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

"Your Majesty, there is urgent news from Shandong!" An armored guard rushed into the Qianqing Palace in a hurry, his face full of anxiety.

"A quick report has arrived from Yanzhou Prefecture, saying that the Jiannu have breached the city and captured Prince Lu and his family." The guards' voices echoed in the hall, and every word was like a heavy hammer, striking the ministers' hearts.

"There's also urgent news from Qufu that the Confucius Mansion suffered a great disaster. Several people died, and a huge sum of two million taels of silver was lost!" The guard's voice trembled a little, and he was obviously shocked by this sudden change.

In the Qianqing Palace, Wang Jiayan, the assistant minister of the Ministry of War, held the two emergency reports in his hands and explained them one by one to everyone. The ministers stared with their eyes wide open, and could not believe their ears. They were especially shocked when they heard the news of the accident at the Confucius Mansion. The Confucius Mansion was a holy place of Confucian culture, and now it has suffered such a disaster, how can it not make people feel heartbroken?
"Who did this? The Jiannu? This is the sixth time they have invaded the interior of the country. The first five times they went around Qufu. Why are they so cruel this time?" The ministers were all wondering in their hearts, with confusion and anger on their faces.

Wang Jiayan put down the report and continued, "The Jiannu also sent a letter. The Ministry of War has checked and found no poison, but we dare not read the contents casually. Please make the decision yourself, Your Majesty." As he spoke, he held the letter high above his head, his hands trembling slightly, and he was obviously nervous about the contents of the letter.

Guo Tianyang sat on the dragon throne with a frown on his face. He did not reach out to take the letter, but turned to look at Lin Xiaofeng. Lin Xiaofeng, the young emperor, was sitting steadily beside him with a faint smile on his face, as if everything was under his control.

"Who delivered the letter?" Lin Xiaofeng asked in a calm but powerful voice.

"They are not our people. They are generals of our army who surrendered to the Qing army and are now being detained by the Ministry of War." Wang Jiayan replied with a hint of disdain in his tone.

Lin Xiaofeng sighed and said, "Find out the situation first and then release the man. He cannot be blamed for the loss of Yanzhou." His voice was gentle but firm, like a warm current that warmed the hearts of the ministers.

"I... obey your order." Wang Jiayan was a little touched. This was the first time he saw Lin Xiaofeng being so considerate of his subordinates. He quickly responded and turned around to leave.

Lin Xiaofeng sat steadily on the dragon chair and said lightly: "Minister Wang, open the letter and read it to everyone." His voice was not loud, but it carried an unquestionable majesty.

"I obey your order." Wang Jiayan quickly opened the letter and read it aloud. Although the letter was long, its meaning was very simple. It had two points: one was that the Eight Banners Army of Jiannu was invincible and advised us to surrender to avoid disaster for the common people; the other was that they wanted to exchange the Prince of Lu and his family for the bodies of Ajige and Ebilun.

The ministers were furious when they heard this and started to discuss. Some cursed the shameless behavior of the Jiannu, while others worried about the safety of the Prince of Lu. The whole hall was noisy, like a pot of boiling water.

Li Banghua smiled coldly and said, "Don't just talk, you have to think about what to do." Although his voice was not loud, it was like a heavy hammer, hitting the ministers' hearts.

Seeing that the situation was about to get out of control, Lin Xiaofeng calmed everyone down with a look. He knew that the ministers of the Ming Dynasty had two problems: one was that they loved to fight and fight for power in the court all day long; the other was that they loved to talk big but did nothing. But now was not the time for fighting and talking big, and everyone needed to work together to discuss countermeasures.

At this time, Cheng Qinghua stood up and said: "Your Majesty, Ajige and Ebilun are both dead. Their bodies are of no use to us. It is better to use them to exchange for Prince Lu and his family." His voice was firm and powerful, and it was obvious that he had made up his mind.

"I second!" "I second!" The ministers of the cabinet and the Ministry of War all thought that this was a good idea and expressed their agreement.

Lin Xiaofeng smiled slightly and said, "What you said makes sense, but I have my own ideas." His voice was gentle and firm, like a warm current that warmed the hearts of the ministers.

Li Banghua asked curiously, "What does Your Majesty think?" His face was full of anticipation and he was obviously very interested in Lin Xiaofeng's ideas.

Lin Xiaofeng looked up at the sky and said, "In the battle at Wenyu River, tens of thousands of Jiannu soldiers died. I have no use for their bodies, so I can give them to Duoduo. But the terms of the exchange must be determined by me." His voice was not loud, but it carried an unquestionable majesty.

