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

"Oh?" Song Quan was startled by Lin Xiaofeng's sudden stern voice and expression. He took a half step back involuntarily and stuttered: "Your Majesty, where did you get this from?" His eyes were full of fear, like a deer targeted by a hunter, helpless and desperate.

"Where should I start? Haha!" Lin Xiaofeng kept laughing coldly, and the laughter echoed in the hall, carrying a chilling atmosphere. The ministers in the hall were all so frightened that their faces turned pale, shivering like dead leaves blown by the cold wind in winter.

Looking up, all the ministers' eyes were focused on the emperor. The emperor, who was only 34 years old, had a stern face, sharp eyes, and a hint of cruelty in his majesty. In the candlelight, his face looked even more resolute, as if it was carved from the hardest stone, revealing an unquestionable power.

"Gongsun Yuchun, bring people up." Just as Lin Xiaofeng finished speaking, the door of the palace creaked open, and a gust of cold wind rushed in, causing the candlelight to flicker, as if it was also trembling for the coming storm.

Gongsun Yuchun came in with a dozen Jinyiwei and two people. They walked in with steady steps and firm eyes, as if they were messengers from hell, with irresistible majesty. The door of the palace closed again, the candlelight stabilized, and the hall was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.

Gongsun Yuchun straightened his robe and saluted respectfully, saying, "Your Majesty, these two are key witnesses in the corruption case of Cheng De, a doctor in the Armory Department of the Ministry of War. They have confessed that they framed Cheng De at the behest of Song Quan, the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate." His voice was calm and firm, as if he was reading out a verdict that had already been determined.

When Song Quan heard this, his heart skipped a beat, as if he had been hit by a huge rock, making him breathless. He had not expected the Jinyiwei to be so powerful that they could even turn his life-and-death friend against him. But he still said calmly, "Perjury? I don't know anything about that!" His voice trembled slightly, revealing his inner panic and anxiety.

The hall was in a dead silence. All the officials thought that Cheng De's case had been settled, but they didn't expect there would be a twist. Now, everyone was in a state of panic, not knowing what would happen next. They exchanged glances, trying to find a clue or comfort from each other's eyes.

Lin Xiaofeng stood up and walked slowly to Song Quan. His steps were steady and powerful, and every step seemed to step on the hearts of all officials. Gongsun Yuchun followed closely behind him, just in case. His eyes were alert and firm, like a cheetah ready to pounce on the enemy at any time.

Song Quan watched Lin Xiaofeng approaching, and he trembled with fear. The emperor, who usually looked a little better in the Golden Palace, was now standing in front of him, and his majesty was so overwhelming that he could hardly breathe. He felt like a lamb being stared at by a beast, helpless and desperate.

"I ask you, have you framed Li Banghua?" Lin Xiaofeng's voice was deep and powerful, like the voice of judgment coming from the depths of hell. His eyes were as sharp as a knife, as if he could see through all the secrets in people's hearts.

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty..." Song Quan said "Your Majesty" three times in a row, but for a long time he could not say the next word. Fine beads of sweat oozed from his forehead, and his lips were trembling slightly. He knew that he had no way out and could only wait for the judgment of fate.

The truth was already before him. Lin Xiaofeng smiled coldly, his smile full of ridicule and disdain. He said to Gongsun Yuchun, "Take him away." His voice was as cold as frost, as if it could freeze all life.

"As ordered." Gongsun Yuchun waved his hand, and the Royal Guards came forward to take the witness and Song Quan away. Their movements were swift and powerful, as if they were carrying out a predestined mission.

Song Quan's face was as pale as paper. He felt the breath of death coming towards him as he watched the Jinyiwei approach him step by step. Since the bandits besieged the city, Lin Xiaofeng had killed many people. Song Quan was afraid and hated him. He knew that he could not escape this time and could only wait for the judgment of fate.

"Your Majesty!" Song Quan suddenly shouted, "I was also instructed by someone! Your Majesty, please let me tell you who is behind this!" His voice was full of despair and pleading, as if he was begging the god of death for a glimmer of hope.

However, before he finished speaking, Gongsun Yuchun understood what Lin Xiaofeng meant and removed Song Quan's jaw. Song Quan was in so much pain that he could not speak and could only groan. Everyone in the hall was stunned. They did not expect that the emperor would treat an important official of the court so cruelly.

