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

Since Lin Xiaofeng came here, his mind has been like a mirror, reflecting all the chaos in this chaotic world. He knows that chaos needs to be governed, and chaos needs to be prevented during governance. The most chaotic thing about the Ming Dynasty is the complicated currency system. Therefore, he secretly thought that he must sort out this messy currency system and bring a bit of clarity to the Ming Dynasty.

He acted in a low-key manner, quietly raised a million taels of silver, and prepared to make a big move in the copper coin market in the capital. Although he tried his best to hide his whereabouts, the news inevitably leaked out. As the news spread, the powerful, officials, and businessmen in the capital began to murmur: What is the emperor doing? They were confused. Some followed the trend to buy copper coins, trying to make a fortune in this wave of turmoil; some thought of taking the opportunity to sell them to avoid being affected; and some simply sat on the mountain and watched the tigers fight and waited for the changes. As a result, the prices of silver and copper coins in the capital were like riding a roller coaster, up and down, making it unpredictable.

Seeing that the time was ripe, Lin Xiaofeng asked Gu Chaosheng to start. They bought high and sold low, and targeted the powerful and wealthy. After a series of operations, they made a lot of money. At this time, the exchange market in the capital was completely in chaos. Lin Xiaofeng took the opportunity to launch silver coins and issued an edict that only silver coins and copper coins could be used to pay taxes in the future. As long as the price of silver coins and copper coins stabilized, silver coins would become the new favorite of the Ming Dynasty! In this way, the power of coinage was firmly in the hands of Lin Xiaofeng, and the economic lifeline of the Ming Dynasty was controlled by him alone.

That evening, the setting sun was blood-red, splattering all over the glazed tiles of the Forbidden City. Lin Xiaofeng was about to retreat to the harem to rest, when suddenly, a burst of hurried footsteps broke the silence. Li Banghua hurried in, looking anxious.

"Your Majesty, I have an urgent matter to report!" There was a slight tremor in Li Banghua's voice.

Lin Xiaofeng raised his head, staring at Li Banghua with a sharp gaze: "Li Qing, what's the hurry?"

"In Northern Zhili, the first round of disaster relief has been completed for eight prefectures, two states, 17 scattered states, and 70 counties." Li Banghua said while taking a breath, "We used the army and engineering to help the victims, and the effect was great. We saved nearly 100,000 victims and recruited more than 15,000 new soldiers!"

After hearing this, Lin Xiaofeng frowned slightly and asked, "How did the officials perform? Have the arrears of taxes been recovered? Have the overcollected taxes been refunded?"

While Li Banghua was reporting, he also inspected the officials. He kept talking, saying that the good ones would be kept and the bad ones would be kicked out. Lin Xiaofeng listened carefully, but his heart was in turmoil.

"After an investigation, we found that there were 108 problematic officials, and the total amount of silver they embezzled was 3 million taels!" Li Banghua said as he handed over a list.

Lin Xiaofeng took the list and took a closer look. He suddenly felt angry. There are so many officials in the Ming Dynasty, and there are so many corrupt officials in Northern Zhili alone. The corruption problem is really serious! He slapped the table hard and said angrily, "This is just a preliminary result. Some cases are still under trial. It is estimated that it will be resolved in two months."

Li Banghua looked at Lin Xiaofeng's angry expression, and felt uneasy. He asked cautiously, "Then how does Your Majesty plan to deal with these people?"

Lin Xiaofeng looked at Li Banghua's red eyes and asked, "What do you think?"

"I think we should follow the example of Emperor Taizu Gao, enacting strict laws and harsh punishments to rectify the government!" Li Banghua said firmly, with a determined light flashing in his eyes.

"Kill them all?" Lin Xiaofeng asked tentatively, with a hint of coldness in his eyes.

"That is exactly what I mean. Your Majesty, please make your decision." Li Banghua answered firmly without backing down.

Lin Xiaofeng was not in a hurry to express his opinion. He was silent for a while and then asked about the tax collection and refund. Li Banghua reported the situation in detail. When it came to the gentry who deliberately owed taxes, he suggested that they pay within ten days, otherwise their houses would be confiscated. As for the common people who really had no money, they asked the land bureau to buy their land at the market price, use the money from the land to offset the tax, and then rent it to the common people to grow crops, so that they could at least have a way to make a living.

But when it comes to the issue of clearing the overtaxed taxes, Li Banghua has a headache. He said with a bitter face: "Many of those who were overtaxed have fled. There are thousands of households in Yongping Prefecture, and there are probably more than 100,000 people in the whole northern Zhili!"

Lin Xiaofeng felt heavy in his heart. He closed his eyes and seemed to see the people fleeing. They were ragged, pale and thin, with despair and helplessness in their eyes. Those corrupt officials could destroy the people's families with just one word. Compared with the sword of the Jiannu, this tax was an invisible blade!
"Should these corrupt officials be killed?" Li Banghua asked again, with a tremor in his voice.