Wang Jiayan hurriedly asked: "Then what do you mean, Your Majesty?" His face was full of confusion and he was obviously curious about Lin Xiaofeng's thoughts.

Lin Xiaofeng smiled and said, "There are two conditions: one is to exchange back the Prince of Lu; the other is to exchange back Zu Dashou." As soon as these words came out, the hall was quiet for a while and then exploded. The ministers praised one after another: "Your Majesty is wise!" "Our emperor is wise!" "This is a great idea!" Their faces were full of excitement, and they obviously agreed with Lin Xiaofeng's proposal.

Lin Xiaofeng was very relieved. He was worried that someone might object, but he didn't expect everyone to support him so much. He knew that there were many generals who surrendered to the Jiannu, and he could blame and abuse them, but he couldn't say anything about Zu Dashou. Although he surrendered, he was loyal to the country. When Dalinghe was besieged before, he had no choice but to surrender because he ran out of food and aid; later, Jinzhou was besieged again and he surrendered again, but he secretly planned to escape and finally successfully returned to the Ming Dynasty. His loyalty to the country is unquestionable, and he has never harmed a soldier of our Ming Dynasty. So no one objected to the proposal to exchange Zu Dashou.

Lin Xiaofeng also had a deeper consideration. Wu Sangui controlled the Guanning Army and seemed loyal on the surface, but it was hard to say what he actually thought. If Zu Dashou could be brought back, the two forces of Wu Sangui and Zu Dashou could check and balance each other, and the court could profit from it. This would not only strengthen the power of the court, but also prevent the rebellion of Wu Sangui and other generals, which could be said to kill two birds with one stone.

Although Li Banghua was happy, he was also a little worried: "Your Majesty, Zu Dashou holds an important position in the Jiannu army. I'm afraid he can't be exchanged for a few corpses." His face was full of worry, and he was obviously a little worried about exchanging Zu Dashou.

Lin Xiaofeng just smiled and didn't answer. He already had a plan in mind. He knew it was not easy to get Zu Dashou back, but as long as he understood the weakness of the Jiannu, he would be able to succeed. He believed in his wisdom and courage, and believed that the future of the Ming Dynasty would be even better.

Li Banghua frowned. He knew that exchanging the dead for a chance to survive might be a proposal that the Jiannu could consider, but if it was to exchange for a person like Zu Dashou who was very important to them, the Jiannu might not agree so easily. He looked up at the young emperor, trying to catch a trace of hesitation in his expression, but Lin Xiaofeng's eyes were as firm as ever.

"It doesn't matter if they don't agree. They asked for the exchange themselves." Lin Xiaofeng said lightly, with an unquestionable determination in his tone. His eyes seemed to penetrate the thick fog and look directly at the unknown future.

Li Banghua was in a dilemma. He knew that the safety of Prince Lu and his family was hanging by a thread. If he didn't make the exchange, his life would be in danger. He hesitated for a moment, but still persuaded: "But Prince Lu and his family are still in their hands. If we don't make the exchange, I'm afraid..."

"Your Majesty, although Zu Dashou is important, Prince Lu is a relative of our royal family." Vice Minister of War Wang Jiayan also stood up. There was a hint of urgency in his voice, and he was obviously very worried about the safety of Prince Lu.

The ministers echoed one after another, their eyes full of pleading: "Your Majesty, please consider the relationship between our clan members and make some concessions." There was a hint of helplessness and sadness in their words, and it was obvious that they felt the current situation was extremely difficult.

However, Lin Xiaofeng remained unmoved, his eyes gleaming with determination. He slowly said, "Thinking back to when Emperor Taizu launched his army against the Yuan Dynasty, he was determined to die. We, the descendants of the Zhu family, are never afraid of death, we only wish to die a worthy death to comfort our ancestors. As a member of the royal family, the Prince of Lu should understand this truth." His voice was not loud, but it carried an unquestionable majesty, like an invisible force that suppressed the noise in the hall.

Li Banghua sighed. He knew that whether to save the Prince of Lu was entirely up to the emperor, and the ministers had no right to say anything. He could only stand aside silently, praying in his heart that the Prince of Lu would return safely.

Speaking of Zhu Yihai, the Prince of Lu, his fate was really full of ups and downs. In the fifteenth year of Lin Xiaofeng, the Jiannu invaded the pass and Yanzhou fell. The former Prince of Lu, Zhu Yipai, chose to commit suicide in despair to show his loyalty, while Zhu Yihai was lucky enough to hide in a pile of corpses and escaped. He experienced a life-and-death experience before he officially inherited the title in February of the seventeenth year of Lin Xiaofeng. However, fate did not seem to favor him. Before he had been in office for half a year, he was captured by the Jiannu again.

