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

After dealing with Luo Wenbin, Li Zicheng sat upright on the tiger-skin chair, his eyes sweeping over the generals present. His eyes revealed a deep majesty, as if he could see through everyone's mind.

"Generals! Now that Liu Fangliang has returned safely, I feel relieved. Next, do you think we should fight south or north?" Li Zicheng's words were solemn and expectant.

As soon as he finished speaking, a burly general shouted loudly: "Northern Expedition! Directly attack the capital! The Ming Dynasty is now facing internal and external troubles, we can't give them a chance to breathe!" The general had an excited look on his face, as if he had seen the dawn of victory.

After hearing this, Li Zicheng frowned slightly and looked at the others with deep eyes. He knew in his heart that although the Northern Expedition was inspiring, it was also very risky.

At this time, Jing Changhao stood up. He was tall and slender with a resolute face. He said, "I think we should march south! The morale of the Ming army is high, and we have just suffered a defeat. Morale is low. We should avoid their edge and go south. Henan has been in war for years. Nine out of ten houses are empty and there is a shortage of food. If the Ming army dares to chase us, we will pretend to be defeated and lure them into the depths."

"The longer the battle line is, the more serious the logistical problems of the Ming army will be! When the time comes, we will send a cavalry to cut off their food supply, and the Ming army will collapse on its own!" Jing Changhao's words were filled with wisdom and calmness.

"I agree!"

"I agree!"

Jing Changhao's words were supported by most of the generals. They nodded in agreement. Going southward would not only allow them to attack Nanzhili, but also allow them to spy on the Huguang region. This was undoubtedly a safer choice.

To the north, there are powerful enemies such as Huang Degong, Ji Zisheng, and Gao Jie. To the east, there is the threat of Jiannu. Only by going south can we make a difference! Li Zicheng thought secretly in his heart, his eyes swept across the faces of the generals, trying to capture more information from their expressions.

"Everyone, everyone!" Nangong Shangpu interrupted everyone's discussion. He was slightly fat and had a kind face, but his eyes revealed an unquestionable firmness. "Please listen to me first, and then we can discuss the conquest."

"Niu Zuofu, please speak!" Jing Changhao waved his hand, motioning Nangong Shangpu to continue.

Nangong Shangpu walked forward steadily and said loudly: "I think we should not discuss conquest now, but defense!" His voice was loud and full of power.

"What Niu Zuofu means is..." Li Zicheng stood up and asked, his eyes revealing a bit of confusion and expectation.

This sentence hit the nail on the head for Li Zicheng. He had been thinking about how to consolidate his existing territory, and Nangong Shangpu's words undoubtedly provided him with a new idea.

Nangong Shangpu raised his head proudly and continued, "Now we have occupied the entire territory of Shaanxi, Shanxi and most of Henan. The larger the territory, the more defenders we need!" There was a bit of worry and thought in his words.

"Shanxi and Shaanxi have natural barriers to rely on, so not many garrisons are needed. But Henan is different. There are no strategic locations to defend in the plains, so we can only rely on strong cities and heavy guards." Nangong Shangpu's words were filled with helplessness and determination.

"Our main force is limited. If we want to attack Huguang, we must mobilize the main force. But once the main force moves, the Ming army may regain lost territory." There was a bit of vigilance and worry in his words.

"So I want to ask you, should we defend these cities in Henan or not?" Nangong Shangpu's words were filled with determination and expectation.

Jing Changhao frowned and said, "Niu Zuofu, I don't think it's necessary to defend these cities. We will use part of the money and food we get after attacking the city, and distribute part to the people. But every time the Ming army comes, we have to retreat." There was a bit of helplessness and dissatisfaction in his tone.

"We didn't defend the city and we didn't govern the people, which resulted in the people only having a favorable impression of us but no loyalty. We took the city with great difficulty, but as soon as the Ming army arrived, the people surrendered again." Nangong Shangpu's words were filled with some sadness and worry.

"Before the emperor became emperor, this was not a problem. But now that the emperor has become emperor, he must both fight for the country and defend it!" There was a firmness and determination in his words.

"To conquer a country you need loyal soldiers, and to defend it you need loyal people!" Nangong Shangpu's words were filled with affection and expectation.

"That's all I have to say. Please consider this carefully!" Nangong Shangpu bowed and returned to the ranks of civil servants. His back looked a little lonely, but full of strength.

These words were beyond everyone's expectations, and even Li Zicheng was shocked. He did not expect Nangong Shangpu to put forward such a point of view, and he did not expect that this point of view would touch his heart so deeply.

Jing Changhao, Gao Yigong, Yan Tianlu, Luo Wenbin and others looked at each other, and then looked at Li Zicheng together. Their eyes revealed some doubts and thoughts. Yes! They only thought about attacking before, but did not consider the problem of defense.

