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

In the desolate wilderness, the night was as dark as ink. A crowd of people, illuminated by the dim torches, slowly moved forward, like a winding dragon wandering across the vast land. The cold wind blew by, stirring up gusts of dust, adding to the desolate feeling.

"General, everything I said is true. They still want you to come into the city to discuss important matters." At the front of the team, Zhang Yuan was riding on a tall warhorse, wearing iron armor, with a frown on his face. He recounted what had happened in a torrent of words, with a hint of anxiety and loyalty in his tone.

Liu Zeqing sat steadily on the horse, with a burly figure and a calm face. He held an exquisite pipe in his hand, and puffed out smoke leisurely while listening to Zhang Yuan's words. In the smoke, his eyes were deep, as if he was thinking about something. In the late Ming Dynasty, tobacco was already quite popular. Although Wanli, Tianqi, and Lin Xiaofeng had tried to ban smoking, the effect was minimal. Tobacco was still a good companion for soldiers in the army to relieve stress.

"You didn't lie to me, did you?" Liu Zeqing exhaled a puff of smoke and looked at Zhang Yuan sharply, his eyes revealing an unquestionable majesty.

Zhang Yuan shrank his neck in fear and said with a smile: "You are joking, General. I am only loyal to you, and everything else is not worth mentioning!" As he spoke, he did not forget to signal the soldiers around him with his eyes, asking them to stay alert.

Liu Zeqing took the last puff of his cigarette, threw the pipe to his men, then waved his hand and said proudly: "The infantry and baggage will camp here, and all the cavalry will follow me to Tiemenguan to collect their pay!" His voice was loud and full of irresistible power.

A warm cheer broke out in the team, and the sound echoed in the wilderness for a long time. They were in urgent need of money because the court had owed them eight months of military pay. In the past eight months, their lives were miserable, with no food to eat, no water to drink, and no money or food. If the bandits had not yet attacked, they would have surrendered to the bandits without hesitation.

Following Liu Zeqing's order, 10,000 infantrymen and the baggage behind them set up camp. Soon, the wilderness was filled with densely packed tents, with twinkling lights, like the starry sky falling into the mortal world.

After settling the team, Liu Zeqing found a gorgeously decorated carriage and got in. He ordered, "Let's go to Tiemenguan!" There was an unquestionable determination in his voice.

Led by the carriage, the five thousand cavalrymen slowly set off and embarked on the journey again. However, Liu Zeqing lay on the carriage and felt the bumps were unbearable, so he changed back to his own mount, which was a majestic warhorse with shiny fur and wild eyes.

He sat on his horse and began to arrange the tasks, his voice steady and powerful: "Today the weather is fine, and the moon will be hanging in the south sky at midnight. We are facing north with our backs to the south, and we can have a clear view of the situation when the iron gate is closed."

"Zhang Yuan, when we get outside the city gate, you will lead more than ten people to monitor the top of the city and the walls on both sides. If you see even the slightest spark, you must immediately shout and report, do you understand?" His eyes revealed an unquestionable majesty.

"I obey your orders." Zhang Yuan put away his previous smile and answered seriously. He paused for a moment and asked again, "General, if we see someone drawing a bow and arrow, what should we do?"

"Don't worry about this. I have a good idea." Liu Zeqing said confidently with a mysterious smile on his lips.

"Li Ergou?" he shouted, his voice revealing an irresistible force.

"I'm here!" A tall and strong man with broad shoulders urged his horse forward two steps. His face was firm and his eyes revealed an indomitable fighting spirit.

"You lead more than 20 brothers and surround me with shields. Wherever I go, you follow. Always stay alert. If you see someone drawing a bow and arrow or pointing a musket or a fire gun at me, no matter what I am doing, you must immediately raise your shield to protect me. Do you understand?" There was a hint of unquestionable majesty in Liu Zeqing's voice.

"I obey your orders!" Li Ergou answered loudly, his voice revealing a firm belief. He quickly ordered his men to gather their shields. Although those shields were small, each man was equipped with two, which was enough to withstand ordinary attacks.

After the preparations were completed, Liu Zeqing felt much more secure. Although he could hide the fact that he fell off his horse and was injured from Lin Xiaofeng for a while, it was only for a while. Everyone knew that this was just an excuse. He had 15,000 soldiers and horses under his command. Could it be that the commander could not fight if he was injured? Why not send a deputy general to Beijing to defend the king? The court lacked soldiers, not generals. If Lin Xiaofeng and the court were annoyed, there would be no good results. Now the court has ordered him to go to Tiemenguan to escort the prince south and pay him money. It is a good deed in name, but it may be a trap in reality. He must think carefully and take into account all things that are not in his favor. The right time and place, the moonlight and the stars, and even before setting off, he rarely took a bath and changed his clothes to seek peace of mind.