"Kill! Don't leave any alive!" A cold light flashed in Lin Xiaofeng's eyes. His words were cold and resolute, as if they were squeezed out from between his teeth.

He walked around the room several times, his steps heavy and powerful. He stared at Li Banghua and said word by word: "Draw up a list of people to be killed for me, and I will approve it immediately. And as for those gentry who deliberately defaulted on taxes, you also need to make a list for me, and I will not let any of them go!"

Upon hearing this, Li Banghua was relieved at first, but then he asked cautiously, "How does your majesty plan to deal with the gentry?"

"If you fail to pay on time, your property will be confiscated first, and then you will be beheaded!" Lin Xiaofeng's words were cold and resolute, like a sharp knife piercing Li Banghua's heart.

Li Banghua was stunned. He thought he had been cruel enough, but he didn't expect the emperor to be even more ruthless. This confiscation of property and beheading was simply heartbreaking! He looked at Lin Xiaofeng's determined eyes and knew that there was no room for maneuver in this matter.

"Your Majesty, is this too harsh?" Li Banghua couldn't help but ask, with a slight tremor in his voice.

"Strict?" Lin Xiaofeng sneered. His eyes were like torches, as if he could see through people's hearts. "If they all paid taxes on time, how could corrupt officials dare to collect more? Although they didn't kill people with their own hands, the number of people who died because of them was more than tens of thousands! Those who can survive until the end of the year are the ones I left for them to live!"

Li Banghua wanted to persuade him again, but Lin Xiaofeng didn't want to listen anymore. He waved his hand and signaled Li Banghua to leave. Li Banghua had no choice but to bow respectfully and then leave the room.

Lin Xiaofeng looked at Li Banghua's departing back, and a complex emotion surged in his heart. He knew that his decision might cause a storm, but for the future of Ming Dynasty, he had to do it. He took a deep breath, then walked out of the room, facing the afterglow of the setting sun, and set foot on the road to the court. He knew that an unprecedented change was about to take place in Ming Dynasty, and he was the driving force behind this change.

Lin Xiaofeng's words made Li Banghua silent. His heart seemed to be pressed down by a huge rock, and his mind was in turmoil. He knew very well that killing the gentry was no joke. The interests involved were complicated and would affect the whole body.

"Killing the gentry is a tricky job!" Li Banghua muttered to himself, frowning, with a hint of helplessness in his eyes. He knew that the emperor's power ended at the county level. All the affairs of the county, big or small, depended on the help of the gentry. Why do you say that? Because the officials sent by the court ended up at the county magistrate, and the towns and villages below had to rely on self-government. There were only a few officials in the county government, plus some petty officials, a total of only a few dozen people. It was difficult to manage tens of thousands of people!

Every year, there are so many things to do, such as collecting taxes, conscription, imperial examinations, and maintaining public order, that all rely on the help of the gentry. Some of them are prestigious clan elders, some are wealthy landlords, and some are educated and cultured people. These people are well-known figures among the people, and their words are very important. They are like the pillars of the village, supporting the operation of the entire society.

"Your Majesty," Li Banghua mustered up his courage, his voice trembling slightly, knowing full well that his next words might anger the emperor, "We must think twice before we act on this matter of the gentry. If we really wipe them all out, the local area will be in chaos."

Lin Xiaofeng frowned, his eyes were sharp, he looked straight at Li Banghua, as if he wanted to see through his heart: "Chaos? Is it that serious?" There was a hint of doubt in his tone, obviously he did not completely believe what Li Banghua said.

Li Banghua nodded, his eyes revealing determination, as if he wanted to convince Lin Xiaofeng: "You see, two families in the village are arguing over land boundaries. If a gentry comes out to speak a fair word, the matter can be resolved immediately. But if there is no gentry, it may become a big fight, or even someone may die!" There was a hint of anxiety in his voice, and it was obvious that he attached great importance to this issue.

"Even if no one is killed, the county government will have to spend a lot of manpower and resources to deal with these trivial matters, which is an unnecessary waste." Lin Xiaofeng was obviously thinking about this problem, his brows were furrowed, and his eyes revealed a trace of worry. He knew that if this problem was not handled properly, it might cause a bigger mess.

He thought for a moment and asked again, "What's the length? Can't they replace the gentry?" There was a hint of doubt in his tone, and it was obvious that he did not fully understand the issue.

"Many of the village heads are relatives of the gentry. If the gentry are gone, the prestige of the village head will also be gone." Li Banghua explained, with a hint of helplessness in his voice. He knew that this problem was not so easy to solve.

"So, the prestige of the gentry is really not comparable to that of ordinary people." Lin Xiaofeng sneered, with a hint of sarcasm in his tone. But he already had an idea in his mind, he knew that this problem must be properly resolved.

