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

Yanqing, this ancient and important transportation hub, is particularly quiet in the afterglow of the setting sun. The wind gently blows over the city wall, bringing up gusts of dust, as if telling the vicissitudes of history. Li Zicheng half leaned on the couch, his brows furrowed, and the wrinkles on his face were like undulating mountains, reflecting his inner anxiety and struggle. The shadow of defeat was like a dark cloud hanging over his heart. Even this once high-spirited emperor could not help but feel discouraged at this moment, and the idea of ​​surrendering came up from time to time.

Sitting on the stool beside the couch, Zuo Fu Nangong Shangpu asked in astonishment. His voice was particularly loud in the silent room: "Juyongguan is in a dangerous position. Why did the emperor retreat to Xuanfu?" His eyes were full of puzzlement and confusion.

Military advisor Cheng Minghe also had helplessness on his face. He slowly explained, "This is not a decision made by the emperor alone, but the result of a joint discussion among the generals, after weighing the pros and cons. First, after the defeat, all the food and grass were lost, the army was uneasy, and the soldiers were tired and depressed; second, the plague was rampant in the army, especially the terrible plague. Those infected lost their combat effectiveness in one or two days, and the number of patients was still increasing, which was undoubtedly adding insult to injury; third, the attack on Beijing led to the severance of trade routes. Xuanfu and Datong were the places where the Ming Dynasty and Mongolia conducted trade. Mongolia could not get what they wanted, so they would inevitably want to rob... By then, our army would be attacked from both sides, and it would be extremely dangerous!"

Nangong Shangpu sighed after hearing this. He had urged the Northern Expedition before, hoping to unify the Central Plains and establish a career, but he did not expect that the result would go against his wishes and bring disaster. His heart was filled with reluctance and helplessness.

"After retreating to Xuanfu, what should we do?" Nangong Shangpu was at a loss and asked the military advisor in a low voice. There was a hint of confusion and helplessness in his voice.

Li Zicheng suddenly sat up, stroked his beard and thought, and sighed: "If Mr. Li were here, he would definitely have a good idea!" A trace of nostalgia and admiration flashed in his eyes.

Nangong Shangpu was displeased when he heard the word "Mr. Li", but he didn't dare to show it. He could only sit there and get angry. He was jealous of Li Yan's status and influence in front of the emperor, but he could do nothing about it.

After a while, Nangong Shangpu's eyes lit up, as if he had thought of a plan. He hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, I have a plan!" There was a hint of urgency and expectation in his voice.

"Oh?" Li Zicheng sat up and asked, "Niu Zuofu, please speak!" A hint of curiosity and expectation flashed in his eyes.

Nangong Shangpu was flattered. He stood up and saluted, saying: "There are many wealthy businessmen here in Xuanfu. We can rob them to solve our urgent problems, or even restore our military power and plan to take over Beijing again!" There was a hint of excitement and fanaticism in his voice.

However, Li Zicheng flatly refused: "No! Although we can get money by robbing merchants, we will lose the support of the people, and we will not be able to buy things in the market in the future. This is tantamount to drinking poison to quench thirst!" There was a hint of firmness and determination in his voice.

"You must never do this!" he emphasized again.

The discussion yielded no results, and the room fell silent again. Only the sound of the wind outside the window was still whistling, as if it was also telling the helplessness and vicissitudes of this period of history.

"Your Highness Jing Changhao requests to see you!" Jing Changhao's voice suddenly came from outside the door, with a hint of urgency and nervousness in his voice.

"Come in," Li Zicheng responded, his voice carrying a hint of fatigue and helplessness.

Jing Changhao walked in and saw Nangong and Cheng were both there, looking a little embarrassed. He hesitated for a moment and wanted to leave. However, Li Zicheng stopped him and said, "Why is Zongmin hesitating? Niu Zuofu and Song Junshi are both our own people, what can't we say?" There was a hint of doubt and dissatisfaction in his voice.

Jing Changhao became even more embarrassed and stammered, "Mr. Li left me a letter, saying that if the siege was unsuccessful, we should retreat to Juyongguan and give the letter to the emperor. I forgot about it at the time, but only remembered it now." There was a hint of regret and self-blame in his voice.

Li Zicheng took the letter with a smile, and his eyes flickered after reading it. He passed the letter to everyone to read, with a look of deep thought and expectation on his face.

After everyone finished reading, Li Zicheng asked for countermeasures. There was a flash of anxiety and confusion in his eyes, as if he was also looking for a way out and hope.

