Chapter 200: Tensions Rise (Part 3)
The guards behind Pei Xingju immediately drew their swords and stepped forward.
"General Yang!" Pei Xingju said in a deep voice, "I have come here on a secret decree. How can I show it to you casually? You have rashly led your troops to the capital today and committed a grave offense. I advise you to leave immediately. Otherwise, if you stay any longer, Duke Xin will truly rebel!"
"Master Pei, don't try to bluff me with that. I've received word that the capital is now under the control of the Imperial Guards Commander Duan Hongyuan, and the three city gates, east, west, and south, are all under defense. We have been ordered to wait here and only obey the Duke's orders."
"The capital is under control? Who told you that?" Pei Xingju asked, "How could I not know about this when I just came out of the city?"
"Lord Pei, please stop pretending. I sent someone to inquire about this earlier. The people in the city are fleeing in panic. Everyone is in a state of panic. The city walls are full of imperial guards. What else can this be but control?"
Pei Xingju frowned, finally realizing how cunning Duan Hongyuan was. He had deceived the Emperor and then the incredibly foolish Yang Zheng, even using the common people as his prey. Everything was interconnected, clearly intended to force Duke Xin to rebel.
At this moment, someone jumped out and said, "General Yang, don't listen to his sweet talk. This man is a political enemy of Duke Xin and has probably been colluding with Duan Hongyuan for a long time. We in the Red Wind Camp only obey Duke Xin's orders. When did a spy get the upper hand? Come on, arrest him!"
Before Yang Zheng could speak, the man waved his arm and dozens of archers surrounded Pei Xingju and others.
"General Ye," Yang Zheng was unsure and stepped forward to dissuade him, "If he was really sent by the Emperor, then we killed the wrong person."
"If the emperor sent him, why didn't he come with an imperial edict? Perhaps the emperor has already been imprisoned by him and that thief Duan."
When Yang Zheng heard this, sweat broke out on his forehead and he felt panicky.
Ye Zhizhao secretly observed his expression and took the opportunity to say, "General Yang, what are you waiting for? Let's attack the city. It will be too late if we don't attack now."
"No! We need to wait for the Duke's order!"
"Perhaps the Duke is also trapped in the city right now?"
Pei Xingju looked at the two of them coldly. What else was there to not understand? The spy from the Red Wind Camp was probably this man named Ye.
"Sir Pei," Yang Zheng said, looking directly at Pei Xingju. "This general wants to hear the truth. What is the situation in the city?"
"General Yang can find out the truth by sending his own people to investigate. If you listen to him..." Pei Xingju pointed at Ye Zhizhao, "From now on, your 30,000 brothers will be accused of being traitors!"
"What nonsense!" Ye Zhizhao shouted, "I think you are the spy sent by the dog thief Duan to sow discord among the troops!"
As he spoke, he took a step forward, raised his hand and said, "I, the Red Wind Camp, have come to rescue the Emperor. Now, we will kill the traitor for the Emperor!"
As he moved, the archers all aimed at Pei Xingju, and the atmosphere suddenly became tense.
But Pei Xingju did not frown, he just stood calmly in the middle and stared at him.
Yang Zheng, who was standing by, felt his meridians throbbing in his forehead. "General Ye, you have to think carefully. This is Pei Xingju."
Ye Zhizhao couldn't help but sweating profusely, and stretched his arms, which were raised high, to their limit.
At this moment, someone suddenly came running to report: "General Yang, Duke Xin has arrived."
Upon hearing this, Ye Zhizhao's face changed drastically. He dropped his arm and shouted sternly, "Shoot!"
Before this, he had nearly persuaded Yang Zheng to attack the city, but Pei Xingju had arrived to disrupt the situation. Before Yang Zheng could even consider his decision, Duke Xin arrived. Pei Xingju had to be killed, and if he were executed, Duke Xin would be convicted of treason.
This is what Ye Zhizhao thought.
But unexpectedly, the moment the arrow was shot, Pei Xingju, who had been standing calmly just now, quickly jumped up, dodged the first wave of arrows and attacked him directly.
Ye Zhizhao was shocked and had to fight with him.
