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

The cavalrymen of the Ming Dynasty were like arrows shot from a bow, galloping wildly in the front, with the sound of hooves roaring and dust flying, just like a giant yellow dragon tumbling on the grassland. Under the sunlight, their armor flashed with a cold light, and each cavalryman was like a god of war leaping out of an ancient mural, with a firm look in his eyes and fearlessness.

Behind them, the warriors of the Eight Banners, under the strict supervision of Ebilun, pursued them relentlessly day and night. Ebilun, the first-class Angbang Zhangjing of the Bordered Yellow Banner, had a resolute face and eyes as sharp as knives. His figure was as tall as a pine tree on his warhorse, as if he was the soul of the entire battlefield. Under his leadership, the soldiers of the Eight Banners were like a group of hungry wolves, eager to bite the throats of their opponents, fearing that they would miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to expand their territory.

At first, the two armies seemed to be having an archery competition, with arrows flying back and forth in the air, forming a web of death. But it soon turned into a fierce close combat, with swords flashing and blood flying everywhere. A rough estimate shows that the casualties on both sides added up to less than 200 people, and the loss seemed small. However, because the Ming army rushed directly into the heart of the enemy's formation, the casualties on the Eight Banners side were even more severe than those of the Ming army. This result was difficult for the Eight Banners soldiers to accept, and their hearts were filled with resentment and anger, as if they were burned by a raging fire.

The Ming cavalry galloped on the grassland, their figures looming in the dust, like a group of ghosts. The Eight Banners Army was chasing like a group of hungry wolves, their eyes full of bloodthirsty light. Archers on both sides pulled their bowstrings to their fullest, and arrows poured down like a rainstorm, breaking the tranquility of the air. The Ming army was not a vegetarian either. They put away their sabers, picked up bows and arrows and fought back. With the sound of fierce battles, arrows whizzed through the air, like the death warrant of the god of death, and those who were shot fell off their horses one after another. The scene was extremely tragic. These cavalrymen were carefully selected elites, and the fall of each soldier was an irreparable loss. You know, infantry can be trained quickly into an army, but cavalry requires a long period of training in the unity of man and horse to form combat effectiveness. This not only costs a lot of money, but also requires time for precipitation and accumulation.

However, the Ming cavalry was caught up by the Eight Banners Army before they ran far. The Eight Banners Army's war horses were faster and more endurance, which was their unique advantage. As a master of horseback archery, Ebilun had rich experience in facing the enemy. He knew that when the cavalry was chasing the enemy, the best attack position was the enemy's left rear. Because most people were used to holding a knife with their right hand, it was inconvenient to fight back and it was difficult to spread their arms. Similarly, if attacking with a bow and arrow, the right rear was the best position, because most archers held the bow with their left hand and it was difficult to shoot at their own right rear.

Therefore, Ebilun decisively ordered the cavalry to go around the right rear of the Ming army, and fired arrows with full bows. The Ming cavalry were shot and fell off their horses. Before they could get up, they were trampled to death by the horses that rushed up, and lay forever on the territory of the Ming Dynasty. Their eyes were full of fear and unwillingness, as if they were telling the world about their unyielding and bravery.

At this time, Huang Degong stood on the top of the city wall, his face calm as water, but his heart was extremely anxious. He looked at the dusty battlefield in the distance, silently praying for the victory of the Ming army. However, the pursuit of the Eight Banners Army continued, and their figures were looming in the dust, like a group of ghosts wandering. Suddenly, a soldier carrying a flag looked back at Ebilun, pointing to Miyun City, indicating that they were close to the range of the Ming army's artillery. After thinking for a while, Ebilun resolutely decided to continue the pursuit. He thought this was a good opportunity to expand the results of the battle, how could he give up easily? His eyes were full of determination and determination, as if he had seen the dawn of victory.

Although the Ming army had heavy weapons such as artillery, they did not dare to fire easily because the distance was too close. Even if they fired, they were just some large solid bullets. Although the damage to a single target was large, the group lethality was insufficient. Ebilun had already thought of a strategy to deal with the Ming army's hundred-shot bullets. The range of this kind of fire bullet was limited to only two or three hundred steps, so as long as they were one mile away from the city, they would stop chasing to ensure safety. His heart was filled with the desire for victory and control over the battlefield.

Just as he was about to continue the pursuit, an accident happened - the sound of "pu pu" rang out one after another, and the Eight Banners soldiers were shot one after another. Some cried out in pain and covered their wounds, while others unfortunately fell off their horses and died. Ebilun looked into the distance and found that 500 Ming army infantrymen were holding bird guns and firing at the same time, and every shot hit the target, causing considerable casualties to the Eight Banners Army. This scene surprised Ebilun greatly, as he had not taken this group of infantry seriously. Unexpectedly, the Ming army had such a sophisticated tactic: when the enemy army entered within a hundred steps, they would first shoot with bird guns. However, these infantrymen were not wearing armor, and it was difficult to cause fatal damage to them from a hundred steps away. But the Ming army was obviously well prepared. They adopted a three-row formation, with five steps between each row. After the front row of soldiers fired the bird guns, they immediately retreated to the back row, and the back row of soldiers took over the shooting, and so on. This tactic of infantry covering the cavalry's retreat caught Ebilun off guard, and he hurriedly ordered to stop the pursuit and gather the remnants to quickly retreat beyond the range of artillery to ensure safety. His heart was filled with admiration for the Ming army and awe of the battlefield.

