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

In the late autumn of the second year of Hongwu in the Ming Dynasty, leaves were falling and the wind was blowing. General Xu Da's army marched into Fengyuan Road like an iron stream. Soon after, this ancient city was renamed Xi'an Prefecture. From then on, the old names full of historical sediments such as Chang'an and Jingzhao were gradually replaced by Xi'an. The hearts of the people in the city and the soldiers of the Shun army were shrouded in a thick haze. The sound of the iron hooves of the Ming army was like the horn of death, filling them with fear and anxiety.

Deep inside the Qin Palace, Li Zicheng paced in the empty hall with his hands behind his back, frowning, and looking worried. Since he captured Xi'an and established Dashun, the Qin Palace has become his palace, witnessing his glory and desolation. At this time, a personal soldier hurried over, pale and panting, and reported: "Your Majesty, I heard that General Gu Kecheng was captured. He would rather die than surrender, but was eventually killed by Jian Mingxiao."

Hearing this, Li Zicheng nodded gently, his face full of sadness and helplessness. He sighed and said in a deep voice: "I know. Send someone to take Zhu Cunji to the East Gate, chop off his head and hang it on the tower to let the people vent their anger. Zhu Cunji has done so many evil things that his death is not enough to appease the people's anger! Even if I die, I will drag him to hell with me!"

Zhu Cunji, the fifteenth Qin King of the Ming Dynasty, inherited the throne in the fourteenth year of Lin Xiaofeng. However, only two years later, Xi'an was captured by Li Zicheng, and he had to surrender. Li Zicheng had spared his life and kept him by his side. Now that the Shun army was defeated, Li Zicheng no longer needed his life as a bargaining chip.

Soon after, Li Yan, Nangong Shangpu, Cheng Minghe, Tian Jianxiu, Jing Changhao and other civil and military officials hurried to the palace gate to ask to see Li Zicheng. They looked solemn and hurried, as if a huge stone was pressing on everyone's heart. They didn't even sit down, but stood in the yard to discuss countermeasures.

"My dear ministers, Xi'an is in imminent danger. Where can we go?" Li Zicheng's voice was filled with helplessness and anxiety. He looked at the ministers in front of him, hoping that they could point out a way out for him. However, everyone lowered their heads and remained silent. On the one hand, they didn't know what to say, and on the other hand, they knew that no matter what they said, they couldn't stop the attack of the Ming army.

Seeing that no one was talking, Li Zicheng called out Niu Zuofu and asked him, "My dear Niu, do you have any good ideas?" Nangong Shangpu blinked a few times, sighed and said, "I am stupid and can't think of any solution." Li Zicheng was unhappy when he heard this. He turned to look at Cheng Minghe and said, "Where is Song Junshi? Do you have any good ideas?" Cheng Minghe pinched his fingers and looked up at the sky, but he didn't say anything. Li Zicheng knew that he was a believer in ghosts and gods, so he didn't dare to disturb him and had to look at others. As a result, he looked around and found that everyone was keeping their heads down and not talking.

Li Zicheng was filled with irritation and despair. He felt as if he was bound by an invisible force and could not break free. He sighed helplessly and asked, "Mr. Li, do you have any good ideas?" Li Yan bowed respectfully and said, "Your Majesty, I have three plans."

When Li Zicheng heard that there were three strategies again, he could not help but feel jealous and dissatisfied. He said sourly: "Why three strategies again? Do you have to come up with three strategies every time before you stop?" Li Yan nodded and said: "The 200,000-strong Ming army attacked Guanzhong from Tongguan and Wuguan. Guanzhong can no longer be defended. Our army can neither defend the city nor win in the field." All the generals nodded in agreement and looked at Li Zicheng. Although Li Zicheng was reluctant to admit it, he could only nod in agreement under the watchful eyes of the crowd.

"Since neither fighting nor defending works, the only way is to escape." Li Yan went on, "But you have to escape in an orderly manner and not flee blindly." Tian Jianxiu asked hurriedly, "I would like to hear your detailed discussion!" The other generals also echoed and expressed their desire to hear Li Yan's detailed plan.

