Yang Shiqi walked out of the imperial study tiredly. At this time, the lights in the entire Jinling City had been extinguished, and the night was so thick that he couldn't see his fingers.
Although the curfew has been imposed, Yang Shiqi can still walk in the imperial city with the help of the cabinet card. There is no way. The cabinet often works overtime until late at night. This is a privilege exclusive to them. Even the Twelve Guards who patrol the imperial city at night I have become accustomed to this.
Yang Shiqi was walking on the quiet blue brick road with towering high walls on both sides. Suddenly he saw a person walking around the corner in front of him. He was a pro-army guard wearing armor and holding a knife.
"Where are the things?" The guard came over and asked coldly.
"It's on me." Yang Shiqi took out a white cloth bag from his sleeve. It was so bulging that he didn't know what was inside.
"Bring it here." The guard held out his hand.
Yang Shiqi clenched the white cloth bag tightly, with sharp eyes: "Your Excellency, you want to take things away so easily? This thing involves my head. Yang took advantage of his position to get this thing just now. If he can't get it in If you change back before tomorrow morning, how many heads do you think Yang has enough for His Majesty to chop off?"
The guard asked back: "Why did your Majesty want to chop you?"
Yang Shiqi said slowly: "Privately stealing the capital's defense seal is undoubtedly a rebellion according to the laws of the Ming Dynasty. Mr. Yang used his head as a guarantee to steal this defense seal."
The guard smiled: "When tomorrow comes, there will be no criminal minister Yang Shiqi in the cabinet, only Yang Shiqi, the hero of Conglong."
Yang Shiqi trembled, threw the bag to the guard, and left in a hurry.
"I didn't hear anything."
Yang Shiqi knew that he was taking a big gamble. If he lost the bet, his life would be lost.
A powerful storm is brewing in the East Palace, and this storm will sweep across the entire capital!
But life is nothing more than a big gamble. If you don’t gamble, will you be an ant for the rest of your life?
Since you don’t have many chips, why not bet on Stud!
…
After the banquet on the Qinhuai River ended, Zhu Gaojie, smelling of alcohol, was just about to return home after the boat docked, when he saw A Qi's figure appearing like a ghost.
"Your Majesty summons you to the palace very urgently." A Qi said seriously.
Zhu Gaojie was a little confused: "Why are you looking for me in the middle of the night?"
A Qi shook his head: "I don't know, and I'm not qualified to know, but judging from the palace's intentions, something big is going to happen."
Zhu Gaojie also realized the seriousness of the matter. Although the old man liked to get sick occasionally, he was never vague about major matters. The situation was so hasty that it would definitely not be a major case that would cause uproar in the city.
"I understand, go now."
Zhu Gaojie didn't even change his clothes and went to the palace to meet the saint in this thin white shirt.
…
Zhu Gaojie rushed to Qianqing Palace. Before he could enter, he saw a chair placed in the corridor. His Majesty the Emperor was wearing a red-bottomed gold dragon robe, sitting on a chair in the corridor, holding an old antique book that he had found out from somewhere, and was reading with gusto.
"My son, Zhu Gaojie, wishes you the best."
Zhu Gaojie bowed slightly and bowed his hands in salute.
"I am safe."
Zhu Di focused his eyes on the book. He didn't know what book could make the emperor read so fascinated. He asked casually, "How is it? Did you enjoy playing in the Qinhuai River tonight?"
These words may have meant a warning, that is, "Young man, please pay attention to me, I can see every move you make", but Zhu Gaojie didn't take it to heart, and he didn't care either.
Zhu Gaojie shrugged his shoulders and said, "Anyway, I was just having fun. Tsk, tsk, the girl from Qinhuai River, you can't even see your toes when you lower your head, she is already stunning in the world."
"Smelly boy." Zhu Di laughed and scolded.
Sometimes Zhu Di really envies Zhu Gaojie. This kid can do whatever he wants.
If you want to fight, you can fight. When you go to the battlefield, you will kill. You can wear armor and charge in person, or you can sit in the center and command. When you are calm, you will be a general, and when you are bloody, you will be an unparalleled general. Zhu Di wanted to go to war, but a group of ministers complained about it here and there and opposed it with all their strength, as if he had to beg these ministers to satisfy his wish.
When Zhu Gaojie was in the capital, he seemed to have changed from a general to a mastermind, turning his hands into clouds and rain, looking down on everyone indifferently.
But now, Zhu Gaojie has become a playboy again, a dandy, drinking drunkenly on the Qinhuai River with his arms around the beauty who "bowed his head and couldn't see his toes".
