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

Gongsun Yuchun frowned, revealing a subtle worry. He pondered for a moment, as if weighing the weight of his words. Finally, he cautiously asked, "Your Majesty, do you have any suspicions about anyone?" His words were tentative and concerned.

Hearing this, Lin Xiaofeng's lips curled up into a meaningful smile. His eyes were deep, as if he could see into the deepest secrets of people's hearts. "Indeed," he said slowly, his voice low and powerful, "Duke Chengguo Zhu Chunchen is the most suspected; the next are those bandits and Jian Nu's spies in the capital." He spoke decisively, and every word revealed an unquestionable determination.

"As for who it is, we'll know once we check." Lin Xiaofeng's words were filled with irresistible majesty, as if all conspiracies were exposed in his eyes.

Gongsun Yuchun nodded thoughtfully, a look of admiration and worry flashed in his eyes, and he said softly: "I'll take my leave." After that, he turned and left with steady steps, and a sense of firmness and determination revealed from his back.

After Lin Xiaofeng finished his breakfast, he suddenly felt an inexplicable impulse in his heart. He seemed to be pulled by an invisible force, and his thoughts drifted to that familiar yet unfamiliar place - Kunning Palace. So he ordered Guo Tianyang: "Go to Kunning Palace." There was unquestionable majesty in his voice.

Kunning Palace, this majestic palace, is the bedroom of Queen Zhou and the power center of the harem, known as the "Central Palace". At this moment, it is quietly bathed in the morning light, looking particularly solemn and mysterious.

When Empress Zhou heard that Lin Xiaofeng had suddenly arrived, she could not help but feel a wave of emotion in her heart. Normally, His Majesty would be either planning strategies in the court or reviewing memorials in the imperial study. How could he suddenly come to Kunning Palace? Could it be that... She felt an inexplicable expectation in her heart. She looked at the rising sun in the sky, and her face became ruddy because of this sudden expectation.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you!" Queen Zhou, dressed in a simple white dress, walked gracefully and elegantly to Lin Xiaofeng, and performed a standard harem ceremony. Her movements were gentle and dignified, and her every move revealed the temperament of a mother of the country.

Although Queen Zhou was already 33 years old, time seemed to be particularly kind to her. Her skin was still as smooth as jade, as white as cream, and could be called a jade body. Lin Xiaofeng looked at the beauty in front of him, and the fatigue in his heart instantly dissipated, replaced by an indescribable peace and satisfaction. He dismissed the attendants on his left and right, took Queen Zhou's soft and warm hand, and sat on the warm couch with her, enjoying this rare tranquility.

Queen Zhou's face flushed, and she was a little overwhelmed. Although they were already an old married couple, Lin Xiaofeng rarely looked at her like this, which made her feel shy and happy. She lowered her head, not daring to look directly into Lin Xiaofeng's eyes, but her heart was beating like a deer.

"Has Zi Tong already known about the Earl of Jiading's affairs?" Lin Xiaofeng's voice was gentle and low, breaking the silence in the room.

Queen Zhou was shocked. The news of Lin Xiaofeng's robbery last night had spread throughout the harem, and the first person he robbed was actually her father, the father-in-law! This made her feel mixed emotions. She was worried about her father and also confused about Lin Xiaofeng. She nodded gently, her voice as thin as a mosquito: "Your Majesty, I have heard something."

"Will you blame me?" There was a subtle hint of uneasiness in Lin Xiaofeng's voice. He looked into Queen Zhou's eyes, trying to find the answer.

Queen Zhou's eyes were like water. She lowered her head and thought for a moment, then raised her head and looked at Lin Xiaofeng with a firm gaze: "Your Majesty is the king of a country and needs to have a long-term vision. How dare I comment on what Your Majesty does." Although her voice was soft, it revealed an unquestionable determination.

Hearing this, Lin Xiaofeng felt a warm current in his heart. He gently stroked Queen Zhou's hair, feeling very relieved. He stood up and took out a copy of the court report, which was an internal newspaper of the court, circulated only among officials, and recorded the latest developments and decisions of the court. He looked at Queen Zhou, with a sly look in his eyes: "Zi Tong, how is your writing?"

Queen Zhou lowered her head, looking ashamed: "Although I can read and write, my writing is not very good." There was a hint of inferiority in her voice, and it was obvious that she was not confident in her literary talent.

"That's settled!" Lin Xiaofeng said with a smile. A cunning light flashed in his eyes, as if he had thought of a brilliant idea.

Is it settled? Queen Zhou was a little confused. She looked at Lin Xiaofeng's confident smile and couldn't help but feel curious. The emperor's style of doing things has changed a lot recently. It's like he has become a different person. He always comes up with some unexpected ideas.

Lin Xiaofeng smiled calmly, his eyes sparkling with wisdom: "I plan to print a batch of court bulletins, and you, Queen, will be the editor-in-chief of the first issue." His voice was filled with unquestionable majesty, and also revealed a kind of trust and expectation for Queen Zhou.

