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

"Your Majesty, I have something to say!" Ruan Dacheng, the military secretary, stood straight, his deep eyes flashing with determination, as if what he was about to say was not only a shock to the court, but also a cry from the depths of his heart. His voice was loud and powerful, echoing in the magnificent hall, and every word seemed to be carefully crafted, with unquestionable power.

After the careful operation of Qian Qianyi and Ma Shiying, Ruan Dacheng finally set foot on the officialdom, a land full of thorns and glory.

Although his official position was not prominent, he was at least able to participate in the changing circumstances in the court.

Crown Prince Zhu Cilang was initially unhappy about this, but considering that Ruan Dacheng had done him a favor, it was difficult for him to reject the offer directly. After repeated recommendations, Zhu Cilang reluctantly gave Ruan Dacheng a position as a military official.

In order to ensure safety, Zhu Cilang specially wrote a letter to Lin Xiaofeng, asking him to help check. Lin Xiaofeng's reply was concise and clear, but it revealed an indescribable deep meaning: "Your Highness, as the crown prince, Nanjing's affairs should be decided by you, and I will not interfere." Although this sentence is short, it is like a stone thrown into a calm lake, stirring up layers of ripples.

Did Lin Xiaofeng really not ask anymore? Of course not, he was just waiting for the most appropriate time! He knew that killing people had to be justified, and those who hid in the dark were often the most difficult to deal with. Only by letting the other party reveal their flaws can they be dealt with justified. As the old saying goes: "The treacherous minister revealed his fox tail himself!" Lin Xiaofeng had already laid an invisible net in his heart, waiting for the fox to fall into the trap.

Zhu Cilang nodded slightly, signaling Ruan Dacheng to continue. His eyes revealed a hint of curiosity and expectation, as if he wanted to hear something unusual from Ruan Dacheng.

Ruan Dacheng's face was serious but with a barely perceptible smile, which was a kind of confidence and also a kind of cunning. "Your Highness, Li Zicheng's bandits are invading the south with great momentum. Although we have many soldiers, they are scattered everywhere and put together temporarily. There are many contradictions and the command is not unified. I suggest setting up a governor-general to assist and suppress the enemy, who is responsible for central dispatch." His voice was steady and powerful, and every word seemed to be carefully calculated, hitting the core of the problem.

Huh? This actually makes sense! Zhu Cilang couldn't help but re-examine Ruan Dacheng, secretly admiring his talent. This man was able to solve an urgent problem, he was indeed not an ordinary person. There was a little more approval and a little more thinking in his eyes.

"So who do you think is suitable for this position?" Zhu Cilang asked, with a hint of expectation and a hint of testing in his voice.

"I think Fengyang Governor Ma Shiying is qualified for the job!" Ruan Dacheng's words were full of sharpness, and every word was like a carefully polished arrow, pointing directly at the target. There was a subtle cunning on his face, as if he had seen the dawn of victory.

It is human nature to recommend a trusted person. The governor-general of the anti-bandit campaign is a powerful position, and all the troops fighting against the bandits must listen to him. Although Li Zicheng is fierce, we have 100,000 troops near Nanjing. As long as we hold on and do not fight, Fengyang and Nanjing will be safe. When Jian Mingxiao, Hua Ruiqi and others arrive, Li Zicheng will definitely be defeated. How can such a credit be easily given to others? Ruan Dacheng had already figured all this out in his mind.

However, Liu Kongzhao, the Earl of Chengyi, was the first to jump out and object: "Your Highness, I think it is not possible!" His voice was loud and powerful, with an unquestionable firmness. His face was full of doubts and dissatisfaction with Ruan Dacheng's proposal.

"Tell me about it." Zhu Cilang knew that the key to employing people was to carefully select them, but it was hard to say who was more suitable at the moment. There was a hint of curiosity and expectation in his voice, as if he wanted to hear something unusual from Liu Kongzhao.

After Liu Kongzhao saluted, he slowly said: "Although Ma Shiying serves as the governor of Fengyang, he has few troops under his command and has no experience in commanding large armies. I am afraid he will fail if we suddenly ask him to serve as the governor-general of the aid and suppression campaign." His voice was steady and powerful, and every word seemed to be carefully calculated, hitting the core of the problem.

