Mu Jige herself harbored aspirations for power. However, Nurhaci had too many exceptional sons, all shrewd individuals. Mu Jige was unwilling to be subservient to any of her imperial brothers, so she focused her energy on nurturing the fourteen Prince, Dorgon, who was more than ten years her junior, hoping to groom him as the successor Khan, while she herself would become a regent empress.
This ambition of hers greatly displeased her imperial brothers, especially the eighth Prince, Hong Taiji. As one of Nurhaci’s most outstanding sons, Hong Taiji was in his prime, possessed a meticulous mind, harbored considerable ambition, and commanded substantial strength. Facing this direct threat from his imperial sister, he opted for a direct retaliatory strike.
With each expedition, Hong Taiji would send Mu Jige to the most perilous combat zones. Ostensibly, it was to allow his imperial sister to achieve great merit. However, any discerning eye could see that Hong Taiji intended to use the Ming army to deal with her. Even if he didn't intend to eliminate Mu Jige, a few defeats at the hands of the elite Ming forces would certainly tarnish her reputation within the army.
During the Battle of Guangning, Hong Taiji employed the same tactic. Citing insufficient troops, he only dispatched Mu Jige with five white-clad "Bāyala" to search for a passage to the enemy's rear. The events that followed were as recorded in the "Manwen Laodang" (Veritable Records of the Manchus). Mu Jige and six others encountered tens of thousands of elite Ming "Yebushou" troops. The two sides engaged in a fierce battle at Juhua Mountain. Mu Jige emerged victorious but was severely wounded and unable to descend the mountain.
The Ming commander, Xiong Tingbi, had long heard of Nurhaci's subordinate, a "witch" who could command the elements. Upon learning that she was trapped at Juhua Mountain, he unhesitatingly redeployed all his "Yebushou" units from the front lines to attack Juhua Mountain, with the express purpose of eliminating Mu Jige, this "witch."
Xiong Tingbi understood that the loss of Guangning was inconsequential, as there were still two defensive lines at Ningyuan and Shanhai Pass. However, Mu Jige was unique. Eliminating her would be equivalent to emptying the "mana pool" of the Later Jin army. Without magical support, the Later Jin army, despite its formidable combat prowess, was comprised of ordinary men, each with two shoulders and one head. How could they possibly be stronger than the Ming army?
Concurrently, Nurhaci personally arrived at the battlefield. Upon hearing that the Fifth Princess was trapped at Juhua Mountain, Nurhaci was greatly alarmed and immediately dispatched Hong Taiji with his cavalry to her rescue.
Hong Taiji dared not defy the order from his father and could only set aside his personal grudges, rushing to her aid.
The reinforcements from both sides arrived at Juhua Mountain almost simultaneously, leading to another fierce engagement—the brutal battle described by the monk Xingyao.
The Later Jin forces were outnumbered and facing the elite Ming "Yebushou," they began to falter. At this critical juncture, the already severely wounded Mu Jige acted again, arranging a flying stone formation on Juhua Mountain. The barrage rained down upon the Ming army, causing immense suffering. The Later Jin forces seized this opportunity to break through the Ming formations, slaughtering countless soldiers and repelling the "Yebushou."
Mu Jige, having expended her last reserves of true qi by employing her magic, fell into a coma. After emergency treatment from the accompanying military physicians, Mu Jige awoke, but her temperament had drastically changed. She attacked anyone she saw, killing over a hundred of her own soldiers in a fit of rage, and even attempted to kill Hong Taiji.
Hong Taiji was truly at his wit's end. He adopted the plan proposed by a subordinate who feared for his life: they shot Mu Jige's legs with firearms, rendering her immobile. However, even in her "paralyzed" state, Mu Jige remained as ferocious as a beast, and over a dozen "Bāyala" could not get close to her.
At this point, another subordinate of Hong Taiji offered a suggestion: have the military craftsmen construct a heavy coffin on-site, partially bury it underground, and then drive Mu Jige into it. Once inside, the coffin would be sealed, and heavy stones would be placed upon it, followed by earth to cover it.
Thus, Mu Jige was temporarily "buried alive" at Juhua Mountain.
Hong Taiji returned to the main camp and reported to Nurhaci. Nurhaci dared not release the Fifth Princess on his own accord; her combat power was too terrifying, and she even dared to kill her imperial brother. What was his own authority as father compared to that?
Helpless, Nurhaci sought out Mu Jige's former teacher, a retired old shaman, to ask for advice on how to handle the situation.
The old shaman arrived at Juhua Mountain and discovered that Mu Jige's magical power level was in the negative, indicating a state of qi deviation (she had been too eager to win this battle). Her master had no means of remedy. Reluctant to personally kill her beloved disciple, but unable to keep her confined indefinitely, the old shaman realized that Mu Jige's negative magical power was actually increasing, leading her further down the path of demonic cultivation. Sooner or later, she would break free from the coffin.
At that point, it was highly probable that the Eight Banners of Manchu would be reduced to only three or four flags by her hand.