Maqiao saw two groups of people galloping over in the distance. It was difficult to distinguish between friend and foe, so he hurriedly called out to the people below the city walls: "Everyone, quickly ascend the city walls!"
Hearing this, the palace maids and eunuchs felt as if they had been granted amnesty and immediately scrambled to be the first to ascend the Black Tortoise Gate. Seeing that there were only a few palace maids and eunuchs left, one of the two groups of people had already rushed to the Black Tortoise Gate.
This group of people was the Yulin Army that had followed the Crown Prince in rebellion. Their commander was the son-in-law of the Yulin Army Grand General Li Duozuo, Ye Huli.
After breaking through the Sweet Dew Gate, they didn't dare to be negligent and immediately killed their way to the rear palace. Learning that the Son of Heaven had heard the news and fled, they split up into several groups to search. Among them, Ye Huli's group learned from the eunuchs and palace maids that the Emperor might have fled to the Black Tortoise Gate, so they chased after him without stopping.
Seeing many palace maids and eunuchs wailing and shouting for their parents as they ran to the Black Tortoise Gate tower, Ye Huli was afraid that once they reached the tower, the people above would close the transportation channel. He immediately took a few steps and caught up to the last few people left behind. The knife in his hand flashed with a cold light, and a palace maid and a eunuch screamed as they fell under his knife.
At this time, a tall eunuch suddenly bent his body and leaped, landing in front of him with a whoosh. This leap actually covered about one zhang, his speed like a falcon swooping down on its prey.
Ye Huli jumped in fright. The saber in his hand danced in such a way that not even a drop of water could trickle through. The clanging sounds were like beans being fried without end. Ye Huli and the tall eunuch each wielded a saber. The two sabers transformed into two balls of light and shadow. As one advanced and one retreated, the imposing manner was extremely terrifying. The Featherwood Guards who had caught up were all dumbstruck.
This eunuch was called Yang Sixun, and he was originally a member of the inner guards. When Li Xian reorganized the inner guards, all the original personnel were removed, so he became an ordinary middle-ranking official. However, he still held the position of a department in the 24 divisions, a major eunuch. This person's martial arts were extremely outstanding. Seeing the pursuing troops close in, if they caught up to the Black Tortoise Gate, the consequences would be unthinkable. Yang Sixun decisively charged forward.
Ye Huli was a battle general who excelled in both horsemanship and archery, but his combat skills were far inferior to Yang Sixun's. Besides, he hadn't expected that a spineless man could be so ferocious. As a result, he was caught unprepared by Yang Sixun's attack. Ye Huli hastily retreated three steps, Yang Sixun hastily advanced three steps, all along they were beating him down.
The two of them, one advancing and one retreating, as they moved around, the two sabers had already hacked and hacked dozens of times. The edge of the sabers had already chipped one after another. Suddenly, a streak of blood splashed out. Yang Si Xu quickly retreated. With one hand holding the saber, the other lifting the lapel of his robe, his feet moved like a windmill, like a gust of wind, he escaped to the Black Tortoise Gate.
As soon as the Featherwood Guards looked, they saw Yehuli raise a saw-like steel saber, his eyes bulging in anger. A slanted wound swiftly spread across his chest, dying his entire chest red. Ye Huli gave a loud cry and spat out a mouthful of bloody mist. He fell stiffly on his back. The Featherwood Guards were horrified. Only now did they realize that their general had been killed by the eunuch.
Borrowing the torches below the city walls, Li Xian, Empress Wei, An Le, Maqiao, and the others who were watching the battle from the top of the city walls saw with their own eyes this incomparably mighty and powerful scene of a general beheading the enemy. For a moment, their hearts were filled with fascination. Maqiao even used his palm to vigorously slap the wall, excitedly praising, "Good martial arts, good skills!"
These Featherwood Guards couldn't help but be alarmed and angry at the death of their leader. One of the brigade commanders raised his saber and pointed it at the Black Tortoise Gate, shouting madly, "Kill them!"
Maqiao sneered and said, "Release the broken stone!"
There were already people waiting by the stone gate. At this time, the last palace maid also fled up the Black Tortoise Gate. Under Maqiao's order, a stone gate fell with a rumble, firmly blocking the pursuers below the city walls.
At this time, the troops hurrying over from the other imperial road also rushed to the Black Tortoise Gate. They had about three to five hundred officers and soldiers, and the one leading them was the General of the Right Featherwood Guards, Liu Jingren.
