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

Li Yan's words were like a stone thrown into a calm lake, stirring up ripples and shocking everyone present. In particular, his final idea of ​​dividing the army to help Zhang Xianzhong was like a bolt from the blue, leaving everyone confused and puzzled. Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong, the two leaders of the rebel army, were supposed to be good brothers fighting side by side against the behemoth of the Ming Dynasty. However, things are unpredictable, and their relationship gradually deteriorated due to some trivial matters, forming a feud that was difficult to resolve.

At this time, it was the late autumn of Lin Xiaofeng's sixteenth year, and the maple leaves outside Hanyang were in full bloom, as if foreshadowing the upcoming changes. Li Zicheng had just defeated Murong Jiong and was in high spirits. He planned to take Hanyang first, and then step by step to deal with Wuchang to realize his grand plan. However, Zhang Xianzhong was like an uninvited guest, who took the lead and occupied Hanyang. This news made Li Zicheng furious. He was so angry that he directly offered a reward of a thousand gold to buy Zhang Xianzhong's head to vent his hatred.

At this moment, Li Yan suddenly stood up and said he wanted to help Zhang Xianzhong. Everyone was stunned, as if they had seen a ghost. Nangong Shangpu was the first to jump out and shouted at Li Yan angrily: "Li Yan, Li Yan, do you know what you are saying? Zhang Xianzhong has been at odds with us for a long time. We were merciful enough not to kill him. You still want to help him?" His words were filled with anger and confusion that were difficult to conceal. When everyone heard this, they nodded and advised Li Yan to take back his words and stop talking nonsense here.

Li Yan looked at everyone's excitement and said calmly, "Everyone, please calm down and listen to me. If what I say doesn't make sense, it's not too late for you to refute me." His voice was steady and powerful, as if he could calm everyone's restless hearts. However, when Gao Yigong heard this, he was so angry that he trembled and shouted loudly, "Zhang Xianzhong and I are irreconcilable. I will never help him even if I die!" His voice was full of hatred and determination. Hao Yaoqi also followed suit, his face full of disgust and dissatisfaction with Zhang Xianzhong. Jing Changhao, Nangong Shangpu and others all widened their eyes and looked at Li Yan angrily, as if they wanted to eat him alive.

Recalling a few years ago, when Lin Xiaofeng was in the eleventh year, Zhang Xianzhong accepted the Ming Dynasty's amnesty and stationed troops in Gucheng, Hubei. At that time, Li Zicheng was defeated by Hong Chengchou and wanted to seek refuge with Zhang Xianzhong with dozens of people. As a result, Zhang Xianzhong not only refused to accept them, but also wanted to take the opportunity to destroy them. Li Zicheng realized that something was wrong and ran away overnight. Brothers such as Gao Yigong and Hao Yaoqi also fled with him. Everyone still remembers the humiliation of that time. Li Yan and Hong Niangzi were among them. They witnessed that humiliating history with their own eyes. At this time, Hong Niangzi hid in the corner, looking at Li Yan, and sighed softly. Her eyes were full of complexity and helplessness.

Seeing that everyone had quieted down, Li Zicheng motioned Li Yan to continue. Li Yan stood up, bowed to everyone, and then slowly said: "Your Majesty, everyone! People who do great things cannot always focus on those small favors and grudges. Although our Dashun and Zhang Xianzhong have had conflicts, Zhang Xianzhong cannot fall now. Think about the tyranny of the Ming Dynasty in the past, the people lived so hard. Although the tax is exempted for one year now, the rebels are still scattered, and many people want to live a stable life. The number of rebels is getting smaller and smaller, which is not a good thing for our Dashun. If Zhang Xianzhong collapses, Jian Mingxiao is in Sichuan, and Murong Jiong is in Wuchang. They will take the opportunity to go north. At that time, our Dashun will face an unprecedented crisis. Also, I heard that Murong Jiong has been killed by Hua Ruiqi. Hua Ruiqi is not a good guy. In addition, Huang Degong, Gao Jie, Liu Liangzuo and other Ming Dynasty generals are chasing and blocking us. What are the chances of our Dashun winning? The Ming Dynasty has changed, and we have to change with it."

Li Yan's words were full of wisdom and foresight. His words were like a clear stream, slowly flowing into the hearts of everyone. Li Zicheng was silent after hearing this, and the other ministers had nothing to say. Everyone felt that Li Yan's vision was indeed long-term, and his words revealed a sense of the overall situation and strategic vision.

