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

Fang Yizhi, also known as Mr. Mizhi, was born in a quiet place in Tongcheng County, Anqing Prefecture, Anhui Province, where the mountains and rivers are beautiful and the four seasons are distinct, as if all the spiritual energy of the world has gathered here, giving birth to this future wise man.

Back then, the Ming Dynasty was like a shaky building, and it finally collapsed. Fang Yizhi, a scholar with the world in mind, fled to Nanjing, and later went to the King of Gui Zhu Youlang, trying to find a glimmer of hope for revival in this chaotic world. However, his fate was unfortunate. He was framed by the eunuch Wang Kun and was dismissed from his official position. At that moment, his heart seemed to be covered by ice, and disappointment and resentment intertwined, almost suffocating him. Finally, he made an unexpected decision-shaving his head to become a monk and escape into the Buddhist world. However, even though he was wearing a cassock, his heart was still burning with the flame of anti-Qing and restoration of Ming, and he secretly planned how to overthrow the rule of the Manchus.

In the tenth year of Emperor Kangxi's reign, a case in Guangdong hung over his head like a dark cloud. He was implicated, arrested and taken to Guangdong. It is said that on the way to Guangdong, he died on the boat due to a sudden illness (what the specific illness was is no longer known). What exactly happened in this case in Guangdong? Because it was so long ago and the information is scarce, it is difficult to tell clearly now. Some people say that he was implicated for treason, some say that he was a victim of literary inquisition, and some say that he was reported by his enemies. But in any case, the life of this wise man came to an end, leaving endless speculation and regret for future generations.

When it comes to literary inquisition, the Qing Dynasty had the opportunity to lead the world, but a series of cruel literary inquisitions strangled this opportunity in the cradle. From Shunzhi to Qianlong, there were more than 160 cases of literary inquisition in the 140 years, and their far-reaching and bad influence was simply outrageous. These cases were like sharp knives, cutting the throats of scholars and making them dare not speak out. The first person to suffer was Zhang Jinyan. Just because he said "a talent for the Ming Dynasty", he was suspected of being a traitor by Emperor Shunzhi, arrested, confiscated his property and exiled to Ningguta. This is simply a true portrayal of "guarding against the mouths of the people is worse than guarding against rivers"!
Affected by this literary inquisition, scholars in the Qing Dynasty were all silent, fearing that they would get into trouble if they were not careful. Even a sentence like "the breeze is illiterate" could bring about a fatal disaster, not to mention those who had unique insights and dared to express their own opinions. Therefore, Gu Yanwu, Huang Zongxi, Wang Fuzhi, Fang Yizhi and others chose to retreat from the world and study. They had ideas and talents, but they could not spread these ideas and talents. In order to spread ideas, they either had to become a high-ranking official and have the right to speak, or they had to teach good students to pass on their knowledge. But at that time, people thought that being an official was the right way, so their path was particularly difficult.

……

The atmosphere in the lobby of the Ministry of Industry was solemn. Fang Yizhi was in a daze when he suddenly felt his shoulders sink. It turned out that Cheng Qinghua, the Minister of Industry, patted him. "Your Majesty is asking you!" Cheng Qinghua's voice was a little anxious. Fang Yizhi came back to his senses and looked at Lin Xiaofeng, who was sitting on the high hall, with a puzzled look on his face. In fact, he understood the deep meaning behind Lin Xiaofeng's question and knew the answer, but he always felt that this was not what he really wanted to say. Out of respect for the monarch, he still slowly opened his mouth and replied: "Your Majesty, the reason why snow falls is because water always flows downwards."

Lin Xiaofeng smiled slightly when he heard this, and then asked, "Then why does the water flow downwards?" Fang Yizhi said seriously, "I think what is said in the Mo Jing Jing Shuo Shang is reasonable. It says: 'Force is the manifestation of weight. Falling and weight complement each other.'" This means that the weight of an object is caused by force, and this force makes the object fall, and the speed becomes faster and faster.

