256 - Qing 2: Greeted As Liberators

Beijing has been brutally captured, with the Ming emperor committing suicide rather than face the bandit army of Li Zicheng. However, before he can get comfortable, the full might of the Qing are on their way to "liberate" the Chinese empire from, well, the Chinese. What follows is as chaotic as it is lightning swift, as the Manchu hordes, chase the fleeing remnants of the fallen Ming court south to what they pray will be a refuge: Nanjing. Time Period Covered: Apr. 1644- Nov. 1645 Major Historical Figures: Qing: The Shunzhi Emperor (Aisin Gyoro Fulin) [r. 1643-1661] Dorgon, Prince Ruizhong [1612-1650] Ajige, Prince Ying [1605-1651] Dodo, Prince Yu [1614-1649] Prime Minister Fan Wencheng [1597-1666] Ming: The Chongzhen Emperor [r. 1627-1644] General Wu Sangui [1612-1678] General Hong Chengchou [1593-1665] General Zuo Liangyu [1599-1645] General Shi Kefa [1601-1645] Bandit: Li Zicheng [d. 1644]