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

Lu Daqi's words were like a spring breeze, blowing through Hua Ruiqi's heart, clearing away the fog and making him suddenly enlightened. He secretly admired: "This insight is profound and easy to understand, which is admirable."

Everyone knows that the Jinyiwei is a powerful tool for monitoring officials, and is good at arresting criminals and gathering intelligence, but they often overlook their military nature, especially their expertise in killing people. Hua Ruiqi thought of this, stood up and bowed deeply to Lu Daqi, with gratitude in his eyes: "Thank you, Brother Lu! Yuan knows what to do. Please, Brother Lu, pass a secret letter to the prince when you return to Nanjing."

"Okay!" Lu Daqi agreed without hesitation, his eyes firm and trusting. He examined the map, which seemed like a miniature battlefield, with every inch of land containing a life-and-death struggle.

Hua Ruiqi took out a pen and paper, and talked with Lu Daqi while writing. He mentioned the threats of Li Zicheng, Zhang Xianzhong, the Mongols, and the Jian Nu, and his eyes became more and more solemn. He must quickly get rid of Murong Jiongran and his son and support General Jian Mingxiao, otherwise he would be guilty of a great crime.

After drinking tea, Lu Daqi stared at the map, raised his eyebrows, and a trace of doubt flashed in his eyes: "No!" He pointed to Chongqing Prefecture on the map and said worriedly: "The Yangtze River is flooded, and Zhang Xianzhong is stagnant. Even if Brother Yuan successfully takes over Murong Jiongran's 150,000 troops, if he wants to go upstream to pursue Zhang Xianzhong, he still needs to recover Yuezhou, Jingzhou, and Kuizhou! These three places are heavily guarded, and it is almost impossible to recover them in a short time!"

Hua Ruiqi remained silent, his eyes wandering on the map. Lu Daqi explained, "The real intention of your majesty's decree is not to really ask you to pursue Zhang Xianzhong. The bandits are now powerful, and recklessly pursuing them will only increase the risk. Your majesty's intention is to let you use your troops to contain part of Zhang Xianzhong's troops and share the pressure for General Jian Mingxiao."

Hua Ruiqi's eyes wandered between the imperial edict and the map. He understood this, but the imperial edict was still an imperial edict. He said worriedly, "But the imperial edict ordered me to send troops to pursue and suppress Zhang Xianzhong. If it's just to contain him, I'm afraid it won't make sense."

Lü Daqi pointed at the words on the imperial edict and said, "Brother Yuan, please look, the imperial edict does not say to send troops as soon as possible, nor does it say where to recover." He gave an example, "In the 16th year of our dynasty, Sun Chuanting, the governor of the three borders of Shaanxi, was urged to go to war by your majesty, have you ever seen the imperial edict?"

Hua Ruiqi was stunned, and suddenly realized. Although he had not seen the imperial edict urging Sun Chuanting to go to war, he knew its content. In contrast, this imperial edict not only did not urge him to go to war, but also gave him the power to act at his convenience! He took a deep breath, with a gleam of gratitude in his eyes: "Thank you, Brother Lu, for your guidance. Yuan knows what to do." He wrote quickly, and every word contained determination and wisdom.