Lin Xiaofeng walked back to the high platform and turned to look at the civil and military officials in the court. His eyes were as sharp as a knife, as if he could see through all the secrets in people's hearts. He said passionately: "I want to ask you, my dear ministers, why are those who really do things always obstructed?" His voice was full of anger and confusion, as if he was questioning the conscience of the entire court.

All the officials looked at each other, not knowing how to answer. They all knew that the emperor was telling the truth, but who dared to speak out at this time? They could only lower their heads and remain silent.

"Since you all won't say anything, then I'll say it for you!" Lin Xiaofeng continued excitedly, "In the eyes of those people, the Ming Dynasty is not a country, but a piece of pie! They enter the government as officials just to occupy a piece of land and call it their own! If anyone wants to share their pie, they will try their best to obstruct them and even die together with them!" His voice became louder and louder, as if he was declaring war on the entire court.

Shao Shihan, the Minister of Finance, saw that the situation was not good and quickly whispered: "Your Majesty, calm down. This matter is not that serious yet!" His voice trembled slightly, revealing his inner panic and anxiety. He knew that the emperor was furious and if he continued like this, something bad might happen.

"Isn't it worse than this?" Lin Xiaofeng sneered even harder. "Local officials exploit businessmen and oppress the people to get a piece of the pie; the civil officials in the court rely on local tributes to get a piece of the pie; the military generals and nobles are even more powerful. They can make millions of taels of silver every year with just empty salaries!" His voice was full of anger and ridicule, as if he was declaring war on the entire court.

"It's a miracle that I and the Ming Dynasty can hold on until now! If it weren't for me thanking you for eating slowly, otherwise I would have become a king who lost my country long ago!" Lin Xiaofeng's words hit everyone's heart like a heavy hammer. The whole court was shocked. All officials bowed their heads and dared not speak. They knew that the emperor was telling the truth, but none of them dared to stand up and admit their mistakes at this time.

The "cake" that Lin Xiaofeng mentioned actually refers to power and wealth. Once officials enter the court, they are like family dogs that become government dogs, fearing the loss of their status and interests. They collude with each other, embezzle and accept bribes, and oppress the people just to keep their own "cake".

The Ministry of Personnel opened schools and sold official positions; the Ministry of Revenue organized caravans to transport grain for profit; the Ministry of Works sold iron ore for personal gain; the Ministry of Justice took bribes from both sides... How could people not be angry when the world was going downhill? Lin Xiaofeng looked at these greedy officials with anger and disappointment in his heart. He knew that the reason why the Ming Dynasty declined was because of these termites!

Seeing the officials bowing their heads and confessing their guilt, Lin Xiaofeng's anger subsided a little. He knew that the Ming Dynasty was not without good officials. Several ministers in the cabinet were examples. They were honest and upright, diligent in government and caring for the people. They were the real pillars of the country.

"Meng Zhaoxiang." Lin Xiaofeng called out his name. His voice was calm and firm, as if he was reading out a predestined verdict.

"I'm here," Meng Zhaoxiang replied quickly. His voice trembled slightly, revealing his inner nervousness and anxiety. He knew that the next question the emperor would ask would be related to his fate and future.

"How should we deal with Song Quan's false accusation against Li Banghua?" Lin Xiaofeng asked. His eyes were as sharp as a knife, as if he could see through all the secrets in people's hearts.

"According to the law, he should be dismissed from his post and allowed to return home to be an ordinary citizen." Meng Zhaoxiang explained, "But Song Quan is a censor. According to the Ming Dynasty system, censors can speak out on rumors and should not be punished even if they say something wrong." His voice was calm and firm, as if he was defending Song Quan.

"But..." Meng Zhaoxiang frowned and continued, "This time Song Quan did make a false accusation and there are witnesses. He should be punished according to the law of false accusation." His voice trembled slightly, revealing his inner conflict and struggle. He knew that if he punished Song Quan according to the law, he would also be implicated.

The Ming Dynasty's law of false accusation is very interesting. For example, if A falsely accuses B of murder, then A will be convicted of murder. This is a very severe punishment method designed to prevent people from making false accusations against others.

After Meng Zhaoxiang finished speaking, all the ministers agreed and asked Lin Xiaofeng to dismiss Song Quan from his post. They knew that the emperor was furious and if he continued like this, something bad might happen. And they also believed that Song Quan should be punished.

Song Quan was now like a wall that everyone pushed down. Even the nobles did not want to protect him anymore. His heart was as cold as an ice cellar. He knew that his fate was already determined and could not be changed no matter how hard he struggled. He could only wait for the judgment of fate.

