North of Chang 'an was where the imperial guards were stationed. Among the guards, the Left and Right Featherwood Guards were the closest to the Black Tortoise Gate. In front of them was the Thousand Cavalry Camp.
Deep into the night, Major Min Yongbo of the Featherwood Guard returned from patrolling the camp. He took off his saber and tossed it on the table before slowly pacing with his hands behind his back. Featherwood General Wang Dagang, who had accompanied him back from patrolling, yawned and was about to return to his tent to sleep. Seeing him like this, he couldn't help but ask in puzzlement: "Major Min, is there something on your mind?"
Min Yongbo nodded, then shook his head. "It's already late, but the Grand General still hasn't returned to camp."
Wang Dagang laughed: "Didn't the King of Hanoi invite him to visit the Jin Wu Guards? Perhaps the two brothers are sitting down to drink and have a long chat. It's also possible that they won't return tonight. What are you worried about?"
Min Yongbo said: "Impossible. The Grand General has never been greedy. Moreover, you know the Grand General's character. In military affairs, the Grand General has never slacked off. How could he not give us an explanation? Even if he doesn't return, he should at least send a bodyguard back to report. "
Wang Dagang was still unconcerned and said, "You, who can harm the Great General? Besides, the Grand General is going to the Jin Wu Guards. That's the Wu family's territory. "
Min Yongbo snorted. "Is it rare to see family members turn against each other?"
He also felt that these words were inappropriate. They seemed to imply that the Wu family was not on good terms. He coughed and beckoned to Wang Dagang.
Wang Dagang moved in front of him. Min Yongbo lowered his voice and said: "A few days ago, His Majesty had the Grand General issue a secret edict, instructing him to strengthen the palace's security, especially before the Thousand Ox Guards change guard. Otherwise, why do you think the Grand General has been patrolling the palace every day?"
Wang Dagang was shocked. "There's such a thing?"
Wang Dagang was also Wu Youyi's confidant. Since the conversation had reached this point, Min Yongbo did not hide anything from him and said, "That is correct. The Grand General has always been loyal to His Majesty and has never discounted His Majesty's orders. Why do you think he would suddenly leave, give up his official duties of patrolling the city, and not give us any explanation? I feel uneasy. "
Wang Dagang was a pure general. There was no problem in fighting a war, but he was not good at this kind of intrigue. He scratched his head and said awkwardly, "Then … what should we do?"
Min Yongbo thought for a moment, then said, "The matter of the Grand General receiving a secret edict has only been explained to me. From the Grand General's tone, it seems that the capital has not been peaceful recently. It's better to be safe than sorry. How about this, I'll lead a group of men to patrol the palace on behalf of the Grand General while you go to the Jin Wu Guards. The Grand General won't blame us for being meddlesome. "
Although Wang Dagang was already sleepy, he could only agree to Min Yongbo's words. The two of them immediately reorganized their personal guards. Wang Dagang led twenty odd subordinates while Min Yongbo led a hundred men. Both of them mounted their steeds and galloped out of the gate.
The two groups of people galloped out of the gate and traveled two li. Before they could part ways, one to the south and one to the north, a shrill whistle suddenly rang out in the darkness. The whistle filled the air and was clearly a whistling arrow. The two of them reined in their horses at the same time, their hearts filled with bewilderment.
At this time, a group of men and horses suddenly appeared in the snowy fields. Because of the reflection of the snow, the night was not so dark that they could not see anything. They could clearly see the figures of the people. It was a dense mass of people and they could not immediately count them.
Since the other party had used the whistling arrow, they were clearly not afraid of exposing their tracks. Min Yongbo and Wang Dagang could not imagine what they would encounter at the gate of the camp. Min Yongbo quietly signaled for an imperial bodyguard to return to the camp to report while he stood there with his cavalry, hoping to understand what was going on.
A rough and bold voice came from the darkness. "Haha, my good brothers of Zuo Yulin, where are you going in the middle of the night?"
Min Yongbo felt that the person's voice was somewhat familiar but could not immediately recall who it was. He sternly asked, "Who are you?"
That person laughed loudly. Amidst the laughter, a muffled grunt suddenly came from behind Min Yongbo. Min Yongbo turned his head to look and saw that the imperial bodyguard he had ordered to return to the camp to report had just galloped away from the main group of people and fell head first from his horse. There was no one near him and it was clear that he had been attacked by a crossbow or similar weapon.
Immediately, in the snowy ground behind them, a row of figures suddenly stood up and approached them step by step. Min Yongbo's subordinates became uneasy and Min Yongbo's horse impatiently spun two rounds. Min Yongbo gently patted the horse's mane and calmed it down. In a deep voice, he said, "Do not panic. Silence!"
Min Yongbo knew that the situation was not good but he had clearly been surrounded. The group of people approaching from the front all had long spears and large halberds and were lined up in an orderly formation. The people coming to flank him from the back all had flat weapons. Although it could not be seen clearly, from their movements and figures, it was clear that they were all crossbows.
At this distance, Min Yongbo's men only had time to accelerate and charge once, but there were too many unfavorable conditions for them. Firstly, it was late at night and the ground was covered in snow. Charging at full speed was not fast. Secondly, they were all equipped with short weapons. If the other side didn't have long spears and large halberds, they had strong bows and hard crossbows. Even if he launched a charge, he would not be able to win.
Moreover, although these people's hostility was obvious, no matter how he thought about it, he did not feel that the other side would indiscriminately kill him. As a result, he did not have the courage to fight to the death. In this way, the two sides were getting closer and closer. By the time the other side's spears and halberds neared, they had already lost the effective distance for their horses to accelerate and had even less thoughts of attacking.
