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

Lin Xiaofeng calculated silently in his heart that the military pay for the three major camps, the Five City Military Department, the Imperial Guards, the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the East Factory, and Tang Shengyu was short of more than 900,000 taels of silver. If Wu Sangui's troops were not counted, at least 1.5 million taels of silver would be needed, part of which would be used as rewards, part of which would be used to buy food and grass, and the rest would be used to recruit new soldiers. This large amount made his heart heavy, as if a huge stone was pressing on him.

He looked out the window. The night was as dark as ink, with a few sparse stars hanging in the sky, which complemented the gloomy atmosphere. He sighed softly, feeling helpless and anxious.

"Guo Tianyang, go and get the account books of the Ministry of Revenue and the Imperial Treasury!" Lin Xiaofeng ordered, with unquestionable authority in his voice.

Guo Tianyang did not dare to be negligent. He was thin and had a stern face. He was even more cautious at this moment. He personally held the account book in front of Lin Xiaofeng. Lin Xiaofeng opened the account book and quickly flipped through the pages. The numbers on the account book were so dense that they gnawed at his heart like ants. Until the last page, he was furious and threw the account book to the ground, sitting on the dragon chair and gritting his teeth.

The Ming Dynasty's treasury only had 3,000 taels of gold and 10,000 taels of silver, a total of only 40,000 taels of silver! 40,000!!! The property of any official above the third rank in the capital would be more than this amount if it was confiscated. Lin Xiaofeng felt as if his heart was pierced by a sharp blade, and he was in great pain.

He recalled the events since the reign of Emperor Tianqi, when the treasury was empty and everything was neglected. Emperor Tianqi had no choice but to use the treasury to deal with the emergency. Fortunately, there was Wei Zhongxian, the emperor's favorite, who was good at financial management and always managed the treasury in an orderly manner. However, after he ascended the throne, he executed Wei Zhongxian! This was a big mistake! Whether it was Wei Zhongxian or the Donglin Party, whoever was in power was equally greedy. Wei Zhongxian was greedy, and the money eventually returned to the emperor; the Donglin Party was greedy, and the money went into their pockets.

Lin Xiaofeng looked through the treasury account books again. The national treasury had 40,000 taels of silver, and the treasury had 160,000 taels of silver, a total of only 200,000 silver. This 200,000 silver was undoubtedly a drop in the bucket for the current situation. Therefore, Lin Xiaofeng did not dare to move south, fearing that the soldiers on the way would mutiny due to lack of pay! He knew very well that once the soldiers mutinied, the Ming Dynasty would be in danger.

Looking at these cold numbers, Lin Xiaofeng's heart gradually turned cold. The anger in his chest condensed into a sharp blade. He gripped the handle tightly and said angrily: "It is tolerable to be greedy at ordinary times, but now the treasury is empty and the court is in danger, and you dare to be greedy! It's simply courting death!" His voice echoed in the empty hall, with endless anger and helplessness.

Lang Jiwu and Gu Chaosheng beside him both bowed their heads in guilt. They knew that Lin Xiaofeng's anger was not directed at the account book, but was a warning to the two of them. These two people, one was the commander of the Jinyiwei and the other was the governor of the East Factory, both were knives in the hands of the emperor. However, at this moment, they were like two children who had made mistakes, standing trembling in front of the emperor.

Seeing their looks, Lin Xiaofeng felt a little relieved. He knew that Jinyiwei and Dongchang were two knives in his hands, which needed to be tempered before use. What he needed were loyal and brave warriors, not cowards who only cared about gaining benefits.

Changing the subject, Lin Xiaofeng said, "I remember that Commander Lang's son is getting married the day after tomorrow. Guo Tianyang, please prepare a gift for me." His voice became softer, as if he was talking about something commonplace.

Lang Jiwu was stunned. With the state affairs so busy and the bandits about to attack, the emperor actually remembered his son's marriage. A warm current surged in his heart, and he looked at the emperor with gratitude.

"Your Majesty, I don't deserve it!" He bowed, his voice choked with sobs.

"You are my right-hand man, don't refuse." Lin Xiaofeng said with a smile, his eyes revealing a hint of deep meaning. He knew that this gift was not just a gift, but also a trust and expectation.

"I thank your majesty for your grace!" Lang Jiwu knelt on the ground, his eyes red. He knew the importance of this gift and the emperor's expectations of him.

Lin Xiaofeng turned to Gu Chaosheng again: "Gu Chaosheng, you are the leader of the East Factory. You must strictly discipline the eunuchs under your command." His voice became stern again, as if reminding Gu Chaosheng not to forget his duties.

Gu Chaosheng was at a loss. He kowtowed first and then asked cautiously, "Your Majesty, I am terrified." He was very nervous and didn't know why the emperor suddenly brought up this topic.

"Are you just scared? Cheng Jinhe is your disciple. The newspaper said he was loyal to his country, but I heard that he has surrendered to the enemy!" Lin Xiaofeng's voice was as cold as ice. He stared at Gu Chaosheng, his eyes revealing unquestionable majesty.

Surrender to the enemy? Gu Chaosheng's face changed drastically when he heard this. The emperor's words revealed two things: one was that Cheng Jinhe surrendered to the enemy; the other was that the emperor had another source of information. He was filled with fear and uneasiness, and he didn't know how to respond to the emperor's questioning.

