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

"Hey--" Yangwu Hou Xue Lian sat on the chair, his face full of surprise, his brows slightly wrinkled, his eyes revealing a bit of confusion and disappointment, "I thought we had such a good personal relationship that we could get some secrets out of each other, it seems I was wrong." He sighed softly, his eyes flashing with curiosity and desire for the unknown.

He wanted to take advantage of his friendship with Duke of England Zhang Shize to get some information in this quiet study, especially about the recent hotly rumored land rent reduction. Outside the study window, a green bamboo forest swayed gently in the breeze, as if telling an unknown secret. However, it turned out that Zhang Shize took the initiative to publicize this matter, and it was probably instructed by the emperor. This made his heart ripple, just like the water surface outside the window that was blown by the wind, with waves rising and falling.

"What on earth is Lin Xiaofeng doing? What does he want to do?" Xue Lian's mind was full of doubts, like a tangled mess. He tried to find a clue from Zhang Shize's expression, but the other's serious and deep face was like an airtight wall, preventing him from peeking into any inside information.

Zhang Shize replied with a wry smile: "Brother Xue, please don't make things difficult for me. You are so smart, you will definitely be able to figure out the reason." There was a hint of helplessness and bitterness in his smile, as if he was a tired traveler trapped by worldly affairs.

Xue Lian was unwilling to give up and tried to get a few more words out of him, but Zhang Shize was like an old fox, neither giving in nor expressing his views, just saying polite words and playing Tai Chi. His words were like the mist outside the window, lingering and elusive.

After hesitating for a long time, Xue Lian knew that there was no hope, so he had to leave the Duke of Ying's mansion in a depressed mood. As soon as he went out, he saw a fast horse galloping from the corner of the street. The sound of the horse's hooves was rapid and powerful, breaking the tranquility around. It turned out to be a servant of the Xue Mansion.

The servant dismounted from his horse, knelt on one knee, and said nervously: "My lord, something bad has happened in Tongzhou!" There was some anxiety and panic in his voice.

"What happened in Tongzhou?" Xue Lian frowned, feeling an ominous premonition in his heart.

"The court has sent an imperial envoy to investigate the occupation of civilian land, and the investigation has come to our head." The servant whispered, revealing a worry that was difficult to conceal.

When Xue Lian heard this, his heart skipped a beat, as if he had been hit by a huge rock. He looked up at the sky, only to see dark clouds covering it, as if foreshadowing an impending storm.

The imperial court was nominally going to provide disaster relief, but in reality they wanted to investigate the land. Thinking of Zhang Shize's reduction of land rent, Xue Lian realized that this matter was not simple, and the nobles were afraid that they would suffer! An indescribable panic and anxiety surged in his heart, just like the sky covered by dark clouds, which was gloomy.

"I see." Xue Lian pondered for a moment, frowning, as if thinking of a countermeasure. He looked at the servant, his eyes flashing with determination, "Who owns those farms in Tongzhou?"

"It's Jiang Anguo and his son." The servant answered with a trembling voice.

Xue Lian pondered for a moment, then made a gesture of wiping his neck to the servant. His action was decisive and cold: "Handle this matter cleanly and leave no one alive. I'll give you five hundred taels of silver later. Go and hide quickly." His voice was low and powerful, as if squeezed out from between his teeth.

The servant hesitated: "But Jiang Anguo is the relative of the Marquis's wife..." There was some hesitation and uneasiness in his voice.

"What's wrong with being a relative? Don't you understand the principle of sacrificing pawns to save the king?" Xue Lian glared at him, like an enraged beast, "Go!" His voice was filled with unquestionable majesty and determination.

The servant took the order and left, and before leaving he added: "Jiang Anguo is easy to deal with in the mansion, but his son Jiang You has been arrested in Tongzhou." There was a hint of helplessness and worry in his voice.

"Jiang You..." Xue Lian repeated the name silently and kept it in mind deeply. "Don't worry about him." There was a hint of indifference and determination in his voice, as if he was dealing with something that had nothing to do with him.

After the servant left, Xue Lian returned to Yangwuhou Mansion with a heavy heart. His steps were heavy and slow, as if every step was filled with endless sorrow and anxiety. He wondered whether this was the work of Zhang Chenji, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, and Gu Chaosheng, the governor of the East Factory, or whether Lin Xiaofeng was behind the scenes. His heart was filled with doubts and uneasiness, just like the sky covered by dark clouds, a mess.

If it was the first two, he might be able to think of a way to deal with it; but if it was Lin Xiaofeng, it would be difficult to deal with. He didn't know whether Lin Xiaofeng wanted his money or his life. If he wanted money, it was easy to deal with. At most, he could cry poor and give him some money; if he wanted his life, then he would have to fight to the death... Xue Lian had never encountered such great pressure since he inherited the title in the 30th year of Wanli. His heart was filled with helplessness and anxiety, as if he was pressed by a huge rock and couldn't breathe.

