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

In Li Dingguo's spacious and solemn military camp, the sun shines through the sparse clouds and sprinkles on the bluestone paved ground. Wu Yang, the magistrate of Gushi County, is carefully cleaning the courtyard in simple scholar's clothes. His movements are neither hurried nor slow, as if he is performing a sacred ritual. He gently sweeps the dust on the table with a whisk, then picks up a copper pot and sprinkles fine water droplets, and the air is immediately filled with a fresh breath.

Li Dingguo walked out of the tent, his tall figure casting a long shadow in the sun. He glanced at Wu Yang coldly, and said in a low and powerful voice: "Okay, you can leave now." Wu Yang was about to turn around and leave when a soldier rushed in with an exquisite box in his hand. He reported nervously: "General, we found an unwritten box in the camp, which contains letter paper."

Li Dingguo took the box and examined it carefully. This box was extraordinary. It was made of porcelain blue paper, which was as famous as the Xuande porcelain of the Ming Dynasty. The material was taken from mulberry bark, dyed with indigo, and then carefully polished. Its color was like blue and white porcelain, and its texture was as tough as silk. It was said that this paper was extremely valuable during the Wanli period. One sheet of it cost one or even several coins of silver, which shows how precious it was.

Li Dingguo frowned and asked in confusion: "Where did this box come from?" The soldier replied: "I found it in the camp."

At this time, Wu Yang suddenly interrupted with a barely perceptible tremor in his voice: "General Li, this thing looks familiar to me." Upon hearing this, Li Dingguo turned to him with sharp eyes and asked anxiously: "Oh? When and where have you seen it?" Wu Yang did not answer directly, but quickly glanced at the soldiers. Li Dingguo understood and signaled the soldiers to retreat with his eyes.

There were only two of them left in the tent, and Wu Yang quietly approached Li Dingguo. Li Dingguo's heart tightened slightly, not because he was afraid that Wu Yang would assassinate him, but because he was worried that he would do something wrong. Seeing Wu Yang standing still, Li Dingguo deliberately frowned and said in a cold voice: "If you have anything to say, just say it directly. I have always been open and aboveboard in my actions."

Wu Yang stood straight, bowed deeply, and said in a low and firm voice: "General, I will tell you the truth. I was ordered by the Jinyiwei to surrender. In fact, I wanted to sneak into the Dashi Army to pass on information to the court."

As soon as these words came out, Li Dingguo was stunned as if struck by lightning. He never thought that Wu Yang was actually a spy for the imperial court, and he never thought that he would admit it so frankly. Doubts and shock surged in Li Dingguo's heart, as if a huge rock hit the calm lake, causing ripples.

Li Dingguo calmed himself down, walked to the weapon rack, and drew his sword. The sword flashed, and the cold air was pressing. He said in a deep voice: "Since you are a spy, don't blame me for being rude."

Wu Yang remained calm and asked, "General, do you know how I proved my innocence?" Li Dingguo was stunned, with confusion in his eyes.

Wu Yang continued: "Actually, I admire the general's reputation..."

"Don't lie to me, tell the truth!" Li Dingguo waved his knife threateningly, with the tip of the knife almost touching Wu Yang's collar.

Wu Yang was not afraid at all. He raised his head and recounted Li Dingguo's military exploits. He started his army in Mizhi, fought in Shaanxi, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Sichuan, Jiangxi, and Zhili, and defeated so many enemies and made so many outstanding military exploits. After saying this, he said, "I really value your talent and cannot bear to see you die in the chaos of the army, so I took the risk to tell you."

Although the first half was somewhat flattering, it was all well-founded. But the second half made Li Dingguo murderous. His face turned pale, he raised his knife and asked, "What do you mean by dying in a chaotic army?"

Wu Yang looked around and saw that there was no one around, so he whispered, "Someone in the Dashi Army surrendered to the Ming Dynasty and leaked our military secrets."

"Are you trying to kill me?" Li Dingguo shouted angrily, with the knife already on Wu Yang's neck. The coldness of the blade pressed directly against Wu Yang's skin, making him feel the threat of death.

Wu Yang closed his eyes and waited for death, saying: "I really don't know who the spy is. I only know that the Jinyiwei is willing to pay 100,000 taels of gold to buy his life, but because of insufficient funds, they came to me to raise money."

Li Dingguo hesitated for a moment, half believing and half doubting Wu Yang's words. He frowned and asked again, "Who is the spy?"

"I really don't know." There was a hint of helplessness and sincerity in Wu Yang's voice.

"Are you kidding me?" Li Dingguo increased his strength, and the blade cut Wu Yang's skin. Blood dripped along the blade, staining the bluestone on the ground red.

