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

Jian Mingxiao, this experienced and steady man, did not show the slightest fear on his face when he heard the words "Jinyiwei". Instead, he asked calmly with an unquestionable majesty in his eyes: "Has an imperial edict arrived?" His voice was not loud, but it carried a calmness and strength that could not be ignored.

Qin Yiming nodded slightly, his expression solemn, as if he was carrying a heavy burden: "Indeed, aunt, please go and receive the order as soon as possible." His tone showed both respect for Jian Mingxiao and worry about the coming storm.

Jian Mingxiao did not dare to delay at all. She stood up quickly and walked towards the door with steady steps. Every step she took seemed so firm, as if she had already prepared herself to face all challenges.

Outside the door stood two men who looked like boat trackers. Their presence seemed to blend into the drizzle, becoming a unique landscape in the gloomy weather. One of them was over thirty years old, with a dark complexion like midnight, wearing a bamboo hat and a straw raincoat, as if he had just walked out of a ruthless storm. His eyes were deep, revealing a toughness that had gone through vicissitudes of life. The other was about twenty years old, dressed the same as the former, with a face that showed no sadness or joy, like two silent stone tablets, quietly waiting here.

"Captain Wang Zhong of the Imperial Guard and Wang Yongxin of the Imperial Guard, greetings to General Qin!" The two men stepped forward and performed the formal salute. Their movements were efficient and neat without any delay. Their eyes revealed a professional calmness and decisiveness.

"I don't deserve it. Jian Mingxiao greets the two officers. I wonder why you two came to Zhongzhou?" Jian Mingxiao was full of doubts and her tone was a little inquiring. She swept her eyes over the two men, trying to catch some clues from their expressions.

At this time, the upper reaches of the Yangtze River were flooded, and it was impossible to go upstream to Wanxian. Not only was the river flooded, but even the roads on both sides of the river disappeared in the flood. If people could pass through, Zhang Xianzhong would have already attacked, which shows how critical the situation was.

Wang Zhong clasped his hands together and said in a steady and powerful voice: "After leaving Beijing, we headed southwest, passed Huaiqing and then west, entered Shanxi through the Shimen Gate of Zhending Prefecture (now Shijiazhuang), then turned to Shaanxi, passed Hanzhong and arrived in Zhongzhou!" His tone revealed a kind of perseverance that had gone through all the hardships and obstacles.

Jian Mingxiao was stunned when she heard that and stared at Wang Zhong's eyes for a long time. Those eyes seemed to be able to see through people's hearts. She slowly said: "I admire you! Captain Wang is a skilled and bold man. The Jinyiwei is indeed full of talented people!" There was sincere admiration in her tone, but also a hint of imperceptible worry.

She had to admire Wang Zhong. Shanxi and Shaanxi were both in the hands of Li Zicheng, but Wang Zhong dared to carry the imperial edict through here. His courage was amazing! The difficulties and obstacles involved can be imagined, but Wang Zhong was able to deliver the imperial edict safely. This ability was indeed extraordinary.

In fact, this route was Wang Zhong's last resort. The emperor ordered him to deliver the imperial edict to Jian Mingxiao within one month. Time was tight and the task was arduous. The safest way was to go to Tianjin first, then go south through Shandong to the Yangtze River coast, or take a boat to Nanjing, and then go upstream to Sichuan. However, this route was too long and took too long. After weighing the pros and cons, they decided to take the risk and pass through Li Zicheng's territory. Fortunately, there were no flaws on the road and they finally arrived safely.

Wang Zhong had met Jian Mingxiao before, but according to the procedure, they still had to check each other's procedures. After confirming that everything was correct, Wang Zhong reached into his arms, took out the heavy imperial edict, stood on the high platform, and read in a low voice: "Jian Mingxiao accepts the edict." Although his voice was not loud, it carried an irresistible majesty.

Jian Mingxiao immediately led everyone to kneel, her voice respectful and firm: "Your Highness, I, Jian Mingxiao, wish you good health. Long live the emperor." Her tone was full of awe for the imperial power, and also revealed a determination to shoulder the heavy responsibility.

Wang Zhong cleared his throat and began to read: "In March of the seventeenth year of Lin Xiaofeng, bandits led hundreds of thousands of people to invade the capital, and the capital was in danger! With the protection of God and the blessings of our ancestors, I and the millions of soldiers and civilians in the capital fought bravely and finally repelled the bandits." His voice echoed in the rain, carrying a sense of historical weight.

"However, the Ming Dynasty is in trouble both internally and externally. The Jiannu and the Mongols are eyeing us covetously from outside; and Li Zicheng, Zhang Xianzhong and his ilk are causing chaos inside. They are shaking the foundation of the Ming Dynasty and hurting the foundation of the country!" Wang Zhong's voice revealed a deep worry and helplessness.