After a long while, Li Zicheng finally said with determination: "No! What does Zhang Xianzhong's life or death have to do with me!" There was a hint of determination and indifference in his voice. However, he also had his own plans in mind. He knew that the situation of the Shun army was critical and urgently needed money and food. It was really not the time to go south. He had to consider the overall situation and could not ruin the future of Dashun for a momentary impulse.

Li Yan had no choice but to give up when he saw this. He knew that although his proposal made sense, it was indeed difficult to be accepted under the current circumstances. Seeing this, Hong Niangzi stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, I still have 4,000 soldiers and horses under my command. I am willing to go south to Chengtian Prefecture to garrison there. We can advance to spy on Jingzhou and retreat to defend against the enemy in Wuchang." Her voice was full of firmness and determination, as if she had been fully prepared.

Li Ziben wanted to refuse, but when Jing Changhao winked at him, he understood. He knew that Hong Niangzi and Li Yan were deeply in love, and it was useless to force them to stay, so it was better to go with the flow. So he sighed and said, "Mr. Li, Hong Niangzi, be careful on your way! I will clear the Ming army in Henan as soon as possible, and then go south to support you." There was a hint of helplessness and worry in his voice, but he knew that this was the best choice at the moment.

Li Yan felt bad and thanked the emperor immediately, saying, "Your Majesty, rest assured that Hongniang and I will be careful." His words were full of gratitude and determination. Li Zicheng gave them another 10,000 taels of silver as military pay. Although he knew that this amount of money was not enough, he still promised to make up for it later. Li Yan and Hongniang thanked the emperor with tears in their eyes, then turned around and left, ready to start their journey south.

After the discussion, the ministers dispersed. Li Zicheng quietly called Jing Changhao, Gao Yigong, and Hao Yaoqi and assigned them a secret mission. The three changed into casual clothes and went out to meet Li Zicheng outside the camp. At this time, the sky had darkened, and the moonlight sprinkled on the ground, giving people a mysterious and quiet feeling.

Li Zicheng took out a map and showed it to the three people. He said, "According to the spies, there are Tartars around Juzhou, although there are not many of them. But my target is not Juzhou, but Yanzhou and Qufu to the west of it." There was a hint of mystery and determination in his voice. The three people were stunned when they heard this, not knowing what Li Zicheng was up to. They looked at each other, their hearts full of doubts and confusion.

Li Zicheng looked at their expressions and explained with a smile: "There are not many princes in the Ming Dynasty in places like Henan and Shandong. In Yanzhou, there is Zhu Yihai, the Prince of Lu..." He suddenly stopped talking here, but his laughter made people feel uneasy. His smile revealed a sense of cunning and conspiracy, as if he had laid a net and was waiting for the arrival of the enemy. After hearing this, the three people suddenly realized that Li Zicheng was going to use this opportunity to eliminate Zhu Yihai, the Prince of Lu, who was a big worry in his heart! They all expressed their willingness to follow Li Zicheng's arrangements and complete this arduous task together.

Upon hearing this, the maid turned around and ran briskly to make arrangements. Her figure swayed in the candlelight, like a candle swaying in the night wind, hurried and determined. Guo Tianyang walked out of the hall quickly, his steps were steady, and every step seemed to tell of his inner anxiety and determination. He knew that every minute and every second at this moment was crucial and there could be no delay.

He walked through the corridor, around several twists and turns, and came to a remote wing room. Here, spare clothes for the guards were stored. He carefully selected a set of clean guard clothes, which still had a faint scent of soap, as if it could wash away all dust and dirt. He carefully folded the clothes and held them in his hands, as if they were a priceless treasure.

"Lin Xiaofeng, how can you wear eunuch's clothes? That would undermine the emperor's dignity!" He thought to himself, with a hint of determination in his eyes.

After changing his clothes, Lin Xiaofeng looked very heroic, as if he had been reborn. He was wearing the armor of a guard, and his face under the iron helmet was firm and steady, completely different from his previous eunuch image. Guo Tianyang nodded with satisfaction, and the two of them rode in the same car and rushed to the Jinyiwei prison at full speed.

The night was as dark as ink, the moon was bright and the stars were sparse. The carriage was speeding in the night, like a black lightning streaking through the night sky. Guo Tianyang and Lin Xiaofeng sat opposite each other in the carriage, and both of them had firmness and determination in their eyes. They knew that this night would be an extraordinary night.

The Imperial Prison is located at the northwest corner of Zhengyang Gate in the inner city, only three miles away from the imperial city. This is the prison of the Jinyiwei and the nightmare of countless prisoners. In order to keep it secret, Guo Tianyang only brought a hundred guards. They were dressed in plain clothes and mixed in the crowd, like ghosts in the night, silent and invisible.