"I second the motion!" "I second the motion too!" New Duke of Wei Xu Wenjue, Earl of Xincheng Zhao Zhilong and others all expressed their agreement. Their faces were filled with support and approval for Liu Kongzhao's proposal.

Zhu Cilang thought about it and felt that what Liu Kongzhao said made sense. Ma Shiying had said before that he would counterattack Henan, but the soldiers he recruited refused to fight and kept making excuses. If he hadn't been urged, Fuyang would not have been recovered. It was really worrying to have such a person as the governor-general of the aid and suppression. He couldn't help but feel a little worried.

Seeing that Zhu Cilang looked hesitant, Liu Kongzhao took the opportunity to propose: "I recommend Zhu Guobi, Marquis of Funing, to take this position. He has been the governor of the grain transport for many years and is familiar with the terrain of Huai'an and Yangzhou. He has the advantages of time and place, so his chances of winning are naturally great." There was a hint of expectation and confidence in his voice, as if he had seen the dawn of victory.

However, as soon as Liu Kongzhao finished speaking, all the civil officials in the court opposed it. Their faces were full of doubts and dissatisfaction with Liu Kongzhao's proposal.

"Not right! Zhu Guobi made a mistake in the past and was stripped of his title. After being reinstated, he arbitrarily withheld military pay in the capital. How can he be in such an important position?" Nanjing's Minister of Finance Gao Hongtu was the first to stand up and object. His voice was loud and powerful, with an unquestionable firmness.

Lü Daqi, Shi Kefa, Ruan Dacheng and others also echoed. Their faces were full of dissatisfaction and worry about Zhu Guobi. Zhu Guobi was born into a noble family. There had always been discord between civil officials and nobles. Unless it was absolutely necessary, they would never hand over power to nobles. This was a hurdle in their hearts and a principle they could not compromise on.

Liu Kongzhao was not convinced: "Although Zhu Guobi made mistakes, he has been pardoned. Why can't he be the governor-general of the suppression?" There was a hint of anger and confusion in his voice. His face was full of dissatisfaction and doubts about this group of civil officials.

Lu Daqi sneered, "Have you forgotten, Lord Chengyi? The governor-general of the aid suppression must be able to convince the people. With what Zhu Guobi has done, can he convince the people? If he can't convince the people, even if there are millions of troops, they will be scattered!" There was a hint of sarcasm and disdain in his voice. His face was full of contempt and disdain for Zhu Guobi.

Liu Kongzhao was choked and speechless, his eyes widened and his mouth was open for a long time. His face was full of embarrassment and helplessness. He knew in his heart that his proposal this time would probably be difficult to pass.

Seeing this, the officials joined the debate. The court was immediately divided into two groups: the nobles wanted to fight for the position, while the civil officials were firmly opposed. Both sides insisted on their own opinions and refused to give in. The whole hall was filled with gunpowder, as if a fierce fight would break out at any time.

After arguing for a long time without any result, Ruan Dacheng stood up again and said, "Your Highness, I recommend Ding Kuichu as the governor-general of the suppression and support." His voice was steady and powerful, and every word seemed to be carefully calculated, hitting the core of the problem. There was a hint of confidence and expectation on his face.

Ding Kuichu was a veteran. He was a Jinshi in the 44th year of Wanli. He served as the governor of Baoding, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Revenue, and the governor of Yongping. However, when he was in Yongping, he was demoted to guard the border because he failed to resist the attack of the Jiannu. Later, he was released after paying a fine and killed the rebel Liu Chao with Ma Shiying and was reappointed as the governor of Henan. His nephew Ding Qirui was also very famous at the time. Such a person does have talents and experience that cannot be ignored.

"Ding Kuichu..." Zhu Cilang frowned and said, "He doesn't have much experience in leading troops, so I'm afraid he won't be able to take on this position." There was a hint of worry and hesitation in his voice. He knew the importance of this position, and the difficulty of choosing a person.

Shi Kefa and Gao Hongtu exchanged glances and said together, "We believe Ding Kuichu is competent!" Their voices were firm and confident. Their faces were filled with trust and expectation for Ding Kuichu.