Wanxian County was built along the river. Although the city wall was not high, it was built with stones and looked very solid. Due to the flood in the upper reaches, there were no ships sailing on the river. The banks on both sides were full of boatmen and boatmen, who looked up helplessly, hoping that the flood would recede soon. A stranger squatted in the crowd. He was of moderate build, dark complexion, and no beard on his chin. This person was Gao Shiming, who had left Beijing for more than a month. He looked at the figure in the river and felt deeply moved. A month ago, he was still in cold Beijing, but a month later he came to hot and humid Sichuan. He also became darker and thinner. Fortunately, he did not fail his mission and finally found Zhang Xianzhong! He washed his face with the cool river water, then looked up at the not-so-high city wall of Wanxian, took a deep breath, and walked over with firm steps. Since Zhang Xianzhong was stationed in Wanxian, the soldiers guarding the city checked the pedestrians very carefully. "Where are you from? What are you doing in the city?" A thin soldier stopped Gao Shiming with a Sichuan accent. His eyes were alert and scrutinizing. As the eunuch in charge of the Silijian, this dialect was not a problem for him. But he did not answer in Sichuan dialect, but said in authentic Beijing dialect: "I came from the capital and went to the city to discuss matters with Zhang Xianzhong." There was a certain unquestionable majesty in his tone. "Bold!" The soldier was immediately angry, "How can you call the name of the Great Western King directly? Come on, this Ming army spy, come with me to capture him!" Seeing this, the nearby soldiers surrounded him and pointed their weapons at Gao Shiming. Their eyes were full of hostility and anger. Gao Shiming was not panicked at all. He stood there with his hands behind his back and said: "I won't say a word before I see Zhang Xianzhong." There was a certain firmness and calmness in his tone. These people ignored him and tied Gao Shiming up with ropes. After the binding was firm, a small leader came over and searched him personally. He first searched Gao Shiming for a package, opened it and saw the heavy silver inside. The little leader chuckled: "Wow, there is so much silver hidden!" His eyes flashed with greed. Seeing Gao Shiming didn't say anything, the little leader untied Gao Shiming's belt and reached down to touch. There are only three places where people can hide things: arms, sleeves, and crotch. He muttered while touching: "Hmm? It seems a little wrong... Try again?" Sure enough, it was fucking wrong! The little leader retracted his right hand and looked at his hand in disbelief. His hand was fine, so what was wrong? After thinking about it, the little leader refocused his attention on Gao Shiming. He walked to Gao Shiming's side and pulled Gao Shiming's pants with both hands. His actions were a bit rude and impolite. "Wow, I almost went blind!" A soldier exclaimed. His eyes were full of astonishment and ridicule. "You idiot, which eye of yours saw that he had a hammer?" Another soldier also laughed. There was a bit of contempt and ridicule in their laughter. "It's a eunuch without a handle, hahaha!" The soldiers and civilians watching laughed at once. Their laughter resounded through the sky, as if it was a mockery and insult to Gao Shiming's identity. However, Gao Shiming stood there motionless without changing his expression. His eyes revealed a kind of firmness and calmness, as if telling everyone: No matter how you laugh at me and insult me, I will not change my mission and determination.

Seeing more and more people gathered around, the little leader began to panic. He thought quickly and ordered, "Come here, send him to little Wei Chi." His tone was filled with anxiety and helplessness. He knew that this eunuch who claimed to come to discuss matters with Zhang Xianzhong was definitely not a simple person. And his future fate would also change drastically because of the arrival of this eunuch.

Who is Xiao Weichi? Suddenly, a name flashed through Gao Shiming's mind like a flash of lightning: Li Dingguo! This name, like a grain of gold sand blown up by the wind in the dust of history, flashes with extraordinary light. Zhang Xianzhong once adopted Li Dingguo as his adopted son, so Li Dingguo changed his surname to Zhang and became a fierce general in the Dashi Army. After Zhang Xianzhong's death, he restored his original surname, Li Dingguo. This name once again echoed in the world, like a war drum urging people to march, which made people feel awe.

Before leaving, Emperor Zhu Youjian's eyes were deep and complicated. He especially told Gao Shiming to pay special attention to this person, Li Dingguo. The emperor's words seemed to contain some expectations for this young general, or perhaps an unspeakable worry.

Unexpectedly, the first person I met when I arrived in Wanxian was him! The arrangement of fate is always so wonderful and catches people off guard.

The little leader had a disgusted look on his face, as if he was full of disdain for Gao Shiming, a man from the Ming Dynasty. He helped Gao Shiming fasten his pants, rudely and casually, and then pushed him into Wanxian City. At that moment, Gao Shiming felt mixed emotions, with uncertainty about the future and a faint expectation for the challenges he was about to face.

After a tortuous journey, they arrived outside a small courtyard. Outside the courtyard, military tents were densely packed like small hills, showing the majesty of the Dashi Army. It was noon, and the smoke from cooking rose up, interweaving with the blue sky and white clouds to form a peaceful picture. The aroma of food filled the air, making people feel hungry involuntarily.

"Sixth brother, why are you here if you are not guarding the city?" The little leader was about to go in, but was stopped by two soldiers on duty. Their eyes were alert, and the weapons in their hands flashed coldly in the sun.

"Hehe," Lao Liu laughed with a cunning look on his face, "I caught a spy and want to present him to General Li to get some credit. Is that not okay?" As he spoke, he pushed Gao Shiming, indicating that he was a "spy."

The soldiers on duty looked at Gao Shiming's face carefully, a trace of disdain flashed in their eyes, "Damn it, go quickly." Their tone was full of disdain and contempt for Gao Shiming.

The little leader laughed again, a smile of pride and mockery. He pushed Gao Shiming into the yard, as if showing off his prey.

