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

Ding Kuichu fled in the dark night, looking back from time to time, fearing that he would be caught up by the Shun cavalry. His heart was like being hit by a heavy hammer, and every beat was accompanied by panic and despair. Suddenly, he realized that something was wrong behind him. The originally scattered Ming army was not being pursued, but the Shun cavalry seemed to have a strong interest in him, the governor who was fleeing, and was approaching him quickly.

He turned around suddenly and saw a soldier holding the flag tightly, faithfully performing his duties. No matter how Ding Kuichu ran, the soldier followed him closely. Ding Kuichu shouted angrily: "You stupid boy! Throw away the flag! We have been defeated, what is the use of this flag?"

However, the soldier's eyes were extremely firm. He held the flagpole tightly, as if it was everything in his life: "This is the flag of the Ming Dynasty. As long as I am alive, the flag will remain! Even if I die, the flag will not fall!"

Ding Kuichu was so angry that he stamped his feet and cursed: "I am so blind that I would hire such a loyal guy like you! Go away, don't let me see you again!" After that, he turned around angrily and hurriedly changed his route to flee westward to Fuyang. His heart was filled with anger and confusion towards the soldier, but more of it was helplessness and sadness about his own fate.

The Shun cavalry originally wanted to chase the Ming army's central flag, but when they got closer, they found that only one soldier was holding on. They smiled at each other, gave up the pursuit, and continued to look for other traces of the Ming army. The battle had subsided, and the smoke on the battlefield gradually dissipated, leaving only a mess and dead silence.

Lai Heng brought Ding Kuichu to Li Zicheng, threw him to the ground and said, "Your Majesty, I have captured the Ming aid governor Ding Kuichu." Although Ding Kuichu grimaced in pain, he gritted his teeth and said nothing, just stared at Li Zicheng with angry eyes.

Seeing this, Li Zicheng jumped off his horse happily and reached out to help Ding Kuichu: "Is Governor Ding okay? I..." Before he could finish his words, Ding Kuichu spat on his face and cursed him. Li Zicheng's face turned livid in an instant, and the people around him drew their swords to kill Ding Kuichu, but Li Zicheng stopped them: "Wait, I have something to ask."

He suppressed his anger and asked, "Ding Kuichu, I don't want to kill you. If you are willing to surrender..." Before he could finish his words, he was interrupted by Ding Kuichu: "You keep calling me Your Majesty. Do you really think you are the emperor? Besides burning, killing and looting, what else can you do?" Then he mocked, "Li Chuang thief, it's time to wake up from your dream! You are just a bandit. You can never become the real emperor!"

Li Zicheng was very displeased after hearing this, but he still suppressed his anger and asked, "So you don't want to surrender?" Ding Kuichu spat again and said proudly, "I am a Jinshi in the Wanli period. I have served in the Ministry of Revenue and other local affairs. How can I surrender to a postman?"

Li Zicheng waved his hand to signal Laiheng to take Ding Kuichu away. Ding Kuichu mistakenly thought that Li Zicheng wanted to kill him, and he was so scared that he kowtowed and begged for mercy: "Emperor Dashun, please spare my life! I was defeated and captured, and I am convinced!" This scene stunned everyone present, even Li Zicheng was surprised. He suddenly felt a murderous intent in his heart, and he felt that Ding Kuichu was a fickle person and was not worth using.

"Ding Kuichu treated His Majesty badly, he should be beheaded to offer sacrifice to the military flag!" Someone suggested. After Li Zicheng pondered for a moment, Ding Kuichu hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, I have a plan to take Huainan and Fengyang without fighting." Li Zicheng raised his eyebrows and asked: "Oh? Tell me, if you dare to lie, I will kill you without mercy."

Ding Kuichu then told his plan: "I am the governor-general of the Ming army. When I was captured, my imperial edict and seal fell into the hands of the Dashun Army. I can send the Dashun Army to pretend to be my personal soldiers and follow me to Huainan to open the city gate. In this way, Huainan can be captured, and the same goes for Fengyang."

Although Li Zicheng had his doubts, he also felt that this plan was feasible: "That being said, the defenders already know that you were defeated and captured. How can you hide it from them?" Ding Kuichu said confidently: "With the imperial edict and seal in hand, I have my own way to deal with it. Even if the plan fails, there will be no loss to the Dashun Army."

Li Zicheng nodded and agreed to the plan. He secretly thought that if the plan succeeded, he could not only easily capture the two cities, but also teach Ding Kuichu a lesson and let him know who is the real king.

