A chaotic sound of footsteps came from the front and back, some came from outside the city, some came from the alleys at the back, and some came from the city walls and towers.
In just a blink of an eye, General Hong was surrounded by dozens of tall and mighty Jinwu Guards in front and behind, and a row of Jinwu Guards on the high city wall drew their longbows at him.
The arrows, shining with cold light, were all aimed at General Hong and his entourage below, with an overwhelming momentum and murderous intent.
This is a trap! This thought clearly emerged in General Hong's mind.
He only felt a ball of cold air rising rapidly from the soles of his feet, and his whole body was cold, as if he had fallen into an ice cellar. The tall black horse under his crotch neighed uneasily, and its long tail swung constantly.
The dozens of soldiers he brought with him all held their long swords tightly in their hands, ready for battle.
The atmosphere at the city gate suddenly became tense and ready to explode.
The ordinary people who were originally living in front and behind the city gate ran away in panic, and even the shops and restaurants near the city gate closed their doors for fear of being implicated.
The midday sun was bright and warm, but General Hong's forehead was covered with a thin layer of cold sweat.
General Hong gritted his teeth and immediately ordered: "Break out!"
His face was as gloomy as water. He had already guessed that the others who had gone to the east, south and north city gates to deliver the Queen Mother's message might have encountered the same dilemma.
The situation is not good! General Hong's heart was filled with dark clouds. He resolutely drew his sword, a bloodthirsty gleam flashed across his eyes, and he thought to himself: Today, either you die or I...
"Bang!"
Suddenly, thunderous gunshots rang out around the city gate, deafening everyone.
The next moment, a bloody hole larger than a longan appeared on General Hong’s forehead.
"General!" The soldiers behind him cried out in surprise, watching General Hong fall off his horse face down. His heavy body hit the ground, causing the dust on the ground to shake.
The glaring blood gushed out from the bloody hole on his forehead, and soon formed a bright red bloodstain on the ground.
On General Hong's body, his wide-open eyes were cloudy and dim, and he died with his eyes open.
In just a blink of an eye, General Hong died. Even without checking his pulse, everyone was aware of this.
Gu Yuan on the city wall was holding a flintlock rifle, with a wisp of white smoke coming out of the black muzzle.
When the wind blew, a faint smell of gunpowder filled the air, which was more pungent than the smell of blood.
Gu Yuan looked down at the body of General Hong below, and said coldly to the soldiers brought by General Hong:
"King Kang is plotting a rebellion. You must surrender immediately. Anyone who disobeys my order will be killed without mercy."
His narrow and long phoenix eyes were intimidating without anger, and there was a hint of sword-like sharpness lingering between his brows.
The surrounding Jinwu Guards, including Fan Beiran, all shouted in unison: "Anyone who disobeys my order will be killed without mercy!"
Behind the city gate, General Hong's body was lying on the ground with his eyes wide open, which made these words quite intimidating.
The murderous intent is fierce.
However, the soldiers led by General Hong did not surrender. One of them raised his sword and shouted "Break out quickly". He kicked his horse and swung his sword at the Jinwu Guard closest to him. The sword flashed...
The others also drew their swords, revealing a determination to fight to the end.
“Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!”
A shower of silver arrows fell from the city wall like meteors. Some arrows pierced through people's flesh, some were slashed away by a knife, and some missed...
Shouts, screams, and the sounds of weapons clashing were heard everywhere.
"Quick battle, quick decision." Gu Yuan simply said these four words and handed over the battlefield at the city gate to Fan Beiran.
He himself took out his clairvoyance and looked in the direction of the east, south and north city gates. He turned a deaf ear to all the sounds around him and remained calm and composed.
The smell of blood in the air became stronger and stronger, making people want to vomit.
After a while, the sound of weapons exchanged from the rear stopped, and a burst of hurried footsteps came.
"A Yuan, go on!"
As Fan Beiran shouted, he casually threw a candle-sized flare to Gu Yuan.
Gu Yuan raised his hand and caught the flare without even looking at it. There was still some blood on it.
But Gu Yuan didn't care and immediately lit the flare fuse.
"call out!"
Soon, an orange-red light shot up into the sky, and with a bang, it suddenly exploded in the sky, as if there was another sun in the blue sky.
Almost everyone in the capital area could see the flare in the sky, but ordinary people thought it was some kind of firework, while those officials and their families knew at first glance that it was a flare, and they associated it with a death knell and teams of imperial guards surrounding the various mansions. A feeling of uneasiness rose in everyone's heart.
