Yang Fan flew over, and when he saw that it was Xiao Qianyue who was leading the patrolling troops to block his way, he finally relaxed.
Just now, he was still puzzled. Where did this group of people suddenly come from?
Even if it was just a temporary force that Wu Zetian had gathered, it was proof that she knew about the military remonstrance, which would definitely lead to great trouble.
Wu Zetian was still the empress, and she still had the right to rule over the empire. Even though they were said to be supported by the northern gate and southern yamen, as long as Wu Zetian could escape this calamity, she could still reverse the situation.
The best result for those who had carried out the military remonstrance would be to help the crown prince flee to the south and establish a new court in the southern borders to oppose Wu Zetian. But if that happened, would the Turks and Tibetans let go of the chance to take advantage of the situation?
Yang Fan broke out in a cold sweat and sternly shouted, "Xiao Yuke, immediately lead the troops and retreat to the side!"
Xiao Qianyue was stunned. Only now did he see Yang Fan clearly, and he couldn't help but cry out, "General Yang!"
Yang Fan sternly said, "The northern gate and southern yamen, the two prime ministers are working together to protect the crown prince, kill the traitors, and purge the emperor's side. All of you, quickly retreat to the side!"
"Our Thousand Cavalry is also participating in the rebellion?"
Xiao Qianyue couldn't digest such shocking news, but obeying orders had become an instinct for him. Yang Fan shouted, and Xiao Qianyue reflexively replied, "As you command!"
When Xiao Qianyue's troops saw that even their commanding general had come, they lost all will to fight, and when they saw Captain Xiao signal for them to retreat, they immediately put away their weapons and retreated to the side. For a moment, only Tian Guidao was left on the imperial road.
Tian Guidao immediately panicked. He had been wavering and didn't know what to do, but now he didn't even have the right to choose. What could he do alone?
By this time Li Duozuo, Xue Sixing and the others were protecting the Crown Prince as they cautiously approached. As soon as Tian Guidao saw that the Crown Prince was really here, he seized the opportunity to find a way out of this embarrassing situation. With a respectful voice he said, "Since the Crown Prince is here, your subject cannot disobey!" Finished speaking, he cupped his hands high and stepped back to the side of the road.
This time, the participants of the military remonstrance included almost all the factions except for Er Zhang's faction. Many of these factions had more or less connections with Er Zhang's faction. If they were all cleared up, it was bound to create a chaotic and serious situation. The Crown Prince's throne might not be stable either.
Therefore, from the very beginning, their policy was to narrow the scope of the attack, and the people they would not forgive were limited to Er Zhang's trusted aides. Now that Tian Guidao had admitted defeat, there was no need to kill him. Yang Fan ordered Xiao Qianyue, "You, escort Tian Zhongjian to the Black Tortoise Hall. Without my order, don't act recklessly!"
Xiao Qianyue cupped his fists and said, "This general obeys!"
Tian Guidao felt relieved upon hearing this. He knew that his life was no longer in danger.
If the Crown Prince's rebellion succeeded, he would undoubtedly have to settle the crime of blocking the road today. However, at most, he would be dismissed from his post and sent home to enjoy his old age. What else could he do? But on the other hand, what if the Crown Prince's rebellion failed? Then the detained Tian Guidao wouldn't be beheaded as a rebel, and he might even have a chance to be promoted.
As the saying went, the greater the risk, the greater the reward. This was a result that he could accept, so Tian Guidao didn't need Xiao Qianyue to send the soldiers to escort him. He very consciously walked toward the Black Tortoise Hall. Xiao Qianyue immediately led the troops under her command to chase after him. As they walked, she felt like she was dreaming. "Our Thousand Cavalry … really rebelled?"
…
Yang Fan arrived in time and ordered Xiao Qianyue's troops to retreat, avoiding a fierce battle halfway. There were eunuchs and palace maids on night watch in every palace. Once a battle broke out here, it would be difficult to not alert Wu Zetian.
The group quickened their pace and rushed in the direction of the Immortal Welcoming Palace. After traveling a short distance, Gao Lishi hurried over with two young eunuchs. When he saw Yang Fan walking at the front, he called out happily, "Big Brother Yang!"
Even Yang Fan didn't come to the inner court often, so he wasn't very familiar with the roads. However, Gao Lishi was used to it. With him as a spy, the group moved even more quickly. Very soon, they arrived in front of the Immortal Welcoming Palace.
Everyone stood still and looked at the majestic palace and the tall palace gates. When they thought that the empress was staying inside, a kind of pressure immediately surged into their hearts.
However, they were willing to be cut and dared to drag the emperor down from his horse. They had even dared to carry out a rebellion, so what else did they have to worry about? That kind of strong psychological pressure only made their hearts sink, but then they recovered their courage and felt a kind of heroic spirit. Who could live such a grand life? This was a great achievement that could change the emperor's position!
"Big Brother Yang!"
Gao Lishi, who had just disappeared for a moment, directed a few young eunuchs to run back with great difficulty while carrying a thick and large log. No one knew where they had gotten the log or where they had hidden it beforehand. When Yang Fan saw this, he slapped his shoulder heavily and praised, "Good job! Quick, let's break down the doors! "
The emperor's resting palace would definitely not open after nightfall. There was only one way to get in: break down the doors! Fortunately, although the palace walls were very high, this was still the palace gate of the resting palace of the inner court. It was not as thick and heavy as the palace gates. With such a thick log, they would definitely be able to break it down.