"In order to stabilize the situation on all sides, I have decided to issue a decree of amnesty to Zhang Xianzhong. But before issuing the decree of amnesty, I need a victory to force Zhang Xianzhong to surrender." The emperor's intention was clear and firm, and this victory was crucial to the future of the Ming Dynasty.

"From now on, Jian Mingxiao will be transferred to be the governor-general of Sichuan, Huguang, Yunnan and Guizhou provinces, and all troops from the four provinces will be under his command." This imperial edict was like a thunderclap, shocking everyone present.

……

After receiving the imperial edict and thanking the emperor, Jian Mingxiao was still in shock. She did not expect the situation to change so quickly, as if the whole world turned upside down overnight. Especially Li Zicheng, who had just surrounded Beijing City and then retreated to Datong, the changes caught people off guard. What was even more shocking was that she was appointed as the governor of four provinces, controlling all the troops in the four provinces! What does this represent? She now controls half of the Ming Dynasty! The Ming Dynasty had thirteen provinces, Shaanxi, Shanxi, and Henan had been lost, and she controlled four of the remaining ten provinces, which shows how much the emperor trusted her. Especially the right to act at one's own convenience, these four words are the imperial sword, which is enough to give her more flexibility and autonomy in times of crisis. The most shocking thing is that the emperor actually took action against the vassal kings. The political game and power struggle in this made people gasp.

After the shock, Jian Mingxiao was not in a hurry to deploy troops. Zhang Xianzhong was coming with great momentum, but was trapped by the flood west of Wanxian and could not move for the time being. It was true that speed was of the essence in war, but she was not short of time. The flood of the Yangtze River could not be stopped at will, and the top priority was to formulate a defensive strategy, and then prepare supplies and deploy troops! Sometimes the morale of the army is morale, and sometimes the morale of the army is food and grass. The more this is the case, the less anxious you can be. You must take steady steps to be invincible.

After thinking for a long time, Jian Mingxiao asked Wang Zhong: "Captain Wang, does His Majesty have anything else to say?" There was a deep light in her eyes, as if she wanted to get more information from Wang Zhong.

"Yes!" Wang Zhong thought for a while, "Your Majesty said that Governor Qin can ignore the gains and losses of a city or a place, and can also exchange space for time, and can also exchange several small defeats for a big victory, but the final result of this battle must be victory. If he loses, it will not only affect the situation in the southwest, but also the Central Plains and the Liaodong battlefield." There was an unquestionable determination in his tone.

"So Governor Qin, you have to find a way to win!" Wang Zhong wiped the sweat from his forehead, looking worried. He knew that the outcome of this war was crucial to the future of Ming Dynasty.

"By the way, Your Majesty said that there is a young master named Zeng Yingzeng in Chengdu who is quite trusted by the people. Governor Qin can try to use him." Wang Zhong added.

Jian Mingxiao nodded first, then frowned and thought for a long time. She knew the difficulty of this war and the emperor's expectations of her. As the sky gradually darkened, she finally made up her mind. She first asked, "Do you two have other tasks?" There was an irresistible majesty in her tone.

Wang Zhong shook his head: "Your Majesty has ordered us to follow the orders of Governor Qin!" His tone revealed respect and obedience for Jian Mingxiao.

"Okay!" Jian Mingxiao clenched her fists tightly, her eyes revealing a firm determination. She ordered Qin Yiming: "Beat the drums, go to the tent." Her voice was high and powerful, as if to awaken the fighting spirit in everyone's hearts.

Zhongzhou City was not big to begin with, and with Zhang Xianzhong eyeing them from Wanxian, a hundred miles away, the situation was extremely critical. So within a quarter of an hour, all the generals under Jian Mingxiao gathered together, and each of their faces was filled with determination and resolve.

Jian Mingxiao threw out a hand order and said to Qin Yiming: "Yiming, you will follow me to Chongqing later and take over the 37,000 troops under Chen Shiqi. Then transfer all the troops to Chongqing and wait for my command." There was an unquestionable majesty and decisiveness in her tone.

(The "soldiers" here refer to combat soldiers, not defensive soldiers)

"Yes, sir!" Qin Yiming took the warrant, his eyes revealing a kind of respect and obedience to Jian Mingxiao. He knew that the outcome of this war was crucial to the future of Ming Dynasty, and he also understood the heavy responsibility he shouldered.

"Zuo Ming, take this governor's order to Shunqing and transfer the 3,000 troops in his hands to Chongqing, and then wait for this governor's generals." Jian Mingxiao ordered again. Her tone revealed a kind of control and dispatching ability of the overall situation.

