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

Li Banghua smiled slightly, his eyes that had experienced many vicissitudes of life sparkled with wisdom, and he said slowly: "Those overt and covert strategies were all thought up by that kid Huang Degong. He planned to drag the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Revenue, and the Ministry of Works into the water, not because he was afraid that others would steal his credit, but because he was really worried that the court would blame him for abandoning the city and fleeing." There was some helplessness in his tone, as well as some understanding and tolerance for Huang Degong.

Back in the Ming Dynasty, if a general dared to abandon the city and flee, he would be beheaded. There was no room for negotiation. It was an iron-blooded rule, an extreme test of the loyalty and responsibility of the generals. However, when actually enforcing the law, there are many tricks. The emperor had to first observe the person's performance, check whether he was loyal or treacherous, and then decide how to deal with him. The subtlety and complexity of this is like the twists and turns deep in the palace, which is hard to grasp.

Generally speaking, those generals who fought the enemy with real swords and guns could mostly escape. Their bravery and sacrifice on the battlefield often became their amulet of exoneration. Of course, someone had to speak for him in the court. The network of relationships and interest chains behind this, like an invisible net, tightly connected everyone in the court.

Miao Yikui, this young man is a junior in the cabinet. It was purely accidental that he could get the position of Minister of Personnel. Whether his position is stable or not is not up to him. It all depends on the Prime Minister and the emperor's mood. The emperor is high above, like a cloud in the sky, and it is difficult for people to approach him, so Miao Yikui is determined to build a good relationship with the Prime Minister. He understands that in this court, there are no eternal enemies, no eternal friends, only eternal interests.

In fact, Miao Yikui was not the only one who had this idea. Most of the ministers in the court were like this. They were like a group of clever foxes, dancing a complicated dance on the stage of the court, and everyone was trying to find their own position and interests.

Li Banghua thought about it, and his eyes became deep, as if he could penetrate the mist of time and see the depths of history. He said slowly: "Everyone, you must do your duty, reward those who have made contributions, punish those who have made mistakes, and don't always speak in the same tone in the court." His voice was not loud, but it carried an unquestionable power.

"Yes, if we all have the same voice, it would be too fake. The emperor and we all know this." Miao Yikui nodded, and he became more determined to follow Li Banghua. In this complicated court, he needed a strong ally, and Li Banghua was undoubtedly the best choice.

"Lord Li, there's another urgent report from the front line saying that Huang Degong has captured Luo Wenbin. What should the court do with him?" A guard hurried into the room, his face showing some anxiety and nervousness.

"Hasn't the emperor read the urgent report? Hasn't the palace issued an order yet?" Li Banghua frowned, and he began to think about it. Huang Degong always brought him some unexpected troubles.

"No, but there's news that the emperor asked Princes Zhao and Zhou and their families to seek refuge in Beijing." The guard's voice was a little low, and he seemed confused by this sudden news.

Li Banghua frowned, thinking: The two princes, Zhao and Zhou, are still young, and the emperor summoned them to the capital at once. On the surface, it seems that he is sympathetic to the princes, but in fact, the emperor may have other plans. It is not good for a minister to ask too much about the emperor's thoughts, which is the emperor's private affairs. He understands that there are some things he should not explore too much, otherwise it will only bring trouble to himself.

Li Banghua looked outside the door. The door seemed to separate two worlds. One was the turmoil and complexity of the court, and the other was the tranquility and freedom outside. He sighed softly and said, "We can't control the affairs of the vassal kings. As for Luo Wenbin, it's late at night. Let's discuss this matter tomorrow morning." There was a bit of fatigue and helplessness in his voice, as if he was helpless and compromised by this complicated court.

The next morning, the sun shone through the clouds onto the Huangji Palace, covering the ancient palace with a golden coat. Civil and military officials stood on both sides, wearing gorgeous court robes, with their own expressions and thoughts on their faces.

Li Banghua coughed lightly and stood up. His figure stretched out in the sunlight, as if a huge shadow covered the entire court. He said slowly, "Your Majesty, the battle report from Daming Prefecture has arrived." His voice was not loud, but it was clearly heard throughout the hall.

Then he read it word for word, and every word seemed like a heavy hammer hitting everyone's heart. After he finished reading, he looked around at the ministers, his eyes filled with scrutiny and expectation.

The ministers were all stunned, as if all their thoughts were disrupted by this sudden war report. The officials of the Ministry of War, Ministry of Revenue, and Ministry of Works discussed privately, with some anxiety and uneasiness on their faces.

"What exactly does Huang Degong's battle report mean?" an official asked in a low voice, with some confusion and dissatisfaction in his voice.

"Fortunately, he didn't lose the battle, otherwise we would all be in trouble." Another official muttered softly, with a mixture of relief and worry on his face.

"This guy is too cunning. Don't be afraid, I will impeach him first!" A young official stood up with an indignant expression on his face.

"Wait a minute, even though I suspect he wanted to share the responsibility, he did share the credit with us." A mature official shook his head, his voice carrying some rationality and calmness.