Lai Heng then ordered the Shun army to change into the flags and uniforms of the Ming army, and escorted Ding Kuichu to Huainan. They walked along the path, trying to avoid the Ming army's outposts and patrols. Ding Kuichu lowered his head, said nothing, and just walked silently. His heart was filled with complex emotions: anger and dissatisfaction with Li Zicheng, as well as worry and fear about the future.

The defenders in Huainan City had heard the news of Ding Kuichu's defeat, and the people in the city were panicked and talking about it. Deputy General Chen Hongfan was an experienced veteran who had experienced the baptism of the Battle of Sarhu, so he was particularly alert. He ordered the city gates to be closed and the defense to be strengthened to prevent any accidents. He stood on the city wall, staring into the distance, his heart full of worries and uneasiness. He knew that this war was already at a disadvantage for the Ming Dynasty, but he still adhered to his duties and beliefs.

As night fell, Cheng Ming escorted Ding Kuichu to the city. He lied that he was injured and asked to enter the city, and pretended to be exhausted. Chen Hongfan became suspicious and sent people out of the city to check the situation. In the light of the fire, Ding Kuichu pretended to cough a few times, and the Shun army put a knife on his neck to threaten him. After carefully looking at Ding Kuichu, the soldiers finally believed his identity and returned to report to Chen Hongfan.

However, Chen Hongfan was still worried. He personally checked the imperial edict and seal, but still had doubts. So he sent a person who was familiar with Ding Kuichu out of the city to confirm again. Seeing this, Ding Kuichu pretended to be majestic and shouted loudly: "Open the city gate quickly and let me in!" Seeing this, the person who checked had to return to the city to report that Ding Kuichu had indeed returned.

So, the city gate slowly opened. Ding Kuichu took the opportunity to lead the Shun army into the city, and when the city gate was not completely closed, the Shun army suddenly changed their clothes and rushed out. The ambushing soldiers outside the city also shouted in unison, and the momentum was deafening. Seeing this, Chen Hongfan sighed: "Ding Kuichu has misled me!" Then he ordered to surrender. He knew that this war was irreversible.

Ding Kuichu looked at the scene in front of him with mixed feelings. He felt both fortunate and sad: fortunate that he had finally escaped from Li Zicheng's grasp, but sad that he had actually handed over a city of the Ming Dynasty to the enemy. He stood silently on the city wall, staring into the distance, his heart filled with endless regret and helplessness. He knew that his fate could no longer be changed.

March's sudden change
On March 18, the warm spring sun had not yet completely dispelled the morning mist, but the city of Nanjing was already in a state of panic. Urgent war reports swept in from Fengyang like a gust of wind, bringing heart-wrenching news.

"When Ding Kuichu led his troops to Huainan, they were ambushed by Li Zicheng's gang. They suffered heavy casualties and Ding Kuichu himself surrendered to the enemy. Even worse, the enemy used a forged imperial edict and official seal to trick the gate of Huainan City open and occupied Huainan without bloodshed!"

"There is something more urgent. Li Zicheng has led an army of 50,000 and is already at the gates of Fengyang!"

In Chunhe Hall, the Minister of War Shi Kefa read out the battle report word by word, his voice heavy and hurried. The hall was so quiet that even the sound of a pin drop could be heard clearly, and all the officials held their breath and listened to this terrifying news.

Crown Prince Zhu Cilang sat on the dragon throne, his face pale, his hands clenched into fists, and asked with a slightly trembling voice: "My dear ministers, what should we do?"

The importance of Fengyang is self-evident. It is directly related to the safety of Nanjing. Once Fengyang is lost, Nanjing will fall into a state of emergency and the entire court will fall into chaos. In addition, Zhang Xianzhong is making trouble in Huguang, and the situation in the south is already precarious. The situation in the north is also a mess. If the south becomes chaotic again, the Ming Dynasty will be in real danger.

Seeing this, Shi Kefa hurriedly comforted him, "Don't worry, Your Highness. Zhu Guobi, Liu Zhaoji and his men have already retreated to Yangzhou. Li Jiyu and Wang Zhigang are also heading south with their troops, planning to attack the enemy from behind. Also, your order has been sent to Generals Hua Ruiqi and Jian Mingxiao. They are heading down the river to Nanjing and will probably arrive in ten days or half a month."

