Green Phoenix

by Poon, Alice;

  “Please stop, Sumalagu! I order you to stop speaking. That’s enough!” she screamed. She sobbed even more loudly, her tears falling in a torrent.

  “I love you like a sister, Bumbutai, and I always will, because I am forever indebted to your kind family for adopting me. I do want you to be happy. But happiness can mean you do your part to save the lives of hundreds of thousands of people, like the Goddess of Mercy. Happiness can mean you make good use of your knowledge to help your future husband in his quest to become a great Khan. Do you understand what I am trying to say? You were born to be a great Khatun!”

  “But there’s something magical between Dorgon and me…. I can’t explain it. I’ve never felt anything like this… It seems like he came to wake me up from a long dull slumber….” she paused. Moroseness shrouded her tear-streaked face as the reality sank in. After a long pause, she finally said: “But I do understand what you mean.”

  “Maybe in time you’ll get to like Hong Taiji more. At least he appreciates Chinese poetry. I hear that he is well versed in Chinese history and classical literature. But let’s not worry too much for now. Your wedding won’t take place until next spring, after you’ve turned twelve.” Sumalagu tried her best to sooth her heartbroken Princess, stroking her hair tenderly as she spoke.

  “I’ll ask Grandpa to let you accompany me. I can’t, and I won’t go without you,” she murmured helplessly.

  The two girls were embracing each other when Wukeshan entered quietly. He signaled for Sumulagu to leave. Sitting down on the edge of the bed, he patted Bumbutai’s hand and said gently:

  “My precious sister, you’ve heard.”

  “I want to die, my good brother.”

  “What for? Don’t be silly. I knew from the way you blushed yesterday that you have fallen for Dorgon. But I can assure you that that kind of feeling will pass quickly. You’re going to start a whole new life in an exciting new place. The Jurchen Princes are in possession of immense wealth and abundant luxuries that you’ve never even dreamed of,” he paused a little and, seeing calmness return to his sister’s face, he continued.

  “The man who’s going to be your husband is a great and kind man and I’m sure he’ll lavish on you the most extravagant gifts and jewelry. Much more than that, he’s going to be a great Khan who will one day rule over the Jurchens, the Hans and the Mongols. Do you even begin to realize what that means to you? Why has he picked you to be his concubine? Because he sees so much potential in you being his Khatun and his right hand. You are a prodigy who is well exposed to all three cultures. Once you become his consort, not only will your future well-being be secure, but so will the future prosperity of all Khorchin Mongols.”

  “I know, I know. It’s my duty as a Mongol Princess. It is my destiny.” She was almost loathing her birth now, but she knew her brother was speaking the truth.

  “I will personally be your guard on your journey to Mukden and will see to it that you are nicely settled before I come back. It would be most ideal if Hong Taiji is good enough to offer me a military post within the Mukden Court, in which case I could be close to you. If not, I promise I will visit you at least twice a year.”

  In Bumbutai’s intimate world, Wukeshan was one in whom she had complete trust and whose wisdom she would never doubt. Still, she resented his allusion to the prospect of her personal enrichment. He should know she never cared for jewelry or riches. But she believed his other arguments were valid. Turning her mind to her senile grandfather, who she knew had spent all his life brokering peace for his tribe, she found herself relenting. Somehow she would have to erase all thoughts of Dorgon from her mind. But there was something she must find out first.

  After Wukeshan stepped out of the tent, Bumbutai took out a fine brush pen, a plate of black ink and a sheet of parchment, and began writing a letter to Dorgon in the Jurchen script:

  “Venerable Beile,

  I suppose by now you must have heard the news. My grandpa has decided to betroth me to Hong Taiji as his concubine. The wedding ceremony will be held next spring.

  My eyes are full of tears even as I am writing. I had to write to you because I am desperate for you to hear my heart’s voice. The moment I first laid eyes on you, I sensed something strange and beautiful was happening. My life suddenly burst into a million twinkling stars. You may think I’m naïve to say this, but this was how I truly felt. Sadly, the heavens are cruel and are determined to take away my stars.

  I will not be able to show you a smile from my heart when I see you again, or to look into your eyes the way I did. I will even have to pretend that I don’t feel anything. Because I will soon be your sister-in-law and I will never be happy again.