Nangong Shangpu was so jealous that he could not express it in words. He was jealous of Li Yan's intelligence and influence, but he could do nothing about it. In the letter, Li Yan had anticipated the defeat and planned three strategies for the Shun army: the first was to retreat to Xuanfu, where he could spy on Beijing and defend Datong, but there were Ming troops in front and Mongolia behind, so this was the worst strategy; the second was to retreat to Datong and divide the troops into two routes, one to defend Datong and the other to bypass Henan, to quell the rebellion in Shandong and cut off the traffic between the north and the south of the Ming Dynasty, which was the middle strategy; the third was to negotiate peace with the Ming Dynasty, sell Xuanfu to the Ming Dynasty, retreat to Datong, store up food and grass, dig deep trenches and build high walls, wait for the Ming Dynasty to fight with Jiannu and Zhang Xianzhong, reap the benefits, and then plan to attack the Central Plains, but the source of money and food was unclear, so he could only plunder the vicinity of Henan to supplement it, which was the best strategy but not perfect.

Nangong Shangpu shook his head and said nothing, his heart full of dissatisfaction and jealousy. Li Zicheng asked for his opinion, he pointed to the last plan and said: "The Ming court is cunning, and the Jiannu are not stupid, how can they believe Li Yan's words? It will be difficult for the Ming Dynasty to siege Beijing again after it has recovered. And I heard that the Ming Dynasty exempted the land tax in the whole country and did not exploit the people, so our army will have no manpower. The emperor also exempted taxes for three years. If we store up food and grass, there will be no food, and if we build high walls, there will be no manpower. This is the worst plan!" There was a hint of indignation and dissatisfaction in his voice.

Everyone thought he was right. The Shun army was now worried about money and food. Without money and food, the surrendered Ming army would easily rebel. This was a realistic problem that could not be avoided.

"So I think the middle strategy is actually the best strategy!" Nangong Shangpu added. There was a hint of firmness and confidence in his voice, as if he had found a way out and hope.

Li Zicheng took the letter, unfolded the map, and pondered for a long time. A trace of confusion and helplessness flashed in his eyes, as if he was also looking for a way out and hope. The Northern Expedition was hopeless, and the military strength in the capital area was strong. The three major camps, Wu Sangui, Jiang Taiwei and other troops surrounded them, and the military strength was very different. This was a realistic problem that could not be avoided.

"What do you think?" Li Zicheng asked. There was a hint of fatigue and helplessness in his voice, as if he was also looking forward to everyone's answers and suggestions.

Cheng Minghe pointed at Xuanfu and said, "What Niu Zuofu said makes sense. Since you don't want to hold on to Xuanfu, you might as well write a letter of peace and sell Xuanfu to the Ming Dynasty. It will be beneficial if you get money." There was a hint of calmness and rationality in his voice, as if he had found a solution to the problem.

Everyone agreed that the middle strategy was good, as it could suppress the Ming court and seize money along the way, killing two birds with one stone. This was a seemingly feasible solution, but it also contained countless risks and challenges.

Finally, Li Zicheng decided to adopt the middle strategy and wrote a letter to the Ming court to tell them that he wanted to sell Xuanfu. If the Ming court did not agree, he would plunder and retreat to Datong. He personally led the army to Zhengzhou, pointed his sword at Kaifeng, and vowed to wash away the shame of three failed attacks! There was a trace of determination and resoluteness in his eyes, as if he was ready to face all challenges and difficulties.

Wu Sangui's body trembled violently, his eyes full of astonishment, looking at Lin Xiaofeng. In his eyes, there was both panic of being exposed and cunning trying to cover up. His words were just a pretense, not a true confession. Every word was like a carefully calculated chess piece, trying to find a ray of hope in this complicated chess game.

"Your Majesty, I ..." Wu Sangui hesitated, his lips trembling slightly, as if he had a thousand words to say but didn't dare to say them easily. However, Lin Xiaofeng did not give him more time to hesitate, his words were as sharp as a knife, cutting off all his retreat routes.

"Pingxi Earl Wu Sangui, you came late to serve the king and should be severely punished. But considering that you have traveled thousands of miles and it is really hard for you, I decided to fine you one year's salary as a punishment. What do you think?" Lin Xiaofeng's words were filled with unquestionable majesty, as if even the air was frozen.

Wu Sangui was stunned at first, with some reluctance and calculation hidden in his stunned state. Then he knelt down as required and said respectfully: "Your Majesty, I, Wu Sangui, thank you for your grace!" Although his voice was full of gratitude, a hint of imperceptible coldness flashed in his eyes. Although the annual salary was meager, it could be easily compensated by falsely reporting some soldiers for the abundance of the Guanning Army. Therefore, Wu Sangui thanked him without hesitation, but he was already thinking about the next step in the game.

The ministers looked at each other in confusion, unable to guess the true intention of Emperor Lin Xiaofeng. The atmosphere in the court was solemn, as if even breathing had become cautious.

