Chapter 3906 Survival from desperate situation
The clouds are like lead and the drizzle is falling.
The prince's shouts echoed in the empty space inside Xuanwu Gate with great momentum. All the "Bei Ya Forbidden Army" above and below the city looked at each other.
The "Bei Ya Imperial Guard" originated from Emperor Gaozu's "Yuan Cong Imperial Guard" and evolved into the armed force of Su Wei Xuanwu Sect today. They are directly loyal to the emperor and should obey the imperial decree. But everyone has learned from Zhang Shigui that what everyone is executing is no longer an imperial edict, but a legacy...
They are both orders from the emperor, but they are completely different.
The prince standing in the drizzle under the city at this moment should have ascended the throne and become the new emperor. He was also the one to whom all the "Beiya Forbidden Army" swore allegiance. However, now he had to follow the emperor's decree to block the Xuanwu Gate and force the prince to die. Here...
Morale will inevitably be low and military morale will be shaken.
Should we defend the Xuanwu Gate, cut off the prince's life, and watch the rebels pour into the inner gate and kill the prince in front of them?
Everyone felt at a loss, and their eyes were fixed on Zhang Shigui, who was standing tall and wearing a helmet.
……
Zhang Shigui stood on the city tower, stroking the arrow stack and looking at the prince standing on horseback below the city. His heart was also agitated and tangled, and it was difficult to make a decision.
Zhang Shigui was clearly aware of the hesitation of the soldiers around him, which motivated Zhang Shigui.
He moved his eyes away from the prince and focused on the Taiji Palace where the fierce battle was going on in the wind and rain. The Guanlong army attacked there like crazy and ferociously, forcing the six leaders of the East Palace back step by step. Even a generation of "military gods" like Li Jing, It is difficult to hold on to the palace in such a situation, let alone turn defeat into victory.
He doesn't need to do anything more. As long as he continues to block the Xuanwu Gate for half a day, the rebels will be able to completely defeat the Sixth Army of the East Palace and dismember the prince under the Xuanwu Gate...
I have fulfilled the orders in my will, but what will happen in the future?
Carrying the charge of "killing the crown prince", he sat back and watched the rebels resist the imperial palace and seize the center. Then the world was full of wars and wars, destroying the glorious and prosperous era that His Majesty had worked hard for for more than ten years, and even the foundation of the empire was shaken and its collapse was imminent. ?
He has always considered himself a loyal minister and has never had any selfish motives.
But should we be loyal to His Majesty and trap the prince in despair, causing the empire to be in turmoil and the people in dire straits? Or should we be loyal to the empire, ignore the imperial edict, ensure that the prince withdraws from Xuanwu Gate, preserve the integrity of the empire, and prevent rebellion from succeeding?
At the foot of the city, the prince sat on his horse and shouted again: "Where is the Duke of Guo? Please meet me at the foot of the lonely city!"
The "Beiya Forbidden Army" remained silent, waiting for Zhang Shigui's decision.
Zhang Shigui struggled for a long time and weighed countless things. In the end, he could only sigh, lift up his shirt, and stride down from the tower.
Under the city, everyone's eyes were fixed on Zhang Shigui's tall body. As he walked down the city wall and approached the prince, his heavy footsteps seemed to step on everyone's hearts with every step, making people feel nervous and waiting for the verdict. helpless.
Zhang Shigui's decision will determine the life and death of the prince, the survival of the East Palace, and the fate of all their emperor's concubines and East Palace officials...
Although he was tangled in his heart and couldn't make up his mind, Zhang Shigui's steps were steady and powerful, without any hesitation. He quickly came to Li Chengqian's horse, knelt down on one knee and performed a military salute: "Old minister Zhang Shigui, I have an audience with His Highness the Crown Prince!"
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The guards on the left and right pressed the hilts of their swords and stared at Zhang Shigui who was kneeling on one knee. As long as the prince gave an order, they would rush forward and cut off this "traitor" who had blocked the Xuanwu Gate and was colluding with the rebels. corpse, and then rushed towards the Xuanwu Gate, determined to fight for the prince's survival with his flesh and blood body.
Of course Li Chengqian would not do this...
Not to mention that he always respected Zhang Shigui's loyalty and never thought there was anything wrong with Zhang Shigui's firm implementation of his father's imperial edict. Just his understanding of the "Bei Ya Forbidden Army" prevented him from resorting to such foolish tricks. What's the use of killing Zhang Shigui? At this moment, the "Bei Ya Forbidden Army" may still be a little confused and at a loss, not knowing where to go, but once Zhang Shigui is killed, not only will their military morale not be shattered, but they will be strengthened in their determination to defend Xuanwu Gate.
Li Chengqian kicked off the saddle and rolled off the horse. However, because of his limited legs and feet, he staggered and almost fell down when he landed.
He waved his hand until the guards around him stepped forward to help him, threw away the reins, took two steps forward, put his hands on Zhang Shigui's shoulders to help him up, and said warmly: "Gong Guo, please get up quickly!"
