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

A loud bang shook the heaven and earth, as if the gods were angry and wanted to turn this mortal world upside down!
The first to respond were the powerful Red Cannons. General Zhu Fenghui, a veteran general, did not place these cannons squarely in front of the battle line, but like a cunning hunter, he cleverly hid them in the corners of East City and South City, waiting for the moment when the prey entered the net, showing great patience and wisdom.

At this time, the Eight Banners Army was attacking the city like a tide, holding up their shields and pressing forward step by step, like a group of crazy beasts. However, their flank protection seemed so weak, as if it was the soft spot of a beast, waiting for a fatal blow.

At this critical moment, although one of the ten red cannons was unfortunately hit by the enemy's arrows and howled like a wounded beast, the remaining nine cannons were already ready to go, loaded with heavy solid shells and hundred-bullet bullets, like thunder in the sky, waiting to pour down.

Wang Zhong, a captain of the Jinyiwei, a burly and resolute general, personally supervised the battle. His eyes were like torches, scanning the battlefield, as if he could see every subtle movement. With an order, nine cannons roared at the same time, and the artillery fire was like nine fire dragons, engulfing the enemy's position in blazing flames.

The shells were not aimed at the brave warriors who rushed to the floating bridge, nor at the siege infantry who followed closely behind, but were specifically aimed at the enemy's long-range attackers who were wielding firearms and crossbows. These enemies wore newly made cotton armor and held long-range weapons, constantly shooting at the Ming army on the city, like a group of cunning hunters. However, at this moment, they became the targets of the red cannons and had nowhere to hide.

The Red Cannon was the king of firearms in the world, and its power was unmatched. Those seemingly solid cotton armors were fragile in front of the artillery fire and were torn into pieces in an instant. Even the enemy's heavy armor could not withstand its sharp edge. After being hit by the shells, they were like broken pottery jars, scattering everywhere. And those long-range weapons, under the bombardment of the Red Cannon, were like children encountering strong men, with no power to fight back, and were blown to pieces.

With the sound of whizzing through the air, the shells were dense like rain, covering the enemies who were attacking from a distance. The lead bullets as big as little fingers penetrated the body and fell to the ground with the remaining force, splashing the dust high, as if it was the wailing of the earth. And those huge solid shells drew arcs, like the sickle of the god of death, reaping the lives of the enemies. After landing, they rolled forward, and wherever they went, seven or eight people fell down, and two or three people had their ankles broken by the explosion, rolling on the ground in pain, wailing one after another.

"Oh! My feet! My feet!" An Eight Banners soldier screamed in pain, his face full of fear and despair.

"Where are the enemies? How did you get here so quickly? I'm injured, please rescue me and take me back!" Another soldier covered his wound, his voice full of helplessness and pleading.

"Help...Help me..." An Eight Banners soldier covered his chest and cried for help in a pool of blood, but no one paid attention. The uninjured soldiers fled to the city. Only by entering the blind spot of the Red Cannon could they temporarily save their lives. Their figures were looming in the smoke, like a group of panicked beasts.

At this time, the Eight Banners Army's soldiers had pushed the pontoon bridge close to the moat. They were eager to cross the river and wanted to dig bricks to open a passage for the subsequent siege troops. However, when they came to the bridge, they were suddenly stunned.

The soldier in the front row took a deep breath and tried to jump over the moat, but his feet slipped and he fell into the water. Zhu Fenghui on the other side had already built a slope with soil and poured water on it, making the slope extremely slippery. The next few soldiers also tried to jump over, but they all failed. After struggling in the water for a while, they sank to the bottom.

The soldiers queuing to cross the river were stunned and at a loss. Their faces were filled with fear and confusion, as if they were a group of lost lambs. The soldiers in the rear team urged anxiously: "What are you doing in front? Hurry up!" But the soldiers in the front team responded helplessly: "We can't jump over! The first three people fell into the river, didn't you see it?"

"Yeah, our armor weighs dozens of kilograms, and the river bank is slippery, how can we jump over it?" a soldier said frustratedly, his voice full of helplessness and despair.

The captain of the rear team yelled anxiously: "Stop talking nonsense! If you can't jump over, dig a city wall! If you delay any longer, I will kill you!" His voice resounded through the battlefield like thunder, but the soldiers in the front team became even more helpless.

A soldier wearing triple armor cried, "The bridge is too short! It's at least another half a zhang to reach the other side!" His voice was tearful, as if he was a helpless child.

"Impossible! The bridge is as long as yesterday! I personally supervised the logging!" a Han Banner soldier retorted, his face full of disbelief and anger.