Could it be that the emperor has another intelligence organization? This thought flashed through Gu Chaosheng's mind, making him even more anxious. He trembled all over and fell to the ground, saying, "It is my fault for not disciplining me properly. Your Majesty, please forgive me." There was a hint of trembling and pleading in his voice.

Lin Xiaofeng stared at Gu Chaosheng without saying anything. He was thinking whether to replace Gu Chaosheng and Lang Jiwu. The East Factory and the Embroidered Uniform Guard are two sharp blades that need to be sharpened before use. However, once they are replaced, there will be chaos inside. It was okay at ordinary times, but now the situation is urgent, and neither Daming nor he can bear the consequences of chaos.

Seeing that Lin Xiaofeng didn't say anything, Gu Chaosheng said hurriedly: "I have failed in my duty, Your Majesty, please spare my life." There was a hint of crying in his voice, and it was obvious that he was very scared.

Lin Xiaofeng nodded slightly: "Since you know your sin, I will give you a chance to atone for it in the morning court." His voice became softer, as if he was giving Gu Chaosheng a chance to reform.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Gu Chaosheng kowtowed in gratitude. He knew he had made a big mistake this time, but he was grateful for the emperor's tolerance.

"You are all my subjects. If you have made mistakes, you should correct them. If you have not, you should encourage yourself. The bandits are coming. You should work together to help me resist the enemy." Lin Xiaofeng's voice became majestic again. He stared at the three people, his eyes revealing unquestionable determination.

"We obey your command!" Lang Jiwu and Gu Chaosheng kowtowed at the same time, only Gongsun Yuchun looked a little disappointed when he kowtowed. He knew in his heart that although he was loyal and not greedy, his position in the emperor's heart was far inferior to Lang Jiwu and Gu Chaosheng.

Lin Xiaofeng observed the expressions of the three people, and the plan in his mind gradually became clear. Miao Renjian is a fair person, but he has no opinion and always follows the lead of the East Factory. Gu Chaosheng is capable and daring, but he is greedy for money. Gongsun Yuchun is loyal and not greedy, and is trustworthy. In this case, let Lang Jiwu and Gu Chaosheng continue to work together as the emperor's swords and guns. Gongsun Yuchun hides in the dark and does the dirty and tiring work.

"Lang Jiwu, you must write down word for word what I said to the officials during the morning court session. If you miss anything, you will be punished!" Lin Xiaofeng's voice was as piercing as ice. He stared at Lang Jiwu, his eyes revealing unquestionable majesty.

"I obey your order!" Lang Jiwu took out a pen and paper and quietly stepped aside. He knew that the emperor was testing him and giving him a chance to perform. He would definitely do his best to live up to the emperor's expectations.

Soon, Guo Tianyang entered the side hall and said respectfully: "Your Majesty, 20,000 silver coins have been handed over to Dingxi Earl Tang Shengyu." There was a hint of fatigue in his voice, and it was obvious that he had put a lot of thought into raising the 20,000 silver coins.

"I understand." Lin Xiaofeng nodded gently, expressing his approval of Guo Tianyang. He knew that the 20,000 silver coins were just a drop in the bucket for the current situation, but this was all the money he could raise at the moment.

"Left Censor-in-Chief Li Banghua is waiting for orders outside the door!" Guo Tianyang's voice sounded again, with a hint of urgency.

"Let him in." Lin Xiaofeng's voice was calm and majestic. He knew that Li Banghua must have something important to report when he came here at this moment.

"Yes." Guo Tianyang responded and turned to pass on the message.

After the eunuch delivered the message, the white-haired Left Censor-in-Chief Li Banghua walked into the hall. His cheeks were thin and his back was slightly hunched. Against the backdrop of his old court clothes, he looked like he might die at any time. But his eyes were unusually firm, as if he could see through everything in the world.

While bowing, Li Banghua looked around the hall. When he saw Lang Jiwu and Gu Chaosheng, he was shocked: this is not good. The head of the Jinyiwei and the head of the Dongchang appeared at the same time, which must be bad news. He felt uneasy and panicked, not knowing what would happen next.

Li Banghua swallowed his saliva and said cautiously: "Your Majesty, I, Li Banghua, am here to see you." There was a hint of trembling and uneasiness in his voice, and he was obviously shocked by the scene before him.

Lin Xiaofeng sneered: "Li Banghua, someone has accused you of forming a clique for personal gain, embezzlement, and deceiving the emperor. Do you know your crime?" His voice was as piercing as ice, and his eyes, staring at Li Banghua, revealed an unquestionable majesty.

Li Banghua clasped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, do you have any evidence?" There was a hint of firmness and calmness in his voice, and it was obvious that he was not afraid of the emperor's questioning.

"Evidence? You entered the officialdom at the age of 29 and are currently serving as the Left Censor-in-Chief. Your annual salary is only over a hundred taels. Tell me, where did your Wan family fortune come from?" Lin Xiaofeng's voice was as deafening as thunder. His eyes, staring at Li Banghua, revealed unquestionable majesty and anger.

Facing the emperor's questioning, Li Banghua did not panic. He said calmly: "Since the evidence is conclusive, please punish me, Your Majesty!" There was a hint of fearlessness and calmness in his voice, as if he was ready to die.

