Meanwhile, servants and assassins were gathering at the Cui and Feng residences.
Cui Mian stood in the courtyard, looking at the three hundred strong men in front of him.
These were all assassins he had secretly trained; some were outlaws of the martial world, others were deserters from the army, and each one was exceptionally skilled.
"Gentlemen," Cui Mian's voice was not loud, but clear and easy to hear, "at midnight tonight, come with me to the palace!"
"After the mission is accomplished, each person will be rewarded with a thousand taels of silver and a hundred acres of fertile land! If any are unfortunate enough to die in battle, their families will be provided for, ensuring they will have enough to eat and wear for the rest of their lives!"
A flame ignited in the eyes of the assassins.
In chaotic times, life is worthless.
A thousand taels of silver and a hundred acres of fertile land would be enough for them to live a carefree life.
"I am willing to die for you, sir!"
The same scene played out at the Feng residence.
Although Feng Liang did not have as many assassins as Cui Mian, he still had 150 loyal servants, plus some temporarily recruited martial arts practitioners, making a total of 300 people.
The two agreed to meet at midnight on Zhuque Avenue, where they would combine their six hundred troops and march straight to the palace.
The atmosphere in the palace was even more eerie at this moment.
While Zhang Han was on duty at the Imperial Guard post, he received a secret report from his spies in various locations:
"Reporting to the commander, Chen Wu has been drugged by Liu Wei, and the eight hundred guards at the East Gate are now under Liu Wei's control."
"Wang Ke falsely issued military orders, transferring three hundred of his elite troops from the South Gate. The South Gate has now been reassigned."
"Feng Liang and Cui Mian are gathering their household guards and assassins, about six hundred men."
"Zhao Cheng's city defense division of two thousand men has secretly taken control of twelve main streets."
Everything is going according to plan.
But Zhang Han felt increasingly uneasy.
It went too smoothly, abnormally smoothly.
Although Li Jingang was unconscious, he was a powerful figure at the time. Did he not have any other backup plans?
"How is His Majesty doing?" he asked.
The guard replied, "His Majesty woke up at dusk, flew into a rage, smashed the medicine bowl, and demanded to see you. But as you instructed, we only told you that you had gone on a city patrol and would come to pay your respects tomorrow."
"What else did His Majesty say?"
"His Majesty said... said that if you betray him, you will die a horrible death. He also said..." The guard hesitated.
"explain!"
"He also said that he planted explosives in the palace, and if the city fell, he would ignite the fuse and perish together with the palace."
Zhang Han was startled.
Explosives?
When did Li Jingang plant the explosives? Where were they planted? Where was the fuse located?
"Investigate! Investigate immediately!" Zhang Han shouted. "Arrest and interrogate all the eunuchs and craftsmen who know about the construction of the palace! We must find the location of the explosives!"
"yes!"
The guards hurriedly left.
Zhang Han slumped into the chair, his inner shirt soaked with cold sweat.
Li Jingang is a madman! He's really going to destroy everything!
Just then, hurried footsteps came from outside the door.
Another guard rushed in: "Commander! Something terrible has happened! Something's happened to Lord Feng!"
"What's up?"
"When Prime Minister Feng's steward was gathering assassins, a maid from the Feng household overheard them. That maid was... a personal maid of Prime Minister Feng's concubine. The concubine was bestowed upon him by His Majesty, but in reality, she was His Majesty's spy! The maid has already slipped out the back door to report to the palace!"
Zhang Han suddenly stood up: "Did you catch up?"
"We've already sent people to chase after them, but it's dark and the roads are slippery, I'm afraid..."
"Close the palace gates immediately! All Imperial Guards, go on high alert!"
Zhang Han drew his sword. "Also, send someone to inform Prime Minister Feng and Lord Cui—the plan has changed, tell them to move forward! They should make their move at three-quarters past Hai hour!"
"yes!"
The guards rushed off.
Zhang Han strode out of the guardhouse and looked up at the deep night sky.
The drumbeat sounded precisely at 11:45 PM.
There was still half an hour until the scheduled midnight hour. But we couldn't wait any longer.
He had to make a choice immediately: whether to continue opening the palace gates as planned to welcome Zhao Muyun's army, or to hold the palace and wait for an unknown outcome.
"Order: Open the East Gate and West Gate, but do not open the main gate. Let Prime Minister Feng and Lord Cui's men enter the palace through the side gate."
Zhang Han gritted his teeth, "Furthermore, assemble a thousand Imperial Guards and have them accompany me to 'protect' His Majesty!"
He's going to take a gamble.
We gamble on capturing Li Jingang before he detonates the explosives.
They gambled on taking control of the palace before Zhao Muyun's army entered the city.
He won the bet; he's a hero.
If he loses the bet, he'll be a sacrificial lamb.
The palace lights flickered in the cold wind, like a kingdom adrift in a chaotic world.
......
At 3:45 PM, on Zhuque Avenue.
Feng Liang and Cui Mian led six hundred elite soldiers and hurriedly headed to the palace.
They originally planned to act at midnight, but Zhang Han suddenly sent a messenger saying that the plot might be exposed and they had to move it forward.
"Faster! Faster!" Cui Mian urged.
He rode on horseback, followed by three hundred armored warriors.
The sound of horses' hooves was particularly jarring on the quiet street.
Feng Liang sat in the sedan chair, his face pale.
He never expected that Li Jingang had spies in his own household.
That concubine was someone he took in half a year ago. She was said to be the adopted daughter of some official, and she was very beautiful and charming.
Unexpectedly...
"My lord, the Vermilion Bird Gate is just ahead!" a servant reported from outside the sedan chair.
Feng Liang lifted the sedan curtain and saw that the Vermilion Bird Gate of the palace was tightly closed, and torches were lit on the city tower, with the figures of the Imperial Guards faintly visible.
"Brother Cui, will Zhang Han really open the palace gates?" he asked anxiously.
Cui Mian reined in his horse and looked toward the palace gate.
Just then, the palace gates suddenly creaked open with a heavy thud, slowly opening a crack.
A captain of the Imperial Guard leaned out and beckoned, "Quick! Come in quickly!"
Cui Mian was overjoyed: "Let's go!"
Six hundred people surged into the palace gates like a tidal wave.
But just as they were halfway inside, an unexpected incident occurred!
Suddenly, dozens of torches were erected on the watchtowers on both sides of the palace gate, illuminating the area in front of the palace gate as bright as day.
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