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

The name Zheng Chenggong, like the first ray of sunshine in the morning, penetrated the fog in Zheng Sen's heart, making his thoughts surge like the tide. He was in the academic palace of Nanjing Imperial College, buried in books every day, pursuing academic excellence, eager to use what he learned to serve the country and realize his ambitions. Unexpectedly, the emperor's grace was like the sudden warm sun in spring, warm and blazing, coming so quickly and so suddenly! From an ordinary student in the Imperial College, he was promoted to the deputy general of the Fujian Navy in a blink of an eye! This is not only a recognition of him personally, but also a glory for his family.

Zheng Zhilong was even more shocked by the new name given by Lin Xiaofeng, as if he was hit by an invisible force and froze in place. Back then, before the first year of Lin Xiaofeng, he was just a pirate drifting on the sea. In order to seek a home and personal gain, he surrendered to the Ming Dynasty. He thought that he would not be reused in this life, but he did not expect that the emperor would directly give the name to his son and make him the deputy general of the Fujian Navy! This is simply a great grace, like a long drought meeting a sweet rain, which instantly reversed the fate of the Zheng family.

"What are you standing there for? Come and thank the emperor!" Zheng Zhilong was the first to react and pulled Zheng Chenggong to accept the order and thank him. His heart was filled with excitement and joy. With this honor, the Zheng family's position in Fujian will be more prominent, and the road ahead will be broader.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Zheng Zhilong and Zheng Chenggong knelt on the ground together, performing the ritual of three kowtows and nine bows. Their movements were solemn and pious, as if they were swearing an oath to the gods of heaven and earth. Lin Xiaofeng looked at Zheng Zhilong and his son, but there was not much joy in his heart. He knew that although Zheng Zhilong was a general of the Ming Navy, he was born a pirate, had no concept of country or nation in his heart, and only cared about interests. In history, he surrendered to the Ming Dynasty just to use the name of the court to conduct maritime trade and make huge profits. Similarly, when the Eight Banners soldiers attacked the south, he felt that the big tree of the Ming Dynasty was difficult to rely on, and in order to protect his own interests, he turned to the Jiannu. However, the reality is cruel. Seeing that he could not surrender Zheng Chenggong, the Jiannu killed Zheng Zhilong.

But Lin Xiaofeng was not worried that Zheng Zhilong would surrender to Jiannu again. Because the Jiannu now had no obvious advantage over the Ming Dynasty! Zheng Zhilong had no reason to surrender to them again. He was more concerned about how to use Zheng Zhilong and his son to lay out the future of the Ming Dynasty.

"Yi Xiangli stays." Lin Xiaofeng ordered. His voice was steady and powerful, as if it could penetrate people's hearts. "Zheng Tongzhi, you go to the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War immediately to collect the pay; Zheng Chenggong and Guo Tianyang go to the treasury to count the silver, and send it to Nanjing after confirming that it is correct." "Your servants obey your order." Zheng Zhilong and his son left after receiving the order. Their backs looked particularly firm in the afterglow of the setting sun.

After they left, Lin Xiaofeng looked at Yi Xiangli. His eyes were deep and sharp, as if he could see through people's hearts. "Yi Xiangli, are you feeling unfair?" Yi Xiangli was stunned and wanted to deny it, but when he saw Lin Xiaofeng's sharp eyes, he kept silent. He stood there, bowed his head, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. Lin Xiaofeng could see through his little thoughts.

Lin Xiaofeng stood up and walked to Yi Xiangli, patted him on the shoulder and said, "You are different from Zheng Zhilong. He values ​​interests, but you are loyal to the country and the emperor." His voice was gentle and firm, as if it could bring endless strength to Yi Xiangli. "If one day I go out to sea to lead an army in person, I will definitely choose your ship instead of Zheng Zhilong's." "Thank...thank you for your trust, Your Majesty." Yi Xiangli was a rough man and didn't know how to respond to Lin Xiaofeng's words. He could only stand there at a loss, but his heart was full of gratitude and respect.

"I have two things to tell you about this expedition to southern Liaoning." Lin Xiaofeng continued, his voice low and powerful, as if every word contained endless power, "First, the task of inducing the Jiannu navy to attack is given to Zheng Zhilong, and you are responsible for supporting. If the Jiannu navy falls into the trap, you will act according to the plan." "Second, if the Jiannu navy does not fall into the trap, you will immediately return to Dengzhou to prepare for the second phase of the plan."

"There is a second phase?" Yi Xiangli felt that his brain was not enough. He lowered his head and continued to ask: "Your Majesty, please give me instructions." "The second phase is to rent more than a hundred merchant ships from Zheng Zhilong and wait for my news. Once the war near the capital is unfavorable to us, you will immediately reorganize all the ships and go to southern Liaoning to make a false landing to induce the main force of the Jiannu outside the pass to move to southern Liaoning!" "Do you understand?" Lin Xiaofeng's eyes were full of expectation and trust.

