"Okay! I'll listen to Brother Liu!" Chen Wu picked up the wine bowl again, but found his vision was a little blurry. "Hey, this wine... it's really strong..."
Before he could finish speaking, he slumped to the side and collapsed onto the table.
Liu Wei nudged him: "Brother Chen? Brother Chen?"
Chen Wu was already snoring.
Liu Wei let out a long sigh, got up and walked to the door, whispering to his personal guard, "Captain Chen is drunk, help him to rest."
"Also, inform the brothers: something big is happening tonight at midnight. Everyone be alert and listen to my orders."
"yes!"
After his personal guards helped Chen Wu away, Liu Wei stood alone outside the barracks.
The cool scraping on my face felt pleasant yet uncomfortable.
He looked toward the palace, which was brightly lit, but in his eyes it resembled a lurking beast that could devour everything at any moment.
"I'm sorry, Brother Chen," he murmured. "In these chaotic times, everyone serves their own master. I hope that by this time tomorrow, we can meet again alive."
The sound of the drum came: five quarters past the hour of Xu (7-9 PM).
There are still two hours until midnight.
At the beginning of Hai hour, the enemy tower at the South Gate.
Wang Ke stood atop the city wall, his hand on his sword, the cold wind making his cloak flutter loudly.
Below the city walls lay the pitch-black night, while atop the walls flickered torches.
There was a soldier standing guard every ten steps, seemingly a tight security, but Wang Ke knew that these soldiers were already wavering.
"Commander Wang." A captain approached, bowing respectfully. "You wanted to see me?"
Wang Ke turned around and looked at the three people in front of him.
These are the three captains of the South Gate, all of whom were promoted by Zhang Han and are extremely loyal to him.
"You three have worked hard." Wang Ke tried to keep his tone calm. "I just received orders from the palace to strengthen the palace guard tonight, and we need to send a batch of people. At the South Gate, each of you will lead one hundred men from your unit and report to the Xuanwu Gate at 3:45 PM."
The three captains looked at each other in bewilderment.
One of them hesitated and said, "Commander Wang, the defense of the South Gate is crucial. If we transfer three hundred men..."
"This is Commander Zhang's order." Wang Ke brandished a command arrow, engraved with the tiger stripes of the Imperial Guard. "What, you intend to disobey orders?"
Upon seeing the command token, the three dared not question it any further and said in unison, "Your subordinates obey!"
"Go, assemble the troops now." Wang Ke waved his hand. "Remember, 3:45 PM, in front of Xuanwu Gate. If you're late, you'll be punished according to military law."
"yes!"
The three hurriedly descended the city walls.
Wang Ke watched their retreating figures, a cold smile playing on his lips.
The command token was forged by him, but no one could tell the difference in the darkness.
When these three hundred people arrive at Xuanwu Gate, there will naturally be a "misunderstanding"—the palace will say that there was no such transfer order at all, but by then it will already be midnight, the city gates will be open, and the overall situation will be settled.
"Commander, everything is arranged." The captain of the personal guards walked over and whispered, "Our three hundred brothers are in position. At midnight, they will immediately take control of the city gate mechanisms. Lord Zhao Cheng's city defense troops will also come to meet us."
Wang Ke nodded: "Tell the brothers that tonight's matter is a matter of life and death. If we succeed, everyone will be rewarded. If we fail... there is no possibility of failure."
He spoke resolutely, but his palms were sweaty.
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