After listening to this, Lin Xiaofeng frowned slightly. His eyes were deep, as if he was thinking about something: "Why didn't you say you found the body?"

Guo Tianyang's forehead was sweating. He looked at the Tangbao carefully again and whispered, "It is indeed recorded like this. There is no mention of the specific circumstances of finding the body."

"Who was present at that time?" Lin Xiaofeng asked. His voice was low and powerful, revealing an unquestionable majesty.

"In addition to Li Shunzu, Hong Niangzi and the more than one thousand soldiers, there are also surrendered bandit generals such as Liu Tichun, Ning Weize, and Gao Yigong. After Li Shunzu returned to the camp, Lord Jian Mingxiao personally asked for details and wrote this report only after confirming that everything was correct." Guo Tianyang answered in detail, not daring to hide anything.

Lin Xiaofeng pondered for a while, his eyes wandering in the air, as if he was recalling something. After a moment, he waved his hand and asked Guo Tianyang to continue reading.

Guo Tianyang continued reading: "The news of King Chuang's death spread throughout Guanzhong, and all places surrendered. Luo Wenbin surrendered with 5,000 baggage soldiers, and He Jin also surrendered Tang Shengyu and Zhu Fenghui."

"Jian Mingxiao also asked me what to do with these surrendered bandit generals." Guo Tianyang reported to Lin Xiaofeng as he read, his voice sounding a little cautious.

Lin Xiaofeng was embarrassed when he heard this. He was silent for a while, as if he was thinking about this thorny question. Jian Mingxiao meant to ask whether to give these surrendered generals military power. It was easy to deal with the others, but He Jin and Luo Wenbin had more than 10,000 soldiers under their command. If they were given military power, there might be trouble; if they were not given military power, people would be uneasy, which would be unfavorable for surrendering.

"Read Jian Mingxiao's letter again." Lin Xiaofeng finally made a decision, his voice firm and powerful.

Guo Tianyang opened the letter and read it carefully. There were two main points in the letter: first, the Sichuan Army had been out of Sichuan for a year and a half, and the soldiers missed home very much. Now that King Chuang was dead and Shaanxi had been recovered, they wanted to lead the army back to Sichuan after stabilizing the northwest; second, Jian Mingxiao felt that he was old and his body could not take it anymore, so he wanted to resign from the post of governor of four provinces and return home to retire.

After hearing this, Lin Xiaofeng felt a little reluctant, but he also knew that he couldn't force her to stay. He sighed, his eyes revealing a bit of helplessness and emotion: "Write back and agree to his request."

This veteran general had made great contributions to the Ming Dynasty. If he were to go to the battlefield again, he might not be able to bear it. Lin Xiaofeng couldn't bear to see him like this, so he decided to let him enjoy his old age.

"Inform the Ministry of War and the Cabinet to request a reward based on Jian Mingxiao's achievements." Lin Xiaofeng ordered again, his voice carrying a hint of respect and emotion.

"As you wish." Guo Tianyang quickly wrote it down and was about to present the official document from Nanjing when Gu Chaosheng asked for a meeting.

"Let him in." Lin Xiaofeng said lightly, with a hint of majesty in his voice.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you." Gu Chaosheng came in and saluted, his movements respectful and cautious. Then he said, "The Jinyiwei of Shaanxi sent a secret letter saying that the rebel Li Zicheng was stabbed in the heart by his wife Gao Guiying at Liujia'an and died. Jing Changhao refused to surrender and jumped into the river."

Gu Chaosheng secretly observed Lin Xiaofeng's expression as he spoke, fearing that he would blame him for the late arrival of the secret letter. However, Lin Xiaofeng did not blame him, but asked: "Is it possible that Jing Changhao is still alive?"

"Absolutely not." Gu Chaosheng said with certainty, "Jing Changhao was wearing a 50-jin armor when he jumped into the river, and the Yellow River near Liujia is turbulent, so even a good swimmer would have difficulty escaping."

Lin Xiaofeng listened and was silent for a while. His eyes wandered in the air, as if he was thinking about something. Suddenly, he laughed, and there was some deep meaning in his smile: "Gu Chaosheng, you should immediately send people to search for Jing Changhao's body along the river, and make it public."

Gu Chaosheng's eyes rolled and he immediately understood what Lin Xiaofeng meant. He kowtowed and accepted the order: "I obey your order!"

