Ten Thousand Cavalry Lieutenant Cai Gu Fu's saber flashed and like a waterfall, it suddenly chopped down on the neck of the Great General of Yulin, Li Duozuo. This great general had dominated the battlefield for several decades and had never imagined that he would lose his life here. He didn't even have time to make a shocked or angry expression before his head was separated from his body.
As soon as Cui Lang saw that Cai Gu Fu had killed Li Duozuo, this was a great merit. Not only could he be exempted from punishment, he might even be promoted to nobility. He couldn't help feeling somewhat anxious. But the Crown Prince was the heir to the throne after all; he didn't dare to suddenly kill him. He drew his saber and charged toward Shazha Zhongyi. Although Shazha Zhongyi's rank was not as high as Li Duozuo's, he was still a famous general. If he could kill him, it would be a great merit.
When Shazha Zhongyi was young, he could still compete with Cui Lang, but he was already so old that he couldn't rely on his muscles and bones. He had dominated the battlefield for several decades and relied on his ability to deploy troops and arrange formations, not his personal bravery. How could he be a match for a young man like Cui Lang?
As soon as Cui Lang made his move, Shazha Zhongyi retreated in panic. When Cui Lang's saber missed, he immediately made three consecutive slashes and followed closely behind Shazha Zhongyi's retreating figure. It looked like he wouldn't stop until he chopped off Shazha Zhongyi's head.
When the two brigades of the rebelling Ten Thousand Cavalry Brigade heard Yang Fan's words, they realized that the great general had not rebelled at all. They had fallen into Dugu Yizhi's trap and couldn't help but be shocked and angry. As soon as Cai Gu Fu and Cui Lang made their move, they immediately swarmed forward and attacked Li Sichong, Li Qianli and the others.
The ten thousand cavalry had changed sides because of Yang Fan's words. The other troops were already shaken by the Emperor's words. Seeing that there were indeed people rebelling, the morale of the troops was immediately thrown into chaos. Everyone scrambled to dodge, hoping that they wouldn't be killed. How could they still be in the mood to protect their own generals?
In the end, Shazha Zhongyi was caught by Cui Lang. With a blood-curdling scream, he was hacked to the ground. By this time, Cai Gu Fu had already led the ten thousand cavalry to attack Li Qianli and Li Sichong. Seeing that the situation was hopeless, Li Chengkuang, Dugu Yanzhi, and the others hurriedly protected Crown Prince Li Zhongjun and escaped.
The Crown Prince had seven or eight bodyguards by his side. Adding the trusted bodyguards of Li Chengkuang and Dugu Huizhi, there were more than twenty people in total. The rebel soldiers had lost all will to fight. They only wanted to attack. They did not follow or fight. Dodging in all directions made it easier for them to escape.
When Liu Jingren, who was in formation under the Black Tortoise Sect, saw this situation, how could he let go of this opportunity? He immediately commanded his army to attack. When Maqiao saw this from the top of the city wall, he shouted excitedly, "Pull up Duan Shi, I'll go down and kill the thieves!"
Yang Fan grabbed him and said, "Wait, the remaining bandits have not been cleared out yet. Even if only one of the rebels rushed to His Majesty, the consequences would be unimaginable. The broken stone cannot be opened. You just have to protect His Majesty and the Empress here."
Finished speaking, Yang Fan turned to Li Xian and said, "Your Imperial Majesty, just now, because this Black Tortoise Gate is difficult to open, I ordered my officers and men to speed along the street and kill our way in from the front door. Since the leader of the rebels has escaped, your subject will immediately pursue and kill the rebels. "
"Good!"
Seeing that the situation had reversed, Li Xian's courage immediately grew, and he regained the air of the Son of Heaven. Li Xian fiercely said, "The Crown Prince dared to kill his father and mother. This crime cannot be pardoned! If he does not surrender, we will execute him on the spot! "
Li Xian glanced at Yang Si Xu, who had just made a great contribution and was now standing by his side. He said, "You go with General Yang."
Yang Si Xu bowed and said, "This servant obeys."
Yang Si Xu smiled and looked at Yang Fan, her kinsman, and said, "Great General, please!"
The long rope made from a eunuch's belt was thrown down from the top of the city wall. Yang Fan and Yang Si Xu, one in front and one behind, climbed down the rope and dashed down. Their movements were equally agile and nimble.