To conquer a country, you need loyal soldiers; to defend a country, you need loyal people! This sentence hit their hearts hard like a hammer. They began to realize that defense is equally important, and may even be more critical than attacking.

"Niu Zuofu, what you said is so good!" Yan Tianlu couldn't help but admire him. His eyes revealed a bit of admiration and praise.

Nangong Shangpu smiled slightly: "General Yuan, you are too kind." His smile was full of humility and satisfaction. He knew that his point of view had been recognized by everyone.

After being shocked, Li Zicheng first asked, "Niu Zuofu, what do you think about the question of defending or not defending?" His tone was filled with a bit of urgency and expectation. He wanted to hear Nangong Shangpu's specific views on this issue.

"Military Advisor Song and I have the same opinion. Let's ask Military Advisor Song to speak." Nangong Shangpu knew that the limelight had passed, so he passed the topic to Cheng Minghe. There was a bit of humility and respect in his words. He knew that Cheng Minghe also had outstanding wisdom and insights.

Cheng Minghe patted his sleeves lightly, his movements appearing calm and elegant. "Your Majesty, I believe that we must defend the cities that should be defended, and we must not defend the cities that should not be defended. As for those that can be defended or not, we should deal with them flexibly according to the actual situation." His voice was calm and firm, revealing an unquestionable strength.

After hearing this, Li Zicheng almost wanted to beat him up. It was as good as saying nothing! He thought to himself, frowning. He knew that although Cheng Minghe's words sounded a bit general, they contained profound wisdom and strategy.

Seeing that Li Zicheng was unhappy, Cheng Minghe quickly added: "We can take Zhengzhou as the center, and we must defend those cities that are easy to defend and difficult to attack. As for those cities that are easy to attack and difficult to defend, we will give up defending them. For other cities, we can flexibly respond to our needs." There was a bit of urgency and explanation in his tone.

"This way we can enter Henan at any time, or we can retreat to Tongguan according to the actual situation!" Cheng Minghe said with confidence and determination. He knew that this strategy could not only ensure that their territory was not invaded, but also provide strong support for their attack.

Li Zicheng thought for a moment and asked again: "Where should our main army go?" His tone was full of expectation and inquiry. He knew that the answer to this question was crucial to their strategic deployment.

"Nanzhili!" Cheng Minghe replied. His voice was firm and powerful, revealing an unquestionable determination. He knew that Nanzhili was an important target for them to attack and the key to their consolidation of territory.

In Yingtianfu, Nanzhili, there is a Chunhe Hall, which was once the residence of the crown prince. It is early autumn now, and the leaves of the sycamore trees outside the hall have begun to turn yellow. Occasionally, a few fallen leaves drift in the wind, adding a sense of desolation.

Inside the palace, however, there was a peaceful and tranquil atmosphere. The vermilion pillars, golden glazed tiles, and delicately carved window lattices all looked magnificent. According to convention, the prince should move out of the palace and live in the prince's mansion when he came of age. However, because there were no female relatives of the emperor in the Nanjing Imperial City, only some eunuchs who were responsible for sweeping the floor, and for safety reasons, Zhu Cilang had always lived in the Chunhe Palace.

At this time, Zhu Cilang was sitting in front of a desk in the hall. He had a handsome face and a heroic look between his eyebrows. He held a brush in his hand and was writing something seriously. His calligraphy was vigorous and magnificent, revealing an extraordinary temperament.

"Your Highness, the Crown Prince, Duke of Wei Xu Hongji and Nanjing Minister of War Shi Kefa request an audience." A eunuch hurried into the hall and bowed. His voice was a little hurried, as if he had something important to report.

Zhu Cilang didn't want to meet them at first, but after considering their identities, he decided to meet them. He put down the brush in his hand, stood up and straightened his clothes. He knew that Xu Hongji and Shi Kefa were both important officials in the Nanjing court, and they must have important things to discuss this time.

Xu Hongji was not only the Duke of Wei, but also served as the garrison commander of Nanjing; while Shi Kefa was the Minister of War and Counselor of Military Affairs of Nanjing. Although there were six ministries in Nanjing, the real power was not in their hands, but in the hands of the garrison commander and the counselor of military affairs of Nanjing. Together, the two of them almost controlled half of the Nanjing court.

According to the Ming Dynasty system, the Nanjing Garrison and the Counselor Aircraft had to deal with various affairs together every day. On the first and fifteenth day of each month, they would discuss important matters with the Internal Garrison. In other words, the Nanjing Garrison and the Counselor Aircraft were the ones who really held the real power in Nanjing!

Zhu Cilang thought to himself that although he was the crown prince, his position in the Nanjing court was not stable. He needed the support of these important officials to consolidate his position and realize his political ambitions.