"The Ming army widened the moat last night, and the water level is different from yesterday!" another soldier explained, his voice full of helplessness and anxiety.

As they were arguing, a captain came forward and said, "Stop arguing! Hurry up! The first person to reach the shore will be awarded a permanent position and a thousand taels of silver!" His voice was as passionate as a horn, trying to inspire the soldiers' fighting spirit. After saying that, he threw his shield onto the shore, jumped up and lay on the ground, digging the soil with his hands and struggling to climb up. Seeing this, the soldiers in the rear team followed suit and scrambled to climb to the other side.

The soldiers who landed on the shore picked up their shields and approached the city wall to start prying bricks and digging the wall. Their movements were swift and powerful, as if they were a group of hungry beasts looking for food. However, the Ming army on the city had already entered a white-hot battle. They used red cannons to deal with distant enemies and used cannons to suppress enemy firearms. The nearby enemies were attacked by Portuguese guns, bird guns and crossbows. In particular, the Rumi gun team led by Ding Yi frightened the enemy. As long as their bullets flew, the enemy would be either killed or injured.

"Roll logs and rocks!" The defenders shouted as they saw the enemy digging the wall. Huge logs and rocks mixed with oil barrels and torches fell from the sky, falling on the enemy's heads like a punishment from the gods. The kerosene immediately burned when it came into contact with fire, enveloping the digging enemy in a sea of ​​fire.

Those who were hit were killed on the spot, and those who were scalded by the oil wailed in pain and were eventually devoured by the flames. Their figures twisted and struggled in the sea of ​​fire, and finally turned into ashes. The enemies who reacted quickly jumped into the river, and those who escaped by chance were rescued, while the unfortunate ones sank to the bottom of the water and drowned.

Outside Xuanfu City, there was a raging sea of ​​fire and black smoke, like hell on earth. This gap had become an insurmountable obstacle for the Eight Banners Army. Even if they forced their way across, it would only lead to death.

Looking at the rolling flames and blazing fire, the Jiannu soldiers could not help but feel terrified. They retreated to the river and shot arrows at the city. However, the Ming army on the city had already hidden behind the bunkers to cool down their firearms. Their bunkers had three layers: the outermost layer was earth bags, the middle layer was thick wooden boards, and the innermost layer was logs. Although the enemy's arrows could penetrate the earth bags, they could not penetrate the thick wooden boards, let alone the logs. Only the artillery and the Portuguese shells could occasionally cause some damage, but they were also cleverly avoided by the Ming army.

However, the fire did not go out, and the Eight Banners Army launched another charge. This time, their speed and number exceeded the previous time, but the casualties were also more severe. However, their determination to capture Xuanfu was even stronger! Their figures were looming in the smoke, like a group of crazy beasts, vowing to break through this life-and-death defense line.

"Throw wood to form a barrier!" In order to avoid the attack of rolling logs and rocks, a captain ordered the soldiers to insert wood into the ground to form a barrier. However, the wood on top was quickly knocked down by the defenders, and the soldiers below took the opportunity to pry up the blue bricks. Their movements were swift and powerful, as if a group of hungry beasts were looking for food.

Some of the tools used to pry bricks are special iron hooks that can easily cut the gaps between bricks and then pry the bricks out. Once the bricks are pried off, the whole process becomes faster and more efficient. Their figures are busy under the city wall, like a group of industrious ants carrying food.

"Pour kerosene!" The defenders immediately ordered to pour kerosene, hoping to ignite the enemy's attack again. However, the enemy was well prepared. They rushed up the city wall with wet blankets in their hands and covered the wood with wet blankets. The kerosene flowed down the wet blankets to the ground and did not cause a fire. They showed a smug smile on their faces, as if they had seen the dawn of victory.

However, at the moment when the kerosene fell, an arrow shot a soldier of the defending army, causing him to fall to his death. His figure drew an arc in the air, and finally fell heavily to the ground, never to get up again. However, before the enemies below had time to be proud, Ding Yi's Rumi bullet had already flown in front of them, avenging his comrades. Their figures trembled in the smoke, as if they felt the threat of death.

The battle is still going on. Outside Xuanfu City, flames are rising to the sky and black smoke is billowing. This is a life-and-death battle. Both sides have tried their best. However, who will win in the end? Everything is still unknown... In this battlefield filled with smoke, every life seems so small and fragile. But it is these small lives that write the chapters of history with their courage and wisdom.