"I really don't know his name, but I know they used the official silver of Guangzhou Prefecture, which has the prefectural seal on it, and can be used as evidence." There was a hint of urgency and anxiety in Wu Yang's voice.

Li Dingguo frowned and thought about it. One hundred thousand taels of gold is not a small amount. Maybe someone is tempted. If what Wu Yang said is true, who is the spy? His heart was full of doubts and uneasiness.

"Is there any other news?" Li Dingguo asked again, with a hint of anxiety and expectation in his voice.

"To show our sincerity, the Jinyiwei has already paid a deposit of 12,000 taels of gold." There was a hint of bitterness and helplessness in Wu Yang's voice.

"What's written in the letter?" Li Dingguo asked as he picked up the letter, his eyes revealing confusion and inquiry.

"I don't know." There was a hint of helplessness and honesty in Wu Yang's voice.

"Thank you, Magistrate Wu." Li Dingguo put away the letter and prepared to leave. His heart was full of contradictions and entanglements, and he didn't know how to deal with this thorny problem.

Wu Yang sighed and said, "General, if you tell the king about this, I will be dead." There was a hint of helplessness and pleading in his voice.

"Why do you say that?" Li Dingguo asked in surprise, his eyes revealing confusion and puzzlement.

"That spy is in a high position and has great power. He will definitely not admit it, and the king will not believe me. In the end, they will definitely kill me and implicate you, the general." Wu Yang's voice was filled with fear and worry. His eyes revealed uncertainty and fear about the future.

Li Dingguo was stunned when he heard this. He didn't know what to do. This problem was too thorny, involving spies in the army and the imperial guards. He felt as if he was drawn into a huge whirlpool and couldn't extricate himself.

Wu Yang's eyes flashed with cunning, and he whispered, "The most important thing now is to find the 10,000 taels of gold as evidence. The silver is the official silver of Guangzhou Prefecture, and it has the seal of the prefecture to verify it." His voice was filled with a hint of urgency and anxiety. He knew that this was his only chance of survival.

When it comes to money and power, Li Dingguo already has a suspect in his mind: Ruan Shiwu! His eyes reveal doubt and inquiry. He thinks of Ruan Shiwu's usual behavior and expressions, and a cloud of doubt surges in his heart. Could it really be him?
……

In Ruan Shiwu's tent, the atmosphere was tense and depressing. Ruan Shiwu held the letter and questioned Zhao Yongnian: "I already know your true identity. What did the letter say?" There was a hint of threat and coldness in his voice.

Zhao Yongnian was shocked, but he pretended to be calm on the surface: "Master Wang, please spare my life. I really don't know what is written in this letter." There was a hint of pleading and innocence in his voice.

"Haha," Ruan Shiwu sneered, "I am very clear about the methods of the Jinyiwei. Reconnaissance, arrest, interrogation, and rebellion, there is nothing they can't do. If you are not a member of the Jinyiwei, who would dare to break into the military camp alone to deliver gold?" There was a hint of sarcasm and disdain in his voice.

Zhao Yongnian was filled with fear and anxiety. He knew his identity had been exposed and he could no longer hide it. But he still wanted to try his best to fight for a chance of survival.

"I've given you a way to live. If you tell me, you'll live. If you don't, you'll die." Ruan Shiwu shouted sternly. There was a hint of coldness and determination in his voice. He knew that he had the initiative in his hands. With just a slight push, he could push Zhao Yongnian into the abyss of death.

Zhao Yongnian's face was as pale as paper, beads of sweat oozed from his forehead, and his eyes were full of fear and despair. He never thought that his identity had already been seen through by Ruan Shiwu, the old fox. In order to save his life, he said with a trembling voice, like a dead leaf in the cold wind: "According to the news received, the court has deployed heavy troops in Jingzhou, waiting for Zhang Xianzhong's army to fall into the trap."

When Ruan Shiwu heard this, his face suddenly changed, as if a clear sky was suddenly covered with dark clouds. His original plan was to take a long detour to confuse the Ming army, find an opportunity to return to Huguang, and then enter Sichuan from Huguang. Jingzhou is a key place in Huguang, and once it is taken, there will be no worries. But now it seems that their marching plan has been leaked. Thinking of this, Ruan Shiwu was furious, grabbed Zhao Yongnian by the collar, and asked loudly: "Where did this news come from? Who told you?" His voice was like thunder, which made Zhao Yongnian's eardrums hurt.

Zhao Yongnian hesitated for a moment. He knew that he could not hide anything at this time, otherwise he would be dead. So he replied: "If I am not mistaken, there are other Jinyiwei in the Dashi Army besides me. They instigated a general to rebel and leaked our military secrets."