The situation is urgent now, and it is not the time to be picky. Although Ding Kuichu's talent is average, his reputation is not bad. The most urgent task is not to find a genius, but to quickly select someone to command the front line. If the dispute continues, Li Zicheng will come. The ministers all understand this. Their faces are full of anxiety and helplessness.

"I second the motion!" "I second the motion as well!" The ministers all expressed their agreement. There was a hint of firmness and expectation in their voices. Their faces were filled with trust and expectation for Ding Kuichu.

Zhu Cilang looked at Ni Yuanlu standing in the corner and Liu Wenbing standing at the door. Liu Wenbing stood straight, like a pillar, his face full of determination and loyalty. Ni Yuanlu nodded slightly, his eyes revealing a thoughtful approval. Zhu Cilang knew that these two people were important officials in the court, and their opinions often represented the voices of the majority.

Money and food are indispensable for war. Without the support of the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue, it is inevitable that we will be controlled by others. Zhu Cilang had already figured all this out in his mind. His eyes revealed a kind of determination and firmness. He knew that he had to make a decision and select a suitable governor-general for the country.

"Where is Ding Kuichu now?" Zhu Cilang asked, with a hint of urgency and anticipation in his voice.

"In Fuyang," someone answered. The voice was soft, but it was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, stirring up ripples.

"Okay, then pass my order to Fuyang"

Walking out of Chunhe Hall, Shi Kefa's face was full of fatigue. The court of Nanjing City was getting more and more chaotic day by day, and people's hearts seemed to be no longer as simple as before. Various things were intertwined, and the struggle behind the scenes was in full swing. He muttered to himself, what on earth can he do? In the end, he still had to compromise again and again.

Thinking of selecting a governor-general to assist in the suppression, he felt that Lü Daqi was the most suitable candidate. He knew Lü Daqi's ability, which was absolutely outstanding. However, it was only a three or two-day journey from Nanjing to Fengyang by horseback, but no one recommended him. Shi Kefa wanted to recommend him personally, but seeing the chaos in the court, he gave up the idea. He was afraid that once Lü Daqi took office, he would be plotted against by Ma Shiying, Zhu Guobi and others. By then, the army would be defeated, and he would lose face, and even bring disaster.

Just as he was sighing and looking worried, a young man's voice came: "Sir, what's wrong with you?" Shi Kefa looked up and saw that it was Zhang Huangyan. Wasn't this the young man recommended by Qian Sule, the deputy minister of the Ministry of Justice, whom he had promoted before? Now he is the Right Censor-in-Chief of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, and he has shown me a great favor.

Shi Kefa smiled bitterly and said, "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince asked me to raise military funds. What should I do?" Zhang Huangyan thought for a moment and said, "Sir, why don't you go to Yangzhou and try?" Shi Kefa was a little confused when he heard this. He looked at Zhang Huangyan, a 25-year-old young man who seemed to have a lot of ideas despite his young age.

Zhang Huangyan smiled and said, "Nanjing City is solid, with powerful artillery fire and elite guards, like an iron barrel. The gentry and wealthy families feel very safe, so they are naturally unwilling to pay to help us fight. But Yangzhou is different. It is west of the Yangtze River and the Grand Canal. If Li Zicheng's gang of thieves come from the northwest, the Yangtze River and the Grand Canal will become obstacles for them to escape. My lord, you just need to spread the word in Yangzhou that the ancient capitals of Kaifeng and Luoyang have been occupied by thieves. How can we recruit soldiers and buy weapons to defend Yangzhou without spending money? In this way, we will have money for military pay."

When Shi Kefa heard this, his eyes suddenly lit up. He praised Huang Yan for his talent and secretly felt lucky to have such a strong-minded young man around him. He thought for a moment and said, "I am now the Minister of War in Nanjing. The bandits are invading the south and the court is short of people. How can I leave so easily?"

Before he could finish, Zhang Huangyan volunteered: "I am willing to go to Yangzhou to raise funds for you." Shi Kefa was very happy when he heard this. He said: "I didn't make a mistake! If all the officials were like you, how could the country be in this state?" Zhang Huangyan said a few humble words, and Shi Kefa immediately wrote a memorial to the prince and sent Zhang Huangyan on his way.