After hearing this, Lin Xiaofeng smiled slightly, his eyes sparkling with wisdom: "So, where does this force that pushes objects downward come from?" This question stumped Fang Yizhi. Yes, where does this force come from? He frowned and pondered. Lin Xiaofeng looked at him and felt proud in his heart. He knew that although the ancients observed the phenomenon of gravity, they had not yet explored its mystery. And he, Lin Xiaofeng, wanted to change this situation!
Seeing Fang Yizhi's confused look, Lin Xiaofeng smiled and said, "Fang Yizhi, I swear in front of all the ministers that if you can find the source of this earth-strength power, I will reward you with ten thousand gold coins!" He looked around and said, "Not only Fang Yizhi, but everyone here can try. Anyone who can convince me will also be rewarded with ten thousand gold coins!" The ministers and craftsmen widened their eyes when they heard this. Ten thousand gold coins! Enough to change the fate of a family!
"Your Majesty, are you serious?" Jiao Xu asked first, with a hint of urgency and expectation in his words.

"Of course, if you don't believe me, I can publish this in the 'Lin Xiaofeng Seventeen Years Report'." Lin Xiaofeng's words were filled with unquestionable firmness.

"Stop crowding around and go back and think!" Cheng Qinghua urged. The ministers and craftsmen bowed and left, eager to go back and write down their ideas.

Only Fang Yizhi remained standing in front of Lin Xiaofeng, ashamed. He knew that he was deeply influenced by Confucian education and it was not easy for him to have the knowledge he has today. But he could not give a satisfactory answer to Lin Xiaofeng's question.

"Fang Yizhi." Lin Xiaofeng called him, with a hint of gentleness and encouragement in his voice.

"I'm here." Fang Yizhi responded quickly.

"I heard that your teacher Wang Xuan has a book on physics?" Lin Xiaofeng's words were filled with curiosity and exploration.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Fang Yizhi answered truthfully. A trace of nostalgia and admiration for his teacher surged in his heart. Wang Xuan was a physics master from Jinxi, Jiangxi Province, and also Fang Yizhi's teacher. His "Physics" had a profound influence on Fang Yizhi. Many parts of Fang Yizhi's "Small Knowledge of Physics" were "borrowed" from this book.

"Learn more, think more, write more!" Lin Xiaofeng said this and turned away. His figure stretched out in the sun, looking particularly tall and majestic. Fang Yizhi looked at his back and felt a sense of admiration and determination. He knew that he still had a lot to learn and explore. Although this road was difficult, he would continue to walk on it unswervingly.

Before leaving the Ministry of Works, Cheng Qinghua quietly approached Lin Xiaofeng and whispered, "Your Majesty, I have something else to report." His expression seemed a little solemn, as if he had something important to say.

Upon hearing this, Lin Xiaofeng said calmly but seriously: "If it's about money, then don't mention it. I know the Ministry of Industry has a lot of expenses, and it's normal for officials to have some gray income." His words revealed a kind of helplessness and tolerance towards reality. He knew that in this era, kickbacks were inevitable, and even he and the Jinyiwei couldn't keep an eye on them all the time. In the long run, it depends on the system to restrain it, and in the short term, it depends on the self-discipline of officials and Cheng Qinghua's supervision.

After hearing this, Cheng Qinghua said with difficulty: "Your Majesty, it's not about money, it's about the difficulties encountered by the steam engine of the self-propelled steamship." There was a hint of anxiety and worry in his voice.

When Lin Xiaofeng heard this, he frowned slightly, but then relaxed his brows and asked, "Is there any progress?" A hint of anticipation and curiosity surged in his heart.

Cheng Qinghua shook his head and said with difficulty: "Your Majesty, don't be happy too soon. What I am talking about is not progress, but difficulties encountered." There was a hint of helplessness and frustration in his voice.

"Tell me in detail, what is the problem?" Lin Xiaofeng's words were full of urgency and concern. He knew the importance of this self-propelled steam engine to the country, and he also understood the pressure and challenges that Cheng Qinghua faced.