However, Zhu Cilang was not relieved at all. He slammed the dragon throne and his voice resounded throughout the hall: "What I want to ask is how to defend Fengyang!"

Defending Fengyang was a matter of great importance to the royal family's reputation. Moreover, the former "King of Tang" Zhu Youjian was still imprisoned there. Back then, in the ninth year of Chongzhen, the Jiannu invaded the pass and the capital was in danger. The former King of Tang Zhu Youjian raised an army to defend the king despite the ban, but was discovered by the governor when he arrived in Yuzhou and reported to the court. Emperor Chongzhen ordered him to go back to defend his territory. As a result, he encountered the enemy on the way, fought several battles with some wins and some losses, and finally returned to Nanyang. In a rage, Emperor Chongzhen demoted him to a commoner, imprisoned him in Fengyang, and changed his title to his younger brother Zhu Youlang.

Facing Zhu Cilang's anger, all the civil and military officials in the court lowered their heads and no one dared to speak. They all understood the importance of defending Fengyang, but at the moment they were helpless and could only hope that Hua Ruiqi, Jian Mingxiao and others would come to the rescue as soon as possible.

After venting his anger, Zhu Cilang asked again, "Where are Gao Jie, Liu Liangzuo and the others?" His voice was filled with anxiety and expectation.

Shi Kefa replied: "I have sent someone to inform them, but there are too many enemies on the road to the north, so the news may be slow to spread. It is estimated that they will arrive soon."

Zhu Cilang asked again: "What about the military pay?" He knew very well that without military pay, the army could not be maintained, let alone fight.

Shi Kefa sighed and said, "I have sent Zhang Huangyan to Yangzhou to find a solution, but there is no news yet." There was helplessness and worry in his words.

"Hurry up and send someone to ask again! If you can't raise the money, I will collect taxes for next year in advance!" Zhu Cilang said, and left with a flick of his sleeves. He knew in his heart that the current situation was extremely critical, and he had to raise military funds as soon as possible to defend Fengyang, otherwise the Ming Dynasty would be in real danger.

……

In the Yangzhou government office, Zhang Huangyan and the prefect Ren Minyu sat face to face. Both of them looked solemn and anxious, knowing that the current situation was extremely critical.

After a long while, Ren Minyu spoke: "Brother Zhang, Fuyang and Huainan have been lost, and Fengyang is also in danger. The enemy will definitely fight south to Yangzhou!" There was worry and helplessness in his voice.

Zhang Huangyan sighed and said, "How could Ma Shiying's army be so disappointing!" His words were filled with anger and disappointment. He knew very well that Ma Shiying's army was an important pillar of the court, but now it was so vulnerable, which made him feel very sad.

The two talked about raising money for the army. Ren Minyu shook his head and said, "No money has been raised. The wealthy merchants in Yangzhou are too stingy. They are unwilling to donate money unless it is absolutely necessary." There was helplessness and anger in his voice. He knew very well that these wealthy merchants usually enjoyed the protection and privileges of the court, but now they were unwilling to help the country in times of crisis, which made him very angry.

Zhang Huangyan also fell silent. He knew that officials could not rob money like bandits, so they could only hope that the rich and businessmen would donate. But now no one was willing to donate unless the government forced them to. The issue of raising military pay was at a standstill. He felt helpless and anxious. He knew that military pay was the lifeblood of the army. Without it, the army could not survive, let alone fight.

Zhang Huangyan sighed again and said, "There are so many people in Yangzhou. If everyone donates one or two taels of silver, we can raise a million yuan for military pay! Unfortunately, no one is willing to donate. When the enemy comes, they are unwilling to defend the city walls. We can only hope for God's help."

Ren Minyu also sighed and suddenly said: "I have a way to raise 500,000 taels of silver!" There was a hint of firmness and determination in his voice.

Zhang Huangyan was surprised and asked him what was going on. Ren Minyu said, "There are still 100,000 taels of taxes in the government treasury that have not been returned. There are still 50,000 taels of salt taxes in the Huaibei Salt Field. These can be borrowed first. When the Beijing Ministry of Revenue funds arrive, they can be repaid. In addition, I plan to forcibly collect 350,000 taels of silver from wealthy households and merchants in the name of the government."

Zhang Huangyan was a little hesitant: "I'm afraid it's not a good idea to do this. What if it gets out, it will ruin your reputation, Brother Ren." He knew that doing so would cause dissatisfaction and disgust among many people and might even cause some unnecessary trouble.