At this time, Yang Zheng also noticed that something was wrong with Ye Zhizhao, and he immediately took action and led his men to draw their swords and join Pei Xingju's guards to resist the arrows.
Not long after, Ye Zhizhao was defeated, vomiting blood and falling to the ground, and the archers were beaten to pieces.
Not far away, the figure of Duke Xin was approaching. Yang Zheng, sweating profusely, quickly glanced at Pei Xingju and hurried to greet Duke Xin.
Pei Xingju turned his head to glance at Duke Xin. Hearing the sound of a dart breaking through the air, he suddenly turned and raised his hand to block it. A dart, gleaming with cold light, came towards him and pierced deeply into his palm.
Ye Zhizhao, who had just vomited blood and fell to the ground, suddenly turned over and stood up. After shooting the darts, he left a cloud of smoke and fled.
Duke Xin and the others came running over upon seeing what was happening. Seeing Pei Xingju's hand bleeding and the ground littered with arrows and smoke, he slowly looked towards him with lingering fear.
Afterwards, he sincerely bowed to Pei Xingju and thanked him: "Tonight, thanks to Lord Pei's persuasion, the lives of all the Liang family members were spared."
"Master Pei is injured, is it serious?" He tried to show concern.
Pei Xingju put his hands behind his back and smiled calmly: "No problem, Lord Liang has arrived just in time. I'll leave the affairs here to you."
"That man named Ye Zhizhao just now," he reminded, "Mr. Liang might be able to investigate him carefully."
"Thank you, Master Pei, for letting me know. I have sent people after him."
"In that case, I will take my leave first." Pei Xingju said.
"Lord Pei!" Duke Xin called out to him.
"Does Lord Liang have any further instructions?"
"I dare not give orders, but I do have a request." Duke Xin took two steps closer and whispered, "I'm sure Lord Pei saw clearly what happened today. Thank you Lord Pei for showing mercy and preventing me from making a serious mistake. As for the emperor... Lord Pei, please clarify a few things for me. I will provide all the evidence later."
Pei Xingju was surprised: "Duke Xin has evidence so quickly?"
Duke Xin smiled and said nothing.
"Goodbye!" Pei Xingju bowed.
"Goodbye!" Duke Xin raised his hand.
After watching Pei Xingju leave, Duke Xin breathed a long sigh of relief.
Marquis Cheng'en stepped forward and asked, "Duke, why did you let him go tonight when the opportunity was so good? Killing him and then framing Duan Hongyuan wouldn't that be killing two birds with one stone?"
"Two eagles?" Duke Xin sneered, "Do you think Pei Xingju came alone?"
"What do you mean?"
"Thirty thousand imperial guards have already gathered outside the north city gate," Duke Xin said. "If I dare to make any move, they will surely march upon me."
He once again looked in the direction Pei Xingju had left, and said thankfully, "Not only can I not kill him tonight, I also have to thank him."
Upon hearing this, Marquis Cheng'en was so frightened that he broke out in a cold sweat.
If Pei Xingju hadn't stopped the Red Wind Army, Duke Xin might have truly embarked on a rebellion. If Pei Xingju had ordered the Imperial Guards to attack, Duke Xin would have been convicted of rebellion.
.
Imperial Palace, Yongning Hall.
When the Queen Mother learned that the Chifeng Army had been stopped by Pei Xingju, she suddenly became nervous.
"Ye Zhizhao actually failed to convince Yang Zheng?"
"Empress Dowager," a secret guard knelt in the shadows and reported in a low voice, "Yang Zheng set up camp and stayed there, waiting for the order from Duke Xin. But when our people arrived, Pei Xingju was already there, so..."
"Just one step, just one step." The Queen Mother murmured regretfully.
After a moment, she asked, "Where is your Lord Duan? Where is he? I want to see him."
"Empress Dowager, the master said that it is not appropriate to meet tonight due to the tense situation. Please wait patiently for news."
"What news are you waiting for?" The Queen Mother panicked. "Is he planning to abandon me now that things have changed?"
"I want to see Duan Hongyuan! Now!" she said sternly.
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