……

As for Fengyang, when Ma Shiying saw the battle report, his face was as gloomy as the surface of the water in winter. He did not expect Li Zicheng to dare to attack Fengyang. You know, Fengyang's military force is the strongest among all the cities.

"Governor Ma, Li Jun has attacked Guzhen. Should we help?" The military supervisor eunuch Lu Jiude asked him anxiously. Lu Jiude was from Yangzhou. He was capable and knowledgeable in military tactics. Although he was a military supervisor, he actually led the general's duties. In order to curry favor with him, Ma Shiying assigned some soldiers to him. Lu Jiude was indeed capable and won many battles with his soldiers.

Ma Shiying did not answer directly, but asked Lu Jiude: "Eunuch Lu, can you contact Generals Gao Jie and Liu Liangzuo?" Lu Jiude shook his head and said, "It's difficult, what's the problem?" Ma Shiying sighed and said, "Li is powerful, we are no match for him if we fight alone. If we can get the help of these two generals, our chances of winning will be much greater."

Lu Jiude still shook his head: "Your Majesty can't control them, how can I? But I can try to contact Liu Zhaoji in Huai'an, Pu Congshan in Suqian, and people like Li Jiyu, Wang Zhigang, and Xu Dingguo, to attack the thief Li from the north." Ma Shiying hurriedly thanked him, and secretly felt fortunate that he had such a capable military supervisor by his side.

Lu Jiude asked again: "Should we save Guzhen?" Ma Shiying hesitated for a long time and said: "Save it. Let's send a small team to test the strength of Li the thief first." So it was decided. Lu Jiude was busy contacting various troops, while Ma Shiying personally led his troops to Guzhen for rescue.

Deputy General Wang Fei led a thousand cavalry and two thousand infantry, crossed the Huai River and stopped. They heard that Guzhen was surrounded by tens of thousands of bandits, and the disparity in numbers was too great, making it difficult to advance or retreat. While they were hesitating, a scout came to report: "Traces of bandits were found five miles ahead."

Wang Fei was surprised at first, but then he was happy, thinking that Guzhen had been lost and he could go back to report. But he asked about the number of the bandits, and they replied, "It's about the same as ours, with more infantry and fewer cavalry." Wang Fei had an idea when he heard it. He encouraged the soldiers and said, "Guzhen has been lost. It's not that we don't want to rescue it, but the bandits are too fast. But now there are more than 3,000 bandits in front of us. How can we just sit there and do nothing? We must fight them to show our determination!"

When the soldiers heard this, they all responded. They knew that this battle was not only for the defense of the town, but also for their honor and the dignity of the country. Wang Fei gave an order: "Infantry, advance in formation and block the enemy when you encounter them. Cavalry, follow me to go around behind them and attack their formation." As soon as the order was given, the 3,000 Ming troops were divided into two teams and bravely rushed forward.

At the same time, Li Laiheng also received the report. He frowned and asked, "How many people are there in the Ming army?" "More than 3,000, 30% of them are cavalry and 70% are infantry." "Okay, let the army retreat." "Sir, we have tens of thousands of soldiers and horses, why should we retreat? If we retreat, won't the 3,000 civilians suffer?" The herald was stunned and asked in confusion.

Li Laiheng smiled coldly and said, "You don't understand. I am deliberately showing weakness to lure the enemy. Those three thousand civilians are not used for fighting, but as bait. We want the Ming army to think that we are afraid, so that they will be more bold to pursue us. At that time, we will surprise them and wipe them out in one fell swoop!" The messenger suddenly realized what was going on and hurried down to pass the order.

