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

The exam was finally over, and the fateful palace examination was about to begin. The sky was azure, with a few white clouds floating by, as if they were also looking forward to the arrival of this grand event. The red walls and golden tiles of the Forbidden City sparkled in the sun, adding a bit of solemnity and mystery.

The examinees had different expressions, like a vivid picture. Some wrote furiously, their pens jumping on the paper, as if they were confident and well-prepared; some scratched their heads, hesitant, frowning, as if they were struggling with their own doubts; others paused and wrote, with a painful look on their faces, obviously thinking hard, trying to dig out the last bit of inspiration from their minds.

It was noon in a blink of an eye, and the attendants of the Guanglu Temple brought lunch on time. The examiners had a very rich meal, including tea, fruits, five delicious dishes, four kinds of soup and rice, and side dishes. The candidates had much simpler food, only two white and plump steamed buns and a bowl of hot soup. This was not because the palace was stingy, but because they were worried that the students had never tasted such good food before, and suddenly eating and drinking would affect the afternoon exam and affect their true level.

After the meal, the candidates took a short break and then continued to devote themselves to answering the questions. Time seemed to freeze at this moment, with only the sound of the pen tip scratching on the paper. Until the sun was about to set, all the Jinshi had finished answering the questions, handed in the test papers to the East Corner Gate, and then filed out with some relaxed or nervous expressions on their faces.

The officials who collected the papers carefully collected the papers and sent them to the seal officer. The seal officer carefully sealed the names of the candidates to prevent the examiners from recognizing the handwriting and ensure the fairness of the examination. However, unlike the provincial and metropolitan examinations, the palace examination was time-sensitive and the examiners were all trusted by the emperor, so the transcription step was skipped, saving a lot of time.

According to the rules of the Ming Dynasty, the examination papers would be graded on the second day and the results would be announced on the third day. On this day, the entire capital was immersed in an atmosphere of tension and expectation.

By the evening of the next day, the examiners had divided the test papers into three grades and handed over ten of the first-grade papers to Lin Xiaofeng. Lin Xiaofeng was a university scholar of the time, knowledgeable and trusted by the emperor. He took the test papers and looked through them carefully. These papers were all written neatly and the papers were clean, obviously they were carefully prepared.

What Lin Xiaofeng didn't expect was that he saw Lv Gong's name again. Lv Gong, a talented man who performed well in both the provincial and metropolitan examinations, also appeared in the first-class paper of the palace examination. Lin Xiaofeng secretly admired it in his heart, but he didn't look at it for long. He put it aside and picked up Wang Fuzhi's paper first.

Wang Fuzhi, this name flashed in Lin Xiaofeng's mind. He had heard of this person and knew that he was a talented man with ideas and insights. Lin Xiaofeng opened the paper and saw that the handwriting was clear and powerful, the structure of the article was rigorous, and the discussion was easy to understand. It was indeed extraordinary. Lin Xiaofeng pretended to read it once, and then picked out another one from the first-class paper. Then, he asked someone to send the second-class paper, and after reading it, he picked another one.

After the rankings were determined, the next step was the tedious etiquette. The officials followed the rules and completed all the procedures meticulously.

Finally, the officials posted a yellow list outside the left gate of Chang'an to announce the results to the whole world. The audience had been waiting there for a long time, and the crowd was bustling and lively. As soon as the list was posted, someone read out loudly: "The first place in the first class is Wang Fuzhi!" Immediately, there was an uproar in the crowd, and everyone was amazed.

"Who is Wang Fuzhi?" someone asked curiously.

"I don't know, go ask around." Another person responded excitedly.

"When you inquire, ask him if he is married. I have a daughter who is not married yet." A middle-aged woman interrupted.

"What nonsense are you talking about? With your family's financial situation, you still want to marry a top scholar as your son-in-law?" the person next to him joked.

"It's okay to think about it, right?" the middle-aged woman responded unwillingly.

"There's everything in dreams, just take your time to think about it!" another person laughed.

While the people were discussing, the person reading the list continued to announce: "The second place in the first class is Huang Zongxi, and the third place in the first class is Xia Rubi!" As soon as the names of the top three were announced, although the voices of other names were also loud, everyone's attention had been diverted. They all stood on tiptoe and looked at the ceremonial guard of Shuntian Prefecture, ready to send the top scholar back home.

Wang Tingmei, the prefect of Shuntian Prefecture, had been waiting there. He was wearing an official uniform and smiling, looking solemn and friendly. When he saw Wang Fuzhi's name on the list, he quickly wrote down his hometown and address. He knew that this young talent was about to become the new darling of the capital.

