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

Chapter 335 Achilles' Heel~
Sien Prefecture, Guangxi.

The towering mountains stretch endlessly, and have historically been the front line of fierce struggle between the Central Plains dynasties and local chieftains. Wang Shouren also shone brightly here.

Today, it serves as a refuge for the Ming Dynasty's exiled court.

Near Bafeng Mountain, more than 5000 people, including members of the royal family, civil and military officials, and soldiers, gathered.

The flags of the Ming Dynasty fluttered in the wind atop the mountain.

At the foot of the mountain, people were politely deferring to each other.

"Please, Prince Jin!"

"Governor Tan, please."

"Then I would rather obey your orders than be respectful."

"please!"

Tan Hong, Wu Sangui's plenipotentiary envoy and trusted minister, dressed in the attire of a Ming Dynasty civil official, chatted and laughed all the way until he entered the temporary palace where the Yongli Emperor was staying.

……

It is winter now.

Emperor Yongli temporarily moved out of the simple summer palace and into the former Cen clan chieftain's palace in the mountaintop fortifications.

"Your subject, Tan Hong, pays his respects to Your Majesty. Long live the Emperor!"

"No need for formalities, rise, please take a seat."

"Thank you, my emperor."

This was the first time Tan Hong had seen the Emperor's true face. The Yongli Emperor was thin, numb, bewildered, and slightly tired.

"How is Your Majesty?"

“The Prince of Pingxi provided timely assistance last time, supplying a batch of grain, cloth, military equipment, and salt, which greatly improved the situation in the temporary capital. I am very grateful.”

"The prince said that these are all as it should be."

"Where is the Prince of Pingxi now?"

"The prince is preparing to fight a decisive battle with the Qing army in Changsha, annihilating them with overwhelming force, sending His Majesty into the Forbidden City, restoring the Ming Dynasty, and restoring the world."

"Good, good indeed, Prince Pingxi is truly a loyal minister."

Emperor Yongli stood up excitedly, pacing back and forth, his face flushed.

"Love you."

"His Majesty?"

"What can I do?"

"The cause of overthrowing the Qing and restoring the Ming has a bright future, but the path ahead is fraught with difficulties. The Prince often says that without a legitimate cause, one's words lack authority. He longs to unite righteous men from all over the land to resist the Qing, but alas, those people..."

"I understand. I hereby appoint Prince Pingxi as Grand Marshal of the Armed Forces and Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince. Wherever Prince Pingxi goes, it will be as if I were personally present."

"Thank you, Your Majesty. I have another request."

"please say."

"Could His Majesty's daughter be married to the heir of the Prince of Pingxi?"

"The escape was fraught with peril, and many of my children died young. The oldest of my daughters who are still alive is only six years old."

"It's alright, the main point is to demonstrate His Majesty's trust in the Prince of Pingxi."

"Okay, that's right."

"Thank you, Your Majesty. I have another request."

"Speaking?"

"Could His Highness Prince Jin be sent to personally lead an army out of the mountains to assist the Prince?"

Emperor Yongli looked at Li Dingguo pitifully, his eyes full of pleading. Li Dingguo sighed inwardly and nodded slightly.

Every hero has an Achilles' heel.
……

That night.

Li Dingguo and Wuer hosted a banquet for Tan Hong.

"Your Highness Prince Jin, this humble official respectfully greets you."

"Lord Tan is an honored guest, and I should show you the utmost respect."

"No! Your Highness's slaying of Nikan dealt a heavy blow to the once-arrogant Eight Banners army. With this merit, you will surely be remembered in history and your name will be remembered for eternity. This bowl is for you."

Tan Hong's expression was solemn.

Li Dingguo was slightly moved.

"Lord Tan, I am not very familiar with the battle situation outside, may I?"

"Ah, I'd be happy to help."

Tan Hong quickly sketched the current battle situation on the table with his finger dipped in wine, but concealed the fact that Ma Bao had gone alone and Guo Zhuangtu had launched a surprise attack.

What is Your Highness's opinion?

"it is good!"

"How is it good?" Li Dingguo's eyes revealed admiration.

“The strategy of the Prince of Pingxi is correct. Hunan cannot be lost, Changsha cannot be lost, this battle must be fought, and it is right to temporarily abandon Jiangxi.”

"Does Your Highness also think so?"