"Ma Wannian, you will go to Chongqing with me. After arriving in Chongqing, I will give you 100,000 taels of silver. You will go to the southwest with this silver to recruit 10,000 Xidong soldiers. Don't make any mistakes!" Jian Mingxiao's eyes revealed a kind of expectation and trust in Ma Wannian. She knew that the victory or defeat of this war depended not only on the number and quality of soldiers, but also on the control of terrain and people's hearts. Xidong soldiers, as a general term for the minority army in the southwest, are undoubtedly a force that cannot be ignored in this war.

Jian Mingxiao's grandson Ma Wannian was startled, with a complicated expression. The Xidong soldiers have a long history, which can be traced back to the Song Dynasty. The Xidong soldiers at that time were called Dongding, which was an army composed of ethnic minorities in the Yongzhou area during the Song Dynasty. In the Ming Dynasty, Xidong soldiers became a general term for ethnic minority armies in the southwest. The Shizhu Tusi headed by Jian Mingxiao is located at the junction of three provinces, and the personnel composition is very complex, so the number of Xidong soldiers is relatively large. However, these ethnic minority soldiers usually only do the work of garrison troops, and if you want them to fight, you have to pay them more! This is their traditional custom and also a way of survival for them.

"Grandma, the Xidong soldiers are widely distributed. If we want to recruit 10,000 people, it will take at least half a month, or at most more than a month. Add to that the round-trip journey, and a month is not enough." Ma
On this precious land of the capital, the Huangji Palace stands tall, its magnificent glazed tiles sparkling in the sun, solemn and extraordinary, as if it is a monument between heaven and earth, witnessing the rise and fall of the Ming Dynasty. The rumors about the Jiannu's southward march are nothing but unfounded speculation, like a thunderstorm in the summer afternoon, which is mighty but comes and goes in a hurry, leaving no trace. Before they really come, all affairs should be carried out in an orderly manner according to the established steps, and no rash actions should be taken to avoid shaking the foundation of the country.

At this moment, all the ministers gathered in the court to discuss national affairs. The chief minister of the cabinet, Li Banghua, was dressed in luxurious court robes, with a stern face and a majestic aura between his brows. He stepped forward and reported to the emperor Lin Xiaofeng who was sitting on the dragon throne: "Your Majesty, Jin Zhijun, Yang Rucheng, Xie Haojie and others not only colluded with the Jiannu in private, but also had dealings with the bandits. The evidence is irrefutable. After the joint interrogation of the three judicial departments, they are now imprisoned in the Tianlao, awaiting the final verdict. This is their confession."

After hearing this, Lin Xiaofeng frowned, and his deep eyes flashed with a complex expression, both angry and helpless. He asked, "How many officials are involved in this case?" His voice was low and powerful, as if every word contained a heavy weight.

Li Banghua swallowed and sighed, "There are a total of thirty-nine officials involved in this case, including seventeen high-ranking officials above the fifth rank, and twenty-two below the fifth rank." His voice echoed in the empty hall, sounding particularly heavy.

There was a dead silence in the court, and the atmosphere was so heavy that it seemed like water could drip out of it. These are the masterminds! If we want to catch all their followers, then the number of people in the court will probably be reduced by half. Why is this so? It is because the court of the Ming Dynasty is turbid and stagnant. If you want to gain a foothold in it, you must wade through this muddy water. How could those who colluded with the Jiannu in private write on their faces that they "provided supplies to the Jiannu"? They will definitely use various secret means to obtain various procedures and do illegal things in the name of legality.

For example, if you want to transport artillery to the border, you must first find the buyer, and this buyer must be the garrison at the border. If the border wants to get artillery, the Ministry of War must approve it, and then the Ministry of Households must allocate funds, and the Ministry of Works is responsible for manufacturing. After manufacturing, the Ministry of Works or the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Households will send people to escort it to the border. The procedures are cumbersome and complicated, like a dense net that covers everyone. If you encounter someone who is serious, you must also send an official document to the border for confirmation. If you want to speed up, you must get through the relationship, and those who approve in the middle do not know the final destination of the artillery, thinking that these artillery are used to resist the Jiannu.

Li Banghua continued, "There are also 208 people who are unaware of the situation. They all hold important positions in the six ministries and other important departments. Because they are not aware of the situation, I did not detain them." There was a hint of helplessness and regret in his voice.

After Lin Xiaofeng pondered for a moment, he scanned everyone in the court with a sharp gaze. He asked, "Lord Li, how many people are there in the nine clans of these people?" Although his voice was calm, the majesty contained in it made everyone feel palpitations.