There is a pavilion in the courtyard, with exquisite patterns carved on the pillars, which looks simple and elegant. A young man in his twenties is sitting in the pavilion eating porridge and vegetables. His movements are elegant and calm, as if he is at peace with the world.

"General Li, I have captured a spy from the Ming army and the imperial court." Gao Shiming was pushed in front of Li Dingguo. He tried to stand firm and looked at the young general in front of him with a firm gaze.

Gao Shiming looked at Li Dingguo carefully, and was secretly surprised. Li Dingguo was wearing a light blue gown, which was simple and plain, with an ordinary cloth belt tied around his waist, without any luxury. He had delicate eyebrows and bright eyes, as if he could see into people's hearts. He was tall and mighty, majestic yet kind, giving people an indescribable sense of oppression.

It was unexpected that there was such a heroic figure among the bandits. Gao Shiming secretly admired him in his heart. He had never thought that in such a chaotic world, there would be such an outstanding figure.

"A spy from the Ming army?" Li Dingguo seemed a little confused when he heard this. His brows knitted slightly, as if he was thinking about something.

"General Li, this is a eunuch without any handle!" the little leader added, his tone full of pride and sarcasm.

"Oh!" Li Dingguo suddenly realized. He put down his bowl and chopsticks and looked at Gao Shiming. "I am Li Dingguo, the adopted son of King Daxi. What is your name? What are you doing in Wanxian?" His tone was calm and majestic, as if he could see through everything.

"I still stick to what I said before. I won't say a word until I see Zhang Xianzhong!" Gao Shiming reiterated. His eyes were firm and resolute, as if he was ready to face all challenges.

He knew that talking too much would lead to mistakes, and he couldn't speak carelessly under the gaze of so many people. He had to stay calm and composed in order to deal with the next situation.

He actually called his adoptive father by his name? Li Dingguo was a little annoyed and wanted to beat Gao Shiming up. But after thinking about it, he decided not to. When two armies are fighting, they don't kill envoys. This man showed no fear, obviously he was not an ordinary person. And this eunuch dared to come alone, so he must have something important to discuss. In this case, let him meet his adoptive father.

To ensure that everything was correct, Li Dingguo personally unbuttoned Gao Shiming's pants for inspection. His movements were swift and professional, without any delay. After the inspection, he took Gao Shiming to the county government office.

After a series of inspections by sentries, they finally arrived outside the county government office. Wanxian County Government Office was much larger than other county government offices and looked very imposing. Six years before the Hongwu reign, this place was the seat of Wanzhou Prefecture, and was later downgraded to a county. But even so, the scale and grandeur of the county government office remained the same as before.

After entering the county government hall, Gao Shiming finally saw Zhang Xianzhong himself. Zhang Xianzhong was wearing gorgeous brocade clothes, standing in the middle of the hall with his eyes wide open, staring at him intently. His eyes were like a tiger descending from the mountain, full of majesty and domineering.

There were more than ten people sitting or standing on both sides of the hall. Judging from their attire, they were both scholars and military commanders. They were either bowing their heads in deep thought or whispering to each other, seemingly discussing something important.

"How dare you! You don't even kneel before the King of Daxi?" Ruan Shiwu, who was sitting in the position where Zhang Xianzhong attacked, slammed the table. His voice resounded throughout the hall like thunder, making people tremble with fear.

Ruan Shiwu was Zhang Xianzhong's son-in-law and was deeply trusted by him. In history, after Zhang Xianzhong became emperor, he appointed him as the left prime minister. He was domineering in the army and all the soldiers hated him. After Zhang Xianzhong's death, he was executed by Li Dingguo and others, which was also a retribution. At this time, his face was full of anger, as if he wanted to cut Gao Shiming into pieces.

"I am Gao Shiming, the eunuch who holds the seal of the Imperial Household Department of the Ming Dynasty. I have come to meet General Zhang to discuss important matters." Gao Shiming looked directly at Zhang Xianzhong without fear. Although his voice was not loud, it was full of firmness and determination.

Zhang Xianzhong said nothing, but waved his hand gently, signaling Sun Kewang to come over. His eyes were deep and complicated, as if he was thinking about something important.

Sun Kewang stood up with a grim smile and walked to Gao Shiming's side. He looked around and confirmed that no one was around, then unbuttoned Gao Shiming's pants for inspection. His movements were rough and casual, as if he was treating an insignificant prisoner. Zhang Xianzhong had four adopted sons, the eldest son was Sun Kewang, the second son was Li Dingguo, the third son was Liu Wenxiu, and the fourth son was Ai Nengqi. They were all brave and good at fighting, and were capable generals of the Dashi Army.

