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

What?!

These words were like a bombshell, completely stunning everyone present.

The greatest warrior of Manchuria? The arrogant Ao Zhongtang? He's actually dead?

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"

Murima brandished his broadsword like a madman: "My elder brother is invincible, impervious to swords and spears! You? These few greenhorn brats? How could you possibly kill him! You're lying!"

"Whether he's lying or not, why don't you go down and ask him?"

Hong Xiguan, too lazy to waste words with him, directly issued an ultimatum: "Listen up, all of you in the Bordered Yellow Banner! The ringleader, Ao Bai, has been executed! You are all accomplices who have been deceived! Lay down your weapons now, abandon the darkness and embrace the light, and I will forgive your past transgressions! Otherwise, you will be killed without mercy!"

That's a masterful use of the "killing the enemy by destroying their spirit" tactic.

Upon hearing that Ao Bai was dead, many of the guards from the Bordered Yellow Banner felt their morale crumble, and their hands began to tremble as they brandished their swords.

Seeing that things were going badly, Murima knew that all was lost and that if he didn't fight desperately, he would really die here today.

"Don't listen to his nonsense! Charge with me! Fight your way out! Fight your way out and avenge our elder brother!"

He roared and, with his last few loyal followers, launched a suicidal charge toward the palace gates like mad dogs.

"Tsk, they don't know what's good for them."

Hong Xiguan sighed, his eyes instantly turning icy cold, and he shouted, "Guards! Mulima has defied the imperial decree! Execute him on the spot!"

The guards raised their pistols again and aimed at Murima.

"Bang bang bang bang bang!"

The familiar sound of firearms rang out once again.

Dimensionality reduction strike.

Although Murima was brave, he was still a little brother in the face of gunpowder kinetic energy. Before he could rush a few steps, he was covered in blood and his whole body was convulsing like a broken sack.

A mighty general, he fell on the cold floor tiles of Taihe Gate before he could even touch the hem of Hong Xiguan's robe.

Immediately afterwards, Ao Bai's nephew, Sebende, who had been shouting from the side, was also shot, and his skull was blown off.

This move was incredibly intimidating.

Clang!

It's unclear who started it, but a knife fell to the ground.

Immediately afterwards, a series of clanging sounds rang out.

The remaining guards of the Bordered Yellow Banner looked at each other, staring at the corpses scattered on the ground and the still-smoking muskets. They completely lost the courage to resist and knelt down, trembling.

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

A crowd knelt before the Taihe Gate.

Hong Xiguan did not bask in the joy of victory, knowing that this was only the first step and that there was still much to be done and time was of the essence.

"Tong Guowei, you are in charge of cleaning up the battlefield and comforting the surrendered soldiers. Remember, don't kill them all; they'll still be useful."

"Song'etu, take your men and surround the palace like an iron barrel! From this moment on, not even a fly is allowed to escape! Anyone who dares to force their way in will be killed without mercy!"

"Yes, sir!"

Having arranged everything, Hong Xiguan didn't even change his clothes before turning around and heading towards the inner palace.

Cining Palace.

It was eerily quiet here, and even the air was filled with a suffocating sandalwood scent.

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang was sitting on the couch with her eyes closed, resting her mind, while the Buddhist prayer beads in her hand spun rapidly.

"Royal Grandmother."

Hong Xiguan strode in and got straight to the point: "Ao Bai is dead, Mulima has been executed, and I have the situation in the palace under control."

Empress Xiaozhuang suddenly opened her eyes, and a very complex light flashed in her weathered eyes.

There was shock, relief, and a hint of... apprehension towards the young man before him.

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang knew that Ao Bai was not easy to deal with. She originally thought that even if she could win, she would have to pay a heavy price. But she did not expect that this kid would win so decisively and cleanly, without even shedding much blood.

"Well done." Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang exhaled slowly, her voice steady and powerful: "You truly are... my good son."

"You flatter me, Your Majesty."

Without wasting words, Hong Xiguan directly presented the current problem: "Although Ao Bai is dead, the troops he mobilized are on their way back to the capital. The Bordered Yellow Banner still has many loyal followers outside the capital. Right now, I need my grandmother to step in and stabilize the princes and nobles of the Lower Five Banners."

This is a political exchange.

I'll handle the killings, you handle the settling of the score.

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang gave him a deep look, a meaningful smile playing on her lips: "Don't worry, this old woman of mine isn't falling apart yet."

She stood up, walked to the window, looked at the gloomy sky outside, and her tone became stern: "I have already sent a secret letter to the Khorchin. The Mongol Eight Banners cavalry are already on their way to the capital. If the Bordered Yellow Banner dares to make any trouble, the Mongol sabers will teach them how to be subjects."

Empress Xiaozhuang was born into the Khorchin tribe of Mongolia, the most prominent tribe among the Eight Banners of Mongolia, which constituted the core strength of four of the Eight Banners. Her brother Wu Keshan and her grand-nephew Bandi were hereditary nobles or generals of the Eight Banners of Mongolia.

After Kangxi ascended the throne, many generals of the Khorchin tribe in the Eight Banners of Mongolia pledged their loyalty to Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang and Kangxi.

At this time, the main force of the Mongol Eight Banners was stationed on the southern Mongolian border, responsible for defending against Galdan and Tsarist Russia. Only a small number of Mongol Eight Banners troops, about two thousand men, remained in the capital region.

Hong Xiguan felt a chill run down his spine.

Ginger is still old and spicy.

This old lady had already prepared a backup plan. Even if she failed today, she could turn the tables with the help of the Mongol Eight Banners. That's the foundation of a top player.

"In that case, thank you very much, Grandmother."

Hong Xiguan bowed and turned to leave.

"Emperor," Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang suddenly called out to him.

"My grandson is here."

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang said meaningfully, "Although Aobai is hateful, he is, after all, a regent and the backbone of the Manchu nobility. Killing him is easy, but how you clean up this mess is the real test of your imperial wisdom."

Hong Xiguan paused, turned back and smiled, his smile filled with confidence and ambition: "Grandmother, rest assured, I will not only kill people, but also destroy their spirits. It's time for the Qing Dynasty to change its color."

After saying that, he left Cining Palace without looking back.

Back in the Qianqing Palace, Hong Xiguan sat on the dragon throne, looked down at the empty hall below, and let out a long sigh of stale air.

Although Ao Bai is dead, Lao Deng has controlled the government for so many years. His cronies are everywhere, including the ministers of the six ministries, the generals of the Eight Banners, and the governors of the provinces. To uproot this huge network of connections, killing people is not enough; you need to use your brain.

Hong Xiguan unfolded a pre-prepared plan.

This is the "cleansing plan" that he has finalized after countless simulations and five revisions over the past six months.

Every name, every instruction, is a meticulously calculated dead end.

"Is everything here?"

Hong Xiguan glanced at the several trusted confidants kneeling below: Suo'etu, Li Xu, Tong Guowei, and Gabula, the Nine Gates Commander who had just been urgently summoned.

These people are the sharp swords he will use to purge tonight.

"We are all here, Your Majesty! We are at Your Majesty's beck and call!" the men replied in unison, their voices revealing a barely concealed excitement and nervousness.

Hong Xiguan nodded, and without further ado, began to issue a series of decrees.