Hearing the words "leaking secrets", Ruan Shiwu's eyes flashed with ruthlessness. He narrowed his eyes and carefully recalled the situation at that time. Apart from Zhang Xianzhong, himself and Zhang Xianzhong's four adopted sons, there was no one else. Zhang Xianzhong himself would definitely not leak it, and he himself kept his mouth shut, so the problem must be with Liu Wenxiu, Li Dingguo, Sun Kewang, and Ai Nengqi.

Ruan Shiwu wanted to tell Zhang Xianzhong immediately, but then he changed his mind and realized that everything needed evidence. So he threatened Zhao Yongnian, saying, "You must find the spy and the evidence of his collusion with the Ming Dynasty! Otherwise, your fate will be worse than death!"

Zhao Yongnian had no choice but to agree. He knew that his fate was in the hands of Ruan Shiwu, and he could only try his best to complete the task in order to have a chance of survival.

Two days later, Zhang Xianzhong's army left Gushi and headed west to Luoshan. Ruan Shiwu was uneasy along the way, fearing that the military secrets had been leaked as Zhao Yongnian said, and the Ming army was waiting for them in ambush ahead. If they did not change the route, the whole army would be in danger. He looked at the soldiers around him, they were all in high spirits, but they did not know that there might be a huge trap waiting for them ahead.

After repeated considerations, Ruan Shiwu decided to tell Zhang Xianzhong. He rode his horse as fast as he could to Zhang Xianzhong and whispered, "Father-in-law, I have something important to report." There was a hint of urgency and anxiety in his voice.

Zhang Xianzhong was playing with the celestial globe made by missionaries An Wensi and Li Lisi at the time. He thought it was a magical object and couldn't let it go. After hearing Ruan Shiwu's words, he put down the celestial globe and asked, "What's the matter?" There was a hint of doubt and confusion in his voice.

Ruan Shiwu said: "There is a spy in the army!" There was a hint of determination and firmness in his voice. He knew that this news was undoubtedly a huge blow to Zhang Xianzhong, but he had to say it.

Zhang Xianzhong's face changed slightly, and he asked him the reason in a low voice. Ruan Shiwu had already prepared his explanation: "We entered Jiangxi from Huguang, then entered Nanzhili from Jiangxi, and then entered Henan from Nanzhili. We hid during the day and moved at night, and traveled hundreds of miles a day, but we still couldn't get rid of the main force of the Ming army. So I suspect there are spies in the army who are guiding the Ming army." There was a hint of anger and unwillingness in his voice. He knew that this news was undoubtedly a huge blow to Zhang Xianzhong.

Ruan Shiwu had no solid evidence to prove who the spy was, so he pushed the responsibility onto Zhang Xianzhong, knowing that Zhang Xianzhong would definitely find a way to find the spy.

Zhang Xianzhong rode slowly on his horse, thinking about Ruan Shiwu's words. He felt that it made sense. They were indeed chased by Du Yinxi in Huguang, pressed hard by Hua Ruiqi in Nanzhili, and met Lü Daqi in Henan. There seemed to be something wrong. He began to doubt everyone around him, even his adopted sons.

"Who do you suspect is a spy?" Zhang Xianzhong asked calmly. There was a hint of indifference and majesty in his voice. He knew that he could not show any emotional fluctuations at this time.

"I dare not say." Ruan Shiwu's voice was filled with hesitation and fear. He knew that giving this answer might lead to his own death.

"I forgive you, but you can tell me what's going on." Zhang Xianzhong's voice was firm and resolute. He knew that someone had to stand up and tell the truth at this time.

"The general who is guarding the rear is the most suspicious." Ruan Shiwu's voice was trembling and uneasy. He knew that this answer might be unacceptable to Zhang Xianzhong. But he had to say it because it was the only clue he knew.

Ruan Shiwu's words were like a heavy hammer, making Zhang Xianzhong suddenly wake up. Recently, Li Dingguo was in charge of the rear guard of the Dashi Army. He had been with Zhang Xianzhong since he was a child and was Zhang Xianzhong's adopted son. How could he betray him? But people's hearts are hidden, and they cannot be completely trusted. He began to recall Li Dingguo's recent performance, trying to find some clues from it.

Zhang Xianzhong was silent for a while, then ordered Li Dingguo to be summoned. When Li Dingguo arrived, he saw that Zhang Xianzhong and Ruan Shiwu looked unhappy, and knew that something was wrong. He quickly dismounted and saluted, and even pretended to pull the stirrups of the horse to show his loyalty. But his heart was full of doubts and uneasiness, and he didn't know what had happened.