"Pingxi Bo, if you have nothing else to do, go back to visit your family, and then lead the army back to Shanhaiguan. Ningyuan has been lost, and Shanhaiguan must not have any more mistakes!" Lin Xiaofeng said solemnly, his eyes revealing deep worry about the safety of the border.

Wu Sangui stood still, his heart in turmoil. After hesitating for a long time, he knelt down again and pleaded, "Your Majesty, the court has been in arrears of wages for the Guanning Army for nearly a year. A few days ago, an official document from the Ministry of War stated that the wages have been prepared and ordered me to go to the capital to collect it myself. I want to take the wages back to Shanhaiguan, and at the same time save the court the shipping cost..." His words were sincere, but they could not hide his urgency and calculation.

Li Banghua stamped his feet in anger and rebuked loudly: "Wu Sangui, you are so bold that you actually ask for military pay in front of the emperor!" His voice echoed in the court like thunder, shaking people's hearts.

The Minister of Revenue Cheng Qinghua also said, "Sir Wu, the issue of military pay is not something we should discuss at this time. The Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War will naturally pay it on time, and it will not be too late to discuss it after the court is adjourned. You are asking for military pay in front of the emperor now, which is suspected of forcing pay, and it is really disrespectful!" There was a bit of helplessness and blame in his tone, and it was obvious that he was extremely dissatisfied with Wu Sangui's behavior.

In the court, voices of condemnation rose and fell, like a violent storm, chilling people's hearts. However, in the center of the storm, Lin Xiaofeng still maintained his calmness and composure, as if everything was under his control.

The situation was about to get out of control. After receiving Lin Xiaofeng's eye signal, Guo Tianyang shouted loudly: "Silence!" His voice was like a loud bell, instantly suppressing the noise in the court.

Everyone's eyes were focused on Lin Xiaofeng, waiting for his decision. Lin Xiaofeng smiled and said, "You all have misunderstood Pingxibo! He asked for military pay in order to stabilize the army. Moreover, before the bandits besieged the city, I had ordered Li Gelao to issue an official document promising that the military pay had been prepared and that Pingxibo could collect it himself."

"Since he is here, I will naturally fulfill my promise! Lord Li, you should quickly prepare the military pay and let Pingxi Bo take it back." Lin Xiaofeng's words carried a certain unquestionable majesty, and also revealed a certain understanding and tolerance towards Wu Sangui.

Li Banghua's face turned pale, and he reluctantly accepted the order. Although he was unwilling, he also understood that Lin Xiaofeng's decision could not be changed.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Wu Sangui was no longer as cautious as before, but accepted the order with a smile on his face. His heart was filled with pride and joy, as if he had seen the dawn of victory.

After the issue of military pay was resolved, Li Banghua informed Wu Sangui of the adjustment strategy of the garrisons in various places. Wu Sangui was only concerned about the whereabouts of Ji Zisheng and Guan Ning's 6,000 cavalry, which were his direct troops!
"Nearly a thousand of the six thousand Guanning troops were killed in this battle. Li Xingzhong led seven hundred cavalrymen and eight thousand surrendered soldiers to guard Liangxiang. The remaining four thousand five hundred cavalrymen and Ji Zishen will guard Jizhou together." Li Banghua's words were filled with helplessness and heaviness, and he was obviously not satisfied with such an arrangement.

Wu Sangui was very dissatisfied when he heard about this arrangement. The Guanning Cavalry was an elite force that he had spent a lot of money to build. This arrangement by the court was clearly weakening his power. He could not sit idly by and had to find a way to recover this loss.

"Your Majesty, although Shanhaiguan is easy to defend but difficult to attack, in order to deter the Jiannu and prevent them from invading our borders again, I plan to wait for an opportunity to go out of the pass and engage in a field battle with the Jiannu. Therefore, I want to add more cavalry at Shanhaiguan to prepare for emergencies." Wu Sangui's words were filled with urgency and determination, as if he had already seen the future victory.

In the court, everyone's faces turned livid. Wu Sangui's move was not only to gain power, but also a blatant provocation to the court! How outrageous! It was really too outrageous!
However, Lin Xiaofeng nodded calmly and agreed, "Pingxi Bo is indeed ambitious! However, if the Guanning Army is allowed to garrison inside the pass for a long time, it would be tantamount to destroying its own military strength. In this case, I will transfer a thousand cavalry from Ji Zishen to accompany you back to Shanhaiguan for garrison." His voice was calm and firm, as if everything was under his control.

