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

Looking at the blade flashing with cold light in Wang Zhaolin's hand, Zhao Yongnian's heart trembled slightly, but on the surface he was as calm as the autumn moon on a calm lake. He was thin, with a gaunt face, and his eyes flashed with a calmness that came from having experienced the vicissitudes of life. Ruan Shiwu secretly speculated in his heart that it was true that this guy's temperament was very different from that of ordinary people, and he was indeed a spy sent by the Ming Dynasty. In fact, Zhao Yongnian's real identity was a secret guard of the Guangdong Jinyiwei, who was secretly sent by Ma Jixiang, a thousand households of the Guangzhou Jinyiwei, to sneak behind the enemy's back, like an invisible sharp blade.

Ruan Shiwu was a tall and strong man with a resolute face. He gently pressed his right hand on the hilt of the knife and sneered, "He is indeed a spy. Most people would have been frightened pale." Zhao Yongnian curled his lips into a sneer and responded, "Oh, I have studied medicine since I was young and have experienced natural disasters and man-made tragedies. I have long been indifferent to matters of life and death. What can a mere knife do to me?" His voice was calm and firm, as if no threat could shake his will.

Zhao Yongnian went on, "I didn't come here on my own initiative. Your people tied me here. How can you arbitrarily accuse me of being a spy?" His eyes revealed helplessness and sarcasm, as if he was accustomed to such accusations.

Ruan Shiwu was stunned for a moment, then he put away the knife and looked apologetic: "Mr. Zhao, I was too suspicious." Zhao Yongnian was not angry, but just smiled bitterly, a weathered smile that seemed to contain too much helplessness and vicissitudes: "Lord Wang, please take me to see the patient as soon as possible. I will leave after the diagnosis." Ruan Shiwu nodded and led him deeper into the military camp again.

Yongzhou's military camp is located in a barren mountain area, surrounded by dense forests and steep cliffs, as if it is a secret place isolated from the world. It was dusk, and the afterglow of the setting sun sprinkled on the military camp, adding a bit of warmth to this desolate place. Zhao Yongnian followed behind Ruan Shiwu, but in his heart he was thinking about how to better complete his mission.

The next evening, Ruan Shiwu came to Zhao Yongnian's tent again. After two days of observation, he found that Zhao Yongnian spent the rest of his time studying medical books, except for treating patients and decocting medicine, and did not find any abnormal behavior. This man's medical skills were indeed extraordinary, and many soldiers recovered quickly under his treatment.

After taking four doses of medicine, Zhang Xianzhong's spirits improved greatly, and the diarrhea and fever symptoms of the soldiers in the army also eased. Ruan Shiwu broke into the tent without notifying Zhao Yongnian and said, "Mr. Zhao, can I have a word with you?" Zhao Yongnian was secretly happy, knowing that Wang Zhaolin had taken the bait, but he still pretended to be indifferent on the surface: "What advice do you have, Lord Wang?"

"I want to inquire about the situation in Guangzhou Prefecture." Ruan Shiwu went straight to the point, his eyes revealing a hint of urgency. "What's the matter?" Zhao Yongnian pretended not to know, but he already understood Ruan Shiwu's intention in his heart. "Sir, you mentioned before that a wealthy businessman in Guangzhou asked you to pass on a message, hoping that the Dashi Army would not attack Guangzhou?" Zhao Yongnian nodded: "The message has been delivered." Ruan Shiwu smiled slightly, a trace of greed flashed in his eyes: "What about the follow-up?" Zhao Yongnian pretended to be profound: "That's not my concern." Ruan Shiwu was anxious: "Brother Zhao, be a good person to the end, please send another message to Guangzhou, tell them that I can stop the war, and ask them to send silver quickly."

Zhao Yongnian remained silent, and Ruan Shiwu quickly apologized. At this time, Zhao Yongnian sighed, as if he had made a great decision: "Since Lord Wang is interested, I will tell you the truth. In order to show his sincerity, the wealthy merchants in Guangzhou did collect 10,000 taels of silver to follow me north. But before arriving in Yongzhou, I had already stored most of the silver taels in a place 200 miles away from Changning. As long as I write a letter, someone will send the silver to me."

