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

As expected, just as Gongsun Yuchun had expected, before he finished speaking, a young eunuch hurriedly walked into the Qianqing Palace, knelt in front of the hall, and slightly touched the ground with his forehead. His voice was a little nervous and hurried: "Your Majesty, the governor of Xuanfu and the right assistant minister of the Ministry of War, Zhu Fenghui, has delivered a letter."

Lin Xiaofeng sat on the dragon throne, wearing a bright yellow dragon robe embroidered with intricate cloud and dragon patterns, which flickered under the candlelight. He raised his hand gently, took the letter, and opened it. The things in it were exactly the same as Gongsun Yuchun's analysis before. Every word was like a carefully calculated chess piece falling on the predetermined chessboard.

It turned out that Subadi, the leader of the Khalkha Mongols, sincerely requested the Ming Dynasty to open the border for trade in a letter in an almost pleading tone. He also emphasized that they urgently needed food, cotton, linen, salt, iron and other supplies, which were the basic necessities of life for the people. Every word revealed his urgency and helplessness.

The atmosphere in the Palace of Heavenly Purity was solemn and quiet. Outside the palace, the moonlight was bright, shining through the window lattices onto the smooth ground, as if covering the ancient palace with a layer of silver gauze. Not long after, the four ministers of the cabinet also came to the Palace of Heavenly Purity to discuss the matter. They were dressed in court robes and walked steadily. Each of them had a different expression on their face, some solemn, some worried, and some thoughtful.

According to convention, all official documents must first be reviewed by the cabinet before being presented to the emperor. However, confidential letters and private memorials are not included in this process. They flow directly to the center of power like an undercurrent.

Li Banghua, a senior official in his 50s, held another secret letter in his hand. His fingers were slightly bent from years of paperwork, but at this moment he held the letter that could change the situation with extraordinary determination. He knelt down respectfully, his voice steady and powerful: "Your Majesty, the Chahar and Ordos tribes of Mongolia have also sent envoys, also requesting the border to be opened for trade."

Although these letters appear to be requests, they actually contain implicit coercion, like reefs hidden beneath the calm sea that may stir up storms at any time.

Lin Xiaofeng asked calmly, without any emotion in his tone: "My dear ministers, what do you think about this?" He swept his eyes over everyone, trying to catch a clue from their expressions.

The Minister of Revenue, Shao Shihan, a thin, stern-looking middle-aged man, was the first to speak out in opposition. His voice was clear and firm, and every word seemed to have been carefully considered: "I think we should refuse. The Mongols have already surrendered to the Jiannu. If we sell them food, I'm afraid we will be supporting the enemy. If we sell them cotton and linen, they may make armor and attack us in return." His eyes revealed a kind of determination, as if he had foreseen the future war.

But Cheng Qinghua, an official with a gentle face and a wise look in his eyes, held a different opinion. He stroked the lines on his sleeves and said slowly: "I think that the Khalkha tribe has not surrendered to the Jiannu, and we can trade with them. As for the Chahar and Ordos tribes, my opinion is the same as that of Minister Shao." His tone was calm, but revealed an unquestionable firmness.

Lin Xiaofeng turned his gaze to Miao Yikui. Under the influence of the old ministers in the cabinet, this young official had become much more calm. He stood up calmly and knelt again, with an indescribable solemnity in his movements: "Your Majesty, I think the opinions of the two ministers are reasonable." His voice was soft, but every word was clear.

Lin Xiaofeng glared at him, with a sharp look in his eyes: "I'm asking for your opinion!" His voice was not loud, but it carried an irresistible majesty.

Miao Yikui was so scared that he lowered his head and quickly replied: "I think the Mongols are like wolves. They may bite people whether they are hungry or full. So I think we can trade with them, but we must control their demands. We should neither let them be full nor let them be hungry." There was a slight tremor in his voice, but the wisdom in his words made everyone present's eyes light up.

Then, Li Banghua continued, his voice steady and powerful: "Your Majesty, the cabinet's opinion is that we can trade with them, but there must be priorities. Khalkha Mongolia should be put first, Ordos second, and Chahar last. Those with higher priority will get more food, cotton, linen, salt, iron and other supplies; those with lower priority will get less." Every word he said seemed carefully calculated, trying to find a balance in this complex situation.