After returning to the mansion, he began to get busy. He first prepared a banknote of 100,000 taels of silver and deposited it in Wanyong Bank in different denominations; then he visited several other nobles without stopping, including Xu Yunzhen, Duke of Dingguo, Xu Xideng, Marquis of Yongkang, and others. His steps were hurried and firm, as if he was running for survival.

After arranging everything, he took his family and hurriedly left Beijing for Tongzhou. His heart was filled with anxiety and worry, as if he was about to face an unknown battle. And in the post station in Tongzhou, Gu Chaosheng's door was gently knocked, and a new storm was about to come...

"Come in." Gu Chaosheng put away his fan, held his sword tightly, and waited vigilantly. His eyes were sharp and deep, as if he could see through people's hearts. The door opened, and a factory guard walked in with a respectful look: "Commander-in-chief, a letter from Yangwu Hou Xue Lian has arrived." There was a bit of awe and caution in his voice.

The guard presented the letter and left the room. Gu Chaosheng opened the envelope, which contained a stack of banknotes and a piece of letter paper. He counted the banknotes, a total of 50,000 taels. He smiled slightly, with a playful arc at the corner of his mouth: "Xue Lian is quite generous." There was a bit of sarcasm and disdain in his voice.

However, he immediately pushed the banknote back into the envelope, his eyes became firm and resolute: "I can't help with this matter." His voice was filled with unquestionable majesty and sense of justice. He knew that this was not just a matter of money, but also a matter of national laws and the livelihood of the people.

When Xue Lian saw Gu Chaosheng in the private room of the teahouse, he was surprised and puzzled: "Admiral Wang, what does this mean?" There was a bit of anxiety and confusion in his voice.

Gu Chaosheng said calmly: "It's not that I don't want to help you, but this matter involves too many things." His eyes were deep and sharp, as if he could see through all hypocrisy and greed.

Xue Lian smiled and tried to persuade Gu Chaosheng with money: "Don't worry, Admiral Wang, those who know the truth will benefit, and you will get the most." He took out a package and opened it, which was full of banknotes. His smile was a bit cunning and tempting, as if he was using money to test the bottom line of human nature.

Gu Chaosheng pondered for a moment, his eyes lingered on the bill for a moment, then moved away firmly: "I heard that there are still thousands of households in Tongzhou whose land has been occupied." There was some worry and concern in his voice.

"This is easy to handle. Just get rid of the leaders." Xue Lian said lightly, as if he was talking about something insignificant. His indifference and cruelty made Gu Chaosheng feel a chill.

Gu Chaosheng shook his head, his eyes revealing an unquestionable sense of justice: "No! Tongzhou is too close to the capital. Once the truth comes out, we'll all be finished!" There was some resolution and firmness in his voice.

Xue Lian disagreed. He tried to use his power to suppress Gu Chaosheng: "How big a fuss can it be? Aren't you, the admiral, the one who has the final say in the capital?" There was a bit of arrogance and unruliness in his voice.

Gu Chaosheng's face darkened, his eyes revealing majesty and anger: "How dare you! The capital and even the whole world belong to your Majesty! What are you talking about!" His voice resounded throughout the teahouse like thunder, causing Xue Lian to feel a palpitation in his heart.

"I don't mean anything else. I just want to ask the admiral for a favor." Seeing that Gu Chaosheng did not accept the banknote, Xue Lian added, "I heard that the admiral has occupied a lot of people's land in the suburbs of Beijing, and the people have many complaints." There was a hint of threat and provocation in his voice.

Gu Chaosheng was angry, his eyes revealed a burning rage: "Are you threatening me?" His voice swept over like a storm, making Xue Lian tremble. He knew that the man in front of him was not only an admiral, but also a warrior with a firm belief and sense of justice.

Xue Lian had a gentle smile on his face, like a ray of warm sunshine in spring, gently brushing his cheeks, with a warmth that could not be ignored. He shook his head gently, his tone calm but firm, like a stream in a mountain stream, not turbulent but persistent: "I dare not! Not only you, Admiral Wang, I also heard that the father-in-law, the uncle of Queen Zhou Liu Jizu, Xinle Hou Liu Wenbing, Zuo Dudu Jiang Taiwei, and Queen Yi'an's father - oh no, he used to be a baron, but now he has been promoted to a marquis, Taikang Hou, as well as Dingguo Gong, Wuding Hou and others..."

(Interjection: This Taikang Bo, because of his contribution in raising military funds, his title was promoted. Unfortunately, Li Zicheng later entered the capital, and his fate was like a fallen leaf in autumn, and he never had the glory of the past again.)
Xue Lian's words were filled with helplessness and irony, and he continued, "These people have all occupied the common people's land, but now they are all safe and sound, enjoying wealth and glory."