In the dead of night, the carriage stopped silently at the gate of Jinyiwei Prison like a ghost. The guard was about to ask, but he recognized Guo Tianyang at a glance and his attitude immediately became respectful.

"It's Eunuch Guo. What brings you here?" The guard's words were filled with awe and flattery.

Guo Tianyang held his head high, his eyes were like torches, and his aura made the guards dare not look directly at him. Behind him, Lin Xiaofeng, wearing guard armor, lowered his head, and followed Guo Tianyang silently, like a silent shadow.

"Who is this..." The guard looked at Lin Xiaofeng curiously, but was interrupted by Guo Tianyang's sneer.

"Is there anything I can help you with?" Guo Tianyang's words were filled with unquestionable majesty. The guards were intimidated by his aura and dared not ask any more questions.

Among the Jinyiwei, Guo Tianyang's name was well-known, and even the commander had to give him three points. When he entered and left the palace, he was like half an emperor, and no one dared to stop him.

When Ning Xikong, the commander of the Jinyiwei, heard the news, he hurried out to greet him. His face was full of flattery and awe, and he was obviously surprised and frightened by Guo Tianyang's arrival.

"Eunuch Guo, how are you? How come you have time to come here?" Ning Xikong's words were tentative and flattering.

Guo Tianyang glanced at Ning Xikong, then looked at the guards and shook his head, obviously not satisfied with their rhetoric. He said indifferently, "Jinyi Guards, they are so boring, they all say the same thing."

Ning Xikong smiled awkwardly and led Guo Tianyang and Lin Xiaofeng inside. His heart was full of doubts and uneasiness, wondering what the emperor's confidant's intention was for visiting him late at night.

"No need to serve tea." Guo Tianyang stopped at the intersection. His voice was cold and firm. "I heard that Li Chuang's general Luo Wenbin has been taken to the capital. I want to meet him."

Ning Xikong was embarrassed when he heard this. He knew that Luo Wenbin's case was particularly difficult, and no one dared to touch him without the emperor's order. He asked tentatively: "Eunuch Guo, are you here with the emperor's order?"

Guo Tianyang sneered in his heart. He thought: How can Ning Xikong be so stupid! I brought not only the imperial decree, but also the emperor himself! But he just said: "No, I just want to see what this bandit looks like."

Without an imperial decree, this matter will be difficult to handle! Ning Xikong looked at Guo Tianyang, hesitant in his heart. He was afraid of offending the emperor's confidant, and he was also afraid that Luo Wenbin would get into trouble.

"Do you suspect that I will harm Luo Wenbin?" Guo Tianyang said sarcastically, with an unquestionable light flashing in his eyes.

"I dare not, I dare not!" Ning Xikong hurriedly denied, his heart filled with fear and anxiety.

Guo Tianyang was afraid that Lin Xiaofeng would get impatient, so he urged: "Decide quickly whether to let us meet or not!" There was a bit of anxiety and impatience in his voice.

"I can't make the decision on this matter. I have to ask the commander-in-chief." Ning Xikong said helplessly. He turned around and sent someone to find Gongsun Yuchun.

Gongsun Yuchun had just left the imperial prison. After hearing the news, he pondered for a while and understood the general situation. He knew that Guo Tianyang's late-night visit must have an unusual purpose. After pondering for a moment, he ordered: "Tell Ning Xikong that Eunuch Guo is the emperor's confidant. He can see whoever he wants to see, and he must not be stopped. There is no time limit, and no one is allowed to listen in."

"I'll pass the message right away!" The Jinyiwei who delivered the message responded, turned around and left in a hurry.

It was almost midnight when I saw Luo Wenbin. The cell was very depressing, and the light was flickering, as if it would go out at any time. However, the Jinyiwei cells were not all as dark, damp, and full of insects and rats as shown in TV dramas. Some cells were still very dry and odorless, and quite comfortable to live in. Luo Wenbin was imprisoned in such a cell.

Luo Wenbin was held in solitary confinement in an uninhabited area. His figure still maintained a certain dignity, but his expression was extremely exhausted. His face was as pale as paper, blood had dried on his face, and his brows revealed deep fatigue and helplessness. He lay on the ground, like a body without a soul.

Lin Xiaofeng walked outside the cell and looked at Luo Wenbin quietly. His eyes flashed with complex light, with sympathy and pity for Luo Wenbin, as well as helplessness and emotion about this war. He turned around and sat on the chair prepared by Guo Tianyang, turned his back to Luo Wenbin and asked, "Is that Luo Wenbin in the cell?"