This offensive and defensive battle was so fierce that it seemed as if everything in the world was engulfed by the flames of war. The air was filled with smoke, and the deafening sound of war drums and the crisp sound of weapons clashing intertwined to form a tragic war song. Before it was over, Zhu Fenghui's eyes flashed with determination and wisdom. Seeing that the kerosene was ineffective, he frowned and instantly came up with an idea. He immediately ordered: "Use the grappling crossbow to lift their wet quilts from the side!" His voice penetrated the noise with unquestionable power.

This wet quilt was as heavy as a lead block. After absorbing the water, it became extremely heavy. It was impossible to lift it directly. We could only use our wits to lift it. The grappling crossbow was a special weapon. The iron hook was connected to a tough hemp rope. The front end was sharp like an eagle's beak, and the back end was a thick hemp rope. It was originally used to hook and pull the enemy. Once the enemy climbed up the wall, the defenders quickly threw out the hook, hooking one accurately, and then pulling hard, the enemy fell to the ground like a kite with a broken string, and the following soldiers added a knife, clean and neat.

At this time, more than a dozen warriors of the Ming army stood like mountains on both sides of the temporary bunker built by the Eight Banners Army. They all looked solemn, with unyielding flames burning in their eyes. Following Zhu Fenghui's order, they threw out the grappling hooks one after another, and the hooks drew silver arcs in the air, accurately hooking the heavy wet quilts. Once the hooks were hooked, they used all their strength to pull them to both sides, as if they were struggling with an invisible beast.

The quilt was slowly lifted, revealing the bunker of the Eight Banners Army below. Seeing this, the defenders immediately seized the opportunity and poured kerosene and tung oil into it. The oil poured down like a golden waterfall, instantly soaking the wooden bunker. Then, two brave civilians, regardless of the rain of arrows around them, resolutely rushed forward, and the torches in their hands were like angry fire dragons, hurling them into the sea of ​​oil.

With a loud "boom", the fire shot up into the sky. The kerosene not only ignited the wood, but also ignited the kerosene that was left on the ground, forming a sea of ​​fire. The heat waves rolled, reflecting everyone's face.

"Ah!" The cries of the Eight Banners soldiers came one after another. They struggled in this sudden sea of ​​fire. Those who were close to the exit were lucky enough to escape in a panic, while the soldiers inside were directly engulfed by the flames. They rolled on the ground in pain and screamed. After a while, the charred bodies fell to the ground powerlessly and never moved again. Zhu Fenghui commanded with confidence, and the bunkers that the Eight Banners Army had worked so hard to build were easily disintegrated and turned into ashes.

The Ming army under the city took advantage of this momentum and attacked the Eight Banners Army fiercely. The Eight Banners soldiers on the other side of the moat were also not idle. They held long-range weapons and kept shooting at the city walls. Arrows rained down. The two sides fought back and forth, and casualties continued. The battlefield was full of tragedy and tragedy. Some soldiers were carried away for treatment, while others lay forever on the cold ground, unable to get up again.

Duoduo looked at the chaos in front of him, and his heart could not help but ripple. It seemed that Xuanfu Town would have to go through a tough battle. He frowned, and his eyes revealed deep worry.

After a long while, the battlefield was filled with the rumble of cannons, explosions, shouts, roars, and wails, interweaving into a tragic symphony. Duoduo could no longer sit still. He rode his horse across the battlefield, looking for a way to break the spell. However, the more anxious he became, the more helpless he felt. The longer the time dragged on, the more disadvantageous it would be for the Eight Banners Army. He knew this very well.

"Send another two thousand people!" Hauge ordered loudly, his voice full of anxiety and unwillingness.

"Wait, pass the order down, call back the troops!" Duoduo gritted his teeth and issued this helpless order. He knew that if he continued, more soldiers would be sacrificed in vain.

"Uncle Tenth Prince..." Haoge's face was filled with anger, but his anger was not directed at Duoduo, but at Zhu Fenghui, because the Zhenglan Banner suffered heavy losses in the siege today, which made him heartbroken.

"Zhu Fenghui is a cunning guy. Fighting him will only increase casualties. It won't be too late to attack after I make some careful plans!" Duoduo said with a frown, his eyes revealing a deep determination. He knew that the retreat now was for a better attack.

Recalling yesterday's siege, it was just a tentative attack, with not many casualties, and most of them were soldiers from the Han Eight Banners. These Han people served as soldiers just for money, like animals, and did not have the deep fighting camaraderie that the bannermen had. Among the troops attacking the city today, the Han Eight Banners accounted for 60%, and the Bordered White Banner and the Plain Blue Banner accounted for 40%. Although the infantry of the Han Eight Banners was not valuable, they would have to be replaced by the Manchu Eight Banners when they were used up, which was a problem that Duoduo had to consider.

