Dolgon, as an important general and statesman in the early Qing Dynasty, his death was undoubtedly a huge blow to the Qing Dynasty's military power. During Dorgon's lifetime, with his outstanding military talent and political wisdom, he led the Eight Banners Army to a series of brilliant victories, laying a solid foundation for the unity and stability of the Qing Dynasty. However, with his death, the combat effectiveness of the Eight Banners Army began to decline sharply, and this change was especially evident in the battles of Guilin and Hengyang.
First, Dolgon's death led to confusion in the leadership of the Eight Banners Army. During his lifetime, Dolgon, with his charisma and military prowess, was able to unify the will and actions of the Eight Banners army. His death deprived the army of a strong leader, and various banner owners began to compete for leadership, which not only weakened the cohesion of the army, but also affected the efficiency of decision-making and execution of the army. In the battles of Guilin and Hengyang, the performance of the Eight Banners Army on the battlefield was greatly reduced due to the lack of unified command and coordination.
Secondly, after Dolgon's death, there were also problems with the training and discipline of the Eight Banners Army. During his lifetime, Dolgon's training and discipline requirements for the army were very strict, which allowed the Eight Banners army to maintain a high degree of discipline and combat effectiveness on the battlefield. However, after his death, the training and discipline of the army began to slacken, and the soldiers' will to fight and skills declined. In the battles of Guilin and Hengyang, the soldiers of the Eight Banners Army lacked effective training and guidance, and when faced with enemy attacks, they often appeared helpless and unable to effectively organize effective resistance.
Moreover, after the death of Dolgon, the morale of the Eight Banners army was also seriously affected. Dorgon was not only the leader of the Eight Banners Army, but also the spiritual pillar of the soldiers. His death left the soldiers with a loss of confidence and motivation and demoralization. In the battles of Guilin and Hengyang, the soldiers of the Eight Banners Army often lacked the belief and determination to win when facing the enemy, which directly affected their performance on the battlefield.
In addition, after Dolgon's death, there were also problems with the tactics and strategy of the Eight Banners army. During his lifetime, Dolgon, with his superb tactical and strategic vision, was able to flexibly adjust his tactics according to the situation on the battlefield and formulate effective strategies. However, after his death, the generals of the Eight Banners Army appeared to be more conservative and rigid in tactics and strategies, lacking innovation and adaptability. In the battles of Guilin and Hengyang, the generals of the Eight Banners Army often stuck to the rules and were unable to adjust their tactics in time according to the changes in the enemy army, which put them in a passive position on the battlefield.
Finally, after Dolgon's death, the logistics of the Eight Banners Army also had problems. During his lifetime, Dorgon attached great importance to the logistics of the army, ensuring that the soldiers were adequately supplied and supported. However, after his death, the logistics of the army began to have problems, and the soldiers often faced shortages of supplies and insufficient supplies on the battlefield. In the battles of Guilin and Hengyang, the soldiers of the Eight Banners Army were unable to receive timely supplies and support due to insufficient logistical support, which seriously affected their combat effectiveness and staying power.
To sum up, after the death of Dolgon, the combat effectiveness of the Eight Banners army decreased sharply, which was especially evident in the battles of Guilin and Hengyang. The confusion of the leadership, the laxity of training and discipline, the low morale, the conservative tactics and strategies, and the problems of logistical support were all important reasons for the decline in the combat effectiveness of the Eight Banners Army. These problems not only affected the performance of the Eight Banners Army on the battlefield, but also posed a serious threat to the unity and stability of the Qing Dynasty.
The decline of the Eight Banners Army is inextricably linked to the collective fall of high-ranking generals after Dolgon's death. Dolgon's death marked the end of an era as a prominent military strategist and statesman in the early Qing Dynasty. However, Dorgon was not alone, and his death was only the beginning of a series of high-ranking generals. The death of these generals not only had a huge political impact, but also triggered a slippery slope in military command capabilities.
Generals such as Hauge, Duoduo, Dolgon, and Azig were all outstanding military leaders in the early Qing Dynasty, and their military talents and leadership played a key role in the establishment of the Eight Banners Army. Their deaths one after another caused the Eighth Banner Army to lose a number of experienced military command talents, which dealt a serious blow to the army's combat effectiveness and command system.
