You can't only love the Qing Dynasty when you're eating the fruits of others' labor.

Chapter 287 Wu Sangui Group Makes a Collective Turnaround~
The next day.

Disheartened, Liu Xuanchu drowned his sorrows in a tavern, unable to quell his anger. Four months earlier, he had suggested sending troops into Hunan, but Wu Sangui could not bring himself to do it.

I only revealed the real reason yesterday when I was pushed to the limit.

Fear the flag like a tiger!

How ridiculous, how ridiculous!

How can a lord who prioritizes profit over personal safety in matters of great importance be expected to contend for the Central Plains?
suddenly~
Two soldiers barged in.

"Lord Liu, we've been looking for you for ages."

"What's the matter?"

"His Highness has summoned you."

"Don't go!"

Liu Xuanchu refused outright.

"Lord Liu, we are sorry, we have offended you."

The two men, one on each side, lifted Liu Xuanchu, stuffed him into the sedan chair, and carried him into the Prince's mansion.

……

Inside the palace.

Wu Sangui frowned.

"Xuan Chu, how did you get so drunk? Quick, give him some hangover soup."

After a bowl of sour and spicy hangover soup, Liu Xuanchu's mind cleared up slightly.

"Your Majesty?"

"Take a look at the Crown Prince's letter."

After reading the contents, Liu Xuanchu was horrified. Just as he was about to get up, he slipped and fell right in front of Wu Sangui.

Wu Sangui quickly helped him up, speaking with concern.

"Xuan Chu, are you alright?"

"Your Highness, this is an opportunity that will not come again! Let us raise an army immediately!"

Wu Sangui pondered for a moment.

"Summon the generals stationed in various locations to return to Kunming immediately to discuss important matters."

Liu Xuanchu's eyes were bloodshot, and he grabbed Wu Sangui's sleeve.

"Your Highness, time is precious. We can start preparing for the uprising."

"what do you mean?"

"Our troops marched out of Hengzhou, and our supplies were moved forward. We are just waiting for the order to attack and capture Hunan."

"Okay~"

……

Four days later, Wu's generals and officers, who were stationed in various places, arrived in Kunming one after another.

The Prince's mansion was under heavy security both inside and out.

"The Prince of Pingxi has arrived!"

Wu Sangui, fully armored and helmeted, entered the meeting hall.

The military generals included: Ma Bao, Hu Guozhu, Wang Pingfan, Wu Zhimao, Zhang Guozhu, Gao Dejie, Wang Fuchen, Li Benshen, and Tan Hong.

Among the civil officials were: Xia Guoxiang, Liu Xuanchu, and Guo Zhuangtu.

In addition, there is his son, Wu Yinglin.

"Meet the prince."

"Everyone is safe."

Everyone was shocked, their eyes filled with fervor. Was the prince preparing to ascend the throne as emperor?

"Gentlemen, the Crown Prince has written a letter to me. Prime Minister Xia, please read it."

"Yes."

Wu Sangui had three daughters, who were married off to his trusted confidants Xia Guoxiang, Hu Guozhu, and Guo Zhuangtu, respectively, in order to win over the hearts of the people.

……

Xia Guoxiang finished reading.

Li Benshen, Wu Sangui's confidant and old friend, was the first to speak: "Your Highness, it can't be fake, can it?"

Wu Sangui smiled: "Absolutely true."

The crowd exchanged bewildered glances and gasped in shock.

"What do you all think?"

Xia Guoxiang: "Your Highness, I suggest we take Hunan first, then attack Jiangxi. At the same time, send someone to contact Prince Pingnan, Shang Kexi, and ask him to send troops to attack Fujian and Zhejiang."

Hu Guozhu: "I am willing to be a vanguard."

Wang Pingfan: "I am willing to lead a detachment out of Sichuan and into Shaanxi to develop our forces, tie down some of the Qing army's troops, and support the Hunan-Jiangxi battlefield."

Ma Bao: "I'll take Changsha first."

Gao Dejie: ​​"I'm going to attack Jiangxi."

Guo Zhuangtu: "I am willing to garrison Yunnan and provide provisions for the army."

Liu Xuanchu: "I will write a proclamation denouncing the Qing dynasty."

Everyone offered suggestions, creating a vibrant and lively atmosphere in the meeting room.

Finally, Wu Sangui stood up.

"Everyone will obey the order."

"Your humble servant is here." "The Qing court is brutal, and the people are suffering terribly. I have decided to follow the will of Heaven and the hearts of the people, and prepare to overthrow the Qing and rebuild China."

"Long live!"

Wu Yinglin, the son, was the first to shout "Long live the Emperor!" and everyone else followed suit and knelt down.

Wu Sangui was overjoyed and quickly helped everyone up.

"Ma Bao!"

"The end will be here."

"Go to Hengzhou to make preparations. Once the cannons are in place, the army will sail down the river and capture Changsha."

