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

"What happened in Nanyang?" Li Zicheng frowned involuntarily when he heard the name of the place, and a bad feeling welled up in his heart. But soon, he came to his senses and turned to look at the scout, his eyes revealing anxiety and uneasiness, "What happened in Nanyang? Aren't Mr. Li and Hong Niangzi guarding there? How could they let the enemy succeed?"

The scout felt the pressure from Li Zicheng, but remained calm and answered respectfully: "Your Majesty, Jian Mingxiao led his elite troops to the north and raided Nanyang. Although General Li and Hong Niangzi fought bravely, they were ultimately unable to withstand the enemy's fierce attack and had to retreat to Runan."

"After Jian Mingxiao occupied Nanyang, he did not continue to fight deep into Henan. Instead, he went west to Wugu Pass." The scout continued, with a hint of worry in his voice.

Hearing the word "Wuguan", Li Zicheng's face became even gloomier. Wuguan is an important pass from Guanzhong to Huguang, one of the four passes in Guanzhong, the other three are Xiaoguan, Dasanguan and Hanguguan. The strategic location of this place is very important. Whoever occupies it can start from Xiangyang, attack Shangluo in the northwest, and then attack Lantian, directly threatening Xi'an. Xi'an is the foundation of their Shun army, and its importance is self-evident.

Cheng Minghe's eyes widened when he heard this, his face full of disbelief: "Is this true? How dare Jian Mingxiao do this? Isn't he afraid that our Shun army will fight him to the death?"

The scout said with a serious face, "It's absolutely true. How dare I say anything nonsense? This is the exact information I got from the front line."

Nangong Shangpu was also walking back and forth anxiously, his face ashen, muttering to himself: "What should I do? What should I do?" Everyone's face looked grim, and they all looked at Li Zicheng, waiting for his decision.

Li Zicheng knew very well that he could not panic at this moment. Most of the Shun army's families were in Guanzhong, especially in Xi'an, where the families of middle and senior generals gathered. If Jian Mingxiao really attacked Guanzhong, the Shun army would be dispersed without fighting. But he was the backbone after all, and he quickly calmed down and said to everyone: "Don't panic, the news of Jian Mingxiao's attack on Wuguan has spread here, and it must have spread to Xi'an. Tian Jianxiu has 20,000 defenders in Xi'an, and Ning Weize's 30,000 troops in Tongguan, which is only 200 miles away from Xi'an. If they march quickly, they can reach the city of Xi'an in one day and one night. Xi'an is very safe."

At this point, Li Zicheng showed some arrogance, trying to calm everyone down: "Besides, Wuguan is easy to defend but difficult to attack. It won't be easy for Jian Mingxiao to take it."

Although Li Zicheng's words made everyone feel a little relieved, the morale was still greatly affected. Cheng Minghe stood up, bowed deeply, and said firmly: "Your Majesty, I think we have to withdraw quickly, otherwise the whole army may be wiped out. As long as the green mountains remain, there will be no fear of running out of firewood!"

Li Zicheng nodded and said in a deep voice: "The military advisor is right. The situation is not good now. Gu Kecheng in the east has been defeated, Ma Shiying in the west is taking advantage of the situation to attack, and Jing Changhao in the north was ambushed. If we drag it on any longer, the central army will not be able to be saved."

"Let's retreat. Order the entire army to retreat westward to Huainan." Li Zicheng finally made up his mind.

Nangong Shangpu quickly agreed: "Your Majesty is wise! If we retreat to Huainan, we still have a chance to make a comeback."

But Cheng Minghe proposed: "Huainan is only a hundred miles away from Fengyang. The Ming army can catch up in one day and one night. We should retreat to Huainan first, replenish supplies, and then withdraw to Fuyang! Fuyang has a dangerous terrain and is easy to defend but difficult to attack. We can rest our troops there and then make plans."

Li Zicheng thought Cheng Minghe's words made sense, so he changed his order: "Okay, retreat to Huainan first, let the garrison prepare a pontoon bridge, and cross the river as soon as the army arrives. We must be quick and not let the Ming army catch up with us."

As soon as the order was given, the central army began to move. It was already late at night, and the torches were connected like a fire dragon shuttling through the darkness. Li Zicheng led his personal soldiers to retreat first, abandoning the position on the Huai River, and went west to meet Liu Tichun, and continued to retreat to Huainan. Gu Kecheng followed behind, and Liu Tichun was responsible for the rear guard to ensure that the army could evacuate safely.

The Shun army finally left Fengyang, but at a huge cost. In the dark night, although the Ming army did not pursue them, they did not dare to be careless. First, it was not good for night battles, and second, they were afraid that the Shun army would ambush them. They carefully cleaned up the battlefield and counted the results of the battle.

On the Huai River, Lu Daqi stood at the bow with his hands behind his back, watching the torches going away, and felt a little relieved. The battle was won, the Nanjing court was saved, and his reputation was also preserved. A smile appeared on his lips, and he was secretly glad that his decision was correct.