On the north bank of the Huai River, the autumn wind was bleak, and a sudden encounter was quietly staged. The infantry phalanx of the Ming army, two thousand iron-blooded men, like an indestructible steel Great Wall, met the civilian team of the three thousand Shun army unexpectedly. Both sides have set up their positions, like a bow with a full string, ready to fire at any time. The formation of the Ming army is seamless. In front is a solid chariot as a barrier. The iron sheet on the chariot flashes coldly in the sun. Following closely are the spearmen and sword and shield soldiers. They hold spears and shields in the sun. Behind them are soldiers equipped with firearms and bows and arrows. They hold muskets and have firm eyes. In order to strengthen the defense of the two wings, they also densely arranged spears and sword and shield soldiers. The whole formation is like an eagle spreading its wings and ready to fly. On the other hand, although the formation of the Shun army is similar, the quality and equipment of the soldiers are obviously not as good as those of the Ming army. Their clothes are ragged and the weapons they hold are also shabby.

"Attack!" In the central army tent, Deputy General Wang Fei gave an order, and like thunder in the sky, the Ming army began to slowly advance. Wang Fei was a burly man with a resolute face. He was wearing armor and holding a spear, standing in front of the formation, like an unshakable mountain. At the same time, the general of the Shun army also gave the signal to attack. He was thin and tired, but his eyes revealed a kind of determination.

With a loud bang, the Ming army's firearms soldiers opened fire first, and there was a flash of fire, followed by screams. The captain of the firearms soldiers was a young soldier. He held a musket in his hand, his eyes were calm and firm. He aimed at the formation of the Shun army and pulled the trigger. The fire gushed out instantly, taking the lives of several Shun soldiers. The two armies gradually approached, and the air was full of tension and blood. There was another "buzzing" sound, and arrows filled the sky like locusts, and then poured down like a torrential rain. The soldiers of the Shun army hurriedly raised shields, wooden boards, and even pot lids to resist the dense rain of arrows, but many people were still shot by arrows and fell in a pool of blood.

The shouts of killing shook the earth, and the two armies finally came into close combat. "Kill!" In the Ming army, the roar was like thunder, and the spears were like bamboo poles, stabbing at the enemy in unison. In the chaos, the battlefield was full of corpses, blood dyed the earth red, and the air was filled with a pungent smell of blood. The Shun army was originally a group of rabble, and faced with the fierce offensive of the Ming army, it gradually showed signs of defeat. Their soldiers were panicked and fled everywhere, but the soldiers of the Ming army rushed in like a tide and swallowed them one by one.

At this moment, a rumbling sound of horse hooves suddenly came from the rear of the Shun army. It turned out that the elite cavalry of the Ming army rushed out from the side and rear, and they drew their bows and arrows and pointed them directly at the Shun army. The cavalry wore armor, held spears and bows and arrows, and rode tall war horses, sweeping in like a storm. The soldiers of the Shun army were horrified when they saw this, "It's the Ming army!" "We are surrounded!" "Run!" Panic spread rapidly like a plague, and the army composed of civilians suddenly became in chaos. The soldiers in the rear team began to flee, and the formation was in chaos. Seeing this, others followed suit. The entire army collapsed like a landslide, and comrades-in-arms became stumbling blocks that trampled on each other in an instant.

The Ming cavalry pursued the enemy and killed and wounded countless Shun soldiers, and even trampled on each other. They fled like a group of headless flies, but the Ming cavalry followed them like cheetahs and killed them one by one. Not long after, the battle ended with a great victory for the Ming army. The Ming soldiers held special "head-cutting knives". Although this knife was not long, it was extremely sharp and was specially used to cut off the enemy's heads. They quickly cut off the enemy's heads, and after a little processing, the Ming infantry and cavalry joined together and withdrew to Fengyang City.

Outside Fengyang City, in the central army tent on the bank of the Huai River, Ma Shiying was deep in thought. He was tall and majestic, wearing armor, holding a long sword, sitting on the commander's seat, with a deep worry in his eyes. Suddenly, the voice of the messenger interrupted his meditation. "Report!" The messenger hurried into the tent with a battle report in his hand. "Read it to me." Ma Shiying said lightly. Although his voice was calm, his eyes revealed a kind of expectation.

"On his way to Guzhen, Deputy General Wang Fei encountered thousands of bandits. After a fierce battle, our army won a great victory." "We killed more than a thousand bandits, captured more than a hundred people, and seized dozens of chariots, dozens of stones of food and grass, and hundreds of swords and guns." The herald read the battle report in a loud voice. Ma Shiying nodded expressionlessly and said, "Got it, retreat." Although his voice was calm, a complex emotion surged in his heart. This victory came a little strangely. He knew that Li Zicheng was not an easy villain to deal with.