He can be whatever he wants to be, unrestrained, like an eagle soaring on the plateau, no one can put a collar on him.
How could Zhu Di not be envious of such a life?
When he was still King Zhu Di of Yan, he thought about the life of being an emperor. He thought that as an emperor, he would have everything and no one could control him. But when he actually became the emperor, he found that no one could control him, but he had already put on shackles for himself, and the throne was the shackles of restraint, and he would never see freedom.
It is never others who constrain freedom, but yourself.
"clang--"
The steel fell on the blanket on the ground, making a crisp collision sound. Zhu Gaojie looked down and saw that it was Zhu Di who had thrown a token shaped like the half body of a tiger and covered with inscriptions in front of his toes.
"This is the tiger talisman of the Twelve Guards. Take this tiger talisman to Fan Zhong to mobilize troops." Zhu Di said lightly, "Tonight, all the gates in the capital will obey your orders unconditionally. There are 60,000 soldiers in Jinling City. You have the right to dispatch pro-military guards."
Zhu Gaojie took a breath, what does this mean?
If he takes over this tiger talisman, it means that Zhu Gaojie directly controls most of the troops in the capital. You know, this is the capital!
Although there are hundreds of thousands of elites in the Beijing camp, they are all outside the capital. If Zhu Gaojie wants to rebel, now is the best time. His power is even greater than that of Li Shimin during the Xuanwumen incident!
During the Xuanwumen Incident, Li Shimin only had 800 soldiers, but now Zhu Gaojie controls 60,000 elite soldiers!
"Damn it! Boy Zhu, I have never fought such a rich battle in my life!"
In Zhu Gaojie's mind, Li Shimin was already boiling, "Quick, quick, let me come, the 60,000 elite soldiers in the capital. I will directly raise your hand. You can think of the reign name first. I will leave the rest to you." I!"
Zhu Gaojie's face turned dark: "Go away, my father is kind and my son is filial, do I still need you?"
"Oh, sixty thousand personal troops?" Ying Zheng was also stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "Xiao Zhu, come on, let me practice my skills. I haven't led an army for a long time, and I also want to try what it's like to rebel."
"Brother Zheng, I'm afraid you were infected by Li Er. I remember you were not like this before." Zhu Gaojie had a black line on his head.
"That's right, look at you Li Er, you are full of bad intentions and have no good intentions. Xiao Zhu is right, why are you rebelling?"
Cao Cao chuckled, "Why do you want to rebel if you let me come alone? You can directly hold the emperor hostage to order the princes! Control the emperor first before talking about anything else, and then slowly plan for a great cause!"
"It has to be your boss Cao. I know you are a fucking beast with no good intentions." Zhu Gaojie scolded, "You are still holding the emperor hostage to order the princes. Do you think my old man is Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty? Is this the old man in our family? , he himself is a rebel, how can he not give himself a backup plan?"
"Let me send it later. If you give me 60,000 personal troops, even if he is the Jade Emperor, he will have to abdicate his throne!"
Cao Cao said disdainfully, "Back then, Li Shimin was able to win the Zhenguan era with 800 soldiers. Now I, Cao Mengde, can win the country with 60,000 soldiers. It's not a problem."
"Damn it, Mr. Cao, I was defecating just fine through the door, but when I heard your words, I stood up inexplicably!" Huo Qubing scolded in the corner.
Zhu Gaojie was horrified: "When your mother came to Huo Qubing next door, did you report that you pooped in my head?"
"Do I have to report to you when I go to a latrine?" Huo Qubing lifted up his pants and refused to recognize anyone.
"Mengxin" Xing Daorong heard the quarrel, came over and asked curiously: "What are you talking about?"
Huo Qubing glanced at him, and because he was in a bad mood, he vomited: "How come your mother is so beautiful that I couldn't help but give birth to a rebellious son like you."
"I'm your mother!" Xing Daorong was furious, thinking that he was wronged to be greeted by his mother when he came up.
The world in Zhu Gaojie's mind was in chaos. Xing Daorong and Huo Qubing were quarreling with each other. However, due to the huge gap in fighting power, Huo Qubing killed him with a sweep. Then Xing Daorong knelt down and shouted: "That's not what I meant, please forgive me." !”
Li Shimin and Cao Cao did not rise to the level of "fighting". Both of them were people who paid attention to their own image, and they fought in a literary way. They said "the other's mother", "Cao thief", "Li Er", "Ru". "My mother is so happy to be under my crotch", "I am your foster father, why don't you quickly kneel down and call me daddy"...