"Oh? What's the best strategy?" Lin Xiaofeng locked his eyes with Li Banghua, his tone carrying a hint of urgency, as if at this critical moment, every word Li Banghua said was related to the fate of the country. The sunlight shone through the window lattice, sprinkling on his face, adding a bit of solemnity.

Li Banghua responded calmly, his voice echoing in the empty hall: "I think that Your Majesty should defend the capital and send the crown prince to Nanjing to supervise the country. Once the capital is lost, Your Majesty should sacrifice his life for the country. In this way, the Ming Dynasty can at least keep half of its territory!" His words were like heavy stones, hitting the ground with a loud bang, shocking everyone present.

As soon as these words came out, all the ministers were shocked and secretly admired. They exchanged glances, as if silently communicating their admiration and surprise for the Left Censor-in-Chief. The atmosphere in the hall was tense and solemn, as if even the air had frozen.

Lang Jiwu secretly swallowed his saliva, thinking, who else but him would dare to say such treasonous words in front of the emperor? Li Banghua's mouth was really stinky and hard! He glanced at Li Banghua, and a complex emotion flashed in his eyes, with both admiration and worry.

"How dare you!" Before Lin Xiaofeng could speak, Guo Tianyang stepped forward, pointed at Li Banghua's head and shouted angrily, "How dare you, Li Banghua, to talk nonsense about the emperor. You should be executed according to the law!" His voice resounded throughout the hall, carrying an unquestionable majesty.

However, Li Banghua showed no fear. His eyes were firm and deep, as if he could see through everything. He continued, "The capital is the foundation of our dynasty and cannot be easily abandoned. Moreover, Wu Sangui has come all the way to defend the emperor. If Your Majesty abandons the city and flees at this time, the last elite force of the Ming Dynasty will be handed over to others."

He paused, and then analyzed: "On the other hand, the tyranny and banditry of those bandits will not last long. The Jiannu in Liaodong are the biggest threat to the Ming Dynasty. As long as the capital is still there, the Jiannu will not dare to march straight in. Once the capital changes hands, the Jiannu will definitely use it as a base and march south, and the Ming Dynasty will be in danger."

After hearing this, Lin Xiaofeng raised his eyebrows and looked at Li Banghua with new eyes. His words were powerful, and his analysis of the current situation and future trends of all parties was clear and concise, which was exactly the same as the trend of history! This Zuodu Yushi is really a rare talent. Lin Xiaofeng's eyes flashed with admiration, as if he saw the hope of the Ming Dynasty in this old minister.

"Then please tell us, Censor Li, why the bandits will not be able to last long." Lin Xiaofeng asked tentatively, with a hint of expectation in his tone, as if he wanted to hear more predictions about the country's future from Li Banghua.

"As you command." Li Banghua felt relieved when he saw that Lin Xiaofeng was not angry but rather pleased. He wiped the sweat from his forehead, a mixture of nervousness and relief. He continued, "Taxes are the foundation of the court, and the sources of taxes for the court are nothing more than land tax, lijia regular service and miscellaneous taxes. The bandits claimed to exempt land tax, so the only taxes they can collect are lijia regular service and miscellaneous taxes, and among the miscellaneous taxes, commercial taxes account for the majority."

"The source of commercial taxes is merchants. The bandits exploited and killed merchants and gentry along the way, and seven or eight out of ten have suffered. The bandits, who have no source of tax revenue, can only rely on looting for a living. When one day there is no money or food to rob, they will disintegrate on their own." There was an unquestionable firmness in Li Banghua's words, as if he had already seen the future of the bandits.

Lin Xiaofeng agreed deeply, with a gleam of wisdom in his eyes. Not only him, but historians also had the same view. In that feudal era based on agriculture, the policy of equal distribution of land and exemption of grain was doomed to be unfeasible. According to statistics, 70% to 80% of the tax revenue in the Ming Dynasty came from the land tax. Exempting this part of the tax would be tantamount to digging one's own grave.

Lin Xiaofeng was very satisfied with Li Banghua's performance, so he stood up and waved to Lang Jiwu, Gu Chaosheng, Gongsun Yuchun and others to leave. They looked at each other, with a hint of confusion and worry in their eyes, but still left the hall silently.

After they walked out of the palace gate, Lin Xiaofeng walked up to Li Banghua, his eyes full of expectation and trust. "Li Yushi is indeed very talented. I want you to join the cabinet as the chief assistant. What do you think?" Lin Xiaofeng's words carried an unquestionable majesty, but also revealed a deep appreciation for Li Banghua.

The emperor wants me to be the prime minister? Li Banghua was shocked. Lin Xiaofeng has been the emperor for 17 years, and he has changed 19 prime ministers. The punishment is either dismissal or beheading. Although this position has great power, it also carries high risks. Sometimes you need to take the blame for the emperor. No civil servants are willing to compete for the hot potato position of the prime minister!

However, the more times like this, the more we need to face the challenges head-on! Li Banghua's heart was filled with lofty sentiments and ambitions. He understood that this was an opportunity, an opportunity that would allow him to realize his ambitions!

After some thought, Li Banghua felt that this was an opportunity, so he hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, the affairs of the cabinet are complicated and there are many rules. Traditionally, one must first enter the cabinet and then be promoted to the prime minister. I'm afraid it is not in accordance with the rules for me to directly become the prime minister." There was a hint of humility and caution in his tone, but at the same time it also revealed a desire for power.