First of all, the death of these generals led to the confusion of the command system of the Eight Banners Army. During their lifetimes, the command system of the Eight Banners Army was relatively stable, and the division of labor among the various generals was clear and the cooperation was tacit. However, with their deaths, cracks began to appear in the otherwise stable chain of command. After the new generals took office, it was difficult to establish an effective command and coordination mechanism in a short period of time due to the lack of sufficient experience and prestige, which led to the sluggishness and confusion of the army's actions on the battlefield.
Secondly, the death of these generals also weakened the morale and cohesion of the Eight Banners Army. These generals are not only the leaders of the army, but also the spiritual pillars of the soldiers. Their death has left the soldiers without faith and support, and their morale has been seriously affected. On the battlefield, soldiers often fail to perform at their best due to a lack of confidence and motivation.
Moreover, the death of these generals also affected the tactical innovation and strategic adjustment ability of the Eight Banners Army. During their lifetimes, the Eight Banners Army was able to flexibly adjust their tactics according to the battlefield situation and formulate effective strategies. However, with their deaths one after another, the new generals often lacked sufficient sense of innovation and strategic vision, and it was difficult to adjust tactics and strategies in time according to the changes of the enemy army, which made the Eight Banners Army gradually lose the initiative on the battlefield.
In addition, the death of these generals also had a negative impact on the personnel training and selection mechanism of the Eight Banners Army. During their lifetimes, the personnel training and selection mechanism of the Eight Banners Army was relatively perfect, and batch after batch of outstanding military personnel were able to emerge one after another. However, with their deaths one after another, the talent training and selection mechanism of the Eight Banners Army began to have problems, and the new generals often lacked sufficient training and training opportunities to quickly grow into excellent military leaders.
Finally, the death of these generals also had an impact on the internal stability and unity of the Eight Banners Army. During their lifetimes, the Eight Banners Army was relatively stable internally, and the various generals were able to support and cooperate with each other. However, with their deaths one after another, divisions and antagonisms began to appear within the Eight Banners Army, and various generals began to fight and fight with each other in order to compete for power and status, which seriously affected the unity and stability of the army.
To sum up, the decline of the Eight Banners Army is directly related to the collective decline of the high-ranking generals after the death of Dolgon. The death of these generals not only caused a decline in military command ability, but also had a serious impact on the Eight Banners Army in terms of morale, tactical innovation, personnel training, and internal stability. If these problems are not resolved and improved in a timely manner, the decline of the Eight Banners Army will continue, and may even affect the stability and development of the Qing Dynasty.
Although the decline of the Eight Banners seems to be related to the collective decline of high-level generals on the surface, the deeper reason lies in fundamental problems such as the system. These problems accumulated over a long period of time, which eventually led to a decline in the combat effectiveness and low morale of the Eight Banners Army.
First of all, the suppression of experienced generals by the imperial power was a factor that could not be ignored. In the early Qing Dynasty, imperial power was highly centralized, and the emperor's control over the army was very strict. This institutional arrangement ensured the stability of imperial power to a certain extent, but it also limited the autonomy and creativity of the generals. Many experienced generals were marginalized or even forced to retire for political reasons, which undoubtedly weakened the command ability and combat experience of the Eight Banners Army. After the death of a number of outstanding generals such as Dolgon, it was difficult for the new generation of generals to quickly fill these vacancies due to their lack of actual combat experience and experience in political struggle, resulting in a sharp decline in the army's combat effectiveness and command efficiency.
Secondly, some maladministrations during the Dolgon period also exacerbated national contradictions and affected the stability and morale of the Eight Banners Army. During his reign, Dolgon implemented a series of hard-line policies, such as shaving his hair and making it easy to wear, and the enclosure movement, which strengthened the Qing Dynasty's control over Han areas in the short term, but also provoked strong resistance and dissatisfaction among the Han people. The intensification of such ethnic contradictions not only weakened the internal unity of the Eight Banners Army, but also made it difficult for the army to obtain effective support and cooperation in the face of the Han people in the southern region.