Ruan Shiwu frowned, feeling that he had been cheated. It was hard for him to accept that 100,000 taels became 10,000 taels. Moreover, Zhao Yongnian's words were inconsistent, which made him more suspicious. Seeing this, Zhao Yongnian hurriedly explained: "Master Wang, please calm down. It is very inconvenient to transport 100,000 taels of silver, and it is easy to attract attention. So I only took 10,000 taels on the road. If you are willing, I can ask the rich merchant to send the rest of the silver immediately."

Ruan Shiwu was so angry that he wanted to kill someone, but when he thought of the money, he held back. He stared at Zhao Yongnian and said viciously: "If you dare to lie to me, I will make you live a life worse than death!" Zhao Yongnian smiled calmly, a smile of confidence: "The power of life and death of the adults is in your hands, how dare I run away?"

Ruan Shiwu snorted coldly: "Write a letter quickly! I will send someone to Changning to get the silver. If there is no silver, you know the consequences!" Zhao Yongnian did not wait for him to finish, and readily agreed: "It is better to die than to live!" Then he picked up the pen to write a letter and ordered the silver to be sent to Yongzhou. In the process of writing the letter, Zhao Yongnian had a barely perceptible smile on the corner of his mouth. He knew that Ruan Shiwu had fallen into the trap of Jinyiwei. The so-called 100,000 taels of silver were actually only 10,000 taels, and the remaining 90,000 were imaginary numbers. If the 90,000 taels of silver were given away easily, they would lose control of Ruan Shiwu. Therefore, they deliberately used 90,000 taels of silver as bait to lure Ruan Shiwu to act according to their plan.

"The letter has been written. Please read it." Zhao Yongnian handed the letter to Ruan Shiwu. After repeatedly reviewing it, Ruan Shiwu finally sent someone to deliver the letter to Changning. However, his doubts were not completely dissipated, and his trust in Zhao Yongnian was greatly reduced.

However, before the silver was received, Zhang Xianzhong had already recovered from his illness. "Pass the order! Beat the drums and go to the tent!" As the deafening drums sounded, all the generals gathered in the meeting tent. Ruan Shiwu, the military advisor, also attended the meeting. Before leaving, he specifically instructed his subordinates to keep a close watch on Zhao Yongnian to prevent him from escaping or causing trouble.

The tent was completely silent, with only the occasional cough from Zhang Xianzhong. "I have recovered from my illness, and we should discuss the strategy of using troops," he said slowly, his voice revealing a kind of majesty and determination. Sun Kewang was the first to say, "We should attack Guizhou." Everyone agreed, but Zhang Xianzhong and Li Dingguo shook their heads in opposition. They believed that Guizhou was rugged and full of poisonous miasma, and that it was extremely risky to enter Sichuan.

Liu Wenxiu observed Zhang Xianzhong's expression and said, "It is not a good idea to enter Sichuan from Guizhou. We should go south to Guangdong. If the Ming army pursues us, we can go west to Guangxi, north to Fujian, or south to Qiongzhou to confront the Ming army across the sea." His voice was calm and firm, as if he had made full preparations for the future war. Zhang Xianzhong was silent for a moment, then nodded slowly, as if he agreed with Liu Wenxiu's suggestion. Ruan Shiwu, who was sitting next to him, was secretly thinking about how to use Zhao Yongnian's clue to gain more benefits for the Dashi Army.

After listening to Sun Kewang's suggestion, Zhang Xianzhong remained silent, frowned, and fell into deep thought. The atmosphere in the tent became solemn for a moment, and all the generals focused their eyes on him, waiting for his decision.

Going south to attack Guangdong may sound reasonable, but Zhang Xianzhong knew that this was not a long-term plan. Especially occupying Qiongzhou Prefecture and facing the Ming Dynasty across the sea was just a fantasy. Although the navy of their Dashi Army had some experience in inland rivers, it had never experienced the test of the sea. Once they were on the sea, how could they be a match for the Ming Dynasty navy? Thinking of this, Zhang Xianzhong couldn't help shaking his head.

"Dingguo, what do you think?" Zhang Xianzhong turned and looked at Li Dingguo, with a questioning gleam in his eyes.