Yi Xiangli accepted the order. Although he didn't know Lin Xiaofeng's specific plan, such a simple task was not difficult for him. "Okay, go and collect the reward! While stationed in Dengzhou, you must be careful and pay attention to the war near the capital." "I will obey the imperial order." Yi Xiangli accepted the order and left, his heart full of responsibility and mission.

After Yi Xiang left, Lin Xiaofeng sat in the hall and breathed a sigh of relief. So far, all the deployments against Jian Nu have been completed. He closed his eyes, as if he could feel the future battlefield, and every detail emerged in his mind. Wait... there are still two things to do. "Announce Gongsun Yuchun and Gu Chaosheng to the audience." Lin Xiaofeng instructed the eunuch beside him, with a hint of imperceptible fatigue in his voice.

An hour later, Gongsun Yuchun and Gu Chaosheng hurriedly walked in from outside the palace gate. "Your Majesty!" The two saluted at the same time, their movements solemn and pious. "Gongsun Yuchun, tell me about your situation first." Lin Xiaofeng ordered, with a hint of majesty in his voice. "Yes, Your Majesty!" Gongsun Yuchun stretched out his hand to wipe the sweat from his temples, and said: "Except for the necessary ceremonial guards and guards in the imperial city, all the Jinyiwei in the capital have left the capital for Jizhou Town, Jizhou, Zunhua, Yutian, Pinggu, Miyun, Huairou, Chaohe Station, Bohai Station and other places." "The intelligence system in various places north of the capital in Northern Zhili has been initially established." There was a hint of pride and accomplishment in his voice.

Lin Xiaofeng nodded and looked at Gu Chaosheng. Gu Chaosheng said hurriedly: "Your Majesty, I have already dispatched 60% of the imperial guards. They have set up temporary hidden stations in various places. They will not contact anyone except the Jinyiwei. Because of the scarcity of horses and insufficient personnel, the East Factory can only transmit the news of the Jinyiwei for a maximum of 200 miles a day." "How about the rations?" Lin Xiaofeng asked with concern. He knew that logistical supplies were crucial in war.

"The rations stored in each place are enough for one month. If we encounter the Jiannu, they will burn all the rations and other supplies and then evacuate." Gu Chaosheng replied, with a hint of firmness and determination in his voice.

Lin Xiaofeng nodded with confidence, his heart full of expectations and confidence for the future. Everything is ready, only the east wind is missing. The only worry now is that the Jiannu will not come, or that they will mess up. "I know, leave." Lin Xiaofeng shook his head and went to the warm room behind the hall to take a nap. He needed to rest and conserve his energy to prepare for the upcoming war.

After the nap, the first news Lin Xiaofeng got was that Huang Degong had come to Beijing. Huang Degong, dressed in military uniform, rode on his horse and looked at the streets of the capital with deep emotion. In the ninth year of Lin Xiaofeng, he was promoted to deputy general for his merits and transferred to the interior of the country to manage the garrison troops of the capital. In the eleventh year of Lin Xiaofeng, he was ordered to lead the Yongwei Battalion out of the capital to suppress the bandits. In the seventeenth year of Lin Xiaofeng, he was ordered to return to the capital. This separation lasted for seven years! Looking at the old place, Huang Degong showed a happy smile on his scarred face: "Looking at the Ming Dynasty, the capital is still the most prosperous!" His heart was full of love and nostalgia for the capital.

Many of Huang Degong's generals were in the capital for the first time. They looked around and were curious about everything. "General, this is the most popular newspaper for the people of the capital: 'Lin Xiaofeng's Seventeenth Year'." The deputy general Qiu Yue standing next to Huang Degong handed over a stack of newspapers. Huang Degong had been named Jingnan Earl at this time, but the army was still used to address him by his position. "Oh?" Huang Degong was immediately interested. He sat on his horse, took the newspaper and read it carefully. "Huh? What does Xuanfu Special Edition mean?" Huang Degong pointed to the words next to "Lin Xiaofeng's Seventeenth Year" on the newspaper and asked, his heart full of doubts.

"Please wait a moment, General. I will be back soon." Qiu Yue left after saying this. His movements were swift and agile. Not long after, Qiu Yue came back with a strange look on his face: "General, the Xuanfu special issue means the manuscripts contributed by Xuanfu, and then printed in 'Lin Xiaofeng's Seventeen Years'." There was a hint of explanation and clarification in his voice.

Huang Degong didn't care about these, he picked up the newspaper and read it again. His heart was full of expectations and confidence for the future. He knew that no matter how difficult the road ahead was, he would go on unswervingly and fight for the future of Daming.

After reading several reports, Huang Degong felt a little dizzy, as if he was disturbed by the contents. Those words, like sharp blades, cut his heart word by word. The reports described in detail the miserable life of the people in Liaodong under the rule of the Jiannu. Every word was heartbreaking.

"General, what is written in this official report?" Qiu Yue saw Huang Degong's complicated expression and couldn't help asking out of curiosity. His voice was a little anxious, and he was obviously infected by Huang Degong's emotions.

