Chapter 3450: Tension
The captain who defended the city wanted to open the floodgates, but was blocked by his subordinates.
The Qingming Canal is the most important water source in the Imperial City. If people of unknown origin are allowed to approach, or even flow down from this waterway to the vicinity of the Imperial City, wouldn't it cause a big problem? At that time, all their soldiers guarding the Anhuamen water gate will die.
The captain of the city guard looked at his team with a gloomy look for a long time, and then nodded: "In that case, you go down and find out their identities first."
"Here!"
The captain was breathing a sigh of relief, but he was really afraid that the captain would make up his mind and have to lower the sluice gate. Now that the rumors of "military remonstrance" were widely known, how could he not know who these ships coming on the waterway were? It's just that you have to remonstrate with soldiers. If you have to enter the city through Anhua Gate, wouldn't this mean that we will lose our lives?
He only wanted to go down for inspection and then come back to report. At that time, he would have to gather his colleagues to put pressure on the captain, and he must not open the floodgates and let people into the city.
But just as he turned around, still calculating in his mind, the captain had already pulled out the sword from his waist and slashed it down with a single blow.
With a scream, the knife struck the team's neck in the middle of the carotid artery. Half of his neck was cut through, and a stream of blood spurted out like a fountain, falling to the ground hot and steaming.
He died on the spot.
The captain held the bloody horizontal knife and looked around: "Who else objects to lowering the sluice gate?"
His soldiers all rushed forward and surrounded all the troops and soldiers on the city tower. They stared at them eagerly and would kill them if they disagreed.
Although most of the captains and soldiers on the city tower were unwilling to lower the water gate, looking at the murderous eyes of the captain, how dare they say even a word of "no"? They had no choice but to nod their heads, expressing their willingness to follow the captain and obey his orders.
The captain was quite satisfied and ordered the sluice gate to be lowered.
On the dark waterway, the huge sluice was hung up with a creaking noose, and dozens of river boats swarmed in along the current, straight into Anhua Gate. Then follow the waterway and go straight north along Anle, Changming, Feng'an, Xuanyi, Huaizhen and other squares, heading straight towards the imperial city.
Almost at the same time, the soldiers, slaves, dead soldiers, and even some scattered troops gathered by various Guanlong families poured in from various gates in Chang'an City. Some of them rushed towards the East Palace, and some of them went directly to Xingqing. palace.
The troops affiliated with the East Palace retreated quickly and guarded the Imperial Palace and Xingqing Palace, not wanting to start a melee with the rebels in the city. The Guanlong clan did not care about the destructive power of this military remonstrance. They only wanted to annihilate the army of the East Palace as quickly as possible, then depose the East Palace, and determine the outcome of the Eastern Expedition before the army returned to Guanzhong, thus creating a fait accompli. Therefore, once Donggong Liu leads the army step by step and launches snipers everywhere in the city, the entire Chang'an City will inevitably be involved in the war.
This imperial capital of the Tang Dynasty is the largest city in the world, and it brings together almost 20% of the wealth of the empire. Once the war rages, no matter who wins in the end, it will damage the foundation and vitality of the empire. Since Zhenguan, the subjects of the world have worked tirelessly to accumulate The wealth that has just emerged but has not yet reached its peak will be completely destroyed in the flames of war.
The Guanlong clan will not consider this. All they want is power, and they don't care about wealth or prosperity. To a certain extent, they increasingly hope that the political situation of the empire will be unstable and the world will be unstable. The more chaos there is, the more they can make money from the fire and profit from the chaos. .
But Li Chengqian couldn't care less.
Now that the East Palace has been given the responsibility of supervising the country by His Majesty Li Er, it has the responsibility and obligation to maintain political stability and world peace. Even if it cannot do this, it must try to reduce the losses caused by the war, regardless of the loss of property or population. loss.
Because the East Palace is the first place in the world!
In the darkness of night, under the heavy snow, countless rebels entered the city smoothly from various city gates, charging forward like a tide. The troops affiliated with the Sixth Army of the East Palace and the Jingzhao Mansion and the Ministry of War kept retreating in order to make the final battlefield It was limited to the Imperial Palace and Xingqing Palace and would not spread to the whole city.
Wuhoupu, who was responsible for the security of Chang'an City, also took action, but some of them were attracted by the Guanlong clan and joined the rebels, while some retreated with the Donggong army.
The entire city of Chang'an suddenly fell into turmoil on this snowy night. Tens of thousands of troops moved quickly throughout the city. The situation between advance and retreat was obvious. The rebels were the main attacker and the East Palace was the defender. The war was about to break out!
*****
In the north of the city, Xuanwu Gate.
