I, Kangxi, am here to overthrow the Qing and restore the Ming!

After that night, Kunning Palace changed.

The spoiled and willful young lady, Hesheli, who loved to cry and make a fuss, seemed to have died overnight.

Instead, a quiet and cautious Empress Hesheri was born.

She began studying frantically.

Learn etiquette, learn rules, learn how to read the emperor's expression.

Hesheli dismissed all the servants brought from the Su family who hadn't yet learned to shut up, and replaced them with a group of old palace maids who wouldn't flinch even if Mount Tai collapsed in front of them.

When Hong Xiguan returned to the palace again, filled with resentment because of the events of the previous dynasty.

There were no complaints, no whining, and no pointless jealousy.

Only a cup of fragrant tea at the perfect temperature was handed to him.

Hesheli stood quietly to the side, saying little, simply grinding ink for him.

When Hong Xiguan cursed, she pretended not to hear it.

When Hong Xiguan wanted to vent, she silently endured it.

In her spare time, Hesheli began to practice the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting diligently in the Kunning Palace. She even sought out the Analects and Mencius to study Chinese texts in order to understand the few lines of poetry that Hong Xiguan would occasionally utter, or to help him organize documents when he was tired of reviewing memorials.

She quickly became a perfect "tool," a qualified "NPC."

But Hong Xiguan remained indifferent to her.

In the months following his wedding, he rarely stayed overnight at Kunning Palace.

Even if they went, it would seem more like a routine matter, or simply to give the Suo family face.

There was no love for this young empress, and even the slightest pity for her had been washed away by the carnage of that night.

This is fine.

Hong Xiguan sat in the imperial study, listening to Li Xu report on Hesheli's recent situation, and nodded slightly.

The Empress has learned the rules of survival in this game, which saves me some trouble.

After all, what I need is not a wife, but a partner who can help me stabilize the home front and not cause me any trouble.

As for love?

Hong Xiguan chuckled and drew a heavy circle on the memorial.

That thing is too extravagant; the Forbidden City can't afford to keep it!

......

Winter of the fourth year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign.

Hong Xiguan stood with his hands behind his back in front of a huge map in the Qianqing Palace.

On this map, the yellow area representing the territory of the Qing Dynasty has become a continuous expanse, resembling a giant pancake that almost covers the entire land of China.

However, in the southwestern corner of eastern Sichuan and western Hubei, a few glaring red dots still stubbornly flicker.

That was the territory of the "Thirteen Families of Kuidong".

This group consisted of remnants of Li Zicheng's Shun army, along with some remaining forces from the Southern Ming dynasty.

Originally a group of scattered soldiers, they managed to use the mountains as cover and play "hide-and-seek" with the Qing army for nearly twenty years.

Logically speaking, the thirteen families of Kuidong should have been wiped out by the Qing army commanded by Aobai as early as the second year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign, two years prior.

But with the flapping of the wings of Hong Xiguan, the "butterfly," the wheels of history took a turn here.

"Fortunately, I switched to a smaller account several years ago."

Hong Xiguan looked at the map, a barely perceptible smile playing on his lips.

Two years ago, through Wan Yunlong, he secretly tipped off the thirteen families of Kuidong using the intelligence network of the Heaven and Earth Society.

They even sent them a lot of strategic materials and retreat route maps under the name of "son of Zhu the Third Prince".

Li Laiheng, Hao Yaoqi, and their gang of seasoned veterans, who had been besieged by the Ming army for over ten years and by the Qing army for nearly twenty, were about to be surrounded by the Qing army, but as if by divine intervention, they were able to jump out before the encirclement closed in each time and disappear into the deeper mountains.

This not only preserved the last spark of resistance against the Qing Dynasty, but also made Wan Yunlong admire Zhu San Taizi (Cao Yin) to the point of complete awe.

"Your Highness is truly a divine being! You strategize within the command tent and win victories a thousand miles away!"

Wan Yunlong's loyalty is probably locked at 100% now.

"Your Majesty, it's time for court."

The imperial eunuch Zhao Chang cautiously offered this reminder.

Hong Xiguan withdrew his gaze, straightened his dragon robe, and his eyes instantly became sharp.