Gao Shiming almost cried at this moment. In less than half an hour, his pants were unbuttoned three times and he was touched once. This kind of humiliation and pain was almost unbearable for him. But his eyes were still firm and resolute, without the slightest retreat or fear.

"Father, he is indeed a eunuch, so what he said should be true." Sun Kewang said after checking. There was a hint of pride and sarcasm in his voice, as if he was showing off his achievements to Zhang Xianzhong.

Zhang Xianzhong nodded, but still did not speak. His eyes were deep and complicated, as if he was thinking about something important. Wang Zhaolin sneered: "Gao Shiming, you neither kneel down nor call yourself king when you see the King of Daxi, aren't you afraid that he will kill you?" His voice was full of threats and intimidation, as if to force Gao Shiming into a desperate situation.

"Afraid? If I were afraid, I wouldn't have come." Gao Shiming said firmly. Although his voice was not loud, it was full of determination and courage. He knew that the purpose of his trip was important and he could not retreat because of his personal safety.

"Okay!" Wang Zhaolin sneered again, "Come here, drag him out and beat him with a stick until he kneels down and proclaims himself king!" "Yes, sir!" The four Daxi soldiers dragged Gao Shiming out without saying anything. Then, the sound of beatings and screams could be heard outside the door. The sound was like the wailing in hell, which was terrifying.

Gao Shiming was the eunuch in charge of the Imperial Household Department. His status in the palace was second to none except Lin Xiaofeng and the concubines. He had never been beaten, not to mention slapped. Facing Zhang Xianzhong's outrageous behavior, Gao Shiming soon became unbearable and screamed. However... Gao Shiming did not say a word of begging for mercy. He let the water and fire sticks of the Wanzhou County Government hit him, and all he could do was to release the pain of his skin with sharp wails.

A moment later, Gao Shiming's buttocks were bloody and splattered. His clothes were torn, revealing the bloody wounds. The pain and humiliation were almost unbearable for him. But his eyes were still firm and resolute, without any retreat or fear. He knew that the purpose of his trip was important and he could not retreat because of his personal safety. Even in such a painful and humiliating situation, he still maintained a tenacity and courage. This tenacity and courage made people respect and admire him.

In the hall, Li Dingguo hesitated for a moment and said, "Father, since the Ming court has sent the eunuch who holds the seal of the Imperial Household Department to discuss matters, there must be something important to discuss. It is better to stop the caning for now and punish him after he finishes speaking." His voice was calm and majestic, as if he was making a reasonable suggestion to Zhang Xianzhong. He knew that Gao Shiming's purpose of this trip was important and he could not delay important matters because of personal grudges.

Ruan Shiwu laughed and said, "General Li, don't just focus on fighting and killing. You should also read more books. Do you know what a show of power is? This is it!" His voice was full of sarcasm and contempt, as if he was showing his ignorance and shallowness to Li Dingguo.

Li Dingguo didn't want to refute, after all, he couldn't let Gao Shiming hear the sound of their internal discord. However, seeing Ruan Shiwu's disgusting face, Li Dingguo finally couldn't help but stand up and refute: "As the saying goes, two armies do not kill envoys when they are fighting. If there is a disagreement,

Gao Shiming was lying on the ground with a look of embarrassment on his face. He took a few breaths and then spoke slowly with an imperceptible tremor in his voice: "I have come here on the orders of the court to discuss the matter of amnesty with General Zhang." His eyes flickered, as if he was looking for the reaction of everyone present, trying to catch a hint of acceptance on the faces of these grassroots heroes.

After saying that, he reached his hand into his crotch, which looked particularly funny and awkward, and everyone couldn't help but look at him with contempt. Gao Shiming didn't seem to care. He carefully tore open the corner of his pants and took out a secret letter wrapped in layers of oil paper. The oil paper was wrinkled due to long-term friction, as if telling of the dusty journey.

Li Dingguo approached Gao Shiming, frowning, and took the letter with disgust. He carefully checked the seal of the envelope, and only handed it to Zhang Xianzhong after confirming that it was correct. His fingers gently stroked the envelope, as if he was feeling the weight of the letter from the court.