Lin Xiaofeng then instructed: "My emphasis is on the word 'find', do you understand?"

"I understand." Gu Chaosheng nodded in approval, with a look of admiration and loyalty in his eyes.

Guo Tianyang watched from the side, and although he was a little confused, he did not ask any more questions. He knew that Lin Xiaofeng did this in order to let Gu Chaosheng find a corpse to impersonate Jing Changhao in order to calm the people and make those hidden thieves helpless, so that they would either flee or surrender. Even if Jing Changhao was really still alive, he would become a "dead man". As the saying goes: "Alas! I have become someone else's substitute!"

Finally, Lin Xiaofeng ordered Guo Tianyang: "Announce to the world that Jian Mingxiao and Lu Daqi led an army of 200,000 to recapture Shaanxi and Shanxi, and the bandit leaders Li Zicheng, Tian Jianxiu, and Jing Changhao are all dead. The remaining bandits must either die in battle or surrender." His voice was firm and powerful, revealing an unquestionable majesty.

"Gu Chaosheng, I have another thing for you to do." Lin Xiaofeng turned to Gu Chaosheng, his eyes full of meaning.

"I will obey your majesty's orders." Gu Chaosheng answered respectfully, with a hint of anticipation and nervousness in his voice.

"Send an order to Gao Yigong, asking him to bury Gao Guiying properly. If necessary, you can build a cenotaph for her brother-in-law Li Zicheng." Lin Xiaofeng's voice was low and powerful, revealing an unquestionable majesty.

Gu Chaosheng was shocked when he heard this. He knelt down and thanked him: "I will arrange it right away." His voice was filled with excitement and emotion. He knew that although Li Zicheng did not surrender to the Qing Dynasty, he did not betray the Ming Dynasty after all. So building a cenotaph for him was also a kind of comfort to him.

Lin Xiaofeng looked out the window at the gradually darkening sky, and a complex emotion surged in his heart. He knew that although the war was over, the future of Ming Dynasty was still full of unknowns and challenges. He must continue to work hard and fight for the prosperity and stability of Ming Dynasty. In this process, he needs more people to support and help him. Only in this way can he truly realize his dream - to make Ming Dynasty a strong, prosperous and prosperous country.

"Gu Chaosheng, read me the letter from Nanjing." After Gu Chaosheng left, Lin Xiaofeng said to Guo Tianyang. He sat on the wide dragon throne, wearing a bright yellow dragon robe with intricate cloud and dragon patterns embroidered on the corners of the robe, showing the majesty of the emperor. However, his eyes revealed a trace of imperceptible fatigue.

Guo Tianyang respectfully opened the letter and began to read: "Li Banghua, the chief minister of the cabinet and the imperial commissioner, has followed the emperor's order to go south to provide disaster relief and collect the overdue taxes. He has now gone from Zhejiang to Jiangxi, and will go west to the Huguang region. At the same time, he has sent several teams to Sichuan, Yunnan, Jiangxi, and Guangdong and Guangxi."

"It will end up in Fujian, please let your majesty know."

Lin Xiaofeng's eyes suddenly opened, and his sharp gaze seemed to be able to penetrate everything. "Wait..." He was puzzled when he heard it, "Why is Fujian placed last?"

Guo Tianyang shook his head. "The letter didn't mention the specific reason."

Lin Xiaofeng held his chin with his right hand and tapped his cheek lightly with his fingers. After thinking for a moment, a sneer appeared on the corner of his mouth. This must be related to Zheng Zhilong. Zheng Zhilong, this name is like a shadow in his heart, lingering. Although Zheng Zhilong has been recruited, he purchased a large amount of land in Anhai Town, Jinjiang, Quanzhou, and 80% of it is tax evasion. The imperial envoy treats everyone equally wherever he goes, but Zheng Zhilong is powerful and has powerful soldiers on the sea. If he investigates him at this time, he may be forced to rebel, and the court will be passive. Li Banghua must have taken this into consideration, so he deliberately slowed down his pace to Fujian.

"Write a letter to Nanjing and tell Li Gelao that I have no objection!" Lin Xiaofeng finished speaking, silently reciting Zheng Zhilong's name in his heart, thinking: "This guy is a pirate, I will have to deal with him sooner or later! But now is not the right time, our navy is not yet trained. Although Zeng Ying and Yang Zhan of the Sichuan Army are good at water battles, they are all inland rivers, not naval battles. The equipment and fighting methods are different, so we can't act rashly. Besides, naval battles also depend on tides and wind direction, which they don't understand."