Lin Xiaofeng smiled calmly, his eyes gleaming with wisdom. "What I say is the rule." His voice was filled with an unquestionable majesty, as if in the eyes of this emperor, all the rules could be made by him.

Hearing this, Li Banghua no longer hesitated. He knelt down and expressed his gratitude, saying, "Your Majesty, I, Li Banghua, thank you for your grace." There was a hint of excitement and gratitude in his voice, as if this old minister had already seen his own glorious future in his heart.

"Don't thank me yet, I haven't finished what I want to say." There was a hint of mystery and majesty in Lin Xiaofeng's words, "Li Banghua, are you afraid of death?" He stared at Li Banghua, as if he wanted to see the old minister's true thoughts from his eyes.

Li Banghua was stunned for a moment, then replied firmly: "If Your Majesty orders me to die, then I am not afraid of death." There was an unquestionable firmness and loyalty in his tone.

"Why?" Lin Xiaofeng asked, his eyes flashing with curiosity and admiration.

"I don't have many goals in my life, either to become a high-ranking official, to become wealthy, or to leave my name in the history books. Now Your Majesty has made me the Prime Minister, and my wish of becoming a high-ranking official has been fulfilled; anyone who can be killed by Your Majesty will definitely be left in the history books. I don't care whether it is a good name or a bad name, only mediocre people will be forgotten by history." Li Banghua's words were filled with deep determination and lofty ambitions.

Li Banghua's words deeply touched Lin Xiaofeng's heart. He stood there, quietly observing this old minister who was nearly 70 years old. At this moment, he had only one thought in his mind: Li Banghua is the person I am looking for!

However, before that, there is one thing that needs to be confirmed. Lin Xiaofeng turned around and said solemnly: "I need a powerful minister, a powerful minister who can suppress the court. I will give him tremendous power, second only to the emperor and above everyone else. He can kill court officials, eunuchs, nobles, and clan members as he pleases, and I will not ask. He only needs to get money, and I will not ask if he is not too greedy. As long as I live, I can guarantee his wealth and glory for a day."

"But!" Lin Xiaofeng changed the subject, his eyes flashing with a deep dignity and determination, "If I die, his fate may be even worse than Yan Song's! He may be remembered in history, or he may be infamous, or he may be both praised and criticized. Can you bear this?"

Guo Tianyang looked at Lin Xiaofeng in disbelief, and felt that the emperor in front of him had become very unfamiliar. Could it be that the emperor was going to give up his power? Ever since he ascended the throne, he had always hated powerful officials. Moreover, at a time when there were internal and external troubles, wouldn't giving up power at this time increase the risks of the Ming Dynasty?

Li Banghua raised his head, his old face was covered with wrinkles, but his eyes were bright. He stood up seriously, then knelt down and kowtowed again, saying: "Your Majesty, please rest assured that I do not want to be Yan Song, but Zhang Jiangling (Zhang Juzheng)." There was a deep determination and loyalty in his voice.

"Okay! Censor Li, please step back first. I'm going to start the court meeting." Lin Xiaofeng's words were filled with unquestionable majesty.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Li Banghua left the side hall. His back looked a little lonely, but full of strength.

After Li Banghua walked out of the hall, Lin Xiaofeng retracted his expectant gaze. There are two reasons why he did this. First, since Lin Xiaofeng ascended the throne, he has killed too many people. Eighteen officials above the second rank have been killed, and more than a hundred officials below the second rank have been killed. Not to mention the cabinet, he changed nineteen prime ministers during his seventeen years in office (two of them were reappointed twice). Among these people, there are powerful officials and traitors, as well as pillars of the country; there are corrupt people, as well as people who are selfless and dedicated to the public. Often, the new prime minister is replaced before he has a solid foundation, resulting in the inability of government orders to leave the capital (even if they leave the capital, it is useless because the loyalty of the party struggle has shifted from the court to the prefecture), and the country is becoming more and more chaotic. The lucky ones are dismissed, and the unlucky ones are executed. Does this make sense? It doesn't make sense! So everyone in the officialdom is in danger. In the later period of Lin Xiaofeng's rule, the Donglin Party no longer had real power, and the party struggles in the court entered a stable stage. Where did the contradictions go? They will not disappear, they will only shift. Part of it was transferred to the state capital, and the other part became a conflict between the monarch and his subjects. Whatever Lin Xiaofeng wanted to do, they opposed it. Only in this way could they reflect their own value.

The purpose of re-employing Li Banghua was to restart the party struggle in the court and transfer the contradiction between the monarch and his subjects into the contradiction between the parties. He wanted to use Li Banghua to make money and kill people! Where does the money come from? In the short term, it depends on the confiscation of property, and in the long term, it depends on taxation. Who should be killed? The civil officials who fight among themselves, the corrupt court officials, the nobles who are rich enough to rival the country, and the merchants who surrender to the enemy and betray the country!

After Lin Xiaofeng sorted out his thoughts, he ordered: "Guo Tianyang, summon all officials to the court to discuss politics." There was an unquestionable majesty in his voice, as if in the eyes of this emperor, everything had been determined.

