Done! Your Majesty is going to prostitute me for free!

"That's wrong, totally wrong!" Lin Xiaofeng's face was calm and his tone was calm, as if his words contained a great force that could easily correct all the fallacies in the world. His eyes were deep, as if he could see through the essence of everything in the world, and there was an imperceptible smile on the corner of his mouth, which was a kind of detachment and indifference to the troubles of the world.

"Your Majesty, I beg you to give us some good advice!" His voice was not loud, but it was clearly heard by everyone, like a spring breeze, with a firmness and determination that could not be ignored.

"Li Zicheng's move will only make the surrendered Ming army more fearful! They are not direct troops and have limited trust. If they continue to follow Li Zicheng, they will only be punished together in the end." Lin Xiaofeng's words revealed a deep insight into the situation and a precise grasp of human nature. His eyes swept over everyone present, as if silently asking if anyone could understand all this better than him.

"At the beginning of his rebellion, he declared that he would never levy taxes. However, as the occupied territory became larger and larger, Li Zicheng's 'treasury' could no longer support it, so he recently changed his words and announced that he would not pay taxes for three years. He has lost the support of the people by being so inconsistent. His failure is inevitable! Everything will turn around when it reaches its extreme, and Li Zicheng's luck has run out!" Every word of Lin Xiaofeng was like a heavy hammer, hitting everyone's heart, forcing them to face the reality before them.

Zhu Fenghui and Ning Xikong looked at each other and saw shock in each other's eyes. Zhu Fenghui's eyes flashed with worry. He knew that what Lin Xiaofeng said was true, but he couldn't let go of the current situation. Ning Xikong's eyes were more complicated, with both admiration for Lin Xiaofeng and uncertainty and fear about the future.

However, the reality did not allow them to be shocked for too long. With the roar of artillery, the siege battle started again. After Lin Xiaofeng briefly boosted the morale, he quickly left the city wall. His figure seemed particularly firm in the smoke, as if he could remain calm and composed no matter how the situation changed.

On the city wall, smoke filled the air and flames shot up into the sky. Looking around, there were people everywhere! The bandits came like a tide, with greed and madness flashing in their eyes, as if they wanted to devour this ancient city. Outside the range of the Ming army's artillery, the bandits were building artillery platforms with wood. Their movements were swift and orderly, as if they were performing a carefully planned ceremony.

The higher the fort, the longer the range! The city walls of Beijing are as high as 30 to 40 feet, but as long as the fort is higher than the city walls, it can suppress the defenders with the advantage of range. This strategy was obviously proposed by Jing Changhao, who summed up the failed experience of the first day of the siege and came up with this idea. His voice rang out in the crowd with unquestionable majesty: "The fort must be higher than the city wall, with sandbags on it and cannons placed on it. Do you hear me?"

"As you command!" The civilians responded in unison, their voices trembling a little, but more of it was obedience to the order. They knew that this battle was a matter of life and death, of honor and disgrace, and they had to go all out.

In the distance, the first wave of civilians braved the Ming army's artillery fire and pushed a simple floating bridge towards the moat. After throwing the floating bridge into the moat, they turned around and fled, as if they were fighting a life-and-death escape. Then the second wave of civilians covered in wet quilts rushed up. With wet quilts on their heads and tools for prying bricks in their hands, they stepped on wooden boards and rushed to the edge of the city wall and began to pry bricks. Their movements were swift and powerful, as if they were fighting a silent contest.

The third wave of people carried simple ladders, holding shields in their left hands and swords in their right hands. After crossing the moat, they set up ladders and began to climb the city. Their faces were full of determination and courage, as if they were declaring war on this ancient city. The fourth wave of people stood not far behind them, holding firearms and crossbows, and kept shooting at the defenders on the city. Their eyes flashed with coldness and ruthlessness, as if they were warriors who put life and death aside.

However, despite their large numbers, they still seemed small compared to the army behind them. The total number of Shun troops attacking the city this time reached 70,000! The 70,000-strong army spread out vertically in the west of the city, stretching for more than ten miles, like an endless black torrent that was about to completely submerge the city.

The shouts and cries of killing outside the city became more and more intense. These sounds gathered together, like a giant dragon turning the clouds and rain outside the city, constantly hitting the city walls that had stood for hundreds of years. In this deafening shout and cries, Jinyiwei Commander Ning Xikong felt like a tiny ant. He felt helpless and powerless. The courage and morale he had accumulated before disappeared in an instant. Only fear remained in his heart, a deep fear of the unknown and death.

However, at this moment, a loud voice rang in Ning Xikong's ears: "The sun, the moon, the mountains and the rivers will last forever, the Ming Dynasty will last forever, kill!" This voice came from the West Gate and quickly spread throughout the capital along the city wall. It was like an invisible force that instantly ignited the fighting spirit of the defenders. They straightened their backs, clenched their weapons, and prepared for the upcoming battle.

