Chapter 226: The Capture of Kyoto, First in Merit...
In the dead of night, when all was quiet, a well-trained elite force silently passed through a secret passage and pressed closer and closer to the imperial city.
The vanguard was made up of the elite troops selected from among 100,000 soldiers. Zhang Ting personally watched them enter from the entrance, his face stern. With a wave of his hand, the second wave of elite soldiers immediately entered.
With battle imminent, the lives of 100,000 soldiers were on her shoulders. She forced herself to pull herself out of grief and maintain a high level of mental alertness at all times.
The selected soldiers disappeared from sight. Zhang Ting suddenly turned around and returned to the central army camp, stepping through the morning dew. Dawn was breaking, and the light of dawn illuminated the path she was walking on.
At this time tomorrow, she will lay the victory flag at Ziju's grave.
In the blink of an eye, the sun rose in the east, and it was another clear and sunny day.
In the early summer of the seventeenth year of Chengtai, at the hour of Si (9-11 AM).
Thirty thousand soldiers breached the southern part of the city and quickly occupied major roads, advancing rapidly towards the imperial city. However, they were ambushed near the eastern part of the city. The imperial guards annihilated a wave of them, greatly boosting their morale. The commander of the imperial guards pressed their advantage and drove the remaining troops back outside the city.
However, the Eastern Palace Guards were utterly defeated within two hours.
When the news reached the palace, Chen Liu was overjoyed and immediately planned a grand banquet to invite court officials to celebrate the victory of the Imperial Guards.
She spread her arms wide, and her loud laughter echoed throughout the palace.
"So what if you, Chen Jue, are of noble birth, have famous ministers assisting you, or have thousands of people pleading for you? You've still been defeated by me time and time again! The throne of supreme power can only belong to me!"
Chen Liu had never felt so exhilarated in the past thirty years. Unable to contain his excitement, he shared his feelings with his confidants and then went to the inner palace to arrange a rebellion, which took up the entire afternoon.
When they reappeared, it was already evening at the victory celebration banquet.
She embraced the newly acquired nobleman and took his seat. Her clothes were disheveled, and her cheeks still flushed from the previous encounter. The civil and military officials knelt on either side of her, respectful and humble as ants.
Chen Liu almost burst out laughing. Some of these old fogies used to look down on her and refuse to serve under her, but now they have to bow down and submit to her!
On the throne, she recklessly pulled the nobleman into her arms, the fragrance of orchids intoxicating her senses. She lifted his chin, asking, "Are your legs still weak?" Her gaze held a malicious mockery.
The nobleman turned his head away angrily, without uttering a word.
Spicy and flavorful! Chen Liu hugged him even tighter; if it were someone else who was obedient, she wouldn't bother to touch him.
She held his cheeks with one hand, straightened his head, her eyes swollen from crying, yet still carrying a seductive charm after their lovemaking, making her heart itch, wishing she could press him down on the table and do it again.
However, Chen Liu still cherished the fruits of her victory and ultimately couldn't bear to humiliate him in public.
She whispered in his ear, "Your Majesty, who do you think is more powerful, me or that old man?"
He was both ashamed and angry, and only two or four words escaped from his tightly closed lips: "Utterly shameless!" He struggled to break free from her embrace.
Chen Liu pressed him down, chuckling in a good mood, "If you don't tell me now, we can discuss it tonight. There's plenty of time." She then leaned close to his ear, "I just wonder if your posture while lying down under the moon is the same as usual?"
He was extremely ashamed and angry, and turned his head away, completely ignoring her.
The beauty's allure was intoxicating, and Chen Liu's guard completely relaxed. She lightly pushed him away, raised her wine cup, and stepped forward, declaring, "Today, the Imperial Guards have achieved a great victory in slaying the rebels! Commander Lin deserves the greatest credit!"
Lin Zan stepped forward: "This humble general was able to achieve such success by following His Majesty's orders and riding on the dragon's aura. If we are to speak of the greatest merit, this humble general believes that His Majesty is undoubtedly the one who deserves it!"