Huang Degong waved his hand, threw the official report to Qiu Yue, then mounted his warhorse and slowly rode towards the direction of the imperial city. His figure stretched out in the afterglow of the setting sun, looking particularly lonely and determined.

Qiu Yue took the official report and could not help but read it out loud:

"Self-narration: The suffering of being captured by the Qing army for a thousand days!" Every word sounded like a wail from hell, chilling one's heart.

"The current situation of the Han people in Liaodong: either keep your hair or lose your head, or keep your head or lose your hair. Life is more painful than death!" Qiu Yue's voice trembled a little, and he was obviously shocked by the tragedy in the words.

"The Jiannu have started to rob our food!" As soon as these words came out, the accompanying personnel became increasingly agitated, with anger and unwillingness written all over their faces.

"And there are those trivial matters between Dorgon and the widow of Huang Taiji (Huang Taiji)." There was a hint of teasing in Qiu Yue's voice, but more of it was contempt and hatred for the Jiannu.

As soon as these words came out, the people accompanying them became increasingly emotional. At first, they were angry, as if there was a blazing fire in their eyes, wanting to burn away all the injustice and suffering. Then they were furious, their bodies trembling with excitement, as if they wanted to pour out all the anger in their hearts. Finally, they became furious, their voices resounded through the sky, like thunder, swearing their hatred and determination for the Jiannu.

"Can these horse-riding bandits still be considered human beings? They let the people farm, and then killed them on the pretext of lack of food?" An entourage clenched his fists, his voice full of anger and confusion.

"Isn't it so? The Jiannu invaded the country many times and looted millions of people. In their eyes, we are like livestock." Another man said indignantly, tears flashing in his eyes, feeling heartbroken for those innocent people who suffered.

"They are not even as good as animals! Animals work only when they are full, but the people have to work even when they are hungry, and countless people have starved to death." Another man shouted in grief and anger, his voice full of curses and hatred for the Jiannu.

"Is Jiannu sick? He doesn't grow his hair but insists on shaving it and leaving a braid. How weird is that?" an entourage said sarcastically, but his sarcasm was full of incomprehension and unacceptability of Jiannu's behavior.

"Barbarians believe in barbaric things, so just listen to them." Another person comforted, but his voice was full of helplessness and heaviness.

Speaking of the word "joy", everyone looked at Qiu Yue, and one of them said, "Please read the story of Dorgon and Huang Taiji's widow again. It's well written. It makes my blood boil." There was a hint of ridicule and mockery in his voice. He tried to use this method to ease the heaviness and anger in his heart.

"Is it hot or cold?" someone joked, trying to use humor to diffuse the depressing atmosphere.

"Go away, go away, I'm telling the truth, this passage is as good as a banned book!" another person said seriously, his eyes flashing with appreciation and admiration for the text.

"It's more fascinating than banned books!" another person echoed, their voices full of resonance and emotion for this text.

Huang Degong had already walked outside Chengtian Gate while listening to the last part. He took a deep breath and tried to calm his inner agitation. He looked up at the walls of the imperial city. The towering walls seemed to be a barrier in his heart, protecting him from the harm of the outside world.

On the city wall, the soldiers of the Yongwei Camp looked at the tiger head logo on the military flag and said in trembling voices: "Is it... is it Lord Huang Degong?" Their voices were full of awe and excitement, as if they had seen a savior.

Huang Degong was once one of the generals of the Yongwei Camp, fighting alongside Sun Yingyuan, Zhou Yuji and others. Their flags were painted with a black tiger head as a symbol. This unit was invincible on the battlefield and won every battle. However, now, most of the former generals have died on the battlefield, leaving only Huang Degong still holding on to this honor.

"I'm Huang Degong, where is Pang Zijin?" Huang Degong asked. His voice was filled with a bit of urgency and expectation, wanting to find his former comrades and subordinates.

The soldier guarding the city replied: "Captain Pang...he led his troops out of the city to fight against Li Zicheng's main force and died outside the capital." His voice was full of sadness and regret.

Huang Degong opened his mouth to speak, but he was speechless. His heart was filled with sadness. He felt extremely sad and regretful about Pang Zijin's death in battle. As a soldier, dying on the battlefield was the highest honor, and he should be happy about it. However... the sadness in his heart was hard to express.

He silently looked at the tiger head logo on the city wall, and an indescribable complex emotion surged in his heart. It was the remembrance of the past, the longing for his comrades, and the expectation and determination for the future.

"I, Huang Degong, am here to go to the capital by imperial decree. Please inform me!" Huang Degong said after a long silence. His voice was firm and resolute, as if he was ready to face all challenges.

The defenders on the city wall hurriedly ran down the wall to report to the inner court. Huang Degong waited quietly, his heart filled with expectations and uneasiness about the future.

Lin Xiaofeng was very happy when he heard the news, and said hurriedly: "Let him in!" His voice was full of expectations and trust in Huang Degong.

