The clouds are like lead, and the drizzle is falling.
The prince's shouts echoed in the empty space inside Xuanwu Gate with great momentum, and all the "Bei Ya forbidden troops" above and below the city looked at each other.
The "Beiya Forbidden Army" originated from Emperor Gaozu's "Yuan Cong Imperial Guard" and evolved into the armed force of Suwei Xuanwumen today. It is directly loyal to the emperor and is supposed to obey the imperial decree. But everyone has changed from Zhang Shigui
I learned that what everyone is executing now is no longer an imperial edict, but a posthumous edict...
They are both orders from the emperor, but they are completely different.
The prince standing in the drizzle under the city at this moment should have ascended the throne and become the new emperor. He was also the one to whom all the "Beiya Forbidden Army" swore allegiance. However, now he had to follow the emperor's decree to block the Xuanwu Gate and force the prince to die.
here……
Morale will inevitably be low and military morale will be shaken.
Should we defend the Xuanwu Gate, cut off the prince's life, and watch the rebels pour into the inner gate and kill the prince in front of them?
Everyone felt at a loss, and their eyes were fixed on Zhang Shigui, who was standing tall and wearing a helmet.
…
Zhang Shigui stood on the city tower, stroking the arrows in his hand and looking at the prince standing on horseback below the city. He was also agitated and tangled in his heart, and it was difficult to make a decision.
Clearly aware of the hesitation of the soldiers around him, Zhang Shigui was motivated.
He moved his eyes away from the prince and focused on the Taiji Palace where the fierce battle was going on in the wind and rain. The Guanlong army attacked there like crazy and ferociously, forcing the six leaders of the East Palace back step by step. Even a generation of "military gods" like Li Jing,
It is difficult to hold on to the palace in such a situation, let alone turn defeat into victory.
He doesn't need to do anything more. As long as he continues to block the Xuanwu Gate for half a day, the rebels will be able to completely defeat the Sixth Army of the East Palace and cut the prince's body into pieces under the Xuanwu Gate...
I have fulfilled the orders in my will, but what will happen in the future?
Carrying the charge of "killing the crown prince", he sat back and watched the rebels resist the imperial palace and seize the center. Then the world was full of wars and wars, destroying the glorious and prosperous era that His Majesty had worked hard for for more than ten years, and even the foundation of the empire was shaken, and its collapse was imminent.
?
He has always considered himself a loyal minister and has never had any selfish motives.
But should we be loyal to His Majesty and trap the prince in despair, causing the empire to be in turmoil and the people in dire straits? Or should we be loyal to the empire, ignore the imperial edict, ensure that the prince withdraws from Xuanwu Gate, preserve the empire's integrity, and prevent rebellion from succeeding?
Under the city, the prince sat on his horse and shouted again: "Where is the Duke of Guo? Please meet me at the foot of the city!"
The "Beiya Forbidden Army" remained silent, waiting for Zhang Shigui's decision.
Zhang Shigui struggled for a long time and weighed countless things. In the end, he could only sigh, lift up his shirt, and stride down from the tower.
Under the city, everyone's eyes were fixed on Zhang Shigui's tall body. As he walked down the city wall and approached the prince, his heavy footsteps seemed to step on everyone's hearts with every step, making people feel nervous and waiting for the verdict.
helpless.
Zhang Shigui's decision will determine the life and death of the prince, the survival of the Eastern Palace, and the fate of all their emperor's concubines and subordinate officials of the Eastern Palace...
Although he was tangled in his heart and couldn't make up his mind, Zhang Shigui's steps were steady and powerful without any hesitation. He quickly came to Li Chengqian's horse, knelt down on one knee and performed a military salute: "Old minister Zhang Shigui, I have an audience with His Highness the Crown Prince!"
The guards on the left and right pressed the hilts of their swords and stared at Zhang Shigui who was kneeling on one knee. As long as the prince gave the order, they would rush forward and cut off the "rebel" who had blocked the Xuanwu Gate and was colluding with the rebels.
corpse, and then rushed towards the Xuanwu Gate, determined to fight for the prince's survival with his flesh and blood body.
Of course Li Chengqian would not do this...
Not to mention that he always respects Zhang Shigui's loyalty and never thinks that there is anything wrong with Zhang Shigui's firm implementation of his father's imperial edict. Just because of his understanding of the "Bei Ya Forbidden Army", he would not resort to such foolish tricks. Killing Zhang Shigui would be a mistake.
What's the use? At this moment, the "Bei Ya Forbidden Army" may still be a little confused, a little at a loss, and don't know where to go. But once Zhang Shigui is killed, not only will the morale of the army not be broken, but it will strengthen its determination to defend the Xuanwu Gate.
Li Chengqian kicked off the saddle and rolled off the horse. However, his legs and feet were not convenient and he staggered when he landed and almost fell.
He waved his hand until the guards around him stepped forward to help him, threw away the reins, took two steps forward, put his hands on Zhang Shigui's shoulders to help him up, and said warmly: "Gong Guo, please get up quickly!"
