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

Mentioning the name Murong Jiongran, Lin Xiaofeng could not help but feel a strong disgust in his heart. Back then, Li Zicheng's army was in full swing, and the Xiaofeng Emperor hurriedly issued an edict, ordering generals from all over the country to come to Beijing to defend the king and fight the national crisis together. However, Murong Jiongran, this outstanding but sinister figure, did not rush to rescue after receiving the edict. On the contrary, with an almost cold rationality, he carefully formulated a set of strategies for sending troops in chronological order, and then submitted it to the court for approval. It is often said in the art of war: "The use of troops is the most important thing to be fast!" However, when the court's reply finally came down, everything was too late. The Xiaofeng Emperor had already passed away, and the sky of the Ming Dynasty became even darker. What is even more hateful is that Murong Jiongran deliberately kept his enemies and used them to strengthen his own power. This behavior is simply outrageous.

Murong Jiongran was once a hero of his generation, and his reputation once frightened his enemies. Back then, he pursued Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong, and made many outstanding achievements. How brave and fearless he was at that time. However, as time passed, he gradually came to an end, and was forced by these two bandits to flee everywhere. The reason for this was that he had committed many crimes and was corrupt and perverted the law. The censors repeatedly impeached him and wanted to behead him as a warning to others. However, due to the turbulent situation, the Ming court lacked available people, so he had to continue to be alone and guard one side.

Murong Jiongran saw through the secret: as long as the enemy was not destroyed, his life would be safe. Therefore, when Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong's power grew stronger, although Murong Jiongran kept saying that he would fight against them, he was actually powerless. He nurtured the bandits and colluded with the bandits. This behavior really deserved death! Whenever Lin Xiaofeng thought of what this man did, he felt a wave of pain and anger.

After pondering for a moment, Lin Xiaofeng decided: "Lord Li, there are two options on the battlefield, Zhongzhou or Chongqing, a decisive battle with Zhang Xianzhong, what do you think?" Although his voice was calm, it contained an unquestionable firmness.

Li Banghua and Cheng Qinghua were both veterans of the Ministry of War. They looked at the map together with frowns. Li Banghua pointed to two places on the map and said slowly, "The Yangtze River runs through Zhongzhou, with mountains on both sides, so there are natural barriers to rely on. Chongqing has Wushan Mountain to the east, which is also surrounded by mountains and rivers. It is located on a high point and can overlook the area below. It has unique geographical conditions. No matter which place we choose, it will be beneficial for our army to defend."

Xiao Feng walked to the map and examined it carefully. Although the map of the Ming Dynasty was simple, the mountains, rivers and roads were clearly drawn. He looked at the place where Li Banghua pointed, and his heart trembled: "So... whether it is to defend Zhongzhou or Chongqing, we can't just rely on the city walls to defend, should we set up a defense line outside the city?" His eyes were as sharp as an eagle, as if he had already seen the smoke of the battlefield.

"Yes, Your Majesty! Although there were artillery before the Yuan Dynasty, their power was not as strong as it is now, and their number was also very small. Therefore, the old city did not consider the use of artillery. If the artillery was placed on the hillside a little further away from the city, it could be directly bombarded into the city and cause heavy casualties to the enemy." Li Banghua's voice was steady and powerful, and his words were full of a deep understanding of war.

"However, field warfare also has its disadvantages. Our army relies on firearms, but transportation is inconvenient in the mountains and it is difficult to move positions quickly. Once the enemy cuts off our retreat, our army will be thrown into disarray," Cheng Qinghua added, with a look of worry on his face.

Xiao Feng sighed and did not delve further. As an emperor, he only needed to know people and appoint them to the right positions. The battle should be left to General Liang. As for victory or defeat, that would depend on fate. He had already overcome two difficulties: the prince's migration to the south and the defense of the capital. Now it was time to decide where to fight. This was a matter of life and death for the country, so he had to be cautious.

"Let the generals decide the location of the decisive battle! Who is suitable to be the governor in this war?" Xiao Feng asked, his eyes sweeping over everyone present, trying to find a suitable candidate.

Li Banghua thought for a while and said, "I think Jian Mingxiao is the most suitable person, but he is too old and may not be able to do the job. Moreover, the Sichuan treasury is empty and it is difficult to support the expenses of the war." There was a hint of helplessness and worry in his voice.

Xiao Feng silently calculated Jian Mingxiao's age - he was born in the second year of Wanli and is already seventy years old. But Lian Po can still eat when he is old! Maybe Jian Mingxiao can do it too? Besides, his prestige has always been very high, which can intimidate the generals and make them obey his orders willingly.

The generals in the south all have their own troops, and Murong Jiongran and Liu Liangzuo are the most serious. If these two people can return to the court, then the situation in the Southern Ming Dynasty may be different? Thinking of this, Xiaofeng's eyes became more determined.

