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

In the Palace of Heavenly Purity, Lin Xiaofeng sat on the dragon throne, his bright yellow dragon robe set off his majestic face, his eyes were deep and sharp. Guo Tianyang stood upright beside him, like an iron tower, loyal and firm. Gao Qiqian knelt on the ground, his posture looked particularly humble, like a lamb to be slaughtered.

Lin Xiaofeng looked at Gao Qiqian, and a playful smile suddenly appeared on his lips. Gao Qiqian was startled at first, and his heart trembled violently, but he soon became discouraged and felt that he was in great danger this time. He lowered his head, and his eyes flashed with despair.

"Gao Qiqian, do you think I will believe that you are the mastermind behind this?" Lin Xiaofeng's words were somewhat teasing, breaking the silence. Gao Qiqian was stunned when he said this, and Guo Tianyang was also surprised. They didn't expect Lin Xiaofeng to expose Gao Qiqian's doubts so directly.

"To tell you the truth, I also suspected you at first, but when I thought about it carefully, you had no motive to commit the crime at all." Lin Xiaofeng continued, his voice low and powerful, as if it could penetrate people's hearts.

Guo Tianyang was the first to react. He lowered his voice and said to Lin Xiaofeng: "Your Majesty, Xiao Shunzi and the others are all dead. If Gao Qiquan is not the murderer, it will be difficult to investigate further. All clues are gone, what should we do?" There was a hint of anxiety and helplessness in his tone.

Lin Xiaofeng sneered, and that smile revealed a bit of coldness and determination: "The murderer can't be caught. But what I want is not the murderer, but the truth behind it. Sometimes, the truth is more important than the murderer."

Guo Tianyang and Gao Qiqian were both stunned. They didn't understand what Lin Xiaofeng meant. Did the emperor really not care who the murderer was?
Actually, Lin Xiaofeng's words were full of meaning. In his heart, he was deeply moved by the three major cases in the late Ming Dynasty: the stick attack, the red pill, and the palace relocation. Which one was not full of mysteries? The murderer of the stick attack case is still unknown, and the red pill case is even more bizarre. Only the palace relocation case is relatively clear. So, even such a big case is not clear, let alone the death of a eunuch serving as a waiter?

Lin Xiaofeng asked Gu Chaosheng to hunt down the murderer, but he actually wanted the real murderer to relax his vigilance and expose his true colors. But he certainly wouldn't say it out loud. What he wanted was the black hand behind the scenes that controlled everything, the power hidden in the dark.

"Gao Qiqian." Lin Xiaofeng turned his gaze towards him, his eyes seemed to be able to see through people's hearts, "I know you are not the murderer, but things have come to this point, you will definitely be implicated."

Gao Qiqian trembled all over, he lowered his head, and his voice was trembling: "The servant is here."

"I know you are innocent, but you also know the rules of this palace. Some things are beyond your control." Lin Xiaofeng's voice was filled with helplessness and sighs. "So, I decided to let you go to Fengyang to guard the imperial mausoleum. When you get there, remember to shut up and don't talk too much. Perhaps, this is your best destination."

Gao Qiqian was a smart man, and he understood Lin Xiaofeng's meaning as soon as he heard it. He felt grateful and knelt on the ground and kowtowed: "Your Majesty, I am willing to be punished. Thank you for not killing me."

"Okay, then you go. Remember my words, when you arrive in Fengyang, guard the imperial mausoleum well and don't cause trouble again." Lin Xiaofeng waved his hand, indicating that Gao Qiquan could leave.

In the next half month, Lin Xiaofeng was mainly busy with two things. At the morning court the next day, he announced the news of Lü Daqi's great victory. The whole court was boiling, and the ministers discussed the importance of this victory, which could be compared with the defense of Beijing. Lin Xiaofeng sat on the dragon chair, looking at the excitement of the ministers, but his heart was calm. He had long expected that the Battle of Fengyang would be won, because war is ultimately the continuation of politics, and interests are the foundation. In order to protect their own interests, those forces in Nanjing will definitely support Lü Daqi with all their strength and will not undermine him. So as soon as Lü Daqi set out, the inside and outside of the court unified their voices and said they would support him.

However, the subsequent development of the war is hard to predict. The essence of war is a struggle for interests, whether it is internal or external. The longer the war drags on, the greater the demand for troops, supplies, and military pay. Recruiting soldiers, purchasing supplies, and paying military pay all need someone to take care of them, and these people belong to different interest groups. A quick victory will harm the interests of some people, so they will definitely find ways to drag the war on. But there are also some people who hope for a quick victory, and no matter what their motives are, it is a good thing for the court.

