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Suning, based in Nanjing, coordinated three major campaigns to suppress Wu Sangui. Meanwhile, the administration of Jiangnan was gradually being streamlined under the leadership of AI officials dispatched by Afu, and all industries were ready to be revitalized.

On this day, a guard came to report that a family member of a former Ming official was requesting an audience, claiming to be from the Zhuang family in Jiaxing, Zhejiang.

"The dealer?" Su Ning thought for a moment and then remembered this family.

The Zhuang family was once a prominent scholarly family during the Ming Dynasty. When the Qing army marched south, they were framed by Ao Bai's henchmen because they possessed books that satirized the Qing court. Almost all the men in the family were slaughtered, and only the women survived. They relied on selling their land and the help of old friends to eke out a living in their old house in Jiaxing. It is said that in order to avoid disaster, they deliberately played tricks on the gods and ghosts, making the house a "haunted house" that the locals dared not approach.

"Please let them in." Su Ning wanted to see what brought the widow of the Zhuang family here.

A moment later, a woman dressed in plain clothes, about thirty years old, with a haggard face but still showing traces of her former charm, walked into the hall with her head bowed and eyes lowered, supported by a young maid.

Behind her followed a girl who was even younger, about fifteen or sixteen years old. The girl was dressed in a light blue cloth dress, her head was down, so her face could not be seen, but she was nimble and her steps were light.

Upon seeing Su Ning seated on the throne, the woman immediately pulled her maidservant to kneel on the ground, her voice choked with sobs and excitement: "This sinful woman, Tao of the Zhuang family, pays her respects to Commander Su! Thank you, Commander Su, for your divine grace in avenging my entire Zhuang family this blood feud!"

As she spoke, she began to sob.

Su Ning slightly raised her hand: "Madam Zhuang, please rise. There's no need for such a grand gesture. May I ask what you mean by revenge?"

With the help of her maid, Madam Zhuang rose, wiping away her tears with a handkerchief, and said sorrowfully, "General Su, please forgive me! It was the traitor Ao Bai's henchmen who framed my Zhuang family and caused the deaths of all the men in my family! If it weren't for Ao Bai's orders, how dare such villains do this? Now that General Su has come to the capital and personally executed Ao Bai in a public manner, leaving his body exposed in the streets, such a great kindness is like a second life for my Zhuang family! This sinful woman... this sinful woman has no way to repay this debt!"

After saying this, he was about to bow again.

Suning then realized that this was the root of the problem.

His pacification of the realm and execution of Ao Bai were based on political and military considerations, without considering that he also avenged many victims like Zhuang Jia.

His tone softened: "I see. Ao Bai's perverse actions deserved his punishment. My killing him was in accordance with the law and the justice of the world. Madam Zhuang need not worry too much."

His gaze, however, involuntarily fell on the little maid in green behind Tao, who kept her head down.

Although this girl was taciturn and seemed timid, her intelligence and beauty were hard to conceal.

Su Ning's heart stirred, and she thought of Shuang'er from the original novel, who was loyal to Wei Xiaobao, had good martial arts skills, and was well-behaved and lovable.

The maidservant of the Zhuang family, and of such a young age and with such an air of elegance…

Tao was an exceptionally clever woman. She was able to lead a group of women to struggle for survival after the family's great upheaval. Her ability to read people and situations was already unparalleled.

She noticed that Su Ning's gaze had been subtly sweeping over the maid behind her several times, and she immediately understood the situation.

Her mind raced. The family business had long since fallen into ruin, and they were now only able to survive thanks to the family's past prosperity and the hard work of women like them.

If we can seize this opportunity to climb up to Commander Su's towering tree, even if it's just by offering a maid, it would be a great guarantee for the future stability of the Zhuang family.

Although this girl is well-behaved, it would be her good fortune to be able to stay by Su Shuai's side.