Li Zicheng felt a chill in his heart when he saw this scene. He felt that Li Yan was full of a sense of crisis, as if every one of his strategies was hiding some unspeakable secret. Li Yan cleared his throat and continued, "The middle strategy is that we break up into small groups and hide in the mountains and forests to wait for the opportunity. When the Ming army dispatches troops to recapture Liaodong, we can then plan for revival."

"Wait a minute!" Tian Jianxiu raised his hand to interrupt, "Mr. Li, why don't you tell me the worst plan first?" Li Yan smiled bitterly and said, "Based on the current situation, our army does not have a best plan, only a middle plan, a middle-lower plan, and a worst plan to choose from."

"Please continue." Tian Jianxiu let go of his hand.

"The worst strategy is for us to quickly go to Hanzhong and hold on with the help of the strategic terrain. On the one hand, we can resist the enemies in Guanzhong, and on the other hand, we can guard against the armies of Sichuan and Shu. Even if Guanzhong is lost, we can retreat into the mountains to hide temporarily." Li Yan's voice was low and powerful, and every word seemed to strike everyone's heart.

"Then what's the worst option?" Li Yan paused here and continued, "The worst option is to surrender."

"No! Absolutely not!" Nangong Shangpu got furious when he heard this. "Li Yan, what do you mean? You actually advise us to surrender! Others may survive if they surrender, but if the emperor surrenders, he will definitely die!" His voice was full of anger and dissatisfaction, as if he could not accept such a suggestion.

"You are going too far!" Li Zicheng looked at Li Yan with a sullen face and hostility in his eyes. He felt that Li Yan's proposal was an insult and betrayal to him.

Li Yan glared at Nangong Shangpu angrily and said, "The worst option is a helpless move to save the lives of the generals. Loyal and brave generals can pretend to surrender and wait for the opportunity to rebel again. Moreover, I have a middle option and a middle-to-lower option. Why do you insist on the worst option?" His voice was full of excitement and dissatisfaction, as if he could not understand Nangong Shangpu's stubbornness and prejudice.

"I'm holding on to the worst plan?" Nangong Shangpu sneered, "It's obvious that you want to induce us to surrender and you don't let me say it?" His eyes were full of ridicule and disdain, as if he was full of contempt and rejection for Li Yan's proposal.

"Shameless!" Li Yan cursed and turned away, ignoring him. His heart was filled with anger and disappointment, and he felt that Nangong Shangpu was simply an unreasonable lunatic.

Nangong Shangpu saw this and quickly turned to Cheng Minghe for help: "Old Song, please say something fair." Cheng Minghe said slowly: "I can understand what Mr. Li means. The ancients said it well, 'Husband and wife are birds of the same forest, but they fly away when disaster strikes.' Now that Dashun is in trouble, it is only natural for Mr. Li to find his own way out." His voice was flat but full of sarcasm and ridicule, as if he did not agree with Nangong Shangpu's request for help.

"I have nothing to say." Cheng Minghe's words sounded like help, but in fact they were more like blaming Nangong Shangpu. He felt that there was no need for him to dwell on this issue any longer because the answer was already obvious.

Tian Jianxiu and Jing Changhao immediately stepped forward to help Li Yan: "When the emperor asked for advice, you either kept silent or opposed it. Now Mr. Li has proposed a plan and you are arguing non-stop. Dashun has reached this point and you still want to fight among yourselves?" Their voices were filled with anxiety and dissatisfaction, as if they could not accept such a situation. They knew that unity was the most important thing at this critical moment, otherwise Dashun would really not be able to escape the fate of destruction.

Under the dim sunset, Jing Changhao, a strong man from the countryside, was wearing armor, with a thick beard like a jungle, strong arms like a tiger, fists as big as sandbags, and an unyielding light flashing in his eyes. He listened to Nangong Shangpu's ridicule, and his heart was burning with anger, like a volcano about to erupt.

"Jing Changhao, you are a country boy who was fortunate enough to be appreciated by the emperor and became a general. How dare you talk about us casually?" Nangong Shangpu's words were full of contempt, and his face was as dark as the sky before a storm.

When Jing Changhao heard this, he was furious. He rolled up his sleeves, tensed his muscles, and was about to take action: "Say it again?" His voice was like thunder, shaking the candles in the hall.