He walked out of the desk and towards the palace gate. His steps were steady and powerful, revealing an extraordinary temperament and majesty. He knew that he was about to face two important officials in the Nanjing court, and he needed to show his majesty and wisdom to deal with the next challenge.

"My dear companion," Zhu Cilang turned his head slowly, his eyes fell on Qiu Zhizhong, who was standing by the palace gate. Qiu Zhizhong was not only his companion in the East Palace, but also a potential candidate for the future Imperial Household Department in his mind. Qiu Zhizhong knew this very well, so he always acted with extra caution, and every move revealed his calmness and agility.

"Why are they here?" Zhu Cilang's eyebrows revealed a trace of confusion. Although he was young, he had a hint of extraordinary bearing between his eyebrows, which was a mixture of innate royal majesty and bookish air.

Qiu Zhizhong bowed and saluted, his voice low but clear: "Your Highness, Duke of Wei Xu Hongji and Minister of History Shi Kefa are here to discuss military pay. They didn't elaborate on the details, and I didn't dare to ask more."

"Military pay?" Zhu Cilang frowned slightly, thinking to himself. Two days ago, Zheng Chenggong had just brought two million taels of silver from Beijing, which was specifically for the military pay of Nanjing Jingying and Hua Ruiqi. After paying the military pay, there were still hundreds of thousands of taels left. Unexpectedly, as soon as the news came out, the officials in Nanjing came to the door one after another like sharks smelling blood, with only one purpose - to ask for money!
Zhu Cilang pondered for a moment and said to Qiu Zhizhong, "Go and tell Liu Wenbing, the governor of the Nanjing Beijing Camp, Mr. Ni Yuanlu, the secretary of the Zhanshi Mansion, and Gao Hongtu, the Nanjing Minister of Revenue, to come to the Wenhua Palace. I have something to discuss with them."

Since moving from Beijing to Nanjing, Zhu Cilang carefully selected Liu Wenbing as the governor of Nanjing Jingying instead of Xiangcheng Bo Huo Zhengchu. This was because Huo Zhengchu was good at debate, not leading troops to fight. He played an indispensable role in the disrepair of the Jingying's military equipment!
Just as Qiu Zhizhong was about to leave, a young eunuch hurried in, knelt on the ground, and said in a hurried voice: "Your Highness, the Right Vice Minister of the Nanjing Ministry of War and the Right Censor-in-Chief, and the Governor of Fengyang Ma Shiying want to see you."

"Ma Shiying?" Zhu Cilang was slightly startled. Shouldn't he be guarding the imperial mausoleum in Fengyang? Why did he suddenly come to Nanjing? An inexplicable irritation surged in his heart, but he still suppressed his displeasure and ordered: "Let them all go to Wenhua Hall and wait, I will be there soon."

"Yes, I obey your command." Qiu Zhizhong and the young eunuch responded and hurriedly retreated.

Wenhua Hall, located to the southeast of Fengtian Hall, was where Zhu Gaochi worked when he was the regent of the crown prince. Before Zhu Di moved the capital to Beijing, court meetings were held in Fengtian Hall in the Forbidden City in Nanjing. But when Zhu Di launched the Northern Expedition, he let Zhu Gaochi be the regent. Since Zhu Gaochi was not the emperor and could not "hear government affairs behind the gates", court meetings were held at the left gate of the Meridian Gate. If a small meeting was held, it would be held in Wenhua Hall. In order to avoid suspicion, Zhu Cilang also followed Zhu Gaochi's example and worked in Wenhua Hall.

The scenery outside the Wenhua Palace was pleasant. In front of the palace was a green lawn with several ancient pine trees standing tall, looking solemn and majestic. The breeze blew, bringing bursts of fresh grass and wood fragrance, making people feel relaxed and happy. However, Zhu Cilang had no time to appreciate the beautiful scenery at the moment. His heart was filled with the troubles and worries he was about to face.

Not long after, Zhu Cilang arrived at the Wenhua Hall. When Liu Wenbing, Ni Yuanlu, Duke of Wei Xu Hongji, Nanjing Minister of War Shi Kefa, Nanjing Minister of Revenue Gao Hongtu, and Ma Shiying saw him come in, they hurriedly saluted and said, "Your Highness, the Crown Prince!"

"Everyone, please stand up without formalities." Although Zhu Cilang's voice was still childish, his tone revealed unquestionable majesty.

Everyone stood up and took their positions. Liu Wenbing took a few steps forward and stood on the right side of Zhu Cilang, responsible for protecting his safety. His tall and mighty figure was like a solid fortress, giving people a sense of security. Ni Yuanlu walked to the left. He used to be the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, but now he is concentrating on teaching the prince in the Zhanshi Mansion. He is Zhu Cilang's real teacher. His eyes are deep and wise, as if he can see through everything. Ma Shiying looked at the two great protectors, one civil and one military, and secretly competed in his heart, thinking that he would also stand in this position in the future.