"Send an envoy to reply to the Jiannu and tell them to follow my instructions. If they want the bodies of Ajige and Ebilun, they will have to exchange Zu Dashou and his men for them." Lin Xiaofeng gave the order, his voice filled with unquestionable majesty.

"Otherwise, let's not talk about it," he added, his tone revealing a kind of determination and firmness. He knew that this was a negotiation concerning national dignity and interests, and he could not make any concessions.

After dealing with this matter, the ministers began to discuss another urgent report. Li Banghua took the report from Wang Jiayan, his brows furrowed, as if he could feel the heaviness and crisis contained in the report. He said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, there is news from Qufu that the troops who looted the Yanshenggong Mansion are strong and well-equipped, and they claim to be the Dashun Army."

Miao Yikui frowned, his eyes full of anger and confusion: "That villain Li Chuang is so bold that he dares to offend the place of a saint. Isn't he afraid of the condemnation of scholars all over the world?" There was a tremor in his voice, and he was obviously extremely indignant at Li Chuang's behavior.

"They have all gone crazy!" the ministers said angrily. Their voices echoed in the hall like a surging wave, stirring everyone's heart.

Li Banghua pondered for a moment, his eyes gleaming with wisdom. He slowly said, "This matter is a bit strange. It is said that the weather was very hot when the thieves robbed, and some of them even took off their helmets, revealing their pigtails." There was some doubt and speculation in his voice.

"Money rat tail braid?" The Qianqing Palace suddenly became quiet, and the ministers' eyes were full of doubts and confusion. They all looked at Wang Jiayan, waiting for his explanation.

"That's the Jiannu's braid!" Wang Jiayan blurted out, with a hint of shock and anger in his voice. He obviously understood the truth of the matter.

"Yes, only the Jiannu would have pigtails like this." Everyone echoed, their eyes filled with anger and hatred. They knew that this was a conspiracy and trick of the Jiannu.

"I understand... The Jiannu wanted to rob but also wanted to hide their tracks, so they sent the Eight Banners of Han to pretend to be bandits to attack Qufu and plunder the Duke of Yansheng's mansion. They originally wanted to put the blame on Li Chuang, but they didn't expect the weather to be too hot and that exposed their true intentions." Wang Jiayan analyzed, his voice carrying a bit of wisdom and calmness. He had completely uncovered the Jiannu's conspiracy and tricks.

"Minister Wang is right!" The ministers echoed one after another, their eyes full of anger and hatred. They knew that this was the crime and atrocity of the Jiannu.

"It must have been done by the Jiannu! Li Chuang's main force is confronting our army in Damingfu, so how could they have time to attack Qufu?" said an official angrily, with a hint of disdain and sarcasm in his voice. He had completely seen through the Jiannu's plot and scheme.

"The Jiannu are so brutal! They are hated by both humans and gods!" another minister said angrily, with a hint of grief and anger in his voice. He was completely enraged by the Jiannu's brutality.

"Your Majesty, please tell the scholars of the world and let them know the true face of the Jian Nu!" The ministers knelt down and asked Lin Xiaofeng to issue an order. Their eyes were full of determination and resoluteness, as if they were ready to fight to the death with the Jian Nu.

Lin Xiaofeng angrily slammed the dragon table, and his voice echoed in the hall, like an invisible force, suppressing all the noise. He slowly said: "The Jiannu dared to blaspheme the holy land! I am heartbroken! Come! Draft an order!" His voice was filled with some grief and excitement, as if he was ready to fight the Jiannu to the death.

……

Before the imperial edict was spread, the newspapers had already spread the news. The headline of Lin Xiaofeng's newspaper in the 17th year read: "Shock! The Yanshenggong Mansion was robbed! The holy land was covered in dust!" The atrocities of the Jiannu were described in detail, and the entire capital was shocked. The people were filled with righteous indignation and gathered in front of the West Four Archways, and then marched towards the imperial city. They held up flags and banners, shouted slogans and vows, like a surging wave, stirring everyone's heart.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard secretly guided them and said: "It's not that Your Majesty doesn't want to send troops, it's that there are no troops to mobilize." There was a hint of helplessness and sadness in their voices, as if they had already seen the country's danger and predicament.

"Recruiting soldiers requires money and food. Your Majesty has exempted the country from taxes for a year. Where can we get the money to recruit soldiers?" A soldier shouted loudly, with a bit of grief and excitement in his voice. He was completely enraged by the national crisis.

"We are willing to help Your Majesty! Donate money to recruit soldiers! Fight against the Jian Nu together!" another soldier shouted loudly, with a bit of firmness and determination in his voice. He was ready to fight the Jian Nu to the death.

