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

"Lord Li, where is Wu Sangui now?" Lin Xiaofeng asked calmly, standing in front of the window of the Qianqing Palace. His eyes passed through the exquisite window lattice and stared at the gray sky outside, as if he could penetrate the clouds and see the battlefield in the distance.

"Your Majesty, Wu Sangui had already set out from Shanhaiguan before the bandits besieged the city. At a speed of over a hundred miles a day, he should have reached Funing by now." Li Banghua's voice was a little tired, but still firm.

Lin Xiaofeng nodded slightly and said slowly: "Well, this speed is within my expectations." He turned around and walked to the dragon throne. His fingers gently stroked the armrests carved with dragons and phoenixes, and a complex look flashed in his eyes.

He then asked, "Why is Wu Sangui walking so slowly?" There was a hint of subtle doubt in his tone.

Someone nearby responded, "He is a political opportunist. Walking slowly is in line with his personality!" There was a hint of disdain in the person's tone.

Recalling the previous events, on March 5, Wu Sangui was conferred the title of Pingxi Bo and ordered to lead his troops to Beijing to protect the capital. The scene at that time seemed to be still in front of me. Wu Sangui knelt on the ground and accepted the reward with an elusive expression on his face. On March 16, Wu Sangui led his army to Shanhaiguan and wrote a letter saying that he needed five days to settle the people before he could lead his army westward. On the 22nd, his army arrived in Yutian, and as a result, he heard the news that the capital had fallen and Lin Xiaofeng had hanged himself.

If he said that before reaching Shanhaiguan, he led the elite troops to cover the rear because he was worried that the people accompanying him would be massacred by the Eight Banners soldiers, this excuse would still make sense. After all, most of his subordinates were Liao people, and they had been fighting with the Eight Banners soldiers for a long time, and they had deep resentment. If he ignored the lives of the Liao people, his subordinates might launch a mutiny. However, after entering the pass, he could have personally led the elite troops and quickly went to the capital to serve the king. However, Wu Sangui deliberately delayed time, allowing the troops from all directions to fight Li Zicheng first, and then he would reap the fruits of his labor. In this way, he could preserve his strength from loss, and share the credit of "serving the king" with the generals from all directions. Or, he was also waiting for Li Zicheng to capture the capital before changing his course!

No matter what he thought in his heart, he had only one goal: to preserve his strength! For him, among the three forces of the Ming court, Shun army, and the Eight Banners Army, whoever could help him preserve his strength, he would choose. So he was not in a hurry to serve the king, and even though his father Wu Xiang was trapped in the capital, he had no intention of speeding up the march. This bastard, how cruel!

There was another reason why Wu Sangui was slow to march... During the Jisi Incident, Yuan Chonghuan quickly went to the capital but died in battle, which chilled the morale of the Guanning Army. Lin Xiaofeng had no wisdom to begin with. Although Yuan Chonghuan deserved to die, it was not the time for him to die! Thinking of this, Lin Xiaofeng frowned slightly, and a trace of regret flashed in his eyes.

However, Lin Xiaofeng was not worried that Wu Sangui would not come to the capital. As long as he could defend the capital and save his life, Wu Sangui would come sooner or later. Although he controlled the Guanning Army, the Guanning Army and the Jiannu had a feud. If he wanted to surrender, he had to find an excuse. Otherwise, he would be unjust and unjust.

When Wu Sangui surrendered, he was shouting the slogan: "If a man cannot protect himself and his family, what is the point of living?" Now his whole family is safe and sound in the capital, so he has no excuse to surrender.

Lin Xiaofeng said calmly: "Wu Sangui can no longer be relied upon for the time being. Jiang Taiwei has only more than 10,000 people. If we rashly enter Beijing, our entire army will surely be wiped out." His tone revealed a sense of helplessness, but more of determination.

"This is the capital! We have to defend it by ourselves!" His eyes swept across everyone in the hall, and everyone's face was filled with determination and resolve.

Li Banghua's eyes were red and he nodded in a depressed mood: "Your Majesty, we are incompetent and have frightened Your Majesty!" His voice was choked with sobs, obviously due to the fatigue and anxiety of recent days.

"It's okay, Lord Li, can you still hold on?" Lin Xiaofeng asked with concern. He knew that Li Banghua was already over 70 years old and had been transferred to the Censorate for health reasons. Compared with the six ministries, the work of the Censorate was relatively easy. But now Li Banghua was the chief minister of the cabinet and concurrently in charge of the affairs of the Ministry of War, and the workload was enormous.

Li Banghua tried hard to straighten his hunched back and said seriously: "Your Majesty, please rest assured! I can still hold on!" Although his voice was a little hoarse, it was full of firmness and strength.

"Okay! In that case, I will arrange a sedan chair for you! You can ride in and out of the imperial city." Lin Xiaofeng said, with a gentle light in his eyes.

