Wu Sangui had betrayed his allies and aided the enemy, a crime of the highest order. Wang Yongji, the Governor-General of Liaodong and Wu’s direct superior, knew he would inevitably be implicated. Though his life might not be at stake, all his prior efforts and achievements would be reduced to nothing, and his clan would fall into obscurity.
Like many others, Wang Yongji was not only afraid of death but also a selfish man. To change the fate of his kin, he had to take action. He decided to fight Wu Sangui to the death—a struggle undertaken with the resolve of one who expects no return. He knew he was no match for Wu Sangui, but as long as he died on the battlefield, the Imperial Court would not erase his record or his reputation for pacifying Liaodong. With these accolades, his family and clan would continue to hold a place of prominence.
Through Wang Yongji’s persistence, the withdrawal plan was eventually accepted by all. Before dawn the next day, in his capacity as Governor-General of Liaodong, Wang Yongji issued the command: citing Regional Commander Huang Degong’s injuries during the Battle of Sarhu and the discovery of a large force of Mongol cavalry near Kaiyuan to the north of Shenyang, all units were ordered to temporarily cease their advance and conduct an orderly retreat to Fushun to protect their rear.
Chapter 1127