He paused slightly and turned his gaze to Gu Chaosheng, as if seeking a resonance: "They are all fine now. I think Admiral Wang, you are so capable, you must have a way to help me solve this problem."

After hearing this, Gu Chaosheng sat back in his seat silently, feeling mixed emotions, like a leaf blown by the autumn wind, not knowing where to go. Xue Lian's move was really brilliant, appearing sincere yet threatening, and implying that everyone was tied to the same boat, and no one could be immune.

He looked around and saw that the house was simply furnished, but it exuded an extraordinary atmosphere. There was a landscape painting on the wall, and the brushstrokes revealed a mood that transcended the mundane world. However, this beautiful picture formed a sharp contrast with his state of mind. He thought to himself: Gu Chaosheng didn't want to go along with this group of people, but what could he do?

After a long while, Gu Chaosheng finally spoke in a low and hoarse voice: "We can keep this a secret for now, but the truth will come out sooner or later. The emperor will know about it."

"Then tell me, what should I do?" Xue Lian seemed a little anxious, with a hint of uneasiness flickering in his eyes, like a candle flickering in the night sky.

"We can push the responsibility onto others and make things worse!" A hint of cunning flashed in Gu Chaosheng's eyes, and a barely perceptible smile appeared at the corner of his mouth, as if an old fox was planning something.

"A big deal?" Xue Lian was puzzled. His brows were tightly furrowed, like the distant mountains in autumn, shrouded in a layer of mist.

"Yes! Nine out of ten of the powerful people in the capital have occupied people's land. Let's make a big deal out of this and involve everyone. The emperor will definitely find a way to calm the situation for the sake of his face." There was a bit of determination in Gu Chaosheng's voice and a crazy light flashing in his eyes.

"This... isn't too good, right?" Xue Lian felt as if he was being plotted against. An ominous premonition surged in his heart, like the cold wind in winter, biting and cold.

If the matter really gets out of hand, those powerful people will definitely put all the blame on him, and then he will become the target of public criticism, while others will be able to get away with it. He doesn't want to experience this feeling.

"No, absolutely not!" Xue Lian shook his head repeatedly. His face became gloomy and determined, like the sky before a storm.

"Is there any other way?" There was a hint of anxiety in Gu Chaosheng's voice, and his eyes flashed with an urgent light.

"First hide it, then shift the responsibility. Who is in charge of your family's fields in Tongzhou?" Xue Lian's words were calm and rational, and his eyes flashed with a cunning light.

"There are two people, a father and a son. The father has committed suicide out of fear of punishment, and the son is locked up in the post station." Xue Lian replied, his voice carrying a hint of helplessness and heaviness.

"That's easy!" Gu Chaosheng showed a cunning smile on his face, like an old cat catching a mouse. "You can put all the responsibility on this father and son, and return the land to the people. Even if the emperor hears about this, it will just be left unresolved."

Xue Lian narrowed his eyes and fell into deep thought. His eyes flickered with a complex light, like the surface of a lake in autumn, gently brushed by fallen leaves.

Is it that simple? He has already prepared 100,000 taels of silver to settle the matter. If it can be solved by just returning the land, why go through so much trouble?
"Admiral Wang," Xue Lian asked in a low voice, his voice carrying a hint of gloom and cruelty, "What if all the people whose land was occupied died?"

Gu Chaosheng was stunned, his eyes flashing with disbelief: "What does Mr. Xue mean by this?"

Xue Lian chuckled, looking a little grim: "In the great victory at Wenyu River a few days ago, we killed tens of thousands of Jiannu, but Dorgon and more than a thousand elite soldiers still escaped. Now that the summer grain has just been harvested, how can they not be jealous? If Dorgon led his men to Tongzhou, in order to conceal his tracks, he would rob the grain and then massacre the whole village to silence them. Isn't it possible?"

There was a hint of coldness and cruelty in his voice, like the cold wind in winter, biting and icy. Gu Chaosheng was shocked when he heard this, and looked at Xue Lian in disbelief. He didn't expect him to be so cruel!
"This... this..." Gu Chaosheng hesitated. Although he loved money, he also knew the right way to make money. He would feel uneasy if he took such bloody money.

"It's easy," Xue Lian seemed to see through his thoughts, and a sneer appeared on his lips. "You just need to ask the people to go back to the village and tell them that they are going to the capital to file a complaint. I will take care of the rest."

"This is too much! You have only occupied a few hundred acres of land, do you have to kill us all?" Gu Chaosheng asked back, his voice filled with anger and unwillingness.

Xue Lian sneered, his eyes flashing with a crazy light: "It's not much, but I can't swallow this anger in my heart! I am the Marquis of the Ming Dynasty, second only to the Duke! I took their land, it's their honor! Instead of being grateful to me, they want to sue me? Damn it! Damn it!"