The artillerymen on the city wall quickly loaded gunpowder, fuses, and projectiles. The fuses in their hands lightly touched the fuses, and with a bang, the shells shot out. Some of the shells fired were a rain of bullets, and some were large projectiles with great lethality, killing the Shun army in groups or in a straight line. Seeing the bandits attacking the city wall, the defenders raised rolling logs and stones and threw them down with all their might. After knocking down a piece of the wall, the people next to them took the opportunity to throw various grenades, earth-shaking mines, and small ten thousand enemies. After a burst of explosions, flames rose under the city and smoke filled the air.

The mouths and noses of the Shun army attacking the city were covered with wet cloth, so the pungent smoke had little effect on them. Moreover, the wet quilts on their bodies could not be ignited, so they would not be burned alive like yesterday. However, their eyes felt uncomfortable in the smoke. But at the critical moment of life and death, they could not care so much. If they could not open their eyes, they closed them and used their hands to pry bricks through the cracks in the city wall. Other defenders held bows and crossbows and various firearms and kept shooting down. While they were shooting, the Shun army under the city also fought back.

The infantry of the Shun army stood by the moat, holding the standard weapons of the Ming army and firing continuously at the city wall. The Shun army holding ladders and holding shields climbed up one by one, their movements were swift and powerful, as if they were engaged in a silent contest. The artillery of the Shun army was worried that the large projectiles falling from the city wall would accidentally injure friendly troops, so they used 100-shot bullets to fight back. The casualties of the defenders increased rapidly under the dense rain of arrows and bullets, but their fighting spirit was not diminished.

What was worse was that some civilians were already running back with bricks from the city wall. According to the Shun army's rules, anyone who pried off a brick could return to the camp to rest, and anyone who fell behind would be beheaded immediately. This rule made the Shun army's offensive even more fierce, as if they were fighting a life-and-death battle, with every brick having to do with their lives.

"Pour kerosene!" The guards of each city gate shouted almost at the same time. Barrels of boiling kerosene were poured down from the top of the city wall, pouring on the Shun army, making a sizzling sound. The Shun army, which was poured with hot oil, screamed in agony. Their bodies burned in the kerosene, emitting bursts of pungent smoke. However, this did not stop the Shun army's offensive, and they still charged forward recklessly.

The defenders on the city wall threw torches onto the hot oil, and flames and thick smoke instantly rose up! The Shun soldiers turned into burning people, struggling in the crowd. They screamed, rolled, crawled, and tried to escape from the sea of ​​fire. However, the flames and thick smoke had completely surrounded them, and they could only helplessly wait for death to come.

At this moment, they just wanted to jump into the moat to extinguish the flames on their bodies. But the moat was so far away for them that they could only watch their bodies being engulfed by the flames. Under the influence of the flames and smoke, they had lost their sense of direction and could only roll and crawl helplessly until the last moment of their lives.

Wherever they went, there was a sea of ​​fire. Everything they touched and the clothes they touched were immediately set on fire. The entire battlefield seemed to have turned into a sea of ​​fire, with burning flames and thick smoke everywhere. The Shun army, whose clothes were set on fire, also panicked and turned around and jumped into the moat, trying to escape from the sea of ​​fire. However, the moat could not be their refuge, because the Ming army had already buried gunpowder pots under the city wall.

The Shun army hiding under the wet quilt was just about to rejoice that the ground beneath them began to surge, and then a violent explosion sounded. The Ming army buried gunpowder cans under the city wall last night, and they began to explode under the ignition of open flames. Boom boom boom! The violent shock wave not only killed the Shun army nearby, but also blew up the soldiers on the ladder. The lead and iron balls mixed in the gunpowder flew through the air, knocking down the surrounding Shun army one after another. After the violent explosion, the Shun army under the city wall turned into broken limbs and corpses amid wailing, and the entire battlefield became a horrible sight.

The Shun army in the distance was also affected and fell to the ground. Some were injured and could not stand up, while others quickly got up and fled. However, as soon as the fleeing soldiers turned around, they were killed by the infantry behind them! "Those who flee will be killed without mercy!" This order echoed in the Shun army, making every soldier feel the threat of death. They knew that in this battle, only by moving forward bravely could they survive.

The defenders on the city wall had no time to rejoice, because the bandits attacked again. "People down there, hurry up and move the stones!" the defenders shouted, with a hint of anxiety in their voices. However, the gunpowder was almost used up, "You guys move the gunpowder to the city wall in groups of two!" This order echoed among the defenders, who knew that only by constantly replenishing gunpowder could they resist the attack of the Shun army.

"Put on the pan and heat up the oil! The bandits are attacking again!" Lieutenant General Li, the defender at Fucheng Gate, was directing the battle while observing the logistics supply. He knew that in this battle, the importance of logistics supply was no less than that of the soldiers on the front line. Only by ensuring the adequacy of logistics supply can the soldiers have enough combat effectiveness to resist the offensive of Shun's army. However, at this moment, a Shenwei General cannon suddenly exploded! This sudden change caught the defenders off guard. They stopped their work and looked at the cannon that had exploded. Lieutenant General Li's face also became solemn. He knew that the explosion of this cannon might bring greater difficulties to their defense. However, he did not panic because of this. Instead, he quickly adjusted his strategy and continued to command the defenders to defend. He knew that in this battle...
The Shenwei Dajiangjun Cannon, named by Emperor Lin Xiaofeng himself, is a Beijing Red Cannon that is famous throughout the world. It is not just a weapon, but also a symbol of the technology and military power of the Ming Empire. The range of this cannon is breathtaking, as if it can touch the sky; its high accuracy is rare in the world. With just a slight adjustment, whether it is the shooting angle or the amount of gunpowder, coupled with the precise front sight and rear sight, it can hit whatever it is pointed at, invincible and accurate.