Zhang Xianzhong looked at Li Dingguo with mixed feelings. He had brought Li Dingguo with him since he was a child and always treated him as his own son. But now, he began to doubt this loyal son. He whispered, "Dingguo, if there are spies from the Ming Dynasty in the Dashi Army, who do you suspect?" There was a hint of trembling and uncertainty in his voice.

Li Dingguo did not have Ruan Shiwu's evidence to support him, and Ruan Shiwu was watching him, so he replied, "I don't know what you said, father." There was a hint of helplessness and fear in his voice. He didn't know how to answer this question, because he really didn't know who the spy was.

Zhang Xianzhong shook his head in his heart. Li Dingguo's answer was wrong. If he really didn't know, he should have been surprised and asked the reason. But he looked like he was hiding something. He began to doubt Li Dingguo even more.

"Did you know that there was a strange letter in the army two days ago?" Zhang Xianzhong asked again. There was a hint of indifference and majesty in his voice. He began to try to find some clues from Li Dingguo.

"I know, I have read it, but I don't understand its meaning." Li Dingguo's voice was trembling and fearful. He didn't know what the letter was about, nor did he know how to answer Zhang Xianzhong's question.

"That's right, you don't understand. That's a secret letter from the Royal Guards." Zhang Xianzhong's voice was filled with anger and resentment. He began to believe that the spy in the army must be related to Li Dingguo.

"Ah?" Li Dingguo pretended to be surprised, but Zhang Xianzhong saw through his poor acting skills at a glance. Li Dingguo had been with Zhang Xianzhong since he was a child, and Zhang Xianzhong knew his every move. His behavior today was too abnormal, so Zhang Xianzhong was even more suspicious of him.

"There is indeed a spy in the army, and he is in a high position. You should pay more attention to him and tell me immediately if you have any clues." Zhang Xianzhong said casually. But his heart was full of anger and disappointment. He began to have deep suspicion and vigilance towards Li Dingguo.

"Yes, foster father." Li Dingguo bowed and replied, then got on his horse and left. His heart was filled with fear and uneasiness, and he didn't know how to face this sudden suspicion and accusation.

Zhang Xianzhong then summoned Liu Wenxiu, Sun Kewang, and Ai Nengqi to test them, but found nothing unusual. He began to feel confused and lost. He didn't know how to find the spy, nor how to protect his army.

Zhang Xianzhong rode his horse silently, thinking about something. The surrounding scenery was just like his mood at the moment, gloomy and depressing. The sky was covered with dark clouds, as if it would rain at any time. The mountains in the distance also seemed blurred, as if shrouded in a layer of fog.

"Father-in-law, you..." Ruan Shiwu wanted to say something, but was interrupted by Zhang Xianzhong.

"Yes, I suspect Li Dingguo." Zhang Xianzhong said bluntly. There was a hint of determination and firmness in his voice. He had decided to investigate the matter himself.

"Dingguo has followed my father-in-law since he was young and is a pillar of the Dashi Army. This time, many people surrendered along the way, and Dingguo played an indispensable role! Please think twice, my father-in-law!" Ruan Shiwu wanted to protect Li Dingguo by praising him. He knew that Zhang Xianzhong had deep feelings for Li Dingguo, so he tried to impress him in this way.

"No! I don't believe Dingguo is a spy." Zhang Xianzhong said with a sad look, "but for the sake of caution, I decided to change the march route." There was a hint of helplessness and pain in his voice. He could no longer trust Li Dingguo, but for the sake of the overall situation, he decided to change the march route.

After that, he looked at Wang Zhaolin and said, "You should go to Runan immediately. I heard that Li Zicheng's main force is there. I plan to join forces with him and fight Jian Mingxiao in Jingzhou, Chengtianfu, and Xiangyang. If we win, we can smoothly enter Sichuan; if we lose, we will move to Huguang and defeat the enemy by moving." There was a hint of determination and firmness in his voice. He had already made plans for the worst.

"Remember, this matter must be kept secret and not disclosed to anyone." Zhang Xianzhong finally warned. There was a hint of indifference and majesty in his voice. He knew that at this time, he had to remain highly vigilant and keep it confidential.

On June 15, the 18th year of Lin Xiaofeng, the sky was as blue as a mirror, and a breeze blew across the border of Runan County, bringing a hint of coolness. Ruan Shiwu and his party arrived here exhausted, their clothes were covered with dust from the journey, but their eyes were shining with determination.

"Stop! Who are you?" Outside the camp, hundreds of Dashun soldiers lined up in a horizontal formation, blocking the way. These soldiers were dressed in iron armor, holding spears, and looked majestic. Wang Zhaolin and his men were stopped, and the scene was a little tense for a while.