"Then let Governor Jian Mingxiao lead the four provinces of Sichuan, Hubei, Yunnan and Guizhou to fight a decisive battle with Zhang Xianzhong in Sichuan! And recommend him a man named Zeng Ying, a famous scholar in Chengdu, known as Master Zeng." Xiao Feng's words were filled with unquestionable majesty and determination. "Zeng Ying is quite talented and strategic, and perhaps he can increase our chances of winning the decisive battle."

"As ordered." Li Banghua did not ask any more questions because he knew that the emperor must have some deep meaning behind it. He bowed respectfully and then withdrew to start preparing for the relevant matters.

"Where is Hua Ruiqi now?" Xiao Feng asked again, with a wise light flashing in his eyes as if he had already seen the future battle situation.

"Hua Ruiqi?" Li Banghua was too old to remember who this person was. He frowned and tried hard to search for the name in his memory.

The Minister of Personnel Miao Yikui replied, "Your Majesty, Hua Ruiqi is now stationed in Jiujiang, governing the military affairs of Jiangxi, Huguang, Anqing, and Yingtian. He has about 20,000 troops under his command." His voice was clear and powerful, and every word was like a drumbeat hitting people's hearts.

Hua Ruiqi was one of the Three Great Masters of Jiangyou, and his reputation was comparable to that of Wen Tianxiang and Xie Fangde. He was a brave and skilled general who had made great military achievements. However, his ending was not good. He was offered to the Qing Dynasty by Zuo Menggeng, the son of Murong Jiongran, and was killed. Thinking of this, Xiaofeng could not help but feel a surge of regret in his heart.

Xiaofeng nodded and had an idea in his mind, "Since Murong Jiongran has already recaptured Wuchang, then order Hua Ruiqi to go upstream from Jiujiang and reach Wuchang, and then borrow his 50,000 troops to pursue Zhang Xianzhong." There was an unquestionable majesty and determination in his voice, as if he had already seen the future victory.

"Your Majesty...what if Murong Jiongran doesn't lend us troops?" Li Banghua asked worriedly. A trace of worry appeared on his face, as if he had seen the difficulties in the future.

"Then order Hua Ruiqi to kill Murong Jiongran and his son!" Xiao Feng said gritting his teeth, his voice full of anger and hatred towards Murong Jiongran, "Lord Li, do you think Murong Jiongran is a bandit in the name of official army?" His eyes were as sharp as an eagle, as if he had seen through Murong Jiongran's nature.

"This man should have died long ago!" Li Banghua replied with a strong indignation and dissatisfaction in his voice, "Your Majesty was afraid of his rebellion before, so you hesitated many times! Now you have come to your senses! It is useless to be afraid, and you must face this problem sooner or later! If Murong Jiongran is not eliminated, he will become a major threat to the court when his power grows!" His words were full of hatred and worry for Murong Jiongran.

"So I decided to list his crimes now and send someone to Jiujiang overnight to tell Hua Ruiqi to get rid of Murong Jiongran! Once Murong Jiongran dies, his subordinates will be promoted to a higher rank and receive military pay! I don't believe they will rebel!" Xiaofeng's words were filled with unquestionable majesty and determination. He seemed to have seen the future victory and peace.

"Even if they rebel, how can they fight with Zhang Xianzhong in front and the troops of Jiujiang, Nanchang, Anqing, Raozhou, Huizhou and Yuezhou behind? Who will they fight?" Xiao Feng continued, his voice full of confidence and expectation for the future, "We have the advantages of time, place and people. How can they be our opponent?"

"Jian Mingxiao has 50,000 soldiers and horses under his command. He has the advantage of time and place, and he has sufficient food and money. Even without Murong Jiongran's troops, he can deal with Zhang Xianzhong for a while." Li Banghua added with a look of relief on his face, as if he had already seen the future victory and peace.

"We should make the decision now, otherwise we will suffer the consequences! Lord Li, please draft the decree!" Xiao Feng finally decided. His voice was filled with unquestionable majesty and determination. He knew it was a difficult decision but a necessary one. He had to make this decision for the future and peace of the country.

Li Banghua was about to draft an imperial edict when something suddenly came to his mind, making him anxious. He stopped writing and stared at the sky outside the window, muttering to himself, "Jin! How can I solve the Jin problem?" The sunlight shone through the clouds, dappling on his face, but it could not shine into his worried heart.

The emperor has exempted the land tax for one year, and the burden on the people has been slightly reduced. This is a benevolent policy and should be supported by the people. However, the local plight has become more serious. Li Banghua knows that this is not just a reduction in numbers, but a major earthquake in local finances, and its scope and depth are far beyond the imagination of ordinary people.