Luo Wenbin closed his eyes and did not answer. He seemed to have lost all hope and expectation in this world. However, when Lin Xiaofeng said, "We are here to question you by imperial decree," he took a breath and sat up. Although he rebelled against the Ming Dynasty, he still showed respect when he heard that the Ming Emperor wanted to ask him questions.

Why can I only see the back of a chair and a figure? Luo Wenbin was full of doubts and puzzlement. However, he also knew that he was already a prisoner at this moment and had no right to ask these irrelevant questions.

"Who are you?" Luo Wenbin asked calmly while sitting on the ground. Although his voice was tired, it still maintained a certain dignity and prestige.

"I am a citizen of the Ming Dynasty just like you." Lin Xiaofeng answered calmly. His voice was like a warm current that warmed Luo Wenbin's cold heart.

Luo Wenbin trembled slightly, then raised his head and looked at the back carefully. After a while, he shook his head and denied his previous guess. Then he said: "I am the left camp general of the Cihou of Dashun, not a citizen of the Ming Dynasty!" There was some firmness and persistence in his voice.

However, Lin Xiaofeng's voice became more steady: "You were born in the Ming Dynasty, grew up in the Ming Dynasty, and will be a ghost of the Ming Dynasty after your death. Your experience as a bandit in the middle is not worth mentioning at all." His words were like a sharp knife, piercing the fantasy and obsession in Luo Wenbin's heart.

Luo Wenbin wanted to refute, but was interrupted by Lin Xiaofeng's words: "We are here to question you by order. Why did you rebel?" There was a hint of severity and questioning in his voice.

Luo Wenbin said excitedly: "Natural disasters continue, and people's lives are difficult. If they don't rebel, they will starve to death or be forced to death by those tax-collecting officials. If you were in my situation, you would also rebel!" There was a bit of helplessness and grief in his words.

However, Lin Xiaofeng continued to ask: "Since you were well fed and clothed after your rebellion, why didn't you surrender to the court but continued to be a bandit?" There was some doubt and confusion in his voice.

Luo Wenbin's mood was disturbed, and he said angrily: "As long as those corrupt officials are still here, we will never surrender! Moreover, there are so many people starving in the world, we must save them from the water and fire!" There was some firmness and persistence in his voice, as if this was a belief that he would never give up in his life.

However, Lin Xiaofeng sneered, and his aura made Luo Wenbin feel a chill. He said coldly: "Do you believe what you just said? Why are bandits called bandits? They are under the banner of equal distribution of land and exemption of grain, but they are actually committing rape and looting!" His words were like a sharp knife, piercing the fantasy and belief in Luo Wenbin's heart.

Luo Wenbin argued: "That was just the behavior of a few individuals! Our Dashun army has strict military discipline, and no one is harmed wherever we go!" There was some firmness and pride in his voice, as if this was an honor that he would never be able to give up in his life.

However, Lin Xiaofeng snorted and changed the subject. He knew that Luo Wenbin still had illusions about Dashun, and he had to break these illusions and make him face reality. He asked coldly, "We are also here to question you. How long do you think Dashun can last?" There was a bit of questioning and sarcasm in his voice, as if he had seen the demise and decline of Dashun.

Although Jing Changhao didn't read many books, he knew everything about the Ming Dynasty court, as if every shadow of the court was hiding his wisdom. He sighed, his eyes flashing with insight into the vicissitudes of history: "The Ming Dynasty originally had six vassal kings in Shandong. The King of Qi was previously granted the title of Qingzhou Prefecture, which was a prosperous place. Unfortunately, he was abolished during the Yongle period, like a fallen leaf in autumn, quietly leaving the branch. The King of Han was killed for rebellion, and he had twelve sons, all of whom were killed by Emperor Zhanji. From then on, the King of Han's family was extinct, like an extinguished candle, there is no possibility of rekindling."

"The Prince of Jing was granted the title of Duke of Yizhou, a place with beautiful mountains and clear waters. However, Emperor Jiajing abolished him because he had no son. It was like a joke of fate that the glory of a prince's palace was instantly destroyed."

"The King of De governed Dezhou, which was a battleground for military strategists. But in the twelfth year of Lin Xiaofeng, during the chaos, the Jiannu invaded and King of De You Shu and his entire family were captured, like a speck of dust in a strong wind, being mercilessly swept away. The following year, his younger brother You Li took over the position of King of De, but the glory and dignity that they had enjoyed were long gone."