Li Dingguo did not want to refute Sun Kewang directly. After all, they were brothers. He spoke cautiously: "Brother, what you said makes sense. We can first send a vanguard force to try to enter the Guangdong and Guangxi regions. If the situation is not good, we can make other plans." His voice was steady and powerful, revealing a firmness that came from careful consideration.

Zhang Xianzhong raised his head and glanced at the generals, with a hint of disappointment on his face. Obviously, he was not very satisfied with everyone's proposals. Although these generals were brave and good at fighting, they were still lacking in strategic vision.

At this time, Ruan Shiwu stood up. He was tall, with a resolute face and a gleam of wisdom in his eyes. He said loudly, "Father-in-law, I'm afraid it's not the best idea to go south to Guangdong and Guangxi." His voice was sonorous and powerful, revealing an unquestionable firmness.

"The Guangdong and Guangxi regions are mountainous, and the marching speed is bound to be limited, which is contrary to our strategy of quick victory. Moreover, our army has been resting in Yongzhou for more than a month, and the Ming Dynasty will definitely deploy heavy troops in Guangdong and Guangxi to wait for us." Ruan Shiwu's words revealed a deep insight into the situation and a precise grasp of strategy.

Zhang Xianzhong's eyes lit up when he heard this, and he was refreshed. He asked hurriedly, "Military Advisor, where do you think we should go?" His voice revealed an eagerness and expectation, as if Ruan Shiwu's answer was his life-saving straw.

"Sichuan!" Ruan Shiwu answered decisively. His voice revealed a kind of firmness and determination, as if this answer was the only choice in his heart.

Sun Kewang sneered, his face looked a little ferocious: "Military advisor, what you said is wrong. The mountain roads in Guizhou are more precipitous than those in Guangdong and Guangxi. If we march into Sichuan, the casualties will be heavy!" There was a kind of disdain and sarcasm in his voice, as if he was dismissive of Ruan Shiwu's proposal.

Li Dingguo also nodded in agreement: "Indeed, the road into Sichuan is extremely dangerous and not the best option." His voice revealed a sense of helplessness and regret, as if he was somewhat disappointed with Ruan Shiwu's proposal.

Ruan Shiwu smiled slightly, looking a little arrogant. His smile revealed a kind of confidence and arrogance, as if he didn't care about the doubts of Sun Kewang and Li Dingguo. "In terms of fighting, I may not be as good as the two generals; but in terms of planning, I'm afraid the two generals still have to learn from me." There was a kind of provocation and sarcasm in his voice, as if he doubted the strategic vision of Sun Kewang and Li Dingguo.

As soon as these words came out, Sun Kewang clenched his fists in anger, and his face looked a little ferocious and angry. Li Dingguo also showed anger and wanted to take action. However, he forced himself to hold back the anger in his heart and did not flare up.

Seeing this, Liu Wenxiu quickly dissuaded him: "Brother, don't be impulsive. Let's discuss it properly." There was a gentleness and persuasion in his voice, as if he wanted to calm the dispute.

Amid all the strange looks, Ruan Shiwu began to explain his brilliant plan. His voice was sonorous and powerful, revealing an unquestionable firmness and confidence.

"Father-in-law, generals! What is the key to 'defeating the enemy by marching'?" His question was sharp and profound, as if he wanted to guide everyone to think about a deeper strategy.

Li Dingguo blurted out: "It's about 'walking'!" His voice revealed a sense of sudden enlightenment and approval, as if he had a deep understanding of Ruan Shiwu's question.

Although Ruan Shiwu was somewhat dissatisfied with Li Dingguo's interruption, he had to continue speaking due to the situation. "The so-called 'walk' means to contain the main forces of the Ming Dynasty and make them follow our pace. The more enemies we contain, the weaker their forces will be in other places." His voice revealed a kind of wisdom and depth, as if he had a unique insight into the strategy.

Then, Nguyen Shiwu elaborated on his marching route and strategic intentions in detail. His words revealed his deep insight into the terrain, military strength, trade routes and other aspects, as well as his precise grasp of strategy. His ingenious plan stunned everyone and they were speechless for a long time.

