Jingcheng, ten li outside Yongding Gate.
Wang Yan personally led a large group of people here, braving the cold wind, basking in the sun, and drinking Pot Tea to keep warm.
"Shi Dakai reported victory. He has already taken Guangzhou. Di, Jiang, and the rest have all surrendered, without the loss of a single soldier. Pang Qingyun led the vanguard to Hong Kong Island and came under bombardment from foreign warships. Pang Qingyun deployed a hundred cannons, sank an English warship, and captured more than two hundred foreigners."
Wang Yan pulled his hand from his sleeve, poured the tea into his cup himself, and noisily sipped the hot brew.
"Commend Pang Qingyun. Find a suitable residence in the capital and grant it to him. Have him lead his troops along the coast, wipe out the banditry along the way, and then return to the capital. Bring Di, Jiang, and the others into the capital. Look after their families for now, and settle accounts with those who committed crimes in the past..."
Someone beside him recorded Wang Yan's reply, after which the man who had read the earlier letter continued with another. "Third Master led his troops through Shanhaiguan and reached the Ningyuan front, recreating the situation of the late Ming Dynasty. Third Master has written to ask whether he should continue advancing."
"Push on to Shengjing and drive them out. Then come to the capital. It's time to enjoy the good life."
"Zhang Zhidong, overseeing Guizhou, has written to ask..."
"Lord Chen..."
This was Wang Yan's daily work now.
After taking the capital and driving off the Manchu Qing imperial family, the places that had yet to be attacked had never possessed much will to resist. Now, they simply surrendered and accepted his rule.
With no more major battles being