The King of Pingxi was the title given to Wu Sangui by the Qing Dynasty. In the first year of Hongguang, the Ming Dynasty appointed Wu Sangui as Duke of Ji, and also named Wu Sangui's dead father Wu Xiang as Duke of Liao. At that time, Shi Kefa originally wanted to transport 100,000 dan of grain to Wu Sangui as military rations, but later the ship was robbed by the Ming generals from the four towns in Jiangbei, and it was not transported.

Over the years, neither Longwu nor Yongli have issued an order to deprive Wu Sangui Duke Ji from Duke Ji, so Wu Sangui really sent people to come. According to the rules, Ma Jixiang should also call Duke Ji, instead of calling him the King of Pingxi, and calling him intimately. This is really too disgraceful to the Ming Dynasty. However, the civil and military officials of the Ming Dynasty did not frown at the "King of Pingxi" mentioned by Ma Jixiang. Instead, they were all excited. Only Duke Qian Mu Tianbo always had a calm face and did not respond to Wu Sangui's envoy coming.

The envoy sent by Wu Sangui was Su Yunxiang, a member of the royal family. This person was a counselor recruited by Wu Sangui when he was in Hanzhong. He was second only to Fang Xianting, Hu Yuliang and others under Wu Sangui's tent, and was considered a confidant. Of course, if it were not for his confidant, Wu Sangui would not have sent him to Myanmar to meet Yongli. After all, Wu Sangui was the Prince of Pingxi of the Manchu Qing Dynasty, and Doni's army was still in Kunming. If someone knew that he, King Pingxi sent someone to meet Yongli in private, Prince Xin would probably have to send his troops to suppress him, the man who destroyed the country in the southwest.

Zhu Youlang was stunned for a long time before he woke up, but then he was furious and pointed at Su Yunxiang and said, "Ping Wu Sangui sent you to see me, is it to see if I die!"

"My prince has no intention of this. He just heard that Your Majesty was in a difficult situation everywhere in Myanmar. He thought that he was a Ming minister in the past and could not bear to suffer His Majesty, so he sent villains to send some gold and silver for His Majesty to spend money." Su Yunxiang was neither humble nor arrogant.

"Wu Sangui sent you to give me silver?"

Zhu Youlang opened his mouth in surprise. A few days ago, Wu Sangui was leading troops to chase him. He wished he would die early and get better. Now why did he suddenly change his face and send money to him to spend? Could it be that he really found out that he wanted to learn from Li Chengdong to welcome me back?

Ma Jixiang thought so too, so he asked Su Yunxiang very anxiously: "Mr. Su, does the King of Pingxi mean to welcome the emperor back anyway?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Youlang's heart thumped, and his eyes looked at Su Yunxiang with a little hot. Unexpectedly, Su Yunxiang said that the King of Pingxi had no intention of being right, but he just couldn't bear to suffer in a foreign country, so he sent gold and silver for expenses. There was nothing else except that.

"Just send some money"

Ma Jixiang was extremely disappointed, and Zhu Youlang felt a little empty and uncomfortable, but one thing made him calm down, that is, Wu Sangui would at least not chase and kill him into Myanmar to kill him.

Su Yunxiang did not stop for a long time. After a few polite greetings from Zhu Youlang, he said goodbye. The gold and silver he brought on this trip were detained by the Burmese people, but the Burmese side's attitude towards Yongli changed drastically because of Wu Sangui's move. The Burmese king thought that although the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty now lives in his own country to avoid disasters, he did not know which dynasty would have to go back to be the emperor. The Han people were always unsure of the matter. Didn't there be Han people who surrendered to the Qing Dynasty before and return to the Ming Dynasty? If Wu Sangui, the King of Pingxi of the Qing Dynasty, would be like this, so he would be better for Yongli's monarch and ministers, so he would not be welcomed back again and would hold a grudge against Myanmar at that time. Therefore, the Burmese king planned to take Yongli's monarch and ministers into the capital and lived in peace, and did not intend to deduct the money Wu Sangui gave to Yongli.

After the two Burmese envoys explained the king's meaning, Zhu Youlang was still a little unbelievable and had no good expression on the two Burmese envoys. However, Ma Jixiang's mind was quick, and he leaned close to Zhu Youlang's ear and said, "The emperor is the king of a country. How can he lose his dignity in front of foreign envoys?"

When Zhu Youlang heard this, he was immediately alert. No matter what, he is now the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty. Even if he is unwilling to do it, he is still the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty. As the king of a country, how could he lose his majesty in front of this small country? Moreover, he did not hit people with a smile. No matter what the reason why Myanmar changed his attitude and wanted to treat him well, he always respected him, the Emperor of Ming Dynasty, and he had no reason to face him.

That's the case, but Zhu Youlang could not completely forgive Ma Jixiang and the others emotionally, so he said coldly: "If I don't become an emperor, wouldn't I lose face?"