"As ordered."

……

After the meeting.

Xia Guoxiang, Liu Xuanchu, and Li Benshen were left to have dinner with Wu Sangui and his son.

After a few drinks, Wu Sangui was overjoyed.

"I never imagined that the Eight Banners army would degenerate to such a state, and that Emperor Shunzhi would become so isolated. Hahahaha. When I first read the Crown Prince's letter, I couldn't even believe it. How many years has the Qing Dynasty been in power?"

Everyone laughed.

Liu Xuanchu offered a suggestion: "Your Highness, please summon the Crown Prince back to Kunming immediately, lest he fall victim to Jiang Qingyun's treachery."

The crowd stopped smiling and began to agree.

Wu Yinglin also promptly expressed his concern for his brother.

“Xuan Chu’s reminder is right. I’ll go write a letter now.”

Wu Sangui temporarily left his seat, and the others continued to discuss the Northern Expedition.

They set out from Yunnan on a northern expedition.

The first step in the strategic plan was undisputed: take Hunan first, then Jiangxi. These two provinces were relatively wealthy, and once captured, the army's finances and supplies would be guaranteed.

The second step of the strategy is highly controversial.

Liu Xuanchu: "Contact Wang Jinbao, the commander of the Sichuan Green Standard Army, who is a former subordinate of the prince, and try to get him to join us. Then, we can capture Hanzhong, sweep through Shaanxi and Gansu, and open up a northern battlefield to contain the Qing court from the flank."

Xia Guoxiang: "I disagree. Wars are fought with money and supplies. I believe we should take Jiangnan in one fell swoop. Jiangnan is rich. With the money and supplies from Jiangnan, we can expand our army by 50 within a year."

Wu Yinglin suddenly spoke up: "Esteemed uncles and elders, I should not speak out of turn. But since this concerns my father's great cause, I dare to say that I agree with my brother-in-law."

Li Benshen lowered his head and ate his food.

……

The argument between Xia and Liu escalated, to the point that Wu Sangui was greatly troubled when he returned.

"You two are my right-hand men, why are you arguing so much? First, take Hunan and Jiangxi, then we'll see what happens."

"As ordered."

Wu Sangui temporarily quelled the conflict.

Li Benshen then raised a question: "Your Highness, can Wang Jinbao, the commander of the Sichuan Green Standard Army, be of use to us?"

The table fell silent instantly.

Wang Jinbao was a fierce general in the Western Camp, but he was promoted from a Green Standard Army lieutenant to the governor of Sichuan by a single sentence from the Grand Secretary Jiang Qingyun.

Wang Jinbao was absent from today's military meeting, citing his inability to leave as he was leading troops to suppress the rebellion of the mountain barbarians in Sichuan.

This is indeed a problem!
Wu Sangui pondered for a moment.

"In this way, after our army captures Changsha, I will invite him to Kunming to reminisce. If he comes, he will be loyal. If he does not come, he will be disloyal."

"What the prince said is absolutely true."

After a few more rounds of drinks, everyone said goodbye and left.

The preparations for the army's departure were numerous and complex. Kunming was filled with the sounds of people and horses, and the army was frequently being mobilized. Anyone with a sense of the situation could guess what the Prince of Pingxi was planning.

……

Thousands of miles away.

Jiang Qingyun is leading 500 cavalrymen on a desperate journey, covering at least 150 li a day.

He received the secret report from the capital two days earlier than Wu Sangui.

After reading the letter, he made a decision after only a quarter of an hour of thought.

Return to Beijing immediately!
Seize the imperial power!

In order to reach the capital as soon as possible, Jiang Qingyun abandoned Liu Rushi, Liu Shu, Huang Xiu, Huang Zongxi, and Sanhuamao, taking only 500 light cavalrymen, one man and three horses, and galloped back to the capital.

The 11st day.

Chiang Kai-shek finally returned to the capital, which he had always been loyal to.

Outside Deshengmen.

A young captain from the Bordered White Banner accompanying the entourage asked, "Prime Minister, shall we enter the city gate?"

At this moment, Jiang Qingyun's eyes were sunken, his face was covered in mud, and he was covered in mud and water, but his eyes were still bright and piercing.

Bah~
He spat out a mouthful of saliva containing mud and sand.

"Brothers, the Regent is right."

Everyone fell silent. The topic had gone so far as to veer off course that no one could react for a moment.

"Back then, the Regent Prince defeated Li Zicheng twice by relying on the speed of his army. He made long-distance raids without removing his armor or unsaddled his horse, and he rode with his mouth gagged, covering more than 200 li in a day and night. That's how our Great Qing came to be."

Everyone was shocked.

Could it be, could it be, could it be?

"Although the Regent has minor flaws, he has rendered meritorious service to the Qing Dynasty. When the time is right, he will be posthumously honored as Emperor Chengzongyi. Now, proceed to the capital!"

(End of this chapter)