However, Ren Minyu smiled and said, "It's okay. I just want to take this opportunity to have a good rest. When the situation stabilizes, I will still need your help, Brother Zhang, to get me back to my post." There was a hint of ease and ridicule in his voice, as if he didn't care about his reputation and status.

Zhang Huangyan was moved by Ren Minyu's righteousness. He knelt down and thanked him, saying: "Brother Ren is really a man of high moral character! Huangyan admires you so much!" He knew that at this critical moment, Ren Minyu was able to stand up and raise military funds for the country and the people. This was a very precious spirit!

After Ren Minyu helped Zhang Huangyan up, he immediately ordered the yamen runners to do their job. He knew that time was running out and he had to raise military pay as soon as possible to save the fate of Yangzhou and the entire Ming Dynasty!

……

Outside Jingzhou, Jian Mingxiao was besieging the city, but he didn't dare to act rashly before the city was conquered. So he reorganized the army and sent many spies to find out the news from Huguang, hoping to find a suitable breakthrough point.

That day, a herald suddenly came in with a man dressed in civilian clothes. He knelt on the ground, presented an imperial edict wrapped in yellow silk with both hands, and shouted, "Report to the Governor-General, there is an imperial edict from Nanjing!"

Upon hearing this, Jian Mingxiao immediately stood up, walked to the messenger, and took the imperial edict. He knew in his heart that the arrival of this imperial edict must be related to the current situation. He untied the yellow silk and unfolded the imperial edict, which read: "General Qin, Jian Mingxiao, quickly go down the river to support Nanjing, without any mistakes!"

After reading the imperial edict, Jian Mingxiao pondered for a moment. He knew that the imperial edict was sent by the crown prince Zhu Cilang, asking him to immediately support Nanjing. However, he was a little hesitant. He knew the situation of his army very well. These were the elite troops in Sichuan. The journey from Sichuan to Hubei was long and the cost was huge. If he sent troops out easily, if there was a mistake, it would be a disaster.

At this time, the eunuch Zhang Yixian came forward, verified his identity, and urged: "Governor Qin, hurry down the river and support Nanjing! This is the will of the prince, there must be no mistake!"

Jian Mingxiao thought about it, but still shook his head and refused: "I am the governor-general of four provinces appointed by His Majesty himself. I have the final say on the use of troops. The prince and you cannot interfere." There was firmness and determination in his words.

When Zhang Yixian heard this, his face changed immediately: "Are you going to disobey the order? Do you know the consequences of disobeying the order?" There was threat and intimidation in his words.

Jian Mingxiao didn't care. He explained, "I'm not disobeying the order. I just think my troops are the best in Sichuan. Fighting from Sichuan to Hubei is no small matter. We have to be absolutely sure before we send out the troops. If we send out the troops rashly, if there is a mistake, all our efforts will be wasted."

When Zhang Yixian heard this, he became even angrier: "You are an official of the court, you must obey the orders of the court! Failure to obey is treason!" His words were filled with anger and dissatisfaction.

Jian Mingxiao still shook his head: "Have you forgotten Hong Chengchou's failure in the Songjin War? I am not sending troops this time to attack, but to rescue. If you force me to send troops, I would rather resign!" His words were full of determination and helplessness. He knew that this decision might make him lose his official position and status, but he also understood that this decision was for the fate and future of the entire Ming Dynasty.

"Jian Mingxiao, you..." Zhang Yixian's voice echoed in the empty hall, with a bit of helplessness and indignation. He thought Jian Mingxiao would be as resolute as before and send troops immediately after receiving the order from the prince, but he didn't expect that Governor Qin would dare to disobey the order. This is the prince's order, it's very serious! Zhang Yixian was extremely anxious, the prince was eagerly waiting for reinforcements, what should he do?

Zhang Yixian looked at Jian Mingxiao's calm expression, and his heart was burning with anger, but he could do nothing. Jian Mingxiao took a sip of tea and said slowly: "Eunuch Zhang, you should return to the court first. I will decide whether to send troops based on the situation in Huguang." This sentence was said lightly, but it hit Zhang Yixian's heart like a hammer. He was stunned for a moment and had to leave in dissatisfaction. Although he wanted to dismiss Jian Mingxiao from his position, he was timid when he thought of the 120,000 Sichuan soldiers under Jian Mingxiao. They were not vegetarians and would not listen to him at all.

