Reborn as Lin Pingzhi, starting from escorting Daiyu to the capital.

"Mr. Hong, how is the matter I asked you to inquire about progressing?"

After Situ Bolei and the others left, Wu Sangui couldn't wait to ask, his eyes full of urgency.

Hong Antong's home island, Shenlong Island, is located in the Liaodong area.

After Wu Sangui met Hong Antong by chance, he saw that Hong Antong was a master of martial arts and wanted to recruit him to his own cause.

Hong Antong was also ambitious and eager to do something earth-shattering.

The two hit it off immediately and began working together.

Hong Antong chuckled, a smug look on his face:

"The general's prediction was absolutely correct; Hong Chengchou was indeed not dead, but had surrendered to the Tartars."

Is this really true?

Upon hearing this, Wu Sangui could no longer contain himself and abruptly stood up.

He knew his old superior well; he had always harbored doubts about the news of Hong Chengchou's death at the front.

Unfortunately, despite sending out several waves of spies, he was unable to obtain any accurate information.

In the end, he simply entrusted the matter to Hong Antong.

"How could it be fake?"

Hong Antong said smugly, "After receiving the general's order, I went to Shengjing without stopping. Although the Tartars are heavily guarded, they have very few experts."

I wandered around their palace and finally found out that Hong Chengchou was imprisoned in the Sanguan Temple within the palace.

"The Imperial Palace?"

Wu Sangui was taken aback. No wonder his spies had been unable to find out anything. It seemed that the Tartars attached great importance to Hong Chengchou.

Actually, Hong Antong told a little lie here.

Although the Manchu Qing dynasty itself did not have any top-notch masters, it recruited many martial arts experts, especially a man named Yu Zhenzi, whose strength should not be underestimated.

Hong Antong continued, "Hong Chengchou was also quite stubborn. He went on a hunger strike for several days and refused to surrender. He even claimed that he wanted to emulate Wen Tianxiang."

The Tartars sent several groups of people to persuade him to surrender, but they all returned humiliated and defeated.

Later, they sent Fan Wencheng to persuade them to surrender, but that also ended in failure.

Wu Sangui knew that Fan Wencheng was originally a Ming official who had surrendered to the Tartars and was highly valued. Seeing that he had failed to persuade Fan to surrender, Wu Sangui became even more curious.

Hong Antong deliberately kept everyone in suspense, asking, "General, guess who the Tartars ultimately sent to persuade them to surrender?"

Although Wu Sangui was eager to know the answer, he remained outwardly calm and tentatively asked:

"Could it be the Tartar emperor?"

Hong Antong slapped his thigh and exclaimed excitedly, "General, you'll never guess! That Tartar actually sent one of his concubines to persuade them to surrender. This concubine's name is something like Bumbu..."

"Bumbutai".

Wu Sangui added.

He knew that this concubine named Bumbutai came from the Yuan Dynasty and was one of Huang Taiji's five principal consorts.

"Yes, it's Bumbutai. She also had a nickname, Dayuer. Isn't it strange that Huang Taiji actually sent his own concubine to persuade a man to surrender?" Hong Antong said with a smile.

"It is a bit strange."

Wu Sangui frowned slightly, inwardly feeling a greater sense of admiration for Huang Taiji: "Could it be that Da Yu'er successfully persuaded him to surrender?"

Hong Antong grinned lewdly: "They've already convinced him to sleep with her, how could it not work?"

"What?!"

Wu Sangui was shocked again, his eyes widening: "Does Huang Taiji know about this?"

Hong Antong chuckled and said, "How could he not know? Once, Huang Taiji saw Hong Chengchou barely clothed and even took off his own sable fur coat and draped it over him."

"That Huang Taiji really went all out."

Wu Sangui couldn't help but swear.

At this point, his admiration for Huang Taiji had gone beyond mere superficiality.

"Who can argue with that? Later, that Bu Dayuer persuaded him to surrender several more times, and Hong Chengchou finally laid down his arms and surrendered."

Hong Antong said.