Li Banghua was stunned when he heard this, and hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, you must not do this!" He knew very well that at this critical moment, every resource should be used to the best effect.

"What's wrong with that? What I say is my will!" Lin Xiaofeng's voice was filled with unquestionable majesty.

"I... kneel down to thank the Emperor for His Grace!" Li Banghua wanted to kneel down to pay his respects, but Lin Xiaofeng signaled Guo Tianyang, who was standing beside him, to help him up. His eyes were filled with gratitude and admiration.

"You're welcome, Lord Li! I suddenly remembered something. How much silver do you have on hand now?" Lin Xiaofeng's words were relaxed and casual, as if he didn't care about the answer to this question.

Li Banghua didn't know what the emperor meant, so he had to answer honestly: "I don't have much cash, but my family still has some assets." There was a hint of embarrassment and helplessness in his voice.

"Guo Tianyang! Go to the inner treasury and get 100,000 taels of silver for Lord Li!" Lin Xiaofeng said with a bit of generosity. He knew that in this critical moment, although money was important, people's hearts and morale were more important.

"Your Majesty, what is this?" Li Banghua was confused for a moment. Judging from the current situation in the capital, there is no place to spend money! Although he is short of money, he is not short of money. Because power is more important than money now! As long as he wants money, he can make tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of taels of silver in an instant!

"Are there any officials in the Ming Dynasty who are not corrupt? No! There is only a difference in how corrupt they are!" Lin Xiaofeng said with a hint of sarcasm and helplessness. He knew that in this corrupt dynasty, it was almost impossible to find an official who was not corrupt.

"Then why are they greedy?" There was some doubt and confusion in Li Banghua's voice.

"Some people are greedy because they don't have enough food to eat!" Lin Xiaofeng said with a bit of heaviness and emotion. He knew that in this turbulent era, the lives of the people were extremely difficult.

"Just because you don't lack money doesn't mean your people don't lack money to spend! Why don't you give some of the money to them? This way you can win people's hearts and build relationships, so why not?" Lin Xiaofeng's words were quite straightforward and honest. He knew that in this chaotic world, if he wanted to stabilize people's hearts and morale, he had to use some practical means.

When Li Banghua heard the words "forming cliques and factions", the corners of his mouth twitched slightly. The emperor's words were so straightforward! Even more straightforward than what he said himself! However, he also understood the emperor's intentions and painstaking efforts. At this critical moment, we must unite all the forces that can be united to jointly resist the invasion of foreign enemies.

"I am so terrified! I dare not do this!" Li Banghua's voice was filled with fear and uneasiness. He knew that he had a heavy responsibility on his shoulders and dared not slack off or neglect it.

"Don't refuse! If you have nothing to do, go back early and compile a list of the fallen soldiers! I plan to print their names on the front page of Lin Xiaofeng's Seventeenth Year!" Lin Xiaofeng's words were solemn and solemn. He knew that these fallen soldiers were the backbone of the country and the pride of the nation, and their names should be remembered forever in the long river of history.

"I obey your order!" Li Banghua knelt on the ground with tears in his eyes to thank the emperor, and then left the palace crying. The emperor has given him too much honor and favor, and he can never repay it in this life! If there is an afterlife, he must serve Lin Xiaofeng again on the battlefield and return home wrapped in his horse's hide!
Looking at Li Banghua's departing back, Lin Xiaofeng's eyes flashed with a complicated look. He knew that this old man had given too much to the country and the nation, and now was the time when he needed support and help the most.

"Wait a minute..." Lin Xiaofeng suddenly remembered something and hurriedly called out to Li Banghua who was about to leave.

"Your Majesty, I am here!" Li Banghua turned around and responded quickly, with a hint of urgency and anticipation in his voice.

"Is there enough medicine in the capital?" Lin Xiaofeng asked with some concern and worry. He knew that in this war-torn era, medicine was one of the important supplies for treating the wounded.

"It's enough for now, but as the number of wounded continues to increase, it will soon be insufficient." Li Banghua's voice was filled with helplessness and anxiety. He knew that once the wound medicine ran out, more wounded would die because they could not get timely treatment.

After hearing this, Lin Xiaofeng sighed secretly in his heart. Ancient medicine is so backward! Even cold can be fatal! If the soldiers are slightly injured, the mortality rate is as high as 80%! This is true even if there is a wound medicine available! If there is no wound medicine, the mortality rate will be even higher!

"I have a way to solve this problem. Although the effect is not as good as the golden wound medicine, it is worse than nothing!" Lin Xiaofeng's words were full of firmness and determination. He knew that in this critical moment, he must do everything he can to treat the wounded and protect the future and hope of the country.

"Your Majesty, please teach me!" Li Banghua said excitedly. He needed everything that could save his life! At this critical moment of life and death, every minute and every second seemed extremely precious.