"Li Qing, the problem of the gentry cannot be solved by killing them alone." Lin Xiaofeng said calmly, with a hint of wisdom in his eyes. He knew that killing was not the best way to solve the problem.

Li Banghua was relieved. It was good that His Majesty thought so. He knew that if he just kept killing people, it would only make the problem more complicated.

"Then what does your majesty think we should do?" Li Banghua asked tentatively, with a hint of expectation in his voice. He hoped that Lin Xiaofeng could come up with a wise solution.

Lin Xiaofeng turned around and looked at the sunset outside the palace, his eyes revealing a hint of depth. He slowly said: "We will kill those who cause trouble; we will appease those who benefit the people and are obedient; we will suppress those who do not cause trouble but are not obedient. The key is to let the gentry contradict themselves and fall into internal strife. In this way, the court can reap the benefits." There was a hint of determination in his voice, as if he had already seen the future victory.

When Li Banghua heard this, his heart skipped a beat. Your Majesty, this move is really cruel! But after thinking about it carefully, it is also a good idea. He knew that Lin Xiaofeng could always come up with some unexpected strategies to solve problems.

"Your Majesty is wise!" Li Banghua complimented quickly, with a hint of admiration in his voice. He knew that he still had a lot to learn from Lin Xiaofeng.

Lin Xiaofeng smiled slightly, his eyes revealing a hint of confidence. He continued, "Also, we have to use both open and covert tactics. The open tactics are the ones I just mentioned; the covert tactics are the war of public opinion. We have to let all the scholars in the world denounce those gentry who committed crimes and did not pay their taxes." There was a hint of coldness in his voice, as if he had seen the fate of those gentry.

"In this way, the gentry will obediently submit to the court." Lin Xiaofeng said confidently, with a glimmer of victory in his eyes. He knew that his plan would succeed.

Li Banghua nodded repeatedly, and his admiration for His Majesty increased. He knew that Lin Xiaofeng could always come up with some surprising strategies to solve problems.

"You can discuss the specific operation with the ministers in the cabinet." Lin Xiaofeng handed the task to Li Banghua, with a hint of trust in his voice. He knew that Li Banghua would definitely complete this task well.

Li Banghua was about to leave when Lin Xiaofeng stopped him again: "I'm tired, you can leave." There was a hint of fatigue in his voice, as if he had spent too much energy on this issue.

When Li Banghua walked out of the Qianqing Palace, he felt mixed emotions. He knew that His Majesty's move of using a knife to kill someone was really vicious! But he also understood that this was also for the sake of the overall situation. He knew that he had to go all out to implement this plan and fight for the future of the Ming Dynasty.

He got on the sedan chair and headed for the cabinet. Along the way, he was thinking about how to implement His Majesty's plan. He knew it would be a difficult struggle, but he also believed that as long as everyone worked together, they would succeed. His eyes revealed firmness and determination, as if he had already seen the future victory.

"Sir Cheng, how does His Majesty intend to deal with those gentry who deliberately default on tax payments?" Cheng Qinghua carefully helped Li Banghua sit down and handed him a cup of hot tea, his eyes full of concern and expectation.

Li Banghua took the teacup, blew on it gently, and his eyes were as deep as a pool. "Kill..." He said a word briefly and forcefully. Although his voice was light, it was like a heavy hammer that shocked people's hearts.

"Ah?" Qinghua's face turned pale instantly when he heard it, and he almost cried out in surprise. He quickly restrained his emotions and coughed lightly, trying to hide his inner panic. "Although they did owe taxes, it's not... life-threatening, right?"

Li Banghua put down his teacup, patted Qinghua's shoulder gently, and said earnestly: "Mengzhang, you should stay calm when encountering things. Wait until I finish talking before you think of countermeasures. We cabinet ministers must be steady! You are almost sixty years old, don't be so impatient like a young man."

Qinghua was startled when he heard this, and nodded quickly. "I will always keep your teachings in mind!" He said as he handed over the teacup again, trying to calm his inner turmoil.

Li Banghua picked up the teacup, took a sip of tea, and said slowly: "We must severely punish those gentry who harm the people; we must appease those who benefit the people; we must suppress those who resist the court. The key is to let the gentry contradict themselves and fall into internal strife, so that the court can reap the benefits."

After hearing this, Qinghua heaved a long sigh of relief and secretly felt lucky. He thought that his nephew was also a gentleman, and although he was a little naughty, he had never done anything evil. Now, after hearing what Li Banghua said, maybe there was hope.

"The gentry are indeed difficult to tame," Li Banghua continued, "I have discussed with your majesty and plan to seize the high ground of public opinion first, so that the people know that we are eliminating harm for the people!"

"Public opinion? Are you talking about the official gazette?" Qinghua asked curiously, with a gleam of curiosity in his eyes.