"Donate money!" Shouts were heard everywhere, and copper coins and silver coins piled up like mountains. The people generously donated their money and materials to support the country's war of resistance and recruitment. Their eyes were full of determination and resoluteness, as if they were ready to fight to the death with the Jiannu.

Lin Xiaofeng was mixed with joy and sorrow after hearing the news. He knew very well that the appeal of Duke Yansheng was too great, even more than the power of religion. In the future, this power might become an obstacle to his rule. But right now, with so much money in front of him, how could he not take it? He smiled slightly, and had already made up his mind. So, the manifesto to attack Jiannu and the newspapers denouncing Jiannu spread to the south along with the anger of the people. Outside Yanzhou City, in the barracks of the Eight Banners soldiers, Duoduo was furious when he saw the reply from the Ming court. He read it with gritted teeth, and then threw the letter to the ground fiercely. He roared: "Report to Prince Rui immediately! The Ming court has replied!" There was a bit of anger and unwillingness in his voice, as if he had seen the upcoming decisive battle and challenge.

The central army tent was crowded and bustling, like a bustling market. The flickering candlelight illuminated faces that were either solemn or anxious. Everyone had just finished reading the reply from the Ming Dynasty, and no one spoke. The atmosphere suddenly became heavy, as if a huge rock was pressing on everyone's heart. Dorgon sat upright on the mat, his hands clenched into fists, his veins exposed, revealing his inner struggle and helplessness. He sighed inwardly: Alas, before I could say this, Duoduo got there first!
Duoduo glanced at Dorgon's helpless look, and a smug smile appeared on the corner of his mouth. These days, the voices of losers are always small, and in the Eight Banners, strength has the final say. The Plain White Banner is weak now, and it is not even tough to speak. He knew clearly in his heart that Dorgon wanted to take advantage of the plight of the Plain White Banner to strengthen the power of the Bordered White Banner. However, Duoduo is not the kind of person who does not talk about friendship. Although the relationship between brothers has faded a little, it is still much better than those half-brothers. He narrowed his eyes, and his thoughts drifted to Jirgalang who was far away outside Shanhaiguan. Dorgon was the regent of his uncle, and Jirgalang was the faithful assistant. If Dorgon fell, Jirgalang would definitely be the only one in power. Thinking of this, Duoduo decided to stop him and not let Dorgon collapse like this.

Without waiting for others to say anything, Duoduo asked Dorgon directly: "Fourteenth brother, what do you think about this?" Dorgon was stunned for a moment, a flash of surprise in his eyes, but then he understood what Duoduo meant. Forget it, it is better to help your own brothers than to help others. So he said: "Fifteenth brother, I suffered heavy losses in this expedition and I am guilty. I will not get involved in this matter. You can discuss it." After speaking, he looked at Duoduo deeply, his eyes full of complicated emotions. The soldiers of the Zhengbai Banner all listened to Duoduo. Although they were unwilling, they could only accept this reality.

As soon as these words came out, the big tent was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. Duoduo was surprised at first, then happy. He knew that Dorgon was helping him and that the position of regent would be a possibility. But Haoge was worried. This was not good news for him. Although Dorgon was down and out, a lean camel was bigger than a horse. If he was only focused on helping Duoduo, others would have no chance. Haoge's eyes moved back and forth between Dorgon and Duoduo, and his heart was filled with anxiety and uneasiness.

Undercurrents surged in the big tent. Oboi and Tulai looked at each other and quietly retreated, not wanting to get involved in this muddy water. They knew that this muddy water was too deep and they would be doomed if they were not careful. Duoduo stepped forward and said politely: "Brother Fourteen, you are too polite. Victory and defeat are common in the military. I will definitely say a few good words for you in front of the emperor when I go back." Haoge also quickly followed suit. He didn't want to offend Duoduo at this time. After all, Duoduo is now in a strong momentum.

Dorgon waved his hand and said, "There will be plenty of opportunities in the future. It is important to solve the current problem first." However, after discussing for a long time, there was no result. The main reason was that Zu Dashou was too important and no one dared to make a decision easily. Zu Dashou was an important official of the Ming Dynasty and held a large number of troops. If he was not handled properly, it would cause greater trouble.

Duoduo took a sip of tea and suddenly changed the subject: "Since we can't come to a conclusion, let's change the subject. Everyone, when are we going to leave the border?" Dorgon didn't say anything. He knew Duoduo was trying to change the subject, but he didn't bother to care. Haoge counted the days and said, "It's been more than four months since we entered the border. We have fought a lot, but we haven't gained much. There's no rush to go back now." His words revealed a kind of fatigue and helplessness.

