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

The second invasion by the Eight Banners army nearly shattered the hearts of the original 200,000 Beijing residents.

To reassure the people of Beijing, Liu Mu specifically ordered the Imperial Guards to enter in batches through several gates of the outer city, so that all the people could see them.

The effect was remarkable, and people took to the streets to celebrate, as if they had survived a disaster.

The city's garrison consisted of only three thousand soldiers, which cannot be attributed to Liu Mu's negligence; after careful consideration, it was sufficient.

After all, with the north completely pacified, any enemy forces that wanted to come over would have to break through the main force of the Han army from the south. It was truly unexpected that Kangxi had taken such a risky move.

Throughout history, there have been many instances of turning the tide using this method. For example, Xiang Yu surprised everyone by personally leading 30,000 cavalry to launch a surprise attack on Pengcheng before his troops had even assembled, resulting in a major defeat of Liu Bang's 560,000-strong allied army.

Even on a smaller scale, Zhang Liao's decision to advance instead of retreat, taking advantage of Sun Quan's relaxation to launch a surprise attack at dawn, and setting a record of defeating 100,000 with only 800 men, is also a kind of reverse thinking.

Moreover, there was no period of unification in history. For example, in the early Sui and Tang dynasties, there were only a few thousand soldiers to defend the city because the limited elite troops needed to be used for unification.

Fortunately, Pan Feng organized the defense of the city well this time, and Liu Mu didn't know how to reward him, so he could only send him a house first.

As the sun set, Beijing once again fell into tranquility.

Liu Mu was in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, reviewing the memorials that had accumulated during this period, while Kangxi lay in the center of the hall, with three imperial physicians preparing medicine for him.

However, Kangxi's right leg had already been amputated.

From then on, he was a cripple.

These days, lead bullets not only cause burns and penetrating wounds, but also secondary injuries due to the deformation of the bullet. Without amputation, death is the only outcome.

"Your Majesty, this emperor...!"

These imperial physicians were all left behind by the Manchus and had seen Emperor Kangxi many years ago. They instinctively wanted to address him as "Your Majesty," so they covered their mouths in alarm and changed their address to report.

"This Tartar has regained consciousness, but he still can't move around too much, or his wounds will bleed profusely!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Mu shook his head. He didn't care about the photo album, after all, Kangxi was already a prisoner.

"Imperial physician, there is no need to be alarmed. I am not a petty person!"

"It's alright, it's all over now!"

"You can go now!"

After the imperial physician left, Liu Mu took a memorial, walked around Kangxi's bedside, looked down at him, and then presented the memorial.

"Urgent report from the south: Channi, the Qing Dynasty's Governor-General of Jiangxi, has returned to Nanjing. The six ministers of the Qing government have jointly petitioned to establish him as the new Emperor of the Qing Dynasty!"

"Kangxi, you are now a deposed emperor!"

As soon as Liu Mu finished speaking, Kangxi opened his eyes. He was initially filled with intense anger, but then his face turned ashen as he calmly looked inside.

"You win, kill me now!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Mu burst into laughter, glancing towards Nanjing, and said thoughtfully:

"Zhu Yuanzhang drove out the Tartars, and the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun were lost for nearly four hundred years. Yunnan was cut off from the Central Plains for six hundred years. What do you think of this man?"

"Personally, I admire Zhu Yuanzhang quite a bit. I really feel that he must be quite lonely lying alone in Xiaoling Mausoleum, with only Sun Quan's tomb next to him!"

"Aren't you right?"

Liu Mu's nonsensical words made Kangxi tremble, because he felt like he was talking to a madman, and his tone began to beg for mercy.

"Galdan, what do you want to do!"

"An emperor should die a worthy death—a three-foot-long white silk ribbon, a cup of poison, or even beheading!"

Liu Mu still did not answer Kangxi, but instead began to gesture with his hands to Kangxi from left to right.