Lin Xiaofeng secretly laughed at Song Quan's fate. The Ming Dynasty's officialdom was so cruel that once you lost your usefulness, you would be ruthlessly abandoned. He knew that he had to do something to change this situation.

All the officials thought that Song Quan would be severely punished, but Lin Xiaofeng simply said lightly: "Song Quan, as a censor, was not careful with his words and deeds, but instead falsely accused ministers in the court. Fine him one year's salary as a warning to others." His voice was calm and firm, as if he was reading out a judgment that had already been determined.

The ministers looked at each other, confused. They didn't understand why Lin Xiaofeng would let Song Quan and Wang Hongzuo go so easily. The emperor's thoughts were becoming more and more profound and unpredictable. They exchanged glances, trying to find a clue or comfort from each other's eyes.

The morning court session lasted until almost noon, and all the officials left the court with their own concerns. They were full of doubts, and didn't understand why Lin Xiaofeng would let Song Quan and Wang Hongzuo go so easily. The emperor's thoughts were becoming more and more profound and unpredictable. They walked on the palace road with heavy steps, as if every step was stepping on their own hearts.

On the way back from the court, Jiang Taiwei found Li Banghua. He frowned and his eyes revealed
The Forbidden City, a mysterious city located in the heart of the imperial city, is more unique and noble than the vast imperial city. The imperial city is so large that it is like an endless expanse of heaven and earth, and the Forbidden City is like a shining pearl in the imperial city, surrounded by layers of overlapping palace walls, giving people a wonderful feeling of a city within a city. During the Ming Dynasty, this place only accommodated the offices of high-ranking officials such as the cabinet. Although the six departments such as the Imperial Censorate and the Guanglu Temple were also located in the imperial city, they could not touch the supreme core position of the Forbidden City. As for other government offices, large and small, they could only wander around the periphery of the imperial city, looking at the sacred and inviolable land from afar.

At this time, Jiang Taiwei's sudden question made Li Banghua stunned for a moment. His eyes rolled around, as if he was calculating something in his mind, and then he slowly replied: "There are a total of 41 officials attending the meeting today. If we want them to spend the night in the imperial city, we really need to find a spacious and hidden place. I think the lounges of the six departments and the Guanglu Temple may be able to accommodate them." Changing the subject, Li Banghua frowned, stared at Jiang Taiwei sharply, and asked: "What do you want to do? Imprisoning court officials as prisoners is a serious crime! By then, I'm afraid I can't even save myself, and the emperor can't save you either."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Taiwei hurriedly lowered his voice to explain, "Hasn't the emperor issued an edict to rectify the chaos in the Beijing camp? If this matter gets out, there will probably be chaos in the Beijing camp." Li Banghua's face changed drastically when he heard this, and he asked in surprise, "What kind of chaos?" Jiang Taiwei looked around and made sure that no one was eavesdropping before whispering, "There are three major camps in the capital, each of which has twelve minor camps under its jurisdiction, a total of thirty-six camps, with a huge number of officers, as many as 366. Among them, more than 320 people have inextricable connections with those powerful nobles. Some of them rely on relationships to get promoted, and some are relatives or servants of the nobles. Once the news of the rectification spreads, these officers will definitely be dissatisfied, and the soldiers under them will easily be instigated by them. If they make trouble at that time, it will be troublesome."

Li Banghua narrowed his eyes and thought secretly. Rectifying the Beijing camp would undoubtedly affect the interests of many people, especially those officials who relied on their connections to get promoted. If they were to do something in secret, the soldiers would be easily led astray. Moreover, the Jiannu (Manchu) had just withdrawn, and the court's rectification of the Beijing camp at this time would undoubtedly make people panic, as if crossing a river and destroying the bridge.

Thinking of this, Li Banghua nodded and said in a deep voice: "Well, we do have to be on guard and think of a comprehensive solution." However, time waits for no one, and the ministers are about to leave the imperial city. Once the news leaks, it can no longer be covered up.

