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

"You're welcome, everyone get up." Lin Xiaofeng waved his hand gently, signaling the three to stand up. His voice was gentle and powerful, like a ray of warm sunshine in spring, shining into this cold hall.

The three men stood up respectfully. Guo Tianyang took a step forward. His face was gentle, and his eyes revealed a hint of shrewdness. "My lords, this red envelope contains silver bills. After the 26th of the twelfth lunar month, you can take it to the Daming Money House on Qianmen Street and exchange it for real silver." There was a barely perceptible flattery in his tone. Obviously, he did not dare to neglect these three lords in the slightest.

"Thank you, Eunuch Guo, for the reminder!" The three expressed their gratitude in unison, with a hint of joy in their voices. Obviously, they were very satisfied with this unexpected gain.

After taking the red envelope, Lin Xiaofeng changed the subject, his face became serious, and he said in all seriousness: "Everyone, I have an idea that can not only find a way out for scholars, but also rectify local corruption and those phenomena of random charges and levies." His voice echoed in the hall with an unquestionable firmness.

"Your Majesty, please tell me clearly!" Cheng Qinghua was the first to step forward. He was eager to know the emperor's plan, and his face was full of anticipation and curiosity.

Lin Xiaofeng stood up and walked slowly in the hall. His steps were steady, and every step seemed to step on the hearts of the people. He said in a deep voice: "I think that if the country wants to maintain long-term stability, it must solve the problem of collective corruption from the root." His voice was low and powerful, with an unquestionable majesty.

When Cheng Qinghua and others heard this, they knew that the emperor was about to start speaking. They all straightened up and pricked up their ears to listen carefully, afraid of missing a single word.

"What do you think collective corruption is?" Lin Xiaofeng looked at Cheng Qinghua with sharp eyes. There was a hint of sharpness in his eyes, as if it could pierce people's hearts.

Cheng Qinghua lowered his head and thought for a while, then raised his head and asked, "Your Majesty, may I dare to use the Ming Dynasty as an example to illustrate this?" There was a hint of hesitation in his voice, and it was obvious that he was not completely sure about this question.

"Of course, let's speak freely today and no one will blame us for anything we say." Lin Xiaofeng gave Cheng Qinghua an encouraging look. His eyes were full of gentleness and encouragement, as if a teacher was encouraging his students.

Cheng Qinghua was cheered up, and he continued, "I think that collective corruption spreads from top to bottom, layer by layer. The princes and nobles are greedy, and the officials exploit the gentry and then squeeze the common people in order to make up for the losses. The gentry are not to be outdone, and in turn oppress the common people. In this way, the common people become the most miserable, with nowhere to complain about their grievances, and can only swallow their anger. If they encounter natural disasters or man-made disasters, they can't even have food to eat, and they can only flee or rebel. Your Majesty, this is the evil consequence brought about by collective corruption, how can the country have long-term stability?" There was a hint of sadness and indignation in his voice. Obviously, he felt very sad about this phenomenon.

Lin Xiaofeng nodded in agreement: "You are right, the natural disaster is just the fuse, not the root cause. Although the Ministry of Revenue's disaster relief can solve the urgent problem temporarily, it is not a long-term solution after all." There was a hint of contemplation in his voice. Obviously, he had been thinking about this issue for a long time.

"What does Your Majesty plan to do?" everyone asked, with a hint of anticipation and curiosity in their voices. Obviously, they were very concerned about the emperor's plan.

"Checks and balances!" Lin Xiaofeng stopped and swept his eyes over the three people with an unquestionable firmness. "Grassroots governments lack checks and balances. They are only responsible to those above them and turn a blind eye to the suffering of the people. As long as taxes can be collected and the people do not rebel, they will desperately squeeze the people's money and give it to their superiors. Even if the people really rebel, they are not afraid, because no one knows the truth. At that time, they will lie about military intelligence, saying that it was the unruly people who were in turmoil, and the court will send troops to suppress it. This vicious cycle must be broken!" His voice echoed in the hall with an unquestionable majesty.