Zhang Xianzhong was greatly inspired by what he heard, and he kept sketching the marching route in his mind. The more place names he had, the more confused his thoughts became, but at the same time, he became more excited. He seemed to see a brand new strategic blueprint unfolding before his eyes, a great opportunity for their Dashi Army to take advantage of the opportunity and attack Huanglong!

Before Ruan Shiwu finished explaining all the details, Zhang Xianzhong could not wait to unfold the map and study it carefully. His fingers moved across the map, as if outlining a brand new future.

After a long while, Zhang Xianzhong let out a long sigh, sat up straight and asked: "Generals, what do you think of the military advisor's plan?" His voice revealed a sense of expectation and inquiry, as if he wanted to get everyone's approval and support.

However, no one in the tent answered. Everyone was shocked by this long and strange route. From Yongzhou to Jingzhou, it was nearly 3,000 miles long! This was simply an incredible miracle!
Zhang Xianzhong did not rush, but quietly waited for everyone's reaction. He was very satisfied with the route he had drawn up, thinking that it could both avoid the main force of the Ming Dynasty and confuse the enemy's judgment so that they could not figure out our movements.

Seeing no one responded, Zhang Xianzhong coughed lightly and said, "If there is no objection, then we will march along this route in three days!" His voice revealed a firmness and determination, as if he had made the final decision.

"This is the top secret of the Dashi Army. Anyone who leaks it will be severely punished!" Zhang Xianzhong once again emphasized the seriousness of the military order. His voice revealed a kind of majesty and unquestionable power, as if he was warning everyone to keep the secret strictly.

Although all the generals present were key generals, Zhang Xianzhong had to reiterate the discipline as it was related to the survival of the army. He swept his eyes over the generals, as if to confirm whether they all understood what he meant.

"We will obey the orders of the King of Dashi!" All the generals responded in unison. Their voices revealed a kind of firmness and loyalty, as if they were ready to fight to the end for Zhang Xianzhong and the Dashi Army.

"Everyone else, leave first, the military advisor stay," Zhang Xianzhong ordered. His voice revealed a kind of majesty and unquestionable power, as if he was ordering everyone to carry out his decision.

After everyone left, Zhang Xianzhong patted Ruan Shiwu on the shoulder and praised him, "Military Advisor, you are truly a talented person in our army!" His voice revealed a kind of admiration and fondness, as if he highly recognized Ruan Shiwu's talents and strategies.

"You are too kind, King Daxi." Ruan Shiwu smiled modestly, but his eyes could not hide the pride. His smile revealed a kind of confidence and satisfaction, as if he was extremely proud of his own talents and strategies.

"What reward do you want?" Zhang Xianzhong asked. His voice revealed a kind of concern and inquiry, as if he wanted to give Ruan Shiwu the reward he deserved.

Ruan Shiwu was speechless for a moment. He originally thought that Zhang Xianzhong would give him a higher position or more gold and silver treasures, but he did not expect Zhang Xianzhong to ask him directly for a reward. He thought for a while, then knelt down to thank him: "Thank you, father-in-law, I have nothing to ask for." His voice revealed a kind of sincerity and loyalty, as if he was extremely grateful for Zhang Xianzhong's gift.

"Okay!" Zhang Xianzhong laughed, "Then I will give you 500 gold for your private use!" His voice revealed a sense of generosity and magnanimity, as if he was granting Ruan Shiwu a huge fortune.

"Thank you, father-in-law." Although Ruan Shiwu was somewhat dissatisfied and felt that 500 gold was too little, he could only thank him and leave. After he walked out of the tent, the smile on his face gradually disappeared, replaced by a trace of disdain. He thought to himself: 500 gold? Such a great contribution is only worth 500 gold? Isn't this an insult to me?

Thinking of the 100,000 taels of gold that the merchants in Guangzhou had promised to give him, Ruan Shiwu's mood became even more complicated. As he walked, he was thinking about how to get the 90,000 taels of gold. He knew that the army was about to set out, and he had to come up with a solution as soon as possible. His eyes revealed a kind of firmness and determination, as if telling himself: I must get that gold no matter what!
On a late autumn morning, the sun shines through the sparse clouds and sprinkles on the ancient city wall, adding a bit of warmth to this vicissitudes of life. Ruan Shiwu, a middle-aged man dressed in gorgeous clothes and with deep eyes, once again stepped into Zhao Yongnian's residence. The furnishings in the house are simple, but well organized. A faint medicinal fragrance permeates the air, indicating the identity of the owner.