Seeing this, Lu Jiude approached Ma Shiying and asked, "Our army has won a great victory, why is the governor still worried?" Lu Jiude was thin and shrewd. He was wearing casual clothes and holding a folding fan, gently waving it. Ma Shiying sneered, "Li Zicheng is not an easy villain to deal with. This victory came in a strange way." His eyes revealed a deep worry and vigilance. Lu Jiude nodded, "It is indeed better to be careful." Although his voice was calm, he was already prepared for any emergency.

As soon as he finished speaking, a personal soldier hurried into the tent and reported: "The envoy from Nanjing has arrived." Ma Shiying and Lu Jiude hurried out of the tent. Standing outside the tent was a middle-aged man in blue clothes and a net scarf on his head. This man was the eunuch Han Zanzhou, the garrison eunuch of Nanjing. He was slightly fat, with an arrogant face, holding a whisk, and wearing a gorgeous official uniform, looking majestic.

Seeing this, the two hurried forward to salute: "Why did Eunuch Han come here in person?" Their voices revealed a kind of respect and surprise. Han Zanzhou stood arrogantly and asked back: "Are you not welcome?" His voice revealed an unquestionable majesty. The two hurriedly expressed their welcome and invited Han Zanzhou into the tent.

Han Zanzhou read out the prince's order with a solemn expression: "Li Zicheng's rebel army is marching southward with great momentum. Although our Ming Dynasty has many soldiers and generals, they are scattered all over the place and difficult to command. Therefore, Ding Kuichu is specially appointed as the governor-general of the aid and suppression to control the troops of various units and ensure that orders are carried out. Violators will be dealt with by military law." "In addition, in order to defend Fengyang City, Ma Shiying is ordered to quickly gather troops from various units to garrison here and wait for the arrival of reinforcements." His voice was loud and majestic, and every word revealed an unquestionable power.

The two men stood up after receiving the decree and expressing their gratitude. Ma Shiying asked tentatively, "Does Eunuch Han have any other decrees?" His voice revealed a sense of caution and expectation. Han Zanzhou shook his head, "No more." His voice was crisp and clear, without a trace of dragging. Ma Shiying asked again, "What about Ding Kuichu..." His voice revealed a sense of doubt and inquiry.

Han Zanzhou smiled slightly: "He is the candidate recommended by Ruan Dacheng, and it is also the result of the joint discussion between His Highness and the ministers." His smile revealed a deep meaning and cunning. Ma Shiying suddenly realized and understood the reason. He secretly wondered in his heart, who is this Ding Kuichu? He was actually recommended by Ruan Dacheng and appreciated by the prince.

Ma Shiying forced a smile and said, "Eunuch Han, please come into the tent and rest for a while. We will prepare wine and food for you." His voice revealed a kind of enthusiasm and respect, but his heart was already prepared for any emergency. Han Zanzhou waved his hand with a look of disdain, and then smiled and said, "Forget about the wine and food. I still have to rush to Fuyang to convey the imperial edict." "But I have something to tell you before I leave." "Please go ahead, Eunuch." "If Fengyang is lost, you will have to bear the consequences. See you later!" His voice revealed a kind of majesty and warning, which made Ma Shiying and Lu Jiude feel a chill in their hearts.

After Han Zanzhou left, Ma Shiying knew the situation was serious, so he immediately ordered the drums to be beaten and the troops from Huainan and Fuyang to return to Fengyang City.

"Pass the order down quickly! It must be quick!"

Outside Guzhen City, the night was as dark as ink, deep and solemn, with countless military tents densely arranged.

Among the vast army tents, one stands out, that is Li Zicheng's tent. At this moment, he is sitting alone under a dim light, staring at the map in front of him, frowning, as if thinking about some important strategic decision. His face is firm and deep, his eyes are shining with wisdom, revealing an indomitable fighting spirit.