There was a bit of hysteria in his voice, like an enraged beast. Gu Chaosheng looked at Xue Lian's murderous eyes and nodded subconsciously. He had long known that these two people were ruthless. Xue Lian was known for his ruthlessness, and Wang Aoyong was a military man. Killing innocent people for credit was common in the army. If they joined forces, what could they not do?

Although he was afraid, Gu Chaosheng pretended to be calm on the surface: "I don't know what you are doing, but I will follow the rules and let the people go home to pack up their things and go to the capital to file a complaint."

"Let's set it for tomorrow night." Xue Lian was about to leave after saying this, when he suddenly remembered something: "Admiral Wang, I heard that the emperor summoned the Duke of Ying to the palace and wanted to exempt his tenants from paying rent? Is that true?"

"I heard about it too." Gu Chaosheng replied, his voice filled with helplessness and heaviness.

"Why did the emperor do this? How did the Duke of England respond?" Xue Lian asked, his eyes flashing with an anxious light.

Gu Chaosheng shook his head: "I don't know. Maybe the emperor sympathizes with the people and can't bear to see them working hard all year round and still not having enough to eat or wear warm clothes."

There was a hint of emotion and helplessness in his voice, like fallen leaves in autumn, gently blown by the wind.

"Oh," Xue Lian laughed disdainfully, his voice carrying a hint of sarcasm and indifference, "Your Majesty is truly a benevolent ruler. Admiral Wang, please don't forget our agreement. I'll take my leave now."

After saying that, he turned and left, leaving behind only a cold and arrogant back. Gu Chaosheng looked at his back, and a sense of foreboding surged in his heart, like the cold wind in winter, piercing and cold.

After Xue Lian left, Gu Chaosheng picked up his package and hurried back to the inn. He knew that once this incident broke out, it would cause an uproar, so he didn't dare to delay for a moment. It was late at night, and the moonlight was like water, sprinkling on the bluestone road, with a layer of silver-white luster. Gu Chaosheng's footsteps were hurried, and his heart was full of anxiety and uneasiness.

After returning to the inn, he didn't even have time to catch his breath before he sent someone over the wall to contact a secret base in the city. His eyes flashed with a resolute light, like a distant mountain in autumn, shrouded in a layer of mist. He knew that this night was destined to be extraordinary.

Late at night the next day, outside a village ten miles outside Tongzhou City, torches lit up the night sky. An army was approaching quietly, their footsteps heavy and powerful, like fallen leaves in autumn, gently blown by the wind.

"We're here! This village is listed in the Yellow Book as having 57 households and 256 people in total." The leading officer whispered, his voice tinged with coldness and cruelty.

"Move quickly, leave no one alive, and leave no traces." He continued to give orders, with a crazy light flashing in his eyes.

"You'll get ten taels of silver for every person you kill, and the more you kill, the more you get. Do you remember this clearly?" There was a hint of coldness and cruelty in his voice, like the cold wind in winter, biting and icy.

"Understood!" the soldiers responded in unison, with a hint of determination and coldness in their voices.

Hundreds of officers and soldiers held torches and drew their weapons under the command of their generals, ready for action. Their eyes flashed with a bloodthirsty light, like hungry beasts ready to pounce on their prey.

However, they did not encounter unarmed civilians, but the fully armed Ming army! These Ming soldiers wore bright armor, with white cloth wrapped around their arms, and their eyes were fierce in the dark night. In addition to armor, they were also equipped with shields, swords, spears, bows and arrows, and bird guns. There was a firm light flashing in their eyes, like a distant mountain in autumn, shrouded by a layer of firm mist.

"Those who surrender will be spared!" The ambushed Ming troops shouted in unison, their voices carrying a certain majesty and unquestionable tone.

"There is an ambush, retreat quickly!" Upon seeing this, the officers and soldiers who had climbed over the wall immediately fled in all directions, with fear and despair flashing in their eyes.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Dozens of bird guns fired at the same time, and the flames were like dragons, cutting through the night sky. Then, arrows rained down, and the courtyard was suddenly in chaos. The Ming army's offensive was like a violent storm.
In the lobby of Tongzhou government office, sunlight shone through the mottled window lattices onto the bluestone floor, but it seemed unable to dispel the heavy atmosphere in the room. Zhang Chenji, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Revenue, had a livid face and eyes that seemed to be burning with anger. He pointed at Wang Aoyong, who was tied up, and loudly rebuked him: "Wang Aoyong, as a governor, it is understandable that you don't care about the suffering of the people, but how can you order the killing of innocent people? You really deserve to die!" His voice echoed in the lobby, shaking the dust on the beams.

Wang Aoyong stood straight, his body thin but remarkably tough, his face unchanged, like an unshakable stone statue. He quietly waited for Zhang Chenji's anger to subside a little, then he slowly spoke, his voice calm and steady: "Have you scolded enough? If so, please tell me my crimes." "Crimes?" Zhang Chenji laughed in anger, with a cold arc at the corner of his mouth, "Isn't killing civilians enough?" His eyes were like knives, piercing Wang Aoyong sharply.