As soon as the order to withdraw was issued, the noise on the battlefield slowly subsided, leaving only chaos and silence. An Eight Banners soldier was unfortunately shot by Ding Yi's arrow while retreating and fell to the ground. The Ming army on the top of the city cheered, and their voices were filled with the joy of victory.

"We won! The Ming army is mighty! The Jiannu have run away!" They cheered loudly, their voices resounding through the sky.

"Listen, Jiannu, tell Duoduo a message!" someone shouted loudly, his voice full of provocation.

"Duduo, you are the biggest idiot in Jianzhou!"

"And Dorgon, you are also a black-hearted person!"

……

At the same time, in the Qianqing Palace in the capital, Lin Xiaofeng and his followers were discussing national affairs intensively. The party struggles in the Ming Dynasty were in full swing. The Qi Party, the Chu Party, the Jin Party, the Hui Party, the Zhejiang Party, the Eunuch Party, the Donglin Party... the parties were fighting openly and secretly, and the situation was as bad as fire and water. In order to fight against these forces, Lin Xiaofeng united the students and officials of the Imperial Academy and established the Imperial Party. This was their first internal meeting, and the atmosphere was tense and solemn.

"Your Majesty!" Suddenly, Guo Tianyang ran in hurriedly, interrupting the meeting.

"What's the matter?" Lin Xiaofeng asked somewhat unhappily. He knew that this meeting was a big deal for both the emperor and his ministers, and that it should not be interrupted unless it was an important matter.

"The emergency troops from Xuanfu, Miyun and Zhangdefu have arrived!" Guo Tianyang handed over three secret letters with a hint of anxiety in his voice.

"Read!" As an emperor, Lin Xiaofeng's basic quality is to remain calm in times of crisis. He gave the order calmly.

"But..." Guo Tianyang looked around. There were about a hundred people sitting around, mostly students and officials from the Imperial College, and some minor officials from various government offices who came here because of his reputation. But there were few above the sixth rank, let alone above the third rank. These people were not qualified to listen to the military report, which was a secret of the court.

The members of the imperial party were also very conscious. Upon seeing this, they stood up and took their leave: "Your Majesty, we will take our leave." They knew that the military reports were confidential and they were not supposed to listen to them.

"Wait!" Lin Xiaofeng waved his hand and asked them to sit down. "Today I will discuss matters with everyone. If you have difficulties, you can come to me. If I have difficulties, you have to help me share the burden." His voice revealed an unquestionable firmness.

"Isn't it?" He said the last sentence to everyone, with trust and expectation flashing in his eyes.

"This..." Before Guo Tianyang could speak, the Secretary of the Central Secretariat Teng Zhisuo said hesitantly: "Your Majesty, military reports are confidential, and there are many gossips. I am afraid they will be leaked..." Although his official position was not high, he was in charge of important matters such as writing imperial edicts, so his words still carried weight.

Lin Xiaofeng didn't care and waved his hand and said, "You are all people I trust. I believe you won't leak the secret." His tone was full of trust and expectation.

"So I said it?" He confirmed again.

Everyone looked at each other and bowed excitedly: "Thank you for your trust, Your Majesty. We will keep our mouths shut." Their voices were full of determination and loyalty.

From students at the Imperial College to officials involved in national affairs, everyone was able to hear such secrets. This sudden change made everyone very excited. Some even wanted to tattoo the words "Serve the country with loyalty" on their backs to show their loyalty.

"Okay, everyone sit down. Guo Tianyang, read!" Lin Xiaofeng ordered again, his voice revealing an unquestionable majesty.

"As you wish." Guo Tianyang swallowed and read the military report from Xuanfu first: "The Jiannu broke through Dushikou and entered the pass, the Longmen guards surrendered, and 60,000 troops besieged Xuanfu Town!" Although he tried to keep his voice calm, the urgency and crisis in it were difficult to conceal.

Hearing this, everyone except Lin Xiaofeng changed their expressions. Jiannu went south to enter the pass, this was a big deal! Their hearts were filled with anxiety and uneasiness.

"Keep reading!" Lin Xiaofeng ordered calmly, his eyes revealing a deep calmness.

"Yes, Miyun Military News." Guo Tianyang swallowed again. His voice trembled a little, but he still read it firmly.

"Twenty thousand Jiannu entered from Qiangziling and divided their forces to attack Chaoheso and Miyun!" Every word hit everyone's heart like a heavy hammer, making them feel even more depressed. "How is the battle going?" Lin Xiaofeng asked, his voice revealing a concern that was difficult to conceal.

"No news yet." Guo Tianyang's voice was a little low. He knew that this meant the situation might not be optimistic.

