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

Lin Xiaofeng walked out of the cold and damp prison that seemed to swallow up all light. The chill on his body did not dissipate immediately after regaining his freedom. He quickly changed into the clothes of a guard. Although the clothes were inconspicuous, they were like armor, allowing him to regain his sense of mission as a member of the Dashun Army. Walking side by side with Guo Tianyang, their steps were firm and powerful, and every step seemed to announce their return to the imperial city.

Inside the imperial city, the lights were dim, but there were also undercurrents. Lin Xiaofeng secretly calculated that the Ming court had finally compromised this time and agreed to the conditions proposed by Li Zicheng. And Luo Wenbin, that iron-willed man, had not had time to enjoy a moment of peace before he was thrown into a prison car and embarked on a long journey to Wei County. Lin Xiaofeng couldn't help but worry about Luo Wenbin's fate. Could he withstand the wind, frost, rain and snow along the way?

When Li Zicheng heard the news, the joy in his heart was not as surging as expected, but was replaced by a faint worry. He knew the suffering Luo Wenbin had endured, and he understood the weight of this loyalty. So he eagerly asked Nangong Shangpu about Fang Liang's situation, and his worried eyes seemed to be able to penetrate the night and look directly at the changes in the future.

Nangong Shangpu felt mixed emotions when he heard this. The plan he proposed to exchange the city for people has now become a sword hanging over his heart. If Luo Wenbin really has other intentions, how should he deal with it? Moreover, the friendship between Li Zicheng and Luo Wenbin is not comparable to that of an ordinary monarch and minister. He pondered for a moment and finally spoke: "Your Majesty, I think General Fangliang will never surrender to the Ming Dynasty easily. But for the sake of safety, let him recuperate first, and then entrust him with important tasks when the time is right. What do you think?"

Li Zicheng was silent for a long time, and finally nodded. At this time of change, Shang Pu's plan was undoubtedly the safest.

Meanwhile, while Luo Wenbin was being taken to Wei County, Li Zicheng was not idle. He paid close attention to the situation in Shandong, the movements of the Ming army, and the southward invasion of the Jiannu (Qing Dynasty troops). One day, a spy rushed in and brought the latest news: the Jiannu had captured Weiyang and divided their troops into two routes, one heading directly to Dengzhou, Laizhou, and Haizhou, and the other heading south to Juzhou and Linyi. Juzhou and Linyi, with their beautiful mountains and rivers and pleasant climate, became the base camp for the Jiannu to rest and recuperate.

Upon hearing the news, Li Zicheng was secretly delighted but did not show it on his face: "I already know about it, you can go back and receive your reward." Upon hearing this, the spy was delighted and quickly thanked him and left.

After Nangong Shangpu also left, Li Zicheng secretly summoned Jing Changhao, Gao Yigong, and Hao Yaoqi. The flickering candlelight in the room reflected the solemnity on the four people's faces.

"You've all heard about it, right?" Li Zicheng's voice was low and powerful.

"Yes, the Jiannu have reached Juzhou and Linyi!" There was some excitement in Hao Yaoqi's voice.

Jing Changhao frowned, "Ju County is not far from Qufu, and there are Fei County and Sishui in between. If we want to act in the name of Jiannu, it will be difficult as climbing to the sky. Moreover, Qufu is not far from Yanzhou Prefecture. If the news leaks out, our army will be in danger."

Li Zicheng's face darkened when he heard this: "Zongmin, how can you say such things? Before I became emperor, you could still dissuade me; now that I am the emperor, you still want to stop me?"

Jing Changhao knew that he had spoken out of turn, and he immediately knelt down to apologize: "I have spoken out of turn, please forgive me, Your Majesty."

Li Zicheng's anger subsided a little, and he turned to ask Gao Yigong: "When did we agree with the Ming court to replace him?"

Gao Yigong unfolded Huang Degong's letter and answered while reading: "Huang Degong proposed two plans: one is that we retreat to Damingfu, and they will release Luo Wenbin; the other is that we line up outside the city and leave a deputy general as a hostage when the Ming army enters the city, and then exchange them after they stabilize the city."

Li Zicheng looked at Jing Changhao, who nodded in agreement: "Your Majesty, both of these strategies are acceptable."

"I agree as well." Gao Yigong echoed.

"I agree too!" Hao Yaoqi nodded with a smile, with sparks of fighting spirit flashing in his eyes.

"Okay! That's settled!" Li Zicheng stood up and walked to Hao Yaoqi's side. "While exchanging hostages with the Ming court, we will take the opportunity to launch a surprise attack on Qufu."

When these words came out, the three of them were stunned, and then they stood up and bowed: "Your Majesty, you have a brilliant plan, and we admire you!"

Trading a city for a person, no one expected that Li Zicheng would divide his troops to attack Qufu at this moment. If something happened in the future, the blame would naturally be borne by the Jiannu, and the Ming court would never do such a thing. Although Li Zicheng was hundreds of miles away and had no power, the Jiannu were close at hand, so they were naturally the most suspicious. This is the principle of "whoever is close takes the blame" in Liu Huaqiang's biology.

Li Zicheng was very proud, but he quickly calmed down and secretly told the three people: "This matter must be kept secret!"

"We obey your order." The three responded in unison.

"Okay." Li Zicheng pondered for a moment and continued to deploy. "Wave the flag, the attack on Qufu will be handed over to you. I will allocate 3,000 elite cavalry from my personal army, Zongmin, and Yigong, and grant you 500 war horses. Go out of the camp in the name of supporting Datong. After leaving the city, march south and then east. Rest during the day and travel at night. You must reach Qufu within five days. Start the siege in the morning after the seventh day. Only take silver and return rations. The rest of the property must not be touched."

