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

The four cabinet ministers sat down one by one, each stating the four major problems that needed to be solved urgently. Their faces looked particularly solemn under the dim candlelight, as if every wrinkle was hiding endless worries. Hearing this, Lin Xiaofeng stood up calmly, with a faint smile on his face, without the slightest panic. His eyes were deep, as if he could see through everything, and it was a kind of calmness and confidence after going through storms. In history, Lin Xiaofeng might have found it difficult to cope with such a predicament, but now he is full of confidence. Whether it is mathematics, physics, chemistry, history, geography, politics, or those foreign languages, he has mastered them all, like a wise man who has transcended time and space, armed himself with modern knowledge to cope with this ancient challenge.

"Lord Li, draft an edict immediately. In three to five days, order Tang Shengyu to find an opportunity to withdraw to the capital. Before returning, he must take all the supplies with him. Not even a grain of rice can be left for those bandits!" Lin Xiaofeng's voice was not loud, but it revealed an unquestionable determination.

Li Banghua, an old official from the Censorate, looked haggard, with a complex look in his eyes. Shao Shihan, the former Left Vice-Censor, also looked worried. The two ministers in the cabinet seemed a little overwhelmed by the current predicament.

"Your Majesty... the cabinet has no objection to this imperial edict, but I'm afraid the Censorate will not sign it." There was a hint of helplessness in Li Banghua's voice.

Lin Xiaofeng was stunned when he heard this. He looked around. The atmosphere in the Qianqing Palace was heavy and oppressive, as if even the air was frozen. He didn't expect that even these two important ministers of the cabinet could not convince the Censorate.

"Why is this?" Lin Xiaofeng's voice was filled with confusion and anger.

The temperature inside the Qianqing Palace was slightly higher than outside. Li Banghua was sweating profusely. He wiped his forehead with a handkerchief and explained, "Today, the cabinet received a memorial from two censors from the Censorate. They impeached Dingxi Earl Tang Shengyu for being cowardly and not daring to fight, which damaged the reputation of the Ming Dynasty."

Snapped!
Lin Xiaofeng slammed the table, his anger surging, almost cursing. His eyes flashed with anger, as if he could ignite the entire Qianqing Palace. This is simply ridiculous! Whether to meet the enemy and when to meet the enemy should be decided by the military commander who leads the troops. What do those imperial censors know! They only know how to sit in the capital and make decisions, and have no idea of ​​the cruelty and complexity of the battlefield.

Tang Shengyu and the defenders of Juyongguan totaled only 10,000 people, while Li Zicheng had an army of more than 100,000. How could they fight? This was simply like hitting a rock with an egg! Even if there were 100,000 steamed buns, it would take Tang Shengyu two days to eat them all. Anyone with a little wisdom knew that they could only defend to the death to resist the enemy.

"According to Lord Li, not only do the censors of the Censorate refuse to sign the imperial edict, they even want Tang Shengyu to come out and fight?" Lin Xiaofeng's voice was filled with sarcasm and anger.

"That's right, Your Majesty." There was a hint of helplessness and bitterness in Li Banghua's voice.

Lin Xiaofeng took a deep breath and tried to calm his anger. He knew that now was not the time to get angry, but he needed to calmly think about how to solve the problem. He looked at Gu Chaosheng, the young official with a firm face and loyal eyes.

"Okay, the cabinet will just draft the decree. Gu Chaosheng, you will go to the Censorate later and tell those who want Tang Shengyu to come out to fight that they can come to the Qianqing Palace to see me. I will confer the title of Dingnan Earl on them and order them to lead 2,000 men to fight Luo Wenbin."

"Those who dare not come should just sign the imperial edict honestly." Lin Xiaofeng's voice was majestic and unquestionable.

Li Banghua blinked, indicating that he understood, and then left. His back looked a little hunched, as if he was suffocating under the heavy pressure of responsibility.

"Shao Shihan, how much has the price of rice and flour increased?" Lin Xiaofeng's voice was filled with concern and worry. He knew that the rise in food prices was a heavy blow to the people and an important factor in social stability.

"30%, and there is a trend of further increase." Shao Shihan's voice was filled with helplessness and worry. His face was haggard, and his eyes were flashing with anxiety.

Lin Xiaofeng pondered for a moment, then said slowly: "It doesn't matter. The Ministry of Revenue is in charge of the Beijing warehouse and Tongzhou warehouse. I will allocate 500,000 taels of silver from the treasury to the Ministry of Revenue and let them buy high and sell low to suppress grain prices." There was some confidence and determination in his voice, as if he had already seen the future victory.

Shao Shihan opened his mouth, wanting to say something but stopping himself. He knew that although this method was effective, it would cost a huge amount of money. However, he also understood that this was the only way to curb the rise in grain prices.