Lin Xiaofeng nodded in agreement, his face still maintaining that indifferent expression, as if everything was under his control: "Okay, the specific matters will be discussed by the cabinet and reported to the Imperial Household Department. I will approve it." His voice was not loud, but it carried an unquestionable majesty.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." The ministers responded in unison, and then retreated respectfully. Their shadows stretched out in the candlelight, like the silhouettes of history, and slowly disappeared outside the palace gate.

After the ministers left, Lin Xiaofeng called the head of the Jinyiwei, Gongsun Yuchun. Gongsun Yuchun was a burly man with a resolute face. The uniform of the Jinyiwei looked particularly suitable for him. He had always been competent, but he did not dare to act without the emperor's order. At this moment, he stood in front of Lin Xiaofeng, waiting for the emperor's instructions.

"Is there anyone in the Jinyiwei who is smart, clever, and good at strategy and cleverness?" Lin Xiaofeng asked, his eyes deep, as if he could see into people's hearts.

Gongsun Yuchun was a little confused by the emperor's words. He could understand why the emperor wanted to find smart and clever people, but he didn't understand why he wanted to find cunning people. He hesitated for a moment, then asked cautiously, "May I ask what your majesty plans to do with these people?"

"Use a strategy, a counter-espionage strategy." Lin Xiaofeng replied, his voice low and powerful, as if every word contained endless power.

"Who is going to use the counter-espionage strategy against?" Gongsun Yuchun was shocked. He realized that the emperor might be playing a big game.

"Zhang Xianzhong." Lin Xiaofeng slowly uttered the name, with a hint of coldness flashing in his eyes.

"Who do you want to alienate him from?" Gongsun Yuchun asked, trying to follow the emperor's train of thought.

"Li Dingguo." Lin Xiaofeng's voice was filled with an unquestionable firmness. He already had a plan in mind, a plan to subdue Li Dingguo. He knew that Li Dingguo was a rare talent, and if he could be subdued, it would be a huge fortune for the Ming Dynasty.

Gongsun Yuchun suddenly realized that the emperor had always wanted to subdue Li Dingguo, but had not yet found a suitable method. He pondered for a long time, and then recommended a person: "Ma Jixiang." There was a hint of hesitation in his voice, as if he was not completely confident about this decision.

"Ma Jixiang is from Daxing, Shuntian Prefecture. He was a military scholar with a clever and cunning personality, and he is also somewhat literate. He initially followed Gao Qiquan as a military inspector, and was later granted the position of a military officer. Now he is a captain of the Guangzhou Jinyiwei, responsible for managing the affairs of the Guangzhou Jinyiwei." Gongsun Yuchun introduced Ma Jixiang's situation in detail, with an indescribable complex emotion in his tone.

Hearing Ma Jixiang's name, Lin Xiaofeng sighed slightly. Although Ma Jixiang in history had some flaws in his words and deeds, he did not surrender to the enemy in the end, but died with Emperor Yongli, which preserved the integrity of the Jinyiwei. But now Ma Jixiang is only a provincial leader, and he couldn't help but feel a little emotional. However, he still made up his mind: "Send an order to Ma Jixiang, let him try to alienate the relationship between Zhang Xianzhong and Li Dingguo." There was an unquestionable majesty in his voice.

Gongsun Yuchun asked tentatively: "Your Majesty, do you have a plan in mind?" His eyes revealed curiosity and expectation.

Lin Xiaofeng glanced at him with a hint of teasing in his tone: "If I had a plan, why would I need you guys?" There was an elusive meaning in his smile.

"I'll take my leave!" Gongsun Yuchun hurriedly bowed and left. He walked out of the Qianqing Palace, still full of doubts and uneasiness. He didn't know what the emperor's plan was, but he knew that this counter-espionage plan would be a thrilling contest.

After returning to the Zhenfusi Yamen, Gongsun Yuchun was in a bad mood. He sat at the desk, holding a pen in his hand, but he didn't put it down. His heart was full of doubts and uneasiness. He didn't know how to carry out the emperor's order. Until midnight, he suddenly slapped his forehead and woke up: "Why should I think too much? Isn't it better to let Ma Jixiang figure it out himself? If I really have a plan, why should I bother him?" A relieved smile appeared on his face, as if he had finally found the key to solve the problem.

From then on, imperial edicts were frequently issued from the capital, and spread to all directions. Meanwhile, news from all directions also came in one after another, and each piece of news was like a puzzle, gradually piecing together a turbulent situation.