"Palace Gazette? Your Majesty, absolutely not!" Empress Zhou refused without hesitation. Palace Gazette is an official newspaper, and the information it conveys is closely related to the court. If she were to write it, it would break the rule that the harem does not interfere in politics. Secondly, she had never written a palace gazette before, and was afraid of making mistakes and getting into trouble. Moreover, she had no idea what to write.

Lin Xiaofeng patted the queen's shoulder and comforted her, "This court report is not that court report." His voice was gentle and firm, as if it could dispel all the worries in Queen Zhou's heart, "I plan to give this batch of court reports to the people for free, so that they can understand the court, and finally support the court."

Queen Zhou bit her lip. She understood Lin Xiaofeng's intention. This was an unprecedented attempt to convey the voice of the court to the people through the court report, so that they could better understand and support the court's decision. But she was still a little uneasy: "But Your Majesty...I have no idea." She said with some embarrassment.

Hearing this, Lin Xiaofeng smiled and took out a piece of rice paper, dividing it into sections according to the sections of the newspaper in his previous life. His movements were skillful and confident, as if he had practiced countless times. After the division was completed, he introduced them one by one: "Zi Tong, I have drawn six areas here. The first area is the court section, where you can write my will, the promotion and punishment of officials; the second area is the current affairs section, where you can write about the major events that happened yesterday; the third area is the military section, where you can write about the battle between our Ming army and the bandits; the fourth area is the people's livelihood section, where you can write about grain prices, vegetable prices, cloth prices, etc.; the fifth area is the story section, where you can write whatever you want, such as royal affairs, harem affairs, folk affairs, and even legendary stories."

"The last area is the financial sector. You can write about the exchange rates of copper coins, silver, and gold, etc." Lin Xiaofeng's voice was gentle and patient, as if he was a teacher who was guiding people step by step. "When writing, try to use plain language. Don't write in a long and complicated way. Ordinary people won't understand."

Even the clever Queen Zhou was confused by Lin Xiaofeng's idea. It took her a long time to understand that the content of the official report was so rich and diverse, covering all aspects of the court, military, people's livelihood, stories, finance, etc. She looked at Lin Xiaofeng's confident smile, and couldn't help but feel admiration and expectation in her heart.

"Your Majesty, I don't quite understand." Queen Zhou said, with a hint of shyness and uneasiness in her voice. Although she had tried her best to understand Lin Xiaofeng's thoughts, she still felt a little tired.

"What don't you understand?" Lin Xiaofeng asked, his eyes flashing with concern and patience. He was willing to answer all of Queen Zhou's questions and let her understand his intentions better.

"What's the use of the court report that your majesty mentioned? Silver is already in short supply now, and printing is an expense, which is not cost-effective." Queen Zhou said worriedly. Although she understood that Lin Xiaofeng wanted to convey the voice of the court to the people through the court report, she was still worried that this would be an unnecessary expense.

"Queen, please think long-term and don't be afraid to spend money," Lin Xiaofeng consoled her, his voice filled with an unquestionable firmness. "Once this gazette is published, it will become a bridge for us to communicate with the people, allowing them to better understand and support the court. This is an intangible investment that will bring immeasurable returns."

Then, he told the queen in detail about the role of newspapers in public opinion. He explained that newspapers can not only convey information, but also guide public opinion, so that the people can better understand and support the court's decisions. This is an invisible force that can be used to unite people, boost morale, and spread positive energy.

After waking up this morning, Lin Xiaofeng always felt that something was missing. In his previous life, he was a teacher. The first thing he did when he arrived at the office in the morning was to make tea, and the second thing he did was to read the newspaper. Today, he habitually wanted to find a newspaper to read, but suddenly he remembered that he had traveled through time.

Newspaper! This thought flashed through his mind, but it took root like a seed. He had full confidence in this epoch-making weapon of public opinion, believing that it would become an important weapon for him to defend the city.

If he traveled back to the Qing Dynasty, he might give up this idea because there were too many illiterate people in the Qing Dynasty. But the Ming Dynasty was different. The literacy rate of the people in the Ming Dynasty was very high, and the court had clear regulations on the age of admission to community schools: "Children under the age of fifteen." That is, children under the age of fifteen can participate in community schools, and there is no need to take exams for admission. There is no limit on the number of students, and anyone who is willing to study can participate.

What does defending the city depend on? Determination! Not only his determination, but also the determination of all civil and military officials and millions of people in the capital. As long as everyone is determined to defend the city, Beijing will be indestructible. And how to make the people trust the emperor and the court? Public opinion! Attacking the heart is the best! He wants to use newspapers as a weapon of public opinion to unite people, boost morale, and spread positive energy.

It stands to reason that editing newspapers should be done by those writers in the Hanlin Academy, but Lin Xiaofeng gave up the Hanlin Academy after careful consideration. Not to mention the problem of writers harming the country, once this power is given to them, these people will definitely carry their own agenda. Not only will the things they write not have a positive effect, but they may even have a negative effect. He wants to personally control this weapon of public opinion and make it an important aid in defending the city.