Li Banghua couldn't bear to watch, so he stepped forward, bowed and said, "Your Majesty, this cannot be done. The unscrupulous merchants in the capital saw that the bandits were coming and transportation was blocked, so they raised the price of grain. This is illegal and should be punished according to the law. Using the treasury's money to buy high and sell low may seem to be caring for the people, but in fact... it is suspected of aiding and abetting the tyrant." There was a bit of determination and sense of justice in his voice, like an ancient knight who would do anything to uphold justice.

The others all looked embarrassed. They knew that although Li Banghua's words were a bit harsh, they were true. However, they also knew that the emperor's decision was out of helplessness and the situation.

"How dare you!" Guo Tianyang said sharply, "Lord Li should know what he can say and what he cannot say. You are talking nonsense by relying on His Majesty's favor. Don't blame His Majesty for being ruthless." There was a bit of anger and threat in his voice, as if a loyal lackey was defending his master.

However, Li Banghua showed no fear. He stood up straight and looked at the emperor with a firm gaze: "Your Majesty, the Great Ming Law says that in troubled times, severe punishments are used, and the kingly way is to kill and intimidate. This is the law! If not now, when will it be used?" His voice was filled with a sense of passion and justice, as if he was an ancient warrior shouting for the future of the country.

In the Qianqing Palace, there was silence, and even the sound of a pin drop could be heard. Everyone held their breath, waiting for the emperor's response. They knew that the decision at this moment would determine the future and fate of the country.

Lin Xiaofeng did not get angry, but smiled calmly. His smile was calm and confident, as if everything was under his control. He looked at Li Banghua, the tough old minister, with admiration in his eyes.

"How did Lord Li know that I didn't use harsh punishment?" Lin Xiaofeng asked in a gentle tone. He knew Li Banghua's worries and concerns, but he also understood his own decision and considerations.

"However..." Li Banghua wanted to say something but was interrupted by Lin Xiaofeng.

"If I punish the merchants severely, once the news spreads, will there still be merchants willing to transport grain to the capital?" Lin Xiaofeng's voice was calm and rational. He understood that the current situation could not easily shake the confidence of the merchants, otherwise no one would be willing to transport grain to the capital.

"Even if there is, how much food can they deliver?" Lin Xiaofeng continued to ask. His eyes flashed with wisdom, as if he had seen all the possibilities of the future.

"The capital has a million people, and the daily grain demand is as high as tens of thousands of dan. Bandits are coming, so we should store up grain. Merchants are looking for huge profits, so they will definitely speed up the transportation of grain, which is exactly what I want." Lin Xiaofeng's voice was full of confidence and calmness. He understood that the current situation required him to remain calm and rational, and not be easily swayed by emotions.

"As for the silver... Cheng Qinghua is in charge of the three major camps in the capital. As long as the merchants are not allowed to transport the silver out, I will find a way to get it back." Lin Xiaofeng's voice was full of determination and decisiveness. He knew that the current situation required him to make some unconventional decisions to deal with the crisis at hand.

Shao Shihan and Li Banghua looked at each other, both with embarrassed expressions. They immediately knelt down, first apologized to Lin Xiaofeng, and then accepted the decree to thank him. Their hearts were filled with gratitude and admiration, but they also understood that the emperor's decision was made out of helplessness and the situation.

"Miao Yikui!" Lin Xiaofeng turned his gaze to the Minister of Personnel. His eyes flashed with a sharp light, as if he wanted to see through everything.

"I'm here." Miao Yikui's voice was a little nervous and uneasy. He knew that the emperor's eyes were extremely sharp, as if he could see through people's hearts.

"Is the phenomenon of passive resistance and working without effort that you mentioned common?" Lin Xiaofeng's voice was serious and concerned. He knew that this issue was crucial to the future and destiny of the country.

"Your Majesty, this accounts for 30% to 40% of the total number of officials in Beijing. If the number was smaller, I would not have asked Your Majesty for instructions and would have already joined forces with the Censorate to impeach him." Miao Yikui's voice was filled with helplessness and worry. His face was haggard, and his eyes were filled with anxiety.

Lin Xiaofeng took a deep breath and nodded. He knew that this problem was extremely difficult and would require him to spend a lot of time and energy to solve. However, he also understood that this was his responsibility and obligation. As an emperor, he needed to be responsible for the future and destiny of the country.

Officials acted in this way out of two mindsets. One is that they think that the capital cannot be defended, and there is no point in continuing to work, so it is better to give up; the other is that they are in the Ming Dynasty but their hearts are in the Qing Dynasty, and they do bad things to disrupt the court, mess up the government, make government orders not work, and make the people dissatisfied. Lin Xiaofeng thought to himself that officials with these two mindsets need to be dealt with, especially the second one, who is even more of a national parasite and must be severely punished.