Thinking of this, Madam Tao quickly pulled over the maid in green behind her and said to Su Ning with a smile, "General Su, this is an orphan girl named Shuang'er whom my late husband took in when he was alive. She grew up in the Zhuang family and is very well-behaved and sensible, as well as quick and efficient. General Su is very busy and always needs someone to serve you tea and snacks. If you don't mind, please let this girl stay by your side to serve you tea and water and do your best. This will be a small way for the Zhuang family to repay your kindness."

The maid named Shuang'er was pushed forward by Tao Shi. Her body trembled slightly, her head drooped even lower, and her ears turned red. She nervously twisted the hem of her clothes with both hands, but dared not make a sound.

Upon hearing this, Su Ning immediately understood; it was indeed her.

Looking at Shuang'er, who was now meek and timid like a frightened deer, he found it amusing to compare her to the clever and righteous woman he remembered.

Now that he wields immense power, he naturally has no shortage of servants around him.

However, accepting Shuang'er would not only satisfy the Zhuang family's desire to curry favor, but also give him another person who knew his background and might be useful in the future, so there was no harm in it.

So she nodded slightly and said in a calm tone, "Madam Zhuang is very kind. In that case, let this girl stay."

Upon hearing this, Tao was overjoyed and quickly nudged Shuang'er, saying, "Shuang'er, hurry up and thank Commander Su for taking you in!"

Shuang'er hurriedly knelt down to pay her respects, her voice barely audible: "This servant...this servant Shuang'er thanks Commander Su for his kindness."

"Get up," Su Ning said calmly. "From now on, you will serve in the manor."

Tao thanked him profusely again before taking his leave, feeling satisfied. He felt as if half of the heavy stone that had been weighing on his heart for many years had finally been lifted.

Shuang'er, feeling somewhat lost and uneasy, remained in the unfamiliar Marshal's Mansion, a symbol of supreme power.

Her fate was quietly altered by the Zhuang family's wife's act of "repaying a debt of gratitude."

Shuang'er secretly raised her eyes and quickly glanced at the young but imposing Commander Su. Her heart was pounding like a deer's.

……

After Shuang'er was taken away and settled by the head maid of the mansion, Su Ning sat alone in his study, his fingers unconsciously tapping on the table, a thought that even he himself found somewhat absurd.

Mu Jianping, Fang Yi, Princess Jianning, and now Shuang'er...

The images of these women flashed through his mind one by one.

Suddenly, he realized that these people all seemed to have some connection with Wei Xiaobao, the "Little Guizi" whom he had personally nipped in the bud in the Forbidden City.

In their original destiny, they should all have been Wei Xiaobao's wives and concubines.

“Heh,” Su Ning couldn’t help but chuckle, a hint of amusement and a touch of mockery of fate in his voice. “I killed him, and now all his ‘destinies’ are gathering around me? What is this? Is it a compensation from fate, or some kind of bizarre collection?”

He wasn't a superstitious person, but the coincidence did seem a little strange to him.

However, this thought only flashed through my mind.

To him, these women were more like political marriages, symbols of spoils of war, or, like Shuang'er, maids presented by his subordinates.

The power and resources they represent, as well as the value they themselves may bring, are what he focuses on.

As for the so-called "original plot," it was already fragmented the moment he descended into this world and personally changed the course of history, so it is not reliable.

Putting aside these pointless thoughts, Su Ning's gaze sharpened and calmed again as he looked at the huge military map hanging on the wall.

On the map, the three red arrows representing the Red Flag Army have tightly surrounded the Yunnan-Guizhou region where Wu Sangui's remnants were active from the west, central and east, like a noose that is constantly tightening.

Just then, the guards came again to report: "Reporting to Commander Su, another secret envoy has arrived from Kunming, carrying a letter written by Wu Sangui himself, saying... saying that he is willing to give up his title of king, only asking to retain a corner of Yunnan, to be a vassal and pay tribute for generations, and earnestly requesting Commander Su to cease hostilities and negotiate peace."