As the voice sounded, a burly man stood in the center of the Qianqing Palace. He had strong limbs, broad features, dark complexion, and glaring scars on his face—this was Huang Degong, the Earl of Jingnan and a famous general of the Beijing Camp! He exuded an indomitable aura, as if he could persevere to the end no matter what difficulties and challenges he faced.

In the battle against the bandits, Huang Degong made many outstanding achievements. He forced the soldiers of the Left Five Battalions to surrender, captured Ma Wu, killed Wang Xingguo, and defeated Zhang Xianzhong. His military exploits were outstanding. His reputation spread far and wide, and the enemy was terrified.

Among the four generals of the Southern Ming Dynasty, he was the only one who took the imperial court seriously, and he was the only one who died on the battlefield, which shows his loyalty. His loyalty and bravery are admirable.

"I've finally seen you here! Hurry up and stand up!" Lin Xiaofeng walked to Huang Degong and helped him up. His voice was full of admiration and love for Huang Degong.

"Have you had lunch?" Lin Xiaofeng asked kindly. His concern made Huang Degong feel extremely warm and touched.

"Your Majesty, I haven't had lunch yet," Huang Degong replied, with a hint of shyness and simplicity in his voice.

"Guo Tianyang! Tell the chef to bring my lunch! I want to have lunch with Lord Jingnan!" Lin Xiaofeng said generously. His generosity and enthusiasm made Huang Degong feel extremely honored and excited.

"Your Majesty, no! I am a rough man, how dare I enjoy such a grace?" Huang Degong declined hastily. His heart was filled with gratitude and awe for this grace.

"You are the commander of the Yongwei Battalion, and you are also my personal soldier! What's wrong with you having dinner with me? Come on! Bring a stool to Lord Jingnan!" Lin Xiaofeng insisted. His insistence made Huang Degong unable to refuse any more.

Huang Degong declined several times, but finally sat down after Lin Xiaofeng insisted. The lunch of the Shangshanjian was soon served, and the two of them chatted while eating. Their conversation was relaxed and happy, as if they had forgotten the difference in identity and status.

"Lord Jingnan, how many soldiers do you have now?" Lin Xiaofeng asked while eating, and asked Guo Tianyang to bring the dishes on his table to Huang Degong. His concern made Huang Degong feel extremely warm and touched.

Huang Degong, who was nearly fifty years old, wiped his eyes with tears in his eyes and replied: "Your Majesty, I currently have 2,000 cavalry, 20,000 armored soldiers, and 20,000 other combat soldiers under my command. They are all stationed outside Tongzhou City." There was a bit of pride and determination in his voice.

The Ming Dynasty valued northern soldiers and despised southern soldiers. Almost all northern soldiers had armor, whether in battle or defense, but southern soldiers did not. Moreover, the refugees who surrendered along the way did not have armor either, so the proportion of armored soldiers under Huang Degong was not high. However, he still worked hard to train soldiers and improve their combat effectiveness.

"Twenty thousand..." Lin Xiaofeng said after a moment's thought, "When you go back, go to the Ministry of War to get armor. If the Ministry of War doesn't have enough, go to the three major camps in the capital to borrow some. Make sure that all the army is equipped with armor!" There was firmness and determination in his voice.

Huang Degong felt something was wrong: "Your Majesty, if the three major camps in the capital lack armor, how can we protect the capital?" His voice was full of worry and concern.

Lin Xiaofeng did not answer his question but asked, "Why do you think I summoned you to Beijing?" There was a hint of mystery and depth in his voice.

"Jiannu?" Huang Degong hesitated for a moment before cautiously saying these two words. His heart was filled with hatred and anger towards the Jiannu.

"Yes!" Lin Xiaofeng put down his chopsticks and said, "I predict that the Jiannu will enter the pass in the near future. They will definitely not bring a large number of siege equipment for their long-distance attack; and their advantage lies in field battles, they will not besiege the capital. So it is okay to borrow armor from the three camps." His voice was full of expectations and determination for the future.

Huang Degong nodded and took advantage of Lin Xiaofeng's inattention to pour all the food on the plate into his mouth. Although his eating manner was a bit rough, it revealed a simple and unpretentious

"It's difficult!" Lin Xiaofeng shook his head, and a long sigh echoed in the empty imperial study, as if even the air was filled with heaviness. His thin face looked particularly resolute under the dim candlelight, and his brows were filled with deep worries about the future of the country.

"The Jiannu have repeatedly invaded our passes, but they were always able to escape unscathed. This is because they are good at observing the terrain. The Central Plains is a flat and vast area, and it is difficult to stop the edge of their cavalry." Lin Xiaofeng's words revealed helplessness, his eyes seemed to penetrate the dust of time, staring at the land trampled by iron hooves.

Huang Degong, a veteran general, was silent at this moment, and just put the wine jar heavily on the ground, as if even this simple action contained endless resentment. His burly body cast a long shadow under the candlelight, and his weather-beaten face was full of traces of time, and every wrinkle seemed to tell of the life-and-death struggle on the battlefield.