"Keep reading!" Lin Xiaofeng ordered again, his eyes revealing determination and courage.

"As ordered!" Guo Tianyang picked up the last secret letter and was silent for a while, his heart filled with anxiety and worry. However, he knew that as the emperor's eyes and ears, he had to convey the contents of this military report to His Majesty truthfully.

"Li Zicheng's army has approached Zhangde Prefecture. Prince Zhao and Prince Zhou abandoned the city and fled with their families to Daming Prefecture!" Although he tried to keep his voice calm, he could hardly conceal the shock and fear in it.

As soon as the three-day battle report arrived, the Qianqing Palace suddenly became so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. There were more than a hundred students and officials present. They were dressed in official uniforms of various colors, standing or sitting, with different expressions on their faces. At first, everyone was shocked, and then they all looked worried. The three battle reports were like three huge rocks, weighing heavily on everyone's heart. They were all bad news, and one was worse than the other. It was said that the Jianlu army was divided into two routes. One route was like a tiger descending from the mountain and went to Xuanfu; the other route was like a poisonous snake coming out of a cave and approaching Miyun. Now, the defense of the capital was like a candle in the wind and rain, swaying and about to go out, the troops were scattered, and they couldn't take care of anything!
It was difficult! What was even more difficult was that Li Zicheng and his gang were making trouble again in the Central Plains. They were like a group of hungry wolves, and they clearly wanted to cut off the north-south passage of the Ming Dynasty, so that the court could not take care of both ends! The matter in the north was not over yet. In the south, Zhang Xianzhong led hundreds of thousands of troops, like a dark cloud, and headed straight for Chengdu. It seemed that they were going to swallow up the whole of Sichuan!

When thinking of these problems, everyone's eyes unconsciously fell on the Ming Emperor Lin Xiaofeng. Lin Xiaofeng sat on the dragon throne, wearing a bright yellow dragon robe and a crown on his head, with a bit of calmness in his majesty. But in the face of the continuous bad news, he was calm, as if he was not in a hurry, and he knew what was going on in his mind. He said that Xuanfu was out of reach, but don't worry too much, he believed that Zhu Fenghui could defend Xuanfu. Back then, Zhu Fenghui was in the isolated city of Jiangyin. The food was eaten up, and the reinforcements were nowhere to be seen. He defended for more than 80 days and did not let the enemy step into the city. Now in Xuanfu, although there may not be enough armor, the preparations for food, silver, water and fire are sufficient to support the arrival of reinforcements.

Miyun was guarded by Huang Degong, a brave and good fighter. He would either win or lose, but he would always have a back-up plan. The only thing that was most troubling was Li Zicheng. Lin Xiaofeng was not afraid of Li Zicheng attacking the city and occupying the land, but that he would take the opportunity to rob money and food and restore his strength, and then all his previous efforts would be in vain. Thinking of this, Lin Xiaofeng frowned tightly.

Lin Xiaofeng looked around and said to Guo Tianyang, "Go, call Elder Li." Guo Tianyang went immediately, his steps hurried, and he looked very anxious. Lin Xiaofeng himself was still in a leisurely manner. After thinking for a while, he turned around and asked everyone, "My dear ministers, do you have any good ideas?"

Everyone looked at each other in bewilderment. This change happened too quickly, and there was no time to think about it. As the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, Lin Xiaofeng was not in a hurry to talk about the court affairs at this time, but cast his eyes on Teng Zhisuo. Teng Zhisuo, an old official, had been in the officialdom for a long time, and he was familiar with the ways of the world. He knew how to be an official and how to deal with things. He was thin and had a kind face, giving people a sense of intimacy.

Teng Zhisuo first saluted Lin Xiaofeng, then turned around and said to everyone: "Everyone, you are all new here and don't understand the twists and turns of the court. As for me, I don't have any great skills, so I will just tell you about my experience." His voice was gentle and powerful, as if it could soothe the anxiety in people's hearts.

Upon hearing this, the students hurriedly bowed their hands to express their gratitude. Teng Zhisuo cleared his throat and continued, "As an official, the most important thing is to distinguish between the important and the urgent. As for the three battle reports today, which one should we deal with first?" He glanced at everyone with a thoughtful look.

Everyone started discussing it. Some said that they should deal with the battle report of Miyun first, because Miyun is close to the capital. If it is lost, the capital will be in danger. Some said that they should deal with the battle report of Xuanfu first, because Xuanfu is the gateway to the north. If it is lost, the consequences will be disastrous. Finally, a student stood up and said, "Miyun!" His voice was firm and powerful, as if he had found the key to solve the problem.