Under the cover of the infantry, the Ming cavalry successfully escaped and retreated back to the city with the infantry. Huang Degong waited anxiously for them at the city gate. When he saw Nalan Jiben, he eagerly asked about the casualties and the fighting power of Jiannu. Jiben roughly counted the number of people and said solemnly: "We have more than 150 casualties, and Jiannu's losses are far greater than ours." Huang Degong was a little unconvinced, but Jiben nodded firmly to show that he was not exaggerating. Although there was no head as evidence, Huang Degong was convinced that the soldiers never reported their military exploits in vain.

After thinking for a while, he said: "I think the Jiannu's advantage lies in their warhorses and archery skills, but they are not as good as our army in close combat. If we want to defeat them, we must create opportunities for close combat." However, he also knew that the Jiannu had a large number of cavalry, so it would be difficult to fight in close combat. Once we get into a one-on-one or even two-on-one situation, our cavalry will soon be exhausted, and then we can only passively take the beating. What's more, the Jiannu's heavy armored infantry, especially the white armored soldiers, have not yet appeared. They are covered in armor with only their eyes exposed, and the chances of winning in close combat are slim. Therefore, this battle still needs another good strategy! His heart was full of worries about the battlefield and expectations for the future.

In the central army tent of the Plain White Banner, Dorgon, Fan Wencheng, Ajige, Ebilun and others were sitting together to discuss the battle situation. The atmosphere in the tent was solemn, and everyone's faces were full of concern and worry about the battle situation. Fan Wencheng asked Ebilun about the casualties of the two armies on behalf of Dorgon. Ebilun replied angrily: "Our army suffered nearly 200 casualties, and the Ming army had about 150." He felt deeply guilty for the defeat in the first battle and believed that he was to blame. There was a trace of trembling and unwillingness in his voice, as if he was telling the world about his helplessness and pain.

Dorgon was a little confused after hearing this. He asked, "Is Huang Degong's army really so brave?" Ebilun nodded and replied, "Indeed, they are extremely brave! Although their cavalry horses are not as good as ours, and their archery skills are mediocre, they are very good in close combat and tacit cooperation. Unlike the Guanning Army, they do not just look for opportunities to launch sneak attacks and hurt people. Instead, they first cut through our cotton armor, and then swing their swords to kill people when there are many wounds. This tactic is unprecedented, and we have suffered a great loss!" There was a hint of admiration and helplessness in his voice, as if he was telling the world about the bravery of the Ming army and the exquisiteness of its tactics.

Dorgon was stunned for a moment, then laughed and said, "Huang Degong is just like that! It's okay to encounter cotton armor, but what if he encounters hard armor?" There was a hint of contempt and confidence in his voice, as if he had seen the dawn of victory. However, Fan Wencheng fell into deep thought. He believed that Huang Degong had been fighting against bandits in Jiangnan for a long time, and most of those bandits had no armor or only cotton armor, so Huang Degong's tactics might indeed be effective. But he did not rule out the possibility that Huang Degong deliberately concealed his strength, so he reminded everyone to be cautious. His eyes were full of awe for the battlefield and worry about the future.

Ebilun suddenly remembered something, and he said: "The Ming army seems to have a new type of bird gun, which can penetrate cotton armor from a hundred steps away! It is this kind of firearm that caused us heavy casualties, otherwise how could we retreat so easily?" There was a hint of anger and unwillingness in his voice, as if he was telling the world about the power of the Ming army's firearms and their helplessness. Dorgon was shocked after hearing this, and then he became very interested in this new type of firearm. He believed that if the Qing Dynasty wanted to gain a foothold outside the Great Wall, it could not only rely on horseback archery, but also learn from the firearms technology of the Ming army. However, he also knew that this matter should not be rushed, and it needed to be planned slowly. His eyes were full of expectations for the future and desire for firearms.

At this moment, a scout rushed into the tent and reported: "Prince Rui, there is a secret report from Pinggu!" A new battle seemed to be about to begin, and everyone's hearts were filled with expectations for the future and awe of the battlefield. They knew that this war had just begun, and the real battle was still to come.

"Huh!" Dorgon's voice echoed in the valley, carrying unquestionable majesty. "Hey!" The scout's voice in response was soft, but revealed firmness and determination.

Dorgon stood on the mountain, tall and with a sharp gaze, he stared into the distance, as if he could penetrate the mountains and see the battlefield he was about to set up. The valley path was winding and the cliffs on both sides were like sharp cliffs. It was indeed an excellent ambush site. The afterglow of the setting sun shone on his armor, reflecting a cold light.

"Fifteen miles south of Qiangziling, there is a valley path that people and animals can walk on, but carts and horses cannot pass through. This valley is easy to defend but difficult to attack. It is a great place to set an ambush." ​​There was a bit of admiration in the scout's voice. He knew that Dorgon was not only brave and unparalleled, but also extremely intelligent.

Dorgon nodded slightly, with a hint of admiration in his eyes, but then he said in a deep voice: "After leaving the valley, there is a vast plain. If we go south forty miles, we will reach Pinggu County. That place will be the key to determining the success or failure of our operation."

The scout continued to report: "Our Han Eight Banner soldiers changed into civilian clothes and sneaked in to investigate. They found that in addition to the defenders in the city, there were also troops coming from the south. The exact number of troops is still unknown."

Dorgon frowned slightly upon hearing this, then relaxed his brows. He stroked the short beard on his chin, thought for a moment and said, "Okay, you can leave now."