Li Banghua's face changed. He glanced at the crowd behind him with the corner of his eye and asked in a trembling voice: "Your Majesty, are you referring to the officials involved in the case, or everyone?" There was a hint of uneasiness and fear in his voice.

"Officials involved in the case!" Lin Xiaofeng's voice was like thunder, echoing in the court.

Hearing this answer, Li Banghua breathed a sigh of relief. He took out another piece of paper, unfolded it and read, "There are a total of 18,426 people." Although his voice was calm, the shock in it made everyone feel terrified.

Lin Xiaofeng was stunned when he heard this number. He didn't expect so many people to be involved. Nearly 20,000 people... If the number was small, he could kill them all and not be labeled a tyrant. But these 20,000 people were too many. If they were all killed, it would definitely affect the stability of the situation. Moreover, now is the time to use people. If too many people are killed, it will definitely dampen the enthusiasm of officials.

This is not the most serious consequence. What worries him more is that some people will privately confuse the public and attribute these crimes to dereliction of duty. They will say that the more you do, the more mistakes you make, the less you do, the fewer mistakes you make, and if you do nothing, you make no mistakes. Once this kind of atmosphere is formed, then the officials of the Ming Dynasty will definitely choose to do nothing or do less to deal with it. Once this kind of atmosphere spreads, the country of the Ming Dynasty will be in danger.

After thinking for a moment, Lin Xiaofeng made a decision: "The three main culprits, Jin Zhijun, Yang Rucheng, and Jie Haojie, colluded with the Jiannu in private. Their crimes are unforgivable and their nine clans must be exterminated! The rest of the accomplices, although not the masterminds, were also involved, so their three clans must be exterminated to set things right!" His voice was as cold and ruthless as ice.

"What do you think of this decision?" Lin Xiaofeng asked in return. On the one hand, he wanted to observe the reactions of other people in the court; on the other hand, he also wanted to save face for Li Banghua. His eyes were like torches, scanning everyone in the court, as if he wanted to see through their hearts.

Everyone was very satisfied with the result. Without Li Banghua taking the lead, they all knelt down to accept the decree and thank the emperor. Their faces showed their relief and gratitude for surviving the disaster.

"Everyone!" Lin Xiaofeng stood up, his figure looked particularly tall and mighty against the backdrop of the dragon throne. "The officialdom of the Ming Dynasty is different from before. Doing more does not necessarily mean more mistakes! Doing nothing will definitely not make you wrong! As long as you think about the Ming Dynasty and my words in your heart, then no matter whether you are right or wrong, I can tolerate you." His voice was as warm as a spring breeze.

"Long live the emperor!" Everyone shouted to show their loyalty. Their voices echoed in the empty hall, sounding particularly loud and firm.

After dealing with the traitors, Li Banghua turned the topic to disaster relief. This problem seems serious but not serious. Because the places with serious disasters have already fallen, such as Shaanxi, Shanxi, most of Henan, parts of Sichuan, and a small part of Huguang have been occupied by Li Zicheng or Zhang Xianzhong. Although there were disasters in other places, they were relatively minor, and the court had exempted the land tax for one year, so the civil and military officials in the court did not pay much attention to disaster relief. They all showed a relaxed and indifferent look on their faces. However, Lin Xiaofeng did not think so. He wanted to take this opportunity to rectify the administration of officials and formulate the system of the land department. In fact, as early as the first year of Lin Xiaofeng, the Ming emperor had rectified the administration of officials across the country, but the result was not very ideal, because many officials were dismissed, resulting in the untimely collection of land tax that year or even no one to collect it, and finally only more than three million taels of silver were collected. In the second year, the treasury was tight, and Lin Xiaofeng asked all departments to reduce expenditures, so Yuan Chonghuan's policy of dismissing new soldiers received his strong support. However, before the new soldiers were completely dismissed, the Jizhou Mutiny occurred... This may be the butterfly effect of the Ming Dynasty...

"Your Majesty," Minister of Revenue Shao Shihan stepped forward and said, "The summer grain is about to be harvested! Moreover, the court has exempted the entire country from land tax for one year, so there is not much point in disaster relief at this time! Even if we carry out disaster relief now, by the time personnel and supplies are transported to the disaster area, the summer grain will have been harvested!" An expression of disdain and contempt appeared on his face.

"I second the proposal!"

"I second this!" More than a dozen ministers came out and bowed to support Shao Shihan's point of view. Their faces showed expressions of approval and agreement.

Lin Xiaofeng smiled faintly and asked, "What do you think is the purpose of disaster relief?" His voice was as clear and bright as a spring.

Purpose? The civil and military officials looked at each other, and Shi Bangyao, the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, bowed and said, "Save the lives of the people, calm the people's grievances, and win the hearts of the people." Although his voice was calm, the firmness in it made everyone feel convinced.