In addition, the inadaptability of the Eight Banners Army to the terrain in the south was also an important reason. The Eight Banners Army originated in the north, and its tactics and training were mostly based on plain warfare. However, the terrain in the southern region is complex, mountainous and watery, which poses new challenges to the combat methods of the Eight Banners Army. In operations in the south, the Eighth Banner Army often fell into passivity because of unfamiliar terrain and unsuitable tactics, and it was difficult for them to display their due combat effectiveness.
Finally, the strong resistance of the Southern Ming army was also an important factor in the decline of the Eight Banners Army. Although the Southern Ming army may be inferior to the Eight Banners army in terms of numbers and equipment, they are very determined to defend their homeland and resist foreign invasion. Taking advantage of the terrain and popular support, the Southern Ming army adopted flexible and changeable tactics, which caused huge pressure and losses to the Eight Banners army. In the face of strong resistance from the Southern Ming army, the Eight Banners Army often found itself in trouble because of its single tactics and rigid command.
To sum up, the decline of the Eight Banners was not an overnight thing, but the result of a long-term accumulation of many factors. The suppression of the generals by the imperial power, the national contradictions caused by Dolgon's maladministration, the inadaptability of the Eight Banners Army to the southern terrain, and the strong resistance of the Southern Ming Army all contributed to the decline in the combat effectiveness and low morale of the Eight Banners Army. If these problems are not resolved and improved in a timely manner, the decline of the Eight Banners Army will continue, and may even affect the stability and development of the Qing Dynasty.
The combat effectiveness of the Eight Banners declined further during the rebellion of the three feudatories in the early years of Kangxi, which was an important turning point in the history of the Qing Dynasty. The Rebellion of the Three Feudatories was the largest civil strife since the establishment of the Qing Dynasty, involving a wide range of regions and lasting up to eight years. This war not only consumed a lot of manpower and material resources of the Qing Dynasty, but also exposed serious problems in the combat effectiveness of the Eight Banners Army.
First of all, during the rebellion of the three feudatories, the decline in the combat effectiveness of the Eight Banners Army was mainly manifested in the decline in the quality of soldiers. In the early years of Kangxi, due to the long-term peaceful environment, the training of the Eight Banners Army was gradually relaxed, and many soldiers lacked actual combat experience and their combat skills deteriorated. On the battlefield of the Rebellion of the Three Feudatories, the Eight Banners Army was often powerless in the face of the stubborn resistance of the rebels, and it was difficult for them to achieve a quick victory.
Secondly, the rebellion of the three feudatories also exposed the problems of the command system of the Eight Banners Army. Due to the long period of peace, the command structure of the Eight Banners Army gradually became rigid and lacked flexibility and adaptability. In war, it is often difficult for the commanders of the Eight Banners Army to respond quickly according to the battlefield situation, resulting in the army missing fighters at critical moments and even falling into passivity.
Although the three generations of Kang Yongqian have made certain achievements in expanding their territory, there are fewer and fewer people who can use the Eight Banners Army, which is mainly reflected in the following aspects:
Demographic changes: As Qing rule became more secure, the population of the Eight Banners gradually increased, but the proportion of soldiers who were actually able to participate in military operations declined. Because of their family's affluence and rising status, many of the Eight Banners gradually distanced themselves from military life and turned to civilian or other occupations.
Neglect of military training: Although the third generation of Kang Yongqian attached importance to military affairs, there was a certain neglect of military training. Many soldiers of the Eight Banners lacked systematic military training for a long time, which led to a decline in combat skills and tactical literacy.
Rigidity of the military system: The military system of the Qing Dynasty gradually became rigid during the third dynasty of Kang Yongqian, lacking innovation and reform. This institutional rigidity limited the development of the Eight Banners Army, making it difficult for the army to respond effectively to new forms and tactics of warfare.
By the Qianlong period, the Eight Banners had lost most of their combat effectiveness. This is mainly manifested in the following aspects:
Overall decline in combat effectiveness: The Eight Banners Army during the Qianlong period had a marked decline in the quality of soldiers, command ability, and tactical application, and could not be compared with the early Eight Banner Army.