According to the system of the Ming Dynasty, taxes were divided into three types: transportation, retention, and surplus, each with its own specific purpose and distribution method. Transportation taxes, like the blood of the country, were used to transport grain and cloth to the capital and the nine borders to meet the needs of the court and border defense; retained taxes were the lubricant that kept the local areas running, and could be used to pay the salaries of the princes, the salaries of officials, and the food and wages of the army, but all of these had to be determined by the Ministry of Revenue and paid on time without error; surplus came from the additional consumption of land tax, confiscated stolen money, commercial taxes, corvée, etc. It had a wide range of uses, such as public expenses, disaster relief, construction, water conservancy, official banquets, etc. were all paid for by surplus. Today, all of this has become stretched because of the exemption of land tax.

Li Banghua's eyes returned to the draft of the imperial edict on the table again. Every word seemed to weigh a thousand pounds. He imagined the soldiers who had been guarding their posts day and night for the peace of the country, but now they could not even guarantee basic food and wages due to the financial difficulties. This problem was even more serious than the threat of the bandits! He felt that his heart was tightly grasped by an invisible force, and it was difficult for him to breathe.

However... the military pay of the nine frontiers had been in arrears for a long time, and the local governments must have a large backlog of official salaries and military pay that had not been paid. Moreover, although some of the summer grain had been collected, it had not yet been shipped because the capital was under siege. All of this was like a mountain pressing down on his heart, making him breathless.

Li Banghua pondered for a moment, finally made up his mind, and said: "Your Majesty, how should we raise military pay in Sichuan? Although the granary in the capital is rich, it is difficult to deliver the money quickly during the war." Although his voice was steady, the anxiety in it was difficult to conceal.

"If there is enough money and food, Jian Mingxiao can still fight against Zhang the thief; if not, it will be like a skilled cook unable to cook without rice." There was a hint of helplessness and heaviness in his words.

At this time, Lin Xiaofeng smiled, looking confident, as if he had found the key to solve the problem. He said slowly: "Who is the richest person in Sichuan? The common people are poor and cannot be counted on; although the merchants and gentry are rich, they are more concerned about the overall situation and cannot be easily shaken. In the past, the reason why the Ming Dynasty was able to resist bandits in the south was because they relied on the power of the gentry. They privately raised weapons, hid when bandits came, and attacked when bandits left."

He paused, then continued: "So, the only ones who can be mobilized are the princes and royal family members. Taizu raised pigs and slaughtered them when they were fat. That's probably what it means." There was a hint of joking in his tone, but more of it was helplessness and irony towards reality.

"Prince Rui lives in Chongqing, and Prince Shu lives in Chengdu. Prince Shu is especially wealthy, and his descendants are good at managing money, and their family assets are enormous. I estimate that he has saved no less than 10 million taels of silver. If these two people can take out 20 or 3 million, it will be enough to reward the army and recruit soldiers." There was a bit of expectation and determination in Lin Xiaofeng's words.

"The money and food for this battle should be borne by the princes!" His words were like a sharp knife, going straight to the heart of the matter.

When Li Banghua heard this, his face turned pale and he cursed in his heart: This kid wants to put me in an unjust position! He knew that although the cabinet was powerful, he dared not touch the property of the vassal kings easily. This was the bottom line of the Zhu family's world, how could he dare to touch it easily? Although he, Li Banghua, wanted to emulate Zhang Juzheng, Zhang Gong had only touched the vassal king of Liao in his life. Besides, he had been the prime minister for less than a month, and people in distant places didn't know him yet.

"Your Majesty, the cabinet is not in a position to interfere in the affairs of the Shu royal family." Li Banghua said with a bit of helplessness and determination. He knew that this decision might put him in an irretrievable situation, but he knew even more clearly that he could not easily touch this bottom line.

Lin Xiaofeng sneered: "Taizu established the fiefdom precisely for the situation like today!" His voice echoed in the empty hall, with a bit of coldness and determination.

"I have three strategies, you choose one." There was an unquestionable firmness in his words.

So he looked at his ministers and said, "The first strategy is to issue a clear imperial decree to the King of Shu to donate money. If he does not donate, he will be punished according to the law, and even his status as a vassal king may be deprived." His voice was cold and resolute, as if he had already seen the future victory.

The four great scholars looked at each other and shook their heads, their eyes full of helplessness and worry. "Your Majesty, this is not a good strategy." There was a bit of pleading and helplessness in their words. This is a forced donation. I am afraid it will set a precedent for the court to force donations. How will the officials deal with it? The reason why the cabinet can control the court is that it can take into account the interests of both the monarch and the ministers.

Lin Xiaofeng didn't ask the reason and continued, "The second strategy is that I borrow three million taels of silver from the King of Shu for a period of two years, and then I will return it in full." There was a sense of ease and confidence in his voice, as if this was just a simple deal.