Zhu Gaojie was so upset by the noise that he simply withdrew from the world in his mind and refused to chat with the two arms.
…
"What does the father mean by giving this tiger talisman to my son?" Zhu Gaojiao narrowed his eyes and did not immediately pick up the tiger talisman on the ground.
This tiger talisman was so weird that Zhu Gaojie was not sure what Zhu Di was thinking. Was he trying to trick his son again?
The old man's calculations were too deep and he often made strange moves. Zhu Gaojie couldn't guarantee that he wouldn't fall for it. What if the old man was fishing? What if I just picked up the Tiger Talisman and before I could say anything, a group of shadow attendants rushed out and pushed me to the ground, accusing me of having evil intentions and treason?
"At midnight tonight, I went to Jinchuan Gate. Someone wanted to stand up for his father and imitate Li Shimin, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty." Zhu Di said calmly, "You don't need to worry about other things. Just keep an eye on Jinchuan Gate and bring that person over. "
Zhu Gaojie frowned slightly and fell into deep thought.
What do you mean, just send something...
etc?
Imitate Li Shimin, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty?
Xuanwu Gate Change?
Zhu Gaojie already understood clearly in his heart, picked up the tiger talisman and clasped his fists in his hands, saying, "My son, I understand."
…
A bolt of lightning flashed across the night, making the night look like day, followed by the roar of spring thunder, like a mountain collapsing and an ancient god roaring.
The heavy rain came unannounced in the middle of the night, washing away the dust on the walls of the ancient capital, leaving only traces of swords symbolizing history. Although it was riddled with holes, it still stood on the other side of the Yangtze River, like a warrior who had witnessed the vicissitudes of time. Princes, looking down at the world.
From the camp stationed in the Beijing camp, a team of more than a thousand people was quietly separated, taking advantage of the darkness and marching towards the capital under the cover of heavy rain.
After trudging through the mud, they finally arrived at the gate of Jinchuan. The generals stationed on the city wall were startled when they saw the sudden appearance of the army.
"This is an important place in the capital, and you are not allowed to approach it without purpose. Get back quickly!" the guard of Jinchuan Gate shouted.
The young man who led the army below the city was wearing armor and raised his head to glance at the guard coldly.
The Jinchuan gate guard's pupils shrank, and he couldn't help but murmured: "Wei Guogong Xu Qin? Why is he here? Who gave him the power to lead troops close to the capital?"
Xu Qin, Duke of Wei, was the grandson of Xu Da, the first hero of the founding of the Ming Dynasty and King of Zhongshan, and the son of Xu Huizu, Duke of Wei of the previous generation. In terms of blood relationship and seniority, he was also the cousin of Zhu Gaojie.
Because his aunt was Zhu Di's first wife, Zhu Gaojie's biological mother, Queen Xu.
Xu Da, the king of Zhongshan, became famous throughout his life and held a very popular position. His descendants were ill-fated. The reason is naturally inseparable from Xu Da's son-in-law, King Zhu Di of Yan.
During the Battle of Jingnan, Xu Da's two sons, the eldest son Xu Huizu and the second son Xu Zengshou, sided with Emperor Jianwen and King Zhu Di of Yan respectively. In the end, Xu Zengshou was hammered to death by the angry Emperor Jianwen, while Xu Huizu was almost tortured to death by Zhu Di.
After Zhu Di ascended the throne, he naturally had no good impression of Xu Huizu, his uncle.
In the middle of the fifth year of Yongle, Wei Guogong Xu Huizu died in imprisonment.
When the news reached the palace, Empress Xu, who was ill, was distraught and died of illness in the same month.
In one month, Xu Da's eldest daughter and eldest son passed away one after another.
Xu Qin, son of Xu Huizu, inherited the dukedom of Wei, while Xu Jingchang, son of Xu Zengshou, inherited the dukedom of Dingguo. The Xu family has two dukes!
It's just that Xu Qin's life as a Duke was not satisfactory. His father was greatly offended by Zhu Di. Although the title of Wei Guogong was finally inherited because of Queen Xu and Ding Guogong, Xu Qin was regarded as a thief by Zhu Di. Staring the same way, so uncomfortable.
Xu Qin inherited his father's legacy and had no good impression of Zhu Di's family being rebellious. He was always thinking about Emperor Jianwen and would kick Zhu Di down before saying anything else.
Now, Xu Qin had an opportunity, and Zhu Di and his son turned against each other. He obtained military power from the East Palace, and tonight, at the place where Zhu Di launched the "Jinchuan Gate Incident", he led his troops into the capital!
"retreat!"