Ruan Shiwu frowned with some doubt and spoke slowly: "You should quickly write a letter to the merchants in Guangzhou and tell them that the King of Daxi has been persuaded by me and will not attack Guangdong." His voice was low and powerful, and every word seemed to contain irresistible majesty.

Zhao Yongnian's heart skipped a beat when he heard this. He looked at Ruan Shiwu suspiciously, his eyes seemed to be able to see through people's hearts. He asked tentatively, "Mr. Wang, you didn't lie to me, did you?" As he spoke, a hint of subtle cunning flashed in his eyes.

Ruan Shiwu sneered, with a meaningful arc at the corner of his mouth, "I, Wang, have always been a man of integrity. If you don't believe me, just wait three days to see if the army goes north." There was unquestionable firmness in his tone, as if everything was under control.

Zhao Yongnian quickly wrote down these words, but his heart was in turmoil. He then asked, "If the army really moves, what will I do with my money?" His words revealed a bit of anxiety and uneasiness.

Ruan Shiwu wanted to mention Jingzhou, but he swallowed the words back when they came to his lips. He thought to himself: This is a secret and cannot be leaked. If it is leaked, I will be in danger. But if he doesn't tell the place, the silver can't be sent, which puts him in a dilemma. He was silent for a moment, his eyes wandering around the room, as if looking for some kind of answer. Seeing this, Zhao Yongnian raised his eyebrows and a cunning smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, "Or, let's exchange the 90,000 taels of silver for gold. At a ratio of 15 to 1, we can get 6,000 taels, which weighs less than 400 kilograms." There was a bit of calculation in his words, as if he had seen a turn for the better.

"But Mr. Wang has to tell me the time and place, and the gold must be delivered on time." Zhao Yongnian's tone was unquestionable and resolute. His eyes were fixed on Ruan Shiwu, trying to catch a hint of flaw on his face.

After pondering for a moment, Ruan Shiwu said cautiously: "Let's go to Wuchang Prefecture. Send someone to get it in two months. If you can't get it by then, your life will be in danger." His voice was low and powerful, and every word seemed to carry a thousand pounds of weight.

Zhao Yongnian pretended to be surprised and said, "Mr. Wang, do you have to get the gold before you let me go?" There was a hint of helplessness in his eyes, as if he had been forced into a desperate situation.

Ruan Shiwu asked back, "What else?" There was a hint of indifference in his tone, as if he didn't care about Zhao Yongnian's fate.

Zhao Yongnian sighed and said, "Well, okay." He shook his head helplessly, picked up the pen and began to write. The tip of the pen jumped on the paper, and every word contained deep meaning. He deliberately added more secret content to the letter, which not only showed the position that the Dashi Army would not invade Guangdong and Guangxi, but also cleverly told his own dilemma, implying that if the other party did not keep the promise, he would face a crisis of life and death.

Ruan Shiwu carefully checked the letter and after confirming that it was correct, he sent his confidant to deliver the letter to the address provided by Zhao Yongnian. He watched the confidant leave, but he felt a little uneasy in his heart, as if something was about to get out of control.

After his confidant left, Zhao Yongnian deliberately asked, "Lord Wang, will General Li Dingguo still be the vanguard in this northern expedition?" There was a hint of tentativeness in his tone and a cunning gleam in his eyes.

Ruan Shiwu frowned and said, "Are you trying to find out my military intelligence?" There was a hint of displeasure in his voice and vigilance in his eyes.

Zhao Yongnian quickly waved his hands and said, "No, no, I have been practicing medicine in the countryside for many years, and I often hear people praise General Li for his military prowess, his victory in every battle, and his strict military discipline, which has won him the hearts of the people. So I couldn't help but ask one more question." There was a hint of flattery in his words, but there was a calculating gleam in his eyes.

