On the city wall, Zhang Han's figure appeared in the firelight.
"Feng Liang! Cui Mian! How dare you!"
Zhang Han's voice boomed like thunder, "How dare you lead your private army to trespass into the palace, plotting a rebellion! Imperial Guards, listen to my command: seize the traitor!"
"Zhang Han! You..." Cui Mian's expression changed drastically, and he drew his sword, roaring, "You betrayed us?!"
"It's not betrayal, it's cleaning house."
Zhang Han sneered, "His Majesty has treated you well, yet you secretly colluded with Zhao Muyun, plotting treason. Tonight, this commander will eliminate this treacherous minister for His Majesty!"
Feng Liang slumped in the sedan chair, his face ashen.
It's over, it's all over.
Zhang Han's intention was not to cooperate with them at all, but to use them as a pledge of loyalty to Li Jingang!
"Brothers! Fight your way out!" Cui Mian knew there was no way out and could only fight to the death.
But the palace gates were already closed.
Six hundred elite soldiers were trapped in the barbican between the palace gate and the first palace wall. On the surrounding city walls, the imperial guards archers had already drawn their bows and nocked their arrows.
"Release the arrows!" Zhang Han waved his hand.
Arrows rained down.
Although the assassins were brave and fierce, they had nowhere to hide in the narrow barbican.
Screams, curses, and the clash of weapons filled the air.
People kept falling, their blood staining the bluestone slabs.
Cui Mian brandished his longsword, deflecting several arrows, and roared, "Zhang Han! You treacherous villain! The Great General will not let you get away with this!"
"That depends on whether Zhao Muyun can get in," Zhang Han said expressionlessly. "Release the rolling stones!"
On the city wall, huge boulders were pushed down and crashed into the crowd.
Each boulder weighed hundreds of kilograms, and when it crashed down, it sent flesh flying everywhere, a truly gruesome sight.
Feng Liang rolled out of the sedan chair and lay on the ground trembling.
An arrow struck his shoulder, and he screamed as blood streamed down his face.
"Prime Minister Feng!" Cui Mian tried to rush over to save him, but was held back by his personal guards.
"Sir! Move quickly! Retreat to the side gate!" the guard shouted.
"A side door? Where's the side door?"
"East! There's a small door on the east side!"
Cui Mian gritted his teeth and led his remaining troops eastward in a fierce charge.
After a fierce battle, they finally reached a small gate on the east side.
The door was ajar, and without thinking, he pushed it open and went inside.
Behind the gate was a narrow alley leading to the inner palace.
"Sir, this..." the guard hesitated.
"I can't worry about that anymore! Let's go!" Cui Mian rushed into the alleyway first.
About two hundred remaining soldiers followed and poured in.
The alley was deep and dark, with high walls on both sides and only a sliver of sky overhead.
They ran for about a hundred paces before an iron gate appeared ahead.
The iron gate was tightly closed.
Cui Mian pushed the door hard, but it wouldn't budge.
His heart skipped a beat. He looked back and saw that the way he had come was blocked by the Imperial Guards.
We've fallen for their trap!
This is a trap set by Zhang Han!
They deliberately opened the palace gates to lure them into the barbican, then deliberately left them a "way out," forcing them into this dead end!
"Zhang Han! I will haunt you even as a ghost!" Cui Mian roared to the sky.
At both ends of the alley, the Imperial Guard archers were already in position.
Zhang Han's voice came from outside the high wall: "Minister Cui, lay down your weapons and surrender, and I, the commander, will spare your life."
"Bah! Kill me if you want!"
"Then I'll grant your wish," Zhang Han said coldly. "Release the arrows."
This time, it was a true game-winner.
The alley was narrow, with nowhere to hide.
Arrows shot from both ends, like the scythe of death.
The screams echoed through the alleyway, lingering for a long time.
Cui Mian, who had been struck by seven arrows, slowly sat down against the wall.
He gazed at the sliver of starlight above his head and thought of many things.
Thinking back to twenty years ago, he was a poor scholar taking the imperial examination in the capital.
At that time, the world was not yet in chaos, and the capital was a place of great prosperity.
He drank in the restaurant, watching the bustling crowds on the street, thinking that one day he would pass the imperial examination and settle down in the capital.
Later, he actually passed the exam and became an official.
Later, when the country fell into chaos, he joined Li Jingang and rose through the ranks to become the Minister of Revenue.
In these three years, he has embezzled a lot of money and harmed countless people; he himself has lost count.
"Retribution..." he murmured, blood gushing from his mouth, "It's all retribution..."
My vision gradually blurred.
Finally, what came into view was a lonely star in the night sky.
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