"The official reports are far from enough," Li Banghua shook his head. "We need to rely on those respected and knowledgeable people to increase our momentum! Only in this way can we make those gentry have nowhere to hide and let the common people see our determination and strength."

Qinghua thought about it, and suddenly his eyes lit up, and he thought of a person: "Sun Qifeng!" He blurted out, as if he had found the key to solving the problem.

"Sun Qifeng?" Li Banghua had also heard of his name, but his brows were slightly furrowed, and he looked a little worried. "I heard that he is already over sixty years old and has no interest in a career in politics."

"Confucian scholars are always more noble." Qinghua smiled and said confidently, "But if Your Majesty invites him personally, he will definitely come. After all, Your Majesty is the true dragon emperor. Who would not want to serve the court?"

"Then I will go to the palace now and ask His Majesty to issue an order!" Li Banghua said as he was about to stand up, with a determined light flashing in his eyes.

"My Lord, it's already late at night. Why don't we wait until tomorrow morning?" Qinghua advised. He was worried that Li Banghua's body wouldn't be able to handle it.

"This matter cannot be delayed," Li Banghua insisted. "If the decree arrives one day later, those evil gentry will live one day longer. I feel uneasy!" His tone was full of anxiety and determination.

"Then I'll help you go!" Qinghua said, and helped Li Banghua walk out. In the night, the two figures gradually went away, leaving behind a series of firm footprints.

……

On the sixth day of the third month in the eighteenth year of Lin Xiaofeng, Suzhou City in Fengyang Prefecture was immersed in tranquility. However, in a corner of this ancient city, a secret discussion about the general situation of the world was taking place.

Li Zicheng looked at the battle report from Huguang, frowning, with a worried look in his eyes. "The situation in Huguang is more complicated than I thought," he said in a deep voice, "Jian Mingxiao is so brave! Zhang Xianzhong was defeated by Hua Ruiqi before he even entered Sichuan, and now he has fled to the southern part of Huguang."

Cheng Minghe fanned himself and sighed, "Li Yan's battle report also said so. Zhang Xianzhong was driven out of Sichuan by Jian Mingxiao. The current situation is very unfavorable to us!"

"Jian Mingxiao has 120,000 troops," Li Zicheng continued, "and there are more than 10,000 newly recruited white-pole soldiers, and nearly 20,000 Xidong soldiers. The cavalry, infantry, and navy are all the elite of the elite, and they are difficult to deal with! I originally planned to give up Henan and concentrate my forces to attack Nanjing, but now it seems that this plan may have to be adjusted."

"No!" Cheng Minghe interrupted Li Zicheng, "The arrow has been strung and must be shot. We cannot change our original plan just because of the current difficulties."

"But I'm still worried." Cheng Minghe said anxiously, "Our original plan was to abandon Henan and concentrate our forces to attack Nanjing. But now the situation has changed. There's Hua Ruiqi upstream, and Jian Mingxiao even further upstream. If we can't capture Nanjing for a long time, the two of them will go downstream and attack us from the front and back. We'll be in danger! I'm afraid... our entire army will be wiped out!"

Li Zicheng and Nangong Shangpu laughed after listening to Cheng Minghe's analysis. Their smiles were full of confidence and calmness, as if they had seen through the fog of the battle.

Cheng Minghe was anxious and glared at Nangong Shangpu: "Niu Zuofu, what are you laughing at? Is my analysis wrong?"

"No, your analysis is accurate!" Nangong Shangpu replied with a smile, "However, you overlooked an important factor - our emperor. He already has a clever plan to deal with the current situation."

"Then what are you laughing at?" Cheng Minghe became even more displeased.

Nangong Shangpu walked up to Cheng Minghe, patted him on the shoulder and said, "Your Majesty has a good plan. If Jian Mingxiao takes action, we will move to Huguang and seize Sichuan; if he does not move, we will directly attack Nanjing and capture Zhu Cilang alive! Hua Ruiqi's target is Zhang Xianzhong, not us. When we arrive in Nanjing, if the situation is unfavorable, we will retreat to the south bank of the Huai River. What can Gao Jie, Liu Liangzuo and others do to me?"

After hearing what Nangong Shangpu said, Cheng Minghe was stunned for a while before he suddenly realized: "So that's it! Your Majesty is really wise!" He showed admiration on his face. "Haha, what do you think of this plan, Military Advisor Song?" Li Zicheng asked with a smile. His eyes were full of pride and confidence, as if he had seen the dawn of victory.

"Your Majesty's plan is brilliant. I admire you so much!" Cheng Minghe bowed, his tone full of sincerity and respect.

"Pass the order down, call all the generals to the tent to discuss the matter!" Li Zicheng gave the order, and the drums outside the tent sounded loudly, shaking the earth. He knew that this battle would determine their fate and the fate of the world.