As soon as Zhang Yixian left, Jian Mingxiao called a meeting of his generals. He sat in the main seat with a solemn expression, and his eyes swept over the generals, and he said in a deep voice: "Li Zicheng's gang of bandits took 80,000 people to the south to attack Fengyang. The prince ordered us to support them. What good ideas do you have?" The generals looked at each other, and no one answered for a while. At this time, Zeng Ying stood up. He was tall and strong, with a resolute face. He was a capable general under Jian Mingxiao. He cupped his hands and said: "Governor Qin, I think we must solve the problem of food before sending troops." When the generals heard it, they nodded in agreement. Jian Mingxiao turned his head to look at Zeng Ying, a hint of admiration flashed in his eyes, but he sighed and said: "When we send troops from Sichuan to Hubei, we have to rely on the supply of food in Shuzhong. If this is an expedition, the food route is so long that it is easy to be cut off by the enemy. Once the food is gone, the army will be in chaos."

Yang Zhan also stood up. He was thin and had a shrewd face. He was Jian Mingxiao's think tank. He continued, "We have to be careful that Zhang Xianzhong will come back to cause trouble again." Jian Mingxiao nodded in agreement. Although Zhang Xianzhong ran away, no one can guarantee that he will not come back. If we transfer all the main forces away, Zhang Xianzhong will come back again, and there will be no one to defend Sichuan.

The generals discussed it for a long time and finally decided on a strategy. Jian Mingxiao stood up and said to everyone: "We are going out of Sichuan and into Chu this time, first to eliminate the bandits, and second to support Nanjing and protect the prince." His voice was firm and his eyes revealed unquestionable determination. So he ordered the army to act in five groups, each with a clear mission and goal.

"Qin Yiming, take 30,000 soldiers from Hanxidong back to Sichuan. Some of them will be stationed in Yiling to guard against Zhang Xianzhong, and the rest will guard the main roads into Sichuan. Send another 5,000 people to northern Sichuan to wipe out the Yaohuang bandits." Jian Mingxiao's words were harsh and unquestionable.

Speaking of the Yaohuang bandits, they were initially led by Yaotiandong and Huanglong, and later split into 13 groups, with Yuan Tao as their leader. They were rampant in Bazhong and Dazhou in northern Sichuan, specializing in robbery. Wherever they passed, there were bones everywhere, and the people were terrified.

Qin Yiming frowned upon hearing this and asked, "What should we do with the yellow-shaking bandits?" Jian Mingxiao said bluntly, "Kill them!" His voice was cold and firm, as if it came out from between his teeth. Qin Yiming asked again, "What if they surrender?" Jian Mingxiao replied coldly, "Pretend to accept first, then find a deserted place and kill them all." His eyes revealed a kind of determination and coldness, as if he deeply hated these bandits.

Qin Yiming said with some concern: "If we can't defeat these bandits, they will hide in the mountains and forests, and it will be difficult for us to wipe them out." Jian Mingxiao heard this and said after thinking for a moment: "Then use our Xidong soldiers, they are good at fighting in the mountains and forests. We can pretend to appease them, lure them out, and then catch them all in one fell swoop." His tone revealed a kind of wisdom and cunning, as if he had seen the dawn of victory. Qin Yiming took the order and left, secretly admiring Jian Mingxiao's strategy.

Then, Jian Mingxiao looked at Zeng Ying and ordered: "Zeng Ying, you lead 10,000 navy and 10,000 infantry to go down the river to support Nanjing. I will give you a military order, you can collect grain from the prefectures and counties along the way. But remember, focus on defense and don't act rashly." When Zeng Ying received the order, a flash of surprise flashed across his face, and then turned into determination. He knew the importance of this mission and understood Jian Mingxiao's intention.

"Yang Zhan, you will take 10,000 naval forces to transport the grain from Sichuan to Jingzhou." Jian Mingxiao's words were full of trust. He knew that Yang Zhan was smart and capable and would definitely be able to complete this task. Yang Zhan took the order and left, secretly thinking about how to ensure the safety of the grain route.

Talking about the war in Huguang, Jian Mingxiao looked at Fan Yiheng and said, "Fan Yiheng, you lead 30,000 soldiers and fight northward along the Han River to capture Chengtian Prefecture and Xiangyang. I will lead the central army to stay in Jingzhou and provide you with food support!" His voice was sonorous and powerful, as if he had already seen the flag of victory flying.