After hearing this, Cheng Qinghua and the other two fell into deep thought. They knew that the emperor was right, but it would take great courage and determination to change the status quo. After all, Zhang Juzheng, the last person who tried to change the status quo, had his house confiscated after his death, his honors stripped away, and his family suffered. They couldn't help but hesitate. Could such a reform really succeed?
Lin Xiaofeng saw their concerns, so he promised: "Don't worry, the three of you, what I am going to do will not only not implicate you, but will win the support of scholars all over the world. I plan to set up county-level inspection offices in 1,138 counties across the country, and appoint an inspector in each office. These inspectors will report directly to the Censorate and are specifically responsible for supervising the behavior of local officials and petitioning for the people." There was a hint of firmness and determination in his voice. Obviously, he was fully prepared for this reform.

When these words came out, Cheng Qinghua and the other two were stunned. They didn't expect that the emperor would actually propose such a reform plan. This is undoubtedly a bold and innovative move, but they can't help but worry, can such a reform really be implemented smoothly?
The Left Censor-in-Chief Shi Bangyao was the first to stand up and object: "Your Majesty, there are already thirteen censors under the Censorate, a total of 110 people. Their work is already very heavy, and if so many inspectors are added... firstly, there will be too many people to manage; secondly, there will be conflicts of duty with the censors. Your Majesty, please think twice!" There was a hint of worry and concern in his voice, and it was obvious that he was not optimistic about this reform.

"Yes, Your Majesty, the number of inspectors is indeed too many." Cheng Qinghua also echoed, "The Ming Dynasty cannot have as many officials and staff as the Song Dynasty!" There was a hint of helplessness and worry in his voice. Obviously, he also felt very embarrassed about this reform.

Miao Yikui did some calculations and said, "Your Majesty, the total number of students in the Imperial Colleges in the two capitals is less than a thousand. If so many inspectors are suddenly appointed... the court will probably be faced with the embarrassing situation of having no one available. What's more... the combined salaries of these more than a thousand people are not a small amount!" There was a hint of worry and concern in his voice. Obviously, he was also very worried about the funds and manpower required for this reform.

Lin Xiaofeng had long anticipated their opposition, so he sat back on the throne with a smile: "These problems you mentioned...are actually not problems. First of all...there is only one inspector in a county...he has to fight against the county magistrate and accept petitions from the people...the workload is already very heavy; secondly...about the problem of no one available...I have no intention of letting the students of the Imperial College be inspectors!" There was a hint of ease and confidence in his voice. Obviously, he had fully considered and prepared for the funding and manpower required for this reform.

"Then who does Your Majesty plan to appoint as the Inspector?" Miao Yikui asked curiously, with a hint of doubt and curiosity in his voice. Obviously, he was also very concerned about the selection of personnel for this reform.

"Scholars and juren! Especially those scholars who have failed the exams many times!" Lin Xiaofeng said confidently, "Give them a way to become officials in the local area! You can set some conditions... Anyone who meets the conditions can be selected as the local inspector! They will take orders directly from the censor... They are not under the jurisdiction of the county magistrate or the prefect... Although their official positions and salaries are not as good as those of the censor... But it is only a few hundred thousand taels of silver a year... The court can still afford it! In this way... There will be the government, the land bureau, and the inspection bureau in the local area to check and supervise each other... Fairness can be maintained to the greatest extent... And stability can be maintained!" There was a hint of excitement and expectation in his voice. Obviously, he was full of confidence and expectations for the prospects and effects of this reform.

Lin Xiaofeng's move was actually to weaken the power of local officials. The concentration of power certainly has both advantages and disadvantages, but the disadvantages often outweigh the advantages. In the past, the power of a county was concentrated in the hands of the county magistrate alone. If the gentry wanted to evade taxes or break the law, they only had to bribe the county magistrate. But now, they also have to bribe the land department and the inspection department, because these two parties also have the power of supervision. In this way, the cost of breaking the law for the gentry has been greatly increased.

Shi Bangyao thought for a while and asked again: "Your Majesty...what if the local government, the Land Bureau, and the Inspection Bureau collude together?" There was a hint of worry and concern in his voice. Obviously, he was also very concerned about the possible problems that might arise from this reform.