Ding, ding, ding! A burst of rapid bell sounds suddenly rang out, breaking the tranquility of the early morning. Guo Tianyang, this powerful warrior, was striking the Jingyang Bell with all his might. The sound of the bell was clear and pleasant, yet deafening, and spread far away. People more than ten miles away could hear it, and the whole capital was awakened by the sound of the bell. The sun broke through the clouds and sprinkled on Guo Tianyang's resolute face, reflecting the fine beads of sweat on his forehead, each drop seemed to tell of his inner determination and indomitable spirit.

Deep in the imperial city, the women were frightened by the sudden bell. They speculated whether the bandits were about to attack. Sad expressions appeared on their faces, and they sighed, "Are the damn bandits coming?" Their eyes were full of fear and helplessness, as if they had foreseen the impending disaster. On the streets of Beijing, people doing morning exercises were still as usual, carrying bird cages and holding birds. In front of the breakfast stalls, groups of people sat and enjoyed breakfast, and the steaming food and laughter were intertwined, forming a vivid picture of the market. However, when the bell sounded, they all talked about it, and the smiles on their faces gradually solidified.

"Your Majesty is ringing the bell again. Are the bandits really coming?" an old man asked worriedly.

"Yes, I heard that the bandits broke through Xuanfu yesterday. I estimate that within ten days, they will reach Beijing." A middle-aged man next to him answered, his eyes revealing uneasiness.

"Can the capital be defended?" the old man continued to ask.

"Who knows? But the bandits only rob the rich. How can poor people like us have any money to rob? Besides, defending the city is the Emperor's job. We just need to take care of ourselves." The middle-aged man shook his head helplessly.

"It's so cold. See you later." After saying that, they went their separate ways, leaving behind only the breakfast stall in the cold wind and the heavy sighs.

On the city wall, soldiers and eunuchs from the three camps were shivering in the cold wind. Their clothes were thin and could not withstand the biting cold. When the bell rang, only a few small leaders looked towards the imperial city, and then immediately hid behind the battlements of the city wall, blowing on their hands to keep warm. Their weapons were scattered all over the ground, and the steamed buns in their arms became stiff and difficult to swallow. However, at this time of hunger and cold, how dare they throw away these foods? They were short of food and couldn't even eat steamed buns, let alone charcoal fire for heating. Their eyes were full of despair and helplessness, as if they had seen their future fate.

This spring was extremely cold for Lin Xiaofeng. He stood in front of the window of the Huangji Palace, looking at the bleak scenery outside, and couldn't help but feel an inexplicable sadness in his heart. He knew that this spring was not only cold in weather, but also a cold winter for the Ming Dynasty.

……

In the Huangji Hall, all the officials had already gathered. They were wearing gorgeous court robes and black hats, but their faces were full of anxiety and uneasiness. Lin Xiaofeng took a deep breath and walked slowly into the hall. His steps were steady and powerful, as if every step was stepping on the pulse of the Ming Dynasty.

"Long live the emperor!" All the officials kowtowed in unison, and their voices echoed throughout the hall.

Lin Xiaofeng stood on the steps and looked around at the ministers. He found that more than half of the six ministers were treacherous, and there were also such people among the assistant ministers. He couldn't help but feel angry, but he knew that now was not the time to get angry. After looking around, his eyes fell on Tang Xingjia, the chief minister of the cabinet. This man was about to reach the end of his life, and Lin Xiaofeng looked at him less and less. His eyes revealed a complex emotion, including dissatisfaction with Tang Xingjia and worry about the Ming Dynasty.

"Everyone, please stand up!" Lin Xiaofeng ordered, his voice majestic and powerful.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" The officials bowed again and then stood up.

Tang Xingjia was wearing a bright red court robe and a black gauze hat. After looking around, he stepped out and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, according to reports, the bandits broke through Xuanfu yesterday and are heading straight for the capital." There was a slight tremor in his voice, and he was obviously shocked by the news.

The status of ministers in the Ming Dynasty was very different from that in the Qing Dynasty. In the eyes of the emperor, ministers were human subjects rather than slaves, and there was no rule that they should kneel down at every turn. Lin Xiaofeng nodded, his eyes revealing a deep thought. He knew that the Ming Dynasty was now in danger, and any disturbance could destroy it.

"Do you have any plan to defend against the enemy?" Lin Xiaofeng asked back, with a hint of urgency in his voice.

Tang Xingjia's mind raced. He had no real talent or knowledge, only good at words. Seeing Lin Xiaofeng asking a question, he gave a preset answer: "The army and the people of the capital are united and will surely be able to resist the bandits." This was a superficial and empty statement, which was equivalent to saying nothing. Lin Xiaofeng couldn't help but frown after hearing this. He knew that Tang Xingjia's words were just empty talk.

"Then how can we unite the army and the people?" Lin Xiaofeng continued to ask, his eyes revealing a kind of expectation. He hoped that Tang Xingjia could come up with a practical plan.

Tang Xingjia bowed and said, "Of course it was a lot of money!" After he said this, not only the emperor but also his subordinate, Shen Weibing, the left assistant minister of the Ministry of Personnel, looked down on him. If the court had money, why would it allow the bandits to fight all the way from Shaanxi to Xuanfu? Isn't this pure nonsense? Lin Xiaofeng frowned even more tightly, he knew that Tang Xingjia's words could not solve the problem at all.

"Do you have any good ideas?" Lin Xiaofeng turned his gaze to Li Banghua, his eyes revealing a kind of expectation and trust. He knew that Li Banghua was a talented person, and perhaps he could come up with a practical solution.