"The new governor-general Ding Kuichu was defeated and captured..." This news was like a thunderbolt, shaking the entire court. Ding Kuichu's failure meant another military setback for the Ming Dynasty, and it also made people worried about the future situation.

"Li Zicheng surrounded Fengyang Prefecture and attempted to attack Nanjing..." This news was even more frightening. Li Zicheng's army swept in like a storm, as if to destroy all obstacles in their way.

"General Hua Ruiqi divided his troops into two groups, one to guard Yuezhou, and the other to go down the river to defend Nanjing..." This news brought a glimmer of hope, as if the Ming Dynasty saw a ray of light in the darkness. Hua Ruiqi's decision made people see the determination and courage to resist.

"Xu Dingguo designed to frame General Gao Jie, and after General Gao Jie was injured, Xu Dingguo took the opportunity to escape..." This news was like a sharp knife, piercing people's hearts. Xu Dingguo's betrayal made people see the ugliness and cruelty of human nature, and also made people more worried about the future situation.

"General Jian Mingxiao led his troops northward and captured Chengtian Prefecture and Xiangyang..." This news once again brought a glimmer of hope, as if the Ming Dynasty had found a breakthrough in its predicament. Jian Mingxiao's victory made people see the power and possibility of counterattack.

After reading these reports, Lin Xiaofeng still maintained a calm expression on his face. He had handed over power to the generals, and their success or failure was no longer something he could predict. But when he saw the last report, he stopped and pointed to the place name on it and asked Guo Tianyang: "Where is Yongzhou Prefecture?" There was a hint of solemnity and uneasiness in his voice.

Guo Tianyang glanced at the report and his expression suddenly changed.

Yongzhou Prefecture is located at the southernmost tip of Huguang Province, bordering Guangxi and Guangdong, and even closely connected with Guizhou. It has beautiful mountains and rivers, but due to its special geographical location, it has become the focus of many wars in history.

Guo Tianyang, a middle-aged man with a burly figure and a resolute face, is standing on the city wall of Yongzhou Prefecture, staring into the distance. His eyes reveal an indescribable complex emotion, a deep love for this land and a deep worry about the coming storm. He may not care much about other places, but he has an inseparable complex for Guizhou. This is not only because Guizhou is his hometown, but also because there have been two unforgettable turmoil there - the Bozhou Rebellion in the 24th year of Wanli and the She'an Rebellion in the 2nd year of Tianqi. Especially the latter, the war that lasted for a full nine years was like a nightmare, and he still has lingering fears.

"She'an Rebellion..." Guo Tianyang murmured in a low voice, as if he had returned to the war-torn era. At that time, the Ming Dynasty was fighting fiercely with the Jiannu in Liaodong, and the court mobilized the troops of the She family in Yongning, Sichuan and the An family in Shuixi, Guizhou to provide assistance. However, who would have thought that this expedition would become the prelude to a disaster. She Chongming, the once majestic general, led an army of 20,000 to Chongqing, but because the court's food and wages were withheld, coupled with dissatisfaction in his heart, he finally chose to rebel. They captured Chongqing, advanced westward, and besieged Chengdu. The tragic scenes are still vivid in my mind.

"Hmm?" At this time, Lin Xiaofeng's voice suddenly interrupted Guo Tianyang's thoughts. He turned his head and saw Lin Xiaofeng standing beside him, with a look of scrutiny in his eyes. Guo Tianyang's heart tightened, and he knelt down and reported: "Your Majesty, Yongzhou Prefecture is the southernmost prefecture in Huguang, adjacent to Guangdong, Guangxi and Guizhou."

Lin Xiaofeng nodded slightly, his eyes were deep and sharp, as if he could see through everything. "Who is the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi?" His words were filled with an unquestionable majesty.

Guo Tianyang did not dare to neglect and quickly replied: "Your Majesty, the Governor of Guangdong and Guangxi is Lord Shen Youlong."

Lin Xiaofeng couldn't help but ponder in his heart when he heard this. He knew Zhang Xianzhong's cunning and cruelty very well. This villain was obviously not fleeing south for the mountainous and hilly places like Guangxi and Guangdong where there were few flat lands. It was difficult for the army to travel there, and it was even more difficult to supply. He had to make a decision as soon as possible to prevent Zhang Xianzhong's power from expanding further.

"Write a letter to Shen Youlong." After a moment's hesitation, Lin Xiaofeng decisively ordered, "Tell his troops in Guangdong and Guangxi to focus on defense and not to pursue easily, lest they be led by the nose by the bandits."