Wang Tongjiao and Jing Hui were the first to rush forward and take the log from the hands of the young eunuchs. Immediately, a dozen or so burly soldiers volunteered to rush forward and work together with them to pick up the giant log. With a small jog, they fiercely slammed against the palace gates.
With a loud bang, the palace gates suddenly shook. Everyone quickly retreated with the log in their arms and ran up again. With another loud bang, the palace gates began to loosen. Each time they were hit, a hole the width of a fist would open up. Huan Yanfan raised his saber and exclaimed in joy, "Quick! A few more hits and it'll open! "
Once they reached the Immortal Welcoming Palace, Li Xian dismounted with a guilty conscience. The fear on his face had not yet faded. The rhythm of the log hitting the palace gates was not fast because after each hit, he had to retreat a dozen or so steps before he could use his strength to slam against it again. Even so, each loud bang seemed to strike against his heart, causing him to tremble with fear.
The Immortal Welcoming Palace was an independent palace complex. Inside, there were many doors and many houses, and the winding paths were deep and serene. To make a simple distinction, it was divided into three courtyards. Each courtyard had a spacious courtyard and a tall building. Thus, the loud banging of the doors became very soft when it reached the second courtyard. The people sleeping in the third courtyard had no way of hearing it.
However, the people who were sleeping in the first courtyard were the first to be woken up. Ever since the emperor became seriously ill and was moved to the Immortal Welcoming Palace by Er Zhang's men, this place had been completely under Er Zhang's control. Other than some of Er Zhang's trusted eunuchs and palace maids, he had also arranged for many of Fengchen's men to guard the palace.
As soon as the door was slammed, they knew something had happened. The group of people immediately panicked. These people ran out like headless flies, their clothes disheveled, screaming to the heavens and the earth. Some went straight to the inner palace to report the news, some called for reinforcements, and some saw that the palace gates were getting more and more dangerous with each hit. The bars were in danger of breaking, so they shouted and moved tables and chairs to block the gates. For a moment, there was chaos.
At this time, the palace maids and eunuchs living in the small rooms to the left and right of the Immortal Welcoming Palace were also startled awake. However, it was already too late for them to notice the abnormality. They didn't dare to come over and only stood far away. The group of people who wanted to rush into the palace couldn't be bothered with them and only increased the speed at which they slammed the doors.
"Boom! Ka … La la … "
The round wood slammed again and the bars of the door were broken, leaving only a small part of it holding together. Everyone was overjoyed and didn't care about retreating to borrow strength. They just stood where they were and slammed the door twice with the force of their swinging arms. Finally, the palace gates were wide open. Li Duozuo raised his eyebrows, pulled out his sword, and shouted, "Kill!"
Everyone pulled out their swords and sabers and rushed in. The courtyard was already in chaos. Er Zhang's men ran all over the courtyard like wolves and boars. When Li Duozuo, Huan Yanfan, and the others saw those who rushed up, they immediately raised their sabers and fell. At this time, no one cared about being merciful. Those who resisted had to be killed, and those who were in the way had to be killed as well. They were like a red-hot knife cutting through butter, directly rushing to the second gate. Along the way, many palace maids and palace maids who knew the situation knelt on the ground, trembling all over.
The warning of the attack on the Welcoming Immortal Hall was immediately sent to the internal guards. The Inner Guards followed the Son of Heaven. Wherever the Son of Heaven slept, the Inner Guards would choose a place near the Emperor's bedchamber. They would also set up a secret warning channel between the Emperor's bedchamber and the Inner Guards. This was an absolute secret, and not even Shangguan Wan 'er knew about it. In order to avoid alerting the internal guards, she did not dare to ask around.
After all these years, Wan 'er had infiltrated and developed some people who belonged to her in the internal guards. However, as the empress' most personal and final protection force, all of its appointments and movements were handled by the Emperor himself. There was not much that Wan 'er could interfere in.
Especially after Wan 'er became pregnant. Although she used self-defiling to avoid Wu Zetian's vigilance against her, although Wu Zetian still relied heavily on her in government affairs, she still developed a grudge against her. Some of the matters that involved the internal court began to be handed over to others.
In reality, this was normal. Wu Zetian always paid attention to checks and balances. How could she allow Wan 'er to be the sole power in the internal court? In the beginning, Wei Tuan 'er had been Wan' er's restraining force in the internal court. However, in order to give an explanation to the Crown Princess and Secondary Concubine who had been falsely accused and the Crown Prince who had almost committed suicide, Wu Zetian had Wei Tuan 'er executed. Afterwards, Wan' er had sole control of the internal palace.
Wan 'er's influence on the Plum Blossom Guards began at that time. However, the Emperor would not allow this situation to continue for too long. It was because of this consideration that Wan'er, when she was pregnant and could not hide it, instructed her good sister, Fu Qingqing, to play the role of the informant.
However, although their trick successfully fooled Wu Zetian, Fu Qingqing did not become the person to replace Wei Tuan 'er because of this. Wu Zetian had the Second Zhang, and the Second Zhang was very keen on controlling the power of the internal palace. Not only did many matters of the internal court fall into the Second Zhang's hands, but because of Wu Zetian's love and trust in them, even the internal guards fell into their hands.
If the internal guards could arrive in time, success or failure was still unknown.
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