Cheng Qinghua heard this and explained one by one: "First, there is the problem of casting. The surface of the parts cast from clay molds is rough, and it takes a lot of manpower and material resources to polish them. Secondly, the strength is not enough, and it often breaks, which slows down the progress and damages the steam engine, so it has to be recast. There are also many problems such as airtightness and pressure relief." There is a trace of fatigue and helplessness in his voice. He knows that these problems cannot be solved in a short time, and it takes time and strategy to deal with them.

After listening to this, Lin Xiaofeng was silent for a moment and then said: "Although the Ministry of Industry has capable people, they are not omnipotent. We still need strategies, funds and time. Think about it when you go back, and I will do my best to support you." There was a hint of firmness and encouragement in his voice. He knew the importance of this self-propelled steam engine to the country, and he also understood the pressure and challenges faced by Cheng Qinghua. But he believed that as long as everyone worked together, they would be able to overcome these difficulties and make this steam engine run successfully as soon as possible.

Lin Xiaofeng's decision and the changing situation of the country
After hearing Cheng Qinghua's complaint, Lin Xiaofeng's eyes flashed with a trace of deep thought, and he slowly asked: "Minister Fan, do you have any plans for what you said?" Cheng Qinghua's face showed a bit of helplessness, he sighed, "What I mean is that the research and development of the steam engine cannot be completed in the short term." After hearing this, Lin Xiaofeng's face did not show much surprise, but just nodded slightly, as if he had already expected such an answer.

"What will happen after it's built?" Lin Xiaofeng asked with a hint of inquiry. Cheng Qinghua shook his head and explained, "In the short term, it can only be loaded on ships, and we can't lay rails to build trains." The reason is obvious. Iron is expensive and scarce, and according to the current customs, once the railway is built, the people along the way will definitely steal the iron. If they steal and melt it, the rails and evidence will be gone. What's the point of arresting them? The rails are gone! Re-laying the rails is both labor-intensive and costly. In this way, the strategic significance of the railway will be greatly reduced.

Lin Xiaofeng was thinking that he planned to spend ten to twenty years to study the steam engine, and then upgrade it. By that time, the people would be richer, and the theft of railroad tracks would naturally decrease. He sighed and said, "I know this is difficult, so since I handed it over to the Ministry of Industry, I have not asked about it again." His words revealed a hint of helplessness and expectation, "It is not advisable to rush now, but we can't give up on ourselves either."

"I understand." After hearing this, Cheng Qinghua finally felt relieved. As the Minister of Industry, he was responsible for the poor performance of his department. After Lin Xiaofeng gave him a few more instructions, he returned to the Qianqing Palace. His steps were steady and powerful, and every step seemed to tell of his determination and belief.

The next morning, the sun shone through the clouds and brought a touch of warmth to the cold winter. Lin Xiaofeng stood in front of the window, looking at the scenery in the distance, with endless thoughts in his heart. He decided to ask the Ministry of Personnel to transfer Fang Yizhi from the Hanlin Academy to the local prefecture. He knew that Fang Yizhi had extraordinary talent and potential, but only through practical experience could he truly grow up.

Lin Xiaofeng could only do these things, the rest depended on Fang Yizhi's own luck. He thought that if he wanted to become famous, he had to start with local governance. If he governed well, the people would naturally spread his reputation; when his political achievements were remarkable, he would be given one or two opportunities to make meritorious contributions; if Fang Yizhi could grasp them, he would be summoned back to Beijing to entrust him with important tasks. By then, there would be countless people who would come to him, and the science of the Ming Dynasty would also make great strides. However, now is not the right time to give lectures, but it would bring disadvantages: first, Fang Yizhi was still young and the students of the Imperial College were older than him; second, he had no teaching experience and the students would definitely not obey him. Under these factors, Fang Yizhi would probably fall into a vortex of self-doubt, and once a person began to doubt himself, he would not be far from collapse. Lin Xiaofeng did not want to ruin the future physicist of the Ming Dynasty. What he needed was a teacher who could make students learn science spontaneously!

