Life

Service under the Ming Empire

Hong Chengchou started his career under the Ming Empire by leading military campaigns against rebels in the 1620s. Like Yuan Chonghuan, Xu Guangqi, Sun Yuanhua and other Ming generals, he was also a leading military strategist and proponent of the adoption of European cannons by the Ming armies. He served as the Governor of Shaanxi and Sanbian and was responsible for countering rebel forces led by Li Zicheng. He defeated Li Zicheng at the Battle of Tongguan Nanyuan in 1638, after which Li fled with only 18 men. After that battle, he was transferred to the northern border to counter invaders from the Manchu-led Qing Empire.

Battle of Shanhai Pass

The Qing raids into Ming territory brought them treasure, food and livestock, but the logistical difficulties along the circuitous invasion route through the Inner Mongolian deserts (in order to bypass the Ming garrisons of Shanhai Pass, Ningyuan, and Jinzhou along the Bohai littoral) made it difficult for the Qing forces to hold onto their territorial conquests.

The Shanhai Pass corridor remained the best invasion route for the Qing forces and therefore the Qing emperor, Huang Taiji, needed to eliminate those Ming fortresses, the first one being Jinzhou. To save the vital fortress, the Ming imperial court sent an army of over 130,000 men under Hong Chengchou to lift the siege. Unfortunately, in a series of skirmishes, Qing forces defeated the Ming army. First, Qing cavalry raided the Ming's granary in the rear, and when the Ming army retreated after it ran out of food, Huang Taiji placed ambush forces along the Ming army's retreat routes and massacred the retreating Ming soldiers at night.

Hong Chengchou surrendered to the Qing regime in 1642, after being captured in the Battle of Songjin. Prior to his surrender, he was the Governor-General of northeastern Zhili and Liaodong. He was attempting to assist the Ming general Zu Dashou, who was besieged in the city of Jinzhou. Hong Chengchou was assigned to the Chinese bordered yellow banner. A fake report of his death reached the Ming ruler, the Chongzhen Emperor, who ordered a temple be built to honour him.

Hong Chengchou's capture was the third big disaster for the Ming military since the execution of Yuan Chonghuan, and the defection of Geng Zhongming and Shang Kexi to the Qing forces (which also led to the execution of Sun Yuanhua as a scapegoat).

Service under the Qing Empire

After his surrender, Hong Chengchou was made an official only after Qing forces occupied the Ming capital, Beijing. In 1645, Hong Chengchou was sent to Nanjing with the title Pacificator of Jiangnan. His real role in the military was to ship supplies, nonetheless he suppressed many Ming officials and members of the imperial family of the Southern Ming (a short-lived state formed by remnants of the fallen Ming Empire).

Hong Chengchou was several times accused of having secret relations with the Ming remnants. He was in 1651 chastised for sending his mother back to Fujian and in 1652 was not allowed to return to Fujian to mourn his mother's death. Although he was appointed Governor-General of the five provinces of Huguang, Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan and Guizhou, his real task again was to provide for the Qing army.

In 1659, he was recalled to Beijing after he declined to press the war in Yunnan to capture the Yongli Emperor of Southern Ming, who had fled to Burma. Wu Sangui, who was previously one of Hong Chengchou's lieutenants and the commander of the Ming garrison at Ningyuan, was ordered to replace Hong Chengchou to continue the attack on Southern Ming forces.

Hong Chengchou was given a minor hereditary rank perhaps due to distrust by some quarters of the Qing imperial court, which suspected him of sympathising with the Ming remnants.

Hong Chenghou was transferred directly to the Manchu Bordered Yellow Banner eight years after he was put into the Eight Banners. He died shortly after requesting permission to retire because of old age and almost total blindness. He died of natural causes in Nan'an, Fujian in 1665. The location of his tomb is unknown.