The falling snow has shrouded the majestic gate tower. Even if you stand at the bottom of the city and look up, you can't see the whole gate tower. The snowflakes blown by the wind are fascinating to your eyes. However, there seems to be a blazing heat in this severe and cold wind and snow. The undercurrent is surging wildly.
The number of patrolling soldiers on the city has increased by more than five times than before. There is a soldier standing behind almost every arrow stack, his eyes fixed on the city. The slightest movement can attract countless bows and crossbows. of aiming.
At the Xuanwu Gate, Zhang Shigui, the commander of the imperial army and the guard of the Xuanwu Gate, personally sat in the gate tower. Thousands of his "Wanqi" and "Yuancong Imperial Guards" were in formation inside the Xuanwu Gate, ready to guard against any rebel raids. Xuanwumen, rush into Taiji Palace.
Although His Majesty Li Er is currently in Liaodong and the Crown Prince has moved to Xingqing Palace, the symbolic significance of Taiji Palace to the center of the Tang Empire is still irreplaceable. Once the Xuanwu Gate is broken and the rebels enter the Taiji Palace, it will not only mean the fall of the center and the instability of the country, but also the greatest shame for the empire!
After all, there are dozens of His Majesty Li Er's concubines and several unmarried princesses in the Taiji Palace. If they are abused and humiliated by the rebels, the Li Tang royal family will become the biggest laughing stock in the ages. Even thousands of years later, it will still be A shame that cannot be washed away...
Generally speaking, inside the Xuanwu Gate there are not only the "Wanqi" and "Yuan Cong Imperial Guards", the most elite Beiya imperial guards in the empire, but also the left and right guards outside the gate, leaning against each other for complete defense. It can be said that it is impregnable. Who wants to reproduce the martial arts The story of the "Xuanwumen Incident" in the ninth year of De's reign is as difficult as climbing to the sky.
However, Zhang Shigui did not dare to be careless at all.
Fang Jun, the general of the Youtun Guards, is now leading the Western Expedition and is engaged in fierce battles in the Western Regions. Only half of the Youtun Guards stationed outside the Xuanwu Gate are left. Although the Youtun Guards are the most powerful army among the Sixteen Guards, and they once marched across the White Road to Mobei to overthrow Xue Yantuo, but now can this half of the Youtun Guards be able to shoulder the important task of guarding the Xuanwu Gate?
However, Zuotunwei General Chai Zhewei's position is unclear. He has been in frequent contact with Guanlong and the clan recently, and no one is sure what his position is. If they defect to the rebels and tens of thousands of elites attack the Xuanwu Gate, can half of the Youtun Guards and the thousands of Beiya Imperial Guards under their command be able to resist?
The left and right guards, the two minions guarding the Xuanwu Sect, have now become the biggest hidden danger to the Xuanwu Sect...
……
In the Zuotunwei barracks not far from the city, Chai Zhewei, wearing a helmet and a gloomy face, was pacing back and forth in the room, restless.
News continues to gather here from everywhere. Although the situation in the city is not yet known, rebels have gathered in various places in Guanzhong. Several rebel armies such as Hou Mo's Chen family, Yuwen family, and Helan family have entered the city, and the war is about to break out.
He doesn't worry about his position or where to go. In short, as the army with the most comprehensive organization, the largest number and the strongest combat power in Chang'an at present, it deserves the words "a rare commodity to live in". All he needs to do is ask for a sky-high price. In this battle Seize the maximum benefit from the "Feast of Power".
However, what makes him irritated is that until this moment, no one has come directly to the door to bid... No one bids, how can he bargain?
Mother!
These bastards are really calm. Do they really think that Wu Chai has to choose one among them? If you push me into a hurry, no matter the past grievances, you can simply surrender to the East Palace and see who can still take advantage of the Xuanwu Sect!
As long as the Xuanwu Gate is not broken, it is impossible to capture the Taiji Palace from within the city, even if the rebels number in the tens of thousands.
The door suddenly opened, and Chang Shi You Wenzhi came in from the outside dressed in wind and snow. He shook the snow off his shoulders and said quickly: "Commander, His Highness King Jing has sent someone here!"
Chai Zhewei became energetic and asked quickly: "Who is coming?"
Whoever is sent here represents the importance King Jing attaches to him. If he is just a soldier and general, Chai Zhewei plans to expel him from the barracks and then completely join Guanlong, without considering King Jing Li Yuanjing.
You Wenzhi said: "It's Li Anyan!"
Chai Zhewei breathed out, turned around and sat behind the desk, looked as steady as a mountain, nodded and said: "Let him come in."
"Here."
You Wenzhi turned around and went out.
Chai Zhewei's mind was spinning rapidly, thinking about what Li Yuanjing's chances of winning were and what kind of benefits he would offer himself... (End of Chapter)