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

Outside the towering walls of the imperial city, a mansion is filled with talented people. In the courtyard of the mansion, there are verdant pines and cypresses and jagged rocks, as if every scene exudes an extraordinary atmosphere. If someone in the court saw this scene, they would definitely recognize the identity of each person, because they are all important officials in the court, and every action and every conversation may affect the fate of the entire country.

Xie Haojie, the former Minister of Works, was wearing a dark blue brocade robe embroidered with intricate patterns of clouds and water. He had a resolute face and an unyielding look in his eyes. Shen Weibing, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, was also known as Haike. He was dressed in a blue shirt and was elegant. He had a bookish air between his eyebrows, as if he could recite some shocking poems at any time. Yang Rucheng, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, was dressed in a luxurious purple robe, had a warm face, and was gentle and elegant in his manners. And Dang Chongya, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, was also known as Yujiang. He was tall and handsome, with a handsome face and a heroic air between his eyebrows.

These important officials of the court are gathered here at the moment. They have different identities and the forces behind them are also complicated. Xie Haojie belongs to the Qi Party, Dang Chongya is a member of the Jin Party, Shen Weibing belongs to the Donglin Party, and Yang Rucheng is a member of the Xuan Party. Although they usually work independently in the court, they are all gathered together for a common goal at this moment.

Xie Haojie spoke first. He slowly said: "Haike, the chief minister of the cabinet, Tang Xingjia, was killed by Lin Xiaofeng, and the new chief minister, Li Banghua, is not of the same kind as us. How should we respond in the future? War or peace?" His voice was low and powerful, as if every word contained a thousand pounds of power.

Shen Weibing's face changed slightly, and he reminded softly: "Brother Zhiyu, even if there are no outsiders here, it is appropriate to call him the emperor." There was a trace of worry in his words, and he was obviously uneasy about the current situation. Shen Weibing's worry was not unreasonable. Lin Xiaofeng's actions today were obviously well prepared. Who can guarantee that there are no spies among the people present? Although the Jinyiwei and the Dongchang are no longer as powerful as they used to be, they are not easy to fight against. Once they catch a handle, it will be difficult to redeem it even if you have a fortune.

Xie Haojie smiled indifferently and said contemptuously: "What's so scary about Lin Xiaofeng? If he had only imprisoned Tang Xingjia, I might still be a little worried. But Tang Xingjia is already dead, and we don't have any correspondence with him. It would be extremely difficult for him to find any evidence against us." His words revealed a sense of confidence and disdain, as if he didn't take Lin Xiaofeng seriously.

"As for Li Banghua..." Xie Haojie narrowed his eyes, with a cold light flashing in his gaze, "Everyone, tell me what you think. I have already left the court and am free from official duties." There was a hint of indifference and detachment in his voice, as if he no longer cared about anything in the officialdom.

Back then, Xie Haojie was the right assistant minister of the Ministry of War, and later he was promoted to the Minister of Works, but a few months later he was demoted back to the Ministry of War, and soon after he was stripped of his official position and imprisoned. Fortunately, everyone pleaded for him, and he was only relieved of his official position. This experience gave him a deeper understanding of the officialdom, and made him cherish his current free life even more.

Shen Weibing looked around and said slowly: "What we need to confirm first is whether Li Banghua works with the emperor. Otherwise, how could he be suddenly promoted to the chief minister of the cabinet?" There was a hint of doubt and inquiry in his voice, and he was obviously curious about Li Banghua's background and motives.

"The emperor first executed Tang Xingjia today, and then imprisoned the Minister of War Zhang Jinyan and Duke of Cheng Zhu Chunchen in the name of a loan. If Zhu Chunchen had not come from a poor family and told the truth, I'm afraid he would not have been spared." There was a hint of indignation and dissatisfaction in Yang Rucheng's voice, and he was obviously dissatisfied with the emperor's actions.

"I think these actions of the emperor are a signal." Shen Weibing's words were solemn and deep, as if he had already sensed the coming storm.

"What signal?" Everyone looked at Shen Weibing in confusion, waiting for his explanation.

"He wants to seize power!" Shen Weibing's words were filled with determination and firmness, as if he was ready to deal with anything.

Seize power? Xie Haojie was silent, his eyes flashing with a trace of thought and hesitation. Yang Rucheng asked doubtfully: "Your Majesty, what power do you want to seize? Whose power do you want to seize?" There was a hint of puzzlement and confusion in his voice, and he was obviously confused about the emperor's intentions.

Dang Chongya took over the conversation and said, "Now the six ministers, the chief minister of the cabinet, and the cabinet ministers are all the emperor's confidants. Not to mention the distant future, who dares to disobey the imperial edict? Although we are subjects, we have lost the power in our hands." There was a hint of helplessness and emotion in his voice, as if he felt powerless to change the current situation.

Before Dang Chongya finished speaking, Yang Rucheng retorted, "This is wrong! The Shangshu performs the duties of the Shangshu, and the Shilang performs the duties of the Shilang. Take the Ministry of Revenue as an example. The emperor orders the supervision of supply, and the Shangshu also orders the supervision of supply. What can we do?" There was a hint of excitement and dissatisfaction in his voice, and it was obvious that he did not agree with Dang Chongya's point of view.