Lin Xiaofeng had already thought of a countermeasure: "First of all... there are people from the Jinyiwei and Dongchang in the Land Bureau... although they may be bribed... but the cost will be very high... I will rotate them from time to time... to increase the cost of bribery for the gentry; secondly... the position of Inspector... is a popular one... because there are too many failed scholars and juren... they are all eyeing this position! So... if the Inspector makes a mistake... the letters of accusation from those failed scholars and juren... will fly to the Censor-in-Chief like snowflakes! In other words... under the supervision of those failed scholars and juren... the gentry may be able to bribe other people... but they definitely cannot bribe the Inspector! As long as corruption does not form a closed loop... the local government will not be in chaos!" There was a hint of confidence and determination in his voice. Obviously, he had made full preparations and responses to the possible problems and difficulties that might arise from this reform.

After hearing Lin Xiaofeng's words, everyone couldn't help but fall into deep thought. They knew that although the emperor's reform plan was bold and innovative, it did have some problems and difficulties. However, they also understood that only by daring to reform and innovate can the country become more prosperous and stable. They couldn't help but admire and respect the emperor's courage and determination.

Lin Xiaofeng's words shocked everyone present. They looked at each other, secretly admiring the ingenuity of this method. Increasing the cost of bribery is undoubtedly a heavy blow, making those who are ready to make a move dare not try it easily.

"Your Majesty is absolutely right!" Everyone exclaimed, with admiration and expectation in their eyes.

Lin Xiaofeng smiled, his eyes were deep and firm, as if he could see through people's hearts: "If we can't completely put an end to bribery, then we will make the cost so high that they will feel bad. Those gentry have spent a lot of money to buy people's hearts. But if the people in the Land Bureau are suddenly replaced, the inspector is dismissed, and the county magistrate is impeached and removed from office, all the money they spent before will be wasted. When a new official takes office, it is another round of new tests. After a few times of going back and forth like this, they will naturally understand that the price of breaking the law and discipline cannot be paid with money, and they will naturally abide by the rules honestly."

His words carried an unquestionable power that made people feel awed. Cheng Qinghua nodded repeatedly and praised him, "Your Majesty is truly wise. I admire you so much!"

Lin Xiaofeng waved his hand and said with a smile: "I have long seen the chaos in the grassroots government. After the new year, the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of Personnel, and the Censorate will have to think carefully about how to deal with this problem. We must fundamentally change this atmosphere, so that the officialdom is clean and the people are healthy."

His eyes revealed his longing and determination for the future, as if he had already seen that clear and bright world.

"Also, I have to let the students of the Imperial College prepare themselves. I'm afraid that the officialdom will undergo major changes after the new year. There will be many vacant positions among grassroots officials, and I need people to fill them at any time." There was a hint of worry in his words, but more of it was anticipation for the future.

"As you command!" The three of them received the order and retreated respectfully. Lin Xiaofeng stood up and walked slowly towards the harem. His back looked tall and firm, as if he could shoulder the responsibility of the whole world.

In the blink of an eye, it was the 26th day of the twelfth lunar month, and the festive atmosphere was getting stronger and stronger. Inside and outside the imperial city, every household was busy preparing New Year's goods, and the air was filled with the aroma of meat and the smell of gunpowder from firecrackers. From time to time, you could hear the sound of firecrackers exploding, which drew cheers from the children. Red lanterns were hung all over the streets and alleys, and the festive atmosphere was overwhelming.

After the morning court session, Lin Xiaofeng deliberately kept Song Quan, the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Metropolitan Procuratorate. Song Quan's heart was beating fast, not knowing what the emperor was up to. He stood in the hall, his eyes flickering, his hands clenched into fists, and he looked a little nervous.

"Song Quan, do you know why I kept you here?" Lin Xiaofeng asked with a smile, a hint of amusement in his eyes.

"Your Majesty, I...I don't know." Song Quan answered cautiously, his voice trembling a little, and it was obvious that he was not calm inside.

"Do you really not know, or are you pretending not to know?" Lin Xiaofeng's eyes became sharp, as if he could see through people's hearts. There was a hint of majesty in his words, which made Song Quan even more nervous.