Just as Lin Xiaofeng was immersed in deep thought, Guo Tianyang was about to open the letter from home when he saw several people coming outside the hall. They were dressed in court robes and walked hurriedly, obviously having something important to report.

"Let them in." Lin Xiaofeng ordered in a deep voice. His voice echoed in the empty hall with an unquestionable majesty.

"Your Majesty, regarding the surrendered generals in Shaanxi..." Cheng Qinghua was about to say something but was interrupted by Lin Xiaofeng.

"Wait, listen to the prince's letter first." Lin Xiaofeng waved his hand, signaling him not to speak for the time being.

Cheng Qinghua looked at Lin Xiaofeng and said nothing more. Lin Xiaofeng smiled and said, "It's okay. The prince is the heir to the throne. The family and the country are one, and there is no distinction between public and private."

"Read it!" Lin Xiaofeng said to Guo Tianyang, with a hint of anticipation in his eyes.

Guo Tianyang picked up the letter, opened it, and suddenly his whole body was shocked. He fell to his knees and shouted: "Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations, Your Majesty!"

Lin Xiaofeng asked calmly: "Could it be that the Crown Princess gave birth to a son?" Although his tone was calm, there was a hint of imperceptible joy in his eyes.

Guo Tianyang was so excited that he knelt down and answered: "Your Majesty is wise. Crown Princess Ning gave birth to the emperor's grandson. God bless the Ming Dynasty. It is such a great joy!" There was a slight tremor in his voice, and he was obviously shocked by the news.

Cheng Qinghua, Shao Shihan and the others were stunned when they heard this. Guo Tianyang read the letter in front of so many people. Before that, no one knew what was written in the letter except the crown prince. And Lin Xiaofeng guessed that the crown princess had given birth to a son just by looking at Guo Tianyang's expression, which means that Lin Xiaofeng had spies in the harem in Nanjing. The Jinyiwei's infiltration ability is really amazing!

The ministers congratulated one after another: "We congratulate the emperor on the birth of his grandson!" Their voices echoed in the hall, carrying a heartfelt joy and blessing.

The eunuchs outside the door also heard the news and knelt down to congratulate him. Their voices rose and fell, as if they were cheering for this new life.

Although Lin Xiaofeng felt that their congratulations were a little strange, he did not think much about it. He saw everyone so happy, but he felt nothing in his heart. Maybe it was because he traveled through time, and he had no feelings for the relatives of the original owner. He did not like the things in the harem. Although he wanted to have another son to inherit the throne, the Ming Dynasty had a rule that the throne was inherited by the son after the father's death, and the throne was inherited by the younger brother after the elder brother's death. The sons born in the harem could not be ranked ahead of Zhu Cilang, Cijiong, and Cizhao. So Lin Xiaofeng did not care much about this matter.

However, in order to conceal his identity as a time traveler, Lin Xiaofeng pretended to be very happy. He walked around in the Qianqing Palace with a faint smile on his face: "This is indeed a happy event! Ning has made great contributions and has been rewarded!" There was a hint of relief and joy in his voice, as if he was really happy for this new life.

"Give the reward according to the rules and then send it to the prince." He waved his hand, signaling Guo Tianyang to handle the matter.

"I obey your order." Guo Tianyang responded respectfully, and then said, "Prince, please give your majesty a name for your grandson."

Lin Xiaofeng nodded. He had to come in person. The Ming Dynasty had rules for naming the royal family. Emperor Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang was afraid that his descendants would have the same name, so he asked the clan office to compile 20 characters for the generation, which were used in a cycle. The generation of Zhu Di's lineage is: Gaozhan Qijianyou, Houzai Yichangyou, Cihe Yibozhong, Jianjing Dixianyou. The characters after the generation must be selected according to the rules of the five elements.

Lin Xiaofeng's father is Ming Guangzong Zhu Changluo, whose name contains a "Luo" with a water radical. He himself is Zhu Youjian, whose generation is "You", and water gives birth to wood, so his name contains a "Jian" with a wood radical. The crown prince Zhu Cilang, whose generation is "Ci", and wood gives birth to fire, so his name contains a "烺" with a fire radical.