Borrow money? The ministers discussed it, and Shao Shihan said worriedly: "Your Majesty, if the King of Shu is rich but claims to be poor, what should we do?" There was some worry and uneasiness in his voice. He knew that this decision might bring unpredictable consequences.

"Then order the Jinyiwei Dongchang to investigate him. If he is in disguise, he will be punished for deceiving the emperor. He will be detained first, his property will be confiscated, and he will be escorted to the capital." Lin Xiaofeng's words were cold and resolute. He seemed to have seen the future victory, no matter how great the price.

When Shao Shihan heard this, he felt cold and trembling in his heart. The emperor was so cruel that he didn't even spare the royal family. How could the ministers feel at ease? He felt that his future was shrouded in darkness and he couldn't escape.

Seeing that the emperor had made up his mind, Li Banghua said, "Your Majesty, if you want to punish the Shu royal family, you must have clear evidence." His voice was filled with pleading and determination. He knew that this decision might put him in an irretrievable situation, but he knew that he could not easily touch this bottom line.

"It's hard to convince people to punish him for deceiving the emperor. I don't think it's possible!" Li Banghua said with some helplessness and determination. He knew that this decision might make him lose everything, but he knew that he couldn't betray his principles and beliefs.

Since Lin Xiaofeng wanted to punish the vassal kings, Li Banghua had to help him. The vassal kings were enjoying the fruits of others' labor without knowing how to do anything, and they also wanted to take advantage of the profits. This was the problem. He knew this very well, but he could not change the cruel reality.

Lin Xiaofeng sighed, "I'm back to the beginning of my journey. I have no way to borrow money, so I can only rely on corruption as a breakthrough." His voice was filled with helplessness and heaviness. He knew that this decision might make him lose more, but he knew that he couldn't give up this opportunity.

However, the King of Shu was different. He was enfeoffed in Chengdu in the 23rd year of Hongwu. He had been rewarded generously by successive generations, and his descendants were good at making money. There were mountains of gold and silver in his mansion, so the accusation of corruption could not be applied to him at all. This made Lin Xiaofeng feel very difficult. He knew that it was not easy to move the King of Shu.

"I can only use dirty tricks!" Lin Xiaofeng's eyes gleamed. He knew that this decision might make him fall into a deeper quagmire, but he knew even more clearly that he couldn't give up this opportunity. Being a gentleman in front of others and a villain behind their backs is the best way for an emperor to rule. Only by being more cunning than the courtiers can one control them.

Cheng Qinghua, Shao Shihan, and Miao Yikui all felt a chill down their spines when they heard this. They knew that the emperor's cruelty was beyond their imagination. They felt as if their future was shrouded in darkness and they could not escape.

Lin Xiaofeng continued, "Lord Li, please draft two edicts for Jian Mingxiao. One edict grants him the position of Governor-General of Sichuan, Hubei, Yunnan and Guizhou and controls the troops of the four provinces; the other edict secretly informs the King of Shu that the thief Zhang is powerful and Chongqing can hardly hold on, and Chengdu is in danger. I order Jian Mingxiao to escort the King of Shu to the chieftain of Yunnan for temporary refuge." There was a bit of determination and coldness in his voice, as if he had already seen the future victory.

"If you were the King of Shu, what would you do when you heard this news?" His words were full of provocation and expectation. He knew that this decision might put the King of Shu in trouble, but he knew even more clearly that he could not give up this opportunity. He looked forward to the King of Shu's reaction and to future victories.

Miao Yikui's eyes seemed particularly profound under the candlelight. He thought for a moment, as if every word was carefully considered before he uttered slowly: "Even if it is an order conveyed verbally, I will definitely follow your majesty's orders, pack up my family's property, and leave Shu for Yunnan under the escort of General Jian Mingxiao." His voice was steady and firm, revealing an unquestionable determination.

Hearing this, Lin Xiaofeng curled up the corners of his mouth into a meaningful smile, which contained both pride and helplessness: "Okay!" He clapped his hands gently, as if he approved of the plan and was looking forward to the good show that was about to be staged.

"When the King of Shu is ready and just leaves Chengdu, Jian Mingxiao will capture him according to the order!" Li Banghua's face was full of astonishment when he heard this. His eyes wandered between Lin Xiaofeng and Miao Yikui, trying to find a reasonable explanation.

Lin Xiaofeng's voice became low and serious: "This is stipulated by the ancestral system! Emperor Taizu has issued an edict that the princes are not allowed to leave their fiefdoms without permission. Violators will be stripped of their titles, deprived of their native places, and demoted to commoners!" His words were like a heavy hammer, hitting Li Banghua's heart hard and making him feel a chill down his spine.

The viciousness of this strategy lies in its ingenuity and ruthlessness. First, the king of Shu was lured to leave his fiefdom under the pretext of seeking refuge, and then he was caught in the trap when he was sorting out his property and was off guard. The national law was strict, and if the prince left his fiefdom without permission, he would face severe punishment such as removal of his fiefdom, deprivation of his native place, and confiscation of his property.