The scout took the order and left, leaving Dorgon, Fan Wencheng and Ajige behind. Fan Wencheng looked puzzled, and his thin face was full of confusion: "Prince Rui, do you want to divide the troops? But the Ming army has already deployed heavy troops in Pinggu!"

Dorgon shook his head, with a mysterious smile on his face. Ajige seemed to be thinking about something. He was a big man with a rough face, but he had a delicate heart: "Fourteenth brother, are you trying to lure the enemy deeper?"

Dorgon laughed loudly, his eyes gleaming with approval: "Brother Twelve still understands me!" He turned and looked into the distance, his tone full of confidence and determination, "This time we enter the pass, just to pretend to attack and lure the main force of the Ming army over. Huang Degong is determined to win, and he will definitely be eager to fight us!"

"But if we don't fight him, he will definitely think of other ways, such as sneak attacking us from behind from a small road." Dorgon's words were cunning, "If you don't believe it, let's make a bet. Huang Degong will definitely gather troops to attack us tentatively tomorrow!"

As the night deepened, the valley was completely silent, with only the chirping of insects and the sound of wind interweaving into a night symphony. Dorgon's words seemed to echo in the silence, foreshadowing the coming storm.

Sure enough, the next morning, when the first ray of sunlight penetrated the mist, Dorgon heard the news that the Ming army had set up camp in the wild overnight. He stood on a high place, holding a telescope in his hand, and carefully observed the movements of the Ming army. The Ming army's camp had a rigorous layout, complete defense facilities, and dense sentries, like a moving fortress.

Dorgon secretly admired in his heart, but at the same time he couldn't help but feel a little confused: "Why doesn't the Ming army attack? Xuanfu is waiting for us to rescue them!" He muttered to himself, revealing a bit of anxiety between his brows.

Fan Wencheng stood aside, also looking confused: "I don't know the answer to the question asked by Prince Rui!" There was a hint of helplessness in his words.

Ebilun seemed even more impatient. He gritted his teeth and said, "Maybe the Ming Dynasty has already given up Xuanfu!" There was some reluctance and anger in his voice.

Fan Wencheng suddenly thought of someone and said hurriedly, "Prince Rui, I suspect that Ji Zisheng, who is stationed in Jizhou, has been transferred to Xuanfu to relieve the siege."

"Ji Zishen?" Dorgon narrowed his eyes and silently repeated the name in his mind, trying to retrieve some information about this person from the ocean of memory.

"Impossible! We have only 4,000 senior subordinates, and Gao Di's newly recruited soldiers are not able to fight in tough battles. We have 60,000 troops. How is it possible that we cannot lift the siege of Xuanfu?" Dorgon's words were filled with disbelief and disdain.

Fan Wencheng shook his head, thinking that he might have overthought. "Yes. Even if Zhineng and Li Xingzhong joined forces, they only had about 10,000 people. They were good at defending the city, but not so good at attacking."

However, the Ming army drilled every day but did not attack, which made Dorgon and others more and more confused. What exactly did Huang Degong want to do? What conspiracy was Lin Xiaofeng plotting?
At this time, Lin Xiaofeng's mind was not on Miyun at all, but on Daming Mansion. He sat on the dragon throne, his face calm, his eyes shining with wisdom. After thinking for a moment, he asked: "Guo Tianyang, the imperial edict and the imperial decree should have been sent to Daming, right?"

Guo Tianyang bowed and replied: "Your Majesty, if we walk 200 miles a day, we should have arrived by now."

Lin Xiaofeng sighed softly, with a trace of worry in his eyes: "Li Xingzhong is too honest. I'm afraid he is no match for the two kings Zhao and Zhou! I should have given him the Imperial Sword earlier!"

Even if he was given a sword, Xingzhong might not use it. His name is just like him, good at fighting and loyal. Sending him to Daimyo was also a helpless move, because there were no more soldiers to send in the capital.

Just as Lin Xiaofeng was immersed in deep thought, Guo Tianyang suddenly raised his voice: "Your Majesty, it's done!" The sudden voice startled Lin Xiaofeng.

He looked up and saw a pile of jars, pots, pans, and a small stove in front of Guo Tianyang. Guo Tianyang put a piece of coarse cloth under him, picked up a pottery jar, and poured the contents into a bowl. It was salt! It was white in color and fine in grain, completely different from ordinary salt.

"Try it first!" Lin Xiaofeng ordered, with anticipation gleaming in his eyes.

Guo Tianyang was worried. Although he made it himself, the process was too complicated and he didn't know if it was poisonous. Moreover, lime water was added. How could he eat it? Even after the filtering method the emperor said, he still felt uneasy. But the emperor's order was hard to disobey, so he had to bite the bullet and dip a little with his finger to taste it.

"My Lord, this salt is so salty!" Guo Tianyang almost jumped up, his face full of surprise and disbelief.

"Nonsense, of course salt is salty." Lin Xiaofeng smiled, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction.

"I'm sorry for what I said. What I meant was that this salt doesn't taste bitter." Guo Tianyang explained quickly, his face filled with excitement.

