The explanation of this is as follows.
An incompetent general, as above mentioned, had been sent at the instance of the eunuchs to supersede an officer who had been holding his own with considerable success, but who was not a _persona grata_ at court.

The new general at once decided that no territory outside the Great Wall was to be held against the Manchus, and gave orders for the immediate retirement of all troops and Chinese residents generally.
To this command the civil governor of Ning-yuean, and the military commandant, sent an indignant protest, writing out an oath with their blood that they would never surrender the city.

Nurhachu seized the opportunity, and delivered a violent attack, with which he seemed to be making some progress, until at length artillery was brought into play.
The havoc caused by the guns at close quarters was terrific, and the Manchus fled.

This defeat was a blow from which Nurhachu never recovered; his chagrin brought on a serious illness, and he died in 1626, aged sixty-eight.

Later on, when his descendants were sitting upon the throne of China, he was canonised as T`ai Tsu, the Great Ancestor, the representatives of the four preceding generations of his family being canonised as Princes.
Nurhachu was succeeded by his fourth son, Abkhai, then thirty-four years of age, and a tried warrior.