It was very cold in the capital at the end of January and the beginning of February, and the wind without snow could cut people's faces like a knife. There were only a few people on the streets, only the colorful flags of the shops were fluttering, which made it even more deserted.
"The capital city is never short of excitement." Wu Zhang, who was wearing a purple official robe and hanging a goldfish belt on the city wall, sighed as he looked down at the inner city. "I remember there was a flower viewing festival at Daxing Temple in early February. Although there were not many flowers in bloom, there were only a few flowers in the temple.
The silk flowers on the trees are so lifelike that I went to Beijing to see them once when I was a boy."
The soldiers standing on the city wall looked out of the corner of their eyes at the newly appointed Xuanwu Jiedushi who led the troops and horses of Henan Province. Before entering the capital, he was the governor of Xuzhou. This man in his forties had not been here for decades.
Have you ever been to Beijing?
Wu Zhang didn't care about the soldiers' disdain. Of course it wasn't that he hadn't been to the capital for decades. He came almost every year, but he just didn't have the youthful heart to visit temples and see silk flowers.
He took his wife and walked into Luo's house in the name of his mother-in-law, waiting to see Luo Guifei's brothers. Either he got his wish or he was disappointed, but no matter whether he got his wish or was disappointed, when he entered Luo's house, he had to talk, sit and behave attentively.
, year by year from an inconspicuous official to a governor.
"Wu Zhang!" a shout came from the street.
Wu Zhang looked down and saw a group of soldiers and horses escorting several people walking through the street. The men being escorted were covered in blood. They had obviously been in a fight and were being beaten by the vicious soldiers as they walked.
He recognized these people. In the past, he saw the slaves who drank the most, talked and laughed the most when he went to Luo's house.
Wu Zhang did not turn a blind eye and called out their names: "What's going on?"
The soldiers immediately stopped and put down their swords and guns: "Captain Wu, they tried to break out regardless of the closed door, and even wounded us."
Quan Hai was surrounded in the palace, and Luo Shi, who was accused of being a member of the Xuanwu Dao soldiers, was imprisoned at home.
The diners also started shouting.
"My lord's house is surrounded. Please think of a way to get him out."
"The whole sea is in chaos, what does it have to do with you, sir!"
"Wu Zhang, tell them to move away."
Wu Zhang looked troubled: "I don't make the decision on this matter. I'd better wait until His Majesty is rescued before making a decision." He then comforted, "Now Mr. Luo is safest at home."
After saying that, he waved his hands.
The soldiers who stopped immediately when he asked him immediately stepped forward when they saw him waving his hands, and the swords and sticks in his hands fell heavily on those soldiers.
Several people were beaten so hard that they screamed in pain and cursed.
"Wu Lezi! You ungrateful bitch!"
"In the past, when I came to the capital and squatted in front of Luo's house, I couldn't drive him away. This time I couldn't get in."
"Do you think everyone doesn't know what you did?"
"You ungrateful, glory-seeking piece of shit."
They cursed fiercely, and the sticks that fell on them became heavier and heavier, until they were beaten so hard that they could no longer scream and were dragged along like dead dogs, leaving a trail of blood on the smooth street.
"In the past, treasures would be dropped wherever Luo Shi went out, and everyone would crowd behind to grab them." Wu Zhang seemed not to hear these scoldings, and sighed to the followers around him, "Who would have thought that one day it would not be treasures that would be dropped, but treasures.
It's blood."
Of course, he is just Luo's servant now, but it depends on the owner. The dog has been beaten, and the owner is not far away.
The attendant said: "Luo Shi deserves it. Your Excellency has endured the humiliation for so many years, and finally has the opportunity to go to Datian to let everyone know about Luo Shi's sins." He lowered his voice again and said, "I will tell them to shut up, so as not to insult Your Excellency's reputation."
Wu Zhang smiled: "Let them scold me, I'm a dog. What did I gain by squatting in front of their Luo family for decades?" He gently stroked his new official robe, and said:
Du Shi is a second-grade official who can wear purple robes. "I am a dog. Others throw away better bones and meat. It is not natural for me to eat them."
The entourage didn't know what to say, but luckily someone came to the rescue. This was a man in official robes, and he exchanged greetings with Wu Zhang.
"Prime Minister Cui asked, when can we attack the city?" The visitor looked worried, "Your Majesty is old and Quan Hai is crazy. He may not be able to survive being trapped for too long."
In fact, these officials couldn't stand it any longer. Wu Zhang knew it very well. Quan Hai and the emperor closed the palace gates and issued an order to summon twelve guards from all over the world to escort them. This was to tell the people of the world that the prime ministers and court officials were forcing the palace to rebel.
Cui Zheng led all the officials to sit quietly in front of the palace gate to show his integrity.
Of course, both sides had soldiers and horses to form the current stalemate. The guards and the Beijing camp were transferred to the imperial city, and Cui Zheng transferred Wu Zhang and Henan Dao soldiers and horses.
"The imperial city is easy to defend but difficult to attack, and His Majesty is in Quanhai's hands. I'm afraid I might accidentally hurt Your Majesty." Wu Zhangsurong said, "The troops of Xuanwu Dao are on their way to Beijing. Please wait for a few more days."
The first part is all nonsense, but the last thing is the key. The people who come here sneer inwardly because they don’t have enough troops to win.
"Of course we are waiting, but Your Majesty cannot wait." He emphasized, "If Your Majesty is injured because of this, it will also be our fault."