The Left and Right Featherwood Guards had originally been under the control of Wu Youyi and Li Duozuo. After the Divine Dragon Coup, Wu Youyi had been stripped of his military power, and the composition of the Right Featherwood Guards had become complicated. There were people planted by Empress Wei, people planted by Wu Sansi, people directly planted by Li Xian, and also people originally under Wu Youyi's command. However, because they did not clearly support Wu Zetian, they had not yet been purged.
Liu Jingren's troops had originally been stationed at Yeting Palace to the right of Taiji Palace. After hearing the warning from the Gate of Sweet Dew, they had rushed over to rescue the Emperor. They had learned from the palace maids and eunuchs that the Princess had fled to the Black Tortoise Gate. They guessed that the Princess was definitely with the Emperor and Empress, so they had rushed over.
The origin of the rebels tonight was too complicated. Other than the main generals who had participated in the rebellion, the grass-roots generals and the soldiers below them did not know which troops had participated in the rebellion. When they saw Liu Jingren arrive with his troops, they immediately gathered their troops and went on guard, wanting to determine the position and identity of the newcomers.
The rebel army did not know who was on their side, and Liu Jingren, who had rushed over to rescue the Emperor, was even more confused. He had rushed over from Yeting Palace and did not even know who was leading the rebellion tonight. Just now, he had not clearly seen the great battle in front of the transportation road, so he naturally had no way of distinguishing friend from foe.
As a result, Liu Jingren also hurriedly gathered his troops and went on guard against Ye Huli's troops. To determine friend from foe, the best way was to have the Emperor make the distinction. After Liu Jingren had settled in, he shouted toward the top of the city walls, "This subject, the General of the Right Featherwood Guards, Liu Jingren, has come to escort the Emperor. Is His Majesty at the Black Tortoise Gate?"
Li Xian was overjoyed and hurriedly said, "Quick! Quickly have him lead troops to the top of the city walls to escort the Emperor. "
"Wait! Be careful of a trap! "
Empress Wei immediately stopped Li Xian and said to Maqiao, "Tell General Liu that the Son of Heaven is at the top of the city walls. General Liu has rendered meritorious service in rescuing the Emperor, and his loyalty is commendable. General Liu, please line up at the Black Tortoise Gate to face the enemy."
Maqiao glanced at Li Xian. Seeing that the latter did not object, he shouted toward the bottom of the city walls, "This one is the General of the Black Tortoise Gate, Maqiao. His Majesty, the Empress, and Princess An Le are all at the top of the city walls. His Majesty says that General Liu has rendered meritorious service in rescuing the Emperor, and his loyalty is commendable. That group of troops is the rebel army. General Liu, please line up at the top of the city walls to face the enemy!"
Liu Jingren cupped his hands toward the top of the city walls and said, "This subject obeys the Emperor!"
Liu Jingren waved his hand and shouted, "Line up at the bottom of the city walls!"
The soldiers under Liu Jingren's command immediately lined up at the bottom of the city walls, their backs to the city walls, their spears and spears pointed forward, facing off against Ye Huli's troops.
If this was a battle on the battlefield and their commander died, Ye Huli's subordinates would scatter in confusion. However, this was a rebellion. Failure meant death, and there was nowhere to run. Naturally, they could not retreat. However, without their commander, the others did not know how to advance or retreat. No one had the courage to stand out and be the leader. The two sides were in a deadlock.
At this time, Li Qianli, Li Duozuo, Dugu Yanzhi, and the others escorted Li Zhongjun to the bottom of the city walls. Seeing the rebel army gather, Liu Jingren, who was at the bottom of the city walls, felt his heart pound. Li Xian's face, which had just recovered, paled again.
However, at almost the same time that Li Zhongjun arrived, the sounds of battle shook the heavens outside the Black Tortoise Gate. Yang Fan and Chu Kuangge led a group of troops and charged to the bottom of the Black Tortoise Gate. Behind them, there was a group of troops fighting and advancing at the same time. That group of troops was the Jin Wu Guards that Prince Cheng, Li Qianli, had arranged for them to stop the reinforcements.
However, this group of ten thousand troops had Yang Fan and Chu Kuangge, two valiant generals. Their subordinates were all risking their lives and relying on their fast horses, how could they be stopped by the Jin Wu Guards? Unexpectedly, they were killed by Yang Fan and the others all the way to the Black Tortoise Gate.