At this time, Prince Kang Chu You, who was at the foot of Tianxi Mountain, also saw the flare from afar that looked like the rising sun.
He unconsciously tightened the reins, and the black horse under him raised its front hooves with a little excitement.
"Your Majesty, it's a flare!"
His attendant raised his hand and pointed in the direction of the capital city in the east, and shouted excitedly, his voice trembling with excitement.
"It's the perfect time!" Chu You took out a pocket watch and looked at the time. He curled his thin lips and a look of relief appeared on his face.
It was one quarter past three, which was exactly the time they had calculated in advance.
This year's imperial tomb sacrifice, Empress Dowager Yuan, who was under house arrest in Shou'an Palace, did not come with the emperor. This was actually something that Empress Dowager Yuan and Chu You had expected, and it was also what they had been longing for.
Chu You specially arranged for Empress Dowager Yuan to preside over the overall situation in the capital, and the Empress Dowager summoned the wives of the noble officials to the palace and placed them under house arrest in the palace as hostages. Next, as soon as the death knell rang, the capital would be in chaos, and the emperor and Chu Yi were not in the capital. Empress Dowager Yuan was the most honorable person in the capital. With just her order, part of his Tiger Guards who stayed in the capital could take advantage of the chaos and attack, and take the capital without bloodshed.
Now that General Hong has sent out a signal flare, it means that everything is going well in the capital and the capital is under their control.
He's the only one missing.
As long as he can take down the emperor, everything will go smoothly.
He can replace the emperor. This throne should belong to him. He is the heir to the throne that belonged to the previous emperor! Thinking of this, Chu You's heart was burning, and his narrow eagle eyes were shining. He turned the black horse under his crotch, facing the soldiers behind him, and said loudly: "Tiger Soldiers, listen to my orders!"
Behind him, three thousand armored Tiger Soldiers stood in a neat square formation awaiting orders, with their bodies straight and their swords and spears at hand, all looking at Chu You with piercing eyes.
The soldiers knelt on one knee and saluted, shouting in unison: "The general is here!"
This kneeling and shouting were so imposing, the sound was as loud as beating a drum, radiating sharpness and murderous intent.
The golden sunlight fell on Chu You's body. The tall young man had a dignified demeanor and sharp eyes. He looked around at the thousands of Tiger Guards in front of him from his high horse's back, with an air of dominating the world.
He also clearly remembered that half a year before the death of the late emperor, feeling that he was old and weak, he secretly confided in him, talking about "Taizu's Notes", Fengyang's life span, and the invincible Shangyang Army that Taizu left to Fengyang.
"Ningzhi, Fengyang has used the Shangyang Army to hinder me all my life, and even forced me to swear a poisonous oath in front of Taizu's spirit that I would never attack her in this life. Every failure makes a wiser person. Over the years, I have secretly raised a Tiger Guard Army, which is an elite division."
"I have tried to depose the Crown Prince several times for your sake. Your eldest brother is narrow-minded and will probably bear a grudge. When he takes the throne, it will be time to settle old scores. You must be careful of him."
"Remember, the Tiger Guards I left for you are your trump card. Do not use them unless it is absolutely necessary."
The late emperor guessed correctly. His elder brother Chu Qi had always been wary of him. Since he ascended the throne last year, he had not allowed him to get involved in military and political affairs. In just one year, he had demoted him from prince to duke.
Since Chu Qi couldn't tolerate him, he couldn't just sit there and wait for death! Chu You raised his arm and shouted with high morale: "Let's go to the imperial mausoleum!"
With this Tiger Guard Army, he felt like he had a magical weapon and a strong support to fight against Chu Qi.
"Yes, Your Highness!" Thousands of Tiger Guards soldiers clasped their fists and accepted the order. Their morale became even higher, and each of them had a bright look in their eyes.
King Kang is only one step away from the throne. As long as today's plan goes well, all of them will have the merit of following the king, and their future will be immeasurable!
Chu You squeezed his legs against the horse's belly, leaned forward, and the black horse under him galloped out.
He was leading the way, running at the front, full of vigor and vitality, with a cold and arrogant smile on the corners of his lips, as if the shackles that had been on him for more than a year were about to be completely broken free.
Thousands of soldiers followed with great momentum, sweeping all the way towards the imperial mausoleum, making the ground rumble and raising dust all over the sky.
“Bang!”
Chu You whipped the horse's buttocks again and again, and the agile horse ran faster, its four hooves churning and its long mane flying.