After giving all the instructions, Liu Zeqing returned to the carriage and closed his eyes to rest, but his mind was full of thoughts. Soon after, the team arrived outside the Iron Gate. Liu Zeqing's carriage stopped more than a hundred steps away from the city gate. Looking at the cavalry all over the mountains, Liu Zeqing sneered and secretly planned his next move. He ordered: "Zhang Yuan, go and knock on the door."

Zhang Yuan urged his horse to the city gate and shouted loudly: "I am Zhang Yuan, and I have been ordered to pass on a message! Shandong General Liu Zeqing and five thousand cavalry are here, and the rest of the army has set up camp five miles south of the city. General Liu has been ordered to escort the prince to Nanjing, and please come to the army to discuss matters!" His voice was loud and clear, piercing through the night and spreading throughout the city.

On the top of the city wall, Yi Xiangli frowned and looked at Jiang Taiwei beside him, feeling ominous. He lowered his voice and asked, "General Liu, what does Liu Zeqing mean by this? This is not a request, it is clearly an order! If the prince does not go, is he planning to rebel?" There was a hint of worry and uneasiness in his voice.

Jiang Taiwei looked in the moonlight and saw five thousand cavalrymen scattered all over the mountains. Under the illumination of torches, everyone looked serious, as if they were facing a great enemy. He said in a deep voice: "Liu Zeqing is short of money. Since the imperial edict says that the prince is carrying military pay, he will definitely not let go of the money. In his eyes, the prince can take it or not, but the money is indispensable." There was a hint of helplessness and coldness in his voice.

"If you don't give him money, will he rebel?" Yi Xiangli asked doubtfully, with a hint of uneasiness in his voice.

"He won't rebel, but he will attack the city!" Jiang Taiwei said with certainty. Then he stepped forward and held the battlements of the city wall and said, "I am the Left Commander Jiang Taiwei, and I am here to escort the prince to Nanjing. Since it is inconvenient for General Liu to enter the city, please ask him to come to the city gate to discuss matters." His voice was loud and firm, revealing an unquestionable majesty.

Left Commander Jiang Taiwei… was a first-rank official, the highest rank of military officers in the Ming Dynasty. Liu Zeqing was only a general, a second-rank official. Zhang Yuan was a garrison commander, a fifth-rank official, not even worthy of carrying Jiang Taiwei's shoes. He could not make the decision, so he turned his horse back to Liu Zeqing's carriage and passed the message back intact.

Liu Zeqing narrowed his eyes and thought, calculating various possibilities in his mind. The primary purpose of his trip was the prince's money, and the prince himself. If he could hold the prince hostage, that would be the best, but if not, he would just take the money and leave. Since Jiang Taiwei had already compromised, he didn't need to insist on anything. So he ordered: "Let's go and see Jiang Taiwei. Remember to try to drive the carriage to the city gate. Cannons and muskets are too heavy. It's easier to shoot horizontally, but it's very difficult to shoot downwards. As long as we hide in front of the city gate, they can't sneak attack us. The power of the 'hand cannon' is very small, and our shields can completely block it." There was a hint of cunning and confidence in his voice.

After giving instructions again, Liu Zeqing's carriage quickly arrived in front of the Iron Gate and stopped thirty steps away from the city gate. He squatted in the carriage and shouted, "I, Liu Zeqing, pay my respects to Commander Liu! Where is the prince? I want to pay my respects to him." His voice was deep and respectful, but there was murderous intent in his heart.

Jiang Taiwei spat gently. Liu Zeqing's voice was deep and high-pitched, and he didn't look injured at all. He shouted expressionlessly, "Where did General Liu get hurt when he fell off his horse? Can you come out and let me see?" There was a hint of doubt and provocation in his voice.

Liu Zeqing's voice rang out again: "General Liu, please forgive me. I just applied the medicine and cannot be exposed to the wind." There was a hint of helplessness and apology in his voice, but in his heart he was secretly thinking about how to seize the prince and the military pay.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince is right behind me, why don't you come out and salute?" Seeing that Liu Zeqing didn't show up, Jiang Taiwei brought up the Crown Prince. Because only by seeing Liu Zeqing in person can we act according to the plan. If the person killed is not Liu Zeqing, the consequences will be disastrous! This earthen city can't withstand the siege of 15,000 people! There was a hint of anxiety and majesty in his voice.