"Having said that, the merit is false and the money is real. If Huang Degong takes the head to claim the reward, what can we get? False reputation?" Another official curled his lips, with a bit of disdain and greed on his face.

"Not necessarily. The salary for June hasn't been paid yet. With this achievement, our three ministries will surely get a lot of money." An official from the Ministry of Revenue squinted his eyes and calculated, with a look of anticipation and satisfaction on his face.

"Salary means nothing. Losing a city is a serious crime. Just wait for the emperor to punish you!" An official from the Ministry of War snorted coldly, with a bit of worry and fear on his face.

"Quiet!" Wang Jiayan, the assistant minister of the Ministry of War, stood up, his voice resounding throughout the hall like thunder. He looked around at everyone, with a look of dignity and dissatisfaction on his face.

The voices of the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Revenue, and the Ministry of Works became louder and louder, like a chaotic symphony. Guo Tianyang stepped forward to stop them, with a stern and dissatisfied look on his face. He knew that if he didn't stop them, the court would be in chaos.

"Huang Degong's crime of losing the city is unforgivable. Please punish him, Your Majesty!" Shi Bangyao, the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, was the first to stand up and impeach. His voice was high-pitched and passionate, as if he was a righteous messenger fighting for the interests of the country.

To be honest, Shi Bangyao did not want to impeach Huang Degong. Huang Degong fought Zhang Xianzhong, defended against Dorgon, confronted Duoduo, and attacked Li Zicheng. There were few generals in the Ming Dynasty who could compare with him. However, Shi Bangyao's duty was to impeach officials. Huang Degong lost Daming Mansion. If he did not impeach him, he would be suspected of forming a clique for personal gain, and then he would not be able to keep his position as Zuodu Yushi. He understood that in this court, everyone had their own stance and choice, and he chose to stand for the interests of the country.

"I second the motion!" Several censors from the Censorate responded one after another, their voices surging like a tide.

"We second the motion!" Seven or eight people from the Ministry of War, Ministry of Revenue, and Ministry of Works also stood up to express their support. Their faces showed a bit of determination and resoluteness, as if they were fighting for the justice of the country.

Chen Biqian, the left assistant minister of the Ministry of Works, stood up, with a look of indignation and dissatisfaction on his face. He pointed at Huang Degong's battle report and said, "Your Majesty, Huang Degong wants to escape the blame, so he dragged all three of us into the battle report, hoping that we would speak for him." There was a bit of anger and dissatisfaction in his voice.

"He really deserves to be killed!" Several officials from the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War echoed in unison, with a bit of indignation and dissatisfaction on their faces. They understood that Huang Degong was using them to share the responsibility.

At this time, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of War Wang Jiayan stood up and said to everyone with a smile: "The outcome of this battle is still uncertain. You are so eager to draw a clear line between yourself and Huang Degong. Aren't you afraid that you will be denied military achievements in the future?" There was a hint of ridicule and sarcasm in his voice.

Several officials were confused. They looked at each other with some hesitation and uneasiness on their faces. They knew that what Wang Jiayan said made sense, but they did not want to bear unnecessary responsibility because of Huang Degong.

"We just need to be loyal to our duties. Victory or defeat is the business of the generals. What does it have to do with us?" an official retorted, with a bit of dissatisfaction and complaints on his face. He thought that he was just a small official and should not bear such a big responsibility.

Wang Jiayan shook his head and said, "How can it not be related? The Ministry of War is responsible for recruiting soldiers, training the army, and providing weapons; the Ministry of Revenue is responsible for raising food and wages; the Ministry of Works is responsible for manufacturing armor and weapons. Once there is any negligence, the soldiers on the front line will be implicated." There was a bit of seriousness and earnestness in his voice.

"At the least, the war will go badly, and at the worst, the country will be destroyed. Just like what happened to Bo Sun Chuanting in Pingyuan, have you all forgotten it?" His words struck the hearts of the people like a warning bell. They knew that what Wang Jiayan said was true, and each of them should bear their own responsibilities.

When Sun Chuanting was mentioned, the court suddenly fell silent. Everyone's face was heavy and sad, as if they saw the heroic general fighting on the battlefield again.

Why did Sun Chuanting fail? In fact, there is no need to ask, the question should be why he failed! He had no money, no soldiers, no armor and weapons, and he had to worry about everything by himself. He was doing the work of three departments alone. Even a god could not win! This cruel reality made everyone feel heartbroken and helpless.

Seeing that no one responded, Wang Jiayan sneered and added: "My fellow colleagues, our six ministries are a whole. We are not only responsible to the emperor, but also to the soldiers below!" There was some excitement and indignation in his voice, as if he was fighting against this unfair reality.

Lin Xiaofeng sat on the dragon throne, his face showing a bit of indifference and calmness. This is the current situation of the court of the Ming Dynasty. On the surface, everyone seems to be conscientious and loyal, but if you look closely, most of them are just perfunctory and coping with their duties. He understands that this

In the court, light slanted down from the towering window lattices, stretching the figures of the ministers, as if their thoughts had also become long and complicated. Song Quan and Wang Hongzuo, two officials who usually did not show their talents, were like beacons in the storm, attracting everyone's attention to shuttle back and forth between them and Lin Xiaofeng. In their eyes, in addition to curiosity and confusion, there was also a little bit of subtle tension, just like a gambling game that was about to be solved. Everyone wanted to know what these two were up to.