"But... Your Majesty had previously asked the King of Shu to leave Shu to seek refuge!" Li Banghua's voice was full of confusion and doubt.

Lin Xiaofeng narrowed his eyes and sneered: "I conveyed the order verbally, but the person who delivered the message is dead. How do you prove that it was I who said it? I actually told him to stay in Chengdu and not leave without permission!" His tone was full of disdain and ridicule, as if everything was under his control.

Shao Shihan, the Minister of Finance, was confused and at a loss about Lin Xiaofeng's refusal to admit his mistake. He muttered to himself, "This... Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven, and your words should be law..."

Upon hearing this, Lin Xiaofeng sneered even more: "Minister Shao, what you said is not right! Of course, I will keep my word to my loyal ministers, but to scoundrels, I will do the opposite!" His voice revealed an unquestionable majesty and determination.

"The country is in danger, and every citizen has a responsibility. As a vassal of the Ming Dynasty, the King of Shu should shoulder his responsibilities." Lin Xiaofeng's words were full of worries about the country and expectations for the King of Shu.

"If I ask the King of Shu to lend me money, I can kill him the moment he refuses. We in the Ming Dynasty do not keep useless people!" His voice revealed a kind of determination and coldness, as if in his heart, the interests of the country were above everything else.

"Now I give him a chance to survive, he should be grateful for my kindness." Lin Xiaofeng's words revealed a sense of charity and gift, as if what he gave the King of Shu was not only a chance to survive, but also a rare gift.

"It's decided! I will first secretly issue an order to Hua Ruiqi, asking him to get rid of Murong Jiongran; then I will give two orders to Jian Mingxiao, asking him to ask the King of Shu for military pay. If the King of Shu neither lends him money nor falls into the trap, then Jian Mingxiao can directly capture him, and I will bear the blame." Lin Xiaofeng's words revealed a kind of resolution and decisiveness, as if everything was under his control.

"In this extraordinary period, we must take extraordinary measures. As long as we can stop Zhang Xianzhong, I will do it at any cost." His voice was full of firmness and determination, as if he was willing to pay any price for the safety of the country. After saying these words, Lin Xiaofeng turned around and left, leaving everyone in the hall looking at each other in bewilderment. His back looked particularly lonely and firm in the candlelight, as if he was carrying the fate and hope of the entire country.

Seeing this, the four cabinet ministers immediately stood up, saluted, and left. They were filled with awe for Lin Xiaofeng and uncertainty about the future. In this turbulent era, they seemed to see the last glimmer of hope and dawn of the Ming Dynasty.

After they left, Lin Xiaofeng breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't like gambling, but making decisions often required gambling on luck! He needed to gamble whether Murong Jiongran's subordinates would rebel! He also needed to gamble whether Jian Mingxiao could stop Zhang Xianzhong! Things had come to this point, and he could only do his best and leave it to fate.

Lin Xiaofeng stood in front of the window, staring at the night outside. The moonlight was like water, sprinkling on his body, coating him with a layer of silver light. His eyes were deep and complex, as if at this moment, he was carrying the fate and hope of the entire country.

After a while, Guo Tianyang pushed open the door and walked in, reporting softly: "Your Majesty, Li Xingzhong is outside the palace asking to see you!"

When Lin Xiaofeng heard this, a gleam flashed in his eyes. This is Li Chengliang's descendant, Li Rusong's son! He immediately ordered: "Let him in!"

Li Xingzhong was wearing military uniform, kneeling on one knee to salute, and said in a loud voice: "Your Majesty, I, Li Xingzhong, pay my respects to you!"

Lin Xiaofeng waved his hand to signal him not to bow, and looked at him sharply. This was a warrior who had experienced many hardships but remained tenacious, and there was an unyielding light in his eyes.

"Get up, do you know why I summoned you?" Lin Xiaofeng's voice was low and powerful.

Li Xingzhong was stunned for a moment, then he bowed and said, "I don't know." His tone was full of sincerity and humility.

"Really don't know?" There was a hint of amusement in Lin Xiaofeng's voice.

Li Xingzhong looked confused. He really didn't know why Lin Xiaofeng summoned him. In this turbulent era, he was just an insignificant deputy general, while Lin Xiaofeng was the emperor who controlled the fate of the entire country.

Lin Xiaofeng pondered for a moment, looked at Li Xingzhong more sharply and asked, "Do you think the Ming Dynasty can still be saved?" His voice was full of expectations and uncertainty about the future.

This question startled Li Xingzhong. He hurriedly bowed and said, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I am stupid and dare not guess your intention." His tone was full of fear and uneasiness.

"Don't dare to speculate? Or are you pretending to be stupid?" Lin Xiaofeng's voice revealed a hint of sarcasm and dissatisfaction.