Seeing this, Jiang Taiwei said anxiously: "Lord Li, please think of a solution quickly, otherwise I can only stay." Li Banghua seemed unusually calm: "The capital is the emperor's territory, and there must be no chaos." "Then..." Jiang Taiwei swallowed the words back, his heart was beating fast. Mutiny is not a trivial matter. It is related to the safety of the capital, and even the safety of the emperor. The responsibility is heavy!
Seeing this, Li Banghua asked again: "Does the emperor know about this?" Jiang Taiwei replied with a worried look on his face: "This matter has not been decided yet, so I dare not tell the emperor." Hearing this, Li Banghua's eyes flashed with a gleam of light, and then he had an idea: "Let's go in three groups."

"Which three?" Jiang Taiwei asked impatiently. However, Li Banghua did not answer directly, but asked: "How many soldiers does the Beijing Camp have now?" Jiang Taiwei said: "After the bandits retreated, the Beijing Camp laid off some old, weak and disabled soldiers, but the progress was slow. Now the three camps have more than 57,800 soldiers, including 20,000 veterans and 37,800 new soldiers. Among the veterans, there are more than 10,000 waiting to be laid off, and 3,000 are being evaluated. New soldiers are treated better and are less likely to mutiny; while veterans, especially those waiting to be laid off, are the most unstable."

Li Banghua asked again: "How many reliable troops do you have?" Jiang Taiwei replied: "There are 3,000 in Tongzhou and 10,000 outside the capital." Li Banghua stood in the cold wind, his figure as straight and tenacious as an old pine tree. He coughed a few times and said in a deep voice: "I will lead the first route. Go back to the Ministry of War and ask for permission to have the veterans gather at the parade ground tomorrow morning for assessment. Although this move may make them more suspicious, it can also control the signs of mutiny. Guarding the entrance and exit of the parade ground will stabilize the situation in the capital."

Jiang Taiwei nodded helplessly, expressing his agreement. "You are the second route," Li Banghua continued, "how many of your direct subordinates are there in the Beijing camp?" Jiang Taiwei replied, "About two thousand." "Let them blend in with the veterans. If a mutiny occurs, let them take the lead in surrendering to stabilize the situation." "Okay!" Jiang Taiwei quickly wrote down the plan.

"Ask for an order to transfer the troops outside the city into the city. If a mutiny occurs, line up in the south of the imperial city to prevent them from attacking the city." Li Banghua ordered again, "The third route is handed over to Cheng Qinghua. He used to be in charge of the Beijing camp and the soldiers respect him. Ask him to patrol the city tomorrow morning to appease the new recruits and ensure that they are emotionally stable."

Li Banghua thought for a moment and added: "For the rest, you go to the palace and report to the emperor. The forces such as the Yongwei Camp, the Jinyiwei, the Dongchang, and the Wucheng Bingmasi must be dispatched by the emperor himself to ensure that everything goes well." Jiang Taiwei responded and immediately ran, hurriedly heading for the palace.

……

In the camp of Shenshuying, Deputy General Liu Fangming and Ma Ke were sitting on the warm kang and eating hot pot. Hot pot has existed since ancient times. It was called Wen Ding in the Shang Dynasty and was a delicacy enjoyed by the nobles. In the Song Dynasty, hot pot gradually became popular among the people; and in the Ming Dynasty, it became popular all over the country. Both the court and the people loved this steaming and delicious food.

Liu Fangming picked up a piece of frozen tofu, put it in the boiling hot pot, dipped it in the sauce, and ate it with relish. While eating, he said to Ma Ke: "Old Ma, we were both promoted by Zhu Chunchen. Now the emperor wants to reorganize the Beijing camp, and I'm afraid we will be the first to bear the brunt." Ma Ke heard this, drank a mouthful of hot soup, and said disapprovingly: "Not necessarily? There are six deputy generals in the Beijing camp, five of whom are Zhu Chunchen's men. Why did they target us?" After speaking, he drank another mouthful of spicy soup, which made him feel very satisfied. Then, he continued: "When the bandits besieged the city, we fought hard to defend the city wall. Although we didn't get enough credit, we shouldn't be dismissed." Liu Fangming heard this and sighed, but he felt a little uneasy in his heart. With the news of the reorganization of the Beijing camp, officials like them who were promoted by Zhu Chunchen might not be spared.

It's really hard to say!" Liu Fangming put down his chopsticks and sighed, his face as solemn as the sky covered with dark clouds. "Thinking back then, Deputy General Wang of the Shenshu Camp was also promoted by Zhu Chunchen. After his death, the court should have promoted him to be a general and given him some pensions according to the rules. In the end, he stayed in the position of deputy general for his entire life. Isn't this obviously bullying? We, the subordinates, are chilled to see this!"