Li Banghua must submit the letter and take the responsibility. The king cannot express his opinions in the court, he can only choose to support the person who expresses his opinions. This is the so-called answering multiple-choice questions instead of filling in the blanks. If he is wrong, he can blame his ministers and say that he was deceived by them. Since ancient times, kings have never admitted their mistakes. This is the art of the emperor. However, Lin Xiaofeng knew nothing about the art of the emperor at this time, and it was not his fault. Who could have expected that the throne would fall on him?
After receiving Lin Xiaofeng's signal, Li Banghua looked up and sneered at Tang Xingjia as he stepped out of the line and said, "Your Majesty, the bandits are coming in full force. In order to protect the Ming Dynasty, it is better to order the Crown Prince to go to Yingtian Prefecture, and only a few people, including Prince Yong, Prince Ding, the concubines of the six palaces, and the eunuchs and officials, will accompany you. The rest of the people will stay with Your Majesty in the capital and wait for the army to come to support the king." His voice was firm and powerful, as if he had already seen the future victory.

"What do you think?" Lin Xiaofeng asked. There was a hint of expectation and anxiety in his voice. He knew that this decision was crucial to the Ming Dynasty.

Li Banghua's words were like a bomb that detonated the quiet Huangji Palace. All the officials began to discuss, their faces full of surprise and anxiety. They knew what this decision meant to the Ming Dynasty.

"Your Majesty, you can't do that!" Zuo Zhongyun Li Mingrui knelt down immediately, "The prince is too young to be the regent, so why don't you do it yourself!" There was a hint of urgency and anxiety in his voice. He knew that if Lin Xiaofeng made this decision, the future of the Ming Dynasty would be full of uncertainty.

Li Mingrui was in charge of recording the prince's daily life. His understanding of Zhu Cilang told him that this child was not yet capable of taking on such a big responsibility. Not to mention Zhu Cilang, even if Zhu Youjian himself went there, he might not be able to defeat the six officials of Nanjing. His words made Lin Xiaofeng fall into deep thought. He knew that Li Mingrui's worries were not unreasonable.

"Li Mingrui, you are so bold! Ordering His Majesty to move south is a bad idea like Zhou Ping and Song Gao! Aren't you afraid that the situation of living in a corner will happen again? The Ming Dynasty is not the Song Dynasty and cannot be divided into two! Your Majesty, it is the best strategy for us to defend the capital!" Li Banghua, the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, argued with reason. There was a hint of anger and dissatisfaction in his voice. He knew that Li Mingrui's suggestion was a huge threat to the Ming Dynasty.

"Your Majesty, the most urgent task is to unite the army and the people to defend the capital! Although the bandits are powerful, the capital is strong and the artillery is powerful. As long as we hold on for three to five days, the bandits will naturally retreat after the troops from all over the country arrive to defend the city. Once the prince goes south, people will be in chaos and it will be unfavorable to defend the city. The intention of these two people to destroy our Ming Dynasty is obvious, and your Majesty should punish them." Guang Shiheng, the military official, came out of the class. There was a hint of firmness and determination in his voice. He knew that the current situation was urgent and he had to make a decision immediately.

Although the Jieshizhong was only a minor official of the seventh rank, he had great power and could supervise the six ministries, impeach officials, and even reject the emperor's reply. They were the emperor's close ministers, otherwise they would not be qualified to attend the palace to discuss matters with their seventh rank. His words made Lin Xiaofeng fall into deep thought. He knew that Guang Shiheng's suggestion was not unreasonable.

"I second the motion!" Shen Weibing, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, stepped out and said. There was a hint of firmness and support in his voice. He knew that the current situation was urgent and he had to make a decision immediately to support Guang Shiheng's suggestion.

"I second the motion!" Zhang Jinyan, the Minister of War, also stepped out to speak. There was a hint of urgency and anxiety in his voice. He knew that if no decision was made, the future of the Ming Dynasty would be full of uncertainty. After the Minister of War made his statement, the debate in the court immediately entered a white-hot state. Lin Xiaofeng counted carefully and found that the officials in the court were divided into three factions. Under the leadership of Li Banghua, nearly 20% of the officials jointly submitted a memorial hoping that the emperor would guard the capital and the prince would go to Yingtian Prefecture. If Beijing could not be defended, the Ming Dynasty would still have half of the country. People headed by Li Mingrui believed that the prince was too young to go to Yingtian Prefecture and could not take on major tasks, so it would be better for the emperor to give up Beijing himself. Fifty percent of the people supported Guang Shiheng. Under the instigation of the Minister of War, they all believed that Beijing could be defended, but the emperor and the prince could not leave. Going away would cause instability in the military and panic among the people, which would be detrimental to defending the city.

All three viewpoints have their merits. The three groups of people debated endlessly in the Huangji Hall. Some people did not express their opinions, perhaps because they were in a Buddhist mentality or because they were observing the situation in the court and waiting for an opportunity to act. At first, everyone was discussing court affairs, but after a while, it turned into personal attacks.

"Your Majesty, Li Banghua's proposal to move south at this critical moment is just a lie to confuse the people and he should be executed according to the law!" Guang Shiheng said. There was a hint of anger and dissatisfaction in his voice. He knew that Li Banghua's suggestion was a huge threat to the Ming Dynasty.