After listening to Emperor Lin Xiaofeng's explanation, Empress Zhou was stunned for a long time. She could not imagine why her husband would have such an idea. This court report not only has rich and diverse content, but also contains such profound meaning. She looked at Lin Xiaofeng's confident smile, and she could not help but feel admiration and expectation in her heart.

"Your Majesty, I understand. Does this official bulletin have a name?" Queen Zhou asked, with a hint of curiosity and anticipation in her voice.

In the dead of night, Tongzhou was immersed in silence, and the moonlight was like water, sprinkling the ancient city walls and sleeping streets. Left General Tu Wenzhuang finally met with Tianjin Governor Shan Rongqing here. After the two troops joined forces, their momentum was even greater than before, like an unstoppable torrent.

Tu Wenzhuang was dressed in iron armor, with a resolute face and an unyielding light in his eyes. The two thousand soldiers he led were all elite soldiers, with bright armor and sharp weapons. And Shan Rongqing, dressed as a scholar, also revealed an extraordinary demeanor. The two thousand soldiers he led were also well-trained and disciplined.

After the ceremony, Shan Rongqing asked cautiously, "Left Commander, you must have traveled a long way. Where are your Majesty and the Crown Prince now? I want to go and see them." There was a hint of urgency in his voice, and he was obviously very worried about the current situation. He didn't know that Lin Xiaofeng was guarding the capital, and thought they were still in the carriage behind.

Tu Wenzhuang explained: "Your Majesty, please stay in the capital, and we will be responsible for escorting the Crown Prince and ministers such as Mr. Guo to Nanjing." His voice was steady and firm, revealing an unquestionable majesty.

Shan Rongqing was stunned when he heard this. He had never thought that the situation was so urgent, but the emperor chose to defend the capital and send the prince and ministers to Nanjing. Many questions came to his mind: Is the emperor really defending the capital? How many soldiers are there in the capital? How many artillery and muskets are equipped? Are the army and the people still united? However, he only knew that the emperor had made up his mind and would never retreat.

In the night, Shan Rongqing dismounted and kowtowed solemnly in the direction of the capital. His eyes were red, and he looked at Tu Wenzhuang with a pleading look: "Left Commander, can this old minister see the prince?" There was a tremor in his voice, and he was obviously very anxious about the current situation.

Tu Wenzhuang shook his head gently and replied, "The prince has caught a cold and is not able to see anyone. I will be responsible for all matters." Although his voice was calm, it revealed an unquestionable majesty.

At this time, Cao Guodong, a captain of the Jinyiwei, followed Shan Rongqing closely with a torch in his hand. He did this to facilitate communication and to prevent Shan Rongqing from having any ulterior motives so that he could capture him immediately. He interrupted and said, "The seagoing ship is huge and has a deep draft. It cannot sail through the canal. We can only board the ship at Zhigu, which is more than 200 miles away from here." There was a hint of worry in his voice, and he obviously felt that the current situation was very serious.

Tu Wenzhuang frowned upon hearing this. He knew the current situation was serious: after Li Zicheng captured Taiyuan, he split his troops into two groups. One group advanced northward to Xuanfu and then to Juyongguan, intending to cut off the emperor's escape route to the north; the other group went north and then turned east, launching an attack from Baoding Prefecture south of the capital, intending to cut off the emperor's escape route to the south. According to the news from the Tang, the bandits had already captured Hejian Prefecture yesterday, which was only more than 200 miles away from Tianjin.

In the night, Tu Wenzhuang frowned, his eyes flickered in the night, as if he could penetrate the darkness and see the situation in the distance. He knew that time was running out and there was no time to lose. He had to make a decision, otherwise, the safety of the prince and the ministers would be seriously threatened.

"We must speed up!" Tu Wenzhuang gave the order decisively, "Captain Gao, the bandits broke into Hejian Prefecture yesterday. We must speed up to get rid of them. Pass the order down, let everyone gallop!" There was a hint of anxiety in his voice, and he obviously felt the urgency of the current situation.

Cao Guodong said helplessly: "Governor, the road is muddy. If the carriage goes too fast, it will easily overturn. Moreover, these horses are known for their endurance and are not good at running. They can only move slowly." There was a hint of helplessness in his voice, and he obviously felt that the current situation was very difficult.

Tu Wenzhuang looked at the mighty team and thought for a long time while sitting on his warhorse. He knew that this was not a long-term solution. If the bandits sent light cavalry to rush from Hejian Prefecture to Zhigu, it would be feasible in terms of time. Once the two sides met, if the bandit leader had a little wisdom, he would not need to charge the cavalry, but only need to surround the convoy and shoot arrows in turn. For the cavalry, these carriages were undoubtedly sitting ducks. By then, the bandits could not catch up with them, and they could not escape either. After a long time, they would inevitably be dragged to death.

He looked at the sky in the distance, and a surge of ambition surged in his heart. He knew that he had to make a decision, otherwise, the safety of the prince and the ministers would be seriously threatened. He took a deep breath and decided to take a risk.

He said to Shan Rongqing and Cao Guodong, "I have a plan." There was a hint of firmness in his voice, as if he had already made up his mind.