According to this rule, the emperor's grandson should be of the "He" generation, and his name should have a character for soil. Lin Xiaofeng thought about it, and then slowly said, "Let's give him the name Zhu Heyi!" There was a hint of majesty and solemnity in his voice, as if he was giving this new life a sacred mission.

As Lin Xiaofeng finished speaking, warm congratulations rang out in the hall again. They saluted Lin Xiaofeng one after another, and sent the most sincere blessings to this new life. Lin Xiaofeng stood on the dragon chair, looking down at all this, but an inexplicable emotion surged in his heart. He knew that although he was a time traveler, he played an important role in this era. He must take on this responsibility and create a better future for this country and nation.

Cheng Qinghua repeated the name Zhu Heyi several times in his mind, as if he could feel the heavy expectations behind this name. He cupped his hands and said, "This name implies political prosperity, harmonious people, and order in the world. It's a really good name! Your Majesty is really talented, and we, the ministers, admire him very much."

"We are really ashamed of ourselves!" Shao Shihan and Miao Yikui also echoed, with admiration on their faces. Lin Xiaofeng did not refuse and accepted the praise frankly. He knew in his heart that this was a way for the ministers to express their loyalty and a recognition of his identity as a time traveler.

When the praises gradually died down, Lin Xiaofeng asked, "My dear ministers, do you have anything to report to me today?" His voice was calm and majestic, as if he could see into people's hearts.

Cheng Qinghua, Shao Shihan and Miao Yikui looked at each other, then Cheng Qinghua stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, the main reason we are here this time is to deal with the issue of military power of those surrendered generals in Shaanxi." There was a hint of worry in his tone.

"Are you worried that they will rebel again?" Lin Xiaofeng asked, his eyes sharp as if they could see through everything.

"That's right," Cheng Qinghua replied, "We are worried that if we don't intervene, there will be a great risk of them rebelling again. Especially Luo Wenbin and He Jin, who have a large number of troops under their command. If they rebel, the consequences will be disastrous. So the cabinet has discussed and decided to reduce their military power." His tone was firm, and it was obvious that he had made up his mind.

Lin Xiaofeng asked with a smile: "Whose idea was this?" There was a hint of amusement in his smile, as if he had seen through the truth behind it.

"This is the result of collective discussion of the cabinet, not the opinion of one person." Cheng Qinghua's answer was flawless. He knew very well that there could be no omissions on this issue.

At this time, the chief minister of the cabinet, Li Banghua, was not in the capital, and all the ministers acted in the name of the cabinet, and everyone shared the credit and faults. Lin Xiaofeng looked at Cheng Qinghua, and suddenly an inexplicable emotion surged in his heart. He thought of a person, that is Zhao Zhenji. Zhao Zhenji was a descendant of Zhao Xiong, the prime minister of the Southern Song Dynasty. He was talented when he was young, and he passed the imperial examination smoothly. He was known as the "Ming Dynasty non-stick pan". Although Cheng Qinghua is not as good as Zhao Zhenji, he is not far behind. Lin Xiaofeng put away his smile, stood up and asked: "Your cabinet has discussed for so long, is there only such a stupid way?" There was a hint of dissatisfaction and disappointment in his voice.

The three words "stupid method" were like a slap in Cheng Qinghua's face. He looked embarrassed and didn't know how to answer. He looked at Shao Shihan and Miao Yikui and found that they also looked confused.

"Your Majesty," Cheng Qinghua bowed again, "Now that the rebel is dead and the rebel has fled, the world is generally stable. The cabinet does this just to seek stability and has no other selfish motives." There was a hint of helplessness and pleading in his tone.

Lin Xiaofeng sighed softly: "Minister Fan is wrong!" There was a hint of regret and disappointment in his voice, "What do you think is the key to whether the surrendered generals will rebel again?" He swept his eyes over the three people sharply, as if he wanted to see through their hearts.

Cheng Qinghua couldn't think of an answer for a moment, so he looked at Shao Shihan. Shao Shihan also shook his head to indicate that he didn't know, and then looked at Miao Yikui. Miao Yikui was afraid that he would also be dragged into the water, so he quickly lowered his head and pretended to think. Their expressions were different, but they all revealed a kind of helplessness and confusion.

Seeing that the three were silent, Lin Xiaofeng laughed again: "Have you ever heard of the saying 'Life is like a rat'?" There was a hint of mystery and depth in his smile.

"No." The three answered in unison, with curious looks on their faces.