Ever since Li Zicheng was defeated in Beijing, the atmosphere in the court has quietly changed. Most officials have learned to protect themselves, and few dare to challenge Lin Xiaofeng's authority head-on, for fear of accidentally angering the young emperor. The reasons behind this are, first, Lin Xiaofeng was vigorous and resolute in eradicating treacherous officials. Although he failed to completely clarify the administration of officials, at least those who did evil in secret dared not to show up easily; second, the official administration reform he promoted, especially the performance silver system, made the officials' pockets bulge and their lives improved. Those who had no intention of corruption were even more grateful and naturally willing to support Lin Xiaofeng in the court.

However, today's scene surprised everyone. Song Quan and Wang Hongzuo, two officials who were usually unknown, suddenly jumped out and sang a duel with Lin Xiaofeng. For a moment, the atmosphere in the court became subtle and tense, and the doubts in everyone's hearts were like thunderclouds in the summer afternoon, growing thicker and thicker.

Lin Xiaofeng sat on the dragon throne, his face calm and his eyes deep, as if he could see into people's hearts. He spoke slowly, his voice not loud, but clearly heard by everyone: "My two beloved ministers, what do you think about Huang Degong's matter?"

Wang Hongzuo gritted his teeth and seemed to have made a great decision: "I think that Huang Degong should be removed from his post and handed over to the Zhenfu Division for investigation." Song Quan followed closely and nodded in agreement. Lin Xiaofeng couldn't help but feel disappointed, and the depth of this disappointment was hard to express in words.

However, as an emperor who is well versed in state governance, Lin Xiaofeng understands that the current situation is complicated, with refugees rebelling internally and the Jiannu army eyeing the enemy covetously. Although Huang Degong has made mistakes, stabilizing the overall situation is the top priority at this time and place. So, he said softly, "We will discuss this matter later."

Although Wang Hongzuo and Song Quan's proposal was not entirely humane, it was not entirely unreasonable. Lin Xiaofeng had no leverage over them, so he could only keep it to himself for now. At this time, the old fox Li Banghua slowly stepped forward, his face calm, his eyes gleaming with wisdom: "Your Majesty, this is a time to use people. Although Huang Degong made mistakes, he protected the people in the city after all, and prevented Li Zicheng and others from succeeding. I think that Huang Degong is not only innocent, but should be rewarded for his merits."

Upon hearing this, Wang Hongzuo sneered, with disdain in his tone: "Master Li, what you said is wrong. Does it mean that if a general takes the people and flees, leaving the city empty to the enemy, it will be considered a great achievement?"

Li Banghua remained calm and retorted, "Marching and fighting is no child's play. Generals all want to win, but the battlefield situation is ever-changing and needs to be responded to flexibly according to the actual situation. Military affairs should be commanded by those who understand the business, not by random people."

Wang Hongzuo was furious when he heard this: "Are you saying that I'm giving blind orders?"

Li Banghua smiled slightly, with a hint of sarcasm in his tone: "You know what's going on."

As soon as these words came out, the court was in an uproar. The ministers were either watching the fun, or worried about Li Banghua, or wanted to take advantage of the chaos to make a profit, each with their own ulterior motives.

Wang Hongzuo even directly attacked: "Lord Li, please don't take advantage of your age! You have only been in the cabinet for four months, what have you done?"

"How do you plan to solve these problems: recover Liaodong, expel the Jiannu, pacify the bandits, deal with Zhang Xianzhong, and rectify the corruption of the princes and nobles?"

"Your Majesty has entrusted you with the important task of the cabinet, not just for fun! You have to show your real ability!"

Wang Hongzuo's words were like thunder, shaking the entire court. No one expected him to be so merciless.

An impatient minister immediately shouted angrily: "Wang Hongzuo, you are too presumptuous! Li Gelao is the chief minister of the cabinet, how can you be so rude!"

"Although Lord Li has only been in office for a short time, he has made outstanding achievements. He has fought several battles around the capital, handled the affairs of the Ministry of War in an orderly manner, and also taken care of major matters such as government administration, military training, and rectification of the civil service."

Wang Hongzuo didn't care and continued to shout: "Being busy is not an excuse! If you can't do it, get out!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the court fell silent again, and everyone's eyes were focused on Li Banghua.

Lin Xiaofeng also stared at Li Banghua closely, thinking in his heart: If he can't even get past Wang Hongzuo, how can we expect him to clean up the mess in the south?

Li Banghua looked calm, sneered a few times, and asked Wang Hongzuo: "Why do you teach me how to do things?"

"It's not your turn to interfere in the affairs of the cabinet!"

Then, Li Banghua changed the subject and began to list the various crises facing the country: "The Jiannu in Liaodong, the bandits in Shanxi and Shaanxi, the rebellion in Jingxiang, which one does not require military action? The old soldiers are dying, and the new soldiers are not trained. If millions of new soldiers go to the battlefield without training, it will undoubtedly be a suicide mission!"