Shan Rongqing looked up at Tu Wenzhuang, his eyes gleaming with anticipation: "Please speak, Governor." There was a hint of urgency in his voice, and it was obvious that he was full of expectations for Tu Wenzhuang's plan.

Tu Wenzhuang elaborated on his plan in detail: "It will take only one night for the news of the prince's migration to Hejian Prefecture from Beijing, and it will take two days for cavalry to get from Hejian to Tianjin. And it will take two days for us to reach Zhigu at our current speed. I plan to let Captain Gao take two thousand men on fast horses to the outside of Wuqing City to rest and wait. If the bandits send light cavalry to kill the prince, the place they choose must be near Wuqing. If they come, Captain Gao can just resist them; if they don't come, we will wait for the convoy to arrive and then go to Zhigu together to board the ship and go to the sea." There was a hint of calmness and decisiveness in his voice, and it was obvious that he had made sufficient preparations.

Shan Rongqing took out the map, Cao Guodong held a torch, and the two looked at it and calculated. After a moment, Shan Rongqing nodded in agreement: "I think this plan is feasible." There was a hint of certainty in his voice, and it was obvious that he was full of confidence in Tu Wenzhuang's plan.

Cao Guodong agreed without hesitation: "I have no objection." There was a hint of firmness in his voice, and he was obviously ready for the fight.

Tu Wenzhuang was about to issue the order, but suddenly felt something was wrong. Although the emperor had entrusted him with the task of moving south, the matter was important and still needed to be discussed. So he brought Shan Rongqing and Cao Guodong to the prince's carriage and briefly explained the plan.

There was silence for a long time before a hoarse voice was heard in the carriage: "This matter is all under the control of the Left Commander-in-Chief." It was the voice of the prince. Although hoarse, it revealed an unquestionable majesty.

Tu Wenzhuang no longer hesitated and said to Cao Guodong, "Captain Gao, take five hundred Jinyiwei, five hundred factory guards, and one thousand of Governor Feng's men, and head to the outside of Wuqing City immediately." There was a hint of urgency in his voice, and it was obvious that he felt the current situation was very urgent.

"Yes, sir!" Cao Guodong turned his horse and galloped away. His figure gradually faded away in the night, like a cheetah ready to pounce on its prey.

In the early morning, in Hejian Prefecture, the huge "Shun" flag and the white "Liu" general flag fluttered in the wind on the city wall. Li Zicheng's trusted general, General of the Left Camp, Luo Wenbin, sat in the hall of the prefecture with his eyes closed. His face was firm and his eyes were shining with wisdom. Last night, the scouts sent news that Lin Xiaofeng asked the prince to move south, and he stayed in the capital to defend. Luo Wenbin was skeptical about this, and he thought that Lin Xiaofeng might escape in the convoy moving south.

"Report!" The messenger rushed in from outside the door, knelt on one knee, with a hint of urgency in his voice.

"Read." Luo Wenbin said without raising his head. There was a hint of majesty in his voice, as if it could penetrate people's hearts.

The messenger read out loud, "General Gu ordered his subordinates to report that General Guoyi Hou Chongfu and General Guoyi Tian Hu allowed their troops to plunder and loot, and the people in the city were full of resentment." The messenger knew that if Hou Chongfu and Tian Hu knew about his behavior of spreading bad things behind people's backs, he would lose ten lives. If it weren't for General Gu's order, he would never do this.

Luo Wenbin frowned and asked, "Are you robbing civilians or wealthy people?" There was a hint of severity in his voice, and he was obviously very dissatisfied with this kind of thing.

"At first we only robbed the rich, but then the situation got out of control." The messenger replied, with a hint of helplessness in his voice, and he obviously felt very troubled by the situation.

Luo Wenbin sighed and felt helpless. Since the beginning of the Northern Expedition, the emperor has repeatedly ordered that people should not be disturbed. He knew that what the emperor meant by "not disturbing the people" was actually not to rob the people. The rich people in the city robbed and killed as they pleased. Only by robbing their money could they replenish their military pay and buy food and grass. However, as the number of looting increased, the soldiers had become accustomed to starting to attack the people. They killed, set fire, raped, robbed and committed all kinds of evil. How could this be called a righteous army? They were clearly bandits!

"Got it." Luo Wenbin ordered, "Tell General Gu that the Dashun army has strict discipline and must not harm the civilians. Let him kill a few people to establish his authority. Anyone who violates the rules will be executed without mercy!" There was a hint of majesty in his voice, and it was obvious that he was very angry about this behavior.

"Yes!" The messenger responded and retreated. However, as soon as he left, another messenger hurried in.

"Secret report from Beijing, Marshal!" the messenger shouted. There was a hint of urgency in his voice, obviously there was an emergency that needed to be reported.

"Oh?" Luo Wenbin opened his eyes. "Read!" There was a hint of majesty in his voice, and he was obviously very concerned about this situation.

The messenger began to read the report: "According to investigation, at the beginning of the evening at 5:00 p.m., two thousand Jinyiwei escorted the Ming Crown Prince Zhu Cilang, Prince Yong, Prince Ding and a group of court officials and nobles from Zuoanmen and headed eastward towards Tongzhou." His voice was clear and accurate, and it was obvious that he had a detailed understanding of the secret report.