Song Quan's heart tightened. He wanted to make up a lie to get away with it, but seeing the emperor's look, he knew he couldn't hide it. He had no choice but to tell the truth: "I thought that Your Majesty wanted me to help."

"Oh?" Lin Xiaofeng was slightly stunned, then smiled, "You are smart and didn't let me down." There was a hint of appreciation in his smile, which made Song Quan feel a little relieved.

Song Quan felt a little relieved after hearing this, but he did not dare to get carried away. He quickly bowed again and said respectfully: "Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty. I will do my best to serve Your Majesty."

"Song Quan, has the attitude of the officials in the capital changed since the last false accusation?" Lin Xiaofeng changed the subject and asked about this sensitive topic. There was a trace of concern in his eyes, as if he really cared about Song Quan's situation.

When Song Quan heard this, his eyes turned red. After that incident, although he was not dismissed from office, his reputation was ruined. Officials in the capital avoided him, and even street vendors looked at him strangely. He was a fourth-rank official, and he felt very uncomfortable when he fell into this situation.

"Your Majesty, I have a lot of grievances that I cannot express to you." Song Quan choked up and said, "I wanted to resign and return home, but I still feel unwilling to do so..." There was a hint of trembling and helplessness in his voice, and it was obvious that the pain in his heart was beyond words.

Seeing him like this, Lin Xiaofeng felt a little sympathy in his heart. He sighed, but said calmly: "Others may have left, but you stayed, which means that you still can't let go of the court. Am I right?" There was a hint of insight into people's hearts in his words, as if he had seen through Song Quan's heart.

Song Quan burst into tears after hearing this. He regretted that he should not have been blinded by the interests, which harmed himself and others. He cried and said, "Your Majesty, I know I was wrong..." There was a trace of regret and pain in his voice, and he obviously realized his mistake.

Seeing this, Lin Xiaofeng sighed. He understood that everyone makes mistakes, but as long as they can repent, there is still hope. He said softly, "Well, I can help you out of this dilemma, but you have to do two things for me." There was a hint of majesty and unquestionable power in his voice.

"I will not refuse even if I die!" When Song Quan heard that there was a turn for the better, he immediately knelt down on the ground, as if he had grabbed a life-saving straw. His eyes revealed a hint of firmness and determination, and it was obvious that he was ready.

"Okay." Lin Xiaofeng knocked lightly on the dragon desk. "I wanted to implement a system for officials to publicly disclose their assets, but encountered opposition from many people. You are the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, you have to help me get this done." There was a hint of unquestionable power in his words, as if he had already seen the future victory.

When Song Quan heard this, his heart was pounding. He was one of the main forces opposing the public disclosure of his family property, because his own family property and salary did not match at all. But now he was in a dilemma and had to bite the bullet and agree. He asked cautiously, "Your Majesty, what do you want me to do?" There was a hint of trembling and uneasiness in his voice.

"Impeach those corrupt officials! If they don't admit it, you can use provocation to ask them why they dare not disclose their assets!" Lin Xiaofeng said firmly. His eyes revealed a trace of anger and determination, as if he had already sentenced those corrupt officials to death.

Song Quan wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and groaned inwardly. But now that things have come to this, he can only bite the bullet and do it. He nodded firmly: "I obey your order!" There was a hint of firmness and determination in his voice, as if he was ready. "Then... what will happen after I finish this?" Song Quan asked again, his eyes revealing a hint of expectation and nervousness. He wanted to know what kind of challenges he would face after completing this task.

Lin Xiaofeng took a deep breath, his eyes revealing a hint of determination and firmness: "I want to abolish all household registration systems other than the craftsman registration, and let the people move freely without being restricted by household registration. This move will affect the interests of many people, so I need someone to stand up and support me. You are the person I'm looking for." There was a hint of unquestionable power in his voice, as if he had already seen the future victory.

When Song Quan heard this, he was stunned. Abolish the household registration system? This is a big move! There are tens of thousands of people involved, and the interests are complicated. But he also understood that this is a great opportunity for him to prove his worth again. His heartbeat accelerated, and his blood boiled, as if he had seen the moment when he stood in the court and spoke for the people of the world.