If the Jiannu's fighting power was not slightly weaker, how could the Ming army be forced to retreat to the interior of the country? This question hovered in Huang Degong's mind, like a dark cloud that could not be shaken off.

After a long time, Lin Xiaofeng's voice sounded again, with a barely perceptible determination: "If I tell you where the Jiannu entered the pass first, how confident are you that you can defeat them?"

Huang Degong was stunned. He looked at Lin Xiaofeng in confusion, as if his eyes could see through Lin Xiaofeng's heart. Then he fell into deep thought. His thoughts were like leaves falling in the wind, flying and disorderly, recalling every moment of the battle with the Jiannu in those years.

From the second year to the fifteenth year of Lin Xiaofeng, Jiannu entered the pass five times, and each time was like a nightmare, plundering countless people, money, food and livestock. Their tactics varied. The first time, they brought a large number of siege equipment and came like a tide; the second time, they divided their troops into four groups, like ghosts, shuttling through Datong and Xuanhua, breaking through the pass, carrying very little baggage, not attacking cities, but only plundering villages and fortresses. The tactics of the other times were also different, but each time caught the Ming army off guard.

After thinking for a long time, Huang Degong finally replied: "If Your Majesty can really predict where the Jiannu will enter the pass, I am at least 60% sure that I can defeat them." His voice was firm, but there was a hint of imperceptible worry in his eyes.

"Only 60% sure?" There was a barely perceptible disappointment in Lin Xiaofeng's voice. He knew very well what this battle meant to the Ming Dynasty.

Huang Degong sighed helplessly, his voice low and heavy: "The plains are originally the world of cavalry. I only have 2,000 cavalry. If the Jiannu send out 100,000 troops like they did in 15 years, I basically have no chance of winning." His tone was full of helplessness, as if he was telling an unchangeable fate. "No, the main force of the Jiannu will besiege Xuanfu Town! Even if there are Jiannu near the capital, they will only plunder and will not attack the city." Lin Xiaofeng's voice suddenly became firm, and his eyes flashed with an unquestionable light.

Huang Degong couldn't help but ask, "Why is Your Majesty so sure?" There was a hint of urgency in his tone, as if he was trying to grasp a life-saving straw.

"Don't worry, eat first. After the meal, we will discuss it in detail!" Lin Xiaofeng comforted him. His voice was gentle and powerful, like a warm current, warming Huang Degong's anxious heart.

However, Huang Degong couldn't swallow the food. He pushed the cup and plate aside, stood up, his eyes seemed to be burning with flames: "Your Majesty, I am full." His voice was low and powerful, revealing a sense of eagerness and determination.

Lin Xiaofeng nodded, a hint of approval flashed in his eyes, and then ordered Guo Tianyang to bring a map of Northern Zhili. The map seemed to be a battlefield, and every inch of land was soaked in blood and tears.

He pointed at Xuanfu Town and said in a deep and powerful voice: "The Jiannu entered the pass. What is their purpose?"

"Well... robbed money and food, civilians, and took the opportunity to destroy our elite troops." Huang Degong replied, his voice firm, as if every word had been tempered a thousand times.

"Yes!" Lin Xiaofeng pointed to the location of Xuanfu Town on the map, and his voice suddenly became high-pitched. "I ordered Zhu Fenghui to store 600,000 dan of grain in Xuanfu Town, enough for 400,000 people to eat for five months. There are also millions of taels of silver and countless cattle, sheep, and camels. If you were a Jiannu, wouldn't you be tempted?"

"If I were the Jiannu, I would never miss this opportunity!" Huang Degong said affirmatively, his voice full of determination and firmness.

Huang Degong opened his mouth in surprise, his face full of shock, as if he had been struck by lightning: "Your Majesty's plan... is it an open conspiracy?" There was a slight tremor in his voice, as if he couldn't believe his ears.

"Yes, to deal with smart people, you can only use open strategies." Lin Xiaofeng answered affirmatively, his eyes flashing with wisdom, as if everything was under his control.

Huang Degong then asked worriedly: "If Xuanfu Town is lost, those supplies..." There was a hint of uneasiness in his voice, as if he had foreseen a disaster.

"I believe Zhu Fenghui can defend Xuanfu Town. If it is really lost, I can only accept my fate!" Lin Xiaofeng said firmly, his voice revealing an unquestionable determination.

Huang Degong looked at Lin Xiaofeng quietly, and admired his courage. In his eyes, Lin Xiaofeng seemed like a god of war, emitting an invincible light.

"But..." Huang Degong's eyes turned to the vicinity of the capital, and there was a hint of doubt in his voice, "But... How did Your Majesty predict the place where the Jiannu entered the pass?"

