Chapter 90 The War between Sui and Tang Dynasties (20)
There are currently a total of 40,000 garrison troops in Chang'an, including 20,000 Yulin Army and 20,000 Jinwu Guards each. Jinwu Guards are responsible for the outer city and various city gates. They maintain order in peacetime and defend the city during war, while Yulin Army is responsible for Defense of the imperial city and palace city. After the sneak attack on Chang'an by Yang Yuanqing's army last winter, the defense of the palace city and palace city became extremely tight. ////
However, the Habayashi Army is only responsible for the periphery of Miyagi, including the walls and gates of the Miyagi section. The inner palace is not under the jurisdiction of the Habayashi Army. Senniu Beishen is responsible for security. The Habayashi Army is stationed to the north of Miyagi. The Forbidden Garden was once burned down by Yang Yuanqing's general barracks and government offices, and was later rebuilt by Yang Yuanqing.
At this time, Sun Shunde, the general of the Yulin Army, was in his official office. Changsun Shunde was the younger brother of Changsun Sheng and one of the representatives of the Changsun family. He was loyal to Li Yuan and highly trusted by Li Yuan, so he was granted the title of General of the Yulin Army.
Although Yang Yuanqing almost broke through the palace at the end of last year and eldest Sun Shunde had neglected his duty, Li Yuan did not punish him and still trusted him. This made eldest Sun Shunde feel ashamed and grateful, and he became more conscientious and conscientious. He did not dare to A little bit slack.
Recently, the conflict between the Crown Prince and the King of Qi has gradually deepened, reaching the point of a life-and-death struggle. Changsun Shunde, who is in charge of the 20,000 Yulin Army, has become even more important. Both the Crown Prince and the King of Qi have approached him respectively, but the eldest Sun Shunde insists on neutrality. Be loyal to Li Yuan.
Although Li Yuan's will was for him to obey the orders of King Qi, Li Jiancheng was kind and generous, while Li Yuanji was cruel and cruel. Emotionally, he was partial to the prince Li Jiancheng, but it was difficult to violate the holy will, so he had to obey King Qi's orders.
Although this was the case, Changsun Shunde only performed official duties and ignored King Qi's private orders. Not long ago, Li Jiancheng hoped that he could send troops to protect the East Palace. Changsun Shunde believed that this was his duty, so he sent the troops regardless of Li Yuanji's objections. Three thousand Yulin troops guarded the East Palace.
In the past two days, Changsun Shunde received reports from his subordinates that Yang Yanqing, the general of the left army of the Yulin Army, had several secret contacts with the King of Qi. They had frequent contacts, and Changsun Shunde became suspicious. Yang Yanqing was the brother of Princess Qi. Could it be because of this? King Qi cannot win over his loyalty, so he should win over his subordinates instead!
Yang Yanqing has two thousand people under his command, who are responsible for the defense of Xuanwu Gate. Their powers and responsibilities are extremely important. As King Qin was defeated and the day when King Qi launched an attack was getting closer, Changsun Shunde began to feel worried.
Changsun Shunde was sitting in his room reading a book. At this time, a guard outside the door reported: "General, my son-in-law has something urgent to see me."
Changsun Shunde was startled. Did something happen? He immediately ordered: "Please come in!"
After a while, Chai Shao hurried into the room and said sadly: "General Changsun, the Holy One has passed away!"
Changsun Shunde was stunned. The words coming out of Chai Shao's mouth were true. He immediately knelt down on his knees and cried loudly, "Your Majesty!"
Chai Shao quickly grabbed him and held back his grief: "General, now is not the time to cry. The situation is critical now. The prince is about to be killed. His Royal Highness the prince asks the general for help!"
Changsun Shunde wiped away his tears and nodded, "I know that I will do my best to protect the safety of the prince. Now that the emperor has passed away, the prince is the new king, and I should be loyal to him."