"The rest of you go out and wait." Lin Xiaofeng's voice was full of dignity and unquestionable. He knew that the following conversation needed to be kept confidential and cautious.

After everyone left and the palace door closed, Lin Xiaofeng whispered, "Miao Yikui, you will compile a list of officials who are slacking off at work, use promotion as bait, and ask each of them to write a work plan every morning, writing down everything they plan to do that day." There was some determination and decisiveness in his voice, as if he had already seen the future victory.

"Write a work summary in the evening and summarize the completion status of the plan. Those who have completed it should circle it, and those who have not completed it should write the reason for not completing it." Lin Xiao

Outside Chengtian Gate, the night was as dark as ink and the moonlight was as bright as water. Shan Huafeng, the captain of the Yongwei Camp, stood in front of the battle array with a whip in his hand and a figure as straight as a pine tree. His eyes were firm, as if he could penetrate the night and look directly at the enemy in the distance. He vowed, "Your Majesty, I will not let you down on this trip! I am willing to defend the territory of the Ming Dynasty with my blood!" Lin Xiaofeng looked at the three hundred brave guards in front of him, feeling a lot of emotion in his heart. These three hundred people were all heroic, with unyielding and brave eyes. They were the last pride of the Ming Dynasty, the descendants of the four Tengxiang guards, and the elite among the elite of the Ming Dynasty.

Lin Xiaofeng's eyes swept over everyone. Their faces were full of determination and resolve, but they could not hide a trace of fatigue and worry. Yes, there are only two elite troops left in the Ming Dynasty: one is the Guanning Iron Cavalry guarding Liaodong, and the other is the Yongwei Camp in front of us. What a pity! Among the four generals of the Yongwei Camp, only Huang Degong is still alive. There are too few soldiers left in the capital, and Huang Degong is far away and can't quench his thirst! Alas! The Ming Dynasty is full of regrets, and I can only sigh when I think of it. But fortunately, there is Lin Xiaofeng and these brave soldiers.

Lin Xiaofeng patted Shan Huafeng on the shoulder, with some concern and expectation in his tone: "Do you have any strategy for this operation?" Shan Huafeng turned around, looked at Lin Xiaofeng with sharp eyes, and replied: "I plan to harass the enemy, slow down their march, and prevent them from approaching the capital quickly." Lin Xiaofeng asked again: "How do you plan to harass them?" Shan Huafeng immediately said: "I plan to find a remote place to hide, and when the bandit army arrives, our three hundred people will attack them with bows and crossbows, bird guns, and fire guns. Just like your majesty said, we don't want to hurt the enemy, but to slow down their march. By the time they find us, we have already run far away." "Repeated harassment like this may delay them for a day or two."

Lin Xiaofeng shook his head slightly, thinking secretly in his heart. He knew that although this strategy seemed feasible, it was actually full of dangers. In order for Zhang Yuanheng to successfully surrender to the bandits, this news had been leaked as a bargaining chip. If this strategy is used again, I am afraid that the whole army will be wiped out on the first day. However, there are some things that cannot be said, especially about Zhang Yuanheng, which is his trump card.

Lin Xiaofeng hesitated for a moment and decided to tell Shan Huafeng the truth: "Shan Huafeng, your strategy won't work!" Shan Huafeng was not convinced. He knew that he was not as good as the emperor in terms of reading, but when it came to marching and fighting, he felt that he was not inferior to the emperor. Although the emperor had also read military books, there was a difference between talking about war on paper and actual fighting. To be honest, the emperor was still relatively immature in marching and fighting, so how could he compare with him in terms of actual combat experience!
Seeing Shan Huafeng's dissatisfaction, Lin Xiaofeng smiled faintly, with a glimmer of wisdom in his eyes: "If you don't believe it, then let's deduce it here. Now I am still you, and the emperor is Luo Wenbin. Luo Wenbin's army marches fifty miles every day, with cavalry leading the way, and infantry and baggage following behind." Shan Huafeng nodded and asked: "Then I will do as I said before on the first day. How do you plan to deal with it, Your Majesty?"

Lin Xiaofeng smiled slightly, as if he had seen through everything: "The premise is that you have not been discovered by their spies! Okay, then I will let you succeed in the first sneak attack. After being attacked, Luo Wenbin will definitely be on guard. What are you going to do the second time?" Shan Huafeng felt a little uneasy. Although he had led an army before, he had not been out of the city to fight many times. He was more often guarding the imperial city and protecting the emperor's safety. In addition, it was the emperor who asked the question, so he was suddenly speechless.