However, behind this glory, there are also unknown dangers. Suddenly, there was a deafening roar, and the soldier operating the cannon was instantly blown to pieces, with blood and flesh flying everywhere! Fortunately, the sandbags next to it acted as a buffer, avoiding the sacrifice of more innocent lives. Lieutenant General Li rushed over after hearing the sound, with a solemn face. He saw the root of the problem at a glance - continuous firing without timely cooling led to the tragedy of barrel explosion. He stroked the cold cannon, a flash of anger in his eyes, and roared: "You who fire the cannon, you must be careful in the future, don't let this kind of barrel explosion happen again!" After that, he sat on a cannon barrel desperately, as if he wanted to live and die with this cannon, and called out to the soldier in charge, "Hurry up and ignite it, blow up those Shun troops! I will live and die with the cannon today!"

After this painful lesson, half of the artillerymen stopped their work and began to carefully cool down the artillery and clean the barrels, fearing that another accident would happen. The Shun army under the city felt the pressure suddenly reduced, and took the opportunity to launch a charge and attack the city wall again. They surged like a tide, and like a group of greedy ants, they pried the bricks and tiles of the city wall bit by bit, and dug the soil and rocks under the city with a shovel. As long as the city wall was broken, they could drive straight in and rob this rich city at will.

The wet quilts were used up, and the Shun army tasted the power of the earth-shaking mines and the small ten thousand enemies. The wet cloth on their mouths and noses became dry due to the high temperature, making it difficult to breathe. Some of the charging soldiers were blown to pieces, some were engulfed by the flames, some were suffocated by the thick smoke, and some were even crushed to death by the boulders falling from the city walls. On the battlefield, everyone tried their best. Those outside the city wanted to rush in, and those inside the city wanted to hold this last line of defense.

Li Zicheng stood in the distance, his eyes were like torches, and he waved his right hand and decisively issued an order: "Zongmin, the troops in front of Xizhimen are too weak, you send another 5,000 people to attack the city!" He must take Beijing! This is not only for political purposes, but also for economic purposes. Why did the Ming Dynasty call them bandits? Bandits are thieves who roam around. Why do they roam around? Because of poverty! In fact, behind the war, it is closely related to money.

The Shun army had hundreds of thousands of people, and the amount of food consumed every day was an astronomical figure, not to mention the military pay. Calculated in this way, the expenses were simply a bottomless pit. When they started the army, they shouted the slogan of equal distribution of land and exemption of grain, which resulted in them having no stable source of income. In order to maintain the expenses of the army, they could only find ways to raise money and grain. So, they robbed as they went. At first, they only robbed officials, gentry, rich households, and landlords, but later, they robbed everywhere they went. The larger the territory, the less place there is to rob. This time, they set their greedy eyes on the city of Beijing. This city, which has been run by the Ming Dynasty for more than two hundred years, must be rich. If Beijing cannot be captured, the treasury of the Dashun Kingdom will be exhausted and face a catastrophe!

"The troops in front of Fuchengmen are too weak. Send 2,000 men to support them!" Li Zicheng gave the order again, his voice revealing an unquestionable determination. The fighting on the city wall continued, with swords flashing and blood flying everywhere. The Shun army relied on the advantage of numbers to fight back and pry bricks. The Ming army relied on the terrain and sophisticated weapons to launch a fierce attack on the Shun army: smashing, bombing, burning, and smoking! Various means emerged one after another.

Countless Ming soldiers were hit by stray arrows and bullets, and screams continued from the top of the city. Some of the wounded Ming soldiers insisted on fighting, gritting their teeth and vowing to never retreat; some were dragged into the city for treatment, and the vacant positions were quickly filled. The Shun army under the city fell down in large numbers, some got up and fought again, with an unyielding light in their eyes; some twitched and were about to die.

With the help of firearms, killing people became easy and quick. The Shun army used firearms to shoot at the city walls and tried to cover the friendly troops below the city as much as possible. The Ming army on the city, under the cover of the battlements, threw down everything that could kill the enemy, whether it was boulders or grenades, they all became deadly weapons in their hands.

Amid the interlaced figures, a ladder was placed on the city wall. The Shun army below the city desperately climbed up and reached the battlements of the city wall in the blink of an eye. A Ming soldier raised a grenade and prepared to throw it, but was hacked to death by a knife-wielding Shun soldier. The grenade exploded on the city wall, and the nearby defenders fell to the ground one after another, and there was chaos.