As the door curtain was raised, the generals came in one after another. Jing Changhao led the way, followed by Sang Dongxu, Yan Tianlu, Gao Yigong, Gu Kecheng, Li Laiheng, Helan, Hao Yaoqi, Liu Tichun and others. They all looked heroic and vigorous, as if they were ready to charge into battle.

The generals who were not present were all because they had important tasks: Tian Jianxiu was defending Xi'an, Dang Shousu stayed in Lanzhou, Ning Weize was guarding Tongguan, and Luo Wenbin was temporarily hidden. But their hearts were closely connected with Li Zicheng, and they worked hard together for this battle.

After all the generals arrived, Li Zicheng was full of enthusiasm and passion. He recalled the 200,000 soldiers who had set out from Shaanxi to attack Beijing, and then looked at the 80,000 elite troops that had been assembled, and his heart was filled with infinite pride and determination. He knew that although the number of troops had been reduced, the morale was stronger and they were more united. They vowed to capture Nanjing and realize their dream.

"Dear generals!" Li Zicheng shouted loudly, his voice like thunder.

"I am here!" All the generals responded in unison, their voices resounding through the sky. Their eyes were full of determination and perseverance, as if they were ready to sacrifice themselves for the battle.

"I will never be able to let go of the regret about Beijing." Li Zicheng said in a deep voice, "Today, we will gather our forces again to attack Nanjing, and we are determined to achieve our wish!" His tone was full of determination and strength, as if he had seen the dawn of victory.

"Conquer Nanjing and capture Zhu Cilang alive!" The generals shouted in unison, their voices shaking the earth. Their hearts were filled with pride and fighting spirit, as if they were ready to charge into battle and sacrifice their lives for the country. At this moment, they had only one belief in their hearts - victory!
The central army tent was bustling with noise and excitement, as if even the heavy curtains were trembling slightly with the surging momentum. Li Zicheng, the newly crowned emperor, stood up suddenly, with his body straight, his hands behind his back, and slowly paced in the tent. His eyes were deep, revealing an unquestionable firmness. When everyone gradually quieted down, he said in a steady and powerful tone: "Okay! If we win this battle, the rich land of Jiangnan in the Ming Dynasty will all belong to us Dashun; if we lose, we will retreat to Shaanxi and continue to fight against the Ming Dynasty on equal terms."

The generals in the tent all looked solemn, their eyes flashing with the desire for victory. They stared at Li Zicheng closely, waiting for his next order.

"Generals, listen to my orders!" Li Zicheng's voice rang out again, like thunder, shaking everyone's hearts.

"Please give your orders, Your Majesty!" Jing Changhao, a burly and resolute-looking general, was the first to stand up. His voice was as loud as a bell, full of loyalty and respect for Li Zicheng.

"Please give your orders, Your Majesty!" The others were not willing to be outdone and responded in unison, their voices resounding through the sky.

"Jing Changhao!" Li Zicheng stared at the loyal general with sharp eyes.

"I'm here." Jing Changhao's body shook and he responded respectfully.

"You will lead 20,000 elite troops on the right wing to attack Lingbi in three days, and then seize Sizhou. After occupying Sizhou, immediately requisition fishing boats on the shores of Hongze Lake, train the navy, pretend to attack Yangzhou, and confuse the enemy." Li Zicheng's tone revealed an unquestionable majesty.

"Zhu Guobi and Liu Zhaoji who are guarding Huai'an will definitely come to rescue when they hear the news. You have to find a way to defeat them." His eyes flashed with trust and expectation for Jing Changhao.

"I obey your order!" Jing Changhao straightened his body and accepted the order respectfully.

"Yan Tianlu, I will give you an army of 10,000. When Zongmin attacks Lingbi and Sizhou, the Ming Dynasty will most likely send Suqian's servant Shan to the south to rescue. Zongmin will be responsible for the siege, and you will be responsible for fighting the reinforcements!" Li Zicheng's tone revealed a deep wisdom.

"I obey your command." Yan Tianlu was a tall and strong man with a resolute face. He accepted the order respectfully, his eyes flashing with desire for victory.

"Gu Kecheng, lead 10,000 troops to attack Fengyang and lure Ma Shiying out of the city." Li Zicheng turned his gaze to another general.

"Sang Dongxu, you also lead 10,000 troops and ambush behind Gu Kecheng. When Ma Shiying underestimates the enemy and advances rashly, attack him from both sides!" His tone revealed a deep desire to fight.

"Hao Yaoqi, Liu Tichun, I will give you 10,000 troops to attack Mengcheng County. After the capture, rest in place to guard against enemies from the west." Li Zicheng's eyes swept over the last two generals, and his tone revealed an unquestionable majesty.

"West?" Jing Changhao was somewhat puzzled. He frowned and asked in confusion, "Xiangyang and Chengtianfu are already in our hands, why do we still need to heavily defend them? It is not easy for a large army to take a detour. Even if a small group of Ming Dynasty troops can bypass them, they are no match for us."

