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

Chapter 185 Liu Mu: I don't like Shi Lang

"Sit down. What brings you here at this hour?"

Liu Mu merely glanced at the two of them, exchanged a few words, and then continued to tease Liu Ling. Perhaps due to inheriting the bloodline of the Zhu family, Liu Ling looked much more handsome than Liu Yu.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Peigong glanced at the lieutenant before stepping forward.

"Your Majesty, this is Shi Lang, who recently ranked first in the Ministry of War's naval civil and military examinations. He accompanied the Emperor on this journey of a thousand miles, saying he had important business to discuss with Your Majesty. Seeing that Your Majesty had some free time, he was introduced to you!"

"minister..."

Upon hearing the name Shi Lang, Liu Mu frowned and immediately raised his hand to interrupt Zhou Peigong.

After carefully examining Shi Lang, he shook his head and handed Liu Ling over to the accompanying female official, instructing her to take him away.

Zhou Peigong never accepted gifts. He brought Shi Lang along because he found that Shi Lang was talented and learned. Just like Xiao He recommended Han Xin, he had no ulterior motives. Liu Mu knew all this.

But prejudice in people's hearts is like a mountain, and Liu Mu never liked Shi Lang.

Seeing the emperor's displeasure, Zhou Peigong was also puzzled, but before he could speak, Shi Lang knelt down with a thud.

"This humble general, Shi Lang, a lieutenant officer of the Tianjin Naval Battalion, kowtows to His Majesty the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

Before Liu Mu could speak, Shi Lang took out a meticulously crafted nautical chart from his bosom.

"Your Majesty has swept away the barbarian invaders and restored the land of China. Now the people's hearts are at peace. However, the Zheng family in Taiwan, relying on their stronghold at sea, has seized a corner of the island and does not acknowledge the legitimate calendar. This is a major threat. If they are not eliminated, the southeast will not be at peace. I beseech Your Majesty to mobilize the navy, cross the Taiwan Strait, and take Taiwan back in one battle!"

"I now present this map of Shanghai to Your Majesty, so that you may pacify Taiwan!"

Shi Lang was already fifty-five years old. He originally hoped that after the Qing Dynasty quelled the Rebellion of the Three Feudatories, he could lead his troops into Taiwan.

Now that the Manchu Qing dynasty has fallen and the Han emperor has married a princess of the Ming dynasty, if the Zheng family were to surrender first, he would never be able to avenge his entire family. He was unwilling to accept this!

Liu Mu looked at Shi Lang, deliberately feigning a puzzled expression.

"I've heard you had a grudge against Zhu Chenggong, and your entire family was subsequently executed. If I were to order you to send troops, but you were forbidden from harming a single member of the Zheng family, would you be willing?"

Liu Mu's meaning was clear: you want to attack Taiwan because of personal grudges and to vent your anger. Now that you're not allowed to kill people, are you still willing to do it?

Upon hearing this, Shi Lang kowtowed again without hesitation.

"Your Majesty, this humble general is willing to go!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Mu shook his head. He didn't like using people who dared to hide even their hatred, nor did he dare to.

If Shi Lang had answered no, it would have shown that he still had some backbone. Liu Mu would have kept him in Nanyang to oversee the region, which would have been a good use of his knowledge.

As for now, he doesn't even qualify to join the army!

Liu Mu immediately waved his hand.

"Go down!"

Shi Lang had just raised the nautical chart when he heard Liu Mu's words and was immediately stunned. Liu Dingbian also despised people like this who could suppress even the hatred of their parents and brothers, so he stepped forward and extended his hand.

Let's go!

Shi Lang's eyes were devoid of light. He stood up dejectedly and walked out of the main hall step by step. He knew that he could never take revenge in this lifetime!

Liu Mu looked on with disdain.

Zhu Chenggong recovered Taiwan, making him a meritorious official and a hero. Regardless of which emperor it was, anyone who damaged his reputation would ensure that his descendants would have a peaceful end.

As a result, after surrendering, the whole family was placed under house arrest in Beijing, and all of their descendants died in their prime. This could not have been Kangxi's doing, because Taiwan was already completely stable at that time, so there was no need for this.