In fact, Wang Fuzhi, Huang Zongxi, Xia Rubi and others were all in the crowd. They were dressed in ordinary clothes and mixed in with the people, looking inconspicuous. But as candidates, they were most concerned about their future. When Wang Fuzhi knew that he had won the first prize, he immediately got on his horse and wanted to go back to his residence first. He was very excited, but he tried to stay calm, fearing that someone would see the flaw. Huang Zongxi and Xia Rubi also rented horses and ran to the post station right after him. They were also full of expectations and longings.

In less than half a day, the names of these three people spread throughout the capital. People were discussing their deeds and talents in the streets and alleys. Their residences were also surrounded by curious people.

"Shopkeeper, which room does the number one scholar live in?" There were many people outside Wang Fuzhi's residence. Some people stood on tiptoe to look inside; others asked the shopkeeper loudly.

"What do you want to do? The top scholar is resting and cannot be disturbed." The shopkeeper responded impatiently.

"We are not here to find the top scholar, we are here to find you." Someone said with a grin.

"What do you want from me?" the shopkeeper asked doubtfully.

"Can you sell us the bed, dishes, and toiletries used by the top scholar? I want to buy them!" the man said seriously.

The shopkeeper was stunned: "Why are you buying these?"

"I want to share in the joy of the top scholar. I hope I can also be the top scholar in three years!" the man said expectantly.

While the people of the capital were talking about it, the night had already deepened. The moonlight sprinkled on the earth, covering this ancient city with a mysterious veil. In a corner of the city, Wang Fuzhi was lying quietly on the bed, recalling the experience of the day. His heart was full of excitement and anticipation, but at the same time he also felt a little uneasy. He knew that he was about to embark on a brand new road, and the road ahead was still very long.

The next day was the Enrong Banquet, also known as the Qionglin Banquet, where the emperor entertained the Jinshi scholars. However, the emperor usually did not attend in person, but sent ministers to replace him. This time the task fell on Cheng Qinghua's shoulders, and Lin Xiaofeng wanted to take this opportunity to promote him. Cheng Qinghua was Lin Xiaofeng's confidant, tactful and smooth, and good at handling all kinds of complex interpersonal relationships. He knew the importance of this banquet, so he made preparations early.

On the way to the banquet, the honor guard led the way, followed by the Jinshi scholars. They were dressed in gorgeous official uniforms, wearing bronze medals and hairpins for the banquet. The hairpin of the champion was particularly large and conspicuous, attracting the attention of passers-by. Wang Fuzhi walked at the front of the team, his face filled with a smile of pride and joy. He knew that this moment was one of the peak moments of his life.

At the beginning of the banquet, everyone was quite reserved and sat in their seats according to the rules, not daring to move easily. But after three rounds of drinking, the true nature of the literati was revealed. They began to toast each other, chat and laugh, and the atmosphere became more and more lively.

Wang Fuzhi also drank a few glasses of wine and felt a little tipsy. He suddenly wanted to go to the toilet, so he got up and left the table, followed the eunuch to a small courtyard. After going to the toilet, he walked back, and after a few steps he felt something was wrong. This road was not the way he came, and the surrounding environment seemed a little strange.

"Eunuch, this road is not the way we came here." Wang Fuzhi said, pointing behind him.

The eunuch didn't turn around, but asked, "What's wrong?"

"Although I'm drunk, I still remember that this is not the road we came from." Wang Fuzhi said with some caution.

The eunuch turned around helplessly and said, "This is not the way back to the banquet, it's to go somewhere else."

"Where are we going?" Wang Fuzhi's heart tightened.

"You'll know when you get there." The eunuch said mysteriously.

"I dare not obey your order!" Wang Fuzhi wiped his sweat and wanted to leave. The palace was heavily guarded, and a wrong step could lead to disaster.

The eunuch coughed softly and said, "His Majesty wants to see you. Stop asking and go."

When Wang Fuzhi heard that the emperor wanted to see him, he was shocked and all the drunkenness disappeared. He hurriedly followed the eunuch, feeling nervous and expectant. He didn't know why the emperor wanted to see him, but since it was the emperor's summons, he naturally dared not neglect it.

The two turned two corners and came to a small courtyard. There was a pavilion in the courtyard. A middle-aged man stood in the pavilion. He was wearing a dragon robe and looked at Wang Fuzhi with a smile. His eyes were deep and sharp, as if he could see through people's hearts.

"This is His Majesty, quickly pay your respects!" the eunuch urged.