"Well said!" Lin Xiaofeng was very satisfied with Shi Bangyao's answer, "Then why did the bandits rise up?" His eyes were as sharp as torches, scanning everyone in the court.

"On the one hand, it's because of the raging disaster, and on the other hand, it's because of the problems with the administration," a minister replied, with a thoughtful and worried look on his face.

"The Ming Dynasty has two important evaluation indicators for local officials. One is tax collection, and the other is local public security." Lin Xiaofeng continued, "Some officials are only responsible to their superiors, but don't care about the lives of the people below. When the drought occurred, what were the officials in Shaanxi and Shanxi provinces doing? They were collecting taxes! The land tax plus the regular labor and miscellaneous taxes were already very high. Coupled with the three taxes temporarily levied during the Liaodong war, the farmers had no way to survive. This is not enough. They even arrested the farmers and tortured them because they could not pay the taxes. Soon, the prisons in the prefectures were filled with people who owed taxes. In order to survive, the people could only rise up and resist the government. This kind of official behavior that only answers to superiors but not to subordinates is ridiculous. I must change this trend!" His voice was like thunder, echoing in the court, appearing particularly passionate and determined.

"So I decided..." Just as Lin Xiaofeng was about to announce his decision, a young eunuch ran in from outside the palace door in a panic. He looked nervous and hurried, as if he had something urgent to report. He came to Guo Tianyang and handed him a secret letter. Guo Tianyang glanced at the envelope and hurriedly handed the secret letter to Lin Xiaofeng. On the envelope were four big characters written by Gongsun Yuchun himself: "Urgent News from Hejian".

These four words were like four flashes of lightning, instantly breaking the tranquility of the court and making everyone's heart rise to their throat.

Holding the secret letter, Lin Xiaofeng's face did not show much surprise. Since Li Zicheng withdrew his troops, he ordered Gongsun Yuchun to withdraw most of the Jinyiwei in the capital. This move was not only to train the Jinyiwei's actual combat capabilities, but also to rebuild the intelligence system of the Ming Dynasty, especially focusing on intelligence collection around Beijing. Now it seems that the Jinyiwei's intelligence collection work is returning to its former high efficiency in an orderly manner, just as he wished.

Lin Xiaofeng gently opened the envelope, his deep eyes quickly scanned every word on the letter, and then handed the secret letter to Li Banghua beside him. After reading it, Li Banghua's expression instantly aged a lot, and his already hunched body became even more bent. He raised his head, his hair was white, his eyes were bloodshot, and his voice was trembling: "Your Majesty, this..." Lin Xiaofeng said lightly: "It's okay, read it to everyone."

Li Banghua nodded and read aloud in a trembling voice: "Luo Wenbin's 15,000 troops left Hejian Prefecture the morning before yesterday and retreated to Zhending Prefecture." Upon hearing the news of the retreat, a low voice suddenly rang out in the court: "Retreat? This is a good thing!" Someone else said: "The bandits are obviously scared, and retreating is their best strategy. I think we should take this opportunity to attack Hejian Prefecture and recover our land of Daming." Someone else said excitedly: "Not only Hejian Prefecture, most areas of Baoding Prefecture and Zhending Prefecture can also be recovered. These bandits are like grasshoppers after autumn, they won't be able to jump for long."

Hearing the optimistic remarks of the officials in the court, Lin Xiaofeng sighed inwardly. These people's military vision is really short-sighted, but their mentality is good, and they can see bad things as good things. He glanced at the scenery outside the window. The early autumn sunshine shone through the sparse clouds and sprinkled on the glazed tiles of the Forbidden City, flashing a dazzling light. However, this beautiful scenery could not cover up the cruel reality of the Ming Dynasty's internal and external troubles.

"Today's morning court ends here. The cabinet and military officers stay, and the rest of you leave." Guo Tianyang gave an order, and the civil officials slowly left, while the cabinet and military officers stayed to discuss military and national affairs. Although it sounds like there are many people, in fact, not many people are present. Those present are the governor of the Beijing camp, Jiang Taiwei, the Earl of Chengyi, Liu Kongzhao, the general of the Beijing camp, He Zhen, and several deputy generals of the three camps. In the Five Military Commander's Office, except Jiang Taiwei, no one was present. In fact, it was useless for the commander to be present, because since the Ming War God returned from studying abroad, the power of the civil officials has been increasing, and the power to dispatch and command the army has long been owned by the Ministry of War.