"Duke Wei, Minister Shi, Governor Ma, just say whatever you want to say." Zhu Cilang spoke. Although his voice was not loud, it had a majesty that could not be ignored.

Xu Hongji was the first to stand up and said, "Your Highness, I am in charge of the garrison of Nanjing. But the city of Nanjing has been in disrepair for a long time, and the defense equipment is no longer in good condition. The cannons are rusted, the bows and crossbows are rotten, and there are not enough rolling logs and stones. I heard that there is still some money left from Beijing. Your Highness, please allocate some money to strengthen the city defense." There was a hint of urgency and worry in his tone, and it was obvious that he was very worried about the garrison situation in Nanjing City.

Zhu Cilang coughed lightly and turned to look at Shi Kefa. Shi Kefa was from Kaifeng, Henan. He was famous for his filial piety and had once worshipped Zuo Guangdou as his teacher. He had two identities, one was the Minister of War in Nanjing, and the other was a centurion of the Imperial Guard. Zhu Cilang had no good feelings towards most officials in Nanjing, but Shi Kefa was an exception. Just because he was an Imperial Guard, Zhu Cilang trusted and relied on him more.

"Minister Shi, you are here for money this time, right?" Zhu Cilang asked, with a hint of helplessness and ridicule in his tone. "Yes, Your Highness." Shi Kefa replied, "I am here to recruit soldiers. The garrison in Nanjing is too small, only more than 10,000 people, and they are all old, weak and sick. If the bandits come, they will definitely not be able to hold on. I would like to ask Your Highness to allocate some money to recruit and train soldiers." His tone was firm and sincere, and it was obvious that he was full of determination and expectation for the recruitment.

Zhu Cilang nodded to show his understanding. He turned his gaze to Ma Shiying. "Governor Ma, why did you come to Nanjing instead of staying in Fengyang? What if the bandits go to Fengyang? Especially the ancestral mausoleum, we can't let anything happen again." There was a hint of blame and worry in his tone.

Ma Shiying was so scared that he knelt on the ground and said, "Your Highness, don't worry. There are two armies in Fengyang now. One is under the command of Fengsi General Mou Wenshou, with 4,000 soldiers guarding the ancestral tomb; the other is my army, which is temporarily under the command of the military inspector Lu Jiude and is in Fengyang City. I came here this time to ask for your approval for three things." His voice trembled slightly, and he was obviously in awe of Zhu Cilang's majesty.

Zhu Cilang did not speak, but motioned him to continue. Ma Shiying swallowed his saliva, mustered up the courage to say: "The first thing is to recruit soldiers. I want to recruit 20,000 soldiers in Fengyang Prefecture to prevent bandits. The second thing is related to the first thing. Recruiting soldiers requires money. The resettlement expenses, weapons and equipment, and military pay of 20,000 soldiers will cost at least 150,000 taels of silver. As for the third thing..." He looked around, hesitant to speak, "This is a private matter, I want to talk to Your Highness in private." There was a hint of mystery and expectation in his eyes, and he was obviously full of expectations and desire for this private matter.

On that slightly gloomy afternoon, Zhu Cilang was sitting in his study. The breeze outside the window blew gently, bringing a hint of coolness, but it could not blow away the solemn atmosphere in the room. He was about to respond to Ma Shiying's request for military expenditure allocation, but was interrupted by Ni Yuanlu's sudden voice.

"Governor Ma, let's put the first two things aside for now. I would like to ask you about the last thing first. Are you doing this for the public good or for your own selfish reasons?" There was a subtle hint of sarcasm in Ni Yuanlu's voice, and his eyes were sharp, as if he could see through people's hearts.

Ma Shiying, the leader of Fengyang and an important second-rank official in the court, looked calm at the moment, but his heart was in turmoil. He thought to himself: "If it is for official business, I will obey; but if it is a private matter, it is another matter." He deliberately hesitated for a moment, then took out two books from his arms and held them high as if offering treasures, trying to change the subject.

Qiu Zhizhong took the book, not even daring to look at it, and put it directly on the table in front of Zhu Cilang. Zhu Cilang picked up the book and quickly flipped through a few pages. The two books were as thin as paper, and the content was very limited. At first, he was quite disdainful, but the more he read, the tighter his brows frowned, and finally twisted into a knot.

Everyone thought Zhu Cilang was going to get angry, but he put the first book aside and continued to read the second one. As he read, his frown gradually relaxed, and finally he smiled. "Not bad, not bad, this book is really well written. Are these two books written by Governor Ma?" He put the book back on the table and turned his eyes to Ma Shiying, his eyes flashing with curiosity and admiration.

