子鎮、沙河驛，俱降。壬午，至永平。先是，劉興祚自我國逃歸，匿崇煥所。至是，率所手巂滿洲兵十五人、蒙古兵五百欲往守沙河。聞大兵至，改趣永平之太平寨，襲殺喀喇沁兵於途。上怒其負恩，遣貝勒阿巴泰等禽斬之，裂其屍以徇。癸丑，上授諸將方略，乘夜攻城。城中火藥自發，敵軍大亂，黎明克之。貝勒濟爾哈朗等入城安撫。丙戌，上率諸將入城，官民夾道呼萬歲。貝勒濟爾哈朗、薩哈廉守永平。以降官白養粹為永平巡撫，孟喬芳、楊文魁為副將，縱鄉民還其家。是日，上率大軍趣山海關。敖漢、奈曼、巴林、札魯特諸部兵攻昌黎，不克。台頭營、鞍山堡、遷安、灤州以次降。建昌參將馬光遠來歸。丁酉，明兵攻遵化，貝勒杜度擊敗之。明兵入三屯營，先所下漢兒莊、喜峰口、潘家口、洪家口復叛。庚子，達海等復漢兒莊，貝勒阿巴泰守之。辛丑，喀喇沁布爾噶都為明兵所圍，遣軍往救，未至，布爾噶都自擊敗之。其帥明兵部尚書劉之綸領兵至，樹柵。我軍砲毀其柵。之綸屯山中。大貝勒代善圍之，勸之綸降，不從。破其營，之綸被箭死。壬寅，移師馬蘭峪，毀其近城屯堡。丙午，喀喇沁蘇布地上書明帝，論和好之利，且勸以愛養邊民、優恤屬國之道。不報。樂亭復叛。
二月辛亥朔，諭貝勒諸臣，凡將士驍勇立功者，勿與攻城之役。甲寅，宴明降將麻登雲等於御幄，謂之曰：「明主視爾等將士之命如草芥，驅之死地。朕屢遣使議和，竟無一言相報，何也？」登雲對曰：「明帝幼沖，大臣各圖自保，議和之事，儻不見聽，罪且不測，故懼不敢奏。」上曰：「若然，是天讚我也，豈可棄之而歸。但駐兵屯守，妨農時為可憫耳。且彼山海關、錦州防守尚堅，今但取其無備城邑可也。」己未，遺書明帝，仍申和好，並致書明諸臣，勸其急定和議，至是凡七致書矣。甲子，明榆林副將王世選來降。上班師，貝勒阿巴泰、濟爾哈朗、薩哈廉及文臣索尼、寧完我等守永平，鮑承先守遷安，固山額真圖爾格、那木泰等守灤州，察喀喇、范文程等守遵化。駐灤三日，論功行賞。壬申，諭曰：「天以明土地人民予我，其民即吾民，宜飭軍士勿加侵害，違者治罪。」上至永平，降官郎中陳此心謀遁，事覺論斬，上赦之，聽其所往。
三月壬午，上還瀋陽。庚寅，遣二貝勒阿敏、貝勒碩託率兵五千往守永平四城，貝勒阿巴泰等還。庚子，阿魯四子部遣使來盟。
夏四月壬子，明兵攻灤州，不克。己卯，貝勒阿巴泰、濟爾哈朗等自永平還。上問是役俘獲較前孰多，對曰：「此行所獲人口甚多。」上曰：「財帛不足喜，惟多得人為可喜耳。」
五月己丑，諭諸臣厚撫俘眾。壬辰，阿敏、碩託等棄永平四城歸。時明監軍道張春、錦州總兵祖大壽等合兵攻灤州。那穆泰、圖爾格、湯古代等出戰，屢敗明兵，然兵少，阿敏、碩託畏不往援，明兵用砲攻灤州，那穆泰等不能支，棄城奔永平。會天雨，我軍潰圍出，無馬被創者死四百餘人。阿敏、碩託聞之恐，遂殺降官白養粹等，盡屠城中士民，收其金幣，乘夜出冷口。察哈喇等亦棄遵化歸。上方命貝勒杜度趨永平協守，且敕阿敏善撫官民，無侵暴，將整兵親往。庚子，聞阿敏棄城，且大肆屠戮，乃止。
六月甲寅，收繫棄城諸將，數其罪。乙卯，御殿宣阿敏十六罪。眾議當誅。上不忍致法，幽之。碩託、湯古代、那穆泰、巴布泰、圖爾格等各奪爵、革職有差。諸將中有力戰殺敵者釋之。先是阿敏既屠永平官民，以其妻子分給士卒。上曰：「彼既屠我歸順良民，又奴其妻子耶！」命編為民戶，以房舍衣食給之。
秋九月戊戌，申諭諸大臣滿、漢官各勤職業。
冬十月辛酉，諭編審各旗壯丁，隱匿者罰之。
十一月甲午，那堪泰部虎爾噶率家屬來歸，阿魯四子部諸貝勒來歸。壬寅，阿魯伊蘇忒部聞上善養民，留所部於西拉木輪河，而偕我使臣察漢喇嘛來朝。
十二月戊辰，科爾沁貝勒圖美衛徵來朝。
天聰五年
五年春正月庚辰，諭已故功臣無後者，家產給其妻自贍。壬午，鑄紅衣大砲成，金雋曰「天祐助威大將軍」。軍中造砲自此始。乙未，以額駙佟養性總理漢人軍民事，漢官聽其節制。己亥，幸文館，入庫爾纏直房，問所修何書。對曰：「記註所行政事。」上曰：「如此，朕不宜觀。」又覽達海所譯武銓，見投醪飲河事，曰：「古良將體恤士卒，三軍之士樂為致死。若額駙顧三台對敵時，見戰士歿者，以繩曳之歸，安能得人死力乎！」庚子，朝鮮貢物不及額，卻之，以書責其罪。
二月庚申，敕邊臣謹斥堠。甲戌，孟阿圖征瓦爾喀，奏捷。
三月乙亥朔，鑲藍旗固山額真、額駙顧三台罷，以太祖弟之子篇古代之。書諭大貝勒代善、三貝勒莽古爾泰及貝勒諸大臣，求直言過失。丁亥，閱漢兵。甲午，誅劉興祚、興治家屬，赦其母。丁酉，朝鮮復遣使來貢。辛丑，遣滿達爾漢、董訥密遺朝鮮王書，索戰船助攻明。不許。
六月癸亥，定功臣襲職例。黑龍江伊札訥、薩克提、伽期訥、俄力喀、康柱等五頭目來朝。
秋七月甲戌，黑龍江虎爾哈部四頭目來朝貢。庚辰，始設六部，以墨勒根戴青貝勒多爾袞，貝勒德格類、薩哈廉、岳託、濟爾哈朗、阿巴泰等管六部事。每部滿、漢、蒙古分設承政官，其下設參政各八員，啟心郎各一員，改巴克什為筆帖式，其尚稱巴克什者仍其舊。更定訐告諸貝勒者准其離主例，其以細事訐訴者禁之。諭貝勒審事冤抑不公者坐罪。除職官有罪概行削職律，嗣後有罪者，分別輕重降罰有差。並禁官民同族嫁娶，犯者男婦以奸論。又諭貝勒諸大臣省過改行，求極諫。甲申，鬧雷虎爾哈部四頭目來朝貢。癸巳，定小事賞罰例，令牛錄額真審理，大者送部。明總兵祖大壽等築大凌河。檄諸蒙古各率所部來會征之。己亥，大軍西發，命貝勒杜度、薩哈廉、豪格留守。庚子，渡遼河，申誡諸將恤士卒。
八月壬寅朔，次舊遼河而營，蒙古諸部率兵來會。癸卯，集蒙古諸貝勒，申前令，無擅殺掠。於是分兵兩路，貝勒德格類、岳託、阿濟格以兵二萬由義州入屯錦州、大凌河之間，上自白土場入廣寧。丁未，會於大凌河，乘夜攻城。令曰：「攻城恐傷士卒，當掘壕築壘困之。彼若出，與之戰，外援至，迎擊之。」乃分八旗兵合圍，令蒙古兵承其隙。辛亥，明馬步兵五百人出城，達爾哈擊敗之。壬子，射書城中，招蒙古人出降。癸丑，明兵出城誘戰。圖賴先入，達爾哈繼之，四面環攻，貝勒多爾袞亦率兵入。城內砲矢俱發，圖賴被創，副將孟坦、屯布祿、備御多貝、侍衛戈裡戰歿。上以圖賴等輕進，切責之。以紅衣砲攻明台，兵降者相繼。乙卯，遺祖大壽書曰：「往者我欲和，爾國君臣以宋為鑒，不我應。爾國非宋，我亦非金，何不達若此。朕今厭兵革，更以書往，惟將軍裁之。」大壽不答。丁巳，明松山兵二千來援，阿山、勞薩、土魯什擊敗之。甲子，貝勒阿濟格、碩托遮擊明援兵。丁卯，明錦州兵六千來攻阿濟格營。會大霧，覿面不相識。忽有青氣沖敵營，辟若門，我軍乘霧進，大戰，敗之，擒游擊一，盡獲其甲仗馬匹。辛未，上詣貝勒阿濟格營，酌金卮勞諸將。明兵突出，師夾擊，又大敗之。
九月丁亥，上以兵趨錦州，見塵起，上命諸軍勿行，自率擺牙喇兵二百，與貝勒多鐸緣山潛進。明錦州兵七千突出進上前。上甫擐甲，從者不及二百人，渡河沖敵軍。敵不能當，潰走。諸軍繼至，又大敗之，斬一副將而還。己丑，復以書招祖大壽。庚寅，上設伏山內，誘大壽出，將擒之，大壽驚遁，自是閉城不出。時城中穀止百石，馬死盡，煮馬肉為食，以鞍代爨。乙未，明太僕寺卿監軍道張春，總兵吳襄、鍾緯等，以馬步兵四萬來援，壁小凌河。戊戌，明援兵趨大凌河，距城十五裡。上率兩翼騎兵衝擊之，不動。右翼兵猝入張春營，敵遂敗，吳襄及副將桑阿爾寨先奔。張春等復集潰兵立營，會大風，敵乘風縱火，將及我軍，天忽雨，反風，復戰，遂大破之，生擒張春及副將三十三人。春不屈，乞死，上赦不殺。是役也，祖大壽仍以我為誘敵，故城中無應者。是夕黑雲龍遁去。
冬十月丁未，以書招祖大壽、何可剛、張存仁。己酉，再遺大壽書。壬子，以紅衣砲攻於子章台。台最固，三日台毀，守台將王景降，於是遠近百餘台俱下。甲寅，遣降將姜新招祖大壽。大壽亦遣游擊韓棟來會。癸亥，議三貝勒莽古爾泰上前持刃罪，降貝勒，奪所屬五牛錄。乙丑，祖大壽約我副將石廷柱議降。丙寅，大壽遣其子可法為質。戊辰，大凌河舉城降，獨副將何可剛不從。大壽掖可剛至軍前殺之，夜至御營，上優遇之，大壽遂獻取錦州策。己巳，遣兵隨大壽夜襲錦州，會大霧，失伍，還。
十一月庚午朔，縱大壽還錦州。戊寅，毀大凌河城。己卯，班師。乙酉，上還瀋陽。丙戌，察哈爾侵阿魯西拉木輪地，貝勒薩哈廉、豪格移師征之，會察哈爾已去，乃還。
閏十一月庚子朔，諭曰：「我兵之棄永平四城，皆貝勒等不學無術所致。頃大凌河之役，城中人相食，明人猶死守，及援盡城降，而錦州、松、杏猶不下，豈非其人讀書明理盡忠其主乎？自今凡子弟年十五歲以下、八歲以上，皆令讀書。」遣庫爾纏等責朝鮮違約罪。庚戌，禁國中不得私立廟寺，喇嘛僧違律者還俗，巫覡星士並禁止之。
十二月壬辰，參將寧完我請設言官，定服制。上嘉納之。丙申，用禮部參政李伯龍言，更定元旦朝賀行禮班次。
天聰六年
六年春正月癸亥，閱漢兵。
二月壬申，定儀仗制。丁丑，謁太祖陵，行時享禮。戊子，諭海州等處城守官三年一赴瀋陽考察。丁酉，諭戶部貝勒德格類以大凌河漢人分隸副將以下，給配撫養。給還貝勒莽古爾泰所罰人口。
三月戊戌，賚大凌河諸降將有差。命達海分析國書音義。庚戌，定訐告諸貝勒者輕重虛實坐罪例，禁子弟告父兄、妻告夫者，定貝勒大臣賜祭葬例。丁巳，征察哈爾，徵蒙古兵，頒軍令。
夏四月戊辰朔，上率大軍西發，阿巴泰、杜度、揚古利、伊爾登、佟養性留守。己巳，次遼河。丙子，次西拉木輪河。己卯，次札滾烏達，諸蒙古部兵以次來會。乙酉，次哈納崖。察哈爾汗林丹聞我師至，大懼，驅歸化城富民牲畜渡河西奔，盡委輜重而去。庚寅，次都勒河，聞察哈爾林丹遠遁，上趨歸化城。丙申，大軍自阿濟格和爾戈還趨察哈爾。
五月癸卯，諭諸部貝勒大臣勿輕進，勿退縮，勿殺降，勿分散人妻子，勿奪人衣服財物。甲辰，次布龍圖布喇克。丁未，勞薩奏報察哈爾遁去已久，逐北三日無所見。上自布龍圖旋師。戊申，定議征明。丙辰，次硃兒格土。時糧盡，忽逢黃羊遍野，遂合圍殺數萬，脯而食之。無水，以一羊易杯水而飲。上命各牛錄持水迎給之。庚申，次木魯哈喇克沁，貝勒阿濟格率左翼略宣府、大同，貝勒濟爾哈朗率右翼略歸化城，上與大貝勒代善、貝勒莽古爾泰統大軍繼進。甲子，上至歸化城，兩翼兵來會。是日，大軍馳七百里，西至黃河木訥漢山，東至宣府，自歸化城南至明邊境，所在察哈爾部民悉俘之。
六月丁卯朔，蒙古部民竄沙河堡，上以書諭明守臣索之。明歸我男婦三百二十、牲畜千四百有奇。辛未，寧完我、范文程、馬國柱合疏言：「伐明之策，宜先以書議和，俟彼不從，執以為辭，乘釁深入，可以得志。」上嘉納之。甲戌，大軍發歸化城，趨明邊。丁丑，明沙河堡守臣使賚牲幣來獻。己卯，庫爾纏等自得勝堡，愛巴禮等由張家口，分詣大同、宣府議和。書曰：「我之興兵，非必欲取明天下也。遼東守臣貪黷昏罔，勸葉赫陵我，遂嬰七恨。屢愬爾主，而遼東壅不上聞。我兵至此，欲爾主察之也。及攻撫順，又因十三省商賈各遺以書，慮其不克徑達，則各以書進其省官吏，冀有一聞。乃縱之使去，寂焉不復。語云：『下情上達，天下罔不治；下情上壅，天下罔不亂。』今所在征討，爭戰不息，民死鋒鏑，雖下情不達之故，抑豈天意乎？我今聞誠相告，國雖褊小，惟欲兩國和好，互為貿易，各安耕獵，以享太平。若言不由衷，天其鑒我。前者屢致書問，憤疾之詞，固所不免。此兵家之常，不足道也。幸速裁斷，實國之福。我駐兵十日以待。」庚辰，駐大同邊外。庫爾纏偕明得勝堡千總賚牲幣來獻。上不納。復遺書明守臣曰：「我仰體天意，原申和好。爾果愛民，宜速定議。若延時不報，縱欲相待，如軍中糧盡何。至書中稱謂，姑勿論，我遜爾國，我居察哈爾之上可耳。」癸未，趨宣府，守臣以明主所給察哈爾緞布皮幣一萬二千五百歸我。庚寅，駐張家口外，列營四十里。癸巳，明巡撫沈棨、總兵董繼舒遣人賚牛羊食物來獻。上宴之，遂定和議，大市於張家口。科爾沁部兵三人潛入明邊，盜牛驢，斬其首者，鞭二人，貫耳以徇。甲午，明巡撫沈棨遣使來請盟。命大臣阿什達爾哈等蒞之，刑白馬烏牛，誓告天地。禮成，遣啟心郎祁充格送明使歸。明以金幣來獻。晉封皇子豪格為和碩貝勒。是月，遼東大水。
秋七月丁酉朔，復以書約明張家口守臣信誓敦好，善保始終，且謂和議遼東地方在內，爾須遣官往告。上率大軍還。庚子，至上都河，明以和議成，來餽禮物，酌納之。辛丑，蒙古諸貝勒辭歸。庚戌，次擺斯哈兒。游擊巴克什達海卒。庚申，上還瀋陽。
八月丁卯，召明諸生王文奎、孫應時、江雲入宮，問以和事成否。三人皆言，明政日紊，和議難必。且中原盜賊蜂起，人民離亂。勸上宣佈仁義，用賢養民，乘時吊伐，以應天心。癸酉，六部署成，頒銀印各一。甲午，命固山額真察民疾苦，清理刑獄。察哈爾檮納楚虎爾來歸。
九月癸卯，修覆蓋州城，移民實之。甲寅，命戶部貝勒德格類、兵部貝勒岳託展耀州舊界至蓋州迤南。
冬十月乙丑朔，幸開原。甲戌，還瀋陽。遣衛徵囊蘇喇嘛赴寧遠，賚書致明帝曰：「我國稱兵，非不知足而冀大位，因邊臣欺侮，致啟兵釁。往征察哈爾時，過宣府定和議，我遂執越境盜竊之人戮之塞下，我之誠心可謂至矣。前邊臣未能細述，今欲備言，又恐疑我不忘舊怨，如遣信使來，將盡告之。若謂已和，不必語及往事，亦惟命。」又與明諸臣書曰：「宣府守臣與我盟時，約我毋侵遼東，誓諸天地。今爾乃有異議，天可欺乎？執政大臣宜通權變，慎勿徒事大言，坐失事機。若堅執不從，惟尋師旅，生靈荼毒，咎將誰歸？」
十一月壬寅，明寧遠守臣以我所遺書封固，不敢以陳，請露封，許之。辛亥，阿祿部都思噶爾濟農所屬祁他特吹虎爾台吉來附。壬子，遣使往朝鮮定歲貢額。
十二月乙丑，定朝服及官民常服制。三貝勒莽古爾泰卒。乙亥，吳巴海征兀札喇遣使告捷。
天聰七年
七年春正月庚子，諭各牛錄額真以恤貧訓農習射。辛丑，朝鮮來貢，不及額。丁未，復書責之。戊申，皇長女下嫁敖漢部貝勒都喇爾巴圖魯子台吉班第。乙卯，征兀札喇師還。
二月癸亥朔，阿魯科爾沁汗車根率固木巴圖魯、達爾馬代袞等舉國來附。己卯，庫爾纏有罪，誅。癸未，土魯什、勞薩等略寧遠。
三月丁酉，築鹻場、攬盤、通遠堡、岫巖四城。辛丑，郭爾羅斯部台吉固木來朝。丙辰，明故總兵毛文龍部將孔有德、耿仲明遣使來約降。
夏四月乙丑，察哈爾兩翼大總管塔什海虎魯克寨桑來附。乙亥，使參將英俄爾岱等借糧朝鮮濟孔有德軍，不從。
五月乙未，吳喇忒台吉土門達爾漢等來朝。壬子，貝勒濟爾哈朗、阿濟格、杜度率兵迎孔有德、耿仲明於鎮江，命率所部駐東京。
六月壬戌，諭將士毋侵擾遼東新附人民，違者孥戮之。癸亥，召孔有德、耿仲明入覲，厚賚之。丙寅，遣英俄爾岱遺朝鮮王書曰：「往之借糧，貴國王以孔有德等昔隸毛氏，無輸糧養敵之理。今有德歸我，糧已足給。惟兵卒守船，輓運維艱，近距貴國，以糧給之甚便。朕思王視明為父，視朕為兄，父兄相爭數年，而王坐觀成敗，是外有父兄之名，而內懷幸禍之意。若力為解勸，息兵成好，不惟我兩國樂見太平，即貴國亦受其福。若仍以兵助明，合而御我，則構兵實自王始。」己巳，諭官民冠服遵制畫一。癸酉，以孔有德為都元帥，耿仲明為總兵官，並賜敕印。戊寅，英俄爾岱奏報朝鮮用明人計，借兵倭國，又於義州南嶺築城備我。集諸貝勒大臣議之，皆言宜置朝鮮而伐明。己卯，貝勒岳託、德格類率右翼楞額禮、葉臣，左翼伊爾登、昂阿喇及石廷柱、孔有德、耿仲明將兵取明旅順口。甲申，東海使犬部額駙僧格來朝貢。丁亥，諭曰：「凡進言者，如朕所行未協於義，宜直言勿諱。政事或有愆忌，宜開陳無隱。六部諸臣，奸偽貪邪，行事不公，宜行糾劾。諸臣有艱苦之情，亦據實奏聞。苟不務直言，遠引曲喻，剿襲紛然，何益於事？」
秋七月辛卯朔，諭滿洲各戶有漢人十丁者授棉甲一，以舊漢軍額真馬光遠統之。壬辰，阿祿部孫杜稜子台吉古木思轄布，寨桑吳巴什、阿什圖、巴達爾和碩齊等，吳喇忒部台吉阿巴噶爾代皆來朝貢。甲辰，貝勒岳託等奏克旅順口。
八月庚申朔，英俄爾岱等自朝鮮還，以復書允糧濟我守船軍士。壬戌，貝勒阿巴泰、阿濟格、薩哈廉、豪格等略明山海關外。庚辰，貝勒德格類、岳託師還。丁亥，以副將石廷柱為總兵官。
九月庚子，貝勒阿巴泰等師還。上以其不深入，責之。癸卯，英俄爾岱等往朝鮮互市。庚戌，明登州都司蔡賓等來降。
冬十月壬戌，遣使外籓蒙古各部，宣佈法令。丙寅，大閱。丁卯，發帑賚八旗步兵。己巳，諭曰：「置官以來，吏、戶、兵三部辦事盡善，刑部訊獄稽延，罔得實情，禮部、工部皆有缺失。夫啟心郎之設，欲其隨事規諫，啟乃心也。乃有差謬而不聞開導，何耶？」又曰：「爾等動以航海取山東攻山海關為言。航海多險，攻堅易傷，是以空言相賺，不啻為敵計耳。兵事無藉爾言，惟朕與諸貝勒有過，當極言耳。」又諭文館諸儒臣曰：「太祖始命巴克什額爾德尼造國書，後庫爾纏增之。慮有未合，爾等職司紀載，宜悉心訂正。朕嗣大位，凡皇考行政用兵之大，不一一詳載，後世子孫何由而知，豈朕所以盡孝道乎？」丙子，授明降將馬光遠為總兵官，王世選、麻登雲為三等總兵官，馬光先、孟喬芳等各授職有差。癸未，明廣鹿島副將尚可喜遣使來約降。
十一月甲辰，英俄爾岱復賚書往朝鮮，責以違約十事。戊申，遣季思哈、吳巴海往征朝鮮接壤之虎爾哈部。辛亥，上獵於葉赫。
十二月辛未，上還瀋陽。
天聰八年
八年春正月庚寅，諭蒙古諸貝勒令遵我國定制。黑龍江羌圖裡、嘛爾干率六姓來朝貢。癸巳，詔宗人自興祖直皇帝出者為六祖後，免其徭役。乙未，正黃旗都統、一等總兵官楞額禮卒。癸卯，漢備御訴漢人徭役重於滿洲，戶部貝勒德格類以聞。上命禮部貝勒薩哈廉集眾諭其妄。漢總兵官石廷柱等執備御八人請罪，上曰：「若加以罪，則後無復言者。」並釋之。戊申，塔布囊等征察哈爾潰眾於席爾哈、席伯圖。己酉，蒿齊忒部台吉額林臣來歸。丁巳，免功臣身故無嗣者丁之半，妻故始應役，著為令。
二月壬戌，定喪祭例，妻殉夫者聽，仍予旌表；逼妾殉者，妻坐死。遣貝勒多爾袞、薩哈廉往迎降將尚可喜，使駐海州。丁卯，都元帥孔有德劾耿仲明不法狀，諭解之。戊辰，遣阿山等略錦州。
三月丁亥朔，日有食之，綠虹見。辛卯，命譚泰、圖爾格略錦州。壬辰，副將尚可喜率三島官民降，駐海州。己亥，大閱。甲辰，遣英俄爾岱往朝鮮互市。令孔有德、耿仲明、尚可喜幟用白鑲皁，以別八旗。壬子，考試漢生員。
夏四月辛酉，升授太祖諸子湯古代等副將、參將、備御有差。又以哈達、烏喇二部之後無顯職，授哈達克什內為副將，烏喇巴彥為三等副將。詔以瀋陽為「天眷盛京」，赫圖阿喇城為「天眷興京」。改定總兵、副將、參將、游擊、備御滿字官名。丁丑，尚可喜來朝，命為總兵官。乙亥，以太祖弟之子拜尹圖為總管。辛巳，初命禮部考試滿洲、漢人通滿、漢、蒙古書義者，取剛林等十六人為舉人，賜衣一襲，免四丁。乙酉，金繼孟等自明石城島來降，以隸尚可喜。
五月丙戌朔，黑龍江巴爾達齊來貢。庚寅，察哈爾台吉毛祁他特來朝。定滿、漢馬步軍名。丙申，議征明，諸貝勒請從山海關入。上曰：「不然，察哈爾為我軍所敗，其貝勒大臣將歸我，宜直趨宣、大以逆之。」乃集各都統部署軍政，遣國舅阿什達爾哈徵科爾沁兵，以書招撫遺眾之在明境者。壬寅，定百官功次，賜敕書，其世襲及官止本身者，分別開載有差。甲辰，季思哈、吳巴海征虎爾哈部奏捷。命貝勒濟爾哈朗留守盛京，貝勒杜度守海州，吏部承政圖爾格等渡遼河，沿張古台河駐防，並扼敵兵，俱授方略。畢，上率大軍前發。己酉，次都爾鼻，諸蒙古外籓兵以次來會。甲寅，次訥裡特河。
六月辛酉，頒軍令於蒙古諸貝勒及孔有德、耿仲明、尚可喜，曰：「行軍時勿離纛，勿諠譁，勿私出劫掠。抗拒者誅之，歸順者字之。勿毀廟宇，勿殺行人，勿奪人衣服，勿離人夫婦，勿淫人婦女。違者治罪。」先是，察哈爾林丹西奔圖白特，其部眾苦林丹暴虐，逗遛者什七八，食盡，殺人相食，屠劫不已，潰散四出。至是，絡繹來附者前後數千戶。辛未，次庫黑布裡都，議覺羅布爾吉、英俄爾岱擅殺察哈爾布顏圖部眾罪，並奪其賜。甲戌，次喀喇拖落木，命貝勒德格類率兵入獨石口，偵居庸關，期會師於朔州。戊寅，諭蒙古諸貝勒曰：「科爾沁噶爾珠塞特爾等叛往索倫，為其族兄弟等追獲被殺，朕心惻然。朕欲宣佈德化，使人民共登安樂。今諸貝勒雖以罪誅，亦朕教化所未洽也。」又命減阿魯部達喇海等越界駐牧罪。壬午，察哈爾土巴濟農率其民千戶來歸。喀爾喀部巴噶達爾漢來歸。甲申，命大貝勒代善等率兵入得勝堡，略大同，西至黃河，副都統土魯什、吳拜等逕歸化撫察哈爾逃民，俱會師朔州。
秋七月己丑，命貝勒阿濟格、多爾袞、多鐸等入龍門，會宣府，上親統大軍自宣府趨朔州，期四路兵剋期並進。辛卯，毀邊牆。壬辰，入上方堡，至宣府右衛，以書責明守臣負盟之罪，仍諭其遣使議和。癸巳，駐城東南。時阿濟格攻龍門，未下，令略保安。丁酉，營東城，遺明代王書，復約其遣使議和。代善攻得勝堡，克之。明參將李全自縊死。進攻懷仁、井坪，皆不克，遂駐朔州。丙午，上圍應州，令代善等趣馬邑。土魯什至歸化城，察哈爾林丹之妻率其八寨桑以一千二百戶來降。庚戌，阿濟格等攻保安州，克之。壬子，德格類入獨石口，取長安嶺，攻赤城，不克，俱會師於應州。
八月乙卯，命諸將略代州。薩哈廉襲崞縣，拔之。丙辰，碩托入圓平驛。甲子，阿巴泰等取靈丘縣之王家莊，克之。禮部承政巴都禮戰歿。又攻應州之石家村堡，克之。丙寅，上發應州，聞明陽和總督張宗衡、大同總兵曹文詔駐懷仁，度是夜必奔大同，令土魯什、吳拜伏兵邀之。師行遲，宗衡等逸去。上怒責之。戊辰，上至大同，遺書文詔，令贊和議。又遺書眾官，索察哈爾餘孽之在明者。文詔挑戰，擊敗之。貝勒阿巴泰等拔靈丘。明代王母楊氏與張宗衡、曹文詔以書來請和。辛未，遣使以書報之。壬申，代善率師來會。癸酉，駐師大同，遣明宗室硃乃廷及俘獲僧人入城。三索報書，俱不答。縱乃廷妻子及硃乃振還。丁丑，營四十里舖，得明間諜書北樓口，為書報之曰：「來書以滿洲為屬國，即予亦未嘗以為非也。惟遼東之官欺凌我國，皇帝惑於臣下之誑，雖干戈十數年來，無一言詢及，使我國之情不達，若遣一信使判白是非，則兵戈早息矣。欲享太平，只旦暮間事。不然，爾國臣僚壅蔽欺罔，虛報斬伐，以吾小國果受傷夷，詎能數侵，豈皇帝之聰明獨不能一忖度耶？原和之誠，黑雲龍自知之，慮其恐結怨於大臣不盡告耳。」己卯，大軍至陽和。明總兵曹文詔詭以書誑張宗衡，偽言砲傷我兵，得纛一桿等語，為我邏者所獲。上乃遺宗衡書曰：「予謂爾明當有忠臣義士實心謀國者，乃一旦虛誑至此，豈不愧於心乎？今與公等約，我兵以一當十，能約期出戰，當勒兵以俟。若誑言欺君，貽害生靈，禍孽將無窮矣。」壬午，次懷遠。癸未，駐左衛。
閏八月丙戌，以書責明宣府太監欺君誤國罪。丁亥，副都統土魯什被創卒。攻萬全左衛，克之。庚寅，班師。察哈爾噶爾馬濟農等遣使乞降，言其汗林丹病殂，汗子及國人皆欲來歸，於是命阿什達爾哈等往偵之。丁酉，移軍舊上都城。庚戌，移軍克蚌。辛亥，察哈爾寨桑噶爾馬濟農等率其國人六千奉豆土門福金來歸。
九月戊辰，留守貝勒濟爾哈朗疏報季思哈、吳巴海征虎爾哈俘一千三百餘人。阿魯部毛明安舉國來附。辛未，渡遼河。壬申，上還盛京。
冬十月己丑，建太祖陵寢殿，樹松，立石獸。壬辰，論征宣、大將士功罪。己亥，科爾沁台吉吳克善來歸其妹，納之。庚戌，以八年征討克捷，為文告太祖。壬子，朝鮮國王李倧遣使以書來。上以其言不遜，復書切責之。
十一月乙丑，六部官考績升授有差。
十二月癸未朔，朝鮮國王以書來謝罪。壬辰，命副都統霸奇蘭、參領薩木什喀征黑龍江未服之地。丙申，分定宗室、額駙等專管佐領有差。丁酉，墨勒根喇嘛以嘛哈噶喇金像來貢，遣使迎至盛京。癸卯，察哈爾祁他特車爾貝、塞冷布都馬爾等各率所部人民來歸。遣吳巴海、荊古爾代征瓦爾喀。甲辰，佐領劉學誠疏請立郊壇，勤視朝。上曰：「疏中欲朕視朝勤政是也。至建立郊壇，未知天意所在，何敢遽行，果成大業，彼時議之未晚也。」
天聰九年
九年春正月丁卯，上親送科爾沁土謝圖濟農等歸國。癸酉，免功臣徭役。丁丑，詔太祖庶子稱「阿格」，六祖子孫稱「覺羅」，覺羅繫紅帶以別之。有詈其祖父者罪至死。
二月壬午，令諸臣薦舉居心公正及通曉文藝可任使者。丁亥，編喀喇沁部蒙古壯丁為十一旗，每旗設都統一員，下以副都統、參領二員統之。戊子，諭曰：「邇來進言者皆請伐明，朕豈不以為念。然亦須相機而行。今察哈爾新附，人心未輯，城郭未修，而輕於出師，何以成大業？且大兵一舉，明主或棄而走，或懼而請和，攻拒之策，何者為宜？其令高鴻中、鮑承先、寧完我、范文程等酌議以聞。」己丑，沈佩瑞請屯田廣寧、閭陽，造舟輓粟，為進取計。上嘉納之。乙未，范文程、寧完我請薦舉不實宜行連坐法。丁未，命多爾袞、岳託、豪格、薩哈廉將精騎一萬，收察哈爾林丹之子額爾克孔果爾額哲。
三月戊辰，諭曰：「頃民耕耨愆期，蓋由佐領有事築城，民苦煩役所致。嗣有濫役妨農者治其罪。」庚午，察哈爾寨桑巴賴都爾等一千四百餘人來歸。
五月乙卯，霸奇蘭、薩木什喀征黑龍江虎爾哈部，盡克其地，編所獲人口以歸，論功升賞有差。癸亥，上以西征諸貝勒經宣、大境，度明必調寧、錦兵往援，遣貝勒多鐸率師入寧、錦撓之。己巳，命文館譯宋、遼、金、元四史。壬申，貝勒多鐸奏報殲明兵五百人於錦州松山城外，殺其副將劉應選。丙子，貝勒多爾袞、岳託、薩哈廉、豪格等奏報兵至西喇硃爾格，遇察哈爾囊囊太妃暨台吉瑣諾木等以一千五百戶降，遂抵額爾克孔果爾額哲所居，其母率額哲迎降。
六月乙酉，貝勒多鐸凱旋，賜良馬五，賞從征將士有差。丁酉，吳巴海、荊古爾代師還，論功亦如之。明登州黃城島千總李進功來降。辛丑，諭曰：「太祖以人民付朕，當愛養之。諸貝勒非時修繕，勞苦百姓，民不得所，浸以逃亡，是違先志而長敵寇也。今朝鮮賓服，察哈爾舉國來附，苟不能撫輯其眾，後雖拓地，何以處之？貝勒大臣其各戢驕縱以副朕意！」壬寅，察哈爾台吉瑣諾木率其屬六千八百人來歸。癸卯，諭曰：「太祖禁貝勒子弟郊外放鷹，慮其踐田園、擾牲畜也。今違者日眾。語曰：『涓涓不塞，將成江河。』其嚴禁之。」
秋七月癸酉，論漢人丁戶增減，擢參領李思忠等六員官，高鴻中等十一員黜罰有差。
八月庚辰，貝勒多爾袞、岳託、薩哈廉、豪格以獲傳國玉璽聞。先是元順帝北狩，以璽從，後失之。越二百餘年，為牧羊者所獲。後歸於察哈爾林丹汗。林丹亦元裔也。璽在蘇泰太妃所。至是獻之。時岳託以疾留歸化城，多爾袞等率兵略明山西，自平虜衛入邊，毀長城，略忻州、代州，至崞縣。甲申，繪太祖實錄圖成。乙巳，上率大貝勒代善及諸貝勒多爾袞等師次平虜堡。丁未，渡遼河，閱巨流河城堡。
九月癸丑，貝勒多爾袞等師還，獻玉璽，告天受之。額爾克孔果爾額哲及其母來朝。庚午，上還宮。壬申，召諸貝勒大臣數代善罪。眾議削大貝勒號及和碩貝勒，奪十佐領，其子薩哈廉奪二佐領，哈達公主降庶人，褫其夫瑣諾木濟農爵號。上皆免之。
冬十月己卯，以明議和不成，將進兵，遣使賚書諭明喜峰口、董家口諸邊將。管戶部事和碩貝勒德格類卒。癸未，命吳巴海、多濟裡、札福尼、吳什塔分將四路兵征瓦爾喀。
十一月丁未朔，命額爾克孔果爾額哲奉母居孫島習爾哈。
十二月辛巳，哈達公主莽古濟之僕冷僧機首告貝勒莽古爾泰生時與女弟莽古濟、弟德格類謀逆，公主之夫瑣諾木及屯布祿、愛巴禮與其事。會瑣諾木亦自首。訊得實，莽古濟、莽古爾泰子額必倫及屯布祿、愛巴禮皆伏誅。莽古爾泰餘子、德格類子俱為庶人。瑣諾木自首免罪。授冷僧機三等副將。丁酉，謁太祖陵。甲辰，貝勒薩哈廉與諸貝勒及大貝勒代善盟誓，請上尊號。上不許。會蒙古貝勒復來請。上曰：「朝鮮兄弟國，宜告之。」
天聰十年
十年春正月壬戌，皇次女下嫁額爾克孔果爾額哲。
二月丁丑，八和碩貝勒與外籓四十九貝勒各遺書朝鮮，約其國王勸進尊號。戊子，遣使至明邊松棚路、潘家口、董家口、喜峰口、賚書致明帝，索其報書。定諸臣帽頂飾。庚寅，寧完我以罪免。
三月丙午朔，清明節，謁太祖陵。辛亥，改文館為內國史、內祕書、內弘文三院。乙卯，遣貝勒阿濟格、阿巴泰築噶海城。庚申，吳什塔等征瓦爾喀，遣使奏捷。諭曰：「蒙古深信喇嘛，實乃妄人。嗣後有懸轉輪結布幡者，宜禁止之。」乙丑，英俄爾岱等自朝鮮還，言國王李倧不接見，亦不納書，以其報書及所獲倧諭邊臣書進。諸貝勒怒，欲加兵。上曰：「姑遣人諭以利害，質其子弟，不從，興兵未晚也。」丁卯，外籓蒙古十六國四十九貝勒及孔有德、耿仲明、尚可喜俱以請上尊號至盛京。
夏四月己卯，大貝勒代善，和碩貝勒濟爾哈朗、多爾袞、多鐸、岳託、豪格、阿巴泰、阿濟格、杜度率滿、漢、蒙古大臣及蒙古十六國四十九貝勒以三體表文詣闕請上尊號曰：「恭維我皇上承天眷祐，應運而興。當天下昏亂，修德體天，逆者威，順者撫，寬溫之譽，施及萬姓。征服朝鮮，混一蒙古。遂獲玉璽，受命之符，昭然可見，上揆天意，下協輿情。臣等謹上尊號，儀物俱備，伏原俞允。」上曰：「爾貝勒大臣勸上尊號，歷二年所。今再三固請，朕重違爾諸臣意，弗獲辭。朕既受命，國政恐有未逮，爾等宜恪恭贊襄。」群臣頓首謝。庚辰，禮部進儀注。壬午，齋戒，設壇德盛門外。
崇德元年
崇德元年夏四月乙酉，祭告天地，行受尊號禮，定有天下之號曰大清，改元崇德，群臣上尊號曰寬溫仁聖皇帝，受朝賀。始定祀天太牢用熟薦。遣官以建太廟追尊列祖祭告山陵。丙戌，追尊始祖為澤王，高祖為慶王，曾祖為昌王，祖為福王，考諡曰承天廣運聖德神功肇紀立極仁孝武皇帝，廟號太祖，陵曰福陵；妣諡曰孝慈昭憲純德貞順成天育聖武皇后。追贈族祖禮敦巴圖魯為武功郡王，追封功臣費英東為直義公，額亦都為弘毅公，配享。丁亥，群臣上表賀。諭曰：「朕以涼德，恐負眾望。爾諸臣宜同心匡輔，各共厥職，正己率屬，克殫忠誠，立綱陳紀，撫民恤眾，使君明臣良，政治咸熙，庶克荷天之休命。」群臣頓首曰：「聖諭及此，國家之福也。」以受尊號禮成，大赦。己丑，多濟里、扈習征瓦爾喀師還，賞賚有差。朝鮮使臣歸國。初，上受尊號，朝鮮使臣羅德憲、李廓獨不拜。上曰：「彼國王將構怨，欲朕殺其使臣以為詞耳，其釋之。」至是遣歸，以書諭朝鮮國王責之，命送子弟為質。丁酉，敘功，封大貝勒代善為和碩兄禮親王，貝勒濟爾哈朗為和碩鄭親王，多爾袞為和碩睿親王，多鐸為和碩豫親王，豪格為和碩肅親王，岳託為和碩成親王，阿濟格為多羅武英郡王，杜度為多羅安平貝勒，阿巴泰為多羅饒餘貝勒；諸蒙古貝勒巴達禮為和碩土謝圖親王，吳克善為和碩卓禮克圖親王，固倫額駙額哲為和碩親王，布塔齊為多羅札薩克圖郡王，滿硃習禮為多羅巴圖魯郡王，袞出斯巴圖魯為多羅達爾漢郡王，孫杜棱為多羅杜棱郡王，固倫額駙班第為多羅郡王，孔果爾為冰圖王，東為多羅達爾漢戴青，俄木布為多羅達爾漢卓禮克圖，古魯思轄布為多羅杜棱，單把為達爾漢，耿格爾為多羅貝勒，孔有德為恭順王，耿仲明為懷順王，尚可喜為智順王。辛丑，朝鮮使臣置我書於通遠堡，不以歸。札福尼征瓦爾喀師還。
五月丙午，以希福為內弘文院大學士，范文程、鮑承先俱為內秘書院大學士，剛林為內國史院大學士。壬子，貝勒薩哈廉卒，輟朝三日。癸丑，始薦櫻桃於太廟。丁巳，設都察院，諭曰：「朕或奢侈無度，誤誅功臣；或畋獵逸樂，不理政事；或棄忠任奸，黜陟未當；爾其直陳無隱。諸貝勒或廢職業，黷貨偷安，爾其指參。六部或斷事偏謬，審讞淹遲，爾其察奏。明國陋習，此衙門亦賄賂之府也，宜相防檢。挾讐劾人，例當加罪。餘所言是，即行；所言非，不問。」壬戌，追封薩哈廉為和碩穎親王。己巳，以張存仁為都察院承政，祖澤洪為吏部承政，韓大勛為戶部承政，姜新為禮部承政，祖澤潤為兵部承政，李云為刑部承政，裴國珍為工部承政。都統伊爾登罷。以圖爾格為鑲白旗都統。庚午，武英郡王阿濟格、饒餘貝勒阿巴泰、公揚古利等率師征明。上御翔鳳閣面授方略，且誡諭之。癸酉，師行。
六月甲戌朔，授蒙古降人布爾噶都等世職有差。己卯，命豫親王多鐸管禮部事，肅親王豪格管戶部事。甲申，封薩哈廉子阿達禮為多羅郡王。丙戌，以國舅阿什達爾漢為都察院承政，尼堪為蒙古承政。
秋七月己未，檄外籓蒙古兵征明。辛酉，阿濟格等會師出延慶州，俘人畜一萬五千有奇。
八月丁丑，遣官祭孔子。辛巳，成親王岳託、肅親王豪格以罪降多羅貝勒。癸未，睿親王多爾袞，豫親王多鐸，貝勒岳託、豪格舉師征明。
九月戊申，明兵入鹻場，命吳善、季思哈率兵御之。己酉，阿濟格等奏我軍經保定至安州，克十二城，五十六戰皆捷，生擒總兵巢丕昌等人畜十八萬。庚申，伊勒慎等追明兵至娘娘宮渡口，見敵船甚眾，不敢進，奏聞。命宜蓀往援，復遣杜度率師助之。辛酉，蒙古達賴、拜賀、拜音代等自塔山來降。己巳，阿濟格等師還。
冬十月癸酉，多爾袞等師還。丁亥，遣大學士希福等往察哈爾、喀爾喀、科爾沁諸部稽戶口，編佐領，讞庶獄，頒法律，禁奸盜。戊戌，朝鮮國王李倧以書來，卻之。
十一月戊申，覆命岳託管兵部事，豪格管戶部事。己酉，衛寨桑等自蒙古喀爾喀部還，偕其使衛徵喇嘛等來貢。辛亥，徵兵外籓。癸丑，諭曰：「朕讀史，知金世宗真賢君也。當熙宗及完顏亮時，盡廢太祖、太宗舊制，盤樂無度。世宗即位，恐子孫效法漢人，諭以無忘祖法，練習騎射。後世一不遵守，以訖於亡。我國嫻騎射，以戰則克，以攻則取。往者巴克什達海等屢勸朕易滿洲衣服以從漢制。朕惟寬衣博鮹，必廢騎射，當朕之身，豈有變更。恐後世子孫忘之，廢騎射而效漢人，滋足慮焉。爾等謹識之。」乙卯，太祖實錄成。乙丑冬至，大祀天於圜丘。以將征朝鮮告祭天地、太廟。己巳，頒軍令，傳檄朝鮮。
十二月辛未朔，外籓蒙古諸王貝勒率兵會於盛京。鄭親王濟爾哈朗留守，武英郡王阿濟格駐牛庄備邊，饒餘貝勒阿巴泰駐噶海城收集邊民防敵。壬申，上率禮親王代善等征朝鮮，大軍次沙河堡，睿親王多爾袞、貝勒豪格分兵自寬甸入長山口。癸酉，遣馬福塔等率兵三百為商賈裝，潛往圍朝鮮國都，多鐸及貝子碩讬、尼堪以兵千人繼之，郡王滿硃習禮、布塔齊引兵來會。己卯，貝勒岳託、公揚古利以兵三千助多鐸軍。上率大軍距鎮江三十里為營，令安平貝勒杜度、恭順王孔有德等護輜重居後。庚辰，渡鎮江至義州。壬午，上至郭山城。其定州游擊來援，度不敵，自刎死。郭山降。癸未，至定州。定州亦降。乙酉，至安州，以書諭朝鮮守臣勸降。己丑，多鐸等進圍朝鮮國都。朝鮮國王李倧遁南漢山城。多鐸等復圍之，並敗其諸道援兵。辛卯，瓦爾喀葉辰、麻福塔居朝鮮，聞大軍至，以其眾來歸。丁酉，上至臨津江，會天暖冰泮，不可渡，忽驟雨，冰結，大軍畢渡。己亥，命都統譚泰等搜剿朝鮮國都，留蒙古兵與俱。上以大軍合圍南漢城。
是歲，土默特部古祿格楚虎爾，鄂爾多斯部額林臣濟農、台吉土巴等俱來朝。
崇德二年
二年春正月壬寅，朝鮮全羅道總兵來援，岳託擊走之。遣英俄爾岱、馬福塔齎敕諭朝鮮閣臣，數其前後敗盟之罪。甲辰，大軍渡漢江，營於江滸。丁未，朝鮮全羅、忠清二道合兵來援，多鐸、揚古利擊走之。揚古利被創卒。庚戌，多爾袞、豪格軍克長山，連戰皆捷，以兵來會，杜度等運砲車亦至。朝鮮勢益蹙，李倧以書數乞和。上許其出降。倧上書稱臣，逡巡不敢出。壬戌，多爾袞軍入江華島，得倧妻子，護至軍前。復諭倧曰：「來則室家可完，社稷可保，朕不食言，否則不能久待。」倧聞江華島陷，妻子被俘，南漢城旦夕且下，乃請降。庚午，朝鮮國王李倧率其子𣳫及群臣朝服出降於漢江東岸三田渡，獻明所給敕印。上慰諭賜坐，還其妻子及群臣家屬，仍厚賜之。命英俄爾岱、馬福塔送倧返其國都，留其子𣳫、淏為質。
二月壬申，班師。貝子碩託、恭順王孔有德等率朝鮮舟師取明皮島。朝鮮國王李倧表請減貢額。詔免丁丑、戊寅兩年貢物，自乙卯秋季始，仍貢如額。甲戌，諭多爾袞等禁掠降民，違者該管官同罪。辛卯，上還盛京。癸巳，諭戶部平糶勸農。
三月甲辰，殺朝鮮臺諫官洪翼漢、校理尹集、修撰吳達濟，以敗盟故。丁未，武英郡王阿濟格率師助攻皮島。戊午，罷蓋州城工。
夏四月己卯，睿親王多爾袞以朝鮮質子李𣳫、李淏及朝鮮諸大臣子至盛京。辛巳，阿濟格師克皮島，斬明總兵沈世魁、金日觀。甲申，安平貝勒杜度率大軍後隊還。丁酉，命固山貝子尼堪、羅託、博洛等預議國政。增置每旗議政大臣三人，集群臣諭之曰：「向者議政大臣額少，或出師奉使，而朕左右無人，卑微之臣，又不可使參國議。今特擇爾等置之議政之列，當以民生休戚為念，慎毋怠惰，有負朝廷。前蒙古察哈爾林丹悖謬不道，其臣不諫，以至失國。朕有過失，爾諸臣即當面諍。使面從而退有後言，委過於上，非純臣也。」又諭曰：「昔金熙宗循漢俗，服漢衣冠，盡忘本國言語，太祖、太宗之業遂衰。夫弓矢我之長技，今不親騎射，惟耽宴樂，則武備浸弛。朕每出獵，冀不忘騎射，勤練士卒。諸王貝勒務轉相告誡，使後世無變祖宗之制。」
閏四月癸卯，蒙古貢異獸，名齊赫特。壬子，武英郡王阿濟格師還。
五月庚午，朝鮮國王李倧遣使奉表謝恩贖俘獲。丁亥，遣朝鮮從征皮島總兵林慶業歸國，以敕獎朝鮮王。丁酉，章京尼堪等征瓦爾喀，降之，師行逕朝鮮咸鏡道，凡兩月始達，至是還。
六月辛丑，授喀喇沁歸附人阿玉石等官。明千總王國亮、都司胡應登、百總李忠國等自海島來降。莽古爾泰子光袞獲罪，伏誅。乙卯，諭曰：「頃朝鮮之役，兵行無紀，見利即前，竟忘國憲。自今宜思所以宣布法紀修明典制者。」丙辰，以臣朝鮮，克皮島，祭告太廟、福陵。丁巳，朝鮮國王李倧請平值贖俘，不許。甲子，論諸將征朝鮮及皮島違律罪。禮親王代善論革爵，宥之。鄭親王濟爾哈朗以下論罰有差。
秋七月己巳，遣喀凱等分道征瓦爾喀。癸酉，戶部參政恩克有罪，伏誅。辛巳，誡諭漢官以空言欺飾者。智順王尚可喜自皮島師還。壬午，大赦。癸未，優恤朝鮮、皮島陣亡將士揚古利等，贈官襲職有差。乙酉，明都司高繼功等自石城島來降。庚寅，追封皇后父科爾沁貝勒莽古思為和碩福親王。壬辰，以朝鮮及皮島之捷宣諭祖大壽。乙未，分漢軍為兩旗，以總兵官石廷柱、馬光遠為都統，分理左右翼。
八月丙申朔，再恤攻皮島、朝鮮陣亡將士洪文魁等，贈官襲職有差。癸丑，貝勒岳託以罪降貝子，罰金，解兵部任。丙辰，命睿親王多爾袞、饒餘貝勒阿巴泰築都爾鼻城。己未，遣阿什達爾漢等往蒙古巴林、札魯特、喀喇沁、土默特、阿魯諸部會理刑獄。
九月辛未，出獵撫安堡，以書招明石城島守將沈志祥。己丑，兵部參政穆爾泰以罪褫職。貝勒豪格以逼勒蒙古台吉博洛罪，罰金，罷管部務。
冬十月乙未朔，初頒滿洲、蒙古、漢字歷。丙午，厄魯特顧實車臣綽爾濟遣使來貢，厄魯特道遠，以元年遣使，是年冬始至。庚申，遣英俄爾岱、馬福塔、達雲齎敕冊封李倧為朝鮮國王。
十一月庚午，祀天於圜丘。朝鮮國王李倧遣使來貢，復表請歸其世子，並陳國中災變困窮狀。上不許，敕諭賜賚之。丁丑，烏硃穆秦濟農聞上善養民，率貝勒等舉國來附。癸未，追封揚古利為武勛王。庚寅，出獵打草灘。
十二月甲辰，葉克書、星訥率師征卦爾察。癸丑，征瓦爾喀諸將奏捷。戊午，蒿齊忒部貝勒博羅特、托尼洛率屬來歸。阿濟格遣丹岱等敗明兵於清河。
是歲，虎爾哈部托科羅氏、克益克勒氏、耨野勒氏，黑龍江索倫部博穆博果爾，黑龍江巴爾達齊，精格里河扈育布祿俱來朝。
崇德三年
三年春正月辛未，命貝子岳託仍為多羅貝勒，管領旗務。丁亥，以德穆圖為戶部承政。甲午，皇第九子生，是為世祖章皇帝。
二月丁酉，親征喀爾喀，豫親王多鐸、武英郡王阿濟格從，禮親王代善、鄭親王濟爾哈朗、睿親王多爾袞、安平貝勒杜度居守。丁未，次喀爾占，外籓諸王貝勒等以師來會。喀爾喀聞之，遁去。上行獵達爾那洛湖西，駐蹕。乙卯，次奎屯布喇克。庚申，明東江總兵沈志祥率石城島將佐軍民來降。壬戌，遣勞薩以書告明宣府守臣趣互市，且以歲幣歸我。
三月甲子朔，次博碩堆，命留守諸王築遼陽城。甲戌，次義奚里。庚辰，至登努蘇特而還。壬午，次上都河源，河西平地湧泉高五尺。
夏四月甲午朔，次布克圖裡，葉克書等征黑龍江告捷。乙未，至遼河。丁酉，次杜棱城，明山海關太監高起潛遣人詭議和。戊戌，次札哈納里忒。己亥，次察木哈。庚子，次俄岳博洛。都爾鼻城工竣，改名屏城。辛丑，杜爾伯特部卦爾察札馬柰等來朝貢。壬寅，至遼陽，閱新城。乙巳，上還盛京。葉克書、星訥征黑龍江師還。癸丑，命明降將沈志祥以其眾志成城居撫順。甲寅，尼噶里等征虎爾哈師還。
五月癸酉，修盛京至遼河道路，以睿親王多爾袞、饒餘貝勒阿巴泰董其役。乙亥，禮親王代善屬下人覺善有罪，鄭親王濟爾哈朗等請誅之，議削代善爵。以細故不許，並貸覺善。
六月庚申，始設理籓院，專治蒙古諸部事。
秋七月壬戌朔，諭諸王大臣曰：「自古建國，皆立制度，辨等威。今親王、郡王、貝勒、貝子、公主、額駙名號等級，均有定制，乃皆不遵行，違棄成憲，誠何心耶？昔金太祖、太宗兄弟一心，克成大統。朕當創業之時，爾等顧不能同心體國恪守典常乎？」諸王皆引罪。丁卯，喀爾喀使臣達爾漢囊蘇喇嘛歸，諭之曰：「朕以兵討不庭，以德撫有眾。天以蒙古諸部與朕，爾喀爾喀乃興兵犯歸化，甚非分也。爾不獲已，有逃竄偷生耳。爾所能至，我軍豈不能至？其速悔罪來歸，否則不爾宥也。」壬申，達雅齊等往明張家口議歲幣及互市。丁丑，諭禮部曰：「凡有不遵定制變亂法紀者，王、貝勒、貝子議罰，官系三日，民枷責乃釋之。出入坐起違式，及官階名號已定而仍稱舊名者，戒飭之。有效他國衣冠、束髮裹足者，治重罪。」又諭大學士希福等曰：「朕不尚虛文，惟務實政。今國家殷富，政在養民。凡新舊人內窮困無妻孥馬匹者，或勇敢可充伍、以貧不能披甲者，許各陳訴，驗實給與。」禁以陣獲良家子女鬻為樂戶者。丙戌，更定部院官制，專設滿洲承政，以阿拜為吏部承政，英俄爾岱為戶部承政，滿達爾漢為禮部承政，宜蓀為兵部承政，郎球為刑部承政，薩木什喀為工部承政，貝子博洛為理籓院承政，阿什達爾漢為都察院承政。命布顏為議政大臣。
八月甲午，禮部承政祝世昌以罪褫職，謫戍邊外。丙申，吳拜、沙爾虎達連擊敗明兵於紅山口、羅文峪，又敗其密雲兵，殲之。丁酉，地震。戊申，授中式舉人羅碩等十名佐領品級，免四丁，一等至三等秀才授護軍校品級，免二丁，各賜朝衣綢布有差，未入部者免一丁。庚戌，阿魯阿霸垓部額齊格諾顏等、蒿齊忒部博洛特諾木齊等並來朝貢。癸丑，以睿親王多爾袞為奉命大將軍，統左翼兵，貝勒豪格、阿巴泰副之，貝勒岳託為揚武大將軍，統右翼兵，貝勒杜度副之，分道伐明。諭之曰：「主帥為眾所瞻，自處以禮，而濟之以和，則蒙古、朝鮮、漢人之來附者，自心悅而誠服。若計一己之功，而不恤國之名譽，非所望焉。」丁巳，岳託、杜度師行。己未，以巴圖魯准塔為蒙古都統。
九月癸亥，多爾袞、豪格、阿巴泰師行。壬申，上親向山海關以撓明師。徵孔有德、耿仲明、尚可喜兵。丁丑，定優免人丁例。丁亥，幸演武場，閱兵較射。
冬十月丁酉，岳託師自牆子嶺入，遇明兵。明總兵官吳國俊敗走。戊戌，多爾袞軍入青山關。己亥，上統大軍發盛京。甲辰，次渾河，科爾沁、喀喇沁各率兵來會。丙午，遣沙爾虎達等率師趣義州。己酉，命濟爾哈朗、多鐸各率師分趣前屯衛、寧遠、錦州，上親向義州。辛亥，索海率師圍大凌河兩岸十四屯堡。壬子，上次義州，遣孔有德、耿仲明、尚可喜、石廷柱、馬光遠以砲克其五臺。乙卯，次錦州。丙辰，多鐸克桑噶爾寨堡，殺其守將。孔有德等攻石家堡、戚家堡，並克之。戊午，孔有德等攻錦州西臺，臺中砲藥自發，臺壞，克之。
十一月己未朔，多鐸將與濟爾哈朗合師徑中後所，會祖大壽往援北京，乘夜襲我師。庚申，多鐸、濟爾哈朗還至中後所。大壽懼，不敢出。石廷柱、馬光遠攻李雲屯、柏士屯、郭家堡、開州、井家堡，俱克之。孔有德招降大福堡，又攻大臺，克之。辛酉，大軍入山海關。壬戌，上次連山。癸亥，攻五里河臺，明守備李計友等率眾降。丁卯，上至中後所，遇祖大壽收兵入城。使告之曰：「別將軍數載，甚思一見。至於去留，終不相強。將軍與我角勝，為將之道應爾。朕不以此介意，亦原將軍勿疑。」戊辰，再遣使諭大壽，皆不答。己巳，濟爾哈朗克摸龍關及五里堡屯臺。庚午，班師。庚辰，次圖爾根河，遣蒙古軍各歸其部。丙戌，上還京。丁亥，地震。
十二月戊戌，刑部承政郎球有罪解任，以都察院參政索海代之。
是歲，土默特部古祿格，杜爾伯特部卦爾察札馬奈，席北部阿拜、阿閔，兀札喇部井瑙、馬考、札柰、桑吉察，鄂爾多斯部額林臣濟農，阿魯阿霸垓部額齊格諾顏，蒿齊忒部博洛特諾木齊，黑龍江博穆博果爾、瓦代噶凌阿均來朝貢。
崇德四年
四年春正月乙丑，貝子碩託以罪降輔國公。甲戌，皇第三女固倫公主下嫁科爾沁額駙祁他特。己卯，封沈志祥為續順公。蒙古喇克等自錦州來歸。丁亥，蘇尼特部台吉噶布褚等率部人來歸。是月，明以洪承疇總督薊、遼。
二月丁酉，命武英郡王阿濟格率師征明。壬寅，上親統大軍繼之。丙午，次翁啟爾渾。阿濟格遣使奏捷。蒙古奈曼等部率十三旗兵來會。庚戌，營松山。孔有德、耿仲明、尚可喜、石廷柱、馬光遠以砲擊城外諸臺，克之。遣塔布囊布顏率師防烏欣河口。壬子，上登松山南岡，授諸將方略。癸丑，列砲攻城，雉堞悉毀。明副將金國鳳拒守不下。上命豎雲梯急攻之。代善請俟明日，上從之。明人復完城堞，我軍不得入。乙卯，命阿濟格、尼堪、羅托等師圍塔山、連山。
三月戊午朔，明軍援杏山，我兵邀擊之，斬五十人。己未，穿地道攻松山城。乙丑，命納海等馳略杏山。石廷柱、馬光遠攻觀民山臺，降之。丙寅，多爾袞、杜度等疏報自北京至山西界，復至山東，攻濟南府破之，蹂躪數千里，明兵望風披靡，克府一州三縣五十七，總督宣大盧象昇戰死，擒德王硃由賸、郡王硃慈漻、奉國將軍硃慈黨、總督太監馮允升等，俘獲人口五十餘萬，他物稱是。是役也，揚武大將軍貝勒岳託、輔國公瑪瞻卒于軍。上聞震悼，輟飲食三日。乙亥，多爾袞、杜度又報自遷安縣出青山關，遇明兵，二十四戰皆勝。己卯，復攻松山城。明太監高起潛、總兵祖大壽自寧遠遣副將祖克勇、徐昌永等率兵趨錦州。阿爾薩蘭等擊敗之。上聞，馳赴錦州督師，斬徐昌永於陣，擒祖克勇。甲申，解松山圍。乙酉，駐錦州。多爾袞等師還盛京。
夏四月戊子朔，阿濟格略連山。壬辰，會於錦州。癸巳，渡大凌河駐蹕。己亥，杜度等師還。辛丑，上還盛京，哭岳託而後入，輟朝三日。戊申，以庫魯克達爾漢阿賴、馬喇希為蒙古都統。甲寅，以索渾、薩璧翰為議政大臣。丙辰，追封多羅貝勒岳託為多羅克勤郡王。
五月戊午，以貝子篇古有罪，削爵。己未，鄭親王濟爾哈朗率兵略錦州、松山、杏山。辛酉，蘇尼特台吉莽古斯、俄爾寨率眾來歸。丁卯，席特庫、沙爾虎達等敗明兵於錦州。辛未，濟爾哈朗奏入明邊，九戰皆捷。丙子，濟爾哈朗師還。庚辰，以鎮國公艾度禮為都統。辛巳，召豫親王多鐸數其罪，宥之，惟坐其征明失利，及不親送睿親王出師，降多羅貝勒。
六月戊子，蒙古阿蘭柴、桑噶爾寨等告岳託生前與其妻父瑣諾木謀不軌。代善、濟爾哈朗、多爾袞皆請窮治。上以岳託已死，不問，並貸瑣諾木勿治。庚寅，遣馬福塔、巴哈納冊封朝鮮國王李倧妻趙氏為朝鮮王妃，其長子𣳫為世子。丙申，分漢軍為四旗，以石廷柱、馬光遠、王世選、巴顏為都統，改纛色。辛亥，焚哈達、葉赫、烏喇、輝發前所受明敕書於篤恭殿。壬子，以伊爾登、噶爾馬為議政大臣，星訥兼議政大臣。
秋七月丁巳，遣官賚書與明帝議和，並令硃由賸等各具疏進，許其議成釋還。辛未，朝鮮國王李倧克熊島，執加哈禪來獻。乙亥，諭滿、漢、蒙古有能衝鋒陷陣先登拔城者，以馬給之。
八月己丑，授宗室固山貝子、鎮國公、輔國公、鎮國將軍、奉國將軍等爵有差。甲午，命貝勒豪格管戶部事，杜度管禮部事，多鐸管兵部事，薩爾糾等率兵征庫爾喀部。乙巳，歸化城土默特諸章京以所得明歲幣來獻。
九月乙卯朔，以孫達理等八十三人從睿親王入關有功，各授官有差，賜號巴圖魯。乙丑，都統杜雷有罪，褫職。己巳，復封貝勒豪格為和碩肅親王。癸酉，阿濟格、阿巴泰、杜度率兵略錦州、寧遠。甲戌，封岳託子羅洛宏為多羅貝勒。丙子，以宗室賴慕布、杜沙為議政大臣，英俄爾岱為都統，馬福塔為戶部承政。
冬十月丙戌，豪格、多鐸率兵復略錦州、寧遠。庚寅，蘇尼特部墨爾根台吉騰機思等率諸貝勒、阿霸垓部額齊格諾顏等各率部眾，自喀爾喀來歸。辛卯，出獵哈達。癸丑，以劉之源為都統，喀濟海為議政大臣。
十一月甲寅朔，豪格疏報參領阿藍泰率蒙古人來歸，遇明兵於寧遠北岡，擊敗之，斬明總兵金國鳳。辛酉，遣索海、薩木什喀等征索倫部。丁卯，出獵葉赫。
十二月甲午，上還京。
是歲，黑龍江額納布、墨音、額爾盆等，喀爾喀部土謝圖、俄木布額爾德尼等，喀爾喀、蘇尼特、烏硃穆秦、科爾沁、克西克騰、土默特諸部，遣使俱來朝貢。
崇德五年
五年春正月甲子，命朝鮮質子李𣳫歸省父疾，仍令遣別子及𣳫子來質。遣翁阿岱、多濟里等戍錦州。
閏正月癸未朔，令各旗都統分巡所屬屯堡，察窮民，理冤獄。
二月丙辰，遣多濟里以寧古塔兵三百往征兀札喇部。丁巳，戶部承政馬福塔卒，以車爾格代之，覺羅錫翰為工部承政。丙寅，朝鮮國王第三子橑來質。
三月丙戌，遣勞薩、吳拜等略廣寧。己丑，勞薩、吳拜以逗遛議罰有差。薩木什喀等征虎爾哈部，克雅克薩城。己亥，命濟爾哈朗、多鐸築義州城，駐兵屯田，進逼山海關。辛丑，戶部參政碩詹徵朝鮮水師糧米赴大凌、小凌二河。乙巳，索海、薩木什喀征索倫部奏捷。
夏四月壬子朔，罷元旦、萬壽諸王貝勒獻物。乙亥，索海、薩木什喀征索倫師還，上宴勞於實勝寺。庚辰，上視師義州。
五月癸未，渡遼河。乙酉，碩詹以朝鮮水師至。癸巳，上至義州。丁酉，蒙古多羅特部人蘇班代等自杏山遣人約降。上命濟爾哈朗等率軍迎之，戒曰：「此行勿領多人，敵見我兵少，必來拒戰。我分兵為三，以前隊拒戰，後二隊為援。」至杏山，祖大壽果遣劉周智、吳三桂列陣逼我。濟爾哈朗等偽卻，縱兵反擊，大敗之。戊戌，命勞薩、吳拜等略海邊。索倫部三百三十七戶續來降。壬寅，上率師攻克五里臺。乙巳，以紅衣砲攻錦州。丁未，刈其禾而還。庚戌，駕還京。
六月乙丑，多爾袞、豪格、杜度、阿巴泰、濟爾哈朗等屯田義州。戊辰，朝鮮世子李𣳫至。先是，朝鮮遣總兵官林慶業等載米同我使洪尼喀等自大凌河運三山島，遇風，覆沒者半，與明兵戰又失利，乃命陵輓至蓋州、耀州，留其兵千五百人于海州。癸酉，多濟里、喀柱征兀札喇部師還。遣朝鮮王次子李淏歸省。
秋七月庚辰朔，敘征索倫功，索海等賞賚進秩有差。癸未，定征索倫違律罪，薩木什喀等黜罰有差。乙酉，多爾袞等奏克錦州十一臺，請分兵為兩翼屯駐。癸巳，明總督洪承疇以兵四萬壁杏山，遣騎挑戰，多爾袞等擊敗之。乙未，遣吳拜往助多爾袞軍。丙午，席特庫、濟席哈等率師征索倫部。上幸安山溫泉。己酉，多爾袞奏敗明兵於錦州，杜度又敗之寧遠。
八月己未，遣希福等至張家口互市。乙亥，多爾袞奏敗明兵於錦州，又敗之大凌河。
九月乙酉，上還宮。丙戌，命濟爾哈朗、阿濟格、阿達禮、多鐸、羅洛宏代圍錦州、松山。辛卯，多爾袞奏敗明兵於松山。癸卯，重修鳳凰城。
冬十月壬戌，遣英俄爾岱等往朝鮮責罪。壬申，萬壽節，大赦。
十一月戊寅朔，詔免朝鮮歲貢米十之九。乙酉，濟爾哈朗奏敗明兵於塔山、杏山及錦州城下。癸巳，阿敏卒於幽所。戊戌，朝鮮國王次子李淏來質。
十二月庚戌，命多爾袞、豪格、杜度、阿巴泰代圍錦州。己未，遣朝鮮國王三子李橑歸。席特庫、濟席哈征索倫部，擒博穆博果爾，俘九百餘人。壬申，英俄爾岱等至自朝鮮，械繫其尚書金聲黑尼等四人以歸。
是歲，喀爾喀部查薩克圖遣使來朝貢。
崇德六年
六年春正月庚辰，朝鮮國王李倧上表謝罪。壬辰，席特庫、濟席哈等師還。癸巳，晉席特庫為三等總兵官。甲午，皇四女固倫公主雅圖下嫁科爾沁卓禮克圖親王吳克善子弼爾塔噶爾額駙。丁酉，二等副將勞薩有罪，革碩翁科羅巴圖魯號，降一等參將。
二月己未，以八旗佐領下人多貧乏，令戶部察明奏聞。諭佐領毋沉湎失職。其有因飲酒失業者四十八人並解任。諭諸王大臣教子弟習射。丙寅，多爾袞等奏敗明兵。
三月己卯，濟爾哈朗等代圍錦州。丁酉，降和碩睿親王多爾袞、肅親王豪格為多羅郡王，多羅貝勒阿巴泰、杜度以下罰銀有差。是時，祖大壽為明守錦州，屢招之不應。上令諸王迭出困之。而多爾袞等駐營錦州三十里外，又時遣軍士還家，故有是命。己亥，遣朝鮮總兵柳琳等率兵助濟爾哈朗軍。壬寅，濟爾哈朗奏克錦州外城。初，我軍環錦州而營，深溝高壘，絕明兵出入，城中大懼。蒙古貝勒諾木齊、台吉吳巴什等請降，且約獻東關為內應。祖大壽覺之，謀執吳巴什等。於是諸蒙古大譟，與明兵搏戰。我軍自外應之，遂克其外城。大壽退保內城。甲辰，諾木齊、吳巴什等以蒙古六千餘人來歸，至盛京。
夏四月丁未，遣阿哈尼堪等率兵詣錦州助濟爾哈朗軍。濟爾哈朗奏敗明援兵於松山。庚戌，遣孔有德、尚可喜助圍錦州。多爾袞等聞錦州蒙古降，請效力贖罪。不許。
五月丁丑，明總督洪承疇以兵六萬援錦州，屯松山北崗。濟爾哈朗等擊走之，斬首二千級。丁亥，索倫部巴爾達齊降。己丑，遣希福等閱錦州屯營濠塹。壬寅，諭駐防歸化城都統古祿格等增築外城，建敵樓，浚深濠，以備守御。
六月丁未，命多爾袞、豪格代圍錦州。辛酉，濟爾哈朗、多爾袞等合軍敗明援兵於松山。丙寅，遣學士羅碩以祖澤潤書招祖大壽。庚午，多爾袞等又奏敗明援兵於松山。
秋七月戊寅，賜中式舉人滿洲鄂謨克圖、蒙古杜當、漢人崔光前等朝衣各一襲，一二三等生員緞布有差。甲申，遣孔有德、耿仲明、尚可喜下副都統率兵助圍錦州。乙酉，議圍錦州功罪，親王以下賞罰有差。
八月甲辰朔，敘克錦州外城諸將功，晉鰲拜、勞薩、伊爾登等秩，復勞薩碩翁科羅巴圖魯號。乙巳，我軍與明合戰，明陽和總兵楊國柱敗死。祖大壽自錦州分所部為三，突圍不得出。丁未，封烏硃穆秦部多爾濟濟農為和碩蘇勒親王，阿霸垓部多爾濟額齊格諾顏為卓禮克圖郡王。丁巳，上以明洪承疇、巡撫邱民仰等援錦州兵號十三萬，壁松山，上親率大軍御之。濟爾哈朗留守。諸王、貝勒、大臣以明兵勢眾，勸上緩行。上笑曰：「但恐彼聞朕至，潛師遁耳。若不去，朕破之如摧枯拉朽也。」遂疾馳而進。戊午，渡遼河。洪承疇以兵犯我右翼，豪格擊敗之。壬戌，上至戚家堡，將赴高橋，召多爾袞以兵來會。多爾袞請駐蹕松、杏間。上從之，幸松山。明以一軍駐乳峰山，由乳峰至松山，列步軍七營，騎兵則環城東西北，壁壘甚堅。我師自烏欣河南山至海，橫截大路而軍。上謂諸將曰：「敵眾，食必不足，見我斷其餉道，必無固志，設伏待之，全師可覆也。」癸亥，明兵來犯，擊卻之。又敗之塔山，獲其積粟十二屯。甲子，明兵再犯，又卻之。時承疇以餉乏，欲就食寧遠。上知其將遁，分路設伏，戒諸將嚴陣以待，扼其歸寧遠及奔塔山、錦州路。是夜，明吳三桂等六總兵果潛師先奔，昏黑中為我伏兵所截，大潰。惟曹變蛟、王廷臣返松山。乙丑，又克其四臺。王朴、吳三桂奔杏山。曹變蛟棄乳峰山，乘夜襲上營，力戰，變蛟中創走。己巳，吳三桂、王朴自杏山奔寧遠，遇我伏兵，又大敗之，三桂、朴僅以身免。是役也，斬首五萬，獲馬七千，軍資器械稱是。承疇收敗兵萬餘人入松山，嬰城守，不能戰。我軍遂掘壕圍之。是日，札魯特部桑噶爾以兵至。
九月乙亥，科爾沁卓禮克圖親王吳克善以兵至。命多爾袞、豪格分兵還守盛京。戊寅，略寧遠。乙酉，關雎宮宸妃疾。上將還京，留杜度、阿巴泰等圍錦州，多鐸、阿達禮等圍松山，阿濟格等圍杏山。丙戌，駕還。庚寅，宸妃薨。辛卯，上還京。
冬十月癸卯朔，日有食之。甲辰，遣阿拜駐錦州南乳峰山。丁未，遣孔有德、耿仲明、尚可喜等助圍錦州。己巳，追封宸妃為元妃，諡敏惠恭和。壬申，封蘇尼特墨爾根台吉騰機思為多羅墨爾根郡王。
十一月乙亥，命多爾袞、羅託、屯齊駐錦州，豪格、滿達海等駐松山。
十二月甲寅，濟爾哈朗、多爾袞奏敗洪承疇於松山。
崇德七年
七年春二月癸卯，上出獵葉赫。戊申，明德王硃由賸卒，以禮葬之。戊午，阿濟格奏敗明兵於寧遠。辛酉，豪格、阿達禮、多鐸、羅洛宏奏拔松山，擒明總督洪承疇，巡撫邱民仰，總兵王廷臣、曹變蛟、祖大樂，游擊祖大名、大成等。先是，承疇援絕，屢突圍不得出，其副將夏承德約降，且請為內應，以子夏舒為質。戊午夜半，豪格等梯城破之。捷聞，上以所俘獲分賚官軍，收軍器貯松山城。壬戌，上還宮。
三月癸酉，殺邱民仰、王廷臣、曹變蛟。諭洪承疇、祖大樂來京，而縱大名、大成入錦州。己卯，克錦州，祖大壽以所部七千餘人出降。乙酉，阿濟格等奏明遣職方郎中馬紹愉來乞和，出明帝敕兵部尚書陳新甲書為驗。上曰：「明之筆札多不實，且詞意誇大，非有欲和之誠。然彼真偽不可知，而和好固朕夙原。朕為百萬生靈計，若事果成，各君其國，使民安業，則兩國俱享太平之福。爾等以朕意傳示之。」乙未，諭多爾袞、豪格駐杏山、塔山，濟爾哈朗、阿濟格、阿達禮等還京。
夏四月丁未，敕諭吳三桂等降。庚戌，大小二日並出，大者旋沒。辛亥，濟爾哈朗、多爾袞、豪格等奏克塔山。甲子，奏克杏山。毀松山、杏山、塔山三城。濟爾哈朗等班師。以阿巴泰守錦州。
五月己巳朔，濟爾哈朗等奏明遣馬紹愉來議和，遣使迓之。癸酉，洪承疇、祖大壽等至，入見請死。上赦之，諭以盡忠報效，承疇等泣謝。上問承疇曰：「明帝視宗室被俘，置若罔聞。陣亡將帥及窮蹙降我者，皆孥戮之。舊規乎？抑新例乎？」承疇對曰：「昔無此例，近因文臣妄奏，故然。」上曰：「君暗臣蔽，枉殺至此。夫將士被擒乞降，使其可贖，猶當贖之，奈何戮其妻子！」承疇曰：「皇上真仁主也。」戊寅，禁善友邪教，誅黨首李國梁等十六人。壬午，明使馬紹愉等始至。
六月辛丑，都察院參政祖可法、張存仁言：「明寇盜日起，兵力竭而倉廩虛，徵調不前，勢如瓦解。守遼將帥喪失八九，今不得已乞和，計必南遷。宜要其納貢稱臣，以黃河為界。」上不納。以書報明帝曰：「向屢致書修好，貴國不從，事屬既往，其又何言。予承天眷，自東北海濱以訖西北，其間使犬、使鹿產狐產貂之地，暨厄魯特部、斡難河源，皆我臣服，蒙古、朝鮮盡入版圖，用是昭告天地，正位改元。邇者兵入爾境，克城陷陣，乘勝長驅，亦復何畏。余特惓惓為百萬生靈計，若能各審禍福，誠心和好，自茲以往，盡釋宿怨，尊卑之分，又奚較焉。古云：『情通則明，情蔽則暗。』使者往來，期以面見，情不壅蔽。吉凶大事，交相慶弔。歲各以地所產互為餽遺，兩國逃亡亦互歸之。以寧遠雙樹堡為貴國界，塔山為我國界，而互市於連山適中之地。其自海中往來者，則以黃城島之東西為界。越者各罪其下。貴國如用此言，兩君或親誓天地，或遣大臣蒞盟，唯命之從。否則後勿復使矣。」遂厚賚明使臣及從者，遣之。後明議中變，和事竟不成。癸卯，諭諸王貝勒，凡行兵出獵，踐田禾者罪之。甲辰，設漢軍八旗，以祖澤潤等八人為都統。以貝子羅託為都察院承政，吳達海為刑部承政，郎球為禮部承政。乙巳，多羅安平貝勒杜度卒。
秋七月庚午，諭諸王、貝勒、大臣曰：「爾等於所屬賢否，當已詳悉。知而不舉，何以示勸？太祖時，蘇完札爾固齊費英東等見人有善，先自獎勵，然後舉之；見人不善，先自斥責，然後劾之。故人無矜色，無怨言。今未有若斯之公直者矣。」王貝勒等皆謝罪。辛未，承攻索海以罪褫職。壬申，以紐黑為議政大臣。丙子，敘功，晉多羅睿郡王多爾袞、肅郡王豪格復為和碩親王，多羅貝勒多鐸為多羅郡王，鄭親王濟爾哈朗以下賞賚有差。戊寅，遣輔國公博和託代戍錦州。乙酉，議濟爾哈朗以下諸將征錦州違律罪。上念其久勞，悉宥之。諭刑部慎讞獄。己丑，命多羅郡王阿達禮管禮部事。
八月己亥，鑄砲於錦州。癸卯，鎮國將軍巴布海有罪，廢為庶人。癸丑，論克錦州、松山、杏山、塔山諸將功，晉秩有差。
九月，敘外籓諸王、貝勒、大臣從征錦州功，賞賚有差。丁丑，遣貝子羅讬等代戍錦州。壬午，命沙爾虎達等征虎爾哈部。
冬十月癸卯，遣英俄爾岱等鞫朝鮮閣臣崔鳴吉等罪。辛亥，以阿巴泰為奉命大將軍，與圖爾格率師伐明。壬子，師行。丁巳，上不豫，赦殊死以下。己未，令多鐸、阿達禮駐兵寧遠。以敕諭吳三桂降。又命祖大壽以書招之。三桂，大壽甥也。甲子，命鄭親王濟爾哈朗、睿親王多爾袞、肅親王豪格、武英郡王阿濟格裁決庶政，其不能決者奏聞。
十一月丁丑，多鐸奏擊敗吳三桂兵。丙申，阿巴泰奏自牆子嶺入克長城，敗明兵於薊州。
閏十一月甲辰，上還京。己酉，沙爾虎達等降虎爾哈部一千四百餘人。丙辰，遣巴布泰等更戍錦州。己未，以宗室韓岱為兵部承政。定圍獵誤射人馬處分例。
十二月丁卯，上出獵葉赫。乙亥，遣金維城率師戍錦州。丁丑，駐蹕開庫爾。上不豫，諸王貝子請罷獵，不許。丙戌，月暈生三珥。丁亥，日暈生三珥。癸巳，上還京。
是歲，杜爾伯特部札薩克塞冷來朝。
崇德八年
八年春正月丙申朔，上不豫，命和碩親王以下，副都統以上，詣堂子行禮。辛亥，沙爾虎達等師還，論功賞賚有差。甲寅，明寧遠總兵吳三桂答祖大壽書，猶豫未決，於是復降敕諭之。乙卯，遣譚布等更戍錦州。辛酉，多羅貝勒羅洛宏以罪削爵。
二月乙丑朔，日有食之。甲戌，葬敏惠恭和元妃。庚寅，禁建寺廟。
三月丙申，敕朝鮮臣民毋與明通。丙午，地震，自西隅至東南有聲。庚戌，上不豫，赦死罪以下。遣阿爾津等征黑龍江虎爾哈部，葉臣等更戍錦州。辛酉，更定六部處分例。
夏四月癸酉，遣金維城等更戍錦州。甲戌，多鐸請暫息軍興，輟工作，務農業，以足民用。
五月丙申，復封羅洛宏為多羅貝勒。先是，圖白忒部達賴喇嘛遣使修聘問禮，留京八月，至是，遣還，並賚其來使。庚子，努山敗明兵界嶺口。癸卯，阿巴泰奏我軍入明，克河間、順德、兗州三府、州十八、縣六十七，降州一、縣五，與明大小三十九戰，殺魯王硃衣珮及樂陵、陽信、東原、安丘、滋陽五郡王，暨宗室文武凡千餘員，俘獲人民、牲畜、金幣以數十萬計，籍數以聞。丁巳，阿爾津征虎爾哈奏捷。
六月癸酉，多羅饒餘貝勒阿巴泰師還，鄭親王濟爾哈朗、睿親王多爾袞、武英郡王阿濟格郊迎之。甲戌，賜阿巴泰及從征將士銀緞有差。己卯，諭諸王貝勒曰： 「治生者務在節用，治國者重在土地人民。爾等勿專事俘獲以私其親。其各勤農桑以敦本計。」艾度禮代戍錦州。丁亥，朝鮮國王李倧請戍錦州兵歲一更。庚寅，諭戶、兵二部清察蒙古人丁，編入佐領，俱令披甲。
秋七月戊戌，阿爾津等師還，論功賞賚有差。諭諸王勿以黃金飾鞍勒。定諸王、貝勒、貝子、公第宅制。壬寅，定諸王貝勒失誤朝會處分例。丙辰，定外籓王、貝勒、貝子、公等與諸王、貝勒、貝子、公相見禮。丁巳，以征明大捷，宣諭朝鮮。辛酉，命滿達海掌都察院事。
八月丙寅，貝子羅託有罪論辟，免死，幽之。戊辰，以宗室鞏阿岱為吏部承政，郎球為禮部承政，星訥為工部承政。庚午，上御崇政殿。是夕，亥時，無疾崩，年五十有二，在位十七年。九月壬子，葬昭陵。冬十月丁卯，上尊諡曰應天興國弘德彰武寬溫仁聖睿孝文皇帝，廟號太宗，累上尊諡曰應天興國弘德彰武寬溫仁聖睿孝敬敏昭定隆道顯功文皇帝。
論
論曰：太宗允文允武，內修政事，外勤討伐，用兵如神，所向有功。雖大勛未集，而世祖即位期年，中外即歸於統一，蓋帝之詒謀遠矣。明政不綱，盜賊憑陵，帝固知明之可取，然不欲亟戰以剿民命，七致書於明之將帥，屈意請和。明人不量強弱，自亡其國，無足論者。然帝交鄰之道，實與湯事葛、文王事昆夷無以異。嗚呼，聖矣哉！