Nangong Shangpu secretly glanced at Jing Changhao's mighty body, his heart was pounding, and his words became hesitant: "I... I won't say it anymore." A trace of fear flashed in his eyes, like a little rabbit being stared at by a wild beast.

"I knew you wouldn't dare!" Jing Changhao was complacent, with a sarcastic smile on his face, as if he had already won this invisible contest.

"Who said I don't dare? I just don't want to say it!" Nangong Shangpu gritted his teeth and tried to save some face. But his eyes betrayed him, revealing a little bit of panic that was not easy to detect.

Just as the two were about to fight, Li Zicheng appeared in time, like a breeze, blowing away the gunpowder smell in the hall. He shouted, "Stop!" His voice was majestic and powerful, instantly attracting everyone's attention.

"Your Majesty!" Upon hearing this, everyone knelt on the ground and saluted respectfully. Their movements were in unison, like well-trained soldiers.

Li Zicheng looked around, sighed and said, "Today's defeat is my fault." There was a hint of fatigue and helplessness in his voice, as if he was carrying a heavy burden.

Upon hearing this, the ministers immediately lowered their heads and blamed themselves: "It is all because of our incompetence that we failed to assist the emperor with our full strength." There was sincerity and guilt in their voices, as if they were truly heartbroken for the defeat.

"The outcome is decided," Li Zicheng sighed, "Everyone, pack up quickly, take your families, and follow me to retreat to Shangluo Mountain, just like Lin Xiaofeng did eleven years ago." There was a flash of determination and firmness in his eyes, as if he had already made preparations for the worst.

Thinking of the time when Lin Xiaofeng was defeated at Tongguan and escaped to Fushuiguan in Shangluo Mountain with only 18 cavalrymen, Li Zicheng was filled with emotion. What a battle that was! Life and death were at stake, and there were dangers everywhere. But Lin Xiaofeng relied on his courage and wisdom to finally escape. Today, he is also facing the same dilemma, but he believes that as long as everyone works together, they will be able to reproduce the glory of the past.

At this time, Li Yan suddenly stood up and said, "Your Majesty, this is not allowed!" His voice was firm and powerful, like an unshakable mountain.

"Why?" Li Zicheng asked doubtfully. There was a hint of confusion and curiosity in his eyes, as if he wanted to explore Li Yan's inner thoughts.

Li Yan explained: "The middle strategy I mentioned before is to break up into small units. If we gather together, we will be easily discovered by the enemy and there is a danger of annihilation." His voice was calm and rational, as if he had thought it through carefully.

"And Datong also has General He Jin's elite troops. If we abandon them and flee into the mountains, how can we stabilize the morale of the army?" Li Yan's words were filled with a hint of worry and anxiety, as if he was really considering the overall situation.

"We should send someone to notify General He immediately and ask him to hide in the mountains with his elite troops. The generals from various units should also head north separately to meet with General He." Li Yan proposed a practical plan, as if he had been fully prepared for this battle.

Li Zicheng frowned, as if he was weighing the pros and cons. He knew the importance of this battle and that Li Yan's suggestion might determine the survival of Dashun.

"If I divide my troops, won't I be alone?" Li Zicheng's words were filled with helplessness and worry, as if he was really worried about his situation.

"The situation is critical now, Your Majesty can only take this risk." Li Yan said helplessly. There was a trace of determination and firmness in his eyes, as if he had already made plans for the worst.

Li Zicheng thought about it and nodded in agreement: "Okay, everyone go back and prepare, and set off in batches in the afternoon!" There was a hint of determination and firmness in his voice, as if he had already made up his mind.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" The ministers took the order and left. Their movements were quick and orderly, as if they were already accustomed to this tense and orderly life.

As soon as Nangong Shangpu walked out of the Qin Palace, he was called back by Li Zicheng's personal soldiers. A trace of doubt and uneasiness flashed through his heart, as if he had a premonition that something bad was about to happen.

"What does the emperor want to see me about?" Nangong Shangpu asked. There was a hint of nervousness and anxiety in his voice, as if he was really worried about his situation.