Ma Shiying glanced at the people present and said in a low voice: "This was written by Ruan Dacheng. I think what he said makes a lot of sense, so I brought it to you, Your Highness, to have a look." There was a barely perceptible cunning in his tone.

"Ruan Dacheng? Who is this person?" Zhu Cilang turned to ask Ni Yuanlu, his eyes full of confusion.

Ni Yuanlu, the former Minister of Personnel, knew the ins and outs of officials very well. He thought for a moment and replied, "Ruan Dacheng, a Jinshi in the 44th year of Wanli. During the Tianqi period, he followed Wei Zhongxian and served as a Jieshizhong. Later, he was promoted to Guangluqing. After Your Majesty eliminated Wei Zhongxian and his gang, he was demoted to a commoner for treason." There was a hint of disdain and sarcasm in his tone.

When Zhu Cilang heard this, he started to wonder. The first thing his father Lin Xiaofeng did when he came to power was to get rid of the eunuch party, but now Ma Shiying recommended such a person to him. If his father knew about this, would he still be able to keep his position as the crown prince? He pondered in his heart, with a bit of worry in his eyes.

He turned to look at Shi Kefa, a member of the Donglin Party, hoping that he could say something. But Shi Kefa acted as if nothing had happened and did not even show any intention of expressing his opinion. His silence made Zhu Cilang even more unsure. He knew that the Donglin Party was also a mixed bag and could not be generalized.

Zhu Cilang thought for a moment, then turned his gaze to Ni Yuanlu. "Teacher, what do you think?" His tone was filled with respect and expectation.

Ni Yuanlu rolled his eyes at Ma Shiying and said coldly: "This Ruan Dacheng has been living in seclusion in Nanjing for eleven years. He has been busy forming cliques and factions all day long, trying to make a comeback. Wu Yingji, Chen Zhenhui and others couldn't stand it, so they wrote an article titled "A Public Disclosure to Prevent Chaos in the Capital" to expose his shortcomings. As a result, more than a hundred people signed to denounce him. Ruan Dacheng was so scared that he dared not go out and hid at home every day." There was a hint of sarcasm and disdain in his tone.

"If he really didn't do those things, why would he hide? Such a traitor should be sent back home to farm!" As soon as Ni Yuanlu said this, Ruan Dacheng's career was completely over. His tone was firm and resolute, as if he had already made a judgment on Ruan Dacheng's fate.

Ma Shiying's face darkened after hearing this. He thought to himself, "Ni Yuanlu is really a nuisance, always against me." His eyes revealed some dissatisfaction and anger.

Seeing that the atmosphere was not right, Zhu Cilang quickly tried to smooth things over: "Okay, okay, let's talk about business. The money given by the court is not much, so we have to spend it frugally. We have to discuss how to distribute it specifically." There was a hint of helplessness and anxiety in his tone, as if he had already anticipated the ensuing quarrel.

As he said this, he turned his gaze to Gao Hongtu, the Minister of Finance of Nanjing. Gao Hongtu was not vague either, he took out the account book from his sleeve and put it in front of everyone. "Everyone, after paying the military salaries to Hua Ruiqi and the Nanjing Jingying, the Ministry of Finance still has 663,400 taels of silver left. 63,400 taels of silver are reserved for His Royal Highness the Crown Prince for his personal use, and the rest is what we can use." His tone was a bit serious and earnest.

Afraid that everyone would misunderstand him, he added, "These 60,000 taels of silver may seem like a lot, but the expenses of Prince Yong, Prince Ding, the concubines of the six palaces, and the salaries of the Jinyiwei and the factory guards who followed us south all have to come from here." His tone was filled with helplessness and bitterness, as if he had already anticipated the quarrel that was about to come.

"Alright, stop talking so much, just tell me how much you each want?" Zhu Cilang said impatiently. There was a hint of urgency and anxiety in his words, as if he couldn't wait to end this argument.

Duke of Wei Xu Hongji spoke first: "It will cost 250,000 taels to strengthen the city's defenses." His tone was firm and unquestionable.

Shi Kefa also said, "I also need 100,000 taels." There was a calm and composed tone in his voice, as if he was fully prepared.

Ma Shiying did the math and said, "The two of you together have 350,000 taels, and I still need 150,000 taels. What should I do with the remaining 100,000 taels?" He looked at Gao Hongtu in confusion, with a hint of dissatisfaction and doubt in his tone.

Gao Hongtu said calmly: "This month's salary has been paid, but what about next month and the month after? We have to keep half of it as a reserve, otherwise what should we do if something goes wrong?" There was a sense of calmness and rationality in his tone, as if he had been fully prepared for future difficulties.