Hao Yaoqi was afraid of forgetting, so he quickly took out charcoal paper to record it. He asked again: "Your Majesty, how much silver should be taken?"

The Confucius Mansion has countless silver, so it is impossible to take all of it. Only a moderate amount is needed. Li Zicheng calculated that if there were no carriages and horses, each person could carry at most 400 taels of silver, which is about 28 kilograms today. Three thousand cavalrymen, 400 taels each, would be 1.2 million taels. Adding 500 war horses, although their carrying capacity is limited, after deducting the loss, they can add hundreds of thousands of taels. Although it is not a huge sum, it is enough to support the Dashun Army for a year.

Li Zicheng wrote down the calculated number on a piece of paper and handed it to Hao Yaoqi: "Is there anything unclear?"

Hao Yaoqi took a deep breath. This task was arduous, but it made him more motivated. He exhaled and said with a smile, "Your Majesty, I understand."

"Okay! Then proceed carefully and report good news soon!" Li Zicheng's words were filled with deep expectations and trust.

In the north of Juzhou, near the shimmering Shushui River, winding like an emerald necklace, the autumn breeze blew gently, bringing a bit of coolness and a bit of post-war desolation. Duoduo, a burly and resolute young general, finally met Dorgon, who had suffered a great defeat at the Wenyu River.

"Fifteenth brother!" Dorgon's voice was a little hoarse and a little anxious, as if a drowning man was grabbing the last straw.

"Fourteenth brother!" Duoduo stepped forward quickly, and their eyes met in the air, which was a tacit understanding and concern between brothers that did not need to be said. As soon as they met, they hugged each other tightly, as sad as long-lost children reuniting, tears flowing freely on their cheeks, especially Dorgon, the pain of defeat and the deep longing for his brother intertwined, tears like beads with broken strings, kept falling down.

"Brother Fourteen, you..." Duoduo cried for a while, raised his head, and found that Dorgon's situation was worse than he had imagined. He remembered how majestic the 20,000 elite soldiers were when they entered the pass, but now there were only less than a thousand defeated soldiers left, ragged and dusty. The scene was heartbreaking.

Dorgon wiped his tears and sighed, his voice filled with endless fatigue and helplessness: "Don't say anymore, the Ming army is too cunning, we fell into the trap. The elite of the Zhengbai Banner were almost wiped out." He looked into the distance with empty eyes, as if recalling the tragic battle.

After hearing this, Duoduo felt mixed emotions. He tried to force out a smile and consoled her, "In war, victory and defeat are common. It won't be too late for us to make a comeback after returning to Shengjing."

"This is the only way." Dorgon sighed again, his eyes revealing uncertainty and confusion about the future.

"By the way, where is our twelfth brother Ajige?" Duoduo looked around but could not see Ajige. He couldn't help but have a bad feeling in his heart.

Dorgon's face darkened instantly, like a dark cloud covering the sun: "I don't know where he went. Maybe he was captured, or maybe... Well, it's hard to say." His voice was low and heavy, and every word seemed to be squeezed out from the bottom of his heart.

When Duoduo heard this, his face changed drastically. He took a few steps back and could not believe his ears. How could Ajige, the brave and invincible brother, be like this?

"Fourteenth brother, you are not kidding, are you?" Duoduo's voice trembled slightly.

"How could I joke about such a thing? I am the most responsible for this failure. I don't know whether I will live or die after I go back." As Dorgon said this, tears welled up in his eyes again, his eyes were full of despair and helplessness.

"Stop talking! Stop talking!" Duoduo sat on the ground, and the two brothers cried for a long time before they slowly calmed down. The autumn wind blew, bringing a hint of coolness, and it seemed to comfort the two brothers who had experienced many vicissitudes of life.

"Fifteenth brother, how many soldiers did you bring this time?" Dorgon's voice was filled with anticipation.

"More than 70,000, 40,000 Eight Banners men, 30,000 Mongolian brothers." Duoduo's voice was a little proud, but then it dimmed, "But this is not enough to make up for our losses."

"Where is Jirgalang? Didn't I ask him to borrow troops?" Dorgon asked.

"He was busy dealing with the Ming army. With Wu Sangui blocking the way in front and the navy chasing behind, he had no time to spare. So I brought Fengning's reserve troops back from Dushikou and entered the pass from Qiangziling." Duoduo shook his head, his face full of helplessness.

Dorgon frowned and kept this in mind. He looked up into the distance and saw the clouds in the sky were like the smoke of a battlefield, changing unpredictably. Duoduo picked up the telescope and looked around, his face becoming more and more serious.

"Ebilun..." Dorgon's voice was choked with sobs.

"He has already died for his country!" Duoduo's voice was filled with grief and indignation. He sighed helplessly and sat on the ground, unable to speak. The taste of failure is more bitter than coptis root!

"What about Fan Wencheng? He has to be responsible!" Duoduo asked angrily, with flames of anger flashing in his eyes.

Dorgon understood what he meant, patted him on the shoulder and said, "There is nothing wrong with Mr. Fan's ideas. I underestimated the enemy!" There was a hint of self-blame and helplessness in his voice.

"Then he is not wrong?" Duoduo asked gritting his teeth, his heart filled with anger and dissatisfaction towards Fan Wencheng.

Dorgon snorted heavily: "He may be wrong, but it is not the main one. I will take this responsibility myself!" His voice was firm and powerful, as if he was swearing to himself.

Duoduo frowned and said nothing. He knew that Fan Wencheng would have a hard time after Dorgon lost power, so he stopped pursuing the matter. He looked up at the sky and saw a group of wild geese flying south, as if expressing the sadness of autumn.