General Jinchuanmen shouted, "If you don't retreat, don't blame me for being ruthless!"
Not to mention Xu Qin, a sinner and a duke, even if a serious duke came, the guard of Jinchuan Gate would not be polite.
You brought the army to the foot of the capital in the middle of the night. What do you want to do?
What else can you do besides rebelling?
The guard at Jinchuan Gate just shouted, "The rebels are coming," and then ordered the arrows to be fired.
"I have all the security measures in hand and have been ordered to enter the capital. Why don't you open the door quickly?"
Xu Qin took out a security seal, raised it over his shoulder, and shouted loudly.
"What the hell? Guard?" The Jinchuan gatekeeper was stunned for a moment.
The lieutenant on the side whispered: "General, why don't you first check whether this security seal is true or false? If it is false, we will shoot the arrow directly. If it is true..."
"Fuck you, who is Xu Qin? Your Majesty allows him to lead troops to Beijing?" The guard of Jinchuan Gate didn't believe it at all, but he hesitated and sent a hanging basket down.
If this anti-seal is real, it would be great fun.
The hanging basket was pulled up with the seal, and Jinchuanmen took out the seal from the basket and looked at it carefully.
"General, this defense seal seems to be real." The deputy general was a little unbelievable.
"Fuck, what's this?" The guard at Jinchuan Gate was a little suspicious. "Xu Qin can lead troops to the capital. What's the difference between this and Emperor Jianwen asking Li Jinglong to be the coach? It's so outrageous!"
Xu Qin, who was at the bottom of the city, was already impatient with the waiting, and shouted: "You have verified the authenticity of the Guan Fang Seal, why don't you open the door quickly!"
The Guan Fang Seal is definitely true, but the origin is definitely not very serious.
Xu Qin didn't want to waste too much time at Jinchuan Gate. If the emperor reacted, he would be dead. Time was his life at this moment. He had to lead troops into the city in the shortest possible time, and then... kill him. A bloody storm!
The deputy general on the city asked: "General, do you want to open the city gate?"
The Jinchuan Gate guard hesitated for a long time, then gritted his teeth and said, "Open!"
The lieutenant general said: "General, the Duke of Wei, Xu Qin, is not a serious person. If a big change occurs, we will all be held accountable..."
"If we don't open the city gate, won't we be accused?" The guard of Jinchuan Gate said helplessly, "I don't know whether Xu Qin came to the capital with ulterior motives, but I know that the defense seal is real, and the defense is here. How can I refuse, just open the city gate."
There was no other way, the defenders could only obey the general's order and open the city gate.
Xu Qin looked at the city gate that was slowly pushed open, and the corners of his mouth raised slightly.
He seemed to have seen himself pushing that dog emperor off the throne, allowing Zhu Di to taste the feeling of being rebelled and avenge his father.
But soon he stopped laughing.
After the gate of Jinchuan was pushed open, under the ink-like night rain, we could vaguely see the cavalry arrayed neatly behind the door. They were densely packed, holding swords and long soldiers, equipped with crossbows and arrows, riding high horses, the best of the best. , all escorted by the twelve guards, the tiger and leopard cavalry of the Ming Dynasty!
Just through the rain curtain, you can feel the chilling atmosphere coming from under the Jinchuan Sect. The two men meet in a narrow road, and a war may start at any time.
"Cousin, long time no see. How are you doing lately?"
Among the cavalry in the corridor, a path suddenly opened up. The young prince on a horse was lazily advancing forward, carrying a barrier sword.
"King Qi!"
Xu Qin gritted his teeth. The moment he saw the Twelve Guards waiting in full formation, he knew that he was doomed.
My dear uncle Zhu Di must have known all this a long time ago and set up an ambush.
King Qi personally brought the twelve guards to Jinchuan Gate in the middle of the night, just to catch him, the Duke of Wei, under the dark night!
The guard of Jinchuan Gate on the city wall smiled: "Wei Guogong? You will never come back!"
The deputy general gave a thumbs up: General, good acting!
Zhu Gaojie looked at Wei Guogong Xu Qin in front of him, and said unhurriedly: "It's been a long night and I didn't want to sleep. I thought I was the only one who couldn't sleep. It turns out that you, cousin, can't sleep either!"
Xu Qin clenched his teeth: "Yes, I wonder why the prince can't sleep?
Zhu Gaojie smiled slightly and said, "It's because of you, cousin."
Xu Qin: "Me?"
Zhu Gaojie looked directly at Xu Qin: "Yes, it's you, cousin. Such heavy rain is perfect for killing people. Cousin, do you think so too?"
(End of chapter)