Zhao Yongnian observed Ruan Shiwu's expression while speaking, trying to catch a trace of emotional fluctuations. The angrier Ruan Shiwu got, the more he praised Li Dingguo, which was actually a strategy of "praising to death". He did not really want to kill Ruan Shiwu, but wanted to sow discord between him and Li Dingguo, creating a rift between the seemingly united father and son.

Ruan Shiwu was Zhang Xianzhong's son-in-law, while Li Dingguo and others were his adopted sons. On the surface, their relationship was close, but in fact, the internal competition was also extremely fierce. This delicate balance made Ruan Shiwu full of vigilance and uneasiness.

"Enough! Stop talking!" Ruan Shiwu clenched his fists and glared, "Li Dingguo is just a military man. All his actions are according to my plan. How can he be as amazing as you say?" There was some anger and unwillingness in his voice, as if he was full of jealousy and dissatisfaction with Li Dingguo's achievements.

Zhao Yongnian paused for a moment, sighed and said: "Indeed, it is all your credit, military advisor, which has been overshadowed by General Li's brilliance." There was a bit of flattery and sympathy in his tone, trying to calm Ruan Shiwu's emotions.

"If it were the Ming Dynasty, the status of civil officials would be higher than that of military generals, and a single sentence could decide the life or death of a military general." There was some depth in Zhao Yongnian's words, as if implying that Ruan Shiwu should have a higher status and power.

Ruan Shiwu thought of Li Dingguo's previous attitude and became even angrier: "Hmph, sooner or later I will let him know how powerful I am!" There was a bit of determination and ruthlessness in his voice, as if he had developed a deep hostility towards Li Dingguo.

He suddenly glanced at Zhao Yongnian and asked sternly: "What do you mean? Do you want to sow discord? Are you a spy from the Ming Dynasty? I will immediately hand you over to the King of Daxi for punishment!" There was a hint of threat and intimidation in his tone, as if he had already developed deep suspicion of Zhao Yongnian.

Zhao Yongnian quickly pretended to be innocent and said, "Mr. Wang, please spare my life. It was an unintentional mistake. Besides, I can still cure illnesses and save lives in the army." There was a bit of panic and pleading in his tone, as if he had been forced into a desperate situation.

"I don't think you dare!" Ruan Shiwu left with gnashing teeth. His back looked extremely resolute and cold, as if he had developed a deep wariness and hostility towards Zhao Yongnian.

Zhao Yongnian looked at Ruan Shiwu's back and knew that the seeds of hatred had been planted in his heart. He only waited for the seeds to take root and sprout, and then he would find the right time to use them. And this opportunity was in the hands of the Jinyiwei hidden in the dark. There was a calculating light in his eyes, as if he had already seen the future victory.

The next day, Zhang Xianzhong and Ruan Shiwu discussed military affairs together. In order to lure the Ming army in Wuchang not to rescue Anqing, they deliberately pretended to go north to Huguang, hoping to lead the enemy to Changsha and Yuezhou. The candlelight in the house flickered, reflecting the solemn expressions of the two. Zhang Xianzhong pointed at the map and described the strategic deployment in a deep voice. Every detail revealed his careful consideration of the war situation.

Ruan Shiwu nodded silently, occasionally offering his own opinions. His eyes sparkled, as if he had seen the spectacular sight of the army marching north. After everything was deployed, the army set off. With the sound of war drums, the sound of horse hooves, and the dust flying, the army moved forward like a giant dragon.

……

Outside Fengyang, the Shun army had won three consecutive victories and surrounded the city. Ma Shiying was afraid and held the city to wait for reinforcements. On the city wall, the defenders were ready to fight, with firmness and determination in their eyes. They knew that this was a life-and-death battle, and every detail was related to the safety of the city.

The scout reported: "Two reinforcements have arrived on the north bank of the Huai River. One is led by Liu Liangzuo with 10,000 troops, and the other is led by Li Jiyu with 10,000 troops." The news spread quickly throughout the military camp like a spring breeze, and the soldiers were excited. They knew that the arrival of the reinforcements meant that the balance of victory had begun to tilt.

