Chapter 712 Treason
Shen Fangming was fast asleep in the inn. He had no idea that his actions had been discovered. He was still dreaming that if the Shen family successfully sided with a foreign power in the future, he would be rewarded with an official position.
The Imperial Guards are very efficient. This time, the Empress Wu did not send the Golden Guards, but the Black Scale Guards, which are directly under her command.
Outside the residence of Gao Hengzhong, the Vice Minister of War, a whole circle of heavily armored Black Scale Guards surrounded him. At this moment, two squads of soldiers were standing outside the main gate of the residence, waiting for the official riding a tall horse to give orders.
If you think that's all there is to it, then you're sorely mistaken.
In fact, there were dozens of people hidden in the alley outside, not to mention a dozen archers on higher ground.
The main theme is that there is no escape, and the original words of Emperor Wu are: "Not a single person can be spared!"
Even a three-year-old child has been captured by me.
"I haven't killed enough people over the years, which makes them think that as I get older, my heart has become more compassionate."
Treason is one of the ten unpardonable crimes. What Emperor Wu meant was: You are going to rebel against the Tang Dynasty and not take me, the supreme ruler, seriously. Why should I give you face?
If an emperor shows mercy in such matters, how can his empire be secure? How can the world possibly prosper?
No matter how careful the Black Scale Guards were, their actions were bound to make some noise in the quiet night. Several loud shouts had already been heard from the Gao family, and the families living near the Gao family quickly closed their doors and windows.
The official was waiting; he was waiting for a signal.
With a "whoosh," an arrow shot out from a high place and hit the carrier pigeon released from the Gao family.
"Assistant Manager Xu!"
The official waved his hand, and the soldiers stopped talking.
Soon someone presented a carrier pigeon with an arrow stuck in its body. Xu Jingzhen took the soft leather bucket tied to the pigeon's leg, opened it, and saw the scroll of paper inside.
"Have the soldiers on duty at Anhua Gate open the city gate half an hour earlier."
Chang'an was too big, with 108 wards. Not to mention the expansion and the three outer cities surrounding it. This most prosperous metropolis of the time had a population of over a million. Moreover, events that happened in the east of the city would take a while for the west of the city to know about them.
As Li Dalang, Wang Dadan, and the others tidied up and prepared to line up at the city gate, Xu Jingzhen was still leading the Black Scale Guards to surround Gao Hengzhong's house, but still hadn't made a move.
"Good morning, sir. The guards at Anhua Gate are opening the city gates early today. I know you also need to line up early to leave the city, so I came to let you know."
Li Dalang took out a few copper coins and gave them to the waiter who came to inform them, "Boss? Us?"
Li Dalang knew that this unusual activity was definitely related to the information he had received from the Bad Guys about the Ministry of War official.
"Never mind, let's just focus on our own mission. Get the brothers up and line up at the city gate."
When Li Dalang and his men finished packing their goods and drove their cart out of the inn, they saw many other merchants yawning and calling out to each other as they headed towards the city gate.
"Boss, isn't that the Shen family's caravan up ahead?"
I saw Shen Fangming sitting inside the carriage.
Li Dalang glanced casually ahead and nodded to Gao Haiping: "Have Thirteen keep a close eye on things; there will be more people following along the way."
With the city gates opening ahead of schedule, Chang'an City came alive with activity: people selling breakfast, leaving the city, emptying chamber pots, and even complaining about their disturbed dreams, making the city more vibrant.
A gust of wind blew by, causing the leaves of the trees in the Gao family's courtyard to rustle.
The raindrops fell hastily from the sky, adding to the already somber atmosphere.
Astride his horse, Xu Jingzhen felt the falling raindrops, glanced at the dawning sky, and spoke to those waiting beside him: "Let's do it!"
After waiting for most of the night, the agreed time finally arrived.
Upon receiving the order, the Black Scale Guards swiftly scaled the wall and entered, opening the door. Dozens of soldiers then began searching the Gao family residence in formation.
Of course, it had been explained beforehand that "every single person, even an infant, must be found."
If there is strong resistance, death may be taken.
Unlike the Golden Guards, the Black Scale Guards' swords are not long swords, but rather broad-bladed short swords.
Whether it's a long sword or a short sword, a good sword is one that can kill.
The rain grew heavier and heavier, with large raindrops pounding on the bluestone pavement of the Gao family's house. The sound seemed to drown out the gasps, cries, and shouts of terror emanating from Gao Hengzhong and his servants.
A quarter of an hour later, the soldier, covered in blood, emerged from the Gao family's gate, bowed to Xu Jingzhen, and said, "Assistant Manager, everything has been taken care of."
Xu Jingzhen dismounted and, holding an oil-paper umbrella, walked step by step toward the Gao family. Just past the gate, a strong smell of blood hit him.
Xu Jingzhen looked at the dozen or so bloodied corpses lying on the ground. "Assistant Manager, these few resisted fiercely. We had no choice but to kill them."
Xu Jingzhen nodded. He walked step by step past the dozens of people who were kneeling in the courtyard with their hands bound and getting soaked in the rain. He approached the main hall of the Gao family and saw Gao Hengzhong sitting upright on the chair at the head of the table.
Setting down her oil-paper umbrella and shaking off the raindrops from her cloak, Xu Jingzhen was about to step inside when she called out, "Assistant Manager!"
Xu Jingzhen said to his deputy, "It's alright, Minister Gao won't lay a hand on me."
Xu Jingzhen, who sat down at the lower end of the main hall, stared at the ground without saying a word. After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Gao Hengzhong, who was sitting at the upper end, seemed to finally wake up from his daze.
"I never expected that it would be you, the young master of the Duke of Ying's mansion, who would come."
"Minister Gao, why bother?"
Gao Hengzhong did not reply, but the fact that he spoke meant he still wanted to talk. Xu Jingzhen did not give Gao Hengzhong a chance. After asking the question, he raised his head and looked at Gao Hengzhong: "The emperor has given instructions. You are a veteran of two dynasties. Confess honestly, and I will give you a dignified corpse."
Gao Hengzhong's expression remained unchanged, but his clenched fists revealed his inner turmoil and fear.
“Sages are never benevolent people, and Vice Minister Gao has always known this.”
However, considering your past merits, the sage might allow you to preserve a bloodline for your family, provided you confess honestly.
Seeing that Vice Minister Gao remained unmoved, Xu Jingzhen sighed and said, "Many people have already died outside. I think there are even three-year-old children getting soaked in the rain. Vice Minister Gao would be better off making a decision soon."
With a "thump," Vice Minister Gao knelt down and kowtowed towards the direction of the imperial city. Before Xu Jingzhen could react, his head lolled to the side and his mouth agape as he collapsed to the ground.
"Assistant Manager!"
The deputy who rushed in saw that Minister Gao was lying on the ground with black blood flowing from the corner of his mouth and was now dead or alive. Looking at Xu Jingzhen with a helpless expression, he couldn't help but feel a little scared.
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