"The affairs of the vassal kings are the emperor's family affairs. Do you, Wang Hongzuo, dare to interfere?"

"The nobles occupying land, the officials being corrupt, these things are being investigated, why are you in such a hurry?"

"Tell me, where are the people suffering from poverty?"

Wang Hongzuo was speechless. Li Banghua's eyes were like knives: "Tell me! Where are the people?"

Wang Hongzuo wanted to find a random excuse to accuse Li Banghua, but he didn't expect Li Banghua to be so serious. He thought of a solution in a hurry: "People of the Ming Dynasty! If they can have enough food and warm clothes, who would want to be a thief!"

"Minister Wang, what you said makes sense!" Li Banghua changed the subject and pointed at the civil and military officials in the court: "The court has already proposed using soldiers instead of relief and using workers instead of relief. Who dares to implement it?"

The ministers avoided his gaze. The Jiannu were plundering everywhere, and the relief team would undoubtedly die. Who would dare to take over this matter?
Li Banghua pointed the finger at Wang Hongzuo again: "How about...you go and give it a try?"

Wang Hongzuo turned pale with fear: "I...I said that for the country and the court!"

"For the country? Humph! What a joke!" Li Banghua put away his smile and said, "Just tell me your purpose!"

"If you have anything to say, come to me! Don't mess around in the court!"

Wang Hongzuo saw that the situation was not good, so he stopped pretending, took out a petition from his bosom, knelt on the ground, and reported to Lin Xiaofeng: "Your Majesty! I impeach Li Banghua, the chief minister of the cabinet and the minister of the Ministry of War! He is not strict in his rule and embezzled the court's pension money! Please punish him, Your Majesty!"

The atmosphere in the court froze instantly, and everyone's eyes were focused on the question book, as if it was not just an impeachment, but the prelude to a storm. Lin Xiaofeng's eyes also became deep. He slowly took the question book, but did not open it immediately. Instead, he was silent for a moment, as if he was weighing something.

At this time, the sun shone through the window lattice onto Lin Xiaofeng's face, adding a bit of solemnity to his young imperial appearance. He spoke slowly, his voice was not loud, but it was full of unquestionable majesty: "I will investigate this matter in detail. If it is true, I will never tolerate it. But if it is unfounded and false accusation, I will never forgive it easily."

Wang Hongzuo was shocked when he heard this, but he pretended to be calm on the surface, kneeling on the ground, waiting for Lin Xiaofeng's decision. Li Banghua, on the other hand, looked calm, as if he was not surprised by this sudden impeachment.

The atmosphere in the court was still tense, but within this tension, there was also a delicate balance. Lin Xiaofeng knew that he had to handle the matter properly, both to maintain the dignity of the court and to maintain internal stability. The question book in his hand was like a touchstone, testing everyone's loyalty and wisdom. The court at this moment was like a vivid painting, with every character coming to life. Their eyes, movements, and psychology were all fully displayed in this painting. And Lin Xiaofeng, as the master of this painting, was using his wisdom and determination to write a chapter of his era.

Lin Xiaofeng's eyes widened, as if burning with rage, as he stared fiercely at Wang Hongzuo who was kneeling on the ground. His originally handsome face was now twisted by anger, and his mouth was tightly pursed, looking extremely cold. In his heart, the murderous intent surged up like a tide, wave after wave, almost drowning him.

Do you know why people in later generations always say that the Ming Dynasty fell in the hands of Emperor Wanli? In the final analysis, it was because Emperor Wanli did not attend court for a long time, which caused the factional struggles in the court to be like crazy, popping up one after another. This factional struggle started from the time of Emperor Wanli, and it has been getting more and more fierce until Lin Xiaofeng came to him, like a never-ending nightmare.

In fact, there were factional disputes before Wanli. During the Jiajing period, Yan Song's gang fought against the Qingliu and eunuch factions, and the court was in chaos. During the Longqing period, the ministers in the cabinet also fought with each other every day, as if they would not stop until they fought to the death. But when it came to Wanli, he simply stopped taking care of things. The imperial power plummeted, and the court was as chaotic as a vegetable market. All kinds of people came out to fight for power.

Some people said: "Isn't the cabinet responsible for handling government affairs for the emperor? As long as the prime minister works hard, the court will be stable." This sounds reasonable, but what is the reality? Emperor Wanli used a trick called "keeping the memorials in the cabinet without sending them out". When the ministers submitted memorials to him, he would just throw them aside, neither approving nor returning them. He just kept dragging it out. Especially after Zhang Juzheng's death, this trick was used more frequently. As a result, government affairs piled up, and the appointment and dismissal of officials were all delayed. Many old officials wanted to retire but couldn't, so they could only let those incompetent guys occupy their positions and muddle through. Over time, the officials became discouraged one by one, and the Ming Dynasty's official team was almost hollowed out by half.