Lin Xiaofeng said slowly: "The rats in the toilet hide in dark and damp places and are skinny; while the rats in the granary live on piles of grain and are extremely fat. They are the same rats, why are there such big differences?" His tone was calm and infectious, as if it could bring people into that scene.

"This is because the environment is different!" Shao Shihan said with sudden enlightenment.

"Yes," Lin Xiaofeng nodded, "If you put the rat in the granary into the toilet, it will become thin over time; similarly, if you put the rat in the toilet into the granary, it will soon become fat." There was a hint of philosophy and depth in his tone.

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"So, if you were mice, would you rather stay in the toilet or in the granary?" Lin Xiaofeng's question was sharp and direct, as if it could pierce people's hearts.

Without waiting for their answer, Lin Xiaofeng asked again: "Where the rats are, there are rats. The same goes for people. The key is how we place them." There was a hint of determination and firmness in his tone.

Cheng Qinghua and the others looked at each other in bewilderment. Although Lin Xiaofeng's words were straightforward, they were profound. They seemed to have seen a new world, a world created by their own hands.

Cheng Qinghua thought about it and changed his words: "Then let's not touch their military power for the time being." There was a hint of hesitation and temptation in his tone.

"We have to move!" Lin Xiaofeng said coldly, "These surrendered generals are all born bandits. They like fighting and killing. How can they stay in one place peacefully?" His eyes were sharp and cold, as if he could see through all hypocrisy and lies.

Cheng Qinghua cursed inwardly, "I can't move, I can't stay still, what on earth are we supposed to do?" He felt powerless and confused, as if he was caught in a whirlpool from which he couldn't escape.

After exchanging glances with Shao Shihan and Miao Yikui, he said helplessly: "We are really stupid. Your Majesty, please make it clear." There was a hint of pleading and helplessness in his tone.

Lin Xiaofeng nodded slightly and did not answer their questions directly. Instead, he asked, "The Crown Princess has given birth to a son. According to convention, shouldn't the vassal states send envoys to pay tribute?" His tone was calm and meaningful, as if it could bring people into a whole new area of ​​thinking.

"Yes," Cheng Qinghua responded quickly, "We can order the vassal states to increase their tribute." There was a hint of excitement and anticipation in his tone, as if he had seen a new opportunity.

There were two types of tribute systems in the Ming Dynasty: one was regular tribute, which was offered at regular intervals; the other was additional tribute, which was offered when the royal family celebrated something. The Ming Dynasty Code states that the tribute-paying countries were divided into three categories: the Southeast Yi, the Southwest Yi, and the West Rong. But many of them were impersonated by merchants who wanted to profit from the maritime ban. The envoys of these countries came to the capital with precious tributes to express their loyalty and respect to the Ming emperor. The Ming emperor would entertain them with a feast to show the majesty and prosperity of the Ming Dynasty.

After Lin Xiaofeng finished his analysis, he said to Cheng Qinghua: "Since tribute can be added, notify them immediately." There was a hint of determination and firmness in his tone, as if he had already made the decision.

"But." Cheng Qinghua looked embarrassed, as if he wanted to say something but didn't dare to.

"What's the difficulty?" Lin Xiaofeng asked, his eyes sharp and keen, as if he could see through everything.

"Since the Bingzi Rebellion in our dynasty, Korea has stopped paying tribute; the Mongolian tribes also severed ties because of Huang Taiji's conquest. Now there are only a few countries left, such as Ryukyu, Annan, Siam, Champa, etc. If we force them to increase tribute, I am afraid it will damage the dignity of the suzerain state." There was a hint of worry and helplessness in Cheng Qinghua's tone. He was well aware of the seriousness of the problem.

Lin Xiaofeng already understood what he meant, and said with a smile: "Minister Fan, you just go and notify them, I will take care of the rest." There was a hint of confidence and calmness in his smile, as if everything was under his control.

"First send envoys to Mongolia and ask them to pay tribute. If they come, I will entertain them with a banquet; if they don't come, I will meet them with force!" There was a hint of majesty and domineering in Lin Xiaofeng's voice, as if it could shock people's hearts.

"Now that the internal troubles have been settled, the next step is to solve the external troubles!" His tone was full of determination and firmness, as if he was ready to face all challenges. His eyes passed through the windows of the hall and looked at the sky in the distance, where it seemed that endless challenges and opportunities were waiting for him.