Everyone took turns reading the letter. There were only two words on it: "Zhao'an". It was simple and direct, but it was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, stirring up ripples. After reading the letter, everyone looked at each other, and then turned their eyes to Zhang Xianzhong. Only Zhang Xianzhong could make a decision on such a sensitive matter!
Zhang Xianzhong stared at Gao Shiming with an expressionless face, his eyes seemed to be able to see into people's hearts. He recalled what happened four years ago. At that time, he accepted the imperial edict of amnesty in Gucheng, but he did not really surrender. It was just a stopgap measure. In the twelfth year of Lin Xiaofeng, he rebelled again in Gucheng. His desire for freedom and pursuit of power made him unable to be content with the status quo. Now, the court has brought up the issue of amnesty again, and Zhang Xianzhong is not surprised. In this chaotic world, it is the best policy for the Ming court to unite all forces that can be united to fight against foreign enemies.

However, why did the Ming court propose an imperial edict at this time? Zhang Xianzhong couldn't help but wonder.

It turned out that Li Zicheng had already attacked Beijing! This news was like a flash of lightning that broke through the fog in Zhang Xianzhong's heart. He laughed, with a bit of sarcasm in his voice: "Gao Shiming, Lin Xiaofeng is really a good plan! If I'm not mistaken, Li Zicheng has already occupied Xuanfu, right?"

"Xuanfu is the gateway to the capital. Once Xuanfu is lost, the capital will be in danger. Lin Xiaofeng has no soldiers, so he wants to unite with me, right?" Zhang Xianzhong's words were filled with confidence and disdain.

Seeing Zhang Xianzhong's confident look, Gao Shiming felt helpless. This person's intelligence was already lagging behind. Li Zicheng had already retreated to Datong, and he was still talking about Xuanfu and Beijing! In fact, Li Zicheng, Zhang Xianzhong and others were fighting on their own, and intelligence was not shared. In addition, the mountains were high and the roads were long. Letters from Beijing to Sichuan would take at least a month and at most several months to arrive, so it was common for intelligence to lag behind.

"General Zhang, your information is lagging behind. Let me tell you the latest situation!" After saying that, Gao Shiming lay on the ground again, raised his head and looked at Zhang Xianzhong. His posture seemed particularly humble.

Although everyone looked disdainful, they couldn't help but prick up their ears and listen to Gao Shiming's words.

"On March 21st, Li Zicheng led an army of more than 100,000 to besiege Beijing, and more than 100,000 soldiers and civilians in the capital resisted together. On March 27th, Li Zicheng retreated to Juyongguan and then to Datong." Gao Shiming's voice was low and powerful, and every word seemed to knock on everyone's heart.

"In this battle, Li Zicheng lost more than 80,000 soldiers and countless food, fodder, cattle and sheep!" Gao Shiming's words were filled with sighs and emotion.

Everyone took a deep breath after hearing this, and their faces showed an expression of disbelief. Although they expected Li Zicheng not to succeed easily, they did not expect him to be defeated so quickly and miserably. In just seven days! Half of the more than 100,000 troops were lost in seven days. The Ming Dynasty was really a centipede that would not die even if it was cut into pieces.

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!" Zhang Xianzhong's son-in-law Ruan Shiwu said loudly, with a bit of excitement and disbelief in his voice, "If Li Zicheng failed, why would Lin Xiaofeng still unite with the King of Daxi? This letter must be fake!"

"Yes, it's fake." someone echoed.

"Want to deceive us with false information? What do you think of us? Godfather, kill this man!" Ruan Shiwu became more and more agitated, his eyes were wide open as if they were about to spit fire.

Everyone said they didn't believe the letter, and their faces were full of confusion and anger.

Gao Shiming said firmly: "You can verify the truth of the letter yourself. If I lie, you can chop off my head at any time." There was some determination and calmness in his voice.

Then he showed a gloomy look and said, "The court has given up the land outside the Great Wall and mobilized the Guanning Army to defend the king, and only then did we repel Li Zicheng." A trace of regret flashed in his eyes, which was the regret for the loss of the beautiful rivers and mountains. "Now the Jiannu are lurking outside the Great Wall and may enter the Great Wall to plunder at any time. In order to concentrate troops to fight against the Jiannu, Your Majesty and the court have decided to join forces with General Zhang to stabilize the situation in the southwest." Gao Shiming's voice was low and powerful, and every word seemed to hit everyone's heart.

"General Zhang, what do you think?" Gao Shiming's words were filled with anticipation and earnestness.

As soon as this sentence came out, everyone was stunned! Although they did not participate in the Guanning Army's defense of the king, they were shocked by the loss of land outside the pass! Is the Ming Dynasty so weak? The land that once belonged to them has now become the possession of the Jiannu. They couldn't help but feel sad and angry.