"Governor," Gao Jie called him from the shore, "please give the order, I want to chase him! We must not let Li the thief escape!"

Lu Daqi smiled and shook his head: "No hurry, let's talk about it tomorrow. Everyone has worked hard today, let's rest for a night, and then discuss the pursuit tomorrow."

"Morning bandits like Li will run far away!" Gao Jie was extremely anxious. He was a bandit himself and knew the importance of pursuit, but he also knew that he couldn't pursue too closely.

But Lu Daqi still insisted on his decision: "Don't worry, Li the thief can't get away. Our current mission is to stabilize the defense line and ensure the safety of Fengyang. We will talk about the pursuit tomorrow."

The battle stopped at midnight, and the Ming army began to clean up the battlefield and set up camp on the spot. Their busy figures looked particularly tired under the firelight, but everyone's face was filled with the joy of victory.

The next morning, the sun shone outside Fengyang City, and it was quiet and peaceful. Lü Daqi called a meeting of generals outside the city. Gao Jie, Liu Liangzuo, Ma Shiying, Lu Jiude, Zhu Guobi, Liu Kongzhao, Pu Congshan, Li Jiyu, Wang Zhigang, Liu Zhaoji, Li Shiyuan and others were all there. They were either standing or sitting, with happy faces. This battle not only lifted the siege of Fengyang, but also defeated the bandits. It was really exciting.

Lu Daqi sat in the middle and glanced at everyone, especially at Zhu Guobi's face. His eyes were deep and complicated, as if he was thinking about something. But he quickly looked away and began to speak: "Yesterday's victory was all due to your efforts. I would like to thank you all here." After that, he stood up and bowed.

The generals also stood up and returned the greeting: "Your Excellency the Governor is too polite. This is all thanks to you."

"Yes, my lord, you are able to plan and win battles thousands of miles away. You are truly the Sleeping Dragon of the world." Someone echoed.

After saying the polite words, Lu Daqi took out three official documents and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, the siege of Fengyang has been lifted. Next we need to discuss the next battle plan." There was a hint of seriousness and solemnity in his words.

Everyone was stunned when they heard this, not knowing what was going on. They were still immersed in joy after yesterday's victory, but they didn't expect to discuss the next battle plan so soon.

Gao Jie was impatient and asked first: "Sir, there is no need to ask, just give the order. I am willing to lead the troops to pursue the thief Li." His tone revealed firmness and determination.

Liu Liangzuo, Li Jiyu and Wang Zhigang also expressed their willingness to go after Li Zicheng. Their eyes were burning with fighting spirit, as if they wanted to kill Li Zicheng.

Lu Daqi sighed, took out the first official document and read: "Governor Jian Mingxiao led his troops north and has conquered Chengtian Prefecture, Xiangyang, and Nanyang. Now the army is advancing westward from Neixiang, with the target being Wugu Pass." His voice echoed in the open field, allowing everyone to hear it clearly.

The implication was obvious: yesterday's victory was not because Li was weak, but because Jian Mingxiao put pressure on Li in Guanzhong, which made him unwilling to fight. If you want to pursue, you can, but you will bear the consequences at your own risk. There was a hint of warning and reminder in Lu Daqi's words.

So after reading the official document, everyone except Gao Jie was silent. They were all thinking about Lu Daqi's words and weighing the pros and cons of the pursuit. This war is not over, but just beginning. They need to face future challenges more cautiously and wisely.

Everyone was shocked when they heard that Zhang Xianzhong had surrounded Anqing. Anqing is a place with an extremely important geographical location. It is connected to Huguang in the west, Nanzhili in the east, and central Anhui in the north. If you go downstream for another 600 miles, you will reach Nanjing. It is simply the gate of the Ming Dynasty. How did Zhang Xianzhong suddenly come to Anqing? Shouldn't he be in the south of Huguang? Although there are not many soldiers in the three small places of Hukou, Pengze, and Wangjiang, if they hold on, they should be able to hold on for a few days. Jiujiang upstream and Tongling downstream, when they heard that these three places were surrounded, they would definitely rush to rescue them. How could they be lost so quickly?
Inside the military tent, the candlelight flickered, illuminating the astonished faces. Lu Daqi sighed and said in a low voice: "Everyone, Hukou, Pengze, and Wangjiang surrendered without a fight, so Zhang Xianzhong was able to reach Anqing so quickly." His words revealed helplessness and regret. Then, he continued: "The garrison in Anqing City is less than 10,000. If reinforcements do not arrive, the city will fall sooner or later." The generals were silent after hearing this. They knew the importance of Anqing and understood that once Anqing fell, the consequences would be disastrous.