Li Zicheng nodded and said, "Adding Gao Jie's 30,000 men and Shi Ying's 25,000 men, the enemy has a total of 75,000 men! And we only have 60,000 men, so we are not at an advantage in numbers." There was a hint of solemnity and worry in his tone, as if he had already seen the difficulty of the battle.

However, Hao Yaoqi said: "The 30,000 troops of Zongmin and Zongdi are near Hongze Lake, only 200 miles away from here. If we can join forces with them, we will have 90,000 troops. Why should we be afraid of the Ming army?" There was a bit of heroism and confidence in his tone, as if he had already seen the future victory.

Li Zicheng shook his head and said, "We can't touch them. They have to guard against the Ming navy. If the Ming army enters the canal from the Yangtze River, then turns to Hongze Lake and finally reaches the Huai River, we will be in danger." There was some determination and caution in his tone, as if he already had a deep understanding of the war situation.

At this time another scout came in and reported: "An urgent report has come from Xiangyang that Li Yan, Ma Bao and Hong Niangzi were defeated in Xiangyang after being defeated in Chengtian. Xiangyang has been lost! Now they have retreated to Xinye and Ma Bao's whereabouts are unknown." The news shook the military camp like a bolt from the blue, and the soldiers' faces showed astonishment and uneasiness.

Li Zicheng was silent for a while and then said, "They should have defended the city, so why did they attack so easily?" There was a hint of blame and confusion in his tone, as if he was full of doubts about the decision made by Li Yan and others.

Hao Yaoqi explained: "If they defend themselves, there will be no way to retreat, so they choose to attack." There was a hint of helplessness and regret in his tone, as if he had seen the plight of Li Yan and others.

Li Zicheng sighed, re-examined the map and asked, "How long have we been besieging Fengyang?" His tone was filled with fatigue and anxiety, as if he was already deeply tired of this battle.

"Almost twenty-seven days." The soldier's answer was concise and powerful, and every word revealed his emotion about the length and difficulty of the battle.

"Is the information sent back by the spies in the city accurate?" Li Zicheng asked again, his eyes flashing with brilliance, as if he had seen the dawn of victory.

"The food supply can only last for more than a month, and now it is estimated that it can only last for three days." The soldier's answer made Li Zicheng excited. He knew that the balance of victory had begun to tilt, and Fengyang City would soon be in his pocket.

Near Gaoyou Prefecture under the jurisdiction of Yangzhou Prefecture, the famous Gaoyou Lake is like a mirror, reflecting the heroic figures of tens of thousands of Ming navy officers and soldiers. The majestic momentum is like the dark clouds surging in the sky, which makes people breathless. The new governor of the aid and suppression, Lu Daqi, stood upright on the bow of a warship, his brows furrowed, and his eyes revealed deep worry, as if a huge stone was pressing on his heart, and he seemed to be worried.

The defeat and capture of the former governor-general Ding Kuichu was like a huge rock thrown into a calm lake, stirring up ripples. At that turbulent moment, the crown prince Zhu Cilang followed Shi Kefa's advice and resolutely decided to promote Lu Daqi to take over the heavy responsibility of the governor-general of the aid and suppression. However, Lu Daqi was not a person who was so eager for fame. He initially declined and said earnestly: "The current situation is chaotic, and it is not wise to lead troops to fight. Civil officials often end up in disgrace when they lead troops, and there are very few who can really stand out." What he feared was not the glory of dying on the battlefield, but the damage to his reputation after his death, and his infamy for thousands of years. Lu Daqi, a literati who valued reputation more than life, even wrote to the crown prince, exposing his shortcomings: "I am an alcoholic, greedy, and lustful person. I am not suitable for this position." However, the crown prince only replied with two words: "I have read it."

Lu Daqi smiled bitterly, his voice mixed with helplessness and bitterness: "What a 'read'! Ni Yuanlu, this guy, really made me suffer!" He didn't dare to blame the prince directly, but his dissatisfaction with the teacher was evident in his words. After saying that, he turned and went into the cabin, leaving behind a lonely and determined back.