Seeing that no one else spoke, Ruan Shiwu sneered: "Whether it is the Jiannu or Li Zicheng, what does the life and death of the Ming court have to do with us?" His face was full of disdain and indifference.

"We hope that the Ming Dynasty will perish sooner so that we can replace it and unify the world!" There was a hint of arrogance and ambition in Ruan Shiwu's voice.

There was a snap.

Ruan Shiwu was speaking proudly when Zhang Xianzhong slapped him in the face. He stood there at a loss, with shock and confusion written all over his face.

Zhang Xianzhong ignored him, stared at Gao Shiming and asked, "All the land outside the Great Wall has been lost?" There was a hint of sadness and disbelief in his voice.

"Yes, they are all lost." Gao Shiming's voice was low and powerful, and every word seemed to be knocking on Zhang Xianzhong's heart.

After a long time, Zhang Xianzhong slowly shook his head and said: "Whether it is lost or not has nothing to do with me. I must capture Chengdu this time! You go back and tell Lin Xiaofeng that I will not accept any form of amnesty. This is my attitude." There was some determination and unquestionableness in his voice.

Gao Shiming had expected Zhang Xianzhong to say this. He stood up, enduring the pain, and asked using the words that Lin Xiaofeng had taught him in advance: "Now that heroes are vying for supremacy in the world, what are the chances of General Zhang pacifying the Central Plains?" There was a hint of sharpness and challenge in his voice.

"Are you stronger than the Ming Dynasty? Or are you stronger than Li Zicheng? Or are you stronger than the Jiannu in Liaodong?" Gao Shiming's words were filled with sarcasm and disdain.

"In troubled times, it is difficult for the weak to protect themselves. General Zhang, have you ever thought about this problem?" There was some concern and worry in his voice.

Although Zhang Xianzhong had studied in his youth, he didn't have much knowledge now, and bickering was not his strong point. So he turned his gaze to Ruan Shiwu, with a look of expectation and helplessness in his eyes.

Ruan Shiwu's spirits perked up, and after a little thought he retorted: "It is precisely because our strength is the weakest that the King of the Great West wants to target Chengdu. If we capture Chengdu, relying on the natural barrier of Guanzhong to build high city walls and store up food and grass, it will be the strategy of Liu Bei of Shu Han back then!" There was some excitement and confidence in his voice.

"Well said!" Gao Shiming's sharp voice resounded throughout the hall, "But can you defend the natural barrier?" There was a hint of doubt and disdain in his voice.

"If I remember correctly, General Zhang has been conducting mobile warfare since he started his army. He is good at attacking cities but not good at defending them." Gao Shiming's words were filled with sarcasm and contempt.

"No matter who finally conquers the Central Plains, you won't be able to defend Sichuan!" There was some determination and certainty in his voice.

Everyone wanted to refute, but they couldn't find a reason. The Dashi Army's fighting style was special, often using long-range raids, feints to the east and attacks to the west, and internal and external cooperation. They rarely engaged in head-on battles, and even if they did, they mostly won less and lost more. They couldn't help but feel helpless and frustrated.

"Then we can unite with Li Zicheng, first destroy the Ming Dynasty, then destroy the Jiannu, and finally divide the world together!" Ruan Shiwu said excitedly, his face full of ambition and arrogance.

"Oh!" Gao Shiming sneered and said, "Luo Rucai thought so back then!" There was a hint of sarcasm and disdain in his voice.

Hearing Luo Rucai's name, everyone present shook their heads. Luo Rucai was as famous as Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong in the past. Later, he joined Zhang Xianzhong because of his defeat. However, because of his disagreement with Zhang Xianzhong, he switched to Li Zicheng again. As a result, Li Zicheng found an excuse to get rid of him, and his troops were also annexed. His ending can be said to be very tragic. Everyone couldn't help but feel a sense of grief for the death of the rabbit.

Gao Shiming saw the reactions of the crowd and continued, "The current situation is that the Ming court wants to stabilize the situation, while General Zhang wants to survive! We each get what we need, so why not do it?" There was some sincerity and some exhortation in his voice.

Ruan Shiwu clenched his fists and said angrily: "Compared with Li Zicheng, the Ming government is even more unreliable!" There was some excitement and dissatisfaction in his voice.

"Father-in-law!" Ruan Shiwu turned his head and looked at Zhang Xianzhong and said, "The Ming court sent Gao Shiming to call for peace in name, but in fact he wanted to sow discord between our army and Li Zicheng. Father-in-law, please order him to be executed." His voice was firm and unquestionable. His eyes flashed with deep hatred and dissatisfaction towards the Ming government.