Shi Wu led more than a hundred people. Although they were all dressed in civilian clothes, they were riding war horses and holding weapons in their hands. It was obvious that they were not ordinary people. Shi Wu rode forward on his horse. He was tall, with a resolute face and a gleam of wisdom in his eyes. He said calmly, "Please inform us that we are Wang Zhaolin, the military advisor of the Great Western King, and we would like to meet Cheng Minghe, the military advisor of the Great Shun."

Shi Wu thought that if he went directly to Li Zicheng, he might be rejected, so he decided to find Cheng Minghe first, lure him with benefits, and then find a way to introduce him to Li Zicheng. He knew that Cheng Minghe was a greedy person, and as long as he gave him enough benefits, he would be able to convince him.

"Please wait a moment." The leader of the Dashun Army sent someone to report. He looked up and down at Shi Wu and his group, muttering to himself: These people don't look simple.

At this time, Cheng Minghe was fortune-telling. He was thin, pale, and his eyes were shining with a mysterious light. He held three copper coins in his hand, muttered something, and threw them on the table. The copper coins fell to the ground, making a crisp sound. Before he could interpret the hexagram, someone outside came to report: "Military Advisor, Wang Zhaolin, the military advisor of the Daxi Army, is outside the camp and wants to see you."

"Oh? Come in!" Minghe stood up quickly, put away the copper coins, and walked out quickly. He was secretly happy in his heart: This Dashi Army came at the right time, maybe it can bring me some benefits.

The Dashun Army was in a critical situation, surrounded by enemies on all sides: Jian Mingxiao in the west, Gao Jie in the east, Liu Liangzuo and Li Jiyu in the north, and Wang Zhigang in the south. They could neither defeat them nor retreat. If they retreated, Jian Mingxiao would surely take the opportunity to attack Wuguan, and Guanzhong would be in danger. Therefore, the Dashun Army could only stay in Runan to contain Jian Mingxiao.

Shi Wu and his companions soon arrived outside Ming He's tent. Ming He was already waiting there. He looked at Zhao Lin, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes: This person doesn't look simple. He said, "It's like a gold ingot fell from the sky. We can share it together without fighting for it. If everyone gets the gold, their wish will be fulfilled, and everything will go smoothly and we will be happy." Shi Wu also bowed and replied, "Light your own lamp to illuminate your own way, talk to yourself and listen to your own heart. I have experienced many ups and downs and hardships in my life. Looking back, it seems like a dream." His voice was low and powerful, revealing a calmness that had gone through vicissitudes of life.

"Brother Wang!" Minghe shouted enthusiastically.

"Brother Song!" Shi Wu also responded with a smile.

"I've heard a lot about you!" The two bowed to each other, looking like old friends reuniting. But in fact, they both knew in their hearts that this was just superficial politeness.

The people around were stunned. A Shun army soldier quietly asked the leader: "What do they mean?"

The young leader thought for a moment and said, "It's probably just 'Hello, I'm good at divination.'" He actually didn't quite understand the sorcerers' language.

The soldier was surprised and said, "This is all the meaning of such a long speech?"

"That's about it. Sorcerers all like to be mysterious, just like the old charlatan in our village." The little leader curled his lips in disdain.

Minghe had sharp ears and heard their conversation. He glared at them. The two of them shrank their necks in fear and stepped aside. They muttered to themselves: This military advisor is really powerful. Even we are afraid of him.

After the ceremony, Minghe led Zhaolin into the tent. The tent was simply furnished with only a table and a few chairs. After Minghe asked Zhaolin to sit down, he asked, "Brother Wang, what brings you here this time?"

Shi Wu smiled and said, "I came here this time to ask your army to send troops to jointly attack the Ming army." His words revealed a sincerity and expectation.

After hearing this, Minghe's mind moved: This is a good opportunity to make some money. He pretended to be in deep thought for a moment and then said, "This matter is of great importance. I need to report it to the emperor first."

Shi Wu nodded to show his understanding: "Of course, I'll have to trouble you, Brother Song."

About half an hour later, Minghe, who had reached an agreement on the terms, took Zhaolin to see Li Zicheng. Li Zicheng was a burly man with a dignified face and a sharp light in his eyes. As soon as he saw Shiwu, he asked, "Are you Ruan Shiwu, the military advisor of the Dashi Army?"

Shi Wu bowed and said, "It's me." His words revealed humility and respect.

After taking a look at Shi Wu, Li Zicheng said, "Your Majesty, your eyebrows are full of heroic spirit and your forehead is full. You must be a person who can dominate the world and have great fortune." His words revealed a kind of flattery and praise.

