If Wu Sangui had not surrendered, would the Qing army have entered the pass?


At that time, Wu Sangui only had about 20,000 to 30,000 troops, while Li Zicheng claimed a million-strong army, but in reality could only fight with over 100,000, and they had just entered Beijing not long ago, with their forces not yet fully organized. In simple terms, they were a group of farmers who had just laid down their hoes.
And what about Dorgon? Ten thousand elite cavalry, a battle-hardened army that had fought its way from Baishan and Heishui all the way here.
Even if Wu Sangui truly surrendered to Li Zicheng, these two groups combined wouldn’t be able to withstand Dorgon’s 100,000 iron cavalry. It was only a matter of fighting a few more battles, dragging out the days a little longer.
Wu Sangui’s choice at that time, rather than determining the fate of the world, was more about deciding his own destiny. Surrendering to Li Zicheng, he probably wouldn’t live to see Kangxi pacify the Three Feudatories; he would have paid the price thirty years earlier.
So, this question isn’t that complicated: the Qing army’s entry into the pass was an inevitable trend, and Wu Sangui was just the person pushed to the forefront. Whether he surrendered or not, it wouldn’t change the outcome, only his own death.
What do you think? If Wu Sangui had truly surrendered to Li Zicheng, could there still be any change in this game?
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