This is his promise to Li Jiancheng. Once Li Yuan dies and Li Jiancheng naturally succeeds to the throne, he will be loyal to Li Jiancheng, and Li Yuan's orders to him will become invalid. Since he has promised, he will naturally abide by his promise.
Chai Shao quickly took out a jade talisman of Li Jiancheng from his arms and handed it to Changsun Shunde, "If General Changsun is willing to be loyal to the new king, please accept this order!"
Changsun Shunde took the jade talisman, put it on the table, knelt down, and kowtowed three times respectfully, "My eldest son, Sunshunde, is willing to be loyal to the new king, even to the death!"
Chai Shao was overjoyed that his eldest grandson was willing to serve, which would help them. He hurriedly whispered: "Now His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is going to the palace to handle the funeral affairs of the Holy One, but we have received information that King Qi has set an ambush inside the Xuanwu Gate. We are trying to harm the prince, and the prince hopes that the general can help us eliminate King Qi¡¯s conspiracy."
Changsun Shunde understood what Li Jiancheng meant. He pondered for a moment and nodded, "Since I am loyal to the new king, I should share his worries and solve his problems."
Three thousand guards are responsible for protecting the palace. The leader of the palace guards is Li Daozong, a clan member. He was granted the title of Duke of Lueyang. After Li Yuan ascended the throne, he served as Zuo Qianniu guard. Now he is General Qianniu, in charge of three thousand guards. Bodyguard.
Li Daozong is the same age as Li Yuanji, just around 20 years old. The two grew up together and have a very close relationship. This time Li Yuanji took charge of the army and got Li Daozong's support, allowing Li Yuanji to control the inner palace.
The general guarding Xuanwu Gate is called Yang Yanqing.The elder brother of the princess, he also provided convenience for Li Yuanji. Not only did he allow Li Yuanji to lead Xiaoyong into the Xuanwu Gate, but after the prince entered the Xuanwu Gate, he would close the Xuanwu Gate in time to block the support of the Yulin Army.
But whether it was Li Daozong and Qianniu's bodyguards or Yang Yanqing's Yulin Army, they all made it clear that they would not participate in the ambush on the prince. After all, he was the prince of the Tang Dynasty and he could not bear the pressure.
At this time, more than 400 elite warriors were waiting in the Xuanwu Gate. These 400 people were selected from 3,000 warriors. They were all tall and strong in martial arts. They were led by Li Yuanji personally, with Zhu Jie and Li Deren at their left and right. Lieutenant General.
Li Yuanji has been waiting for this day for a long time. From the day his father ascended the throne, he has been longing for the day when he can also sit on that high position and become the world's most powerful person. However, he knows in his heart that this position will not last forever. Without him, there are eldest brothers and second brothers. At most, he is the king of a country, such as the king of Shu or the king of Jin.
But just when he was still worried about the battle in Hanzhong, the opportunity came quietly. Both his eldest brother and second brother concealed the truth about his father's poisoning. He seized this opportunity and tipped off his father, which made him get the most generous reward. In return, he controlled 40,000 troops in the capital.
The seed in Li Yuanji's heart began to sprout and grow crazily. At this time, Li Yuanji had completely lost his mind and was desperate. Just like the women he had played with, he didn't want to keep them for a long time. He just wanted to get this woman's body. I just want to possess her and then move on to someone new.
The same goes for this throne. He just wants to get it and taste the taste of being an emperor. As for how long the country can sit firmly, he never cares. With the defeat of King Qin, Li Yuanji became even crazier. He knew that time was running out. , if he doesn't take action, he will have no chance.
At this time, Yang Rong quietly stepped forward and whispered: "Your Highness, news from the East Palace, the prince has come out and is coming to Xuanwu Gate!"
Li Yuanji nodded, feeling both proud and nervous. He swallowed and squeezed the knife tighter
Li Jiancheng's carriage slowly drove out of the back hall gate of the East Palace, entered the Forbidden Garden, turned around and headed towards Xuanwu Gate. Nearly three hundred guards were guarding the carriage. Xue Wanjun and Luo Cheng were on the left and right, guarding the carriage. It was pulled up from time to time, revealing Li Jiancheng's pale and slender face.