"We have something important to discuss," Li Zicheng said with a serious expression, "What do you think of Li Yan's plan?" There was a sharp and deep flash in his eyes, as if he wanted to explore Nangong Shangpu's inner thoughts.

Nangong Shangpu looked embarrassed: "I..." There was a hint of hesitation and doubt in his words, as if he was really troubled by his answer.

"Just speak frankly!" Li Zicheng urged. His voice was full of majesty and unquestionable power, as if he really wanted to hear Nangong Shangpu's true thoughts.

"I think Li Yan has ulterior motives. If the troops are divided, the emperor will be outnumbered. He may be able to deal with a small group of enemies, but if he encounters a large army, the emperor will be in danger!" There was a hint of worry and anxiety in Nangong Shangpu's words, as if he was really concerned about Li Zicheng's safety.

Upon hearing this, Li Zicheng frowned and after thinking for a moment, he asked, "Will Niu Zuofu (another name for Nangong Shangpu) support me?" There was a hint of expectation and trust in his voice, as if he really hoped that Nangong Shangpu would stand on his side.

Nangong Shangpu looked around and whispered, "Your Majesty, don't worry. I will be loyal to you until death." There was a hint of firmness and determination in his voice, as if he was ready to go through fire and water for Li Zicheng.

"When can we take action?" There was a hint of urgency and anxiety in Li Zicheng's words, as if he really wanted to get out of this predicament as soon as possible.

"I'll go right away!" Nangong Shangpu's answer was concise and powerful, as if he was fully prepared.

Li Zicheng rarely bowed to express his gratitude: "Thank you for your hard work, Niu Zuofu!" There was a hint of gratitude and respect in his voice, as if he really admired Nangong Shangpu's loyalty.

Nangong Shangpu was so moved that his eyes filled with tears. After thanking him, he rode back home. His heart was filled with excitement and pride, as if he was ready to go through fire and water for Li Zicheng.

As soon as he got home, he immediately sent someone to invite Li Yan. His heart was full of contradictions and anxiety, as if he really didn't know how to face this former enemy.

Li Yan was packing his luggage with Hong Niangzi, and they were both stunned when they heard the news of Nangong Shangpu's visit. There was a trace of doubt and uneasiness in their eyes, as if they had a premonition that something bad was about to happen.

Hongniang touched her hair and asked, "Husband, why is Nangong Shangpu here at this time?" There was a hint of nervousness and anxiety in her voice, as if she was really concerned about Li Yan's safety.

Li Yan shook his head: "I don't know. We have always had a bad relationship with him. I'm afraid his visit alone is not a good thing." There was a hint of calmness and rationality in his voice, as if he had already made plans for the worst.

"We are about to retreat, so we must be careful of his tricks," Red Lady warned. There was a hint of worry and anxiety in her voice, as if she was really worried about this battle.

"Don't worry, my lady. He won't dare to act rashly." Li Yan consoled her with a smile. His smile was full of confidence and calmness, as if he was really prepared for anything.

"Meet or not?" asked Hongniangzi. There was a hint of hesitation in her voice, as if she was really troubled by this decision.

"Meet him! If we don't, it will show that we are afraid." Li Yan decided. There was a hint of firmness and determination in his voice, as if he was ready to face everything.

Hongniang was still worried, so she held his hand and said solemnly, "Be careful! Be extra careful!" Her eyes were full of worry and care, as if she really hoped that Li Yan would be safe.

"Don't worry, my lady. I'll be back soon." Li Yan embraced Hong Niangzi in his arms, and then went out to meet Nangong Shangpu. His movements were gentle and powerful, as if he was really holding up the sky for his wife.

When he arrived at the front hall, he saw Nangong Shangpu admiring the fake paintings on the wall. He shook his head and laughed, "Hey! Mr. Li from Dashun, you don't even have an authentic painting at home. How shameful!" There was a hint of sarcasm and contempt in his voice, as if he really despised Li Yan's poverty.

Li Yan responded with a smile: "Niu Zuofu is wrong! The value of a painting lies in its artistic conception rather than its authenticity. If you don't care about its price, what does authenticity matter?" There was a hint of calmness and confidence in his voice, as if he had really seen through the prosperity and vanity of the world.