Winter, the tenth month. On jiyou, because the Zhalute tribe of the Mongol Ka'erka had broken their pledge, killed and plundered, and secretly dealt with the Ming, the Great Beile Daishan and others were ordered to lead ten thousand picked troops against them, first sending a letter proclaiming their crimes; the emperor saw them off as far as Puhe Hill and returned. On guichou he sent Leng'eli and Ashan separately with six hundred light troops into the Balin lands of the Ka'erka, to make a show of force. On bingchen Aoba, the Tushetu Khan of the Ke'erqin, and fourteen Beile including Daida'erhan each sent envoys to offer condolences. Dazhuhu attacked the Gua'ercha tribe and came back with their people and livestock. The Ming Governor of Ningyuan, Yuan Chonghuan, sent Lama Li and the Regional Commandant Fu Youjue and others to offer condolences and to congratulate him on taking the throne. On jiazi the Great Beile Daishan and others crushed the Zhalute, killed their Beile E'erzhaitu, and came back with the Beile Bake and his two sons and fourteen Beile including Lashixibu. Edit
The eleventh month. On xinwei the emperor set out from Shenyang to meet the Great Beile Daishan, and the army halted at the Fanhe border of Tieling. On guiyou the rite of drinking on return from campaign was held, merits were judged, and the officers and men were rewarded. On wuyin the emperor returned to Shenyang. Tu'erji, Beile of the Alakechuote tribe of the Chaha'er, came over with a hundred households. On yiyou Fangjina and Wentashi were sent with Lama Li to answer Yuan Chonghuan, carrying a letter that said: "Lately we have laid down our arms, and you sent envoys to offer condolences and congratulations; those who came behaved with courtesy, so we send officers to express our thanks. Once, when my late father went to Ningyuan, he sent a sealed letter speaking of peace, but received no answer. If you wish for friendship, answer with the truth, and do not dress things up." Chonghuan did not report this to his court, but sent our envoys back in their turn. Weizheng Babai, son of the Zhuoliketu Beile, brought his family and came over. The Ke'erqin Beile Qingbatulu Sang'e'erzhai and the taiji Manzhushili each came with saddled horses, cattle and sheep to offer condolences. Edit
The twelfth month. On gengzi the sale of weapons to the Mongol vassal tribes was forbidden. On renxu people from the Heilongjiang came to court with tribute. Edit
First year of Tiancong (1627)
In the first year of Tiancong, spring, the first month. On bingzi the Second Beile Amin and the Beile Ji'erhalang, Ajige, Dudu, Yuetuo and Shuotuo were ordered to lead troops against Korea. The emperor said: "Korea has offended against us for generations, and now the Ming's Mao Wenlong is on the islands near them, taking in our deserters; we should deal with both together." He again sent Fangjina and Wentashi with a letter to Yuan Chonghuan of the Ming, saying that he had raised his troops because of the Seven Great Grievances, and proposing that they discuss peace and the amount of the yearly gifts and return gifts. Edit
The second month. On jihai a letter was sent to Gunchusi Batulu of the Mongol Naiman tribe, inviting him to submit. Edit
The third month. On renshen Amin and the others took Uiju in Korea, and sent other troops to strike at Cheolsan, from which the Ming commander Mao Wenlong fled. They also took Anju, advanced to the city of Pyongyang, and crossed the Taedong River. The King of Korea, Yi Jong, sent envoys to meet the army. Amin and the others listed his seven crimes, but still sent envoys to press for peace. Jong, afraid, fled with his wife and children to Ganghwa Island, and his eldest son Yi Wang fled to Jeonju. Amin also sent the Assistant General Liu Xingzuo onto the island to instruct Jong in person. Jong sent his younger kinsman Yi Gak, Lord of Wonchang, to present a hundred horses, a hundred tiger and leopard skins, four hundred bolts each of brocade and ramie, and fifteen thousand bolts of cloth. On gengzi a covenant was made with Korea, and it was agreed to end the fighting. On renshen Yuan Chonghuan of the Ming sent Du Mingzhong with Fangjina and the others, bringing a letter, together with a letter from Lama Li, wishing to put away grievances and make friends; but he asked that the amount of gold and silk be reduced, and voiced suspicion over our making war on Korea. On xinsi Amin and the others sent envoys to report their victory. On yiyou it was ordered that a thousand Manchu and two thousand Mongol troops be left to guard Uiju, and three hundred Manchu and a thousand Mongol troops to guard the town of Zhenjiang. Yi Jong was told: "We leave troops at Uiju only to guard against Mao Wenlong." Amin and the others brought the army back, bringing Yi Gak with them. Edit
Summer, the fourth month. On jiachen a letter was sent to Yuan Chonghuan, saying: "To put away grievances and make friends is what I have always wished. Korea held itself high and slighted us, and took in our deserters and fugitives; I bore with them for several years, and they did not repent, so I raised troops against them. Heaven favoured us, and our army won. Now peace has been made, yet you speak falsely of friendship while still sending scouts to spy on us and repairing your forts. It is truly this that makes the commanders of our state suspicious. To keep faith and live in harmony there must be gifts to complete the courtesies; but am I so greedy as to seek profit from them until your state cannot bear it? They may be reduced by half. The yearly gifts and return gifts should be as agreed before; then it will be a blessing for both states." When the letter had been written, he heard that Chonghuan was just then building the forts of Tashan, Dalinghe, Jinzhou and others, so he gave up sending envoys and handed the letter to Du Mingzhong to take back. He further rebuked Chonghuan: "When two states make friends, they should fix their borders. Now you are again repairing walls and secretly planning to encroach on us. If the war does not end, and Heaven gives Yan and Yun to me, and your ruler has the misfortune to flee, ruined in body and name, what then? From of old, civil officials without experience of affairs have only talked big, and have often lost armies, brought disaster on the people, and overturned the altars of the state. Before, in Liaozuo, the wrong men were employed, and all the land east and west of the river was lost; do you still think that no warning, and plan to take up arms?" On guichou Amin and the others returned in triumph from Korea; the emperor met them at Wujing Camp and gave Amin a suit of his own clothes, and each of the others a horse. On yimao the merits of the officers and men of the Korean campaign were judged, and they were promoted and rewarded by grade. On wuchen the emperor returned to Shenyang. On yichou a letter was sent to the Chaha'er taiji Jinong and to Gunchusi Batulu of the Naiman, inviting them to make peace. Edit
The fifth month. On wuchen Yi Gak, younger brother of the King of Korea, was sent home; a farewell banquet was given for him, and he was given saddled horses, furs, belts and other things. On xinwei the emperor, hearing that the Ming were building forts and setting up military farms at Jinzhou, Dalinghe and Xiaolinghe, and that Chonghuan had sent no reply, led an army himself to attack them. On yihai he reached Guangning and advanced by night. On bingzi the Ming troops at Dalinghe and Xiaolinghe abandoned their forts and fled, and so Jinzhou was besieged. More than two thousand Ming troops from the forts and watchtowers came to surrender, and he let them all go home. On dingchou the Ming eunuch commanding in Liaodong, Ji Yong, and the Brigade General Zhao Shuaijiao sent men to the army to ask for terms. The emperor spoke to them frankly, and agreed that Ji Yong should come himself to settle matters. Yong did not reply, so they attacked Jinzhou. When it was about to fall, Ming relief troops arrived; he drew back five li and made camp, and sent men to call up troops from Shenyang to reinforce the army. On gengyin the gushan ejen Bo'erjin and others arrived with troops. On guisi they attacked the city of Ningyuan and destroyed more than a thousand of its infantry. Then the Ming Brigade General Man Gui came out of the city and drew up his lines; the emperor wanted to attack him, but the three Great Beile all urged him not to. The emperor was angry, told the commanders to put on their helmets at once, and with Ajige charged forward at speed, defeated Gui's front ranks, chased them to the walls of Ningyuan and killed them all. The Beile followed without time to put on their helmets, and Ji'erhalang, Sahalian and Wakeda were all wounded. The garrison of Jinzhou also came out of the city to join the fight, and our army met and struck them too. The Mobile Corps Commander Jueluo Baishan and the Company Captain Baxi were killed in battle; the emperor came to their mourning, wept, and poured libations for them. Our army went back to camp at Shuangshupu. On yiwei it came to Jinzhou again. Edit
The sixth month. On jihai they attacked Jinzhou; the weather was sweltering, and very many soldiers died or were wounded. On gengzi the army was withdrawn. On dingwei the emperor returned to Shenyang. This year there was a great famine; a dou of rice cost eight taels of silver, silver was cheap and goods dear, and robbers and bandits sprang up everywhere. The emperor said with pity: "The people are hungry and so turn to robbery; can we kill them all?" He ordered that they be flogged and released, and he also opened the treasury to relieve the people. Edit
Autumn, the seventh month. On jisi the Mongols Suonuomu Duleng and Saichen Zhuoliketu of the Aohan and Gunchusi Batulu of the Naiman came over with their whole peoples. The King of Korea, Yi Jong, sent envoys to give thanks and to present local products; Ashi Da'erhan and others were ordered to go in return, and soon Uiju was given back to Korea. This month Yuan Chonghuan of the Ming was dismissed and went home. Edit
The eighth month. On xinhai the Beile Ba'erbatulu, Nuomendalai and Chui'erzhamusu of the Alakechuote tribe of the Chaha'er came with their people to submit. This month the Ming emperor Xizong died, and his younger brother the Prince of Xin succeeded him; he was the Zhuanglie Emperor. Edit
The ninth month. On the first day, jiazi, it was decreed that, apart from the cattle used at the great sacrifices and great banquets of the state, all slaughter of horses, mules, cattle and donkeys was forbidden. Edit
Winter, the eleventh month. On gengwu the Great Beile of the Chaha'er, Angkun Duleng, came to surrender. On xinsi the Saha'ercha tribe came to court with tribute. Edit
The twelfth month. On the first day, jiawu, Tu'erji Yi'erdeng, Beile of the Alakechuote of the Chaha'er, came to surrender. Edit
Second year of Tiancong (1628)
In the second year, spring, the first month. On wuzi four chiefs of the Geyikeli tribe came to court with their followers. Edit
The second month. On the first day, guisi, Tu'erge, son of Eyidu, and Chahani, son of Feiyingdong, were both made Brigade Generals. The King of Korea, Yi Jong, sent his Brigade General Li Lan and others to present local products and two thousand shi of rice, with another thousand shi to be sold at a fair price at Zhongjiang. On gengzi, because envoys going to the Kalaqin had repeatedly been killed by the Duoluote tribe of the Chaha'er, the emperor led an army against them himself. On dingwei he advanced against the Duoluote and defeated them; Duo'erji Hatan Batulu was wounded and fled, his wife and children were captured, the taiji Gulu was killed, and 11,200 people were taken captive and brought back. On dingsi, for the victory, eight oxen were sacrificed to Heaven. Edit
The third month. On wuchen the emperor returned to Shenyang; the Beile Amin and others led the officials out to the outskirts to welcome him, and performed the embracing salute. Because his younger brothers Duo'ergun and Duoduo had earned merit on the campaign, he gave Duo'ergun the title Mo'ergen Daiqing and Duoduo the title E'erke Chuhu'er. On gengyin a banquet was given for them with the rite of bestowing names. On wuzi gold was given to men of the state who had no wives, so that they could marry. The Beile Duo'ergun was made a gushan Beile. Edit
Summer, the fourth month. On bingchen the Balin Beile Saite'er and the taiji Sailen, Ayushi and Manzhuxili came with their people to submit. The Ming again put Yuan Chonghuan in supreme command of Ji and Liao. Chonghuan had never been on good terms with Mao Wenlong. At this time Wenlong held Pi Island and gathered the people of Liao there; when any of them ran away he killed them and claimed their heads as merit, and so won promotion to Brigade General with authority to act at his own discretion. Later he even wrote letters to us seeking friendly relations. The emperor sent Kekuo and others with a letter in reply. Then Wenlong seized Kekuo and the others and sent them to Yanjing. Chonghuan, charging Wenlong with secret dealings with the enemy, lured him into a trap and killed him. Edit
The fifth month. On xinwei the Ming abandoned Jinzhou. The Beile Abatai and others led three thousand troops to raid the area, pulled down the three forts of Jinzhou, Xingshan and Gaoqiao, and destroyed twenty-one forts and watchtowers east of Shisanzhan. Earlier, Gute Tabunang had fled with his people from the Chaha'er and hidden in Mongol lands, killing anyone he met who was coming over to us. On xinsi the Beile Ji'erhalang and Haoge were ordered to lead troops against Gute Tabunang. On yiyou Gute was put to death, and his people and livestock were captured by the tens of thousands. Lifota and other headmen of the Hu'erha tribe, on the coast east of the Changbai Mountains, came to court. Edit
The eighth month. On xinmao peace was agreed and a covenant made with the Kalaqin tribe. On yiwei the Naiman Beile Gunchusi was given the title Da'erhan, and Kabahai of the Zhalute the title Weizheng. On yimao Korea sent tribute. Edit
The ninth month. On gengshen troops of the outer vassals were called up to campaign together against the Mongol Chaha'er. On guihai the emperor set out west with the main army. On bingyin he halted at Liaoyang. The Beile and taiji of the Aohan, Naiman, Ka'erka, Zhalute and Kalaqin each came with troops to join him. On jisi the army halted at Chuoluoguo'er. On jiaxu a banquet was given for the Beile who had come to join. The Beile of the Ke'erqin did not come. The Tushetu Khan, the efu Aoba, with Hatan Batulu and Manzhuxili, kept to the agreement but asked to raid first and join the army afterward. The emperor was angry and sent envoys to hurry them. Aoba then disobeyed the order and went straight home. Manzhuxili and the taiji Badun came to present what they had captured; the emperor gave Manzhuxili the title Da'erhan Batulu and Badun the title Da'erhan Zhuoliketu, and rewarded them handsomely. On bingzi the army advanced and attacked Xi'erha, Xibotu, Ying, Tangtu and other places, took them, and captured people and animals beyond counting. Edit
Winter, the tenth month. On xinmao the army turned back. On bingshen the Beile of the Aohan, Naiman, Balin and Zhalute were told that they must not waylay and kill those who surrendered, and that offenders would be fined. On renyin the emperor returned to Shenyang. Because Liu Xingzuo had falsely given out that he had hanged himself and had fled back to the Ming, his mother, wife and children were put in prison. Edit
The twelfth month. On the first day, dinghai, a letter was sent to the Tushetu Khan, the efu Aoba, listing his offences. Yi'erbiao and other chiefs of the Bayala tribe came to court with tribute. The Mongol Guobi'ertu, and the Zhalute Beile Saiben and his younger brother Mani, each came over with their tribes. Edit
Third year of Tiancong (1629)
In the third year, spring, the first month. On gengshen the Tushetu Khan Aoba came to ask pardon for his offence; he was pardoned and sent home. On xinwei the Ke'erqin, Aohan, Naiman, Ka'erka, Kalaqin and other tribes were ordered all to follow the laws of the state. On dingchou it was decreed that the Beile should take over from the three Great Beile the duty of handling state business by monthly turns. Edit
The second month. On wuzi the three Great Beile, the Beile and the ministers were told not to levy money or goods from the people, and that offenders would be punished. On jihai Taizu, the Emperor Gao, and the Empress Xiaoci Gao were buried together at Shizuitou Hill near Shenyang, with the Consort of the Fucha clan buried beside them. The Beile Daiqing, Sangtu, Sanggu'er, Sangga'erzhai and others of the Zhalute of the Ka'erka came with their people to submit. On jiachen the emperor toured south, inspecting the forts and walls of the frontier, and had those that were ruined or weak rebuilt. On wushen he halted at Haizhou, where there was an old man of 103, whose wife was 105 and whose son was 73; the emperor received them and gave them oxen and seed. On xinhai the emperor returned to Shenyang. Edit
The third month. On wuwu the military orders for the Mongol tribes were proclaimed again. Edit
Summer, the fourth month. On the first day, bingxu, the Literary Office was set up; the bakshi Dahai and Ganglin and others were ordered to translate books written in Chinese, and Ku'erchan, Wubashi and others to keep records of the affairs of the reigning dynasty. Edit
The fifth month. On dingwei the Beile of the Naiman and Zhalute, who had crossed the boundaries to pasture their herds, asked of their own accord to be judged and fined. The emperor pardoned them. Edit
The sixth month. On yichou a campaign against the Ming was discussed; the Ke'erqin, Ka'erka, Zhalute, Aohan, Naiman and other tribes were ordered to assemble their troops, and orders were also given to cut timber in advance and build boats for shipping supplies. On dingmao Bu'ergadu Daiqing and the taiji Zhuo'erbi of the Kalaqin, the taiji Ayushi of the Tumote, and others sent envoys with tribute. On xinsi the Tumote taiji Zhuo'erbitai and others came to court with tribute. Edit
Autumn, the seventh month. On xinmao the Ka'erka taiji Baihundai, Labatai and Manzhuxili came to court from the Ke'erqin. On jiawu Meng'atu led troops against the Wa'erka. On yiwei the Ku'erka tribe came to court with tribute. Edit
The eighth month. On gengwu the rules of reward and punishment in battle for the Eight Banners were issued. On yihai an edict said: "From ancient times to the present, the civil and the military have been used together: the civil to govern the world, the military to overcome the enemy. Now we wish to promote letters and learning, and to examine and enrol licentiates. All licentiates in the households of the Beile, and all among the Manchus, Chinese and Mongols, are ordered to sit the examination. Those who pass shall have other able-bodied men supplied to take their place in service." Edit
The ninth month. On the first day, renwu, the licentiates were examined for the first time, and two hundred were chosen; they were given satin and cloth according to grade and excused from labour service. On guiwei the Beile Ji'erhalang and others returned from raiding the Ming routes of Jinzhou and Ningyuan, with captives numbering some three thousand. On bingxu Dusi Ga'er Jinong of the Alu tribe first sent envoys to establish friendly relations. On guimao Bu'ergadu of the Kalaqin came to court with tribute. Edit
Winter, the tenth month. On guichou the emperor set out in person against the Ming, and the troops of the Mongol tribes were called up and came one after another to join him. On gengshen he halted at the Nalite River, where five thousand Chaha'er came over to him. On renxu he halted at the Liao River. On bingyin Aoba of the Ke'erqin came to join him with twenty-three Beile. The emperor gathered the Beile and ministers to discuss whether a campaign against the Ming or against the Chaha'er would bring more advantage; all said the Chaha'er were too far away, and so the campaign was against the Ming. On xinwei he halted at Qingcheng in the Kalaqin country. The Great Beile Daishan and the Third Beile Manggu'ertai kept the other Beile outside the tent, went in to see the emperor, and secretly urged him to turn the army back. When they had withdrawn, Yuetuo and others went in and told him that the commanders were waiting outside to advance. The emperor was displeased and said: "My two elder brothers say that our army has gone deep and is labouring far from home to strike from afar, and that if grain runs short, the horses are worn out and the enemy surrounds us, we will have no way home. If they saw this, why did they say nothing at first, and only now, when I have come so far, make it an excuse? My plans are about to come to nothing; what is there to wait for?" Yuetuo firmly urged an advance. The eight gushan ejen went to Daishan and Manggu'ertai to discuss it, and by midnight it was settled. An edict said: "I have received the mandate of Heaven and raised troops against the Ming. Those who resist shall be killed; those who surrender shall not be harmed. Of those captured, parents, wives and children shall not be separated. Do not violate women, do not strip people of their clothes, do not destroy houses or household goods, do not cut down fruit trees, do not get drunk. Those who disobey shall not be pardoned. If the gushan ejen and others do not prevent it, they shall be punished in the same way." On yihai he halted at the Lao River, and ordered Ji'erhalang and Yuetuo to lead the right wing against Da'ankou, and Abatai and Ajige to lead the left wing against Longjing Pass. The emperor, with the Great Beile Daishan and the Third Beile Manggu'ertai, followed with the main army. On dingchou the left wing took Longjing Pass; the Ming Assistant General Yi Ai and the Assistant Regional Commander Wang Zunchen came to the rescue, and both were defeated and killed. The commanders of Han'erzhuang and Panjiakou both surrendered. On wuyin the emperor led the troops to take Hongshan Pass. On xinsi the emperor reached Zunhua. Manggu'ertai came from Han'erzhuang with the left wing to join him. A letter was sent to the Ming Governor Wang Yuanya urging him to surrender. Edit
The eleventh month. On the first day, renwu, the Beile of the right wing came with their troops to join him. Earlier, Ji'erhalang and the others had taken Da'ankou, winning all five battles, and received the surrender of the three forts of Malanying, Malankou and Da'anying, and the Ming commander of Luowenyu, Li Sili, had surrendered. The Brigade General of Shanhai Pass, Zhao Shuaijiao, came to the rescue with four thousand troops, and Ajige met and killed him. On jiashen the Beile attacked Zunhua; Samuhatu, a junior officer of the Plain White Banner, was first up the wall, the main force followed, and so the city was taken. The Ming Governor Wang Yuanya hanged himself. The emperor himself poured wine in a golden cup for Samuhatu, promoted him to Company Captain, to be inherited without reduction for all generations, gave him the title Batulu with pardon for any offence, and, since his family had always been poor, gave him relief. Mongol troops harassed and harmed the people of Luowenyu. An order said: "Any Beile or minister who plunders the goods of forts that have surrendered shall be beheaded; anyone who kills surrendered people at will shall pay with his life; whoever takes people's goods by force shall repay double what he took." On jichou the merits for taking the city were judged, and the officers and men were rewarded by grade. On renchen the Assistant Regional Commander Yingo'erdai and Fan Wencheng of the Literary Office were left to hold Zunhua, and the main army advanced on Yanjing. A Mongol soldier killed a man and stripped him of his clothes, and the emperor ordered him shot dead with arrows. On jiawu they took Jizhou. On yiwei they took Sanhe. On bingshen the Beile of the left wing went to Tongzhou to look at the river crossings. Ming relief troops from the two garrisons of Datong and Xuanfu reached Shunyi, and the Beile Abatai and Yuetuo defeated them. Shunyi surrendered. The emperor reached Tongzhou and proclaimed to the gentry and people of the Ming: "Our state long guarded the frontier loyally and obediently. Yehe and we were one people, yet the Ming ruler shielded Yehe and oppressed us; there were seven great grievances. I knew that in the end we could not live side by side, so I told Heaven and raised troops. Heaven judged our state in the right and gave us the land east of the river. Our Taizu, the Emperor, still wished for peace and friendship, so that the people might rest. Your state would not agree, and Heaven gave us the land west of the river as well. When I took the throne, I again yielded to your state's request, and was even ready to give up the title of emperor and call myself khan, and pressed for a state seal to be made for me, but your state would not agree. Now I have raised troops and come; those who submit will be cared for, and those who resist will be killed. It is your ruler who loves to take up arms; it is as though your own ruler were killing you. Heaven's fortunes go round in a circle, and nothing goes that does not come back; there have been Sons of Heaven who became common men, and common men who became Sons of Heaven. Heaven has protected me, and yet it made me give up the title of emperor. May Heaven look upon this!" On xinchou the main army pressed on Yanjing. The emperor camped east of Tuchengguan, north of the city, and the two wings camped to the north-east. The Ming Brigade General of Datong, Man Gui, and the Brigade General of Xuanfu, Hou Shilu, were camped at the Desheng Gate, and the Governor of Ningyuan, Yuan Chonghuan, and the Brigade General of Jinzhou, Zu Dashou, at the Shawo Gate. The emperor led the right wing, the Great Beile Daishan and the Beile Ji'erhalang, Yuetuo, Dudu, Sahalian and others, with the white-armoured guards and the Mongol troops, to attack Gui and Shilu, and sent the left wing, the Great Beile Manggu'ertai, Abatai, Ajige, Duo'ergun, Duoduo, Haoge and others, with the white-armoured guards and the Mongol troops, to meet Chonghuan and Dashou; both were defeated. On guimao the eunuch Wang, a Ming man who had come over, was sent with a letter to propose peace to the Ming. On yisi the army camped at Nanhaizi. On wushen Yuan Chonghuan and Zu Dashou camped at the south-east corner of the city, putting up palisades for defence, and our army camped close against them. The emperor went with light cavalry to look. The Beile asked to attack the city, but the emperor said: "The way is narrow and dangerous; if our soldiers are hurt, even a hundred cities taken would not be worth it." So he held back from the attack. Earlier, two Ming eunuchs had been captured, and the Assistant General Gao Hongzhong and the Assistant Regional Commanders Bao Chengxian, Ning Wanwo and others had been given a secret plan. Now Hongzhong and Chengxian sat near the two eunuchs and whispered: "Today's withdrawal is His Majesty's stratagem. Just now His Majesty rode alone toward the enemy, and two men from the enemy came to see him and talked a long while before they left. It seems that Lord Yuan has an agreement with us, and the matter is as good as done." At the time the eunuch Yang lay pretending to sleep and listened in secret. The next day he was let go, and he told the Ming emperor what he had heard; and so Chonghuan was thrown into prison. Dashou was afraid, and fled with his troops to Jinzhou, breaking out through Shanhai Pass. The Beile and ministers asked to attack the city, but the emperor said: "If we attack, we can take it, but I fear losing my good commanders and strong soldiers; I cannot bear it." So the attack was called off. Edit