生平

早年

洪承疇早年家貧，小時候即幫助母親兜售豆乾為生，十一歲即輟學。曾任雲南按察使的族叔洪啟胤同情他，便用《史記》、《三國志》、《資治通鑑》、《孫子兵法》等書籍來教導洪承疇。

明神宗萬曆四十三年（1615年），考上舉人；次年入京參加會試，聯捷進士二甲十四名。

官場生涯

明神宗萬曆四十四年（1616年），考上進士後，隨即被授予刑部江西司主事，歷任員外郎、郎中等職。

明熹宗天啟二年（1622年），升任浙江提學，又升浙江布政使參議。天啟七年（1627年），升任陝西督道參議。

明思宗崇禎年間，流寇大起。時年，洪承疇三十七歲，韓城遭民軍王左桂圍攻，楊鶴調洪承疇救援，洪承疇帶數百由家丁、僕人、伙夫拼湊的軍隊，首赴沙場，以卓越指揮解圍韓城，斬賊五百餘人。此後兩個月之中，所部連戰連捷，人稱「洪兵」。洪承疇認為民軍順逆不定，所以好殺降卒，「托塔王」王左桂投降，承疇宴請，席間殺之。

崇禎四年（1631年）四月，曾令賀人龍等設酒宴犒勞降卒，趁機殺了300餘人。費密說：「陝西總督某招撫數千人，某日遣降卒去砍柴拔草，拿走他們的弓箭，突然發動數千個弓箭手，將他們射殺。降卒見狀，紛紛拔木舉石，奮起反抗，突圍而出。從此以後，民軍絕了投降之心。」同年八月，延綏巡撫死于任上，洪承疇代之為巡撫，三邊總督楊鶴被罷，洪承疇十月授陝西三邊總督。

崇禎七年（1634年），五省總督陳奇瑜設下妙計，困民軍于車廂峽，李自成肉袒牽羊投降。陳奇瑜共俘民軍三萬六千人，命五十餘名安撫使押送回原籍，但此三萬六千人隨即刺殺安撫使，繼續叛亂，沿途燒殺擄掠，關中百姓死傷慘重，陳奇瑜因此奪官下獄。由洪承疇加太子太保、兵部尚書，兼督河南、山西、陝西、四川、湖廣等處軍務，鎮壓農民起義。

崇禎八年（1635年），洪承疇組織圍剿卓有成效，幾個月內，各地民軍肅清，民軍主力又被壓縮至洛陽附近。斯時，民軍召開「滎陽大會」，聚「十三家」和「七十二營」之眾，會上李自成倡議兵分三路，一路往山西，一路往湖廣，一路往中都鳳陽。赴鳳陽之民軍，毀鳳陽皇陵。六月，曹文詔受命出擊，中伏身死。洪軍三月間至河南時，義軍已大部又集中于陝西；洪承疇回軍函關。此時李自成破咸陽，逼西安；高迎祥、張獻忠等乘官軍被牽制于陝，三入河南。明廷認識到民軍流動作戰，又改以分區負責，重點進攻。1635年8月，五省總督盧象昇專治中原；洪承疇專治西北，各自負責，相互協同。崇禎九年（1636年）春，民軍連連失利。

崇禎九年（1636年），洪承疇受命專督關中，在臨潼破民軍。孫傳庭在子午谷大敗闖王高迎祥，高迎祥敗走，洪承疇俘之，送北京處死，李自成獲推繼任闖王，號稱「李闖」。此時清軍犯邊，盧象昇調往邊境援助，中原民軍複起。張獻忠在南陽為左良玉擊敗，熊文燦理中原軍務後，招撫張獻忠等人。

崇禎十一年（1638年）十月，洪承疇大破李自成，李自成敗走商洛，只剩下十八個騎兵，明末農民起義轉入低潮。受楊嗣昌掣肘的盧象昇陣亡於鉅鹿之後，崇禎帝不得已將洪承疇從西線調來，給予李自成、張獻忠喘息之機。

松山敗戰

崇禎十一年十二月（1639年），盧象昇戰死，崇禎十二年調任洪承疇為薊遼總督，繫東北邊防，防衛滿洲。崇禎十三年（1640年）冬，清軍攻錦州及寧遠，洪承疇派兵出援，敗于塔山、杏山。

為挽救遼東危局，崇禎十四年（1641年），洪承疇率八總兵、十三萬人集結寧遠。三月，皇太極率大軍圍困錦州。時八總兵均懷驕橫，不易服從統一號令。洪承疇主張徐徐逼近錦州，步步立營，且戰且守，勿輕浪戰。于是，明軍控制了松山至錦州的制高點，以凌厲攻勢重挫清軍，局勢開始好轉。然而兵部尚書陳新甲以兵多餉艱為由，催洪進軍。洪承疇拖垮清軍之方略無法實施，不得已，率軍進入松山，意圖在松錦與之決戰。