Ever since Liu Jingren had led his troops to attack, the rebel soldiers had all abandoned their weapons and surrendered. When Yang Fan and Yang Si Xu jumped down from the Black Tortoise Gate, they saw that the wide ground was filled with soldiers who had put down their weapons and knelt on the ground in surrender. The two of them dashed through these soldiers and chased after the figures of Li Zhong Jun and the others.
Cui Lang and Cai Gu Fu rushed over with sabers in their hands and knelt on one knee several zhang away. "This lowly officer asks for Great General's forgiveness!"
Yang Fan did not stop for even a moment. "Quickly gather the disorderly soldiers and await punishment!"
"Yes!"
Cui Lang and Cai Gu Fu responded. They raised their heads and looked again. In the distance, only two faint shadows were left.
…
Li Chengkuang and Dugu Huizhi carried the soulless Li Zhongjun and dashed out to the side street. They pulled over a few scattered warhorses waiting on the long street and leaped onto them, galloping toward the outside of the Palace. Their personal guards followed closely.
Li Zhong Jun rode on his horse with a lifeless expression. It was as if he was still dreaming. He was only one step away from the throne of the Emperor. Who would have thought that there would be such a change? One moment, he had been thinking about becoming the Emperor. The next moment, he had become a fugitive. This kind of strong psychological difference was too great of a blow to him.
Dugu Wei Zhi galloped madly on his horse. His heart was also filled with sorrow. But now that things had come to this, what could he do? Other people could surrender, but even if he surrendered, would Yang Fan spare him? Would Dugu Yu spare him? Would Cui Lang and Cai Gu Fu, who had been deceived by him, spare him?
He did not have a second path. He could only accompany the Crown Prince and flee to the ends of the world. Since he had already failed, he did not know if the Crown Prince's banner could still be raised, but he had no other choice.
Li Chengkuang was the main instigator of Li Zhong Jun's rebellion. The Emperor might pardon others, but he would not pardon him. He knew this very well, so he could only escape.
However, his mentality was different from Dugu Wei Zhi's desperate state of mind. In his view, he could not climb to the top of the imperial court. But he still had Lu Binzhi behind him. At worst, he could escape into Jianghu. As long as he could escape, he could still live freely and happily. Thus, Li Chengkuang was not particularly worried.
Taking advantage of the chaos in the capital and no one knowing the situation, Li Chengkuang protected Li Zhong Jun. Holding Li Qianli's military seal, they successfully escaped from the South Gate controlled by the Golden Guards. The Golden Guards were Li Qianli's subordinates. When they saw the Great General's military seal, they naturally had to obey without error. By the time they escaped Chang 'an, the sky was already beginning to brighten.
Yang Fan and Yang Si Xu had not gone far from the street when Lu Maofeng arrived with a group of people. Yang Fan and Yang Si Xu immediately led them in pursuit of the Crown Prince. It was not difficult to find out where the Crown Prince and his group had gone. Not only were there sound and light signals between the nine cities, but the Golden Guards patrolling the streets did not dare to lie when questioned by Great General Yang.
Most of the Jin Wu Guards did not participate in the rebellion tonight, and Li Qianli did not have much confidence that they would be able to do so. However, he had ordered those who did not know that they were not to obstruct those who held his orders tonight, and those soldiers of the Jin Wu Guards did not have the guts to disobey.
Now that Yang Fan had come with ten thousand imperial cavalry and a murderous aura, and there was a eunuch beside him, it was obvious that he had been sent by the Emperor. Who would dare to hide anything from them when questioned?
Outside Chang 'an, on a grassy path, a dozen horses whizzed past. There was a faint sound of hooves behind them, as rapid as thunder.
Li Chengkuang hurriedly looked back and said to Dugu Huizhi, "General Dugu, stop them."
Dugu Huizhi gritted his teeth and suddenly pulled on the reins of his horse. He shouted, "Leave a few people behind to fight me!"
A few bodyguards followed him and stopped their horses. They kicked their horses' bellies and charged towards the pursuing troops.
"Kill!"
"Kill!"
The people on both sides raised their weapons high. When Yang Si Xu saw that someone was trying to stop them, a bloodthirsty light flashed through his eyes. He suddenly pressed on his horse's belly and excitedly charged forward.