Duoduo shook his head and said, "We failed in our first attack on Xuanfu, and our morale has been frustrated. Now we heard that Prince Rui was defeated, and our morale is even lower. It's not easy to hold on until now, and it will be even more difficult to fight again." What he meant was that we should go back quickly while we still have a chance of winning. The soldiers are already exhausted, and fighting further will only increase casualties.

Haoge asked for everyone's opinions, but Dorgon still didn't speak. Tulai and Aobai naturally followed orders, and they would not express their opinions at this time. Finally, Duoduo made the final decision: "Let's organize the army and march north in ten days. During this time, we should grab more food and civilians so that we can survive the winter." The generals took the order and left. They knew that Duoduo's words were orders and could not be disobeyed.

On the way back to the army, Fan Wencheng followed Dorgon with a bad look on his face. He had been thinking about the affairs of the Yansheng Mansion and was full of worries. Dorgon asked him: "Mr. Fan, do you think I am not doing well enough? Is it unfair for you to follow me?" Fan Wencheng shook his head and said, "That's not what I meant." He knew Dorgon's difficulties and understood his choice.

Dorgon stopped and looked in the direction of Qufu and said, "Mr. Fan, are you worried about the Yanshenggong Mansion?" Fan Wencheng sighed and said, "The holy land cannot be violated." His tone revealed a kind of firmness and persistence. Dorgon hurriedly explained, "That thing was not done by our Eight Banners. I have sent people to investigate." His words revealed a kind of helplessness and anxiety.

Fan Wencheng still had some doubts because the Ming court's proclamations and newspapers all pointed to the Eight Banners. Dorgon explained: "I know this happened about seven or eight days ago, but the silver we Eight Banners robbed was only more than 900,000 taels, far less than the 2 million taels the Ming court said." His words revealed a sense of helplessness and indignation.

Fan Wencheng was even more confused: "Who is the murderer?" Dorgon shook his head and said: "It could be bandits or the Ming army." His heart was full of doubts and uneasiness. Fan Wencheng thought for a while and said: "Prince Rui must find the real murderer." He knew the seriousness of this matter. If it was not handled properly, the consequences would be disastrous.

"Why?" Dorgon asked. He was a little puzzled as to why Fan Wencheng was so obsessed with this matter. Fan Wencheng asked back: "Does Prince Rui want the Qing Dynasty to only guard the small piece of land in Liaodong?" He added: "The reason why the Jin Dynasty failed to destroy the Song Dynasty was not because of the Mongols, but because the Jin people insulted the Song Dynasty royal family too much, which led to the Song people hating the Jin people to the core. The same is true for the current Yanshenggong Mansion. If it is misunderstood as our Qing doing it, then the Ming people will hate us as much as they hated the Jin people back then, and there will be endless troubles." His tone revealed a deep worry and concern.

Dorgon was furious when he heard this: "Mr. Fan, what do you mean by this?" He felt that Fan Wencheng's words were a bit harsh, as if he was accusing him. Fan Wencheng told him how the Jin people insulted the Song Dynasty, and then said: "The position of the Duke of Yansheng in the hearts of the people is very important. If this matter is mistakenly believed to be done by our Qing Dynasty, then hatred will be deeply buried in the people, and there will be endless troubles." His tone revealed a kind of earnestness and worry.

Dorgon was silent. He knew that this matter was serious. He vowed to find the real culprit to calm the people. He could not let this matter become a stain on the Qing Dynasty, and he could not let the people of the Ming Dynasty hate the Qing Dynasty because of it. He took a deep breath, and his eyes flashed with determination.

Hearing what Fan Wencheng said, Dorgon widened his eyes and asked in surprise: "Mr. Fan, is this matter so serious? I thought it was just a minor friction, but I didn't expect..."

Fan Wencheng sighed softly, his eyes revealing some worry: "How serious it is, we will know on the way back. The people's will is sometimes sharper than a sword." Dorgon frowned, he could hear the meaning of Fan Wencheng's words, I'm afraid the journey back this time will not be peaceful. He thought to himself, Fan Wencheng has always been thoughtful, this statement must have a deep meaning.

"Then what should I do?" Dorgon asked anxiously, his voice trembling a little, obviously caring very much about Fan Wencheng's words.

Fan Wencheng pondered for a moment and said slowly: "Hasn't Prince Rui already prepared dozens of spies? They can be divided into two teams, one to Fujian and the other to Qufu, to find out the truth of the matter. Only by knowing ourselves and the enemy can we win every battle."

"Okay, I understand." Dorgon nodded, feeling relieved, and hurriedly left the tent. He needed to act immediately and could not let the situation develop.