Lin Xiaofeng glanced at the people present. Their faces were either happy or worried, and they all had their own thoughts. He looked at the optimistic attitudes of others and felt helpless. Especially the Left Commander Jiang Taiwei, who was happy at first, then worried, with a frown on his face. Lin Xiaofeng noticed his change and felt a little comforted. Although Jiang Taiwei's martial arts were mediocre, he had a long-term vision and was a useful person.

Li Banghua spoke first: "Everyone, what do you think?" Liu Kongzhao, the Earl of Chengyi, clasped his fists and bowed, with a hint of urgency in his voice: "Your Majesty, I am willing to lead 10,000 troops to recapture Hejian Prefecture!" Liu Kongzhao himself was not famous, but he had a famous ancestor, the first generation of the Earl of Chengyi, Liu Bowen. In fact, nobles like Liu Kongzhao were not valued, but Lin Xiaofeng held a horseback archery competition for the descendants of nobles at Coal Hill (Wansui Hill) in October of the 16th year, named "To Prepare for the City". In this competition, only Xiangcheng Earl Jin Yaozhong was hit by six arrows in a row, and the performance of other nobles was not good. After the competition, Jin Yaozhong, Funing Marquis Zhu Guobi, Chengyi Earl Liu Kongzhao and Xincheng Earl Zhao Zhilong were used.

Shao Shihan glanced at Liu Kongzhao and said leisurely: "Why not let Li Xingzhong, the general of Baoding stationed in Liangxiang, go to recapture Hejian Prefecture." If he had to choose a military general to lead the troops, Shao Shihan would definitely choose Li Xingzhong. The nobles of the Ming Dynasty had not fought for a hundred years and had long been in decline. Li Xingzhong was different. He had been stationed in Liaodong for a long time and had experienced many wars. He was a rare general.

Cheng Qinghua couldn't bear to watch this scene. He had worked in the Ministry of War and had a far-sighted vision. He cupped his hands and said, "Everyone, do we still need to send troops to recapture Hejian Prefecture? Your Majesty only needs to send a eunuch to make the garrison surrender!" "Your Majesty summoned us here not to discuss who will recapture Hejian Prefecture, but to determine where Li Zicheng will attack next based on Luo Wenbin's movements!" "Then dispatch troops!" As soon as this sentence came out, everyone looked at each other and fell into deep thought.

The situation in the Central Plains seemed clear, but in fact it was very chaotic. Shaanxi and Shanxi had already been lost, Henan had lost half, and northern Zhili had lost one-third. Li Zicheng was fighting on the move, and no one knew where he would attack next. However, he would definitely attack the Central Plains, because it was a battleground for military strategists.

After a long time, no one could come up with a convincing reason. Lin Xiaofeng looked at the map in front of him, and seeing that no one spoke, he said in a deep voice: "Everyone, why did Li Zicheng have to fight on the move?" Everyone was stunned and looked at Lin Xiaofeng.

Li Banghua thought for a moment and said, "War requires money, food, and soldiers. Li Zicheng's wandering around can be used to recruit refugees and rob them of money and food as military pay."

Lin Xiaofeng pointed at the map on the table and asked, "Who is the richest in Henan?" Miao Yikui said straightforwardly, "Fan..." Halfway through, he suddenly felt something was wrong and stopped talking immediately. Because Li Zicheng killed many vassal kings, these two words almost became the emperor's reverse scale.

However, Lin Xiaofeng did not mean to blame him. Instead, he continued, "Minister Qiu is right. The princes of the Ming Dynasty were the richest." "Since the founding of the country, how many princes have there been in Henan? Minister Fan, please tell us about the current situation of these princes."

In the early Ming Dynasty, the affairs of the royal family were managed by the Imperial Clan Court. Later, the Imperial Clan Court was merged into the Ministry of Rites, which took over the affairs of the royal family. Cheng Qinghua, the Minister of Rites, was well aware of the news: "Your Majesty, since the founding of the country, Henan has enfeoffed eleven princes."

"Prince Hui hanged himself during the Jiajing reign and was deposed as a vassal king; Prince Yin was also deposed as a vassal king during the Jiajing reign; Prince Wei was deposed as a vassal king in the third year of the Zhengtong reign because he had no children; Prince Ru was deposed as a vassal king in the Jiajing reign because he had no children; Prince Xiu was deposed as a vassal king in the Chenghua reign because he had no children."

"The Prince of Tang was imprisoned in Fengyang by His Majesty because of his crime; the Prince of Fu, Zhu Yousong, went to Huaiqing to seek refuge from bandits, and later went to Huai'an; the Prince of Zheng was enfeoffed in Huaiqing, and went to Huai'an with the Prince of Fu; the Prince of Lu went to Nanjing to seek refuge because of the rebellion of bandits."

"Prince Chong's entire family was killed by Li Zicheng in Biyang in the 16th year of our dynasty."