Lin Xiaofeng smiled, with his hands behind his back. His figure stretched out in the candlelight, as if a wise man was gazing at the future battlefield: "In the second year of Lin Xiaofeng, the Jiannu entered the pass from Xifengkou in Jizhou Town; in the seventh year, they entered the pass from Dushikou in Xuanfu; in the ninth year, they entered the pass from Dushikou in Xuanfu again. In the eleventh year, the Jiannu troops were divided into two groups, entering the pass from Qiangziling in Miyun and Qingshanguan east of Xifengkou respectively. In the fifteenth year, the Jiannu destroyed the Great Wall and entered the pass from Jielingkou. In other words, by the fifteenth year, the Jiannu had only found five places suitable for breaking through the Great Wall and entering the pass."

Huang Degong nodded in approval, his eyes flashing with admiration, as if he was paying respect to a great wise man.

Lin Xiaofeng continued, "Let's not talk about Xuanfu for now. There are four places around the capital where you can enter the pass." His voice was low and powerful, as if every word contained a thousand pounds of force. "Xifengkou, Qingshanguan, and Jielingkou are three places. The farthest one is no more than 300 miles away from Shanhaiguan, and the closest one is only more than 100 miles away. If I were Jiannu, I would never take the initiative to provoke Wu Sangui."

"So I predict that the Jiannu will enter the pass at Qiangziling in Miyun!" Lin Xiaofeng's voice suddenly became high-pitched, and there was an unquestionable light flashing in his eyes.

Lin Xiaofeng didn't want to explain so much, but the generals were also human beings. They had their own ideas and tactics. In their eyes, the emperor was not a professional military talent. If the emperor gave random commands, the generals would definitely feel disgusted. Only by persuading the generals could they get rid of the hat of random command and keep them loyal.

Huang Degong stared at the map intently, his eyes flashing with tactical light, as if a general was staring at the future battlefield. Countless tactics emerged in his mind, and each tactic was like a sharp sword pointing directly at the heart of Jiannu.

While he was thinking about tactics, Lin Xiaofeng said again: "Lord Jingnan, there are many mountains and few plains to the east of Miyun. Are you sure you can stop the Jiannu here?" There was a hint of urgency in his voice, as if he wanted to seize a fleeting opportunity.

"Yes!" Huang Degong answered without hesitation. His voice was firm and powerful, like a towering mountain, standing firm. "I will definitely stop the Jiannu outside the Great Wall."

"No!" Lin Xiaofeng immediately rejected his idea, with a hint of unquestionable determination in his voice, "It is their established strategy to let the Jiannu enter the pass. If they can't enter the pass at Qiangziling, they will definitely choose other places. The area around Qiangziling is mountainous. What I mean is to let them break through the Great Wall and enter the pass, but we have to stop them in the mountains so that they can't take advantage of the cavalry."

"The real battlefield is not here, but in Xuanfu!" Lin Xiaofeng's voice rose, his eyes flashing with wisdom, "As long as you can contain these enemies, I will definitely record your great achievement!"

Huang Degong suddenly realized, his eyes flashing with admiration, as if he was paying tribute to a great wise man: "I understand... But if the Jiannu did not choose Qiangziling, but chose one of the other three passes, what should I do?" There was a hint of uneasiness in his voice, as if he had foreseen an unknown disaster.

"Don't worry, I have already made arrangements in advance. Lord Jingnan, you don't need to worry too much." Lin Xiaofeng comforted him. His voice was gentle but powerful, like a warm current that warmed Huang Degong's anxious heart.

"Yes." Huang Degong said no more. There was a firm light in his eyes, as if a general had received the final order.

"In that case, then you go to the Ministry of War to get the armor. Then lead your troops quietly to Miyun. The Jinyiwei are arresting spies in Miyun City. We have to achieve a surprise victory. I don't want the news to leak before the Jiannu enter the pass." Lin Xiaofeng's voice was low and powerful, as if every word contained a thousand pounds of force.

"I obey your order!" Huang Degong answered respectfully. His voice was firm and powerful, as if a general was receiving the final order.

Huang Degong was about to bow and leave when he heard Lin Xiaofeng say slowly: "Let's leave the capital tomorrow. Take your generals to play in the city for a day today. I will pay for all the expenses." His voice was gentle and powerful, like a loving father caring for his child.

"You are the heroes of our Ming Dynasty and deserve to enjoy the prosperity of the Ming Dynasty." Lin Xiaofeng's voice was full of emotion, as if he was expressing his heartfelt feelings to an old friend.

"I am afraid, I dare not do that!" Huang Degong was a little embarrassed, his eyes flashing with gratitude, as if he was paying tribute to a great monarch.

Lin Xiaofeng's description of playing sounds very serious, but the soldiers' entertainment is actually very simple: eating meat, drinking, and listening to music in brothels. Speaking of brothels, there are two most famous ones in the Ming Dynasty, one is Suzhou and Hangzhou, and the other is the capital. Most of the women here are the families of convicted officials. They are proficient in everything from music, chess, calligraphy and painting.
In the faraway land outside the Great Wall, there is an ancient city called Daning. Over the years, it is now called Chifeng, but in the past, the Mongols affectionately called it Kekehetao. Although the day of sending troops is approaching, there is still a scene of peace and tranquility, as if the dark cloud of war has never shrouded this land.