Su Ning didn't even lift his eyelids, coldly saying, "Tell the envoy that I don't want to hear the same nonsense a second time. If Wu Sangui has even a shred of self-awareness, he should surrender himself and perhaps save his own life. If he continues to resist, the only way out is the extermination of his entire clan!"

He paused, his tone chilling, and delivered the final decision: "Order the forward command posts on the western, central, and eastern fronts! The time for the general offensive has arrived. There is no need to feign compliance with Wu Sangui any longer! The three armies, according to the established plan, will launch the final general offensive against Wu Sangui's remnants! Within one month, we must completely wipe out the enemy and thoroughly quell the Three Feudatories!"

"Yes, sir!" The messenger obeyed the order and quickly left.

The order spread like wildfire throughout the entire army.

On the western front, the main force of the First Field Army was no longer content with merely containing the enemy and began a strong offensive against key passes in southern Sichuan, with its advance pointing directly at Guiyang.

On the central front, the main force of the Red Flag Army, personally led by Su Ning, after stabilizing Hunan, split into several routes, like sharp knives, thrusting into the heart of Guizhou, with their target being Kunming, Wu Sangui's last stronghold. On the eastern front, after successfully repelling Zheng Jing's army's harassment of the coast, some elite troops also began to move towards Guangxi to support the central army and prevent Wu Sangui's remnants from escaping towards Vietnam.

The battle horn has sounded!
Having lost its strategic buffer and negotiating leverage, Wu Sangui's group suffered a complete morale collapse under the thunderous blows of the Red Flag Army's three armies.

Many generals, seeing that the situation was hopeless, either surrendered with their troops or abandoned the city and fled.

The so-called strategic passes and passes were rendered useless in the face of the Red Flag Army's absolute strength.

While listening to the reports of victory from the front lines, Suning, far away in Nanjing, would occasionally glance into the depths of his mansion.

There, he gathered several women whose fates were intertwined with that of "Wei Xiaobao".

Their existence seems to symbolize his complete control over the era and his rewriting of all old patterns.

Now, with the imminent destruction of the Three Feudatories, there will be no one or any force in the world that can stop him from carrying out his will.

……

Kunming, a major city in the southwest known as the "Spring City," is now completely shrouded in the shadow of war and a chilling atmosphere.

Outside the city, red flags fluttered and cannons roared; inside the city, people were filled with fear and order collapsed.

Wu Sangui's illusion of making a last stand by relying on the city's defenses evaporated quickly like dew in the sun in the face of the Red Flag Army's overwhelming superior strength and firepower.

The final offensive was launched at dawn.

Under the cover of powerful artillery fire, the main force of the central army launched an overwhelming offensive against the walls of Kunming.

The city wall collapsed in many places under the continuous bombardment of heavy artillery, and the defenders were terrified.

The spies who had already infiltrated the city, in coordination with the disloyal defenders, opened the city gates.

"The city has fallen! The Red Flag Army has entered the city!" Panic swept through the city like a plague in an instant.

The remaining Wu troops attempted a desperate street battle, relying on the alleys and lanes, but their resistance was quickly crushed by the Red Flag Army's well-trained squad tactics and automatic firearms.

The streets were filled with fleeing soldiers, refugees, and looters taking advantage of the chaos, creating extreme disorder.

The Prince of Pingxi's Mansion (formerly the Yongli Emperor's temporary palace) was now in a state of utter devastation.

Servants and maids scattered and fled, leaving only chaos and ruin in the once magnificent palaces and pavilions.

Wu Sangui, dressed in a python robe, sat upright in the hall where he had once received the Qing court's investiture, his face ashen and his eyes vacant.

Hearing the increasingly loud shouts and gunshots outside, I knew the final moment had arrived.

Throughout his life, he betrayed the Ming, Li Zicheng, and the Qing dynasties. Despite his cunning and scheming, he ultimately could not escape the fate of dying and his clan being exterminated.