"Let's go, today's morning meeting is going to be tough."

……

Hall of Supreme Harmony.

The atmosphere was a bit off from the start.

Ao Bai stood at the head of the military officers, his face as gloomy as a moldy pig liver.

His recent wedding left him speechless. Although he managed to fill many positions in the Six Ministries, the core Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of War were still compromised by that cunning old fox Sony.

He desperately needed a victory, a real, bloody victory, to enhance his prestige within the military and deter the restless opposition.

"Your Majesty!"

Ao Bai strode forward without kneeling, merely offering a slight bow, his voice booming like a deep bass cannon.

"The thirteen rebel families of Kuidong in eastern Sichuan have been entrenched for many years, and despite repeated suppression efforts, they have refused to surrender. They are a major threat to the imperial court! I propose that we dispatch 50,000 troops, led by Mulima, the commander of the Bordered Yellow Banner, and divide them into three routes to ensure that these bandits are wiped out in one fell swoop this winter and next spring!"

The moment the words were spoken, the court fell into a deathly silence.

All are not fools.

Who is Murima? He's Ao Bai's younger brother!

This isn't a bandit-suppressing expedition; it's clearly a trip to "gain experience" and "gild one's resume"!

If Murima were to retain control of another 50,000 troops, then Ao Bai's power in the court would truly be unchecked.

Hong Xiguan sat on the dragon throne, expressionless, but inwardly sneering.

Of course, he couldn't agree to that.

If Murima were to lead a large army there, even if the Thirteen Families of Kuidong were able to evade, they wouldn't be able to withstand such carpet bombing. They were important pawns he was keeping to restrain the Qing court in the future, and he absolutely couldn't let them be destroyed now.

Hong Xiguan did not speak, but merely raised his eyelids slightly and glanced at one of the civil officials in the queue.

Standing there was his "official critic," the Imperial Tutor Xiong Cilu.

Xiong Cili was a typical Han Chinese Confucian scholar-official. He was well-read and had a strong temper. He had long disliked Ao Bai and recently submitted a memorial entitled "Ten Thousand Word Memorial". Although he did not name Ao Bai, every sentence of it was a scathing critique of Ao Bai's abuse of power.

Upon receiving the emperor's signal, Xiong Cilu strode out of the hall, his voice clear and impassioned, as if he had been injected with adrenaline.

"I believe this is unacceptable!"

"Eastern Sichuan is a mountainous and densely forested region, easy to defend and difficult to attack. The national treasury is empty and the people are starving. If we were to wage a large-scale war again, it would consume countless resources and would not be a blessing for the country! Moreover, although General Murima is brave, he is not familiar with the terrain of eastern Sichuan. If we were to advance rashly, we risk defeat!"

Ao Bai suddenly turned his head and stared intently at Xiong Cili, his eyes revealing a fierce glint.

"Xiong Cilu! You're just a bookish pedant, what do you know about fighting?!"

Ao Bai stepped forward, his towering figure exuding immense pressure, his spittle almost splattering onto Xiong Cilu's face.

"Those traitors are remnants of the Ming Dynasty! They are the mortal enemies of the Qing! Why are you obstructing the army's expedition? Do you sympathize with them? Do you still remember the good things about the Ming Dynasty? Do you want to overthrow the Qing and restore the Ming?!"

This huge accusation is simply outrageous!

In the early Qing Dynasty, the phrase "longing for the former Ming Dynasty" was essentially equated with "treason."

All the Han officials in the court shrank back in fear.

Xiong Cilu was furious, his face flushed red, and his beard trembled: "You...you're slandering me! I am utterly loyal to the Qing Dynasty, heaven and earth can bear witness! I did it all for the sake of the country and the people!"

"You spout platitudes about benevolence and righteousness, but your heart is full of wickedness and debauchery!" Ao Bai gave him no chance to defend himself, immediately switching to "mad dog mode," and yelled, "I think you're one of those traitors' inside agents in the court!"

It seemed that Xiong Cilu was about to be overwhelmed by Ao Bai's imposing manner, and might even be captured by the guards on the spot.

Hong Xiguan knew it was time to move to the second group, so he slightly turned his head and looked at the row of Manchu officials.