Taking advantage of this gap, five or six Shun soldiers climbed up the ladders. They swung their swords and hacked at anyone they saw. The tight city wall was instantly torn open. In addition to bows and crossbows and firearms, the defenders only had some throwing objects. Facing these five or six Shun soldiers holding shields in their left hands and swords in their right hands, they were at a loss for a moment and fell into despair.

Seeing more and more Shun troops climbing up the ladder, a Ming soldier stepped forward. He threw away the crossbow in his hand and rushed forward with a roar. The opponent's long sword swung and chopped on his armor. He used inertia to hug the Shun soldier around the waist and jumped off the city wall. Seeing this, others followed suit. A dozen defenders gathered together and pushed the Shun soldiers out. If they couldn't push them out, they hugged each other and jumped down, dying together with the enemy.

The soldiers who fell from the city wall smashed into the densely packed Shun army below, killing and injuring several people. Seeing this, the Ming soldiers closed their eyes in relief, as their sacrifice at least bought their comrades a chance to breathe.

"Push the ladder down!" a defender shouted.

"No need to push, kerosene is here!" another defender responded excitedly.

As kerosene was thrown into the battlefield again, the Shun army under the city was once again engulfed in flames and thick smoke. Amid the piercing screams, countless Shun soldiers rushed into the moat crying, hoping that the river water could extinguish the flames on them. However, as soon as the flames were extinguished, they were met with overwhelming arrows and projectiles from the Ming army, and once again fell into a desperate situation of death.

The originally clear moat turned deep red again after a night of fighting, and shouts of killing were heard everywhere. The Shun army finally managed to capture the top of the city, but was driven back by the Ming army in the blink of an eye. The Shun army under the city was even more miserable. They desperately pried bricks and dug holes in the sea of ​​blood and corpses, trying to find a glimmer of hope.

Every time a hole was dug, the Shun army would put one person in. With the protection of the city wall, the pressure on the Shun army who entered the hole was greatly reduced. They kept waving their hoes in the narrow space, trying to dig deeper and escape from this hellish battlefield.

The Ming army on the city wall also discovered something unusual. Under the command of the garrison commander, they dug small holes from the top of the city wall, just like digging a well. If they couldn't dig any deeper, they poured water into the holes to moisten the rammed earth before continuing to dig. They dug very quickly due to their geographical advantages and their large numbers.

Soon, the upper hole was connected to the lower hole. A trace of coldness flashed in the eyes of the Ming army commander, and he shouted: "Grenade!" Grenades were thrown from above, burning and exploding in the hole, completely destroying the Shun army's hope.

"Kerosene!" the commander ordered again. As kerosene was poured into the cave, the screams stopped immediately, leaving only the roar of flames and the billowing of thick smoke.

This is a game of slaughter and being slaughtered. No one knows the final outcome. However, everyone knows that the party that gives up first will inevitably lose. They can only fight with all their strength until the last moment.

Lin Xiaofeng was walking on the street, watching the teams of supporting soldiers passing by, feeling very calm. He had done enough, and whether the capital could be defended depended on God's will! He looked up at the sky and prayed silently in his heart.

The battle lasted from dawn to dusk, with the common people and wealthy families in the city setting up large pots at their doorsteps to cook porridge and boil water. They risked their lives to deliver the hot porridge and boiling water to the top of the city walls, providing a little warmth and strength for the defenders.

The defenders had no time to eat, they were so hungry that they just took up their bowls and poured rice porridge into their throats, then picked up their weapons and threw them down. In their eyes, there was only the enemy and the hope of victory.

Gradually, the shouting and screaming became smaller and smaller, and finally disappeared into the darkness of the evening. Lin Xiaofeng pricked up his ears and listened carefully, his heart filled with expectation and anxiety.

"Victory!" a soldier shouted excitedly.

"The bandits are retreating!" another soldier responded excitedly.

"The Ming army is mighty! The Ming army is mighty!" The defenders on the city wall cheered and celebrated the hard-won victory. Their faces were full of fatigue and joy, but more of determination and faith. They knew that this battle was just the beginning, and the real challenge was still to come. But they were ready. In order to protect this city and this land, they would do whatever it took!
Although the bandits had temporarily retreated, Lin Xiaofeng's brows were still furrowed, and it was difficult for him to relax. He stood outside Wenyuan Pavilion, and the afterglow of the setting sun shone on his dragon robe, reflecting a bit of heaviness and worry. It turned out that Guo Tianyang had just told him that the cabinet chief Li Banghua was ill. This news was like a huge rock, pressing on his heart.

"Where is Lord Li now?" Lin Xiaofeng asked anxiously, with a barely perceptible tremor in his voice.

"In Wenyuan Pavilion." Guo Tianyang replied, with a hint of worry in his eyes.

The cabinet system of the Ming Dynasty was actually established during the Yongle period, and the cabinet's office was located in the Wenyuan Pavilion. It is located deep in the imperial city, behind the Wenhua Hall. On the door of the pavilion hangs a royal edict: This is a confidential place. All officials and idle people are not allowed to enter without permission. Violators will be severely punished. Surrounded by tall walls, the Wenyuan Pavilion looks solemn and dignified, as if isolated from the world.