In the twelfth month, on the first day, xinhai, the great army passed by Haizi and went south, hunting as it marched, and made for Liangxiang, whose city it took. On renzi, Brigade General Wunage took Gu'an. On xinyou, Beile Abatai and Sahalian were sent to sacrifice the full set of three victims at the tombs of Taizu and Shizong of the Jin. On bingyin, the army again made for Yanjing [Beijing] and defeated the Ming troops at Lugou Bridge, wiping them out. The Ming Brigade Generals Man Gui, Sun Zushou, Hei Yunlong and Ma Dengyun stockaded south of Yongding Gate with forty thousand men. At dawn on dingmao the army broke through the stockade, beheaded Gui, Zushou and more than thirty men from deputy generals down, captured Hei Yunlong and Ma Dengyun, and took six thousand horses, which were shared out among the officers and men. On wuchen, Dahai was sent with a letter to the Ming to discuss peace. On renshen, Beile Abatai and Ji'erhalang raided Tong Department, burned its boats, and attacked Zhangjiawan and took it. Dahai left two copies of the letter proposing peace outside the Anding and Desheng Gates. On yihai, men were again sent with a letter to the Anding Gate. Neither had any answer. On bingzi, the army camped at Tong Department. On dingchou, Yuetuo, Sahalian and Haoge led four thousand men to besiege Yongping. They then took Xianghe, Malanyu and other towns, which afterwards rebelled and went over again. On jimao, the great army made for Yongping. Edit
Fourth year of Tiancong (1630)
In the fourth year, in the spring, the first month, on the first day, xinsi, the great army reached Zhenzi Town and Shahe Post Station, both of which surrendered. On renwu, it reached Yongping. Before this, Liu Xingzuo had fled from our state back to the Ming and was hiding with Chonghuan. Now, leading fifteen Manchu soldiers and five hundred Mongol soldiers he had brought with him, he meant to go and hold Shahe. Hearing that the great army had come, he turned instead toward Taiping Stockade near Yongping, and on the way fell on some Kalaqin troops and killed them. The emperor, angry that he had repaid kindness with betrayal, sent Beile Abatai and others to capture him and behead him, and his body was torn apart and shown to all. On guichou, the emperor gave the generals their plan and the city was attacked by night. Gunpowder in the city went off of itself, the enemy fell into great confusion, and at dawn the city was taken. Beile Ji'erhalang and others entered it to pacify the people. On bingxu, the emperor entered the city at the head of the generals, and officials and people lined the road crying "Ten thousand years!" Beile Ji'erhalang and Sahalian held Yongping. Bai Yangcui, an official who had surrendered, was made Governor of Yongping, and Meng Qiaofang and Yang Wenkui deputy generals, and the country people were let go back to their homes. That day the emperor led the great army toward Shanhai Pass. The troops of the Aohan, Naiman, Balin, Zhalute and other tribes attacked Changli but could not take it. Taitou Camp, Anshan Fort, Qian'an and Luan Department surrendered one after another. Ma Guangyuan, Assistant Regional Commander of Jianchang, came over. On dingyou, Ming troops attacked Zunhua, and Beile Dudu defeated them. The Ming troops entered Santun Camp, and Han'erzhuang, Xifeng Pass, Panjia Pass and Hongjia Pass, which had been taken earlier, rebelled again. On gengzi, Dahai and others recovered Han'erzhuang, and Beile Abatai held it. On xinchou, Bu'ergadu of the Kalaqin was surrounded by Ming troops; an army was sent to relieve him, but before it arrived Bu'ergadu had beaten them off himself. Their commander, the Ming Minister of War Liu Zhilun, came up with his troops and set up a stockade. Our cannon destroyed the stockade. Zhilun camped in the mountains. The Grand Beile Daishan surrounded him and urged him to surrender, but he would not. His camp was broken, and Zhilun was killed by an arrow. On renyin, the army moved to Malanyu and destroyed the fortified hamlets near the town. On bingwu, Subudi of the Kalaqin wrote to the Ming emperor setting out the benefits of peace and friendship, and urging on him the way of cherishing the people of the border and treating dependent states generously. There was no answer. Laoting rebelled again. Edit
In the second month, on the first day, xinhai, the emperor instructed the beile and ministers that officers and men who had won merit by their valour were not to be sent on the work of storming cities. On jiayin, he feasted the surrendered Ming general Ma Dengyun and others in the imperial tent and said to them: "The Ming ruler holds the lives of you officers and men as cheap as grass and drives you to your deaths. We have sent envoys again and again to discuss peace, and not a word has come back. Why is that?" Dengyun answered: "The Ming emperor is young, and the great ministers each look only to their own safety. If they raised the matter of peace and were not heeded, there is no knowing what punishment would follow, so they are afraid and dare not put it to him." The emperor said: "If that is so, Heaven is helping us; how could we throw this away and go home? Only, keeping troops here in garrison hinders the farming season, and that is to be pitied. And their defences at Shanhai Pass and Jinzhou are still strong; for now it is enough to take their unguarded towns." On jiwei, he sent a letter to the Ming emperor, again proposing peace and friendship, and letters to the Ming ministers urging them to settle a peace quickly; by now he had written seven times. On jiazi, Wang Shixuan, the Ming deputy general of Yulin, came to surrender. The emperor withdrew the army, leaving Beile Abatai, Ji'erhalang and Sahalian with the civil officials Suoni, Ning Wanwo and others to hold Yongping, Bao Chengxian to hold Qian'an, the gushan ejen (Banner commanders) Tu'erge, Namutai and others to hold Luan Department, and Chakala, Fan Wencheng and others to hold Zunhua. He stayed three days at Luan, judged merit and gave rewards. On renshen, he issued an edict: "Heaven has given us the land and people of the Ming. Their people are our people. The soldiers must be ordered to do them no harm, and any who disobey will be punished." When the emperor reached Yongping, Chen Cixin, a surrendered official, a Director (langzhong), plotted to escape; the plot was found out and he was sentenced to beheading, but the emperor pardoned him and let him go where he would. Edit
In the third month, on renwu, the emperor returned to Shenyang. On gengyin, the Second Beile Amin and Beile Shuotuo were sent with five thousand men to hold the four cities of Yongping, and Beile Abatai and the others came back. On gengzi, the Alu Sizi tribe sent envoys to make a covenant. Edit
In the summer, the fourth month, on renzi, the Ming troops attacked Luan Department but could not take it. On jimao, Beile Abatai, Ji'erhalang and others came back from Yongping. The emperor asked whether the captives taken in this campaign were more than before, and they answered: "This time we took a great many people." The emperor said: "Goods and silk are nothing to rejoice at. Only getting many people is cause for joy." Edit
In the fifth month, on jichou, the emperor instructed the ministers to treat the captives kindly. On renchen, Amin, Shuotuo and the others abandoned the four cities of Yongping and came back. At that time the Ming Army Supervising Intendant Zhang Chun, the Jinzhou Brigade General Zu Dashou and others had joined forces to attack Luan Department. Namutai, Tu'erge, Tanggudai and others went out to fight and beat the Ming troops several times, but they had few men, and Amin and Shuotuo were afraid and did not go to help them. The Ming troops bombarded Luan Department with cannon; Namutai and the others could not hold out, abandoned the city and fled to Yongping. It was raining, and as our army broke out through the siege more than four hundred men without horses or wounded were killed. Amin and Shuotuo, hearing of this, were frightened; they killed the surrendered official Bai Yangcui and others, massacred all the gentry and people in the city, took their gold and goods, and went out through Leng Pass by night. Chahala and the others also abandoned Zunhua and came back. The emperor had just ordered Beile Dudu to hurry to Yongping to help hold it, and had instructed Amin to treat the officials and people well and do them no violence, and was about to muster troops and go himself. On gengzi, hearing that Amin had abandoned the cities and massacred the people wholesale, he stopped. Edit
In the sixth month, on jiayin, the generals who had abandoned the cities were arrested and their crimes listed. On yimao, the emperor, in the hall, had Amin's sixteen crimes proclaimed. Everyone held that he should be put to death. The emperor could not bear to apply the law and imprisoned him instead. Shuotuo, Tanggudai, Namutai, Babutai, Tu'erge and others were each stripped of rank or dismissed from office, to differing degrees. Those of the generals who had fought hard and killed the enemy were released. Earlier, after Amin had massacred the officials and people of Yongping, he had given their wives and children to his soldiers. The emperor said: "He has slaughtered good people who had submitted to us, and now he would make slaves of their wives and children too!" He ordered them registered as commoner households and given houses, clothing and food. Edit
In the autumn, the ninth month, on wuxu, the emperor again instructed the great ministers that Manchu and Han officials should each be diligent in their duties. Edit
In the winter, the tenth month, on xinyou, an edict ordered the able-bodied men of each banner to be registered and checked, and those who hid any to be punished. Edit
In the eleventh month, on jiawu, Hu'erga of the Nakantai tribe came over with his family, and the beile of the Alu Sizi tribe came over. On renyin, the Alu Yisute tribe, hearing that the emperor cared well for his people, left its people on the Xilamulun River and came to court together with our envoy Chahan Lama. Edit
In the twelfth month, on wuchen, Beile Tumei Weizheng of the Ke'erqin came to court. Edit
Fifth year of Tiancong (1631)
In the fifth year, in the spring, the first month, on gengchen, an edict ordered that the family property of meritorious officials who had died without heirs be given to their wives to support themselves. On renwu, the casting of the "red-coat" great cannon was finished, engraved with the words "Great General Aided by Heaven to Strengthen Our Might." The making of cannon in the army began from this. On yiwei, the efu (imperial son-in-law) Tong Yangxing was put in general charge of the affairs of the Han soldiers and people, and the Han officials were placed under his command. On jihai, the emperor visited the Literary Office and went into Ku'erchan's duty room and asked what book they were compiling. He answered: "A record of the affairs of government as they are carried out." The emperor said: "In that case it is not fitting that We should look at it." He also read the military classics Dahai had translated, and on seeing the story of the general who poured the wine into the river so that all might drink, he said: "The good generals of old cared for their men, so that the soldiers of the three armies were glad to die for them. When someone like the efu Gu Santai, facing the enemy, saw a soldier fall and had him dragged back with a rope, how could he get men to give their lives for him?" On gengzi, because Korea's tribute fell short of the set amount, it was sent back, and a letter rebuked the Koreans for the offence. Edit
In the second month, on gengshen, the border officials were ordered to keep careful watch from their outposts. On jiaxu, Meng'atu, campaigning against the Wa'erka, reported a victory. Edit
In the third month, on the first day, yihai, the efu Gu Santai was dismissed as gushan ejen (Banner commander) of the Bordered Blue Banner, and Piangu, son of Taizu's younger brother, replaced him. The emperor wrote to the Grand Beile Daishan, the Third Beile Manggu'ertai and the beile and great ministers, asking them to speak plainly of his faults. On dinghai, he reviewed the Han troops. On jiawu, the families of Liu Xingzuo and Xingzhi were put to death, but their mother was pardoned. On dingyou, Korea again sent envoys with tribute. On xinchou, Manda'erhan and Dongne were sent secretly with a letter to the King of Korea asking for warships to help attack the Ming. He refused. Edit
In the sixth month, on guihai, rules were fixed for inheriting the offices of meritorious officials. Five chiefs from the Heilong River, Yizhane, Saketi, Jiaqine, Elika and Kangzhu, came to court. Edit
In the autumn, the seventh month, on jiaxu, four chiefs of the Hu'erha tribe of the Heilong River came to court with tribute. On gengchen, the Six Boards were set up for the first time, and the Molegen Daiqing Beile Duo'ergun and Beile Degelei, Sahalian, Yuetuo, Ji'erhalang, Abatai and others were put in charge of the affairs of the Six Boards. Each Board had Manchu, Han and Mongol administrators (chengzheng) appointed separately, and under them eight councillors (canzheng) and one qixinlang secretary each; the title bakeshi was changed to bitieshi, though those already called bakeshi kept it. The rule was revised so that anyone who denounced one of the beile might leave his master, but denouncing them over petty matters was forbidden. An edict made beile who tried cases unjustly or unfairly liable to punishment. The law by which an official who committed any offence was always stripped of office was abolished; from then on offenders were to be demoted or fined according to how serious the offence was. Marriage within the same clan was forbidden to officials and people alike, and men and women who broke this were to be dealt with as for adultery. The emperor also instructed the beile and great ministers to examine their faults and mend their conduct, and asked for the most outspoken remonstrance. On jiashen, four chiefs of the Naolei Hu'erha tribe came to court with tribute. On guisi, rules were fixed for rewards and punishments in small matters: the niulu ejen were to try them, and larger matters were to be sent to the Boards. The Ming Brigade General Zu Dashou and others were fortifying Dalinghe. Orders were sent to the Mongols to come each with his own people and join the campaign against it. On jihai, the great army set out west, and Beile Dudu, Sahalian and Haoge were ordered to stay behind and guard the capital. On gengzi, it crossed the Liao River, and the generals were again warned to care for their men. Edit
In the eighth month, on the first day, renyin, the army halted and camped by the Old Liao River, and the Mongol tribes brought their troops to join it. On guimao, the emperor gathered the Mongol beile and repeated his earlier order that there was to be no killing or plundering at will. The army was then divided into two: Beile Degelei, Yuetuo and Ajige took twenty thousand men by way of Yi Department to camp between Jinzhou and Dalinghe, while the emperor went from Baituchang into Guangning. On dingwei, they met at Dalinghe and attacked the city by night. The emperor ordered: "Storming the city may cost us men. We should dig trenches and build ramparts and starve them out. If they come out, fight them; if relief comes from outside, go out and meet it." So the troops of the Eight Banners were divided to encircle the city, and the Mongol troops were told to fill the gaps. On xinhai, five hundred Ming horse and foot came out of the city, and Da'erha beat them. On renzi, letters were shot into the city calling on the Mongols there to come out and surrender. On guichou, the Ming troops came out of the city to draw us into battle. Tulai went in first, with Da'erha after him, and they attacked from all sides; Beile Duo'ergun also led his men in. Cannon and arrows were fired together from within the city; Tulai was wounded, and the deputy generals Mengtan and Tunbulu, the company commander (beiyu) Duobei and the guardsman Geli fell in battle. Because Tulai and the others had advanced rashly, the emperor rebuked them severely. The red-coat cannon were used to attack the Ming watchtowers, and their soldiers surrendered one after another. On yimao, he sent Zu Dashou a letter saying: "Formerly, when we wished for peace, your ruler and ministers took the Song as their warning and would not answer us. Your state is not the Song, and we are not the Jin; why are you so unreasonable? We are now weary of war, and send a letter once more. It is for you, General, to decide." Dashou did not answer. On dingsi, two thousand Ming troops from Songshan came to the rescue, and Ashan, Laosa and Tulushi beat them. On jiazi, Beile Ajige and Shuotuo intercepted the Ming relief force. On dingmao, six thousand Ming troops from Jinzhou came to attack Ajige's camp. There was a thick fog, so that men face to face could not recognize each other. Suddenly a blue vapour struck the enemy camp, opening it like a gate; our army advanced under cover of the fog, fought a great battle and defeated them, capturing a mobile corps commander (youji) and taking all their armour, weapons and horses. On xinwei, the emperor went to Beile Ajige's camp and poured wine from a golden cup to reward the generals. The Ming troops suddenly sallied out; our army caught them between two forces and again defeated them heavily. Edit
In the ninth month, on dinghai, the emperor led troops toward Jinzhou. Seeing dust rising, he ordered the armies to halt, and himself, with two hundred baiyala guards, went forward stealthily along the hills with Beile Duoduo. Seven thousand Ming troops from Jinzhou suddenly burst out and came at the emperor. He had only just put on his armour and had fewer than two hundred men with him, yet he crossed the river and charged the enemy. The enemy could not withstand him and broke and fled. The other armies came up after him and defeated them heavily again, beheading a deputy general before returning. On jichou, he again wrote to Zu Dashou calling on him to surrender. On gengyin, the emperor laid an ambush in the hills to lure Dashou out and capture him; Dashou took fright and fled back, and from then on kept the city shut and would not come out. By this time there were only a hundred shi of grain left in the city; the horses had all died, and the men boiled horse meat for food and burned saddles for fuel. On yiwei, the Ming Army Supervising Intendant Zhang Chun, Chief Minister of the Court of the Imperial Stud, and the Brigade Generals Wu Xiang, Zhong Wei and others came to the rescue with forty thousand horse and foot and camped behind ramparts at Xiaolinghe. On wuxu, the Ming relief force made for Dalinghe and came within fifteen li of the city. The emperor led the cavalry of both wings in a charge against it, but it did not give way. Then the troops of the right wing suddenly broke into Zhang Chun's camp, and the enemy was routed; Wu Xiang and the deputy general Sang'a'erzhai were the first to flee. Zhang Chun and others gathered the scattered troops again and made camp. A great wind rose, and the enemy set fires to ride on it; the flames were about to reach our army when rain suddenly fell and the wind turned back. The battle was renewed, and the enemy was crushed; Zhang Chun and thirty-three deputy generals were taken alive. Chun would not bow and asked to die, but the emperor spared him and did not kill him. In this battle Zu Dashou still took it all for a ruse of ours to draw him out, so no one in the city came out to support the relief force. That night Hei Yunlong fled. Edit
In the winter, the tenth month, on dingwei, the emperor wrote to Zu Dashou, He Kegang and Zhang Cunren calling on them to surrender. On jiyou, he sent Dashou another letter. On renzi, the red-coat cannon were turned on Yuzizhang Tower. That tower was the strongest; after three days it was destroyed, and Wang Jing, the officer holding it, surrendered, whereupon more than a hundred towers near and far all fell. On jiayin, the surrendered general Jiang Xin was sent to call on Zu Dashou to surrender. Dashou in turn sent the mobile corps commander (youji) Han Dong to meet us. On guihai, judgement was given on the Third Beile Manggu'ertai's offence of drawing a blade in the emperor's presence; he was reduced to an ordinary beile and stripped of five niulu under him. On yichou, Zu Dashou arranged with our deputy general Shi Tingzhu to discuss surrender. On bingyin, Dashou sent his son Kefa as a hostage. On wuchen, the whole city of Dalinghe surrendered; only the deputy general He Kegang refused. Dashou had Kegang dragged before the army and killed him, and at night came to the imperial camp. The emperor treated him generously, and Dashou then offered a plan for taking Jinzhou. On jisi, troops were sent with Dashou to raid Jinzhou by night, but a thick fog came down, the ranks lost their way, and they came back. Edit
In the eleventh month, on the first day, gengwu, Dashou was let go back to Jinzhou. On wuyin, the city of Dalinghe was pulled down. On jimao, the army withdrew. On yiyou, the emperor returned to Shenyang. On bingxu, the Chaha'er invaded the Alu lands on the Xilamulun; Beile Sahalian and Haoge turned their troops to attack them, but the Chaha'er had already gone, so they came back. Edit
In the intercalary eleventh month, on the first day, gengzi, the emperor issued an edict: "That our troops abandoned the four cities of Yongping was all because the beile were unlearned and without skill. In the recent campaign at Dalinghe, the people in the city were eating one another, yet the Ming men still held out to the death; and when relief failed and the city surrendered, Jinzhou, Songshan and Xingshan still did not fall. Is that not because their men read books, understand what is right, and are wholly loyal to their ruler? From now on all sons and younger brothers between the ages of eight and fifteen are to be made to study." Ku'erchan and others were sent to rebuke Korea for breaking the treaty. On gengxu, it was forbidden to build temples or monasteries privately anywhere in the state; lamas and monks who broke their rules were to return to lay life; and shamans, sorcerers and astrologers were all forbidden. Edit
In the twelfth month, on renchen, the Assistant Regional Commander Ning Wanwo asked that remonstrance officials be appointed and rules for dress be fixed. The emperor praised and adopted this. On bingshen, on the advice of Li Bolong, a councillor of the Board of Rites, the order of ranks for the ceremony of New Year congratulations at court was revised. Edit
Sixth year of Tiancong (1632)
In the sixth year, in the spring, the first month, on guihai, the emperor reviewed the Han troops. Edit