So he gritted his teeth and nodded firmly: "I obey your order!" There was a hint of firmness and determination in his voice, as if he was ready to fight to the end for this great goal.

As soon as Song Quan left, Lin Xiaofeng sat carelessly on the dragon throne that symbolized supreme power, his eyes flashing with excitement and nervousness. In his heart, he thought about his plan over and over again, and every detail was like a chess piece on a chessboard, which needed to be carefully laid out. He was thinking about where there were imperfections, just like a craftsman carving a work of art that was about to be released, with both anticipation and anxiety.

Actually, there is no need to rush for reform, but there is an old saying: "A serious illness requires a strong medicine." The Ming Dynasty, a ship that has experienced many storms, is now full of holes. If it is not repaired, it may capsize. Taking advantage of the tax exemption, it is just the right time to rectify those corrupt officials who are like termites. Lin Xiaofeng knows that only by letting the people see that the court really wants to change for the better can the people's hearts be gathered and the enemies outside can be easily dealt with. The reason why the Southern Song Dynasty was able to survive in a corner at that time was because of the people's hearts.

Even if the reform fails, what can we do? Under the old locust tree in Coal Hill is also a good place to live. Thinking of this, Lin Xiaofeng smiled bitterly. Fortunately, the prince is in Nanjing, which is the orthodox place. Who dares not to listen to him? This confidence makes him more calm when facing the unknown future.

For several days, Lin Xiaofeng felt a little more relaxed. Apart from reviewing the piles of memorials, he just drank and ate meat, and watched the concubines and palace maids dance. Hey, this ancient way of entertainment was really interesting, and it was completely different from what he had imagined before. Without mobile phones and the Internet, life was actually quite stable. Those dances were more novel than the other, and they made people's eyes go straight, it was really amazing!
The wind was howling outside, but the house was warm, as if spring had arrived early. Under the dim light, the beauty gently stroked the strings of the zither, and the music was melodious, like a spring in the mountains, washing away the dust of the soul. The dancers danced lightly, and the fragrance was overflowing, like a fairyland. After drinking too much wine, my ears were hot and my eyes were blurry. Suddenly, a concubine stood up and said delicately, "Your Majesty, come and catch me!" This scene was hard to resist even for an old hand. Lin Xiaofeng couldn't help laughing, and the troubles in his heart seemed to dissipate with the laughter.

The dances changed every day, and the clothes were all different, so beautiful that it was dazzling. After watching for several days in a row, Lin Xiaofeng felt a little sore in his waist, so he decided to quit drinking. After all, the body is the capital of the revolution, and he can't fall down at this critical moment.

On New Year's Eve, Lin Xiaofeng held a family dinner in the harem, and the Queen, Concubine Yuan and other concubines were all there. Although it was a family dinner, the atmosphere was a bit restrained, and the concubines were all very cautious, fearing that they would lose their manners in front of the emperor. Seeing this, Lin Xiaofeng couldn't help but feel a little emotional. In this palace, everyone lives with a mask on. When will there be someone who treats them sincerely?
After dinner, Lin Xiaofeng thought of Empress Yi'an and asked Empress Zhou, "What arrangements were made for Empress Yi'an?" Empress Zhou stepped forward and said softly, "According to the previous rules, she was given some silver, silk and delicious food." Lin Xiaofeng nodded and thought to himself that he should not neglect the emperor's sister-in-law. After all, she was also a part of the palace.

Later, Lin Xiaofeng walked to Kunning Palace and saw that the palace was decorated with joy. The eunuchs were wearing new clothes and laughing and playing, and the children were setting off firecrackers to celebrate. Amid the sound of firecrackers, Lin Xiaofeng thought about the government affairs of the coming year. He had to deal with both internal and external affairs. What would Zhang Xianzhong and Li Zicheng do? Would the Jian Nu invade again? One question after another circled in his mind, making it impossible for him to relax.