Vice Minister of War Wang Jiayan stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, I heard that Jian Mingxiao has led his troops to attack Wuguan. I am worried that the thief Li Chuang will go around from behind and attack us. I hope the court can issue an official document to warn him." There was some anxiety and worry in his tone.

A minister retorted, "There are pursuers behind Li Chuang, how dare he go around to the back? We should let Jian Mingxiao advance his troops without worries, capture Wuguan, and force Li Chuang back to Guanzhong, so that the war in the Central Plains can be resolved." There was some confidence and determination in his tone.

Lin Xiaofeng listened to the discussion of the ministers, but his heart was calm. He knew the complexity of war and that everyone had different positions and interests. He did not accept everyone's opinions, but wrote a letter of commendation to Jian Mingxiao alone, asking him to reward the army himself. If the money was not enough, he would report it to the court. He knew that Jian Mingxiao was a smart man and would understand what he meant.

The Minister of Revenue Shao Shihan stepped forward again and said, "The grain has been harvested this summer, and the harvest in northern Zhili is quite good. The people have surplus food after eating their fill. However, because there is no pressure from taxes, they are unwilling to sell grain." There was a hint of worry and helplessness in his tone.

Lin Xiaofeng frowned and asked, "Are you saying that it is difficult to prepare food and grass?" He already understood what Shao Shihan meant, but he also wanted to hear his specific statement.

Shi Han replied, "Yes. The people have suffered from hunger and cold due to years of drought and plague. Now that they are no longer burdened with taxes, they will naturally cherish their food and prepare for emergencies. Therefore, they are unwilling to sell food to the court."

Lin Xiaofeng was not surprised to hear this. He knew very well that "rice is expensive when you are hungry and cold". In the past, Northern Zhili suffered from drought and plague for many years, and the people were hungry and cold. Now that there is no burden of taxes, they will naturally cherish food and prepare for emergencies. Food is the lifeblood of the people! However, the court also needs food to support wars and government affairs!

In fact, Lin Xiaofeng knew that there was no shortage of food in the year of the disaster. What was really lacking was people's hearts. There was indeed a shortage of food in some areas, but overall it was sufficient. Food shortages were often caused by man-made disasters. For example, the rich and powerful hoarded food, which was the same as the shortage of medicine in later generations. They were all caused by man. When he thought of this, he couldn't help but feel angry and deeply hated those rich and powerful people who hoarded food.

Seeing Shi Han's worried face, Lin Xiaofeng was also in a dilemma. He knew that if the people didn't sell their food, the imperial court wouldn't be able to buy food, and how could the border troops eat enough? How could they fight without food? This was a chain of disasters and was very dangerous. He had to come up with a way to solve this problem.

"Do you have any good ideas?" Lin Xiaofeng asked the ministers. There was a hint of anxiety and expectation in his voice.

A minister said: "Taxes should be restored as soon as possible to force the people to sell grain." There was some determination and decisiveness in his tone.

"How can this be possible! Your Majesty has already exempted taxes to show sympathy for the people. How can you give up halfway?" another minister retorted with a hint of anger and dissatisfaction in his tone.

"Then what should we do? We can't force them to buy or sell, right?" Another minister raised a question.

"This is the only way. We should give the local officials a task and they will definitely find a way." An old official stood up and said with a bit of helplessness and sigh. He knew this method was not good, but there was no better way.

The officials discussed the issue, each with their own opinions and ideas. Lin Xiaofeng sighed inwardly, pitiful for the local officials! This was the contradiction between the officials in Beijing and the local officials. It was easy for the officials in Beijing to formulate policies, but it was difficult for the local officials to implement them. He had to come up with a solution that could solve the food problem and be acceptable to both the people and the local officials.

"Your Majesty! I have something to say." At this time, Li Banghua stood up. His voice was loud and firm, breaking the discussion of the ministers, "The food and grass of the border troops is a major national issue, and we cannot ignore it!" There was a bit of anxiety and earnestness in his tone.

The entire court fell silent, and everyone looked at Li Banghua, waiting for his next words. Lin Xiaofeng felt very relieved, because he knew that Li Banghua was a knowledgeable and capable minister, and he would definitely come up with a good suggestion.