In the second month, on renshen, rules for the imperial insignia and escort were fixed. On dingchou, the emperor visited Taizu's tomb and performed the seasonal sacrifice. On wuzi, an edict ordered the officials guarding Hai Department and other places to come to Shenyang once every three years for assessment. On dingyou, an edict to the Board of Revenue: Beile Degelei was to assign the Han people of Dalinghe among the officers from deputy generals down, to be provided with wives and supported. The people taken from Beile Manggu'ertai as a penalty were given back to him. Edit
In the third month, on wuxu, the surrendered generals of Dalinghe were given gifts according to rank. Dahai was ordered to work out the sounds and meanings of the national [Manchu] script. On gengxu, rules were fixed for punishing those who denounced beile according to how serious the charge was and whether it was true or false; sons and younger brothers were forbidden to denounce their fathers and elder brothers, and wives their husbands; and rules were fixed for granting sacrifices and burials to beile and great ministers. On dingsi, for a campaign against the Chaha'er, Mongol troops were called up and military orders issued. Edit
In the summer, the fourth month, on the first day, wuchen, the emperor led the great army west, leaving Abatai, Dudu, Yangguli, Yi'erdeng and Tong Yangxing to guard the capital. On jisi, he halted at the Liao River. On bingzi, he halted at the Xilamulun River. On jimao, he halted at Zhagun Wuda, and the troops of the Mongol tribes came in one after another to join him. On yiyou, he halted at Hana Cliff. Lindan, Khan of the Chaha'er, hearing that our army was coming, was terrified; he drove the livestock of the rich people of Guihua City across the river and fled west, abandoning all his baggage. On gengyin, the emperor halted at the Dule River; hearing that Lindan of the Chaha'er had fled far away, he made for Guihua City. On bingshen, the great army turned back from Ajige He'erge toward the Chaha'er. Edit
In the fifth month, on guimao, the emperor instructed the beile and great ministers of the tribes not to advance rashly, not to hang back, not to kill those who surrendered, not to separate men from their wives and children, and not to take people's clothes and goods. On jiachen, he halted at Bulongtu Bulake. On dingwei, Laosa reported that the Chaha'er had fled long before and that three days of pursuit had found nothing. The emperor turned the army back from Bulongtu. On wushen, it was decided to campaign against the Ming. On bingchen, he halted at Zhu'ergetu. The grain had run out when suddenly they came upon yellow antelope covering the plain; they surrounded them and killed several tens of thousands, and dried the meat to eat. There was no water, and a sheep was traded for a cup of water to drink. The emperor ordered each niulu to bring water to meet the men and give it to them. On gengshen, he halted at Mulu Halakeqin. Beile Ajige led the left wing to raid Xuanfu and Datong, Beile Ji'erhalang led the right wing to raid Guihua City, and the emperor, with the Grand Beile Daishan and Beile Manggu'ertai, followed with the main army. On jiazi, the emperor reached Guihua City, and the troops of the two wings joined him. That day the great army rode seven hundred li, as far as Munehan Mountain on the Yellow River in the west and Xuanfu in the east, and from Guihua City south to the Ming border, capturing all the Chaha'er people wherever they were. Edit
In the sixth month, on the first day, dingmao, some of the Mongol people fled into Shahe Fort, and the emperor wrote to the Ming officials guarding it demanding them back. The Ming returned to us three hundred and twenty men and women and more than one thousand four hundred head of livestock. On xinwei, Ning Wanwo, Fan Wencheng and Ma Guozhu submitted a joint memorial saying: "The strategy for attacking the Ming should be first to propose peace by letter; when they refuse, take that as our grounds, and strike deep at the first opening. Then we can have our way." The emperor praised and adopted it. On jiaxu, the great army set out from Guihua City toward the Ming border. On dingchou, the Ming officials guarding Shahe Fort sent men with livestock and silk as gifts. On jimao, Ku'erchan and others went from Desheng Fort, and Aibali and others by way of Zhangjiakou, to Datong and Xuanfu respectively to discuss peace. The letter said: "We did not take up arms because we were bent on taking the empire of the Ming. The officials guarding Liaodong were greedy, corrupt, benighted and deceitful; they urged the Yehe to bully us, and so we suffered the Seven Grievances. We complained to your ruler many times, but Liaodong blocked our words and they never reached him. We have brought our troops here so that your ruler may look into the matter. When we attacked Fushun, we also gave letters to merchants from each of the thirteen provinces, and, fearing they could not reach him directly, had each take his letter to the officials of his own province, in the hope that one of them would be heard. We let the merchants go, and then there was silence, and no answer ever came. The saying goes: 'When the feelings of those below reach those above, there is nowhere in the empire that is not well governed; when they are blocked from those above, there is nowhere that is not in disorder.' Now there are campaigns everywhere and fighting without end, and the people die by blade and arrow. Though this comes of the feelings of those below not reaching those above, is it not also the will of Heaven? We now tell you in all sincerity: our state is small, and we wish only for friendship between our two states, for trade with one another, and for each to farm and hunt in peace and enjoy great tranquillity. If these words are not from the heart, may Heaven judge us. In the letters and questions we sent before, words of anger and resentment could not be avoided; that is the common way of war and not worth speaking of. We hope you will decide quickly; that would truly be a blessing for the state. We shall keep our troops here ten days to await your answer." On gengchen, the emperor camped outside the Datong border. Ku'erchan came with a company commander (qianzong) of the Ming fort of Desheng bringing livestock and silk as gifts. The emperor would not accept them. He again wrote to the Ming officials guarding the border: "We, in reverent accord with the will of Heaven, wish to make plain our desire for peace. If you truly love the people, you should settle the agreement quickly. If you delay and do not answer, then even if we wished to wait, what are we to do when the grain in our army runs out? As for the forms of address in the letters, let us leave that aside for now: we yield to your state, and it is enough that we stand above the Chaha'er." On guiwei, the emperor made for Xuanfu, and the officials guarding it handed over to us twelve thousand five hundred pieces of satin, cloth, furs and silk that the Ming ruler had given the Chaha'er. On gengyin, he camped outside Zhangjiakou, his camps stretching forty li. On guisi, the Ming Governor Shen Qi and Brigade General Dong Jishu sent men with cattle, sheep and food as gifts. The emperor feasted them, and the peace was settled, and a great market was held at Zhangjiakou. Three soldiers of the Ke'erqin tribe slipped across the Ming border and stole oxen and donkeys; their leader was beheaded, and the other two were flogged and had their ears pierced and were paraded before the troops. On jiawu, the Ming Governor Shen Qi sent an envoy to ask for a covenant. The emperor ordered the great minister Ashida'erha and others to preside over it; a white horse and a black ox were sacrificed, and an oath was sworn before Heaven and Earth. When the ceremony was over, the qixinlang secretary Qichongge was sent to escort the Ming envoy back. The Ming presented gold and silk. The emperor's son Haoge was raised to Heshuo Beile. That month there was a great flood in Liaodong. Edit
In the autumn, the seventh month, on the first day, dingyou, the emperor again wrote to the Ming officials guarding Zhangjiakou, calling on them to keep faith with their oath and maintain good relations, and to keep them well from beginning to end, and saying that the peace agreement included the Liaodong region, and that they must send officials to inform it. The emperor led the great army back. On gengzi, he reached the Shangdu River; because the peace had been made, the Ming sent presents, and he accepted some of them. On xinchou, the Mongol beile took their leave and went home. On gengxu, he halted at Baisiha'er. The mobile corps commander (youji) bakeshi Dahai died. On gengshen, the emperor returned to Shenyang. Edit
In the eighth month, on dingmao, the emperor summoned three Ming licentiates, Wang Wenkui, Sun Yingshi and Jiang Yun, into the palace and asked them whether the peace would hold. All three said that Ming government was falling further into disorder every day, and that the peace could not be counted on. Moreover, in the Central Plain bandits were rising everywhere like swarming bees and the people were scattered and in turmoil. They urged the emperor to proclaim benevolence and righteousness, employ worthy men and nurture the people, and seize the moment to comfort the people and punish the guilty, so as to answer the heart of Heaven. On guiyou, the offices of the Six Boards were finished, and each was issued a silver seal. On jiawu, the gushan ejen (Banner commanders) were ordered to look into the hardships of the people and clear up the lawsuits and prisons. Taona Chuhu'er of the Chaha'er came over. Edit
In the ninth month, on guimao, the city wall of Gai Department was repaired, and people were moved in to fill it. On jiayin, Beile Degelei of the Board of Revenue and Beile Yuetuo of the Board of War were ordered to extend the old boundary of Yao Department to the south of Gai Department. Edit
In the winter, the tenth month, on the first day, yichou, the emperor went to Kaiyuan. On jiaxu, he returned to Shenyang. He sent Weizheng Nangsu Lama to Ningyuan with a letter to the Ming emperor saying: "When our state took up arms, it was not that we did not know contentment and coveted the throne; it was because the border officials bullied and insulted us that war broke out. When we went to campaign against the Chaha'er, we settled a peace as we passed Xuanfu, and we then seized men who had crossed the border to steal and put them to death below the frontier wall. Our sincerity can be said to have gone as far as it can. The border officials have not been able to tell you everything in detail before. We would now set it all out, but fear you will suspect we have not forgotten old grudges. If you send a trusted envoy, we will tell him everything. If you hold that peace is already made and there is no need to speak of the past, we will do as you wish in that too." He also wrote to the Ming ministers: "When the officials guarding Xuanfu made the covenant with us, they bound us not to invade Liaodong, and swore it before Heaven and Earth. Now you speak otherwise. Can Heaven be deceived? Ministers who hold power should know how to adapt to circumstances; take care not to deal only in big words and let the chance slip by. If you hold fast and will not agree, there will be nothing but war, and the living will suffer cruelly. On whom will the blame fall?" Edit
In the eleventh month, on renyin, the Ming officials guarding Ningyuan, because our letter was firmly sealed and they dared not present it so, asked to open the seal; the emperor allowed it. On xinhai, Qitate Chuihu'er Taiji, a subject of Dusiga'er Jinong of the Alu tribe, came over. On renzi, envoys were sent to Korea to fix the amount of its annual tribute. Edit
In the twelfth month, on yichou, rules were fixed for court dress and for the ordinary dress of officials and people. The Third Beile Manggu'ertai died. On yihai, Wubahai, campaigning against the Wuzhala, sent an envoy to report victory. Edit
Seventh year of Tiancong (1633)
In the seventh year, in the spring, the first month, on gengzi, the emperor instructed the niulu ejen to care for the poor, teach farming and practise archery. On xinchou, Korea sent tribute, short of the set amount. On dingwei, the emperor wrote back to rebuke them. On wushen, the emperor's eldest daughter was married to Taiji Bandi, son of Beile Dula'er Batulu of the Aohan tribe. On yimao, the army that had campaigned against the Wuzhala came back. Edit
In the second month, on the first day, guihai, Chegen, Khan of the Alu Ke'erqin, with Gumu Batulu, Da'erma Daigun and others, came over with his whole nation. On jimao, Ku'erchan was found guilty of a crime and put to death. On guiwei, Tulushi, Laosa and others raided Ningyuan. Edit
In the third month, on dingyou, four towns were built: Jianchang, Lanpan, Tongyuan Fort and Xiuyan. On xinchou, Taiji Gumu of the Guo'erluosi tribe came to court. On bingchen, Kong Youde and Geng Zhongming, officers under the late Ming Brigade General Mao Wenlong, sent envoys to arrange their surrender. Edit
In the summer, the fourth month, on yichou, Tashihai Huluke Zhaisang, Grand Superintendent of the two wings of the Chaha'er, came over. On yihai, the Assistant Regional Commander Ying'e'erdai and others were sent to borrow grain from Korea to supply Kong Youde's army, but Korea refused. Edit
In the fifth month, on yiwei, Taiji Tumen Da'erhan of the Wulate and others came to court. On renzi, Beile Ji'erhalang, Ajige and Dudu led troops to meet Kong Youde and Geng Zhongming at Zhenjiang, and they were ordered to station their men at Dongjing [the Eastern Capital]. Edit
In the sixth month, on renxu, an edict ordered officers and men not to harass the people of Liaodong who had newly submitted; anyone who disobeyed would be put to death with his wife and children. On guihai, Kong Youde and Geng Zhongming were summoned to an audience and richly rewarded. On bingyin, Ying'e'erdai was sent with a letter to the King of Korea saying: "When we asked to borrow grain before, Your Majesty held that since Kong Youde and the others had once served under Mao [Wenlong], there was no reason to send grain to feed an enemy. Now that Youde has come over to us, we have grain enough to supply him. Only, the soldiers are guarding the ships and hauling supplies is very hard; since they are close to your country, it would be most convenient to supply them with grain from there. We consider that Your Majesty looks on the Ming as a father and on Us as an elder brother. Father and elder brother have been fighting for several years, and Your Majesty sits watching to see who wins; outwardly you call them father and elder brother, but inwardly you take pleasure in their misfortune. If you would work hard to make peace between us, so that the fighting stops and friendship is made, not only would our two states be glad to see peace, but your country too would share the blessing. If you go on helping the Ming with troops and join them to resist us, then it is truly Your Majesty who will have started the war." On jisi, an edict ordered the caps and dress of officials and people to follow the rules uniformly. On guiyou, Kong Youde was made Supreme Marshal and Geng Zhongming Brigade General, and both were given patents and seals. On wuyin, Ying'e'erdai reported that Korea, following a plan of the Ming, was borrowing troops from Japan, and was also building a fortress on the southern ridge of Yizhou [Uiju] to guard against us. The beile and great ministers were gathered to discuss it, and all said that Korea should be left aside and the Ming attacked. On jimao, Beile Yuetuo and Degelei, with Leng'eli and Yechen of the right wing, Yi'erdeng and Ang'ala of the left wing, and Shi Tingzhu, Kong Youde and Geng Zhongming, led troops to take the Ming port of Lushunkou. On jiashen, Sengge, an efu of the Dog-driving tribe of the Eastern Sea, came to court with tribute. On dinghai, an edict said: "All who offer counsel, if what We do does not accord with what is right, should say so plainly and hide nothing. If there are faults or things to be avoided in the affairs of government, set them out and conceal nothing. If any of the ministers of the Six Boards are treacherous, false, greedy or corrupt, or unfair in what they do, they should be impeached. If the ministers suffer hardships, they too should report them truthfully. If men do not strive to speak plainly, but cite far-off examples and roundabout comparisons and copy from others in a muddle, what good is that?" Edit
In the autumn, the seventh month, on the first day, xinmao, an edict ordered that each Manchu household with ten Han able-bodied men should be issued one suit of cotton armour, and that they be commanded by Ma Guangyuan, formerly ejen of the Han troops. On renchen, Taiji Gumusixiabu, son of Sun Duleng of the Alu tribe, the zhaisang Wubashi, Ashitu, Bada'er Heshuoqi and others, and Taiji Abaga'erdai of the Wulate tribe all came to court with tribute. On jiachen, Beile Yuetuo and others reported the capture of Lushunkou. Edit
In the eighth month, on the first day, gengshen, Ying'e'erdai and the others returned from Korea with a reply agreeing to supply grain to our soldiers guarding the ships. On renxu, Beile Abatai, Ajige, Sahalian, Haoge and others raided the Ming lands outside Shanhai Pass. On gengchen, the army of Beile Degelei and Yuetuo returned. On dinghai, the deputy general Shi Tingzhu was made Brigade General. Edit
In the ninth month, on gengzi, the army of Beile Abatai and the others returned. The emperor rebuked them for not having gone deep enough. On guimao, Ying'e'erdai and others went to Korea to trade. On gengxu, Cai Bin, the Ming regional commandant (dusi) of Dengzhou, and others came to surrender. Edit
In the winter, the tenth month, on renxu, envoys were sent to the outer Mongol tribes to proclaim the laws. On bingyin, there was a grand review. On dingmao, money from the treasury was given to the infantry of the Eight Banners. On jisi, an edict said: "Since the offices were set up, the Boards of Personnel, Revenue and War have handled their business very well; the Board of Justice is slow in trying cases and does not get at the facts; and the Boards of Rites and Works both fall short. The qixinlang secretaries were appointed so that they would admonish on every matter as it came and open the minds [of those they serve]. Yet when there are errors, we hear of no guidance. Why is that?" He also said: "You are forever talking of crossing the sea to take Shandong and attacking Shanhai Pass. The sea crossing is full of dangers, and attacking strongholds easily costs men; so you deceive us with empty talk, which is no better than planning for the enemy. In military matters We have no need of your words; only when We or the beile are at fault should you speak out in full." He also instructed the Confucian officials of the Literary Office: "Taizu first ordered the bakeshi E'erdeni to create the national script, and later Ku'erchan added to it. Fearing it may not be quite right, you, whose duty is keeping the records, should revise it with all care. We have succeeded to the throne; if the great deeds of Our late father in government and war are not recorded one by one in detail, how will later sons and grandsons know of them? Would that be fulfilling Our filial duty?" On bingzi, the surrendered Ming general Ma Guangyuan was made Brigade General, Wang Shixuan and Ma Dengyun Brigade Generals of the Third Class, and Ma Guangxian, Meng Qiaofang and others were given posts according to rank. On guiwei, Shang Kexi, the Ming deputy general of Guanglu Island, sent an envoy to arrange his surrender. Edit
In the eleventh month, on jiachen, Ying'e'erdai again took a letter to Korea, rebuking it for ten breaches of the treaty. On wushen, Jisiha and Wubahai were sent to campaign against the Hu'erha tribe on the Korean border. On xinhai, the emperor hunted at Yehe. Edit
In the twelfth month, on xinwei, the emperor returned to Shenyang. Edit
Eighth year of Tiancong (1634)
In the eighth year, in the spring, the first month, on gengyin, an edict ordered the Mongol beile to keep to the rules fixed by our state. Qiangtuli and Ma'ergan of the Heilong River came with six clans to court with tribute. On guisi, an edict declared that members of the imperial clan descended from Xingzu, Emperor Zhi, were descendants of the Six Ancestors and were exempt from labour service. On yiwei, Leng'eli, Lieutenant-General of the Plain Yellow Banner and Brigade General of the First Class, died. On guimao, Han company commanders (beiyu) complained that the Han bore heavier labour service than the Manchus, and Beile Degelei of the Board of Revenue reported it. The emperor ordered Beile Sahalian of the Board of Rites to gather the people and show them that the complaint was false. The Han Brigade General Shi Tingzhu and others brought eight of the company commanders to be punished, but the emperor said: "If we punish them, no one will speak up again." He released them all. On wushen, the tabunang and others attacked the scattered followers of the Chaha'er at Xi'erha and Xibotu. On jiyou, Taiji Elinchen of the Haoqite tribe came over. On dingsi, it was made law that when a meritorious official died without an heir, half of his household's able-bodied men were to be exempted from service, and they were to serve only after his wife died. Edit
In the second month, on renxu, rules for mourning and sacrifice were fixed: a wife who chose to die with her husband was allowed to and was still to be honoured with a memorial; if a wife forced a concubine to die with the husband, the wife was to be put to death. Beile Duo'ergun and Sahalian were sent to meet the surrendered general Shang Kexi, and he was stationed at Hai Department. On dingmao, the Supreme Marshal Kong Youde impeached Geng Zhongming for unlawful conduct, and an edict reconciled them. On wuchen, Ashan and others were sent to raid Jinzhou. Edit
In the third month, on the first day, dinghai, there was an eclipse of the sun, and a green rainbow appeared. On xinmao, Tantai and Tu'erge were ordered to raid Jinzhou. On renchen, the deputy general Shang Kexi surrendered with the officials and people of three islands and was stationed at Hai Department. On jihai, there was a grand review. On jiachen, Ying'e'erdai was sent to Korea to trade. Kong Youde, Geng Zhongming and Shang Kexi were ordered to use white banners bordered with black, to set them apart from the Eight Banners. On renzi, Han licentiates were examined. Edit
In the summer, the fourth month, on xinyou, Tanggudai and other sons of Taizu were promoted to deputy general, assistant regional commander or company commander according to rank. Also, because the descendants of the Hada and Wula tribes held no high posts, Keshinei of the Hada was made deputy general and Bayan of the Wula deputy general of the third class. An edict named Shenyang "Tianjuan Shengjing" [the Flourishing Capital, Favoured by Heaven] and the city of Hetu'ala "Tianjuan Xingjing" [the Rising Capital, Favoured by Heaven]. The Manchu titles for brigade general, deputy general, assistant regional commander, mobile corps commander and company commander were revised. On dingchou, Shang Kexi came to court and was made Brigade General. On yihai, Baiyintu, son of Taizu's younger brother, was made Superintendent. On xinsi, the Board of Rites was ordered for the first time to examine Manchus and Han who were versed in the meaning of Manchu, Chinese and Mongol writings; Ganglin and fifteen others, sixteen in all, passed as juren (provincial graduates), and each was given a suit of clothes and exempted four able-bodied men from service. On yiyou, Jin Jimeng and others came from the Ming island of Shicheng to surrender and were placed under Shang Kexi. Edit
In the fifth month, on the first day, bingxu, Ba'erdaqi of the Heilong River came with tribute. On gengyin, Taiji Maoqitate of the Chaha'er came to court. The names of the Manchu and Han cavalry and infantry were fixed. On bingshen, a campaign against the Ming was discussed, and the beile asked to go in by Shanhai Pass. The emperor said: "Not so. The Chaha'er have been beaten by our army, and their beile and great ministers are about to come over to us. We should go straight to Xuanfu and Datong to meet them." So he gathered the Lieutenant-Generals to arrange military affairs, sent the imperial maternal uncle Ashida'erha to call up the Ke'erqin troops, and wrote to call on the remnants of the Chaha'er who were within the Ming borders to submit. On renyin, the grades of merit of all officials were fixed and patents issued, setting out separately and according to rank which posts were hereditary and which ended with the holder. On jiachen, Jisiha and Wubahai reported victory over the Hu'erha tribe. Beile Ji'erhalang was ordered to stay and guard Shengjing, Beile Dudu to hold Hai Department, and Tu'erge, Administrator of the Board of Personnel, and others to cross the Liao River and garrison along the Zhanggutai River to hold back the enemy; all were given their plans. When this was done, the emperor set out with the great army. On jiyou, he halted at Du'erbi, and the troops of the outer Mongol tribes came in one after another to join him. On jiayin, he halted at the Nelite River. Edit