Wang Fuzhi hurried forward and bowed: "Student Wang Fuzhi pays homage to Your Majesty." His voice trembled a little, obviously because of nervousness.

"No need to be polite." The emperor waved his hand and asked him to stand up. His voice was majestic yet gentle, giving people a kind feeling.

Wang Fuzhi stood there feeling a little uneasy, lowering his head and wondering what the emperor meant by summoning him. He did not dare to ask easily, and could only wait quietly for the emperor's instructions.

The emperor looked at Wang Fuzhi carefully. He was not tall, had a thin face, and had a scholarly demeanor. His eyes sparkled with wisdom and tenacity. He was obviously a talented and ambitious young man.

"Wang Fuzhi, I have something to ask you." The emperor spoke slowly. His voice was not loud, but it was full of majesty and power.

"I will tell you everything I know," Wang Fuzhi responded quickly. He knew he couldn't hide or lie, otherwise the consequences would be disastrous.

"Okay." The emperor stood up and said, "I heard that you once denounced Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism as a school of thought that would harm the country after drinking. Is this true?" A sharp light flashed in his eyes, as if he wanted to see through Wang Fuzhi's true thoughts.

Wang Fuzhi broke out in a cold sweat when he heard this. He knew that if this matter was not handled properly, it would likely bring disastrous consequences to him. He quickly knelt on the ground, trembling.
In the long and complicated historical picture scroll of the Ming Dynasty, Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism stands tall like a towering mountain. It is not only an orthodox academic discipline recognized by the government, but also sprouted from the wisdom soil of two great scholars Cheng Hao and Cheng Yi in the Northern Song Dynasty, and developed into a flourishing school after the careful cultivation of Zhu Xi in the Southern Song Dynasty. This is not a temporary novelty or a new idea that will disappear in a flash, but a profound processing and refinement of Confucianism, just like brewing wine, taking its essence and discarding its dregs.

The Cheng-Zhu school believed that the principles of heaven and earth, or what they called "the principles of heaven," were the root of all things and the purest law of the universe. They advocated the order of father and son, the superiority of the monarch and his subjects, following the principles of heaven, and restraining selfish desires, and regarded the three cardinal guides and five constant virtues as the cornerstone of society. Under such a system of thought, society was like a sophisticated machine, with each part performing its duties and operating in harmony.

However, in this forest of thought, there are always a few trees that are unwilling to go with the flow, and Wang Fuzhi is one of them. He is young and full of energy. At the age of 27, his eyes are full of curiosity and questioning about the world. In his view, the principle of heaven is not a building hanging in the air, but is deeply rooted in human desires and closely connected with human emotions and needs. He put forward the view that all people in the world are equal, which is undoubtedly a brave challenge to the autocratic rule of the emperor. His philosophical thoughts, such as the monism of qi and the debate between mind and matter, are profound and unique, like the brightest star in the night sky, which makes people think deeply.

Lin Xiaofeng, the worldly-wise emperor, couldn't help laughing secretly at Wang Fuzhi's nervous look. He knew that although this young man was sharp-minded, he was not yet mature, and had not formed his own ideological system, let alone written a book. However, this did not affect Lin Xiaofeng's plan. He had a big chess game in his mind, and every step was carefully planned.

"Wang Fuzhi." Lin Xiaofeng called softly, his voice gentle yet full of majesty.

Wang Fuzhi lowered his head when he heard this, not daring to look directly into Lin Xiaofeng's eyes, as if it was a bottomless lake that could swallow everything. "The student is here." His voice trembled slightly, revealing his inner uneasiness.

"I know you have many wonderful ideas in your mind. Perhaps in the eyes of others, these ideas are somewhat unorthodox or even disrespectful." Lin Xiaofeng's words revealed an inexplicable tolerance and understanding.

When Wang Fuzhi heard this, his heart suddenly felt like it was falling into an icy cave, and cold sweats dripped down his face. He quickly fell to the ground and apologized in a trembling voice: "Your Majesty, please forgive me. These are all my students' wild thoughts, full of mistakes, and they were not my original intention."

Lin Xiaofeng smiled and consoled him, "I don't mean to blame you. Whether an idea is right or wrong is not something you and I can easily judge. That has to be left to future generations to judge. Ideas are the forerunners of actions, and actions are the embodiment of ideas. Having ideas does not necessarily translate into action, but actions without ideas are doomed to fail. This is the importance of ideas and thinkers."

Lin Xiaofeng's words were like a spring breeze, which made Wang Fuzhi feel warm. He looked up at Lin Xiaofeng, his eyes flashing with doubt and curiosity. Seeing this, Lin Xiaofeng smiled and said, "Don't dwell on the first part, the latter part is the key point."