Ma Ke also sighed and frowned, as if he could sense Liu Fangming's inner resentment: "It seems that we will have a hard time getting through this stage! This world is really hard to understand."

"Don't think too much, eat the meat first. If the fire is too big, the meat will be tough." Marco shook his head, trying to relieve the heavy atmosphere with food. He picked up a piece of meat and put it into his mouth, chewing it, as if he was tasting the ups and downs of life.

Liu Fangming put down his chopsticks and whispered, "It's not that I'm overthinking... I've spread the word in the army. We veterans have fought for the court, shed blood, and been injured. The court is thinking about reducing the army right after the Jiannu were defeated. How can this not be disheartening?"

"What? You...how can you say such a thing?" Mako was shocked and almost dropped the chopsticks in his hand. "Isn't this inciting the army?"

"We just want to save face!" Liu Fangming's face darkened, his eyes gleaming with an unyielding light. "We can do nothing but fight. Once we are laid off and have no military pay, we will starve to death. The court is simply forcing us to rebel!"

"But... the court has never defaulted on our military pay!" Marco was still a little puzzled. "If the emperor dismissed the officials, they could just go home. Why bother with it so much?"

"Do you really want to just pack up and leave?" Liu Fangming asked back, with a hint of sarcasm in his tone, "The salary of a deputy general is not low, are you willing to give it up?"

"Of course not... But we can't just go against the court like this." Marco hesitated.

"The bigger the fuss, the better it will be for us." Liu Fangming's eyes flashed with cunning, "The law does not punish the masses, if everyone makes a fuss together, the emperor might cancel the decision to cut the army. By then, not only can we keep our positions, we might even get promoted and make a fortune!"

As the two were talking, footsteps were heard outside the door, breaking the silence in the room.

A personal soldier pushed the door open and reported, "My lords, someone from the Ministry of War has arrived."

"Oh? Please come in!" Marco stood up, secretly wondering what the Ministry of War wanted to do.

Before he could finish his words, two officers from the Ministry of War came in with official documents. They were dressed in official uniforms and looked serious, as if they carried some kind of irresistible authority.

They glanced around the room and finally fixed their eyes on Liu Fangming. According to the rules, Liu Fangming had to stand up to receive the order. But he pretended to be calm and sat there, eating meat slowly.

"Deputy General Liu, Deputy General Ma, the Ministry of War has issued a transfer order." The officer's voice was cold and majestic.

"Read it." Liu Fangming replied while eating, with a nonchalant look on his face. This attitude of his was the first among the generals in the Beijing camp.

The two officers looked at each other and frowned. Due to Liu Fangming's status, they had to swallow their anger. One of the officers handed the document to Ma Ke: "The Ministry of War has issued an order that at the beginning of the morning hour tomorrow, the two deputy generals Liu and Ma of the Shenshu Camp must lead the veterans to the training ground for assessment. There must be no delay."

Liu and Ma were stunned when they heard this. They looked at each other and understood the meaning behind the transfer order. After signing the document, the people from the Ministry of War left in a hurry.

The two men pondered over the transfer order. The atmosphere in the room became extremely heavy, as if even the air had frozen.

After a long while, Liu Fangming raised his head, his eyes gleaming with determination: "Great! They are getting impatient! Do they want to force us to take action? Then we will give them a big one!"

Ma Ke also realized the seriousness of the situation. He put down the transfer order and whispered, "We won't follow the same fate as Qi's army and be wiped out by the imperial court?"

"Not necessarily." Liu Fangming, who was always confident, was a little hesitant at this time. "There are thousands of veterans in the Shenshu Camp. No matter how cruel the court is, it would not dare to attack so many people. What does the Ministry of War want to do? We have to find out." "I'll send someone to investigate the situation in the Wujun Camp and the Shenji Camp." Liu Fangming said as he tidied his clothes and prepared to go out. It was getting darker and darker, as if foreshadowing the coming storm.

More than an hour later, Liu Fangming returned to Shenshu Camp. His face was as gloomy as the sky before a storm.

"How is it?" Marco asked eagerly.

"There are more than 20,000 veterans in the three battalions, and they will all go to the parade ground at the beginning of the morning hour tomorrow." Liu Fangming said in a deep voice, "The situation in the Fifth Army Battalion and the Divine Machine Battalion is not good either, and the veterans are very angry. I'm afraid something will go wrong in tomorrow's assessment!"

