The Revolt of the Three Feudatories: All-in at the start in Beijing

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Faced with Zhou Peigong's assertive stance, three of the Western envoys were sweating profusely, realizing that they had unknowingly become his prey.

Zhou Peigong ate a pomelo, spat out three large seeds, and then looked at the envoy of the Annamese Zheng family.

"His Majesty has long known that you are flirting with Wu Sangui, but His Majesty doesn't care. You can even send troops to join Wu Sangui in resisting the Han!"

"But the consequence of doing so is that the throne of Annam will no longer belong to the Trinh family!"

Seeing that the intimidation had been effective enough, Zhou Peigong smiled.

"When our Great Han Dynasty was about to march south, you came to the Great Han as envoys. It wasn't just the king standing behind you; didn't those nobles say anything to you?"

"Or rather, what is their attitude?"

As someone with exceptional diplomatic talent, Zhou Peigong sensed something unusual the moment he entered the Zhuangyuanlou restaurant, because a subject acting as an envoy would not dare to spend so much.

Sure enough, as soon as Zhou Peigong finished speaking, the envoy from Annam, Nguyen, immediately changed his expression, becoming very obsequious, and handed over a letter.

"Those people say, adults will understand once they see it!"

Zhou Peigong took the letter with a solemn expression, carefully read the back, and revealed an expression of "I knew it."

This letter was written by Wei Zhidan, a wealthy merchant based in Hoi An, Annam, and an anti-Qing restoration organization based along the coast.

They requested that after the Han Dynasty annihilated Wu Sangui, it immediately send troops to Annam. They were willing to act as internal collaborators, provide sufficient food, and submit to the rule of the Han Dynasty.

Zhou Peigong was not surprised at all. Although these people were using the pretext of overthrowing the Qing and restoring the Ming, they were actually all seeking their own interests, and in Annam they obeyed orders but not proclamations.

Now, all maritime trade in the Southeast Peninsula has been cut off by the Han Dynasty. Their protection is gone, and the Nguyen family might turn on them when they get hungry. That's why they are so eager to jump out now.

Zhou Peigong put the letter into his sleeve, then looked at the others, as if to say, "Don't you have one?"

The envoy from the Kingdom of Toungoo in Burma looked around, removed his headscarf, and took out a letter from it.

"Your Excellency, this was entrusted to us domestically!"

Zhou Peigong took the document without looking at it, then looked at the envoys from Siam and the Zheng family. Seeing that the two did not make any move, he said nothing more.

Siam is landlocked, has a large population, and boasts a strong elite army of 50,000 men. Moreover, with Burma and Annam blocking its way, it naturally doesn't have many ambitions.

As for Zheng, she was a fickle woman who switched sides between Wu Sangui and the Han Dynasty, and was destined to die by the sword.

When Zhou Peigong finished reading the letter from the Toungoo Kingdom, he was completely stunned, because it was not written by Han Chinese, nor even by Toungoo nobles, but by a group of Hindus.

Their meaning is that they know the Indian king is from the Han Dynasty and that he is building temples in Bengal. They want to return to the embrace of Shiva and urge the Han Dynasty to attack, as they are ready to welcome him at any time.

Bah! Shameless!

All they do is talk the talk, they don't spend a single penny!

After cursing inwardly, Zhou Peigong put the letter back in his sleeve and bowed to the Western envoy.

"Gentlemen, His Majesty the Emperor is very busy and has no time to meet with you. He can take you back and tell your king that the conditions of the Han Dynasty's vassal state will never change!"

"Before the Han army arrives, they can quietly enjoy the pleasures of being king; but after the Han army arrives, they may only become prisoners!"

After Zhou Peigong finished speaking, he turned and left, leaving only the two envoys looking wary. They had just handed over two letters and didn't know who was the devil!