In the county government hall, shouts were heard everywhere, and everyone demanded that Gao Shiming be beheaded. "Behead him!" "Yes, behead him!" The voices rose and fell, like a thunderstorm in the summer afternoon, rapid and powerful. Zhang Xianzhong saw it all, but he was a little hesitant in his heart. His eyes wandered among the people, as if he was looking for an answer.

He recalled that in May of the sixteenth year of Lin Xiaofeng, he occupied Wuchang and proclaimed himself the King of Daxi. The glory and pride of that moment seemed to be still before his eyes. In the same year, Li Zicheng also proclaimed himself the king in Xiangyang, and was named Shunyi. When Li Zicheng heard that Xianzhong also proclaimed himself the king, he was very dissatisfied and sent an envoy to send a letter to deter him. The words between the lines of the letter revealed threats and disdain.

Li Zicheng was powerful and at the peak of his power, while Xianzhong was relatively weak, like a seedling sandwiched between boulders. Moreover, Xianzhong was in an awkward and dangerous position between Li Zicheng and the Ming army, like a mouse in a bellows, being bullied by both sides. Therefore, Xianzhong decided to go south to Hunan, attack Yuezhou, plunder Jiangxi, and then go upstream to attack Sichuan, looking for a place that belonged to him.

If Li Zicheng knew about the Ming court's call for surrender, once he got angry, the consequences would be disastrous. Xianzhong frowned, beheading Gao Shiming seemed to be a good way to cut off future troubles, but he was a little hesitant, after all, this was a human life, not a joke.

"Father, don't act rashly!" Li Dingguo stepped forward, his voice firm and powerful, like a stream of clear water, standing out in the noisy hall. He paused for a moment and asked Zhang Xianzhong for instructions, "Father, please detain Gao Shiming first, I have something to say."

Zhang Xianzhong nodded, with a hint of appreciation in his eyes, and was pleased with Li Dingguo's calmness and wisdom. He ordered the soldiers to take Gao Shiming away. After Gao Shiming was taken away, Li Dingguo continued, "Father, I think this matter should be delayed rather than rushed."

"Second brother, what do you mean?" Sun Kewang frowned, his tone revealing a hint of dissatisfaction and confusion.

Li Dingguo did not answer directly, but asked everyone: "Godfather, everyone, do you think we can win this time when we send troops to Sichuan?" His eyes wandered among the people, as if looking for an answer.

"Of course! Our army is invincible and victorious in every battle!" a general shouted loudly, his face brimming with confidence and pride.

"The Dashi Army is invincible!" another general echoed, his voice full of pride and pride.

Generals and officials such as Sun Kewang, Liu Wenxiu, Ai Nengqi and Ruan Shiwu all expressed their opinions. Their voices intertwined together like a song of victory.

However, Li Dingguo gave a bitter smile, with a hint of worry in his eyes: "Everyone, we can deceive the enemy, but we cannot deceive ourselves!" Although his voice was not loud, it was like a clear stream, flowing in the noisy hall.

Liu Wenxiu had a very good personal relationship with Dingguo, and he immediately spoke up to help him out: "Second brother, have you drunk too much? How can you say such things!" His face was filled with concern and worry.

At this time, the Dashi Army was pointing its spearhead at Chongqing, and the two armies were about to fight. Li Dingguo's words actually destroyed his own morale and enhanced the prestige of others. At the very least, it could be considered rude, and at the worst, it disturbed the morale of the army and should be beheaded.

Sure enough, Ruan Shiwu immediately accused: "General Li, what do you mean by this? Are you hoping that our army will fail?" His voice was full of anger and dissatisfaction.

"Second brother, you've gone too far. Be careful with your words next time." Sun Kewang coughed, trying to change the subject. His eyes revealed a hint of dissatisfaction and warning.

However, Zhang Xianzhong waved his hand, signaling everyone to be quiet and listen to Li Dingguo: "Hear what he says!" His voice was full of majesty and unquestionable.

Li Dingguo knew very well that he was deeply trusted by Xianzhong, so he whispered: "Foster father, it would be great if we can win the attack on Sichuan this time, but if we fail, where will our army go?" Although his voice was not loud, it was like a cold current, making everyone feel a chill.