"Your Majesty, General Li Laiheng requests to see you." The voice of a personal soldier penetrated the curtain, breaking the silence in the tent and interrupting Zicheng's meditation.

Laiheng is Ning Weize's adopted son, and Weize is Zicheng's nephew. According to seniority, Laiheng should call Zicheng his grandfather. Zicheng thought to himself, wondering why Laiheng came this time.

"Laiheng is here, please invite him in." Zicheng put down the pen in his hand and waited for Laiheng's arrival. He felt both anticipation and worry in his heart.

After Lai Heng came in, he saluted respectfully, then reported in a low voice: "Your Majesty, Generals Hao Yaoqi and Liu Tichun have captured Mengcheng. Although they lost more than a thousand soldiers, they also recruited more than two thousand. However, this morning they encountered three thousand Ming troops on the north bank of the Huai River. According to the emperor's wishes, they withdrew the main force and let the people go to meet the enemy. As a result, they were defeated, more than half of them were killed or wounded, many fled, and less than a thousand returned."

After listening to Lai Heng's report, Zicheng frowned even more.

At this moment, Guzhen was surrounded by enemies on all sides. There was Xuzhou in the north, Suqian and Huai'an in the east, Fengyang and Huainan in the south, and Fuyang and Bozhou in the west. The Ming army was like a pack of wolves, surrounding him. If he was not careful, he might be trapped. He had to make a perfect plan to win this battle.

"I have a question for you." Zicheng broke the silence. His voice was low and powerful, revealing an unquestionable majesty.

"Your Majesty, please speak!" Lai Heng answered respectfully, his heart full of awe and trust for Zicheng.

"If you were a general of the Ming army, how would you defend Fengyang?" Zicheng asked directly and sharply, his eyes fixed on Laiheng, as if trying to find a good strategy to defeat the enemy from his answer.

After a brief thought, Lai Heng replied: "I will withdraw my troops and concentrate my strength to defend the city while waiting for the arrival of reinforcements." His answer was concise and clear, revealing the wisdom and courage of a military strategist.

Zicheng nodded in agreement and said, "In that case, let's use the old method." His voice revealed confidence and determination, as if he had seen the dawn of victory.

Lai Heng was stunned when he heard this, but then a look of joy appeared on his face, "Has the emperor already had a plan to defeat the enemy?" His heart was full of anticipation and excitement, as if he had already seen the scene of the Shun army's great victory.

"That's right, surround the enemy and attack the reinforcements!" Zicheng said these four words confidently. His eyes gleamed with wisdom, as if he had already seen the victory of this battle.

At the beginning of the Yin hour, the Shun army camp was in a commotion, with soldiers and horses busy preparing. Generals Gu Kecheng and Sang Dongxu kept their troops in place, acting as decoys to contain the enemy. Zicheng personally led the 20,000 troops of the Central Army, along with more than 10,000 civilians, and quietly marched southwestward under the cover of night. His heart was filled with a desire for victory and love for the soldiers.

After three days and nights of rapid march, the army finally arrived at a wilderness 40 miles north and south of the Huai River. At the same time, Hao Yaoqi and Liu Tichun also abandoned Mengcheng and headed south to the west of Huainan City, preparing to catch the Ming army by surprise there. Their hearts were filled with anticipation for victory and resentment towards the enemy.

Now, there is only one word: wait! Wait for the Ming army to come to us, and then give them a thunderous blow. Zicheng's heart is full of control over the battle and trust in the soldiers. He believes that as long as everyone works together, they will definitely be able to win this battle.

In order to confuse Ma Shiying, Generals Gu Kecheng and Sang Dongxu camped on the north bank of the Huai River and pretended to cross the river. Their hearts were filled with contempt for the enemy and expectations for victory. They knew that as long as they could confuse the enemy, they could create more opportunities for Zicheng's army.

There were 10,000 Ming troops stationed in Fuyang and Huainan respectively. Ma Shiying was worried about the loss of Fengyang, so he ordered the troops in Fuyang to quickly reinforce Huainan, and then return to Fengyang after the troops joined forces to prevent any accidents. However, all this was within Zicheng's expectations. He was full of understanding of the enemy and control over the battle. He knew that as long as he could grasp the enemy's psychology, he could win the battle.