"You can try using tobacco leaves! The ashes from burning tobacco leaves can be used to stop bleeding and reduce swelling! Arrange someone to go to the city to buy some tobacco leaves first! Spread the news when you have purchased enough!" Lin Xiaofeng's words were filled with expectation and hope. He knew that although this method was simple, it could save the lives of countless wounded soldiers.

"I understand! I'm leaving now!" Li Banghua left the Palace of Heavenly Purity in great joy and went to the Cabinet to arrange matters.

The total military strength of the capital today is like a towering mountain, majestic and heavy, with about 125,000 people. They have built an indestructible line of defense in this ancient and solemn city, guarding the peace and dignity of this land.

The 78,000 militiamen recruited by the Ministry of War are like a group of unpolished jades. Although they have not yet fully blossomed, they are already equipped with sharp weapons, like swords that have just begun to show their edge. Unfortunately, however, their armor is not yet complete, just like a soldier without a battle robe, so they can only barely defend the city wall and cannot take on more combat tasks. Their eyes are full of determination and resolution, but also mixed with a hint of helplessness and regret.

The three camps of the capital had a force of more than 29,000 soldiers, or 30,000. This was a team of veteran soldiers who had experienced many hardships, including the old, weak, sick and disabled, just like old trees that had experienced many storms, with mottled branches but deep roots and lush leaves. When defending the city, they might be able to do their best, just like old trees holding their ground in the wind and rain, but once they were fighting in the wild, their combat effectiveness seemed a little insufficient, just like old trees that were unable to do their best under the scorching sun.

The Wucheng Bingmasi and the patrol camp together have more than 5,000 people. They are responsible for maintaining the security of the capital, just like the guardian of the city, always alert to every possible threat. Their combat effectiveness is stronger than those of the old, weak and disabled in the three camps, just like young guards are more resilient than old trees. But compared with the Jinyiwei and Dongchang, they are still slightly inferior, just like the gap between ordinary guards and elite warriors.

Jinyiwei has 2,000 people, and Dongchang has 1,000 people. Although they are famous, like stars in the night sky, they are actually far inferior to the Ming border troops in terms of combat effectiveness, just like the difference between stars and the sun. However, they also have certain combat capabilities on horseback and on foot, just like stars are not as good as the sun, but they can still illuminate a piece of heaven and earth.

There are also the 7,000 soldiers of Dingxi Bo Tang Shengyu. Although they suffered a defeat at Juyongguan, like former warriors falling on the battlefield, I think their fighting power is still stronger than that of the Jinyiwei. They are like sharpened swords, although they have suffered setbacks, they are still sharp.

Finally, there is my elite among the elites - the Brave Guard Battalion, which now has 2,000 people. Their combat effectiveness is comparable to that of the Ming Border Army, like two sharp swords shining against each other. Even if the numbers are equal, they will not lose, just like two equally matched warriors fighting on the battlefield.

In addition, I have more than 300 dead soldiers. They used to be vicious people, not afraid of life and death, like the devils in hell, just want a fight. Last night, we attacked the bandits' camp. Although we suffered more than 100 casualties, we also killed 600 enemies! Their record is like a phoenix in the flames. Although they have gone through hardships, they still shine brightly.

Oh, by the way, I also arranged a few night guards as sentries in Luo Wenbin's camp. They were the ones who burned Luo Wenbin's food last night. Because there are no secret sentries, I can't contact them and can only act on the spot. This is like a chess piece in the dark night. Although it cannot be directly controlled, it can play a miraculous effect at a critical moment.

After Lin Xiaofeng finished speaking, Zhu Fenghui silently remembered it in his heart. His eyes flashed with deep thought, like a wise man examining every move on the chessboard.

After Zhu Fenghui nodded, Lin Xiaofeng continued, "In order to prevent you from attacking at night, I will send 4,000 soldiers to patrol the night. One thousand of them will hide in the dense forest in the southwest of the city, like a group of lurking cheetahs; one thousand will hide in the ruins in the southeast of the city, like a group of hidden poisonous snakes; one thousand will hide under the eaves in the northeast of the city, like a group of watchful owls; and another one thousand will hide in the dark alleys in the northwest of the city, like a group of arrows ready to be fired."

“There are only two ways to launch a night attack. One is to go out through the city gate, like a tiger descending a mountain; the other is to use ropes to descend to the ground, like a monkey climbing a branch.”

"No matter how you send your troops, if they are discovered by my people, they will surely die!" Lin Xiaofeng's words were full of determination and coldness, like a ruthless judge.

"Unless you give up the night attack!" There was a hint of provocation and expectation in his words.

"I will not give up the night attack!" Zhu Fenghui shook his head and said, with a firm light flashing in his eyes, like an indomitable warrior.

After thinking for a moment, he said, "Your Majesty, I understand your strategy, but it doesn't seem fair to you." There was a hint of hesitation and concern in his tone.

