I, Emperor Chongzhen, have extended the life of the Ming Dynasty by five hundred years.

Outside Baoding city, at the central military camp.

After arriving in Baoding, Chen Yan did not rush to launch an attack.

After all, with ample troops and supplies at the moment, it should be Liu Fangliang who is in a hurry.

If Liu Fangliang's troops can be successfully blocked south of Baoding Prefecture, even if Li Zicheng breaks through Juyong Pass, he may not be able to take the capital.

Whether they lead a large army back to defend the country or head south to start anew, the initiative will still be in their own hands.

Having made up his mind, Chen Yan ordered that the defensive line be tightened and that the attack be focused solely on defense.

As expected, Liu Fangliang could not contain himself and sent envoys to negotiate.

Chen Yan initially intended to refuse, but then he thought that Li Zicheng's army was now strong and might actually seize the country.

At that time, it will be unknown whether the world will be ruled by the Zhu family or the Li family.

It's better to meet them; even if we can't reach an agreement, there's nothing to lose.

Moreover, negotiations are a perfectly normal practice between two armies.

Even if word got out and the Chongzhen Emperor found out...

At worst, I could write a memorial afterward, saying that I was trying to find out the other party's true intentions.

At dawn, the Shun army envoys arrived.

The visitor was none other than Liu Fangliang's strategist, Ma Chongxi!

In the central command tent, Chen Yan sat at the head of the table, calm and composed.

"Who goes there?"

Seeing this, Ma Chongxi was not annoyed. He cupped his hands in greeting and said, "Student Ma Chongxi greets Lord Chen!"

Chen Yan raised an eyebrow and said, "Judging from your tone, you're a scholar."

"The student is from Mizhi County and has studied for a few years."

"Oh? Do you have any official rank or title?"

"I'm just a scholar, please forgive my ignorance, Master Chen!"

Chen Yan had originally planned to give the other party a hard time, but seeing his humble demeanor, he inexplicably felt a sense of goodwill towards him.

"Since you hold official titles and honors, why do you aid and abet evil, and work for traitors?"

Ma Chongxi smiled slightly, a deep glint in his eyes.

"What Master Chen said is biased. As the saying goes, the world will eventually divide after a long period of unity, and unite after a long period of division. This is the cycle of nature. I followed the righteous army to start an uprising only to seek a stable world where people can live and work in peace and be free from the suffering of war."

"I ask you, Lord Chen, if the court were upright and the officials incorruptible, why would the people rise up in rebellion?"

"Wasn't the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty also driven to desperation, which led him to rise up in rebellion and seize the throne from the former Yuan Dynasty?"

After listening, Chen Yan's face remained expressionless, but he thought to himself, "This scholar is quite eloquent, but he's still too green to try and outwit me!"

As the esteemed Prime Minister, I'll show you today what it means to label someone!

"Our Great Ming Dynasty, blessed by Heaven, enjoys a long and prosperous reign. How dare you petty villains attempt to overthrow it?"

"Under the whole heaven, all land belongs to the emperor; on the shores of the earth, all people are subjects of the emperor. Whether it's Li Zicheng or Liu Fangliang, they are ultimately subjects of the Ming Dynasty!"

"As subjects, we should be loyal and devoted to the country. How can we harbor thoughts of rebellion because of temporary hardship?"

Ma Chongxi remained calm and composed, saying, "Chen Gong's loyalty to the emperor and his love for the country are evident to heaven and earth. However, loyalty to the emperor must also include loyalty to the people. If the emperor is not benevolent, the people will suffer. What good is loyalty to the emperor then? Look at the present day: the court is corrupt, corruption is rampant, and the people are displaced. This is not a problem that arose overnight."

"Have you heard the folk song that says 'Welcome King Chuang and we won't have to pay taxes'? This is the will of the people! I hope you, Lord Chen, can keep the well-being of the people in mind and work together to devise a grand plan."

Chen Yan's expression shifted slightly, and he said calmly, "The affairs of the court are for His Majesty to decide, and it is not in our place to interfere. However, if General Liu is truly sincere, why not lead his troops to surrender? The court will then forgive his past transgressions and work together to govern the country."

Ma Chongxi shook his head and said, "Lord Chen, you are mistaken. The word 'surrender' is too harsh. The world is not yet settled, and heroes are emerging in great numbers. After His Majesty the Emperor of Great Shun ascended the throne, he has already enfeoffed General Liu as the Marquis of Cizhou. Lord Chen, consider this: if Great Shun were to seize the world, given His Majesty the Emperor's methods, how could you possibly guarantee your own safety?"

Chen Yan knew very well that the "Emperor" the other party was referring to was not the current emperor, but Li Zicheng.

It must be said that Ma Chongxi was a smart man, because he knew very well what he wanted.

He remained outwardly calm, but inwardly he was already making plans.