Nangong Shangpu said nothing more, but just shook his head and sighed. There was a hint of complexity and contradiction in his eyes, as if he was really worried about this battle.

Li Yan took the initiative to ask, "Niu Zuofu is honored to be here. What advice do you have for me?" There was a hint of politeness and courtesy in his voice, as if he really wanted to hear Nangong Shangpu's opinion.

Nangong Shangpu sighed and said, "Li Yan, after this defeat, can we make a comeback?" There was a hint of helplessness and anxiety in his voice, as if he was really worried about his future fate.

Li Yan said perfunctorily: "It worked before, and it works now." There was a hint of indifference and indifference in his voice, as if he had really lost confidence in this battle.

"Maybe not!" Nangong Shangpu sighed again, "The Ming Dynasty has exempted taxes for two years, and the people have lived and worked in peace and contentment. Even if we can rise again, it will be difficult to restore the former glory." There was a hint of sadness and helplessness in his voice, as if he was really worried about his future fate.

Li Yan remained silent. A hint of complexity and contradiction flashed in his eyes, as if he was really heartbroken about this battle. He knew that the outcome of this battle was not only related to the survival of Dashun, but also to the fate and future of countless people.

"Li Yan," Nangong Shangpu raised his voice, "We have been fighting for so many years, and there has been no winner. Now Dashun is about to be finished, I can't accept this!" There was a hint of grief and excitement in his voice, as if he was really heartbroken about this battle.

"What do you want?"

Li Yan looked at Nangong Shangpu's confident look and believed him about 70% in his heart, but years of caution still made it difficult for him to be completely at ease. He thought for a moment and decided to let his younger brother Li Nian bring a dozen personal soldiers to accompany him to ensure that everything was safe. He heard that there were only 20 to 30 servants in Nangong Mansion, and thought that even if something happened, they could evacuate safely under the protection of the personal soldiers. After settling down, Li Yan sent someone to report to Hongniangzi that he was safe. His brief words revealed some subtle worries, and then he followed Nangong Shangpu to Niu Mansion.

After passing through the grand door, the two came to the front hall. Inside the front hall, the table was already filled with fine wine and delicacies, the aroma was fragrant, and the exquisite porcelain was shining with a warm luster under the candlelight. Nangong Shangpu warmly invited the Li Yan brothers to take a seat, and smiled and joked: "Wait a moment, I will be back soon, and I will not keep you waiting for long."

"Niu Zuofu, please go ahead!" Li Yan responded with a polite smile on his face, but he felt a little uneasy in his heart.

Nangong Shangpu turned and left seemingly calmly, and even closed the door before leaving, with a subtle urgency in his movements. Li Yan's eyes followed his back closely, and suddenly felt something was wrong, an inexplicable sense of crisis surged in his heart. He stood up suddenly, and chased after him almost instinctively, praying in his heart that his premonition was wrong. When he pushed open the door, he saw that there were more than a hundred fully armed soldiers standing outside, each holding a bow and arrow, ready for battle, and the arrows flashed coldly under the candlelight. Seeing this, Li Yan's personal soldiers were so scared that they retreated again and again, their faces full of horror.

"Nangong Shangpu, what are you doing?" Li Yan glared at Nangong Shangpu in the crowd, his voice filled with disbelief and anger.

Nangong Shangpu laughed and said, "Li Yan, you didn't expect today to be like this, did you? You are smart all your life, but confused for a moment!" There was a bit of madness and pride in his laughter.

"Nangong Shangpu, do you really think there will be any good result from doing this?" Li Yan suspected that he was crazy. He wanted to reason with him and tried to awaken his conscience with reason.

"What good will come of killing you?" Nangong Shangpu laughed even more wildly, "Of course it's for power and status! Do you think I will really be loyal to that bandit Li Zicheng?"

"If the emperor finds out, he will never forgive you!" Li Yan's voice was trembling. He couldn't believe what he saw.

Nangong Shangpu laughed even louder: "Haha, Li Yan, you are too naive. Do you think I really want to kill you? I just want to use your hand to remove some obstacles. I didn't expect you to be so ignorant of the current situation!"