But Lin Xiaofeng shook his head and said with a smile: "No, you are totally wrong!" He put the battle report on the dragon table and continued: "The Jianlu people who came in from Qiangziling have only more than 20,000 people. Even if they occupied Miyun, what can they do? Do they dare to attack the capital directly? Even if they come, can they capture the capital?" His voice was confident and calm, as if he had seen through the enemy's conspiracy.

Everyone shook their heads when they heard this. Back then, Li Zicheng led more than 100,000 troops to attack the capital but failed, and suffered heavy casualties. The Jianlu only had more than 20,000 people, how could they dare to act rashly? When they thought of this, everyone felt relieved.

Lin Xiaofeng analyzed: "The Jianlu are good at field battles but not good at sieges; we are just the opposite, good at defending cities but not good at attacking. How could they use their weaknesses to attack our strengths? Unless they are sure of victory!" His eyes flashed with wisdom, as if he had seen through the enemy's mind.

After hearing this, the students all nodded in agreement. But some people expressed different opinions, saying, "Your Majesty, the Jianlu invaded the country, burning, killing and looting. We must defend every city to appease the people." His voice was filled with anxiety and worry.

After hearing this, Lin Xiaofeng first praised him, and then corrected him: "You are right, but we have to act according to the actual situation. If we can defend it, we must defend it, and if we can't, we must not surrender. Let me ask you, if I leave the border town to you to defend, and there is no reinforcement, can you guarantee that you will never surrender?" He swept his eyes over the crowd with a bit of consideration.

Everyone fell silent when they heard this. One person might be able to defend the city, but what about ten, one hundred, one thousand, or ten thousand people? Who can guarantee that they will not waver at the critical moment of life and death? Human nature is so complicated. When they thought of this, everyone's heart became heavy.

Seeing this, Lin Xiaofeng smiled and said, "So, we can't just talk about it. We have to consider the problem in light of the actual situation and human nature." His voice was gentle and powerful, as if it could soothe people's anxiety. "Some city walls are low and dilapidated, the weapons are old, and the defenders are old and weak. The commander may surrender to save his life. When our army arrives, they may surrender again. In this way, although they failed to save the city, they also saved the people. Are they really guilty?"

Everyone was speechless after hearing this, not knowing how to respond. The matter of the garrison's surrender was too complicated to be generalized. When they thought of this, everyone's hearts became tangled.

Lin Xiaofeng went on to say, "I don't want to see this happen, but some things are inevitable. So we must know that things in the world are not black and white, and we can't just look at one side." His eyes were deep and bright, as if he could see through people's hearts. "Governing a country, governing officials, and governing the people are all the same principle. As long as you use people properly, those who are usually afraid of death can also fight bravely at the critical moment. This is a real talent!"

"I hope that one day I can see you in the two capitals and thirteen provinces, hear your voices, and witness together the prosperity of the Ming Dynasty!" Lin Xiaofeng's voice was passionate and powerful, as if he had already seen the beautiful vision of the future.

The students were so moved after hearing this that they wanted to kneel down to express their gratitude, but then they remembered the previous order, so they all bowed and said in unison: "Thank you for your teachings, Your Majesty!" Their voices were firm and powerful, as if they had made up their minds to work hard for the prosperity of the Ming Dynasty.

"Okay, let's end the discussion here. After you go back, write me a letter and tell me about your wishes, difficulties, bad policies you have seen, and unfair and lawless people you have encountered. I give you this opportunity, and I hope you will not let me down." Lin Xiaofeng's voice was gentle and powerful, as if it could soothe the anxiety in people's hearts.

"Yes, sir!" the students answered in unison, their voices loud and firm.

As soon as he finished speaking, Li Banghua slowly walked into the hall. He saw that the students were stunned for a moment, but soon regained their composure, walked to the front, bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I, Banghua, am here to see you by your order." His voice was steady and powerful, and he seemed very solemn.

Lin Xiaofeng stood there quietly, his eyes deep and firm, as if he could see into people's hearts. He gently raised his hand, signaling Guo Tianyang to hand the urgent military report to Li Banghua. Guo Tianyang understood, stepped forward quickly, and presented the military report with both hands. Li Banghua took it and looked at it, frowning, and the frowned brows were like two towering mountains, showing the heaviness and worry in his heart.

"My dear Lord Li, these are all my favorite students. You may speak freely today without restraint." The emperor's voice was gentle but full of majesty. He sat on the dragon throne, his eyes sweeping over everyone present with an indescribable majesty and kindness.

Li Banghua nodded, not feeling strange. He knew that the emperor had always intended to build his own trusted party to consolidate the imperial power. He had known this for a long time. He thought that in the near future, the careers of these young students would have to rely on the support of this cabinet chief. After all, the emperor's power was limited, and he could not place all talented people in key positions.