"Really?" Lin Xiaofeng stood up, walked to Guo Tianyang, pinched a little salt and tasted it. Sure enough, the salt was fine and not bitter, only pure salty. The method of making fine salt was successful!
In fact, the method that Lin Xiaofeng taught Guo Tianyang was very simple, but it contained profound chemical principles. He first dissolved the crude salt, then added lime water, stirred it, and let it stand. Sea salt contains impurities such as magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, and sodium sulfate, and lime water is a calcium hydroxide solution that can react with these impurities to form water-insoluble precipitates. After standing for a period of time, filter out these precipitates with paper, cloth, cotton, etc. The filtered salt water is then placed in a large container for precipitation. After calcium hydroxide reacts with carbon dioxide in the air, it is filtered again to basically remove all impurities. Finally, just boil the salt water until it crystallizes to get fine and pure fine salt.

Looking at the white and fine salt, Lin Xiaofeng was filled with joy and pride. He ordered Guo Tianyang: "Go, find a few reliable eunuchs and make another jar of salt according to this method."

"The key is that you have to personally supervise the two steps of lime water and filtration. After you are done, distribute some to civil and military ministers and nobles in the capital to taste." Lin Xiaofeng's tone was full of expectation and determination, "If the response is good, I plan to set up a new government office to specifically take care of this matter!" His eyes looked into the distance, as if he had seen a new era slowly opening.

"Guo Tianyang, take a look at what the emperor is thinking about this new agency?" Guo Tianyang lowered his head, frowning, his heart was like the surging river, surging. The emperor's mind, like the unfathomable palace, was always unpredictable. He recalled the scene when the Land Administration was first established in the Ming Dynasty. It was a scene of great enthusiasm, as if the entire land of Northern Zhili had been rejuvenated.

Back then, in order to reform the land system, the Ming Dynasty specially set up the Land Department and tried it out on the fertile land of Northern Zhili. In just over a month, its results were as exciting as the spring breeze blowing over the wheat fields. People rushed to buy land, and the land deeds of the Land Department were like rare treasures that were fleeting. Today, the Land Department of Northern Zhili is deserted and has nothing to do, like a successful veteran, quietly lying in the corner of history, waiting to be sealed by the years.

Lin Xiaofeng was also thinking deeply about where this new agency should go. The original intention of the Land Bureau was to help the people solve their land problems and fight against the gentry who oppressed the people. Although it seemed to have achieved some results, it always felt like something was missing, like an unfinished painting, which always made people feel unsatisfied.

When it comes to the problems in the late Ming Dynasty, the root causes are deeply rooted in the economy, especially after silver became hard currency, the problems became more prominent. Every expenditure of the court requires silver, and the people also need silver to pay taxes. However, there is less and less silver on the market. Where does it go? Isn't it tightly held in the hands of those princes, nobles, gentry, and businessmen? They are rich, but stingy like misers. It's not that they don't want to spend it, but silver has no other use for them except buying fields and land. The people are in urgent need of silver, but there is no silver to use. The silver is hoarded in the warehouse and not circulated. This is not a currency. It is simply a stumbling block to the Ming Dynasty's economy, dragging the Ming Dynasty step by step into the abyss of decline.

Later, the peasant army revolted. They swept through the mansions of the rich like a raging storm, bringing silver back to the market, and the economy improved slightly. The peasant army could rob and kill, but the emperor was different. There were so many rich people in the Ming Dynasty. Even if the emperor could confiscate ten, a hundred, or a thousand families, he could not confiscate all the rich people in the world. If he really did that, wouldn't the emperor become a bandit leader?
Lin Xiaofeng pondered for a moment and decided to summon Queen Zhou to entrust her with an important matter. "Queen Zhou, I have an important matter for you to do. Also, you don't have to serve me these few days. Go and watch over the production of fine salt." Lin Xiaofeng's words carried a hint of unquestionable majesty.

When Guo Tianyang heard this, he was secretly delighted and quickly bowed, saying, "I'll do it right away." He turned and left, but his heart felt warm as if it was blown by a spring breeze.

After a while, Queen Zhou came in lightly in plain clothes. She looked around and saw the pots, stoves and messy things. She was stunned for a moment. She quickly bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you!" Her voice was as pleasant as a spring, refreshing.

When Lin Xiaofeng saw Queen Zhou coming, he was delighted. He walked over, put his arm around Queen Zhou's waist, and said with a smile, "I have been busy with state affairs recently and have neglected the Queen. But... why don't you come to see me, Queen?" There was a hint of blame in his words, but more of doting.

Queen Zhou's cheeks turned slightly red, and she whispered, "Your Majesty is the ruler of the world and has the world in his heart. How dare I disturb you easily?" Her voice was as soft as drizzle, making people feel pity and love for her.

"Well said!" Lin Xiaofeng was very satisfied with Queen Zhou's words. He decided to set up a new department and give this important task to Queen Zhou. "Queen, try this." As he said this, he took out the freshly made fine salt and put it in Queen Zhou's palm.

Queen Zhou opened the box and saw that the salt was as white and flawless as snowflakes. She looked at Lin Xiaofeng in surprise and tasted a little carefully. She frowned, puffed her cheeks, stared at the salt grains, and couldn't figure it out. As a queen, she had a wide range of knowledge and sometimes even cooked for the emperor herself, so she was very familiar with the taste of salt. There are two types of salt in the Ming Dynasty: sea salt and well salt. Sea salt is salty and bitter, and well salt is better, but it still has mixed flavors. The salt used in the inner court is the best in the country, but it is far inferior to this salt.

"Of course it's salt! I had a dream last night about how to make fine salt. I asked Guo Tianyang to try it this morning. I didn't expect it to work!" Lin Xiaofeng said seriously. People at that time believed in ghosts and gods, so Lin Xiaofeng went with the flow and said it was a dream. His face was filled with a proud smile, like a successful craftsman showing off his masterpiece.