In the sixth month, on xinyou, military orders were issued to the Mongol beile and to Kong Youde, Geng Zhongming and Shang Kexi: "On the march, do not leave your standards, do not make noise, do not go off privately to plunder. Kill those who resist; care for those who submit. Do not destroy temples, do not kill travellers, do not take people's clothes, do not separate husbands and wives, do not violate women. Those who disobey will be punished." Earlier, Lindan of the Chaha'er had fled west to Tubaite [Tibet]. His people suffered under his cruelty, and seven or eight in ten lingered behind; when their food ran out they killed and ate one another, slaughtered and plundered without end, and scattered in every direction. By now, several thousand households in all had come over to us in a steady stream. On xinwei, the emperor halted at Kuheibulidu. Judgement was given on Jueluo Bu'erji and Ying'e'erdai for killing people of Buyantu's Chaha'er band without authority, and the rewards they had been given were taken back. On jiaxu, he halted at Kala Tuoluomu and ordered Beile Degelei to lead troops in through Dushikou to scout Juyong Pass, and to join the main army at Shuo Department by an agreed date. On wuyin, he instructed the Mongol beile: "Ga'erzhu Saite'er of the Ke'erqin and others rebelled and fled to the Suolun, and were pursued and caught and killed by their own clansmen. Our heart grieves for them. We wish to spread the influence of virtue so that all the people may live in peace and happiness. Though these beile have been put to death for their crimes, it is also because Our teaching has not yet reached everywhere." He also ordered that the punishment of Dalahai and others of the Alu tribe for crossing the boundary to graze their herds be reduced. On renwu, Tuba Jinong of the Chaha'er came over with a thousand households of his people. Baga Da'erhan of the Ka'erka tribe came over. On jiashen, the Grand Beile Daishan and others were ordered to lead troops in through Desheng Fort and raid Datong as far west as the Yellow River, and the Deputy Lieutenant-Generals Tulushi, Wubai and others to go straight to Guihua to take in the Chaha'er refugees; all were to join the main army at Shuo Department. Edit
In the autumn, the seventh month, on jichou, Beile Ajige, Duo'ergun, Duoduo and others were ordered to go in through Longmen and meet at Xuanfu, while the emperor himself led the great army from Xuanfu toward Shuo Department, the four columns to advance together by the set date. On xinmao, the border wall was pulled down. On renchen, the emperor entered Shangfang Fort and reached the Right Guard of Xuanfu, and wrote to the Ming officials guarding it rebuking them for breaking the covenant, while again telling them to send envoys to discuss peace. On guisi, he camped to the southeast of the city. Ajige had attacked Longmen at this time without taking it and was ordered to raid Bao'an. On dingyou, the emperor camped by the eastern city and sent a letter to the Ming Prince of Dai, again asking him to send envoys to discuss peace. Daishan attacked Desheng Fort and took it. The Ming Assistant Regional Commander Li Quan hanged himself. Daishan went on to attack Huairen and Jingping but took neither, and then camped at Shuo Department. On bingwu, the emperor besieged Ying Department and ordered Daishan and others to make for Mayi. Tulushi reached Guihua City, and the wife of Lindan of the Chaha'er came to surrender with her eight zhaisang and one thousand two hundred households. On gengxu, Ajige and others attacked Bao'an Department and took it. On renzi, Degelei went in through Dushikou, took Chang'an Ridge and attacked Chicheng without taking it, and all joined the main army at Ying Department. Edit
In the eighth month, on yimao, the generals were ordered to raid Dai Department. Sahalian made a surprise attack on Guo County and took it. On bingchen, Shuotuo entered Yuanping Post Station. On jiazi, Abatai and others attacked Wangjiazhuang in Lingqiu County and took it. Baduli, Administrator of the Board of Rites, fell in battle. They also attacked Shijiacun Fort in Ying Department and took it. On bingyin, the emperor set out from Ying Department. Hearing that the Ming Governor-General at Yanghe, Zhang Zongheng, and the Datong Brigade General Cao Wenzhao were stationed at Huairen, and judging that they would certainly make for Datong that night, he ordered Tulushi and Wubai to lay an ambush to cut them off. The troops moved too slowly, and Zongheng and the others got away. The emperor angrily rebuked them. On wuchen, the emperor reached Datong and sent Wenzhao a letter asking him to support a peace. He also wrote to the officials there demanding the remnants of the Chaha'er who were in Ming territory. Wenzhao offered battle and was defeated. Beile Abatai and others took Lingqiu. The mother of the Ming Prince of Dai, Lady Yang, together with Zhang Zongheng and Cao Wenzhao, wrote asking for peace. On xinwei, an envoy was sent with a letter in reply. On renshen, Daishan came with his army to join the emperor. On guiyou, the army camped at Datong, and Zhu Naiting, a member of the Ming imperial house, and some captured monks were sent into the city. Three times an answer was demanded, and none was given. Naiting's wife and children and Zhu Naizhen were let go back. On dingchou, the army camped at Sishilipu, and at Beiloukou a letter carried by a Ming spy was captured. The emperor wrote in reply: "Your letter treats the Manchus as a dependent state, and even I have never said that was wrong. But the officials of Liaodong bullied our state, and the emperor was misled by the wild words of his ministers; though there has been war for more than ten years, not a single word of inquiry has come, so that the truth about our state never reaches him. If he had sent one trusted envoy to make clear who was right and who was wrong, the fighting would long since have stopped. Peace could be had between one morning and the next. Otherwise, your officials block the way and deceive him, falsely reporting heads taken and victories won. If our small state had really suffered such losses, how could we invade again and again? Is it that the emperor, wise as he is, alone cannot give this a moment's thought? Hei Yunlong himself knows how sincere our wish for peace is; we fear only that, afraid of making enemies among the great ministers, he has not told all." On jimao, the great army reached Yanghe. The Ming Brigade General Cao Wenzhao had written a deceitful letter to Zhang Zongheng, falsely claiming that his cannon had wounded our troops and that he had captured one of our standards, and so on; it was taken by our patrols. The emperor then wrote to Zongheng: "I had thought that your Ming would have loyal ministers and men of honour who served the state with true hearts; yet now you lie so wildly. Are you not ashamed? Now we make you an offer: each of our men is a match for ten. If you will fix a day to come out and fight, we will hold our troops in readiness and wait. If you deceive your ruler with wild words and bring harm on the living, the disaster will be without end." On renwu, the emperor halted at Huaiyuan. On guiwei, he camped at the Left Guard. Edit
In the intercalary eighth month, on bingxu, the emperor wrote rebuking the Ming eunuch at Xuanfu for deceiving his ruler and ruining the state. On dinghai, the Deputy Lieutenant-General Tulushi died of wounds. The Left Guard of Wanquan was attacked and taken. On gengyin, the army withdrew. Ga'erma Jinong of the Chaha'er and others sent envoys asking to surrender, saying that their Khan Lindan had died of illness, and that the Khan's son and the people of the nation all wished to come over; so Ashida'erha and others were ordered to go and find out. On dingyou, the army moved to the old city of Shangdu. On gengxu, it moved to Kebang. On xinhai, the Chaha'er zhaisang Ga'erma Jinong and others, with six thousand of their people, came over escorting the consort Doutumen Fujin. Edit
In the ninth month, on wuchen, Beile Ji'erhalang, who had stayed to guard the capital, reported that Jisiha and Wubahai, campaigning against the Hu'erha, had taken more than one thousand three hundred captives. Maoming'an of the Alu tribe came over with his whole nation. On xinwei, the emperor crossed the Liao River. On renshen, he returned to Shengjing. Edit
In the winter, the tenth month, on jichou, a sleeping hall was built at Taizu's tomb, pines were planted and stone animals set up. On renchen, the merits and faults of the officers and men in the campaign against Xuanfu and Datong were judged. On jihai, Taiji Wukeshan of the Ke'erqin brought his younger sister to submit, and the emperor took her as a consort. On gengxu, because of the victories in the campaigns of the eighth year, a prayer was written to report them to Taizu. On renzi, Li Zong, King of Korea, sent an envoy with a letter. Because the emperor found its language disrespectful, he wrote back rebuking him severely. Edit
In the eleventh month, on yichou, the officials of the Six Boards were assessed and promoted or appointed according to their merits. Edit
In the twelfth month, on the first day, guiwei, the King of Korea wrote to apologize. On renchen, the Deputy Lieutenant-General Baqilan and the Colonel (canling) Samushika were ordered to campaign in the parts of the Heilong River region that had not yet submitted. On bingshen, captaincies (zuoling) were assigned in fixed numbers to be under the direct charge of members of the imperial clan, efu and others. On dingyou, Molegen Lama came with a golden image of Mahagala as tribute, and envoys were sent to meet him and bring him to Shengjing. On guimao, Qitate Che'erbei, Sailengbuduma'er and others of the Chaha'er each came over with their people. Wubahai and Jinggu'erdai were sent to campaign against the Wa'erka. On jiachen, the Captain (zuoling) Liu Xuecheng memorialized asking that altars for the suburban sacrifices be set up and that the emperor hold court diligently. The emperor said: "The memorial is right to want Us to hold court and attend diligently to government. As for setting up the suburban altars, We do not yet know where the will of Heaven lies; how should We dare to do it hastily? If the great enterprise is truly accomplished, it will not be too late to discuss it then." Edit
Ninth year of Tiancong (1635)
In the ninth year, in the spring, the first month, on dingmao, the emperor himself saw off Tuxietu Jinong of the Ke'erqin and others on their way home. On guiyou, meritorious officials were exempted from labour service. On dingchou, an edict decreed that the sons of Taizu by secondary consorts be called "age" and the descendants of the Six Ancestors be called "Jueluo"; the Jueluo were to wear red sashes to mark them out. Anyone who cursed their forefathers was liable to death. Edit
In the second month, on renwu, the ministers were ordered to recommend men who were fair-minded or versed in letters and fit for employment. On dinghai, the able-bodied Mongol men of the Kalaqin tribe were organized into eleven banners, each with one Lieutenant-General, under whom they were commanded by a Deputy Lieutenant-General and two colonels. On wuzi, an edict said: "Of late all who offer counsel ask that we attack the Ming. How could We not have it in mind? But we must act as the moment allows. Now the Chaha'er have only just submitted, their hearts are not yet settled, and their walls are not yet repaired. If we lightly send out an army, how shall we achieve the great enterprise? Besides, once the great army moves, the Ming ruler may either abandon his capital and flee or take fright and ask for peace. Which plan is right, to attack or to refuse? Let Gao Hongzhong, Bao Chengxian, Ning Wanwo, Fan Wencheng and others consider it and report." On jichou, Shen Peirui asked that military farms be set up at Guangning and Luyang and boats built to haul grain, as a plan for advancing. The emperor praised and adopted this. On yiwei, Fan Wencheng and Ning Wanwo asked that those who made false recommendations be punished under the law of collective liability. On dingwei, Duo'ergun, Yuetuo, Haoge and Sahalian were ordered to take ten thousand picked horsemen to bring in E'erke Kongguo'er Ezhe, son of Lindan of the Chaha'er. Edit
In the third month, on wuchen, an edict said: "Recently the people's ploughing and weeding have fallen behind the season. This is because the captains (zuoling) have been busy building walls and the people suffer from heavy labour service. From now on, anyone who imposes labour without need and hinders farming will be punished." On gengwu, the Chaha'er zhaisang Balaidu'er and others, more than one thousand four hundred people, came over. Edit
In the fifth month, on yimao, Baqilan and Samushika, campaigning against the Hu'erha tribe of the Heilong River, took the whole of its land and brought back the people they had captured, registered in companies; they were promoted and rewarded according to their merits. On guihai, because the beile campaigning in the west would pass through the region of Xuanfu and Datong, the emperor judged that the Ming would surely move troops from Ningyuan and Jinzhou to the rescue, and he sent Beile Duoduo with an army into the Ningyuan and Jinzhou area to harass them. On jisi, the Literary Office was ordered to translate the four histories of the Song, Liao, Jin and Yuan. On renshen, Beile Duoduo reported that he had wiped out five hundred Ming troops outside the city of Songshan near Jinzhou and killed the Ming deputy general Liu Yingxuan. On bingzi, Beile Duo'ergun, Yuetuo, Sahalian, Haoge and others reported that their troops had reached Xila Zhu'erge, where the Dowager Consort Nangnang of the Chaha'er and Taiji Suonuomu and others surrendered with one thousand five hundred households; they then reached the place where E'erke Kongguo'er Ezhe lived, and his mother brought Ezhe out to surrender. Edit
In the sixth month, on yiyou, Beile Duoduo returned in triumph; he was given five fine horses, and the officers and men who had served with him were rewarded according to rank. On dingyou, the army of Wubahai and Jinggu'erdai returned, and their merits were rewarded in the same way. Li Jingong, a Ming company commander (qianzong) of Huangcheng Island off Dengzhou, came to surrender. On xinchou, an edict said: "Taizu entrusted the people to Us, and We must love and nurture them. The beile undertake building work out of season and wear the people out; the people cannot find their place and gradually run away. This goes against the late emperor's purpose and strengthens the enemy. Now Korea has submitted and the Chaha'er have come over with their whole nation. If we cannot settle and care for their people, then even if we win more land, what shall we do with it? Let the beile and great ministers each curb their arrogance and self-indulgence, to fulfil Our wishes!" On renyin, Taiji Suonuomu of the Chaha'er came over with six thousand eight hundred of his people. On guimao, an edict said: "Taizu forbade the sons and younger brothers of the beile to fly hawks in the countryside, fearing that they would trample the fields and gardens and disturb the livestock. Now those who break this rule grow more numerous every day. The saying goes: 'If a trickle is not stopped, it will become a river.' Let it be strictly forbidden." Edit
In the autumn, the seventh month, on guiyou, the rise and fall in the number of Han able-bodied men and households was assessed; the Colonel Li Sizhong and five other officials were promoted, and Gao Hongzhong and ten other officials were dismissed or punished according to their faults. Edit
In the eighth month, on gengchen, Beile Duo'ergun, Yuetuo, Sahalian and Haoge reported that they had obtained the jade seal that had been handed down from dynasty to dynasty. Earlier, when Emperor Shun of the Yuan fled north, he took the seal with him, and it was later lost. More than two hundred years afterwards it was found by a shepherd. Later it came into the hands of Lindan Khan of the Chaha'er, who was also a descendant of the Yuan. The seal was with the Dowager Consort Sutai, and now she presented it. At this time Yuetuo had stayed behind at Guihua City because of illness, while Duo'ergun and the others led their troops to raid the Ming province of Shanxi, entered the border at Pinglu Guard, broke through the Great Wall, raided Xin Department and Dai Department, and reached Guo County. On jiashen, the illustrations for the Veritable Records of Taizu were finished. On yisi, the emperor, leading the armies of the Grand Beile Daishan and of Beile Duo'ergun and the others, halted at Pinglu Fort. On dingwei, he crossed the Liao River and inspected the fortified town of Juliuhe. Edit
In the ninth month, on guichou, the army of Beile Duo'ergun and the others returned and presented the jade seal, which the emperor received after reporting to Heaven. E'erke Kongguo'er Ezhe and his mother came to court. On gengwu, the emperor returned to the palace. On renshen, he summoned the beile and great ministers to list Daishan's offences. They proposed that he be stripped of the title of Grand Beile and of Heshuo Beile and deprived of ten companies; that his son Sahalian be deprived of two companies; that the Hada Princess be reduced to a commoner; and that her husband Suonuomu Jinong be stripped of his rank and title. The emperor remitted all of these. Edit
In the winter, the tenth month, on jimao, because peace with the Ming had not been made and he was about to send in troops, the emperor sent envoys with letters to the Ming border commanders at Xifeng Pass, Dongjia Pass and other places. Heshuo Beile Degelei, who was in charge of the Board of Revenue, died. On guiwei, Wubahai, Duojili, Zhafuni and Wushita were ordered to lead four columns against the Wa'erka. Edit
In the eleventh month, on the first day, dingwei, E'erke Kongguo'er Ezhe was ordered to live with his mother at Sundao Xi'erha. Edit
In the twelfth month, on xinsi, Lengsengji, a servant of Mangguji, the Hada Princess, came forward to accuse the late Beile Manggu'ertai of having plotted rebellion while he lived together with his younger sister Mangguji and his younger brother Degelei, and said that the princess's husband Suonuomu, with Tunbulu and Aibali, had taken part. At the same time Suonuomu also confessed. The case was tried and found true, and Mangguji, Manggu'ertai's son Ebilun, Tunbulu and Aibali were all put to death. Manggu'ertai's other sons and Degelei's sons were all made commoners. Suonuomu was pardoned because he had confessed. Lengsengji was made deputy general of the third class. On dingyou, the emperor visited Taizu's tomb. On jiachen, Beile Sahalian, the other beile and the Grand Beile Daishan swore an oath together and asked the emperor to take an honorific title. The emperor would not allow it. Then the Mongol beile came again to ask. The emperor said: "Korea is a brother state; it should be told." Edit
Tenth year of Tiancong (1636)
In the tenth year, in the spring, the first month, on renxu, the emperor's second daughter was married to E'erke Kongguo'er Ezhe. Edit
In the second month, on dingchou, the eight Heshuo Beile and the forty-nine beile of the outer tribes each wrote to Korea inviting its king to join in urging the emperor to take the honorific title. On wuzi, envoys were sent to the Ming border at Songpeng Road, Panjia Pass, Dongjia Pass and Xifeng Pass with a letter to the Ming emperor demanding his reply. The ornaments on the tops of the officials' caps were fixed. On gengyin, Ning Wanwo was dismissed for an offence. Edit
In the third month, on the first day, bingwu, at the Qingming festival, the emperor visited Taizu's tomb. On xinhai, the Literary Office was reorganized into three academies: the Inner Historiographical Academy, the Inner Secretariat Academy and the Inner Academy for the Advancement of Letters. On yimao, Beile Ajige and Abatai were sent to build the city of Gahai. On gengshen, Wushita and others, campaigning against the Wa'erka, sent envoys to report victory. An edict said: "The Mongols put deep faith in lamas, who are truly deluded men. From now on, anyone who hangs up prayer wheels or ties up cloth banners should be stopped." On yichou, Ying'e'erdai and others returned from Korea and said that the king, Li Zong, would neither receive them nor accept the letter; they presented his reply, together with a letter of Zong's to his border officials that they had seized. The beile were angry and wanted to send troops. The emperor said: "Let us first send someone to explain to him where his interest lies and demand his sons and younger brothers as hostages. If he does not comply, it will not be too late to go to war." On dingmao, the forty-nine beile of the sixteen states of the outer Mongols, and Kong Youde, Geng Zhongming and Shang Kexi, all came to Shengjing to ask the emperor to take the honorific title. Edit
In the summer, the fourth month, on jimao, the Grand Beile Daishan and the Heshuo Beile Ji'erhalang, Duo'ergun, Duoduo, Yuetuo, Haoge, Abatai, Ajige and Dudu, leading the Manchu, Han and Mongol great ministers and the forty-nine beile of the sixteen Mongol states, came to the palace with a memorial written in three scripts asking the emperor to take an honorific title. It said: "We reverently consider that our Emperor has received the favour and protection of Heaven and has risen in answer to his destiny. At a time when the world was in darkness and disorder, he cultivated virtue and followed Heaven, overawing those who resisted and caring for those who submitted, and the fame of his generosity and gentleness has reached all the people. He has subdued Korea and united the Mongols. And now he has obtained the jade seal, a token of the mandate plain for all to see; above, it accords with the will of Heaven, and below, with the feelings of the people. We, your servants, respectfully offer an honorific title; the ceremonial objects are all prepared, and we humbly beg Your Majesty's consent." The emperor said: "You beile and great ministers have urged Us to take an honorific title for some two years. Now you press it again and again, and We are reluctant to go against the wishes of you all, and cannot refuse. Now that We have accepted the mandate, We fear that there may be things in the government of the state We cannot reach; you should reverently assist Us." The ministers bowed their heads to the ground in thanks. On gengchen, the Board of Rites presented the ceremonial procedure. On renwu, the emperor fasted and purified himself, and an altar was set up outside the Desheng Gate. Edit
First year of Chongde (1636)
In the first year of Chongde, in the summer, the fourth month, on yiyou, the emperor sacrificed to Heaven and Earth to announce it and performed the ceremony of receiving the honorific title. The name under which he held the realm was fixed as Da Qing [Great Qing], the era was changed to Chongde, and the ministers gave him the honorific title Emperor Kuanwen Rensheng [Generous, Gentle, Benevolent and Sage], and he received their congratulations at court. It was fixed for the first time that the full set of three victims offered to Heaven should be presented cooked. Officials were sent to sacrifice at the mountain tombs and announce the building of the Ancestral Temple and the posthumous honours given to the ancestors. On bingxu, the founding ancestor was posthumously honoured as Prince Ze, the great-great-grandfather as Prince Qing, the great-grandfather as Prince Chang, and the grandfather as Prince Fu; the emperor's late father was given the posthumous name Emperor Chengtian Guangyun Shengde Shengong Zhaoji Liji Renxiao Wu, with the temple name Taizu, and his tomb was named Fu Mausoleum; his late mother was given the posthumous name Empress Xiaoci Zhaoxian Chunde Zhenshun Chengtian Yusheng Wu. The clan ancestor Lidun Batulu was posthumously made Prince Wugong of the Second Rank, and the meritorious officials Feiyingdong and Eyidu were posthumously made Duke Zhiyi and Duke Hongyi, to share in the sacrifices of the Ancestral Temple. On dinghai, the ministers presented memorials of congratulation. An edict said: "We are of slight virtue and fear that We shall fail the hopes of all. You ministers should be of one heart in correcting and assisting Us, each attend to his duty, set himself right and lead those under him, be wholly loyal and sincere, establish the laws and order, comfort the people and care for the multitude, so that the ruler may be wise and the ministers good, and government may everywhere prosper; then perhaps we can bear the gracious mandate of Heaven." The ministers bowed their heads to the ground and said: "That Your Majesty's edict should say this is the good fortune of the state." Because the ceremony of the honorific title was complete, there was a general amnesty. On jichou, the army of Duojili and Huxi returned from the campaign against the Wa'erka and was rewarded according to rank. The Korean envoys went home. Earlier, when the emperor received the honorific title, the Korean envoys Luo Dexian and Li Kuo alone would not bow. The emperor said: "Their king means to stir up enmity and wants Us to kill his envoys to give him a pretext. Let them go." Now they were sent home, with a letter to the King of Korea rebuking him and ordering him to send his sons and younger brothers as hostages. On dingyou, merit was recorded and titles were conferred: the Grand Beile Daishan was made Elder Brother Prince Li of the First Rank, Beile Ji'erhalang Prince Zheng of the First Rank, Duo'ergun Prince Rui of the First Rank, Duoduo Prince Yu of the First Rank, Haoge Prince Su of the First Rank, Yuetuo Prince Cheng of the First Rank, Ajige Prince Wuying of the Second Rank, Dudu Anping Beile, and Abatai Raoyu Beile. Of the Mongol beile, Badali was made Prince Tuxietu of the First Rank, Wukeshan Prince Zhuoliketu of the First Rank, the gulun efu Ezhe Prince of the First Rank, Butaqi Prince Zhasaketu of the Second Rank, Manzhuxili Prince Batulu of the Second Rank, Gunchusi Batulu Prince Da'erhan of the Second Rank, Sun Duleng Prince Duleng of the Second Rank, the gulun efu Bandi Prince of the Second Rank, Kongguo'er Prince Bingtu, Dong Duoluo Da'erhan Daiqing, Emubu Duoluo Da'erhan Zhuoliketu, Gulusixiabu Duoluo Duleng, Danba Da'erhan, and Gengge'er Duoluo Beile. Kong Youde was made Prince Gongshun, Geng Zhongming Prince Huaishun, and Shang Kexi Prince Zhishun. On xinchou, the Korean envoys left our letter at Tongyuan Fort and did not take it home. Zhafuni's army returned from the campaign against the Wa'erka. Edit