He continued to analyze: "By then, there will be Jian Mingxiao in front, Murong Jiongran in the back, Li Zicheng in the north, and Guangxi and Guizhou in the south! The people in those places are fierce and the resources are not abundant. If you go there, you will be digging your own grave." His eyes revealed a trace of worry and helplessness.

"Godfather, you have to think carefully about this!" Li Dingguo's voice was full of earnestness and expectation.

Zhang Xianzhong was stunned for a moment, and there was a hint of expectation and admiration in his eyes when he looked at Li Dingguo. In fact, he had already considered this issue before attacking Sichuan. At that time, his worst plan was to retreat to Kuizhou if he failed, occupy Jingzhou, Yuezhou, Changde Prefecture and Changsha, and control the southern part of Huguang. However, this still had the danger of annihilation of the whole army.

"Dingguo, what do you think?" Zhang Xianzhong asked, his voice full of expectation and trust.

Li Dingguo pondered for a moment and said, "If we win, we will go into Sichuan to recuperate; if we fail, we will pretend to accept the court's amnesty and wait for the opportunity to make a comeback! If the Ming army orders us to attack Li Zicheng, you can take the opportunity to ask for military pay... The Ming army is short of pay, so naturally they can't give it to us." There was a gleam of wisdom in his eyes.

"In this way, our army can rest and regroup naturally!" Li Dingguo's voice was full of confidence and determination.

Zhang Xianzhong was already showing joy on his face, and he wanted to make a decision. But he thought of another question: "What about Gao Shiming?" He expressed a hint of hesitation and worry in his voice.

Gao Shiming had only two demands: either accept the amnesty or not. If he was released and then attacked Chongqing, it would show that his attitude towards the court was not to accept the amnesty, and there would be no way out if he failed. If he was not released... the attitude would be even clearer. This was a thorny issue.

Li Dingguo thought for a while and said, "He has an injury on his hip and it will take at least a month to heal." There was a hint of cunning and wit in his eyes.

"What if his injury healed a month later?" Zhang Xianzhong asked.

"We can't let him recover from his injury..." Li Dingguo's eyes flashed with cunning and cruelty. His plan was both clever and cruel, which shocked Zhang Xianzhong.

Zhang Xianzhong laughed loudly and ordered his men to act according to Li Dingguo's plan. He knew that the key to this plan was Gao Shiming.

After the irrelevant people left, Zhang Xianzhong took out the map and said to his four adopted sons: "According to local people, this flood will recede in two months at most, or one month at least. After the flood recedes, I want you to immediately surround Zhongzhou (now Zhong County) and kill Jian Mingxiao at all costs." His voice was full of determination and coldness.

Although the four adopted sons showed no fear, they were quite dissatisfied in their hearts. Jian Mingxiao was actually Zhang Xianzhong's nemesis. The two sides had fought many times, and Jian Mingxiao's winning rate was as high as a terrifying 80 or even 90 percent. If it weren't for Lin Xiaofeng's great victory thirteen years ago that annihilated Jian Mingxiao's 30,000 elite troops, they would never have been able to occupy Kuizhou, let alone dare to touch Sichuan.

"Godfather, I am willing to be the pioneer!" Li Dingguo said with his head held high. He knew this was an opportunity to demonstrate his abilities.

"Good!" Zhang Xianzhong pointed at Zhongzhou and said, "Taking Zhongzhou will be your first achievement!" His voice was full of appreciation and expectation.

……

In the lobby of the government office in Zhongzhou, a 70-year-old woman in casual clothes sat on a chair and sighed. Her face was as white as jade and her eyes were bright. Although she was old, her body was strong and her every move was vigorous. This old woman was none other than General Jian Mingxiao, the second-rank imperial wife.

She looked at the map in front of her and muttered to herself: "I have no power, no money, no soldiers, and no generals! How can I defend Zhongzhou?" There was a hint of helplessness and worry in her voice.

"It has been more than a month since Li Zicheng attacked Beijing. I wonder how Your Majesty is doing now." She said softly, with a hint of concern and worry in her eyes.

"I heard that the Crown Prince, Prince Yong, and Prince Ding have all gone to Nanjing. I wonder if those old foxes in the six ministries of Nanjing have bullied them." She continued, her voice filled with worry and uneasiness.

"And... the wars in Liaodong and Henan, ah!" She sighed, her eyes revealing a trace of helplessness and heartache. She knew that the wars across the country were urgent, but she could not go to support them. She felt that the burden on her shoulders was extremely heavy, but she also understood that as a general, she must hold her ground and defend Zhongzhou to the death. (End of this chapter)