Recalling Zhang Xianzhong's former glory, he had a large number of soldiers and horses, perhaps hundreds of thousands, or even two hundred thousand. Although he had been defeated several times by Jian Mingxiao, Hua Ruiqi and others recently, as the saying goes, a lean camel is bigger than a horse. He now has 40,000 to 50,000 soldiers and horses left, so don't underestimate him. Gao Jie, who usually loves to make a fuss, was also stunned at this time. He widened his eyes and said in disbelief: "Li Zicheng's gang of bandits just ran away, and Zhang Xianzhong is here again. Strange things happen every year, but this year there are especially many!"

Ma Shiying was so anxious that beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. He asked hurriedly, "What does the court mean?" Lu Daqi replied, "The court means that we should fight against the enemy with our generals and block the water with earth. The prince has ordered me to deploy the troops myself." But he added, "Before sending out the troops, we must reward the three armies well, so that everyone will be convinced and willing to fight for us."

As soon as he finished speaking, the army tent exploded with cheers. The generals, they just wanted to win the battle and get rewarded, and they would not be beheaded if they lost. Lu Daqi waved his hand to let everyone be quiet, then took out the account book and said: "This is the 500,000 taels of silver military pay that Zhang Huangyan, the Right Censor-in-Chief of the Nanjing Metropolitan Procuratorate, borrowed from Yangzhou. I will keep 200,000 for food and fodder, and the remaining 300,000 will be divided among everyone." When the generals heard this, they hurriedly thanked him, their eyes turned green, and they couldn't wait to get the silver.

Lu Daqi distributed the silver to everyone according to the casualties and contributions. After the distribution, he stood up, tall and majestic. The generals also stood up, waiting for his orders. Lu Daqi's eyes were as sharp as a hawk, scanning the crowd, as if he wanted to see through their minds.

He cleared his throat, straightened his face, and said in a low and powerful voice: "Listen carefully, generals! I will reward those who have made contributions, but I have not yet punished those who have made mistakes. Now we are going to fight a war, so let's put the mistakes aside for now, but I know everything." As he said that, he glanced at Zhu Guobi who was lowering his head, thinking to himself that this guy should not let the prince know about his bad deeds, otherwise it would be difficult to deal with.

Then Lu Daqi began to assign tasks: "Liu Kongzhao, you quickly take the navy back to guard Nanjing and ensure Nanjing's safety. Li Shiyuan, in addition to your own troops, I will give you another 5,000 people. You quickly rescue Anqing by water and make sure to keep this city. Gao Jie, you will lead the troops to besiege Huainan tomorrow and then go south to Hefei to prevent Zhang Xianzhong from fleeing north. Liu Liangzuo, Li Jiyu, Wang Zhigang, you will besiege Huainan with Gao Jie and then join forces to chase down Li Zicheng's gang of bandits. Remember, steady and solid progress is the most important thing, don't be greedy for merit and rush recklessly. Servant Shan, you go back to Suqian to guard and ensure that the canal transportation is unimpeded. This is our lifeline. Liu Zhaoji, you stay with me, I have other tasks for you." After speaking, he deliberately glanced at Liu Zhaoji, secretly admiring his bravery and loyalty in his heart.

After everyone else received their missions and left, Ma Shiying asked expectantly, "Lord Lu, what about me?" Lu Daqi sighed and said, "I have been ordered to take over your troops. The prince has ordered you to return to Nanjing and await your fate." Ma Shiying's face darkened when he heard this, and he knew that this return trip would be dangerous.

Lu Daqi comforted him and said, "I have reported your contribution in Fengyang to the court, hoping to reduce your sentence." Ma Shiying was so moved that he cried and vowed to repay Lu Daqi's kindness. He knew that Lu Daqi was a man of affection and righteousness, and as long as he was loyal to him, he would never treat him unfairly.

After the handover of military power, only Zhu Guobi was left in the military account. Lu Daqi took out the military order and said, "Master Zhu, will you sign this military order?" Zhu Guobi was stunned when he saw it was the same as the previous one. He thought to himself: Lu Daqi is going to settle the score later! But I can't not sign it now!

Lu Daqi turned around and said, "Sign now, Master Zhu, you have only merits and no faults." Zhu Guobi understood immediately and signed happily. He thought: As long as I sign this military order, I can save my official position and life! As for the future... hehe... let's see what happens!
Lu Daqi ordered again: "Master Zhu, please go back to Huai'an quickly. There is a batch of military pay that needs to be transported by the canal and you need to escort it." Zhu Guobi nodded repeatedly and retreated. He thought to himself: This Lu Daqi is really an old fox! But since he trusts me so much, I will do my best! Maybe I can get promoted and make a fortune in the future! Hehe...

After everyone left, Lu Daqi sat alone in the empty military tent and sneered a few times. Although he looked down on Ma Shiying and Zhu Guobi, he had to maintain good relations with them. The influence of these two people in the court was not small. Half of the six departments in Nanjing were their followers. As the governor-general of the aid and suppression, Lu Daqi had to rely on them to provide money and food to hunt down the bandits. With their support and the assistance of Shi Kefa, even if the Nanjing court was in chaos, it would not be under his control.