Back in the camp, Dorgon immediately summoned two trusted generals. They had just taken off their armor, and it was striking that their heads were not shaved, retaining the Han hairstyle, which was particularly abrupt among the Manchus. Looking at them, Dorgon felt a complex emotion in his heart.

"Your servants greet Prince Rui!" The two men knelt down and saluted, with a hint of awe in their voices.

"Get up." Dorgon waved his hand, signaling them to stand up. He looked at them and said earnestly, "The army will be leaving the border and returning to Shengjing in a few days. I really can't bear to leave you." There was both sincerity in his words and a warning to them not to betray.

The two men stood up and looked at each other, with a determined light in their eyes. They said in unison: "Don't worry, Your Majesty, we are the people of Prince Rui's Mansion in life and the ghosts of Prince Rui's Mansion in death." Their voices were sonorous and powerful, revealing their loyalty to Dorgon.

Dorgon nodded with satisfaction, feeling a little relieved. He said in a deep voice: "Okay, I have two things to entrust to you. When you are done, come back to Shengjing to reunite with your family." There was a bit of expectation and trust in his voice.

"Your servants obey!" The two knelt again, their eyes gleaming with excitement. They knew that this was Dorgon's trust and confidence in them.

Dorgon pointed at one of them and said, "You lead a team to Qufu and investigate the robbery of the Yansheng Mansion in detail. You must find out the truth and there must be no mistakes." There was a hint of severity and urgency in his voice.

"Yes, sir!" The man accepted the order with a determined light in his eyes. He knew that this mission was of great importance and he must go all out.

Then Dorgon pointed at another person and said, "Go to Fujian and find Zheng Zhilong to discuss shipping. Money is not a problem, the key is to get supplies, the price can be doubled." His voice was full of determination and decisiveness. He knew that this decision was crucial to the future of the Eight Banners Army.

The two men were about to leave after receiving the order, but they stopped and stared at Dorgon. Dorgon slapped his forehead and laughed, "Oh, I almost forgot. Come on, give them the silver and banknotes." He was secretly annoyed that he almost missed the big thing.

When handing over the silver notes, Dorgon also specifically reminded: "This silver note can only be exchanged at the Wanyong Money House in Nanjing. Remember this. You must be careful and do not reveal your whereabouts." There was a hint of caution and concern in his voice.

"Minions remember this, goodbye." The two men took the silver and banknotes and left. They knew that this mission was of great importance and they had to be careful.

After the two men left, Dorgon heaved a long sigh of relief, as if a heavy burden had been lifted off his shoulders. He thought to himself that this matter must be handled well, otherwise the consequences would be disastrous.

The Eight Banners Army entered the pass, not just for looting? If it was just for looting, Northern Zhili would be enough. It was prosperous and wealthy, with plenty of money and food. But they traveled a long distance to Shandong, actually to explore new trade routes. Although Liaodong has fertile land, only one crop of grain can be harvested a year. In addition, years of war, farming was abandoned, and droughts occurred frequently. Therefore, Liaodong was short of supplies and relied entirely on inland merchants for relief. Before Lin Xiaofeng killed the Shanxi and Shaanxi merchants, the trade route was unimpeded, from Xuanfu, Datong to the grassland, and then to Liaodong. But after the trade route was cut off, the livelihood of the bannermen fell into trouble. Therefore, Dorgon set his sights on Zheng Zhilong.

Zheng Zhilong, this name hovered in Dorgon's mind. Although he was a general of the Ming Dynasty, he was actually a businessman who was only interested in profit. He was an official on the shore and a bandit on the sea. Dorgon wanted to contact him to resume trade between Korea and the Ming Dynasty. Why resume? Because Lin Xiaofeng banned this trade. Hei Yunlong once told the Jiannu that their supplies came from Korea. When Lin Xiaofeng learned about it, he was furious and issued a ban. But Zheng Zhilong's caravan was not afraid of the ban, which was exactly what Dorgon wanted. He knew that as long as trade could be resumed, the livelihood problems of the Eight Banners Army could be solved.

After a few days of rest, the Eight Banners Army began to return north. As Fan Wencheng expected, they encountered many obstacles on the way back, especially the problem of collecting grain. The Eight Banners Army did not simply plunder, but first notified the village chief to prepare grain, and then came to collect it. If there was not enough food, they would kill people or even massacre the village. But in fact, they would also leave the elderly and the weak as hostages to force the neighboring villages to submit. Although this method was cruel, it was very effective. In order to save the hostages, the neighboring villages had to hand over more food.