"Who can we collect taxes from: the royal family, court nobles, gentry and merchants, or ordinary people?" Dang Chongya's words were filled with helplessness and bitterness. "The royal family is powerful and wealthy, and we dare not offend them; the relationships between the nobles are complicated and difficult to touch easily; the gentry and merchants are those we rely on, and we cannot collect taxes from them. Only the powerless people are left, and when the yamen runners arrive, they can only hand over their money obediently." There was a hint of heaviness and sadness in his voice, as if he had seen the suffering and helplessness of the people.

"When money enters the Ministry of Revenue, the Shangshu doesn't ask where it comes from, and the emperor doesn't know where it comes from either. What can we do? In the end, it's all for our promotion." There was a hint of indignation and dissatisfaction in Yang Rucheng's voice, and he was obviously dissatisfied with the current official corruption.

"So, the current official position is one thing, and actual management is another. If someone else is replaced, taxes will not be collected, and they will ultimately have to rely on us." There was a hint of helplessness and self-mockery in Dang Chongya's words, as if he already had a clear understanding of his situation.

After listening to this, Yang Rucheng suddenly realized something and thanked Dang Chongya deeply. His eyes revealed a feeling of admiration and gratitude, as if he deeply admired Dang Chongya's insights.

Xie Haojie frowned and asked, "Haike means that Lin Xiaofeng wants to replace all officials from top to bottom?" There was a hint of solemnity and depth in his voice, and it was obvious that he attached great importance to this issue.

Shen Weibing replied, "Brother Zhiyu is right. I think the emperor's plan is to replace the minister first, and then the vice minister. In time, all officials in the capital will be replaced." There was a hint of worry and uneasiness in his voice, and he was obviously worried about the emperor's plan.

Xie Haojie shook his head and said, "Otherwise, the court does not have so many people to replace, and there is also the worry of not knowing the details. Now is the time to use people, if you replace them it will cause chaos in the court. The city gate will open by itself before Li Zicheng or Luo Wenbin arrives. What do you think, Brother Yu Jiang?" There was a hint of calmness and rationality in his voice, and he obviously had a clear understanding of the current situation.

Dang Chongya was supported by merchants from Shaanxi and Shanxi. They not only traded with the Ming Dynasty, but also had dealings with Li Zicheng and Jian Nu. Everyone suspected that Dang Chongya would surrender first. Hearing this, Dang Chongya narrowed his eyes and looked at everyone with a smile. There was a hint of mystery and unpredictability in his smile, as if it hid countless secrets and schemes.

Xie Haojie said unhappily: "We are in the same boat, and I hope everyone can tell you honestly." There was a hint of dissatisfaction and blame in his voice, and he was obviously dissatisfied with Dang Chongya's attitude.

After thinking for a moment, Dang Chongya said, "You are all worrying too much. The emperor has only two intentions in doing this: one is to win people's hearts and the other is to raise military funds." There was a hint of calmness and analysis in his voice, as if he already had a clear understanding of the emperor's intentions.

"The emperor wants to show the people of the capital his determination to kill corrupt officials and nobles. The people don't know the inside story and will only be happy to see the officials being killed, and they will definitely support the emperor." There was a hint of helplessness and sarcasm in Dang Chongya's words, as if he had seen through the emperor's plan.

"As for raising military pay, the court is short of money, and the two million taels the emperor dug out are only for emergency use. Once the money is used up, we must find another way." There was a hint of solemnity and depth in his voice, and he was obviously worried about the current financial situation.

Xie Haojie interrupted him and said, "So Lin Xiaofeng will confiscate the homes of all officials in the capital?" There was a hint of anger and dissatisfaction in his voice, and it was obvious that he could not tolerate the emperor's actions.

Dang Chongya nodded and said, "Maybe." There was a hint of helplessness and bitterness in his voice, as if he had already sensed the impending disaster.

Everyone gasped. They didn't believe this before, but Lin Xiaofeng's behavior today was very different from usual. He killed the favored Prime Minister and wanted to punish the Duke of Cheng and the Minister of War. This was really unheard of!

Being dismissed from office is not terrible, as it is common to rise and fall in the political world. Moreover, Lin Xiaofeng's temperament is unpredictable, and they have been prepared for it. What is really terrible is the confiscation of property. Once the property is confiscated, decades of hard work will be destroyed. Thinking of this, everyone's hearts were filled with fear and anxiety.

Shen Weibing thought hard but couldn't come up with a solution, so he bowed to Xie Haojie and asked, "If this comes true, does Brother Zhiyu have any good ideas?" There was a hint of eagerness and expectation in his voice, and it was obvious that he hoped Xie Haojie could come up with a countermeasure.

Dang Chongya and Yang Rucheng also bowed and requested, "Brother Zhiyu is knowledgeable and experienced, please give us some good advice." There was a hint of respect and pleading in their voices, and it was obvious that they deeply admired Xie Haojie's wisdom and experience.