Take Zhu Geng for example. He served as the Prime Minister for three years but never saw the emperor. Ye Xianggao took over his position and was also desperate. Crown Prince Zhu Changluo had not found a proper teacher for eight years. Ye Xianggao begged and pleaded to find a famous teacher for the crown prince, but all of them were "retained" by the emperor. So, the cultural backwardness of the Taichang and Tianqi dynasties was rooted here.

Let's talk about Lin Xiaofeng. He was even more unlucky. His father and brother were not wise and powerful monarchs, so how could he be stronger? He was not talented enough, and his education was not up to par. At least Emperor Tianqi knew to use Wei Zhongxian to suppress the Donglin Party and temporarily stabilize the situation. But what about Lin Xiaofeng? He didn't even have a solid foundation, but he hurriedly wiped out Wei Zhongxian and the eunuch party. Now he is alone, how can he fight those old foxes in the court? He looked at the ministers with cunning faces, and he couldn't help feeling powerless. In the end, he watched the Ming Dynasty perish in party disputes!

Factional strife! Factional strife! Don’t you want to fight? Then let you fight to your heart’s content! Lin Xiaofeng roared in his heart, but his face did not show any anger. He knew very well that in this court full of conspiracy and betrayal, he must remain calm and rational.

He looked at Wang Hongzuo who was about to die, and although he wanted to kill him with a knife in his heart, he pretended to be gentle and said, "Minister Wang, please stand up and talk." When Wang Hongzuo heard this, his heart warmed, and he quickly got up to express his gratitude and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace. This is my memorial." Guo Tianyang next to him was like a wooden man. He took the memorial with an expressionless face and presented it to Lin Xiaofeng.

Lin Xiaofeng opened the memorial and his face immediately darkened. He threw the memorial on the table. It turned out that Wang Hongzuo was suing Li Banghua, saying that he took advantage of the opportunity of distributing pensions to embezzle and accept bribes, and also occupied people's land and evaded taxes, the amount of which was as huge as several thousand taels of silver!

Lin Xiaofeng turned around and asked Li Banghua: "Minister Wang accused you of embezzling pensions and evading taxes. Do you plead guilty?" When Li Banghua heard this, he quickly bowed and replied: "I am really wronged!" His face was full of innocence and fear, as if he had really been wronged.

Lin Xiaofeng turned around and asked Wang Hongzuo, "Minister Wang, are you sure you didn't falsely accuse him?" Wang Hongzuo patted his chest and swore, "It's absolutely true, Your Majesty! I am willing to guarantee it with the lives of my entire family!" His eyes were firm and resolute, as if he really believed in Li Banghua's crimes.

The reason why Wang Hongzuo dared to say these words so confidently was that he personally went to comfort the families of the fallen soldiers and went to the Shuntian government office to check Li Banghua's land and tax records! When he said this, all the ministers followed suit and said, "Your Majesty, please investigate this matter thoroughly! Give Li Banghua a clean name!" They all looked righteous, as if they were really speaking up for Li Banghua.

However, Lin Xiaofeng knew very well in his heart: How could this be a simple investigation of Li Banghua? It was clearly an attempt to weaken the imperial power! Although Li Banghua had only been the Prime Minister for four months, he and Lin Xiaofeng cooperated very well, and the government affairs of the court were handled in an orderly manner. This frightened those officials who had ulterior motives. They were afraid that after Li Banghua secured his position, he would support Lin Xiaofeng more to strengthen the imperial power, so they wanted to overthrow him first!

Lin Xiaofeng was usually indecisive. Now that he saw the ministers forcing him, he was furious. But when he saw a hint of joy on Li Banghua's face, he started to wonder: Was this a deliberate trap set by Li Banghua?
After thinking about it, he nodded, then looked at Gongsun Yuchun who was standing in the corner of the hall, and said, "Commander Li, please look into this matter in detail after the court meeting!" His voice sounded a little tired and helpless, as if he was tired of this endless party struggle.

But, this is not over yet! Song Quan, the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, stood up and said, "Your Majesty, this matter is of great importance. Please order the Jinyiwei to investigate the case together with the three judicial departments!" When Lin Xiaofeng heard this, he was very unhappy! He originally wanted the Jinyiwei to solve this problem privately, but if the three judicial departments tried the case together, the matter would become a big deal and everything would have to be exposed.

"Your Majesty, please order the Jinyiwei to conduct a joint trial with the three judicial departments!" More than a dozen ministers knelt on the ground and kowtowed repeatedly, begging. Their voices echoed throughout the hall, as if to completely break Lin Xiaofeng's will.

"No!" Lin Xiaofeng's eyes were as big as copper bells, and he firmly disagreed. His voice was full of determination and resoluteness, as if he was ready to fight these ministers to the end.

However, the ministers insisted on doing so. They did not trust the Jinyiwei because they thought that the Jinyiwei were the emperor's lackeys and would not judge the case fairly. Their faces were full of disdain and contempt for the Jinyiwei, as if they had regarded the Jinyiwei as accomplices of the enemy.

Lin Xiaofeng was so angry that he clenched his fists and almost popped his eyes out. He looked at those ministers as if they were his enemies. This was the first time he had been forced to abdicate since he came here. He was really furious! It was as if there was a fire burning in his heart, wanting to burn all these ministers who forced him to abdicate to ashes.