Ma Jixiang smiled awkwardly and whispered: "The emperor is known as the emperor, the lord of all people, and the king of a country. How can ordinary people be emperors? The emperor should not be bothered by his ministers. If he agrees to the request of the Burmese, the emperor will be in a better situation."

Zhu Youlang snorted coldly: "When will you treat me as your emperor?"

"Don't worry, from today on, I promise that all civil and military officials will treat the emperor well and will never ask for anything from the emperor."

Wu Sangui sent people to give money and the attitude of Myanmar changed drastically, which made Ma Jixiang realize that Zhu Youlang is still a rare product and that he has great benefits to make it. Naturally, he is unwilling to have a quarrel with Zhu Youlang and tried his best to express his attitude.

"You are pleased with me now because the King of Burma wants to treat me well. You want to get some benefits from it." Zhu Youlang's words were full of sarcasm. Ma Jixiang's face turned too fast, so he couldn't see the trick.

Ma Jixiang was shocked, the emperor was not confused. He smiled and said, "Your Majesty, don't say that! If you say this, wouldn't you kill us ministers?"

Although Zhu Youlang hated Ma Jixiang and others, he could not kill them all. So, what else would he be an emperor? It should be noted that since ancient times, the emperor has been carried out by officials, and he has never seen ordinary people willing to carry out an emperor to press on his head. Besides, the envoy of Wu Sangui and the King of Burma sent him to finally find the feeling of an emperor. Now the court still needs to rely on Ma Jixiang and others to maintain it, so his tone softened. He said to Ma Jixiang: "I have been here for many days, why did I see him sending envoys to greet him today?"

Seeing that Zhu Youlang was not speaking well, Ma Jixiang signaled the translation not to literally translate it to the Burmese people. He said to Zhu Youlang: "The emperor misunderstood. The king of Burmese only recently learned that the emperor had arrived in Myanmar."

Zhu Youlang snorted. He had been in Myanmar for several months. Even the children in Myanmar knew that the Ming Emperor was coming. Moreover, the king of Myanmar, Ma Jixiang was talking lies with his eyes open. However, Zhu Youlang was not a person who was ignorant. Since the king of Myanmar was willing to send envoys to see him, he had to be more tactful. He relieved his face and said to the two Burmese officials: "What's the matter with the envoys of Myanmar today?"

Myanmar officials replied: "My king wants to take the emperor into the capital."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Youlang refused flatly and said, "No need, I won't live in your capital."

Ma Jixiang was shocked. If Zhu Youlang refused, where would he get the benefits? He hurriedly advised: "The King of Burma is also the king of a country, and the emperor should not easily refute his face."

"I didn't dare to go there because I didn't want to refute his face."

"I don't know what the emperor means!"

"As the saying goes, there is no day, and there is no two kings in the people. How can I just move into the capital of the vassal states and disrupt the government affairs of other countries?"

Ma Jixiang's son-in-law, Yang Zai, the Minister of Rites, was amused when he heard this. What a confused emperor. He didn't invite you to be the king, but he just invited you to be a guest. Even if you were invited to be the emperor, you couldn't go! How could the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty run to Myanmar to be the king when he couldn't do it? You are too wishful thinking.

Ma Jixiang also felt that the emperor was a little whimsical, but his expression did not dare to relax at all, and he still said rigorously: "The emperor is kind and wise. If the Burmese king knows it, he will be grateful to the emperor for his kindness."

Zhu Youlang was in a better mood. Seeing that except for two Burmese officials who did not kneel, the rest of the house were kneeling tremblingly. He felt a little reluctant, so he shouted, "All my dear friends should be calm!"

When all the civil and military officials heard this, they shouted, "Thank you, the emperor." Then they stood up together.

Seeing that Yongli refused to move into the Burmese capital, Ma Jixiang said, "Since the emperor refused to enter the Burmese capital, the Burmese king still has another request."

Zhu Youlang asked him, "What request?"

"The King of Burma wants to build a palace near the capital for the emperor to live in!"

"It's not worth harassing others, how can we make money?"

"I also responded to the envoys like this, but they insisted on refusing." In fact, Ma Jixiang did not reject the "kind intentions" of the Burmese people at all.

"What should I do?" Zhu Youlang was a little embarrassed.

Seeing that Yongli was a little loose, Ma Jixiang immediately said, "As the king of a country, the emperor seems a little too shabby to live in this simple place."

Zhu Youlang thought it was true that although he was wandering away, he was the king of a country after all. How could he lose the face of being an emperor? After thinking about it for a while, he agreed to this matter. When all the civil and military officials saw the emperor's agreement, they were naturally overjoyed, because this meant that their living conditions and situation would be improved.

The civil and military officials dispersed, but the two Burmese envoys had not left yet. Yongli did not understand his intentions, so Ma Jixiang said: "The emperor is the king of a country and should give some gifts to the envoys. No matter how poor the country is, it cannot be poorer than the integrity."

Emperor Yongli thought that, when the Burmese envoy met him for the first time, how could he not give me some gifts and let them underestimate me, the Emperor of Ming Dynasty? However, although he was willing, he was powerless. Because the wealth around him had been looted by Ma Jixiang and the others, how could there be anything else to give to the envoy?