Wang Fuzhi hurriedly bowed again respectfully: "Your Majesty, please make it clear."

"After the Qionglin Banquet, I plan to send you to the six ministries and nine departments as well as the prefectures and counties under Shuntian Prefecture to observe government affairs. In the next few years in the capital, I will gradually assign you more important tasks so that you will have the opportunity to display your talents." Lin Xiaofeng's words were full of expectation and trust.

"When you arrive at the local level, you must care for the people as if they were your own children, implement benevolent policies, be strict with yourself, and be fair and selfless. The Ming Dynasty already has a saint like Wang Shouren, and I hope you can become his successor."

When Wang Fuzhi heard this, he was filled with an indescribable excitement. He knew that the standard for becoming a saint was to achieve immortality in the three aspects of morality, merit, and words. He kowtowed to express his gratitude: "Student obeys your order."

Lin Xiaofeng continued, "However, among the three immortalities, achieving meritorious service may be relatively easier, but achieving virtue and establishing words are very difficult. Especially in terms of establishing words, if you want your theories to be accepted by scholars and passed on, that is not an easy task."

His words revealed a deep worry and expectation: "So whether you are in the capital or in a local position, you must be diligent in thinking and studying your own theories, and write books to spread them widely."

Wang Fuzhi's face stiffened slightly when he heard this. He was worried that his words would cause trouble: "Students... are worried that they will be convicted for their words."

Seeing this, Lin Xiaofeng comforted him again, "Don't worry, I will not blame you for every word you say or every book you write. It is better to prevent the people from speaking than to prevent a flood. If you block the mouths of the people and prevent them from speaking, the consequences will be much more serious than a flood."

Wang Fuzhi felt a warm current in his heart when he heard this, and he kowtowed again: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace."

After Wang Fuzhi left, Lin Xiaofeng summoned another young talent, Huang Zongxi. Although what he said to Huang Zongxi was different from what Wang Fuzhi said, the principles were the same. He hoped to spread and popularize his own theories and ideas quickly through these young people.

Before leaving, he also specifically told Huang Zongxi: "I heard that you have a good relationship with Gu Yanwu?"

"Yes, Your Majesty." Huang Zongxi replied respectfully.

"Then go back and tell him. I know he is very talented and knowledgeable. I hope he can pass the imperial examination as soon as possible and serve the country as an official." Lin Xiaofeng's words revealed an earnest expectation.

"I will definitely convey this message." Huang Zongxi bowed respectfully and left. Lin Xiaofeng looked at Huang Zongxi's departing back, and a strange feeling welled up in his heart. He did not expect Wang Fuzhi and Huang Zongxi to become saints like Wang Shouren, but he hoped that he could spread and promote his own doctrines and ideas through them. As long as these doctrines and ideas can be passed down for a long time and deeply rooted in people's hearts, there will be hope for the revival of the Ming Dynasty.

On the afternoon of the eighth day after the Qionglin Banquet, the sun shone through the clouds onto the glazed tiles of the Qianqing Palace, flashing a dazzling light. Cheng Qinghua hurried to the Qianqing Palace to ask to see Lin Xiaofeng. At this time, Lin Xiaofeng was taking a nap. After washing his face with cold water, he came to the front hall to meet Cheng Qinghua.

Cheng Qinghua said mysteriously, "Your Majesty, I have something important to report." Then he handed two official documents to Tianyang, the attendant beside Lin Xiaofeng.

Lin Xiaofeng took the document and read it carefully, while listening to Cheng Qinghua's oral description of the main content of the document: "As the imperial envoy for disaster relief and tax collection, Li Ge Lao has left Nanzhili and headed for Zhejiang. After arriving there, he received a secret letter from Huang Daozhou, the assistant minister of the Nanjing Ministry of Personnel. The letter mentioned that Zheng Zhilong secretly colluded with the Jiannu and sold them grain, cotton, ironware and medicinal materials."

When Lin Xiaofeng heard this, his brows furrowed. He asked in a deep voice, "Is the content of this letter true?"

"Huang Daozhou is from Fujian. After receiving the news from his fellow townsmen, he conducted a secret investigation and indeed found evidence of Zheng Zhilong's collusion with the Jiannu." Cheng Qinghua also replied with a frown.

Lin Xiaofeng pondered for a while, then asked, "Do the prince and the Nanjing court know about this?"

"I know. There's the prince's seal on the official document to prove it," Cheng Qinghua replied.