"Mr. Li, please speak." Lin Xiaofeng motioned for Li Banghua to continue. His heart was full of expectations and hope, hoping that Li Banghua could come up with a good solution to the food problem.

In the solemn and dignified court, Li Banghua stepped forward, his figure was as straight as a pine tree, his voice was loud and firm: "In my opinion, the way to govern the people is not to oppress them harshly, making them like dead trees in winter, nor to indulge them without principles and let them grow like weeds. It should be a combination of hardness and softness, just right, like spring rain, which nourishes all things but does not cause floods."

His words were like a spring breeze blowing through the court, making every minister respectful. He then elaborated on the specific strategy: "When the Ministry of Revenue issues a document to local governments to request them to collect grain, local governments should first persuade the people with a gentle attitude, like the warm spring sun, and then gradually take tough measures, like the autumn wind sweeping away fallen leaves, but they should also stop at the right time."

"First, we must convince people with reason. We must tell the people that the army at the border is like the Great Wall of the country. Without food, it cannot stand firm and defend the country. If the Jiannu invade again, the food we have worked so hard to accumulate may fall into the hands of the enemy and become nothing. If we exchange the food for silver, it will be like hiding gold and silver in a secret room, which is safer and more secure."

"If the people still have doubts and are unwilling to sell grain, the county government will need to send officials to the villages and towns to explain patiently and carefully, making sure the people understand the pros and cons. For those officials who fail to complete their tasks, their tax issues will be considered separately next year to show that rewards and punishments are clear."

At this time, a minister frowned, still puzzled, and asked cautiously: "Lord Li, if the grain collection is still insufficient, what should we do?"

Li Banghua was silent for a moment, a look of determination flashed in his eyes, and then he slowly said: "Then we can only let the government collect it by force! The price of collection must be calculated according to the silver converted from taxes. Although the people may suffer some grievances, it will not harm their fundamental interests overall. It is like pruning branches in winter, which is painful but beneficial in the long run."

After hearing this, the ministers had some objections in their hearts, but seeing that His Majesty looked serious and was obviously seeking a solution rather than accepting dissenting opinions, they all silently swallowed their words. After some discussion, everyone's opinions gradually converged, just like hundreds of rivers flowing into the sea.

Each government office presented the urgent problems they were facing, and the atmosphere in the court was tense and solemn. At this time, Lin Xiaofeng suddenly stood up and interrupted Shi Bangyao, the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, who was presenting the affairs. Shi Bangyao was stunned and at a loss, not knowing how to deal with this sudden change.

"I have something to say." Lin Xiaofeng's voice was calm and firm, like the first thunder in spring, breaking the silence of the court.

"Your Majesty, please make it clear." Li Banghua responded first, with a hint of expectation in his voice, as if foreshadowing the upcoming changes.

"I plan not to attend court in person to handle government affairs this month..." Lin Xiaofeng's words were like a huge rock thrown into a calm lake, causing ripples.

Before he could finish his words, all the ministers knelt down and pleaded, "Your Majesty, please don't do this! The Ming Dynasty is facing internal and external troubles. National affairs urgently need Your Majesty to make the decision personally. I hope Your Majesty will rescind your order." Their voices were filled with anxiety and uneasiness, as if they had foreseen the foreshadowing of an impending storm.

"I second the proposal."

"I also second my opinion."

Lin Xiaofeng looked at the earnest faces of the ministers, and a warm current surged in his heart. With such a group of diligent and conscientious ministers, the court would naturally be safe and worry-free. He raised a smile at the corner of his mouth, restrained his expression, and said seriously: "I don't go to court in person, which does not mean that I will not handle government affairs, but I want to change the way I handle government affairs, just like sowing in spring, I need to change the method before I can look forward to the harvest in autumn."

"It is already mid-May. I intend to delegate some of my powers to various government offices within this month. They are like branches of a tree. Although the main trunk remains intact, the branches and leaves are able to grow freely."

"Decentralize power?" The court was suddenly silent, and everyone looked at Lin Xiaofeng in confusion. Since ancient times, emperors have hoped to hold power tightly in their hands, but Lin Xiaofeng did the opposite. This is indeed incredible, like seeing flowers in winter, strange and intriguing.

"Your Majesty, please explain clearly." Li Banghua asked cautiously again, with a gleam of inquiry in his eyes, as if he wanted to see through the deeper meaning behind it.