"Li Qing, how do you think we should deal with this matter?" Lin Xiaofeng turned around and glanced sharply at the people present. His voice was steady and powerful, as if it could penetrate people's hearts.

Li Banghua pondered for a moment, his eyes lingered on the military report for a moment, then slowly raised his head and replied: "Your Majesty, although the military report from Xuanfu is urgent, it is not the most serious; the military report from Miyun is serious, but not urgent; only the military report from Zhangdefu is both urgent and important, and must be dealt with immediately!"

"Okay, then let's discuss the affairs of Zhangde Prefecture first." The emperor made the decision, his voice filled with unquestionable majesty.

"Li Zicheng led an army of 50,000 to besiege Zhangde. Although the defenders in the city have not surrendered yet, it is only a matter of time before the city is captured." Li Banghua's words were heavy and his eyes were flashing with worry.

At this time, a student swallowed his saliva. He looked a little nervous, but he still plucked up the courage and asked in a low voice: "How did Master Li know this?"

"Without money and food, the army's morale will be low and the soldiers will naturally not fight bravely against the enemy." Li Banghua spoke bluntly. His voice was cold and realistic. His words suddenly made the court quiet. The students were speechless. Their eyes were filled with helplessness about reality and worries about the future.

"The most important thing right now is to protect Daming Prefecture. Although there are several thousand defenders there, plus Li Xingzhong's 10,000 troops, I am worried that they will not be able to hold on. Once Daming Prefecture is lost, Li Zicheng and others will definitely use the wealth of King Zhao and King Zhou as capital to plot against the capital again." Li Banghua's analysis was very logical, and his eyes flashed with wisdom, as if he could see through everything.

Under the gaze of the crowd, Li Banghua calmly took out a secret letter, which was sealed tightly, as if it contained some important secrets. He gently handed the secret letter to Guo Tianyang, who then handed it to Lin Xiaofeng.

Lin Xiaofeng opened the secret letter and was slightly stunned. It turned out to be a petition requesting punishment for General Gao Jie, who was absent from his post. A hint of coldness flashed in his eyes, and then he raised his head and reported to the emperor: "Your Majesty, when Gao Jie was stationed in Zezhou, he heard that the capital was under siege and thought it was difficult to save it, so he fled to Nanyang, Henan."

"Now that the siege of the capital has been lifted, he has sent an envoy to apologize." Lin Xiaofeng's voice was calm and indifferent, as if he was not surprised by Gao Jie's behavior.

Although Lin Xiaofeng appeared calm on the surface, the students could no longer suppress their anger. They accused Gao Jie of not serving his country but running away instead. Their voices were filled with anger and dissatisfaction.

"Your Majesty, Gao Jie should be severely punished! This man has his own army and despises the emperor's grace!" a student shouted angrily.

"Yes! It's been almost two months since the siege was lifted and he's only now coming to apologize. This is obviously intentional!" another student echoed.

Gao Jie was originally a general under Li Zicheng. Because of his handsome appearance, he was loved by Li Zicheng's wife Xing, and the two betrayed Li Zicheng together. Gao Jie was afraid of being hunted down, so he surrendered to the Ming Dynasty and became one of the four towns in Jiangbei. He had 30,000 troops, including 5,000 cavalry, and had good combat effectiveness. However, he was cruel and liked to rob the people, so he was resented by the people.

Lin Xiaofeng placed the memorial on the dragon case, thinking secretly in his heart. He knew Gao Jie's movements, but he was not satisfied with that. He wanted to kill someone with a borrowed knife, but the time was not yet ripe. There was a cunning light in his eyes, like an old fox who was planning something.

"Regarding Gao Jie's crimes..." Li Banghua hesitated, he seemed to be in a dilemma, and he didn't seem to have any good solution. He knew that he had already killed Liu Zeqing and Murong Jiongran, and if he killed Gao Jie again, it would probably make the generals feel disappointed. Although these two people had bad conduct, they also made military achievements.

"Gao Jie is indeed guilty, but the country is in need of talents, so why not let him make meritorious contributions while serving his sentence?" Lin Xiaofeng said lightly. Although his voice was calm, his eyes flashed with an indescribable deep meaning.

At this time, Gao Jie had no way to retreat. Apart from continuing to be loyal to the Ming Dynasty, he had only one way to go, which was to surrender to Zhang Xianzhong. But he looked down on Zhang Xianzhong, thinking that he was a grassroots hero who was not worthy of being with him. As for surrendering to Li Zicheng? Since he put on the "green hat", this road has been blocked by himself. Which man can tolerate such humiliation?