Xie Haojie looked at the three people. Although they had their own selfish thoughts, he still thought about the countermeasures considering that they might have evidence against him. After a while, he came up with a plan and said, "Well, I have a plan." There was a hint of confidence and calmness in his voice, as if he had already found a countermeasure.

"Brother Zhiyu, please speak!" Shen Weibing urged impatiently.

"Please give us some advice, Brother Zhiyu." Dang Chongya and Yang Rucheng said in unison.

"If Lin Xiaofeng and Li Banghua were prosecuted for corruption"

The capital is a prosperous place outside the imperial city, with bustling streets, noisy voices, colorful flags, merchants, and carriages. On this day, the sun shone on the bluestone road, shining with golden light, adding a bit of solemnity and splendor to this ancient capital. "Guo Tianyang, don't go back to the palace yet, let's go to Shuntianfu Yamen." The emperor's words were filled with unquestionable majesty, and his voice was particularly clear in the noisy market, attracting the attention of people around him.

"As ordered." Guo Tianyang responded and immediately ordered the team to turn around. The group of people and horses slowly marched towards the Shuntian government office. Their armor shone brightly in the sun, and the sound of horse hooves on the stone road created a powerful rhythm, attracting passers-by to stop and watch.

There were 153 prefectures in the Ming Dynasty. The chief executive of each prefecture was called the prefect. The chief executives of Shuntian Prefecture in Zhili and Yingtian Prefecture in Nanzhili were even more respectfully called the prefectural governor. The prefect was a fourth-rank official, while the prefectural governor was a third-rank official with a high status. All other third-rank government offices used copper seals, but Shuntian Prefecture enjoyed the privilege of using silver seals, which was the same as the treatment of governors, provincial governors and other frontier officials, which shows how special its status was.

Wang Tingmei, the prefect of Shuntian Prefecture, had heard the news long ago. He was dressed in a bright red official robe, looking neat and flawless, thin, with shiny black hair and handsome features, giving people a feeling of energy and competence. However, if you look closely at his eyes, you can find a hint of fatigue in them. He brought many officials, including the chancellor, the governor, the judge, the judge, the professor of Confucianism, and the calendar, to kneel outside the yamen to welcome the emperor's arrival. Their colorful official uniforms formed a sharp contrast with the surrounding blue bricks and gray tiles, like a vivid picture scroll.

"Long live the emperor." Their voices resounded through the sky, shaking the tiles on the roof so much that they seemed to tremble slightly.

"Everyone, stand up!" Emperor Lin Xiaofeng did not dismount immediately, but sat on his horse to examine everything in front of him. His eyes swept across everyone's face, and finally fell on Wang Tingmei. He noticed that Wang Tingmei's servants were also pale and thin, either malnourished or just recovered from a serious illness. When it comes to the difficulty of the errands in the government office, Shuntian Prefecture is undoubtedly the first to bear the brunt.

There are four nobles in the capital: the royal family, the clan, the nobles, and the court officials. The powerful ones among them are not afraid of anyone, but how should those who have no power but high positions be managed? Lin Xiaofeng looked at Wang Tingmei's haggard face, and at the same time searched for information about him in his memory. He remembered that Wang Tingmei was a second-class graduate in the 41st year of Wanli, and was in the same class as Zhou Yanru, the chief minister of the cabinet who was also sentenced to death. There are not many records about him in history books. It is only known that he took office as the prefect of Yingtian Prefecture in Nanjing on May 14, the 17th year of Lin Xiaofeng. This person may be reused! In Lin Xiaofeng's eyes, anyone who has not surrendered to the Jiannu can be used.

"We are honored that Your Majesty has come to the Shuntian government office in person." Wang Tingmei saw Lin Xiaofeng sitting on the horse without moving, so he saluted again. There was a slight tremor in his voice, and he was obviously surprised and nervous about the emperor's sudden visit.

"Well, I have something important to discuss with you." Lin Xiaofeng's words were full of majesty, and his eyes were deep, as if he could see into people's hearts.

Wang Tingmei did not dare to neglect it, and hurriedly dismissed the others and led Lin Xiaofeng into the Shuntian government office. Inside the government office, the courtyard was deep, the ancient trees were towering, and there was a solemn atmosphere. Wang Tingmei asked respectfully, "I wonder if your Majesty has any advice for you?"

"I have three questions for you, and you must answer them truthfully." Lin Xiaofeng stared at Wang Tingmei's eyes. The imperial majesty instantly enveloped him, making Wang Tingmei feel pressured, as if even breathing became difficult.

"Yes, I dare not speak nonsense." Wang Tingmei said in a low voice, with a slight tremor in his voice, obviously in awe of the emperor's majesty.

"How many people have died of the plague in the capital so far?" Lin Xiaofeng's question went straight to the point. His eyes were as sharp as a knife, as if he wanted to see the truth from Wang Tingmei's eyes.