Wang Aoyong shook his head slightly and retorted: "When did I order the massacre of the people? Please produce the evidence, Lord Minister!" His eyes flashed with determination and fearlessness, as if he could remain calm no matter what accusations he faced.

"Bring the people up!" Zhang Chenji waved his hand, his voice was like thunder, shaking everyone in the hall. Three wounded soldiers came in immediately, their eyes full of fear and fatigue, as if they had just returned from a fierce battle.

One of the generals pointed at Wang Aoyong and said in a trembling voice: "Your Excellency, it was Governor Wang who ordered us to leave the city and massacre the villagers. Military orders are as heavy as a mountain. I hope you will understand." His fingers trembled slightly, as if he was recalling the terrible massacre.

Wang Aoyong sneered, his eyes sharp: "Nonsense! The order I gave was to look for the traces of the Jiannu. When did I tell you to massacre the people?" His voice was full of anger and disdain, as if he felt that such an accusation was extremely absurd.

"After the great victory at Wenyu River, Dorgon fled. The Ministry of War ordered cities near the capital to send troops to garrison villages to prevent them from night attacks and robbing food." Wang Aoyong explained, his voice calm and powerful, trying to clarify the truth of the matter.

"You disobeyed my orders first, and now you dare to kill innocent civilians to claim military merit. Are you still trying to make excuses?" Wang Aoyong questioned. His eyes were as sharp as torches, staring directly at the generals, as if he wanted to expose their lies one by one.

"We are only following orders. Why are you quibbling?" Other generals also accused Wang Aoyong. Their voices were filled with panic and anxiety, as if they were trying to cover up something.

Wang Aoyong sneered, his smile carrying a hint of sarcasm and helplessness: "When did I ever give such an order? It is clearly written on my order that we should be on guard along the way and defend against the Jiannu!" His voice was full of firmness and confidence, as if he could stick to his beliefs no matter what kind of doubts he faced.

“Although His Excellency did not specify it in the warrant, we obeyed the verbal order and the lieutenant general’s execution,” said a general, his voice trembling as if he was recalling the terrible massacre.

"Then why not summon He Can for a face-to-face confrontation?" Wang Aoyong asked back. His eyes were as sharp as torches, staring directly at the general, as if he wanted to expose his lies one by one.

"He... has passed away. How can we confront him?" the general stammered, panic and uneasiness flashing in his eyes, as if he was trying to cover up something.

"Minister Zhang is really bold to arrest a court official without any evidence." Wang Aoyong turned to look at Cheng Wendong, his eyes flashing a cold light, "Censor Cheng, the Minister knew the law but broke it, why doesn't the Censorate do anything?" His voice was full of questioning and dissatisfaction, as if he was extremely angry about such injustice.

Cheng Wendong hesitated for a moment, his brows furrowed, as if he was thinking about something. Finally, he spoke slowly: "After all, they are all your subordinates. Even if they are unaware, you are guilty of not managing the army strictly. There is nothing wrong with what the Minister did." His voice was full of helplessness and heaviness, as if he felt that this situation was extremely difficult.

Wang Aoyong was speechless for a moment. His eyes flashed with anger and helplessness, as if he felt that such an accusation was extremely absurd and unfair.

At this time, Gu Chaosheng interrupted their argument: "Enough! Where is the order to mobilize troops?" His voice was calm and powerful, as if to calm the dispute.

A soldier quickly presented the warrant. After Gu Chaosheng carefully read it, his brows knitted, as if he found something wrong. He pulled Zhang Chenji into the inner hall and whispered, "Master Zhang, this matter is complicated. Why don't we go back to Beijing and examine it in detail?" His voice was full of caution and calmness, as if he was considering the next move.

"Return to Beijing?" Zhang Chenji asked in surprise, his eyebrows raised, as if he was surprised by such a proposal. "The case has not been tried yet, Wang Aoyong has been arrested, Xue Lian has escaped again, and the charges have not been determined yet. If we return to Beijing at this time, wouldn't it cause trouble for the emperor?" His voice was full of worry and dissatisfaction, as if he was extremely confused by such a decision.

Gu Chaosheng asked back: "Then why did Xue Lian dare to cause trouble so close to the capital?" There was a sharp light flashing in his eyes, as if he was trying to uncover the truth behind it.

"He... may not want to return my territory." Zhang Chenji guessed, with a hint of uncertainty and doubt in his voice.

"Ridiculous! How could that little piece of land be worth one hundred thousand taels of silver to cover up?" Gu Chaosheng shook his head, his brows furrowed, as if he was thinking about something. "We have checked Xue Lian's estate, and only more than one hundred hectares have problems." His voice was full of doubt and dissatisfaction, as if he felt that such an explanation was extremely absurd.