What? Li Banghua's eyes widened, wondering if Lin Xiaofeng was Zhu Qizhen's reincarnation. Ji Zisheng had just seized the command of 6,000 cavalry from Wu Sangui and was planning to use this opportunity to weaken the strength of the Guanning Army. His Majesty not only did not take advantage of the opportunity, but also gave Wu Sangui a thousand cavalry. What was the reason for this?
Li Banghua wanted to stop him but heard Wu Sangui had already accepted the order and expressed his gratitude: "I accept the order!" There was a hint of pride and joy in his voice, as if he had already seen the future victory.

Alas... Li Banghua shook his head and sighed. He knew that they had already lost this round. Wu Sangui's cunning and ambition had exceeded their expectations.

After discussing for a while, Wu Sangui bowed and left. Looking at his back, the officials were murderous and wanted to behead him immediately. Pretending to be loyal to the king, holding troops and commanding the court... Each of these crimes was enough to make him suffer the disaster of extermination of his entire clan!

However, Lin Xiaofeng's face was as calm as still water, and he sneered in his heart. Although Wu Sangui was a little clever, he was not smart enough to protect himself, otherwise how could he fall into the trap? This trick was actually very simple, so simple that Wu Sangui was not prepared at all! He just wanted to use Wu Sangui's ambition and greed to achieve his own goals.

"Everyone else, please leave. Cabinet members, please stay and discuss with me the policies of administration and governance!" Lin Xiaofeng ordered. His voice was full of majesty and unquestionable. He knew that the road ahead was still long, and he needed more wisdom and strategies to cope with future challenges.

……

On Qianmen Street in the capital, students from the Imperial College stood under the scorching sun, talking among themselves. Their faces were filled with anxiety and dissatisfaction, as if the whole world had lost its color.

"Don't even mention it! In the past, you could buy a piece of paper for two cents, but now we can't get the free newspapers because we go too late!" said a student indignantly.

"Eh? Brother Li, why do you say 'rob'?" another student asked curiously.

"It's more than just robbery, it's simply bandit-like behavior! Hearing that the newspapers are given away for free, people of all ages in the capital city get up early and gather in groups of three or five to surround the kids selling newspapers, and snatch the newspapers when they aren't paying attention." A student described the scene of snatching newspapers indignantly.

"Some people grab the newspapers and use them to paste on the walls or sell them at low prices to people who want to read them. This is totally unreasonable!" added another student.

Hearing this, the students of the Imperial Academy were furious. As scholars, they should be respected and admired, but now they were looked down upon because of a free newspaper. However, thinking of the swearing ability of the old and young people who snatched the newspaper, they calmed down. After all, they didn't want to cause unnecessary trouble because of a newspaper.

"Has anyone read the newspaper? Come out and tell us about it," suggested a student.

After a while, a middle-aged scholar stood up, holding a newspaper and began to read. His voice was loud and clear, and every word seemed to have magic, attracting everyone's attention.

After the reading, the scene fell into silence. A student asked in disbelief: "So... the salary at the Institute and the Manufacturing Bureau is better than being an official?" His voice was filled with shock and confusion.

The scholar looked at the newspaper carefully again, then nodded and replied: "If what the newspaper says is correct, then it is indeed true!" There was some affirmation and certainty in his voice.

As soon as this statement came out, it immediately caused heated discussions and dissatisfaction among the people. Why did these students of the Imperial College study so hard every day? Wasn't it just to stand out and enjoy privileges! Once they became officials, they could be exempted from corvée, have their land tax reduced, have unlimited housing, and ride horses and sedan chairs. These privileges were not available to ordinary people!
But what about now? Craftsmen can also take the imperial examinations, and can also work in research institutes and manufacturing bureaus. Their status has risen sharply, even surpassing that of farmers. This is simply a leap from the bottom of society to the top of society!
"On what basis do the craftsmen have? On what basis can they be exempted from corvée labor? Does Your Majesty know?" a student asked angrily.

"What do you think? This newspaper comes from the imperial palace!" another student replied helplessly.

“No! We have to go in person
Outside the Meridian Gate, the sun shone obliquely, dyeing the ancient bricks and stones with a layer of golden color. Hundreds of people prostrated themselves on the ground, kneeling facing the imperial city. Their shadows stretched out in the sunset, appearing particularly solemn and serious. There was a depressing atmosphere in the air. Although there was no noise from the people, there were still many officials watching. Most of them had expressions of gloating on their faces, as if they were expecting something good to happen.

Lin Xiaofeng stood in front of the crowd, his eyes as sharp as an eagle, quickly scanning everyone present. In a flash, he had a plan in mind. He knew very well that in order to rectify the administration, talents were needed, and these students would definitely enter the court and serve the country in the future. Therefore, why not take this opportunity to make friends with them?
"Who is the leader here?" Guo Tianyang's voice sounded coldly. He looked around, with a hint of majesty in his eyes.