When Lin Xiaofeng heard this, he was furious and slammed the table: "He didn't care about what he should care about, but he meddled in what he shouldn't care about!" It turned out that he had known about Zheng Zhilong's affairs for a long time, but for the sake of the overall situation, he temporarily put it aside and planned to deal with it after the civil unrest subsided. Unexpectedly, it was exposed by Nanjing. Nanjing's move seemed to be well-intentioned, but in fact it might cause greater trouble and chaos!

He took a deep breath, trying to calm his anger, and then said to Cheng Qinghua in a deep voice: "Don't make this matter public for now, I will handle it myself. Go and call Tianyang, I have something to tell him."

Upon hearing this, Cheng Qinghua quickly responded and retreated. After a while, Tianyang hurried in.

"Tianyang, you should go to Zhejiang as soon as possible, find Lord Li, give him this letter, and tell him what I mean: let him secretly investigate the collusion between Zheng Zhilong and the Jiannu, and make sure to find conclusive evidence. At the same time, you should remind him that this matter is of great importance, and he must act with caution and not alert the enemy." Lin Xiaofeng's voice was low and powerful, and every word revealed unquestionable majesty.

Upon hearing this, Tianyang hurriedly bowed respectfully and responded, "Yes, Your Majesty, I obey your command." After that, he turned around and left in a hurry, preparing to go to Zhejiang to carry out Lin Xiaofeng's order.

Lin Xiaofeng looked at Tianyang's departing back, and an inexplicable worry surged in his heart. He knew that this matter was not easy to handle, but as long as he could find solid evidence, he would be able to expose Zheng Zhilong's crimes and eliminate this hidden danger for the Ming Dynasty. Thinking of this, his eyes became more determined.

In the last years of the Ming Dynasty, the situation faced by Emperor Lin Xiaofeng was like a tangled mess. In addition to the two powerful rebel forces of Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong, the chieftains in the southwest were also ready to move, the Jiannu in Liaodong constantly invaded the border, and the Mongolia in the north was even more turbulent. What was even more troublesome was that there was Zheng Zhilong on the sea. He had 100,000 elite naval forces and built a city in Dongfan (now Taiwan). His power should not be underestimated.

Emperor Lin Xiaofeng knew Zheng Zhilong's intentions. If the court and Zheng Zhilong fell out, he might not dare to confront the court head-on, but retreating to Dongfan and establishing his own regime would be more than enough. However, Zheng Zhilong's little tricks had been exposed, and the court could not pretend to turn a blind eye.

Emperor Lin Xiaofeng pondered for a moment, then turned to look at Minister Cheng Qinghua, with a hint of hesitation in his eyes. "Minister Fan, how do you think this matter should be handled?" he asked slowly.

Qinghua sighed, frowning, as if he was also troubled by this complicated situation. "I think we'd better not touch Zheng Zhilong before we deal with Li Zicheng." He said slowly, revealing a hint of helplessness in his tone.

Lin Xiaofeng nodded, frowning slightly, as if he was also thinking about the answer to this question. "I thought so too." He pondered for a moment and continued, "But I'm afraid I have to inconvenience Huang Daozhou in this matter."

Hearing this, Qinghua's face became even more solemn. He knew that Huang Daozhou was innocent, but in this chaotic world, sometimes for the sake of the overall situation, the interests of some people had to be sacrificed. "Your Majesty, isn't this punishment a bit too heavy? Wouldn't it be enough to demote him and fine him?" He tried to gain some leniency for Huang Daozhou.

Lin Xiaofeng also sighed. He knew that this was unfair to Huang Daozhou, but in this chaotic world, he had to make the most favorable decision for the overall situation. "This is the only solution, a stopgap measure." There was a hint of helplessness and heaviness in his tone.

To move Zheng Zhilong, two conditions must be met: first, Li Zicheng must be destroyed, and second, the imperial navy must be sufficiently trained to fight Zheng Zhilong. However, neither of these two conditions is met, so Zheng Zhilong cannot act rashly.

"Okay, I'll do it right away." Qinghua cupped his hands, turned around and was about to leave, but then stopped, "Your Majesty, there is a second document for you to review."

Lin Xiaofeng opened the document and saw that it was a memorial from Jian Mingxiao and Lu Daqi, requesting that food, artillery and gunpowder be replenished to the front line as soon as possible. He frowned and read the contents of the memorial carefully. Lu Daqi had enough food, but not enough artillery; and the situation on Jian Mingxiao's side was even worse, with both food and artillery in short supply, especially food, which used to be transported from Sichuan by Li Dingguo. Now that Li Dingguo had been transferred and the Sichuan Army had withdrawn, the road to transporting food became extremely difficult.