Zhu Youlang, who had nothing to give, felt embarrassed and looked disappointed.

When Ma Jixiang saw the emperor's appearance, he knew that he was short of money. He had no intention of paying for the emperor out of his own pocket, and only reminded him: "Can the emperor withdraw some money from the queen and the queen?"

Ma Jixiang's words once again aroused Zhu Youlang's hearts. The precious things around Queen Wang had already been used to satisfy the selfish desires of civil and military ministers. If so, the Queen Mother might have some more. However, as the king of a country, how could she reach out to her mother to give the envoys' property? Even if the mother doesn't care, it's hard for me to speak!

"I'm afraid there isn't the Queen Mother's side."

Zhu Youlang's implication was that even if the empress dowager had it, he would not be able to ask for it. Ma Jixiang's eyes rolled, but said, "At this point, the emperor has to ask for the empress dowager. You can't lose my demeanor in front of the Myanmar envoy because of this little thing."

Zhu Youlang gritted his teeth and said, "Then I'll try it."

When he arrived at the Empress Dowager's side, Zhu Youlang stammered his own difficulties. When the Empress Dowager heard this, he sighed. Zhu Youlang thought the Empress Dowager refused and said, "If the Empress Dowager has difficulties, forget it."

The Queen Mother said: "It's not that my mother disagrees, but that I really have nothing to do with myself."

Zhu Youlang was surprised: "How could this happen?" Even in the most difficult time, he did not reach out to ask his mother for anything. Logically speaking, there should be some valuable things around the empress dowager. Now that the empress dowager said there was no, Zhu Youlang was naturally surprised.

The Queen Mother said, "I don't know anything about me! The valuable things around me will be transferred to you by the Queen."

Without the need for the Queen Mother to say more, Zhu Youlang understood everything, was silent, and didn't know what to use to comfort his mother. After sitting quietly for a while, he didn't say anything, and the Queen Mother didn't say anything. He felt that he couldn't stand it, so he stood up and said goodbye to the Queen Mother. As soon as he walked to the door, the Queen Mother called him to stop. The Queen Mother pulled out two golden hairpins from his head and gave them to his son.

Looking at the golden hairpin taken off his mother from her head, Zhu Youlang was frozen there, and it was neither right to connect, nor did he not connect.

"It doesn't matter if your family is suffering. No one sees it anyway. Don't lose face in front of outsiders."

The empress dowager sighed and signaled her son to take it to reward the Burmese envoy as soon as possible so as not to be looked down upon. Zhu Youlang had no choice but to pick it up and then ran back to his residence. The Burmese envoy was impatient, and Ma Jixiang kept talking to them. Zhu Youlang gave the two golden hairpins held tightly in his arms to the two Burmese officials. The two smiled happily and said goodbye.

Zhu Youlang thought Ma Jixiang would still talk to him about the Burmese construction of the palace city, but he didn't expect Ma Jixiang stayed and left, leaving him, the emperor as before, and ignored him. Zhu Youlang was very distressed, but he could only stay in the house in a depressed state, without even a talker.

After Ma Jixiang left Yongli, he found his younger brother Ma Xiongfei and his son-in-law Yang Zai and asked them to find someone to return to Yunnan. Ma Xiongfei thought his brother wanted to send someone to contact Jin King Li Dingguo, but he didn't want his brother to contact Wu Sangui. Ma Xiongfei was stunned, not understanding what his brother was doing. Could it be that Wu Sangui would expect him to come back anyway? Yang Zai guessed his father-in-law's intention. He shook his head slightly, but agreed to the matter.

When Yang Zai spent a lot of money to entrust a Myanmar merchant to Yunnan to meet Wu Sangui, King Li Dingguo of Jin and King Bai Wenxuan of Gongchang were discussing how to rescue the monarch and ministers of Yongli from Myanmar. At that time, generals such as Jin Tongwu and Liang Jie, who were responsible for protecting Yongli and court officials and family members, saw Zhu Youlang and his entourage entering Myanmar and accepted the Myanmar's request to disarm. They did not dare to stop the emperor's actions, nor did they automatically disarm and go into exile in a foreign country. So Jin Tongwu and Liang Jie led their subordinates to retreat southward with the main force of Li Dingguo's troops from Tongbi Pass.

After being defeated by the Qing army, King Bai Wenxuan of Gongchang led his troops from Snow Mountain Pingyi to Mount Fumu to Longchuan and met with Li Ding* in Mubang. Both of them believed that although the mainland of Yunnan was occupied by the Qing army, they were still scattered in Yun, Gui and Sichuan. The escape of the Yongli court into Myanmar would have an extremely adverse psychological impact on the generals' persistence in resisting the Qing Dynasty. Therefore, the most urgent task is to take Emperor Yongli back to the country from Myanmar, otherwise the country would be unparalleled for a long time and the overall situation would be difficult to recover.

(To be continued.)
Chapter completed!