Chu You rushed forward for two miles and saw the imperial mausoleum with glazed tiles and red walls appearing in front of him. The solemn and magnificent imperial mausoleum was very eye-catching among the green mountains and clear waters.
“Oh—”
Chu You stopped his horse at the dismounting monument.
The soldiers of the Huben Army who were following behind also stopped in unison. Chu You's attendant trotted forward and knocked on the new red door at the entrance of the imperial mausoleum.
Chu You looked at the new vermilion red door in front of him, his eyes a little dazed and his eyes were sore.
The coffin of the late emperor was buried in this imperial mausoleum, and he witnessed the burial of the late emperor with his own eyes.
At this moment, Chu You heard the earnest admonitions of the late emperor before his death: "Ningzhi, if your eldest brother is unkind, you don't have to be afraid of brotherly love, and don't suffer in vain! If it weren't for your aunt Fengyang, the throne should have belonged to you."
"But remember to act with extreme caution!"
Thinking back to the kindness the late emperor had shown him, Chu You's sorrow was swept away and he felt refreshed.
He wants to fulfill the late emperor's last wish, which is his greatest filial piety to the late emperor. Seeing him ascend the throne, the late emperor's spirit in heaven will rest in peace!
As he thought about it, Chu You's eyes became brighter.
“Squeak!”
The middle door of the new red gate was soon opened from the inside, and two tall Xiaoling guards walked out of the door. They all clasped their fists towards King Kang and said, "Greetings, King Kang!"
There was complete silence inside and outside the imperial mausoleum.
Facing Chu You on horseback, the two Xiaoling Guards bowed their heads with great respect.
Chu You curled his lips and smiled, realizing that everything was going well.
He dismounted from his horse and walked towards the new red gate with big strides, looking ahead with bright eyes and full of energy.
After Fengyang's death, all civil and military officials united to force the emperor to abdicate. The current emperor Chu Qi is cowardly and incompetent, unable to control the overall situation, and there is no time to mobilize troops in a short period of time.
For me, this is the best opportunity, with Prime Minister Xiao and others working together with me.
In addition, the capital city is now under his control, so he will definitely win this battle.
Chu You didn't need to give any more orders. The three thousand Tiger Guards behind him immediately followed with big strides, marching forward in uniform steps, forming a black mass.
The originally silent imperial mausoleum suddenly became noisy.
The mountain wind was biting, and the rows of pine and cypress trees on both sides of the road swayed in the wind.
Chu You walked faster and faster with his head held high, with lofty ambitions, his only thought on the emperor who was in Long'en Palace.
He didn't notice at all that after the last few Tiger Guards entered the new red gate, the two vermilion lacquered doors behind them slowly closed.
The sound of the door closing was drowned out by the rumbling footsteps of the soldiers and no one noticed.
The road was empty and there was no sound except their footsteps.
The quieter it was ahead, the more confident Chu You felt, knowing that Prime Minister Xiao and his men had the situation under control and most of the work was done.
He had an agreement with the third prince of Yue, Baili Yin, that Baili Yin would deal with Chu Yi for him. So as long as he captured the current emperor Chu Qi in the imperial mausoleum today, the Da Jing Dynasty would be able to change its owner.
Just like Meng'er said, no matter how long the night is, the day will always come!
Chu You walked straight ahead and stopped in front of the Zhenghong Gate. He waved his hand and ordered, "Divide the troops into five groups and block the imperial mausoleum."
"Yes, Your Majesty." The soldiers of the Tiger Guards immediately obeyed the order.
These well-trained soldiers were divided into five teams and moved flexibly in various directions of the imperial mausoleum.
Finally, there were still five hundred soldiers left behind Chu You. Chu You continued to walk towards the Longen Hall, passed straight through the Ruigong Shengde Monument Tower and Longfeng Gate, and finally arrived outside the Longen Gate.
On the other side of the door is the Longen Hall, where the tablets of the Chu family's ancestors are enshrined.
At this time, there were no imperial guards or Jinyiwei guarding outside the Longen Gate.
Chu You paused for a moment, and the five hundred soldiers behind him also stopped.
When the footsteps stopped, the surroundings suddenly became silent, with only the sound of wind blowing through the branches and leaves.
The surroundings were too quiet, and Chu You secretly felt a little strange: Could it be that the others were all in Long Enmen? !
Chu You's heartbeat quickened , overwhelmed by the joy of victory. He strode forward, directly pushed open the middle door of Long En Gate, and stepped in...
No matter how long the night is, the day will always come! - From Shakespeare's Macbeth
(End of this chapter)