Thinking of this, Lu Daqi chuckled and began to write about the battle in Fengyang in detail. He wanted to write a report of this victory, one copy to Nanjing and one copy to Beijing. He wanted everyone to know his achievements and his reputation! He wanted everyone to understand: as long as he was there, there was hope in the Ming Dynasty!

On the 15th of May, the sun was shining brightly and the breeze was not dry. Lin Xiaofeng was sitting in his study, holding an ancient book in his hand, immersed in the magnificent history. Suddenly, a burst of hurried footsteps broke the silence, and the guard hurried in with an urgent war report in his hand. Lin Xiaofeng took the war report, opened it, and a hint of excitement flashed in his eyes. He slapped his thigh and cheered: "Good! Good! Lu Daqi really lived up to my expectations!"

He immediately stood up and passed the good news to Guo Tianyang who was waiting outside. Tianyang took the battle report, took a closer look, frowned slightly, and then relaxed again. He turned around and handed the battle report to Cheng Qinghua, who was also the Minister of Rites.

Qinghua took the battle report and smiled at Lin Xiaofeng. The two were discussing the upcoming Autumn Examination. This Autumn Examination was the first imperial examination in the Ming Dynasty. Common people called it the Provincial Examination. According to the rules, it must be held in the capitals of the two capitals and the provinces in August of the Zi, Wu, Mao, and You years. This year happened to be the Yiyou year, and the day of the Autumn Examination had arrived again. Those scholars were eagerly looking forward to taking this opportunity to become famous and make further progress in the joint examination next spring.

In fact, the imperial examinations in the Ming Dynasty were divided into three levels. The first level was the provincial examination, and those who passed were called Juren, and the first place was called Jieyuan; the second level was the metropolitan examination, which was held in the capital, and those who passed were called Gongshi, and the first place was called Huiyuan; the last level, which was also the most impressive level, was called the palace examination, or the court examination, and the first place was called Zhuangyuan. If you could get three top prizes in a row, that means you got the first place in the provincial examination, metropolitan examination, and palace examination, which is too difficult. In the three hundred years of the Ming Dynasty, there were only two people like Huang Guan and Li Ma. However, Emperor Yongle thought that the name Li Ma was unlucky, so he specially gave him a name called Qi. If you count, after so many years of imperial examinations, there were only fifteen people who got three top prizes in a row.

After reading the battle report, Qinghua frowned slightly and said to Lin Xiaofeng: "Your Majesty, although Lü Daqi is a talented general, it is a bit strange that Hukou, Pengze and Wangjiang surrendered without a fight." Lin Xiaofeng also restrained his smile and nodded slightly, wondering in his heart. He thought: If these three places are defended, Hua Ruiqi and his men may be able to stop Zhang Xianzhong in Jiangnan, and Lü Daqi can concentrate on chasing and suppressing Li Zicheng. In addition, if Jian Mingxiao attacks Wuguan, Li Zicheng may have to return to Guanzhong to defend himself, and the situation in the Central Plains will be stabilized sooner.

Lin Xiaofeng stared at the names of the three places for a while, and whispered to Guo Tianyang: "Draft an official document to Lu Daqi, and ask him to investigate what is going on." Tianyang was about to leave when Qinghua coughed lightly and said, "Your Majesty, I may know the reason."

When Lin Xiaofeng heard this, he immediately perked up. He sat up straight, stared at Qinghua and said, "Oh? Tell me quickly."

Qinghua bowed again with a solemn expression, and then expressed his opinion: "Your Majesty, the surrender of these three places may be related to the court's disaster relief and tax collection. Those wealthy gentry were afraid of paying taxes, so they colluded with local officials, deliberately opened the door to let the thieves in, and burned the account books to destroy the evidence, and then put the blame on the thieves."

When Lin Xiaofeng heard this, he was so surprised that he couldn't close his mouth: "How could disaster relief lead to such a thing?" He couldn't believe his ears.

Qinghua looked around and made sure that no one was around before he whispered, "Your Majesty, in addition to disaster relief, there is also the matter of collecting taxes. Those gentry came up with this idea to evade old debts. And they deliberately chose to do it during the disaster relief period in order to put all the blame on the victims and the thieves. Moreover, at the beginning of this month, before the imperial envoy for disaster relief in Shandong arrived, a prefecture and four counties had inexplicably caught fire, and the tax books were burned. It's exactly the same as this incident."

Lin Xiaofeng felt mixed emotions after hearing this. He had been rectifying the government for more than a year. Although there were many like-minded people in the court, local officials were the key to governing the country. When he first came to this world, he found that party disputes had spread from the court to the local areas. How officials govern the people is how the people view the court. Although most people are tolerant, there are also many rebels like Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong. In prosperous times, their labor is exploited, and in troubled times, their lives are used. This is the way the world is.

Thinking of this, Lin Xiaofeng was so angry that he punched the table. With a loud "bang", the pens and ink on the table jumped up. "Those officials and gentry colluded with each other, they really deserve to be killed without mercy!" he roared.