"Hasn't the iron model cannon made by the Ministry of Industry arrived yet?" Lin Xiaofeng asked anxiously. He knew that in this war, the power of the cannon would determine the outcome.

"It has been sent to Tongguan and Wuguan, and will arrive in a few days." Qinghua answered firmly, but there was a hint of worry between his brows. He knew the importance of this war, and he also knew that the court was in a very critical situation.

"Where are the food and fodder?" Lin Xiaofeng continued to ask. He knew very well that in this war, food and fodder were as important as artillery.

"The grain and grass from Shandong arrived in Xuzhou half a month ago and have been shipped to Tongguan." Qinghua's answer made Lin Xiaofeng feel a little relieved. However, he still frowned, thinking about how to help Jian Mingxiao overcome the difficulties.

Suddenly, he stopped and said to Qinghua: "The cabinet should quickly draft an order to transfer 10,000 elite troops from Miyun to Xuanfu to take Datong together with Tang Shengyu, Zhu Fenghui and others, so that Li Zicheng will be attacked from all sides." His tone revealed a kind of determination and decisiveness. He knew that the war had reached a critical moment and decisive action must be taken to reverse the situation.

"As you wish!" Qinghua took the order and left. He knew the importance of this war and the heavy responsibility he had. He had to convey the emperor's will to the cabinet and frontline generals as soon as possible so that they could be fully prepared.

Lin Xiaofeng watched Qinghua's departing back, and a complex emotion surged in his heart. He knew that this war would determine the fate of the Ming Dynasty, and he also knew that every decision he made would have far-reaching consequences. He had to be cautious and careful to ensure the future of the Ming Dynasty.

……

Speaking of Tongguan City, it is really an amazing place. This city was expanded on the basis of the Tang Dynasty and was finally completed in the ninth year of Hongwu. The city wall is high and thick, the lowest is 50 feet high, and the highest is 90 feet. Going around the city wall, it is 22 miles long. The six city gates are majestic and magnificent, and the enemy towers and artillery emplacements are scattered all over the city, showing the solidity and majesty of this city.

However, the terrain of Tongguan City is extremely complex. It is impossible to defend a city by itself, so the Ming Dynasty dug three large trenches to strengthen the defense. These three trenches are Yuangou, Jingou and Tonggou, all of which are filled with clear river water flowing down from the Qinling Mountains and eventually merge into the Yellow River. The water in Jingou is shallow and the road is easy to walk, so light soldiers can pass quietly. In order to prevent the enemy from sneaking around and attacking from behind, the Ming Dynasty also built more than a dozen fortresses along these trenches, called Twelve Linked Cities. The entire defense line is airtight and as solid as a copper wall and iron wall.

It was the Dragon Boat Festival on the fifth day of the fifth month of the nineteenth year of Lin Xiaofeng, but the Shun army in Tongguan City could not even eat zongzi. They could only barely fill their stomachs because the Guanzhong area was suffering from a severe drought and the grain harvest was extremely poor. The people rebelled because they could not survive. Now they retreated to Guanzhong and the food was almost gone. They could not count on reinforcements. Fortunately, there was still some food in Xi'an, otherwise they would really be desperate.

"Report!" A spy hurried into the city and reported to Jing Changhao: "The 100,000-strong Ming army has already reached Lingbao, and the defenders have surrendered. Jian Mingxiao did not stop and went straight to Tongguan, and is now stationed 20 miles east of the city."

Chang Hao's face suddenly became solemn when he heard the news. He asked in surprise: "Twenty miles? How did they get here so quickly?" The spy replied: "Yes, but the Ming army doesn't seem to want to attack the city right away." Chang Hao looked at the map in confusion, and a bad feeling surged in his heart. He muttered to himself: "If I were Jian Mingxiao, I would definitely rest in Lingbao and would not run to this wilderness. Could it be... a trick!"

After saying this, Chang Hao immediately turned around and asked the guards around him: "Is there any news from the emperor?" The guards replied: "The emperor is not far from here, only ten miles away. Zehou Tian Jianxiu is coming with 10,000 troops." After hearing this news, Chang Hao felt a little relieved. He knew that Tian Jianxiu was an elite general of the Shun army, and with him around, he could at least feel a little more at ease.

After nightfall, Li Zicheng and Tian Jianxiu walked into Tongguan City together. After they had dinner in the city, the generals gathered together to discuss countermeasures. Li Zicheng sat in the middle and listened to everyone's opinions with a serious expression. At this time, Tian Jianxiu stood up. He was wearing coarse cloth clothes, a blue belt around his waist, and had a round face and a long beard. His shadow was cast on the wall, looking quite scary.