"I will just briefly say two points," Lin Xiaofeng paused, as if he was organizing his thoughts. "First, within this month, each government office will decide on its own affairs, and then report them to the higher-level government office step by step, and finally the cabinet will summarize and report to me. Just like the water of a river, although it originates from a trickle, it must eventually flow into the sea."

"Secondly, if a government office encounters something that it cannot decide, it should ask the higher government office for instructions. If the higher government office is also unable to decide, it should ask the higher government office for instructions. If the cabinet is also unable to decide, it should ask me for instructions as a final step. It is like climbing a mountain, although the road is winding, there will always be a time to reach the top."

"You can think about these two points carefully. If you think it is feasible, try it out for a month, just like testing a sword on a stone to see if it is sharp."

After he finished speaking, the court fell into an unusual silence, as if even the air had frozen. All the officials were shocked, because the power that Lin Xiaofeng delegated was too great! It was like letting a tiger out of a cage, which could hunt but could also hurt people.

Li Banghua thought carefully and asked, "Your Majesty, please explain clearly which government offices can decide which matters? To what extent is it appropriate to make decisions? Just like a painter painting, he needs to know the colors and places to make a good work."

All the ministers gave Li Banghua a thumbs up and secretly praised him for asking a good question, just like the audience hearing the sound of a musical instrument and knowing its profound meaning.

Lin Xiaofeng thought for a moment and said, "The Ministry of Revenue has many affairs. Let's take the Ministry of Revenue as an example. It's like a drop of water reflecting the sunlight."

Everyone's eyes were focused on the Minister of Revenue Shao Shihan, like the moon surrounded by stars.

"As for collecting money, that is naturally decided by the Ministry of Revenue. Now let's talk about spending money. It's like a farmer plowing a field. He needs to know how to sow seeds and how to apply fertilizers."

When they heard this, all the ministers were cheered up, as if a long drought had finally brought rain.

"Although Lu Daqi won the battle, there were also casualties. According to convention, pensions and rewards should be issued. In the past, the Ministry of Revenue reported the required amount of silver to the cabinet for review and then reported it to me to decide whether to approve it, right?" Lin Xiaofeng asked Shao Shihan, his voice calm and deep, like a spring breeze.

Shao Shihan was a cunning man. He did not answer directly, but exchanged glances with the minister first, and then said slowly: "Your Majesty is right." His voice carried a hint of imperceptible cunning, like a fox hiding in the woods.

"Okay!" Lin Xiaofeng nodded and continued, "Decentralization means that the Ministry of War gives the amount of silver needed, the Ministry of Revenue is responsible for preparing the silver, and then the two ministries jointly send people to deliver the silver to Lu Daqi. I will no longer review the process, but only care about the results, just like a gardener planting flowers, just waiting for the flowers to bloom, regardless of the wind and rain in between."

The ministers looked at each other in surprise. Such great power! It is unprecedented to use the money in the treasury without your Majesty's permission! If the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War are corrupt and the treasury is empty, how can your Majesty know? Their hearts are full of doubts and uneasiness, like dark clouds pressing down on their heads, and they don't know when the storm will come. Shao Shihan asked hurriedly: "Your Majesty, I have a question." His voice was a little anxious, like a thirsty person asking for a drink.

"Go ahead." Lin Xiaofeng's voice was still calm and deep.

"If... I mean if!" Shao Shihan emphasized his tone and repeated, "If someone in the Ministry of Revenue is corrupt and causes damage to the country, wouldn't this be a mistake for the country and the emperor?" There was a gleam of worry in his eyes, just like a night walker afraid of the darkness.

All the ministers nodded to express their great concern about this issue. They felt as if a huge rock was pressing down on their hearts, making it hard for them to breathe.

Lin Xiaofeng smiled at Shao Shihan. His smile was warm and gentle, like the warm sunshine in spring: "So you ministers, you have to take care of the family for me! The affairs of the Ministry of Revenue are in your charge, Shihan; the affairs of the Ministry of War are in your charge, Banghua. It's like having children in a family, each of them needs to do their job, only then can the family be harmonious and everything will be prosperous."

All the ministers lowered their heads in deep thought, trying to figure out the meaning of Lin Xiaofeng's words and the possible risks they might bring. Their hearts were like surging waves, filled with both anticipation and anxiety.

"My dear ministers, if you have anything to say, please feel free to speak out. Today, everyone can speak freely." After saying this, Lin Xiaofeng sat back on the dragon throne. His figure was majestic and solemn, like the height of a mountain.