"It doesn't matter. The thief Li Chuang was frightened by the night attack and will definitely strengthen his defenses." Lin Xiaofeng's words were full of confidence and composure, like a general who had everything under control.

Zhu Fenghui nodded and said: "I will send two groups of people to carry out the night attack. The first group will send more than one hundred death warriors. They are wearing double armor, like warriors in heavy armor. They all carry grenades but no weapons!" There was a hint of determination and coldness in his words.

Lin Xiaofeng was stunned when he heard this. He only brought grenades but no weapons. How could this be considered a night raid? He was filled with doubts and confusion.

"Then what?" Lin Xiaofeng couldn't help but ask, with a hint of anxiety and anticipation in his tone.

"The second group will only carry grenades, no weapons." Zhu Fenghui's words were full of firmness and determination. "The first group will be in front, and the second group will be behind. At midnight, they will be lowered down the city wall using ropes next to Deshengmen. After leaving the city, they will look for traces of bandits and night patrolmen." His plan was like an intricate net, and every step was full of calculation and wisdom.

Lin Xiaofeng instantly understood Zhu Fenghui's intention. He had no intention of attacking Li Zicheng's camp, but wanted to attack the bandits' night watchmen. This was like a carefully planned hunt, just waiting for the prey to fall into the net.

Zhu Fenghui continued, "The first group of death warriors will send a few people to explore the bandits' deployment, and then deliberately expose themselves to attract the attention of prey like bait. When the bandits chase us, they will light grenades and throw them at the crowd." His words were full of coldness and determination, "After throwing the grenades, they will return, and the second group of death warriors will be responsible for supporting them. If the enemy pursues us, they will use grenades to stop them. If they don't pursue us, we have two choices. One is to return to the capital, like a cunning fox retreating to a cave; the other is to let the second group attack again, like a brave hunter striking again."

"If I'm lucky, I can injure hundreds of enemies. Even if I'm unlucky, I can still injure nearly a hundred people!" Zhu Fenghui's words were full of expectation and confidence.

"Great, really great!" Lin Xiaofeng exclaimed, his eyes flashing with admiration, "Although not many enemies were killed, it was able to undermine the enemy's morale. The morale of the enemy will increase or decrease, which is beneficial to the Ming army." His words were full of wisdom and foresight.

"Let's follow your plan tonight, and then we'll discuss how to defend the city tomorrow!" Lin Xiaofeng's words were filled with determination and firmness.

Defending the city? Zhu Fenghui lost his composure and frowned in deep thought. His heart was filled with worry and anxiety, like a general facing a difficult situation.

The number of bandits attacking the city today is not large, only 30,000 in total. However, in order to capture the capital as soon as possible, the number of people attacking the city tomorrow will definitely be even greater. This is like an impending storm, making it impossible for people to rest.

The bad news is that the bandits have already seen the power of the earth-shattering mines, and they will definitely find a way to crack them before the next attack. This is like a fatal weakness that has been discovered by the enemy, which makes people feel uneasy.

In fact, the solution is very simple. Just cover your mouth and nose with a wet cloth. Or increasing the thickness of the wet cloth can also play a certain role. It is like a simple puzzle has been solved, and people can no longer keep it a mystery.

As long as you don't smell the chili powder, you won't cough, and if you don't cough, you won't lose your fighting power! Zhu Fenghui's heart was filled with helplessness and sighs, like an unchangeable fate that made people irresistible.

After a long time, Zhu Fenghui said seriously: "Your Majesty, I think we should send people out of the city tonight!" There was a hint of determination and firmness in his words, like a general facing a dilemma who made the final decision.

Diaoyutai, inside the main tent of Shun army!

The first day of the siege went badly, with heavy casualties and low morale. It was like a deserted battlefield, with only exhaustion and despair. Luo Wenbin was silent for a moment before saying, "During this siege, more than 4,000 civilians were killed or wounded, and nearly 3,000 soldiers were killed or wounded. It can be said that the loss was heavy!" His words were filled with a trace of grief and helplessness, like a father who had lost a loved one expressing his sorrow.

"Because of insufficient preparation, the siege was unfavorable and the losses were heavy. Please punish me, Your Majesty and General Zongmin." There was a hint of determination and firmness in his words, like a general who was brave enough to take responsibility.

Jing Changhao felt relieved when he saw Luo Wenbin confess his guilt. As long as someone takes the blame, it's fine! He narrowed his eyes and said, "General Fang Liang, this matter is not entirely your fault. The Ming army's firearms are too vicious, and it would be difficult for anyone to gain an advantage." There was a hint of indifference and shirking of responsibility in his words.

Seeing that Jing Changhao had no intention of blaming him, Cheng Minghe and Nangong Shangpu also began to speak well of Luo Wenbin. These two people are the best at changing their attitude according to the situation! There was a hint of hypocrisy and flattery in their words.