  I’m not sure how you feel about me, Dorgon, and I’m dying to know the answer. Even if you don’t write me back, please just give me a token and I will be content. I will keep the letter or token close to me until the day I die. But if you send nothing to me, I will also understand. These past two days have been the happiest of my life. I will be forever grateful to you. My heart is yours to keep forever, and I only have one heart to give.

  With eternal affections,

  Bumbutai”

  When she had finished writing, she cut out a lock of her hair and put it inside the folded letter, wrapping all in a piece of pink silk kerchief that had a blue swallow embroidered on it. Then she fastened the bundle with a purple ribbon. She called out to Sumalagu and gave her the bundle to deliver to Dorgon immediately, bidding her to wait for an answer, which would either be a letter or a token, unless she was told that there would be no answer at all. In either case, she was to report back without delay.

  Four

  Once back in Mukden, Hong Taiji gave instructions to Jere to start making preparations for the wedding and to set up Bumbutai’s temporary living quarters. As the new Palatial Complex was still under construction, he intended to have the new bride live inside his personal Library Hall, which was situated to the right side of his temporary Palace. It was appropriate, as Jere’s Palace was to the left. He felt sure that his large archive of books in Jurchen, Chinese and Mongolian would make Bumbutai happy. He also told Jere to make a list of wedding gifts that were to be delivered to the Borjigit family after the Chinese New Year. As for gifts for the bride, he would personally make a selection.

  Since becoming Fourth Beile at the age of twenty-two, a title he had earned by winning numerous battles against weaker Jurchen tribes, he had been gaining ever more trust and respect from his father Nurhaci. He, together with First Beile Daisan, Second Beile Jirgalang and Third Beile Manggultai, had helped Nurhaci unite all Jurchen tribes under the Khan’s leadership. With their help, Nurhaci had established the Later Jin Dynasty (in deference to the Great Jin Dynasty of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries). By the sixth year of his reign, Nurhaci had captured the Chinese outpost town of Shenyang, beyond the Shanhai Pass north of Beijing and had named it Mukden, the Rising Capital.

  The Four Great Beiles were effectively the ruling council of this Later Jin Empire and held supreme military power through the Eight Banner system. Daisan, the eldest son, was the Banner Chief of the Plain Red Banner and Border Red Banner. Ajige and Dodo (blood brothers of Dorgon’s) held the Plain Yellow and Border Yellow respectively. The three brothers, though not Great Beiles, were all born of Lady Abahai, Nurhaci’s favorite consort. Manggultai, an older son by another consort, headed the Plain Blue Banner, while Jirgalang, a nephew, was Chief of the Border Blue Banner. Hong Taiji was entrusted with both the Plain White and Border White.

  The numbers of troops and their efficacy under the Eight Banner system ranged in this descending order: Plain Red, Border Red, Plain Yellow, Border Yellow, Plain Blue, Border Blue, Plain White, Border White. So in terms of military strength, Hong Taiji was the weakest of all the Princes, and he knew he was not Nurhaci’s favorite son, even though he had his trust. He also knew that his position could become precarious
overnight because he didn’t have a mother to protect him.

  He would never forget what his mother had said to him in her dying breath: “Son, the safest way to survive in this treacherous court is to become Khan yourself. I’m sorry I won’t be around to protect you any longer. You have to mind for yourself….” He wept in his heart whenever he recalled her last words. He had no doubt Lady Abahai had been the cause of his mother’s death. He had only been eleven then, and had hated the Consort ever since. As Ajige, Dorgon and Dodo grew up, they became Nurhaci’s favorite sons because of their bravery in battle. Pangs of jealousy occasionally stabbed at him.

  Lady Monggo, Hong Taiji’s mother, had been a kind-hearted and refined lady of great literary talent. Nurhaci had admired her greatly before the arrival of Lady Abahai. But from a brutish man’s perspective, cultural charm was no match for physical beauty in a woman. Lady Abahai’s sparkling youthfulness had in no time conquered Nurhaci’s heart and bearing him three strong sons had added even more merit to her credit. The sense of being deserted had plagued Lady Monggo to the point of debilitation.