Shortly after the decree was issued, Gao Shiming, the eunuch in charge of the Imperial Household Department, walked in. He had just recovered from an illness and looked a little weak. "The emperor's cabinet has submitted two official documents." There was a hint of urgency in his words, "One is Liu Zhaoji's request for a pension, and the other is the impeachment of Liu Zhaoji by the military secretary."

"Pension?" Lin Xiaofeng was a little confused after hearing this. He had not heard of the war in Baoding and Zhending. Since there was no war, how could there be a pension? While he was wondering, he took over the two official documents and read them carefully. After reading them, he suddenly realized that the reason why Liu Zhaoji's army was so brave was because his training method was different. Others trained with sweat, but he trained with blood. Since he took charge of the training, nearly a hundred soldiers died in training. Liu Zhaoji was asking for a pension for them. The military secretary also impeached him for this. Although the pension was not much, it was not in accordance with the rules. According to the regulations of the Ming army, only those who died on the battlefield could enjoy a pension, and those who died in training were not eligible.

"How did the Ministry of War handle it?" Lin Xiaofeng asked, his eyes revealing a hint of seriousness. Gao Shiming looked at the official document and said: "The Ministry of War did not approve the pension according to convention and impeached Liu Zhaoji." "Then do as the Ministry of War says." Lin Xiaofeng's words were full of unquestionable firmness, "But Your Majesty..." Gao Shiming hesitated and was glared back by Lin Xiaofeng, "The rules of the various ministries and yamen cannot be broken, otherwise the court will be in chaos. As a monarch, I cannot break this rule." "The pension can be given but not by the Ministry of War." "What does your majesty mean?" "Tell them from my inner treasury that I want an army that can fight against the Jiannu." "I obey your order." Gao Shiming responded respectfully.

From then on, Lin Xiaofeng worked diligently and was busy with all kinds of affairs. He knew that he had a heavy responsibility on his shoulders and dared not slack off. Time passed quickly and it was the twelfth lunar month. On the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, Lin Xiaofeng was drinking Laba porridge when he suddenly heard the urgent voice of the eunuch outside the door. "The emergency troops from the Emperor's Xuanfu and Yunnan have arrived!" Hearing this, he felt nervous and quickly put down his bowl and chopsticks and walked quickly to the door.

Guo Tianyang walked out quickly and took out two Tangbao. He opened one first and read it quickly: "Xuanfu Tangbao, several Mongolian tribes joined forces to plunder in the south. Dingxi Earl Tang Shengyu and guerrilla general Ding Yi fought against them, and our army suffered hundreds of casualties and killed more than a thousand enemies. Mongolia saw no opportunity and turned to attack Datong, and the battle situation is still unclear." Lin Xiaofeng clenched his right fist slightly, and asked solemnly: "Read the Tangbao from Yunnan." Guo Tianyang opened another Tangbao, and after quickly browsing it, his hands trembled slightly, as if he was shocked by the content.

"Why don't you read it?" Lin Xiaofeng urged somewhat unhappily. Guo Tianyang knelt down hurriedly and read in a trembling voice: "Yunnan Tang report, Qian Guogong Mu Tianbo urgent report. Yunnan Yuanmou Tusi Wu Bikui rebelled, the rebels have captured Dayao, Dingyuan, Yao'an, and are approaching Yunnan Prefecture. Qian Guogong has mobilized Tusi Long Zaitian, Wang Yangzu, Sha Dingzhou, Lu Yongming, Diao Xun and other troops to suppress the rebellion, and the battle situation is not yet clear." Lin Xiaofeng nodded after listening and asked Guo Tianyang to stand up. He pondered for a moment and asked: "Your Majesty, do you want to summon the cabinet and the Ministry of War to discuss the matter?" Guo Tianyang asked anxiously, as if he wanted to take action immediately.