"Your Majesty," Tian Jianxiu said in a loud voice, "I have a request. The Ming army divided its troops to attack Wuguan and Tongguan, and we don't have enough troops. Luo Wenbin has thousands of supplies, and I want to transfer them to strengthen the defense of Tongguan. What do you think?" After he finished speaking, he quietly waited for Li Zicheng's response. The whole room was silent, and everyone held their breath and waited for the emperor's decision.

When Li Zicheng heard that Tian Jianxiu requested to dispatch Luo Wenbin's baggage troops to join the battle, he frowned unhappily, and a trace of doubt flashed in his deep eyes. "Tongguan is a place with dangerous terrain. It is easy to defend but difficult to attack. Why do we need so many troops?" His words were full of unquestionable firmness, as if every word was knocking on the hearts of the generals.

"But, Your Majesty..." Tian Jianxiu wanted to say something, his eyes were filled with anxiety and unwillingness, as if he wanted to convince the leader who once fought alongside him.

"No buts!" Li Zicheng's voice suddenly rose. His attitude was very firm, like a towering mountain, unshakable. He stared at Tian Jianxiu, his eyes seemed to be able to see through people's hearts and all illusions.

He refused to let Wenbin join the war. There were two main reasons behind this, which were like two solid walls, firmly guarding his determination.

First, Li Zicheng had doubts about Luo Wenbin's loyalty. After all, Luo Wenbin had been captured before, and his mind was hard to figure out. Was he affected during that time of captivity? Was his loyalty to the Dashun Army shaken? All these made Li Zicheng full of doubts. There were many good generals in the Dashun Army, and he would try not to use Luo Wenbin if possible. This was a hurdle in Li Zicheng's mind, a hurdle he could not easily cross.

Second, Li Zicheng believed that it was not the quantity of soldiers that mattered, but their quality. What the Dashun Army lacked now was elite troops, not these baggage soldiers. What they needed were warriors who could charge into battle and fight ten enemies with one, not these baggage soldiers who could only transport food and grass. Whether Luo Wenbin's troops participated in the war or not was actually not very helpful to the overall situation. This was another insistence in Li Zicheng's mind, an insistence that he could not compromise.

Tian Jianxiu was speechless after hearing what Li Zicheng said. He gasped, as if his throat was strangled by an invisible force and he couldn't speak. His eyes were full of helplessness and unwillingness, like a beast trapped in a cage, unable to break free.

At this time, Jing Changhao came out to smooth things over and said, "Lu Daqi is attacking Wuguan, perhaps Luo Wenbin can be transferred there to defend." His voice was calm and rational, like a clear spring, trying to extinguish this invisible dispute.

But Li Zicheng remained unmoved. He said calmly: "Let him be responsible for transporting grain." There was an unquestionable firmness in his voice, as if everything was already under his control.

While everyone was talking, the herald came in. He glanced around at everyone, as if he was looking for something. Then, he whispered a few words into Li Zicheng's ear. His voice was low and rapid, as if it carried some ominous omen. After he finished speaking, he hurried out.

Li Zicheng first frowned, as if he was troubled by some thorny problem. Then, a look of surprise appeared on his face, and there was a bit of disbelief in his surprise. Finally, he asked angrily and doubtfully: "Is this true?" There was a tremor in his voice, as if he was shocked by something terrible.

Seeing this, Cheng Minghe hurriedly asked, "Your Majesty, what's wrong with you?" There was some concern and anxiety in his voice, as if he wanted to share some of the pressure for the leader.

Li Zicheng gritted his teeth and said: "There is an urgent report from Xi'an. A civil uprising has occurred in Yulin!" There was a bit of anger and helplessness in his voice, as if he was restrained by some uncontrollable force.

"Civil uprising?" Nangong Shangpu stood up suddenly, his eyes wide open, thinking he had heard wrongly. He muttered to himself, "Your Majesty, are you talking about a civil uprising?" There was a hint of disbelief and astonishment in his voice.

"That's right, it's a civil uprising! The people of Yulin are going to rebel!" Li Zicheng said angrily. There was a bit of uncontrollable anger in his voice, as if something had touched a painful spot in his heart.

Shang Pu was stunned, his mind was in turmoil. Back then, we started the army to save the people from disaster, but now the people are rebelling? His heart was filled with doubts and puzzlement, as if he was troubled by some unanswerable question.

The other generals were also stunned. Some stared with their eyes wide open, as if they were shocked by something terrible; some opened their mouths and could not speak, as if their throats were strangled by some invisible force; and some simply froze there motionless, as if they were frozen by something terrible.