"Even if they are all good lands, they are not worth 50,000 taels of silver." Zhang Chenji echoed, with a hint of helplessness and confusion in his voice, as if he felt extremely troubled by such a situation.

"Xue Lian is neither stupid nor crazy, so why would he use 100,000 taels of silver to cover up the scandal of 50,000 taels of silver?" Gu Chaosheng analyzed, his eyes flashing with a sharp light, "What's even more strange is that Xue Lian told me in advance about his plan to massacre the people." His voice was full of doubts and confusion, as if he was trying to uncover the truth behind it.

"This is too unreasonable!" Zhang Chenji was also confused, his brows were furrowed, as if he was thinking about something. Things were getting more and more complicated, and he felt as if he was trapped in a huge mystery.

Gu Chaosheng knew that he was alone and powerless and could not control the situation, so he decided to return to Beijing. Zhang Chenji also realized that the situation was difficult, and agreed after a little thought. Their decision seemed to put a temporary end to the dispute, but the truth behind it was still confusing.

The imperial envoy had only been away from the capital for a few days when he hurried back under the escort of the guards. When the news spread, the entire capital was shaken. People talked about the evil deeds of Xue Lian, Marquis of Yangwu, and Wang Aoyong, the governor of Tongzhou, who colluded to occupy land and massacre people. Their voices were full of anger and dissatisfaction, as if they were extremely sad and indignant about such crimes.

However, at this time, worse news came from the north. In the Qianqing Palace, just as Gu Chaosheng reported Xue Lian's affairs to the emperor, Guo Tianyang rushed in: "Your Majesty, something bad has happened!" His voice was full of anxiety and panic, as if something terrible was about to happen.

Lin Xiaofeng gently reprimanded: "Why are you so panicked?" Although there was blame in his voice, it was more of concern and worry for Guo Tianyang.

"Your Majesty, please forgive me!" Guo Tianyang quickly knelt down to plead guilty. His forehead touched the ground, making a "dong dong" sound, as if expressing his determination and loyalty.

Lin Xiaofeng signaled Gu Chaosheng to step aside, then asked Guo Tianyang: "What happened?" His voice was full of solemnity and calmness, as if he was trying to uncover the truth behind it.

"Your Majesty, Duoduo led the main force of the Jiannu army from Daning. Judging from their direction, they seem to be entering the pass through Qiangziling. They will arrive within a day." Guo Tianyang said anxiously, his voice full of worry and uneasiness, as if trying to convey the urgency of the crisis.

Lin Xiaofeng sighed, his eyes flashing with heaviness and helplessness: "They are here after all." His voice was full of premonition and helplessness about this war.

"Duoduo...be patient for now. When the Ming Dynasty recovers, I will make them pay double." Lin Xiaofeng said gritting his teeth, his voice full of anger and determination, as if he was vowing to completely reverse this humiliating war.

"Is there anything else?" Lin Xiaofeng asked. Although there was fatigue in his voice, it was more of concern and worry about national affairs.

"There is also a report from Xuanfu Town that the leader of the Mongolian Khalkha tribe, Subadi, led an army of 60,000 into the pass from Dushikou and headed straight for Xuanfu to demand Zhu Fenghui's winter grain." Guo Tianyang continued, his voice full of anxiety and uneasiness, as if trying to convey the urgency of the crisis.

"What? Subadi...surrounded Xuanfu?" Lin Xiaofeng stood up in surprise, his eyes flashing with shock and anger, as if he was trying to understand this sudden crisis.

"Yes...Your Majesty!" Guo Tianyang answered sadly, his voice full of helplessness and heaviness, as if conveying an irreversible fact.

Not long after defeating Dorgon, we are threatened by Duoduo and Subadi! The Ming Dynasty and the emperor are facing unprecedented difficulties. Lin Xiaofeng sat silently on the dragon throne for a long time without speaking. His heart was filled with anger and helplessness: The Mongols are so untrustworthy! We gave them armor, food and weapons, and agreed to attack Daning together to cut off the supply lines of the Jiannu, but they turned around and attacked our Xuanfu!
However, after thinking carefully, Lin Xiaofeng also understood the Mongols' plan. Jiannu had stored a large amount of food in Daning, and they would definitely defend it heavily. What Subadi lacked was food, so he chose to attack Xuanfu, which had hundreds of thousands of grains stored, instead of Daning. Moreover, his way south would require him to pass through Chahar and Ordos. If he fought with Daning,
Alas, the power of this bandit Li Zicheng is really great, like a turbulent undercurrent, sweeping across a large area of ​​land, and his cavalry is even more fierce and fierce, doing evil and invincible. Our General Huang Degong, the Earl of Jingnan, is a tough guy. He led his troops to fight desperately, fighting and retreating, and finally retreated to Wei County. But after this battle, his elite cavalry was almost wiped out, and even the general Nalan Jiben was missing, and his life or death was unknown, which was really heartbreaking.