The two brothers chatted for a while and gradually returned to the topic. Duoduo asked his men to leave and whispered to Dorgon: "Fourteenth brother, what are you going to do next?" There was a hint of concern and expectation in his voice.

Dorgon gnashed his teeth and said: "Rob money, rob food, kill people, kill Ming troops! We must make up for the losses of our Eight Banners!" His eyes flashed with flames of hatred, as if they were going to burn the whole world.

"Then where should we attack first?" Duoduo asked.

"Qingzhou and Yanzhou!" Dorgon pointed at the map and said, "The Ming army killed so many of our Eight Banners brothers. I must kill their princes to avenge them. Prince Heng is in Qingzhou, and Prince Lu is in Yanzhou. I want to massacre these two cities!" There was a hint of cruelty and determination in his voice.

Duoduo nodded. Massacres were commonplace for them. He looked at the map and said, "We are now between Juzhou and Linyi. Qingzhou is closer, so we can attack it first. Although Yanzhou is farther away, we can also attack it."

"Then let's attack Yanzhou first!" Dorgon punched the ground and said, with a hint of firmness and determination in his voice.

After he finished speaking, he noticed that Duoduo's face looked a little strange, so he quickly added: "Fifteenth brother, we two brothers are of one mind. This is my only wish, and you have to fulfill it for me." There was a hint of pleading and helplessness in his eyes.

Duoduo smiled and said, "Fourteenth brother, you are too serious. Brothers united are stronger than iron. I will hit wherever you point." There was a hint of ease and ridicule in his voice, as if he was trying to ease the tense atmosphere.

Dorgon was relieved then: "That's good. I plan to rest for another five days and then go west through Mengshan. First take Feixian County and then attack Sishui, and finally go straight to Yanzhou Prefecture, kill Prince Lu and massacre the city to comfort the souls of our Eight Banners soldiers in heaven!" There was a hint of excitement and anger in his voice, as if he wanted to pour all his hatred on Yanzhou City.

"Wait!" Duoduo pointed at Qufu and asked, "Why don't we attack Qufu?" There was a hint of curiosity and confusion in his eyes.

Dorgon rolled his eyes at him and said, "There is the Confucius Mansion in Qufu. That is the place where the saints lived. We cannot touch it casually." There was a hint of awe and caution in his voice.

Duoduo sneered and said: "No matter how noble the Confucius Mansion is, what can it do? Our cavalry is not afraid of it! Moreover, if Duke Yansheng can surrender, we can win the hearts of scholars all over the world!" There was a glimmer of cunning and ambition in his eyes.

Dorgon shook his head and said, "Although Duke Yansheng is not to be feared, he is also a tool we can use. It will do us good to keep him." There was a hint of depth and calculation in his voice, as if he was weighing the pros and cons.

So the two brothers decided to do something great together. They stood up and looked at the sky in the distance, as if they saw the future victory and glory. The autumn wind blew, bringing a hint of coolness and a hint of pre-war solemnity. They knew that this war would be a battle of life and death, but they also believed that as long as the brothers were united, nothing could stop them from moving forward.

Dorgon and Dodo had just finished discussing important military matters in the tent when the sky outside was gradually darkening. Outside the tent, several battle-hardened generals, including Oboi and Tulai, walked hurriedly with serious expressions. They quickly approached Dorgon, saluted respectfully, and shouted in unison: "Greetings to His Royal Highness Prince Rui!" There was a bit of respect and eagerness in their voices.

Hearing this, Dorgon smiled bitterly. The title of "Prince Rui" sounded like a helpless reminder to him, but also a sentiment that was hard to let go. He knew that once he returned to Shengjing, this glorious title would no longer belong to him, and he couldn't help but feel sad.

At this time, Haoge also appeared in everyone's sight. He walked steadily and behaved properly. He saluted Dorgon and called him "Uncle Prince Rui, Uncle Prince Ten." Dorgon looked at Haoge with mixed feelings. Thinking back to the past, the two of them had fought openly and secretly for the supreme throne, and now that his power was weakened, he might have to be controlled by him in the future. This frustration made him feel even heavier.

Hauge did not notice the turmoil in Dorgon's heart, and asked directly: "Uncle Prince Rui, why did we suffer a defeat this time? Were the losses serious?" There was a hint of concern in his words, but he could not hide his worry about the situation.

Seeing this, Duoduo hurried forward and detailed the causes and consequences of Dorgon's defeat and his subsequent plans. After hearing this, Haoge, Aobai, Tulai and others first felt sad for the unfortunate sacrifices of Ajige and Ebilun, and then fell into deep thought, trying to find a way out.

Aobai, the veteran general who had fought many battles, finally spoke: "Prince Rui, Lord Ten, Prince Su, I have a plan to tell you."

"Go ahead, you're welcome." Duoduo, who was impatient, responded first.

Hauge was not to be outdone: "Go ahead, we are all listening."

Dorgon knew that he was no longer the same as he was in the past, so he stopped fussing over the details and said slowly, "Please speak." The word "please" made Oboi stunned. When had the former Prince Rui ever been so polite? This change was really regrettable.

Oboi calmed down and said in a deep voice: "My three lords, I want to keep a prince of the Ming Dynasty, whether it is the Prince of Heng or the Prince of Lu, to exchange one life for another."

"What do you mean? Are you planning to take him back to Shengjing?" Duoduo was puzzled. In the past, they would kill the princes of the Ming Dynasty without mercy. Even if they didn't kill them, they would take them to Liaodong as slaves.