……

The capital, more than 2,000 miles away, also received the urgent war report from Nanjing. Lin Xiaofeng sat on the dragon throne, frowning, holding the secret letter tightly in his hand. He knew that although Li Zicheng's strength was not as good as the Ming army, he was good at besieging and attacking reinforcements. If he sent troops there now, he might fall into his trap.

"Li Qing, do you think there is anything wrong with the prince's mobilization of troops?" Lin Xiaofeng's voice was filled with some worry. He looked at Li Banghua, hoping that this old minister could give him some advice.

After pondering for a moment, Li Banghua said, "Your Majesty, I think it is not appropriate for the Crown Prince to mobilize troops now. Even if he needs to, he should let Gao Jie go south to join other troops and encircle Li Zicheng in turn." His voice was steady and powerful, revealing the demeanor of a wise man.

"Where is Gao Jie now?" Lin Xiaofeng asked hurriedly. He knew that Gao Jie was a brave and skilled general. If he could be allowed to go south to join other troops, the chances of winning the encirclement and suppression of Li Zicheng would be greatly increased.

"According to reports, he is stationed in Huaibei," Li Banghua replied, with some worry in his voice, because he also knew that Huaibei and Xuzhou were not far away, and there was a deep hatred between Xu Dingguo and Gao Jie.

"What about Xu Dingguo?" Lin Xiaofeng asked again. He was even more worried because Xu Dingguo was a man who deserved to die. He was sentenced to death for the loss of Kaifeng and for allowing soldiers to rob. Although the Qing army had not yet entered the pass, Xu Dingguo's temper might lead to him doing something extreme.

"In Xuzhou," Li Banghua replied. His voice was heavy because he knew the grudge between Xu Dingguo and Gao Jie, and was worried that Xu Dingguo would do something radical.

Lin Xiaofeng was even more worried. He knew the deep hatred between Xu Dingguo and Gao Jie, and was also worried that Xu Dingguo would take the opportunity to retaliate against Gao Jie. He hurriedly ordered: "Send a secret letter to Gao Jie immediately, and ask him to be on guard against Xu Dingguo." His voice was filled with anxiety and worry.

Li Banghua was stunned when he heard this, not understanding what the emperor meant. He looked at Lin Xiaofeng with some doubt and confusion in his eyes. Lin Xiaofeng was so anxious that he kept shouting, "Guo Tianyang, quickly call the people from the Pacification Office!" His voice was filled with anxiety and panic.

Ning Xikong, the commander of the Jinyiwei, entered the palace upon hearing the voice. He was wearing the uniform of the Jinyiwei and looked solemn. He clasped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, I am here." There was a certain firmness and loyalty in his voice.

"How many days does it take to send a letter from the capital to Xuzhou?" Lin Xiaofeng asked hurriedly. His heart was filled with anxiety and worry, hoping to get the message to Gao Jie as soon as possible.

"Your Majesty, at least five days." Ning Xikong replied. His voice was somewhat helpless and heavy, because he also knew the urgency and importance of this news.

"Then send a secret letter to Huaibei immediately, telling Gao Jie to be careful of Xu Dingguo." Lin Xiaofeng ordered hastily. There was a bit of anxiety and worry in his voice, hoping to get the message to Gao Jie as soon as possible.

"I obey your order." Ning Xikong bowed and said. He turned around and tried to leave, but was stopped by Lin Xiaofeng.

"Wait..." Lin Xiaofeng stopped him, "You go in person!" His voice was firm and unquestionable. He knew the importance of the news, and hoped that Ning Xikong could deliver the letter in person to ensure the safety and accuracy of the news.

"If Gao Jie has met with an accident, let his wife Xing and nephew Li Benshen take over the army temporarily. Leave other matters to the crown prince." Lin Xiaofeng ordered again. There was a bit of heaviness and helplessness in his voice, because he knew the complexity and severity of the situation.

"I obey your order." Ning Xikong bowed. He did not dare to slack off and left quickly. He knew the urgency and importance of the news, and also knew the responsibility and mission he shouldered.

The capital was so far away from the battlefield that even if the imperial edict was delivered there, it would take five days. Every time such an urgent letter was delivered, the post horses were under heavy burden. The scarcity of post horses was also a problem for the Ming Dynasty. The cavalry needed war horses, the post stations needed fast horses, and the logistics and the people also needed pack horses, mules and even donkeys to transport supplies and plow the fields. At this moment, these post horses were carrying the hope and destiny of the Ming Dynasty, galloping on the road to the battlefield.