……

At that very moment, inside the Great Zhou Imperial Palace in Hengzhou Prefecture, a large group of military generals and civil officials gathered around a soft couch, looking at the pale-faced Wu Sangui with worried expressions.

Wu Shifan, who had just turned ten, grabbed Wu Sangui's hand and shook it repeatedly, crying.

The imperial physician accompanying the army was an elderly man nearing seventy. After taking Wu Sangui's pulse, he shook his head and sighed.

"His Majesty suffered a health injury in his early years, and now, in his old age, the stress and anxiety have led to his stroke!"

Upon hearing this, all the generals showed expressions of understanding.

It was all because of Zu Zeqing that she got so angry.

At the height of the Han Dynasty's prestige after its defeat of the Manchus, Zu Zeqing, a close cousin of Wu Sangui, actually wanted to occupy Xichuan and declare independence.

Even though Wu Sangui was meticulous and eventually placed Zu Zeqing under house arrest before he could rise to power, he still suffered a stroke due to the blow.

You must understand that Xichuan is the granary of the entire Great Zhou army. How much trust must one have placed in it to allow it to be defended?

It hurts most when your own people stab you in the back!

In fact, Wu Sangui did not know that it was Li Yong who used Wang Fuchen's letter to force Zu Zeqing to surrender to the Han, which is why Wu Sangui took such a desperate gamble.

After being arrested, Zu Zeqing dared not say anything.

Because you'll die a horrible death.

Just then, Wu Sangui's personal guard commander entered the room with a look of anxiety on his face. Because of the commotion, everyone looked at him.

Ma Bao, who has a fiery temper, stepped forward and scolded him.

"Old Zhou, His Majesty is unwell and cannot hear military reports. We can discuss this later!"

Wu Sangui was on his last breath; if he heard bad news, he might die of anger!

Upon hearing this, Zhou Laoxi did not step back. Instead, he took a white jade token from his belt.

"His Majesty has decreed that, regardless of the matter, all battle reports from the front lines must be read to him immediately. Those who disobey will be executed!"

Zhou Laoxi had followed Wu Sangui for over thirty years and could be considered extremely loyal. In addition, he had Wu Sangui's token, so everyone stopped talking about it. It would be better for him to die of anger.

Zhou Laoxi, expressionless, opened the letter first.

"Your Majesty, a scout reports!"

"The Tartar emperor has returned to Beijing from Xi'an, and his army has been training even more intensively in recent days, ready to march south at any moment!"

"Half a month ago, the Han court's navy captured Taiwan. Prince Yanping, Zhu Jing, committed suicide by self-immolation. The entire Zheng family, along with Prince Ningjing, Zhu Shuquan, were taken to Beijing!"

"News has come from the Trinh family of Annam that the Mughal Empire to their southwest has been defeated by the Indian king of the Han court and has seized control of Bengal. Furthermore, the Han navy has blockaded the coast from Guangxi to Annam, preventing the delivery of military supplies!"

After reciting the entire text in one breath, Zhou Laoxi stepped aside and stood still, just like Wu Sangui, who remained healthy and vigorous.

Just then, Wu Sangui convulsed, foaming at his crooked mouth and making whimpering sounds.

"Grandpa Emperor!"

Upon seeing this, Wu Shifan immediately stepped forward, grabbed Wu Sangui's hand, and turned to shout:

"The imperial physician! The imperial physician!"

The elderly imperial physician, upon hearing the call, hurriedly entered the room from outside. After observing the situation, he immediately inserted acupuncture needles, and as the silver needles pierced the acupoints, Wu Sangui calmed down once again.

Just as the imperial physician was about to say something, Wu Sangui suddenly opened his eyes, and his crooked mouth, caused by a stroke, was straightened, startling the imperial physician so much that he fell to the ground.

Bang! As if he were perfectly healthy, Wu Sangui sat up abruptly from the bed and slammed his fist on the bed frame!

"Ma Bao, mobilize the troops!"

"The decisive battle of Nanyang!"