At this time, an official who was originally kneeling on the ground stood up, walked quickly to Lin Xiaofeng, and knelt down again to report: "I am Zhou Fengxiang, the Left Yude of the Zhanshi Palace and the Attendant of the Hanlin Academy, and I pay my respects to Your Majesty." Although his voice was a little trembling, it revealed a firmness.

Lin Xiaofeng observed the man carefully. He was about 40 years old, wearing the clothes of a fourth-rank civil servant, with a thin body and regular features. He was obviously a sincere Confucian scholar. There was a gleam of wisdom in his eyes, as if he could see through the world.

"Stand up, please. Why are you gathering here?" Lin Xiaofeng asked. His voice was gentle yet powerful, as if it could soothe the uneasiness in people's hearts.

Zhou Fengxiang answered sincerely: "We heard that Your Majesty intends to reduce taxes for craftsmen, and we feel unfair, so we gathered here." His tone revealed a commitment to justice.

"Aren't you afraid of being blamed by me?" Lin Xiaofeng asked, with a hint of amusement in his eyes.

"I am naturally afraid, but as Confucian scholars, we should speak out when we encounter injustice." Zhou Fengxiang answered firmly, with an unyielding light in his eyes. "Well said!" Lin Xiaofeng clapped his hands gently to show his approval. "It is precisely because of voices like yours that I have become more determined to improve the status of craftsmen!" His voice revealed a kind of determination and firmness.

"Your Majesty, I am stupid and would like to hear your opinion." Zhou Fengxiang said modestly. Although he had some doubts in his heart, he admired Lin Xiaofeng's broad-mindedness even more.

Lin Xiaofeng asked in return: "What would the country be like if there were no Confucian scholars?" There was a deep light in his eyes, as if he could see into the depths of people's hearts.

After thinking for a while, Zhou Fengxiang replied: "The country will be difficult to govern and chaos will arise." His tone revealed a concern for the country.

"However, the Ming Dynasty is full of Confucian scholars, so why is the country still in chaos? Isn't this the fault of the Confucian scholars?" Lin Xiaofeng asked again, his voice revealing a harshness and dissatisfaction.

Zhou Fengxiang frowned and fell into deep thought when he heard this. Although he felt a little unwilling, he also understood that Lin Xiaofeng's words were not unreasonable.

Lin Xiaofeng didn't wait for his answer and continued, "High positions are not easily obtained, and victory on the battlefield does not come easily. It requires blood and courage to fight for it." His voice revealed a kind of praise for bravery and struggle.

"I am deeply dissatisfied with the phenomenon of Confucian scholars misleading the country!" Lin Xiaofeng said in a firm tone, his eyes revealing a persistence and pursuit of justice.

"However, craftsmen are different. Gunpowder, firearms, armor, and weapons all come from their hands, and they use their skills to defend the country's territory. I raise their status because they have earned this honor through their own efforts and talents." His voice revealed respect and admiration for craftsmen.

"Furthermore, the pens, ink, inkstones and paper used by Confucian scholars were all made by craftsmen. If there were no craftsmen, how could Confucian scholars write history?" His tone revealed a reverence for history and gratitude to craftsmen.

Lin Xiaofeng pointed at Zhou Fengxiang and the people behind him and asked, "Is there anything wrong with what I said?" His eyes revealed a sense of expectation and challenge.

Zhou Fengxiang was silent for a long time. Although he was convinced, he was still unwilling to give in. How could the sacred status of Confucian scholars be compared with that of craftsmen? He looked around and found that other people had the same idea. Their eyes revealed a kind of adherence to the status of Confucian scholars and disdain for craftsmen.

"Your Majesty, although we are Confucian scholars, not all disasters are caused by Confucian scholars. Your Majesty is generalizing, and I am afraid it will be difficult to convince the people." Zhou Fengxiang tried to defend himself, his tone revealing a sense of helplessness and persistence.

"Indeed!" Lin Xiaofeng raised his voice. "However, Confucians as a group are like soldiers on the battlefield. They prosper together and suffer together. Only when more soldiers charge into battle can we turn defeat into victory." His voice revealed a call for unity and struggle.

"The same goes for you. Only when there are more good officials can we reverse the argument that Confucian scholars are misleading the country." His tone revealed an expectation for good officials and a vision for the future.

"Are what I said reasonable?" Lin Xiaofeng asked, his eyes revealing expectation and determination.

Zhou Fengxiang nodded in agreement, with a little more respect in his eyes. The students behind him also nodded in agreement, their eyes revealing a kind of expectation for the future and admiration for Lin Xiaofeng.