"I don't know... I don't know how Your Majesty plans to defend against it?" Lin Xiaofeng did not hide his strategy and said with a smile: "I will prepare three light cavalry on the second day and deploy them in the front, center and rear armies respectively; once we encounter a sneak attack, we will immediately meet and pursue them." Shan Huafeng thought for a while and said: "I will still follow the previous strategy, but this time I plan to go around behind them and launch a sneak attack, and then flee south after the sneak attack is successful. If there are few people pursuing us, I will kill them; if there are many people, I can also delay their speed." "Do you think you can escape?" Lin Xiaofeng asked.

"I think I can! The horses of the Yongwei Battalion are all top-quality horses, good at long-distance raids, and will definitely shake off the enemy." Shan Huafeng said confidently. However, Lin Xiaofeng frowned and shook his head. He misjudged the enemy's situation. Lin Xiaofeng patiently explained: "The horses are the same, but Luo Wenbin's cavalry are mostly surrendered Ming troops. Both their individual combat effectiveness and the speed and endurance of their horses are very strong. Moreover, they are resting and waiting for the enemy to tire themselves out, while you are raiding for a long distance, and the result is predictable."

Shan Huafeng's face changed slightly when he heard this, but he still insisted: "Even if their horses have strong endurance, I equip each horse with two horses, can't I catch up with you?" "We are all cavalry, all good at riding and shooting, you are fighting with fewer people against more people, what are your chances of winning?" Lin Xiaofeng asked back, "I asked you to harass the enemy and avoid casualties, what did you do?" Hearing these words, Shan Huafeng was sweating profusely. Although it was just a deduction, the result was already obvious. He lost, not only did he fail to complete the mission, but his entire army was annihilated.

"Your Majesty, please teach me!" Shan Huafeng restrained his attitude and asked respectfully. Lin Xiaofeng pondered for a moment and said slowly: "You must not sneak attack the enemy army, and you can't even spy on them." "Then I..." "Shoot their spies, kill any single cavalryman you encounter, and run away if you encounter a large army. You don't need to kill too many people every day, a few people are enough. If their spies are missing, they will definitely slow down their march and send troops to search. At this time, you should change direction and continue to shoot their spies." "If it's more, it will take three or four days, if it's less, it will take one or two days, and then you will immediately return to the capital. Three hundred people go, and three hundred people come back, remember?"

Shan Huafeng knelt on one knee and said, "Your Majesty, I accept your order." Looking at the tall and straight figure of the 300 Brave Guards, Lin Xiaofeng felt a sense of tragedy and grandeur in his heart. He took a step back, looked at everyone, and asked loudly, "You are all my personal soldiers. This expedition is of great significance. If we can delay the enemy for one or two days, the defense of the capital will be more stable; if we can delay it for three or four days, it will be more stable." "Can you complete the task?" "Yes!" The soldiers of the 300 Brave Guards shouted in unison, their voices resounding through the sky.

"Okay! I am the emperor, I cannot fight with you on the battlefield, but I will wait for you to return triumphantly. Then, I will drink with you to celebrate!" Lin Xiaofeng's voice was firm and powerful. He drew the sword from his waist with a clang, and pointed the long sword straight to the sky! "Yongwei Battalion, march out!" Woo--A tragic horn sounded on the wall of the imperial city, as if to see off the three hundred warriors.

Three hundred men against a forty thousand strong army! Although it was not a battle between two armies, their courage was commendable! The soldiers of the Yongwei Camp who stayed behind stood neatly on the city wall and looked into the distance, their eyes full of admiration and reluctance. With a loud shout, everyone drew their weapons at the same time and pointed them at the sky like Lin Xiaofeng. They were both brothers and comrades-in-arms, and they were determined to win every time they went out to fight! This time was no exception!

"Brothers, wait for the triumph!" "Triumph!" Shan Huafeng jumped on his horse and urged it forward amid the shouts of the crowd. As the sun set, Shan Huafeng and his party gradually disappeared into the twilight. Their figures looked particularly heroic and tragic in the afterglow of the setting sun.

Lin Xiaofeng looked at their receding backs, and an inexplicable emotion surged in his heart. He turned to Pang Zijin beside him and said, "Pang Zijin." "I'm here." Pang Zijin, the lieutenant general of the Yongwei Camp, stepped forward hurriedly. "How long has it been since you, the Yongwei Camp and the three major camps in the capital, tasted meat?" "Your Majesty, I can't remember." Lin Xiaofeng smiled bitterly. Yes, the imperial court's food and salary were good enough to fill our stomachs, so where would we get the money to buy meat?
He thought for a moment, and called the eunuch Guo Tianyang beside him: "Guo Tianyang?" "I'm here." "Draft an order, tomorrow order Cheng Qinghua to send 2,000 people out of the city to Nanyuan to hunt all the beasts. Those that can be caught alive will be caught alive, and those that cannot be caught alive will be killed and brought back." Nanyuan was the royal hunting ground of the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, where the grass and trees were lush, and beasts and elk gathered. Although it had declined during the Longqing period, prey still existed.