Liu Zeqing hesitated for a moment and then got out of the carriage at an extremely slow speed. When he got out, the nearby guards came forward and raised their shields high to protect him tightly. He stepped off the carriage, stepped on the soft sand, bowed and said: "Your Highness, I am Liu Zeqing. I fell off the horse and was injured. I can't stand the wind and can only use the shield to block it. I hope Your Highness will forgive me." There was a hint of humility and sincerity in his voice, but there was murderous intent in his heart.

Zhu Cilang turned around and got out from behind Jiang Taiwei. He ordered the eunuchs to hold up the torches, and the red light of the flames made his young cheeks red. "Liu Zeqing, I can't see your face clearly." Zhu Cilang said, with a hint of childishness and majesty in his voice.

Liu Zeqing looked up at the top of the city wall, and after confirming that it was the crown prince, the heavy stone in his heart finally fell. As long as the crown prince is here, the military pay will not be lost! He ordered Zhang Yuandao: "Bring a torch, so that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince can see clearly.

A deafening explosion suddenly sounded, as if the sky was collapsing and the earth was splitting, tearing the quiet night sky into countless pieces. Then, billowing smoke rolled out like an angry black dragon, covering the sky and the sun, swallowing up the light of the stars. Then came a violent shock wave, carrying countless fragments, like dense arrows, scattering everywhere, tearing everything around into pieces.

Soldiers and horses near the explosion site were the first to be hit. They seemed to be in an inescapable nightmare. The luckier soldiers were only hit by the sound waves. They covered their ears and ran away, with fear and despair intertwined on their faces. They fell off their horses involuntarily and fell into the dust, groaning in pain. The horses were terrified by the sudden loud noise. They neighed and kicked their hooves, struggling to escape from this terrifying place, but they were bound to the battlefield and could only wail helplessly.

The unfortunate soldiers were hit by the flying gravel and lead bullets. Their bodies were torn apart in an instant, and blood gushed out like a spring, staining their battle robes and the ground red. The screams came one after another, like the wailing in hell, which was terrifying. Some soldiers were bloody and killed on the spot, and their eyes were frozen with endless fear and unwillingness. The entire battlefield was filled with painful wails, neighing horses, calls for help, inquiries, shouts and cries. All kinds of sounds intertwined together to form a tragic symphony. The whole scene was in extreme chaos.

Although the soldiers far away from the explosion point were also affected to a certain extent, they had been baptized by artillery fire for a long time and were determined. After a brief reorganization, they resumed their ranks, like a group of indomitable warriors, ready to meet unknown challenges. A soldier covered his ears, half deaf and half dumb, looking at the direction of the thick smoke, his eyes full of confusion and fear. He swallowed hard and asked in a trembling voice: "This... What's going on? Is it a punishment from heaven?" Another soldier also looked confused. He shook his head and replied: "It seems that the general's carriage exploded! This... How is this possible?" Hearing this, everyone asked about the general's safety with concern and decided to go to investigate. Nearly 5,000 cavalrymen, while keeping alert, gathered towards the place where the explosion occurred. Their steps were firm and powerful, like a group of warriors about to face a decisive battle.

On the city wall, Jiang Taiwei stood up suddenly, his eyes flashing with anxiety and concern. He grabbed the crown prince Zhu Cilang who was pressed under him and asked anxiously: "Your Highness, are you okay? Are you injured?" Zhu Cilang brushed off the dust on his clothes, indicating that he was fine, and then hurried to the edge of the city wall and looked down. At this time, the smoke and dust had dissipated, leaving a huge pit at the scene, with a diameter and depth of nearly ten feet, surrounded by scorched earth, rubble and debris, like the remains of a disaster.

Zhu Cilang turned to ask Jiang Taiwei: "Commander Liu, have you found Liu Zeqing? Is he... is he still alive?" Jiang Taiwei observed carefully in the moonlight, pointed to a pile of wreckage in the distance of the deep pit and said: "It seems that he is dead! Your Highness, we must deal with this matter as soon as possible to avoid causing greater unrest." Zhu Cilang heard this and breathed a long sigh of relief. A trace of fatigue and helplessness flashed in his eyes. He leaned against the battlement and sounded exhausted: "This is good... It's finally over."

However, before he finished speaking, something unexpected happened outside the city. A soldier in dark armor immediately shouted: "Brothers! The general was killed by the imperial court! The general fought for the imperial court and made great achievements, but the imperial court repaid him with hatred. Can you tolerate this?" His voice was passionate and angry, like a sharp knife, piercing the silence of the night. Upon hearing this, the soldiers responded in unison, and the momentum became louder and louder. The voices of nearly 5,000 cavalry were uniform, majestic, and frightening. There was a flame of anger burning in their eyes, as if they wanted to devour everything.