"Your Majesty, I have three questions to ask." Li Banghua stood up again. His voice was firm and clear, like the sound of a bell.

"First, I am in charge of the Ministry of War. If someone in the Ministry wants to overthrow me and takes this opportunity to engage in corruption, how should I respond? It's like a general guarding a city, guarding against internal thieves."

"Secondly, although I am in charge of the Ministry of War, I am not the only one who has the final say in the affairs of the Ministry. Your Majesty's move seems to be a delegation of power, but in fact it is not really delegated to me! It is like giving a man a fish but not teaching him how to fish."

"The third point..." Li Banghua paused, and glanced at Cheng Qinghua, Shao Shihan, Miao Yikui and other cabinet ministers. His eyes were deep and sharp, like an eagle soaring into the sky. "After Your Majesty delegates power, what are the responsibilities of the cabinet? It's like a boat sailing on the water, and you need to know the responsibilities of the helmsman."

Looking at Li Banghua's serious expression, Lin Xiaofeng knew that he was most concerned about these three issues. After all, Li Banghua had worked hard for many years to become the chief minister of the cabinet. If the cabinet lost power, his position would be meaningless. In his heart, he could not help but feel admiration and understanding for Li Banghua, just like the spring breeze blowing over the branches, knowing that the flowers are about to bloom.

Why did Lin Xiaofeng want to delegate power? There were many reasons behind this. First, he wanted to test those ministers to see if they were truly loyal to the country, rather than just superficially submissive; second, he knew the importance of improving administrative efficiency and hoped to reduce cumbersome bureaucracy and make the state machinery run more smoothly; third, it was also to weaken the drawbacks of over-concentrated imperial power. He understood that over-concentration of power often led to corruption and wrong decisions.

Speaking of which, on the surface, decentralization means handing power to the heads of various government offices, allowing them to make their own decisions and no longer ask the emperor for instructions on everything. But in fact, this is promoting the departmental responsibility system, allowing each department to assume its due responsibilities. The advantage is that things can be done quickly and the results are obvious. Although Lin Xiaofeng has never governed a country, he has managed a business. He thinks governing a country and governing a business are actually the same thing. The emperor is like the chairman of the board, and the ministers are the heads of various departments. In the past, power was concentrated in the hands of the emperor alone, just like a small company, where all matters had to be approved by the boss. Now that power has been decentralized, it means letting the ministers play their own roles and see what the effect is. Maybe there will be unexpected gains.

Just like in a company, if employees need the chairman's approval to ask for leave, the company will be in chaos and efficiency will not improve? The problem that Daming is facing now is similar to this. Therefore, Lin Xiaofeng wants to try the departmental responsibility system to see if it can make the state machinery turn faster and let Daming, the big ship, sail more steadily on the new course.

At first, he was worried that decentralization would lead to intensified party disputes, with various factions fighting fiercely for power. But after careful consideration, he felt that he was worrying too much. After all, party disputes are all about fighting for power. Now that power has been dispersed to various departments, they don’t know what to fight for, because the biggest piece of cake - imperial power - is no longer on the table. Even if they fight, it will only be a small fight and will not cause any waves.

Managing a country is like managing a business. You need to have a long-term vision and not just focus on the petty profits in front of you. The great achievements of science all come from the free collision of ideas. The autocratic system will only imprison ideas and stagnate scientific progress. What Lin Xiaofeng wants to do is to reduce the negative impact of autocracy on society and make Daming a vibrant and free-thinking country.

If the experiment works well and the government is not in chaos, he plans to release and take back power from time to time, so that ministers have the opportunity to show their talents and the imperial power will not fall into the hands of others. This is like flying a kite. The string must be tightened and loosened from time to time so that the kite can fly higher and farther.

Facing the three questions raised by Li Banghua, Lin Xiaofeng smiled and replied: "Lord Li has really considered it carefully. These are not difficult problems." He patiently explained that, taking the six ministries as an example, during the period of decentralization, the affairs of each yamen were jointly decided by the Shangshu and the Shilang, and they could also exercise the power of appointing and dismissing officials on behalf of the emperor. If someone was found to be lazy or making small moves, their duties could be suspended first and then reported to the emperor for handling. As for the cabinet, it was responsible for coordinating the affairs between the yamen, and its power was above the Shangshu of each ministry. It was like a general dispatch room to ensure smooth operation between departments.