Oboi shook his head and denied it: "No, I want to use this opportunity to negotiate with the Ming Dynasty and use the life of one of his vassal kings to exchange for the remains of Prince Duoluo Wuying and Ebilun, so that their souls can return to their hometown and be buried in Shengjing."

After these words were spoken, Dorgon, Dodo, Hauge and Tulai all bowed their heads in deep thought, their faces unable to conceal their sorrow. Ajige and Ebilun died on the battlefield, and their heroic souls should return to their hometown and rest in peace.

Tulai asked worriedly: "What if the Ming Dynasty disagrees?"

There was a ruthless look in Duoduo's eyes: "Then let the princes of the Ming Dynasty be buried with my twelfth brother and Ebilun!" As soon as these words came out, everyone felt that it made sense, and Aobai's proposal was finalized.

After the discussion was over, they began to discuss the next battle plan. The atmosphere was solemn and tense.

Meanwhile, Hao Yaoqi on the other side had already set off with his army. Three thousand elite Shun troops, with iron cavalry as fierce as dragons, marched out of the south gate of Daming Prefecture, heading south, and gradually disappeared into the vast wilderness.

When they reached the south gate, Hao Yaoqi stopped his horse, and the three thousand cavalrymen also stopped. Hao Yaoqi called the generals to the front and said in a deep voice: "Brothers, I have a way to make you rich, do you want to go?"

"Yes!" the generals said in unison, with greed and expectation flashing in their eyes.

"But... didn't the emperor order us to rescue Datong?" a general asked doubtfully. The order they received was clearly to go to Datong for rescue, not to search for wealth.

Hao Yaoqi smiled and said mysteriously: "We have to rescue Datong, of course. But before we set off, the emperor has another secret order. Do you know about it?" "Yes!" The generals answered in unison with firm expressions.

Li Zicheng's personal general said: "The emperor said that we must obey General Hao's orders unconditionally, even if it means going through fire and water."

Jing Changhao's cavalry commander echoed: "General Liu also said that General Hao's orders are his orders. Anyone who dares to disobey will be killed immediately!"

Cui Ma, the elite leader of Gao Yigong, stated directly: "We will obey General Hao in everything."

Hao Yaoqi nodded in satisfaction and continued, "The matter of Datong is certainly important, but what Dashun lacks most right now is silver. The salaries of officials and the wages of soldiers are all difficult to maintain."

"As a general of Dashun, I need to share the worries of the emperor. Let me ask again, I have a way to make a fortune, do you want to follow it?"

"Yes!" The generals responded in unison again, their morale high.

"Just follow my orders." Seeing the soldiers' enthusiasm, Hao Yaoqi was delighted, but he added, "However, the place we are going to rob this time is a little special. In order to prevent Dashun from being criticized, we need to disguise ourselves as Jiannu."

The generals were not stupid and they understood Hao Yaoqi's intention as soon as they heard it.

"We all listen to General Hao." The generals expressed their position again with a firm look on their faces.

Seeing that no one objected, Hao Yaoqi ordered: "Bring the flag and check it!"

The guards came on horseback, holding the prepared Jiannu flags in their hands. Hao Yaoqi carefully prepared three sets of flags for this operation: the white-bordered flag, the white-bordered flag, and the blue-bordered flag, corresponding to Duoduo, Dorgon, and Haoge respectively. Although these flags were not very exquisite, they were 70% similar, enough to confuse the Ming army and the people in the city.

After checking the flags, Hao Yaoqi looked at the soldiers and ordered, "Come and shave your heads and braid them into pigtails."

The soldiers looked embarrassed: "General, this is probably unnecessary. The armor of the Jiannu is similar to ours. As long as we put on armor and raise the flag, how can we tell the Ming army from the civilians?"

"This hairstyle is the key. Even dogs will shake their heads when they see it." Hao Yaoqi joked, trying to ease the soldiers' resistance.

"General, please spare our lives. We still want to live as human beings." The soldiers begged for mercy one after another. They had been taught since childhood to take care of their bodies and hair, which was a manifestation of filial piety to their parents.

Hao Yaoqi glared at them and said sternly, "Shut up! If you want to forge something, you have to forge the whole thing, so that you can put the blame on the Jiannu! Do you understand?"

"But..." The soldiers were still hesitant.

Hao Yaoqi thought for a moment, blinked, and said with a smile: "How about this, each person who shaves his head will be rewarded with fifty taels of silver! When the matter is done, you can cut off your braids, leave your head bald and grow your hair again!"

The soldiers had no choice but to agree. Seeing the long hair of more than a hundred soldiers falling to the ground, Hao Yaoqi stroked his beard and laughed.

"Okay! All the generals, listen up! The target is Qufu, 300 miles to the southeast! Once you get to Qufu, there are three things to do: rob silver, rob silver, and rob silver again! Of the silver you rob, 20% is for you to keep, and 80% is for the court to hand over!"

"The time has come when God rewards hard work! Charge!" Hao Yaoqi waved his whip and rushed out first, followed closely by three thousand cavalrymen, galloping towards Qufu like a storm.

In that turbulent era of dynasty change, Hao Yaoqi, a burly and sharp-eyed general, led 3,000 elite cavalrymen of the Shun army, and rushed to Qufu City in Shandong Province like a storm. The sound of their horses' hooves echoed in the silent night, as if it was the pulse of the earth, foreshadowing the coming changes.

At that time, the Yellow River did not flow through Shandong, but made a detour from the southeast of Kaifeng, winding like a giant dragon, passing through Shangqiu, Huaibei, Suqian, Huai'an, and finally flowing northeastward, merging into the sea near today's Yancheng, Jiangsu. The vastness and grandeur of the Yellow River set off the bravery and determination of Hao Yaoqi's army. They saved the trouble of crossing the river, and the horses ran across the vast land, running so fast, like the torrent of history, unstoppable.