"I want all the soldiers of the Ming Dynasty to eat meat and drink soup." Lin Xiaofeng's voice was full of determination and expectation. He hoped that through his efforts, these brave soldiers could get the treatment and respect they deserved. Guo Tianyang couldn't help swallowing his saliva, and after receiving the order, he rushed to the cabinet. He knew that this was an important task, and also a task that could inspire the soldiers.

The sun sets, the stars fade, and the moon rises. Lin Xiaofeng calculates the time, looks at the moon in the sky and mutters to himself: "The prince should have taken action now, right?" His heart is full of expectations and worries. He knows that this war is of vital importance to the Ming Dynasty, and for him, it is a test and challenge. But he believes that as long as they work together, they will be able to defeat the enemy and protect the territory and people of the Ming Dynasty.

Late at night, the gate of Tiemenguan slowly closed under the dim moonlight, making a dull sound, as if telling the story of the years for this pass located on the coast of Bohai Sea. This pass is not only rich in salt, but also an important estuary of Daqing River. The moderate water depth provides a natural berthing place for ships, and merchant ships travel frequently and bustling. Since the Jin Dynasty, there has been a checkpoint here. After going through vicissitudes of life, although it is called a pass, it has actually developed into a small city. The city wall is built of solid adobe, and after repairs, it looks heavy and simple. There are four gates in the east, west, south and north. The gates are nailed with dense iron nails, which flash cold light in the sun, hence the name Tiemenguan.

After the night curfew was implemented, the whole city quickly fell into silence, with only the occasional barking of dogs and the sound of waves in the distance breaking the tranquility. In an ancient house in the city, there was a square table with two people sitting at the table. One of them was the crown prince of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Cilang. He was dressed in a luxurious brocade robe, with a childish heroic spirit between his eyebrows, but his eyes were a bit confused and uneasy. The other was the left governor Jiang Taiwei, who stood respectfully beside the crown prince, with an upright figure, a stern face, and a shrewd light in his eyes.

Suddenly, a slight creaking sound broke the silence in the room, and a eunuch hurried into the room with a nervous look on his face: "Your Highness, Yi Xiangli, the commander-in-chief of the Guanliao Dengjin Navy, requests to see you." "Let him in." Zhu Cilang said in a childish but unquestionable voice.

After a while, a burly man in military uniform walked into the room. He wore a Ming helmet and cotton armor. His square face had distinct features. He looked majestic and walked steadily. Every step he took revealed the soldier's fortitude and courage.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince is here to pay his respects! Your Highness the Left Commander-in-Chief!" Yi Xiangli knelt on one knee and saluted, his voice loud and full of energy.

"General Yi, please don't be polite. Please take a seat." Zhu Cilang ordered, with a barely perceptible hint of uneasiness in his tone.

Yi Xiangli was a little panicked when he was offered a seat by the prince upon first meeting him. He wanted to refuse, but Zhu Cilang stopped him: "No need to refuse, sit down."

After they sat down, Zhu Cilang signaled the others to leave, and the room returned to silence again, with only three people left. Jiang Taiwei stared at Yi Xiangli for a moment, and asked expressionlessly: "General Yi, how many men do you have? How many warships do you have?"

Yi Xiangli replied respectfully, "The navy has 21,286 soldiers, two double-deck Fu ships, nearly 100 large Fu ships, more than 100 patrol ships, winter ships, bird ships, and fast ships, all ready to be dispatched by Your Highness at any time."

Jiang Taiwei looked at Zhu Cilang, who nodded to signal him to continue. Jiang Taiwei stood up, took out a scroll from his sleeve and held it in his hand. The scroll was yellowed and seemed to carry a heavy history. "General Yi, I have an imperial decree here. Do you want to accept it or not?"

Imperial edict? Yi Xiangli was slightly stunned when he heard this. According to the law, the imperial edict must be accepted, but the imperial edict can be accepted or not. What does the emperor mean by this? Let him come to Tiemenguan to welcome the prince first, and then give the imperial edict. Is there something that cannot be said in the imperial edict? Or is the court in chaos?

Thinking of this, Yi Xiangli no longer hesitated, stood up and knelt on one knee: "Your Highness Yi Xiangli accepts your order."

Jiang Taiwei breathed a sigh of relief, and his nerves relaxed a little. If Yi Xiangli did not obey, it would be difficult for them to kill Liu Zeqing alone, and the consequences would be disastrous.

He slowly unfolded the scroll and began to read word by word, his voice deep and powerful:
"The bandits are rampant now, and they can only be wiped out with the whole country's strength. I have mobilized troops from all over the country to serve the king, but Shandong General Liu Zeqing feigned illness and refused the imperial edict. This is his first crime!"