Lieutenant General Li raised his arm and called out, his voice resounding through the sky like thunder. The cavalry responded one after another, they drew their weapons and surrounded the Iron Gate Pass. The cavalry stood still, a dark mass, like a dark cloud pressing down on the city, giving people a suffocating feeling. Lieutenant General Li's eyes flashed with determination, he ordered his men to send a message to the infantry in the rear, preparing to attack the city and avenge Liu Zeqing. His voice was cold and resolute, like a general about to face a decisive battle.

Seeing this, the defenders on the Tiemenguan wall were ready to fight as if they were facing a great enemy. Their eyes were full of tension and vigilance, like a group of warriors about to face a battle. Jiang Taiwei hurriedly ordered to put away their weapons, as he was worried that once the artillery fire was launched, the consequences would be disastrous. He knew that the time had come, so he ordered his men to use a rope to let him down from the wall to negotiate with the cavalry. His eyes flashed with wisdom and determination, like a wise man about to face a challenge.

Zhu Cilang was horrified, his eyes full of worry and uneasiness. He hurriedly grabbed Jiang Taiwei's sleeve and advised: "Governor, what are you going to do? This is too dangerous!" Jiang Taiwei turned around, his eyes flashing with determination. He replied: "I plan to persuade them and take the opportunity to recruit them. This is our opportunity and our mission." Zhu Cilang felt a warm current in his heart when he heard this. He knew that Jiang Taiwei was thinking about the overall situation, but he couldn't help but worry about his safety. He advised: "Governor, you must be careful! I'm worried that there will be danger." But Jiang Taiwei just smiled indifferently, he patted Zhu Cilang on the shoulder, motioning him to rest assured. Then he turned and walked towards the city, moving forward steadily, like a warrior about to face a challenge.

The cavalry outside the city saw this and wanted to stop him. But Jiang Taiwei calmly reported his identity. His voice was majestic and powerful, like a thunder that broke through the sky. The cavalry were all stunned. They stopped and looked at the general who came alone. Awe surged in their hearts. Jiang Taiwei asked: "Who was the person who just spoke up for Liu Zeqing? Tell me your name!" His voice was cold and majestic, like a judge who was about to judge a criminal.

Li Liangcai, the deputy general, stepped out immediately. He was tall and strong with a resolute face. Although he was somewhat afraid of Jiang Taiwei's identity, he stepped forward for the sake of the brotherhood behind him. He looked at Jiang Taiwei, his eyes flashing with determination and unyielding. Jiang Taiwei showed the imperial edict and read it aloud: "Liu Zeqing has committed crimes such as deceiving the emperor, embezzlement, and collusion with the enemy. He shall be beheaded for multiple crimes! Anyone who kills Liu Zeqing will be promoted three levels and rewarded with a thousand taels of silver! The organization of Liu Zeqing's troops remains unchanged, and all the officials will be promoted one level!" His voice was majestic and powerful, like a sound of nature, resounding through the sky. After reading it, he asked Li Liangcai: "Do you accept the edict?" His eyes flashed with expectation and majesty, like a general about to usher in victory.

Jiang Taiwei moved to one side, as agile as a monkey jumping in the mountains, avoiding the sharp edge of the saber. He pulled his clothes suddenly, revealing his neck, his eyes burning with unyielding flames, and roared indignantly: "Since I dare to come here alone, why should I fear life and death!" His voice echoed in the empty field, with a majesty and determination that could not be ignored.

The sun shone on his face, outlining his resolute features. His words echoed in the crowd, like a fire in winter, igniting the doubts and anger in everyone's hearts. "It might be easy to kill me, but have you ever considered the consequences?" His voice was deep and powerful, and every word was like a heavy hammer, hitting everyone's heart.

"It may be satisfying to kill important officials of the imperial court, but do you dare to disobey the imperial decree and become an enemy of the entire imperial court?" As soon as the words fell, the surroundings fell into silence. The wind seemed to have stopped at this moment, and only the rustling of leaves in the distance seemed to be telling unknown secrets.

The idea of ​​killing was temporarily put aside, because these people had indeed been holding grudges against the imperial court for a long time. On weekdays, they often cursed in private, cursing the civil officials who controlled the government, the officials of the Ministry of Revenue who withheld military pay, and the nobles who were as rich as a country. In short, they cursed almost everyone except the emperor. However, cursing and complaining did not mean being an enemy of the imperial court. As government troops, once they became enemies of the imperial court, they would be equivalent to bandits, and from then on they would live a life of displacement and homelessness, unable to defend their country.