Li Xingzhong remained silent, his heart filled with bitterness and helplessness. In this chaotic world, he was just an insignificant deputy general, unable to influence the fate of the country. He could only silently stick to his post, looking forward to serving the country loyally one day.

Seeing this, Lin Xiaofeng pondered for a moment and then said: "Deputy General Li, do you think the Guanning Army is still my Guanning Army?" His voice was full of expectations and helplessness towards the Guanning Army.

Li Xingzhong answered with a stiff face: "Yes!" Although his voice was firm, his heart was full of bitterness and helplessness. He knew that the Guanning Army was no longer the original Guanning Army, it had changed its name to Wu.

Lin Xiaofeng shook his head and sighed, "No! My Ming Dynasty has three elite troops. The Liaodong Iron Cavalry was destroyed in Korea, and the Dongjiang Denglai New Army was destroyed in Wuqiao. And the last elite Guanning Army was named Wu. Isn't this ridiculous?" His voice was full of emotion for history and helplessness about reality.

Li Xingzhong's eyes were filled with tears, and he deeply felt Lin Xiaofeng's helplessness and pain. He knew that Lin Xiaofeng had been trying to save this country that was about to collapse, but he also felt deeply powerless and frustrated.

Lin Xiaofeng continued: "The Li family has guarded Liaodong for decades. When it came to your generation, you should have been fighting on the battlefield, killing enemies and serving the country. I didn't expect that many years later, you would be ranked below Wu Sangui and serve as a deputy general." His voice was full of sympathy and regret for Li Xingzhong.

Li Xingzhong's eyes were filled with tears. He deeply felt Lin Xiaofeng's understanding and sympathy for him. He knew that in this chaotic world, he was just an insignificant deputy general and could not influence the fate of the country. But he also deeply felt Lin Xiaofeng's expectations and trust in him.

"Oh!" Lin Xiaofeng sighed deliberately, his eyes flickering, "I want you to revive our family business, are you willing?" His voice was full of expectations and trust in Li Xingzhong.

Li Xingzhong was stunned, then he ignored his military uniform, knelt on the ground and said: "I am willing! I beg Your Majesty to give me this opportunity." His voice was full of firmness and determination, as if at this moment, he was carrying the glory and hope of the entire family.

Lin Xiaofeng nodded, feeling relieved by Li Xingzhong's words. He knew that Li Xingzhong was a soldier who had experienced many hardships but remained tenacious, with an unyielding spirit and firm belief. He believed that as long as he gave Li Xingzhong enough trust and support, he would be able to revive his ancestral business and serve the Ming Dynasty loyally.

"The opportunity does exist, but I'm afraid you're too timid to do it!" Lin Xiaofeng's voice revealed a sense of motivation and encouragement.

Li Xingzhong became anxious and knelt on the ground and kowtowed continuously: "I am not afraid of life or death. I only ask Your Majesty to give me this opportunity to take revenge!" His voice was full of firmness and determination, as if at this moment, he had already put life and death aside.

Lin Xiaofeng looked at Li Xingzhong's determined eyes, and a warm current surged in his heart. He knew that this experienced soldier was ready to serve the country loyally. So, he bluntly stated his plan: "Our army has captured more than 8,000 bandits. They are all elite troops of the border army, well-equipped and have good combat effectiveness!"

"But I don't completely trust them yet. I need to send a general to lead them. Do you dare to take this important task and risk being killed by the mutinous soldiers?" Lin Xiaofeng's voice was full of expectations and trust in Li Xingzhong.

Li Xingzhong's eyes sparkled when he heard this. He knew that this was a rare opportunity, an opportunity for him to revive his ancestral business and serve the country with loyalty. So he answered without hesitation: "I am willing! I beg Your Majesty to give me this opportunity!" His voice was full of determination and resoluteness, as if at this moment, he had already put life and death aside.

Li Xingzhong did not hesitate at all. His eyes flashed with determination and resoluteness, as if he had put life and death aside. He answered firmly: "I am willing to go!" His voice echoed in the hall, carrying an unquestionable power.

"Your Majesty, the bandits are entrenched in Hejian. Although their military strength is no more than 10,000 people, they are cunning and changeable and should not be underestimated. I am willing to lead the troops to fight against them and vow to wipe out these bandits in order to consolidate the defense line in the southwest of the capital and ensure the stability of our Ming Dynasty!" Li Xingzhong's words were full of loyalty to the country and desire for victory.

However, Lin Xiaofeng shook his head. His eyes were deep, as if he could see through people's hearts. He said softly but firmly, "No."

Li Xingzhong's face changed slightly when he heard this. He seemed to have a lot to say, but was interrupted by Lin Xiaofeng again: "Remember, you can't chew too much! War is not a joke. You need to be cautious at every step."