"Why didn't you say so earlier!" Ma Shiying was unhappy when he heard this. There was a hint of anger and dissatisfaction in his tone, as if his dissatisfaction with Gao Hongtu had reached its peak.

"You didn't ask!" Gao Hongtu was not to be outdone. His tone was filled with stubbornness and persistence, as if he was ready to fight Ma Shiying to the end.

The two started arguing with each other. At first, they were discussing the matter, but then Ma Shiying started to attack him personally. "Gao Hongtu, have you figured it out? The Ming Dynasty's surname is Zhu, not Gao! Now the Crown Prince is the regent, and it's up to him to decide how to spend the money! Who do you think you are as a minister of the Ministry of Revenue?" Ma Shiying's words were clearly flattering Zhu Cilang, and at the same time, he directed the issue to Zhu Cilang. There was a bit of provocation and dissatisfaction in his tone, as if he was ready to fight Zhu Cilang.

Gao Hongtu was not fooled by this: "No matter who is the regent or whether His Majesty is here in person, the principles of our Ministry of Revenue remain the same." He argued back. His tone was firm and unquestionable, as if he had already made full preparations for the principles of the Ministry of Revenue.

Seeing that the situation was about to get out of control, Shi Kefa quickly stepped out to smooth things over: "Calm down, both of you! Stop arguing! How to spend the money still has to be decided by His Highness!" His tone was filled with a bit of urgency and anxiety, as if he couldn't wait to end the quarrel. He knew that if it continued like this, it would only make things more complicated and difficult.

On that stormy evening, Shi Kefa stood between Ma Shiying and Gao Hongtu like a gentle peacemaker, using his calmness and wisdom to skillfully mediate the dispute between the two that was about to break the sky. His eyes revealed an unquestionable firmness, as if telling the two quarreling ministers: When the country is in danger, how can you sacrifice the public for personal gain? Finally, with Ma Shiying's angry gasps and Gao Hongtu's unwilling silence, the fierce dispute receded like a tide, leaving behind a temporary tranquility.

Ni Yuanlu stood aside, his eyes fixed on Gao Hongtu. The Minister of Revenue had a red face and a thick neck, and was obviously very angry. Yuanlu muttered to himself, this was the third time someone came to ask for money, why was the conflict between Gao Hongtu and Ma Shiying the most intense? This matter is really puzzling. Although Gao Hongtu holds financial power, once he leaves Nanjing City, his influence is far less than that of a prefect. However, in terms of keeping money and managing the family, Gao Hongtu obeyed the orders of the crown prince Zhu Cilang and was loyal. Even if he did not have outstanding achievements, he had worked hard. However, looking at Gao Hongtu's old face, Yuanlu couldn't help but sigh that people born in the eleventh year of Wanli are now over sixty years old. Whether he can wait until the day when the crown prince ascends the throne is really an unknown.

Suddenly, an idea flashed through Yuan Lu's mind. Gao Hongtu was a veteran of Fushe! Fushe, a political and literary group composed of Jiangnan scholars, was often called "Little Donglin" by the outside world. But unlike the Donglin Party, which loved to talk nonsense, Fushe focused more on practical work, but the "practical things" they did were not for the country and the people, but to manipulate the results in the imperial examinations. Take the imperial examination in the 16th year of Lin Xiaofeng as an example. Fushe directly swept the top three in the first class, and the top three were all from its disciples. Therefore, Fushe's influence spread all over the world, and its followers were so many that there were more than 3,000 people with names and surnames. And Zhang Pu almost became the underground Minister of Personnel of the Ming Dynasty.

Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, it was the third year of Lin Xiaofeng. Zhou Yanru was stripped of his position as the cabinet's prime minister because of his inappropriate remarks and had to go home to be idle. However, he still wanted to be reinstated, so he asked Zhang Pu for help. With the help of Fushe, in the fourteenth year of Lin Xiaofeng, Zhou Yanru actually ascended the throne of the prime minister again. Cheng Qinghua, Li Banghua and others also had close relations with Fushe, like iron allies.

However, Ma Shiying insisted on recommending Ruan Dacheng, a remnant of the eunuch party, who was in conflict with the people of Fushe. In addition, Ruan Dacheng had a bad reputation, and Gao Hongtu, a veteran of Fushe, naturally could not tolerate it, and the conflict with Ma Shiying was inevitable. Yuan Lu himself was nearly fifty years old, and thinking of these disputes in the court, he felt a splitting headache and was very irritable. So he resolutely resigned from his official position and devoted himself to education. Unexpectedly, even if he resigned from office and retired, he still could not escape these tedious worldly affairs.