After receiving Zhu Cilang's order and Ma Shiying's order, the newly appointed governor-general Ding Kuichu reorganized the army and retreated to Huainan. He went to Huainan with 12,000 troops and horses in a light outfit. His heart was full of anticipation for the battle and love for the soldiers. He knew the importance of this battle to the entire war situation, and he also understood that the life of every soldier was precious.

When the army was twenty miles southwest of Nihe Town, a scout came to report: "Governor, we have spotted a large army of bandits ten miles to the east, with about 20,000 of them!" The scout's voice revealed a sense of tension and anxiety, as if he had already seen the strength and ferocity of the Shun army.

"Twenty thousand?" Kui Chu was shocked when he heard this, "Didn't the bandits go to attack Fengyang? Why are they here?" His heart was filled with confusion and fear, as if he had already seen the tricks and conspiracies of the Shun army.

As soon as he finished speaking, another scout came to report urgently: "A large army of bandits has also appeared beside the Cihuai New River, ten miles to the north, and their number is also about 20,000!" The scout's voice revealed a sense of urgency and anxiety, as if he had already seen the strength and threat of the Shun army.

Kui Chu was completely panicked now. He realized that he had fallen into Zicheng's trap. Thinking back to the time when his nephew Ding Qirui also fell into this "siege and attack" strategy and was defeated in Zhuxian Town. He did not expect that he would follow in the same footsteps today. His heart was filled with regret and helplessness, as if he had seen the victory of Shunjun and his own defeat.

However, just when the army was half-armored, Zicheng's cavalry had already appeared in front of them like ghosts. How fast were the cavalry? The mere ten miles were reached in an instant. Their figures flickered in the morning light, like a black lightning streaking across the sky.

Kui Chu watched the Ming army quickly form a battle array and flee southward, and he could not help but secretly admire them: "It is not easy for the Ming army to form a battle array in such a short time." His heart was full of admiration for the Ming army and helplessness about the battle. He knew that this battle was crucial for both sides, and he also understood that the life of every soldier was precious.

Zicheng rode his horse to watch the battle and asked Gao Yigong beside him: "How to defeat the enemy?" His voice revealed a kind of confidence and determination, as if he had already seen the hope of victory.

"I would like to lead two thousand cavalrymen to cut off their retreat." Gao Yigong responded and rushed out with the battle flag. His figure galloped across the battlefield like a black lightning that cut through the sky, bringing endless fear and death to the enemy.

"Attack!" Zicheng's order sounded like a landslide, and more than 10,000 elite cavalry divided into several teams and rushed towards the Ming army. Their figures galloped on the battlefield like an unstoppable torrent, drowning the enemy in endless darkness.

Gao Yigong went around to the south of the Ming army and cut off their way back; Lai Heng attacked from behind to put pressure on the Ming army; Hao Yaoqi led his troops to attack the Ming army's flank, making it difficult for them to take care of both ends. Their coordination was seamless, like a sophisticated machine that devoured the enemy bit by bit.

Kui Chu was extremely anxious. He wanted to order the army to fight and retreat, but seeing the state of the soldiers, he knew that this would not work. His heart was filled with helplessness and anxiety, as if he had already seen the failure of the Ming army and his own demise.

Just as he was hesitating, a deafening shout of killing suddenly came from the north - the Shun army's infantry had arrived! Their figures were like an unstoppable torrent that submerged the enemy in endless darkness.

"Retreat quickly! Retreat to Fuyang!" Kui Chu ordered urgently and fled with his own troops. His heart was filled with fear of failure and desire for life. He knew that there was no hope of victory for him in this battle and only escape could save his life.

As soon as the central army flag moved, the Ming army was in an uproar. "The governor has escaped! Hurry up and follow him!" Their hearts were filled with anger towards Kui Chu and helplessness about the battle. They knew that there was no hope of victory for them in this battle and that only by following Kui Chu could they save their lives.

In an instant, the originally neat army formation collapsed, and the Shun army took the opportunity to launch a massive attack, killing the Ming army and making them lose their armor and weapons. (End of this chapter)