"This..." Marco looked embarrassed, "We are few in number and weak in strength, so we'd better not get involved."

"Nonsense! This is a crime of genocide, how dare we get involved?" Liu Fangming glared at Ma Ke, "But we can send people in to fan the flames. The soldiers below don't know the inside story, and they will follow suit if someone takes the lead. With more than 20,000 people making trouble together, it will be hard not to mutiny! The court can either suppress it or compromise, and we can reap the benefits; even if it fails, it has nothing to do with us."

Marco nodded first, then shook his head: "But what if the court agrees to our conditions first, and then changes its mind?"

"Rebellion? There are still hundreds of thousands of troops in various provinces. The court is in urgent need of manpower. How dare they destroy the Great Wall!" Liu Fangming sneered, "Let's take this gamble!"

"I understand!" Marco bowed and turned away. He began to prepare for the coming storm.

At the beginning of the night of Xu, the three camps of the capital were brightly lit. Usually at this time, the soldiers would have gone to bed. But tonight many people could not sleep and sat around the campfire, talking in low voices.

The veterans came from all corners of the country, some had fought against the Jiannu in Liaodong, some had conquered Mongolia in the grasslands, and some had suppressed bandits in the Central Plains. Although they were old, they were still full of passion and unwilling to be treated like this by the court.

"Although we are old, the court's actions are too cruel. They have simply cut off our livelihoods," said an old soldier indignantly.

"That's right, it's better to be dead than alive. The imperial court can provide relief to your family if you die, but living is helpless. We fight with injuries, and the military pay is not even enough to recover. We can't do heavy work, and we don't know how to do anything else. Sooner or later we will starve to death." Another old soldier echoed.

"Don't blame the court, just blame us for being born at the wrong time." An old soldier sighed.

However, these words ignited the anger in the hearts of other veterans like a spark. Suddenly someone stood up and shouted: "Tomorrow at the parade ground, we must ask the court for an explanation!"

"Yes! Ask for an explanation!"

"Put on your armor and take up your weapons, or your family will be destroyed!"

"Good! Put on your armor and grab your weapons!"

The veterans were getting more and more excited, like a volcano about to erupt. They all stood up, picked up their weapons and armor, and prepared to face tomorrow's battle.

Looking at these soldiers who were about to explode, the more than 300 generals of the three battalions all smiled with relief. They knew that the more serious the chaos, the greater their chances of gaining benefits. As for who would bear the responsibility... naturally it was the governor of the Beijing camp, Jiang Taiwei!

The next morning, before the hour of Chen arrived, the parade ground was already crowded with people. More than 20,000 veterans were wearing armor and holding sharp weapons, filled with righteous indignation. They were all waiting...waiting to present their demands to the court. If the court did not meet their demands, they would use their actions to tell the court what an immortal veteran is!

Outside the training ground, Jiang Taiwei was almost crying. He pulled Lin Xiaofeng's sleeve and begged, "Your Majesty! Please stay! Your Majesty!"

"What's the matter?" Lin Xiaofeng stopped and looked at Jiang Taiwei in confusion.

"Your Majesty, it's fine if you don't allow the troops outside the city to enter the city to assist in defense, but how can you only bring more than a thousand soldiers from the Yongwei Battalion to the parade ground to meet the veterans?" Jiang Taiwei said anxiously.

"Do they dare to kill me?" Lin Xiaofeng asked back, with confidence flashing in his eyes.

"This..." Jiang Taiwei was stunned by the question. After a while, he said, "It's hard to predict what will happen in this world!"

"Ahem!" Guo Tianyang glared at Jiang Taiwei, signaling him not to continue. "Commander Liu, be careful with your words."

Just as Guo Tianyang and Jiang Taiwei were staring at each other, Lin Xiaofeng walked into the training ground under the escort of the Yongwei Battalion. His figure was tall and majestic, like an unshakable mountain.

Guo Tianyang was horrified and hurriedly followed and shouted, "His Majesty has arrived!" His voice resounded through the sky and spread throughout the entire parade ground.

Before Lin Xiaofeng entered the gate of the training ground, he saw two huge flags slowly spreading in the wind from afar, like colorful clouds blooming in the sky, attracting everyone's attention. The first one was the national flag of the Ming Dynasty, with bright colors, red like flames and yellow like golden autumn, showing the glory and honor of the empire; the second one was the majestic nine-tassel yellow dragon flag, each tassel seemed to carry a thousand years of imperial power and majesty, majestic and awe-inspiring. The two flags stopped in the center of the training ground for a while, like giant dragons in the sky, spinning and heading straight for the high platform, attracting everyone to look up.