"Since you are here, just stay with peace of mind. I will grant privileges to everyone present today. Regardless of whether you are an official or not, I will choose one day every month to discuss matters with you. I will help those who are in trouble; I will support those who lack funds; and I will clear the grievances of those who have been framed." Lin Xiaofeng's voice was gentle and powerful, as if it could soothe the uneasiness and anxiety in people's hearts.

"How is it?" Lin Xiaofeng asked, his eyes revealing expectation and concern.

Before Zhou Fengxiang could respond, cheers broke out from behind him. The students who were originally dissatisfied all expressed their gratitude and loyalty. Their voices revealed their expectations for the future and their admiration for Lin Xiaofeng.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your great grace. We are willing to follow Your Majesty!" a student shouted loudly, with excitement flashing in his eyes.

"I couldn't ask for more! Thank you, Your Majesty, for your help!" Another student echoed loudly, his voice revealing a longing for the future and gratitude towards Lin Xiaofeng.

"Your Majesty is wise!" More students shouted, and their voices gathered into a powerful force that seemed to be able to shake the heaven and earth.

Zhou Fengxiang suddenly realized and bowed to the ground again: "Your Majesty is opening up new paths for talent, and I deeply admire you." His voice revealed his admiration for Lin Xiaofeng and his expectations for the future.

Lin Xiaofeng waved his hand and said, "If everything is fine, please go. I still have busy government affairs to deal with." His voice was gentle and powerful, as if it could soothe the uneasiness and anxiety in people's hearts.

All the officials and students bowed and left with joy on their faces. Their figures gradually faded away in the afterglow of the setting sun, as if they were carrying with them a feeling of expectation for the future and admiration for Lin Xiaofeng.

Lin Xiaofeng looked at their backs, with a smile on his face. His heart was filled with expectations for the future and determination for reform. He knew that although the party struggles in the court were temporarily hidden, they had not been eliminated. The contradictions had only shifted their positions but not been eliminated. Although the crisis was resolved, the party struggles would still arise again. Therefore, he decided to take the opposite strategy and use magic to fight magic. Whether it was the Donglin Party, the Eunuch Party, or the Qi, Chu, and Zhejiang Party, they were not to be feared. The Imperial Party was the mainstream! Under his grace, these students would become his wings, and together they would form the Imperial Party to compete with various parties in the court and in the localities!

After returning to the Qianqing Palace, Lin Xiaofeng immersed himself in dealing with the piles of papers. His heart was full of expectations for the future and determination for reform. He knew that only through continuous efforts and struggles could he realize his ambitions and ideals.

In just ten days, Lin Xiaofeng discussed with the cabinet and formulated a trial strategy for the reform of the civil service system and a preliminary plan for taxation. He was full of expectations for the future and confidence in reform. He knew that only through continuous reform and innovation could the country become more prosperous and powerful.

……

Meanwhile, in Shenyang, Liaodong (known as Shengjing during the Qing dynasty), the news of Li Zicheng's defeat spread quickly. The Jiannu's spies quickly delivered the news to Shenyang. In the Ten Kings Pavilion, Dorgon's face changed drastically after reading the letter. After thinking for a long time, he passed the letter to the other Eight Banners lords to read together. They all showed expressions of shock and confusion on their faces. They knew that this news would have a profound impact on their future and destiny.

In addition to Dorgon, who was the leader of the Plain White Banner, there were also Prince Yu Duoduo, the leader of the Bordered White Banner, Prince Li Daishan, the leader of the Plain Red Banner, Duolo Baylor Luoluohun, the leader of the Bordered Red Banner, Prince Su Haoge, the leader of the Plain Blue Banner, and Prince Zheng Jirgalang, the leader of the Bordered Blue Banner. They were all important lords and generals of the Qing Dynasty, and had a decisive influence on the future and destiny of the country. The leader of the Plain Yellow Banner and the Bordered Yellow Banner was the young Emperor Fulin, who did not participate in political affairs and therefore could not express his opinion on the news.

After the lords finished reading the letter, Hauge was the first to express his opinion: "The chaos within the Ming Dynasty is of no help to them. It is really a shame for them that a small Li Zicheng can besiege Beijing!" His voice revealed a kind of sarcasm and dissatisfaction with the Ming Dynasty.

When mentioning Li Zicheng, Hauge expressed his disdain again: "His army is just a group of mob, and failure is doomed." His tone revealed a contempt and disdain for Li Zicheng.

However, Jirgalang hesitated for a moment and shook his head, saying: "Prince Su, don't underestimate the enemy! If his army is really a mob, then why hasn't the Ming Dynasty been able to wipe it out yet?" His voice revealed a recognition and vigilance of the Ming Dynasty's strength.