Twenty days later, a secret letter flew from the capital to the Three General Offices in Zhaoqing, like a flying bird. The Three General Offices were established by the imperial court in the first year of Chenghua in the Ming Dynasty. They included the Governor's Office of Guangdong and Guangxi, the General Town Office, and the General Army Office. They were originally located in Wuzhou, but moved to Zhaoqing in the 45th year of Jiajing. This was the political and military center of Lingnan, and it was also where Shen Youlong was in charge.

Shen Youlong, also known by his courtesy name Yunsheng, was from Huating, Songjiang. He was born in poverty, but with his own efforts and intelligence, he passed the imperial examination in the 44th year of Wanli. After joining the army, he climbed up step by step with his military merits, and finally sat on the throne of the Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi. He was burly, with a square face, big eyes flashing with wisdom, and a thick beard on the tip of his chin. He wore a blue robe, a purple belt around his waist, and a net scarf on his head, looking like Zhang Fei wearing the clothes of a civil servant. However, his temperament was completely different from Zhang Fei, and he was gentle and elegant, revealing an unyielding tenacity.

At this moment, Shen Youlong was sitting in his study, holding the secret letter from the capital. He opened the envelope and read the contents carefully. After reading it, he breathed a sigh of relief and was secretly glad in his heart. At least, the emperor had realized Zhang Xianzhong's threat and gave clear instructions.

"Sir Shen." A voice of a yamen runner came from outside the door, "Ma Jixiang, a captain of the Guangdong Jinyiwei, wants to see you."

"Oh?" Shen Youlong heard this and a faint smile appeared on his lips, "Please come in."

A moment later, Ma Jixiang walked into the study. He was thin, with a shrewd face, and his eyes revealed a kind of alertness and cunning. After exchanging a few pleasantries with Shen Youlong, he went straight to the point: "Sir Shen, the villain Zhang Xianzhong took Yongzhou along the river, and obviously wanted to attack Guangdong and Guangxi. What are your plans?"

Shen Youlong smiled and replied, "Don't worry, Captain Ma. I have deployed heavy troops on the main roads where the bandits are heading south. Guilin has more than 10,000 defenders, Wuzhou has nearly 20,000, and Shaozhou has over 10,000. It will be difficult for them to defeat our Guangdong and Guangxi troops in the mountains and forests!"

However, Ma Jixiang shook his head and sighed: "I'm afraid this matter is not that simple!"

Shen Youlong frowned slightly when he heard this: "Why did Captain Ma say that?"

Ma Jixiang began to keep the secret: "Master Shen, think about it, Zhang Xianzhong has never been good at positional warfare, he is good at mobile warfare. Now tens of thousands of troops have been stationed in Yongzhou for almost a month, he must be planning some big move."

"Ultimate move? What ultimate move?" Shen Youlong asked.

Ma Jixiang sighed and said slowly: "I don't know what the specific trick is. I want to send a spy to investigate, but we don't have money in the government!" Shen Youlong understood immediately that Ma Jixiang was here to ask for money. How could the Jinyiwei have no money? It's because the internal changes are coming, and it's almost time for Guangdong and Guangxi. Ma Jixiang wanted to take this opportunity to make up for the deficit of the government.

"It's difficult!" Shen Youlong also sighed, "The court has exempted the whole country from taxes for two years. We are so far away from the capital. The silver from the Ministry of Revenue was issued in early March, but it hasn't arrived yet! Should we report it to the Ministry of Revenue?"

Ma Jixiang secretly cursed Shen Youlong for being cunning. He came before he even opened his mouth to complain.

"This is not the fault of the Ministry of Revenue." Ma Jixiang quickly changed his words and advised, "It's all because of Li Chuang the bandit causing trouble in Fengyang that the grain transport was blocked, so the silver couldn't be delivered."

Hearing this, Shen Youlong stroked his beard and said with a smile: "Alas, it is indeed difficult! Captain Ma, do you have anything else to do? If not, I will have to go to Wuzhou in person to prepare for the war."

Seeing that this trick didn't work, Ma Jixiang had to come up with another excuse: "Master Shen, you also know that the Jinyiwei will be replaced. I am afraid that I will lose my position as the captain of Guangdong. I have no merit and no hard work. I want to take advantage of Zhang Xianzhong's southward march to make a contribution so as to keep my position."