However, the officials were not afraid at all. They knew that the law does not punish the masses, and as long as they were united, Lin Xiaofeng would not dare to do anything to them. Moreover, they also knew that Li Banghua was the chief minister and the leader of the civil officials. Even if they wanted to investigate him, they had to conduct an open and fair trial by the three judicial departments to ensure that this principle would not be violated. Their faces were full of determination and resoluteness, as if they were ready to fight Lin Xiaofeng to the end.

Lin Xiaofeng was so angry that he was about to explode, but the ministers did not back down. They knew that this was a battle of principles and they had to persist. As for Lin Xiaofeng, although he was very angry, he also knew that the current situation was not favorable for him. He had to make a choice, either succumb to the pressure of these ministers, or stick to his position and fight them to the end.

At this time, Li Banghua stood up. He bowed and said to Lin Xiaofeng: "Your Majesty, in order to prove my innocence, please order the Jinyiwei to try this case together with the three judicial departments!" His voice sounded a little helpless and tired, as if he was tired of this endless fight. However, his eyes were unusually firm, as if he was ready to accept any result.

Lin Xiaofeng stood there, silent for a long time, the anger in his heart gradually subsided as if it was extinguished by a sudden autumn rain. He stared out the window, the autumn wind was bleak, the leaves were flying, but there were ripples in his heart. He suddenly realized that this might not be a completely bad thing. Just think about it, the more those parties throw dirty water on the cabinet chief Li Banghua at this time, doesn't it prove that the emperor has a unique vision in employing people? Party disputes are like a chronic disease within the court. When people are sick, they need to take medicine, and when the court is sick, it needs to go through some turmoil. However, with foreign enemies surrounding us and the country in a precarious situation, when is the best time to rectify internal affairs?

Thinking of this, Lin Xiaofeng's mood suddenly became clear. He nodded gently, and a barely perceptible smile appeared on the corner of his mouth: "Let's do as Lord Li said! However... the Jiannu are wreaking havoc in the interior, and the bandits are looting everywhere. The court is in need of people. Let's put this matter aside for now and discuss it in detail after the Jiannu retreat."

The ministers were relieved to see that the emperor was not angry but rather calm. They thought that they might be spared from punishment today. Lin Xiaofeng agreed to let the three courts jointly try the case, which undoubtedly saved everyone's face, so they naturally had to give the emperor a way out. So, under the leadership of the minister, all the ministers knelt on the ground and shouted in unison: "Your Majesty is wise, and we obey your order."

Then, Li Banghua said, "Your Majesty, Huang Degong has captured Luo Wenbin, a subordinate of Li Chuangwang. What do you think we should do with him?" The emperor pondered for a moment and said slowly, "I have ordered Li Xingzhong to come to Beijing. He will escort Luo Wenbin back to Beijing."

The emperor and his ministers discussed other important matters of state. Not long after, Li Banghua mentioned another trivial matter.

"Your Majesty, it has been verified that Yangwu Marquis Xue Lian has seized the people's land and killed innocent people. We have all the evidence. After consultation with the Three Judicial Departments and the Pacification Department, we plan to hold a public trial at the Shuntian Prefecture Yamen on July 15. Do you think this is appropriate?"

Xue Lian, who had always been arrogant and dared to challenge the emperor, was finally going to be tried in the hall. Lin Xiaofeng planned to take this opportunity to warn those nobles who had made great contributions and let them know their own worth.

"Let's change the date to July 16! The 15th is the Ghost Festival, a day to worship ancestors. Xue Lian's ancestors once made great contributions to the Ming Dynasty, so let him worship his ancestors first and then stand trial."

After saying this, Lin Xiaofeng flicked his sleeves and turned away, leaving all the ministers in the Huangji Palace in a daze. "Your Majesty is wise! Long live the emperor..." The ministers felt complicated and unspeakable. While kneeling to see the emperor off, they secretly pondered the next countermeasures.

After the court meeting, when the ministers with titles heard that Xue Lian was going to be tried, they all closed their doors, fearing that they would be implicated. However, Duke Yingguo Zhang Shize was different. He opened his door and welcomed guests as usual. However, no one dared to visit him.

Two days later, Zhang Shize actually appeared in the Shuntian Prefecture Yamen.

"Duke...Duke of England?" Wang Tingmei thought he was dazzled. He hurriedly walked closer and saw that it was indeed Zhang Shize! The surprise in his heart was even stronger than seeing a ghost. If Zhang Shize came here at this time, wouldn't he be walking into a trap?

"Brother Wang, long time no see!" Zhang Shize greeted him as he walked in.

Wang Tingmei's face turned pale instantly, and she cursed in her heart: Zhang Shize, why are you here to join in the fun at this time? Are we that familiar with each other?
"Ahem, Duke of England, you are... my government is busy with affairs. If I have nothing else, I have to go to the Ministry of Revenue." Although Wang Tingmei said this, she did not think so in her heart.

"What are you going to the Ministry of Revenue for?" Zhang Shize asked with concern.