They hid their whereabouts during the day and traveled at night, eating dry food with cold water, simple but tenacious. When they were tired, they just lay down on the ground, and the earth became their most solid support. They rested for a while and continued to move forward. Occasionally they met ordinary people on the road. Because the Hao army had strict discipline, did not disturb the people and hid the flags, the ordinary people mistakenly thought that this was the Ming army passing by, and they were still wondering in their hearts, how could the enemy suddenly appear in the Ming army's territory, which was really confusing. They talked a lot, but did not dare to speak out, just exchanged puzzled looks in private.

After five days and nights of non-stop march, Hao Yaoqi and his men finally arrived at the Sishui River, ten miles north of Qufu City. The river was gurgling and clear, and the green trees on both sides of the river brought a touch of coolness to the hot summer. Hao Yaoqi ordered the troops to hide in the dense woods to rest, while he and several generals gathered together to study some newly obtained intelligence about Qufu City. Their faces were full of fatigue and determination, and their eyes were shining with the desire for victory.

Speaking of Qufu City, it is a place with stories. In the Song and Yuan Dynasties, it also had a nice name called Xianyuan. It is located to the east of Gulu City, like a shining pearl. Back then, in the winter of the fifth year of Zhengde, the two brothers Liu Liu and Liu Qi from Beizhili revolted, and they responded with a hundred calls, bringing thousands of troops, like an unstoppable torrent. The next year, their team fought to Shandong, and on February 27th, Qufu City also fell. The rebels set fire to the government offices and houses, and the flames shot up into the sky, reflecting half of the sky red. At night, they slept in the Confucius Temple, and the horses ate grass in the yard. The water in the pond was dirty by them. The Confucius Temple and the Confucius Mansion were robbed, and countless members of the Kong family were killed and injured. In order to protect Confucius' descendants, the Ming court followed the advice of the Censor Pan Junzhen and built a city wall around the Confucius Mansion. They also moved the county seat of Xianyuan County there. From then on, this place was called Qufu County. This is what people often refer to as "moving the city to protect the temple."

The city wall of Qufu was built so solidly that it was started in the eighth year of Zhengde and completed in the first year of Jiajing. The city wall is 27 feet high and 14 feet wide at the bottom, and it is almost nine miles around the city. It is like an iron wall and copper wall, standing on the land of Qufu, guarding this ancient city. There is also a river outside the city, which is wide and deep, not far from the city wall, like a natural moat, adding a bit of steepness to Qufu City. There are five gates on the city, and each gate has a city wall. The defense is more stringent than the nine important towns on the border of the Ming Dynasty. It is really a good place that is easy to defend but difficult to attack.

After reading the intelligence, Hao Yaoqi's forehead was covered with sweat. He didn't expect such a small city to be so difficult to attack. "General, Qufu's defense is strong, we have few people, and we don't have siege equipment. This battle will be difficult to fight!" A general said worriedly, his face full of anxiety and helplessness. "Yes," another general also shook his head and sighed, "We are cavalry, not siege materials, and a hard attack will definitely not work." His tone was full of uncertainty about the future.

Hao Yaoqi stroked his beard and pondered for a while. His eyes were deep and firm, as if he could see through everything. "Don't worry, let me think of a way." His words were filled with unquestionable firmness and determination. He knew that this battle was not only a test of his military talent, but also a challenge to his wisdom and courage.

Time was running out, and they had to capture Qufu within two days. It was too late to build siege equipment, so Hao Yaoqi decided to take advantage of the situation. He ordered: "It's late at night, everyone should rest. Tomorrow we will split into two groups. I will lead my personal soldiers into the city to investigate the situation, and the others will prepare torture instruments such as tongs to be used for interrogation." His voice was calm and powerful, revealing an irresistible majesty.

Hao Yaoqi actually didn't want to kill innocent people. He mainly wanted to teach those people in the Confucius Mansion a lesson. He believed that as long as he used torture instruments to scare them, the people in the Confucius Mansion would obediently hand over their money. He was a principled man who would not easily harm innocent lives, but he would not let go of those who deserved punishment.

A general asked worriedly: "What if the common people accidentally break into our dense forest?" His eyes were full of worry and anxiety. Hao Yaoqi looked sharp and said firmly: "Then we can only kill them, and the news cannot be leaked." He knew that the importance of this battle could not be lost, and any news could ruin their plan.

So, the three thousand cavalrymen hid in the dense forest, quietly waiting for the opportunity. They were like a group of lurking cheetahs, waiting for the best time to attack. At dawn, Hao Yaoqi led three hundred soldiers across the Sishui River and walked four miles south. Then he asked the soldiers to continue hiding in the woods, and he only took five or six people to change into civilian clothes and enter the city.

In the summer morning, the weather is cool and pleasant, and the breeze blows gently on the face, bringing a hint of coolness. Many farmers can be seen on the road, carrying loads and things on their backs, preparing to go to the city to sell grain and vegetables. Their faces are full of hardships and difficulties in life, but their eyes are shining with hope and longing for the future.

Hao Yaoqi stopped a farmer and asked kindly, "Fellow countryman, what's in your basket?" His tone was friendly and easygoing, as if he was an ordinary passerby. Seeing his extraordinary demeanor, the farmer did not dare to lie and replied, "Beans, pickles, cucumbers, etc." There was a tremor in his voice, and it was obvious that he was intimidated by Hao Yaoqi's momentum.