"Prince Heng lives in Qingzhou, an ancient and mysterious place, while Prince Lu lives in Yanzhou. The two places are not far apart, but they seem to be two different worlds. Prince Heng's mansion is simple and elegant, while Prince Lu's palace is magnificent. Both have their own characteristics and are the pearls of Shandong."

"Your Majesty, if you want to get some money from the vassal kings, Qingzhou and Yanzhou might be two places you can consider." Jing Changhao's voice was low and powerful, as if every word contained well-thought-out wisdom.

Jing Changhao knew that what Zicheng lacked most now was money, so he had to find a large sum of money quickly. Since Liu Zeqing was eliminated by Jiang Taiwei, his troops had all returned to the capital. Although there were many defenders in Shandong, few of them could fight. Attacking Shandong at this time was a godsend, as if it was a gift specially prepared by God for Zicheng.

Zicheng looked at Jing Changhao and said in a low voice: "Although there is no vassal king in Qufu, there is a man there who is richer than the vassal king." There was an indescribable light flashing in his eyes, as if the expectation for the future and the helplessness of the reality were intertwined.

When Jing Changhao heard this, his eyes widened in surprise, as if he had seen an unprecedented spectacle: "Are you talking about... the Confucius Mansion?" There was a slight tremor in his voice, as if he was shocked and uneasy about the proposal.

"That's right!" Zicheng nodded, but his face was not very good, as if there were dark clouds pressing down on his head, foreshadowing the coming storm. "This... this is not a good idea! The Kong Mansion is where the descendants of Confucius live, and it is a holy place in the eyes of scholars. If we go to rob them of their money, we will make enemies with all the scholars in the world." Jing Changhao's voice was filled with a hint of anxiety and worry, as if he was persuading a child who was about to go astray.

"This...this..." Zicheng also hesitated, with a complex emotion flashing in his eyes, as if he was weighing the pros and cons, and as if he was looking for a better solution.

"Your Majesty, I dare to say that you should not have this idea." Jing Changhao tried his best to persuade him. There was a hint of pleading and helplessness in his voice, as if he was regretting a wrong decision that was about to be made.

But he also knew in his heart that if he really tried to rob the Confucius Mansion, the consequences would be unimaginable. It would be an unpredictable disaster, like opening Pandora's box, releasing endless evil and suffering.

Hao Yaoqi and Gao Yigong listened to the conversation without any reaction. They had no good feelings towards scholars, let alone respect for the descendants of Confucius. They were forced to rebel by scholars, so they just did whatever Zicheng said. Their eyes revealed a kind of indifference and ruthlessness, as if they were mocking and disdaining the world.

Zicheng sneered, his voice filled with determination and coldness: "I say, we can pretend that it was the Jiannu who did it. Aren't there traces of the Jiannu in Juzhou recently? It's only four hundred miles away from Qufu. We pretend to be Jiannu and go to Qufu to cause trouble. If something happens, it will be the fault of the Jiannu, and it has nothing to do with us Dashun." His plan seemed like a carefully laid trap, waiting for innocent people to step into it.

"This..." Jing Changhao wanted to say something, but he didn't know what to say. His heart was full of contradictions and struggles, as if he was a torn soul, wandering between good and evil.

He thought about it and said, "We can't speak the same language as the Jiannu. What if we get caught?" There was a hint of worry and helplessness in his voice, as if he was troubled by an unsolvable problem.

"It's okay!" Yaoqi became excited when he heard it, his eyes revealing excitement and expectation, "There are eight Han banners among the Jiannu, and they all speak the Central Plains dialect, which is very pure." There was confidence and pride in his voice, as if he was cheering for the success of this plan.

Seeing that Jing Changhao was still hesitant, Zicheng asked, "Zongmin, do you know how difficult Dashun is now?" There was a depth and helplessness in his voice, as if he was telling an unspeakable secret.

Jing Changhao looked up at Zicheng, opened his mouth and then closed it. How could he not know Dashun's difficulties? In the final analysis, it was all about money. His heart was filled with helplessness and bitterness, as if he was a person who was overwhelmed by life.

Since the year of Lin Xiaofeng, the Shun army has been fighting everywhere, without a stable place to settle down. The money they robbed was used to support the army, buy horses, weapons, make armor, and buy food. After finally settling down in Xi'an, they occupied the two provinces of Shanxi and Shaanxi. With the expansion of the territory, the expenses also increased. Salaries, military pay, building city walls, buying weapons, everything costs money. Not to mention the Ming army that surrendered. If their salaries were stopped, they would definitely run back to the Ming court. His heart was filled with helplessness about reality and worries about the future, as if he was a person standing on the edge of a cliff, who might fall into an endless abyss at any time.