"It's not you who's here." Li Yan hadn't finished speaking when suddenly a loud noise interrupted his thoughts. Li Yan's mind went blank. He looked carefully and found that the armor worn by those soldiers was only worn by the elite troops of Dashun. Thinking back to the battle of Tongguan, the elite troops were almost completely lost. Now in Xi'an, the only elite troops that could be called elite were the hundreds of Li Zicheng's personal soldiers.

Li Yan quickly calmed down, stared at Nangong Shangpu and asked, "Give me a reason, otherwise I will die with my eyes open." There was a bit of determination and tragedy in his voice.

"Da Shun kills people, why does he need a reason?" Nangong Shangpu looked fierce, "If you must have a reason, I will give you four words."

"Which four words?" Li Yan's voice was trembling a little. He had already sensed the impending doom.

"It is a crime to possess a treasure!" After saying that, Nangong Shangpu waved his hand and said, "Shoot!" His voice was cold and resolute.

Suddenly, arrows rained down from the sky. The soldiers were shot one after another, like hedgehogs, screaming one after another. Li Yan's heart was filled with grief and despair. He didn't expect that he would end up like this.

"Mr. Li Li, run!" A personal soldier was still shouting Li Yan's name before he died, with a bit of unwillingness and loyalty in his voice.

The second wave of arrows followed, and Li Yan suddenly woke up, jumped into the house and hid behind the door. Li Nian followed closely behind, his face full of fear and determination.

The arrows hit the wooden door with a thud, the sound was crisp but like a note of death. Li Yan's heart was filled with grief and despair, he didn't know if he could escape this disaster.

The soldiers saw the two men hiding in the house, so they put away their bows and arrows and drew their swords. Outside the door, there were flashes of swords and sabers. Li Nian pushed Li Yan anxiously: "Brother, run away quickly, I'll cover you!" There was a sense of determination and sacrifice in his voice.

Before he finished speaking, the door was split open. Dashun's elite rushed in and saw Li Yan and his brother hiding in the corner. They shouted, "Here!" There was a bit of excitement and cruelty in their voices.

The blade came straight at his face with a whistling sound, and Li Nian swung his sword to fight back, sparks flying everywhere. He might be able to resist in a one-on-one fight, but there were too many enemies, and Li Nian was soon chopped down in a pool of blood. His face was full of determination and unwillingness, as if he was interpreting loyalty and sacrifice with his life.

"Li Nian!" Li Yan's eyes were bloodshot, and he threw himself on his brother without hesitation, completely forgetting to avoid the sword. His heart was filled with grief and despair, and he didn't know how to face all this.

Swish - the blade cut his back, blood staining his clothes. Li Yan felt no pain, only anger and grief. He hated Nangong Shangpu's slander, Li Zicheng's stupidity, and even more so his own blind complicity. He was sad that he failed to protect his brother, failed to grow old with Hong Niangzi, and failed his father's expectations.

The flashes of swords and sabers became more and more frequent, and Li Yan's consciousness gradually blurred. In a trance, he seemed to hear a conversation with his father. His father Jingbai was the governor of Shandong and the Minister of War. He was impeached and dismissed by the Donglin Party for building a shrine for Wei Zhongxian. At that time, he did not understand the dangers of the court and the fickleness of the world.

"Father, do you hate the court?" Li Yan's voice was filled with confusion and puzzlement.

My father smiled bitterly and said, "It's not hatred, just regret." There was a hint of vicissitudes and helplessness in his voice.

"What's the regret?" Li Yan asked.

"As a frontier official, I failed to benefit the people and was dismissed." There was a bit of self-blame and regret in my father's voice. "This is the regret of my life."

"What about Wei Zhongxian?" Li Yan wanted to ask more.

The father smiled again: "Son, the court is not black and white, nor is it that everyone else is drunk and I am the only one sober. Only by blending in with the world can you accomplish things. I am just on the wrong side." There was some wisdom and depth in his voice.

"I hope you can be successful in the future and don't follow in your father's footsteps!" His father's words seemed to have become Li Yan's life motto.

This memory flashed through his mind, and Li Yan thought of his younger brother Li Nian again. His heart was filled with grief and guilt, and he didn't know how to face it all.