Deep inside a courtyard in this ancient city, the spring sun shines through the sparse clouds and sprinkles on the bluestone road, adding a bit of warmth to this ancient mansion. However, in this tranquility, there is a storm that is about to be set off. Dorgon, the burly and resolute Prince Rui, slammed the table and roared angrily: "It's so hateful! It's so hateful!" His eyes seemed to be able to spit out fire, staring at the secret letter in his hand. The letter was like a huge stone, weighing heavily on his heart.

Seeing this, the others looked at each other in bewilderment, secretly speculating in their hearts, but they didn't know what could have made this usually calm and composed prince so angry. Finally, someone asked cautiously, "Why is Prince Rui so angry?"

Dorgon did not answer immediately, but handed a secret letter from Xuanfu to Duoduo, his eyes full of anxiety and anger. Hearing this, everyone gathered around, and after reading the letter, their faces instantly became solemn, as if covered by a layer of frost.

The letter stated that the eight major merchants in Zhangjiakou Fort were uprooted overnight. This news was like a thunderclap, exploding among the crowd. Over the years, they had obtained countless materials from these merchants, including food, salt, iron, cotton, and even firearms and news from the court. And these merchants almost never refused their requests, but only gave them the looted gold and silver, Liaodong furs and ginseng, etc., in exchange for their own safety. This delicate balance has now been completely broken.

The demise of the merchants foreshadowed a clear signal: it would become more difficult to obtain supplies from the Ming Dynasty in the future. Liaodong was originally a bitter and cold land, and most supplies relied on transportation from the interior. Now that this road has been cut off, the future situation has become increasingly unclear, as if a fog is shrouding the road ahead.

Dorgon took a deep breath, trying to calm himself, and explained: "Because Xuanfu was blocked by the Ming Dynasty, this news came via Shanxi, so it was delayed for several days." His voice was low and powerful, and every word seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth.

At this time, Fan Wencheng came forward. He was wearing a blue shirt, with a gaunt face and a gleam of wisdom in his eyes. He stretched out his hand and unfolded a map, on which were marked mountains, rivers, cities, and the route they were about to conquer in various colors. He stared at the several locations marked on the map and pondered for a long time, as if he was looking for the key to solve a puzzle.

Although there were not many people present, they were all very prominent. In addition to Dorgon and Duoduo, there were also Prince Su Haoge, Prince Duoluo Wuying Ajige and others. They were either standing or sitting, but they all stared at Fan Wencheng, waiting for his next instruction.

Fan Wencheng suddenly asked: "In other words, not only did the Ming Dynasty not transport supplies to Beijing, but it also mobilized a large amount of food and grass from Beijing to Xuanfu Town?" His voice was calm and deep, but it carried a power that could not be ignored.

"Yes, this was news from ten days ago, and it should not be wrong. There are at least 500,000 dan of grain and grass in the city, millions of taels of silver, and countless other supplies." Someone answered, with a slight tremor in his voice, obviously shocked by the Ming Dynasty's move.

Fan Wencheng's words shocked everyone present. He continued, "This is Lin Xiaofeng's conspiracy. He wants to fight us to the death in Xuanfu!" His tone was full of admiration and fear for Lin Xiaofeng. This Ming Dynasty general was undoubtedly a tough opponent.

Upon hearing this, Hauge stood up suddenly and said angrily: "Although the Ming army repelled Li Zicheng, they only repelled him. In terms of field combat power, our Qing army is invincible!" His voice resounded throughout the entire house, as if he wanted to vent all the anger and unwillingness in his heart.

"Yes, our army entered the pass five times before, and we were invincible every time. How could the Ming army compete with us?" someone echoed, their voices full of confidence and pride, as if they had seen the dawn of victory.

"So, Lin Xiaofeng and Zhu Fenghui's plan is to lure us into attacking the city! Because except for a few big cities in Xuanfu Town, other places are short of supplies." Fan Wencheng analyzed, his eyes flashing with wisdom, as if he had seen through Lin Xiaofeng's plan.

"Attacking a city will inevitably lead to more casualties. You should all think carefully about this!" Fan Wencheng reminded. There was a hint of worry in his voice, and he was obviously full of concerns about the upcoming war.

Dorgon sneered, his eyes flashing with determination: "Don't worry, Mr. Fan. If we were afraid of death, we would not enter the pass! Please tell me, Mr. Fan, if there is anything wrong with entering the pass this time!" His voice was sonorous and powerful, as if to shatter all worries and anxieties.

Fan Wencheng looked around at everyone, and seeing that they were determined, he said with relief: "In that case, I will show you my poor performance!" There was a hint of humility in his tone, but more of it was confidence and composure.

"Please give us some advice, Mr. Fan!" Dorgon took the lead and said respectfully, his eyes full of admiration and trust for Fan Wencheng.