Queen Zhou quickly closed the box and respectfully returned it to Lin Xiaofeng: "This is a gift from heaven and should be managed by Your Majesty personally. I dare not touch it casually." There was a hint of awe in her voice, as if she was facing a sacred object.

"Queen, you're worrying too much!" Lin Xiaofeng put the salt aside, pulled Queen Zhou to sit on the tiger skin, and said seriously: "Since it is a gift from heaven, I will make good use of it." There was a firm light flashing in his eyes, as if he was a monarch who was determined to create great achievements.

"Your Majesty means..." Queen Zhou looked at Lin Xiaofeng in confusion, her heart full of curiosity.

"I want to set up a new institution, but in fact it is not an institution, but a business that specializes in high-end goods." There was a hint of mystery in Lin Xiaofeng's words, as if a magician was about to unveil his magic.

"Business?" Queen Zhou was even more confused. The emperor wanted to set up a business, which was unheard of. But... she looked at Lin Xiaofeng's determined eyes and knew that this matter must be very important.

Queen Zhou asked hurriedly, "Your Majesty, what does you want me to do?" There was a hint of urgency in her voice, like a warrior about to embark on a battle.

"Supply!" Lin Xiaofeng's words were concise and clear, but they were like a horn, sounding the clarion call for a new journey.

Queen Zhou was silent for a moment. She looked into Lin Xiaofeng's eyes and was deeply moved by what he said. This small salt packet, on the surface, is for eating, but in fact it is related to the interests of the country. A surge of lofty sentiments and ambitions surged in her heart, as if she were a hero who was about to sacrifice her life for the country.

Lin Xiaofeng thought for a long time and felt that there was only one way to solve the problem of the rich being stingy: luxury goods! At that time, luxury goods were nothing but houses, cultural relics, calligraphy and paintings. Now, this fine salt can also be considered a luxury. But how to operate it specifically still needs to be planned carefully. His heart was like a volcano, gestating new plans. "Your Majesty wants me to make salt in the palace?" Queen Zhou asked doubtfully. Her heart was full of doubts, but also full of expectations. She knew that this would be an unprecedented challenge.

"Yes. Others may leak the secret, but the harem is the safest place, so I entrust this important task to you." Lin Xiaofeng's words carried a hint of unquestionable majesty, and were also full of trust in Queen Zhou.

"But... the harem is full of women, and their salt-making speed may not be as fast as that of the eunuchs. I am afraid that I will delay your majesty's important task." Queen Zhou said worriedly. She was full of a sense of responsibility and was afraid that she would not be able to complete this important task.

"It's okay!" Lin Xiaofeng gently squeezed Queen Zhou's hand and comforted her, "When things are in short supply, they become valuable, and when they are valuable, they are easier to sell." His words were like a spring breeze blowing across a wheat field, instantly dispelling Queen Zhou's worries.

When Queen Zhou heard this, she suddenly understood. She looked at Lin Xiaofeng with an even more confused look in her eyes. This husband seemed to know everything! Her heart was filled with admiration and worship for Lin Xiaofeng.

Lin Xiaofeng went on to say: "I plan to name this business 'Zhou Shang'. What do you think, Queen?" There was a hint of expectation in his words, as if a father was naming his child.

Queen Zhou's eyes were a little red. Even if she was slow, she knew what Lin Xiaofeng meant. This was the emperor's recognition and affirmation of the queen. What a great honor! Her heart was as if a warm current was blowing through it, warm and cozy.

"Your Highness..." She wanted to decline, but was interrupted by Lin Xiaofeng. He knew that Queen Zhou would definitely accept the task because she was the person he trusted the most.

"We are husband and wife, no need to be so polite." There was a hint of tenderness in Lin Xiaofeng's words, as if a husband was comforting his wife.

"But... my father's business name is 'Zhou', will your Majesty's 'Zhou Shang'..." Queen Zhou was a little worried. She didn't want to cause any trouble to the emperor because of her own reasons.

"That is that, and this is this. They make money from ordinary people, and we make money from gentry." Lin Xiaofeng's words were full of confidence, as if a general was deploying his own strategy. When he mentioned Jiading Bo, his heart was full of admiration. This guy not only quickly took over the assets of the "locust merchants", but also attracted the attention of the Jiannu, and facilitated the entry of the intelligence personnel of the Zhenfu Division into Liaodong. He knew that Queen Zhou would be able to do this task, because she not only had extraordinary talents, but also had a deep love for the country.

"I understand. I will prepare the staff right away." Empress Zhou said firmly. Her heart was filled with lofty ambitions, like a warrior about to embark on a journey. She knew this would be an unprecedented challenge, but she also knew this would be an opportunity to prove herself. She would use her actions to prove to the emperor that she was not only a virtuous empress, but also a heroic woman who could contribute to the country.

Lin Xiaofeng looked at the graceful and moving back of Queen Zhou, and a complex emotion surged in his heart. He couldn't help but sigh and shook his head helplessly. The back looked particularly soft in the sun, like a moving painting, but also with a hint of hardness and determination that was not easily detected. Recalling the things before he traveled to this ancient time, Lin Xiaofeng couldn't help but smile bitterly. At that time, he was surfing the Internet all day, browsing various time travel secrets, especially those posts that taught people how to get rich quickly in ancient times. There were countless posts, and the answers were also varied and all kinds of things. One of the posts was particularly popular, with a high number of likes and views. It listed four treasures that could make you rich quickly: fine salt, soapberry, glass and sugar.