The other side's men stopped. Only one saber-wielding general advanced alone. Only when he came close did Min Yongbo clearly see the person approaching. This person was the Right Imperial Guard General Ye Huli, the son-in-law of the Right Imperial Guard General Li Duozuo. Min Yongbo thought of the secret edict that Great General Wu had received and his face began to turn green. "General Ye Huli, what are you doing?"
Ye Huli nonchalantly slapped his scabbard and loudly said, "Second Zhang has bewitched the Son of Heaven and brought disaster to the court. The Imperial Guards of the northern gate and southern office, under the command of the Crown Prince, the Prince of Xiang, and the various Prime Ministers, have already charged into the palace to exterminate the traitors. Major Min, you can't get involved in these muddy waters."
Wang Dagang was so angry that his face turned purple. "Where is our Great General?" he angrily asked.
Ye Huli craftily smiled. "He's currently a guest at the King of Hanoi's place. Don't worry, Great General Wu Youyi is safe and sound. His Highness, the Prince of Liang, is currently drinking wine with him."
Min Yongbo and Wang Dagang were even more shocked. Wu Sansi and Wu Yizong were also participating? No wonder Ye Huli dared to boast that the Imperial Guards of the northern gate and southern office had responded to the Crown Prince's mutiny. With the Crown Prince, the Prince of Xiang, and the Prime Ministers of the Political Affairs Hall taking the lead and the Wu clan secretly supporting them, wouldn't this be the entire court rebelling?
Wang Dagang nervously asked Min Yongbo, "Sima, what should we do?"
Min Yongbo looked around at the soldiers of the Right Guard Forest glaring at him like tigers. In a hoarse voice, he asked, "Brother Ye Huli, what do you want to do?"
Ye Huli replied, "I invite the two of you to rest in my army. At daybreak, you will be free. What do the two of you think?"
Min Yongbo gripped his horse tightly. For a moment, he could not make up his mind. He could feel his palms drenched in sweat.
Ye Huli raised his hand. The soldiers with spears and halberds immediately took three steps forward. Their orderly footsteps treaded on the thick snow, creating a heart-chilling sound. At the same time, the archers in the rear, who had maintained a certain distance from them the entire time, also moved, assuming an offensive stance.
Wang Dagang raised his saber and urgently called out, "Sima!"
Min Yongbo clenched his teeth and sternly ordered, "Disarm! Dismount! "
… …
Li Xian's clothes were disheveled. He did not even put on his boots properly. Naturally, he did not put on his thick and warm outer robe. Supported by someone, his feet did not touch the ground as he walked to the palace gate. A gust of cold wind blew against his face. Li Xian shivered and his muddled mind suddenly became clear.
He thought of his mother's iron fist, thought of his mother's powerful control. Can tonight's mutiny really succeed? Although the two Zhangs' power is growing day by day, can they still be the Emperor? I am the Crown Prince. My position as the Crown Prince has not changed! Mother's illness is beyond cure. The Emperor's throne is within my reach. Why should I take this risk?
Li Xian looked left and right and saw that Li Duozuo, Li Zhan, and the others all had impassioned expressions. Li Xian thought to himself, These people are taking advantage of the Empress's critical illness to launch a mutiny. The so-called killing of the two Zhangs to protect the Tang dynasty is merely to covet the merit of ascending to the throne. My status has long been set. As long as I know my place, the Emperor's throne will definitely be mine. Why should I take this risk with them?
Thinking of this, Li Xian suddenly struggled, shaking off the two attendants supporting him. He tightly gripped the palace gate, unwilling to walk out. Wang Tongjiao was stunned. "Your Imperial Highness, you … what's wrong?"
Li Xian trembled as he said, "The country's grand plans will be handled by the Empress. The so-called military remonstrance is no different from rebelling against the superiors. It is not the conduct of an official. Gu … Gu cannot go!"
Hearing this, the veins on Wang Tongjiao's forehead bulged. If the Crown Prince did not go, wouldn't it really be considered a rebellion? Without the Crown Prince, how could they convince the masses? If the news spread, those five hundred warriors who had sacrificed their lives would most likely scatter and flee for their lives. Wouldn't everyone be finished?
Wang Tongjiao also did not stand on ceremony. With a red face and neck, he said to his father-in-law, "Your Imperial Highness, the former Emperor paid Your Imperial Highness with a divine artifact, but Your Imperial Highness was unexpectedly crippled. Both humans and gods are indignant. It has been 23 years. Today, with the spirit of heaven and earth, the North Gate Imperial Guards and the South Gate Prime Minister will work together to punish the traitors and restore the Li family. Your Imperial Highness, please immediately head to the Black Tortoise Gate in order to uphold the masses' expectations. "
Li Xian's two feet stomped on the ground, his buttocks falling backwards. His hands tightly hugged the gate as he fearfully said, "Treacherous and vile people should naturally be killed. However, Her Majesty's dragon body is unwell. What if we mobilize our troops into the inner palace and frighten her? Wouldn't Gu bear the name of being unfilial? In Gu's opinion, you all should temporarily disperse. Let's discuss this at length. "
Hearing this, Li Zhan's eyes turned red. What kind of nonsense is this? You want us to disperse now? You've already caused such a big commotion. Do you think everyone else is a dead pig? Dispersing now is tantamount to suicide! If this idiot, who was as timid as a mouse, was not the current Crown Prince, Li Zhan would have already kicked him to death.
Li Duozuo, who was standing to the side, wanted to cry but had no tears. He did not expect that the first problem of the military remonstrance would actually come from His Imperial Highness, the Crown Prince, whom they wholeheartedly wanted to support to ascend to the throne.
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