Zhang Shigui stood up, raised his head, and met the prince's eyes.
Li Chengqian spoke sincerely, sighed slightly, and said: "The Duke of Guo is a loyal minister of his father, and I can only admire him and never have any complaints. However, the rebels are raging now. Once he is killed by them and enters the inner gate, my father's concubines, concubines, and orphans will be lost." I am afraid that the family members will be abused by the rebels! The national system will be humiliated and the royal family will lose face. Can the Duke of Guo really bear it? "
Zhang Shigui opened his mouth, but before he could speak, Li Chengqian continued: "I don't know whether my father is alive or dead. No one has ever informed me of the matter. I don't know if the rumored edict exists, and I don't know if Duke Guo has seen it... I just want to ask Duke Guo if he can open it Xuanwu Gate, let your father's concubines, Dong Palace family members, and subordinate officials leave the palace to avoid trouble? I will not leave. I am willing to defend Taiji Palace with the soldiers of Dong Palace and fight to the end. Whoever can get Gu Xiangshang's head will be the next crown prince. , and even ascended to the throne! ”
His tone was sonorous, showing a decisiveness that he usually lacked. His whole body was fair and slightly fat, but it made people feel that he was half as sharp as a sword, a spear, a sword!
Behind him, the officials in the East Palace all turned pale with fright. They rushed forward with a "hurrah!" Xiao Yu said in a voiceless voice: "Why is your Highness doing this? You are the crown prince of the empire. You must not be trapped in a military formation or put yourself in danger!"
Ma Zhou and others also said: "Your Highness wants to send us to a place of disloyalty and unrighteousness? If Your Highness does not leave, we will not leave. We are willing to fight to the death with Your Highness!"
Finally, everyone's words converged into one sentence: "I am willing to fight to the death with His Highness!"
More than a hundred people shouted in unison and knelt on the ground. The sound was so powerful and full of determination and awe that it made people's hearts beat excitedly and their blood pumping!
Zhang Shigui finally let out a long sigh, knelt down on one knee again, and said loudly: "Your Highness's body of thousands of gold should uphold the country's legacy and carry forward the future. You must not be rash! I respectfully send Your Highness out of the palace, and I would like to use this body to end Your Highness's future." , Don’t turn your heels!”
The prince is the one who belongs to the throne and has great righteousness, so how can he insist on his own way?
This is the general trend...
The officials in the East Palace were overjoyed one after another, and Cen Wenwen burst into tears: "The Duke of Guo has a profound understanding of righteousness and is a role model for the world!"
Zhang Shigui was pulled up by the prince, smiled bitterly, clasped his fists and said: "I am loyal to the empire, but I am not loyal to your majesty... Just don't talk about it. Please leave the palace immediately and rush to the Youtunwei camp. The Duke of Yue must have been waiting for a long time. , there is an old minister in charge of the rear, Your Highness, don’t worry.”
For a loyal minister, choosing to be loyal to the empire, but putting aside loyalty to the emperor, feels like a lump in the throat and hesitation.
He has already made up his mind to die, intending to defend the Xuanwu Gate, stop the rebels with his flesh and blood, and just want to die...
Li Chengqian wanted to say more. What he said just now was not pretentious, but what he said from the bottom of his heart. However, the ministers on the left and right also understood his intentions. They knelt on the ground and begged loudly: "Your Highness, please take care of Jiangshan, Guozuo, and the inheritance of the empire." For your sake, get out of the palace quickly and don’t let the rebels succeed!”
What else could Li Chengqian say?
I can only sigh and choose to go with the flow...
Immediately, Zhang Shigui ordered the Xuanwu Gate to be released, intending to personally escort the prince out of the palace and then defend the place.
A fast horse galloped from Tai Chi Palace. The horse's hooves trampled on the stone floor like a sudden rain hitting plantains. The sound made everyone look back.
Immediately, a school captain galloped over. Before he got close, he was already shouting loudly on horseback: "The Youtun Guards have defeated the rebels outside Jinguang Gate, captured Jinguang Gate, and have now reached the West City!"
Everyone was stunned on the spot, with only one thought in their minds: How is it possible?
Zhang Shigui even subconsciously turned back again and looked at the Youtunwei camp with flags fluttering in the distance through the open city gate. He was guarding the Xuanwu Gate and was separated from the Youtunwei camp by a wall. He didn't notice any movement from the Youtunwei. How come they suddenly entered Chang'an City?
In a stunned moment, the fast horse had already arrived in front of the prince, and was blocked by the guards before he reined in the horse. Before the horse could stand still, the soldier had already dismounted, knelt down on one knee across the guard, and said loudly: " Report to Your Highness, General Gao Kan of Youtun Guard led his army to attack They have fallen into Jinguangmen and have entered the city. They are currently fighting a fierce battle with the rebels in the West City! Duke Wei has organized the Sixth Army of the East Palace to stabilize their position, launch a counterattack, and attack with the Youtun Guards in front and back, vowing to annihilate the rebels in the palace and turn defeat into victory! ”
Mount Fuji, come on!
(End of chapter)