皇太極聞洪承疇至，親率正黃旗與鑲黃旗來援，部署對明軍形成大包圍態勢，並斷明軍糧道。洪承疇主張決戰，各總兵卻主後撤，終決議突圍。突圍途中，各軍不待軍令，爭先退走，清軍趁勢掩殺。洪承疇率萬人殘兵坐困松山城，突圍屢不成。翌年城陷，洪承疇兵敗被俘至盛京，史稱松錦之戰。

洪承疇被俘後為表示忠於明室，宣佈絕食，要自殺殉國，皇太極將洪承疇關在獄中，但費盡心思招降洪承疇，給予黃金、古玩、美女，洪承疇都拒絕了。相傳還派愛妃莊妃前去獄中探望，致贈人參湯，洪承疇感動不已。在洪氏即將動搖時，皇太極派遣范文程招降洪承疇，洪承疇一直謾罵，范文程不理會，只跟他聊歷史，洪承疇答話時，屋頂上灰塵掉落，洪承疇怕汙了衣服，急急擦拭。范文程離去，便告訴皇太極說：「洪承疇不想死。連一件衣服都如此愛惜，何況命呢？」皇太極於是召見洪承疇，天氣甚冷，洪承疇挺立不跪，皇太極將自己身上的貂皮大衣脫了，披在洪承疇身上，洪感動落淚，跪地叩首，降清。

洪承疇兵敗的訊息傳到明朝朝廷，崇禎帝以為洪承疇戰死，設了十六壇哭祭之。不料在第九壇時，探子來報，說洪降清了，於是撤收祭壇而去。

仕清歲月

洪承疇是最早提出清兵入關後首要任務就是剿滅流賊，其後他本人為此不遺餘力，獻計多爾袞。隨多爾袞南下，聞甲申之變，李自成大順軍陷北京，崇禎帝自盡，明朝滅亡。洪承疇建議「出其不意，從薊州、密雲近京處，疾行而進」，直趨北京，多爾袞用之，終殺敗大順軍。洪承疇建言將目標對準大順軍，招納故明遺臣，很快清廷穩定北直隸、山東、山西三省之地，遷都燕京。入關後，順治皇帝任命他為太子太保、兵部尚書兼都察院右都御史，入內院佐理軍務並授秘書院大學士，成為清朝首位漢人大學士。

順治二年（1645年）五月，多鐸滅南明弘光政權，多爾袞被勝利衝昏頭腦，下「剃髮令」，激起強烈反抗。危難之中，多爾袞于閏六月以洪承疇代多鐸，授予「招撫江南各省總督軍務大學士」，敕賜便宜行事。洪承疇在任期間，竭力緩和滿漢的民族矛盾，以綏靖招安為主，但如不歸順，就處死，乃至於殺害大批明室忠臣義士，遭天下唾罵。

順治四年（1647年），洪承疇喪父丁憂，回鄉守制。

順治五年（1648年）四月，奉召返京，再次入內院佐理樞密，攝政王多爾袞傾心任用。

順治十年（1653年）五月，時年61歲，已任內翰林弘文院大學士、兵部尚書兼都察院右副都御史，佐理機務，兼任《大清太宗實錄》總裁官的洪承疇，又被任命為「太保兼太子太師，經略湖廣、廣東、廣西、雲南、貴州五省，總督軍務兼理糧餉」，「吏、兵二部不得掣肘，戶部不得稽遲」，「事後報聞」，出師征討南明永曆政權。

至順治十六年（1659年），正月，清軍平定雲南，洪承疇疏請發內帑賑濟貧民，並暫緩向逃亡緬甸的桂王餘部進軍，使戰亂之後的雲貴社會秩序趨于安定，生產開始恢復。八月，以年老體衰、目疾加劇請求返回北京，翌年奉旨回京，卻遭冷遇。

順治十八年（1661年）正月，順治帝逝世，康熙帝即位。洪承疇也已69歲，仍任大學士，于五月疏乞休。朝廷幾經爭論，授以三等阿達哈哈番（輕車都尉）世襲。

康熙四年（1665年），洪承疇卒，年73歲。諡文襄。

乾隆四十一年十二月初三日一份詔書中，命國史館編纂《明季貳臣傳》。洪承疇等出于「開創大一統之規模，自不得不加之錄用，以靖人心而明順逆。今事後平情而論，若而人者，皆以勝國臣僚，乃遭際時艱，不能為其主臨危授命，輒複畏死刑生，靦顏降附，豈得複謂之完人」之理由被列入《明季貳臣傳》甲篇中。