"No hurry," Lin Xiaofeng suddenly calmed down, he knew that there was no point in being anxious. When the enemy comes, we will stop him with soldiers, when the water comes, we will block it with earth. Now he only wants to think about how to use the troops. The Di people in the north first betrayed the Ming Dynasty and surrendered to the Jiannu, and now they sent troops to plunder. If we just defend blindly, the Di people will definitely think that the Ming Dynasty is easy to bully, and the Ming Dynasty should organize a counterattack. Not to mention the situation in Yunnan, the local chieftains have long had different intentions, and the neighboring Shu area is short of troops. It is a good time for them to rebel. If Mu Tianbo, the Duke of Qian, is killed, Yunnan will fall into the hands of the rebels. Even if the government troops attack them, they can still surrender. But the battle of Yunnan is inevitable! Lin Xiaofeng quickly thought about countermeasures, his eyes revealed firmness and determination.

At this time, after Li Zicheng was defeated in Chengtianfu, he retreated to Guanzhong and defended Wuguan and Tongguan. Jian Mingxiao and Lu Daqi easily captured Huguang and Henan. But after retaking Luoyang, Jian Mingxiao's army was blocked. To the west of Luoyang is Tongguan, the barrier of Guanzhong. Tongguan is strong, with fierce artillery fire, easy to defend and difficult to attack. A strong attack will definitely cost a huge price. In addition, the weather is cold and the waterways are frozen. It is difficult to transport food and grass from Shu and Huguang to Henan. Without food and grass, it is impossible to fight. After comprehensive consideration, Jian Mingxiao decided to rest temporarily.

Lin Xiaofeng tapped the table, his eyes flashing with wisdom. He asked slowly, "How many soldiers does Jian Mingxiao have now?" Guo Tianyang quickly replied, "Your Majesty, according to the military payroll, there are more than 111,000 people. Among them, there are more than 105,000 Sichuan troops, and the rest are surrendered soldiers." Lin Xiaofeng nodded and asked, "Where is Li Dingguo now?" "He is transporting grain and grass from Shu and Huguang to Henan!" Guo Tianyang replied. "How are Hua Ruiqi and Lu Daqi?" Lin Xiaofeng continued to ask. "Hua Ruiqi is stationed in Wuchang and Yuezhou to prevent the remnants of Zhang Xianzhong from disrupting Huguang again. Lu Daqi is attacking Wuguan and suffered heavy casualties." Guo Tianyang reported the situation in detail. Lin Xiaofeng nodded after listening, and he already had a candidate to support Yunnan in his mind. He knew the importance of this war to the Ming Dynasty and understood the responsibility on his shoulders. He was determined to send a capable general to Yunnan to quell the rebellion and protect the territory of the Ming Dynasty. His eyes revealed determination and resolve, as if he had seen the dawn of victory.

The office of Yunnan's provincial government is located in the Yunnan Prefecture. The mansion is majestic and magnificent, as if it is the heart of this vast land, beating the pulse of rule. Yunnan, this mysterious and diverse land, governs 22 prefectures, 38 scattered states, 24 counties, and the five directly-governed prefectures, which are like stars scattered on the vast territory. These directly-governed prefectures do not have counties, which is particularly unique, as if they are pearls directly cared for by the provincial government. At first glance, the number of prefectures may not seem amazing, but compared with the 163 prefectures in the country, Yunnan accounts for nearly 13%, which is amazing. Why are there so many prefectures? It is because of the native official system here that every inch of land is full of unique political colors.

The Ming Dynasty carefully laid out the land and set up more than 300 native officials. They were either Tusi or Tuyi, all of which were official positions granted by the court to the leaders of ethnic minorities. They were like a miniature version of the feudal dynasty, scattered in the northwest and southwest of Yunnan. These native officials were divided into civil and military positions. Military officials such as Xuanweishi, Xuanfushi, Anfushi, Zhaotaoshi, etc., held military power and were powerful; civil officials such as Tuzhifu, Tuzhizhou, Tuzhixian, governed civil affairs and stabilized the people. Regardless of civil or military, they were all under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Personnel. The court granted them seals to prove their identities, and they had to pay taxes to the court and recruit soldiers and horses, especially the matter of conscription. The task was heavy and should not be underestimated.