Hao Yaoqi asked about the price again. When the farmer was about to elaborate, Hao Yaoqi became impatient and asked him to just state the total price. His tone was full of unquestionable majesty and urgency, as if time was very precious to him. The farmer calculated nervously and held up a finger. His eyes were full of uncertainty and fear.

Hao Yaoqi mistook it for one tael of silver, so he took out the silver and offered it to him. His movements were quick and decisive, like a generous knight. The farmer was frightened and said quickly, "In fact, only one penny is enough!" There was a hint of fear and uneasiness in his voice. Hao Yaoqi glared, "I don't have change, so I'll give you one tael. Do you dare not accept it?" There was an irresistible majesty and tyranny in his tone. The farmer was so scared that he had to accept the silver, secretly glad that he had met a generous buyer.

Hao Yaoqi and his companions took their things and continued to walk towards Qufu City. Their steps were firm and powerful, as if every step was stepping on the pulse of history. After the farmer and his companions walked away, they realized that they had just met a powerful man, and they couldn't help but laugh and talk about this adventure. Their faces were full of surprise and excitement, as if this was something worth showing off.

Hao Yaoqi and his men trotted all the way to the outskirts of Qufu City. By then, the sky had already turned pale. The defenders on the city wall saw them and shouted, "The city gates will not be opened today. Go!" Their voices were filled with an unquestionable majesty and indifference. Hao Yaoqi was anxious when he heard this. If he wanted to capture the city by wits, he had to enter the city first. Now the city gates were closed, what should he do?
Just when he was extremely anxious, there was a sudden commotion outside the city. It turned out that some common people were clamoring to enter the city, and their voices were filled with dissatisfaction and anxiety. Many people in the city also gathered outside the county government office to petition, and their faces were full of anger and dissatisfaction, like a volcano about to erupt.

In the county government office, the magistrate Kong Hongyi was woken up and asked with an unhappy face: "How many people are there outside? What do they want to do?" There was a kind of impatience and indifference in his voice, as if he didn't care about all this. However, he didn't know that a battle that would change the fate of Qufu had quietly begun...

County Magistrate, let me tell you, the common people in our city are begging you to open the city gate with anxious and expectant eyes. It is inconvenient for them to go in and out, and their lives seem to be separated by an invisible wall. Look, there are crowds of people outside the city, everyone is waiting to go into the city to do some business and exchange some necessities of life. The bustling crowd is like a fish longing for living water, blocked by the gate of the city. The city officials are respectful, reporting the situation to you with their heads down, and seem to be helpless about the closed city gate.

Lord Kong Hongyi, he was sitting on that heavy pear wood chair at the moment, his brows were furrowed like a walnut, as if they could catch a fly flying by. Ever since he heard that Jian Nu occupied Weiyang, he immediately ordered the whole city to be on alert, fearing that the enemy would suddenly attack. But guess what? The city gate was closed for more than ten days, and not even a shadow of Jian Nu was seen. The air in the city seemed to have become dull because of this long-term closure.

In the city, the people's food and vegetables were almost gone, and they were living a tight life. Children cried because of hunger, and the elderly were pale and thin due to lack of nutrition. On the other hand, outside the city, it was a prosperous scene. The caravans were full of goods, colorful fabrics, fresh fruits and vegetables, and all kinds of daily necessities, waiting to be sold in the city, but they couldn't get in. The prosperity outside the city formed a sharp contrast with the depression inside the city, which made people feel infinite emotion.

Now the people were not happy with this. They were so angry that they gathered at the gate of the county government. They looked like they were going to rebel. The noise and protests from the crowd rose and fell like an unstoppable torrent. Lord Kong Hongyi got angry and walked around the hall with heavy and powerful steps, cursing, "Waste! A bunch of waste!" He kept looking at the back of the hall, apparently looking at the wall, but in fact he was worried about the Kong Mansion behind the wall. The Kong Mansion was where Yanshenggong Kong Yinzhi lived, and he couldn't afford to offend him.

Speaking of the Confucius Mansion, it is really a big family business. There are nine courtyards and three roads. The middle road is a formal government office and private residence. The front is the office, and the back is the living place. The front upper house, front and back halls, auxiliary buildings, and back garden are all available and luxurious. The blue bricks and black tiles, carved beams and painted buildings all show the dignity and style of the Confucius Mansion. Yanshenggong Kong Yinzhi lived here. He was of noble status, and even the county magistrate had to respect him.

In theory, the county magistrate is the head of a county, and he can respect the Duke of Yansheng, but he doesn't need to be afraid of him. But what is the actual situation? The Kong family has inherited the title of Qufu Ling and Wenxuan Gong since the Tang Dynasty, managing the affairs of the Kong Mansion. In the Song Dynasty, Kong Zongyuan was even named the Duke of Yansheng, and this hereditary rule continued until the Ming Dynasty. The reason why Kong Hongyi was able to become the Qufu Ling was all thanks to the recommendation of the Duke of Yansheng, Kong Yinzhi. So he was both respectful and afraid of the Duke of Yansheng, just like a petty official facing a majestic superior, always feeling a little uneasy.

Seeing more and more people outside the city, Kong Hongyi knew he couldn't delay any longer and had to think of a way. Open the door? He didn't dare, fearing that the Jiannu would take the opportunity to sneak in. Don't open the door? The people were starving to death, and if they started a riot, he wouldn't be able to stop them. He was so anxious that he turned around in the hall, like a beast trapped in a cage. Suddenly, he thought of a trick, he wanted to arrest a few of the leaders of the riot and lock them up, but the police said there were too many people and they couldn't tell who was the leader.