Looting the people was even simpler and more brutal, just taking away their food. In order to survive, the people had no choice but to follow the Eight Banners Army. This was simply the behavior of bandits. But Dorgon knew that this was also a helpless move. If he didn't do this, the livelihood problem of the Eight Banners Army could not be solved. He could only pray silently, hoping that this matter could be resolved smoothly.

By the end of September, the Eight Banners Army had advanced northward to a certain extent. In the central army tent, Duoduo listened to the herald's victory report with high spirits: "Report to Prince Yu, our army has won a great victory in entering the pass, captured eleven cities, and was invincible. We captured more than 160,000 people and livestock, as well as countless gold, silver and silk."

"Good! Great!" Duoduo smiled happily. Although the results this time were not as good as the last time, it was enough for him. He thought to himself that he must celebrate well when he returned this time.

"Pass the order down, have all the troops follow the baggage train closely, and the elite troops guard the rear to prevent the Ming army from launching a surprise attack. The scouts must ride two horses to quickly report military intelligence." Duoduo gave the order. His voice was full of determination and resoluteness. He knew that he had to be careful on the way back this time and could not make any mistakes. Otherwise, the consequences would be disastrous.

On the weathered land of Laizhou, Yi Xiangli, the general of the navy, strode into the military camp of Dengzhou. He looked around and saw that the military camp was well-organized, with clear flags and everything in order, demonstrating the majesty and discipline of the Ming army. Yi Xiangli nodded secretly in his heart, and then asked a soldier next to him: "Where is General Yang Yufan now?" The soldier replied respectfully: "Lord Yang is ill and is resting in the tent." When Yi Xiangli heard this, he suddenly had an ominous premonition in his heart, frowned, and looked solemn.

Speaking of Yang Yufan's father, Yang Zhaoji, he was a famous general in the era of Emperor Lin Xiaofeng. He fought against the White Lotus Sect in Shandong, resisted the Mongolian cavalry in Gansu, and even personally fought against the Jiannu in the capital, and was invincible. Especially during the Jisi Rebellion, Yang Zhaoji returned to his hometown to recuperate due to illness, but when he heard that the Jiannu besieged the capital, he was furious and immediately led thousands of family members and local warriors to the capital to rescue. At that time, Daishan and Jierhalang were attacking Deshengmen, Hou Shilu was defeated and retreated, Man Gui was also seriously injured, and the court had almost no help. At the critical moment, Yang Zhaoji led his troops to line up to meet the enemy and fought fiercely with the Eight Banners Army. His bravery was unmatched, and even made Huang Taiji retreat twenty miles. People say that although Yang Zhaoji's army did not have the reputation of Qi's army, it was as brave as Qi's army. Therefore, Emperor Lin Xiaofeng specially appointed him as the Left Commander-in-Chief, the General of the Palace Guard, and concurrently appointed him as the Grand Tutor, the Right Pillar of the State, and other high-ranking officials and noble titles. Unfortunately, Yang Zhaoji died of illness due to overwork in the fourth year of Emperor Lin Xiaofeng's reign. Emperor Lin Xiaofeng was extremely sad and posthumously awarded him the titles of Upper Pillar of the State, Guanglu Dafu, and granted him the grace of the Grand Tutor, the posthumous title of Wuxiang, and the honor of an imperial burial.

Although Yang Yufan failed to reach the same prominent position as his father, he also had great military achievements, especially his defense of Laizhou and his successful resistance to Kong Youde's rebellion, which made him famous in one battle. Kong Youde did not hesitate to use red cannons to attack Laizhou day and night, but Yang Yufan led his soldiers to hold on for more than 200 days and finally successfully defended the city. His bravery and wisdom won wide praise from people and also made him occupy an important position in the heart of Emperor Lin Xiaofeng.

At this moment, Yi Xiangli was worried about Yang Yufan's condition, but the imperial edict had not yet arrived, so he had to shout loudly: "Yang Yufan, come out and receive the edict!" His voice echoed in the military camp, with an unquestionable majesty. Yang Yufan, despite his sick body, hurried out of the tent and knelt on the ground: "Your Highness Yang Yufan receives the edict." Although his voice was a little weak, it revealed a firm belief.

Yi Xiangli unfolded the imperial edict and read it aloud: "The Jiannu invaded the pass to plunder, massacred civilians, and endangered the country. Their crimes are heinous and unforgivable. As a military commander, Yufan should fight bravely to serve the country. You are now appointed as the general of Shandong, and the governor-general, to guard Dengzhou and Laizhou. This is my decree." Yang Yufan kowtowed to thank him, and a surge of excitement and pride surged in his heart. He knew that this was the trust and heavy responsibility of the country in him, and he must live up to his mission and fight bravely.