"Guang Shiheng is short-sighted and presumptuous. He is unworthy of his position and should be beheaded." Li Banghua counterattacked. There was a hint of sarcasm and disdain in his voice. He knew that Guang Shiheng's suggestion was just a ridiculous joke.

Lin Xiaofeng frowned slightly, his eyes revealed an indescribable depth, and every word seemed to have been refined and accurate. At this moment, he finally realized the hidden power of the cabinet chief Tang Xingjia. It was a breath of power and wisdom intertwined, which made people feel cold. At the same time, a murderous intent had quietly sprouted, like an undercurrent, ready to go under this magnificent hall.

As a person who traveled through time, how could Lin Xiaofeng not see through Tang Xingjia's mind? A faint smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, which was a kind of confidence that he knew the situation well. He nodded slightly, motioning everyone to return to their respective positions, and the action contained unquestionable majesty. He looked around at the ministers, his eyes gradually became cold, as if he could see through people's hearts, and said: "I heard what you said just now. Some people spoke with reason and evidence, and every word was pearls; some people just spoke nonsense, and I don't know what they said!"

"Guang Shiheng, you said that the capital can be defended, so how do you plan to defend it? Tell me, let me hear your opinion!" There was a hint of sarcasm and temptation in Lin Xiaofeng's words.

Guang Shiheng rolled his eyes, as if trying to find the most appropriate words, and replied: "There are millions of people in the capital. If we recruit 100,000 people, we will surely be able to unite as one and defend the city without worries."

Lin Xiaofeng's face was gloomy. He asked, "How do you plan to recruit? Do you force people to join the army, so that they will resent you and turn against you? Or do you recruit soldiers? Where will the money come from? You can delay the payment of military pay, but what about food? Do you want the people to carry their own food to defend the city? Wouldn't this move chill the people's hearts?"

Lin Xiaofeng's series of questions were like a string of cannonballs, leaving Guang Shiheng at a loss. He was speechless and said, "This... money and grain are the affairs of the Ministry of Revenue. I was just discussing the strategy and didn't think deeply about the details."

Lin Xiaofeng was furious and said, "Okay! I will promote you to the Minister of Revenue now. If you don't have a solution, I will chop off your head to show the world!" His voice resounded throughout the hall, shocking everyone.

However, Lin Xiaofeng was not really angry. How could a small official like him make him angry? He did this just to lure Tang Xingjia into action. Guang Shiheng was just a small pawn, and Tang Xingjia was the mastermind behind the scenes. The protagonist of this play has not yet appeared.

Guang Shiheng was terrified and fell to his knees, his voice trembling: "Your Majesty, please calm down. I...I was also thinking about the court and spoke out of turn."

Lin Xiaofeng sneered, and his laugh was full of sarcasm: "Guang Shiheng, are you deaf? I have already appointed you as the Minister of Revenue. Tell me your countermeasures quickly, don't let me down!"

Hearing the word "please", Guang Shiheng was really scared. In the Ming Dynasty, few people could withstand Lin Xiaofeng's "please", which often concealed unknown murderous intentions. Guang Shiheng was obviously not one of them.

He kowtowed repeatedly, sweat dripping down his forehead. "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I shouldn't have said such nonsense in the court. Please calm down. I am willing to think of a better plan."

Lin Xiaofeng looked at Guang Shiheng who was kneeling on the ground begging for mercy, and the remaining pity in his heart disappeared. If Guang Shiheng refused to plead guilty, Lin Xiaofeng might release him because of his toughness. In the late Ming Dynasty, the integrity of civil officials was rare. How could he let it die out? However, Guang Shiheng's bones were too soft, which made him a little disappointed.

Lin Xiaofeng waved his hand to let Guang Shiheng retreat. The time had not come yet, and it would not be too late to kill him later. He looked around at the ministers and said leisurely: "I am not a tyrant. Since I ascended the throne in August of the seventh year of Tianqi, natural disasters and man-made disasters have continued. How can I not feel bitter? I want to revive the Ming Dynasty, but God's will is not what people want. Now the bandits are rampant, the Jian Nu is arrogant, people's hearts are unsettled, and the capital is difficult to defend. I am worried."

"I am very disappointed, not only in myself, but also in you. I thought that we, the king and my subjects, could overcome the difficulties together, but..." There was a hint of sadness and helplessness in Lin Xiaofeng's words.

"We ministers deserve to die. We could not share your worries, nor could we save the people from suffering." The chief minister of the cabinet, Tang Xingjia, knelt on the ground and pleaded guilty. His voice was low and sincere, and he seemed to be really heartbroken by the country's crisis.

Some things can be left undone, but one’s attitude must be shown; this is the rule of survival in officialdom.

"We are guilty!" All the ministers knelt on the ground one after another. Their voices echoed throughout the hall, but seemed somewhat empty and weak.

"Everyone stand up. According to Li Banghua's plan, the Crown Prince, Prince Yong, Prince Ding, the concubines of the six palaces, and a few other eunuchs and officials will accompany us, and the rest of the people will stay with me in the capital, waiting for the arrival of the army to support the king. As for the list of officials going to Nanjing, it will be drawn up by Li Banghua." There was a bit of determination and firmness in Lin Xiaofeng's words.