At this moment, standing in the quaint courtyard, Lin Xiaofeng looked at the blue sky and white clouds, and the idea of ​​making a fortune came to his mind again. He suddenly had an idea to make money with these treasures. However, reality is always more complicated than imagined. The products of the Ming Dynasty were more abundant than imagined. Sophora japonica, colored glaze, and sugar were all available on the market.

Speaking of soapberry, it is an antique. Ordinary people call it "pig pancreas", and its production process can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty. There is a detailed record in Sun Simiao's "Qianjin Yaofang", which says that the pig pancreas is washed and mashed into mud, and then mixed with bean powder and spices. After drying, it becomes bath beans, which can be used for bathing and washing clothes, which is very convenient. The history of colored glaze is even longer. In the Ming Dynasty, colored glaze products were sold well at home and abroad, and even foreigners liked them very much. As for sugar, it was already available in the middle of the Ming Dynasty.

It seems that only fine salt has some hope. Lin Xiaofeng thought to himself, but he could try new tricks with the soapberry. After all, although the ancient soapberry and modern soap have the same purpose, the materials and craftsmanship are very different. Thinking of this, he raised his head and chest and shouted to the outside of the door: "Ask Gongsun Yuchun to see me."

After a while, Gongsun Yuchun came in, wearing armor and looking exhausted. He had a heavy responsibility, not only to monitor the people's sentiments, but also to eliminate treacherous people, and to train the Jinyiwei. He had just finished training and came immediately after hearing the call. His face, which was getting darker and darker by the sun, was full of perseverance and loyalty.

"Your Majesty!" Gongsun Yuchun saluted with his fists clasped together, his voice as loud as a bell.

Lin Xiaofeng looked at his resolute face, and a feeling of relief welled up in his heart. Daming was not short of talented and loyal people, but what it lacked was trust and opportunity. He smiled and nodded, and said, "Come, try what's in this box."

Gongsun Yuchun did not suspect anything, he opened the box and picked up a little salt and put it in his mouth to taste it. The salt grains were crystal clear, melted in the mouth, and had a light salty fragrance. However, before he had time to taste it carefully, he was choked by the sudden salty taste and frowned.

"Don't..." It was too late for Lin Xiaofeng to stop him. He looked at Gongsun Yuchun's face, which was distorted by the saltiness, and muttered in his heart: This kid is too honest, why did he eat like that?

Gongsun Yuchun resisted the urge to swallow the salty food and asked hastily, "What orders does your Majesty have?" There was a slight tremor in his voice, and it was obvious that he was choked by the salt.

"You've eaten too much." Lin Xiaofeng muttered to himself, but said, "This is fine salt, what do you think?"

"This is top quality," Gongsun Yuchun replied. Although his voice was a little trembling, his tone was full of affirmation. The quality of this fine salt was indeed extraordinary, much finer than the salt he usually ate, and the taste was also mellower.

"Then how much do you think it's worth?" Lin Xiaofeng asked again. His eyes were shining with anticipation, as if he had seen the huge wealth that this fine salt would bring.

Gongsun Yuchun thought about it. The price of salt in the Ming Dynasty was different in different places. In the Jiangnan region, it was 10 to 20 coins per catty, while in the capital, it was 5 to 10 coins (because it was close to the salt fields). It was even more expensive in the inland areas. I heard that a catty of salt in Shaanxi could be sold for 90 coins, which was a huge profit! Considering that the quality of this fine salt was far superior to that used by the inner court, he estimated and said, "I think it can be sold for 200 to 500 coins."

Lin Xiaofeng smiled gently, with a hint of cunning in his smile: "Commander Li is still a little timid, he needs to be bolder." His tone was full of encouragement and expectation, as if he had already seen the day when Gongsun Yuchun would become a business tycoon.

Gongsun Yuchun scratched his head in embarrassment. He thought he was very bold, but he didn't expect His Majesty's appetite to be even bigger. He hesitated and said, "Half...half a penny of silver?" You know, in the Ming Dynasty, one tael of silver could be exchanged for one thousand coins, but when the price of silver was high, it could even be exchanged for one thousand five hundred coins, two thousand coins, or even more. This price was far beyond his expectations.

Lin Xiaofeng didn't want him to guess anymore, so he said directly: "One tael of silver can buy one tael of fine salt." His tone was full of confidence and determination, as if he had already seen the sensation this fine salt caused in the market.

"Ah?" Gongsun Yuchun was shocked. "Although this salt is good, the price is so high, who would buy it?" His tone was full of doubt and puzzlement. This price is simply like robbing money! Who would be willing to spend so much money to buy a pound of salt?
Lin Xiaofeng smiled but did not answer: "That's why I asked you to discuss this matter." There was a gleam of wisdom in his eyes, as if he had already seen the business opportunities and chances behind it.

"I am stupid!" Gongsun Yuchun said self-deprecatingly. Leading troops to fight and collecting intelligence were his strengths, but selling salt at a high price was something he was a little confused about. He scratched his head and looked at Lin Xiaofeng with a confused look on his face.

Lin Xiaofeng smiled again: "Go and do three things first." His tone was full of calmness and confidence, as if he had already seen the tremendous changes brought about by these three things.