At this moment, a steady voice came from the back of the hall. The voice seemed to carry an irresistible force, which frightened Kong Hongyi into a cold sweat. The person who came was none other than the Duke of Yansheng, Kong Yinzhi himself. Kong Yinzhi was the 64th generation grandson of Confucius according to his seniority. He walked in steadily in a gorgeous brocade robe and a jade crown. Kong Hongyi dared not neglect it, and hurriedly bowed his hands, his gesture full of respect and fear.

Kong Yinzhi hit the nail on the head as soon as he opened his mouth: "You have closed the city gate for more than ten days. The food in the city is almost gone and the people are starving. I think you have two choices, either open the warehouse to release food to help the people, or open the city gate to let people out." His voice was not loud, but it was full of unquestionable power. Kong Hongyi felt very troubled when he heard this. Opening the warehouse to release food required the approval of the prefecture, and there was no disaster now, so how could the prefect approve it? As for opening the gate to release people, he was even more worried that the Jiannu would take the opportunity to attack the city.

Kong Yinzhi got angry when he saw Kong Hongyi's hesitation. His eyes seemed to be able to spit fire, and his voice became stern: "How can you protect the people's safety? You are clearly forcing the people into a desperate situation! If you really want to protect the people's safety, you should let them escape on their own, instead of locking them up in the city to die!" These words made Kong Hongyi pale, and he could only bow his head and admit his mistake, his posture full of helplessness and shame.

Seeing this, Kong Yinzhi said no more. After dismissing his attendants, he whispered about the situation of the garrison in Qufu, their weapons and equipment, and the military pay and supply from the court. His voice was low and powerful, and every word seemed to carry a heavy weight. This question made Kong Hongyi more aware of the heavy responsibility on his shoulders. He understood that in the face of the suffering of the people and the safety of the country, he must make the right choice. It was as if a huge rock was pressing on his heart, making it hard for him to breathe. But he also knew that he could not fall down, because he was the county magistrate of Qufu and the guardian of this place.

Reporting to Lord Yansheng, there are now 1,149 soldiers stationed in Qufu. They are all wearing heavy armor, holding sharp swords and spears, with an unyielding light in their eyes, and they are full of energy, as if they are ready to sacrifice themselves to defend this land at any time. However, the crux of the problem is that the court has owed us military pay for fourteen months, and there is still no news of any reissue. The soldiers' lives are now barely maintained by the assistance of the Yansheng Mansion. They are hungry and poorly clothed. "Kong Hongyi, the county magistrate of Qufu, had a worried look on his face, his brows were tightly knitted, as if he could squeeze water out of them, and his tone was full of helplessness and anxiety.

"What are you talking about?" Kong Yinzhi's eyebrows twisted into a triangle when he heard it, and a trace of surprise and confusion flashed in his eyes. Then he widened his eyes and looked incredible. "How can this be true! Our soldiers in Qufu defend the country, how can they be treated like this?"

"Yes, didn't the court just exempt the whole country from taxes for one year? How come it is still so short of money?" Kong Yinzhi asked in confusion, with a bit of doubt and dissatisfaction in his tone.

"I wrote a letter to the emperor two months ago, begging for the reimbursement of military pay in Qufu. Qufu is only a thousand miles away from the capital, and it can be delivered quickly whether by land or through Jining." Kong Yinzhi explained, his tone revealing a hint of anxiety and anticipation.

"Where did the silver go? Did you embezzle it?" Kong Yinzhi's voice was filled with anger, and his eyes were as sharp as a knife, as if they could pierce Kong Hongyi's heart.

When Kong Hongyi heard this, he hurriedly explained, his face full of fear and innocence: "How could I have the courage! To tell you the truth, at the same time as you submitted the petition, I had already sent official documents to the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue, requesting them to reimburse the military pay. But..."

"But what?" Kong Yinzhi asked, with a hint of urgency in his tone.

"However, the Ministry of War said that the Ministry of Revenue needed to review it, and the Ministry of Revenue said that the Ministry of War was needed to check it. In the end, both sides agreed, but the official document was submitted to the Cabinet but there was no follow-up." Kong Hongyi shook his head helplessly, his eyes full of helplessness and confusion.

"Nothing further? This is outrageous!" Kong Yinzhi was shocked, and the anger on his face became even stronger, as if it could ignite the air around him.

You know, the process of transmitting official documents between Ming government offices is extremely strict, for fear of any mistakes. Each step needs to be reviewed layer by layer before it can be submitted to the next higher level department. Now, the military pay issue has been lost without any news, how can it not make people suspicious?
Kong Hongyi nodded and continued, "The cabinet said it had been handed over to the Imperial Household Department, but the Imperial Household Department said it had not been kept, and also said it was sent back to the cabinet after being approved. In this way, the official document disappeared without a trace."

"The Cabinet is difficult to deal with, and the Imperial Household Department is even more of a headache! I have redrafted the subject and am now waiting for Lord Li from the Cabinet to review it." Kong Hongyi added, his tone revealing a hint of helplessness and anticipation.

Kong Yinzhi nodded first, but then shook his head. Distant water cannot quench immediate thirst. By the time the official document is approved, the Jiannu may have already returned to Liaodong! He was secretly anxious, but there was nothing he could do.

"Have the military salaries of other counties in Yanzhou Prefecture been repaid?" Kong Yinzhi suddenly asked, with a hint of urgency and anticipation in his tone.

Kong Hongyi sighed, his face full of helplessness and disappointment: "They have all been reissued, but our Qufu has not yet been issued!"

Kong Yinzhi's heart skipped a beat, and he had a bad feeling. If other counties were compensated and some were not, it might be because the court was too busy to take care of it. But now Qufu was the only one that was not compensated. There must be something fishy going on. Was it the Ministry of War? The Ministry of Revenue? The Cabinet? Or the Imperial Household Department? He pondered in his heart, but he couldn't be sure.