"Yes, there was nothing wrong with General Fang Liang's siege method. It was just that the Ming army's new firearms were too powerful, which led to the unfavorable siege." There was a hint of helplessness and sigh in their words.

Luo Wenbin rolled his eyes at Cheng Minghe. What this guy said was all nonsense. How to attack the city was not decided by Luo Wenbin alone, but by Li Zicheng after consultation with all the generals. His heart was filled with dissatisfaction and helplessness.

"General Fang Liang, please don't blame yourself. Victory and defeat are common in the military! We will surely be able to avenge our previous defeat by attacking the city tomorrow!" Nangong Shangpu added, with a hint of encouragement and expectation in his words.

"Cough, cough, cough!" Advisor Li Yan sat in a corner of the tent, coughing non-stop. His body was like a withered yellow leaf swaying in the autumn wind.

Seeing this, Li Zicheng asked with concern: "Mr. Li, are you okay?" There was a hint of care and worry in his words.

"Ahem! Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I'm fine." Li Yan coughed a few more times and continued, "Before coming here, I have learned about the situation on the battlefield today from the soldiers!" There was a hint of firmness and determination in his words.

Ever since the horn of the Northern Expedition sounded in that ancient and vast land, Li Zicheng had been imagining that he had conquered Beijing! The scene in his imagination was so vivid, the city gates were wide open, officials were prostrating themselves, and the people lined the streets to welcome him, their eyes full of awe and expectation. He imagined himself sitting on the dragon throne in the Huangji Palace, which symbolized supreme power, and with a flick of his finger, he could point to the country. The glory and power made his heart surge.

However, at this moment, Beijing City was truly displayed before his eyes. The towering city walls stood like giants, casting long shadows in the morning light, and the cannons flashed coldly, as if telling of the determination to hold on. The brave soldiers and civilians were waiting in the city, blocking him from entering. He was so close, but it seemed like a world away. The torment in his heart was like a raging fire, making it almost impossible for him to breathe.

This torment made him restless, scratching his head and ears, with anxiety and desire flashing in his eyes. At this time, Li Yan, a wise and thoughtful strategist, slowly came forward, his face calm, his eyes flashing with wisdom. Li Zicheng hurriedly asked: "Sir, please tell me your plan in detail!"

"The first strategy is to pretend to surrender," Li Yan said slowly, his voice low and powerful, "Before the siege tomorrow, we will send more than a thousand civilians wearing Ming army armor to pretend to surrender. If the Ming army shoots them, we can take this opportunity to tell those Ming troops who have surrendered to us that the Ming court deceived them, thereby shaking their morale."

"If the Ming army accepts them," Li Yan continued, with a sly look in his eyes, "we can let them create chaos in the city, and even if some of them sincerely surrender, it will not harm our army."

After hearing this, Li Zicheng nodded with satisfaction, expressing his agreement with this strategy. A fierce look flashed in his eyes, as if he had seen the dawn of victory.

"The next strategy is to persuade them to surrender!" Li Yan said again, his voice firm and powerful.

"Who are you trying to persuade?" Li Zicheng asked, his eyes full of confusion.

"Wu Sangui!" Li Yan answered decisively. His voice was like thunder, echoing in the central army tent.

"Wu Sangui?" When Li Zicheng heard this, the central army tent fell into silence, and a hint of surprise and confusion flashed in his eyes.

Nangong Shangpu frowned and retorted: "Wu Sangui has 50,000 Guanning troops under his command, and they are the elite among the elite. Will he surrender? Impossible, absolutely impossible!" His voice was full of disbelief.

Li Yan smiled calmly, his smile was full of confidence and calmness, he asked: "Excuse me, Lord Zuo Fu, when did Wu Sangui arrive at Shanhaiguan?"

"I heard that he arrived at Shanhaiguan five days ago!" Nangong Shangpu answered thoughtfully, with a hint of doubt in his eyes.

"Shanhaiguan is only about 600 miles away from Beijing," Li Yan analyzed, his voice calm and powerful. "In the second year of Lin Xiaofeng, Yuan Chonghuan set out from Shanhaiguan to Jizhou, which took four days, which was already considered slow. And Wu Sangui was still wandering around Funing after five days. Isn't this strange?"

"What does this mean?" Nangong Shangpu asked in confusion, his eyes full of confusion.

"This means he is waiting and watching!" Li Yan explained, his voice full of certainty, "If Wu Sangui wanted to come, he would have arrived long ago. He is waiting and watching, wanting to watch the life-and-death battle between the Ming court and us. If we fail to capture Beijing after a long siege, he will definitely come to Beijing to defend the king when we are exhausted; if we capture Beijing, he will definitely surrender."

"But," Li Yan changed the subject, a hint of coldness flashing in his eyes, "whether he surrenders to us or to Jian Nu, that depends on the sincerity of the emperor!"

The central army tent fell into silence again, with only the candlelight swaying slightly, reflecting the different expressions of the people.