When Shen Youlong heard this, he looked up and carefully examined Ma Jixiang. Ma Jixiang's eyes were bright, his expression was firm, and he looked righteous. But under Shen Youlong's sharp gaze, Ma Jixiang couldn't help but feel uneasy. He felt like he was being stared at by a tiger, and he felt uncomfortable all over.

Just when Ma Jixiang was about to collapse, Shen Youlong suddenly asked in a stern voice: "Captain Ma, what do you want to do?" His voice was like thunder, echoing in the study. Ma Jixiang was frightened by this sudden question and almost lost his balance. He looked at Shen Youlong's sharp eyes with forced calmness, secretly thinking about how to answer.

Facing Shen Youlong's question, Ma Jixiang swallowed his saliva, his eyes flashing with determination and resoluteness. He said seriously: "Now the villain Zhang Xianzhong is stationed in Yongzhou. I plan to send some smart spies in to find out the details so as to prepare for your next action, Lord Shen." There was an unquestionable firmness in his tone, as if he had made all the preparations.

Shen Youlong narrowed his eyes slightly and looked at Ma Jixiang, as if he was weighing the truth of his words. After a moment of silence, he shook his head and sighed, "It's not that I don't want to help, but I really have no power." There was a sense of helplessness and bitterness in his tone, as if he was troubled by the pressure of life.

"Why?" Ma Jixiang's face suddenly changed when he heard this, and his heart was filled with doubts and anxiety. He knew the difficulty of this mission, and he also knew that Shen Youlong's hesitation might deal a fatal blow to his plan.

In fact, Ma Jixiang's real purpose was not simply for intelligence. He was following the secret orders of Lin Xiaofeng and Gongsun Yuchun to implement a counter-espionage plan. Five days ago, he received a secret letter from the capital, asking him to try to alienate Zhang Xianzhong and Li Dingguo. His heart was full of contradictions and struggles. He knew the danger of this mission, but he also understood that it was his duty.

Ma Jixiang thought about it and finally decided to go to Zhang Xianzhong's son-in-law Ruan Shiwu. Ruan Shiwu was originally a scholar in Tongcheng, and his family was quite wealthy, but because of some things, he was cheated by the academy and was imprisoned. Later, when Zhang Xianzhong attacked Tongcheng, Ruan Shiwu took the opportunity to incite the prisoners in the prison to riot, and with the help of the inside and outside, Tongcheng was captured. Zhang Xianzhong saw that he was a capable man, so he took him as his son-in-law. This guy was cruel, cunning, and good at flattering, which pleased Zhang Xianzhong very much. If Shen Youlong did not help, Ma Jixiang was worried that he would not be able to complete the task, and the consequences would be disastrous.

Seeing Ma Jixiang's anxious face, Shen Youlong smiled slightly, his smile was calm and composed, as if everything was under his control. "Captain Ma, don't worry, the court's order is for me to guard this place, not to take the initiative to attack." His words were filled with unquestionable authority and majesty.

"Since the main focus is defense, the spies are useless, so I can't help you." Shen Youlong's words were filled with helplessness and regret, as if he was also bound by the cruelty of reality.

Ma Jixiang calmed himself down, rolled his eyes, and said, "Sir Shen, although you have more than 40,000 soldiers under your command, they are scattered in Guilin, Wuzhou and Shaozhou. If Zhang Xianzhong concentrates his forces to attack one of these places, by the time reinforcements arrive, the city may have been broken. What will you do then?" There was a sense of urgency and worry in his tone, as if he had already seen the future disaster.

Shen Youlong was silent when he heard this. This was exactly what he was worried about. The methods of attack and defense were different. The attacking party could freely choose the target, while the defending party could only rely on the city and wait for reinforcements. His heart was filled with worry and uneasiness, as if he was troubled by the uncertainty of the future.

"If Lord Shen could know Zhang Xianzhong's main attack direction in advance and make preparations in advance, the situation would be very different." Ma Jixiang continued to persuade, his tone filled with firmness and confidence, as if he had seen the dawn of victory.

Shen Youlong thought for a while and said, "In this case, I can send someone myself. Why bother the Jinyiwei?" There was a sense of doubt and confusion in his tone, as if he was full of doubts about Ma Jixiang's proposal.

Ma Jixiang smiled and said, "Your Majesty often says that everyone has their own expertise. It is only our Jinyiwei who can do the work of gathering information and transmitting intelligence." There was a sense of confidence and pride in his smile, as if he was full of confidence in the abilities of the Jinyiwei.