Wang Tingmei was embarrassed. It was not that he was unwilling to tell the truth, but that the data was really difficult to count. The population of the capital was one million, and it was difficult to check every household, so it could only be reported step by step. He explained in detail the system regulations of the Ming Dynasty. Every ten households formed a Jia, and there was a Jiazhang; every ten Jia formed a Bao, and there was a Baozheng. The Jiazhang was taken turns by each household, and was responsible for trivial matters such as urging grain, collecting taxes, and performing corvée labor, but no one wanted to be one. The Baozhang did not take turns, and was held by big gentry. After the data was transmitted to the Baozhang, it was not directly handed over to the yamen, but to the runners in charge of the area, and finally the runners summarized it to the yamen. Therefore, it must be very slow to collect such data.

Seeing Wang Tingmei's embarrassment, Lin Xiaofeng also realized the problem. After a brief thought, he changed the topic and asked, "Approximately? It doesn't have to be too accurate." There was a hint of tolerance in his tone, and he obviously understood the difficulty of the question.

"Your Majesty..." Wang Tingmei deliberately paused for a moment before answering. He carefully observed the emperor's expression, and when he saw that Lin Xiaofeng was not angry, he continued, "I estimate that two-tenths of the capital's one million people have died." There was a hint of heaviness in his voice, and he was obviously heartbroken by this number.

Lin Xiaofeng's mood dropped instantly upon hearing this, and his face turned gloomy. The official estimate of a 20% mortality rate was already very high, but the actual number must be much higher. According to historical records, the plague in the late Ming Dynasty began in Shanxi in the sixth year of Lin Xiaofeng's reign, and by the fourteenth year of Lin Xiaofeng's reign, it had spread to Hebei and Beijing, causing a large number of deaths. Fortunately, the plague had passed its peak in the winter of the sixteenth year of Lin Xiaofeng's reign. Although people still died from it every day, the scale was no longer as large as before. In short, the people had already developed antibodies.

However, Lin Xiaofeng was still worried. He knew that the plague had brought immeasurable losses to the capital. Although the plague was under control, the lessons behind it could not be ignored. He stared at Wang Tingmei, wanting to get more information from him.

"However, Your Majesty, please rest assured. According to my observation, the plague is no longer as serious as before and will soon disappear." Wang Tingmei saw Lin Xiaofeng frowning, so he added. There was a hint of comfort in his voice, obviously wanting to ease the emperor's worries.

Lin Xiaofeng narrowed his eyes and asked, "What did Shuntian Prefecture Government do during this period?" There was a hint of scrutiny in his tone, and it was obvious that he wanted to know the specific practices of Shuntian Prefecture Government in dealing with the plague.

Wang Tingmei began to report in detail: "I...I handled this plague according to the method used to deal with the plague during the Chenghua period. We set up a Louze Garden outside the six city gates of Chongwen, Xuanwu, Anding, Dongzhi, Xizhi, and Fucheng to provide straw mats and coffins for burying corpses. In addition, we searched all over the world for famous doctors to find a cure for the plague. Later, we found a substitute county assistant in the Jiangsu and Zhejiang areas who was quite effective in treating the plague with acupuncture. So, I asked all the doctors in the capital to worship him as their teacher and learn how to treat the plague in order to save the people." Wang Tingmei lowered his head and spoke in detail, with a hint of pride in his voice. He was obviously satisfied with the results of Shuntian Prefecture's response to the plague.

Lin Xiaofeng listened to Wang Tingmei's report, and his expression gradually eased. Although Wang Tingmei did not mean to take credit, since the emperor asked, he could not continue to hide it. He nodded and affirmed the Shuntianfu Yamen's approach. In that feudal and superstitious era, it was a very remarkable thing to let the people burn the corpses.

However, after the affirmation, Lin Xiaofeng changed the subject and expressed his dissatisfaction: "But it is still not enough... What is plague, you say?" His question went straight to the heart of the matter, and he obviously wanted to understand Wang Tingmei's true understanding of the plague.

Wang Tingmei was uneasy. In a moment, he had a deep understanding of the phrase "living with the emperor is like living with a tiger". The emperor first expressed his dissatisfaction, then affirmed their behavior, and finally expressed his dissatisfaction again. The emperor's mind is too hard to guess! "When rats spread to humans, it is plague." He answered carefully, with a tremor in his voice, obviously nervous about the emperor's question.

"No!" Lin Xiaofeng shook his head. "The plague is not transmitted to humans by rats, but by fleas." His tone was full of unquestionable majesty. "Fleas?" Lin Xiaofeng's remarks made Wang Tingmei begin to doubt his life. He had never heard of such remarks. If the person who told him was not the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, he would definitely slap him back. "Your Majesty... I don't understand." He asked cautiously, with a hint of doubt in his voice, obviously wanting to get the emperor's answer.

Lin Xiaofeng smiled slightly, "I didn't know before, it was my grandfather the emperor who told me in a dream." Wang Tingmei was stunned when he said this. He was also in the palace at the morning court today, and he heard all the conversations between the monarch and his ministers. Emperor Shenzong first told your majesty in a dream that there was silver hidden behind the Yangxin Palace, and then told your majesty that the root cause of the plague was fleas. What a blessing this is! The ancients were very awed by the sayings of ghosts and gods. After Wang Tingmei recovered, he immediately knelt on the ground, raised his hands above his head and then fell to the ground with his head, and shouted passionately: "God bless the Ming Dynasty, Emperor Shenzong bless the Ming Dynasty!" There was a hint of excitement and awe in his voice, and he obviously felt extremely honored and grateful for the emperor's blessing.