Let's talk about Li Zicheng in Suzhou. He was also thinking about something. Empress Gao was wearing a fur coat to keep warm. Seeing that he was frowning, she asked, "Your Majesty, it's New Year's Day. What are you thinking about?" Li Zicheng sighed, and a trace of fatigue flashed in his eyes: "I'm tired after fighting for so many years." Empress Gao comforted him distressedly: "Your Majesty is not tired, but sleepy. It's time to rest."

Li Zicheng pondered for a moment, a trace of confusion flashed in his eyes: "Why did I rebel in the first place?" Empress Gao answered firmly: "To overthrow the Zhu family and save the people from the dire straits." Li Zicheng was silent for a while, and then said: "But the number of people who died because of me is several times more than those who starved to death. Did I do something wrong?" There was a tremor in his voice, and it was obvious that this question had troubled him for a long time.

Empress Gao held his hand and said firmly: "Nothing is absolute. Now that we have started the rebellion, we must persevere to the end. We believe that one day, the people will live a stable life." Li Zicheng looked into her eyes, as if he saw hope in them, and his heart was slightly relieved.

Meanwhile, Zhang Xianzhong was drinking with his generals in Fengdu County. Sun Kewang and his men toasted him, and Zhang Xianzhong was so happy that he drank several glasses in a row. But despite his happiness, he was still worried. He asked about the food and grass in the army, and Sun Kewang replied, "It can still last for three months." Zhang Xianzhong fell silent when he heard this. For an army on the move, food and grass are a big problem. If they stop here and continue to consume food and grass day by day, the army will disperse once the food and grass are gone.

Just when he was worried, someone reported that Li Dingguo's congratulatory card had arrived. Zhang Xianzhong opened it and read it. He smiled slightly at first, then laughed loudly, and finally laughed wildly: "Dingguo, my good son!" Everyone was confused and didn't know what was written in the congratulatory card.

Seeing this, Liu Wenxiu asked Zhang Xianzhong to show everyone the congratulatory letter. It turned out that Dingguo had proposed three strategies in the letter: first, release Gao Shiming and pretend to surrender to relieve the pressure on the enemy; second, divide the troops into two groups, one group stays behind to contain Jian Mingxiao, and the other group goes north to take Hanzhong and then Chengdu; third, withdraw the entire army to Huguang, force Hua Ruiqi to retreat, occupy Huguang and make plans.

Everyone was shocked when they heard this. Each of these three strategies hit the nail on the head, taking into account the current predicament and planning a way out for the future. The predicament of Bashu seemed to have taken a turn for the better! Zhang Xianzhong looked at the congratulatory card with tears in his eyes. He knew that this was a great gift from his son, but also a heavy responsibility.

The ancient lychee road, this road, has to be told from the Tianbao period of the Tang Dynasty. At that time, in order to please Yang Guifei, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang built a fast track to deliver lychees. This road starts from Fuling, crosses mountains and ridges, passes through Ziwu Valley, and leads all the way to Chang'an City. It is more than a thousand miles long. Imagine the winding mountain road, with lush trees on both sides and clouds and mist in the mountains, like a fairyland. In order to ensure that the lychees are delivered fresh within seven days, a porter is replaced every twenty miles, and a horse is replaced every sixty miles, and they keep on traveling day and night. Those porters, carrying on their shoulders and hands, sweat soaked their clothes, but they dare not slack off. The horse also ran very fast, with thunderous hoof sounds and flying dust, as if they were also struggling for the delivery of the lychees. So later, everyone called this road the ancient lychee road. It witnessed the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty and also carried the hard work of countless porters and horses.

In the Ming Dynasty, this road became an important passage for merchants and travelers from Sichuan and Shaanxi. The merchants carried heavy goods and climbed step by step on the bluestone road. Their faces were full of fatigue, but their eyes were shining with longing for the future. Travelers rode horses or walked, traveled in groups or alone, and left behind stories of laughter, joy and sorrow on this ancient road.