Jing Changhao's words are indeed reasonable. When marching and fighting, the right time, right terrain, and right people are all indispensable. The weather is unpredictable, so the right terrain is particularly important. The open terrain makes it convenient to march. For example, it takes eight hours for 10,000 people to march 40 miles a day, an average of about 5 miles per hour. But if on a narrow road, only four people can be arranged in a row, with a distance of ten feet between the front and the back, it will take an hour for 10,000 people to pass. If it is changed to eight people in a row, it will only take half an hour; if it is changed to sixteen people in a row, it will only take a quarter of an hour. This is just a consideration of the marching speed. When two armies are fighting, if one side has formed a formation and the other side is still on the road, the outcome will be obvious. Similarly, if we pass through the terrain quickly, the enemy's spies will not have time to react, and our chances of surprise attack will be greatly increased! The importance of geographical advantages can be seen from this.

Li Zicheng shook his head slightly, his eyes were deep, revealing a kind of profound wisdom. "Mr. Li and Hong Niangzi did not stick to Chengtian Prefecture and Xiangyang. They will withdraw at the right time to pursue a greater strategic goal." His tone revealed an unquestionable firmness.

"A bigger strategic goal?" Jing Changhao signaled to the others with his eyes, but no one asked. Since Li Zicheng was already the emperor, he must have far-reaching considerations.

Seeing that no one had any objection, Li Zicheng continued, "Other generals, come with me to Fengyang!" His tone revealed an unquestionable majesty.

"As ordered!" The generals left one after another and returned to their camps to prepare. Only Jing Changhao stayed. He walked quickly behind the curtain and whispered to Li Zicheng: "Your Majesty, the people of Suzhou are unwilling to submit to us. Do we have to plunder their food to recruit soldiers this time?"

Jing Changhao's meaning was very clear. The Dashun Army was short of soldiers and wanted to use food to force the people to join the army. Li Zicheng pondered for a while, his eyes deep, revealing a deep wisdom. "A few days ago, Cheng Xiaoyu, the bandit leader of Suizhou, brought 2,000 people to join us. You secretly ordered him to plunder the people and force them to join us. After the plunder, execute Cheng Xiaoyu and his cronies on the charge of plunder. This will not only appease the people but also recruit his people." His tone revealed an unquestionable majesty.

"This strategy can not only absorb their military forces, but also win the hearts of the people and make them submit. It really kills three birds with one stone." Jing Changhao was surprised at first, then nodded and said admiringly, "I obey your order."

"There is no time to lose, let's make arrangements quickly." There was a sense of urgency in Li Zicheng's tone.

"I'll go right away." Jing Changhao bowed and left in a hurry, his figure gradually disappearing into the night.

The actions of the Dashun Army alarmed Ma Shiying in Fengyang. He quickly sent spies to frequently gather information and continuously report the news back to Nanjing. For a time, the people in Nanjing were in a panic, and people were talking about the Dashun Army's southward march and the upcoming war.

……

In the Chunhe Hall of the Nanjing Imperial City, the Crown Prince Zhu Cilang of the Ming Dynasty was sitting at his desk, reading a book attentively. His face was handsome, and his eyes revealed a deep wisdom and firm will.

"To achieve great things, you must get rid of three thieves in your heart." He recited the words in the book in a low voice, and his tone revealed a deep feeling, "Inner peace can get rid of the thief of anxiety; knowing how to give up can get rid of the thief of desire; practicing in practice can get rid of the thief of hesitation. Once these three thieves are eliminated, everything can be accomplished."

"It is easy to eliminate the thieves in the mountains, but it is difficult to eliminate the thieves in the heart." He sighed, his eyes flashing with a deep understanding of self-cultivation.

After hearing this, Ni Yuanlu asked, "Your Highness, what do you think is the key to defeating these three evildoers?" His tone revealed his concern and expectation for Zhu Cilang.

Cilang thought for a moment and said, "I think the key is to have a firm will and stable emotions." His tone revealed confidence and determination.

"Is your Highness determined?" Ni Yuanlu asked.

"Determined!" Cilang answered without hesitation.

"Are you emotionally stable?" Ni Yuanlu asked again.

"Stable!" Cilang's tone revealed an unquestionable firmness.

"Very good." Ni Yuanlu nodded, showing satisfaction. He turned to the eunuch Qiu Zhizhong who was waiting anxiously outside the door and said, "I will go in and report now."

Qiu Zhizhong had been waiting impatiently for a long time. After hearing the order, he immediately rushed into the hall and reported in a low voice: "Your Highness, Governor Ma's secret letter has arrived. The thief Li has already headed south!" His tone revealed a sense of urgency and anxiety.

"Go south...what?" Cilang was like being struck by lightning when he heard this. He sat there speechless. He knew the meaning of going south. Both Fengyang and Nanjing were in danger. Nanjing was of course in danger. Fengyang was the location of the imperial mausoleum. If the mausoleum of Emperor Taizu Gao was burned down again, how could he save his face? Moreover, he was now the regent. If he lost Fengyang, he would be sorry for his ancestors and failed his father's trust.