Yuan Lu sighed and decided to wait and see what would happen. The Crown Prince Zhu Cilang, who knew nothing about this, thought that Ma Shiying and Gao Hongtu were having a personal grudge, so he persuaded them: "You two are both pillars of the country. You should focus on state affairs and put aside your personal grudges for the time being." Upon hearing this, Ma Shiying and Gao Hongtu were so scared that they quickly admitted their mistakes, but they felt mixed emotions.

Afterwards, Zhu Cilang discussed with Xu Hongji, Shi Kefa, Ma Shiying and others and decided to allocate 100,000 taels of silver to Xu Hongji to strengthen the city defense and reduce the number and cost of recruiting soldiers for the Beijing Camp. Ma Shiying recruited soldiers according to the original plan and asked for funds from the Nanjing Beijing Camp when funds were insufficient. Although Gao Hongtu was dissatisfied, he had no choice but to do as he was told.

After the matter was settled, Zhu Cilang summoned Liu Wenbing and Yuan Lu and showed them the two books sent by Ma Shiying - "Locust Records" and "Fly Records". After flipping through them, the two returned them to Zhu Cilang. Zhu Cilang asked them what they thought of the two books, and Yuan Lu replied with a wry smile: "These two books compare the Donglin Party members to locusts, the Fushe to gnats, and those who agree with them to flies and mosquitoes. The purpose is to catch all the people of Donglin and Fushe in one fell swoop. The book also accuses the Donglin Party members of being short-sighted and incompetent, and of ganging up on dissidents. This is half right and half wrong." Zhu Cilang was stunned after hearing this and asked Yuan Lu to explain in detail.

Yuan Lu sighed and said slowly: "Your Highness, the original ideal of the Donglin Party was to hope that political affairs would be managed by the six ministries, public opinions would be expressed by censors, and the world would be peaceful. They also advocated tax cuts, reclamation of wasteland, and water conservancy. However, due to the financial difficulties of the court, these ideals became empty talk. Therefore, there was a split within the Donglin Party. Some people talked but did not practice, misleading the country and the people, while others worked hard. It is really unfair to lump them together."

Zhu Cilang asked Yuan Lu again: "Sir, you are deeply trusted by my father, why don't you quit Donglin?" Yuan Lu smiled and replied: "Other parties can go along with the flow, but Donglin likes people with the same ideals. With the name of Donglin and the help of fellow party members, why not do it?"

Then, Zhu Cilang asked Ma Shiying about his plan to recover Henan. Yuan Lu smiled and shook his head, knowing that the prince would definitely support Ma Shiying. Zhu Cilang had no choice but to turn to Liu Wenbing for advice, who also suggested waiting and watching. Upon hearing this, Zhu Cilang was furious and did not even open the meeting, but directly adjourned it.

In a mansion in Nanjing, Ma Shiying, Ruan Dacheng, and Qian Qianyi were sitting together. As the sky gradually darkened, Qian Qianyi stood up and said firmly: "I think this will work!" His eyes revealed an unquestionable determination, as if he had already seen the future victory. Ma Shiying and Ruan Dacheng smiled at each other, their hearts were also full of expectations and ambitions. A new storm seemed to be brewing quietly.

"Sir Qian, are you serious? If so, I, Ruan Dacheng, will definitely thank you greatly!" When Ruan Dacheng heard Qian Qianyi say this, he stood up suddenly. His thin face flushed with excitement and his eyes flashed with hope, as if a drowning man had grabbed the last straw.

Ruan Dacheng was originally a leader in the Donglin Party, with a graceful demeanor and outstanding talents. However, because of a momentary thought, he followed Wei Zhongxian's eunuch party, and his life trajectory changed drastically. The Donglin Party and the eunuch party were like fire and water. Ruan Dacheng's defection made the Donglin Party hate him to the core. After Wei Zhongxian's fall, Ruan Dacheng became a rat crossing the street, and everyone avoided him. In the end, he could only return to his hometown in disgrace. On the way, he repeatedly tried to repair his relationship with the Donglin Party, but he was rejected every time. His loneliness and helplessness are beyond words.

Unexpectedly, Qian Qianyi gave him face and agreed to his request. Qian Qianyi first looked at Ma Shiying, his eyes full of cunning, and then looked at Ruan Dacheng, with a smile on his face: "If Yaocao (Shiying's name) hadn't asked me to do this, I wouldn't bother with this matter!" Ruan Dacheng heard it and quickly bent down and thanked him repeatedly, and the big stone in his heart finally fell to the ground.

When Ma Shiying saw that the time was right, he also stood up and suggested: "Mr. Qian, why don't you stay here tonight? Let's go to the Qinhuai River together, have a drink and enjoy the scenery. How about it?" When Ruan Dacheng heard this, his eyes lit up and he looked at Qian Qianyi expectantly, with the expression of a child longing for candy.