"With a missing leg, how can you possibly chat with Zhu Yuanzhang? That would be far too unbecoming of an emperor!"

"Tell me, what if we wrapped you in mud, then poured molten copper over you to create a statue, so that you could accompany Zhu Yuanzhang for all eternity? What do you think?"

Upon hearing this, Kangxi was so frightened that he fainted. He never expected Liu Mu to treat him this way. Before, the only thing he had thought of was being slowly sliced ​​to death.

However, Liu Mu wanted him to guard Zhu Yuanzhang's tomb for generations, which was the most terrifying punishment for him.

Upon hearing this, Li Guangdi and Ouyang Jing wiped their foreheads, but they gave the same answer.

"Your Majesty is wise!"

Liu Mu patted Kangxi's face, but he didn't wake up!

"Liu Xin, have the imperial physician take him away and take good care of him. He absolutely cannot die before I arrive in Nanjing!"

After the imperial physicians carried Kangxi away, Liu Mu's expression turned serious, and he began to discuss the issue of Kangxi's siege of the city.

"I will continue my journey south tomorrow, but the defense of the capital cannot be relaxed. Do either of you have any good ideas?"

Liu Mu has already visited the inner palace, and Zhao Fengnian has reported that the three noble ladies presented as tribute from Korea are all pregnant.

Once bitten, twice shy. One time is enough for the enemy to almost breach the city walls. This silver was stolen, not saved.

Ouyang Jing seemed to have had this idea for a long time.

"Your Majesty, three more garrisons have been added in Guanzhong and Shanxi. Why not select 8,000 elite soldiers from the three marquises and rotate 30% of them every four months? This way, we can ensure the military strength to protect the capital without having to spend extra money on military expenses."

"Once we unify the country, we can gather the elite forces of the entire nation in the capital, and this troublesome matter will be avoided!"

Liu Mu nodded upon hearing this. It was a good idea. With eight thousand elite troops plus the ever-growing Imperial City Guard, the safety of the capital was guaranteed.

Just then, Zhao Fengnian bowed and stepped forward.

"Your Majesty, Commander Pan Feng of the Imperial City Guard has arrived!"

They arrived just in time; Liu Mu had just remembered that he wanted to bestow honors upon Pan Feng.

After Pan Feng entered the main hall, Liu Mu looked him up and down. He was handsome, calm and composed, and loyal enough to defend the city even after his mother-in-law was arrested.

This kind of person deserves to be highly rewarded.

Thinking of this, Liu Mu took out the imperial edict he had prepared beforehand, as well as a jade waist token from Hetian.

Zhao Fengnian took it and read it aloud:

"Pan Feng, Commander of the Imperial City Guard, has rendered great service to the nation by repelling the Tartars outside Beijing. He is hereby awarded a three-courtyard house within the inner city, the title of Marquis of Loyalty, and a certificate of merit!"

So he's become a marquis?

Although Pan Feng was bewildered, he accepted the imperial edict and the iron certificate with great speed and immediately knelt down.

"Your subject, Pan Feng, kowtows to express his gratitude for Your Majesty's great kindness!"

Liu Mu liked people like Pan Feng; he would take what the emperor offered and wouldn't think much of it if the emperor didn't.

"That's settled then. I'll depart tomorrow morning. Li Guangdi, prepare the provisions and entourage!"

Liu Mu hadn't studied for a long time, and after speaking, he couldn't wait to leave the Hall of Mental Cultivation and head towards the Palace of Eternal Longevity.

Day two.

Liu Mu led 3,000 imperial guards and 7,000 garrison cavalry, escorting more than 10,000 Eight Banner prisoners westward to Datong.

These people will be distributed to coal mines in various locations.

Fifteen thousand people may seem like a lot, but when they are distributed across thousands of mines of varying sizes, the threat is not that great.

.........

Meanwhile, Pan Feng, who had just finished his night watch at the imperial city, was carrying the imperial edict and the iron certificate, and was heading towards his mother-in-law's house with great fanfare.