After a moment, Jing Changhao said, "Your Majesty, the most urgent task now is to capture Beijing. We need to consider the matter of persuading Wu Sangui to surrender." His voice was steady and powerful. As a direct general brought out by Li Zicheng from Shaanxi, he did not want this topic to continue. He was now named Ru Hou and concurrently served as the Left Commander-in-Chief, while Wu Sangui was named Pingxi Bo. If he surrendered to the Shun Army, Li Zicheng would at least give him the title of Marquis. In this way, Wu Sangui would be on an equal footing with him! What qualifications does a surrendered general have to be on an equal footing with him? So Jing Changhao decided to avoid this topic for the time being and discuss it after entering Beijing.

Li Zicheng nodded, a hint of determination flashed in his eyes, and then asked: "Do you have any good strategies for attacking the city tomorrow?" His voice was full of anticipation.

Everyone turned their eyes to Luo Wenbin, and the young general suddenly felt a great deal of pressure. He said to everyone, "We will still use the collapse method to attack the city tomorrow, but I have two more plans." His voice was a little nervous, but full of determination.

"I asked the soldiers attacking the city and learned that the smoke from the things thrown down from the city by the Ming army was very pungent after the explosion. So before the siege tomorrow, I asked everyone to prepare a piece of thick cloth, dip it in water and cover their mouths and noses with it. Maybe it will be effective." There was a gleam of wisdom in his eyes.

"The other preparation is to deal with firearms like the Xiao Wan Ren Di thrown down by the Ming army. It burns very violently and is extremely difficult to extinguish. So I want the civilians to pry the bricks with wet quilts on their heads. When the quilts are wet, they cannot be ignited and can also resist the shooting of firearms. It kills two birds with one stone!" His voice was full of confidence.

Li Zicheng looked at Luo Wenbin in disbelief, with a flash of surprise and admiration in his eyes. He couldn't help but ask, "Did you come up with all these ideas yourself?"

"Your Majesty," Luo Wenbin replied, his voice full of respect, "No! This is Mr. Li's idea, he just said it through my mouth." His eyes flashed with admiration for Li Yan.

"Military advisor?" Li Zicheng looked at Cheng Minghe, his eyes full of expectation. Cheng Minghe didn't come up with any good plan, so he could only nod and say, "Your Majesty, I think this method is feasible." Although his voice was a little helpless, it was full of determination.

"Okay!" Seeing that no one objected, Li Zicheng made the decision, his voice full of determination, "Xiyao (Sang Dongxu), in order to prevent the Ming army from Shanhaiguan and Tianjin from attacking us, you take your troops to Tongzhou area to station." His eyes flashed with a deep light. For the sake of safety, he still decided to divide the troops to station. Otherwise, if the Ming army attacked us, the consequences would be disastrous.

"Fang Liang, you will send a thousand civilians to pretend to surrender tomorrow," Li Zicheng continued to deploy, his voice full of majesty, "and then take all the soldiers under your command to attack Xibianmen and Guang'anmen!" There was a cold light flashing in his eyes.

"Zongmin, take 30,000 civilians and 20,000 infantrymen to attack Fuchengmen and Xizhimen!" His voice was full of firmness and determination.

"The rest of the generals are responsible for the siege and feint attack. There must be no mistakes!" His voice was like thunder, echoing in the central army tent.

"Yes, sir!" everyone responded in unison, their voices full of firmness and determination.

Li Zicheng stood up, his figure was tall and majestic, and he continued with a serious expression: "Since the Northern Expedition, our army has been invincible! Now that we have finally surrounded the city of Beijing, you must fight bravely! Among the Ming army's troops to defend the king, Wu Sangui is in the east and Jiang Taiwei is in the south. They are all eyeing us covetously!" His voice was full of excitement and encouragement.

"If we are not careful, there will be the danger of annihilation!" Li Zicheng said in a heavy tone, his eyes flashing with worry and determination, "Only by conquering Beijing as soon as possible can we gain a firm foothold in the Central Plains! Only then can we follow the will of the people and achieve hegemony!" His voice was full of expectation and pride.

"So we must win this battle quickly!" Li Zicheng said in a decisive tone. His voice was like thunder, shaking everyone's heart. "Long live the emperor!" Everyone kowtowed in unison in response, their voices full of admiration and loyalty.

Li Zicheng nodded with satisfaction, his eyes flashing with satisfaction and appreciation, and then ordered: "In order to prevent the Ming army from attacking Fangliang at night, you have to work harder to arrange people to patrol at night! It can be regarded as your meritorious service!" His voice was full of majesty and expectation.

"I obey your order!" Fang Liang replied respectfully, his eyes flashing with firmness and determination.