After a long while, Cheng Minghe asked doubtfully: "Your Majesty, are you sure the news is correct?" There was some disbelief and doubt in his voice, as if he wanted to confirm whether this terrible news was true.

Li Zicheng put away his anger, looked at him and said, "How could it be wrong?" There was a firmness and unquestionable tone in his voice, as if everything was already under his control.

Cheng Minghe lowered his head and whispered, "I remember that after our Dashun Army captured Xi'an in the 16th year of Lin Xiaofeng, we took over Guanzhong. All places surrendered, and only Yulin insisted on resisting. We besieged the city for more than ten days before we captured it, and later... we even massacred the people in the city." There was a bit of trembling and uneasiness in his voice, as if he was troubled by some terrible memory.

"There should be no one in Yulin now, so how could there be a civil uprising?" His question was filled with doubt and confusion, as if he wanted to solve this incomprehensible mystery.

Recalling the winter of Lin Xiaofeng's sixteenth year, Li Zicheng sent Luo Wenbin to attack Yulin. Yulin is an important town in the Yansui region. According to the "History of Ming Dynasty", the army there is strong, but the place is barren and the military pay is often insufficient. As the saying goes, "poor mountains and bad waters produce unruly people", coupled with the proximity to Mongolia, the people of Yulin are tough and do not farm, but only fight for a living. Once there is a war, men, women, old and young will take up arms and go to the battlefield.

At that time, Yulin was like an indestructible fortress, standing tall in the Yansui area. However, the fortress was eventually breached by the Dashun Army. It took more than ten days for the 70,000-man army to capture the city. It was a fierce battle, and both sides paid a huge price. After the city was broken, Du Ren, the brothers Wang Shiqin, You Shiwei and others were captured and killed; Wang Jialu committed suicide; Hou Shilu and his son Gongji also died on the battlefield. After all the military generals died, all the civil officials, whether in office or out of office, committed suicide and died for their country.

Li Zicheng knew the situation in Yulin. He glared at Cheng Minghe and thought: calling it a civil uprising is to appease the people. If it is a mutiny, it may cause civil unrest. Seeing the puzzled expressions of the generals, he knew that he could not hide it, so he sighed and said: "Although there are not many people in Yulin, I am worried that the Mongols will take the opportunity to invade, so I moved the people into the city and transferred Zhang Tianlin, Ke Tianxiang and the surrendered general Jiang Ge from Datong to defend it."

"This is actually Jiang Ran's mutiny! He led his personal soldiers to raid the commander's mansion in the name of a meeting, killed Zhang Tianlin and Ke Tianxiang, and then led the surrendered soldiers to rebel!" Li Zicheng's words were filled with anger and helplessness, as if he was restrained by some uncontrollable force.

After hearing this, all the generals fell silent. They had long expected the surrendered soldiers to rebel, but they had not expected it to happen so soon. Their hearts were filled with worry and uneasiness, as if they were troubled by something terrible.

Nangong Shangpu said anxiously: "Your Majesty, we should send troops to encircle and suppress them immediately!" There was a bit of anxiety and determination in his voice, as if he wanted to take immediate action to quell the rebellion.

However, Tian Jianxiu, Jing Changhao and others cast contemptuous glances at him. Jing Changhao could not help but ask back: "Niu Zuofu, isn't this nonsense? What else can we do if we don't encircle and suppress them? Should we send them food?" There was a bit of sarcasm and dissatisfaction in his voice, as if he was dismissive of Nangong Shangpu's suggestion.

The generals burst into laughter upon hearing this, as if they were touched by something funny. There was a sense of ease and relief in their laughter, as if they wanted to use laughter to cover up their inner worries and uneasiness.

"Hahaha... General Zongmin's words are really amazing!" Tian Jianxiu praised. There was a hint of teasing in his voice, as if he wanted to use this method to ease the tense atmosphere.

"General Zongmin is really a man of both civil and military talents!" Hao Yaoqi echoed. There was a hint of admiration and praise in his voice, as if he was full of praise for Jing Changhao's talent.

"General Zongmin is right!" The generals expressed their dissatisfaction with Nangong Shangpu. Since the Dashun Army retreated to Beijing, Fengyang, and Chengtian Prefecture, they only fought a draw in the battle of Daming Prefecture, but the losses were not small. Now they no longer trust Nangong Shangpu and Cheng Minghe. Their hearts are full of doubts and dissatisfaction, as if they are troubled by some unanswered questions. (End of this chapter)