No, Kong Yinzhi shook his head and drove all these thoughts out of his mind. These three departments are dominated by literati, and they have great respect for the Confucius Mansion. How could they do such a bad thing? Although the Silijian represents the imperial power, there is no reason for them to harm the Confucius Mansion. However, what he didn't know was that the mastermind behind all this was actually the Ming Emperor Zhu Youjian. He first asked the Silijian to destroy Kong Hongyi's memorial, and then deliberately delayed his speed of submitting another memorial. The ultimate goal was to transfer Gao Jie to the north instead of attacking Li Zicheng, but to let him go to Damingfu to meet Huang Degong. In this way, the east was empty, just in time to lure Li Zicheng to Shandong.

"It seems we have to find another way..." Kong Hongyi looked at Kong Yinzhi, his eyes full of anxiety and helplessness, "Can the Duke of Yansheng's Mansion temporarily transfer some money to make up for the military pay? We can return it after the court returns the military pay."

Kong Yinzhi glared at Kong Hongyi, his tone filled with dissatisfaction and helplessness: "There are so many people in the Yanshenggong Mansion, and the daily expenses are terrifyingly high. Where is the extra money to pay the military salaries?" He was afraid that once the money was given, he would never get it back, so he firmly disagreed.

"Then...what should I do?" Kong Hongyi rubbed his hands anxiously, his face full of anxiety and helplessness. The soldiers had no military pay, the people were short of food, and Qufu was about to fall into crisis.

After pondering for a moment, Kong Yinzhi slowly said: "The Jiannu are now more than 200 miles away from Fei County, and there is Sishui County in between. Qufu is still safe for the time being." His tone revealed a hint of firmness and calmness, as if he was pointing a clear path for Kong Hongyi.

"You can open the city gates to let the people in to replenish their food. At the same time, tell the people in the city to recruit wealthy households to donate money as military pay, and then call on the people to join the army to resist the enemy together. As long as our military and civilians are united, we will be able to defend this city!" Kong Yinzhi's words were full of encouragement and strength, as if injecting a shot of adrenaline into the military and civilians of Qufu.

"But what if the wealthy are unwilling to donate money?" Kong Hongyi asked worriedly, his face full of anxiety and uneasiness.

"Not willing to donate?" Kong Yinzhi sneered, a sharp light flashing in his eyes, "The Yanshenggong Mansion took the lead in donating money, how dare they not follow suit?" His tone revealed an unquestionable majesty and power.

Kong Hongyi suddenly realized something, and a glimmer of enlightenment flashed in his eyes: "Your Excellency's insight is great! I understand. The silver received will be returned in full to the Yanshenggong Mansion, but the donations from the rich will be divided into 30% and 70%, with one part used as military pay and the other used to recruit new soldiers."

"This boy is teachable!" Kong Yinzhi nodded with satisfaction, a relieved smile on his face.

"Then... I will take my leave first." Kong Hongyi was about to leave, with a hint of respect and gratitude in his tone.

"Wait!" Kong Yinzhi suddenly called him, his tone solemn and deep, "If there is no hope of defending the city, it is better to surrender early. At least you can save the lives of all the people in the city." A trace of helplessness and determination flashed in his eyes.

"The Jiannu are also human beings. If they want to rule the Central Plains, they will definitely need the support of the Kong family. Dorgon, Duoduo and others may not quite understand this, but Fan Wencheng must understand this truth." Kong Yinzhi's words revealed wisdom and foresight.

"I don't think they will attack Qufu. Even if they do, they will not harm the Confucius Mansion. Instead of fighting hard, it is better to surrender, which can better reflect the wisdom and determination of our Confucius Mansion." His tone was full of firmness and determination, as if he had already made plans for the worst.

"But... surrendering is a serious crime. If the court investigates, I will be doomed to death!" Kong Hongyi hesitated, his face full of fear and anxiety.

"Don't worry, I'm here and the court won't do anything to you. Besides, you're not the only one who surrendered. Everyone is fine, so you'll be safe too." Kong Yinzhi comforted, with some certainty and determination in his tone.

"Go quickly and open the city gate!" Kong Yinzhi urged, with a trace of determination and helplessness in his eyes. He knew that he had to make this decision for the sake of the people of Qufu and the future of the Kong Mansion.

Kong Hongyi had no choice but to obey the order and open the city gate. At this time, the rebel generals such as Hao Yaoqi were already waiting outside the north gate impatiently. When they saw the city gate open, they happily carried their loads and went into the city. They wore the clothes of ordinary people, mixed in the crowd, and prepared to act at any opportunity.

An hour later, Hao Yaoqi led his personal soldiers out of the city and joined the main force hiding nearby. Then, he led the army northward to join the main force. They planned to divide the troops into three routes: the main force would rest and prepare siege equipment; the second route would take off their armor and disguise themselves as civilians to sneak into the city; the third route would put on the armor of the Ming army and pretend to be a defeated army to go around to the east of Qufu and wait for action.

When the time came, Hao Yaoqi personally led the main force to go around to the east of Qufu. Taking advantage of the night, they quietly approached the moat, ready to launch a surprise attack. At this time, the night sky of Qufu was dotted with stars, the moonlight was like water, and it was peaceful. However, this tranquility concealed infinite murderous intent and crisis. Hao Yaoqi's heart was full of anticipation and tension. He knew that this battle would determine the fate of Qufu, and would also determine the life and death of him and his brothers. He took a deep breath, clenched the sword and gun in his hand, and prepared for the upcoming battle... (End of this chapter)