Chapter 273 Threat

"Slay the traitors and reclaim our land!"

"Kill Zheng Wenkai! Rescue His Majesty!"

The shouts from the people downstairs grew louder and louder, and Zheng Wenkai felt like his head was about to explode.

He clung tightly to the railing of the city gate tower, his vision blurring.

Whether Li Yuanzhao escaped or died, it meant that his only support was gone.

Without Li Yuanzhao as a threat, Shen Churong's imperial guards will never give up! And the incited populace will become even more frenzied!

His mind raced with thoughts.

Everything was proceeding according to plan.

Turning Longwu Army to defect, imprisoning Li Yuanzhao, supporting Chen Yanqing... every step was meticulously planned.

Why did it end up like this?

Where exactly did things go wrong, in which step?

He couldn't understand why Shen Xu would rather die than let a "niece" with whom he had no blood relation survive.

As a man, why would Liu Jinzhang willingly raise his voice for a woman like Li Yuanzhao?

What he found most unbearable was the shouts of the women below the city wall.

Their voices were sharp and piercing, like blades slicing through the familiar order he knew.

These women should have stayed quietly in their chambers, devoted to their husbands and raising their children. How dare they show their faces now and shout loudly alongside the men?

When did this world become so absurd?!

At this moment, Zheng Xinglang rushed in to report, "Uncle, something terrible has happened! The Imperial Guards have stormed in through the West Palace Gate! Most of our men have been killed or wounded, and the rest are about to be overwhelmed!"

"What?"

Zheng Wenkai was shocked, realizing that he had made a fatal mistake.

He deployed most of his troops to keep an eye on Longwu Gate and Xihe Palace, but left the West Palace Gate undefended.

The Imperial Guard, whom he considered a "easy target," actually breached the palace defenses!

Zheng Xinglang continued, "Moreover... the one leading the troops is none other than Li Yuanzhao!"

"As expected!" Zheng Wenkai gritted his teeth. "I knew it! How could she possibly be dead!"

But now we are attacked from both sides and have no way to retreat!

A ruthless and resolute glint flashed in his eyes as he ordered Zheng Xinglang, "Go! Bring all the princes, ministers, palace maids, and eunuchs from the palace here!"

Upon hearing this, Liang Cheng's expression changed drastically. "What are you going to do?"

Zheng Wenkai's face was contorted with rage as he forced out four words through gritted teeth: "Break the cauldrons and sink the boats!"

"Are you insane?!" Liang Cheng instantly realized what he was about to do, and felt a chill run down his spine. "Slaughtering officials and palace servants, even if we survive today, history will record us as sinners for all eternity!"

"History records?" Zheng Wenkai sneered. "If we are defeated here, we will both be considered traitors, and what future will we have!"

Liang Cheng then realized that not only Chen Yanqing had gone mad, but Zheng Wenkai had gone mad too!

Liang Cheng continued to persuade him, "Zheng Wenkai, we still have a way out. If we concentrate our remaining forces and escape through the south gate, we might still have a chance of survival..."

"Run away?" Zheng Wenkai's eyes were bloodshot. "I haven't lost yet, why should I run away? Besides..."

"Why should I hand over my kingdom to a woman?"

Liang Cheng said in a deep voice, "If you insist on doing this, don't blame me for turning ruthless! You know that most of the people in the Dragon Martial Army are my old subordinates. They obey my orders, not yours, Zheng Wenkai!"

Zheng Wenkai stopped talking, seemingly intimidated by his words.

Liang Cheng then turned around, preparing to order the Longwu Army to retreat and break out through the south gate.

But to everyone's surprise, Zheng Wenkai seized the opportunity when he turned around, snatched the sword from the waist of the soldier next to him, and stabbed him hard in the back!

Liang Cheng looked down in disbelief at the tip of the knife protruding from his chest.

"you……"

He slowly turned around, looked at Zheng Wenkai in disbelief, his body went limp, and he collapsed heavily to the ground.

"Throw him down!" Zheng Wenkai ordered the soldier beside him expressionlessly.