Hauge didn't take it seriously and turned his attention to other things. He knew that although he was brave and good at fighting, he was not as smart and strategic as Jirgalang. Therefore, he preferred to focus on actual battles and territory.

Jirgalang continued, "I heard that Prince Yu intends to enter the pass again while the Ming Dynasty has not yet recovered?" His tone revealed a kind of speculation and inquiry about Dorgon's intentions.

Dorgon's surprise location

"Is it the map of Xuanfu?" Dorgon unfolded the map on the table. The mountains, rivers, and cities outlined on the delicate paper seemed to have the pulse of life. He carefully examined every detail, just like a craftsman carving a work of art. The sunlight shone through the window lattice and sprinkled on his resolute face, adding a bit of warmth to his calmness. The other flag owners also approached and formed a circle, scanning the map, as if looking for the key to open the door to victory.

After a while, everyone returned to their seats, the atmosphere was solemn and tense. Haoge, the burly flag owner, raised his eyebrows slightly, still with a look of disdain on his face, and a contemptuous smile on the corner of his mouth, and said: "Does Li Zicheng want to imitate Zhu Yuanzhang and build walls and store grain? Humph, what a fantasy."

Dorgon glanced at him, with a barely perceptible coldness in his eyes, but he ignored him and turned to order the guards outside: "Go and ask Mr. Fan to come in to discuss matters." His voice was not loud, but it revealed unquestionable majesty.

Hearing Fan Wencheng's name, Duoduo's face suddenly changed, becoming as stiff as a cold stone, like a frozen lake in winter. Others looked at Duoduo, with a playful smile on their lips and a playful look in their eyes. This was because last October, Duoduo forcibly seized Fan Wencheng's concubine, and when Dorgon found out, he was severely punished. This matter is still a topic of conversation among them after dinner.

According to the rules of the Eight Banners, it was natural for the banner master to enjoy the wives and concubines of his subjects, but this behavior would undoubtedly undermine internal unity. Although Fan Wencheng had a prominent official rank and still had to kneel when he saw the banner master, Duoduo was warlike and lustful. When he saw the beauty of Fan Wencheng's concubine, he pounced on her like a hungry wolf and forcibly took her away. Although the concubine returned to Fan Wencheng with scars all over her body three months later, Duoduo also paid a heavy price for this. He was fined 10,000 gold coins, and one-third of his Niulu was returned to Dorgon's white banner, which made him lose face.

After that, Dorgon and Dodo changed their flags and banners, and Dorgon jumped from the fifth position of the Bordered White Banner to the third position of the Plain White Banner, second only to Fulin's Plain Yellow and Bordered Yellow Banners. Some people privately discussed that this was a painful plan carefully planned by Fan Wencheng and Dorgon to weaken Dodo's power and strengthen Dorgon's position.

Although no one laughed out loud, Duoduo felt extremely embarrassed. He stood up suddenly, wanting to escape from this suffocating place, but when he saw Dorgon's deep eyes, he sat back down depressed as if being pulled by an invisible rope.

Soon after, Fan Wencheng entered the Ten Kings Hall. Although Huang Taiji had passed away, Dorgon and other princes still respected Fan Wencheng very much, especially Dorgon, who stood up to greet him with a respectful attitude, as if he was welcoming an old friend who had not seen him for a long time.

After the ceremony, Dorgon handed a document to Fan Wencheng. After he read it carefully, he asked, "Mr. Fan, what do you think about this?" There was some expectation in his voice.

Fan Wencheng pondered for a long time. Duoduo could hardly hold back his anger. He spoke slowly, his voice steady and powerful: "My lords and princes, I would not be surprised no matter who Zhu Youjian killed. But he killed the Shanxi and Shaanxi merchants who helped us transport food and pass on information. This is really strange!"

Everyone nodded in agreement. This line had been running for 20 to 30 years, and it was indeed unusual that it suddenly broke without any warning. Dorgon frowned. He knew the importance of these merchants. They were not only related to the supply of food and grass, but also the key to winning over the Han people and pacifying the Central Plains.

"Should we tell the merchants in Xuanfu to hide for a while? They have served our Qing Dynasty for many years and have made invaluable contributions!" Dorgon's words revealed some worry, but this was not out of genuine concern for the lives of the merchants, but out of far-reaching strategic considerations.

Fan Wencheng remained silent, and continued to ponder, as if weighing the pros and cons of every decision. After a long time, under the gaze of everyone, he slowly asked, "Where is the map?"

"Mr. Fan, please look here!" Dorgon unveiled the silk cloth hanging on the wall, and a huge map appeared before everyone's eyes. The mountains, rivers, and cities seemed to come alive, telling the changing situation of the world. Fan Wencheng took the long stick handed over by Dorgon, pointed at the map and began to elaborate on his three strategies in detail.