Zicheng was obsessed with money, but Dashun didn't have many sources of tax revenue, and the commercial tax couldn't be collected much, so he could only rely on robbery to maintain the operation of the court. After the defeat in the battle of Beijing, he wanted to rob the two kings of Zhao and Zhou for emergency use, but was interrupted by Huang Degong. His heart was filled with anger and unwillingness, as if he was a person who was teased by fate and could not get out of the predicament no matter what.

Jing Changhao understood the difficulties of Dashun and Zicheng, but he still had awe for the Kong family. He advised again: "Your Majesty, if this matter gets out, Dashun will be in big trouble! So..." There was a hint of pleading and helplessness in his voice, as if he was regretting an irreparable mistake.

"That's why I called you here to discuss countermeasures!" Zicheng interrupted him and motioned for everyone to sit down. His voice was filled with unquestionable majesty and determination, as if he was a monarch who was about to make a major decision.

After sitting down, Zicheng continued, "Duke Yansheng is the one who wrote a letter of surrender to the emperor. No matter which dynasty changes, the Confucius Mansion will be as stable as Mount Tai. When the world belongs to our Dashun in the future, Duke Yansheng will naturally surrender to me and become my subject. Is there anything wrong with me borrowing some money from my own subjects to spend?" There was a sense of righteousness and unquestionableness in his voice, as if he was looking for a reasonable explanation for his behavior.

After Zicheng said this, Jing Changhao's doubts were mostly gone. He thought, Yanshenggong is just a tool man! His heart was full of helplessness about reality and confusion about the future, as if he was a person at the mercy of fate, unable to escape the shackles of fate no matter what.

He lowered his head and thought for a while, then Zicheng added: "There are three difficulties in this matter: first, the soldiers have to dress like Jiannu; second, the action must be fast, preferably within one day; third, we have to make the Ming court and the people believe that it was done by the Jiannu and has nothing to do with our Dashun." There was a calmness and determination in his voice, as if he was preparing for the upcoming battle.

The four kings and ministers discussed until midnight before they decided on this plan. Their hearts were filled with expectations for the future and helplessness about the reality, as if they were a group of people groping in the dark, trying to find a way to the light.

The next morning, the two Ming prisoners were taken out of the city by the Shun army. After being beaten outside the city, they were tied to horses and escorted to Wei County. On the way, they happened to meet Ming spies. After the two sides confronted each other for a while, the Shun army soldiers reined in their horses and said to the prisoners: "Have you remembered what I told you?" There was a kind of majesty and coldness in their voices, as if they were treating two insignificant chess pieces.

"Remember." The captives replied, with a hint of trembling and helplessness in their voices, as if they were facing an irresistible fate.

"You have ten days to complete this task. No more waiting!" He kicked the captive off his horse and rode away. Their figures gradually faded away in the morning light, like two souls abandoned by fate.

The Ming army spies feared an ambush and observed for a long time before sending people to inquire and confirm the identities of the captives and then took them back to Wei County. When Huang Degong heard that the Shun army wanted to exchange Daming Mansion for Luo Wenbin, he was completely stunned and hurriedly asked for details. His heart was filled with shock and anger, as if he was a person who was betrayed and could not believe the facts before his eyes.

Ji Zisheng comforted him, saying, "This matter is too big and we cannot make the decision. We must quickly submit a petition to His Majesty and ask for his decision." His voice was steady and calm, as if he was providing a glimmer of comfort and hope to a man who was about to collapse.

"Yes, yes, yes! Look at how confused I am! Thank you for reminding me, brother!" Huang Degong quickly picked up his pen to write a memorial and sent someone to deliver it to the capital day and night. His heart was filled with anxiety and expectation, as if he was a person waiting for judgment and could not predict the future result.

In the Qianqing Palace in the capital, Lin Xiaofeng was listening to Empress Zhou's report on the contents of the memorial. When he heard that the Shun army wanted to exchange a city for Luo Wenbin, he couldn't help but laugh: "Is the thief crazy?" There was a kind of sarcasm and disdain in his voice, as if he was looking at an ignorant clown.

Queen Zhou, wearing a light gauze dress, said in a charming manner: "Your Majesty, you are wrong. The thief is not crazy but terrifyingly calm." There was a tenderness and cunningness in her voice, as if she was a wise person who could see into people's hearts.

Lin Xiaofeng asked the waiter again: "Where are Li Xingzhong and Luo Wenbin now?"

