I, Emperor Chongzhen, have extended the life of the Ming Dynasty by five hundred years.

Upon hearing this, He Fu waved his hands repeatedly in opposition.

"The new policies in Baoding Prefecture have just been implemented, and there is still a lot to be done. You cannot go."

Shao Zongyuan bowed and said, "The Prefect of Baoding is sufficient to oversee the situation. You should know that Li Yan is no ordinary rebel. He is shrewd and compassionate, and it is difficult to move him without sincerity. I am willing to go and give it a try. Even if I fail, I can still ascertain his true strength so that Your Majesty can make a decision later."

Upon hearing this, Miao Gang's expression darkened, and he said, "Your Majesty, I believe that Shao Tongzhi is thinking too simply. Since Li Yan has already rebelled, he is an enemy of the court. How could he change his allegiance because of a few empty words? In the current situation, we should directly deter him with military force, supplemented by high-ranking officials and generous salaries, in order to demonstrate the majesty of the court."

Shao Zongyuan smiled slightly and retorted, "The reason why Li Yan and his wife are able to win the hearts of the people is precisely because they do things that benefit the people. If Your Majesty only knows how to use power to oppress people and promise them high-ranking positions and generous salaries, then people will look down on you."

Miao Gang retorted angrily, "What right does a traitor like him have to look down on His Majesty?"

"That's not what I meant. I meant..."

Zhu Youjian waved his hand, interrupting their argument.

"Since you are willing to go, I will grant your request. If this trip succeeds in persuading them to surrender, it will be a great achievement. If it fails, remember to protect yourself. I will wait for your return."

Shao Zongyuan bowed deeply: "Your subject obeys the decree and will certainly not fail Your Majesty's high expectations."

Since things had come to this point, He Fu and Miao Gang no longer insisted.

Zhu Youjian agreed to let Shao Zongyuan go because he saw the arrogance in the man's heart.

People who boast of their talent are more or less arrogant.

Judging from his words and actions, this person has high aspirations.

There was even a faint feeling that although this person had never met Li Yan before, there was a sense of mutual respect between them.

If this mission is successfully completed, it will be a great achievement.

Shao Zongyuan made all the necessary preparations, and didn't even need any guards. He only brought two attendants and traveled light.

The journey from Baoding to Zhengding is only 300 li, which can be completed in half a day by fast horse.

Shao Zongyuan wasn't a very good rider, so he set off in the morning and arrived in the evening.

However, just as he was about to enter the city, he was suddenly surrounded by people.

"Stop right there, what are you doing?"

Shao Zongyuan carefully examined the man. His clothes were disheveled, and his weapons were also a jumbled mess: long swords, short clubs, axes, hoes...

Looking closer, all of these people had a red cloth wrapped around their left arms; they were Hong Niangzi's soldiers!

"I am Shao Zongyuan, the Assistant Prefect of Baoding Prefecture, and I have come to pay my respects to General Li Yan by imperial decree!"

Brush brush!

Upon hearing that they were officials from the Ming court, the crowd immediately drew their swords.

Shao Zongyuan quickly opened his arms and said, "I have no swords or soldiers on me. I only wish to see General Li Yan. Please inform him."

"You corrupt official, knowing full well that the two armies are at war, why did you still come to your death?"

A clear female voice rang out, and the soldiers made way for them.

Shao Zongyuan looked in the direction of the sound and saw that the man was about thirty years old, with his hair standing up high and tied with a red silk rope. He was wearing a light green cotton armor and a bright red cloak, which made him look heroic and dashing.

Judging from her clothes and demeanor, it goes without saying that she must be the famous matchmaker.

Looking at these soldiers, they were covered in dust and looked tired, and they were entering the city in an orderly manner, probably having just arrived.

"I am Shao Zongyuan, the Assistant Prefect of Baoding. Greetings, Madam Li!"

Upon hearing this, Hong Niangzi's eyebrows furrowed, and she said, "I'm asking you a question. What are you doing here?"

"I have come to pay my respects to General Li Yan on His Majesty's orders!"

"His Majesty?"

Lady Red snorted coldly and retorted, "Which emperor are you referring to?"

Shao Zongyuan replied, "Under the whole heaven, all land belongs to the emperor; there is only one emperor in this world, and that is His Majesty the Chongzhen Emperor!"

"I think you're confused, official. Although my Great Shun Dynasty hasn't unified the entire country yet, it already occupies half of the land. There's more than one emperor in this world!"

"A thief is still a thief. Li Zicheng's claim to be emperor was nothing more than self-aggrandizement."

Hong Niangzi drew her sword from her waist and pointed it at Shao Zongyuan, coldly saying, "Say it again, who is the thief?"

Shao Zongyuan showed no sign of backing down, saying, "Li Zicheng is a thief, and you are all thieves!"

"you……"

Hong Niangzi was so angry that her face turned pale, and the knife was already held against Shao Zongyuan's neck.

"Dare you say that again? Believe me, I'll chop your head off right now!"