Lin Xiaofeng knew very well that, whether in history or in reality, he had only three options: defend, escape, or make peace! However, escaping was not an option, as the consequences would be disastrous if he fled south; peace talks were not a good idea either, as the bottom line of the Ming Dynasty could not be broken. In the end, he decided to choose the defensive strategy and hold on to Beijing. As long as Li Zicheng could not enter Beijing, the foundation of the Ming Dynasty would still be there, and history might be rewritten.

"Your Majesty is wise and we, the officials, will obey your command!" Li Banghua led more than 30 officials to kneel down and receive the order. There was a firmness and determination in their voices.

The officials who supported Li Mingrui thought for a moment and knelt down to receive the order. They knew that this was the emperor's decision and the reality they had to face.

The emperor asked Li Banghua to draw up a list of ministers to accompany the prince. What does this mean? This means that Li Banghua has been quietly reused. Those who want to seek refuge in Yingtian will inevitably move closer to Li Banghua. This is a weather vane in the political arena.

In a blink of an eye, half of the officials in the court knelt down to receive the order. Their figures swayed in the candlelight, like vivid paintings.

Tang Xingjia's face was solemn, and his heart was filled with anxiety and uneasiness. For him, the best strategy was to leave the emperor and the prince behind and offer them to Li Zicheng. As long as Lin Xiaofeng was forced to abdicate, it would be a great achievement, and Li Zicheng would also promote him and increase his title. However, if the prince escaped and Lin Xiaofeng stayed in Beijing, things would become complicated. By then, not only would he have no achievements, but he would be specially targeted. He had heard that Dashun was very cruel to Ming officials who had no achievements.

He was at a loss now that his credentials were gone. The rule of the political game was that the minority obeyed the majority. Now the emperor and most officials agreed that the prince should move south. This matter was irreversible, and he had to find another way out.

But he didn't understand. Usually, Lin Xiaofeng was always hesitant, either summoning the cabinet to discuss in the back hall, or thinking about it after returning to the palace. Why did he make a decision in the court today? This sudden change caught him off guard.

"Your Majesty!" Tang Xingjia tried to wake up the once hesitant Lin Xiaofeng. There was a hint of urgency and pleading in his voice.

"I have made up my mind!" Lin Xiaofeng rejected Tang Xingjia outright. His voice was firm and resolute. He continued, "Officials going to Nanjing must sincerely assist the prince, and those who stay in the capital must fully assist me and fight against the bandits together!" There was an unquestionable majesty in his words.

"Yes!" More than 40 officials responded in unison. Their voices echoed throughout the hall, but they seemed somewhat hollow and powerless. They knew that this was the emperor's decision and the reality they had to face.

"Now let's talk about the second thing." Lin Xiaofeng showed a barely perceptible smile on his face, which contained some deep meaning. "I just had someone calculate it. The salary of the Beijing camp garrison, plus the cost of recruiting soldiers, is a total of 1.5 million taels short."

"Now the treasury is empty and there is no money to use. Everyone knows that the army is not fully paid. If it is fully paid, it will be invincible. In order to resist the bandits, you can think of a way! As long as you can collect a million silver coins, you can defend the capital!" Lin Xiaofeng's words were a little anxious and helpless. He knew that this was a huge sum of money, but in order to defend the capital, he had to do everything he could.

All the civil and military officials bowed their heads in tacit agreement, their hearts filled with helplessness and anxiety. As for the silver issue, from the first year of Lin Xiaofeng to the seventeenth year of Lin Xiaofeng, the money collected by the treasury every year was not enough to cover the expenses. If it weren't for the money saved during the Wanli period, the military pay would have collapsed long ago. The emperor asked them to raise money, how could they raise it? Where could they raise it? If they could raise money, the Ming Dynasty would not have been turned upside down by a group of bandits.

Seeing that no one was talking, Lin Xiaofeng smiled and said, "Since you have no solution, I have a plan!" His voice was full of sarcasm and determination. He knew that these people had run out of ideas, so he had to come up with a solution.

"Your Majesty, please make it clear!" Although the cabinet chief was reluctant, he still cooperated with the emperor at the first opportunity. He knew that this was the emperor's decision and the reality they had to face.

"Donate money!" Lin Xiaofeng's words were full of determination and unquestionable. He knew that this was a difficult decision, but in order to defend the capital, he had to do it.

The civil and military officials present continued to remain silent. This was an old routine. Since Lin Xiaofeng was sixteen years old, he had donated countless times. Their hearts were filled with helplessness and anxiety, but they knew that this was the emperor's decision and the reality they had to face.

"Are there any of you willing to donate money? Those who donate money can be promoted!" Lin Xiaofeng looked anxious, but he had other plans in his heart: You guys, I'm giving you a chance, don't blame me if you can't seize it! He swept his eyes over everyone present, trying to find someone who was willing to stand up.

Li Banghua was the first to stand up. He understood that Lin Xiaofeng was going to take action. He had to stand up for the Ming Dynasty, for the emperor, and for himself.

"I, Li Banghua, entered the government in the 31st year of the Wanli reign. All my money came from the imperial court. Now that the imperial court is in trouble, I am willing to offer all my property to help suppress the bandits." Li Banghua's voice was firm and resolute, and his eyes were full of determination. He knew that this was a difficult decision, but for the sake of the Ming Dynasty, he had to do it. (End of this chapter)