"King Zhao lives in Zhangde Prefecture, and King Zhou moved to Zhangde Prefecture because of the flood in Kaifeng. A few days ago, he sent a message saying that King Zhou had passed away, and Your Majesty ordered his grandson Zhu Shaoying to inherit the throne."

In the Ming Dynasty, the fertility of the Zhu family princes was truly amazing. In Henan alone, there were eleven princes, and six of them are still alive today. However, the most urgent task was not to deal with the princes, but to target Li Zicheng's military deployment. The more land he plundered, the more soldiers, horses, money and food he had. Regardless of whether the Jian Nu entered the pass or not, Li Zicheng must be settled first.

Lin Xiaofeng stared at the map and pointed out that there were two vassal kings in Henan, the King of Zhao and the King of Zhou, both stationed in Zhangde Prefecture. He looked up at everyone with a firm gaze and said, "We must make a careful plan to recover the lost territory and ensure the safety of the vassal kings. This battle is difficult, but we have no choice."

I thought to myself, Li Zicheng's target is undoubtedly Zhangde Prefecture! He is recruiting soldiers and trying to plunder the property of King Zhao and King Zhou as military pay. His mind is as tortuous as the nine bends of the Yellow River!
Li Banghua was shocked when he heard this, and his eyes fell on Zhangde Prefecture on the map. This place is located in the north of Kaifeng Prefecture, the south of Zhending Prefecture, and the east of Taihang Mountain. The geographical location is strategic, like a pearl in the Central Plains. If Li Zicheng really wants to attack Zhangde Prefecture, the strategy of attacking from both north and south is really a wise one.

Luo Wenbin's withdrawal from Zhending Prefecture was probably the beginning of his plan! Li Banghua looked at Lin Xiaofeng with admiration in his eyes. This Ming emperor was thin, with sharp eyes like an eagle and a meticulous mind. He guessed the direction of Luo Wenbin's attack just by withdrawing his troops. He is really a military genius! Everyone also suddenly realized and was shocked.

However, although the surface is clear, the underlying problems are still like thick clouds, obscuring the way forward. Li Banghua asked anxiously: "The bandits want to attack Zhangde Prefecture, who does Your Majesty want to send to rescue?" Lin Xiaofeng said slowly: "Huang Degong!" Li Banghua was stunned and looked around, as if looking for an answer. Lin Xiaofeng had said before that this was a secret, so he did not reveal Huang Degong's whereabouts.

Lin Xiaofeng waved his hand to clear away his troubled thoughts and said firmly and forcefully: "The spies in the court have been eliminated. Huang Degong's whereabouts can now be informed to everyone." Then, Li Banghua informed everyone of the news and said: "Your Majesty, Huang Degong has arrived in Zibo Prefecture, which is 800 miles away from the capital, but less than 800 miles away from Zhangde Prefecture. If you send a fast horse to pass on the message, he will arrive in two days."

Jiang Taiwei spoke anxiously: "Huang Degong has 40,000 soldiers and horses. They have been fighting Zhang Xianzhong in Huguang for a long time and have rich experience in field battles. They will definitely be able to resolve the crisis in Zhangde Prefecture. If Your Majesty is worried, I am willing to lead 5,000 soldiers and horses to rescue."

Lin Xiaofeng was silent for a moment, and everyone thought he was worried about the safety of King Zhao and King Zhou. Unexpectedly, he suddenly said, "You guys leave first. I have something important to discuss with Lord Li." His voice was deep and powerful, containing endless power. Everyone bowed and left. After everyone left, Lin Xiaofeng said to the screen beside him, "Gongsun Yuchun, come out."

Gongsun Yuchun strode out, his figure as strong and upright as a pine tree in the mountains: "Your Majesty." Lin Xiaofeng asked: "What's the news from the north of Xuanfu?" Li Banghua frowned slightly when he heard this, feeling something was wrong. North of Xuanfu? Could it be that Your Majesty has contacted the Mongols?
As expected, Gongsun Yuchun said cautiously: "Your Majesty, there are two letters. One is a secret letter from Governor Yan, saying that the Jinyiwei has contacted the Khalkha tribe of Mongolia. They are willing to join the Ming Dynasty in attacking Jiannu, but they need us to provide food, armor, firearms and gunpowder."

"Zhu Fenghui was worried that the Khalkha tribe would betray their loyalty, so he did not agree immediately. Your Majesty, please make the decision." Lin Xiaofeng pondered for a moment, his eyes deep, as if he was looking for light in the darkness. It is not easy to unite allies, and it requires sacrifice. The Mongols were defeated by Huang Taiji's strong armor and firearms, and now if they want to resist, they must provide the same equipment.