Since ancient times, there has always been a reasonable reason for going to war. If the name is right, the reason will be reasonable, and if the reason is reasonable, everyone will be willing to follow you. Soldiers fight for their lives, and the people are on your side. This is the basis for winning the war. Where do the people rely on? The victory or defeat of the war does not depend on the difference in military strength between the two sides, but on whether the timing is right. Lin Xiaofeng stood on the tower of the Forbidden City, looking at the endless mountains in the distance, thinking secretly in his heart. He knew that if he wanted to fight Mongolia, he had to find a legitimate excuse. So, he used the fact that those vassal states did not pay tribute on time as an excuse to start a war.

Upon hearing this, Cheng Qinghua quickly advised: "Your Majesty, you have to think twice. Although Li Chuang's gang has been defeated, the country still needs to recuperate; the chieftains in the southwest have not yet settled down, and it is not a good idea to start a war on two fronts at the same time. If we have a conflict with Mongolia at this time, what if they collude with the Jiannu and attack from the south? What should we do then?" He had a worried look on his face, obviously worried about Lin Xiaofeng's decision.

Lin Xiaofeng looked determined as he replied, "If we don't fight Mongolia, sooner or later the Jiannu will force us to fight. We have to take the initiative to seize the initiative in the war." His tone was unquestionable, as if he had already seen the future victory.

Miao Yikui was confused and asked why. He scratched his head, obviously not quite understanding Lin Xiaofeng's strategic intention. Shao Shihan smiled and patted his shoulder and said, "Just like Zhuge Liang's eagerness to march north, it was not only to restore the Han Dynasty, but also because Guanzhong is rich, with a large population and abundant food, much stronger than Shu. The longer the country rests, the more likely it is that the country's strength will decline. This is the real purpose of Zhuge Liang's northern expedition." He explained patiently, trying to make Miao Yikui understand the truth.

Lin Feng went on, "Liaodong is a cold place, it can't be compared with the Central Plains. The longer we don't move, the stronger the Jiannu will become, and then they will definitely target our Central Plains. So fighting Mongolia is actually to guard against the Jiannu." His words were filled with deep worry and firm determination, as if he had already seen the future war and victory.

As soon as these words came out, the ministers in the cabinet were convinced. They nodded in agreement, obviously impressed by Lin Xiaofeng's strategic vision. There are advantages and disadvantages to the scholars and officials governing the country together. If they can be convinced, they will fully support the court; but party struggles and corruption are also troubles caused by them. Lin Xiaofeng knew this very well, so he always tried his best to convince them and let them see his determination and strategic vision.

Lin Xiaofeng's attack on Mongolia actually had two purposes: first, to solve the problem of the surrendered Shun army generals, to use the Mongols to get rid of those who were dragging their feet, to train some capable ones, and to see who was loyal and who was treacherous; second, to lure the Jiannu into the grasslands and destroy them there, so that the chances of recovering Liaodong would be greater. He secretly calculated in his mind, and every detail was considered very carefully. He knew that this was a gamble, but he was willing to take the risk for the future of the country.

It is not a good idea to attack Liaodong directly, because the terrain there is not favorable for us. Lin Xiaofeng knew very well that the terrain of Liaodong was complex and changeable, which was not conducive to the battle of the Central Plains army. But on the grassland, we have the help of merchants and Mongolian traitors, and the strength of both sides is similar. He planned to use these advantages to launch a surprise attack.

Therefore, Lin Xiaofeng sent a messenger with the imperial edict to the grassland, while he was busy preparing for war. The most important thing was money and food. Fortunately, the treasury was abundant, the autumn harvest was also good, and there was no worry about war supplies. He frequently mobilized troops and arranged them tightly. Places like Gansu and Guyuan were guarded by the generals who surrendered from the Shun army, just in case; He Jin, Gao Yigong and others led their troops north to Wanquan, preparing to attack Mongolia; strategic locations such as Datong and Pianguan also gathered heavy troops. He secretly thought about every detail in his heart to ensure that nothing could go wrong.

Gao Jie is a loyal and brave man, and he is the most suitable person to guard Pianguan. Lin Xiaofeng praised Gao Jie's loyalty and bravery, and he knew that Gao Jie was the best candidate to guard Pianguan. In addition, he also asked Hua Ruiqi to find Zhang Xianzhong to prevent him from making a comeback. He knew Zhang Xianzhong's cunning and viciousness, so he decided to send Hua Ruiqi to keep an eye on him to ensure that he would not cause trouble again.