"Brother, now you are a counselor of Dashun, and I can enjoy wealth and honor by following you." Li Nian's voice seemed to still echo in his ears.

"Brother, the emperor has become suspicious of us brothers, why don't you leave?" Li Nian's advice seemed to become Li Yan's lifelong regret.

"Brother, I'm tired of this life of killing and want to go back to my hometown to farm." Li Nian's wish seemed to have become Li Yan's lifelong guilt.

The severe pain spread from his heart to his mind, and Li Yan felt like dying. Suddenly, the figure of Hong Niangzi appeared in his mind. Her smile was gentle and sweet, as if it could dispel all the haze.

"Husband, do you like boys or girls?" Hongniang's voice seemed to still echo in my ears.

"I like them all." There was a hint of tenderness and anticipation in Li Yan's voice.

"You like both? Do you like boys or girls?" asked Matchmaker coquettishly.

"I like them all, I love them all." There was a hint of pampering and firmness in Li Yan's voice.

"Then how about I give birth to twins for you, a boy and a girl?" Hongniang's smile seemed to become Li Yan's lifelong concern.

"Great! That's what I want!" Li Yan's words seemed to have become his lifelong oath.

Thinking of this, the corners of Li Yan's mouth slightly raised in the pool of blood. In full view of everyone, he closed his eyes, as if bidding farewell to the world, and also to the worries and regrets in his heart. His heart was filled with thoughts of Hong Niangzi and visions of the future, but they were also shattered by the cruelty of reality.

Nangong Shangpu went forward to examine the body, spat and said, "Bah, he's finally dead." His face was full of pride and cruelty, as if he was celebrating his victory.

"Niu Zuofu, what should we do next?" asked the general at the side, his voice filled with worry and uneasiness.

Nangong Shangpu sneered: "To cut the grass at its roots, it is not enough to just kill Li Yan, we have to get rid of Hong Niangzi as well." There was a hint of determination and coldness in his voice.

"This..." The general looked embarrassed, "The emperor didn't say he wanted to kill Hong Niangzi." There was some hesitation and worry in his voice.

Nangong Shangpu glared at him and said, "If you don't kill her, she will kill you! What do you think?" His voice was threatening and coercive. Hearing this, the general sighed helplessly and prayed in his heart that this storm would be settled as soon as possible.

Nangong Shangpu led the elite troops of the Dashun Army, more than a hundred of them, all of them were murderous, like flames in a strong wind, and rushed straight to Li's house. At this time, the sky was dark, and the streets were filled with an oppressive atmosphere, as if even the air was frozen. When they were two streets away from Li's house, the deputy general looked around with some concern, and whispered to Nangong Shangpu: "Niu Zuofu, I heard that Hong Niangzi still has hundreds of remnants. We have so few people, can we make it?"

Nangong Shangpu had a determined look on his face, his eyes revealing unquestionable fortitude. He said in a deep voice: "Don't worry, their forces are scattered in defending the city, and there are only about twenty people in the Li Mansion at most. We will raid it and capture Hong Niangzi in one fell swoop."

When the deputy general heard this, he felt much more at ease and immediately led his troops to speed up their pace, and every step seemed to be stepping on the enemy's heart.

Soon, they arrived outside the Li Mansion. Nangong Shangpu waved his hand and ordered, "Half of the people block the front door, and the other half block the back door. Don't let them escape! Remember, our target is Hong Niangzi, and we must capture her alive!"

The elite soldiers quickly divided into two teams, like two iron walls, blocking the front and back doors of Li's mansion tightly, making it difficult for even a bird to fly out.

At this time, in Li's house, Hongniang was packing Li Yan's clothes, each piece of clothing carrying their shared memories. Suddenly, a maid ran in in a panic, her face as pale as paper, and reported: "Madam, it's bad! There are many armored soldiers outside the door, and they have surrounded our house!"

When Hongniang heard this, she stood up suddenly, the clothes in her hands fell to the ground, her heart skipped a beat, and tears could not stop flowing down. She knew that something must have happened to Li Yan, and it was obvious that these people were targeting her. She tried to calm down, but the panic in her heart surged like a tide.

The maid was terrified when she saw her like this, and asked quickly, "Madam, why are you crying? What should we do?"