Shao Zongyuan remained unfazed and said, "In times of war, envoys are not to be killed. If you can't even abide by the most basic rules, how can you claim you're not a thief?"

Upon hearing this, Hong Niangzi was speechless, choked by her words.

She was originally a folk acrobat, uneducated, and no match for Shao Zongyuan in eloquence.

In the past, during the early stages of the uprising, if we encountered an official like that, we would have killed him without bothering to say a word.

Since following Li Yan, his fiery temper has been somewhat tempered.

Now that Li Zicheng has declared himself emperor, he can no longer act recklessly.

Seeing this, Shao Zongyuan smiled victoriously and continued, "I have come to pay my respects to Minister Li by imperial decree. Please convey my message to him, Madam Li!"

"What if I don't let you see me?"

"The matter I have discussed concerns the well-being of the people and the nation. I hope that Madam Li will grant me this favor."

"How could a corrupt official like you know anything about the suffering of the common people, or understand anything about the fate of the nation?"

"Madam Li, let's talk this out calmly, don't resort to insults."

"So what if I insulted you?"

Shao Zongyuan sighed helplessly and said, "Now that war is raging everywhere, it is only the common people who suffer. I hope that Madam Li will put aside her prejudices for the time being and not be quick to speak."

Hong Niangzi raised an eyebrow and said, "You just said that in times of war, envoys should not be killed, but you never said that envoys cannot be insulted. You corrupt official, you corrupt official, you are a corrupt official! What difference will it make if I insult you today?"

"Women and petty men are indeed difficult to deal with; the ancients were right!"

"You...you dare to insult me?"

"If you can insult me, why can't I insult you?"

Shao Zongyuan also lost his temper, thinking to himself, "I didn't come here to be scolded!"

I'm here to discuss national affairs with your man, and you're being incredibly rude, woman...

"Fine, I think you're tired of living, you corrupt official!"

Hong Niangzi grew angrier as she spoke, her eyes darting around as she said, "Seize this man, strip him naked, and give him fifty lashes!"

"Wait a minute!"

Shao Zongyuan hurriedly said, "I have come here because I really have something important to discuss. Please..."

"I don't care if you have important business to attend to. In times of war, envoys are not to be killed, but there's no rule against fighting!"

"This...isn't how it is..."

"I said so, so it is! Men, beat them up!"

"Yes, sir!"

"Let me go, you can't do this..."

Shao Zongyuan struggled fiercely, but was still pinned to the ground.

His two attendants were dumbfounded. "We told you not to bring any troops. What are you going to do now?"

Luckily I didn't say anything, otherwise I would have gotten a beating!

Shao Zongyuan felt a chill on his buttocks as his pants were pulled down.

He shouted in desperation, but to no avail.

Snapped!

The baton struck him heavily, causing him to howl in pain, tears and snot streaming down his face.

These people don't slack off; they use all their strength.

After fifty strokes of the military rod were finally finished, Shao Zongyuan had already fainted, his buttocks were covered in blood and flesh, a truly gruesome sight.

His two men carried the man onto a horse and hurriedly rushed back to Baoding.

As the other woman watched her departing figure, Hong Niangzi couldn't help but sneer.

After entering the city, they went straight to the command office, where Li Yan had been waiting for a long time.

"My wife has had a long and arduous journey on the march!"

"My lord, I have something interesting to tell you."

Li Yan was somewhat surprised and asked, "What is it?"

Hong Niangzi smiled and said, "Just as I entered the city, I saw a corrupt official who said he wanted to see you."

Li Yan thought for a moment and asked, "What kind of official?"

"The prefect and assistant prefect of Baoding, his name was something like Shao, I don't remember..."

"I understand, it's Shao Zongyuan, the Assistant Prefect of Baoding."

"Yes, that seems to be the name. Do you recognize it?"

Li Yan shook his head and said, "We have never met before, but I have heard of him. He is a fellow graduate of the imperial examination with me, but I am from Kaifeng Prefecture and he is from Shuntian Prefecture."

Hong Niangzi asked疑惑地问道, "How do you know his name when you're so far away?"

Li Yan explained, "A successful candidate in the imperial examinations can become an official. He was on the list of candidates for the position before me that year, but I didn't go. Meanwhile, he has risen from a candidate for county magistrate to a prefectural vice-prefect. It's truly a matter of timing and fate!"

"He's just a corrupt official; how can he be compared to you, sir?"

"I've heard that this person has quite a track record in politics. He should be different from those corrupt officials; he's someone with real talent and ability."

Hong Niangzi said discontentedly, "I don't care if he has any real talent or skills, he's definitely not as good as my husband!"

Li Yan smiled and asked, "What business does this person have with me?"

"I don't know, I beat him up and chased him away!"

Li Yan: ……

Seeing this, Hong Niangzi's face darkened, and she asked, "Husband, are you not satisfied?"

Li Yan quickly replied, "Satisfied, satisfied!"