"The cabinet ordered him to go to Baoding to suppress the bandits, but he disobeyed the order. This is his second crime!"

"Liu Zeqing allowed his soldiers to plunder Linqing, and the people regarded them as thieves, which ruined the reputation of the government army. This is the third crime!"

"Such a person who deceives the emperor, is disloyal and unjust, and disobeys orders, his crimes are heinous!"

"The Jinyiwei has now found out that Liu Zeqing wants to use the name of escort to hold the prince hostage in order to control Nanjing."

"In order to protect the prince and bless our Ming Dynasty, I order Yi Xiangli to plot the murder of Liu Zeqing and escort the prince to Nanjing."

"Appreciate this."

"Your servant Yi Xiangli accepts your order." After receiving the order, Yi Xiangli read it carefully, put it away after confirming that it was correct, but he felt mixed emotions in his heart.

"I wonder what action Your Highness would like me to take?" he asked, his eyes revealing firmness and determination.

Zhu Cilang remained silent. In fact, he felt at a loss. He had been confused since leaving the capital. Without the protection of his father, he felt weak and pitiful. A feeling of being abandoned came over him, and his eyes became moist. He wanted to cry, but as a prince he could not cry in front of others; he wanted to laugh, but his father must be defending the capital, so he could not laugh anyway. All kinds of emotions piled up in his heart, and he was under great pressure. If it weren't for the halo of the prince, he would have collapsed long ago!
Seeing the prince at a loss, Yi Xiangli looked at Jiang Taiwei for an answer. Jiang Taiwei's calm face finally showed a ripple. He frowned and said, "Your Majesty has given Liu Zeqing an imperial decree, ordering him to come to Tiemenguan to collect military pay and escort the prince to Nanjing."

"Scouts report that Liu Zeqing's army has left Linqing and is heading towards Tiemen Pass. If nothing unexpected happens, they will arrive at the city at midnight tonight."

"Your Majesty means that we should capture the leader first!" Jiang Taiwei added, his tone revealing unquestionable firmness.

Yi Xiangli thought for a while and asked worriedly, "What if Liu Zeqing decides to fight to the death?"

Jiang Taiwei raised his eyebrows, a hint of coldness flashed in his eyes: "General Yi has misunderstood, His Majesty does not want to capture him alive, but to kill him! Whether it is a knife, an axe, a bird gun, a fire gun or a red cannon, it will be a great achievement as long as we can kill him!"

"Once the commander is dead, with the crown prince and the imperial edict in hand, the soldiers will definitely not mutiny." He further explained, his tone full of confidence.

The corner of Yi Xiangli's mouth twitched slightly, he was in awe of Lin Xiaofeng's cruelty, and at the same time he mourned Liu Zeqing's fate. But he soon had a new question: "General Liu, if Liu Zeqing dares to come into the city, it will be easy. We can deploy heavy troops at the gate to kill him. But I am afraid that he will not come, but pretend to be sick in the army. In this way, even if Your Majesty comes in person, there will be nothing he can do."

Yi Xiangli's worries were also Jiang Taiwei's worries. Liu Zeqing's army had 15,000 people, including 5,000 cavalry and 10,000 infantry. Although not as good as Wu Sangui's Guanning Army, it was also the main force of the Ming army. They were first-class in field battles and offense and defense. However, Yi Xiangli's 20,000 naval forces were not good at land battles. If they were to fight head-on, it would be of no benefit to them. Moreover, the court was in need of people, and they did not want to see a situation of fratricide.

Yi Xiangli's concerns were also the concerns of Jiang Taiwei and the prince. They were not afraid of Liu Zeqing's greed, but they were afraid that he would not come. The military pay could be received by the deputy general, but if he was sick in the army, they would be helpless.

"General Yi's concerns are also our concerns. This matter needs to be discussed carefully and properly arranged. If we are not careful, we will be doomed! We need to think about all possible situations in advance and then respond accordingly!" Jiang Taiwei said seriously, his tone revealing an unquestionable majesty.

Yi Xiangli thought for a while and said, "Even if Liu Zeqing is sick and can't come, since the prince is here, he must come to pay his respects according to the rules. If he dares to come into the city, he will surely die!"

"If I were him, I would remain ill forever. Please meet me outside the city, Your Highness." Jiang Taiwei shook his head and denied this idea.

"Then we can ask him to meet in front of the city gate, then set up cannons on the top of the city, and bombard Liu Zeqing as soon as he arrives, how about it?" Yi Xiangli made a suggestion, with anticipation gleaming in his eyes.