Zhang Xianzhong was so excited when he heard that he would take the Litchi Ancient Road to attack Hanzhong, and then take Chengdu along the Jinniu Road. He seemed to have seen himself leading a large army, marching along the Litchi Ancient Road, invincible and unstoppable. However, after the excitement, he became worried again: "This Shu Road is very difficult to walk, harder than climbing to the sky, and the road is so long. What if Hanzhong cannot be taken, what will happen to the food and grass?" He also said: "He Zhen in Hanzhong has surrendered to Li Zicheng, I don't want to confront them head-on." He frowned, and his eyes flashed with hesitation and worry.

When everyone heard this, they all nodded in agreement. After all, we are on the same front with the Shun army, and the Ming army is the enemy. They expressed their opinions and suggestions one after another, but Zhang Xianzhong fell into deep thought. He knew that although this road was difficult, it was the only way for him to realize his dream. He had to make a decision and lead the army to victory.

Liu Wenxiu stood up and asked: "Godfather, what should we do next? Should we continue to fight Jian Mingxiao, or withdraw to Huguang?" His words were full of concern and expectation. Zhang Xianzhong was so conflicted, not about where he wanted to go, but where he could go! He looked up into the distance, as if looking for an answer. Go back to Huguang? That was like being surrounded by enemies on all sides, with Li Zicheng in the north, Ruiqi in the east and south, and Jian Mingxiao in the west. It was very dangerous!
So he thought about it and said, "After the Lantern Festival, we will release Gao Shiming and let him tell Jian Mingxiao that I intend to surrender to the court and accept the amnesty." There was a hint of helplessness and determination in his words. Everyone was stunned when they heard it. They didn't expect Zhang Xianzhong to make such a decision. However, Zhang Xianzhong smiled: "This is a temporary measure. How could I really surrender?" His smile was a bit bitter, but there was a firm light in his eyes.

Then he ordered Liu Wenxiu and Sun Kewang to write to Li Yan to ask for help. It would be best if they could borrow food and grass, but it didn't matter if they couldn't. On the fifth day of the first lunar month, the two led their troops down the river and joined Dingguo to attack Changsha. Zhang Xianzhong and Ai Nengqi stayed behind to prevent the Ming army from pursuing them. They knew that this battle was a matter of life and death, and they had to go all out.

"We can't stay in the north of Huguang for long, we have to find a way to go south!" After receiving the order, the generals drank a glass of wine and dispersed to prepare. They knew that time was running out and they had to act as soon as possible. On the morning of the Lantern Festival, the gate of a courtyard in Fengdu City opened. The soldiers stepped aside and said respectfully: "Eunuch Gao, the King of Daxi wants to see you."

At this time, Gao Shiming was lying in bed and couldn't get up. He had been imprisoned for more than half a year and was often whipped. He was imprisoned again before his injuries were fully healed. He was furious when he heard this and refused to meet. He lay in bed, staring, panting, like a trapped beast.

The soldiers kowtowed and begged: "Eunuch Gao, please have mercy on me, otherwise the Great Western King will kill me." Their words were filled with tears and pleading. Gao Shiming sneered: "What does my life or death have to do with you?" His words were full of indifference and ruthlessness. However, the soldier whispered: "Actually, I am a spy of the Jinyiwei." Gao Shiming was so shocked that he sat up and asked for details while enduring the pain.

The soldier explained the situation in detail. Gao Shiming was so excited that he wanted to ask more questions, but there were more and more soldiers around him. The two of them had to shut up and keep going. When they arrived at the county government office, the soldier went in and reported: "Gao Shiming is here." Gao Shiming realized that he had been deceived, but he had no choice but to bite the bullet and go in to see Zhang Xianzhong.

As soon as he entered the room, he saw Zhang Xianzhong sitting there, looking at him with a smile. Gao Shiming's heart tightened, but he pretended to be calm and said, "I heard that General, you want to accept the amnesty?" Zhang Xianzhong smiled and replied, "Yes, Eunuch Gao, what's the situation at the court?" Gao Shiming asked him about the conditions. Zhang Xianzhong said, "Appoint me as a king of a different surname and let me guard Huguang forever."

Gao Shiming smiled and walked away, saying, "This is not something you can decide, General." There was a hint of sarcasm and provocation in his words. Liu Wenxiu was so angry that she wanted to stop him, but Gao Shiming smiled again, "Although I am a messenger, I cannot decide the conditions. I have to go back and report to the emperor." After that, he walked away with a swagger.