Shen Youlong thought about it again and felt that it made sense. The Jinyiwei were indeed good at spying on the enemy and inciting the enemy to revolt, which was not something that ordinary people could do. His heart was full of admiration and trust for the Jinyiwei, as if he had seen the great military exploits they had made for the court.

So he stretched out five fingers and said, "Five thousand taels of silver!" There was determination and firmness in his tone, as if he had already made the final decision.

"Oh!" Ma Jixiang was very happy in his heart, but on the surface he pretended to be dissatisfied and said: "Sir Shen, you are the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, how can you be reluctant to spend even 10,000 taels of silver?" There was an exaggeration and mocking in his tone, as if he was very dissatisfied with Shen Youlong's stinginess.

Shen Youlong smiled bitterly: "How can it be so easy to raise ten thousand taels of silver? These five thousand taels of silver are what our Sanzong Yamen has saved over the years." There was a kind of bitterness and helplessness in his smile, as if he was troubled by the pressure of life.

"Nine thousand!" Ma Jixiang began to bargain, his tone filled with eagerness and desire, as if he had seen the dawn of victory.

"Five thousand!" Shen Youlong insisted on his opinion, his tone filled with unquestionable firmness and determination.

"Eight thousand!" Ma Jixiang continued to bargain, his heart filled with anxiety and uneasiness, as if he was afraid of losing this opportunity.

"Five thousand is five thousand, no more!" Shen Youlong's words were firm and decisive, as if he had made the final decision.

While bargaining, Ma Jixiang cursed Shen Youlong in his heart for being stingy. But he also knew that although five thousand taels of silver was not a small amount, he would have to work harder to impress a character like Ruan Shiwu. He wanted to ask for more silver so that he could keep some for himself, but he finally compromised. He understood that this mission was more important than silver.

"Six thousand gold, the lowest price!" Ma Jixiang threw out his bottom line. There was helplessness and regret in his tone, as if he had already made the biggest concession.

Shen Youlong sighed and said, "Five thousand five hundred gold, no more." His tone was resolute and decisive, as if he had made the final decision. He understood that this transaction was not only for money, but also for the overall situation.

"Deal!" Ma Jixiang agreed without hesitation. His heart was filled with joy and excitement, as if he had seen the dawn of success. Getting 5,500 taels of silver from Shen Youlong was beyond his expectations. He knew that this mission would be more difficult, but he was also full of confidence and determination.

"Lord Shen, please prepare the silver as soon as possible. I will send someone to Yongzhou right away." Ma Jixiang's words were filled with urgency and desire, as if he couldn't wait to take action.

"Okay, but I have to tell you in advance that if you don't keep your word, even if I die, I will drag you to hell with me!" Shen Youlong threatened with his eyes wide open. His tone was filled with an unquestionable majesty and determination, as if he was full of doubts about Ma Jixiang's credibility.

Although Ma Jixiang felt a little nervous, he pretended to be calm on the surface and patted his chest to assure: "Don't worry, Lord Shen. I, Ma Jixiang, have always been reliable in doing things." There was a kind of confidence and pride in his smile, as if he was full of confidence in his abilities.

"That's good." Shen Youlong was relieved after getting Ma Jixiang's assurance. The position of the governor of the Ming Dynasty is not easy to hold. If you are not careful, you may lose your head. Although he is wholeheartedly thinking about the court, he does not want to die in vain. His heart is full of worries and uneasiness, as if he is troubled by the uncertainty of the future. But he also understands that this transaction is for the overall situation and he must trust Ma Jixiang.

After the silver deal was settled, Ma Jixiang said goodbye and left. Before leaving, he did not forget to flatter Shen Youlong: "Sir Shen, you are really able to make plans and win battles thousands of miles away! It is a blessing for the Ming Dynasty to have a pillar like you!" His smile was full of admiration and praise, as if he was full of respect for Shen Youlong's ability.

Shen Youlong smiled calmly and said, "Captain Ma, you are too kind. I am just being loyal to the court and I just want to have a clear conscience." His smile was calm and composed, as if he had seen through everything. He also understood that this transaction was not just for money but also for the overall situation. He must be loyal to the court and have a clear conscience.

"Goodbye!" Ma Jixiang bowed and said goodbye. His heart was full of anticipation and excitement as if he had already seen the future victory.