"It's not appropriate. It's dark now, and Liu Zeqing will definitely get suspicious when he sees the sparks. Not only will our sneak attack fail, but we will also alert the enemy. I guess this is why he came in the middle of the night." Jiang Taiwei shook his head again and rejected this suggestion.

Yi Xiangli felt that his brain was not enough! Why was Liu Zeqing so difficult to deal with?

"Then how about we use a crossbow?" He finally thought of this weapon, with a hint of helplessness in his tone.

"No, it won't work. It's too dark now and the visibility is poor, unless we can hit him with one shot and ensure that he is killed. Do you have such a person in your army?" Jiang Taiwei asked back, with a hint of sarcasm in his tone.

Yi Xiangli shook his head, his heart filled with helplessness and anxiety. Cannons don't work, nor do bird guns, fire guns, and bows and crossbows! So what should he do?

As the night deepened, the sea breeze outside the Iron Gate was a bit chilly, blowing the flags on the city wall, making a fluttering sound. The lights in the city were sparse, reflecting a quiet and solemn atmosphere. In this ancient land, a conspiracy concerning the fate of the Ming Dynasty was quietly unfolding, and the answer seemed to be hidden in the endless night, waiting to be revealed.

Yi Xiangli experienced the feeling of racking his brains for the first time. It was a feeling of thoughts surging in his mind, looking for a way out like a tide. His eyes were sometimes solemn and sometimes flickering, as if every thought was churning in his mind, trying to find a ray of hope. He thought to himself that if Liu Zeqing had a hundred strategies to save his life, then they must come up with a hundred and one ways to deal with him. This was an offensive and defensive exercise between contradictions. They were sharp spears, and Liu Zeqing was the incomparably solid shield. In short, Liu Zeqing's fate seemed to be doomed, and he would definitely die! This thought echoed in Yi Xiangli's mind with a sense of determination and coldness.

As the night deepened and the midnight approached, the three looked at each other in silence for a long time, but they still couldn't come up with a good plan. How difficult it is to get rid of Liu Zeqing! The air seemed to be frozen, and it was so oppressive that people couldn't breathe. At this moment, Yi Xiangli's eyes suddenly lit up, like a meteor across the night sky. He slapped his thigh and said, "We can invite him on board! Once he's on board, he won't be able to come back!" However, Jiang Taiwei rolled his eyes at him and retorted, "If I were Liu Zeqing, I would definitely ask to go south along the coast on the grounds that war horses can't get on board. Besides, he has an army of 15,000 people, how can your ship accommodate them?" The light in Yi Xiangli's eyes dimmed again, he sighed, and said, "Forget it, it seems that we really have no other way."

However, at this moment of despair, the fire of hope ignited in Yi Xiangli's eyes again, an indomitable light that seemed to be able to penetrate the shackles of the night. He said excitedly: "Commander Liu, since Liu Zeqing will eventually meet His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, why don't we let His Royal Highness carry a weapon and wait for an opportunity to surprise him?" Jiang Taiwei did not refute immediately, but bowed to Zhu Cilang and said: "Please give it a try, Your Royal Highness the Crown Prince." Zhu Cilang nodded and stood up, his eyes flashing with a firm light, which was a kind of determination and courage belonging to the crown prince.

Jiang Taiwei took a folding fan from the table next to him, handed it to Zhu Cilang, and said, "Your Highness, I am Liu Zeqing now, and you are still the crown prince. I am saluting you now, and you try to use this fan as a knife to stab me." Zhu Cilang took the fan and nodded. When Jiang Taiwei knelt on one knee to salute, Zhu Cilang's hand holding the fan first bent and then stretched, accumulating strength to stab. However, Jiang Taiwei did not block with his hands, but just slightly turned his body to avoid his attack, and took the fan and pressed it against the crown prince's neck.

Yi Xiangli looked at this scene, and his heart was filled with disappointment. Too slow! The prince's movements were as slow as a snail in his eyes. If it was really an assassination, not only would it fail, but there would be a danger of delivery. This method was obviously not feasible. Sending other people to assassinate was also impractical, because Liu Zeqing knew that his actions had caused dissatisfaction in the court, so he set up defenses everywhere. He only needed a dozen personal soldiers around him to prevent people from finding opportunities for sneak attacks.

After a long time, Zhu Cilang finally said, "You two, I have a plan, I wonder if it is feasible?" He had woken up from his previous state of ignorance and began to think about this problem seriously. In the past, he hid under the wings of his father, and was not invaded by wind and rain. He thought that the country of Daming was as solid as the walls of the Forbidden City. However, when he walked out of the imperial city, left the capital, and lost the protection of his father, he really felt the cruelty of reality. Along the way, everyone he saw was hungry, and there were even tragic scenes of starving people everywhere and exchanging their children for food. This was undoubtedly a huge shock for him who had always been accustomed to a life of gold, silver and jade.