Jiang Taiwei looked around with a sharp gaze, knowing the contradictions and struggles of these people. So he threw out his trump card - money!

"I have three purposes for coming here this time. The first is to escort the prince to Nanjing, the second is to kill Liu Zeqing in accordance with the emperor's order, and the third is to pay you military pay." His words were filled with unquestionable power, and every word was like a nail, driving into everyone's heart.

"The military pay owed to you will be paid in full, and each person will be given an extra five taels of silver!" As soon as this was said, the crowd fell silent again. Five taels of silver was undoubtedly a huge sum of money for these soldiers who had been fighting for years and living in poverty.

"Bullshit!" Li Liangcai roared, swinging his knife at Jiang Taiwei again. The knife flashed like lightning across the night sky, going straight for Jiang Taiwei's neck.

Jiang Taiwei did not dodge or evade, but put his neck forward to face the knife light, looking ready to die. There was no fear in his eyes, only persistence in justice and determination for the future.

At this moment, a crisp sound of metal clashing rang out! Li Liangcai's saber was firmly blocked by a cavalryman's weapon! The cavalryman had a resolute expression, and his eyes revealed unquestionable loyalty.

Li Liangcai was furious and ordered his personal soldiers: "Behead Jiang Taiwei for me!" His voice was like thunder, full of anger and unwillingness.

"Deputy General Li, it's not too late to listen to what Commander Liu has to say before taking any action!" someone advised, with a bit of reason and calmness in his voice.

"Yeah, let's listen to what he says first." Another person echoed, his eyes revealing a bit of confusion and expectation.

"He is alone. Even if we want to kill him, there is no need to rush." ​​Someone else spoke, his voice carrying a hint of calmness and indifference.

Seven or eight cavalrymen quickly separated Jiang Taiwei from Li Liangcai and his personal soldiers. Their faces were firm, and their eyes revealed unquestionable loyalty and determination. They knew that the decision at this moment would determine their future.

Seeing that everyone had different opinions, Li Liangcai took a deep breath and took a half step back. His eyes were always fixed on Jiang Taiwei, like a cheetah staring at its prey. However, his heart was full of doubts and struggles. He knew that once he took action, he would not be able to turn back. After a short silence, someone asked, "Governor Liu will not lie to us, right?" There was a bit of uncertainty and expectation in his voice. When everyone heard this, they couldn't help swallowing their saliva, looked at each other, and finally set their eyes on Li Liangcai.

"Deputy General Li, how do you know this imperial edict is fake?" A lieutenant general who was usually at odds with Deputy General Li asked, with a hint of provocation and doubt in his voice.

"Yeah, how do you know it's fake if you haven't seen it?" another person echoed, his eyes revealing a bit of confusion and dissatisfaction.

Li Liangcai tightly grasped his saber and angrily said, "General Liu fought for the imperial court and risked his life. How could he deceive the emperor? How could he withhold military pay? Correspondence with bandits is nonsense!" His voice was like thunder, full of anger and unwillingness. However, his heart was full of doubts and struggles. He knew that once he admitted that the imperial edict was false, he would be in an irretrievable situation.

Jiang Taiwei asked back expressionlessly: "Your Majesty ordered Liu Zeqing to go to Beijing to defend the king, but he lied that he fell off his horse and was injured. I didn't make this up. He was able to ride a horse before, you should have seen it." His voice was calm and powerful, and every word was like a hammer, hitting everyone's heart.

Everyone looked at Li Liangcai, waiting for his rebuttal. However, Li Liangcai remained silent. Because everyone had seen Liu Zeqing riding a horse, he could not refute it. His heart was filled with anger and unwillingness, but he knew he could no longer hide it.

"You are all cavalrymen. According to the rules of the court, ordinary soldiers should be given one tael and six cents of silver per month, and each horse should be given one tael of silver as livestock rations per month. How much have each of you received?" Jiang Taiwei's words were full of questioning. His voice was like a sharp blade in the cold wind, piercing everyone's heart.

"The correspondence between the bandits and Liu Zeqing has been intercepted by the Jinyiwei. Do I need to say more?" His words were full of unquestionable power, and every word was like a nail that pierced into the hearts of the people. They knew that once they admitted to having an affair with the bandits, they would be in an irreversible situation.

The crowd may not have listened to Jiang Taiwei's other words, but when the issue of military pay and livestock rations came out, everyone was furious. According to Jiang Taiwei, they should get two taels and six cents of silver every month, but in fact they didn't even get half of it! Being a soldier is a life-threatening job, and it's okay to delay military pay, but I didn't expect Liu Zeqing to withhold military pay and livestock rations!

