Were Shanxi merchants the culprits who smuggled salt and iron to Hou Jin, leading to the demise of the Ming Dynasty? Or is it the national backbone that holds the world in mind and promotes the Qing D

Were Shanxi merchants the culprits who smuggled salt and iron to Hou Jin, leading to the demise of the Ming Dynasty? Or is it the national backbone that holds the world in mind and promotes the Qing Dynasty to realize the unification and integration of China?

Just to make money.

In addition, it must be made clear that the demise of the Ming Dynasty was caused by Li Zicheng. Li Zicheng invaded Beijing, and Emperor Chongzhen hanged himself. This is something you should have read in novels, but you still need to know.

The hundreds of thousands of Houjin people, without Li Zicheng, would not have been able to enter Shanhaiguan. Not to mention Shanxi merchants, even adding Hui merchants, salt merchants and various merchants is not enough. After all, they don't have aircraft or cannons. Although salt and iron have an impact, it's not that serious. Nurhachi risked his life and couldn't defeat Ningyuan, let alone Shanhaiguan.