Seeing Cilang's distraught look, Ni Yuanlu comforted him, "Only inner peace can eliminate the thief of anxiety. Don't panic when encountering big things. Only by keeping calm can you generate wisdom. With wisdom, enlightenment brings freedom. Only in this way can we become the people's support." His tone revealed a deep concern and expectation, hoping that Cilang could cheer up and face the impending crisis.

"Oh my..." Zhu Cilang suddenly stood up from the rosewood seat carved with dragons and phoenixes, clenched his hands into fists, and said anxiously: "My heart is in a mess and I can't calm down!" His eyes revealed a trace of anxiety and uneasiness, as if he was trapped by invisible pressure.

Seeing this, Ni Yuanlu raised his lips slightly, revealing a gentle smile. He said slowly: "Your Highness, you must always remember your noble status and stay calm. You are the future of the Ming Dynasty, and the people depend on you. You must be calm in every move."

"You are neither a civil official nor a military general. You do not need to plan the war yourself, let alone lead the troops to fight. Your task is to sit firmly in the palace, like the North Star, guiding the direction, reasonably distributing power, and governing the country." Ni Yuanlu's words were like a spring breeze, with the power to soothe people's hearts.

"After the bandits are pacified, you can take back the power. This is the way of an emperor." Ni Yuanlu's eyes were full of wisdom and determination, as if silently encouraging Zhu Cilang.

After hearing what Ni Yuanlu said, Zhu Cilang calmed down a little. Although he was still a little nervous, he felt much better than before. He took a deep breath, trying to suppress the panic in his heart, and then slowly asked: "Then... sir, what should I do? Should I call all the officials to discuss state affairs?"

"Your Highness, don't worry. They will be here soon." As soon as Ni Yuanlu finished speaking, he heard the eunuch outside the palace loudly reporting, and the voice penetrated the heavy palace door: "Your Highness, the Minister of War Shi Kefa and the civil and military officials are outside the palace to ask for an audience."

Zhu Cilang stood up, took a deep breath again, calmed himself, and then ordered: "Let them in." Although his voice was still a little trembling, it was obviously more determined.

"Yes, sir." The eunuch retreated in response, and then officials poured in like a tide. The originally spacious Chunhe Hall suddenly became crowded.

Shi Kefa was dressed in court robes and had a solemn expression. He was the first to step forward and report: "Your Highness, there is urgent military information coming from Fengyang. Li Zicheng is leading tens of thousands of troops and is heading south. After leaving Suzhou, they divided their troops into three groups. One group attacked Lingbi, one group attacked Fengyang, and another group attacked Mengcheng. I guess their final target must be Nanjing!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire hall fell silent. Only the occasional chirping of birds could be heard outside the window, which was inconsistent with the tense atmosphere in the hall.

Everyone can't help but recall the battle last March when Li Zicheng attacked the capital. At that time, Emperor Chongzhen personally led his army to resist, but still failed. Now it is March again, and Li Zicheng has reached Nanjing again. What should we do?

Zhu Cilang closed his eyes, and the image of his father, Emperor Chongzhen, flashed through his mind. It was a feeling that was both familiar and unfamiliar. He took a deep breath again, trying to make his voice sound steady: "My dear ministers, do you have any good countermeasures?"

Shi Kefa did not wait for anyone else to speak, and he stepped forward with his hands folded, confidently saying, "Your Highness, please rest assured. If an enemy comes, we will stop him. If a flood comes, we will block it with earth. Although Li Zicheng is powerful, our Nanzhili troops are also strong. As long as we deploy them properly, they will never gain an advantage."

After hearing what Shi Kefa said, Zhu Cilang felt more at ease. He stared at Shi Kefa, his eyes gleaming with anticipation: "Minister Shi, what kind of troops are available in Nanzhili?"

Shi Kefa pulled out a notebook from his sleeve, opened it, and read out the following words: "Funing Marquis Zhu Guobi is the admiral of the grain transport and guards Huai'an. He has 5,000 elite soldiers under his command. Nanjing Grand School Admiral Liu Zhaoji also leads more than 1,000 soldiers and is stationed near Huai'an. The governor's assistant, Pu Congshan, leads 5,000 soldiers and is stationed in Suqian. Fengyang Governor Ma Shiying has 45,000 troops under his command, guarding Fengyang, Huainan, and Fuyang respectively. There is also Nanjing Right Governor Liu Kongzhao, the sincere earl who is in charge of the river and patrols the river defense. He leads 20,000 naval forces stationed outside Nanjing. In addition, Henan General Li Jiyu, Deputy General Wang Zhigang, and Aid General Xu Dingguo, the three of them have a total of 30,000 soldiers, stationed in Bozhou, Shangqiu, and Xuzhou respectively. Finally, Nanjing Jingying has 30,000 elite soldiers that can be deployed at any time!"