"Quick, call the imperial physician, come with me to Wenyuan Pavilion." Lin Xiaofeng said anxiously, his pace was hurried, he didn't even sit in the imperial carriage, and hurried to Wenyuan Pavilion on foot. His heart was full of anxiety, Li Banghua couldn't fall ill, because the operation of the court depended on him.

Why do you say that? Is it just because he is the prime minister?

Actually not!
Like the former chief minister of the cabinet, Tang Xingjia, when he was in office, he also served as the minister of the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Personnel, but even so, he could not completely control the entire court. Can the minister in the ministry really be arbitrary? In name, it is so, but not in reality. The ancient court was like a company today. If the parachuted officials did not cultivate their own confidants, their control over the department would be almost zero. To complete the emperor's orders, it is not a simple matter of passing them up and down. Under the minister is the assistant minister, and under the assistant minister are a large number of officials such as the secretary, doctor, member, director, etc. Most of these people belong to a certain party.

The Donglin Party, the Eunuch Party, the Qi Party, the Chu Party, the Zhejiang Party, the Xuan Party, etc., each party has different interests and different views. When a decree harms the interests of a certain party, although they cannot change the decree, they can delay the transmission of the decree, or make excuses to shirk it, so that the decree cannot be implemented in a short period of time. The court is like a huge machine, and each part has its own little abacus. If there is no strong core to coordinate, then the machine cannot operate normally.

However, Li Banghua is different. He is like a precise gear, perfectly embedded in the machine of the court. First of all, he has no party and is not involved in party disputes, so the parties have no resistance to him. Secondly, he is a veteran of three dynasties, and he has been promoted step by step from a county magistrate to the chief minister of the cabinet. He is a powerful figure. His prestige and ability are enough to make all parties keep in awe of him. The emperor's orders are transmitted from the cabinet to various yamen. As long as the orders are not excessive, each yamen will give him face. This is also the main reason why Lin Xiaofeng appointed Li Banghua as the chief minister of the cabinet.

Arriving at Wenyuan Pavilion, Lin Xiaofeng was stunned. This was originally a place for handling government affairs, but now it has been converted into a place for both business and residence. Opposite the door, there are still desks and chairs. On the left table are piled thick documents, which are memorials and petitions waiting for Li Banghua to review. The screen that originally faced the door has been moved to the right. Through the gap in the screen, you can see two beds behind, and someone is lying on one of the beds, that is Li Banghua.

Seeing the emperor coming, everyone in the pavilion knelt down and bowed: "Your Majesty, your subjects, pay your respects to the emperor. Long live the emperor!" There was a bit of fear and awe in their voices.

"No need to bow, please stand up!" Lin Xiaofeng said, his voice was filled with fatigue and anxiety. In the fearful eyes of the crowd, he walked around the screen and went to the back. Wenyuan Pavilion is behind Wenhua Hall. Although it is separated by a city wall, it still belongs to the imperial city. Without the emperor's permission, staying overnight here will result in punishment at the lightest and beheading at the worst. But at this moment, Lin Xiaofeng's heart is only worried about Li Banghua. When Li Banghua heard that the emperor was coming, he wanted to stand up and bow, but Lin Xiaofeng hurriedly held him down. "Lord Li, please don't bow." Lin Xiaofeng said, his voice was filled with concern and warmth.

"Your Majesty, I set up a bed in Wenyuan Pavilion without your permission. Please punish me." Li Banghua said, with a bit of guilt and uneasiness in his voice. He knew that his actions were a bit over the line, but he had to do so because of his serious illness.

The people outside the screen pricked up their ears to listen carefully when they heard this. They actually wanted to know how favored Li Banghua was so that they could act accordingly. In the big family of the court, everyone was like a shrewd fox, always sniffing the air to make the most favorable choice for themselves.

"Lord Li has worked hard for the country, and this little thing is nothing." After Lin Xiaofeng finished speaking, he grabbed the bedding and touched it, and then said, "Lord Li's bedding is thin and damp. Someone go to the inner court to get a set of bedding." There was an unquestionable majesty and concern in his tone.

Li Banghua was so moved that he burst into tears and wanted to thank Lin Xiaofeng, but was stopped by him: "Why thank me for just a set of bedding?" There was some warmth and comfort in his voice.

"Your Majesty, I have not made any achievements since I joined the cabinet. I have disappointed your Majesty." Li Banghua said with guilt, his voice filled with self-blame and uneasiness. He knew that as the chief minister of the cabinet, he should make greater contributions to the court, but at this moment he was unable to perform his duties due to illness.

"Mr. Li, please don't say too much. Let the imperial physician treat you first." Lin Xiaofeng comforted him with a bit of firmness and trust in his voice. He knew that Li Banghua was a capable person, but he was unable to perform due to illness at the moment.