When Qinghua saw that Lin Xiaofeng was angry, his face changed. He quickly advised: "Your Majesty, calm down! Those fires were not all caused by the officials. When officials arrive in a place, they always have to deal with the local gentry to use their power to govern the place. But those gentry took the opportunity to set fires, and the officials were often unaware of it. To prevent this kind of malpractice, we must strictly check the account books and not let them fall into the hands of people with ulterior motives."

Lin Xiaofeng frowned after hearing what Qinghua said. He knew that this matter was far more complicated than he had imagined. But he was also determined to fight these evildoers to the end. Whether it was fighting against heaven, earth or people, he enjoyed it! He stood up and said with a firm look: "Qinghua, you must immediately arrange personnel to strictly investigate all officials and gentry involved. I will personally inquire about this matter and will never let these evildoers go unpunished!"

Qinghua quickly responded, "Yes, Your Majesty. I will arrange it right away." After saying that, he turned around and left in a hurry.

Lin Xiaofeng watched Qinghua leave, and a surge of ambition surged in his heart. He secretly vowed to catch all these evildoers and create a clear and fair world for the people. He believed that as long as he persisted, he would be able to realize this dream.

Outside the study, the sun was shining, birds were singing, and flowers were blooming. A breeze blew by, bringing with it the fragrance of flowers. Lin Xiaofeng stood in front of the window, looking at the scenery in the distance, his heart full of longing and expectation for the future. He knew that as long as he had determination and perseverance, he would be able to overcome all difficulties and realize his ideal of governing the country.

"I really need to think about the debt collection, but let's talk about the autumn exam first." Lin Xiaofeng took a sip of tea and said to Cheng Qinghua who was sitting opposite him. His eyes revealed a deep thought, as if every decision carried a heavy weight.

Qinghua pulled out a yellowed booklet from his sleeve. The cover was a little worn, but the handwriting on it was still clearly legible. He opened the booklet and read: "The number of admissions for this year's autumn examination is still based on the old rules. There are 130 people each from North and South Zhili, 65 from Jiangxi, and 40 from Yunnan. The number of other provinces may be more or less, but no more than 100, and at least 65." His voice was steady and powerful, and every word seemed to be carefully crafted. Lin Xiaofeng nodded, frowning slightly, as if thinking about something. He then asked: "What about the situation of the scholars in Shaanxi and Shanxi? Can they take the exam smoothly?"

Qinghua thought for a moment and replied, "These two provinces are now occupied by Li Zicheng's people. Although there are vacancies, no one can take the exam. Even if they want to take the exam, they can only take the exam of the Dashun Dynasty, not the Ming Dynasty." There was a hint of helplessness and regret in his tone.

Lin Xiaofeng was silent for a while, then shook his head and said, "No, I think the scholars in the world still lean towards the Ming Dynasty. They are eager to change their destiny by passing the imperial examination and serve the Ming Dynasty." There was a firm light in his eyes.

"Then pass the order down. If scholars from Shanxi and Shaanxi want to take the exam this year, they can set up an examination hall in the capital. The court will provide travel expenses for all those who come to take the exam." There was an unquestionable firmness in Lin Xiaofeng's voice.

"Also, tell the chief examiner that for this autumn examination, all candidates from Shanxi and Shaanxi will be admitted as long as they are not too bad." His words revealed a desire and importance for talent.

Qinghua listened, nodded repeatedly, and kept it in mind. He knew very well that Lin Xiaofeng attached great importance to the imperial examination, and he also understood that this was a decision made to win people's hearts and stabilize the situation.

"Your Majesty, will the chief examiner for this year's autumn examination still follow the old rules and be nominated by the provincial government, the provincial judicial commissioner, and the censor from among the current instructors?" Qinghua asked, with a hint of caution and tentativeness in his tone.

Lin Xiaofeng raised his head, glanced at Qinghua, and then replied: "Yes, let's follow the old rules. The scale, speed, structure, major, content, methods and means of education all depend on the development of productivity. When productivity is still low, the rash implementation of a new education system may arouse opposition from scholars and shake the foundation of the country." His words revealed a deep understanding and grasp of reality.

He went on, "Besides, I have divided education into two paths: the liberal arts follow the old path of the imperial examination, and the sciences go to the manufacturing bureau and research institute. Therefore, there is really no need to create a new education system." There was confidence and calmness in his voice.

As he was speaking, Gongsun Yuchun walked in and reported, "Your Majesty, Qufu's magistrate Kong Hongyi and garrison commander He Shun have arrived in the capital as ordered, and are now being questioned in the Censorate." There was a hint of urgency and nervousness in his voice.

Seeing this, Qinghua quickly bowed and left. Before leaving, he gave Yuchun a meaningful look, as if hinting at something. Yuchun was confused by this look and wanted to ask but was too embarrassed to do so, so he could only stare at Qinghua's back to vent his dissatisfaction.