Guo Tianyang looked at these complicated imperial edicts, thinking back to the days when the court was very poor. Now the army is strong and powerful, all thanks to the money. He looked at these imperial edicts with great emotion, thinking about the changes in the court in his heart. It takes a lot of silver to mobilize troops and prepare food and grass, but Lin Xiaofeng knows that this is necessary for fighting. He gritted his teeth and approved the cost list of more than 930,000 taels of silver for recovering Guanzhong. Although it hurts, the money must be spent.

He also asked about the payment of the pension for the battle of Chengtianfu and learned that it had been paid and that the money borrowed from the King of Shu had been repaid. He secretly breathed a sigh of relief knowing that the matter had been properly handled. However, he suddenly remembered that Jian Mingxiao had borrowed 5 million taels of silver from the King of Shu for emergency purposes. Now that the bandits had been pacified, the King of Shu would definitely ask for the debt. He frowned and secretly thought about how to deal with this problem.

Many officials and nobles in the capital were "borrowed" money. Although they did not ask for it openly, they wrote letters to ask for repayment, which was actually to ask for the debt. Lin Xiaofeng was worried. He knew that he owed a lot of debts, but the war was not over yet, so he had to bite the bullet and hold on. He looked at the scenery outside the window and thought about how to solve this problem. He knew that this war was crucial to the future of the country, so he had to persevere no matter how difficult it was.

Lin Xiaofeng is a guy who relies on emotional cards to borrow money. If he doesn't lend money, the relationship will collapse. Paying back the money is a matter of course, and refusing to pay is the behavior of a gangster. He has done that dishonorable thing before, so he doesn't mind playing it again this time. Looking at the pile of official documents of the nobles who moved south on the table, he frowned, and a plan came to his mind. There was a cunning light in his deep eyes. He turned to ask Guo Tianyang: "I heard that the new general manager of the Jiangnan Weaving Bureau is your subordinate?" Tianyang lowered his head respectfully, his chubby face full of smiles, and replied: "Your Majesty, it is indeed my subordinate."

"Those nobles and court officials who moved south have made contributions to assisting the prince, so you should arrange a visit to them and thank them for their contributions in name." Lin Xiaofeng said calmly, but in fact, he had already figured out the plan in his mind. He thought that these nobles had a lot of good things in their hands, and he had to make a lot of money from them this time. Tianyang understood as soon as he heard it. This was not a thank you, but a request for benefits. But how to ask? How much should I ask? Tianyang was puzzled and asked quietly: "Your Majesty, do I need to bring any gifts when I visit?"

"Bring it! You must bring it! And the heavier the gift, the better. They are about to get promoted and make a fortune, how can they not be willing to spend money?" Lin Xiaofeng's eyes flashed with greed, as if he had already seen the gold and silver treasures filling up his warehouse. Tianyang was delighted when he heard it, and quickly responded: "I will prepare it right away."

Lin Xiaofeng did not forget to remind him: "Do you remember my rules?" Tianyang said with a happy face: "Hey, I remember, it's 10:9, you take the bigger share." He secretly calculated in his heart that although he could only take a smaller share, the families of those nobles were very wealthy, and he would definitely get a lot of benefits this time.

"Okay, let's do it." Lin Xiaofeng nodded with satisfaction, and then asked casually: "Who is on duty in the cabinet today?" He wanted to know the cabinet's movements so as to better implement his plan. Tianyang thought for a while and said: "Your Majesty, Lord Cheng Qinghua is on vacation, Lord Shao Shihan is checking the warehouse, and the person on duty today is the Minister of Personnel Miao Yikui."

Lin Xiaofeng smiled sinisterly: "Call Miao Yikui, don't let anyone see any clues." He had already thought of how to use Miao Yikui to implement his plan. Tianyang hesitated for a moment, then hurried out with the official documents.

When he arrived at Wenyuan Pavilion, Guo Tianyang found Miao Yikui who was busy with his work, quietly handed him the official document and a secret note, and then turned around and slipped away. He was secretly proud of himself, because he could get a lot of money from those nobles this time.

Not long after, Miao Yikui pretended to come out of Wenyuan Pavilion and found an opportunity to sneak into the palace. He saw Guo Tianyang waiting for him, so he whispered, "Eunuch Guo, what's the hurry?" Tianyang nodded, "Follow me." He took Miao Yikui to the Qianqing Palace.