These flattering words made Chen Liu smile broadly, and he bestowed wine and a beautiful woman upon her, rewarding her handsomely.
The invited officials whispered among themselves, "Bah! A petty man who has gained power, what kind of character does he have to sit in front of us?"
"That one is even more debauched and immoral, brazenly bringing people here in front of the court officials! Does he think we're all blind and deaf? He's already so arrogant before the coronation ceremony has even taken place!"
"Are you out of your mind?!"
"I would rather die than serve such a monarch!"
Chen Liu was completely unaware of the discussions below. He laughed heartily, toasted several generals, and then returned to his throne.
If she wanted to firmly grasp power, she had to hold military power in her hands. These generals were all her confidants; with them by her side, any civil officials or members of the imperial family who wanted to rebel would have to think twice before they even considered whether their heads were clean enough!
Just as she was about to sit down, a muffled sound suddenly came from behind her.
"General!"
Chen Liu turned around and watched as the generals who had just been toasted fell one by one. She was stunned and finally realized something was wrong. The attendants around her shouted "Protect the Emperor!" But it was too late.
Unfamiliar soldiers poured in, surrounding the palace banquet. The personal guards were slaughtered in an instant. Chen Liu panicked and ran away, but a sharp, cold sword was pressed against his neck.
"My dear sister, how have you been?" Chen Jue said with a smile.
Chen Liu looked horrified: "How did you get in..." He only got halfway through his sentence when he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his chest. Looking down, he saw a sharp blade piercing his chest, and crimson blood gushed out like a spring.
Chen Jue swiftly drew his sword, and she collapsed to the ground, coughing up blood.
"Sister, do you have any last words?"
Chen Liu's mouth was half open, but before he could utter a word, he was stabbed again.
"Never mind, little sister, it would be more reassuring if you died." After saying this, Chen Jue saw that she was still alive but barely breathing, sighed regretfully, and delivered another sword strike.
He finally died.
Chen Jue breathed a sigh of relief and sheathed his sword.
Looking at the entire banquet, the situation was completely under our control. The court officials were all kneeling on the ground, trembling like leaves. We will continue to use these people in the future. Chen Jue put on a gentle and wise monarch image and told everyone not to be afraid. She was just following the late emperor's edict to kill the usurper and show that she was listening to the truth.
Spending so much time with Zhang Ting, Chen Jue inevitably learned some of her cleverness and wit; now, he could easily come up with words of coaxing and deception.
The court officials were even more terrified. The deposed crown princess had spent several years among the common people and had actually developed the mannerisms of a bandit! She spoke with utter shamelessness. The licentious emperor had barely left, and now they were to serve another rogue ruler!
Tang Qiufeng carried the heads of the Imperial Guard commander and others past, and following Zhang Ting's instructions, went out to persuade the capital to surrender.
Enough blood has been shed; Zhang Ting only hopes for a smooth transition of power.
She walked over to Chen Jue and exchanged a glance with Xu Qiushui.
Xu Qiushui understood and immediately stood up, prostrating herself before Chen Jue. "The late emperor has suddenly passed away, and traitors have rebelled, disrupting the court and causing widespread suffering! Now, the Crown Princess is carrying out the late emperor's edict to quell the rebellion and restore order to the court. However, the country cannot be without a ruler for a single day. The throne is vacant, the imperial regalia is without a master, and the whole world is in turmoil!"
"We implore Your Highness, for the sake of the nation and the people, to ascend the throne as soon as possible and inherit the great lineage!"
Chen Jue closed his eyes and politely declined, tears streaming down his face. "My mother's body is not yet cold, how can I covet her throne? This would be the greatest act of filial impiety throughout history! Lord Xu, please do not say any more. My only purpose in life has been to repay my mother's kindness. Wealth, power, and fame are nothing but illusions to me. Now that the rebels have been eliminated, I wish to return to the mountains and live a carefree life!"
