At the same time, outside the East Gate.
Upon hearing the shouts of battle from within the palace, Liu Wei's expression changed drastically: "Something's happened!"
Without further hesitation, he drew his sword and shouted, "Brothers! Open the city gates! Welcome the Great General!"
The guards at the East Gate were already prepared and moved out upon receiving the order.
The massive city gate winch was turned, and the heavy city gate slowly opened.
Outside the city, Zhao Muyun's army was already lined up and waiting.
Upon seeing the city gates open, Han Zhong was overjoyed: "General! The city gates are open!"
Zhao Muyun frowned deeply.
He heard the sounds of fighting in the palace and saw the flames soaring into the sky.
Something's not right.
There has been no news of Fan Bingbing, the deputy commander of the Night Watch, and Shen Qian, the lieutenant of the Night Watch, who were stationed in the capital.
Zhao Muyun was still stuck on the events in the capital, when the Night Scouts had instigated a group of Da Feng officials to rebel during the Battle of Yishuichuan, resulting in the complete annihilation of their army.
"Order: The heavy cavalry battalion will be the vanguard, the Mo Dao battalion in the center, and the crossbow battalion in the rear. After entering the city, march straight for the palace, but do not kill indiscriminately or disturb the people!"
Zhao Muyun ordered, "Also, send scouts to investigate the situation at the south gate."
"Understood!"
A thousand cavalrymen led the way into the city, their hooves thundering like lightning.
Then came 20,000 infantrymen who poured into Xijing City like a flood.
Almost simultaneously, the south gate also opened.
Seeing that the east gate was open, Wang Ke knew that the great undertaking was accomplished and ordered the city gates to be opened as well.
Lin Feng led the Longmen Pass troops into the city through the south gate.
Han Zhong led the Hebei Hedong Army into the city through the north gate.
More than 100,000 troops poured into Xijing City in three routes.
But Zhao Muyun felt even more uneasy.
He recalled Zhang Han's letter: "I have already made arrangements regarding the palace gates."
But right now, a bloody battle is raging in the palace!
"Han Zhong, you lead the troops to control the gates and pacify the people. Lin Feng, you come with me straight to the palace!"
Zhao Muyun spurred his horse and led his personal guards toward the palace.
On the streets, Zhao Cheng's city defense officers were maintaining order and guiding the army.
Upon seeing Zhao Muyun's banner, Zhao Cheng quickly stepped forward:
"General! There's fighting in the palace! Prime Minister Feng and Minister Cui are leading men to storm the palace, and Zhang Han is suppressing them!"
"Didn't Zhang Han say he wanted to open the palace gates?" Lin Feng asked angrily.
"He...he changed his mind!" Zhao Cheng exclaimed urgently. "He used the heads of Prime Minister Feng and Minister Cui to prove his loyalty to Li Jingang!"
"The situation in the palace is unclear, but the Imperial Guards should still be under Li Jingang's control!"
A cold glint flashed in Zhao Muyun's eyes: "Zhang Han, you two-faced bastard! Issue the order: a full-scale attack on the palace! Shenji Battalion, bring the cannons!"
"General, there may be explosives in the palace!"
Remembering something, Zhao Cheng quickly said, "I interrogated an old eunuch, and he said that Li Jingang secretly planted a large amount of gunpowder in the palace three months ago, and the fuse was in the Taiji Hall!"
Zhao Muyun felt a chill run down her spine.
Explosives!
If Li Jingang really lit the fuse, the entire palace could be blown to smithereens!
"Wu Shangzhi! You lead Zhong Meng and Han Fang to immediately surround the palace, but do not launch a direct attack!"
"Murong Chunhua, Huan Wu, you take the cavalry and guard the area around the palace. Do not allow anyone to enter or leave!"
Zhao Muyun quickly gave the order, "Lin Feng, you take a team of elite soldiers and follow me into the palace through the secret passage!"
"A secret passage?"
"Every palace has secret passages; that's common knowledge," Zhao Muyun said in a deep voice. "Go find them! Arrest the palace eunuchs and question them! We must find the entrance to the secret passage!"
"yes!"
The army moved swiftly.
Wu Shangzhi led his infantry to surround the palace. The soldiers, exuding murderous intent, lined up in front of the palace, forming an impregnable fortress.
Murong Chunhua and Huan Wu each led 5,000 cavalrymen to patrol back and forth outside the palace walls.
Zhao Muyun and Lin Feng, led by Zhao Cheng, found an old eunuch who had served in the palace for forty years.
The old eunuch trembled, "Your Highness, spare me... the secret passage... the entrance to the secret passage is in the dry well in the Cold Palace... the exit... the exit is under the dragon throne in the Taiji Hall..."
"lead the way!"
The group headed straight for the Cold Palace.
......
At the beginning of the hour of Chou (1-3 AM), in the Taiji Hall.
Li Jingang sat on the dragon throne, wearing a dragon robe and a crown, his expression eerily calm.
Only two lamps were lit in the hall, making the light dim.
Zhang Han stood in the hall with his hand on his sword, with two hundred elite Imperial Guards behind him.
“Zhang Han, you’ve done well,” Li Jingang said slowly. “You’ve proven your loyalty with the heads of Feng Liang and Cui Mian. But do you think I’ll believe you?”
Zhang Han bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I dare not ask for your trust; I only ask that I have a clear conscience."
"A clear conscience?" Li Jingang laughed, his laughter echoing in the empty hall. "You wanted to arrest me before, and now you've killed Feng Liang and Cui Mian. Zhang Han, Zhang Han, to whom are you truly loyal? To me? To Zhao Muyun? Or to yourself?"
Zhang Han remained silent.
"Never mind, it's not important anymore." Li Jingang waved his hand. "Zhao Muyun's army should have entered the city by now, right? How do you think he'll attack the palace? With cannons? Or by throwing lives at it?"
"Your Majesty," Zhang Han said in a deep voice, "is it true that there are explosives planted in the palace?"
A mad glint flashed in Li Jingang's eyes: "It's true, of course it's true. A full ten thousand catties of gunpowder, buried under the palace foundation. The fuse is under this dragon throne; all I have to do is pull the trigger..."
He patted the armrest of the dragon throne, "Boom! The entire palace, and the surrounding area within three miles, will be reduced to ruins."
The imperial guards in the palace all turned pale.
Zhang Han gritted his teeth: "Your Majesty, why must we do this? Even if... even if we are defeated, we can still save our lives..."
"Save my life? To be locked in a cage like a dog, barely clinging to life?" Li Jingang shook his head. "I'd rather die like an emperor!"
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