Lin Xiaofeng looked at Ning Xikong's departing back, his heart filled with worry and helplessness. He knew the complexity and severity of the situation, and he also knew that the Ming Dynasty was facing unprecedented challenges. He sighed and said, "In addition to delivering the message, there are only two things we can do now. One is to quickly send silver to Nanjing; the other is to rectify the administration, resume production, and train troops. It's difficult to remotely control the war situation thousands of miles away from the capital!" There was a bit of heaviness and helplessness in his voice, as if he was sighing deeply for this era.

Outside Huaibei City, the spring breeze was warm and the sun was shining brightly, but beneath this peaceful appearance, undercurrents were surging, as if a storm was about to come. Henan Governor Yue Qijie and Councillor Yuan Shu, the descendant of Mr. Yuan Keli, who was tall and straight and had a resolute look between his eyebrows, were anxiously persuading General Gao.

"General Gao, Xu Dingguo is keeping his troops on hold, so why don't we send an envoy to urge him? Why do you have to make this trip in person? Besides, given the personal grudge between you two, it would be too dangerous for you to go to the banquet alone!" Yue Qijie frowned, his tone full of worry.

Yuan Shu was so anxious that he stamped his feet and beat his chest, saying, "General, why don't you understand? The Crown Prince is the regent, and we have to obey his orders. This is the rule! If something goes wrong when you go, how can we explain it to the Emperor?"

Gao Jie held his head high, glanced at the two men, and a confident smile appeared on his lips: "You two are right. We must be careful to protect ourselves and our lives. But as a general, I must be loyal to the Ming Dynasty. It is my duty to urge the war."

He paused, a hint of ruthlessness flashed in his eyes: "If he dares to touch a hair on my head, I, Gao Jie, will not be a pushover, I will kill him with my own hands!"

"As for Fengyang, I am following the emperor's orders and the prince's orders. I have to consider it carefully." Gao Jie's words were filled with unquestionable firmness.

Yuan Shu was so anxious that he was sweating profusely. He knew Gao Jie's character very well and knew that it was useless to persuade him any further. He could only sigh helplessly.

"Haha, rest assured, both of you!" Gao Jie laughed loudly and jumped onto his horse's back. He was agile, like a beast about to pounce on its prey. "I'm going to Xuzhou to urge Xu Dingguo to send troops. You can go back without worry."

"General..." Yuan Shu wanted to persuade him again, but was interrupted by Gao Jie, "Stop talking. Don't worry, I'm not going alone. I will bring the team with me."

"We will meet up with Xu Dingguo and fight the bandits together." After saying that, Gao Jie whipped his horse whip and rode away, returning to the military camp outside the city. His figure stretched out in the sunlight, carrying an unyielding heroic spirit.

Yue and Yuan looked at each other, shook their heads helplessly, and went into the city with a sigh. They knew that Gao Jie was such a person, and it was useless to persuade him. They could only pray silently that he would be safe on this trip.

Soon, Gao Jie's 27,000-strong army broke camp and marched towards Xuzhou in a mighty force. The army was like a huge black dragon, winding forward on the plain with great momentum.

In fact, Gao Jie went to Xuzhou not only to urge the war, but also to plunder the Grand Canal in order to get some military supplies. Although Lin Xiaofeng repeatedly prohibited looting, Gao Jie's men were originally bandits, and he did not control them strictly, so they could not avoid burning, killing and looting along the way. Whenever the army passed a village or town, it would leave behind a mess and wailing.

Gao Jie often said, "The food stolen is much more delicious than the food bought." He also planned to take the opportunity to get rid of Xu Dingguo, because Ruan Dacheng sent him a secret letter saying that Xu Dingguo had impeached him behind his back, calling him a thief and unworthy of the reward. This made Gao Jie hate Xu Dingguo even more.

After two days of marching, the army arrived outside the city of Xuzhou. Xuzhou was majestic and magnificent, with towering walls and sparkling moats. However, behind this magnificent city, Xu Dingguo's conspiracy and tricks were hidden.

Xu Dingguo was so frightened when he saw this scene that his legs went limp. He had originally wanted to use the banquet to get rid of Gao Jie and then surrender to Li Zicheng, but now it seemed that a head-on confrontation would not work. But he could only pretend to be calm and said to his deputy general Liu Fangxing, "Have you contacted Jing Changhao?"

"We've got in touch. Master Xu Er'an wrote back saying that Jing Changhao was very happy and promised to give him a high position and generous salary." Liu Fangxing replied.