"Your Highness! Let's go quickly! Through the secret passage..." A loyal old servant knelt down and cried out.

Wu Sangui smiled bitterly and shook his head: "Leave? Where can I go? The world is vast, but there is no place for me, Wu Sangui, to stand."

He suddenly drew his sword from his waist, held it across his neck, and with a final glint of ruthlessness and resentment in his eyes, he slashed it forcefully!
Blood splattered as this once-powerful warlord, who had stirred up the world, met his end on his throne.

Almost simultaneously, Red Flag Army soldiers broke through the gates of the Prince's Mansion and poured inside.

Wu Sangui's personal guards, who were putting up a stubborn resistance, were quickly annihilated, and the prince's family members and officials were all captured.

Meanwhile, Shang Kexi's son, Shang Zhixin, in Guangzhou, and Geng Jingzhong in Fuzhou, also met their end.

Under the combined attack of the Red Flag Army's eastern front forces and the Anti-Justice Army, they either suffered defeat and committed suicide or were captured and handed over by their subordinates.

The two vassal states of Pingnan and Jingnan were also subsequently destroyed.

After the core strongholds of the Three Feudatories, including Kunming, Guangzhou, and Fuzhou, were captured, a purge targeting the core members and their cronies was swiftly launched.

Su Ning's order was clear and ruthless: "The ringleaders must be punished, and those who are coerced into committing crimes will be implicated, as a warning to others!"

Under the supervision of the judicial AI dispatched by Afu, a series of public trials were held in various places.

Although Wu Sangui, Shang Zhixin, and Geng Jingzhong were already dead, their bodies were still beheaded and displayed to the public.

Their sons, brothers, and core generals and advisors who resolutely followed them in the rebellion were identified one by one.

"Upon investigation, Wu Yingqi, Wu Shifan, and twenty-eight other blood relatives of the traitor Wu have been found guilty of colluding with the rebels and committing treason. Their crimes are irrefutable, and they are sentenced to immediate execution and the extermination of their entire families!"

"Upon investigation, 173 relatives and associates of the traitorous chieftain, including Shang Zhixin and Geng Jingzhong, have been sentenced to death and their entire clan exterminated!"

The order was given, and on the execution ground, heads rolled and blood flowed in streams.

The direct bloodline and core followers of the Three Feudatories were almost completely wiped out.

His family property, mansion, and fields were all confiscated and the proceeds were deposited into the public treasury.

This bloody purge was not only to retaliate against the rebellion of the Three Feudatories, but also an inevitable move for Suning to establish his authority and completely eradicate the soil of the old era of warlordism.

He wanted to declare to the world in the most brutal way: those who divide China and hold military power will only face death, with no chance of survival!

With the extermination of the entire clan of the core members of the Three Feudatories, the once powerful "Three Feudatories" that dominated the south and influenced the political situation of the entire country was uprooted and completely became history.

From then on, the southwestern, Guangdong, Guangxi, and Fujian regions were completely brought under the control of the Red Flag Army.

When the news reached Nanjing, Suning simply responded with a "yes".

With the Three Feudatories quelled, organized resistance forces across the continent had been largely eliminated.

Only the Zheng family of Taiwan, separated by the sea, and Shenlong Island, which is entrenched outside the pass, as well as some chieftains and tribes in remote areas, still need to be dealt with.

The great cause of unifying the world has already seen the dawn of the finish line.

Meanwhile, Suning's gaze has already turned to the isolated island beyond the waves, and even further afield, to his thoughts on how to build a brand new empire.

Shuang'er, Su Ning's personal maid, stepped forward and said, "Commander, please have some tea."

"Hmm, Shuang'er, I heard you're from Yangzhou?" Su Ning looked up at the well-behaved Shuang'er and asked.

"Reporting to the Commander-in-Chief, Shuang'er is indeed from Yangzhou."

"When I think about the crimes committed by the Manchus in Yangzhou, I really want to kill them all."

...(End of chapter)