The Qinhuai River is dim at night, with lights dim, and it is the busiest place in the brothel. At that time, the literati, the wealthy businessmen, all regarded this as a romantic affair, and Qian Qianyi was no exception. He thought about it, turned to Ma Shiying and said, "I don't mind, but Yaocao, I'm afraid it's not convenient for you?" It turned out that during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of the Ming Dynasty, in order to rectify the official style, the official prostitute system was abolished, and officials were not allowed to take prostitutes out to play. However, there was no such rule among the people, so officials thought of ways to marry concubines to avoid the limelight.

Ma Shiying was the governor of Fengyang and a big shot in the imperial court. If he was caught going to a brothel, it would be a big trouble, and it would also affect the reputation of the crown prince Zhu Cilang. But Ma Shiying said with a relaxed look: "Don't worry, I have a way. But Sir Qian, are you still strong?" As he said this, he looked Qian Qianyi up and down, with some concern in his eyes.

Qian Qianyi was already over sixty years old at this time, but he was in good spirits. He replied with a smile: "Liu Rushi just gave birth to a granddaughter for me a while ago, and I am in good health!" After saying that, he smiled proudly. When Ma Shiying and Ruan Dacheng heard it, they both congratulated him.

The three of them chatted enthusiastically, and in the blink of an eye it was evening. They took a car together and headed straight to the Qinhuai River. On the way, Qian Qianyi curiously asked Ma Shiying: "Yaocao, tell me honestly, why are you willing to help Jizhi (Ruan Dacheng's pen name) reconcile with the Donglin Party?" Ma Shiying understood, thought about it, and told him the whole story.

It turned out that Zhou Yanru was Ruan Dacheng's teacher. When he came back, he received Ruan Dacheng's support and vowed to return to the Donglin Party. But the Donglin Party didn't buy it. Zhou Yanru had no choice but to ask Ruan Dacheng to recommend someone to replace him in the court. Ruan Dacheng recommended Ma Shiying. Ma Shiying was grateful for this favor and decided to repay this favor. He said it sincerely, and Qian Qianyi nodded repeatedly after listening, and then he understood why Ma Shiying was willing to take this risk.

Ma Shiying said gratefully, "How can I repay Lord Qian for his great kindness?" Qian Qianyi waved his hand and said with a smile, "It's a trivial matter, not worth mentioning. Our friendship is as pure as water, so why bother about repaying us." Ruan Dacheng became anxious, "Lord Qian, don't be so modest. We really want to help you, so please help us!" He said it anxiously, as if he was afraid that Qian Qianyi would refuse.

Qian Qianyi declined for a moment, then got to the point: "Yaocao, I have something I want to ask you for help." Ma Shiying and Ruan Dacheng sat up straight and looked serious. Qian Qianyi said, "I want to be an official again!" They frowned when they heard this, obviously not expecting Qian Qianyi to have such a plan.

Qian Qianyi's career was full of ups and downs! He was implicated in the imperial examination scandal in the first year of the Tianqi reign, and finally returned to office in the fourth year of the Tianqi reign, but was forced out again. He returned to office again in the first year of the Chongzhen reign, but because of his past scandals, he was beaten and dismissed, and even his official status was revoked. He wants to return to office now? It's difficult!

Ma Shiying spoke first: "Mr. Qian, you are old, why do you want to wade into this muddy water again?" He said sincerely, obviously not wanting Qian Qianyi to be involved in officialdom again. Qian Qianyi sighed: "In my life, I have only two hobbies, one is women and the other is being an official. Now that the prince is in Nanjing as regent, it is a good opportunity for me to make a comeback." He said firmly, as if he had made up his mind.

Ma Shiying and Ruan Dacheng both thought this was a difficult matter, but seeing Qian Qianyi's determined expression, they didn't know what to say. Qian Qianyi added, "I don't want to be an official in the court, I can be a staff member of the crown prince. You all know that the emperors of Renzong's lineage all died young, I believe I can survive this one!" He said this with full confidence, as if he had already seen the day of his comeback.

After hearing this, the two of them fell silent, thinking about how to introduce him. The carriage drove slowly along the Qinhuai River and finally stopped in front of Zuixianlou. Zuixianlou was a famous brothel on the Qinhuai River. The guests who came here were divided into different categories: literati, vulgar nouveau riche, and those who came here specifically for pleasure. Qian Qianyi and his friends naturally belonged to the first category.

The three of them reserved the first floor of Zuixianlou and began to toast each other. After three rounds of wine and five dishes, the atmosphere gradually became lively. Ma Shiying suddenly stood up, and Qian Qianyi's eyes lit up and asked hurriedly: "Have you thought of a solution?" His tone was a bit anxious and expectant, and it was obvious that he wanted to know whether Ma Shiying's solution was feasible. (End of this chapter)