軼事

洪承疇是明末重臣，討伐流賊與滿人立下大功，崇禎帝非常器重，導致他投降後，屢遭明朝遺老羞辱，類似的故事發生過許多次。在現代也被許多中國的漢民族主義者視為「漢奸」。

郭都賢

洪承疇早年受到郭都賢的幫助，視郭都賢為恩師。洪承疇降清後，郭都賢隱居桃江，洪前去拜望郭都賢，欲以厚報。洪承疇給郭都賢金錢，郭都賢不接受，又說要奏封郭都賢之子為監軍，郭都賢又謝絕。都賢把眼睛瞇起，假裝自己失明，洪承疇訝異問「何時得眼疾？」郭都賢說：「自從認識您的時候，眼睛就瞎了。」洪承疇頓時無言以對。

據說洪承疇為了壓抑反清復明，在長沙製造文字獄，拘禁了名士三百多人，郭都賢去長沙拜訪洪承疇，希望洪承疇勿殺無辜，洪承疇看在郭都賢的情面上，只得將那三百多人全部放了。臨別時，郭都賢作揖諷刺道：「多謝兩朝元老。」洪承疇回答：「下官是千古罪人」。

金正希

金正希兵敗被擒，執送南京，大聲問曰：「爾識我否？」承疇曰：「豈不識金正希！」洪亦問曰：「爾識我否？」正希曰：「不識也。」洪承疇曰：「我便是洪亨九。」金正希喝曰：「咄，亨九受先帝厚恩，官至閣部，辦虜陣亡，先帝慟哭輟朝，御製祝版，賜祭九壇，予諡、蔭子，此是我明忠臣，爾是何人，敢相冒乎？」洪承疇招降不得，只好將他斬首。

孫兆奎

洪承疇與史可法是好朋友，得知史可法已死，本來想要救史可法，卻來不及，一直引以為憾。但當時廣泛謠傳史可法在揚州未死，死的只是一個形貌相似的人。蘇州孫兆奎因起兵失敗，被押到南都白下城。洪承疇與孫兆奎也有老交情，問他說：「先生在軍中，知道揚州閣部史公死了呢，還是沒有死呢？」孫兆奎回答說：「經略從北方來，是否知道原在松山殉難的督師洪公真的死了呢，還是沒有死呢？」洪承疇非常惱怒，把孫兆奎斬了。

黃道周

黃道周被清兵俘至金陵獄中，獄中吟詠如故，洪承疇前去勸降，黃道周寫下這樣一副對聯：「史筆流芳，雖未成名終可法；洪恩浩蕩，不思報國反成仇。」將殉難的史可法與洪承疇對比。承疇頗愧，上疏請求免除道周死刑，清廷不准。

夏完淳

夏完淳十七歲因為反清復明被捕，洪承疇想要保全夏完淳性命，親自審訊：「小孩子懂得甚麼，怎麼可能起兵造反。只是誤墮入叛賊之中而已。現在歸順的話，會讓你當官。」夏完淳堅決不投降，還說：「我聽說洪亨九先生，是本朝的人傑，在松錦之戰陣亡，英勇殉國了。先帝震驚哀悼，給予褒揚撫恤，此事感動中華與夷狄。我常常思慕其忠烈，我年紀雖小，殺身報國這種事，當然是當仁不讓！」旁邊的兵士以為夏完淳果真不認識洪承疇，提醒他：「上面坐的就是洪亨九大人。」夏怒斥道：「洪亨九先生殉於王事已久，天下沒有人不知道的，還曾經御祭七壇（其實是九壇），天子親臨，淚滿龍顏，群臣都跟著哭了。你們是甚麼逆黨，敢假託洪亨九之名，汙衊他的忠魂！」洪承疇保全不得，只好將他斬殺，年僅十七。

王之仁

明朝興國公王之仁把全家老小溺死之後，在松江登陸，穿得非常體面，百姓驚訝地圍觀，王之仁入見洪承疇，自稱：「之仁是前朝大帥，不願意暗中自溺；願意來求見，光明正大的死。」承疇以禮相待，命他薙髮歸順清朝，之仁不從，於是洪承疇決定處斬王之仁。之仁死前，大罵承疇：「以前先帝設三壇（其實是九壇）祭你，跟祭一條狗也差不多！」

家族

洪承疇系英都洪氏東軒五房族裔，曾祖洪以詵、祖洪有秩、父洪啟熙，母傅氏。