"Your Majesty, I have read you the latest battle reports." Guo Tianyang's voice was low and powerful. He looked at Lin Xiaofeng who was sitting on the dragon throne in a daze and said softly. Lin Xiaofeng, who was sitting on the dragon throne, had a gloomy face and deep sorrow between his brows, as if he could squeeze out water. His heart was so bitter, three times more bitter than Coptis chinensis.

To beat back Li Zicheng and his gang and save the capital, that is extremely difficult, harder than climbing to the sky! Now coupled with this situation, it is simply hell mode! Subadi, Duoduo, Li Zicheng, Zhang Xianzhong... these names kept turning around in Lin Xiaofeng's mind, like a group of demons dancing. He couldn't help thinking: Where is the rope I brought when I traveled through time? I might as well hang myself, this life is too hard to bear!
"Oh my God, are you kidding me? It's ok if you tease me once, but you tease me a second time. Who can stand this?" Lin Xiaofeng felt so depressed. He felt like a clown being played around by fate.

However, after a long while, Lin Xiaofeng raised his head, his eyes became firm. He knew that the Ming Dynasty still had to rely on him to save it. As long as the crisis at hand could be temporarily resolved and a few more years could be gained, the situation might be able to turn around. He took a deep breath, as if to absorb all the sorrow into his stomach, and then turn it into a firm force.

"I understand. Pass the order down and have all officials of the fourth rank and above in the Ministry of War, as well as the Governor-General of the Beijing Camp and the Governor-General of Ji and Liao, meet in the Qianqing Palace in half an hour to discuss countermeasures." Although Lin Xiaofeng's voice was a little hoarse, it revealed an unquestionable majesty.

"Also, I sent Shi Shouhong back to Beijing before. Where is he now?" Lin Xiaofeng asked again, with a glimmer of expectation in his eyes.

"Your Majesty, Shi Shouhong has arrived in Liangxiang and will be able to reach the capital tomorrow morning." Guo Tianyang replied, with a hint of relief in his voice.

"Well, you can leave now." Lin Xiaofeng waved his hand, indicating that Guo Tianyang could leave. Then, he turned to look at Chaosheng, with a hint of doubt in his eyes.

"Do you think this guy Xue Lian, Marquis of Yangwu, has any conspiracy?" Lin Xiaofeng asked in a low voice, his voice full of distrust.

"Your Majesty, I feel something is fishy. Xue Lian doesn't have much land of his own, but he gave me tens of thousands of taels of silver. There must be something fishy going on." Chaosheng said in a low voice, his eyes revealing a hint of uneasiness.

Lin Xiaofeng frowned, not understanding what Xue Lian was up to. What kind of trouble could a noble who had lost his power and military power cause? However, just in case, Lin Xiaofeng decided to strike first.

"Catch Xue Lian first and retrial him. Now the Jiannu are almost reaching the interior of the country, and we can't allow any chaos in the capital." Lin Xiaofeng's voice revealed an unquestionable determination.

Chao Sheng hesitated: "Your Majesty, what crime should we arrest him on? The nobles are different from the civil officials and military officers. Sometimes you don't need any crime to arrest the civil officials and military officers, just show the East Factory badge. But although the nobles have no real power, their status is still there, so we need a reasonable crime, otherwise it will be troublesome if the royal relatives make trouble."

After listening to Chaosheng's words, Lin Xiaofeng pondered for a while, and then his eyes suddenly became sharp: "Did Xue Lian bribe you?" he asked directly.

"Your Majesty, I was given several banknotes worth tens of thousands of taels of silver. I didn't dare refuse them for fear of alerting the enemy, but those banknotes have already been turned in to the inner treasury. Your Majesty, please look into this." Chaosheng replied, with a hint of panic in his voice.

Lin Xiaofeng nodded, without asking how much Chaosheng had embezzled. Anyway, the money would eventually go into his pocket. His eyes revealed a hint of coldness: "Since he bribed my eunuchs, then arrest him and put him in prison for bribing my eunuchs." His voice revealed an unquestionable majesty.

"I obey your command!" Chaosheng hurriedly took the order and left. His figure seemed a little blurry under the dim light.

Half an hour later, officials of the fourth rank and above in the Ministry of War, the Governor of the Beijing Camp Jiang Taiwei, the Governor of Ji and Liao, Ji Zisheng and others arrived at the Qianqing Palace. They all looked solemn, and it was obvious that they had already known the serious situation before them.

"Have you read the battle reports?" Lin Xiaofeng asked lightly, his voice echoing in the empty palace.

Minister of War Li Banghua bowed and replied: "Your Majesty, I have read them all." There was a hint of helplessness in his voice.

"Then do you have any good ideas? There are threats from Subadi and Duoduo in the north, and there are bandits causing trouble in the south." Lin Xiaofeng asked, revealing a hint of anxiety in his eyes.

Everyone was silent, obviously without any good ideas. They looked at each other, as if waiting for someone else to speak first.