After Qinghua left, Lin Xiaofeng stood up and said to Guo Tianyang, "Change my clothes. I want to disguise myself and go to the Censorate." There was a sense of mystery and expectation in his voice. Last year, when the Jiannu invaded, the defenders of Qufu surrendered without a fight, and the Confucius Mansion was robbed. This matter caused a lot of uproar. Not only him, but also the court and the people were watching. Under the repeated requests of the ministers, he had to summon the magistrate and garrison of Qufu to the capital to question them.

After changing his clothes, Lin Xiaofeng became Yuchun's follower and followed the Jinyiwei to the outside of the Censorate. The Censorate was originally responsible for impeaching officials and did not directly try cases. Although they occasionally participated, their opinions were not enforceable, and other government offices did not take them seriously. Later, the Censorate increased its power to try cases, specializing in handling major cases, important cases, and cases related to officials. After they convicted the person in the initial trial, they would send the case to the Dali Temple for retrial.

Arriving at the gate of the Censorate, Yuchun checked his identity and went in, taking Lin Xiaofeng to the back hall. As soon as he opened the door, Lin Xiaofeng blushed. The back hall was full of people, including the four assistant ministers of the cabinet, the assistant ministers and doctors of the six ministries, and officials from the Dali, Taichang, Guanglu, Taipu, Honglu, Hanlin, and Imperial College. Everyone came to watch the fun, and there were many people standing.

When Wang Tingmei, the prefect of Shuntian Prefecture, saw Yuchun coming, he stretched out his hand and greeted him, "Commander Li, please come in. A seat has been prepared for you." There was a hint of enthusiasm and politeness in his voice.

Yuchun was stunned. He didn't expect there would be so many people here. The emperor was following him. He couldn't go in or out. If he went in, he was afraid that the emperor would be exposed, which would damage the royal dignity. If he didn't go in, he couldn't eavesdrop on what was going on inside, and the emperor would be unhappy. He was caught in a dilemma.

Seeing Yuchun's hesitation, Tingmei thought he was dissatisfied with the large number of people, so she advised: "Commander Li, stop being picky. There are so many people here to watch the fun today. Just make do with it." There was a hint of impatience and perfunctoriness in his tone.

After that, he pushed Lin Xiaofeng's shoulder and said, "Brother, don't push. Only officials above the third rank can sit inside." There was a hint of arrogance and contempt in his voice. Lin Xiaofeng was wearing the uniform of the Jinyiwei, with a front-opening armor and a large brown hat covering his face. The hat had a wide brim, and it was hard to see what he looked like without lowering your head and looking carefully.

Yuchun hurriedly grabbed Tingmei and said, "Don't..." There was a hint of anxiety and worry in his voice.

"What else? Don't you know that only officials above the third rank can enter? His attire is obviously not qualified." Tingmei said as she pushed Lin Xiaofeng in. There was a hint of sarcasm and dissatisfaction in his tone.

Yuchun wanted to stop them, but Lin Xiaofeng waved his hand to stop him. He could only sigh helplessly, muttering in his heart: This Tingmei is really something, even the emperor doesn't recognize it, and only those above the third rank can enter. If this place is really based on rank, then few people can enter.

Lin Xiaofeng took the opportunity to squeeze in and closed the door. His movements were agile and quick, like a nimble cat.

"You..." Tingmei was about to get angry, but when he saw Lin Xiaofeng's face clearly, he was so frightened that his face changed and he stood there speechless. His eyes were wide open, as if he had seen something incredible.

"Don't make any noise, just keep watching." Lin Xiaofeng whispered in Tingmei's ear. His voice was mysterious and majestic, causing Tingmei to tremble involuntarily.

"...Okay." Tingmei took a long time to squeeze out a word. There was a hint of trembling and fear in his voice.

Everyone in the room was concentrating on watching what was happening in the front hall, and no one noticed this little episode. Only Cheng Qinghua had a deep look in his eyes, as if he saw through everything. A faint smile appeared at the corner of his mouth, as if hinting at something.

Yuchun only then understood what Qinghua's previous look meant. But now that things have come to this, there is no way to reverse it, so he can only bite the bullet and continue listening. His heart was filled with helplessness and anxiety, as if he was being tightly grasped by an invisible hand.

The atmosphere in the front hall was quite solemn. Kong Hongyi stood in the middle and said loudly: "I am the magistrate of Qufu. I do not have the power to command troops! The military power is in the hands of the garrison commander He Shun. He was the one who brought the Jiannu into the city!" There was a kind of anger and helplessness in his voice, like a beast trapped in a cage.

Shi Bangyao, the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, turned to He Shun and asked, "Guardian He, is what County Magistrate Kong said true?" There was a hint of majesty and doubt in his voice.