In this land, native officials were like local emperors, with their words being law and their power overwhelming. However, there were also loyal and good people among the native officials, such as Ma Qiancheng and Jian Mingxiao. They were loyal and wise, and they were the arms of the court, helping the court to stabilize the border. But on the contrary, if the native officials had the intention to rebel, they would become a great trouble for the court, such as Yang Yinglong in the Bozhou Rebellion, She Chongming and An Bangyan in the She'an Rebellion. Their rebellion caused the people to be displaced, the national finances were stretched, and they almost dragged the Ming Dynasty into an abyss of no return.

In order to deal with the threat of native officials, the Ming Dynasty began the long journey of "changing native officials to officials" since Emperor Yongle. This move aims to abolish the native official system and replace native officials with officials sent by the court to manage, so as to achieve direct control of the central government over the local areas. In the eleventh year of Yongle, after Zhu Di quelled the rebellion in Sinan and Sizhou, Guizhou, he resolutely abolished the local native official system and replaced them with officials. This period of history is full of legendary colors. Zhu Di prepared 50,000 troops, but did not send a single soldier. He sent hundreds of Jinyiwei to sneak into Sinan and Sizhou, quietly captured Tian Chen, the envoy of Sizhou, and escorted him back to Beijing. Another team of Jinyiwei was even more brave. They crossed mountains and ridges and attacked the Sinan Xuanwei Office directly, capturing Tian Zongding, the envoy of Sinan who was sleeping soundly. Although they were discovered during the retreat, the Jinyiwei were quick and decisive, beheaded Tian Zongding, and then retreated calmly.

After that, Emperors Chenghua, Zhengde, Jiajing, Wanli, and Tianqi all followed this policy and continued to promote the "reform of native officials and the return of officials to officials". However, when Lin Xiaofeng was in power, due to frequent internal and external troubles, the court had to temporarily shelve this policy in order to seek local peace. Although Lin Xiaofeng had some plans for the chieftains in the southwest, he could only think about it secretly. The situation in Yunnan is far more complicated than that in Guizhou and Guangxi. Not only are the tribal relations complicated, but it also borders Annan (Vietnam), Laos, Siam (Thailand), Myanmar and other countries. If it were not for the chieftain issue, Lin Xiaofeng would have implemented the reform of native officials without hesitation. But unfortunately, at this time, Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong were in chaos at home, and Jiannu and Mongolia were eyeing them covetously outside. It was not a wise move to start a rebellion.

However, the tree wants to be still but the wind does not stop. The policy of changing the chieftains to officials implemented by the previous dynasty has made the chieftains feel cold. They know very well that this is not a voluntary move, but a forced move by the situation. Once the Ming Dynasty recovers, the issue of changing the chieftains to officials will be put on the agenda again. Therefore, the chieftains decided to take the initiative.

On the evening of October 8 two months ago, in Yuanmou County, Wuding Prefecture, Yunnan, Wubi Kui, the chieftain of Yuanmou, was lying sick in bed. He tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep, so he simply got up, put on his clothes and sat, staring at the moonlight outside the window, listening to the barking of dogs in the distance, with a lot of worries in his heart. Why was he worried? Because Sichuan was short of troops, the bandits might take the opportunity to break into Shu from Hanzhong. To support Sichuan, Yunnan's general, Zhennan General, and Duke of Qian Mu Tianbo sent Li Dazhi, a lieutenant general, to lead 3,000 troops to garrison the Jinsha River. However, Li Dazhi was brave but not wise, his military discipline was not strict, and he often clashed with the people. Wubi Kui secretly wondered whether he should take this opportunity to rebel, but he was worried that he was not strong enough and might be wiped out by the Ming army.

At this time, the servant's voice came from outside the door: "Master, there is a guest who wants to see you!" Wu Bikui sat up suddenly and asked loudly: "Who is it?" The servant replied: "He claims to be the envoy of Wangnong Tusi Sha Dingzhou." Wu Bikui frowned when he heard the name "Sha Dingzhou". These Tusi are based on clans and each occupies a piece of land. The relationship between them is complicated, with both cooperation and conflict, and everything is based on interests. The task of the Duke of Qian is to balance the interests of these Tusi, make them feel that the court is fair and selfless, and thus convince the court, and then take the opportunity to suppress the strong and support the weak. However, all this needs to be built on the foundation of a strong court.