In the fifth month, on bingwu, Xifu was made Grand Secretary of the Inner Academy for the Advancement of Letters, Fan Wencheng and Bao Chengxian both Grand Secretaries of the Inner Secretariat Academy, and Ganglin Grand Secretary of the Inner Historiographical Academy. On renzi, Beile Sahalian died, and court was suspended for three days. On guichou, cherries were offered at the Ancestral Temple for the first time. On dingsi, the Censorate was set up, and an edict said: "If We are extravagant without limit or wrongly put meritorious officials to death; or give Ourself up to hunting and pleasure and neglect the affairs of government; or cast aside the loyal and employ the treacherous, and promote and demote wrongly; you are to say so plainly and hide nothing. If any of the beile neglect their duties, are greedy for goods or idle, you are to name and impeach them. If the Six Boards decide matters unfairly or wrongly, or are slow in trying cases, you are to investigate and report it. Under the bad customs of the Ming, this office too is a house of bribery; you must guard against that and check one another. Anyone who impeaches another out of a grudge is by rule to be punished. Otherwise, if what you say is right it will be acted on; if it is wrong, no question will be asked." On renxu, Sahalian was posthumously made Prince Ying of the First Rank. On jisi, Zhang Cunren was made Administrator of the Censorate, Zu Zehong Administrator of the Board of Personnel, Han Daxun Administrator of the Board of Revenue, Jiang Xin Administrator of the Board of Rites, Zu Zerun Administrator of the Board of War, Li Yun Administrator of the Board of Justice, and Pei Guozhen Administrator of the Board of Works. The Lieutenant-General Yi'erdeng was dismissed, and Tu'erge was made Lieutenant-General of the Bordered White Banner. On gengwu, Ajige, Prince Wuying of the Second Rank, Abatai, the Raoyu Beile, Duke Yangguli and others led an army against the Ming. The emperor, in the Xiangfeng Pavilion, gave them their plan in person and admonished them. On guiyou, the army set out. Edit
In the sixth month, on the first day, jiaxu, Bu'ergadu and other surrendered Mongols were given hereditary ranks according to their merit. On jimao, Duoduo, Prince Yu of the First Rank, was put in charge of the Board of Rites, and Haoge, Prince Su of the First Rank, in charge of the Board of Revenue. On jiashen, Sahalian's son Adali was made Prince of the Second Rank. On bingxu, the imperial maternal uncle Ashida'erhan was made Administrator of the Censorate, and Nikan Administrator for Mongol affairs. Edit
In the autumn, the seventh month, on jiwei, orders were sent calling up the troops of the outer Mongols to campaign against the Ming. On xinyou, Ajige and the others joined forces and came out through Yanqing Department, taking more than fifteen thousand people and animals. Edit
In the eighth month, on dingchou, officials were sent to sacrifice to Confucius. On xinsi, Yuetuo, Prince Cheng of the First Rank, and Haoge, Prince Su of the First Rank, were reduced to Duoluo Beile for offences. On guiwei, Duo'ergun, Prince Rui of the First Rank, Duoduo, Prince Yu of the First Rank, and Beile Yuetuo and Haoge led an army against the Ming. Edit
In the ninth month, on wushen, Ming troops entered Jianchang, and Wushan and Jisiha were ordered to lead troops to resist them. On jiyou, Ajige and the others reported that our army had passed Baoding and reached An Department, taking twelve cities and winning all of fifty-six battles, capturing alive Brigade General Chao Pichang and others, and taking one hundred and eighty thousand people and animals. On gengshen, Yileshen and others pursued the Ming troops as far as the ferry at the Niangniang Temple, but seeing a great many enemy boats they dared not go on, and reported it. Yisun was ordered to go to their support, and Dudu was also sent with an army to help. On xinyou, the Mongols Dalai, Baihe, Baiyindai and others came from Tashan to surrender. On jisi, the army of Ajige and the others returned. Edit
In the winter, the tenth month, on guiyou, the army of Duo'ergun and the others returned. On dinghai, the Grand Secretary Xifu and others were sent to the Chaha'er, Ka'erka and Ke'erqin tribes to check the households and population, organize companies (zuoling), try the various cases, proclaim the laws, and put down wrongdoing and theft. On wuxu, Li Zong, King of Korea, sent a letter, and it was refused. Edit
In the eleventh month, on wushen, Yuetuo was again put in charge of the Board of War and Haoge of the Board of Revenue. On jiyou, Wei Zhaisang and others returned from the Ka'erka Mongols, bringing their envoy Weizheng Lama and others with tribute. On xinhai, troops were called up from the outer tribes. On guichou, an edict said: "Reading the histories, We know that Shizong of the Jin was truly a worthy ruler. In the times of Xizong and Wanyan Liang, the old institutions of Taizu and Taizong were all abandoned, and there was pleasure-seeking without limit. When Shizong came to the throne, fearing that his sons and grandsons would copy the Han, he instructed them not to forget the laws of their ancestors and to practise riding and archery. Later generations did not keep to this at all, and so it went on until the dynasty fell. Our state is skilled in riding and archery; with them we win when we fight and take what we attack. In the past the bakeshi Dahai and others urged Us many times to change Manchu dress and follow the Han style. We consider that loose robes and wide sleeves would surely lead to the neglect of riding and archery; in Our own lifetime, how could there be any change? We fear that later sons and grandsons will forget this, give up riding and archery and copy the Han; that is much to be feared. Mark this well." On yimao, the Veritable Records of Taizu were finished. On yichou, at the winter solstice, the great sacrifice to Heaven was performed at the Round Mound. Because a campaign against Korea was about to begin, it was announced in sacrifice to Heaven and Earth and at the Ancestral Temple. On jisi, military orders were issued and a proclamation sent to Korea. Edit
In the twelfth month, on the first day, xinwei, the princes and beile of the outer Mongols brought their troops to Shengjing. Ji'erhalang, Prince Zheng of the First Rank, stayed to guard the capital; Ajige, Prince Wuying of the Second Rank, was stationed at Niuzhuang to guard the border; and Abatai, the Raoyu Beile, was stationed at Gahai City to gather in the border people and guard against the enemy. On renshen, the emperor led Daishan, Prince Li of the First Rank, and others on the campaign against Korea. The great army halted at Shahe Fort, and Duo'ergun, Prince Rui of the First Rank, and Beile Haoge took a separate force from Kuandian into Changshan Pass. On guiyou, Mafuta and others were sent with three hundred men disguised as merchants to go secretly and surround the Korean capital; Duoduo, with the beizi Shuotuo and Nikan, followed with a thousand men, and the Princes of the Second Rank Manzhuxili and Butaqi brought their troops to join them. On jimao, Beile Yuetuo and Duke Yangguli reinforced Duoduo's army with three thousand men. The emperor made camp with the great army thirty li from Zhenjiang, ordering Dudu, the Anping Beile, Kong Youde, Prince Gongshun, and others to guard the baggage in the rear. On gengchen, he crossed at Zhenjiang and reached Yizhou. On renwu, the emperor reached the town of Guoshan. The mobile corps commander of Dingzhou came to its relief, but judging that he could not win, cut his own throat. Guoshan surrendered. On guiwei, the emperor reached Dingzhou. Dingzhou also surrendered. On yiyou, he reached Anzhou and wrote to the Korean officials guarding it urging them to surrender. On jichou, Duoduo and the others advanced and surrounded the Korean capital. Li Zong, King of Korea, fled to the mountain fortress of Nanhan. Duoduo and the others surrounded it in turn and defeated the relief armies from the various provinces. On xinmao, Yechen and Mafuta of the Wa'erka, who lived in Korea, hearing that the great army had come, came over with their people. On dingyou, the emperor reached the Linjin River; the weather had turned warm and the ice was melting, so that it could not be crossed, but suddenly there was a heavy rain, the ice froze again, and the whole army crossed. On jihai, the Lieutenant-General Tantai and others were ordered to search the Korean capital and destroy resistance there, with Mongol troops left to go with them. The emperor encircled the fortress of Nanhan with the great army. Edit
In this year, Guluge Chuhu'er of the Tumote tribe, Elinchen Jinong and Taiji Tuba of the E'erduosi tribe and others all came to court. Edit
Second year of Chongde (1637)
In the second year, in the spring, the first month, on renyin, the Brigade General of Quanluo Province in Korea came to the rescue, and Yuetuo drove him off. Ying'e'erdai and Mafuta were sent with an imperial edict to the Korean ministers listing their crimes in breaking the covenant again and again. On jiachen, the great army crossed the Han River and camped on its bank. On dingwei, the two Korean provinces of Quanluo and Zhongqing sent their joint forces to the rescue, and Duoduo and Yangguli drove them off. Yangguli was wounded and died. On gengxu, the army of Duo'ergun and Haoge took Changshan, won battle after battle, and came to join the emperor with its troops; the cannon carts brought by Dudu and others also arrived. Korea's plight grew ever worse, and Li Zong wrote several times begging for peace. The emperor agreed to let him come out and surrender. Zong sent a letter calling himself a subject, but hesitated and dared not come out. On renxu, Duo'ergun's army entered Jianghua Island and took Zong's wife and children, who were escorted to the front of the army. The emperor again told Zong: "If you come, your family can be kept whole and your altars of state preserved. We do not go back on Our word. Otherwise We cannot wait long." When Zong heard that Jianghua Island had fallen, that his wife and children had been captured, and that the fortress of Nanhan would fall any day, he asked to surrender. On gengwu, Li Zong, King of Korea, with his son Ai and his ministers, all in court dress, came out and surrendered at Santian Ford on the east bank of the Han River, and handed over the patent and seal the Ming had given him. The emperor comforted him, told him to sit, gave back his wife and children and the families of his ministers, and also gave them rich gifts. Ying'e'erdai and Mafuta were ordered to escort Zong back to his capital, and his sons Ai and Hao were kept as hostages. Edit
In the second month, on renshen, the army withdrew. The beizi Shuotuo, Kong Youde, Prince Gongshun, and others led the Korean fleet to take the Ming island of Pi. Li Zong, King of Korea, memorialized asking for his tribute to be reduced. An edict remitted the tribute for the two years dingchou and wuyin; from the autumn of yimao, tribute was to be paid in the full amount as before. On jiaxu, Duo'ergun and the others were instructed to forbid the plundering of people who had surrendered; where this was broken, the officer in charge would be punished equally. On xinmao, the emperor returned to Shengjing. On guisi, the Board of Revenue was instructed to sell grain at fair prices and encourage farming. Edit
In the third month, on jiachen, the Korean censor Hong Yihan, the Collator Yin Ji and the Compiler Wu Daji were put to death for having wrecked the covenant. On dingwei, Ajige, Prince Wuying of the Second Rank, led an army to help attack Pi Island. On wuwu, the work on the walls of Gai Department was stopped. Edit
In the summer, the fourth month, on jimao, Duo'ergun, Prince Rui of the First Rank, arrived at Shengjing with the Korean hostages Li Ai and Li Hao and the sons of the Korean great ministers. On xinsi, Ajige's army took Pi Island and beheaded the Ming Brigade Generals Shen Shikui and Jin Riguan. On jiashen, Dudu, the Anping Beile, came back with the rear of the great army. On dingyou, the gushan beizi Nikan, Luotuo, Boluo and others were ordered to take part in deliberations on the affairs of state. Three more Deliberative Ministers were added for each banner, and the emperor gathered the ministers and told them: "Before, the Deliberative Ministers were few, and when some went out with the army or on missions, We had no one at Our side, while officials of low rank could not be allowed to take part in the counsels of state. Now We have specially chosen you and placed you among the deliberators. You must keep in mind the joys and sorrows of the people's livelihood, and take care not to be idle and so fail the court. Formerly Lindan of the Chaha'er among the Mongols was perverse and wicked, and his ministers did not remonstrate, until he lost his state. When We are at fault, you ministers must argue with Us to Our face. One who agrees to Our face and then talks behind Our back, laying the blame on his ruler, is no true minister." He also said: "Formerly Xizong of the Jin followed Han customs and wore Han clothes and caps, and wholly forgot the language of his own country, and the work of Taizu and Taizong declined. The bow and arrow are our strength. If now we do not practise riding and archery ourselves but give ourselves up to feasting and pleasure, our military readiness will gradually slacken. Each time We go hunting, We hope not to forget riding and archery, and to keep the soldiers well trained. The princes and beile must pass this warning on to one another, so that later generations do not change the institutions of our ancestors." Edit
In the intercalary fourth month, on guimao, the Mongols presented a strange beast called a qihete. On renzi, the army of Ajige, Prince Wuying of the Second Rank, returned. Edit
In the fifth month, on gengwu, Li Zong, King of Korea, sent an envoy with a memorial of thanks, and to ransom the captives taken. On dinghai, Lin Qingye, the Korean Brigade General who had served in the campaign against Pi Island, was sent home, with an edict commending the King of Korea. On dingyou, the zhangjing Nikan and others, who had campaigned against the Wa'erka and made them submit, came back; their army had gone by way of Xianjing Province in Korea, and the march alone had taken two months. Edit
In the sixth month, on xinchou, Ayushi and others of the Kalaqin who had come over were given office. The Ming company commander (qianzong) Wang Guoliang, the regional commandant (dusi) Hu Yingdeng, the platoon commander (baizong) Li Zhongguo and others came from the sea islands to surrender. Manggu'ertai's son Guanggun was found guilty of a crime and put to death. On yimao, an edict said: "In the recent campaign in Korea, the troops marched without discipline, pushing forward wherever they saw gain, and quite forgot the laws of the state. From now on we must consider how to proclaim the laws and discipline and set the institutions in good order." On bingchen, because Korea had been made a subject state and Pi Island taken, it was announced in sacrifice at the Ancestral Temple and the Fu Mausoleum. On dingsi, Li Zong, King of Korea, asked to ransom the captives at a fair price, which was refused. On jiazi, judgement was given on the generals for breaches of military law in the campaigns against Korea and Pi Island. Daishan, Prince Li of the First Rank, was sentenced to lose his rank, but was pardoned. Ji'erhalang, Prince Zheng of the First Rank, and those below him were punished according to their offences. Edit
In the autumn, the seventh month, on jisi, Kakai and others were sent by separate routes to campaign against the Wa'erka. On guiyou, Enke, a councillor of the Board of Revenue, was found guilty of a crime and put to death. On xinsi, the emperor admonished Han officials who used empty words to deceive and cover up. Shang Kexi, Prince Zhishun, came back with his army from Pi Island. On renwu, there was a general amnesty. On guiwei, generous provision was made for Yangguli and the other officers and men killed in the campaigns in Korea and on Pi Island, with posthumous offices and inherited posts according to rank. On yiyou, the Ming regional commandant Gao Jigong and others came from Shicheng Island to surrender. On gengyin, the empress's father, Beile Manggusi of the Ke'erqin, was posthumously made Prince Fu of the First Rank. On renchen, Zu Dashou was informed of the victories in Korea and on Pi Island. On yiwei, the Chinese-martial troops were divided into two banners, with the Brigade Generals Shi Tingzhu and Ma Guangyuan as Lieutenant-Generals, each in charge of one wing, left and right. Edit
In the eighth month, on the first day, bingshen, further provision was made for Hong Wenkui and the other officers and men killed in the attacks on Pi Island and Korea, with posthumous offices and inherited posts according to rank. On guichou, Beile Yuetuo was reduced to Beizi for an offence, fined, and relieved of his post at the Board of War. On bingchen, Duo'ergun, Prince Rui of the First Rank, and Abatai, the Raoyu Beile, were ordered to build the city of Du'erbi. On jiwei, Ashida'erhan and others were sent to the Mongol tribes of the Balin, Zhalute, Kalaqin, Tumote and Alu to try criminal cases jointly with them. Edit
In the ninth month, on xinwei, the emperor went hunting at Fu'an Fort and wrote to Shen Zhixiang, the Ming general holding Shicheng Island, calling on him to surrender. On jichou, Mu'ertai, a councillor of the Board of War, was dismissed for an offence. Beile Haoge, for the offence of coercing the Mongol Taiji Boluo, was fined and removed from the management of his Board. Edit
In the winter, the tenth month, on the first day, yiwei, calendars in Manchu, Mongol and Chinese were issued for the first time. On bingwu, Gushi Chechen Chuo'erji of the Elute sent envoys with tribute; the Elute were so far away that the envoys, sent in the first year, arrived only in the winter of this year. On gengshen, Ying'e'erdai, Mafuta and Dayun were sent with an imperial patent investing Li Zong as King of Korea. Edit
In the eleventh month, on gengwu, the emperor sacrificed to Heaven at the Round Mound. Li Zong, King of Korea, sent envoys with tribute, and again memorialized asking that his Heir Prince be sent home, setting out the disasters, strange events and poverty in his country. The emperor refused, but sent an edict with gifts. On dingchou, Wuzhumuqin Jinong, hearing that the emperor cared well for his people, came over with his beile and his whole nation. On guiwei, Yangguli was posthumously made Prince Wuxun. On gengyin, the emperor went hunting at Dacaotan. Edit
In the twelfth month, on jiachen, Yekeshu and Xingne led an army against the Gua'ercha. On guichou, the generals campaigning against the Wa'erka reported victory. On wuwu, Beile Boluote and Tuoniluo of the Haoqite tribe came over with their people. Ajige sent Dandai and others, who defeated Ming troops at Qinghe. Edit
In this year, the Tuokeluo, Keyikele and Nouyele clans of the Hu'erha tribe, Bomu Boguo'er of the Suolun tribe of the Heilong River, Ba'erdaqi of the Heilong River, and Huyubulu of the Jinggeli River all came to court. Edit
Third year of Chongde (1638)
In the third year, in the spring, the first month, on xinwei, the Beizi Yuetuo was ordered restored as Duoluo Beile and put in charge of the affairs of his banner. On dinghai, Demutu was made Administrator of the Board of Revenue. On jiawu, the emperor's ninth son was born; this was Shizu, Emperor Zhang. Edit
In the second month, on dingyou, the emperor went in person on campaign against the Ka'erka, with Duoduo, Prince Yu of the First Rank, and Ajige, Prince Wuying of the Second Rank, in his train, while Daishan, Prince Li of the First Rank, Ji'erhalang, Prince Zheng of the First Rank, Duo'ergun, Prince Rui of the First Rank, and Dudu, the Anping Beile, stayed to guard the capital. On dingwei, he halted at Ka'erzhan, and the princes and beile of the outer tribes came with their troops to join him. The Ka'erka, hearing of it, fled. The emperor hunted west of Da'ernaluo Lake and halted there. On yimao, he halted at Kuitun Bulake. On gengshen, the Ming Brigade General of Dongjiang, Shen Zhixiang, came to surrender with the officers, soldiers and people of Shicheng Island. On renxu, Laosa was sent with a letter to the Ming officials guarding Xuanfu, pressing them to open trade and to hand over to us the yearly payments. Edit
In the third month, on the first day, jiazi, the emperor halted at Boshuodui and ordered the princes guarding the capital to build the city of Liaoyang. On jiaxu, he halted at Yixili. On gengchen, he reached Dengnusute and turned back. On renwu, he halted at the source of the Shangdu River; on the flat land west of the river a spring gushed up five chi high. Edit
In the summer, the fourth month, on the first day, jiawu, the emperor halted at Buketuli, and Yekeshu and others reported victory in their campaign on the Heilong River. On yiwei, he reached the Liao River. On dingyou, he halted at Duleng City; Gao Qiqian, the Ming eunuch at Shanhai Pass, sent men with a deceitful proposal of peace. On wuxu, he halted at Zhahanalite. On jihai, he halted at Chamuha. On gengzi, he halted at Eyue Boluo. The building of the city of Du'erbi was finished, and its name was changed to Ping City. On xinchou, Zhamanai of the Gua'ercha of the Du'erbote tribe and others came to court with tribute. On renyin, the emperor reached Liaoyang and inspected the new city. On yisi, he returned to Shengjing. The army of Yekeshu and Xingne returned from the Heilong River campaign. On guichou, the surrendered Ming general Shen Zhixiang was ordered to settle at Fushun with his people. On jiayin, the army of Nigali and others returned from the campaign against the Hu'erha. Edit
In the fifth month, on guiyou, the road from Shengjing to the Liao River was repaired, with Duo'ergun, Prince Rui of the First Rank, and Abatai, the Raoyu Beile, overseeing the work. On yihai, Jueshan, a man under Daishan, Prince Li of the First Rank, committed an offence; Ji'erhalang, Prince Zheng of the First Rank, and others asked that he be put to death and proposed that Daishan be stripped of his rank. Because it was a trifling matter the emperor refused, and also pardoned Jueshan. Edit
In the sixth month, on gengshen, the Court of Colonial Affairs was set up for the first time, to manage the affairs of the Mongol tribes alone. Edit
In the autumn, the seventh month, on the first day, renxu, the emperor instructed the princes and great ministers: "Since ancient times, those who founded states have all set up institutions and marked out ranks and dignities. Now the titles and grades of Princes of the First Rank, Princes of the Second Rank, beile, beizi, princesses and efu are all fixed by rule, yet none of you keep to them, and you go against and cast aside the established laws. What can you mean by it? Formerly Taizu and Taizong of the Jin, brothers of one heart, were able to achieve the great unity. Now, at the time when We are founding Our enterprise, can you not be of one heart, serve the state and keep strictly to its rules?" The princes all admitted their fault. On dingmao, Da'erhan Nangsu Lama, the envoy of the Ka'erka, went home, and the emperor told him: "We punish with arms those who will not come to court, and care with virtue for all the people. Heaven has given the Mongol tribes to Us, yet you Ka'erka raised troops and attacked Guihua, which was quite beyond your place. When you are hard pressed, you can only flee and hide to save your lives. Wherever you can go, can our army not go too? Repent of your crime quickly and come over to us; otherwise you will not be forgiven." On renshen, Dayaqi and others went to the Ming at Zhangjiakou to discuss the yearly payments and trade. On dingchou, the emperor instructed the Board of Rites: "Whenever anyone does not keep to the fixed rules and throws the laws into disorder: princes, beile and beizi are to be fined as judged; officials are to be held in custody for three days; commoners are to be put in the cangue and beaten, and then released. Those whose coming and going, sitting and rising break the forms, and those who still use old titles after their ranks and titles have been fixed, are to be warned and corrected. Anyone who copies the clothing and caps of other states, binding up the hair or binding the feet, is to be severely punished." He also instructed the Grand Secretary Xifu and others: "We do not value empty forms, but devote Ourself to practical government. Now the state is prosperous and rich, and good government lies in caring for the people. Any of the new or old people who are poor and have no wife, children or horses, or who are brave enough to serve in the ranks but too poor to provide armour, may each state their case; when it has been verified, they are to be given what they need." It was forbidden to sell sons and daughters of good families captured in battle into the households of musicians. On bingxu, the official structure of the Boards and the Censorate was revised, with Manchu administrators appointed alone: Abai was made Administrator of the Board of Personnel, Ying'e'erdai of the Board of Revenue, Manda'erhan of the Board of Rites, Yisun of the Board of War, Langqiu of the Board of Justice, Samushika of the Board of Works, the Beizi Boluo of the Court of Colonial Affairs, and Ashida'erhan of the Censorate. Buyan was made a Deliberative Minister. Edit