"The first thing is to buy a shop in a prosperous area of ​​the capital and hang up a signboard of 'Zhou Shang'. Select a few smart Jinyiwei to pretend to be shop assistants to sell goods. This shop is not only a shop, but also a secret contact point for Jinyiwei. Queen Zhou is responsible for supplying goods, and you are responsible for selling goods. The money earned belongs to Queen Zhou." Lin Xiaofeng said in detail. There was a cunning light in his eyes, as if he had seen the day when this shop became the most prosperous commercial center in the capital.

Gongsun Yuchun nodded. This is easy to do. Shops and manpower are not a problem. He thought to himself: Your Majesty is really a business genius! He can come up with such an idea to make money!
"The second thing is, after the Jiannu retreat, we will immediately set up a shop in the Mongolian-Han trade area, and let the Mongolian and Jianzhou merchants taste the fine salt. We will use the salt as bait to exchange for their intelligence." Lin Xiaofeng continued. His tone was full of calmness and wisdom, as if he had seen the day when the fine salt would become an important bargaining chip for intelligence exchange.

Gongsun Yuchun nodded again. Merchants are all profit-seeking. Money can make anything possible. However, he was still a little confused about the strategy of selling salt at a high price. He scratched his head and looked at Lin Xiaofeng with a confused look: "Your Majesty, can this salt really be sold at such a high price?"

Lin Xiaofeng smiled even more happily: "The third thing is to send Jinyiwei to remote areas to find those long-lived and healthy elderly people, and invite them to be consultants for the store. When someone asks about the high price of salt, use the secret of longevity as bait and use salt to promote it." His tone was full of confidence and expectation, as if he had already seen the day when this fine salt would become synonymous with the secret of longevity.

"As you command." Gongsun Yuchun agreed straightforwardly. However, he still felt like he had been hit hard in the heart, and looked at Lin Xiaofeng in astonishment: "Your Majesty, do you mean that this salt can prolong life?" His tone was full of surprise and confusion. How could this salt have the effect of prolonging life? This is simply a fairy tale!

Lin Xiaofeng raised his eyebrows, and a sly smile appeared on the corner of his mouth: "How else can it be sold at such a high price?" His tone was full of confidence and calmness, as if he had seen the sensation and rush to buy this fine salt in the market. He thought to himself: The way of business is to make people willingly pay for it! And this fine salt is the best reason for them to be willing to pay!
Gongsun Yuchun suddenly realized that business could be played this way! He secretly admired Lin Xiaofeng's business acumen and creative ideas. However, he was still a little hesitant: "What if no one buys it?" His tone was full of worry and uneasiness. After all, the price of this fine salt was too high. What if no one bought it?
Lin Xiaofeng sighed and said, "Rich businessmen all have their own circles. As long as one person buys, others will follow suit. You can ask Li Ge Lao for help. As he is old and pursues longevity, he will definitely be the first to buy. When the royal family and nobles see him buy, they will naturally follow suit." His tone was full of confidence and calmness, as if he had seen the sensation and rush to buy this fine salt in the market. He thought to himself: The way of business is to grasp the weaknesses and needs of human nature! And this fine salt is the temptation they can't resist!

When Lin Xiaofeng heard this, his face immediately lit up with joy, his mouth corners raised, his eyes smiling, like a flower blooming in spring, filled with unconcealed joy. He smiled and joked: "Hey, it's true that if you mention the devil, he will appear!" There was a bit of ease and ridicule in his words, as if even the air was filled with a cheerful atmosphere.

"Pass it on!" He gave the order in a crisp and clear voice, like a breeze in summer, instantly blowing through every corner of the hall.

Li Banghua, the old minister, walked into the hall with steady steps. Although his steps were not hurried, they revealed a calmness that came from a life of experience. When he saw the things on the ground, he turned around and asked Lin Xiaofeng curiously, "Your Majesty, what treasure is on the ground?" His words revealed a bit of childlike curiosity and inquiry.

"Master Li, come here, try this fine salt first, how does it taste?" Lin Xiaofeng greeted with a smile. His smile was warm and kind, as if it could instantly narrow the distance between people.

However, Li Banghua had important matters on his mind, so he didn't care about the salt and went straight to the point: "Your Majesty, please wait a moment. I have urgent military information to report. The military report from Daming Prefecture has just arrived!" There was a bit of urgency and seriousness in his voice, as if he was about to reveal a heavy secret.

When Lin Xiaofeng heard this, his heart skipped a beat, and he had a feeling that it might not be a good thing. His eyes instantly became deep, as if he could see through all the changes in the world.

According to the rules, there are only three situations in which local news will be reported: either the enemy is invading in large numbers, or a victory is won, or the city is lost. At this moment, the hall seemed to be shrouded in an invisible haze, and the air became heavy.

Lin Xiaofeng's face darkened and he said seriously, "Lord Li, please speak." Although his voice was not loud, it revealed an unquestionable majesty.

Li Banghua took a deep breath, pulled out a newspaper from his sleeve, and briefly explained the whole story: "The bandit Li Chuang has surrounded Daming Prefecture. This newspaper was stolen from the bandit camp by Li Xingzhong, who disguised himself as a disaster victim." His voice was low and powerful, and every word seemed to carry a thousand pounds of weight.

Lin Xiaofeng nodded and signaled Li Banghua to continue. Li Banghua then read the contents of the newspaper word by word: "Li Chuang and Luo Wenbin have joined forces with 60,000 troops to surround Damingfu. They dug trenches and built fortifications, surrounding the city without attacking. This tactic is exactly the same as when they surrounded Kaifeng. The summer grain is about to ripen, but the grain in the city can only last for more than a month." There was a bit of helplessness and anxiety in his voice, as if he could feel the life and death of the people in Damingfu.