"Goodbye!" Shen Youlong also bowed in return. His heart was filled with worry and anxiety, but also with determination and faith. He knew that this transaction would have a far-reaching impact on the overall situation, and he had to go all out.

……

Zhang Xianzhong's army was stationed in Yongzhou Prefecture. The reason was actually very simple: Zhang Xianzhong had a serious illness - a cold, which is now a common cold. In ancient times, this disease was fatal because it could easily cause serious complications such as pneumonia and myocarditis. Many emperors in history died because of these complications. Even Emperor Kangxi had suffered from this disease. Fortunately, with the full treatment of military doctors, Zhang Xianzhong's condition gradually improved, but his spirit was not as good as before.

"Where's the military doctor? Hurry up and get all the doctors nearby to come and take turns treating my adoptive father! If they can't cure him, chop off their heads!" Sun Kewang ordered angrily in the military tent. His tone was filled with anxiety and worry, and it was obvious that he was very concerned about Zhang Xianzhong's condition.

"Sir, the famous doctors in the city have long since disappeared, and the remaining ones are just half-baked doctors, and the prescriptions they prescribe are all the same old stuff." Ai Nengqi replied helplessly. His tone was filled with helplessness and regret, and it was obvious that he was very troubled by this situation.

Just as everyone was sighing, military advisor Ruan Shiwu walked in with a proud look on his face, as if he had found a solution to the problem.

"Don't worry, I have found a famous doctor." There was a sense of pride and boasting in his tone, and he was obviously very satisfied with his results.

"Famous doctor? Where did he come from? Who taught him?" Liu Wenxiu asked doubtfully. His tone was filled with curiosity and inquiry, and it was obvious that he was very interested in the identity and background of this famous doctor.

"I came from Guangzhou Prefecture and learned from the famous doctor Wu Youxing." Ruan Shiwu answered proudly. There was a kind of boasting and pride on his face, as if he had seen hope that Zhang Xianzhong's condition would improve.

"Wu Youxing? What's his pen name? He is the founder of the plague school!" Everyone was amazed when they heard this. They had heard about Wu Youxing's medical skills and contributions, and now they were very happy and excited to hear that such a famous doctor came to treat Zhang Xianzhong.

"Ahem, ahem, it turns out to be... the disciple of the great doctor Wu. Please... please come in!" When Zhang Xianzhong heard the identity of the person, a glimmer of hope flashed in his eyes. He struggled to sit up from the sickbed, with an anxious look on his face, as if he had grasped a life-saving straw.

Wu Youxing, this name has long been a legend among the people. In the past, he was just an unknown itinerant doctor, with little reputation, walking between rivers and lakes, using his medical skills to save people. However, fate always seems to like to push heroes onto the stage of history at the most difficult times.

In the fourteenth year of Lin Xiaofeng's rule, an unprecedented disaster swept across the country. Plague was rampant in Shandong, Zhejiang, and the northern and southern Zhili provinces, and the number of people infected was too numerous to count. By May and June, the epidemic was like a tiger descending from the mountain, unstoppable. Families fell one after another, and no one was spared. The entire village seemed to be shrouded in death, and wailing was everywhere.

At the critical moment of life and death, Wu Youxing disregarded his own safety, went deep into the epidemic area, and created the "Dayuan Drink" to treat plague, which became famous far and wide.

He proposed that the plague was caused by "pestilent air" that entered the body through the mouth and nose, but the medical community stuck to old conventions and did not recognize his theory, so Wu Youxing could only practice medicine among the people.

Zhang Xianzhong heard that Wu Youxing was a skilled doctor, so he asked his disciple Zhao Yongnian to treat him. Zhao Yongnian was an excellent doctor. After diagnosing Zhang Xianzhong's condition, he prescribed medicine and promised to stay in the army to treat other patients. Zhang Xianzhong was very grateful, and Zhao Yongnian immediately went to the military camp to treat the sick soldiers.

At the same time, Zhao Yongnian came from Guangzhou and was entrusted to convey to the Dashi military advisor Wang Zhaolin the request of the wealthy businessmen that the Dashi army should not attack Guangzhou and that they were willing to offer 100,000 taels of silver as a reward.

Zhaolin was shocked by the huge sum of money, but considering Zhao Yongnian's contribution in saving Zhang Xianzhong, he did not pursue the matter. Zhao Yongnian also said that the matter had nothing to do with him. (End of this chapter)