"The national flag of our Ming Dynasty is so magnificent!" exclaimed an old soldier, with pride shining in his eyes.

"Yes, our Ming army can use this flag in the future. It makes our blood boil just thinking about it!" The people next to him echoed, their faces filled with excitement.

"What is that yellow flag for?" a new soldier asked in confusion, his eyes full of curiosity.

All the people present were veterans of the defense of the capital. Most of them knew Lin Xiaofeng and were impressed by the nine-tassel dragon flag. Upon hearing this, everyone became excited and someone shouted loudly: "The nine-tassel dragon flag is here, His Majesty is here!"

"His Majesty is here in person!" The entire parade ground was instantly in an uproar, and everyone's eyes were focused on the platform, as if even breathing had become heavy. Above the platform, the sun shone, coating everything with a layer of golden brilliance, making it look even more solemn and sacred.

The originally noisy parade ground suddenly became unusually quiet, and only the sound of flags fluttering in the wind could be heard, followed by thunderous cheers. No one expected that the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty would come to the parade ground in person. This honor and shock made everyone's heart surge with indescribable excitement. The cheers made people's blood boil, and also made the leader of the Yongwei Camp like Shou Hong so nervous that his palms sweated. He held his sword tightly and was fully alert, fearing that there would be any mistakes. After all, he only brought more than a thousand soldiers, while there were more than 20,000 soldiers in the parade ground. If there was a mistake, the consequences would be disastrous.

After the cheers gradually died down, Lin Xiaofeng raised his hand and gently pressed it down, signaling everyone to be quiet and listen to him. His voice was steady and powerful, as if it could penetrate everyone's heart: "I heard that the Beijing camp is planning to lay off veterans, so I came to the parade ground to see the situation in person."

Lin Xiaofeng's words were spread throughout the parade ground by the eunuchs. These eunuchs were like megaphones, distributed in every corner of the army. As soon as they heard the emperor's words, they quickly repeated them to the people around them. Their voices rose and fell, rippling across the parade ground like waves.

There was a sudden silence on the parade ground. Everyone was shocked by the emperor's words and didn't know what to say. Only the sound of the wind and breathing echoed in his ears, as if even time had frozen at this moment. Lin Xiaofeng knew that the Jinyiwei had reported the news to the palace last night. Li Banghua and Jiang Taiwei both advocated suppression and wanted to transfer troops outside the city to suppress the situation in the parade ground. But Lin Xiaofeng firmly opposed this. He was worried that it would intensify the contradictions and cause greater conflicts. He knew very well that these veterans were the treasures of the empire. They had fought bloody battles for the peace of the country and the happiness of the people. How could they be easily abandoned now?

Lin Xiaofeng calmed himself down and continued in a steady and powerful voice: "All the soldiers who have fought against the Jiannu in Liaodong should stand up and gather in the open space to the west."

When these words came out, everyone was stunned, not knowing what the emperor was up to. The eunuchs urged them to move, but no one dared to move. Finally, a soldier patted the shoulder of the person in front of him and whispered, "Second brother, we have all been to Liaodong to fight the Jiannu. His Majesty is calling us!"

"Forget it, what good can come from going?" The person in front hesitated, his eyes full of doubt.

"That's right, how could such a good thing happen to us?" The person next to him echoed, with dissatisfaction and helplessness written all over his face.

"I think His Majesty wants to find fault with us by taking advantage of the military reduction. He wants to separate us and then deal with us one by one." Someone whispered, his voice full of fear and anxiety.

After hearing this, the soldier also stopped and returned to the team. For a moment, the open space in the west was empty, and everyone was suspicious, wondering what the emperor was up to.

Lin Xiaofeng quietly observed the reactions of the generals on the high platform. His eyes were as sharp as an eagle, as if he could see through everyone's mind. He noticed that Liu Fangming and Ma Ke's phalanx were adjacent to each other, and the two were talking in a low voice with serious expressions.

"Lao Ma, aren't you the general in the Battle of Liaodong? Go quickly!" Liu Fangming urged, his eyes full of concern.

"Alas, the past is too painful to recall." Ma Ke sighed, with a bitter smile on his face. "Back then, I followed Hong Chengchou to rescue Jinzhou, but we were defeated in Tashan and Jinzhou, and finally had to escape back by boat. Now, Your Majesty may be doing this to settle old scores."