In the dim cell, Lin Xiaofeng asked Luo Wenbin a profound question. His voice echoed between the cold stone walls with a hint of imperceptible worry. Luo Wenbin, the imprisoned general, frowned, his eyes flashing with thought. He spoke slowly, his voice low and firm: "The Yuan Dynasty destroyed the Song Dynasty, the Ming Dynasty then destroyed the Yuan Dynasty, and then Li Zicheng destroyed the Ming Dynasty! As for how long Li Zicheng's Dashun Dynasty can last, I don't care. As long as it can overthrow the Ming Dynasty, even if it is only a short-lived glory, it is worth it." His words revealed his helplessness towards history and indifference to the future.

Lin Xiaofeng sat upright in a chair, his face serious, as if every word he said was as heavy as a thousand pounds. He stared at Luo Wenbin, not missing any slight changes in his expression, and continued to ask: "But what if the Ming Dynasty was not destroyed by Li Zicheng, but by the Manchus in Liaodong?" This question was like a sharp knife, pointing directly at the blind spot in Luo Wenbin's heart.

Although Luo Wenbin couldn't see Lin Xiaofeng's face, he could sense his seriousness and urgency from his urgent tone. He shook his head and retorted, "Nonsense! How could the Manchus sweep across the Central Plains with such a small number of troops?" His words were filled with disdain and confidence.

Lin Xiaofeng sighed, his tone full of helplessness: "Yeah, I don't believe it either. But things are unpredictable. Tens of thousands of Manchus dared to travel a long distance into the pass and rob everywhere. The Ming Dynasty's army was short of manpower and had few generals, so we could only watch them burn, kill, loot, and harm the people." There was a trace of worry in his eyes, as if he had foreseen the future tragedy.

Luo Wenbin was silent. He had always regarded the Manchus in Liaodong as a threat from a small tribe, and never regarded them as real enemies. At this moment, he realized that his thinking might be too narrow, and his ideas began to waver.

Lin Xiaofeng pressed the issue and continued to ask: "You proposed equal distribution of land and exemption of grain, and no taxation to support state expenditures. How does the country maintain order? How does the army get paid?" His questions were sharp and practical, and they hit the weak spots of Dashun's policies.

Luo Wenbin smiled bitterly and explained: "That slogan itself is wrong! So even though the Ming Dynasty has perished, it will not be us who will inherit it." His words revealed a bit of self-mockery and helplessness.

"Now we have changed our strategy from equal distribution of land and exemption of grain to exemption of taxes for three years," Luo Wenbin added, trying to defend his camp.

Lin Xiaofeng retorted bluntly: "The policy can be changed at will, how can the people bear it?" There was a hint of blame in his tone, as if he was disappointed with Luo Wenbin.

Luo Wenbin was speechless, with mixed feelings in his heart. He knew that the slogan of Dashun was wrong from the beginning, and no matter how it was repaired now, it would only make things worse. He was silent for a long time, and finally whispered: "No need to say more, I have made up my mind, life and death are determined by fate. The emperor has been kind to me, and I will never surrender to the Ming Dynasty." His voice was low and firm, revealing his loyalty to Li Zicheng.

Lin Xiaofeng smiled, with a hint of sarcasm in his tone: "Luo Wenbin, Luo Wenbin, are you deceiving yourself? If you really want to die, you would have been a corpse when Li Zicheng caught you." His words were like a knife, piercing Luo Wenbin's heart.

Luo Wenbin's face suddenly turned ugly. He wanted to commit suicide in prison, but he was unwilling to do so. Military generals all hope to die on the battlefield, and dying in prison is a shame for him. His eyes flashed with complex emotions, both unwilling and helpless.

Lin Xiaofeng saw what he was thinking, so he turned to business: "Li Zicheng heard that you were captured and wants to exchange you for Daming Prefecture. Will the emperor agree?" His words were like a stone thrown into a calm lake, causing ripples.

When Luo Wenbin heard this, his body shook violently and his face turned pale. He was about to thank Lin Xiaofeng for his reminder, but then he heard Lin Xiaofeng say, "But when Li Zicheng left Daming, he had already moved all the people away, leaving an empty city for Li Zicheng." Luo Wenbin's mood instantly fell to the bottom. He knew Li Zicheng's character. Even if this incident hadn't happened, he would not really give up Daming Prefecture. The same was true for the Ming Dynasty. He realized that he had no way out and could only accept this fact helplessly.

Lin Xiaofeng stood up and continued with his back to Luo Wenbin: "But... the emperor does not want to kill you. Do you know why?" There was a hint of mystery and depth in his tone.