In the eighth month, on jiawu, Zhu Shichang, Administrator of the Board of Rites, was dismissed for an offence and banished to serve on the frontier beyond the border. On bingshen, Wubai and Sha'erhuda defeated Ming troops one after another at Hongshan Pass and Luowen Valley, and also defeated the Miyun troops and wiped them out. On dingyou, there was an earthquake. On wushen, Luoshuo and nine others who had passed the juren examination were given the rank of captain (zuoling) and exempted four able-bodied men from service; xiucai of the first to third grades were given the rank of guard lieutenant and exempted two able-bodied men; each was given court robes, silk and cloth according to grade; and those not yet appointed to a Board were exempted one able-bodied man. On gengxu, Eqige Nuoyan and others of the Alu Abagai tribe and Boluote Nuomuqi and others of the Haoqite tribe all came to court with tribute. On guichou, Duo'ergun, Prince Rui of the First Rank, was made Fengming Grand General [Grand General by Command] in command of the left wing, with Beile Haoge and Abatai as his seconds, and Beile Yuetuo was made Yangwu Grand General [Grand General Who Displays Martial Might] in command of the right wing, with Beile Dudu as his second, to attack the Ming by separate routes. The emperor told them: "The commander is the one all eyes are on. If he conducts himself with propriety and tempers it with harmony, then the Mongols, Koreans and Han who come over to us will be glad at heart and submit sincerely of themselves. If he thinks only of his own merit and cares nothing for the good name of the state, that is not what We hope for." On dingsi, the army of Yuetuo and Dudu set out. On jiwei, the Batulu Zhunta was made Lieutenant-General of the Mongols. Edit
In the ninth month, on guihai, the army of Duo'ergun, Haoge and Abatai set out. On renshen, the emperor himself moved toward Shanhai Pass to tie down the Ming armies. The troops of Kong Youde, Geng Zhongming and Shang Kexi were called up. On dingchou, rules were fixed for exempting able-bodied men from service. On dinghai, the emperor went to the drill ground to review the troops and hold an archery contest. Edit
In the winter, the tenth month, on dingyou, Yuetuo's army went in by Qiangzi Ridge and met Ming troops. The Ming Brigade General Wu Guojun was defeated and fled. On wuxu, Duo'ergun's army went in by Qingshan Pass. On jihai, the emperor set out from Shengjing at the head of the great army. On jiachen, he halted at the Hun River, and the Ke'erqin and Kalaqin each brought troops to join him. On bingwu, Sha'erhuda and others were sent with an army toward Yizhou. On jiyou, Ji'erhalang and Duoduo were each ordered to take an army toward Qiantun Guard, Ningyuan and Jinzhou, while the emperor himself made for Yizhou. On xinhai, Suohai led an army to surround fourteen fortified hamlets on both banks of the Daling River. On renzi, the emperor halted at Yizhou and sent Kong Youde, Geng Zhongming, Shang Kexi, Shi Tingzhu and Ma Guangyuan to take five of its watchtowers with cannon. On yimao, he halted at Jinzhou. On bingchen, Duoduo took Sangga'erzhai Fort and killed the officer holding it. Kong Youde and others attacked Shijia Fort and Qijia Fort and took both. On wuwu, Kong Youde and others attacked the western watchtower of Jinzhou; the gunpowder in the tower went off of itself, the tower was wrecked, and it was taken. Edit
In the eleventh month, on the first day, jiwei, Duoduo was about to join forces with Ji'erhalang and go straight to Zhonghousuo when Zu Dashou, on his way to relieve Beijing, attacked our army by night. On gengshen, Duoduo and Ji'erhalang came back to Zhonghousuo. Dashou was afraid and dared not come out. Shi Tingzhu and Ma Guangyuan attacked Liyuntun, Baishitun, Guojia Fort, Kaizhou and Jingjia Fort and took them all. Kong Youde induced Dafu Fort to surrender, and also attacked Datai and took it. On xinyou, the great army entered Shanhai Pass. On renxu, the emperor halted at Lianshan. On guihai, he attacked the Wulihe watchtower, and the Ming garrison commander (shoubei) Li Jiyou and others surrendered with their men. On dingmao, the emperor reached Zhonghousuo and found that Zu Dashou had withdrawn his troops into the city. He sent word to him: "It is several years since I parted from you, General, and I very much wish to see you. As for whether you stay or go, I will never force you. That you contend with me for victory is as a general's duty requires. We do not hold it against you, and hope that you, General, will have no misgivings." On wuchen, he sent an envoy to Dashou again, but there was no answer to either. On jisi, Ji'erhalang took Molong Pass and the fortified watchtower of Wuli Fort. On gengwu, the army withdrew. On gengchen, the emperor halted at the Tu'ergen River and sent the Mongol troops back each to his own tribe. On bingxu, the emperor returned to the capital. On dinghai, there was an earthquake. Edit
In the twelfth month, on wuxu, Langqiu, Administrator of the Board of Justice, was relieved of his post for an offence, and Suohai, a councillor of the Censorate, replaced him. Edit
In this year, Guluge of the Tumote tribe, Gua'ercha Zhamanai of the Du'erbote tribe, Abai and Amin of the Xibei tribe, Jingnao, Makao, Zhanai and Sangjicha of the Wuzhala tribe, Elinchen Jinong of the E'erduosi tribe, Eqige Nuoyan of the Alu Abagai tribe, Boluote Nuomuqi of the Haoqite tribe, and Bomu Boguo'er and Wadai Galing'a of the Heilong River all came to court with tribute. Edit
Fourth year of Chongde (1639)
In the fourth year, in the spring, the first month, on yichou, the Beizi Shuotuo was reduced to Duke Who Assists the State for an offence. On jiaxu, the emperor's third daughter, a Gulun Princess, was married to the efu Qitate of the Ke'erqin. On jimao, Shen Zhixiang was made Duke Xushun. Lake and other Mongols came over from Jinzhou. On dinghai, Taiji Gabuchu of the Sunite tribe and others came over with the people of their tribe. That month, the Ming made Hong Chengchou Governor-General of Ji and Liao. Edit
In the second month, on dingyou, Ajige, Prince Wuying of the Second Rank, was ordered to lead an army against the Ming. On renyin, the emperor himself followed with the great army. On bingwu, he halted at Wengqi'erhun. Ajige sent an envoy to report victory. The Naiman and other Mongol tribes came with the troops of thirteen banners to join him. On gengxu, he camped at Songshan. Kong Youde, Geng Zhongming, Shang Kexi, Shi Tingzhu and Ma Guangyuan bombarded the watchtowers outside the city with cannon and took them. The tabunang Buyan was sent with troops to guard the mouth of the Wuxin River. On renzi, the emperor climbed the ridge south of Songshan and gave the generals their plan. On guichou, cannon were lined up to attack the city, and the battlements were all destroyed. The Ming deputy general Jin Guofeng held out and the city did not fall. The emperor ordered scaling ladders put up for a fierce assault. Daishan asked to wait until the next day, and the emperor agreed. The Ming men repaired the battlements again, and our army could not get in. On yimao, Ajige, Nikan, Luotuo and others were ordered to besiege Tashan and Lianshan with their armies. Edit
In the third month, on the first day, wuwu, the Ming army came to relieve Xingshan; our troops intercepted it and beheaded fifty men. On jiwei, tunnels were dug to attack the city of Songshan. On yichou, Nahai and others were ordered to ride out and raid Xingshan. Shi Tingzhu and Ma Guangyuan attacked the Guanminshan watchtower and made it surrender. On bingyin, Duo'ergun, Dudu and others reported that they had gone from Beijing to the borders of Shanxi and then into Shandong, where they attacked Jinan Prefecture and took it. They had laid waste several thousand li; the Ming troops had fled at the first sight of them; they had taken one prefecture, three departments and fifty-seven counties; Lu Xiangsheng, Governor-General of Xuanfu and Datong, had been killed in battle; they had captured Zhu Yousheng, Prince of De, Zhu Ciliao, a Prince of the Second Rank, Zhu Cidang, a General Who Supports the State, the eunuch Governor-General Feng Yunsheng and others; and they had taken more than five hundred thousand people captive, with other things in proportion. In this campaign, Beile Yuetuo, the Yangwu Grand General, and Mazhan, Duke Who Assists the State, died with the army. When the emperor heard, he was shocked and grieved, and went without food and drink for three days. On yihai, Duo'ergun and Dudu reported further that they had come out of Qingshan Pass from Qian'an County and met Ming troops, and won all twenty-four battles. On jimao, the city of Songshan was attacked again. The Ming eunuch Gao Qiqian and Brigade General Zu Dashou sent the deputy generals Zu Keyong, Xu Changyong and others from Ningyuan with troops toward Jinzhou. A'ersalan and others defeated them. When the emperor heard, he rode to Jinzhou to direct the army; Xu Changyong was beheaded on the field and Zu Keyong was captured. On jiashen, the siege of Songshan was lifted. On yiyou, the emperor camped at Jinzhou. The army of Duo'ergun and the others returned to Shengjing. Edit
In the summer, the fourth month, on the first day, wuzi, Ajige raided Lianshan. On renchen, the armies met at Jinzhou. On guisi, the emperor crossed the Daling River and halted there. On jihai, the army of Dudu and the others returned. On xinchou, the emperor returned to Shengjing, wept for Yuetuo before he went in, and suspended court for three days. On wushen, Kuluke Da'erhan Alai and Malaxi were made Lieutenant-Generals of the Mongols. On jiayin, Suohun and Sabihan were made Deliberative Ministers. On bingchen, Duoluo Beile Yuetuo was posthumously made Prince Keqin of the Second Rank. Edit
In the fifth month, on wuwu, the Beizi Piangu was stripped of his rank for an offence. On jiwei, Ji'erhalang, Prince Zheng of the First Rank, led troops to raid Jinzhou, Songshan and Xingshan. On xinyou, the Sunite Taiji Manggusi and E'erzhai came over with their people. On dingmao, Xiteku, Sha'erhuda and others defeated Ming troops at Jinzhou. On xinwei, Ji'erhalang reported that he had entered the Ming border and won all nine battles. On bingzi, Ji'erhalang's army returned. On gengchen, Aiduli, Duke Who Guards the State, was made Lieutenant-General. On xinsi, the emperor summoned Duoduo, Prince Yu of the First Rank, and listed his offences, but pardoned him, holding him to account only for his failure in the campaign against the Ming and for not seeing off Prince Rui in person when he set out with the army; he was reduced to Duoluo Beile. Edit
In the sixth month, on wuzi, the Mongols Alanchai, Sangga'erzhai and others accused Yuetuo of having plotted treason while he lived together with his father-in-law Suonuomu. Daishan, Ji'erhalang and Duo'ergun all asked for a thorough investigation. Because Yuetuo was already dead, the emperor let the matter drop, and also pardoned Suonuomu and did not punish him. On gengyin, Mafuta and Bahana were sent to invest Lady Zhao, wife of Li Zong, King of Korea, as Queen of Korea, and his eldest son Ai as Heir Prince. On bingshen, the Chinese-martial troops were divided into four banners, with Shi Tingzhu, Ma Guangyuan, Wang Shixuan and Bayan as Lieutenant-Generals, and the colours of their standards were changed. On xinhai, the patents the Ming had formerly given to the Hada, Yehe, Wula and Huifa were burned in the Dugong Hall. On renzi, Yi'erdeng and Ga'erma were made Deliberative Ministers, and Xingne was made a Deliberative Minister concurrently. Edit
In the autumn, the seventh month, on dingsi, officials were sent with a letter to the Ming emperor to discuss peace, and Zhu Yousheng and the others were ordered each to write a memorial to be sent with it; they were promised release if peace was agreed. On xinwei, Li Zong, King of Korea, took Xiong Island and seized Jiahachan, whom he presented. On yihai, an edict promised horses to any Manchu, Han or Mongol who could charge the enemy and break their lines, or be first up the wall to take a city. Edit
In the eighth month, on jichou, members of the imperial clan were given the ranks of gushan beizi, Duke Who Guards the State, Duke Who Assists the State, General Who Guards the State, General Who Supports the State and so on, each according to grade. On jiawu, Beile Haoge was put in charge of the Board of Revenue, Dudu of the Board of Rites, and Duoduo of the Board of War, and Sa'erjiu and others led troops against the Ku'erka tribe. On yisi, the zhangjing of the Tumote at Guihua City presented the yearly payments they had received from the Ming. Edit
In the ninth month, on the first day, yimao, Sundali and eighty-two others, eighty-three in all, who had won merit going through the passes with Prince Rui, were each given office according to their merit and the title Batulu. On yichou, the Lieutenant-General Dulei was dismissed for an offence. On jisi, Beile Haoge was again made Prince Su of the First Rank. On guiyou, Ajige, Abatai and Dudu led troops to raid Jinzhou and Ningyuan. On jiaxu, Yuetuo's son Luoluohong was made Duoluo Beile. On bingzi, Laimubu and Dusha, of the imperial clan, were made Deliberative Ministers, Ying'e'erdai Lieutenant-General, and Mafuta Administrator of the Board of Revenue. Edit
In the winter, the tenth month, on bingxu, Haoge and Duoduo led troops to raid Jinzhou and Ningyuan again. On gengyin, Tengjisi, the Mo'ergen Taiji of the Sunite tribe, and others, with their beile, and Eqige Nuoyan of the Abagai tribe and others, each with the people of their tribes, came over from the Ka'erka. On xinmao, the emperor went hunting at Hada. On guichou, Liu Zhiyuan was made Lieutenant-General and Kajihai a Deliberative Minister. Edit
In the eleventh month, on the first day, jiayin, Haoge reported that the Colonel (canling) Alantai, coming over to us with some Mongols, had met Ming troops on the northern ridge of Ningyuan, defeated them and beheaded the Ming Brigade General Jin Guofeng. On xinyou, Suohai, Samushika and others were sent to campaign against the Suolun tribe. On dingmao, the emperor went hunting at Yehe. Edit
In the twelfth month, on jiawu, the emperor returned to the capital. Edit
In this year, Enabu, Moyin, E'erpen and others of the Heilong River; Tuxietu, Emubu E'erdeni and others of the Ka'erka tribe; and the Ka'erka, Sunite, Wuzhumuqin, Ke'erqin, Kexiketeng and Tumote tribes all sent envoys to court with tribute. Edit
Fifth year of Chongde (1640)
In the fifth year, in the spring, the first month, on jiazi, the Korean hostage Li Ai was ordered to go home to visit his sick father, and was told to send another son and Ai's own son as hostages in his place. Weng'adai, Duojili and others were sent to garrison Jinzhou. Edit
In the intercalary first month, on the first day, guiwei, the Lieutenant-Generals of each banner were ordered to tour the fortified hamlets under them, look into the poor, and right unjust cases. Edit
In the second month, on bingchen, Duojili was sent with three hundred men from Ningguta to campaign against the Wuzhala tribe. On dingsi, Mafuta, Administrator of the Board of Revenue, died, and Che'erge replaced him; Jueluo Xihan was made Administrator of the Board of Works. On bingyin, Liao, third son of the King of Korea, came as a hostage. Edit
In the third month, on bingxu, Laosa, Wubai and others were sent to raid Guangning. On jichou, Laosa and Wubai were punished according to their fault for lingering and not advancing. Samushika and others, campaigning against the Hu'erha tribe, took the town of Yakesa. On jihai, Ji'erhalang and Duoduo were ordered to build the city of Yizhou, station troops there and set up military farms, and press on toward Shanhai Pass. On xinchou, Shuozhan, a councillor of the Board of Revenue, called on the Korean fleet to bring grain to the Daling and Xiaoling Rivers. On yisi, Suohai and Samushika reported victory over the Suolun tribe. Edit
In the summer, the fourth month, on the first day, renzi, the gifts presented by the princes and beile at New Year and on the emperor's birthday were stopped. On yihai, the army of Suohai and Samushika returned from the campaign against the Suolun, and the emperor gave a feast for them at the Shisheng Temple. On gengchen, the emperor went to inspect the army at Yizhou. Edit
In the fifth month, on guiwei, the emperor crossed the Liao River. On yiyou, Shuozhan arrived with the Korean fleet. On guisi, the emperor reached Yizhou. On dingyou, Subandai and other men of the Mongol Duoluote tribe sent word from Xingshan offering to surrender. The emperor ordered Ji'erhalang and others to lead troops to meet them, warning them: "Do not take many men on this errand. When the enemy see how few we are, they will surely come out to fight. Divide your men into three: let the front column take the fight, and the two behind support it." When they reached Xingshan, Zu Dashou did indeed send Liu Zhouzhi and Wu Sangui to draw up their lines and press on our troops. Ji'erhalang and the others pretended to fall back, then let loose their troops in a counterattack and crushed them. On wuxu, Laosa, Wubai and others were ordered to raid along the coast. Three hundred and thirty-seven more households of the Suolun tribe came to surrender. On renyin, the emperor led his army to attack the Wuli watchtower and took it. On yisi, Jinzhou was bombarded with the red-coat cannon. On dingwei, the army cut the enemy's grain and went back. On gengxu, the emperor returned to the capital. Edit
In the sixth month, on yichou, Duo'ergun, Haoge, Dudu, Abatai, Ji'erhalang and others set up military farms at Yizhou. On wuchen, Li Ai, the Korean Heir Prince, arrived. Earlier, Korea had sent its Brigade General Lin Qingye and others with ships carrying rice, together with our envoy Hongnika and others, to ship it from the Daling River to Sanshan Island; they met a storm, and half the ships sank, and they also fought the Ming troops and were worsted; so they were ordered to carry it overland to Gai Department and Yao Department, and fifteen hundred of their soldiers were kept at Hai Department. On guiyou, the army of Duojili and Kazhu returned from the campaign against the Wuzhala tribe. Li Hao, second son of the King of Korea, was sent home to visit. Edit
In the autumn, the seventh month, on the first day, gengchen, merit was recorded for the campaign against the Suolun, and Suohai and others were rewarded and promoted according to rank. On guiwei, judgement was given for breaches of military law in the Suolun campaign, and Samushika and others were dismissed or punished according to their faults. On yiyou, Duo'ergun and others reported that they had taken eleven watchtowers at Jinzhou, and asked to divide their troops into two wings to garrison them. On guisi, the Ming Governor-General Hong Chengchou camped behind ramparts at Xingshan with forty thousand men and sent cavalry to offer battle, and Duo'ergun and others defeated them. On yiwei, Wubai was sent to reinforce Duo'ergun's army. On bingwu, Xiteku, Jixiha and others led an army against the Suolun tribe. The emperor went to the hot springs at Anshan. On jiyou, Duo'ergun reported that he had defeated Ming troops at Jinzhou, and Dudu had defeated them again at Ningyuan. Edit
In the eighth month, on jiwei, Xifu and others were sent to Zhangjiakou to trade. On yihai, Duo'ergun reported that he had defeated Ming troops at Jinzhou, and again at the Daling River. Edit
In the ninth month, on yiyou, the emperor returned to the palace. On bingxu, Ji'erhalang, Ajige, Adali, Duoduo and Luoluohong were ordered to take over the siege of Jinzhou and Songshan in turn. On xinmao, Duo'ergun reported that he had defeated Ming troops at Songshan. On guimao, Fenghuang City was rebuilt. Edit
In the winter, the tenth month, on renxu, Ying'e'erdai and others were sent to Korea to call it to account for its offences. On renshen, the emperor's birthday, a general amnesty was proclaimed. Edit
In the eleventh month, on the first day, wuyin, an edict remitted nine tenths of Korea's yearly tribute of rice. On yiyou, Ji'erhalang reported that he had defeated Ming troops at Tashan, Xingshan and beneath the walls of Jinzhou. On guisi, Amin died in confinement. On wuxu, Li Hao, second son of the King of Korea, came as a hostage. Edit
In the twelfth month, on gengxu, Duo'ergun, Haoge, Dudu and Abatai were ordered to take their turn besieging Jinzhou. On jiwei, Li Liao, third son of the King of Korea, was sent home. Xiteku and Jixiha campaigned against the Suolun tribe, captured Bomubogu'er and took more than nine hundred prisoners. On renshen, Ying'e'erdai and the others returned from Korea, bringing back in fetters four men, among them its minister Jin Shengheini. Edit
This year Chasaketu of the Ka'erka tribe sent envoys to court with tribute. Edit
Sixth year of Chongde (1641)
In the sixth year, in the spring, the first month, on gengchen, Li Zong, King of Korea, sent a memorial apologising for his offences. On renchen, the army of Xiteku, Jixiha and others returned. On guisi, Xiteku was promoted to Brigade General of the Third Class. On jiawu, the emperor's fourth daughter, Yatu, Princess of the Gulun rank, was married to the efu Bi'ertaga'er, son of Wukeshan, the Ke'erqin Prince Zhuoliketu of the First Rank. On dingyou, Laosa, Deputy General of the Second Class, was found guilty of an offence, stripped of the title Shuowengkeluo Baturu and demoted to Assistant General of the First Class. Edit
In the second month, on jiwei, since many of the people under the company captains of the Eight Banners were poor, the Ministry of Revenue was ordered to look into it and report. The company captains were instructed not to neglect their duties by drinking to excess; forty-eight of them who had neglected their work through drink were all removed from office. The princes and great ministers were instructed to teach their sons and younger brothers archery. On bingyin, Duo'ergun and others reported that they had defeated Ming troops. Edit
In the third month, on jimao, Ji'erhalang and others took their turn besieging Jinzhou. On dingyou, Duo'ergun, Prince Rui of the First Rank, and Haoge, Prince Su of the First Rank, were demoted to Prince of the Second Rank, and the Beile Abatai, Dudu and those below them were fined silver in varying amounts. At this time Zu Dashou held Jinzhou for the Ming and had ignored repeated calls to surrender. The emperor had ordered the princes to go out in turn and press him hard. But Duo'ergun and the others had camped thirty li from Jinzhou and from time to time sent soldiers home, hence this order. On jihai, the Korean Brigade General Liu Lin and others were sent with troops to help Ji'erhalang's army. On renyin, Ji'erhalang reported that he had taken the outer city of Jinzhou. Earlier, our army had encircled Jinzhou with camps, with deep ditches and high ramparts, cutting off the Ming troops from going in or out, and the city was in great fear. The Mongol beile Nuomuqi, the taiji Wubashi and others asked to surrender and promised to hand over the eastern suburb, acting from within. Zu Dashou found this out and plotted to seize Wubashi and the others. At that the Mongols rose in an uproar and fought hand to hand with the Ming troops. Our army supported them from outside, and so took the outer city. Dashou fell back to hold the inner city. On jiachen, Nuomuqi, Wubashi and others came over with more than six thousand Mongols and arrived at Shengjing. Edit
In the summer, the fourth month, on dingwei, Ahanikan and others were sent with troops to Jinzhou to help Ji'erhalang's army. Ji'erhalang reported that he had defeated a Ming relief force at Songshan. On gengxu, Kong Youde and Shang Kexi were sent to help besiege Jinzhou. Duo'ergun and the others, hearing that the Mongols at Jinzhou had surrendered, asked to be allowed to serve and redeem their offence. This was refused. Edit
