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

As the sun rose, the five centurions drew lots, and Aguda drew the northern route. However, he was not afraid; instead, he was preoccupied with military merit.

When the sun is high and the temperature is at its peak, the five centurions, each with their own men, set off on their journey with great pride and high spirits. The future is uncertain, and we will be the dark horses!

After handing over the government affairs to Wu Zhaoqian, Zhao Lie hurriedly headed to Beijing with fifty personal guards.

Given the scale of this event, Zhao Lie was merely a lieutenant general and not qualified to attend. However, Zhao Lie was the first general from outside the Great Wall of the Han Dynasty, and Galdan summoned him separately.

……

Meanwhile, in Qufu County, Jining Prefecture, Liu Xin led three thousand cavalrymen and charged directly into the city through the east gate. The city's commander had already opened the gate.

The people in the city looked on incredulously.

Millennia.

For a thousand years, no large army has ridden into the city.

This is because it is the hometown of Confucius and the place where the Confucius family has thrived. Emperors of all dynasties treated scholars with utmost respect in order to win them over.

Who are these people, and how dare they do this?

Seeing a large number of people on both sides of the street, Liu Xin was worried about accidentally injuring them, so he drew his long sword and cleaved a small flag of a tavern in two with a single stroke.

"Soldiers and officers are on official business; unauthorized personnel, please step back!"

These three thousand cavalrymen were transferred from the capital. They were all wearing new military uniforms, but with added armor on their chests and arms, which made them look even more heroic.

"Step back! Step back!"

Faced with the shouts of three thousand people, the people fled into their homes, but some still peeked through cracks in doors or holes in windows—this is the most cherished hobby of the Chinese people.

Commonly known as watching the excitement!

Seeing the crowd disperse, Liu Xin immediately spurred his horse towards the Confucius Mansion. Upon arriving, he saw a plaque bearing the words "Sage's Residence" hanging high, but Liu Xin found it unbelievable, as if he were entering a royal palace rather than the place of a sage.

Liu Xin had seen the people outside the city just now; they were almost naked, even in the dead of winter.

The Confucius Mansion, however, was built in a magnificent and opulent manner. The lanterns were hung with silk, and it was made of the finest Jiangsu fabric. In particular, the maids and servants who were panicked by the army were all dressed in fine silks and satins.

Just as Liu Xin was about to have the door kicked down, a middle-aged man wearing a long gown and a rat whip on his head swaggered up to Liu Xin.

"Where did you mutineers come from?"

"Don't you know this is the residence of the Duke Yansheng?"

"If you want to cause trouble, go somewhere else!"

This person spoke in an extremely arrogant tone, and his eyes seemed to roll up to the top of his head.

This person looked like a steward or a gatekeeper. Liu Xin didn't want to get entangled with him, so he directly took out the imperial edict.

"Imperial Edict from His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Han Dynasty!"

"Bring out that Duke Yansheng of yours."

Upon hearing the emperor's decree, the steward's eyes narrowed, and his expression changed faster than turning the pages of a book, instantly transforming from an arrogant and unruly person into a sycophantic lackey.

"Sir, you should have said so earlier!"

"I'll go and fetch them right away!"

……

Inside the main hall of the Confucius Mansion, the seventeen-year-old Duke Yansheng, Kong Yuqi, was dressed in a long robe and mandarin jacket, with a thin rat-tail braid at the back of his head, looking like an old man.

A dozen or so elderly members of the Kong family were seated at the lower end of the table. Since the Duke Yansheng was still young, they were the true council members!

A refined-looking man nearing forty years old unfolded his folding fan with a swish, revealing five large characters written in cursive script: Benevolence, Righteousness, Propriety, Wisdom, and Trustworthiness!

This person is the most powerful person in the Kong family today, and also the one who assists the Duke Yansheng in managing the Kong family mansion, Kong Yanzhen!

"Gentlemen, Emperor Kangxi is the true Son of Heaven. Those who invaded Beijing were nothing more than the Mongol barbarians from the Western Regions. My Kong family will absolutely not bow down to them!"

The other clan elders all felt that what Kong Yanzhen said made sense, but now that the territory was in someone else's hands, they all looked at Duke Yansheng Kong Yuqi.

"Duke Yansheng, Qufu is now under the jurisdiction of the Han court. What if they send troops if we don't comply?"

Kong Yanzhen, who was playing with a folding fan, slammed his hand on the table upon hearing this, his face full of disdain.

"Throughout history, which emperor dared to slight the Confucius family, unless they wished to antagonize all scholars in the land!"

"As long as my Kong family issues a proclamation to all scholars in the land, saying that Galdan is illegitimate, his throne will be unstable!"

These words effectively shut down what Duke Yansheng Kong Yuqi wanted to say, and the scene immediately fell silent.

Most of the Kong family members here are still rational.

Everyone knows that words can't beat a knife!

Just then, the doorman took two steps in one and knelt down in the lobby, performing a sliding tackle.

"Lord Yansheng, the Han army has sent cavalry, and they have completely surrounded my Kong family!"

Silence. The lobby became even quieter!

Unexpectedly, the Han emperor actually dared to send troops to Qufu.

This is something that even their ancestors never experienced.

"What are you all afraid of? Today I, Kong Yanzhen, will go and meet them. Let's see if these Han soldiers dare to use violence against the descendant of the sage."

After Kong Yanzhen finished speaking, he strode towards the outside of the mansion, with members of the Kong family gradually gathering behind him along the way.

In the eyes of these members of the Kong family, the Qing army had slaughtered countless people back then, and the Kong family had no choice but to welcome the Qing army. The Han army, on the other hand, had not yet massacred the city, so they should be reasonable.

When it comes to reasoning, the Confucius family is second to none!

Kong Yuqi and several clan elders followed behind, but kept a safe distance from Kong Yanzhen. They would only go up and argue if the Han army didn't draw their swords.

Liu Xin, growing impatient, raised his hand, about to order a rush into the Kong residence to arrest the man, when Kong Yanzhen, with his hands behind his back like a male goat, swaggered up to Liu Xin and pointed with his folding fan.

"Where did this thug come from?"

"Didn't you know this was the Kong family's residence?"

"You've disturbed the Duke of Yansheng; can you bear the consequences?"

Liu Xin was a mild-mannered man. No matter what Kong Yanzhen said, he didn't respond and simply held up the imperial edict.

"By order of His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Han Dynasty!"

"Where is the current Duke Yansheng?"

Seeing that Liu Xin remained silent and did not draw his sword in anger, Kong Yanzhen's arrogance flared even more.

"Whether it was the Ming Dynasty or the Qing Dynasty, which emperor wanted to see the Duke Yansheng? Had he not sent someone to notify him in advance, or at the very least, had to send an imperial envoy to deliver the decree!"

"Bah! What kind of soldier are you? Can you even understand the Four Books and Five Classics?"

This really angered Liu Xin. He could curse Galdan, but not him, so he drew his sword with one hand.

"If you keep spouting this nonsense, I'll chop you up!"

When Kong Yanzhen saw Liu Xin draw his sword but not strike, he became even more certain that Liu Xin was afraid of causing trouble, so he opened Liu Xin's collar.

"Even if your Emperor were here, he would have to give the Kong family some face. How dare you act so presumptuously?"

"Weren't you going to kill me?"

"Come on, chop here, or else..."

puff...

Before Kong Yanzhen could finish speaking, Liu Xin, who was sitting high on his horse, swung his sword down, splattering blood everywhere. Seeing the fear on the faces of the Kong family members, Liu Xin wiped the blade clean.

"You all heard that!"

"That old bastard made me chop it!"