"Why?" Luo Wenbin also stood up, trying to see Lin Xiaofeng's back clearly, looking for clues to his identity. But he found nothing. However, he had roughly guessed that Lin Xiaofeng was neither a eunuch nor a Jinyiwei, but might be an important official in the court or a close confidant of the emperor. It was even possible that he was Lin Xiaofeng himself!
"Who are you?" Luo Wenbin asked again, with a hint of anxiety and curiosity in his tone.

Lin Xiaofeng did not answer his question, but continued: "The emperor wants to make a bet with you." His words were like a gust of wind, blowing away the fog in Luo Wenbin's heart.

"What are you betting on?" Luo Wenbin asked curiously, with a hint of vigilance in his tone.

"The emperor bets that you will not be reused after you return. If you win the bet, are you willing to surrender to the Ming Dynasty?" Lin Xiaofeng's question was like a knife, piercing Luo Wenbin's heart.

Luo Wenbin was stunned. He didn't know how to answer. He knew that Li Zicheng was suspicious, and he was even more worried because of his wives and concubines. He knew that it would be difficult for him to be reused if he surrendered to the Ming Dynasty. In order to hide his true thoughts, Luo Wenbin repeated his previous words: "Don't waste your energy. I have received great favor from the emperor and I swear not to surrender to the Ming Dynasty!" His voice was firm and resolute.

Lin Xiaofeng ignored his answer, because he knew that this sentence had planted a seed in Luo Wenbin's heart. He turned around and prepared to leave, leaving Luo Wenbin alone in deep thought.

Time seemed to stand still, and Luo Wenbin also understood his situation. At this time, Lin Xiaofeng's voice sounded again: "There is one more thing you need to pay attention to, which is related to you and Li Zicheng." His words were like a gust of wind, blowing away the fog in Luo Wenbin's heart.

Although Luo Wenbin pretended not to care, he actually pricked up his ears and listened carefully. Lin Xiaofeng continued, "The emperor intends to exchange you for Daming Mansion." His words were like a stone thrown into a calm lake, stirring up ripples.

"After the exchange, the Ming army will deploy its defenses according to Li Zicheng's movements. If Li Zicheng retreats to Zhangde, the Ming army will deploy heavy troops to the north of Zhangde and confront him." Lin Xiaofeng's words revealed the strategic intentions of the Ming Dynasty.

"If he retreats to Kaizhou, the Ming army will deploy its defenses in three routes: one to guard Daming, one to guard Dongchang, and one to guard Guangping, forming a pincer attack to prevent him from going north." Lin Xiaofeng continued to explain, as if he was drawing a strategic map for Luo Wenbin.

"Wait..." Luo Wenbin interrupted Lin Xiaofeng, "Why... did you tell me about the Ming Dynasty's defense plan? Aren't you afraid that I will tell Li Zicheng?" There was some doubt and vigilance in his tone.

Lin Xiaofeng sneered: "I just want you to tell Li Zicheng that there is no hope of going north. He should either stay where he is and confront the enemy, or move to the south of Henan, or take the risk of going east to Shandong." His words were like a gust of wind, blowing away the fog in Luo Wenbin's heart.

"The Manchus have already entered Shandong. If the two armies meet, the emperor hopes that you can win!" Lin Xiaofeng continued, with a hint of meaning and expectation in his tone.

Luo Wenbin was confused and didn't understand what Lin Xiaofeng was talking about. He frowned and tried to sort out his thoughts. However, Lin Xiaofeng didn't give him time to think.

"The emperor has asked all the questions. You can go back to find Li Zicheng." Lin Xiaofeng said as he walked towards the door, as if he was chasing away an insignificant fly.

"May the best of luck to you!" After saying that, Lin Xiaofeng left the cell, leaving Luo Wenbin alone in a daze. He looked at Lin Xiaofeng's back and asked loudly, "Who are you?" His voice echoed between the cold stone walls, with a hint of reluctance and curiosity.

"I am a citizen of the Ming Dynasty!" Lin Xiaofeng replied, his voice firm and proud, as if he was declaring his identity and beliefs. After that, he disappeared into the dark corridor.

Luo Wenbin was itching to ask. The more he was not allowed to ask, the more he wanted to know. He pressed on, "A gentleman is open and honest, why don't you show your true self to others?" His tone was filled with a bit of challenge and dissatisfaction.

"When you surrender to the Ming Dynasty, you will know." Lin Xiaofeng left with these words, leaving Luo Wenbin alone in deep thought. He looked at the empty cell, his heart full of doubts and uneasiness. He didn't know who this mysterious person was, nor what his real intentions were. But he knew that his fate was closely linked to this mysterious person. (End of this chapter)