Hongniang did not answer, but asked anxiously: "Has the door been broken into?" Her voice was a little trembling, but more firm.

"Not yet." The maid had just answered when fierce shouting and screaming came from outside, as fierce as a storm.

The maidservant became even more panicked, her voice filled with tears: "Madam, I'm afraid we can't hold on any longer! We have to find a way to escape!"

Hong Niangzi sat on the couch, her heart aching, her mind full of the days she spent with Li Yan. She remembered that she had started an army to punish corruption and let the people live a stable life. After meeting Li Yan, she pledged her love to him and fought for this ideal together. Although the people of Ming Dynasty are not rich now, they don't have to starve or freeze. But Li Yan suffered such misfortune, she felt that she had lost the meaning of living.

Just then, the servant ran in hurriedly and shouted, "Oh no! The thieves have rushed in, and the front and back doors are surrounded. The situation is critical!" His voice was filled with fear and despair.

Hongniang suppressed her grief and asked, "Who is the leader?" Her voice was calm and firm, as if she was asking an insignificant question.

"It's Nangong Shangpu!" the servant answered, with a slight tremor in his voice.

When she heard that it was Nangong Shangpu, Hongniang was furious, and a trace of murderous intent flashed in her eyes. She swore to avenge Li Yan and make these people pay with blood!
The servant urged, "Madam, please run away quickly! It will be too late if you delay any longer!" His voice was filled with anxiety and concern.

Hongniang picked up a knife, took some valuables, and ran to the courtyard wall with her maid and servants. She moved a stool to the top to check the situation and found two guards outside who were looking around vigilantly.

Hongniang came up with a plan and threw the package to the ground, and the gold objects collided with each other, making a pleasant sound. She whispered to the two guards, "Don't make a sound, these things are all yours. As long as you let me out, these gold objects will be yours." Her voice was full of temptation and threat.

When the two guards heard this, they smiled at each other, a hint of greed flashed in their eyes, and they happily picked up the package, as if they had forgotten their duties.

But not long after, one of them shouted, "Red Lady has escaped!" His voice was full of fear and panic.

Hong Niangzi jumped off the stool in anger and swung her knife at the two guards. She was extremely brave, and in the flash of her knife, the two guards were no match at all and retreated repeatedly.

While calling, Hongniang asked, "Where is Li Yan?" Her voice was filled with anxiety and concern.

A guard gasped, "He has been... killed." His voice was full of fear and despair.

Hearing this news, Hong Niangzi almost fainted. Her heart was broken, and tears welled up in her eyes again. But she knew that now was not the time to grieve, she had to live and avenge Li Yan!

The servant fought hard to delay the time, but was eventually killed because of being outnumbered. The two guards chased after them, and at this time more than 20 cavalrymen approached quickly, the sound of horse hooves was like thunder.

Hong Niangzi was extremely anxious, but she did not give up. At this moment, she saw her generals with several horses and horses rushing over. She was overjoyed and hurriedly called for help: "Hurry up and save me! Li Zicheng's men want to kill me!"

The general was furious when he saw this: "Who is so bold as to attack the lady!" He brandished his sword and rushed towards the enemy like a tiger descending from the mountain.

Hongniang gritted her teeth and said, "It's Li Zicheng! He killed Li Yan and now he wants to kill me!" Her voice was full of anger and hatred.

The generals were shocked and knew that the situation was not good. However, they still discussed and said, "Let's escape from the city first and make long-term plans later." They quickly formulated a plan to break out.

So Hongniangzi and others took advantage of the chaos of the defenders and broke out from the east gate. They ran all the way, the sound of horse hooves and shouts of killing intertwined, as if it was a life-and-death contest.

They rushed eastwards and stopped to rest only when night fell. Lady Hong looked at the few men around her with a heavy heart. The road to revenge seemed extremely difficult, but she had no intention of giving up.

Everyone asked about the next plan. After thinking for a moment, Hong Niangzi's eyes became firm. She said resolutely: "We will join the Ming army and use their power to kill these bandits! Avenge Li Yan!" Her voice was full of firmness and determination, as if she had seen the dawn of victory. (End of this chapter)