That night, more than 300 dead soldiers were lowered to the ground along ropes from the city wall beside the West Gate. Their figures were like ghosts, silent in the night. In the moat, the long wood used by the Shun army to cross the river had already been dragged into the city. Some were made into rolling logs, and some were chopped into firewood and ignited. The firelight reflected their resolute faces. The bricks that were pried off the city wall have been replaced with new bricks, and the bodies of the bandits beside the wall have been dragged outside the moat and piled with wood and burned for a long time. In the smoke, they seemed to see the dawn of victory. These bodies must be dealt with in time, otherwise it will cause plague and bring greater troubles to the army. As for the bodies in the distance, the Ming army ignored them, and the Shun army would not care about them either. They only knew that victory was just around the corner.

At the same time, before daybreak, the boy selling newspapers had stood up on the street, his voice clear and loud: "Newspaper sellers! The second issue of Lin Xiaofeng in the seventeenth year has been published! Important news! The bandits attacked the city yesterday, and our army won a great victory! At the cost of 700 casualties, we killed or wounded 7,000 bandits! Your Majesty wants to build a Martyrs' Shrine next to the Temple of Heaven, and engrave the names of all the dead in it, for all people to admire!" His voice was full of excitement and pride.

With the experience of buying newspapers last time, the common people did not ask any more questions this time, and they all paid for the newspapers. After the imperial court recruited soldiers, every household had extra money, so it was no problem to take out two copper coins to buy newspapers. They wanted to know more about the war situation and how those brave soldiers defended the city.

"Kid, the price of newspapers hasn't increased, right?" asked a newspaper buyer, his eyes sparkling with anticipation and curiosity.

"No price increase! No charge!" The little boy walked up to the newspaper buyer with a newspaper.
In the capital, on Fuchengmen Street, there was a solemn atmosphere. The sun shone through the sparse clouds and sprinkled on the bluestone road, reflecting a cold brilliance. A scholar from the Imperial College, dressed in a neat Confucian robe and a tall hat, stood on a high place and read in a loud voice: "The heart of a child is as bright as the sun and the moon, and the courage of a hero shines on the mountains and rivers! Lin Xiaofeng wrote on March 21, the 17th year: The bandits besieged the city and approached the capital. The Ming defenders fought bravely and killed the enemy! However, the ruthless arrows made 259 warriors sleep here forever! (Including the warriors who attacked the enemy camp at night and the seriously injured and died) They are not only the sons of their parents, the husbands of their wives, and the fathers of their children, but also the people of the Ming Dynasty and the heroes of the capital! Their names are: Zeng Gaoming, Li Sangou, Zhao Guozhu, Guan Feibai..." The scholar's voice echoed in the empty streets, and every word seemed to carry heavy emotions.

The list was filled with dark yellow papers and black handwriting, like a mark of history. Reading it made the reader feel extremely heavy. Qianmen Street, which used to be bustling with merchants, was now silent, with only the wind blowing occasionally, rolling up a few fallen leaves. Everyone stopped and listened attentively, with grief and anger written all over their faces.

"...Lei Da, Dong Ziming, Li Xiuyuan!" The scholar continued to recite, with an imperceptible tremor in his voice, "The bandits plundered our money, burned our houses, killed our loved ones, and trampled on our right to survive! These heroes who protected us are already buried here. What else can we do except bury them?" After he finished speaking, his tone was heavy and heartbreaking, as if even the air had frozen.

Suddenly, someone in the crowd shouted, "Kill the bandits and defend our homeland!" This shout rang out like thunder, and Fuchengmen Street was instantly boiling. At first, only a few people stood and shouted, but soon the voices rose one after another, surging like a tide. The anger of the people in the capital against the bandits reached its peak. They raised their fists and arms, with flames of hatred flashing in their eyes, and walked towards the city gates one after another. "Kill the bandits and defend our homeland!" The shouts rose and fell, and spread throughout the capital in an instant. Even the clouds in the sky seemed to be shaken by this unyielding will.

On the top of the city wall, the soldiers and civilians defending the city were also infected by the people's indignation. They waved their weapons and issued angry declarations to the bandits gathered outside the city. The sunlight shone on their armor, reflecting a dazzling light, as if crowning their heroic determination.

……

In the Shun army's central tent, the atmosphere was completely different. Li Zicheng was furious, his brows furrowed, staring at Luo Wenbin, as if he wanted to pour out all his dissatisfaction. Jing Changhao was reporting the military situation, with a hint of helplessness in his voice: "Last night, the Ming army launched a night attack, but did not attack our military camp, but attacked our soldiers on night patrol." Speaking of the results of the battle, his tone was even more heavy, "The Ming army suffered only three casualties, while we suffered more than a hundred casualties."

The more Li Zicheng listened, the angrier he became. He slammed the table and stood up, his voice like thunder: "Absurd!" He shouted, "If our army was caught off guard and attacked by the Ming army, that would be understandable. But last night I specifically asked you to arrange night patrols, and you were so negligent!" His eyes were like a sharp sword, piercing Luo Wenbin's heart.