Both sides must be at the same starting line before the Mongols dare to send troops. Thinking of this, he waved his hand and said, "Tell Zhu Fenghui to provide the Khalkha tribe with a thousand sets of armor, as well as food, firearms and gunpowder. These are enough for the Khalkha tribe to use in an emergency, and will not harm the interests of the Ming Dynasty."

"But." Gongsun Yuchun's face showed worry, as if a storm was about to come, "What if the Khalkha tribe takes the things but doesn't send troops?" Lin Xiaofeng said: "Tell Zhu Fenghui, tell him that if the Ming Dynasty perishes, they will not be able to save themselves! I don't want them to send troops to attack us, I just want them to harass the rear of the Jiannu! If they don't even dare to do this, let the Khalkha tribe surrender to the Jiannu as soon as possible!" There was a hint of determination in his voice.

"Yes!" Gongsun Yuchun wrote down these words and continued, "The second letter was written by a herdsman from the Ordos tribe of Mongolia. The Jinyiwei got it during the border trade. The letter said that the Jiannu began to recruit troops from various tribes ten days ago. Although it did not specify the specific date of the troops, based on the number of recruits, the horses prepared, and the rations they carried, I estimate that the Jiannu will enter the border in mid-May."

"The entry point has not been determined yet!" Mid-May. The location is not determined. Lin Xiaofeng looked at the map again, feeling irritated. According to the plan, Luo Wenbin will arrive at the city of Zhangde Prefecture in mid-May. And the Jiannu will also enter the pass in mid-May.
Li Zicheng and Jian Nu seemed to have made an agreement. One side was rampant in the pass, while the other was preparing to enter the pass to plunder. Could they be colluding? It was already the end of April, and Huang Degong could arrive in the capital in mid-May. If he was sent to rescue Zhangde Prefecture, he would not be able to suppress Jian Nu; if he was sent to suppress Jian Nu, Zhangde Prefecture would not be able to be rescued.

Alas, what a difficult problem! Lin Xiaofeng's heart was like a surging sea, unable to calm down. After thinking for a while, he looked at Li Banghua and said, "Lord Li, Huang Degong can't go to Zhangde Prefecture. He is my trump card, a sharp weapon to fight against the Jian Nu! But Zhangde Prefecture cannot be lost! Once lost, Li Zicheng's power will be even greater, and the Central Plains will no longer be able to compete with him!"

"Who do you think can lead the troops to rescue Zhangde Prefecture?" Li Banghua was also in a dilemma, frowning, as if it was a puzzle that could not be solved. Wu Sangui in Shanhaiguan could not move, he was like a solid rock, guarding the northeast of the Ming Dynasty. Ji Zisheng, Gao Di, and Li Shoufu in Jizhou could not move either, and even if they could move, they would not be able to rescue Zhangde Prefecture in time because the journey was too far.

The only person who can be used now is Li Xingzhong from Liangxiang. But the soldiers under Li Xingzhong are all Ming soldiers who surrendered to Li Zicheng. If there are spies among them, Li Xingzhong's entire army will be in danger of being annihilated! Moreover, Li Xingzhong and others were originally used to deal with Jiannu! Their technical and tactical training are all related to Jiannu!

More importantly, Baoding Prefecture and Hejian Prefecture have not yet been recovered! Liangxiang where Li Xingzhong is located is like the southwestern gateway of the capital, and cannot be abandoned! Li Banghua thought about it and felt dizzy, as if he could not bear the pressure. He patted his dizzy head and said, "Your Majesty! I have thought about it again and again! I really can't think of a suitable person!"

Lin Xiaofeng thought for a while, his eyes like a sharp sword, piercing through the fog in front of him. Finally, he made a decision: "Lord Li! You should draft an order immediately! Send Li Xingzhong and his 10,000 soldiers to Damingfu overnight! Try to stop Luo Wenbin in the north of Damingfu! Use the camel team from Xuanfu to transport the materials needed to defend the city!" His voice was firm and powerful, as if injecting strength into everyone.

"I obey your order!" Li Banghua quickly retreated, his figure like a soldier about to go to war, full of determination and courage. "Guo Tianyang! Please draft an imperial edict for King Zhou and King Zhao! Tell them not to learn from King Fu! Don't lose both people and money! Let them find a way to recruit people to fight against the bandits!" Lin Xiaofeng's voice was filled with a hint of urgency.

"Gongsun Yuchun! Write a letter to Zhu Fenghui! Tell him that he can act according to the previous plan!" Lin Xiaofeng's voice was like a loud bell, resounding throughout the palace. His eyes were full of determination and resolve, like a general about to fight a decisive battle, ready to face the upcoming battle. (End of this chapter)