Zhang Xianzhong smiled and asked the court's intention. Gao Shiming said, "The court wants to transfer your troops to Jingzhou to recover Chengtianfu and Xiangyang." Zhang Xianzhong shook his head and said, "I can accept the amnesty but not the reorganization and deployment." His words were firm and resolute.

The two sides negotiated back and forth for a long time and finally reached a plan: Zhang Xianzhong would not accept the official title but was willing to move his troops to Dangyang to help the court recover Chengtian Prefecture; the court would be responsible for providing military pay and food. Gao Shiming breathed a sigh of relief after the deal was reached and immediately went to report to Jian Mingxiao and then rushed back to the capital to report.

Before leaving, Zhang Xianzhong gave him fifty taels of silver as travel expenses. Gao Shiming thanked him and took a small boat upstream to Changshou City. In Changshou City, Jian Mingxiao's army was strong and powerful, all supported by the King of Shu. At this time, Wannian ran in and reported: "There is a man named Gao Shiming outside the city who claims to be an imperial envoy of the court." Jian Mingxiao knew something was wrong when he heard it. He frowned and came up with a plan...

Jian Mingxiao stared at Ma Wannian with wide eyes, his gaze seemed to penetrate people's hearts. He shouted: "The military must strictly follow the rules of address, and we cannot mess around! As generals, we must set an example and establish our dignity!"

"Oh, I made a mistake, grandma!" Ma Wannian slapped his forehead and quickly corrected himself with an embarrassed smile on his face, "Report to the Governor, Gao Shiming wants to see you."

"Gao Shiming?" Jian Mingxiao was puzzled when he heard the name, and frowned slightly, "Isn't he serving the emperor in the capital? Why did he come to Shu? There must be something fishy about this matter."

"Grandma, do you know him?" Ma Wannian asked in a low voice, with a hint of curiosity in his eyes.

"Not only do we know each other, we've even met before." Jian Mingxiao recalled, his eyes becoming deep. "When I went to the capital to defend the emperor, he was standing by my side when the emperor summoned me. This man is very cunning, and we must be on guard."

"Then, shall we let him into the city?" Ma Wannian asked with a hint of hesitation in his tone.

"Let them go." Jian Mingxiao nodded, and then ordered, "Come here, clean up the yard, sprinkle water to remove dust, and prepare to welcome the distinguished guest. We want him to see how strict and orderly our Shu army is!"

Gao Shiming was then welcomed into the county government hall in a grand ceremony. He was wearing a gorgeous official uniform and a tall hat, with a hint of trepidation and expectation on his face.

After some pleasantries, Gao Shiming explained his purpose: "Governor Qin, I am here on the orders of the Emperor to appease Zhang Xianzhong. He has already agreed to the court's request, and I have come to inform you of this."

Upon hearing this, Jian Mingxiao's face darkened and he took a step back, with a flash of anger in his eyes: "What did you say? Zhang Xianzhong, the traitor, also wants to come and join us? What wishful thinking!"

Gao Shiming saw that he looked wrong, so he shrank his neck and said cautiously, "I... I am here by imperial decree, is there anything wrong with that?"

"When did you leave Beijing?" Jian Mingxiao asked, with a hint of doubt in his tone.

"April of the seventeenth year." Gao Shiming replied with a trembling voice.

Jian Mingxiao was serious at first, then he smiled, but there was a hint of coldness in his smile: "Eunuch Gao, please continue. I want to hear how this traitor pretended to surrender."

"Continue? I've already finished!" Gao Shiming was stunned. He didn't expect Jian Mingxiao to react like this. "Zhang Xianzhong is willing to surrender. I will return to Beijing to report after I tell you."

"I tell you clearly that I, Jian Mingxiao, do not accept Zhang Xianzhong's surrender!" Jian Mingxiao said firmly, his voice echoing throughout the hall.

Gao Shiming turned pale with fear, and beads of sweat oozed out of his forehead: "You...are you going to disobey the order? This is the emperor's will!" (End of this chapter)