Lin Xiaofeng, the young and mysterious emperor, knew almost nothing about medicine. In his world, even common colds and fevers were fought with his own strong immunity, as if his body contained unknown power. Only when he could not bear it anymore would he reluctantly choose to take medicine to relieve the pain. However, he had a profound understanding of plague, which was not derived from books or experience, but because he had personally experienced the terrible catastrophe.

Plague is a dreaded infectious disease that originates from nature, and the culprit is the plague bacillus. This bacterium lurks in the body of fleas like a ghost and spreads to humans through their bites. Plague is naturally prevalent among rats, but it can also cross the species boundary and spread to innocent humans. Once infected, symptoms such as fever, severe toxemia, swollen lymph nodes, pneumonia and bleeding will appear, and its high mortality rate is chilling. After Wang Tingmei, the governor of Shuntian Prefecture, expressed his deep feelings for the suffering of the people, Lin Xiaofeng slowly spoke, his voice calm and firm: "The spread of plague is mainly through fleas. We should issue notices widely, asking the people in the city to smoke their bedding and clothes with straw, and sprinkle the ground and walls with lime water. The livestock pens should also be smoked first and then sprinkled with lime water, so that the fleas can be completely eliminated." His eyes revealed an unquestionable determination, as if he had experienced all this personally and knew the interests involved.

"I haven't thought of any other methods yet. You can try to figure it out on your own." There was a hint of helplessness in Lin Xiaofeng's words. He knew that he was not a medical expert and the help he could provide was limited.

"Your Majesty, your servant Wang Tingmei, would like to thank your Majesty for his kindness on behalf of the people of the capital!" After kneeling down, Wang Tingmei did not stand up. Instead, he raised his hands above his head again and saluted respectfully to Lin Xiaofeng. His eyes were full of gratitude and admiration.

"I am the emperor of the Ming Dynasty. All the people in the world are my subjects, and the people in the capital are naturally no exception. As parents, you should care about your children in this way. There is no need for you to be so polite, Lord Wang." Lin Xiaofeng's words were plain and without any ripples, but his eyes revealed a deep care, which was a deep concern for the people of the world.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" There was a hint of firmness in Wang Tingmei's voice. He knew that although the young emperor was young, he had extraordinary wisdom and determination.

"I have one more thing I need you to do. If you succeed, it will be a huge achievement!" There was a hint of expectation in Lin Xiaofeng's words, and his eyes flashed with wisdom.

"Your Majesty, please make it clear." There was a hint of nervousness in Wang Tingmei's voice. He knew that the emperor's request would definitely not be simple.

"Spring is coming. How are your preparations for encouraging agriculture and sericulture?" There was a hint of concern in Lin Xiaofeng's words. He knew that agriculture is the foundation of the country and the cornerstone of people's lives.

The affairs of Shuntian Prefecture were extremely complicated. They were in charge of the decrees of the capital, propaganda and education, persuading farmers to do farming, balancing tributes, controlling corvée, being cautious in offering sacrifices, verifying household registration, punishing powerful and cunning people, providing relief to the poor, clearing records of prisoners... Each of them was related to the stability of the country and the safety of the people. The emperors of all dynasties in China attached great importance to agriculture, and a spring plowing ceremony was held on the day of the beginning of spring. Although it was just a ceremony for the emperor, it was of great significance to officials and the people. After the spring plowing ceremony, local officials needed to inspect and persuade farmers, and provide help when necessary.

When Wang Tingmei heard Lin Xiaofeng asking about government affairs, he fell silent again. He knelt down smoothly, put his hands over his head and pleaded, "Your Majesty, I am guilty. The bandits are approaching and the security in the capital is in chaos. I have been busy catching the bandits recently, and the matter of encouraging people to cultivate agriculture and sericulture has been put on hold for the time being." There was a hint of guilt and helplessness in his voice.

Lin Xiaofeng sighed inwardly. He knew that if the capital was like this, wouldn't the prefectures below be even more chaotic? If the government did not make a statement, the people would not dare to farm even if they had land. After working hard for half a year, the government swept away all the land when the harvest came. In this case, who would dare to farm? With this time, it would be better to do other things. Even if they went begging, they could get a few more months of food.

"Forget it, this is not your fault alone. I forgive you." There was a hint of tolerance and understanding in Lin Xiaofeng's words. He knew that the Shuntian prefect had done his best.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." There was a hint of gratitude in Wang Tingmei's voice. He knew that although this young emperor was young, he had extraordinary wisdom and mind.

"Wang Qing, do you know potatoes?" There was a hint of mystery in Lin Xiaofeng's words, and his eyes flashed with wisdom.

