Chapter 603: Fury for a Beauty
Song Qingshu’s expression shifted. “Are you referring to those assassins from earlier?”
Dongfang Muxue nodded. “Haven’t you been troubled over how to stop the Qing court and the Golden Serpent Camp from fighting? Now the opportunity has arrived.”
“Oh?” Song Qingshu immediately grew interested. Although the Qing dynasty had lost nearly a hundred thousand elite troops in the previous battle, it remained a formidable power due to years of development. After the initial chaos following their defeat, the Qing state machinery had swiftly mobilized. Numerous troops were steadily gathering on the northern banks of the Yellow River, poised to strike at the Golden Serpent Camp. Even with Song Qingshu and Dongfang Muxue in possession of their ‘Kangxi’ card, they couldn’t stop this momentum.
Holding the ‘Kangxi’ ace, Song Qingshu wasn’t worried about the Qing court annihilating the Golden Serpent Camp. However, survival was one thing; growth and expansion were another. Currently, both the Qing dynasty and the Golden Serpent Camp were chips in Song Qingshu’s hand. If they fought, regardless of who won, Song Qingshu would lose in the end, as other powerful states and factions loomed.
If his strength was drained by internal strife, what leverage would Song Qingshu have to contend for the world?
“You’re referring to the Three Feudatories?” Song Qingshu wasn’t slow to catch on.
Dongfang Muxue acknowledged with a hum. “Exactly. Wu Sangui and his ilk have harbored rebellious intentions for a long time but were previously deterred by the court’s strength. Your previous victory—defeating the court’s most elite force of a hundred thousand troops with just a few thousand men—finally piqued Wu Sangui’s ambitions. To him, if such a disparity in strength could yield such a dazzling result, the court’s army must have rotted to the core. Wu Sangui, priding himself on being a great general, likely thinks that if an unknown upstart like you could lead a ragtag army to victory, his tens of thousands of elite soldiers would certainly surpass you. It’s only natural he’s stirred to rebel.”
“Old Wu is really delivering timely help this time.” Song Qingshu was so thrilled he didn’t know what to say. If the Three Feudatories rebelled, ‘Kangxi’ could logically negotiate a ceasefire with the Golden Serpent Camp to focus on suppressing the rebellion. The court officials would have no grounds for objection, as the threat posed by the Three Feudatories far outweighed that of the Golden Serpent Camp.
“Don’t celebrate too early,” Dongfang Muxue poured cold water on his enthusiasm. “Although the Three Feudatories are restless, they haven’t made their final decision yet.”