Wu Sangui Prepared Hunan Province With Extensive Preparations

Wu Sangui quickly captured most of Hunan province after initiating his rebellion. Yue Le, a strategist, understood that the emperor's military strategy was unreliable and focused on holding Jiangxi against Wu Sangui and Geng Jingzhong, preventing them from taking the southeastern provinces. Wu Sangui's strategy involved securing Hunan for a defensive position, which was a viable option for him. He believed he could negotiate with the Shunzhi Emperor regarding Yunnan, and the emperor agreed to let him keep it, considering it a remote area. The conflict between Kangxi and Wu Sangui was a political strategist against a military strategist, with Kangxi learning through political means. Wu Sangui was not afraid of death, was skilled in combat, had a strong military background, and possessed strategic acumen. Kangxi deployed reinforcements to Hunan, appointing Mu Zhan as the commander to support the province. Wu Sangui's capture of Hunan allowed for offensive and defensive maneuvers, presenting a balanced choice between China and the US. Kangxi's initial military strategy in the central battlefield had not yielded results for three years, with responsibility placed on princes, generals, and ministers, not frontline soldiers. By severing Wu Sangui's external support, the Qing could effectively isolate him. The Qing Dynasty's primary advantage over Wu Sangui was its strategic resource advantage, enabling it to leverage national resources against Wu's smaller territory. He held key elite troops and had the confidence to take the province.