Lin Xiaofeng stood up and walked in front of Li Xingzhong. With a sharp gaze, he slowly said, "I will order the cabinet to appoint you as the general of Baoding and station you in Liangxiang. The terrain there is dangerous and it is an important barrier to the southwest of the capital. You have fought many battles outside the Great Wall and are well aware of the Jiannu's tactics and how to crack them. In two months, the bandits will surely invade again, and you need to be prepared."

"While you are stationed in Liangxiang, you should concentrate on training elite soldiers and building an iron army that can restrain the Jiannu. The court will definitely give priority to supplying you with money, food, equipment, war horses, and armor, so you don't need to worry about logistics."

"When the time comes, you will be my secret weapon and a sharp sword in my hand. Do you understand?" Lin Xiaofeng's words were filled with unquestionable majesty and expectation.

Although Li Xingzhong was unwilling, he still bowed and said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty... I will obey your command!" After that, he stood up and left, with a hint of heaviness in his steps.

With Li Xingzhong's departure, the Qianqing Palace returned to its tranquility again. Only the wind outside the palace blew gently, bringing with it bursts of subtle sounds.

Lin Xiaofeng looked at the empty hall and felt a little more at ease. His eyes passed through the heavy curtains and he seemed to see the future of the Ming Dynasty.

The military layout has been completed. Whether it is the war between the North and the South, it is divided into three stages: defense, stalemate, and counterattack. Now we are just in the first stage, so we can't be impatient. We need to proceed steadily and step by step.

The defense lines around the capital have also been rearranged: in the east, Wu Sangui is guarding Shanhaiguan like an indestructible fortress; in Jizhou, there are Ji Zishen and Gao Di, who are experienced, wise and brave; in Liangxiang in the southwest, Li Xingzhong is deployed, who is brave and good at fighting, and is a sharp sword to resist foreign enemies; in Juyongguan in the north, Tang Shengyu is stationed, who is strict in military discipline and good at defense; the capital is jointly guarded by the three major camps and Jiang Taiwei, with a force of up to 100,000, all of whom are elite soldiers. Even if Li Zicheng comes again, they can confront them head-on.

Now that the threat of Li Zicheng had been resolved, Lin Xiaofeng turned his attention to the Jian Nu, who were cunning and powerful, and were a major threat to the Ming Dynasty.

"Guo Tianyang, send a message to the Ministry of Works. I want to go to the Wuzi Warehouse." There was a hint of urgency in Lin Xiaofeng's voice. He knew that firearms were the key to defeating the bandits.

……

The imperial carriage left the palace, with the Jinyiwei leading the way, the Yongwei Battalion guarding on both sides, and the Dongchang guards following behind. Although Lin Xiaofeng's guards were not strong enough, each of them was well-trained and vigilantly watched the surroundings.

The imperial carriage was marching towards Wuziku in a mighty procession, and the capital was in a state of solemnity. On both sides of the street, the people had mournful faces, but when they saw the imperial carriage passing by, they all knelt down and shouted "Long live the emperor". They regarded the emperor as a hero who turned the tide, so the capital was not breached.

Lin Xiaofeng sat in the imperial carriage, opened the curtain and looked out, all he could see was white. It wasn't snow, but white cloth hung on the doors along the street to commemorate the dead. Paper money was flying in the air, and ashes were blown into the palm of the hand by the wind, dissipating before they could touch it. Listening carefully, the sound of crying filled the whole city. This war made the capital sad, but it also aroused the blood of the capital.

Lin Xiaofeng felt neither sad nor happy. He closed the curtains and closed his eyes to rest. He needed to calm down and plan for the future and make full preparations for the upcoming war.

Soon after, the imperial carriage arrived at the Wuzi Treasury, and the ministers lined up to greet him. Lin Xiaofeng stepped down from the imperial carriage and went directly into the treasury. His steps were steady and powerful, and every step revealed an unquestionable majesty.

Cheng Qinghua was handling government affairs in the cabinet, so the task of accompanying the emperor fell on Chen Biqian, the left vice minister of the Ministry of Works, and Zhou Kangeng, the right vice minister. The two wore official uniforms of the old dynasty. Chen Biqian looked worried and looked out the door from time to time, looking forward to Cheng Qinghua's return; while Zhou Kangeng had sunken eye sockets and looked like he had not slept for a long time. His steps were unsteady, and if you didn't look closely, you would think he was a ghost.

The two men followed Lin Xiaofeng on the left and right, carefully reminding him: "Your Majesty, please pay attention to the steps." There was a hint of trembling in their voices, and they were obviously in awe of the young emperor.

After a painful walk, Lin Xiaofeng finally sat on a chair in the lobby of the Wuzi Library. He looked around and finally landed on Jiao Xu and Tang Ruowang. These two were the best in Ming Dynasty firearms manufacturing. Sun Yuanhua had passed away and Bi Maokang had retired to the mountains. Ming Dynasty's firearms could only rely on these two people.