"Ahem!" Wang Tingmei almost choked on his own saliva. He took a long while to calm down before saying, "Go to the Ministry of Revenue to check some accounts... This matter is quite important, so I won't say more."

Zhang Shize smiled and said, "Don't be impatient, brother. Listen to me first. I have a list here. It is the tax that our Yinggong Mansion has evaded over the years. It is clearly listed by year and field. Please help me check the account. If there is no problem, I will send someone to deliver the silver."

Wang Tingmei was stunned when he heard this. He thought Zhang Shize was here to get information, but he was here to give money. Should he accept the money? If he accepted it, he was afraid that people would say he was helping Xue Lian to wash away his guilt; if he didn't accept it, it was his job. Besides, the emperor had exempted taxes for a year, but this was a debt from the past, and he personally delivered it to his door, so how could he not accept it?
Wang Tingmei thought for a moment and said, "Duke Ying, tax evasion is a serious crime and must be punished. But considering that you are a first-class duke of the Ming Dynasty, I can use silver to atone for your sin. This way I can explain to the court."

Zhang Shize said generously: "Whatever your brother says is the correct amount."

Wang Tingmei held up five fingers. Zhang Shize didn't even blink: "Okay! Fifty thousand taels, I accept it!"

Wang Tingmei almost bit off his tongue. He originally wanted to say five thousand taels, but Zhang Shize jumped to fifty thousand! The Duke of Yingguo's mansion is indeed rich!
So, Zhang Shize paid the money and Wang Tingmei counted it. The news spread quickly throughout the capital, and people's reactions varied. Civil officials gloated over the misfortune; military generals watched quietly; gentry and landlords were anxious like ants on a hot pot, asking for news everywhere; and the nobles were divided into two factions: one followed Zhang Shize to pay the tax; the other would never pay. The capital became very lively because of this. People were staring at the Shuntianfu Yamen and the Forbidden City, waiting to see the big show on July 16.

……

Let's talk about Li Zicheng. He sat in the hall of Daming Mansion with mixed feelings. After so many years of rebellion, this was the first time he tasted the taste of victory and defeat. "Although we have captured Daming Mansion, many of our people were killed and wounded. Especially Fang Liang's team, not only was the whole army annihilated, but they were also captured by Li Xingzhong! I am so angry!" He looked at the gloomy sky outside the window, frowning, his heart full of reluctance and helplessness. He knew that the road ahead was still long and difficult. But he also understood that only in this way could he lead his brothers to victory.

Under the dim candlelight, Cheng Minghe and Nangong Shangpu lowered their heads slightly, as if they could feel the sharpness in Li Zicheng's eyes, like two invisible swords hanging over their heads. At this moment, the air was filled with a repressive silence. Anyone who spoke too much would undoubtedly be asking for trouble. The faces of the generals were full of confusion and uneasiness. The recent results of the war were indeed unsatisfactory. Everyone felt like a heavy stone was pressing on their hearts.

Li Yan, the usually calm counselor, saw the heaviness and anxiety in everyone's hearts. He stood up and said with some consolation in his voice: "Your Majesty, in war, there will always be casualties. Although we encountered a small setback this time, didn't we take Daming Prefecture? This is a good thing that will greatly boost the morale of the army!"

He tried to ease the depressing atmosphere with a relaxed tone, "Your Majesty, you should be happy, don't be so sad."

However, Li Zicheng's mood obviously did not improve. He sighed, his brows full of worry: "It's just an empty city, what's there to be happy about! It's a pity for my General Fangliang!" His tone was full of regret and heartache for his beloved general.

Although Li Zicheng was dissatisfied with Luo Wenbin, he never doubted the loyalty of this general. In his heart, if possible, he would rather give up the empty city of Damingfu and keep Luo Wenbin, a loyal and brave general.

Li Yan thought for a moment, took out an account book from his pocket, slowly opened it, and read: "Your Majesty, we found nearly 200,000 taels of silver in the city, as well as a lot of farm tools, cooking utensils, bedding, etc. Although these are not worth a lot of money, they are very practical and are also a great supplement for our army."

He changed the subject, a gleam in his eyes, "As for General Fang Liang, I have an idea. Whether we can rescue him or not depends on whether God will give us face."

"Oh?" Li Zicheng was excited when he heard this, and asked quickly: "Mr. Li, please tell me your opinion!"

All the generals focused their attention on Li Yan. He smiled and said confidently, "We can send an envoy to negotiate with the Ming Dynasty and exchange General Fang Liang for Daming Prefecture. In simple terms, it means exchanging a city for a general!"

"Is this... possible?" Li Zicheng couldn't help but hesitate when he heard this. It wasn't that he was reluctant to give up the empty city, but he was worried that the Ming Dynasty would not agree to such an exchange. After all, how much could an empty city be worth to them?
Nangong Shangpu also understood this truth, but in order to compete with Li Yan, he pretended to be indifferent. After looking at Cheng Minghe, he smiled and said, "In order to take Daming Mansion, we sacrificed tens of thousands of brothers. How can we give up so easily? Isn't this irresponsible for the sacrifice of our brothers?"