Zhu Cilang calculated silently in his mind that these troops added up to more than 107,000 people, which should be enough to resist Li Chuangwang's army. But then he changed his mind and asked Shi Kefa: "How many soldiers does Li Chuangwang have?"

"Eighty thousand!" Shi Kefa answered decisively without any hesitation.

Zhu Cilang's heart tightened when he heard this. Except for Liu Kongzhao's navy, the forces of both sides were actually evenly matched. He frowned and asked worriedly, "Minister Shi, are these forces enough?"

"Your Highness, I'm afraid that's not enough." Shi Kefa shook his head, his expression solemn. "I have sent people north to ask for help, and asked Generals Gao Jie and Liu Liangzuo to quickly go south to protect Nanjing. Gao Jie has 27,000 soldiers, and Liu Liangzuo has 10,000. At the same time, I also ordered Generals Hua Ruiqi and Jian Mingxiao to go down the river to help Nanjing."

After hearing Shi Kefa's arrangement, Zhu Cilang finally felt relieved. He nodded, with a gleam of determination in his eyes: "In that case, then order all the troops to be on high alert and make sure to stop Li Chuangwang's army outside Fengyang and Nanjing!"

However, everyone looked at each other, but no one spoke. Because everyone knew one problem: no money! How could we send troops to fight without military pay and food? But the treasury in Nanjing was extremely empty, with neither money nor food.

Let's talk about the issue of logistics: should we raise the money ourselves? Or should we let the imperial court take care of it? If we raise the money ourselves, we will have to recruit civilians and collect food locally, which may cause civil unrest if we are not careful; if we let the imperial court take care of it? We are back to square one: no money!
"Your Highness," Nanjing Finance Minister Gao Hongtu said in a low voice, with a hint of helplessness and worry in his voice, "Nanjing Finance is already extremely poor, and the money from Beijing will not arrive until the end of the month at the earliest. Without military pay and food, the soldiers cannot win the war even if they are willing to fight."

After hearing Gao Hongtu's words, Zhu Cilang's face turned gloomy. He seemed to see the predicament his father faced back then, and the feeling of powerlessness surged in his heart again. How did his father solve this problem? Fundraising! Thinking of this, Zhu Cilang raised his head and looked at everyone, with a firm light in his eyes: "Since ancient times, there have been many rich places in Jiangnan, and there are many wealthy merchants and gentry. Can we borrow money from them? We can repay them once the money arrives from Beijing."

Everyone was silent after hearing this. It is easy to borrow money but hard to pay it back! And someone has to be willing to borrow it! In whose name should it be borrowed? What if it is not paid back after borrowing the money? Those creditors will definitely make trouble for the person who handled it! The person who handled it was just following orders, and it was not him who used the money, so no one was willing to do this job.

Seeing Zhu Cilang's helpless appearance, Shi Kefa sighed inwardly. He knew that Zhu Cilang needed someone to stand up and support him at this moment. So Shi Kefa stood up and said, "Your Highness, I am willing to give it a try. But I am not sure how much I can borrow."

Zhu Cilang's eyes moistened when he heard this. He looked at Shi Kefa gratefully, and said with a choked voice: "Shi Shangshu is a pillar of the country. Only you can handle this matter."

"I obey your command." Shi Kefa responded and retreated. His back looked a little lonely, but unusually determined.

At this time, Liu Wenbing, the governor of Nanjing's Beijing Camp, stood up and said, "Your Highness, the bandits have not yet approached Nanjing, and the most urgent task is to guard Fengyang. I heard that Governor Ma Shiying has 45,000 troops under his command, stationed in Fengyang, Huainan, Fuyang and other places. Although dividing the troops seems safe, it is not the case when dealing with an enemy like Li Zicheng. He is good at besieging a point and attacking reinforcements, and dividing the troops is more likely to fall into a trap. Your Highness, please issue an order quickly to order Ma Shiying to gather his troops and defend Fengyang to wait for reinforcements. As long as we hold on for half a month to twenty days, the reinforcements of Generals Hua Ruiqi and Jian Mingxiao will surely arrive. General Hua Ruiqi is self-sufficient in Huguang and has sufficient food and grass; General Jian Mingxiao has borrowed 5 million taels of silver from the King of Shu, and the military pay and food and grass are all transported from Sichuan, so the court does not need to worry about it."

When Zhu Cilang heard this, his eyes lit up, as if he had seen the dawn of hope: "Hua Ruiqi... Jian Mingxiao! That's right! Xinle Hou's words make sense! Quickly send a message to Ma Shiying to join forces to defend Fengyang and wait for reinforcements!" His voice was full of firmness and determination, as if he had seen the dawn of victory. (End of this chapter)