Marginalization of military status: With the rise of other military forces such as the Green Battalion, the position of the Eight Banners Army in the Qing military system was gradually marginalized. In many important military operations and campaigns, the Eight Banners Army is no longer the main force.
Changes in social status: With the development of Qing Dynasty society, the social status of the Eight Banners Army also changed. Many of the children of the Eight Banners began to pursue higher social status and economic interests, and no longer regarded the military as their main occupation.
To sum up, the combat effectiveness of the Eight Banners further declined during the rebellion of the three feudatories in the early years of Kangxi, and although the three generations of Kang Yongqian opened up the territory, the Eight Banners had fewer and fewer military users, and by the Qianlong period, the Eight Banners had lost most of their combat effectiveness. The emergence of these problems is due to both historical and institutional reasons, as well as the impact of social changes. Without an in-depth analysis and resolution of these issues, the decline of the Eight Banners Army will continue, and may even affect the stability and development of the Qing Dynasty.
As the main form of military organization in the early Qing Dynasty, the Eight Banners system once made brilliant achievements on the battlefield with its unique advantages. However, over time, the inherent flaws of the Eight Banners system were gradually exposed, leading to its inevitable degeneration.
First of all, one of the inherent flaws of the Eight Banners system is its closed and hereditary nature. The Eight Banners Army consisted mainly of Manchus and had a strict hereditary system, with the identity and status of soldiers determined by birth. This system guarantees the loyalty of the army to a certain extent, but it also restricts the flow and selection of talents. Over time, many of the Eight Banners gradually distanced themselves from military life and turned to civilian or other occupations because of their family's affluence and rising status. As a result, the quality of the soldiers of the Eight Banners Army gradually declined and it lost its original combat superiority.
Secondly, the change in lifestyle after entering the customs was also an important reason for the degeneration of the Eight Banners Army. After the Qing Dynasty entered the customs, the way of life of the Eight Banners Army changed dramatically. Many of the children of the Eight Banners began to enjoy a comfortable life in peacetime, but gradually lost their original will and courage to fight. At the same time, with the consolidation of Qing rule, the military training of the Eight Banners Army was gradually relaxed, and many soldiers lacked actual combat experience and their combat skills deteriorated.
In addition, the privileged nature of the Eight Banners system is also one of the reasons for its degeneration. The Eight Banners army enjoyed many privileges, such as land, food, and money, which made many Eight Banners disciples rely too much on these privileges and neglect their own military duties. With the development of Qing Dynasty society, the privileges of the Eight Banners Army gradually became a burden on society, causing dissatisfaction and resistance from other ethnic groups and classes.
By the time of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, the degeneration of the Eight Banners Army had reached the point of no return. The Taiping Rebellion was one of the largest peasant uprisings in Chinese history, and its armies were known for their fighting and organizational prowess. In the face of the strong offensive of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom army, the army of the Eight Banners appeared vulnerable and unable to resist effectively. Many of the Eight Banners even began to evade military service, unwilling to fight for the rule of the Qing Dynasty.
Eventually, during the Xinhai Revolution, the Eight Banners Army completely lost its role. The Xinhai Revolution was a major change in Chinese history, marking the fall of the Qing Dynasty and the rise of democratic ideas. During this revolution, many of the Eight Banners even participated in the revolution and opposed the rule of the Qing Dynasty. This is not only a satire of the Eight Banners system, but also the best proof of its depravity.
To sum up, the inherent defects of the Eight Banners system, such as closedness, hereditary nature, privilege, etc., as well as the changes in lifestyle after entering the customs, jointly led to the degeneration of the Eight Banners army. From the fragility of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom period to the participation in the revolution during the Xinhai Revolution, the decline of the Eight Banners Army has become a historical inevitability. The emergence of these problems is not only a warning to the Eight Banners system, but also a reflection on the rule of the Qing Dynasty. Without an in-depth analysis and resolution of these issues, the Qing dynasty's rule would be unsustainable and eventually come to an end.