Everyone could no longer bear it and started to curse Liu Zeqing. Their voices were like thunder, full of anger and unwillingness. They knew that the decision at this moment would determine their future.

"Damn it! You deserve to die, a flesh-eating and blood-drinking guy!" a soldier roared. His voice was like a flame in the wind, burning with anger and hatred towards Liu Zeqing.

"You dare to deduct the money our brothers earned by risking their lives? You're done for! You have the life to deduct it, but you don't have the life to spend it!" Another soldier echoed, his voice like a sharp blade in the ice, piercing Liu Zeqing's heart.

"I have trusted you for so long, and you actually withheld my military pay. Bah!" another soldier cursed angrily. His voice was like a devil from hell, cursing Liu Zeqing's sins and betrayal.

Deputy General Li Liangcai realized that the situation was not good. In the blink of an eye, the situation had changed dramatically. Just now they were still pointing fingers at Jiang Taiwei, but now their attitude was completely different, and they even had the intention of surrendering. His heart was filled with anger and unwillingness, but he also knew that he could not save the situation.

Li Liangcai shouted, "Jiang Taiwei is talking nonsense. Kill him to avenge the general!" His voice was like thunder, full of anger and determination. After that, he raised his saber and chopped Jiang Taiwei's head fiercely.

However, before he could chop down with his saber, Li Liangcai was suddenly stabbed from behind. The knife was accurate and fierce, penetrating his dark armor and stabbing into his back. The knife was pulled out quickly without any pause, blood splattered everywhere, and Li Liangcai fell to the ground and died. His eyes revealed some reluctance and doubt, but he could no longer save the situation.

Then, a dozen cavalrymen surrounded Li Liangcai's personal guards. There were only four or five of them, and they were quickly wiped out under their siege. Their figures were like ghosts, shuttling around on the battlefield, harvesting the lives of the enemies.

It all happened so fast that by the time the others reacted, Li Liangcai, the deputy general, had already fallen to the ground. His body was thrown on the battlefield like a piece of rag. Everyone looked at each other, their hearts filled with shock and fear. They knew that the decision at this moment would determine their future.

After dealing with Li Liangcai's personal soldiers, the attacker walked to Jiang Taiwei and knelt on one knee: "I am Tian Liang, the subordinate of the Lieutenant General, and I pay my respects to Governor Liu!" His voice was firm and powerful, and every word was like a nail, driving into the hearts of the people. They knew that the choice at this moment would determine their future.

With him taking the lead, everyone knelt on one knee, indicating that they had no intention of confronting the court. Their figures were like a forest, neatly arranged in front of Jiang Taiwei. They knew that the decision at this moment would determine their future. They would follow Jiang Taiwei, serve the court, and fight for the future of the country!
Jiang Taiwei finally let go of his worries. From burying gunpowder in front of the city gate, using a trick to let Liu Zeqing light the torch, to the sparks on the torch igniting the gunpowder explosion, to him facing 5,000 cavalry alone, every link must be correct, especially the last link. Once a mistake is made, the whole game will be lost. Fortunately, he succeeded. He killed Liu Zeqing and convinced these soldiers! In fact, the key to this matter lies in Liu Zeqing. As long as he dies, the soldiers under his command will lose their backbone. Once Liu Zeqing dies, they will only have two options: one is to continue to follow the court, and the other is to surrender to the bandits. However, the former is justified! He is betting that most people will choose the former!
Jiang Taiwei did not dare to show any expression on his face. He knew that his calmness and composure at this moment were more powerful than any words. He said lightly: "General Tian, ​​I will now promote you to deputy general." His voice was calm and powerful, and every word was like a heavy hammer, hitting everyone's heart. They knew that the choice at this moment would determine their future. They would
Three days later, the sky in the capital was gray, as if covered by a thick layer of leaden clouds, foreshadowing something ominous. In the streets, people's faces were filled with anxiety and uneasiness. Even the bustling market on weekdays became unusually quiet. Only a few low conversations occasionally revealed the fear and helplessness of the crisis.

The atmosphere in the Huangji Hall was so gloomy that it was suffocating, as if even the air had frozen. The cabinet chief, Li Banghua, had a solemn expression, his eyes revealing a bit of anxiety and determination, and he reported the military situation word by word: "Your Majesty, Tang Shengyu was defeated in the battle of Juyongguan, and is leading 7,000 exhausted remnants to slowly retreat to the capital, and has now arrived in the Changping area. And the bandit army, like a surging tide, is following closely behind, with great momentum! Our army suffered heavy losses in this battle, with more than 3,000 casualties, and although the bandits also lost more than 10,000 people, 70% of them are innocent civilians!" There was some pain and indignation in his voice.