Dorgon and Jirgalang smiled at each other, and led the crowd to bow and said, "I would like to hear your opinion, sir." Fan Wencheng cleared his throat, pointed to the Ming capital Beijing, and said firmly, "Although Li Zicheng failed, the Ming court also suffered great losses. Now is the time for them to rebuild!"

"We can take the opportunity to break through the Great Wall and go south to besiege Beijing! Just like the siege of Jinzhou back then, we can surround it without attacking and wait for reinforcements to arrive!" There was a hint of determination in Fan Wencheng's words.

"At the same time, send troops to feint an attack on Shanhaiguan to contain Wu Sangui. After two or three months, the Ming court's food will run out, and Zhu Youjian will definitely surrender!" After Fan Wencheng finished speaking, everyone looked at each other in surprise when they heard this strategy. It can be seen how dangerous this strategy is.

Wu Sangui had 50,000 troops. Although the Eight Banners were brave, they still needed 30,000 to 40,000 troops to fight him. If they besieged Beijing without attacking, the troops needed would be even greater! The eight banners of the Qing Dynasty plus the eight banners of the Khan and Mongolia had only 130,000 to 140,000 soldiers in total, which was really difficult to take care of.

Even if Beijing was captured, the cost would be very high. Moreover, the Ming prince was in Nanjing, and there were also forces such as Zhang Xianzhong and Li Zicheng. Wouldn't this allow the Ming and Qing dynasties to fight and the bandits to benefit?

However, the crowd only questioned, but did not deny this strategy, because the greater the risk, the greater the benefit. Seeing the crowd's doubts, Fan Wencheng smiled calmly, pointed at Shanhaiguan with his stick, and said: "Besieging Beijing is indeed dangerous, but we can besiege Shanhaiguan instead!"

Dorgon and Jirgalang's eyes lit up. Wu Sangui's uncle Zu Dashou surrendered for this reason. If Wu Sangui also surrendered, the power of the Qing Dynasty would be even stronger.

However, besieging Shanhaiguan also has great risks. Fan Wencheng continued: "The second strategy is to follow the example of Zhu Yuanzhang, build walls and store food outside the pass, and let the Ming court fight with Li Zicheng, Zhang Xianzhong and others. When they are both defeated, we will march south to pacify the Central Plains!"

"This is the middle strategy!" Fan Wencheng said with a calm tone.

"In August of the third year of Chongde (the eleventh year of Lin Xiaofeng), Li Zicheng was defeated in Tongguan. When Emperor Taizong heard the news, he immediately led his troops into the pass, forcing the Ming court to return to Beijing for assistance, thus giving Li Zicheng a chance to catch his breath." There was a sense of historical heaviness in Fan Wencheng's words.

"Now that Li Zicheng has failed again, I'm afraid the Ming court will kill us all. We can follow the example of Emperor Taizong and enter the pass again to plunder and let the Ming court continue to bleed." There was a hint of coldness in Fan Wencheng's words.

"And according to the spy report, the current Prime Minister and Minister of War is Li Banghua. You should all know this person, right?" Fan Wencheng's words were full of deep meaning.

Jirgalang and Dorgon both nodded to show that they were familiar with the name. Li Banghua was different from other literati. He was a practical man and good at managing the army. Under his governance, the strength of the Ming army was increasing, which was not good news for the Qing Dynasty.

"According to past practice, our looting inside the Great Wall can make the people panic, and there will be dissatisfaction in the court, and Zhu Youjian will also be angry. With the help of the censors, Li Banghua will be convicted at best, dismissed from his post, or even executed!" There was a hint of sinisterness in Fan Wencheng's words.

"This strategy can not only keep the bandits alive and allow them to continue harassing the Ming army, but also weaken the Ming court's strength and disrupt their court. It can be said to kill three birds with one stone! This is the best strategy!" Fan Wencheng's words were filled with confidence.

"As for which strategy to choose, please discuss it among yourselves." After Fan Wencheng explained his strategy, the Hall of Ten Kings became as quiet as a cicada.

Each of the three strategies had its own advantages and disadvantages, and it was difficult to make a decision for a while. Duoduo was the first to break the silence, shaking his fist and shouting, "Why bother with three strategies? Just start the war! Give me 50,000 elite soldiers, and I will march from the north to the south and I will be victorious!" His voice was filled with a bit of fanaticism and confidence.

Dorgon was furious when he heard this and wanted to stop him from talking too much, but out of consideration for his feelings, he just gently rebuked him, "If you don't speak, no one will think you are dumb." There was a bit of helplessness and majesty in his words. (End of this chapter)