Luo Wenbin of Tongzhou frowned and stared at the map on the table. Tongzhou is connected to the canal. There are roughly two routes for the Ming prince to escape to the south: one is to go south from Tongzhou and detour through Shandong to Nanzhili; the other is to go along the canal to Tianjin and take a boat to Nanjing. His eyes shuttled across the map, as if looking for the best interception route. Shandong has not yet been captured. If you want to stop it, you must intercept it in the Tianjin area! If Lin Xiaofeng takes the prince to escape, he will command the army to Shandong and Tianjin at night without hesitation. However, the reality is that Lin Xiaofeng defended Beijing alone and forced the prince to flee south. In this way, his army cannot act rashly! The emperor's main target is Beijing, and Lin Xiaofeng and the Ming prince are not the first choice. However, even if it is not the primary target, can we just watch the Ming prince flee south?

Luo Wenbin shook his head gently, his eyes revealing a firm determination.

Qianmen Street in the capital was bustling with activity. The sun shone on the stone pavement, creating mottled shadows. On both sides of the street, the cries of vendors and the rumble of horse-drawn carriages intertwined to form a vivid picture of the city. The Jinyiwei had just left after posting the notice. The bright notice paper swayed gently in the breeze, like a butterfly that had just spread its wings, instantly attracting a large number of people.

The crowds around were surging like a tide. The people in front were squeezed so hard that they could hardly breathe. The sweat on their faces shone brightly in the sun. "Don't push the people behind. The people in front are already pressed against the wall." A middle-aged man in coarse clothes shouted loudly, his voice mixed with helplessness and anxiety.

"Since you're stuck to the wall, why don't you move away? You deserve to be squeezed to death." A dissatisfied voice came from the crowd. It was from a thin young man, his eyes full of impatience and indifference.

"Where are my shoes? Who stepped on my shoes?" An anxious voice suddenly sounded. It was a woman in gorgeous clothes. Her face was full of panic and dissatisfaction. She was looking around for her stepped-on shoes.

The scene became more and more chaotic, and people were running around like headless flies. At this time, a student of the Imperial College stepped forward. He was wearing a neat Confucian robe, with a handsome face and a firm look in his eyes. He turned around and raised his hands high, standing firmly in the crowd like a towering mountain. He shouted loudly: "Dear fellow villagers, stop pushing, I will read you the content of the notice."

As soon as these words came out, the scene suddenly became quiet, as if a gust of wind had blown away all the noise and bustle. People stopped and turned to look at the student, their eyes full of expectation and curiosity.

"Don't use fancy words, we don't understand!" someone shouted. It was an old man with a wrinkled face. His voice was mixed with vicissitudes and helplessness.

The student nodded, a gentle smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, and he began to read in plain language: "This is the notice of His Majesty. His Majesty said that corruption is rampant in the court, resulting in an empty treasury and a shortage of military pay." His voice was clear and powerful, and every word seemed like a seed, deeply planted in people's hearts.

"Isn't His Majesty's notice an imperial edict?" someone asked curiously. It was a young scholar, and his eyes were full of doubt and confusion.

"Oh, it's not important. There is no seal on it, so we can just treat it as a notice." The student stroked his beard and continued with a serious expression, "Your Majesty also said that yesterday he beheaded the chief minister of the cabinet, Tang Xingjia, and exterminated his three clans. He also captured the left vice minister of the Ministry of Revenue, Wang Zhengzhi, and raided the house of Chengguogong Zhu Chunchen." His voice was full of shock and grief, as if he was telling a tragic history.

The people around were shocked when they heard this. Their eyes were filled with shock and disbelief, as if they were watching a thrilling drama.

"The Prime Minister of the Cabinet was actually beheaded by His Majesty?" someone asked in surprise. He was a burly man, and his voice was full of disbelief and shock.

"Not only was he beheaded, but his three clans were also exterminated! I have long said that he was unworthy of his position, but he relied on his eloquence to climb to the position of Prime Minister of the Cabinet. Now, his eloquence has cost him his life." An old man sighed, his eyes full of vicissitudes and helplessness, as if he was telling a piece of dusty history.

"What does the Prime Minister have to say? Haven't you heard that Duke Chengguo's property was also raided? His Majesty is serious this time!" another person said excitedly. He was a young businessman. His eyes were full of excitement and excitement, as if he was watching a wonderful performance.

The student was a little surprised by the people's reaction. He didn't expect that the emperor's notice would cause such a sensation. After everyone calmed down, he continued in a gentle but powerful voice: "The emperor also said that another group of high-ranking officials will be beheaded at noon today and tomorrow." His voice was full of firmness and determination, as if he was announcing an irreversible history.

The people were silent for a while, as if they were thinking about something, and then they cheered. Their voices resounded through the sky like thunder, full of excitement and excitement.

"It's so satisfying! These corrupt officials all deserve to die, there's no pity at all!" someone shouted excitedly. It was a young farmer, his eyes were full of anger and hatred, as if he was telling a story of a deep vengeance.

