Death of Wu Sangui

Timeline

1. 1678Hengzhou · HunanOn the first day of the third month of the 17th year of Kangxi, Wu Sangui declared himself emperor at Hengzhou, adopting the era name Zhaowu and making Hengzhou his Dingtian Prefecture. He soon fell ill with dysphagia, and in the eighth month with dysentery, unable to speak; he summoned his grandson Wu Shifan from Yunnan, but Shifan did not arrive.
2. 1678Hengzhou · HunanOn the yisi day of the eighth month, Wu Sangui died at Hengzhou. Shifan, an illegitimate son of Wu Yingxiong, remained in Yunnan to attend the mourning; upon reaching Guiyang he was enthroned by Wu Sangui's subordinates, adopting the era name Honghua. Ma Bao and Hu Guozhu, besieging Yongxing, burned their fortifications and retreated to Hengzhou on hearing of the death. With the new ruler absent from the front, the Hunan defensive line soon wavered.
3. 1678–1681Hunan · Central ChinaAfter Wu Sangui's death the Qing armies advanced on several routes; Yuezhou, Changsha, Hengzhou, and other places fell in succession, and Wu Shifan retreated to Yunnan. In the 20th year of Kangxi, Kunming fell and Shifan killed himself, ending the Zhou regime.