Lin Xiaofeng didn't expect Subadi to suddenly turn against him. If Subadi didn't make trouble, he could have transferred troops from the capital to help Tang Shengyu defend Juyongguan. Now all the plans were disrupted! He couldn't help but feel a surge of anger in his heart, but then he suppressed it. He knew that now was not the time to lose his temper, and he had to calm down and think of ways to deal with the crisis at hand.

Jiang Taiwei spoke first: "Your Majesty, I think we should make some choices in this battle." Although his voice was low, it revealed a firm determination.

Everyone looked at him, waiting for him to continue, their eyes revealing a hint of anticipation and anxiety.

"We can give up Xuanfu. Neither the Jiannu nor the Mongols will be able to chew this tough nut." Jiang Taiwei continued, "Then give up Damingfu and transfer Jingnanbo back to Beijing to deal with the Jiannu with all our strength." There was a hint of helplessness and determination in his voice.

Lin Xiaofeng thought the first half of the sentence was fine, Xuanfu was indeed strong and difficult to attack. But he shook his head after hearing the second half of the sentence: "Damingfu cannot be lost! There is a lot of property left by the two kings of Zhao and Zhou. Although it is not a lot, it is also considerable. If the bandits get this money, they can quickly recruit soldiers and expand their power." There was a hint of determination and worry in his voice.

Moreover, Li Xingzhong and his more than 10,000 elite soldiers are still in Daming Prefecture. If they all die or surrender, it will be a loss for the Ming army! And Shi Shouhong is now leading the Yongwei Battalion. If he knew that his cousin was abandoned by the court, he would definitely be upset! Lin Xiaofeng frowned when he thought of this.

Ji Zishen thought for a moment and stepped forward to say, "Your Majesty, I think we should concentrate the forces near the capital and divide them into two groups: one to defend the capital and the other to rescue Daming Prefecture." His voice revealed a firm determination.

"The most powerful weapon of the rebels is their cavalry. We can dispatch more than 10,000 cavalry to support General Huang Degong so that we can lift the siege of Daming Prefecture." Ji Zisheng continued, "Once the siege of Daming Prefecture is lifted, we can join forces and head north to fight a decisive battle with the Jiannu!" There was a glimmer of fighting spirit and determination in his eyes.

Lin Xiaofeng thought that this plan was feasible, provided that the bandits could be defeated, otherwise it would be nothing. He pondered for a while and then looked up at everyone: "Who should we send to rescue Daming Mansion?" His voice revealed a hint of anxiety and expectation.

"Is there any news about General Gao Jie?" Lin Xiaofeng suddenly remembered this fierce general. He was not far from Zhengzhou in Nanyang. If he could feint an attack on Zhengzhou from there, he might be able to attract the bandits' troops! There was a glimmer of hope in his eyes.

"Your Majesty, there is no news about General Gao yet, but I estimate that he should be arriving in Zhengzhou soon." Li Banghua replied with a hint of uncertainty in his voice.

Seeing that no one had any good ideas, Li Banghua had to step forward and offer a suggestion: "Your Majesty, I have a plan that can solve the current difficulties." His voice revealed confidence and determination.

"Hurry up and tell me!" Lin Xiaofeng urged, his eyes flashing with anticipation and anxiety.

"I suggest that we divide our forces to rescue and jointly repel the enemy. First, let Ji-Liao Governor Ji Zisheng lead the cavalry to support General Huang Degong. Then let General Zhu Fenghui join forces with Subadi to besiege Datong. This will force the rebels to divide their forces to rescue Datong." Li Banghua finished his plan in one breath. His voice revealed an unquestionable majesty and determination.

"Wait a minute..." Ji Zishen interrupted hurriedly, "There's no problem supporting Huang Degong, but joining forces with Subadi to besiege Datong won't work! Subadi is besieging Xuanfu now. How could he listen to Zhu Fenghui and besiege Datong?" There was a hint of doubt and dissatisfaction in his voice.

Li Banghua smiled and asked, "Why did Subati enter the pass?" There was a glimmer of wisdom in his eyes.

"It's all about food!" Ji Zisheng replied with a hint of disdain in his voice.

"If he fails to capture Xuanfu, he won't get any food. Will he return empty-handed?" Li Banghua continued to ask with a hint of sarcasm in his voice.

"This..." Ji Zishen was stunned by the question, "Even if Zhu Fenghui gave him food, he would not use cavalry to attack the city. The casualties would be too great. He can't do such a loss-making business!" His voice revealed a hint of helplessness and anxiety.

Li Banghua laughed even more happily: "Who said we must attack the city?" There was a mysterious light flashing in his eyes, as if he had seen through everything.

"Ah?" Ji Zisheng was stunned. "How can we force the bandits to split up their forces if we don't attack the city?" His voice revealed a hint of doubt and confusion. (End of this chapter)