"I know that this is a top-notch dish, and ordinary people are not lucky enough to enjoy it." There was a hint of awe in Wang Tingmei's voice. He knew that the questions raised by the emperor would definitely not be simple.

"That's good to know. Your task is to encourage the people of the capital to plant this crop widely. The palace can provide free seedlings for them to sow." There was a hint of firmness in Lin Xiaofeng's words, and his eyes revealed an unquestionable determination.

"This..." Wang Tingmei was dumbfounded and didn't know what to say. The emperor actually wanted to give the imperial items to the people. This was unheard of! Why did your majesty do this? Is it just because you like to eat? But even if you like to eat, you can't eat it every day, right? Even if you eat it every day, you can't finish it! He didn't dare to ask more, so he could only accept the order: "I obey your order."

"Okay, if you can handle these two things well, I will definitely promote you!" There was a hint of encouragement in Lin Xiaofeng's words, and his eyes revealed a kind of trust and expectation for Wang Tingmei.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Wang Tingmei's voice was filled with excitement and gratitude. He knew that although this young emperor was young, he possessed extraordinary wisdom and courage.

After leaving Shuntian Prefecture, Lin Xiaofeng breathed a sigh of relief again. The Ming Dynasty was already shaky, and if he wanted to stabilize this collapsing building, he had to consider everything carefully. Why did the people rebel? In short, there was only one word: hunger! Natural disasters and man-made disasters made them hungry, and being a law-abiding farmer meant death. Following Li Zicheng in the rebellion would give them a bite of food.

We are now in the Little Ice Age, not only the temperature is low, but also drought. Potatoes are both cold-resistant and drought-resistant, with a growing period of about eighty to one hundred days. It has a very high starch content and is most suitable for planting in the arid north. Moreover, potatoes have few diseases and pests, and once they are harvested, the benefits will be very rich. Lin Xiaofeng looked at the imperial city not far away, and a strong sense of responsibility surged in his heart. He knew that for the safety of the people of the world, he must do his best.

At this moment, he suddenly remembered something and turned to ask Guo Tianyang: "Guo Tianyang, do you know where Gongsun Yuchun is?" His eyes revealed a kind of anxiety and worry.

"Your Majesty, before leaving the palace, I happened to meet Li Tongzhi. He said that Your Majesty had assigned him a top-secret mission, and he left in a hurry before he finished speaking." There was a hint of doubt and uneasiness in Guo Tianyang's voice. He also felt that something was unusual.

"Oh!" Lin Xiaofeng responded casually, but a huge wave had already been set off in his heart. Wait... Could it be that Gongsun Yuchun wanted to assassinate me at this time? Why is he so anxious? That's right! Gongsun Yuchun is a smart man, he will never assassinate the emperor in the imperial city. Firstly, the Yongwei Battalion and Jinyiwei guarding the imperial city are not idle; secondly, the crime of assassinating the emperor must be passed on to someone else. There are records of entering and leaving the imperial city, and he might shoot himself in the foot.

Lin Xiaofeng felt a strong sense of uneasiness and fear in his heart. He wanted to sway his body on his horse to avoid the assassination, but he was afraid that Gongsun Yuchun would hurt him by mistake when he swayed. He was enveloped by emotions such as entanglement, regret, and uneasiness. His heartbeat accelerated and his breathing became rapid.

The imperial carriage team walked for a while, but the imagined attack did not come. Lin Xiaofeng's previous emotions disappeared, replaced by expectation and anxiety. Why hasn't he come yet? If he doesn't come soon, we will have to enter the imperial city! Once we enter the imperial city, there will be no hope! He subconsciously turned his head and looked around, trying to find Gongsun Yuchun.

There was nothing in front of him. On the left was the mansion, where all the nobles of the court lived. On the right was also a mansion, where most of the ministers of the court lived. When he looked to the right, his upper body tilted because he turned his head. At this moment, the sound of breaking air sounded from both sides at the same time!
"Whoosh!"

"Whoosh!"

It was too fast, and Lin Xiaofeng had no time to react. When he reacted, he felt that the armor on his body was brushed by the arrow. The arrow's residual force did not diminish and hit Guo Tianyang next to him. The armor is a unique costume of the emperor of the Ming Dynasty. It is similar to the vest of later generations. It is mainly worn when riding horses and shooting arrows. It is light and has a certain degree of protection. It is not affected by movement. The armor is mainly gold, supplemented by red, and embroidered with auspicious clouds and dragons. It is so majestic that people dare not look directly at it.

"Ah!" Guo Tianyang was shot in the buttocks by an arrow. He covered his buttocks and screamed and fell to the ground. His face was full of pain and fear, and blood oozed from between his fingers, staining his palm red.

"There are assassins!"

"Escort me!"

"Protect the Emperor! Catch the assassin!"

Before Guo Tianyang's screams could stop, the soldiers of the Yongwei Camp had surrounded Lin Xiaofeng in three layers. With swords unsheathed and bows and crossbows strung, they looked around eagerly. Not to mention arrows, even a mosquito could not fly in. These soldiers were elites who had undergone rigorous training. Their eyes revealed a kind of firmness and determination, as if they were ready to sacrifice their lives for the emperor at any time.