After hearing this, Li Banghua finally felt relieved. As long as the power of the cabinet remained, he didn't have to worry about anything. He secretly admired the emperor's careful consideration, and at the same time felt a little fortunate for his future.

After Lin Xiaofeng proposed the idea of ​​decentralization, the court was in an uproar. Some people agreed, thinking it was a good opportunity for reform; some opposed, fearing that decentralization would lead to chaos; and some remained silent, undecided. No one knew whether this was a good or bad thing, because no one understood the emperor's true intentions.

Due to the disagreement, the meeting had to be put on hold temporarily. But Lin Xiaofeng was not discouraged. He planned to discuss the matter again at the next court meeting. He believed that as long as he explained patiently, the ministers would understand his painstaking efforts.

After the court meeting, the ministers dispersed, but Li Banghua and Cheng Qinghua stayed. They knew that the emperor had important matters to discuss. After everyone left, Li Banghua whispered to Lin Xiaofeng: "Your Majesty, I have something important to report to you."

Lin Xiaofeng was a little surprised when he heard this and asked what it was. Li Banghua frowned and said, "Your Majesty, do you know that Li Xingzhong recruited more soldiers than the quota in Baoding?"

When Lin Xiaofeng heard this, his face changed. This is a secret, how did he know it? He couldn't help but feel a little angry, but on the surface he remained calm and motioned Li Banghua to continue.

It turned out to be a document sent from Tianjin. The document said that grain ships on the canal were diverted to the Daqing River to Baoding. Governor Luo Yangxing suspected that the grain was smuggled, so he reported it to the cabinet. After the cabinet checked, they found that the grain was actually used by Li Xingzhong to recruit soldiers. According to the amount of grain, he recruited at least 30,000 to 40,000 soldiers, but the emperor only allowed him to recruit 20,000.

Lin Xiaofeng was secretly surprised. He did not expect that the cabinet's intelligence work was so detailed. At this point, he did not want to hide anything anymore, so he told Li Banghua the reason for recruiting soldiers and why Li Xingzhong dared to recruit more soldiers than the quota. It turned out that this was all the emperor's intention. He hoped to take this opportunity to strengthen Baoding's defense to deal with possible crises.

Upon hearing this, Li Banghua pretended to be surprised and said, "So that's how it is. I was worrying too much." He was secretly glad that he learned the news in time. Otherwise, if the emperor asked about it one day and he didn't know it, it would be embarrassing.

Lin Xiaofeng smiled bitterly and was about to ask about Cheng Qinghua, when he suddenly remembered something. He pondered for a moment, then said to Li Banghua, "Lord Li, I have an idea."

"Your Majesty, please make it clear." Li Banghua replied respectfully.

"The problem of gentry owing taxes, as well as the surrender of cities or the burning of government offices, are all due to collusion between officials and gentry or the officials being controlled by gentry. I want to delegate power to local officials and let them deal with these problems." Lin Xiaofeng slowly stated his plan.

"Decentralize power again?" Li Banghua was somewhat puzzled. He didn't know what the emperor was up to, but since the emperor had given the order, he would naturally try his best to carry it out.

Lin Xiaofeng continued, "I plan to give some of the local military power to local officials. For example, the soldiers in the county will be given to the county magistrate, and the soldiers in the prefecture will be given to the prefect and governor. In this way, they will have more power to handle local affairs."

"This is a bad idea." Li Banghua shook his head and said, "Local forces are complicated, and most of the soldiers are locals with close ties to the gentry. Even if they are given military power, they may not be able to command them." He was worried that local officials would be restrained by the gentry and would not be able to effectively execute the emperor's orders.

Lin Xiaofeng sneered and said, "Who said we should use local soldiers?" He looked at Li Banghua and Cheng Qinghua sharply, "What I mean is that we can transfer troops from County A to County B, and from County B to County A. In this way, they will have nothing to worry about when using troops in different places. For those gentry who dare to resist taxes, the troops transferred from other places will definitely punish them severely." His tone was full of determination and firmness, as if he had already seen the future victory.

Li Banghua and Cheng Qinghua were stunned after hearing the emperor's words. They didn't expect the emperor to have such a wonderful idea and come up with the idea of ​​using troops in other places. In this way, the local gentry can no longer rely on local soldiers to resist the emperor's orders. They looked at each other and saw the shock and admiration in each other's eyes. They knew that this young emperor had extraordinary wisdom and determination, and he would definitely lead the Ming Dynasty to a more glorious future.