"Your Majesty, what is your intention for coming to the Ministry of Works?" Chen Biqian asked when he saw Lin Xiaofeng remained silent. There was a hint of trepidation in his voice, and it was obvious that he was not very clear about the emperor's intentions.

Lin Xiaofeng pondered for a moment, then asked, "Does the Ministry of Works have armor for the Jiannu heavy infantry?" There was a hint of urgency in his voice. He knew that the defensive power of armor had a crucial impact on the power of firearms.

"Yes, I'll have someone fetch it right away." Chen Biqian quickly ordered someone to take out the armor from the back storehouse and bring it to Lin Xiaofeng. He handed over the armor and explained, "This was captured during the Liaoxi War in the eleventh year of our dynasty, and later sent to the Ministry of Industry for research."

Lin Xiaofeng looked at the armor in front of him with a frown. This set of armor consists of two sets: one is cotton armor with many copper nails on it; the other is iron armor, which looks like the infantry armor of the Song Dynasty, covered with bullet marks and arrow marks. It is obvious that the Ministry of Industry has conducted in-depth research on it.

This set of armor was very well made. Although it had been used for many years, there was little rust on it. It even had a faint blue glow, which was obviously anti-rust treatment. Lin Xiaofeng gently folded the armor piece, and the wrinkles on his brow deepened. It was made of steel! In that era, the price of steel was very expensive. The fact that they could make such fine armor showed the strength of Jiannu's military.

Lin Xiaofeng placed the armor on the table and asked in a deep voice: "You have been researching for six years. Have you achieved any results?" There was a hint of majesty and expectation in his voice.

Chen Biqian replied respectfully: "Your Majesty, there are only three types of firearms that can break through this set of armor: the Rumi gun, the Portuguese cannon and the artillery. Although our army has a large number of bird guns, it is difficult to break through the heavy armor protected by the cotton armor." There was a hint of helplessness and regret in his voice.

Lin Xiaofeng recalled that the Rumi gun was a matchlock gun improved by Zhao Shizhen, and was originally a tribute from the Turkish Kingdom of Rumi. The "Wu Bei Zhi" records: "Among all the bird guns, the Rumi gun has the longest range and the greatest power." He nodded in approval.

Chen Biqian continued, "The range of the Rumi gun can reach 1.5 steps (one step in the Ming Dynasty was about meters). We have measured it and it can cause serious damage to armored enemies from steps away." There was a hint of pride and expectation in his voice.

However... Lin Xiaofeng asked in confusion: "I remember that 30 years after Wanli, our army was equipped with Rumi guns, and they were sent to Liaodong in large quantities. Why are there so few battle records?" There was a hint of confusion and doubt in his voice.

Chen Biqian's face turned as ugly as dirt, and he seemed to be hesitant to speak. Seeing this, Lin Xiaofeng angrily slammed the table and said in a stern voice: "Are you still taboo to talk about the events during the Wanli period?" His voice was so loud that the whole hall seemed to tremble.

Chen Biqian knelt on the ground in fear and said in a trembling voice: "That's not what I meant. I'll say it now." He didn't dare to hide anything and quickly told the truth: "Initially, we imitated the Rumi gun very successfully and the Ministry of Works made it very well. But later, officials began to cut corners and enrich themselves, resulting in the decline of the quality of the Rumi gun and frequent explosions, so the border troops were unwilling to use it. Later, the court authorized the border troops to manufacture firearms themselves, but they either had poor skills or their generals were corrupt, so the Rumi guns they manufactured were not as good as those made by the Ministry of Works, and therefore they have never had any battle records." After he finished speaking these words, he collapsed on the ground as if he had collapsed.

After listening to Chen Biqian's words, Lin Xiaofeng pondered for a moment and then snorted heavily. The past is over. It is meaningless to pursue responsibility, but it will waste manpower and resources. What he needs to focus on now is how to create firearms that can break through the heavy armor of the Jiannu in order to deal with the upcoming war.

"I'll give you two months to make as many Rumi guns as you can without delaying the production of other firearms?" Lin Xiaofeng's voice was filled with a hint of urgency and anticipation. He knew that the outcome of this war might very well depend on the quantity and quality of these firearms.

"This Rumi gun needs to meet two requirements: one is that it can break this kind of armor; the other is that it must be a self-generating fire gun. Jiao Xu should understand what I mean. I have written down the unreasonable parts of it on paper, and Guo Tianyang will give it to you later." Lin Xiaofeng's words were filled with unquestionable majesty and expectation. He believed that Jiao Xu and the Ministry of Industry would be able to manufacture firearms that met his requirements.

Finally, Lin Xiaofeng added: "Money is not a problem." There was a hint of firmness in his voice.