Li Zicheng was stunned at first, and then a smile appeared on his face. Although he knew it was a compliment, he was still very happy to hear such praise. Although there were many flatterers in the Dashun Army, only Cheng Ming and one person could flatter with such a mysterious prophecy. I didn't expect that Zhang Xianzhong's men also had such talents.

Li Zicheng was very happy to reward Zhaolin with 500 taels of silver. Although Shi Wu accepted the gift, he was not upset because compared with the 100,000 taels promised by the Jinyiwei, these 500 taels were just a drop in the bucket. However, he still thanked him respectfully.

Nangong Shangpu, who was standing next to him, looked unhappy. He asked Zhaolin, "Is there something that Military Advisor Wang wants to do this time?" His words revealed dissatisfaction and doubt.

Shi Wu knew that Shang Pu was unhappy because he did not go to him first, so he bowed again and replied: "Your Majesty, I came here this time to ask the emperor to send troops to jointly attack the Ming army." His words revealed a sincerity and expectation.

Seeing Shi Wu's respectful attitude, Shang Pu's tone softened a little: "Have you encountered any difficulties?" His words revealed concern and inquiry.

Shi Wu nodded: "We have indeed encountered a strong enemy, especially Jian Mingxiao. The Sichuan soldiers under his command are very brave, and our elite troops of Dashi find it difficult to deal with them. He guards the Jingxiang area, and it is difficult for us to enter Huguang, so we have come to ask the emperor to send troops to jointly attack him." His words revealed a sense of helplessness and help.

Li Zicheng was somewhat tempted after hearing this. If he could defeat Jian Mingxiao, the situation in Henan and Huguang could be reversed, and he could even take the opportunity to enter Sichuan. However, the previous grievances between him and Zhang Xianzhong had not been resolved, and cooperation might make him feel embarrassed. So he remained silent and fell into deep thought.

Shang Pu saw Li Zicheng's hesitation and said quickly: "Where is the sincerity of the King of Daxi?" His words revealed a sense of doubt and pickyness.

Shi Wu was stunned for a moment, then replied with a smile: "Of course I am sincere. Our Dashi Army is willing to pay 500,000 taels of silver as military funds to show our sincerity." His words revealed a firmness and sincerity.

After listening to this, Shang Pu nodded, expressing his satisfaction. He looked at Li Zicheng and secretly praised him in his heart: "You still understand me! The Dashun Army is short of money again."

Li Zicheng looked at Shang Pu, then at Shi Wu, and thought to himself: This 500,000 taels of silver is not a small amount. If we can get this silver, the military funding problem of the Dashun Army can be solved. So he said, "Okay! That's it! We will send troops to attack the Ming army together in August!" His words revealed a firmness and determination.

After hearing this, Shi Wu was overjoyed, knowing that the purpose of his trip had been achieved. So he bowed and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you, Lord Zuo Fu! I will definitely tell the King of Daxi about this news!" His words revealed a kind of gratitude and joy.

After the two sides reached an agreement, they began to discuss the details of the cooperation. They agreed on the time, location, and allocation of troops, and everything was arranged in an orderly manner. Cheng Minghe listened to their discussion and secretly rejoiced in his heart: This time I can get a good deal! Five hundred thousand taels of silver! It's enough for me to squander for a while! So he asked, "When will the troops be dispatched?" His words revealed a kind of eagerness and expectation.

"August," Shi Wu replied. His heart was already filled with anticipation and longing, looking forward to the arrival of August, looking forward to the joint expedition of the Dashun Army and the Dashi Army, and looking forward to the victory of the joint crusade against the Ming Army!
Hearing that the day of the expedition was set for August, Li Zicheng, Cheng Minghe, Nangong Shangpu and other generals all frowned, and the furrows between their brows were like marks carved by time, deeply depicting their inner worries. It was already mid-June, and the sun shone through the sparse clouds and sprinkled on these battle-hardened generals, but it seemed unable to dispel the haze in their hearts. There was still a month and a half to go until August, and time was like a sword hanging over their heads, testing their patience and determination every minute and every second.

The Ming army has surrounded us from all sides, surging like a tide. The situation is critical, like a candle in the wind, which may go out at any time. We can't wait that long, Li Zicheng sighed in his heart, with anxiety and helplessness flashing in his eyes.

"Why do we have to wait until August?" Cheng Minghe asked again, with a bit of urgency in his voice. His eyes were like burning flames, trying to illuminate the fog ahead.

"Because this year happens to be the autumn of the imperial examination, the Ming court will definitely mobilize troops to protect the examination halls. This way, other places will be short of troops, and we can take advantage of the opportunity." Li Zicheng explained, his voice steady and powerful, trying to calm the anxious emotions of the generals.