Although the sunshine in Nanjing at the end of May was bright, it was also somewhat restless. The mood of Crown Prince Zhu Cilang was just like the weather, changeable, as if there was a frightened rabbit in his heart, up and down, difficult to calm down. On the one hand, the shadow of Zhang Xianzhong's rebels was like a dark cloud pressing down on his head, getting closer and closer, making his heart heavy and uncertain; on the other hand, the secret letter suddenly sent from Beijing was like a huge rock, pressing on his heart, making him anxious and at a loss.

"Minister Shi, where is that villain Zhang Xianzhong now?" Zhu Cilang stood in Shi Kefa's mansion, frowning, with a hint of urgency and anxiety in his voice. His eyes searched Shi Kefa's face, hoping to find a trace of comfort or hope.

Shi Kefa held an urgent military report in his hand, his face full of worry, as if water could drip out of it. He sighed and replied, "Reporting to His Royal Highness, Zhang Xianzhong failed to capture Anqing. When he saw that Lu Daqi's navy was coming to support him, he fled north to avoid a direct conflict with our army. As a result, the three places in the north, Huaining, Tongcheng, and Lujiang, surrendered immediately when they saw that the situation was not right. Now Zhang Xianzhong's army has already pressed to the city of Wuwei."

Wuwei Prefecture is only about 200 miles away from Nanjing, and is like the gateway to Nanjing. If Wuwei Prefecture cannot be defended, then Nanjing will be in real danger. Zhu Cilang could not help but feel a strong sense of crisis, as if he had seen the tragic scene of Nanjing being breached by the rebels.

Seeing Shi Kefa so worried, Zhu Cilang became even more flustered. He turned to look at Qian Qianyi standing beside him, hoping that this think tank could give him some advice. Although Qian Qianyi was Shi Kefa's staff, he was actually the prince's confidant. How could he sit idly by when the prince was in trouble?
Qian Qianyi pondered for a moment and asked, "Your Highness, do you have the emperor's order in your hand?" There was a wise light in his eyes, as if he had guessed something.

Zhu Cilang did not hide anything and handed the secret letter to Qian Qianyi, saying: "The emperor has four edicts. The first one is to restore farming in the Jiangnan region and appease the people, so that the number of refugees will decrease." There was a bit of helplessness and heaviness in his voice. Obviously, this edict could not solve the current crisis.

"What about the second one?" Qian Qianyi asked.

"It's about the rotation of the garrison troops in the prefectures and counties of Nanzhili. It means transferring the troops from one county to another and stationing them in a different defense zone. When the rotation is made, in addition to the salary, more food will be distributed." Zhu Cilang explained. However, he was full of doubts and confusion, as this decree seemed to have no direct connection with the crisis at hand.

When Qian Qianyi heard this, he immediately understood the beauty of it and exclaimed: "What a great idea! This is really brilliant!" His eyes flashed with admiration, as if he had already seen the far-reaching impact behind this decree.

Zhu Cilang was a little confused: "What's so clever about this?" he asked doubtfully, obviously not understanding the true intention of this decree.

Qian Qianyi explained with a smile: "After the change of guard, those local gentry will lose the army they rely on. If they still refuse to pay taxes, the court can justifiably punish them severely!" There was a hint of pride and confidence in his voice, as if he had already seen the embarrassment of the gentry who were helpless.

"But the gentry control finances and public opinion. If they incite the people to cause unrest, won't the South be in chaos?" Zhu Cilang asked worriedly. He understood the power and influence of the gentry. If they incited the people to cause unrest, the consequences would be disastrous.

The Ming Dynasty had just recovered its breath. If the south was in chaos again, it would be the end. Qian Qianyi did not directly answer Zhu Cilang's question, but looked at Shi Kefa. Shi Kefa thought for a moment and understood Qian Qianyi's intention. He said, "Your Highness, don't worry. The decree only mentioned the change of defense, not the collection of taxes. Your Majesty and the cabinet must have considered this, so there will be arrangements later." There was a certain calmness and confidence in his voice, as if he had already seen the future victory.

Although Shi Kefa didn't know exactly how Lin Xiaofeng would deal with the gentry, he had already guessed roughly. The gentry had only two tricks: the first trick was to win over the Confucian scholars to cause trouble, besiege the academy, government offices, examination halls, and even boycott the examinations to force the court; the second trick was to incite the people to rebel and say that the court was going to increase taxes and land rents. However, these two tricks would have nowhere to hide under Lin Xiaofeng's layout.