Wu Bikui hesitated for a moment and asked the servant, "Have you verified his identity?" The servant replied, "Yes, there is Sha Dingzhou's seal on the official document." Wu Bikui then said, "Bring him to the back hall to see me." After that, he took out a chain mail from the box under the bed and put it on, then covered it with a long gown, and then slowly walked out of the bedroom. When he arrived at the back hall, he saw that the messenger was a burly man with a round head and a dark face. He looked intimidating. Wu Bikui said expressionlessly, "I'm tired, let's make it short."

Chen Changming bowed deeply to Wu Bikui, his eyes flashing with determination and expectation, as if the decision at this moment would determine the direction of his fate. He said, "I came here this time to discuss an important matter with you, sir."

"What's the big deal?" Wu Bikui asked back coldly. His eyes revealed an unquestionable majesty, as if no disturbance could shake his position.

Chen Changming glanced at the guards outside the door. Their eyes were as sharp as knives, ready to serve their master at any time. He motioned for them to leave, but Wu Bikui slowly shook his head: "It's okay, they are all my confidants, just speak directly."

Chen Changming laughed at first, with a hint of cunning and mystery in his laughter. Then, his face straightened and he said as heavy as a mountain: "Rebellion!"

When Wu Bikui heard this, he froze instantly. He didn't expect Chen Changming to be so direct and bold. Rebellion? This is a serious matter that will cost you your head!
"Come here, quickly arrest Chen Changming and send him to the court!" Wu Bikui shouted an order to the guards outside the door, his voice filled with panic and fear.

When the guards heard this, they rushed in like wolves and tigers, with their swords flashing and placed on Chen Changming's neck. But Chen Changming was not afraid at all, instead he smiled: "Okay, it's always better to be cautious!" His smile was calm and confident, as if he had expected all this.

Wu Bikui sneered and said to the guards: "Take him away and hack him to death!" There was a hint of determination and coldness in his voice, as if he was trying to hide his inner panic.

As soon as these words came out, Chen Changming's smile disappeared immediately. He hurriedly said, "My lord, think about it, after Yang Yinglong of Bozhou was destroyed, the Ming court abolished the chieftain system, replaced it with temporary officials, and also divided Bozhou to neighboring provinces. The chieftains had no way to survive." There was a bit of urgency and pleading in his voice, as if he was telling a truth that could not be avoided.

"Lord Sha and I are both chieftains. Sooner or later, we will be deposed by the Ming court. Instead of waiting to be destroyed, it is better to rebel against the Ming court!" Chen Changming continued, "Now the Ming court's military forces in Sichuan are empty. Although Yunnan has many soldiers, their combat effectiveness is not good, and they are scattered everywhere. This is a good opportunity to start an uprising!" There was a flash of determination and fanaticism in his eyes, as if he had already seen the future victory.

Wu Bikui stared at Chen Changming for a while, his eyes revealing a complex emotion. He asked: "Is Sha Dingzhou also planning to rebel?"

"Yes." Chen Changming answered decisively, as if this was an unquestionable fact.

"Nonsense!" Wu Bikui sneered, "Although there was a policy of changing the natives to Han officials after Bozhou, the court stopped doing so after the She'an Rebellion was quelled. Instead, it gave places like Shuixi and Yongning to native officials and Han meritorious officials to manage." There was a bit of disdain and sarcasm in his voice, as if he sneered at Chen Changming's words.

"Your Excellency, you are wrong! It's not that the court doesn't want to do it, but that it can't do it! As soon as the civil strife is quelled, they will definitely restart this policy. Are you willing to surrender?" Chen Changming retorted, his voice carrying a hint of urgency and earnestness, as if he was trying to persuade a stubborn old man.