Shao Shihan clenched his fists, his teeth chattered, his eyes seemed to be burning with fire, filled with endless anger at the cruel behavior of those bandits. In his eyes, those bandits had lost their humanity, they treated the people even more cruelly than they treated pigs and dogs, because at least pigs and dogs would not be used as shields by them!
"The bandit Luo Wenbin's troops have approached a place fifty miles southwest of the capital, and are expected to arrive at the capital city tomorrow." Li Banghua's voice was trembling, and every word seemed to be squeezed out from the bottom of his heart, full of heaviness and helplessness.

"All the grain in the Tongzhou government warehouse has been transported to the capital and stored in the homes of nobles and court officials, and is heavily guarded. The grain transport has been stopped, and all ships have left Tongzhou and are anchored at the docks in Tianjin." Li Banghua continued to report. Although his voice was steady, the tension and worry in it could not be concealed.

"The Yongwei Battalion returned to the capital last night. Except for one injured soldier, all others are safe. During this expedition, they killed 27 bandits and scouts, captured two bandits, and seized 29 war horses." Li Banghua specially read out the battle report of the Yongwei Battalion. There was a hint of relief in his voice, although this relief seemed so insignificant in this heavy atmosphere.

"Left General Jiang Taiwei and his 13,000 soldiers have arrived outside Tianjin and are expected to reach the capital in three days. But considering that the bandits may have already surrounded the city by then, I suggest that Jiang Taiwei stay in Tianjin and wait for the opportunity." Li Banghua's words were filled with hesitation and determination. He was well aware of the weight of this decision.

"The prince has already sailed into the sea and is now approaching Haizhou. Everything is going well." These words flickered like a faint light in this dull hall, bringing a glimmer of hope to people.

As Li Banghua read out the reports one by one, the atmosphere in the court became more and more depressing. Everyone felt as if a huge rock was pressing down on their hearts, making it hard to breathe. The bandits' evil deeds had spread throughout the capital, and everyone's heart was filled with questions: Can the capital hold on?

If they could hold on, that would be great, but if they couldn't, what would be the consequences? Would they rob them of their wealth? Loot their food? Take over their houses and women? Would they kill them? Or... would the capital be massacred? These thoughts swirled in everyone's mind, like a nightmare that couldn't be shaken off.

Lin Xiaofeng had a blank expression on his face, looking quite calm, but his eyes revealed an indescribable firmness and determination. What should and shouldn't be done had already been done, and the outcome could only be left to fate! Moreover, as the emperor, he was the backbone of all officials and the capital, so how could he show the slightest panic?
"Lord Li, how many people have you recruited recently?" Lin Xiaofeng's voice was steady and powerful, and his eyes revealed an unquestionable majesty.

"Your Majesty, a total of 78,247 civilians have been recruited and all have been equipped with weapons. However, there is a shortage of armor, and the Ministry of Works is busy making paper gunpowder, so we can only do this for now." Li Banghua's answer revealed helplessness, and his eyes flashed with anxiety and worry.

Lin Xiaofeng frowned and nodded, his heart was also full of helplessness. The capital now has a population of 800,000, and the number of recruits has accounted for one-tenth of it, which can be said to be quite large. However, the problem of armor gave him a headache. Whether it was dark armor or cotton armor, it was quite cumbersome to make, and it was difficult to produce a large number of them at once.

Wait... He suddenly thought of a plan, a plan that might be able to turn the situation around. A glimmer of wisdom flashed in his eyes, as if he saw the dawn of hope.

"Lord Li, Minister Fan, please come to the Qianqing Palace after the court session. I have something to confirm." There was an unquestionable majesty and decisiveness in his voice.

"I obey your order." The two men answered in unison, their eyes revealing a bit of curiosity and anticipation, wondering what the emperor's plan was.

"Minister Fang, how many people have been relocated?" Lin Xiaofeng turned to Minister Fang again, his eyes revealing some concern and worry.

Shao Shihan stepped out of the class and bowed, answering: "Your Majesty, all the people within a radius of fifty miles of the capital have already moved into the city. The people outside fifty miles are out of reach. A small number of the people who moved in were resettled in vacant houses, while most of them have to sleep on the streets." There was a hint of helplessness and sadness in his voice. This crisis has put too many people in trouble.