Lin Xiaofeng saw these tricks of the gentry and wanted to solve this problem completely during the tax exemption period! He planned to start after the autumn examination and before the summer grain collection next year. If successful, the national strength of the Ming Dynasty could be restored by at least 20%, and the people could be won over and support the court more. The court, which was supported by the people, would naturally regard the bandits as enemies, and the bandits would naturally collapse over time.

"May I ask what is the third decree, Your Highness?" Shi Kefa asked. His eyes were gleaming with anticipation, as if he had already seen the future victory.

"Transfer Liu Zhaoji to Beijing!" Zhu Cilang replied. His voice was firm and resolute, as if he had seen Liu Zhaoji's brilliant future in the capital.

Shi Kefa was surprised and then delighted when he heard this. The document submitted by the Nanjing Ministry of War was drafted by him personally, praising Liu Zhaoji's military exploits. He knew that Liu Zhaoji was a rare general and if he could be reused, it would undoubtedly be a great help to the future of the Ming Dynasty.

"If nothing unexpected happens," Shi Kefa paused and said, "Liu Zhaoji will definitely be promoted and given an important position when he comes to Beijing this time." There was a bit of confidence and expectation in his voice, as if he had already seen Liu Zhaoji's style in the court.

Qian Qianyi smiled and shook his head and said, "Promotion is certain, but reuse may not be. Liu Zhaoji has no army now, so if you want to reuse him, you must give him military power. But look at Wu Sangui of Shanhaiguan, Huang Degong of Miyun, Zhu Fenghui and Tang Shengyu of Xuanfu, they all have their own troops, but Liu Zhaoji does not." His eyes flashed with wisdom, as if he had seen through the changes in the court.

"Your Majesty needs an army that is good at fighting, not generals who can only fight!" Qian Qianyi added. His voice was firm and resolute, as if he had seen the future battlefield and the glorious victory of the Ming Dynasty.

Shi Kefa smiled awkwardly and asked, "What about the fourth decree?" His heart was full of anticipation and curiosity, wanting to know what other plans His Majesty had.

"Let me tell Jian Mingxiao and Mu Tianbo to pay attention to the signs of rebellion by the chieftains of Yunnan, Wu Bikui and Sha Dingzhou, and to be prepared in advance." Zhu Cilang said. His voice was heavy and worried, and he was obviously worried about the situation in Yunnan.

Qian Qianyi and Shi Kefa were both puzzled as to why the chieftain of Yunnan would rebel. They looked at each other and saw the puzzlement and confusion in each other's eyes.

Qian Qianyi looked at the secret letter carefully and became even more confused. He thought about it and suddenly thought of a possibility - Jinyiwei! Jinyiwei has become different since the new commander. They not only monitor the officials but also regain the ability to spy on intelligence. Jinyiwei must have got the news first! Letting the prince convey the order is actually to warn the people around him not to act rashly!
Thinking of this, Qian Qianyi looked around involuntarily and lowered his head, feeling a chill all over his body. Lin Xiaofeng's move really had a deep meaning! The things in the letter were not groundless. In history, in September of the first year of Hongguang, Wu Bikui, the chieftain of Yuanmou in Yunnan, did rebel, and Mu Tianbo, the Duke of Qian, transferred Sha Dingzhou, the chieftain of Mengzi, to quell the rebellion. But after Sha Dingzhou quelled the rebellion, he stayed in Yunnan Prefecture and attacked the Duke of Qian's Mansion, triggering a three-year rebellion. Later, it was Sun Kewang and Li Dingguo who helped to quell it. But that was after Lin Xiaofeng's death. Now that Lin Xiaofeng is still alive, Wu Bikui may not rebel. But if he really rebelled, then the Ming Dynasty would really be surrounded by enemies.

However, things in the world are often like this. The more you fear something, the more it will come. Regardless of whether Wu Bikui and Sha Dingzhou will rebel, they must tell Jian Mingxiao and Mu Tianbo in advance so that they can be prepared. Thinking of this, Qian Qianyi raised his head with awe in his eyes: "Your Highness, your Majesty, this move must have a deep meaning. Please pass on the order quickly!" There was a bit of firmness and determination in his voice, as if he had already seen the future victory.

"Okay!" Zhu Cilang nodded and agreed, "I'll send someone to deliver the letter right away!" His voice was also filled with a bit of firmness and determination, as if he had decided to fight to the end for the future of the Ming Dynasty. (End of this chapter)