The Yongwei Battalion had made countless military achievements since its establishment, but these achievements had nothing to do with them, but belonged to their comrades who fought outside, such as Sun Yingyuan, Zhou Yuji and Huang Degong! They had stayed in the capital for many years and had never had the opportunity to make merit. Now that the opportunity was rare, how could they let it go easily? Their hearts were filled with excitement and anticipation, as if they saw the dawn of meritorious service and reward just before their eyes.

In broad daylight, in the open air, an assassin actually dared to assassinate the emperor! This is simply intolerable! The sun shines through the sparse clouds and sprinkles on the prosperous streets of the capital, but it seems unable to dispel the sudden haze. Pang Zijin, the lieutenant general of the Yongwei Camp who stayed in the capital, was burly and handsome, with an inviolable majesty between his brows. He shouted sternly: "Shan Huafeng, you lead your men to hunt down the assassin immediately, and I will escort His Majesty back to the palace." Pang Zijin's voice was like thunder, which hurt the eardrums of those around him, showing his awe-inspiring righteousness as a military general.

After saying that, Pang Zijin raised the heavy shield, stood beside Lin Xiaofeng, and walked quickly towards the imperial city with the emperor. His steps were steady, and every step seemed to step on people's heartstrings, making people feel at ease. The Yongwei Battalion, the iron-blooded army that guarded the emperor and the capital, had a total of four battalions, each with 3,000 soldiers. The organization was so strict that it could be called the shield of the capital.

Shan Huafeng, a captain in the Yongwei Camp, was thin but sharp-eyed. He was looking at Pang Zijin with gratitude. He knew that chasing the assassin was a heavy responsibility, but it was also an opportunity to rise to prominence. He responded loudly, "I obey your orders!" Then, based on the sound of the arrow and the location where Guo Tianyang was shot, he quickly made a judgment. Li Fei divided his troops into two groups, one to chase the nobles' mansions, and the other to search the officials' residences. His actions were as fast as lightning across the sky.

Shan Huafeng led the crowd to walk quickly, and soon they arrived in front of a mansion. This mansion was the Dingguo Duke's Mansion. It was majestic and magnificent, showing the dignity of the Duke. There are five dukes in the Ming Dynasty now, each of whom is a powerful figure, and Dingguo Duke Xu Yunzhen is the best among them. Judging from the sound, the sound that broke through the air seemed to come from this mansion.

However, at this moment, they were faced with a dilemma. If they entered the mansion and found the assassin, it would be a great achievement; but if they did not find him, they would be accused of trespassing, which would result in exile or even death. While they were hesitating, the sound of horse hooves and faint voices came from afar. They knew that the Five Cities Army and the Embroidered Uniform Guard were about to arrive. The news of the emperor's assassination spread very quickly. If they arrived early, it would be fine. If they arrived late, not only would they not get any credit, but they might also be punished for dereliction of duty.

Looking at the tightly closed door of the Dingguo Mansion, Shan Huafeng's eyes flashed with determination. There were only two assassins at most. If he could catch one of them, it would be a great achievement, and his career would be at hand! After making up his mind, he waved his hand and ordered, "Surround it!" More than fifty soldiers quickly surrounded the Dingguo Mansion, moving as fast as a tiger descending from a mountain.

After the Jinyiwei and Wucheng Bingmasi arrived, Shan Huafeng commanded the troops to surround the mansion, then withdrew his troops and knocked on the door. At this time, the nobles were busy packing up their treasures and preparing to follow the prince to Nanjing. Because the journey was long and the return date was uncertain, they wanted to take away all the valuables. Inside the mansion, there was a panic, the servants hurriedly moved the boxes, and the masters looked solemn and talked in low voices from time to time.

After a while, a middle-aged man in servant's clothes opened the door and stuck his head out. He was stunned for a moment when he saw the fully armed soldiers in front of him, then his face turned cold and he asked coldly: "Who are you? Do you know where this is?" His tone was full of arrogance and disdain, as if he was facing a group of uninvited guests.

"I know. This is the Duke Dingguo's Mansion." Shan Huafeng said in a deep voice. His eyes were firm and sharp, as if he could see through everything.

"You knew this but still dared to act recklessly? If you have nothing to do, disperse immediately. I will not report to the Duke!" The middle-aged servant's tone became even colder. He obviously did not take these soldiers seriously.

However, Shan Huafeng did not back down. He said solemnly, "I am Shan Huafeng, the captain of the Yongwei Battalion. We encountered the assassin when we were escorting His Majesty back to the palace, and we followed the clues to track him down here. Please open the door and let us go in to search." His voice was steady and powerful, revealing an unquestionable majesty.

Shan Huafeng had served in the capital for many years and knew how to deal with these nobles. He only speculated that the assassin might be hiding in the palace based on the sound of the assassin. Even if he saw the assassin with his own eyes, he would not say so absolutely. Because the emperor was assassinated, according to the law, they have the right to search. With great power comes great responsibility. As long as they do not cross the legal boundaries, they will not be guilty even if they search the home of the emperor.