However, at this point, the horses could no longer gallop. Once they lost their advantage in speed, they were not as nimble as they were on foot. Moreover, the ten thousand troops were in a hurry to reach the Black Tortoise Gate and had no intention of fighting with the Jin Wu Guards. As a result, they were once again entangled by the Jin Wu Guards. It looked like they were gradually losing ground. If not for the fact that they were well-trained elites, this tactic of fighting and retreating would have long since become a true rout.
Yang Fan rushed to the bottom of the city walls. Pulling on the reins of his horse, he roared towards the top of the city walls, "Ten thousand troops, Yang Fan, lead the army to rescue the Emperor! Is Maqiao here? Come forward and talk to him!"
As soon as Shanghai Wan'er heard Yang Fan's anxious roar, her heart immediately warmed. No one knew how many people participated in tonight's mutiny. If there were people from the ten thousand troops, then it was hard to predict whether Yang Fan would be in danger or not. That was why Wan'er had been on tenterhooks all this time. Now that she heard his voice, she finally felt at ease.
Wan'er hurriedly rushed to the northern city wall. Holding onto the wall, she shouted towards the bottom of the city walls, "General Yang, I am Shanghai Wan'er. The Emperor and the Empress are on top of the Black Tortoise Gate. The rebel army has already gathered at the bottom of the city walls. General, please quickly go up and rescue the Emperor! "
A girl's voice was delicate and weak. As she shouted from the top of the Black Tortoise Gate, accompanied by the sounds of fighting at the bottom of the city walls, a normal person would not be able to hear it clearly. However, Yang Fan's hearing was extremely strong. As soon as he heard Shanghai Wan'er's voice, he knew that she was reporting to him that she was safe. Seeing that Wan'er was unharmed and the Emperor had not fallen into the hands of the rebels, Yang Fan's heart was at ease. In a loud voice, he said, "I understand!"
Yang Fan circled his horse and turned around. He saw the Jin Wu Guards surging towards him like a tide. The rebel army also knew that if they allowed Yang Fan's fresh troops to charge into the city, it was very likely that they would reverse the situation. Therefore, everyone was running for their lives. Seeing this situation, Yang Fan couldn't help but frown.
In the dark of the night, he didn't know how many people there were in the Jin Wu Guards. It was impossible to get the palace to open the city gates. If they were not careful, they would lead the rebel army outside into the palace. Moreover, since the rebel army had already gathered at the foot of the city, if they really opened the city gates, the rebel army inside would block the exit. The troops and horses wouldn't be able to move, and they would instead be annihilated by the rebel army inside and outside.
Yang Fan still didn't know that there was a group of reinforcements already lined up at the foot of the city, but it was useless even if he knew. First of all, Liu Jingren's troops were guarding the two transport roads on the left and right, not guarding the city gates. If Liu Jingren moved his troops to the front of the city gates, the formation would scatter. With their inferior strength, they would immediately be annihilated. Moreover, even if they were guarding the city gates, as long as they were suppressed by the rebel army, the ten thousand cavalry that rushed into the city would not be able to move. In the end, they could only be squeezed and nibbled away by the rebel army inside and outside the city gates.
One feeling, chaos!
This was a coup without any clue or plan. The funny thing was that it was only one step away from success.
Yang Fan said to Chu Kuangge, "We can't retreat anymore. Let the soldiers dismount and counterattack on the spot. You will take command."
Chu Kuangge said loudly, "Okay, what about you?"
Yang Fan's sword-like eyebrows twitched. "I will go up the city walls!"
Chu Kuangge dismounted and raised his broadsword. He heroically shouted, "Brothers, dismount and fight! Let's show the Jin Wu Guards the power of our ten thousand cavalry!"
Yang Fan raised his head and roared at the top of the city walls, "Put down the rope and bring me up the city walls."
Seeing that Maqiao was loyal, Li Xian naturally believed that Yang Fan had not rebelled. Moreover, only one person was coming up, so there was no need to worry about any accidents. As a result, he immediately ordered people to look for ropes. But where would they find ropes at the top of the Black Tortoise Gate? Helpless, the eunuchs all "undressed" and used their belts to form a long rope to descend the city walls.
Yang Fan grabbed the rope and climbed up the city walls.
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