Lin Xiaofeng nodded without saying anything, his heart filled with helplessness and worry. How can everyone have a place to live? Fortunately, it is already mid-March (Lunar calendar), and although it is still cold, it is not as cold as February. March in the capital is dry and rainless, and sleeping on the streets is still tolerable. I hope this crisis can pass as soon as possible.

"Okay, everyone. Get ready after the court session. Let's go up to the city wall with me tomorrow and see what the bandits look like!" Lin Xiaofeng's voice revealed firmness and determination, and his eyes flashed with an unyielding light.

"Retreat——" Guo Tianyang was interrupted before he could finish his words.

"Your Majesty!" Someone among the civil officials stood up, his voice filled with urgency and determination.

"I wish to impeach Dingxi Earl Tang Shengyu!" This sentence exploded in the court like a bomb, instantly detonating everyone's emotions.

Lin Xiaofeng was stunned. Impeachment? Hearing these two words, his brows furrowed, and murderous intent suddenly rose. At this critical moment, someone actually impeached. Isn't this an internal conflict? More importantly, the person being impeached was Tang Shengyu, who blocked Li Zicheng's army of more than 100,000 at Juyongguan!
In history, Tang Shengyu surrendered to Li Zicheng first and then to Dorgon. Judging from his actions, he was doomed to die! However, now was not the right time, let alone the present moment. His eyes revealed a bit of coldness and determination, and he decided to nip this internal conflict in the bud.

Fang Kezhuang, the Right Censor of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, stood up and said passionately: "Former Shanxi General Zhou Yuji had only 7,000 soldiers under his command, but he was able to stop the bandits at Ningwu Pass for more than ten days despite the lack of soldiers and food. In the end, although the bandits broke through Ningwu Pass, they also lost 70,000 to 80,000 soldiers!"

"Juyongguan is the gateway to the capital. Tang Shengyu has 8,000 soldiers and the 2,000 defenders before him, totaling more than 10,000. They have more troops than Zhou Yuji and have sufficient food and grass. If we fight hard, we will definitely be able to stop Li Zicheng outside the pass."

"Even if we can't win, we can still hold out for a dozen more days!"

"However, Tang Shengyu not only lost the pass, but even the number of soldiers and horses he lost was almost the same as that of the bandits!"

"I ask Your Majesty to punish Tang Shengyu! Punish him for losing the battle, being afraid of the enemy, and deserting the battlefield!" Fang Kezhuang's voice was filled with indignation and determination, and his eyes flashed with an unquestionable light.

"I second the proposal!"

"I second this motion!"

Led by Right Censor Fang Kezhuang, three or four censors and officials stood up and impeached Tang Shengyu. Their voices were filled with urgency and determination, as if they wanted to put Tang Shengyu to death.

"What Censor Fang said makes sense..." Lin Xiaofeng nodded seriously, his eyes revealing a bit of deep thought and determination. He had long known that there were treacherous people in the court, and now that Li Zicheng was about to besiege the city, those treacherous people who had been hiding deeply could not help but jump out.

In this case, why not use their own tricks against him? He already had a plan in mind, a plan that could catch all these treacherous people in one fell swoop.

"However, it seems inappropriate to punish him right now when we need people?" Lin Xiaofeng said deliberately, his eyes revealing some hesitation and indecision, as if he was really considering whether to punish Tang Shengyu.

"Your Majesty!" Wu Weihua, the right vice minister of the Ministry of Revenue, stood up, his voice filled with urgency and determination.

"I heard that Tang Shengyu had correspondence with the bandits when he was guarding Juyongguan. I thought Tang Shengyu may have surrendered to the bandits, and he returned to Beijing this time to act as the bandits' internal support! Cooperate inside and outside, open the city gate, and let the bandits enter the city!" Wu Weihua's words were filled with indignation and determination, and his eyes flashed with an unquestionable light.

"Your Majesty, be careful!" As soon as Wu Weihua finished speaking, there was an uproar in the court. The civil officials were talking to each other, and the atmosphere suddenly became extremely tense.

Lin Xiaofeng nodded on the surface, but he was already murderous in his heart. Heard... thought... maybe, just based on these three words, he wanted to kill Tang Shengyu. This was not just to kill Tang Shengyu, it was clearly to kill the loyalty of the soldiers!

Those soldiers who fought bloody battles on the front line, all they did was risk their lives. However, these civil officials in the rear not only did not help, but also wanted to sabotage! If this is true, how can the soldiers still be loyal? Once loyalty is lost, then the Ming Dynasty will perish!

Wu Weihua, you really deserve to die! No, there are more than just him, there must be others! Lin Xiaofeng's heart was filled with murderous intent and determination, he decided to catch all these treacherous people in one fell swoop, (End of this chapter)