After hearing what Chen Changming said, Wu Bikui fell into deep thought. He really didn't want to see his native official status being stripped away and his ancestral heritage being destroyed. He looked up at the sky outside the window. It was a gray and depressing color, as if foreshadowing a future storm. He signaled the guards with his eyes to release Chen Changming and asked, "What is Sha Dingzhou's plan?"

"My master plans to raise an army on October 30th and attack Yunnan Prefecture directly. If Mu Tianbo is killed, the big thing will be accomplished." Chen Changming replied, with a hint of mystery and determination in his voice.

"What happened?" Wu Bikui expressed his doubt about what he said, and his eyes revealed a sense of vigilance and caution.

Chen Changming smiled mysteriously: "Of course, I will replace Mu Tianbo and guard Yunnan forever." Seeing that Wu Bikui still didn't understand, he explained it in detail. Sha Dingzhou's plan is actually very simple. Although the Ming army in Yunnan is large in number, they are scattered everywhere and it is difficult to assemble quickly. So they plan to join forces with Wu Bikui to quickly capture Yunnan Prefecture and kill Mu Tianbo. Once Mu Tianbo is dead, things will be much easier. Sha Dingzhou will also find a forged dragon robe in the Qianguo Mansion as evidence to write to the court to frame Mu Tianbo for treason. Then he can raise an army under the banner of suppressing the rebellion. The court can neither verify nor send troops to attack them in a short period of time. Sha Dingzhou can take the opportunity to recruit soldiers and strengthen his strength.

Wu Bikui frowned and asked, "Where will the money and food come from to recruit soldiers and buy horses?" His eyes revealed a kind of worry and doubt.

Chen Changming replied with a smile: "There are mountains of gold, silver and treasures in the Duke of Qian's mansion. As long as we have these gold, silver and treasures, why would we worry about having no food? Moreover, each tribe has surplus food, and we can also buy it from Annan and Myanmar." There was some confidence and pride in his voice, as if he had already seen the future victory.

"No worries about money and food!" Wu Bikui was moved. He had never thought of rebellion before, but now after listening to Sha Dingzhou's plan, he suddenly felt that it was feasible. It is better to take the initiative than to be controlled by others!
However, he still had some concerns: "If the Ming court really sends troops to attack us, can we win?" There was some worry and uneasiness in his voice.

"Don't worry!" Chen Changming said confidently, "During the She'an Rebellion, the army of the Tianqi Dynasty was so powerful, but it took seventeen years to quell it. Now the armor of the Ming army is worn out, their weapons are rusty, and their combat effectiveness is not as good as before. Moreover, Yunnan is full of miasma, and it is difficult for troops from other places to adapt to the environment here. There is no need to be afraid of them at all." There was a bit of confidence and arrogance in his voice, as if he had already seen the defeat of the Ming army.

Wu Bikui was greatly relieved by Chen Changming's words. He knew the importance of the right time, right place and right people in war, and the key was to be acclimatized. Once he was hit, the loss would be more than half. He looked at the sky outside the window, and the gray color seemed to become brighter, as if foreshadowing hope for the future.

"Who will be the leader after the incident?" Wu Bikui asked again. He wanted to know who would lead the incident if the two of them succeeded.

"This is not something I can decide," Chen Changming replied. "If you are interested, I can go back and tell Lord Sha and send an envoy to discuss it with you in detail."

Wu Bikui thought for a moment and nodded: "Go back and tell Sha Dingzhou that I have long been dissatisfied with the Ming court, and ask him to send someone as soon as possible." There was a bit of determination and expectation in his voice, as if he had already made up his mind.

"As you command!" Chen Changming bowed to Wu Bikui again, then turned and left. His figure gradually disappeared outside the door, leaving Wu Bikui alone in the room, lost in thought.

Sha Dingzhou was the son of Annan Tusi Sha Yuan, and his home was in Mengzi. It was a beautiful place with spring all year round and abundant products. After Chen Changming returned to Mengzi, he immediately reported to Sha Dingzhou. He came to the door of Sha's mansion, and after the guards informed him, Sha Dingzhou's voice came from the house: "Come in quickly." (End of this chapter)