"Where is the noon show? I want to grab a spot and watch the fun." A young man said eagerly, his eyes full of anticipation and curiosity, as if he was expecting a wonderful performance.

"You are from another place, right? Where else in Beijing can behead people except Xisi Pailou? Don't just stand there, come and watch the fun!" an old man urged, his eyes full of kindness and care, as if he was taking care of an ignorant child.

"Isn't the beheading carried out at 15:30? Isn't it too early to go now?" someone asked hesitantly. It was a young woman. Her eyes were full of hesitation and uneasiness, as if she was worried about something.

"If we go too late, there will be no place to stand!" Another person pulled her towards Xisi Pailou. His eyes were full of determination and resoluteness, as if he was chasing an irreversible dream.

Everyone was clamoring to go to Xisi Archway, but the student waved his hand and said leisurely: "Don't worry, there's more to come!" His voice was as warm and gentle as the spring breeze, which instantly calmed everyone's restless mood.

"Anything else?" The people stopped immediately and listened carefully. Their eyes were full of anticipation and curiosity, as if they were expecting a more exciting story.

"His Majesty also said that the money obtained from beheadings and confiscating property is not enough to pay for the military, so he plans to sell things in the palace, hoping that rich people can come to support him financially, and poor people can also come to support him personally." The student continued, his voice clear and powerful, every word like a seed, deeply planted in people's hearts.

As soon as these words came out, everyone was shocked. Their eyes were filled with disbelief and shock, as if they were watching a miracle that shook the world. In their minds, the whole world belongs to the king, and all the people are his subjects. As long as His Majesty is willing, all the money in the world belongs to him. However, now, His Majesty is actually selling his property to raise military pay!

"Old man, you are not kidding us, are you?" someone asked in surprise. It was a young businessman, his eyes were full of doubt and confusion.

"It's written in black on yellow paper, how dare I say anything?" The student said with his eyes wide open. His eyes were full of determination and resoluteness, as if he was announcing an irreversible fact.

"Where are they sold? When can I buy them?" asked a middle-aged man dressed like a businessman. "The treasures in the palace are worth it, not to mention buying them, even just taking a look at them!" His eyes were full of anticipation and excitement, as if he was expecting a rare feast.

"Yes, where to buy it?" Others also asked, their eyes full of anticipation and curiosity, as if they were expecting a more exciting story.

"It's right next to the West Fourth Archway, starting at the beginning of the Shen hour." The student replied, his voice clear and powerful, like a gust of wind blowing by, taking away all the noise and bustle.

"Okay, okay, let's go watch the fun." Everyone said, their eyes full of anticipation and excitement, as if they were expecting a wonderful performance.

"Yes, even if you don't have money to buy it, it's worth taking a look. The things sold by His Majesty will definitely not be too expensive, and you might even find a bargain." Someone said excitedly. He was a young farmer, and his eyes were full of anticipation and curiosity, as if he was expecting a rare adventure.

When everyone was about to leave, a group of Shuntianfu yamen runners came over with notices in their hands. They were dressed in neat official uniforms and had serious and solemn faces. They began to post the notices and read the contents aloud, and their voices resounded through the sky like thunder.

"There is an epidemic in the capital now, and nine out of ten households are sick. Those who are infected are dying one after another. In a family of several people, as long as one person is infected with the plague, one or two people or even the whole family may be unable to get up." The voice of the yamen runner was full of anxiety and worry, as if he was telling a thrilling piece of history.

"After investigation, it was confirmed that it was the plague that was causing the trouble!" another yamen runner shouted loudly, his voice full of firmness and determination, as if he was announcing an irreversible fact.

"After we submitted the memorial to the emperor, he was greatly shocked and allocated hundreds of thousands of taels of silver from the imperial treasury to control the plague." A yamen runner continued, his voice full of emotion and admiration, as if he was telling a deeply touching story.

"The plague is spread by fleas so if you want to cure the plague you have to cure the rats first. Anyone who has rats in their home must not touch them with their hands or feet but should beat them to death with sticks and then burn them. Food in the home must not be eaten raw but must be cooked over high heat for a long time before it can be eaten." A yamen runner explained in detail, his voice full of patience and meticulousness, as if he was teaching an ignorant child.

"The bedding and clothes in the house need to be smoked with straw; the ground and walls need to be sprinkled with lime water; the livestock pens also need to be smoked with straw first and then sprinkled with lime water to get rid of fleas." Another yamen runner added, his voice full of seriousness and responsibility, as if he was fulfilling a sacred mission.

"From today on, everyone registered in the yellow book can collect half a tael of silver for rat extermination. The money will be collected by the head of the police station at the Shuntian government office, and then each household will go to the head of the police station's home to collect it." A yamen runner announced loudly, his voice full of excitement and excitement, as if he was announcing a rare piece of good news.

"Anyone found guilty of corruption will be executed immediately," another bailiff said sternly, his voice full of majesty and justice, as if he was upholding an inviolable law.

"In addition, the government sincerely invites capable people to control the plague and will give them a certain amount of reward." The last yamen runner shouted loudly, his voice full of expectation and sincerity, as if he was looking forward to a history of heroes.