The Shun army's generals looked at each other and shook their heads, their eyes full of helplessness and worry. Half a month is hard to endure, let alone one and a half months? The Ming army is eyeing us like hungry cheetahs. If we don't retreat, I'm afraid we will be surrounded and captured in one fell swoop.

"It's not that we can't wait," Cheng Minghe suggested, his voice firm, "Your Majesty can order Marquis Ze to transfer troops from Xi'an to guard Wuguan, and we can take the opportunity to break out and take the initiative to attack."

"Then let's wait until August to launch a counterattack. What do you think, Your Majesty?" Cheng Minghe actively offered suggestions because he had received favors from Ruan Shiwu. His eyes flashed with loyalty and determination.

"What do you think, my dear ministers?" Li Zicheng turned to ask everyone, his eyes full of expectation and trust, as if he was looking for a glimmer of hope.

Some agreed, some disagreed, and opinions buzzed like mosquitoes in summer, but in the end, it was Li Zicheng who had to make the decision. He was silent for a moment, as if weighing the weight on both ends of the scale, and finally, he nodded slowly and adopted Ruan Shiwu's strategy.

So the two armies began to discuss the battle plan in detail, their voices were low and powerful, like summer thunder, echoing in the tent. They talked about troop deployment, tactics and strategies, and every detail was repeatedly scrutinized, as if they were weaving a huge net to try to catch the dawn of victory.

……

June 19th, Dongzhimen Gate in the capital. This gate was called Chongren Gate in the early Ming Dynasty, and was changed to Dongzhimen during the Yongle period. It echoes Xizhimen, implying that the people are promoting education, from the East China Sea in the east to the West Frontier in the west. At this time, the summer sun is like molten gold, sprinkling on this ancient city tower, covering this ancient city gate with a golden coat. Because this city wall is relatively small and there are often vendors from the suburbs passing by, it is the least noticeable of the nine gates in the capital, but its history is like a silent old man, silently telling the past glory and vicissitudes.

Liu Zhaoji, wearing armor, strode into the city wall. After verifying his identity, he walked through the doorway and saw the hustle and bustle inside. The prosperous scene of the capital was in full view. The cries of vendors, the rumbling of carriages, and the noise of the crowds intertwined like a lively symphony. Although Jiangnan was also very rich, the atmosphere of fireworks could not compare with that of the capital. The prosperity here was accompanied by the solemnity and majesty of an imperial city.

As Liu Zhaoji took a step forward, a child suddenly appeared beside him. The child was about eight or nine years old, very cute, wearing shabby blue clothes, with a long braid, and holding a stack of papers in his hand. He stared at Liu Zhaoji with big eyes and shouted, "Soldier, be careful, don't step on me!"

Liu Zhaoji asked with a smile, "Child, what are you holding in your hand?" His voice was gentle and powerful, like a spring breeze.

The child rolled his eyes and answered in a childish voice, "It's a newspaper." There was a hint of pride in his voice, as if he was holding a rare treasure in his hand.

"What newspaper?" Liu Zhaoji asked curiously.

The child did not answer directly, but asked back: "Sir, you are not from the capital, right?" There was a cunning light in his eyes, like a little fox.

"I'm from Nanzhili." Liu Zhaoji answered as he walked. His steps were steady and powerful, as if every step was stepping on the pulse of history.

"Oh, that's right. This is Lin Xiaofeng's newspaper from the 17th year." The child waved the new newspaper to show him. The ink on the newspaper seemed to still carry the fragrance of ink.

"How much is one serving?" Liu Zhaoji asked, with a hint of curiosity in his voice.

"Fifty cents." The child said, and he secretly gathered strength in his legs, ready to escape at any time. There was a hint of cunning in his eyes.

When Liu Zhaoji heard that it was Lin Xiaofeng's newspaper for the 17th year, and he had read several issues, he knew that this newspaper was interesting, especially the unofficial history part, which was very popular. He thought about it and felt that the price was a bit expensive, so he smiled and said, "Why is it so expensive? It only costs two or three cents in Nanzhili."

The child said disdainfully: "You can't generalize about newspapers! They are selling old newspapers, and mine are new, so the price is naturally different." There was a hint of pride in his voice, as if he was holding a priceless treasure.

Liu Zhaoji was despised by the child, his face slightly reddened, and he coughed to hide his embarrassment. He took out the money and tried to bargain: "Cheaper, isn't it just a piece of paper?" There was a bit of helplessness in his voice.

"Hey, officer, you still want to bargain!" the child shouted, "Look at the armor you're wearing, you must be an official of the second rank or above, why are you so stingy!" There was a hint of sarcasm in his voice, and people around him looked at him strangely.