In the Ming Dynasty, the imperial physicians were under the management of the Imperial Hospital. The positions of the Imperial Hospital were divided into the hospital director, the hospital judge, the imperial physician, and the clerk. When the emperor was sick, the Imperial Hospital would send at least two imperial physicians to treat him. The prescriptions issued after the diagnosis and treatment needed to be reviewed by the hospital judge and other departments before they could be taken by the emperor. The imperial physician standing behind Guo Tianyang did not dare to neglect it and immediately stepped forward, put down the pulse pillow, put Li Banghua's wrist on it, and began to feel the pulse.

After taking Lin Xiaofeng's pulse, the imperial physician smiled and turned to him and said, "Your Majesty, Lord Li is in good health. The cause of his illness is that he has been working too hard for days without rest. He only needs to rest for ten days to recover." There was some confidence and affirmation in his voice.

At Lin Xiaofeng's signal, another imperial doctor immediately stepped forward to diagnose the patient again in public. After a moment, the imperial doctor gave the same conclusion.

Ten days? Lin Xiaofeng cursed in his heart! God is really a rip-off. It's okay to start with a rope. Now he finally found someone who can control the court, but he fell ill at the critical moment. This made him feel very anxious and helpless. He knew that the court needed a capable person like Li Banghua to stabilize the situation at this moment.

Seeing Lin Xiaofeng's anxious expression, Guo Tianyang immediately asked in a low voice, "Do the two imperial doctors have any good prescriptions?" His voice was filled with anxiety and concern. He also knew the importance of Li Banghua, so he hoped that the imperial doctors could give a better treatment plan.

One of the imperial doctors nodded but his expression was helpless: "You know that the illness of Eunuch Guo comes like a mountain and goes away like a thread. Although we have a prescription for a big tonic, Elder Li is old and a big tonic will be effective in the short term, but it will damage his essence and hurt his foundation." His voice was filled with a bit of helplessness and explanation. He also knew that this prescription was not the best choice, but at the moment it was the only way.

Li Banghua immediately whispered, "Please prescribe a prescription now. I don't care." His voice was firm and resolute. He knew that his condition was serious, so he hoped that the imperial physician could prescribe a prescription for treatment immediately.

Seeing that the patient had spoken, the two imperial doctors did not dare to make a decision and only looked at the emperor. They knew that only the emperor could make the final decision on this issue.

Lin Xiaofeng immediately shook his head: "Mr. Li, please don't rush. The morale of the bandits has declined. It is only a matter of time before they are defeated." There was some comfort and persuasion in his voice. He knew how Li Banghua felt at the moment, but he also hoped that he could rest assured and not rush.

"But your majesty..." Li Banghua hesitated. He knew he should listen to the emperor's advice, but he still felt uneasy and anxious. He was worried that his illness would affect the operation of the court.

Lin Xiaofeng interrupted him and said, "Lord Li, continue to handle the affairs of the cabinet. I will send a few eunuchs to serve you. They will read the memorials and petitions to you. You decide how to approve them." His voice was firm and trusting. He knew that Li Banghua was a capable person, but he was unable to handle the affairs personally due to illness. So he hoped that Li Banghua could continue to contribute to the court.

"As for the Ministry of War... choose a trustworthy person to handle it temporarily." Lin Xiaofeng continued, his voice full of thought and decision. He knew that the Ministry of War was an important department and needed a capable person to be in charge. So he hoped that Li Banghua could recommend a suitable candidate.

"How is it?" Lin Xiaofeng looked at Li Banghua and asked with a look of expectation and trust in his eyes. He hoped that Li Banghua could accept his advice and rest assured to recover from his illness.

The emperor had spoken, and Li Banghua had no choice but to accept the order and express his gratitude. He knew that this was the emperor's concern and trust in him, so he decided to accept the suggestion and rest assured to recover from his illness.

After a while, Li Banghua decided on the person in charge of the Ministry of War: Wang Jiayan, the Right Assistant Minister of the Ministry of War. Hearing this name, Lin Xiaofeng nodded in approval. He knew that Wang Jiayan was a capable and loyal person, so he was relieved to hand over the affairs of the Ministry of War to him.

Official history records that after Beijing was captured, Wang Jiayan tried to commit suicide by jumping off the city wall but failed, so he found a private house and hanged himself. Bandits found his body and burned it. His servants collected the remains and buried them outside the city. After his death, the Southern Ming court posthumously awarded him the title of Prince Taibao and Minister of War, and the posthumous title of Zhongduan. The Qing Dynasty gave him the posthumous title of Zhongyi. This was a loyal and tragic figure, and his fate was full of twists and turns, just like the rise and fall of the Ming Dynasty.

"Okay, just rest and recover." Lin Xiaofeng said and prepared to leave. He knew that Li Banghua needed to rest at this moment, so he decided not to disturb him. He believed that with the treatment of the imperial physician and the care of Li Banghua, he would recover soon.

