Chapter 2780: Unusual Movement Outside the City
Jiang Shan stared at him with wide eyes, seemingly still trying to react for a moment. At this moment, a soldier guarding the city suddenly rushed in: "Master Jiang, there seems to be a fire over there in the northeast corner of the outer city!"
"What?!"
Jiang Shan was already shocked by Eunuch Yu's words, and when he heard the news, he reacted quickly and rushed out in one step.
Eunuch Yu and the others also followed him out of the watchtower.
I walked up to the city wall and looked to the north. Sure enough, I saw a little fire in the dark night in the distance, swaying faintly like a firefly shining in the dark night.
It was obvious that someone was waving a torch.
But this person was not wandering around, but conveying a message. The nine inner and outer gates were too far apart from each other, and it would take a long time to convey the message by riding a horse. Therefore, the soldiers guarding the city used waving flags to signal during the day and waving torches to convey messages at night.
As soon as he saw the message, Jiang Shan's brows immediately furrowed.
Eunuch Yu immediately asked, "What is it?"
Jiang Shan said in a deep voice: "The soldiers guarding the city have noticed some unusual movements outside the city."
"Unusual movement? What unusual movement?!"
"The flag signal said that we saw some people approaching in the distance, but we can't tell who they are at the moment."
“…”
"They are asking if they need to go out of the city to investigate."
When Eunuch Yu heard this, his heart sank.
He had originally followed the Imperial Concubine's arrangement and made an exception to come to Jiang Shan to close the nine inner and outer gates - in fact, the most important thing was to close the nine gates of the inner city to eliminate the threats to the outer and inner cities, especially to the imperial palace. Although it was the Imperial Concubine who asked him to do this, with his many years of experience serving the emperor, he also knew that it was the right thing to do.
However, what he didn't expect was that the movement outside the city would come so quickly!
Eunuch Yu said in a deep voice: "Quick, tell them to close the city gates immediately!"
“…”
Jiang Shan's brows were furrowed, and he looked at Eunuch Yu with a serious look.
According to the rules, the city gates should be closed at 15:15 at night. The time has not yet arrived, and the time for closing the city gates cannot be changed without the emperor's decree.
He had vaguely heard that something seemed to have gone wrong when the emperor went to Li Mansion to attend a wedding banquet today.
And now, the emperor's trusted eunuch Yu Gonggong suddenly arrived and asked him to close the nine gates inside and outside.
Obviously, something big happened.
If you are not careful at this time, you will lose your head and your entire clan will be exterminated.
He said in a deep voice: "Eunuch Yu, this——"
Eunuch Yu's face was serious. He was usually so smiling, but now, facing him, he felt an inexplicable pressure. He said, "Jiang Shan, I don't need to explain to you what happened in the palace. However, the emperor has entrusted the nine inner and outer gates of the capital to you, so you must answer to everyone in the capital!"
“…”
"Now, regardless of what's happening in the inner city, if unusual movements are detected outside, no one can mobilize troops to defend against the enemy in such a short time. If you don't close the city gates quickly, can you afford to deal with any enemy attacks that follow?"
“…”
Jiang Shan didn't say anything, but looked at him.
At this moment, his breath was choked.
The two of them stared at each other for an unknown amount of time. Jiang Shan, still staring into Eunuch Yu's eyes, suddenly shouted, "Someone come!"
His soldiers immediately stepped forward and asked, "What are your orders, sir?"
Jiang Shan took a deep breath and said, "Immediately send a message to the northeast corner tower—no, to the nine inner and outer gates—and close all the city gates!"
The soldiers were also startled.
You know, although it is not time to close the outer city gate yet, the nine gates of the inner city cannot be closed unless there is something serious. Several people looked at each other and froze there.
Jiang Shan said: "Why don't you go quickly!"
At the angry shout, everyone jumped up in fright and did not dare to delay. They hurried to various places on the city wall and called on the soldiers below to wave torches to pass on flags.
Soon, more than a dozen torches were lit on the city wall, and the soldiers waved the torches, drawing dazzling streaks of light in the night sky.
Immediately afterwards, the towers that saw the flag signals also flashed with responding flames.
In the darkness of the night, there were long and dull roars.
It's the sound of the city gate closing!
Hearing these voices, Jiang Shan seemed relieved, yet also anxious. He looked at Eunuch Yu, his forehead covered in sweat, and said, "I'll listen to Eunuch Yu. I just hope that it won't bring about a fatal disaster."
Eunuch Yu glanced at him and did not respond.
He simply said, "Now, have all the guards at each city gate stand guard and patrol all night. No one is allowed to enter the inner city. Anyone who violates this will be killed without mercy!"
Jiang Shan was silent for a moment, then said, "I'll do what you ask."
“…”
"I just hope that later on, the eunuch can give me an imperial decree, even an imperial decree."
“…”
"Otherwise, the people of the capital will be fine, but my Jiangshan family will be in trouble."
Eunuch Yu glanced at him and said, "Don't worry."
Hearing him say this, Jiang Shan nodded and immediately walked down the tower. Eunuch Yu asked, "Where are you going?"
Jiang Shan said, "Go to the northeast corner building."
“…”
"Although the city gates are closed, I need to go over and keep an eye on what's going on over there. If there's really any danger—" He paused and said, "General Luo will have to mobilize troops immediately."
“…”
"I heard that General Luo went to Li Mansion today and hasn't come back since."
Eunuch Yu's expression also darkened.
He was the palace steward. Although he usually appeared to be smiling and only followed the emperor, he actually knew exactly which bird was perched on a wall in the palace. It was impossible for him to be completely unaware of the fact that so many people had been brought into the harem and placed under house arrest in the Xuanqiong Palace.
However, closing the nine inner and outer gates is a big deal.
Therefore, he did not ask too much about that side, but came here first to pass on the message to Jiang Shan; now that the matter of the Nine Gates has been dealt with, he has to go back and take a look over there.
He thought for a moment and said, "Go over there and keep an eye on it. If anything serious happens, send the news in immediately."
Jiang Shan responded, then took out a token from his bosom and handed it to Eunuch Yu.
He said, "When the eunuch returns to the palace, or if he wants someone to pass on a message, have someone take this token."
Eunuch Yu took the token, glanced at it, and nodded, "Okay."
Jiang Shan then warned, "The soldiers guarding the city will only recognize this token. It is extremely important. Eunuch, please do not easily delegate it to others. Otherwise, the nine inner and outer gates will be useless."
Eunuch Yu said, "Our family knows, you should go quickly."
Jiang Shan turned around and ran down the city wall.
After a while, a group of people followed him to the northeast corner tower.
Eunuch Yu immediately went down the city wall with a few personal soldiers, mounted his horse again, and galloped towards the palace without stopping.
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