Yang Si Xu's temperament was cold and firm. As a eunuch, women were out of the question. He was not greedy, so what he liked most was the feeling of a blade piercing through a human body. He liked to kill. In the past, when he was in the inner guards, he was responsible for some shameful assassinations.
"Clang, clang, clang." Sparks flew everywhere. Yang Si Xu and Dugu Huizhi exchanged a few blows and left a bloody mark on Dugu Huizhi's shoulder.
Dugu Huizhi was a general, but it did not mean that he was good at martial arts. In terms of martial arts, he was no match for a master of martial arts like Yang Si Xu. If the two of them each led an army and arranged a formation to fight on the battlefield, then … he might not win. This was because Yang Si Xu was not only skilled in martial arts, but also knew military affairs. He was proficient in military books and strategies.
Dugu Huizhi saw that this eunuch was so powerful and remembered that he had beheaded Ye Huli with one strike. He could not help but feel a chill in his heart and immediately turned his horse to leave.
Yang Si Yue let out a hideous laugh, his arm shook, the saber in his hand turned into a long rainbow and flew out of his hand. Dugu Wei Zhi did not expect that this eunuch would have such a precise saber throwing skill. "Ah!" he screamed, his back was hit by the saber, he flipped over and fell off his horse.
Yang Si Xu's horse was a horse of the Jin Wu Guards that was lost on the street. There was a backpack on the horse and there were five javelins in the backpack. Yang Si Xu's murderous spirit was aroused. He took out the javelins from the bag and shouted, "Kill! Kill! Kill! "
Yang Si Xu shouted three times and threw out three javelins in succession, killing three rebel soldiers off their horses. He then pulled out the last two javelins. Holding one in each hand as if he was holding two long swords, he shouted, "Kill! Capture all the rebels, the Emperor will reward you handsomely! "Pressing his legs against the horse's belly, he chased after them like a gust of wind.
Yang Fan spurred his horse to catch up to Dugu Huizhi's side. Suddenly he pulled the reins, the wind whistled around him. Countless riders galloped past, leaving only him and his horse standing there quietly. Dugu Huizhi was lying on the ground. Seeing a horse hoof as big as the mouth of a bowl in front of him, he slowly raised his head. Seeing that it was Yang Fan, he could not help but was startled.
Yang Fan jumped down from his horse and slowly walked to his side and gently squatted down.
Dugu Huizhi avoided his gaze and said in a low voice, "Grand General, I am sorry."
Yang Fan said softly, "I have many people like you under my command. They come from aristocratic families and have taken on too many responsibilities and obligations for their families, but they have never had the opportunity to enjoy the glory and authority of aristocratic families. They want to stand out, want to get rid of this damned background, so they follow me. I can understand what you have done. The winner is king and the loser is nothing more than a thief. "
The sound of the horse's hooves did not stop, but Dugu Huizhi still heard Yang Fan's words clearly. He looked at Yang Fan in astonishment, not understanding what Yang Fan was saying. "Grand General has many descendants of aristocratic families under your command?" Dugu Huizhi thought for a long time, but other than himself, he still could not think of anyone.
Yang Fan looked at the knife that had penetrated deep into Dugu Huizhi's heart in his back and knew that it was impossible for him to survive. He could not help but faintly sigh. "Over the years, I have encountered many dangers, but this is the first time that I have not been able to control my own life. If you had stabbed me at that time, I would have already died. So, you really have nothing to let me down. "
Dugu Huizhi laughed hoarsely. "I … only want to stand out. I have never thought of betraying my family. You are the clan lord's friend. If I had killed you, I would not have had the leeway to turn back. Speaking of which, I was still doing it for myself. I did not intend to be lenient toward the Grand General. "
Yang Fan stared at him and said, "But you lost because of this. Do you not regret it?"
Dugu Huizhi shook his head. "I do not regret it! Even Guan Yu left Maicheng. Even Kong Ming lost his street pavilion. Who can guarantee that nothing will go wrong? Man proposes, God disposes. Besides … "
Dugu Huizhi turned his head to look in the direction that the crown prince had fled. He smiled miserably. "Now it seems that we are nothing more than a motley crew. Even if the Grand General had not come, we might not have been able to attack the Black Tortoise Gate. In the end, defeat was unavoidable. It is just that … there is no need to die so miserably in a vigorous battle …"
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