"Your Majesty may have his own reasons for doing this." Liu Fangming guessed, but there was a hint of uncertainty in his voice.

Seeing that their commander did not move, the soldiers under Marco did not dare to leave without permission, and they all quietly waited for the development of the situation. Their faces were full of confusion and anxiety, not knowing what the future would be like.

The scene was very awkward and the atmosphere was so tense that it seemed like water could be squeezed out of it. At this time, Jiang Taiwei sent messengers to the direct generals of the Beijing camp to ask them to urge the soldiers to move. After receiving the order, the direct generals immediately shouted in front of the square: "Your Majesty has ordered! All soldiers who have fought against the Jiannu in Liaodong must immediately gather in the open space in the west! No matter whether you win or lose, you must go!"

As the order was given, the square began to move slowly. One person, two people, ten people... Gradually, more and more people followed the team. People have a herd mentality. When they see someone move first, the others will follow suit. Soon, more than 2,000 soldiers gathered in the open space in the west. They wore helmets and armor in the cold wind, holding spears and spears, and felt uneasy in their hearts, but most people felt that this might be a turning point, a chance to prove themselves again.

Seeing this, Lin Xiaofeng issued another order: "All soldiers who have fought against Mongolia on the grassland should also gather in the open space in the west."

Soldiers walked out of the squares and hesitantly walked towards the open space. Their steps were a little heavy, but their eyes were shining with determination. Soon, the number of people on the open space increased by several thousand. Among these soldiers, there were those who fought against Jiannu and those who fought against Mongolia, adding up to about four to five thousand people. They stood together, although they were ragged, but their military appearance was still strict, as if they were an unshakable fortress.

Seeing this, Lin Xiaofeng had already made up his mind. He gave another order: "The soldiers who fought against the bandits and surrendered soldiers before the bandits besieged the city should also continue to gather in the open space in the west."

The eunuchs conveyed the emperor's order again, and the parade ground started moving again. This time, the number of people was the largest, and the movement was the slowest. The soldiers dragged their heavy steps, but their eyes were full of expectation and desire. They knew that this might be their last chance to prove themselves. Half an hour later, the parade ground finally returned to calm, leaving only the open space on the west side densely filled with soldiers.

"How many people are there over there now?" Lin Xiaofeng asked Shou Hong, with a barely perceptible concern in his voice.

Shou Hong took a quick look and said, "About 10,000 people. It will take some time to count the exact number."

"No need to count, let them line up, I want to inspect them personally!" Lin Xiaofeng said decisively, his voice full of firmness and determination.

Soon, a team of more than 10,000 people lined up neatly on the parade ground. They were all veterans. Although their fighting capacity might not be as good as it was in the past, their military appearance was still strict, like an unshakable Great Wall of Steel. Under the protection of the Yongwei Battalion, Lin Xiaofeng came to the front of the team. His eyes swept across the faces of each soldier, as if he wanted to deeply engrave their appearance in his heart.

Jiang Taiwei stood aside and shouted to the soldiers in the first row to report their battle records: "Where have you fought?"

"Dalingh River!" a soldier answered loudly, his voice full of pride and glory.

"Songshan, Jinzhou!" another soldier shouted, his voice revealing a hint of vicissitudes and emotion.

"Ningyuan!"

"Datong!"

"Xuanfu!"

“Gansu!”

"Tongguan Nanyuan!"

"Zhuxian Town!"

……

The soldiers answered loudly the places where they had fought. Each place name carried their blood and tears, glory and sacrifice. Hearing these place names, Lin Xiaofeng's eyes could not help but moisten. These veterans fought thousands of miles, experienced countless bloody battles, and finally returned to the capital and joined the Beijing camp. They deserve more respect and admiration than those surrendered soldiers. They are the backbone of the Ming Dynasty and the pride of the Ming Dynasty!

Lin Xiaofeng announced loudly: "From today on, the young and strong soldiers will continue to serve in the army; the old, weak or sick soldiers can take off their armor and return to their hometowns to enjoy their old age!" His voice was full of warmth and care, as if a warm current flowed into the hearts of every soldier. The soldiers cheered, their eyes flashed with tears, but more of it was gratitude and admiration. They knew that this emperor was someone who really cared about them and was a monarch they deserved their loyalty to! (End of this chapter)