"It's pure nonsense!" He Shun denied it firmly, and said to everyone: "Everyone knows that Qufu is the hometown of Confucius, and the Confucius Mansion is a holy place. Although I am a garrison, I am restricted by the county magistrate and the Duke of Yansheng in every way. When the Jiannu attacked the city, I personally went to the Duke of Yansheng's mansion to ask for instructions. So, it is definitely not me who said that we should surrender without a fight, but someone else!" There was a firmness and determination in his voice, like a wolf who swears to defend his territory to the death.

When Kong Hongyi heard this, his face turned pale: "You...what do you mean?" There was anger and confusion in his voice, as if he had been shot in the heart by an invisible arrow.

"What do you mean? I mean what you mean." He Shun replied. A sneer appeared on the corner of his mouth, as if he was mocking Kong Hongyi's stupidity and ignorance.

"How dare you accuse Duke Yansheng of surrendering to the enemy?" Kong Hongyi was so angry that he was shaking all over. He pointed at He Shun as if he wanted to tear him into pieces.

He Shunze bowed and saluted to everyone: "Please understand, everyone, Qufu County Magistrate Kong Hongyi is deliberately distorting the facts." There was confidence and calmness in his voice, as if everything was under his control.

Kong Hongyi realized that he had spoken too harshly and quickly changed his words, frowning with a hint of regret in his eyes: "That's not what I meant. I just hope that He Shun can tell the truth and not play rogue." There was a hint of helplessness in his tone, and he obviously felt that the situation was difficult.

"Everything I said is true!" He Shun said calmly, without flinching, with a firm look in his eyes, as if he could see through all doubts. There was a sneer on the corner of his mouth, as if he was mocking Kong Hongyi's weakness.

Kong Hongyi was so angry that he started swearing in a fit of rage, his voice echoing in the lobby of the Censorate: "I...I must teach you a lesson!" His face turned red, his hands clenched into fists, and he had obviously lost his usual calmness.

Kong Hongyi was completely enraged by He Shun's rogue behavior, and he couldn't help cursing at He Shun's words, which alluded to Yanshenggong. His heart was filled with anger and unwillingness, like a trapped beast, eager to break free.

He Shun was no pushover either. He had been a soldier and was used to using foul language, especially when training soldiers. Seeing Kong Hongyi scolding him, he immediately retorted with a provocative light in his eyes: "You're not much better! If you have the guts, challenge me!" His voice was high-pitched, full of provocation and dissatisfaction.

The two men started cursing each other in the front hall of the Metropolitan Procuratorate in front of everyone, and the situation got out of control. The cursing was like thunder, which made people tremble with fear. The officials in the front hall and back hall were embarrassed, wanting to laugh but not daring to, and could only look at each other, at a loss.

"Shut up... shut up!" Shi Bangyao, the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, finally couldn't stand it anymore and shouted at the two of them. His voice was majestic and powerful, like a thunderbolt that split the sky, "Calm down first, both of you, and talk things out before you start arguing!" His eyes revealed a bit of helplessness and anxiety, and he obviously felt that the situation was difficult.

However, the two men fell into endless accusations. He Shun insisted that it was Kong Hongyi who instructed him to surrender, while Kong Hongyi insisted that neither he nor the Duke of Yansheng knew about it and that He Shun had made his own decision to surrender. Their voices intertwined like two tangled vines, making it impossible to distinguish the truth from the false.

Shi Bangyao first asked He Shun: "He Shoubei, as a general defending the city, no matter whose idea it is, surrendering is a capital crime." His voice was low and serious, as if reminding He Shun of the seriousness of the matter. He meant to remind He Shun that the crime of surrender had been established, and he should not implicate Kong Hongyi.

He Shun bowed respectfully to Shi Bangyao, with determination in his eyes: "Your Excellency, I am telling the truth." Although his voice was not loud, it was full of determination and sincerity.

Kong Yinzhi was so angry that he was shaking all over. He pointed at He Shun and cursed: "You always make trouble for me. Now you know you can't survive, so you surrender and frame me. How can you be so cruel!" His voice was full of anger and unwillingness, like a trapped beast roaring. His face was ashen, his hands were clenched into fists, and he had obviously lost his usual calmness and demeanor.

After hearing this, everyone felt that Kong Yinzhi's words made some sense. When people are in desperate situations, they often want to find someone to take the blame for them. They all nodded in agreement, and their accusations against He Shun became more severe.

Shi Bangyao felt very embarrassed. Both of their statements made sense. What was the truth? He frowned, his eyes revealing a bit of confusion and helplessness. He tried to find clues from the expressions and tones of the two people, but found nothing.

Did He Shun surrender? Or Kong Hongyi? Or was it a play they put on together? Shi Bangyao was full of doubts and confusion. He knew the seriousness of the matter. If it was not handled properly, it would cause a bigger storm.

The truth is not yet known, how will this matter end? The huge amount of money robbed from the Yansheng Mansion is a big case. The court and scholars all over the world are paying attention to it. Someone must be held responsible for it! Shi Bangyao was filled with anxiety and pressure. He knew that he had a heavy responsibility. If he handled it improperly, it would cause a bigger storm.