When they arrived at the Qianqing Palace, Miao Yikui saw Lin Xiaofeng sitting upright, and his heart skipped a beat. He quickly bowed and greeted: "Your Majesty." Lin Xiaofeng got straight to the point: "Have you read the official documents of the nobles who migrated south and returned to Beijing?"

"I've already seen it." Miao Yikui answered cautiously. He was a little nervous, wondering what Lin Xiaofeng was up to this time.

"What do you think? What's the cabinet's opinion?" Lin Xiaofeng stared into Miao Yikui's eyes, as if trying to discern some clues from his look.

Miao Yikui answered cautiously: "I will naturally follow your Majesty's orders, and the cabinet also means the same." He did not dare to go against Lin Xiaofeng's wishes and could only go along with what he said.

"Heh," Lin Xiaofeng sneered, "Do you mean that I have the final say alone?" There was a hint of threat in his words.

"I dare not. I just think that those nobles have little influence on the government. It doesn't matter whether they return to Kyoto or not." Miao Yikui looked embarrassed. He knew in his heart that these nobles had a lot of good things in their hands, and Lin Xiaofeng was definitely going to extort money from them this time.

"Who said there is no impact? Once they leave, who will the prince rely on?" Lin Xiaofeng's words were filled with dissatisfaction. He was thinking, these nobles are important supporters of the prince, how can he let them leave so easily?
"But if we don't let them return to Beijing, I'm afraid it will be hard to convince the public." Miao Yikui looked troubled. He knew in his heart that this decision might cause dissatisfaction among many people.

Lin Xiaofeng suddenly changed the subject: "Is the Wenxuansi of the Ministry of Personnel your man?" The Wenxuansi was responsible for the promotion and transfer of officials, which was a lucrative job. Miao Yikui answered honestly: "The doctor of the Wenxuansi was recommended by me."

Lin Xiaofeng nodded: "Okay, then let the Ministry of Literature recommend merits for these nobles who migrated south, and I will promote them according to their merits." There was a hint of cunning in his words.

"But." Lin Xiaofeng paused deliberately, "After the promotion, we have to arrange positions for them in Nanjing or local areas." There was a hint of unquestionable tone in his words.

When Miao Yikui heard this, his heart was beating fast. He didn't dare to ask more questions, and could only accept the order and leave tremblingly. He knew in his heart that this time Lin Xiaofeng was going to play a double game.

Lin Xiaofeng looked at Miao Yikui's retreating back, and a sneer appeared on his lips. Those officials in Nanjing still want to return to Beijing to collect their debts, but they don't know that I have a plan. Pay back the money? No way! But we still have to give them face, let them come back, and then stay in Nanjing or work in the local area. This is both an open and a secret plot, which not only prevents them from returning to Beijing, but also forces them to pay money. He was thinking in his mind that he could make a lot of money from these nobles this time.

In order to implement this plan, Lin Xiaofeng also asked the eunuchs of the weaving bureau to deliberately leak the news, saying that as long as the officials expressed their gratitude, they would have the opportunity to get benefits. As a result, those officials presented generous gifts to show their sincerity. Lin Xiaofeng looked at the storehouse full of gold, silver and treasures, and his heart was filled with joy. He made a lot of money again!
After solving the debt problem of the officials who moved south, Lin Xiaofeng began to think about the huge debt of the Shu Palace. Five million taels of silver! This is not a small amount. But Jian Mingxiao has the IOU in his hand, so he can't deny it. Lin Xiaofeng had a headache and secretly thought about how to deal with this thorny debt problem.

Just when Lin Xiaofeng was having a headache, good news came from the Shu Palace in Chengdu. Zuo Changshi excitedly reported that the thief Li Chuang had been killed! When the Shu King heard this, he was overjoyed and immediately wanted to write a letter to Lin Xiaofeng to report Jian Mingxiao and collect the debt. But Zuo Changshi advised him to calm down and wait until Jian Mingxiao stepped down before taking action. Although the Shu King listened to the advice, he still wrote a letter to collect the debt. And what about Lin Xiaofeng? He was thinking about how to deal with this thorny debt problem of the Shu Palace! He sat on the dragon chair with a frown, thinking about various countermeasures in his mind. He knew that this time it couldn't be solved as easily as dealing with the officials who moved south. After all, the debt of the Shu Palace is a hot potato! (End of this chapter)

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