After the yamen runner finished reading, he explained it again in vernacular to the people. After listening to the yamen runner's explanation, the people looked at each other in bewilderment as if they were dreaming. They couldn't believe their ears, let alone their eyes. The high and mighty Emperor actually cared about them, the common people! Not only

Lin Xiaofeng gently held his chin with his left hand, frowning, deep in thought. The cabinet situation had stabilized, the crown prince had temporarily settled down, and the finances were sufficient, but Li Zicheng was a big worry hanging over his head, threatening the safety of the Ming Dynasty at all times. He stared out the window, the warm spring sun shining on the glazed tiles of the Forbidden City, flashing a dazzling light, but it could not dispel the haze in his heart.

"Will Li Zicheng surrender?" Lin Xiaofeng whispered to himself, with an unquestionable firmness in his tone, "No, absolutely not! Not to mention what he did to the royal family, just the two things of digging up the Ming ancestral tomb and proclaiming himself emperor in Shaanxi are two things that he cannot atone for even if he dies a hundred times. His desire for power and hatred for the court are like a raging fire, how can they be easily extinguished? So he will definitely not surrender. Even if he surrenders, it will only be in vain. The ambition and conspiracy hidden behind it will never dissipate because of this."

Since they won't surrender, they can only fight hard. But how to fight? Lin Xiaofeng closed his eyes, and the scenes inside and outside the capital emerged in his mind: bustling streets, crowded markets, busy people, and faces that were either expectant or indifferent. The key still depends on the hearts of the people. Without the support of the people, how can the three major camps of the capital defend the city and resist the bandits? However, the court's previous practices have deeply hurt the people's hearts. The corvée and taxes are heavy, the plague is prevalent, refugees are everywhere, and natural disasters and man-made disasters continue, but the court has not properly handled any of them. Governing the people requires both kindness and power, but the officials of the court only know how to use power, but do not know how to show kindness. The people are not stupid, they know good and evil in their hearts; they are not abused slaves, how can they help those who commit violence?
Thinking of this, Lin Xiaofeng opened his eyes, his eyes flashing with determination. "If you want to win the hearts of the people, you have to consider these factors." He turned his head and looked at Li Banghua beside him, with some expectation and inquiry in his eyes, "Lord Li, defending the city requires the hearts of the people. What do you think we should do to win the hearts of the people?"

Li Banghua already knew about the Jinyiwei notice, and also saw the notice from Shuntian Prefecture. To be honest, Lin Xiaofeng's move to directly give money to the people shocked him. From ancient times to the present, the court's relief to the people is nothing more than tax reduction and exemption, disaster relief and grain distribution. He has never heard of such a practice of directly giving money to the people! Not to mention the people, even an important official like him was very impressed. He knew that giving money and killing corrupt officials were all for one purpose: to win the hearts of the people.

"Your Majesty, I have read the notice outside and I am deeply moved. Recently, a poem about bandits has been circulating in the capital. I guess it was also written by you, Your Majesty?" Li Banghua asked tentatively, with a bit of admiration and curiosity in his eyes.

Lin Xiaofeng remained silent, neither admitting nor denying. He just looked out the window calmly, as if looking for the answer in the blue sky.

"I think that the issue of giving money to the people of the capital to kill rats is still open to discussion." Li Banghua said worriedly, frowning, "The troops of the nine borders are still short of military pay. If the news of Your Majesty giving money gets out, I'm worried that the morale of the border troops will be unstable."

"I can make up for the deficit of the border troops today." Lin Xiaofeng said calmly, with an unquestionable firmness in his tone, "Yesterday, I confiscated the property of the Duke of Chengguo's mansion and obtained more than five million taels of silver. This money is enough to solve the problem of military pay for the border troops."

"Five million taels??" Li Banghua's eyes widened, he couldn't believe his ears. Ever since Lin Xiaofeng came to power fifteen years ago, all officials have been greedy, but he didn't expect that a mansion of the Duke of Chengguo could actually find five million taels of silver. This amount of money was enough for the soldiers of the border army to live a stable life.

Who says that all officials are greedy? Li Banghua thought to himself. He was once the Minister of War. It was not that he could not manage the issue of the army's empty pay, but that he did not dare to manage it. The Ming army, which was short of pay, raised white flags to surrender everywhere. In order to win the hearts of the army, the generals had to find ways to make money. The easiest way was to eat empty pay. Once the court owed pay, they could use the money from the previous empty pay to subsidize the military pay and solve the problem temporarily. Zhu Chunchen had served as the governor of the Beijing camp for several years. Although he guessed that Zhu Chunchen might have embezzled military pay, he did not expect the amount to be so large.

Seeing Li Banghua's stunned look, Lin Xiaofeng smiled gently and instructed: "Lord Li, I am worried that you will have trouble recruiting soldiers, so I specially built a stage near the Xisi Archway. Your people in the Ministry of War can recruit soldiers while watching the show. This way, you can attract the attention of the people and successfully recruit soldiers."