The middle-aged servant frowned at first, but when he saw the tiger head emblem on Shan Huafeng's chest armor, his face changed slightly. He knew that this was the emblem of the emperor's imperial guards - the Yongwei Camp. So he put away his arrogant attitude, but said calmly: "Please wait a moment, I will ask the Duke and give you an answer." After saying that, he wanted to close the door and say goodbye.

However, Shan Huafeng did not give him this opportunity. He stepped forward and put his foot against the door, "Answer?" He sneered and said, "Your Majesty encountered an assassin on the way back to the palace, and we were ordered to track down the assassin's whereabouts. What I said just now was to inform you, not to discuss! Get out of the way!" His voice was like thunder, and the middle-aged servant turned pale.

Then, Shan Huafeng pushed the middle-aged servant away, opened the door and rushed in with everyone. There was an uproar in the mansion, the servants fled in panic, and the masters watched the scene with gloomy faces.

Seeing someone dare to break into the Duke's Mansion, more than 40 servants armed with weapons surrounded him. Some of them held swords, some held crossbows, and some even aimed their muskets at Shan Huafeng. These were the servants of the Duke Ding's Mansion. They were strong and well-trained, but at this moment, they pounced on these uninvited guests like wild beasts.

The atmosphere suddenly became tense. The soldiers of the Brave Guard formed a small formation without fear. The outer soldiers held shields, the middle infantry held swords and guns facing outward, and the inner archers and firearms soldiers held their weapons ready to fire. Their movements were swift and orderly, like a precision machine.

The middle-aged servant had a cold face and said in a threatening tone: "Do you know where this place is? How dare you do this here?" His voice was full of threats and intimidation, trying to force the soldiers to retreat in this way.

However, Shan Huafeng was not intimidated. He estimated the number of people on both sides and said coldly: "The Ming Dynasty law stipulates that anyone who privately keeps military weapons such as vests, side shields, fire guns, cannons, flags, and banners will be punished with 80 strokes of the cane for each item; the punishment will be increased by one level for each additional item; if these items are privately manufactured and held, the crime will be increased by one level, and the person will be punished with 100 strokes of the cane and exiled 3,000 miles; if it is not a complete set of military weapons, he will not be held accountable but can be handed over to the government." His voice was steady and powerful, revealing an unquestionable majesty.

Shan Huafeng was not lying. The Ming Dynasty had very strict control over armor and firearms, but relatively loose control over swords; as long as the number was not excessive, they would not ask. Although the control over firearms was in name only later, Shan Huafeng still had the upper hand in legal terms.

The middle-aged servant looked at the bright armor and sophisticated weapons of the soldiers of the Yongwei Battalion, felt their murderous aura, and his face suddenly changed. He knew that today's matter could not be resolved peacefully. So, he smiled and waved his hand to signal the servants to retreat, then slowly walked up to Shan Huafeng and whispered: "General Li Qian, I'm just a gatekeeper, and there are some things I really can't decide. If you insist on searching, I won't stop you; but I have to say it in advance, and you will bear the consequences yourself." There was a sense of helplessness and compromise in his voice, as if he had already accepted his fate.

"Thank you!" Shan Huafeng winked, and his soldiers immediately dispersed and began to search carefully. Their movements were swift and orderly, leaving no corner untouched.

At this time, Duke Dingguo Xu Yunzhen also rushed over after hearing the news. He was wearing a luxurious brocade robe and looked worried, and hurried to the front yard. When he saw Shan Huafeng, his brows slightly frowned, and an ominous premonition came to his heart. The emperor was assassinated, and the Yongwei Battalion was ordered to search his mansion. Was this a coincidence or intentional? His heart was full of doubts and uneasiness.

The news of what happened to Duke Chengguo Zhu Chunchen today has spread all over the capital. Although he was also to blame, the emperor's attitude was clear. He wanted to take action against the nobles. This thought made Xu Yunzhen even more uneasy. He was about to leave the capital, and he didn't want to cause any more trouble. However, the current situation put him in a dilemma.

Seeing that Duke Dingguo remained silent, Shan Huafeng stepped forward, bowed and said, "Shan Huafeng from the Yongwei Camp greets Duke Dingguo." His tone was respectful yet dignified, and it was obvious that he was not intimidated by the other party's identity.

Xu Yunzhen asked worriedly, "Is His Majesty okay?" His voice revealed concern and worry, as if he was really worried about the emperor's safety.

"I dare not say much. The Duke will know the answer once he goes to the palace and asks." Shan Huafeng's answer was brief and clear. He did not reveal too much information, but made his position clear.

Xu Yunzhen understood something immediately. He smiled and took out a cloth bag from his sleeve, threw it to the ground at lightning speed, then picked it up and handed it to Shan Huafeng, saying with a smile: "Li Qianzong, you dropped your things." His tone was full of playfulness and deep meaning, as if hinting at something. However, Shan Huafeng did not take the cloth bag, but just looked at him coldly, and then continued: "My Lord, let's continue the search." His voice revealed an unquestionable majesty and determination. (End of this chapter)