"Li Xingzhong begs Your Majesty to think of a way to save Daming Prefecture!" There was a hint of pleading and expectation in Li Banghua's voice, as if all his hopes were placed on Lin Xiaofeng.

After listening to this, Lin Xiaofeng turned around and walked to the dragon desk, frowning and sitting on the dragon chair. His eyes were deep and complicated, as if at this moment, he was carrying the burden of the whole world.

Since the great defeat in the capital, Li Zicheng has become more and more cunning. This time when he was besieging Damingfu, he was not in a hurry to attack the city, but instead learned the old tricks he used when he besieged Kaifeng. Lin Xiaofeng's thoughts seemed to have traveled through the tunnel of time and space, returning to that summer fifteen years ago.

He recalled the scene fifteen years ago when Li Zicheng besieged Kaifeng three times. The first two times failed, but the third time he learned his lesson and surrounded Kaifeng without attacking. He dug trenches and set up barriers, trapping Kaifeng like an iron barrel. He also looted nearby food and plundered the money of prefectures and counties, allowing the Shun army to eat well and surround the city. The people in Kaifeng were as helpless as birds in a cage.

Three months later, the Yellow River burst its banks. It was thought that Li Zicheng would take the opportunity to attack the city, but he unexpectedly withdrew with his troops. However, Kaifeng City had become a living hell. The scene was like a series of horrific paintings, deeply imprinted in Lin Xiaofeng's heart.

Lin Xiaofeng sighed, turned to ask Li Banghua: "Lord Li, what do you think?" There was a hint of helplessness and anxiety in his voice, as if at this moment he also needed the guidance of a wise man.

Li Banghua remained silent, his face full of helplessness. Where can the capital city mobilize troops now? Wu Sangui guarded Shanhaiguan, Ji Zisheng and Gao Di were in Jizhou, Huang Degong was in Miyun, and Tang Shengyu was guarding Juyongguan. None of them could be easily mobilized. His eyes revealed a deep worry and helplessness, as if at this moment, he also felt the crisis of the Ming Dynasty.

Li Banghua said with a sad face: "If we want to send troops, perhaps we can only try Ji Zisheng and Gao Di from Jizhou." There was some hesitation and uncertainty in his voice, as if even he himself was not sure whether this decision was wise.

"But, apart from Ji Zisheng's 3,000 cavalrymen, the rest of Jizhou's troops are garrison troops. What are their chances of winning if they go head-on with Li Chuang's army?" There was some worry and concern in Lin Xiaofeng's voice, as if at this moment, he also felt the precariousness of the Ming Dynasty.

Li Banghua's meaning was very clear. The Ming Dynasty could not afford to lose again. Lin Xiaofeng knew this in his heart. He closed his eyes and fell into deep thought. His thoughts were like a falling leaf, drifting in the autumn wind.

Li Zicheng surrounded but did not attack. Damingfu's food can still last for more than a month, so there is no need to rush for rescue. Although Jirgalang in Shanhaiguan was feinting, he would definitely come for real once Wu Sangui made a move. Although Dorgon in Miyun made some small moves, he did not seem to have any intention of launching a large-scale attack. Duoduo in Xuanfu was attacking Zhu Fenghui with all his strength, and it seemed that he was determined to win. In Lin Xiaofeng's mind, it seemed as if a series of strategic maps were slowly unfolding, and every detail was clearly presented in front of him.

Lin Xiaofeng opened his eyes, looked at Li Banghua and said, "Lord Li, I think Daming Prefecture can still be saved." There was some firmness and confidence in his voice, as if at this moment, he had found the key to solving the dilemma.

"Your Majesty." Li Banghua just opened his mouth and was interrupted by Lin Xiaofeng. There was a bit of urgency and expectation in his words, as if he couldn't wait to share his plan.

"Don't be impatient, Mr. Li. Listen to me!" Lin Xiaofeng stopped Li Banghua from speaking. His eyes revealed an unquestionable majesty and confidence. At this moment, he seemed like a general who was planning a battle and was about to start a thrilling battle.

Li Banghua could only nod helplessly and stood aside respectfully to listen. His eyes revealed a deep admiration and expectation, as if at this moment, he had placed all his hopes on Lin Xiaofeng.

Gongsun Yuchun wanted to retreat, but was stopped by Lin Xiaofeng: "Stay and listen, don't leave." There was some kindness and concern in his voice, as if at this moment, he also wanted to include this loyal general in his plan.

Then Lin Xiaofeng said to Li Banghua: "I plan to defeat Dorgon or Duoduo's troops first, force them to retreat outside the Great Wall, and then send troops to rescue Damingfu and fight a decisive battle with Li Zicheng." There was some determination and firmness in his voice, as if at this moment, he was ready to burn his boats.

After hearing this, Li Banghua was confused: This is the truth, but how can we defeat the Jiannu army? Who can take on this important task? The Jiannu have repeatedly defeated the Ming border army, and their fighting power is not to be underestimated. Huang Degong is the only one who can fight near the capital, and it is difficult for others! His eyes revealed a deep worry and helplessness, as if at this moment, he also felt the difficulty of the Ming Dynasty.

Lin Xiaofeng saw Li Banghua's doubts, and he smiled slightly, with a mysterious and profound smile. He continued, "I plan to deceive Dorgon!" His voice was full of confidence and calmness, as if at this moment, he had everything under his control. (End of this chapter)