After half an hour of retrial, the two still had different opinions. Shi Bangyao had no choice but to announce that the retrial would be postponed. His voice was full of fatigue and helplessness, and he obviously felt that the situation was difficult. He knew that he needed more time and evidence to uncover the truth.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Lin Xiaofeng quietly slipped out through the crack of the door. He was wearing casual clothes and a bamboo hat, fearing that the officials would recognize his identity and cause unnecessary embarrassment. His steps were light and quick, like a nimble cat moving through the night.

After walking about two miles out of the Censorate, Gongsun Yuchun caught up with him. He was dressed in a blue shirt, with a handsome face and a look of anxiety and worry in his eyes: "Your Majesty, the matter in Qufu..." His words were filled with hesitation and uneasiness.

"It's a difficult situation." Lin Xiaofeng replied briefly, and Yuchun immediately understood what he meant. His eyes revealed a bit of helplessness and anxiety, and he obviously felt that the matter in Qufu was difficult. He knew that the emperor wanted to punish Duke Yansheng, but he had never found a suitable opportunity. Even if He Shun and Kong Yinzhi both accused Duke Yansheng, the scholars might not believe it. Duke Yansheng was the spiritual leader in the hearts of the scholars, so how could they easily touch him?
Scholars are easily moved by emotions, especially young scholars. They are well-read and always think that the descendants of saints will be like saints. Little do they know that the descendants of saints are also mortals, and some are even incompetent. For example, Kong Hongxu, the 61st Duke of Yansheng, once set up a private torture hall, raped women, killed people and robbed them, and was eventually beheaded in public. However, because a minister tried to ensure that his younger brother would inherit the title, Emperor Xianzong only stripped him of his title and demoted him to a commoner.

Lin Xiaofeng knew this very well, so he didn't dare to touch Yanshenggong easily, so as not to cause a backlash from the scholars. But he would not give up easily, and vowed to eradicate the cancer of feudal society. His eyes revealed a bit of firmness and determination, as if a cheetah was looking for the best time to attack.

After walking for a while, they arrived outside the imperial city. After Lin Xiaofeng confirmed that there was no one around, he whispered to Yuchun, "Can the Jinyiwei imitate the handwriting of Duke Yansheng?" His voice was low and powerful, like a thunderbolt that split the sky.

Yuchun was startled, looked around to make sure there was no one around, and replied in a low voice: "Yes, but it will take time, and I will need the handwriting of Duke Yansheng as a reference." Although his voice was not loud, it was full of determination and confidence.

Lin Xiaofeng breathed a sigh of relief, his eyes gleaming with anticipation: "I have his handwritten letter, you can take it for reference. There is no rush for this matter, take your time." There was some calmness and composure in his voice, as if everything was under his control.

"It will take at least a few years, or at most more than ten years before it can be used." Yuchun blinked, as if he understood the emperor's intention. A smile hung on the corner of his mouth, as if he had seen the future victory.

The group continued to move forward and soon returned to the Qianqing Palace. Just after changing clothes, a familiar figure appeared outside the palace - Gao Qiqian, the eunuch supervising the Guanning Army. He was wearing a gorgeous eunuch costume, with a gloomy face and a bit of cunning and uneasiness in his eyes.

Back then, the eunuch who served the queen died mysteriously. Lin Xiaofeng was furious and ordered Gu Chaosheng to investigate the matter. It turned out that someone had committed the crime in the name of Gao Qiqian and leaked the secret recipe of fine salt. After careful consideration, Lin Xiaofeng decided to recall Gao Qiqian. He knew Gao Qiqian's cunning and insidiousness, but he also understood his value and role.

"Your Majesty, I'm back." Gao Qiqian kowtowed as soon as he arrived outside the Qianqing Palace, with a hint of fear and uneasiness in his voice. His heart was filled with fear and uneasiness, not knowing what fate he would face.

Lin Xiaofeng snorted coldly and ordered him to enter the hall. His eyes revealed a bit of indifference and majesty, as if a high-ranking tiger was examining the ants under his feet.

Gao Qiquan was terrified and crawled in on his knees. He had heard about what happened in the palace a long time ago. Although he knew he was wronged, he still felt uneasy. Once he entered the palace and the door was closed, he was so scared that he kowtowed repeatedly: "Your Majesty, I am innocent! I have never had an affair with Yangwu Hou Xue Lian, and I don't know Xiao Shunzi and the others. Please show mercy, Your Majesty!" There was a hint of crying and pleading in his voice, and it was obvious that he was scared.

Lin Xiaofeng looked at him coldly, his eyes revealing a bit of sarcasm and indifference. He knew Gao Qiqian's cunning and insidiousness, but he also understood his value and role. He slowly said: "Get up, I know you are wronged. I called you back this time because I have an important task for you." His voice was full of majesty and unquestionable power. (End of this chapter)