In AD1627, the young Chongzhen Emperor succeeds his brother, the Tianqi Emperor, as the ruler of the Ming Dynasty. Emperor Chongzhen strives to save the dwindling Ming Empire from collapse and seeks to restore it to its former glory. However, the government has been plagued by corruption since his predecessors' time, and the common people have rebelled against the ming government under the leadership of Li Zicheng. Besides, on the northern frontier, Hong Taiji, the ambitious warrior-king of the Manchurian Qing Dynasty, is actively preparing his armies for an invasion of Central plains Yuan Chonghuan and Hong Chengchou are both capable military leaders appointed by Chongzhen to counter the Manchu invaders, but they meet with different fates - Yuan chong huan is executed by slow slicing for treason after Chongzhen believes false accusations that Yuan is plotting against him; Hong is forced to surrender to the Manchus after his defeat at the Battle of Songjin, and he aids the Qing forces on their campaign against the Southern Ming Dynasty later. In 1644, the Ming capital Beijing falls to Li Zicheng's rebel army, and Chongzhen commits suicide by hanging himself on a tree. Shortly after, Wu Sangui, a Ming general defending the border, defects to the Qing Dynasty and opens Shanhai Pass, allowing Qing forces to enter and overrun the rest of Ming China. The cause of Wu's defection is attributed to his beloved concubine Chen Yuanyuan, a legendary beauty. Chen was initially held hostage in Beijing to prevent Wu from betraying the Ming Empire. She was later seized by Liu Zongmin, one of Li Zicheng's generals, when the rebels captured the capital. In anger, Wu agreed to side with the Manchus to deal with the rebels.

• published: 05 Oct 2013
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