In the fifth month, on dingchou, the Ming Governor-General Hong Chengchou came with sixty thousand troops to relieve Jinzhou and camped on the northern ridge of Songshan. Ji'erhalang and others drove them off, taking two thousand heads. On dinghai, Ba'erdaqi of the Suolun tribe surrendered. On jichou, Xifu and others were sent to inspect the camps and moats around Jinzhou. On renyin, Guluge, Lieutenant-General of the garrison at Guihua, and others were instructed to build an outer wall, put up watchtowers and deepen the moat, to be ready for defence. Edit
In the sixth month, on dingwei, Duo'ergun and Haoge were ordered to take their turn besieging Jinzhou. On xinyou, Ji'erhalang, Duo'ergun and others joined forces and defeated a Ming relief force at Songshan. On bingyin, the academician Luoshuo was sent with a letter from Zu Zerun to call on Zu Dashou to surrender. On gengwu, Duo'ergun and others again reported that they had defeated a Ming relief force at Songshan. Edit
In the autumn, the seventh month, on wuyin, the successful provincial graduates, the Manchu Emoketu, the Mongol Dudang, the Han Chinese Cui Guangqian and others, were each given a set of court robes, and the licentiates of the first, second and third grades satin and cloth in varying amounts. On jiashen, the Deputy Lieutenant-Generals under Kong Youde, Geng Zhongming and Shang Kexi were sent with troops to help besiege Jinzhou. On yiyou, merits and faults in the siege of Jinzhou were assessed, and rewards and punishments given in varying degree to all from the Princes of the First Rank down. Edit
In the eighth month, on the first day, jiachen, the merits of the commanders who took the outer city of Jinzhou were recorded; Aobai, Laosa, Yi'erdeng and others were raised in rank, and Laosa's title Shuowengkeluo Baturu was restored. On yisi, our army fought a pitched battle with the Ming, and the Ming Brigade General of Yanghe, Yang Guozhu, was defeated and killed. Zu Dashou divided his men at Jinzhou into three bodies and tried to break out, but could not get through. On dingwei, Duo'erji jinong of the Wuzhumuqin tribe was made Prince Sule of the First Rank, and Duo'erji Eqige noyan of the Abagai tribe Prince Zhuoliketu of the Second Rank. On dingsi, because the Ming relief army for Jinzhou under Hong Chengchou, the Governor Qiu Minyang and others, said to number a hundred and thirty thousand, had fortified itself at Songshan, the emperor led the main army in person to meet it. Ji'erhalang stayed behind to guard the capital. The princes, beile and great ministers, seeing how strong the Ming army was, urged the emperor to go slowly. The emperor laughed and said, "My only fear is that when they hear I am coming they will slip away. If they do not go, I will break them as easily as snapping dry grass and rotten wood." And so he pressed on at full speed. On wuwu, he crossed the Liao River. Hong Chengchou attacked our right wing with his troops, and Haoge defeated him. On renxu, the emperor reached Qijiabao and was about to go on to Gaoqiao; he summoned Duo'ergun to join him with his troops. Duo'ergun asked him to halt between Songshan and Xingshan. The emperor agreed and went to Songshan. The Ming had stationed one army on Rufeng Hill, and from Rufeng to Songshan had drawn up seven camps of infantry, with the cavalry ringing the city on the east, west and north; the fortifications were very strong. Our army took position from the southern hills of the Wuxin River to the sea, cutting across the main road. The emperor said to his commanders, "The enemy are many, so their food must be short. When they see that we have cut their supply road they will have no will to hold firm. Set ambushes and wait for them, and their whole army can be destroyed." On guihai, Ming troops attacked and were driven back. They were defeated again at Tashan, and twelve stores of their grain were taken. On jiazi, Ming troops attacked once more and were again driven back. At this time Chengchou, short of supplies, meant to move to Ningyuan for food. The emperor, knowing that he was about to flee, set ambushes along several routes and told his commanders to stand in close order and wait, blocking the roads back to Ningyuan and to Tashan and Jinzhou. That night Wu Sangui and five other Ming brigade generals did indeed slip away first with their troops, and in the dark they were cut off by our ambushes and utterly routed. Only Cao Bianjiao and Wang Tingchen got back to Songshan. On yichou, four more of their forts were taken. Wang Pu and Wu Sangui fled to Xingshan. Cao Bianjiao abandoned Rufeng Hill and attacked the emperor's camp by night; he fought hard, and was wounded and fled. On jisi, Wu Sangui and Wang Pu fled from Xingshan toward Ningyuan, ran into our ambush and were again heavily defeated; Sangui and Pu barely escaped with their lives. In this campaign fifty thousand heads were taken, seven thousand horses captured, and military stores and weapons in proportion. Chengchou gathered more than ten thousand of his beaten troops into Songshan and shut himself up in the city to hold it, unable to fight. Our army then dug trenches and surrounded him. That day Sangga'er of the Zhalute tribe arrived with troops. Edit
In the ninth month, on yihai, Wukeshan, the Ke'erqin Prince Zhuoliketu of the First Rank, arrived with troops. Duo'ergun and Haoge were ordered to take part of the army back to guard Shengjing. On wuyin, Ningyuan was raided. On yiyou, Consort Chen of the Guanju Palace fell ill. As the emperor was about to return to the capital, he left Dudu, Abatai and others to besiege Jinzhou, Duoduo, Adali and others to besiege Songshan, and Ajige and others to besiege Xingshan. On bingxu, the emperor set off back. On gengyin, Consort Chen died. On xinmao, the emperor returned to the capital. Edit
In the winter, the tenth month, on the first day, guimao, there was an eclipse of the sun. On jiachen, Abai was sent to be stationed at Rufeng Hill south of Jinzhou. On dingwei, Kong Youde, Geng Zhongming, Shang Kexi and others were sent to help besiege Jinzhou. On jisi, Consort Chen was posthumously made Principal Consort, with the posthumous name Minhui Gonghe. On renshen, Tengjisi, the Mo'ergen taiji of the Sunite, was made Prince Mo'ergen of the Second Rank. Edit
In the eleventh month, on yihai, Duo'ergun, Luotuo and Tunqi were ordered to be stationed at Jinzhou, and Haoge, Mandahai and others at Songshan. Edit
In the twelfth month, on jiayin, Ji'erhalang and Duo'ergun reported that they had defeated Hong Chengchou at Songshan. Edit
Seventh year of Chongde (1642)
In the seventh year, in the spring, the second month, on guimao, the emperor went hunting at Yehe. On wushen, the Ming Prince De, Zhu Youying, died, and was buried with due rites. On wuwu, Ajige reported that he had defeated Ming troops at Ningyuan. On xinyou, Haoge, Adali, Duoduo and Luoluohong reported that they had taken Songshan and captured the Ming Governor-General Hong Chengchou, the Governor Qiu Minyang, the Brigade Generals Wang Tingchen, Cao Bianjiao and Zu Dale, the Mobile Corps Commanders Zu Daming and Dacheng, and others. Earlier, with no relief left to him, Chengchou had tried again and again to break out and failed; his Deputy General Xia Chengde arranged to surrender, offered to act from within, and gave his son Xia Shu as a hostage. At midnight on wuwu, Haoge and the others scaled the walls on ladders and took the city. When news of the victory came, the emperor shared out the captives and spoils among the officers and men and had the weapons collected and stored in the city of Songshan. On renxu, the emperor returned to the palace. Edit
In the third month, on guiyou, Qiu Minyang, Wang Tingchen and Cao Bianjiao were put to death. Hong Chengchou and Zu Dale were ordered to come to the capital, while Daming and Dacheng were let go into Jinzhou. On jimao, Jinzhou was taken, and Zu Dashou came out and surrendered with more than seven thousand of his men. On yiyou, Ajige and others reported that the Ming had sent Ma Shaoyu, Director of the Bureau of Operations, to sue for peace, and that he had produced as proof a letter from the Ming emperor commanding Chen Xinjia, Minister of War. The emperor said, "Ming letters are mostly untrue, and the wording is boastful; this is not a sincere wish for peace. Still, whether they mean it or not cannot be known, and peace and friendship have long been my own wish. I am thinking of the lives of millions. If this truly comes about, and each rules his own state and lets his people live in peace at their work, then both states will enjoy the blessings of peace. Pass on my meaning to them." On yiwei, Duo'ergun and Haoge were ordered to be stationed at Xingshan and Tashan, and Ji'erhalang, Ajige, Adali and others to return to the capital. Edit
In the summer, the fourth month, on dingwei, an edict was issued calling on Wu Sangui and others to surrender. On gengxu, a large sun and a small sun appeared together, and the large one soon vanished. On xinhai, Ji'erhalang, Duo'ergun, Haoge and others reported that they had taken Tashan. On jiazi, they reported that they had taken Xingshan. The three cities of Songshan, Xingshan and Tashan were razed. Ji'erhalang and the others brought the army home. Abatai was set to hold Jinzhou. Edit
In the fifth month, on the first day, jisi, Ji'erhalang and others reported that the Ming had sent Ma Shaoyu to negotiate peace, and envoys were sent to meet him. On guiyou, Hong Chengchou, Zu Dashou and others arrived and came in to see the emperor, asking for death. The emperor pardoned them and told them to serve him with full loyalty, and Chengchou and the others thanked him in tears. The emperor asked Chengchou, "The Ming emperor sees members of his own house taken captive and pays no heed. The commanders who die in battle, and those who surrender to me when they have nowhere left to turn, all have their wives and children put to death. Is that an old rule, or a new practice?" Chengchou replied, "There was no such practice in the past. It has come about lately because civil officials have made reckless memorials." The emperor said, "The ruler is benighted and his ministers keep him in the dark, so that innocent people are killed like this. When officers and men are captured and beg to surrender, if they could be ransomed they ought to be ransomed; how can one put their wives and children to death!" Chengchou said, "Your Majesty is truly a humane ruler." On wuyin, the heterodox Shanyou sect was banned, and its leader Li Guoliang and fifteen others were executed. On renwu, the Ming envoy Ma Shaoyu and others at last arrived. Edit
In the sixth month, on xinchou, Zu Kefa and Zhang Cunren, Assistant Administrators of the Censorate, said, "In the Ming, bandits rise up day by day; their strength is spent and their granaries are empty; levies of troops do not move, and the state is falling apart like broken tiles. Eight or nine in ten of the commanders who held Liaodong have been lost. Now they have no choice but to sue for peace, and they are surely planning to move south. We should demand that they pay tribute, call themselves our subjects, and take the Yellow River as the border." The emperor did not accept this. He answered the Ming emperor with a letter, saying, "In the past I wrote many times seeking friendship, and your state would not listen; that is over and done with, and what more is there to say? I have received the favour of Heaven. From the shores of the north-eastern sea to the north-west, the lands where they use dogs and use reindeer and which yield foxes and sables, together with the Eluote tribe and the source of the Onon River, have all submitted to me, and Mongolia and Korea have all come within my realm; therefore I solemnly announced it to Heaven and Earth, took the throne in due form and changed the era name. Of late my troops have entered your territory, taken cities and broken battle lines, and driven deep on the strength of victory; what have I to fear? It is only out of earnest concern for the lives of millions that I write. If each of us can weigh fortune and misfortune and seek friendship in good faith, then from now on let all old grudges be laid aside; and as for the distinction of higher and lower, why quarrel over it? The ancients said, 'When feelings flow freely there is understanding; when they are blocked there is darkness.' Let envoys go back and forth, and let us look to meeting face to face, so that our feelings are not blocked. On great occasions, happy or sad, let us congratulate and condole with each other. Each year let each send the other gifts of the products of its land, and let each return to the other those who flee from it. Let Shuangshubao at Ningyuan be the border of your state and Tashan the border of mine, with a market for trade at a place midway, at Lianshan. For those who come and go by sea, let the east and west of Huangcheng Island be the boundary. Let each punish those of its own people who cross it. If your state accepts these words, then whether the two rulers swear an oath in person to Heaven and Earth or send great ministers to conclude the covenant, I will do as you say. Otherwise, do not send envoys again." He then gave rich gifts to the Ming envoy and his followers and sent them back. Later the Ming discussions changed course midway, and the peace was never made. On guimao, the princes and beile were instructed that anyone who trampled the crops when marching or hunting would be punished. On jiachen, the Chinese-martial Eight Banners were set up, with Zu Zerun and seven others as Lieutenant-Generals. The Beizi Luotuo was made Administrator of the Censorate, Wudahai Administrator of the Ministry of Justice, and Langqiu Administrator of the Ministry of Rites. On yisi, Dudu, the Anping Beile, died. Edit
In the autumn, the seventh month, on gengwu, the emperor instructed the princes, beile and great ministers, saying, "You must already know in detail which of your people are worthy and which are not. If you know but do not recommend them, how will you encourage them? In Taizu's time, Feiyingdong, the jarguci of Suwan, and others, when they saw good in someone, first praised him themselves and then recommended him; when they saw wrong in someone, first rebuked him themselves and then impeached him. So men had no airs of pride and no words of resentment. Now there is no one so fair and upright." The princes, beile and others all apologised. On xinwei, the Administrator Suohai was dismissed for an offence. On renshen, Niuhei was made Counsellor of State. On bingzi, merits were recorded: Duo'ergun, Prince Rui of the Second Rank, and Haoge, Prince Su of the Second Rank, were raised again to Prince of the First Rank, and the Beile Duoduo to Prince of the Second Rank; Ji'erhalang, Prince Zheng of the First Rank, and those below him were rewarded in varying amounts. On wuyin, Bohetuo, Duke Who Assists the State, was sent to take his turn guarding Jinzhou. On yiyou, the breaches of military law by Ji'erhalang and the other commanders in the Jinzhou campaign were considered. The emperor, mindful of their long toil, pardoned them all. The Ministry of Justice was instructed to judge cases with care. On jichou, Adali, Prince of the Second Rank, was ordered to take charge of the affairs of the Ministry of Rites. Edit
In the eighth month, on jihai, cannon were cast at Jinzhou. On guimao, Babuhai, General Who Guards the State, was found guilty of an offence and reduced to a commoner. On guichou, the merits of the commanders who took Jinzhou, Songshan, Xingshan and Tashan were assessed, and they were raised in rank in varying degree. Edit
In the ninth month, the merits of the princes, beile and great ministers of the outer vassals who had served in the Jinzhou campaign were recorded, and they were rewarded in varying amounts. On dingchou, the Beizi Luotuo and others were sent to take their turn guarding Jinzhou. On renwu, Sha'erhuda and others were ordered to campaign against the Hu'erha tribe. Edit
In the winter, the tenth month, on guimao, Ying'e'erdai and others were sent to try the offences of the Korean minister of state Cui Mingji and others. On xinhai, Abatai was made Grand General Who Bears the Mandate and, with Tu'erge, led an army against the Ming. On renzi, the army set out. On dingsi, the emperor was unwell, and all offenders below those condemned to death were pardoned. On jiwei, Duoduo and Adali were ordered to station troops at Ningyuan. An edict was sent calling on Wu Sangui to surrender, and Zu Dashou was also told to write to him urging it. Sangui was Dashou's nephew, his sister's son. On jiazi, Ji'erhalang, Prince Zheng of the First Rank, Duo'ergun, Prince Rui of the First Rank, Haoge, Prince Su of the First Rank, and Ajige, Prince Wuying of the Second Rank, were ordered to decide the ordinary business of government and to report what they could not decide. Edit
In the eleventh month, on dingchou, Duoduo reported that he had defeated Wu Sangui's troops. On bingshen, Abatai reported that he had entered by Qiangzi Ridge, broken through the Great Wall, and defeated Ming troops at Ji Department. Edit
In the intercalary eleventh month, on jiachen, the emperor returned to the capital. On jiyou, Sha'erhuda and others brought over more than one thousand four hundred people of the Hu'erha tribe. On bingchen, Babutai and others were sent to relieve the garrison at Jinzhou. On jiwei, Handai of the imperial clan was made Administrator of the Ministry of War. Rules were set for the punishment of those who shot men or horses by mistake in a battue hunt. Edit
In the twelfth month, on dingmao, the emperor went hunting at Yehe. On yihai, Jin Weicheng was sent with an army to guard Jinzhou. On dingchou, the emperor halted at Kaiku'er. The emperor was unwell; the princes and beizi asked him to end the hunt, but he refused. On bingxu, a halo round the moon put out three ear-shaped arcs. On dinghai, a halo round the sun put out three ear-shaped arcs. On guisi, the emperor returned to the capital. Edit
This year Saileng, jasak of the Du'erbote tribe, came to court. Edit
Eighth year of Chongde (1643)
In the eighth year, in the spring, the first month, on the first day, bingshen, the emperor being unwell, the Princes of the First Rank and all below them down to the Deputy Lieutenant-Generals were ordered to go to the Tangzi shrine and perform rites. On xinhai, the army of Sha'erhuda and others returned, and they were rewarded according to their merits in varying amounts. On jiayin, Wu Sangui, the Ming Brigade General of Ningyuan, answered Zu Dashou's letter, still undecided, so another edict was sent to him. On yimao, Tanbu and others were sent to relieve the garrison at Jinzhou. On xinyou, the Beile Luoluohong was stripped of his rank for an offence. Edit
In the second month, on the first day, yichou, there was an eclipse of the sun. On jiaxu, the Principal Consort Minhui Gonghe was buried. On gengyin, the building of temples was forbidden. Edit
In the third month, on bingshen, the officials and people of Korea were commanded to have no dealings with the Ming. On bingwu, there was an earthquake, with a sound running from the west to the south-east. On gengxu, the emperor was unwell, and all offenders below those condemned to death were pardoned. A'erjin and others were sent to campaign against the Hu'erha tribe of Heilongjiang, and Yechen and others to relieve the garrison at Jinzhou. On xinyou, the rules of punishment for the Six Ministries were revised. Edit
In the summer, the fourth month, on guiyou, Jin Weicheng and others were sent to relieve the garrison at Jinzhou. On jiaxu, Duoduo asked that military operations be suspended for a time and building works stopped, and that farming be pressed, so that the people would have enough. Edit
In the fifth month, on bingshen, Luoluohong was made Beile again. Earlier, the Dalai Lama of the Tubaite had sent envoys on a mission of courtesy, who had stayed in the capital eight months; now they were sent home, with gifts to the envoys. On gengzi, Nushan defeated Ming troops at Jieling Pass. On guimao, Abatai reported that our army had entered the Ming and taken the three prefectures of Hejian, Shunde and Yanzhou, eighteen departments and sixty-seven counties, and had received the surrender of one department and five counties; it had fought thirty-nine battles, great and small, with the Ming and killed Zhu Yipei, Prince of Lu, and the five commandery princes of Leling, Yangxin, Dongyuan, Anqiu and Ziyang, together with more than a thousand members of the imperial house and civil and military officials; the people, livestock, gold and silks captured were reckoned in hundreds of thousands, and their numbers were recorded and reported. On dingsi, A'erjin reported victory in the campaign against the Hu'erha. Edit
In the sixth month, on guiyou, the army of Abatai, the Raoyu Beile, returned, and Ji'erhalang, Prince Zheng of the First Rank, Duo'ergun, Prince Rui of the First Rank, and Ajige, Prince Wuying of the Second Rank, went out to the outskirts to meet it. On jiaxu, Abatai and the officers and men who had served with him were given silver and satin in varying amounts. On jimao, the emperor instructed the princes and beile, saying, "Those who manage a household must be thrifty; those who govern a state put first the land and the people. Do not concern yourselves only with taking captives and spoils to enrich your own kin. Each of you should work hard at farming and sericulture, to strengthen the foundation." Aiduli took his turn guarding Jinzhou. On dinghai, Li Zong, King of Korea, asked that the troops guarding Jinzhou be relieved once a year. On gengyin, the Ministries of Revenue and War were instructed to make a clear count of Mongol adult males, enrol them in companies, and have them all serve as armoured soldiers. Edit
In the autumn, the seventh month, on wuxu, the army of A'erjin and others returned, and they were rewarded according to their merits in varying amounts. The princes were instructed not to decorate saddles and bridles with gold. Rules were set for the residences of princes, beile, beizi and dukes. On renyin, rules were set for punishing princes and beile who failed to attend court assemblies properly. On bingchen, the ceremonial for meetings between the princes, beile, beizi and dukes of the outer vassals and the princes, beile, beizi and dukes was set. On dingsi, the great victory over the Ming was announced to Korea. On xinyou, Mandahai was ordered to take charge of the affairs of the Censorate. Edit
In the eighth month, on bingyin, the Beizi Luotuo was found guilty of an offence and sentenced to death; he was spared and kept in confinement. On wuchen, Gong'adai of the imperial clan was made Administrator of the Ministry of Personnel, Langqiu Administrator of the Ministry of Rites, and Xingne Administrator of the Ministry of Works. On gengwu, the emperor attended the Chongzheng Hall. That evening, in the hai hour, he died without illness, at the age of fifty-two, having reigned seventeen years. In the ninth month, on renzi, he was buried in the Zhao Mausoleum. In the winter, the tenth month, on dingmao, he was given the honorific posthumous title Yingtian Xingguo Hongde Zhangwu Kuanwen Rensheng Ruixiao Wen Huangdi, with the temple name Taizong; with later additions the title became Yingtian Xingguo Hongde Zhangwu Kuanwen Rensheng Ruixiao Jingmin Zhaoding Longdao Xiangong Wen Huangdi. Edit
Appraisal
The appraisal says: Taizong was truly both a man of letters and a man of arms. At home he put the government in order, abroad he campaigned tirelessly; he handled troops like a god, and won success wherever he turned. Though the great work was not yet complete, within a year of Shizu's accession the realm within and without was united under one rule; for the plans the emperor left behind reached far. The Ming government had lost its hold, and bandits were overrunning the land. The emperor well knew that the Ming could be taken, yet he did not wish to rush into war and destroy the people's lives; seven times he wrote to the Ming commanders, bending his will to ask for peace. That the Ming, failing to weigh the strong against the weak, brought about the fall of their own state is not worth discussing. But the emperor's way of dealing with a neighbour was truly no different from Tang serving Ge, or King Wen serving the Kunyi. Ah, a sage indeed! Edit
The English was translated from the original by an AI, not checked sentence by sentence by a person, and is for reference; where it differs from the original, the original is right. Names are in pinyin. If a sentence is wrong, use “Edit” after the paragraph to correct it - no need to sign in.
Source: 清史稿 卷二 本纪二 太宗本纪一 (Draft History of Qing, juan 2, Annals 2: Annals of Taizong 1); 清史稿 卷三 本纪三 太宗本纪二 (Draft History of Qing, juan 3, Annals 3: Annals of Taizong 2)
Wikipedia: Hong Taiji · Chinese Wikipedia: 皇太極 · Baidu Baike: 皇太极 (an article of the same name, not checked to be him)
Source
From the historical record: the notes below say where · qing-zongshi-00602
Notes (2)
- [Source] 清史稿 卷二 本纪二 太宗本纪一 Draft History of Qing, juan 2, Annals 2: Annals of Taizong 1
- [Collation note] 本纪：「太宗應天興國弘德彰武寬溫仁聖睿孝敬敏昭定隆道顯功文皇帝，諱皇太極，太祖第八子」 The annals: “Taizong, Emperor Wen (full posthumous title: Yingtian Xingguo Hongde Zhangwu Kuanwen Rensheng Ruixiao Jingmin Zhaoding Longdao Xiangong Wen Huangdi), personal name Huángtàijí, was the eighth son of Taizu”