Yi Xiangli helped Yang Yufan up and asked about his physical condition with concern. After the two entered the tent and sat down, Yi Xiangli began to ask about the latest movements of the Jiannu. Yang Yufan told him based on the intelligence from the scouts that the Jiannu had already moved north and had now reached the Weiyang area. Their actions were swift and secretive, and they seemed to be planning a bigger conspiracy. Then, Yang Yufan also asked Yi Xiangli about his purpose. Yi Xiangli smiled and replied, "I first led the army to fight in southern Liaoning, and then stayed in Tianjin for a while before reporting to Beijing. I just received the imperial edict and rushed here." His tone was relaxed and confident, as if everything was under his control.

When Yang Yufan heard the news of the recovery of southern Liaoning, a gleam of light flashed in his eyes, but then he realized that it might be a lie, so his eyes dimmed again. He knew that the current situation was not optimistic, the Jiannu was still strong, and the Ming army needed more time and preparation to deal with the coming storm.

Yi Xiangli continued, "Your Majesty specifically told me before leaving that the Jiannu were powerful and that we should not fight them easily. We should conserve our strength and wait for the right time to launch an attack." His tone was serious and firm, revealing a well-thought-out strategic vision. Yang Yufan was inspired by this and immediately ordered his officers to come to the tent to discuss the matter. He knew that this was a war that concerned the fate of the country and he had to go all out and fight for the future of the country.

At the same time, in Dezhou, Ji Zisheng came to the military camp with a military order. He was tall and majestic, exuding an inviolable aura of majesty. He read out the latest combat instructions: "We must follow the actions of the Jiannu, look for opportunities to launch attacks, and at the same time preserve our strength and not be greedy for merit and advance rashly." His voice was loud and powerful, making the soldiers present feel a strong sense of responsibility and mission. Ji Zisheng smiled and said to his guards: "Do you know where the Jiannu are now?" The guards replied: "The Jiannu are heading north, with carts and camels stretching for hundreds of miles. The vanguard has reached the Guangrao area, and the rear army still has 30,000 to 40,000 horses, lingering near Weiyang." Ji Zisheng ordered to send out scouts again to conduct reconnaissance. He wanted to make sure that he knew the whereabouts of the Jiannu so as to formulate a more accurate combat plan.

Outside Tianjin, Bakyong unexpectedly met Luo Yangxing. After the two greeted each other, Luo Yangxing took out the imperial edict and read it. His voice was clear and powerful, and every word revealed an irresistible majesty. It turned out that because Bakyong performed well in the battle, the court decided to promote him to the rank of Jinyiwei Qianhu, and granted him the title of Wuhua Fenggao and the position of Dudu Tongzhi. At the same time, he was ordered to take the opportunity to launch a half-crossing attack when the Jiannu crossed the Haihe River and went north, requiring a quick victory but not to be greedy for the results of the battle. After defeating the enemy, he quickly retreated to Tianjin and detoured to Tongzhou to meet Jiang Taiwei. Bakyong was overwhelmed after receiving the edict, but he secretly thought that he could not forget his kindness to Wu Sangui and vowed never to betray him. He knew that this was a war about the fate of the country, and he must go all out to fight for the future of the country. At the same time, he was also well aware of Wu Sangui's kindness and trust in him, and he would never do anything to betray him to live up to this trust and kindness.

In the blink of an eye, it was the Little Ice Age in October. The wind was biting cold and the ground was covered with snow. On the afternoon of the 21st, the eunuchs in front of the Qianqing Palace suddenly cheered: "It's snowing! This is a good sign! Hurry up and report it to the emperor!" Their voices were full of joy and expectation, as if the snow foreshadowed the prosperity and prosperity of the Ming Dynasty. When Emperor Lin Xiaofeng heard about it, he immediately ordered meat and vegetables to be given to the harem to celebrate, and asked the painter to draw an auspicious painting of a blue sky, red sun and white moon. He hoped that this painting would bring him good luck and auspiciousness, and also hoped that it would bring brightness and prosperity to the future of the Ming Dynasty.

However, the painter made several revisions during the painting process, sweating profusely, but still could not satisfy the emperor. His heart was filled with anxiety and uneasiness. He knew that this painting was of great significance to the emperor, and he had to go all out to complete this arduous task. At this moment, a Jinyiwei rushed into the palace in the heavy snow, and an urgent report came: "Emergency news from Miyun! The Jiannu have left the border!" This news blew through the entire palace like a cold wind, filling everyone's heart with tension and uneasiness. Emperor Lin Xiaofeng's face instantly became solemn. He knew that the war was imminent, and he had to go all out to defend the territory of the Ming Dynasty and the safety of the people. (End of this chapter)