Zhang Shigui stood up, raised his head, and met the prince's eyes.
Li Chengqian spoke sincerely, sighed slightly, and said: "The Duke of Guo is a loyal minister of his father. I admire him and never have any complaints. It's just that the rebels are raging now. Once he is killed by them inside the main gate, my father's concubines will be gone."
I am afraid that my family will be tortured by the rebel army! The national system will be humiliated and the royal family will lose face. Can the Duke of Guo really bear it?"
Zhang Shigui opened his mouth, but before he could speak, Li Chengqian had already continued: "I don't know whether my father is alive or dead. No one has ever informed me of the matter. I don't know if the rumored edict exists, and I don't know if Duke Guo has seen it...
I just want to beg the Duke of Guo, can he open the Xuanwu Gate and let his father, his concubines, his family members in the East Palace, and his subordinates leave the palace to avoid trouble? I will not leave, but I am willing to defend the Taiji Palace with the soldiers of the East Palace and fight to the end. Who can win the lone item?
Whoever wins the title will be the next crown prince, and even ascend to the throne!"
His tone was sonorous, showing a decisiveness that he usually lacked. His whole body was fair and slightly plump, but it made people feel that he was half as sharp as a sword, a spear, a sword!
Behind him, all the officials in the East Palace were shocked and rushed forward. Xiao Yu said in a voiceless voice: "Why is your Highness doing this? You are the crown prince of the empire. You must not be trapped in a military formation or put yourself in danger!"
Ma Zhou and others also said: "Your Highness wants to send us to a place of disloyalty and injustice? If Your Highness does not leave, we will not leave. We are willing to fight to the death with Your Highness!"
Finally, everyone's words converged into one sentence: "I am willing to fight to the death with Your Highness!"
More than a hundred people shouted in unison and knelt on the ground. The sound was so powerful and full of determination and awe that it made people's hearts surge and their blood pump!
Zhang Shigui finally let out a long sigh, knelt down on one knee again, and said loudly: "Your Highness, with his body of thousands of gold, should inherit the country and carry forward the past and forge ahead. You must not be rash! I respectfully send His Highness out of the palace, and I would like to use this body to end His Royal Highness's future."
, don’t turn your heels!”
The prince belongs to him by name and has great righteousness, so how can he insist on his own way?
This is the general trend...
The officials in the East Palace were overjoyed one after another, and Cen Wenwen burst into tears: "The Duke of Guo State understands righteousness well and is a role model for the world!"
Zhang Shigui was pulled up by the prince, smiled bitterly, clasped his fists and said: "I am loyal to the empire, but not loyal to your majesty... It's okay not to talk about it. Please leave the palace immediately and rush to the Youtunwei camp. The Duke of Yue must have been waiting for a long time.
, there are veterans here who are in charge of the rear, so don’t worry, Your Highness.”
For a loyal minister, choosing to be loyal to the empire, but putting aside loyalty to the emperor, feels like a lump in the throat and hesitation.
He has already made up his mind to die, planning to defend the Xuanwu Gate to the end, using his flesh and blood to stop the rebels, and wanting to die...
Li Chengqian wanted to say more. What he said just now was not pretentious, but what he said from the bottom of his heart. However, the ministers on the left and right also understood his intentions, and they all knelt on the ground and begged loudly: "Your Highness, please look at Jiangshan Guozuo, the inheritance of the empire."
For your sake, get out of the palace quickly and prevent the rebels from succeeding!"
What else could Li Chengqian say?
I can only sigh and choose to go with the flow...
Immediately, Zhang Shigui ordered the Xuanwu Gate to be released, planning to personally escort the prince out of the palace and then defend the place.
A fast horse galloped from the Tai Chi Palace. The horse's hooves trampled on the stone floor like a sudden rain hitting plantains. The sound of the horse made everyone look back.
Immediately, a school captain galloped over. Before he got close, he was already shouting loudly on horseback: "The Youtun Guards have defeated the rebels outside Jinguang Gate, captured Jinguang Gate, and have now reached the West City!"
Everyone was stunned on the spot, with only one thought in their minds: How is this possible?
Zhang Shigui even subconsciously turned back again and looked at the Youtunwei camp with flags fluttering in the distance through the open city gate. He was guarding the Xuanwu Gate and was separated from the Youtunwei camp by a wall. He didn't notice any movement from the Youtunwei.
How come they suddenly entered Chang'an City?
In a moment of confusion, the fast horse had already arrived in front of the prince, and was blocked by the guards before he reined in the horse. Before the horse could stand still, the soldier had already dismounted, knelt down on one knee across the guard, and said loudly: "
Your Highness, General Gao Kan of the Youtun Guard has led his troops to capture Jinguang Gate and has entered the city. He is currently fighting a fierce battle with the rebels in the West City! Duke Wei has organized the Sixth Army of the East Palace to stabilize their position and launch a counterattack.
Attack from a flank, vowing to annihilate the rebels in the palace and turn defeat into victory!"