  After her death, Hong Taiji secretly made a vow to become Nurhaci’s successor. Whether it was for self-preservation, or to fulfill his ambition, or both, he alone could answer. He had read enough Chinese history to be convinced that power was the only effective armor in an Imperial Court. The incident of Xuanwu Gate in the Tang Dynasty, in which a prince had murdered his throne-vying siblings, had firmly lodged in his mind.

  Guided by his youthful perceptions, he had long identified Daisan as his first enemy, if only because he was the most likely to be made a Crown Prince, being the oldest of his half-brothers. Jirgalang was only a nephew and therefore posed no threat. Manggultai was a drunk and lacked fighting skills. The other key adversaries would naturally be Lady Abahai and her three sons.

  In his efforts to discredit Daisan in Nurhaci’s eyes, Hong Taiji had gone to great lengths. He had spun a rumor of an ongoing love affair between Daisan and Lady Abahai, conspiring with a young concubine of Nurhaci’s who was jealous of the favorite Consort. Bearing false witness to an amorous meeting of the two framed victims, she had convinced Nurhaci of the story, and he had banished Lady Abahai from his Palace for a while. But afterwards he all but forgave her. Was it due to his doubts about the truthfulness of the case, or to a desperate need for conjugal love? It would never be known. In the end, Lady Abahai was reinstated in the Palace.

  While on the surface, his chicanery seemed to have failed, it did have the desired threatening effect on Daisan. After the incident, he became much less motivated in the competition for Nurhaci’s favor. That aside, Daisan had also been quite unnerved when his father ruthlessly ordered the execution of his elder brother for flouting a military order.

  “Daisan is just a weak-willed wimp. I’ll have him under my thumb if and when I choose to,” Hong Taiji thought with impudence.

  Sensing that his military power was inadequate, Hong Taiji had been mulling the establishment of a standby cavalry of Mongolian warriors who would be loyal to him alone. To this end, he had been building up ties with Manggusi of the Borjigit clan. The Clan Chief had given Jere to him as his primary wife in exchange for his promise of full protection for the borders of the Khorchin Mongols’ tribal state. To secure Manggusi’s promise to supply warriors and horses when needed, Hong Taiji had pledged to him a portion of any loot and seized land whenever he captured an unfriendly Mongolian tribal state.

  On a recent visit to the Borjigit home, he had assured Manggusi that he was aiming for no less than the Jurchen throne. Manggusi had said to him: “Bumbutai is my favorite granddaughter and she’s a jewel of a talent. I wouldn’t offer her to you if I didn’t think you would become the next Khan.”

  When he thought of Bumbutai, his tough facial features softened. The girl’s natural youthful beauty and scintillating intelligence had captured his heart. She would be such a prize to him. But something was nagging at the back of his mind. Whatever it was, he was firm in the belief that the end justified the means. Yet, he seemed unable to shake one scene from his head.

  One night, Sumalagu was leaving the guest tent where Dorgon was staying, carrying inside her deel the reply letter that Dorgon had given her. Without her knowledge, Hong Taiji had followed her there from Bumbutai’s tent. As it had happened, he had been standing outside Bumbutai’s tent and had overheard her instructions to Sumalagu about her letter. He jumped from the darkness to intercept the maid.

  “The letter please, Sumalagu. You know very well that Dorgon’s letter would only do harm to your Princess.” He knew how close the two girls were. “She is going to be my concubine soon. Dorgon is young and brash and doesn’t know what he’s doing. What good will it do her if she can’t be loyal to me and serve me with her whole heart? You are a clever girl and I’m sure you know how to protect your mistress’s welfare.”

  Sumalagu had looked into his eyes as she retrieved the letter from her bosom and handed it over to him.

  Since the wedding, Hong Taiji had been busy supervising the completion of the new Imperial Palatial Complex in the capital. He was mindful that the new premises would serve as an important symbol of the Jurchens’ new found power and prestige. Also on his mind were plans to launch a major attack on the strategic Chinese town of Ningyuan in Liaodong Province. If captured, the town would facilitate an incursion into China proper through the nearby Shanhai Pass. In his mind, China was the greatest prize in sight, with Mongolia coming second. To get his hand on that coveted prize, he badly needed military aid.