"Draft an imperial decree. Gao Jie has been demoted to deputy general for his mistake in military affairs, and his salary will be fined for one year as a punishment." The emperor finally made the decision. His voice was majestic and powerful, as if it could penetrate people's hearts.

"I obey your order." Li Banghua breathed a sigh of relief, and his heart was filled with relief. Such a punishment not only showed the anger of the court, but also preserved Gao Jie's military talent, which was killing two birds with one stone.

"My dear ministers, what do you think of my rewards and punishments?" the emperor asked. His eyes swept over everyone present, with an indescribable majesty and expectation.

"Your Majesty is wise!" The students praised one after another. Their voices were full of respect and admiration, as if they believed in every decision of the emperor.

The situation in the court was completely under the control of the emperor. He was like a skilled chess player, making every move just right, leaving his opponent unable to defend.

"Li Qing, Gao Jie is currently stationed in Nanyang, which is 500 miles away from Zhengzhou and 900 miles away from Zhangde. It is probably unrealistic to want to lift the siege of Zhangde." The emperor changed the subject and said, with an indescribable depth in his voice, as if he had seen through the essence of the situation.

"Your Majesty is wise. I want Gao Jie to make a feint attack on Zhengzhou to attract the enemy's attention and then go north to reinforce Damingfu and join General Li Xingzhong. General Li Xingzhong has enough food and grass, so we can give some to Gao Jie's army, but we must restrain Gao Jie's army and not let them plunder the people again." Li Banghua explained hurriedly. His voice was full of anxiety and expectation, as if he was full of worry and helplessness about Gao Jie's army.

"What if the enemy doesn't fall for it?" the emperor asked. His eyes flashed with wisdom, as if he had seen through Li Banghua's plan.

"Then let's continue the feint attack. As long as Gao Jie's army is there, the enemy won't dare to attack Damingfu with all their strength." Lin Xiaofeng added. His voice was calm and powerful, as if he was full of confidence and control over the situation.

"In this way, Daming Prefecture will be safe and sound." The emperor nodded with satisfaction. His heart was filled with relief and anticipation, as if he had already seen the hope of victory.

"I obey your order." Li Banghua accepted the order again. His heart was full of determination and resolution, as if he was ready to meet the next challenge.

"Guo Tianyang, draft an imperial decree to King Zhao and King Zhou, asking them to lend you one million taels of silver. If they refuse... I don't need to say more about the rest." The emperor ordered again. His voice was filled with an unquestionable majesty and coldness.

Guo Tianyang understood what he meant. He knew that if they didn't lend him the money, he would threaten them by withdrawing Li Xingzhong's troops. At the critical moment of life and death, he believed that the two princes would not be stubborn anymore. His heart was filled with helplessness and worry, as if he had seen the cruelty and bloodiness that would follow.

"As for the military report from Miyun, let's discuss it later." The emperor changed the subject again. There was an indescribable depth and worry in his voice.

"Huang Degong is leading 40,000 troops in Miyun and may have already fought with the Jiannu." Li Banghua reminded him. His voice was full of worry and concern, as if he was full of concern and helplessness for Huang Degong's situation.

The emperor nodded, but his heart was full of worries. He knew that Huang Degong had been fighting in the south of the Yangtze River for a long time and was not familiar with the terrain and climate of the north. In addition, the southern soldiers were relatively weak in combat effectiveness and their firearms were not sophisticated enough. It was still unknown whether they could withstand the attack of the Jiannu! His eyes flashed with worry and expectation, as if he had already seen the cruelty and bloodiness that was to come.

At this time, Huang Degong, who was a hundred miles away, was lying beside a big rock. He held a blade of grass in his mouth and looked to the north from time to time. His eyes flashed with determination and determination, as if he was ready to face the next challenge. Qiangziling is the only way to enter the pass. Ten miles to the west is the fork in the road. To the west is Miyun, and to the south is Pinggu. However, Pinggu has a rugged terrain, which is not conducive to cavalry combat or baggage transportation. He knew that his situation was difficult, but he still chose to stick to it because he knew that this was his mission and responsibility.

At this moment, a scout came at full speed, his face full of anxiety and tension. He quickly came to Huang Degong and reported: "General, the enemy spies are coming!"

Huang Degong immediately sat up straight, his eyes flashing with sharpness, as if he was ready for battle. He asked in a deep voice, "How many people are there?"

"Eleven people!" the scout replied. His voice was filled with an indescribable tension and worry, as if he had seen the cruelty and bloodshed that was to come. (End of this chapter)