"Your Majesty, wait a moment..." Li Banghua stood up and pointed outside the screen and said, "Please review the memorial submitted by the Xicheng Military Department." His voice was filled with urgency and concern. He knew the importance of this memorial, so he hoped that the emperor could personally review it and make a decision.
"West City Military Division?" Lin Xiaofeng was slightly stunned when he heard the name. He was a young and deep emperor, with an extraordinary heroic spirit between his eyebrows, but at this moment, he couldn't help but reveal a trace of doubt. He secretly wondered what could have alarmed him and even reported it? Could it be that there was some unknown secret hidden in the West City Military Division?

Outside the screen, Miao Yikui personally came over holding the memorial, which seemed heavy, as if it carried countless unknown information. He handed the memorial to Guo Tianyang respectfully, and Guo Tianyang took it with a serious face, turned around and handed it to Lin Xiaofeng. Lin Xiaofeng took the memorial and read it carefully, his brows gradually furrowed, as if every word in the memorial was as heavy as a thousand pounds.

In the memorial, the West City Military Department reported two things. One is that a suspected den of bandits and spies was found in the city, but because all the people in the Military Department were guarding the city wall, they requested the emperor to order troops to encircle and suppress it. Lin Xiaofeng imagined those cunning bandits and spies lurking in the city, like poisonous snakes, ready to give a fatal blow at any time, and he couldn't help feeling a chill. Second, several arrows were found in the city, shot from outside the city, and white cloth was tied to the arrows, and the cloth was written with the code words of the Jinyiwei. The general idea is: Minister Jiang Taiwei led thousands of Shandong troops to Beijing to defend the king, and has now arrived in Tongzhou. At midnight tonight, I will raid the bandits' camp, and then enter the city from Chaoyang Gate. Please ask the emperor to send personnel to meet them.

Li Banghua reached out and took a piece of rice paper from the table next to him and handed it to Guo Tianyang. On the paper was Jiang Taiwei's official seal. He said solemnly, "Your Majesty, after verification by the Ministry of War, the words on the white cloth were indeed written by Left Commander Jiang Taiwei, and the seal was also his official seal."

"Isn't this fake?" the emperor questioned, his eyes revealing an indescribable depth.

"At the moment, it's hard to tell the real thing. We need the real thing to judge." Li Banghua replied, with a hint of uncertainty in his voice.

Lin Xiaofeng nodded, threw the white cloth on the table, and said firmly: "This is forged." His tone was full of confidence, as if he had seen through the truth of it all.

Li Banghua was surprised, picked up the white cloth from the table, took the rice paper from Guo Tianyang, rubbed his eyes and identified it again. His heart was full of doubts, could his judgment be wrong?

"Lord Li, there is no need to identify it again. I do not judge the authenticity based on handwriting and seals." The emperor explained, with a hint of smile in his voice, as if everything was under his control.

"Your Majesty, please enlighten me!" Li Banghua said respectfully, his heart full of admiration and curiosity for the emperor.

"Before Jiang Taiwei left Beijing, I told him that if he could successfully get rid of Liu Zeqing and bring his troops under his command, then when he was serving the king, in order to prevent someone from impersonating or falsely surrendering, he must use the gold-plated silver seal of Prince Yong in his letters." The emperor said slowly, his tone revealing an unquestionable majesty.

"If the person coming is really Jiang Taiwei, then the seal on the white cloth should be Prince Yong's, not the official seal of the Left Commander-in-Chief." There was a hint of coldness in his words, as if he had seen through the intentions of the forger.

After listening to this, Li Banghua's mouth twitched slightly, and he was surprised by Lin Xiaofeng's thinking. He did not expect that the emperor's anti-counterfeiting method would be so direct. Not only him, but also the civil and military officials in the court could not have expected this. They all cast admiring eyes, as if they saw the emperor's wisdom and foresight.

"Your Majesty's talent and wisdom are beyond my reach!" Li Banghua exclaimed sincerely, his heart full of admiration for the emperor.

"In extraordinary times, extraordinary things should be done!" The emperor responded calmly, his eyes revealing a kind of firmness and determination. He knew that this war had just begun, and he had to stay calm and sober in order to lead his country and people to victory.

Before Li Banghua could be happy, he suddenly remembered the spies in the city. "Your Majesty, there are spies in the city and bandits pretending to be government troops outside the city. They seem to be planning to attack us from both inside and outside tonight and open the city gates. We have to be on guard!" He said anxiously, as if he had seen the impending crisis.

"Haha, what Lord Li said makes sense. We do need to be on guard." The emperor said with a smile, his smile was full of calmness and confidence. It was as if the impending crisis was just a chess piece in his hand that he could control at any time.

Li Banghua looked at Lin Xiaofeng in confusion. The situation was so serious, why could the emperor still smile? Was he so optimistic? He couldn't help but feel deeply curious and admired the emperor's heart.

"Since the bandits have used their wits, I will make them pay the price. I will leave the defense of the city to you. Remember, wait until the enemy gets close before attacking!" the emperor ordered, his tone revealing an unquestionable majesty. He knew that this war would cost his soldiers their lives, but he also believed that they would be able to win.