"As for the matter of training troops...you are an expert, you can decide for yourself." Lin Xiaofeng's words were filled with trust and expectation.

"Yes... I'll do it right away." Li Banghua blinked his eyes, which were red from lack of rest, and walked away. His heart was filled with gratitude and admiration. The emperor's way of controlling people was many times stronger than before. Indistinctly, he felt that the emperor had changed. No, he should have grown up! Although he had not received an orthodox education, his vision of people was very accurate. The future of the Ming Dynasty will definitely become brighter and brighter!

Guo Tianyang stood outside the palace gate and looked at Lin Xiaofeng's calmness, feeling very relieved. Every move of the emperor revealed his wisdom and determination. He believed that under the leadership of the emperor, the Ming Dynasty would definitely get out of the predicament and usher in new glory.

"Your Majesty, the governor of the Eastern Depot, Gu Chaosheng, requests to see you." Just when Lin Xiaofeng wanted to take a short rest, Guo Tianyang's voice came from outside the palace door.

"Let him in." Lin Xiaofeng said lightly, with an unquestionable majesty in his tone.

Gu Chaosheng hurried into the hall and kowtowed. After the ceremony, he asked cautiously, "Your Majesty, Duke Dingguo's Mansion has been surrounded by us for a whole night. I wonder if Your Majesty has any instructions?"

Lin Xiaofeng slammed the table so hard that Gu Chaosheng knelt on the ground. His eyes revealed a bit of sternness and dissatisfaction: "Order? Can't your Dongchang solve the case without my order?"

"I have been on the throne for so many years, and I have spent a huge amount of money to support so many of you. Do you still need me to tell you what to do?" Lin Xiaofeng said with a bit of anger and disappointment. He knew the strength and ability of the East Factory, but their performance at this moment made him very dissatisfied.

Cold sweat broke out on Gu Chaosheng's forehead. He quickly wiped the sweat off with his sleeve and said, "Your Majesty, please calm down... I'll do it right away." After saying that, he quickly stood up and left the hall.

After leaving the Qianqing Palace, Gu Chaosheng stood there thinking. He didn't come here to be scolded but to test Lin Xiaofeng's attitude. If the emperor showed displeasure when mentioning Duke Dingguo, then Duke Dingguo might be the murderer! Evidence can be forged at any time. However, the emperor was impeccable! This made him feel very embarrassed! Is Duke Dingguo really the murderer? How could there be such a stupid murderer who hid the evidence of the assassination of the emperor in his own home? However, if Duke Dingguo was not the murderer, then who was the real murderer behind the scenes? The assassin was dead and the clues were broken. Let alone solving the case in three days, even if he was given thirty days, he would feel hopeless! Gu Chaosheng suddenly felt a headache. After thinking for a while, he slapped his thigh and left in a hurry. He knew that time waits for no one, and he must find clues to solve the case as soon as possible.

……

In the Beizhenfusi Yamen outside the Bei'an Gate of the Imperial City, Gongsun Yuchun had just been promoted to the commander of the Jinyiwei and was handling the tasks assigned to him by the emperor. Lin Xiaofeng asked him to do three things: exterminate the whole family, imitate the handwriting of nobles and court officials to write letters, and investigate the caravans that colluded with court officials in the Ming Dynasty's business. Now the extermination of the whole family has been completed, and imitating the handwriting of nobles and court officials to write letters has also been done. Only the last difficult thing is left, but it has been investigated almost.

The reason why the Ming Dynasty had a prosperous business was due to the efforts of the imperial court. The amount of food, weapons, protective gear, and firearms consumed by the nine frontier armies of the Ming Dynasty each year was staggering, and in the early stage, they were mainly transported by military officers. However, it was very expensive to go with a full load and return empty. In order to ease the cost pressure, the imperial court entrusted caravans to transport these materials. During the transportation process, military officers and soldiers would be equipped to escort to ensure that everything was safe. Over time, these caravans had privileges, including several major business groups such as Shanxi merchants, Qi merchants, Hui merchants, and Zhejiang merchants.

Gongsun Yuchun looked through the information that Jinyiwei had found, frowning. There were three Jiangsu and Zhejiang merchants that transported food and grass to the Ministry of Revenue. They had close contacts with Wang Zhengzhi, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Revenue, Wang Aoyong, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Supply, and Zhang Jinyan, the former minister of the Ministry of War. There were more than ten merchants that transported armor, weapons, and firearms to the Ministry of Works. They also had unusual relationships with Xie Haojie, the former minister of the Ministry of Works, and Zhang Jinyan, the former minister of the Ministry of War. "It seems... His Majesty has long noticed that there is something wrong with them!" Gongsun Yuchun thought to himself.

Just as Gongsun Yuchun was looking through the information, a Jinyiwei came in and reported: "Commander-in-chief, the governor of the East Factory is here, he..." Before the Jinyiwei who reported the news finished speaking, Gu Chaosheng swaggered in. There was a bit of anxiety and uneasiness on his face, obviously he had something important to discuss. Gongsun Yuchun put down the information in his hand, looked at Gu Chaosheng, and waited for his next words. (End of this chapter)