"Your Highness, you mustn't! This is not a matter of personal honor or disgrace, but a matter of vital importance to the ancestral temple and the well-being of the people! Please rescind your order!"
The court officials below were also completely panicked. If Chen Jue didn't take over the country after conquering it, who would? Was the prosperous Great Yong Dynasty going to fall into the turmoil of being without a ruler, just like the former Jin Dynasty?
They crawled forward, their voices like metal on a platter: "Your Highness, please rescind your decree! Ascend the throne as soon as possible to bring peace to the realm!"
At the back of the crowd, the eldest princess, Chen Li, opened her mouth and then closed it again; she wanted to say that she was willing...
Faced with the ministers' persuasion, Chen Jue looked troubled and turned to Zhang Ting, saying, "Minister Zhang, I truly have no such wish!"
Zhang Ting knew it was his turn to appear, so he bowed and knelt down. "The late emperor has been dead for several days, and the world is in a state of panic. Now the situation has been calmed down in an instant. This is no coincidence, but a sign of the shift of the Mandate of Heaven! Heaven has entrusted Your Highness with the task of eliminating treacherous officials and bringing peace to the world. It is precisely to bestow upon you the throne!"
"Your Highness is the legitimate son of the Empress and the Crown Prince. For many years, your benevolence has spread throughout the land. Today, you have been granted the mandate of Heaven and the people. This is the will of the people and the destiny bestowed upon you by Heaven! Your humble servant earnestly requests the true dragon emperor to follow the will of Heaven and the people and ascend to the throne as soon as possible! This is in accordance with the will of Heaven and the hearts of the people!"
Chen Jue was overjoyed, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn up. He could no longer pretend. "Alas! Since that's the case, then I have no choice but to submit to fate."
Xu Qiushui raised an eyebrow and glanced at Zhang Ting. No wonder people say that Zhang Ting's talent ranks first in the country. We can't compare, we can't compare.
Amidst dazzling lights and surrounded by courtiers, Chen Jue ascended to the throne as he had wished, with a grand enthronement ceremony to be held in two days.
Tang Qiufeng rushed back to report late at night, and tens of thousands of imperial guards in the capital had already surrendered.
With the new emperor on the throne, there are countless things to be planned and managed, but the soldiers no longer need to worry about their lives, and they no longer need to live in constant fear.
The entire imperial city fell into slumber and returned to peace.
Zhang Ting left the palace before dawn the next day, carrying the banner of the Eastern Palace Guard.
It rained this morning, and the weeds were covered with glistening dewdrops. Pedestrians' shoes were soaked as they walked over them.
Pedestrians suddenly stopped; the newly piled grave mound was damp, and the memorial tablets were simple and shabby.
Her sister lives there.
Zhang Ting planted the bright red flag beside the grave and murmured, "Zijun, we won."
"A beautiful win."
"The false emperor is dead. I am the chief meritorious official in the court. I will be ranked first in terms of merit and reward. The position of prime minister, which was once out of reach, is now within my grasp. I will no longer have to flatter high officials, and all the civil and military officials in the court will have to do things according to my wishes."
"His Majesty said he would appoint me as his Imperial Tutor, my husband will soon regain his title of Duke, my daughter will be protected by me and live a life of wealth and honor without worry, and the Zhang family will become a new top aristocratic family because of me."
"The people will no longer suffer from the pain of war and displacement, nor will they go hungry and starving. I will open Fengxian Academy all over the Great Yong Dynasty, so that students like you and me can all have a way to study."
"Born into a chaotic world, I will use your strength to create an unprecedented golden age."
"Zijun, we won beautifully."
Tears fell silently, bending the grass low.
He walked over and gently hugged her, saying, "You little rascal, you'll be very happy."
Tun Tun: "Dad, does Aunt Luo live here? Why doesn't she answer when I call her?"
Zhang Ting rubbed her head. "Your Aunt Luo is asleep."
He slept so soundly that he never woke up again.
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