After some polite remarks, Fan Wencheng pointed to the location of Shanhaiguan on the map and said, "According to the plan, on May 18, Prince Zheng's (Jirgalang) Bordered Blue Banner and Duolo Baylor's (Luoluohun) Bordered Red Banner will lead more than 10,000 Han and Mongolian Eight Banners to launch a feint attack on Shanhaiguan."

"On the same day, Prince Rui (Dorgon) led a part of the Plain White Banner and the Bordered Yellow Banner, as well as a small number of Han and Mongolian Eight Banners troops, to break through Qiangziling and capture Miyun and Chaohe."

"On the same day, Prince Yu's (Duoduo) Bordered White Banner, Prince Su's (Haoge) Plain Blue Banner, some Plain Yellow Bordered Yellow Banner people, and the main force of 30,000 Han and Mongolian Eight Banners troops will break through Dushikou and capture the Xuanfu area."

Everyone nodded when they heard this. This was the plan made by Shenyang before sending troops. Every detail was carefully planned and arranged.

However, Fan Wencheng made another shocking statement: "However, the plan now needs to be changed!" His voice was calm and firm, like an unshakable mountain.

Twenty days ago, they split into two groups. Jierhalang and Luoluohun of Shanhaiguan had already arrived at the designated location, waiting for the right time to launch a feint attack. If they wanted to change the plan now, by the time the news reached Shanhaiguan, the war would have already begun there.

Delaying the war was the least of their worries. If this resulted in innocent casualties, they would become the sinners of Manchuria. None of them could bear this responsibility.

Duoduo seized the opportunity and said sarcastically: "War is no joke. It takes time to convey information. Mr. Fan, do you only know how to talk about it on paper?" There was a hint of sarcasm and disdain in his tone, and he was obviously skeptical about Fan Wencheng's change of plan.

"Yes, Mr. Fan, if we change the plan privately and fail to notify Shanhaiguan in time, something might happen there!" someone said worriedly, with a hint of worry and uneasiness in his voice.

"Be quiet and listen to what Mr. Fan has to say!" Dorgon stopped the accusations, his eyes flashing with determination and trust. He knew that Fan Wencheng must have his reasons and considerations for changing his plan.

Fan Wencheng looked up and asked, "How long will it take for the news from Xuanfu Town to reach Beijing?" There was a hint of urgency and anxiety in his tone, and it was obvious that he attached great importance to this issue.

Dorgon looked at Ajige, who had led his troops through Dushikou and was very familiar with this route. His eyes flashed with memories and thoughts, as if he was recalling past battles and journeys.

After thinking for a moment, Ajige said, "Based on my experience, it will take two days for the Ming army to get the news back to Beijing." His voice was calm and powerful, as if every word was carefully considered.

Fan Wencheng pointed in the direction of Beijing and said, "Lin Xiaofeng must have a backup plan, but we don't know where he will mobilize the troops!" There was a hint of worry and uneasiness in his tone, and it was obvious that he was afraid of Lin Xiaofeng's plan.

"According to previous news, Tang Shengyu is stationed in Juyongguan with 6,000 troops. Ji Zishen and Gao Di are stationed in Jizhou with about 20,000 troops. Li Xingzhong is stationed in Liangxiang with 10,000 troops. Wu Sangui is stationed in the Shanhaiguan area with a total force of about 50,000." Fan Wencheng listed the distribution and strength of the Ming Dynasty's army in detail, his eyes flashing with wisdom and calmness.

"There are approximately 20,000 to 30,000 soldiers in the Battle of Beijing, and the total force is 110,000, no more, no less." There was a hint of solemnity and seriousness in his words, as if he had already seen the impending war and gunpowder smoke.

"When two armies face off, the side that hides deeper has a greater chance of winning!" There was a hint of depth and philosophy in his words, as if he had seen through the essence and truth of war.

"So... what does Mr. Fan mean?" Dorgon asked blankly, his eyes flashing with doubt and puzzlement. He was obviously full of confusion and doubts about Fan Wencheng's change of plan.

"What I mean is that it would be best if Prince Rui's (Dorgon) troops were dispatched three to five days later than the other troops!" Fan Wencheng answered firmly, with an unquestionable firmness and determination in his tone.

"Why?" Everyone was puzzled, with doubt and confusion in their eyes. Obviously, they couldn't understand why Fan Wencheng wanted Dorgon's troops to move out later.

"Why? If we act late, the credit will be taken away. How can this be allowed?" Someone said dissatisfiedly, with a hint of anger and unwillingness in his tone. Obviously, he was full of dissatisfaction and resistance to Fan Wencheng's change plan.

"Yeah, what does Mr. Fan mean?" Everyone expressed dissatisfaction, their voices full of doubt and opposition. Obviously, they could not accept Fan Wencheng's change plan.

Fan Wencheng raised his voice and said, "Why are we entering the customs this time?" His tone was harsh and questioning, as if he wanted to awaken everyone's will. (End of this chapter)