  Hong Taiji was in no hurry to possess his new bride’s body. He was a patient man. When he felt the moment was right, he would take her whole, body and soul. He would wait for her to come round to loving him of her own free will. But that didn’t mean he could let down his guard where Dorgon was concerned. He knew it would be unwise to have his lovelorn half-brother around in Court and decided to send him far away on a military errand. As there were unending skirmishes with the Chakhar Mongols, Hong Taiji ordered Dorgon to join the Plain Yellow Banner cavalry headed by Ajige, his elder brother, whose assigned mission was to end those skirmishes once and for all.

  He had long had his eyes on the Plain Yellow and Border Yellow Banner cavalry headed by Ajige and Dodo, whose warriors were much better trained and equipped than his own Plain White and Border White ones, let alone the outnumbering in men. If he were to gain an edge over the tenacious Ming Imperial Army at Ningyuan, he would need those better trained cavalrymen plus the help of his secret Mongolian ally. Hong Taiji had always taken extra caution not to let Dorgon or any of his other half-brothers know about his secret weapon, because as far as he was concerned, they were as much his enemies as the Ming soldiers.

  The Ming Court at this juncture was plagued by a subversive eunuch faction who had powerful sway over the Emperor. These corrupt eunuchs were vehemently opposed to fighting with the Jurchens, because wars had to be financed by the Court’s treasury, which they looked upon as their private coffer. The silver and gold bars were fast disappearing from the treasury as the greedy eunuchs kept stuffing their own pockets. For this reason, the commander in charge of the Ming forces at Ningyuan, the formidable General Yuan Chonghuan, an avowed advocate of taking the offensive against the Jurchens, was their principal nemesis.

  In General Yuan’s view, Ningyuan was a well-fortified stronghold only a short way beyond the protective Great Wall. From there, a counter-attack could easily be launched with his new artillery weaponry: iron cannons produced using the latest technology from Portuguese Macau. Neither Nurhaci nor any of the Four Great Beiles was aware of such deadly weapons being in the Ming arsenal.

  Little by little, Bumbutai was beginning to shed her homesick feelings. During the morning classes, she discovered that Hong Taiji had a sharp mind and a prodigious memory, which she greatly admired. He showed an apparent liking for Sun Tzu’s The Art of War, especially the part about usin
g spies. He had the whole book imprinted on his memory.

  Bumbutai, who had also read the book, one day remarked in a chat with him: “It’s interesting that many of Sun Tzu’s war strategems resemble those used by Genghis Khan.”

  Her comment immediately spiked his interest, and he wondered aloud how he could get hold of a copy of Genghis’ secret journal. It so happened the journal was the Borjigit clan’s ancestral document and she knew it by heart. To show her gratitude for the favors he had granted her, she quietly worked on a translation into Jurchen. During one morning lesson, when Scholar Fan turned his face aside to cough, she quickly slipped him the translated copy with a secretive smile.

  Hong Taiji flipped through the work, his stolid face melting into a childish grin.

  “You are making me very happy, my precious,” he whispered in mirth.

  Later that day, Scholar Fan revealed to Bumbutai: “I’ve never seen the Fourth Beile in such a good mood.”

  By the time summer arrived, Sumalagu had finished making three ensemble sets of Han-style half-sleeved waistcoats and pleated long skirts from the bales of floral patterned silk in sky blue, jade green and violet that Bumbutai had selected. She loved these colors because they reminded her fondly of the Mongolian sky, the grasslands and the lavender lilies, and jade green was her favorite.

  One evening, after dining with Hong Taiji in the antechamber, Bumbutai asked him to close his eyes and retreated into her bed chamber. When she re-appeared before him, she was dressed in a sky blue silk ensemble, twirling in a pre-rehearsed Chinese feather-fan dance. The body-fitting waistcoat clung snugly to her supple form. It made her look deliciously womanly. She didn’t put any make-up on or wear any jewelry. Her hair was braided in two girlish plaits tied with color-matching ribbons.

  Hong Taiji loved her new look so much that he said to Sumalagu: “You are a masterful seamstress, Suma. Your sewing skills have set off the womanish trait in your mistress!” Delving into his sleeve pocket in a guffaw, he took out two silver bars and gave them to the maid. He seemed reluctant to leave after the dance, but at length rose to retire to his own Palace.