"Yes, if Hunan is lost, Jiangxi will be indefensible. Hunan is the key to the war. The Prince of Pingxi has made great decisions by transferring all the manpower and resources from Yunnan to Hunan."

"Heroes cherish heroes. Your Highness would be very pleased if you knew that Your Highness praised his strategy so highly."

Tan Hong pretended to be overjoyed, but his heart was in turmoil. Perhaps Ma Bao and Liu Xuanchu were the biggest contributors to this battle. Hunan really couldn't afford to lose.

……

As the saying goes, only with a proper name can one speak with authority.

Emperor Yongli legally recognized Wu Sangui's legitimacy.

In return, Wu Sangui sent another large quantity of grain, cloth, salt, medicinal herbs, porcelain, iron pots, and even weapons.

Meanwhile, a detachment of soldiers with queues (braids) stationed nearby quietly withdrew.

If the Yongli Emperor did not appreciate this, Wu Sangui planned to send this elite force to launch a surprise attack on Bafeng Mountain, in the name of the Qing army, to completely destroy the last bloodline of the Ming Dynasty.

Then the entire army wore mourning clothes for Yongli and fought the decisive battle in Changsha.

The meeting at Bafeng Mountain was a joyous occasion for everyone.

Only Duke Wuerte of Liao was very dissatisfied and went to Li Dingguo.

"Prince Jin, do you really want to fight alongside Wu Sangui?"

"Duke, I am willing to do anything for the good of the Ming Dynasty. Besides, His Majesty has issued an edict, and I cannot disobey it."

Do you know who Wu Sangui was?

Before Li Dingguo could speak, Wuerte began to describe the portrait of the person on his own.

"Before the Battle of Yishan Stone, the Regent said that we should be especially wary of Wu Sangui. We must see his Guan Ning Army and the Chuang Army fighting each other to the death before we can send troops. Otherwise, we should fight him as well. Wu Sangui is a warlord without any bottom line or morality. Prince Jin, you cannot fight alongside him."

“I know, but he is indeed fighting against the Qing army and shedding blood for the Ming Dynasty.”

"Ha, shedding blood for the Ming Dynasty? Who opened the Shanhaiguan Pass back then? It was Wu Sangui!"

After Wuerte finished speaking, he turned and left. At a sentry post halfway up Bafeng Mountain, he found Li Dingguo's eldest son, Li Puxing.

"Uncle, why are you here?"

"I need your cooperation on something."

"what's up?"

"If this matter is accomplished, it will greatly benefit the Ming Dynasty, but we will have to bear the blame. For the sake of the Ming Dynasty, are you willing?"

"Uncle, you say so, I'm willing."

"You must swear an oath to God first."

Without hesitation, Li Puxing immediately swore a solemn oath.

……

Wu Sangui, who was appointed Grand Marshal of the Army and Commander-in-Chief by the Ming Emperor and ordered to control all anti-Qing troops and civilians, finally breathed a sigh of relief and sent his fierce general Gao Dejie to lead the vanguard northward quickly.

From Kunming to Hengzhou.

Cars rattled and horses rustled.

The personnel and supplies of Wu Sangui's group formed a long, winding line, with the arrow pointing towards Changsha.

Liuzhou Prefecture.

"Madam, your relative requests an audience."

"come in."

The so-called relatives were actually messengers who shuttled between Chen Yuanyuan and Liu Rushi. With the waist token given to them by Chen Yuanyuan, they could freely enter and leave the Wu army camp.

Chen Yuanyuan took the letter, glanced through it, and suddenly her heart started pounding.

The letter contained nothing new, just the same old rhetoric: the idea of ​​forming a so-called united empire, jointly ruling, and carrying on the legacy.

"Please, Madam, that His Highness please reply, no matter what."

Suddenly, Chen Yuanyuan had a bold idea. She glanced at her personal maid standing beside her without making a sound.

"Go and get some silver."

"Yes."

During the brief moment the maid left.

"Messenger, listen carefully. The Prince is very busy. I will write this letter myself. Take it immediately. The contents of this letter are very important. You must deliver it to the Grand Secretary personally."

The messenger looked up in astonishment, his eyes filled with disbelief.

He then cupped his hands in greeting:

"Rest assured, Madam, I will certainly do my best."

(End of this chapter)