Wu Sangui sighed, "After this incident, how could Hong Chengchou not wholeheartedly serve the Tartars?"

Hong Antong also sighed:

"That's why they say even heroes can't resist the charms of a beautiful woman. Didn't you see how righteous and awe-inspiring Hong Chengchou was at the beginning? I thought he was going to become some kind of Wen Tianxiang."

Wu Sangui blushed slightly, and couldn't help but think of Chen Yuanyuan.

Ever since I first met her in the capital, I have never been able to forget her.

I wonder how she is doing now.

Hong Antong continued, "From then on, Hong Chengchou indeed devoted himself to offering advice. However, there was another reason why he was so diligent."

"Oh?"

Wu Sangui's interest was piqued once again.

Hong Antong said with a hint of sarcasm, "Our Da Yu'er, hehe, she's actually pregnant."

Wu Sangui suddenly stood up and asked in surprise, "You mean?"

Hong Antong said, "That's right, this child is indeed Hong Chengchou's son."

"That's unlikely, isn't it? I remember Hong Chengchou is already fifty years old now."

Wu Sangui knew his old boss very well.

Hong Antong said, "There is absolutely no mistake. I have calculated it carefully. During that period, only the two of them were together, while Huang Taiji did not touch that so-called Dayuer much."

Wu Sangui nodded, thinking to himself: Huang Taiji says he doesn't mind, but deep down he does mind.

Hong Antong said enviously, "No wonder Hong Chengchou is still so vigorous despite his old age."

Wu Sangui sensed the complexity of the situation and asked calmly, "Did Da Yu'er give birth to the child?"

Hong Antong said, "Da Yu'er naturally tried her best to hide it. Huang Taiji was busy with state affairs and neglected Da Yu'er, so he naturally couldn't find out. If you ask me, Hong Chengchou really has some charm, he can actually make Da Yu'er so devoted to him."

Wu Sangui said, "Even if the child is born, its status will probably be a problem later."

Hong Antong said, "That's not true."

Wu Sangui vaguely sensed something, but couldn't bring himself to say it.

After chatting for a while longer, Hong Antong finally got up to say goodbye.

"Mr. Hong, I'm entrusting the Chang Le Gang matter to you."

Wu Sangui personally saw Hong Antong to the door.

"Don't worry, I don't even consider Bei Haishi a threat," Hong Antong said confidently.

After Hong Antong left, Wu Sangui slumped into his tent, his expression no longer as confident as before.

His current situation is far more difficult than it appears on the surface.

He had already suffered several defeats previously.

This Huang Taiji was far more terrifying than imagined.

Take, for example, sending his own wife to persuade someone to surrender; he endured what ordinary people could not, which is something he could not do.

Now, with the Chang Le Gang in trouble, his situation has become even worse.

"Furthermore, although Hong Chengchou is of questionable character, he is quite capable and has a deep understanding of our Great Ming. His surrender to the Tartars is truly a terrible thing."

Wu Sangui pondered to himself that perhaps it was time to consider his own escape route.

My already wavering heart is now even more uncertain.

"If Hong Chengchou can surrender, why can't I, Wu Sangui, surrender?"

-----------------

After leaving Wu Sangui's camp, Hong Antong was completely satisfied.

On this trip, Wu Sangui rewarded him with a considerable amount of silver.

"With this silver, my Dragon Island will grow much stronger and will eventually surpass Knight Island."

Hong Antong was secretly making plans in his heart.

There was one more thing he was keeping from Wu Sangui.

This time, in addition to himself, he also sent a subordinate named Mao Dongzhu to infiltrate Shengjing and become a palace maid.

"I'm afraid Wu Sangui is no match for these Tartars. I must make multiple preparations."

Hong Antong became secretly wary.

"Damn it, that Yu'er is indeed as beautiful as jade, what a pity about my own body."

Hong Antong suddenly felt a pang of jealousy towards Hong Chengchou.

"No matter what, I should find a beautiful woman; it's a must for a strong person."

"Just like how Da Yu'er is a standard feature of the strong."

Hong Antong thought to himself.

"Yes, that's how it should be."