The two soldiers looked at each other, but dared not disobey. They dragged Liang Cheng's body to the edge of the city wall and threw him down.

With a muffled thud, Liang Cheng's body crashed onto the bluestone slab in front of the Longwu Gate, splattering blood everywhere.

The Longwu Army soldiers on the city wall all turned their heads, their eyes filled with surprise and doubt.

How could the Duke of Liang have suddenly fallen from the building?

Seeing this, Zheng Wenkai roared at the Dragon Martial Army soldiers everywhere: "Brothers! Shen Churong just launched a sneak attack when they were off guard! Duke Liang was shot by an arrow and fell to his death from the city wall! It seems they don't intend to let us go! Today, we have no choice but to fight to the death to avenge Duke Liang and defend the Dragon Martial Gate!"

Most of the Longwu Army soldiers were stationed on both sides of the city tower. They did not see the changes on the tower clearly, but only saw Liang Cheng fall from the tower from afar.

Upon hearing that it was Shen Churong who had plotted against them, the crowd was immediately filled with indignation.

In an instant, the soldiers' intention to retreat vanished, replaced by a desperate rage in their eyes. They raised their swords and spears, shouting, "Avenge Duke Liang! Defend Longwu Gate to the death!"

Before long, Zheng Xinglang led his troops, using swords and spears to drive over a large, dark group of people.

The court officials' hats were askew and their official robes were disheveled; the palace maids' hair was disheveled and their faces were streaked with tears; the eunuchs were pale as death, huddled together under the threat of swords.

Several concubines and the little princess were also brought along.

Minister Xiao spotted Zheng Wenkai on the city wall and immediately questioned him sternly, "Zheng Wenkai, what is the meaning of this?!"

He and many other officials present had clearly expressed their support for Zheng Wenkai at the Ganlu Hall that day.

But now, this is how we're being treated!

Zheng Wenkai smiled and looked around at everyone, "Didn't you all say that you would join me in deposing Li Yuanzhao and supporting the Crown Prince's ascension to the throne?"

Minister Xiao stammered and did not reply.

On that day at Ganlu Hall, seeing that Li Yuanzhao was being held hostage, Zheng Wenkai had a greater chance of winning. In order to protect themselves and for their own interests, they naturally shouted to support him.

If Zheng Wenkai were to ultimately fail, they could still argue before the emperor that it was a temporary expedient measure forced by circumstances and the threat of swords.

However, now that the situation has reversed and the emperor has a greater chance of winning, these people can't help but start making their own calculations.

If he were to be associated with Zheng Wenkai at this moment, it would be a sure thing that he would be guilty of treason!

Not worth it!

Zheng Wenkai noticed his hesitation and immediately pointed to more than a dozen people, "Bring all these people up!"

Those who were called out, including Su Jingzhi and Minister Xiao, were all shocked and turned pale.

Minister Xiao attempted to defend himself: "Prime Minister Zheng, I... I am utterly loyal to you!"

Zheng Xinglang ignored what he said and directly escorted the group of people to the city wall.

Li Yuanshu watched this scene with a cold eye, a mocking smile playing on his lips.

Sure enough, men are unreliable; they're all all bark and no bite!

She walked slowly to Zheng Wenkai's side and said bluntly, "You can't threaten Li Yuanzhao like this!"

The more of these sycophants who die, the happier Li Yuanzhao is.

Before Zheng Wenkai could say anything, a deafening roar suddenly erupted from below the city gate: "Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

He peeked out and saw that Li Yuanzhao had appeared outside the Longwu Gate at some point.

She changed into a set of golden armor, with a long sword at her waist, and slowly rode her horse towards them.

Black armor gleamed in the sun, banners fluttered in the wind, and wherever it passed, people knelt in submission.

Shouts rose and fell, spreading from Longwu Gate and sweeping across the entire imperial city like a tide.

Upon seeing this, the officials being held captive on the city wall instantly showed expressions of joy and delight.

Li Yuanzhao not only survived, but also led a large army back to fight his way back, which means that Zheng Wenkai has completely lost!

Then, does that mean they can be saved?