Luo Wenbin was numb. As the general second only to Jing Changhao in the Shun army, he was used to repeated defeats. The long-distance attack on the Ming prince failed, the march to Juyongguan to annihilate Tang Shengyu failed, the food and grass were burned, and nothing was gained on the first day of the siege. Thinking of this, Luo Wenbin couldn't help but sigh, with a trace of helplessness and despair in his eyes: "Your Majesty, last night I specially arranged 4,000 people to patrol the night in order to prevent the Ming army from attacking. Unexpectedly, the Ming army directly attacked the patrol soldiers..."

"Moreover, the people who attacked at night did not carry any weapons. They held large firecrackers and threw them at anyone they saw. These firecrackers are extremely lethal. Those who are close are directly killed, and those who are far away are also seriously injured. The soldiers on night patrol were caught off guard and suffered heavy casualties." Luo Wenbin's voice was low and hoarse, as if every word carried a heavy burden.

Li Zicheng's mouth twitched, and he sighed heavily. The anger in his eyes gradually died down, replaced by deep worry. "You followed me from Shaanxi, and you are someone I trust. But I cannot let this trust lead to repeated defeats. So I decided that Zongmin will be in charge of all the troops in the siege today. You will be in charge of logistics." There was an unquestionable firmness in his voice.

Luo Wenbin opened his mouth to speak, but nodded helplessly, the light in his eyes gradually dimmed. Jing Changhao took the seal, went out of the tent and mounted his horse, and ordered: "Everyone listen up, assemble immediately and prepare to attack the city!" His voice resounded through the sky, like a war drum urging the troops to march.

A thousand civilians were ready. They were wearing Ming army armor, their faces full of reluctance and fear. They ran towards Fucheng Gate, looking back as they ran. They seemed to be afraid of being discovered and running away, but in fact they were more afraid of being caught up and killed by the Shun army. Before they set out, the Shun army had said that those who ran slowly would be executed. This sentence was like the curse of the god of death, making them tread on thin ice every step of the way.

The Ming army guarding the city soon discovered them. Lieutenant General Li of the Fifth Army Camp observed carefully with a clairvoyance in his hand, frowning and a hint of doubt in his eyes. He asked the lieutenant general beside him: "Can you help me see what the bandits are trying to do?"

The lieutenant general took the clairvoyance with a confused look on his face, and became even more confused after reading it. "Sir, I don't understand! They don't have weapons, they seem to be here to surrender! But generally, surrenderers will shout while running to avoid being accidentally injured. Even if they don't shout, they should raise the white flag, right?" There was a hint of puzzlement and confusion in his voice.

Lieutenant General Li nodded, thinking of the Yinmen Formation that the bandits had used when they attacked Kaifeng, and he thought that it would be the same trick this time. "Use the Hundred Bullet Bullet to beat these guys hard!" He ordered, with a hint of coldness and determination in his voice.

Boom! The artillery opened fire, and bullets rained down like raindrops. The civilians then remembered that they were here to surrender, so they shouted with all their might: "Don't fire, we are here to surrender!" Their voices were shrill and desperate, but they were drowned out by the roar of the artillery.

Lieutenant General Li curled his lips and ordered again: "Did you hear that? They are here to persuade us to surrender! Bomb them, bomb them hard!" The defenders laughed at this and attacked indiscriminately with bird guns and artillery. Soon, most of the thousand men were killed or wounded, and blood and flesh flew everywhere, which was a horrible sight.

Seeing that the Ming army would not accept their surrender, they ran back tremblingly! When they were halfway through their run, the sound of artillery and trumpets came from the direction of the Shun army camp. The Shun army began to attack the city again! Their hearts were filled with fear and despair, as if they were crushed by the wheel of fate.

The few hundred people who remained were swept towards the city wall by the attacking Shun army, and once again set foot on the road to death. Their faces were full of numbness and despair, as if they had lost all hope and vitality.

On the gate tower of the West Gate, Zhu Fenghui saw the bandits who came to surrender being shot and killed by the defenders, and he immediately felt something was wrong. He said to Lin Xiaofeng beside him: "Your Majesty, since you had guessed that the bandits would surrender yesterday, why didn't you accept their surrender?" There was a hint of doubt and confusion in his voice.

Lin Xiaofeng smiled faintly, his eyes were deep and firm, as if he could see through everything. In order to boost morale, he would come to the city gate every day. "This is just a trap. These people are either civilians or spies. Anyway, they are not people who really surrender." There was a hint of indifference and determination in his voice.

Zhu Fenghui looked solemn, with his brows furrowed, as if he was shrouded in a heavy worry. "But your majesty... even if they didn't really surrender, after seeing what happened to them, I'm afraid no one would dare to surrender." There was a hint of helplessness and worry in his voice, as if he had foreseen the cruelty and bloodshed in the future. (End of this chapter)