About a quarter of an hour later, the carriage arrived outside Xuanwu Gate. Xue Wanjun shouted loudly: "His Royal Highness wants to enter the palace, please open the palace door quickly!"
After a moment, the Xuanwu Gate slowly opened. In the darkness, three hundred guards in full armor protected Li Jiancheng's carriage as it entered the palace and drove forward unhurriedly. About a mile in front of the Xuanwu Gate was the Lakeside Palace, with two sides on either side. The woods are dense and easy to hide.
Li Jiancheng's carriage didn't seem to notice anything unexpected and continued to move forward. At this time, the gate of Xuanwu Gate slowly closed again, and a man appeared on the top of the city. He put his hands behind his hands and watched the carriage move forward coldly. This man was the prince. Li Jiancheng, the person in the carriage only looks slightly like one of his guards. Viewed from a distance at night, it is difficult to tell the real thing from the fake one.
Next to Li Jiancheng, General Sun Shunde of Yulin also came out. He shook his head and sighed: "He is simply crazy!"
Li Jiancheng snorted lightly, "He's just a man obsessed with the throne. If he wants to destroy himself, he can't blame me."
In the woods next to the Linhu Palace, Li Yuanji raised his bow and arrow, aiming at the carriage. At this moment, the carriage curtain opened, revealing Li Jiancheng's face again. Li Yuanji's eyes suddenly narrowed to a slit, and the bowstring loosened. A wolf-fang arrow was shot out quickly and with great force, hitting the carriage window directly, 'Click! ' With a sound, a shield appeared in the car window, and an arrow hit the shield. This made Li Yuanji startled slightly, and an unpleasant feeling surged in his heart.
But Li Yuanji's arrow was an order, and there was a loud killing cry. Four hundred brave men came out from both sides, accompanied by countless arrows. Luo Cheng and Xue Wanjun were already prepared. They raised their shields in response, waved their spears and shouted: " There¡¯s an assassin!¡±
Three hundred guards from the East Palace raised their shields and spears to fight, and the two sides were fighting for a moment. At this time, Zhu Jie led dozens of people into the encirclement, rushed to the carriage, and smashed the door with a copper hammer. He was stunned. , it was empty inside, no one was there. Where was the prince in the car just now?
He turned around and suddenly saw the prince who was fighting fiercely with Xiao Yong. This prince was wearing a guard armor and holding a spear. He was highly skilled in martial arts and tall and burly. Apart from his appearance, he was nothing like the prince.
Zhu Jie had a bang in his head, knowing that he had been fooled. He turned around and shouted: "Your Highness, King Qi, we have been fooled!"
As soon as he finished speaking, thousands of Yulin troops rushed out from Linhu Palace and Xuanwu Gate, shouting loudly: "Kill the assassin!"
Hiding in the woods, Li Yuanji was so frightened that he turned around and tried to escape into the palace, butA spear came towards him, but he couldn't dodge. The spear 'poof! The ground pierced his chest, and Li Yuanji screamed. The person in front of him was actually Yang Rong. Yang Rong had a sinister smile on his face, "Your Highness, just give me the credit for this!"
He drew out his sword and slashed with it, knocking Li Yuanji's head to the ground.
Yang Rong picked up the head and shouted: "Li Yuanji was killed by me!"
"Li Yuanji was killed by me!"
But he couldn't shout a third time. A cold arrow shot out, hitting him in the throat. The arrow penetrated his neck. Yang Rong suddenly covered his neck. Only then did he see Luo Cheng's hand dozens of steps away. Holding a bow and arrow, he was looking at him coldly.
Yang Rong's vision went dark, and he fell from the carriage to the ground. On top of the city, Li Jiancheng issued an order, "Leave no one alive, kill them all!"