"As for the spies in the city, don't worry. I will send the East Factory to assist the Military Department in dealing with them." There was a hint of coldness in his words, as if he had seen the fate of those spies. He knew that the East Factory's methods were cruel, but also effective. He had to ensure the safety of his country and his people.

"I accept your order." Li Banghua responded respectfully, his heart full of admiration and determination for the emperor. He knew that this war would be a life-and-death contest, but he also believed that under the leadership of the emperor, they would surely win.

After leaving Wenyuan Pavilion, the night was deep, and the moonlight was like water, sprinkling on the glazed tiles of the Forbidden City, flickering with a faint light. Lin Xiaofeng hurried back to the Qianqing Palace, his steps were steady and powerful, as if every step was stepping on the pulse of history. He summoned Gongsun Yuchun and Gu Chaosheng, these two were the sharp swords in his hands, and he relied on them to stabilize his country in this chaotic world.

Normally, they were the high and mighty Jinyiwei and Changwei, the hidden weapons in the hands of the emperor, who could assassinate anyone he wanted. However, at this moment, they were like two loyal soldiers, quietly waiting for the emperor's summons.

"Gu Chaosheng, take this red book to the West City Military Department and work with the military departments of the other four cities to immediately arrest the bandits and spies in the city. Remember, leave a few of them alive and get to know their backgrounds." The emperor ordered, his voice carrying an unquestionable majesty.

The red book is the official document approved by the emperor of the Ming Dynasty. It is sent by the cabinet to the six departments for archiving and copied to relevant departments. It is like the emperor's imperial sword, with supreme authority.

Gu Chaosheng took action immediately after receiving the order. His figure disappeared into the night like a ghost. He knew that this war would be a life-and-death contest, but he also believed that under the leadership of the emperor, they would definitely win.

After Gu Chaosheng left, Lin Xiaofeng looked at Gongsun Yuchun. Gongsun Yuchun knew that the emperor was going to order him to kill again. However, from the beginning to the end, the people the emperor ordered him to kill all had reasons to die: corrupt officials, scholars who violated the law, and merchants who collaborated with the enemy. They were like a cancer in society and must be eradicated.

"Gongsun Yuchun, how many men do you have available now?" the emperor asked, with a hint of concern in his voice. He knew that this war would be a tough one, and he had to make sure his soldiers had enough strength to cope with it.

"Your Majesty, there are less than 500 people. The rest are guarding the West Gate." Gongsun Yuchun replied, with a hint of helplessness in his voice. He knew that 500 people were just a drop in the bucket for this war.

"That's enough. The grain prices in the capital have skyrocketed recently. I ordered you to investigate the profiteers who raised the prices. How many have you found?" the emperor asked, with a hint of coldness in his voice. He knew that those profiteers were like vampires, sucking the hard-earned money of the people. He had to eradicate them and give the people justice.

Gongsun Yuchun thought for a moment and replied, "Your Majesty, there are twelve merchants in total, and these merchants control more than 70% of the grain trade in the capital." There was a hint of anger and helplessness in his voice. He knew that there were powerful forces and complex networks of interests behind those profiteers. He had to act carefully to ensure that he could eradicate them in one fell swoop.

"I'll give you one night to wipe out all these businesses, and make the confiscated silver public before sending it to the treasury," the emperor ordered, his voice carrying an unquestionable majesty. He knew that this war would be a brutal contest, but he also had to make sure that his soldiers had enough strength and determination to deal with it.

Gongsun Yuchun wanted to receive the order, but felt that he was short of manpower. He knew that those merchants not only had people, but also weapons. For example, a merchant with 100 carriages would need 200 horsemen, plus bodyguards and servants, a total of no less than 300 people. And because the merchant had cooperation with the court, they not only had bows and crossbows, but also various firearms. With his 500 men, it was already very difficult to destroy two merchants.

"Your Majesty, I am afraid that I am short of manpower." Gongsun Yuchun said hesitantly, with a hint of helplessness and worry in his voice. He knew that this war would be a life-and-death struggle, but he also had to make sure that his soldiers had enough strength and determination to deal with it.

Lin Xiaofeng smiled calmly: "It's okay, I will send 1,800 soldiers from the Brave Guard Battalion to assist you. You must root out the evil tonight!" His voice was filled with unquestionable majesty and determination. He knew that this war would be a brutal contest, but he also had to ensure that his soldiers had enough strength and determination to deal with it.

Gongsun Yuchun was stunned and didn't dare to accept the order. The Yongwei Camp was the last barrier of the imperial city. Now the emperor actually handed the Yongwei Camp to him. If anything happened in the imperial city, he would be blamed. His heart was filled with worry and uneasiness, as if he had seen the impending crisis.

"The Yongwei Battalion is your Majesty's imperial guard. I dare not use them." Gongsun Yuchun declined, his voice trembling. He knew that this war would be a life-and-death battle, but he also had to make sure that his soldiers had enough strength and determination to deal with it. However, at this moment, he felt unprecedented pressure and fear.

"Don't worry, my safety is not your concern." The emperor comforted him, his voice full of calmness and confidence. It seemed that the impending crisis was just a matter of time in his hands.