Xu Dingguo had two sons, Xu Er'an and Xu Erji. Although these two sons were not very capable, Xu Dingguo had high expectations for them. He hoped that they could inherit his family business and become heroes. However, things are unpredictable, and some celebrities in later generations became heavily in debt.

"Okay, let's go out of the city to welcome Gao Jie." Xu Dingguo took a deep breath and tried to calm his inner panic.

"Start as soon as we enter the city?" Liu Fangxing asked in a low voice.

"No, trick him into the city first, wait until he is drunk, and then hack him to death. Then leave the city from the east gate and go south to find Jing Changhao." A vicious light flashed in Xu Dingguo's eyes.

The plan was set, the gates of Xuzhou were opened, and the people fled in all directions, fearing that they would be caught in the coming storm. Xu Dingguo led more than a hundred people out of the city to welcome Gao Jie, who was polite on the surface but panicked inside. Gao Jie looked at Xu Dingguo and his men warily, and both sides had their own thoughts.

Xu Dingguo pretended to invite Gao Jie's soldiers to the city to avoid the cold, but in fact he wanted to seduce them with beauty. Gao Jie was immediately attracted by the "beauty", but he was still vigilant and tried to find flaws. Xu Dingguo invited him again, but Gao Jie declined on the grounds that there were too many people, but proposed to let two thousand personal soldiers follow him into the city to enjoy himself. Although Xu Dingguo felt nervous, he still forced a smile and agreed.

Gao Jie led his soldiers into the city. Seeing Xu Dingguo's enthusiasm, he lowered his guard a little, but he still noticed the sneer on Xu Dingguo's face, and his heart was slightly startled. When they arrived at the city gate, Xu Dingguo ordered the gate to be kept open. Gao Jie pretended to be surprised and asked, but Xu Dingguo confidently responded that Gao Jie's army was guarding. The two laughed, but each was on guard.

Afterwards, the two entered a mansion of the Wang family gentry that was requisitioned by Xu Dingguo. The mansion was magnificent, but it was full of murderous intentions. Although Gao Jie was attracted by the luxury, he was still vigilant in his heart, knowing that this trip was full of dangers. Xu Dingguo and Gao Jie talked while walking, seemingly harmonious, but in fact, they each had their own ulterior motives, and an undercurrent of competition quietly unfolded.

Xu Dingguo was not polite at all. He drove all the women in the mansion out and collected many beauties from the city to entertain Gao Jie. These beauties were all beautiful and graceful, as if they were fairies walking out of a painting.

As the sun sets, the lights of Xuzhou city are bright. There are many wine tables inside and outside the Wang family mansion. The soldiers gather together and it is very lively. In the back hall, the table is full of delicacies from land and sea, and dancers dance lightly. Gao Jie and Xu Dingguo sit opposite each other. After three rounds of wine, Gao Jie uses the wine to test Xu Dingguo's opinion on Li Zicheng's capture of Fengyang. Xu Dingguo appears calm on the surface, but he is secretly planning in his heart.

Gao Jie deliberately asked Xu Dingguo when he would send out troops. Xu Dingguo evaded the question by saying that food and grass were not ready yet. His words were evasive, which aroused Gao Jie's vigilance. The banquet continued, and the laughter and joy covered up the undercurrent. Gao Jie was dissatisfied with the gazes of his generals and declared that he would enjoy the beauty first.

At this time, it was dark in the north of Xuzhou. Jinyiwei Commander Ning Xikong and his entourage came in at a fast speed, exhausted and anxious. After being stopped by Gao Jie's scout, Ning Xikong revealed his identity and was allowed to enter the military camp. Li Benshen came out to meet him. After learning the purpose of Ning Xikong's visit, he was worried about Gao Jie's safety. Ning Xikong wanted to expose Xu Dingguo's conspiracy, but was afraid that it would backfire, so he changed his words and said that there was an imperial decree that required Gao Jie to return to the camp to receive it.

Li Benshen sent someone into the city to pass on the message, but was turned away. He realized that Xu Dingguo might harm Gao Jie and was terrified. Xing came upon hearing the news and was also worried. Ning Xikong saw Xing's beauty and suddenly realized why Gao Jie betrayed Li Zicheng. Facing Li Benshen's request for help, Xing turned to Ning Xikong for advice. Ning Xikong made a prompt decision and ordered all units to assemble and wait for orders to prepare for possible crises. A contest concerning Gao Jie's safety quietly kicked off. (End of this chapter)