It is not advisable to start a war with Liu Fangliang at the moment, so as to protect ourselves and leave a way out for the future.

Seeing Chen Yan's expression change slightly, Ma Chongxi had already made up his mind. He stroked his beard and continued, "Lord Chen is a pillar of the court, with profound wisdom and strategy. He should know that times create heroes. In the past, Emperor Gaozu of Han, Liu Bang, rose from humble beginnings, started a rebellion after slaying a white snake, and eventually achieved great success. Emperor Gaozu of Tang, Li Yuan, also started his rebellion in Taiyuan, which was in accordance with the will of Heaven, and he created the prosperous Tang Dynasty. Today, the momentum of our Great Shun Dynasty is like the rising sun in the east, unstoppable."

"Chen Gong spoke of loyalty to the emperor, but the way to be loyal to the emperor lies in securing peace and stability for the country and benefiting all people. If the emperor is incompetent and the ministers are mediocre, leaving the people in dire straits without regard for their welfare, what is the point of us risking our lives for such a court? As the ancients said, water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it. The hearts of the people are the key to the safety and well-being of the nation."

Upon hearing this, Chen Yan chuckled and said, "Sir, your words are quite eloquent, but since ancient times, if the name is not correct, the words will not be proper, and if the words are not proper, things will not succeed. Although Li Zicheng is powerful, he has not yet obtained the rightful name of the dynasty and has not won the sincere support of the people. As subjects of the Ming Dynasty, we should uphold our integrity and wait for the mandate of heaven to be given to us."

Ma Chongxi appeared calm, as if he had already anticipated Chen Yan's statement.

He slowly began to speak: "Reputation is indeed important, but it can also be earned through strength. Throughout history, countless dynasties have changed hands, all written by those with the strongest power. Our Great Shun army is strong and the people's hearts are with us. I ask you, who in the world can stop its advance? If Lord Chen can emulate the wise ministers of the past and recognize that those who understand the times are heroes, he will surely leave his mark on history and benefit future generations."

"Furthermore, as the Grand Secretary, you are well aware of the corruption in the court and the suffering of the people. If you continue to aid and abet the wicked, wouldn't that betray your compassion for the common people? Why not take this opportunity to lead the Ming Dynasty towards a new era and achieve an immortal feat? At that time, you will not only be a loyal minister but also a meritorious official, your name will be remembered in history, and your fame will last for generations."

"The Ming Dynasty's fate is sealed, and forcing things will not bring about anything. Why make such a pointless sacrifice? Why not follow the will of Heaven, join my Great Shun, and work together to plan for the future of the world? His Majesty the Emperor of Great Shun is eager to seek out talented people and welcomes all talents. He will certainly not mistreat a pillar of society like you, Lord Chen."

"If Lord Chen is willing, our Great Shun can promise him high-ranking official positions and generous salaries, and guarantee the safety of Lord Chen's family. Once the world is unified, Lord Chen will not only enjoy wealth and honor, but will also leave behind a lasting legacy. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

Chen Yan thought to himself, "She really is a silver tongue!"

However, surrendering comes at a different price!

"Alright, we each serve our own masters, so let's end it here. Men, escort Mr. Ma out of the camp!"

Upon hearing this, Ma Chongxi knew that Chen Yan was willing to back down.

Otherwise, they wouldn't have talked for so long; they would have kicked me out from the very beginning!

That old fox is definitely weighing the chips. Fine, once Zheng Siwei succeeds and I have your property and family in my hands, let's see what you have to say then!

Thinking of this, he stood up and said, "I hope Lord Chen will consider this carefully. I will be at your service at any time."

"Go ahead!"

Both harbored their own schemes, yet both wore smiles on their faces.

Scholars should be magnanimous and not act like peasants, shouting for war and killing all day long.

Ma Chongxi left the Ming army camp surrounded by guards.

Chen Yan sipped his tea alone, reflecting on their conversation.

It's clear that Liu Fangliang is in a hurry because he needs to reunite with Li Zicheng.

This further confirms that the decision to only defend and not attack was correct!

The longer the stalemate continues, the more leverage you will have.

Suddenly, the tent door was flung open, and the guards rushed in.

"Report! A troop of soldiers has been spotted outside the camp!"

Chen Yan immediately tensed up, realizing something was wrong!

The negotiations just now were merely a delaying tactic to stabilize the situation.

Thinking of this, he quickly asked, "How many men are there? Is Liu Fangliang personally leading the troops?"

"Reporting to Lord Chen, they are not rebels, but subordinates of General Miao Gang."

"What? Miao Gang?"

Chen Yan was greatly alarmed and said, "Wasn't he escorting the fleet south?"

"After a few brief inquiries, it seems we suffered a defeat..."

Snapped!

Chen Yan's teacup fell to the ground, and Miao Gang was attacked...

Doesn't that mean that his family and money have already fallen into the hands of the thief?