At that time, the only one with the ability and intention to do so was Shi Lang. After all, a gentleman's revenge is never too late, even after ten years, and that's no joke!

Seeing that Zhou Peigong was still full of doubts, Liu Mu immediately patted the table and pointed to the chair on the side.

"Pei Gong, please sit down!"

"Are you wondering why, despite Shi Lang's talent, I haven't used him? And why I treat him so harshly?"

Zhou Peigong had no selfish motives, so he sat very securely.

"Please enlighten me, Your Majesty!"

Liu Mu took a sip of the chilled plum juice. Of course, the ice was made of saltpeter, and it had been popular since the Song Dynasty, and by the Ming Dynasty it was a common business practice for street vendors.

"Shi Lang once surrendered to the Qing Dynasty with Zheng Zhilong. After Zheng Zhilong was killed, he rebelled and returned to the Zhu family in Taiwan. Later, he killed Zhu Chenggong's generals and surrendered to the Qing Dynasty again!"

"I despise fickle people!"

Liu Mu's words were true. There were many Green Standard Army generals who had surrendered from the Qing Dynasty, but he dared to use them all and even promoted them to high positions.

Even someone like Wang Fuchen, whom Liu Mu knew was a traitor, was still employed by Liu Mu before he betrayed him!

Zhou Peigong didn't say much upon hearing this, since the emperor's word was final when it came to personnel matters.

Shi Lang didn't take the nautical chart with him, so Zhao Fengnian immediately went forward to pick it up, and Liu Mu nodded in approval as he looked at it.

This is clearly Shi Lang's masterpiece.

The above description of Taiwan as having a lower elevation in the north and a higher elevation in the south suggests that if the Penghu Islands in the north are breached, Taiwan's food and war supplies can be blocked, and over time, the Zheng regime could be forced to surrender!

Liu Mu looked at Zhou Peigong and voiced his doubts.

"I have sent an envoy to the island, offering Zhu Chenggong's lineage the title of Duke. Will Zhu Jing surrender?"

With the current naval strength of the Han Dynasty, even before the new ships have been launched, it can still gather 30,000 naval personnel and 500 ships of various sizes, making it easy to destroy Taiwan.

But peaceful reunification is always a good thing!

But peaceful reunification is always a good thing!

Upon hearing this, Zhou Peigong closed his eyes and pondered for a moment.

"Your Majesty, Zhu Jing rose to the position of Prince of Yanping only after a series of battles. He now commands 30,000 troops and 500 medium and large warships!"

"I assert that he will not surrender!"

Liu Mu hadn't paid attention to Taiwan for a long time. He never expected that even after being driven to the sea, Taiwan would still have so many soldiers and so many ships.

However, sensing the hidden meaning in Zhou Peigong's words, he asked!

Tell me about it!

Upon hearing this, Zhou Peigong chuckled, revealing a sinister smile that, combined with his goatee, made him appear even more terrifying.

"Your Majesty, Zhu Jing is quite capable. He now holds both military and political power in Taiwan. However, the Zhu family has been pirates since Zheng Zhilong, and there are many factions within the family."

"Your Majesty only needs to promise official positions and send capable envoys; with the help of those inside and outside, you should be able to take Taiwan without lifting a finger!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Mu's eyes lit up. He immediately took out five yellow books from the table and promised two assistant general positions and three deputy general positions.

In any case, naval expansion is inevitable.

The Zhu family's old guard is still very capable. Both Liu Guoxuan and Lin Sheng are commanders of hundreds of warships.

There's also Chen Yonghua, who is also a strategist.

As for the person to go to Taiwan, Liu Mu left it to Zhou Peigong to find, after all, he was the number one public relations person in the Han Dynasty.

Just then, Liu Dingbian walked in.

"Your Majesty, the Li Yong you wish to see has just arrived in Chang'an and is waiting outside the palace!"

Li Yong was summoned by Liu Mu on the day he arrived in Chang'an, after he had dealt with Wang Fuchen.

The fact that such a big incident could occur even after being transferred from the Beijing garrison to the Northwest shows that the saying "like father, like son" is quite true.

"Let him in!"