Liu Zhaoji's face turned red like a boiled shrimp. He threw down fifty coins, snatched the newspaper and left. His steps were somewhat awkward, as if he was a tiger being teased by a kitten.

The child happily picked up the copper coin and ran away without a trace, weaving through the crowd like a nimble little deer.

Before Liu Zhaoji had taken a few steps, another child ran over and said, "Sir, would you like to buy a newspaper?" There was some anticipation in his voice.

"How much is one serving?" Liu Zhaoji asked, with a hint of caution in his voice.

"Four cents a piece," the child answered, with some sincerity in his voice.

Liu Zhaoji turned around to look for the child, but found that he had disappeared. He slapped his forehead and sighed, "Oh my god, I was fooled!" His voice was filled with a bit of annoyance and helplessness.

"What's wrong with you, sir?" asked the new kid, his eyes full of concern.

"I just spent fifty cents to buy a newspaper. It's a big loss." Liu Zhaoji said in annoyance, with a hint of unwillingness in his voice.

"I have an idea," the new kid said, holding up the newspaper, "If the general buys my newspaper again, we can share the cost." There was a hint of cunning in his voice, as if a little fox was making a suggestion.

"Go, go, don't lie to me." Liu Zhaoji gently kicked the child's butt, and then continued to walk towards the imperial city. His steps were somewhat firm, as if he was going to face an unknown battle.

After the announcement, a young eunuch led Liu Zhaoji to the courtyard of the Palace of Heavenly Purity. The summer sun shone through the sparse clouds and shone on the ancient palace, giving the ancient building a golden coat. Seeing the figure from afar, Liu Zhaoji knelt down and saluted: "Your Majesty, I, Liu Zhaoji, kowtow to you. Long live the emperor..." His voice was respectful and solemn.

"Stand up." Lin Xiaofeng looked at him and said, his voice was gentle and powerful, like a spring breeze. He was wearing a dragon robe and sitting on the dragon throne, like an inviolable god.

Liu Zhaoji was a big man with a full beard, and he looked honest. When he stood up, he seemed a little at a loss, like a bear that was suddenly awakened.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." There was a hint of gratitude in Liu Zhaoji's voice.

"Admiral Liu was cheated of his money as soon as he entered the city. Does that mean he has no good feelings towards the capital?" Lin Xiaofeng asked with a smile, his eyes flashing with a hint of mockery.

"It's only fifty coins, your servant..." Liu Zhaoji was stunned before he finished speaking. He was surprised, shocked and a little chilled. It was only two quarters of an hour from entering the city to the imperial city, and His Majesty already knew about this. The power of the Jinyiwei can be seen! A feeling of awe for the imperial power surged in his heart.

"Don't worry, Admiral Liu," Lin Xiaofeng said with a smile, "The kid who cheated money is actually an informant of the Jinyiwei." There was a bit of pride in his voice, as if he was showing off his power and wisdom. After that, he ordered Guo Tianyang to hand Liu Zhaoji a package.

Liu Zhaoji opened it and saw several hundred taels of silver and a pile of copper coins. His eyes flashed with surprise and confusion.

"What is this?" Liu Zhaoji asked anxiously, with a hint of doubt in his voice.

"Admiral Liu is so brave and brave that he has won the emperor's favor. He has been granted 500 taels of silver to supplement his family expenses." Guo Tianyang said loudly, with a bit of solemnity and majesty in his voice.

"And those copper coins are the money that His Majesty ordered the Jinyiwei to return to you that you were defrauded of." Guo Tianyang whispered in Liu Zhaoji's ear again, his voice carrying a hint of mystery and weirdness.

"I thank your majesty for your great grace!" Liu Zhaoji was so moved that tears welled up in his eyes and he kowtowed like crazy. His heart was filled with gratitude for the emperor's great grace, like a piece of ice being illuminated by the warm sunshine.

"Get up." Lin Xiaofeng walked to Liu Zhaoji with his hands behind his back and asked, "Do you know why I summoned you here?" There was a bit of majesty and expectation in his voice.

"I am stupid, please explain clearly, Your Majesty." Liu Zhaoji said with a fist clasped, his voice full of respect and humility.

"I have ordered Li Xingzhong to train the first batch of cavalry in Baoding for seven or eight months. Now I want to let them see blood." Lin Xiaofeng stared at Liu Zhaoji and said, his eyes flashing with a bit of determination and coldness. A hundred trials are not as good as a battle. The test of actual combat is incomparable to any training. The battlefield is a place for soldiers to grow rapidly (end of this chapter)