Cheng Minghe also echoed, "That's right! War is no joke. How can you exchange a city for a person? And your majesty has already made Xi'an your capital. You can no longer roam around like before. We have to capture cities and erode the power of the Ming Dynasty step by step. This is the right way!"

"What's the point of keeping an empty city without civilians?" Li Yan asked, "We can't collect taxes or recruit soldiers, so why keep it? We might as well use it to buy back our general."

Shang Pu and Ming He's faces changed when they heard this. The discord between them and Li Yan was already well known in the Dashun Army. If Li Zicheng hadn't mediated, they would have fallen out because of their disagreement.

"Mr. Li is right!" Li Zicheng nodded in agreement. "This matter will be handed over to Mr. Li. Send two Ming prisoners out of the city tomorrow to negotiate and see if they agree. Whether it will succeed or not, we'll leave it to fate!"

After talking about Luo Wenbin, Li Zicheng picked up the teacup on the table and drank it all, as if he wanted to drink away all the troubles in his heart. Then, he changed the subject and said in a deep voice: "Let's talk about business. Where should we go next?"

Nangong Shangpu was afraid that someone else would steal his limelight, so he said first: "Your Majesty, I think we should station troops in Zhengzhou and Kaifeng, and attack Guide and Xuzhou in the east; we can advance to Nanyang and Runing in the south; and we can threaten Fengyang, Huai'an, Yangzhou and even Nanjing in the southeast! In this way, we can form a comprehensive suppression of the Ming Dynasty."

He paused and added: "How we fight will depend on how the Ming Dynasty mobilizes its troops. But no matter what, we must maintain the initiative and not let the Ming Dynasty lead us by the nose."

After listening to this, Li Zicheng just nodded silently. However, he always felt that this plan was a bit mediocre and lacked novelty. When Shunjun attacked Beijing, they were strong and powerful, so this plan might still work. But now after the battle in Beijing, the troops were greatly reduced, and the chances of winning against the Ming Dynasty were not great.

Cheng Minghe saw Li Zicheng's hesitation, so he said: "Your Majesty, I think the most important thing for us now is not to gain a firm foothold in Henan, but to create chaos in Henan."

"Becoming chaotic?" Li Zicheng raised his head and looked at Cheng Minghe, a glimmer of curiosity in his eyes, waiting for him to continue.

"Right! We should divide our forces to attack various counties in Henan, rob property and food and then withdraw, and don't occupy their cities. If the Ming army comes, we will run away, if not, we will continue to fight. In short, we should not confront their main force head-on, so that they can't use their strength." Cheng Minghe's eyes flashed with a cunning light, "Wait until they are too tired or have run out of food, then we will concentrate our forces to catch them off guard!"

Li Zicheng was very happy after hearing Cheng Minghe's plan: "Military Advisor Song, you are really my think tank! This plan is exactly what I want!" A long-lost smile appeared on his face, as if he had seen the dawn of victory.

Why did Li Zicheng like this plan so much? Because he had used this method to defeat Sun Chuanting's Qin army before. When Sun Chuanting led an army of 100,000 out of Tongguan to attack him, he also used the strategy of luring the enemy deep into the territory and cutting off their food supply, and finally won. Now, he wanted to use this trick against Huang Degong, Gao Jie and others, dragging them into the battlefield in Henan, and then making trouble on the food supply to put them in trouble.

However, at this moment, Li Yan stood up and expressed a different opinion: "Your Majesty, I have a different opinion." Although his voice was not loud, it carried a firmness that could not be ignored.

"Tell me about it." Li Zicheng responded casually, but he had already determined Cheng Minghe's plan, so he didn't take Li Yan's words too seriously. There was a hint of impatience in his eyes, as if he was tired of this endless debate.

However, Li Yan did not back down. He continued, "Your Majesty, I think we should abandon Damingfu, Zhengzhou, and Luoyang. These places are empty cities, and there is no point in keeping them. We should concentrate all our forces and attack in three directions."

His tone was full of determination and resoluteness. "We will go up the Yellow River to support Datong. Datong is the gateway to Shanxi and we must not lose it! Once Datong is lost, our foundation in Shanxi will be shaken."

"Guard Tongguan all the way. Tongguan is the gateway to Guanzhong and has always been a battleground for military strategists. Only by guarding Tongguan can Guanzhong be stable. We cannot allow the Ming army to have a chance to attack Guanzhong, otherwise the consequences will be disastrous."

"The last route is to go south to Huguang to contain Murong Jiongran's main force. Zhang Xianzhong is now attacking Sichuan, and behind him is Murong Jiongran. We should help him so that he can concentrate on attacking Sichuan. In this way, we can form a comprehensive suppression of the Ming Dynasty and make them lose sight of one thing while focusing on another."

As soon as Li Yan finished speaking, the entire camp fell into silence. The generals lowered their heads in thought, obviously weighing the feasibility of Li Yan's plan. Li Zicheng frowned and looked at Li Yan deeply, as if trying to see the future of this plan from his firm eyes. (End of this chapter)