He wanted to find someone to enlighten him, but after looking around, he found no one to talk to. He could not show his weakness, otherwise he would be used by the nobles. Over time, his position as the crown prince of the Ming Dynasty would be played around by the nobles. Therefore, at this moment, he had to rely on his own strength! His eyes revealed an unprecedented firmness and determination.

Hearing that the prince was going to speak, Jiang Taiwei and Yi Xiangli immediately watched intently, and said respectfully: "Your Highness, please speak, we are all ears." Zhu Cilang pondered for a moment and said: "Before leaving the capital, my father gave me a piece of paper with the words 'The sky is dry and the earth is dry, use gunpowder' written on it. I have never understood the meaning of it, but now I seem to understand it a little..." His voice was low and powerful, as if every word contained endless power.

……

At midnight, the guards at Tiemenguan saw a light coming from afar. They did not dare to delay and quickly woke up their companions to hide behind the battlements to observe carefully. As the light gradually approached, they saw a man on horseback holding a lantern approaching them. Under the light, it can be seen that this man is wearing the standard armor of the Ming army, with a firm face and a look of unquestionable determination in his eyes.

When he approached the city gate, a guard drew his bow and arrow and shouted, "Stop! If you move forward, I will shoot you!" The rider immediately pulled the reins to stop the horse. "Don't shoot! We are one of us! I am Zhang Yuan, a subordinate of Shandong General Liu Zeqing. I am here to escort the Crown Prince to Nanjing by order." After saying this, Zhang Yuan reached into his arms and took out a letter and waved it to prove it. His voice was firm and powerful, as if it could penetrate the shackles of the night.

The guards on the city wall hesitated for a moment and then shouted, "Put the documents in the basket and retreat twenty steps away!" Then they tied the basket with a rope and lowered it along the city wall. After Zhang Yuan put the documents in the basket, the guards pulled the rope to lift the basket up. His movements were swift and agile, as if he had been tempered by thousands of hammers.

As Zhang Yuan retreated twenty steps, he began to scout Tiemenguan. He found that there were more guards on the city wall and more flags. Although he couldn't see their faces clearly, he felt that these people were not the original guards, but might be people brought by the prince. He had an ominous premonition in his heart, but it was soon replaced by a firm belief.

There was no place outside the city to hide soldiers, and most of the navy's men were probably on the boats and had not entered the city, because the Iron Gate was too small to accommodate so many people. In this case, he had nothing to fear! His eyes revealed a kind of determination and coldness, as if they could penetrate the shackles of the night.

Not long after, someone on the city wall shouted to Zhang Yuan, "Brother Zhang Yuan, the Crown Prince has invited General Liu to come into the city for a meeting. I wonder how long it will take for General Liu to arrive?" Zhang Yuan rode back to look at the road he had come from, and he was filled with admiration for Liu Zeqing. The General was really as good as a god, and had already predicted that the Crown Prince would invite him to the city for a meeting. Now it seems to be true! He was filled with infinite admiration and loyalty for Liu Zeqing.

Following Liu Zeqing's instructions, he answered loudly: "General Liu is still a quarter of an hour away from here. Please ask the brother in the city to report truthfully to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. General Liu is bedridden due to an injury he suffered from falling off a horse, and he is unable to enter the city. Your Royal Highness, please move outside the city and discuss matters with General Liu in the army. General Liu has 20,000 soldiers under his command and will definitely be able to ensure the safety of the Crown Prince." His voice was firm and powerful, as if it could penetrate the shackles of the night, conveying Liu Zeqing's will and determination.

The one shouting on the city wall was not the guard, but Yi Xiangli, the general of the navy. The prince and Jiang Taiwei were standing beside him, their eyes revealing a solemnity and expectation. Hearing that Liu Zeqing refused to enter the city, Yi Xiangli was angry but also finally convinced that he was not wronged. Only those who have done bad things will feel guilty. In his heart, he was filled with infinite hatred and determination for Liu Zeqing.

"According to the imperial decree, General Liu needs to escort the prince to Nanjing. The prince is the heir to the throne, how can he leave the city so easily? Regardless of national law or military regulations, the general should come to see the prince. Go and inform Liu Zeqing!" Yi Xiangli shouted loudly. His voice revealed an unquestionable majesty and power, as if it could penetrate the shackles of the night and convey the will and determination of the court.

Zhang Yuan saw this and didn't know what to say. He was only responsible for delivering the message. Thinking of this, he clasped his fists towards the city and said, "I will pass the message to General Liu. When the army arrives at the city, please don't hurt us by mistake. See you later!" His voice revealed a kind of helplessness and determination, as if it could penetrate the shackles of the night and convey Liu Zeqing's will and determination. Then he turned and left, disappearing into the vast night. (End of this chapter)