Therefore, if His Majesty is injured, it will be the sin of the whole sea, which means that the emperor's life and death can be ignored.
It's pitiful to be an emperor, and the ministers are so ruthless. Wu Zhang sighed and took over the defense of the capital. He knew that Prime Minister Cui sent an envoy to pick up King Zhao who was enfeoffed abroad.
When the emperor dies or is injured, all the blame will be borne by Luo Shi, King Zhao ascends the throne, and Daxia cleans up the muddy water, creating a new world.
Wu Zhang straightened his back, he had a place in this new world.
"I know what to do, please don't worry, Mr. Xiang," he said.
The visitor left with satisfaction. Wu Zhang once again walked to the city wall to overlook the capital. This move will determine success or failure. There are many things to consider and do...
"The Flower Appreciation Festival at Daxing Temple should still be held. When the time comes, our Wu family will pack a tree." He told his entourage.
The attendant didn't realize why the topic had changed back again, and responded in confusion.
Wu Zhang looked down at the official robe on his body, still a little regretful that he had put it on too hastily. If he had obtained the Xuanwu Dao Jiedushi through Quanhai, and spent some time familiarizing himself with the soldiers and horses, and the control would be smoother, the palace should have started to re-open it now.
It's time for a court meeting.
He unbuttoned his official robe and said, "Take my robe."
The followers understood this immediately after hearing this, so they took the armor and equipment that they had been carrying and waited on the city wall to wear armor for Wu Zhang.
"grown ups!"
As he was putting on his clothes, a guard on the city wall shouted and pointed forward.
"There are soldiers coming outside the city."
There was nothing strange about the arrival of soldiers and horses. Soldiers and horses were constantly patrolling around the capital. Wu Zhang hummed.
"They don't look like our people," the guard shouted again, because the soldiers and horses running closer were closer and the flag was unfamiliar.
Not the soldiers and horses of Henan Road?
The soldiers and horses in the prefectural roads near the capital also issued orders. Except for the soldiers and horses of Xuanwu Road, no other soldiers and horses were allowed to pass.
The soldiers patrolling outside did not report, so the soldiers and horses from Xuanwu Dao finally arrived?
Wu Zhang turned his head and saw the soldiers and horses running towards them. There were about hundreds of them. The smoke and dust were rising up, and they were so dense that they seemed to be overwhelming.
They were all wearing military uniforms, with dust on their clothes and faces, and some invisible stains. They looked like a group of beggars who had traveled a long distance, but the beggars were very powerful and should not be underestimated.
However, even if they are Xuanwu Dao soldiers and horses, the guards should report their identity first. Wu Zhang stood on the city wall and did not rush: "Ask them which soldiers and horses they are from?"
The guards shouted loudly.
The group of soldiers and horses slowed down in front of the city gate. The leading soldier unfolded the rolled-up flags behind him and waved: "The Zhenwu Army has been ordered to come to Beijing to escort them."
The sound echoed through the city, shocking the people on the city.
What is the Zhenwu Army? Some people were confused for a moment. How could they suddenly come to the capital?
Wu Zhang's expression changed. He thought about Liang Zhen, who was left the capital just before the incident. Could it be this old guy who did it? But no matter who did it, the guard in the capital already had the surname Wu and would not tolerate others.
However, since there is a summons by the emperor's imperial decree, the superficial appearance must be done well.
"You first go to the camp on the outskirts of Beijing and wait for orders." Wu Zhang stepped forward and said loudly, "You are not allowed to enter the city for the time being."
The soldier said nothing, and the flag in his hand flew down, revealing a young man behind him.
"Who are you?" He raised his head and asked, stroking the messy hair hanging in front of his eyes, as if to see clearly who was speaking.
This young man was quite good-looking, but it didn't match his wild hair and rough clothes. Wu Zhang looked down and had a boring thought.
"I am Wu Zhang, the newly appointed Jiedu envoy of Xuanwu Dao, governor of Xuzhou, and observation envoy of Henan Dao." He said, "You have come a long way, so go to the capital camp to rest first."
Wu Ya'er said: "Your Majesty is in danger, who in the world dares to rest?"
This young man is handsome and speaks politely. Wu Zhang looked calm and said: "Your Majesty is in danger. Please don't disobey me and cause chaos..."
Before he finished speaking, his eyes widened, and everything in front of him seemed to slow down. He saw the young man put down the hand that parted his messy hair, raised a crossbow, a hard bow and iron arrows, and with a buzz, everything
It became faster again, and the arrow actually flew in front of him.
Wu Zhang's unfinished words turned into a shout, and it was just a shout.
With a pop, the iron arrow pierced his throat and flew out. The follower, who was holding a long knife behind him and prepared to hang it up for the Lord, made a sound. The arrow that penetrated Wu Zhang stabbed his head. The two of them together
Fall backwards.
He hasn't seen the silk flowers blooming in front of the Buddha yet. His ending shouldn't be like this, Wu Zhang had one last thought.
Blood spattered on the city head.
The guards were all stunned, and immediately started yelling and raising their crossbows, aiming at the city gate.
Wu Ya'er put away her crossbow and said, "Attack the city."
The soldiers and horses moved together, the ones in the front raised their shields, the ones in the rear fired arrows at the top of the city with crossbows, and those on both sides swung long ropes and took out short ladders and ran towards the city wall.
The sound of fighting rang out at more than one city gate, and the gates on all sides of the capital were shaken.