Inside the cabin, the dim candlelight flickered, illuminating several faces that were either solemn or relaxed. Zhu Guobi, the governor of the Grand Canal, Liu Kongzhao, the admiral of the Jiang River, Liu Zhaoji, the admiral of the Nanjing Dachang Training, and Li Shiyuan, the deputy admiral of the navy under Hua Ruiqi, all sat there quietly. Lu Daqi trusted Li Shiyuan especially, not only because Li Shiyuan had been his subordinate, but also because of Li Shiyuan's keenness and courage in war.

"Everyone, do you know how to set up the formation?" Lu Daqi's voice was deep and powerful, breaking the silence in the cabin. Everyone looked at each other, all of them were confused, only Li Shiyuan was confident, with a confident light in his eyes.

Zhu Guobi frowned and said dissatisfiedly: "Isn't this Lord Lu's responsibility? If the Lord doesn't tell us, how can we know?" Liu Kongzhao also nodded in agreement, looking displeased.

Lu Daqi did not answer directly, but turned to look at Liu Zhaoji, his eyes full of expectation and trust. In this upcoming battle, Lu Daqi valued Liu Zhaoji and Li Shiyuan the most. Liu Zhaoji, a descendant of a general in Liaodong, was a hereditary commander with great military exploits. Although he had only a thousand men under his command, they were all elite troops.

Liu Zhaoji looked at Lu Daqi, bowed and said firmly: "Don't worry, Lord Lu, I will lead the troops in this battle and stay behind during the retreat. If I disobey, please punish me according to military law." His voice was sonorous and powerful, revealing an unquestionable determination.

Lü Daqi nodded with satisfaction and turned his gaze to Li Shiyuan. Li Shiyuan responded without hesitation: "Your Excellency has given an order, and I will definitely obey it." His eyes flashed with admiration and loyalty to Lü Daqi.

After receiving the promises from the four people, Lu Daqi smiled slightly, and there was an indescribable deep meaning in that smile. He walked to the table, took out four pieces of paper, and placed them in front of everyone. On the paper, the contents of the military order were densely written, and every word was heavy and every sentence was as iron-like.

"What is this?" The four of them picked up the paper and looked at it carefully in the candlelight, with different expressions on their faces.

Zhu Guobi first frowned, then gritted his teeth, and finally slammed the paper on the table. He looked at Lu Daqi and said angrily: "Lord Lu, what does this mean?" His voice was full of dissatisfaction and doubt.

Lu Daqi smiled and asked, "Is there anything wrong?" His smile was still gentle, but it revealed an irresistible majesty.

"How can we sign a military order before the war?" Zhu Guobi's voice was full of dissatisfaction and indignation.

Lu Daqi still explained with a smile: "I did not force Lord Zhu to sign. You can refuse to sign and lead your troops back to Huai'an. The outcome of this battle has nothing to do with you." His voice was calm and firm, revealing an unquestionable power.

Zhu Guobi showed vigilance and uneasiness in the face of the military order requested by Lü Daqi, and refused to sign. Liu Kongzhao also refused to sign. Liu Zhaoji and Li Shiyuan signed their names without hesitation. Liu Kongzhao found that the contents of the military order were different, and Liu Zhaoji explained that it was because of different duties. Lü Daqi gave everyone time to think about it, emphasized the importance of the military order, and revealed that many people had signed it. Zhu Guobi and Liu Kongzhao struggled internally, and finally Liu Kongzhao compromised and signed, but Zhu Guobi refused and decided to bypass Hongze Lake to attack the enemy troops north of Sizhou. Lü Daqi announced that he would send troops the next day, and appeased Li Shiyuan, stating that the purpose of this battle was to help friendly troops cross the river.

Fengyang City was besieged by Li Zicheng's army, using the "encircle three and leave one" tactic. Ma Shiying, holding the military order, was worried about the prospects of defending the city and was determined to defend it to the death.

At 1:00 a.m. on April 15, the Ming navy, infantry and cavalry marched north together, and the Shun navy hastily responded. The Ming navy was skilled in tactics, defeated the enemy with fewer troops, and quickly controlled the river mouth, laying the foundation for the subsequent army to cross the river. This battle demonstrated the determination, courage and wisdom of the Ming army, and the leadership of Lu Daqi and Li Shiyuan played an indispensable role. (End of this chapter)