"I didn't expect you, Sanlang, would abandon me!" The prince sighed.
"I am not afraid of death! But if a man dies, he will die, and he cannot die without a name!" Wang Wenzuo said: "What's the fate of Shen Sheng and Fusu? Your Highness should know that if I can escape, I can also build a pagoda for Your Highness. To seek blessings from the underworld!"
Wang Wenzuo's last few words were close to a curse, but the prince was not worried: "If I agree, does Sanlang really have a chance of winning?"
"I have said before that as long as His Highness decides, the rest will be left to me!" Wang Wenzuo said with a smile: "There are still about three hours before dawn. If His Highness decides, I will immediately order the drumming. Gather the generals!"
"Then King Pei and Wu Sansi are also in the camp. How do you plan to deal with them?" the prince asked.
"King Pei is His Highness's brother. When the time comes, he only needs to enter the palace with His Highness and be placed under house arrest in the East Palace! As for Wu Sansi -" Wang Wenzuo paused for a moment: "I have my own way of dealing with it!"
"You want to kill him?" The prince's face changed slightly.
"How can we kill innocent people when we act out of righteousness?" Wang Wenzuo said with a smile: "Your Highness, please rest assured, as long as Wu Sansi does not go against us, I will not hurt him at all!"
"That's good!" After hearing this, the prince breathed a sigh of relief: "Then leave everything to Saburo!"
"Yes!" Wang Wenzuo knelt down and bowed again, then stood up and said loudly: "Go down with the order and beat the drum to summon the generals!"
The sound of drums resounded through the night sky, wild and rapid, as if shouting: Fast, fast, fast. People woke up from their sleep and looked for shoes and trousers in panic. Wang Wenzuo stood at the door of the prince's tent, listening to the shouts of people and the neighing of horses in the night. Fortunately, these idiots did not fight with each other. Peaceful days have passed for too long, and even the prince's guards have long forgotten the taste of war, but this is also a good thing, which shows that the other armies in Chang'an City are not much stronger.
The prince also came out of the tent. He had put on a gorgeous suit of armor. It was obvious that he was not used to the weight of the armor. Li Hong walked awkwardly to Wang Wenzuo and looked towards the camp by the river. The pale mist floated over from the night, like long white fingers on the river. With the help of the weak moonlight, he could barely see clearly the people who were stumbling out of the tent and in a state of confusion.
"Why don't you wait until dawn before gathering the generals?" the prince asked.
"Because this time is the best!" Wang Wenzuo said with a smile: "Look, everyone is half asleep and dizzy!"
"What's so good about this!" The prince said with a bitter smile: "Sanlang, are you going to Daming Palace with such a group of confused people? It's a bit hasty, isn't it?"
"I will give them some time to rest! But don't you think you can better see what a person is really thinking at this time? It is difficult for people to hide themselves when they are tired!" Wang Wenzuo said with a smile: "Yes, these Everyone is loyal to His Highness, but this is not enough, what I need next is someone who dares to risk his life to gain wealth!"
"That's true!" The prince nodded thoughtfully: "I didn't think of this!"
"And time is very tight right now. No one knows when the Queen will attack you, strike first and then control others!" Wang Wenzuo said with a smile: "As for the rush, I think it is actually a good thing. I often face the enemy in battle. The enemy is outnumbered and we are outnumbered. At that time, we must not let the soldiers see everything clearly and know everything. Otherwise, some of them will be afraid, regret, and lose the battle. As long as they make a decisive decision, the soldiers will often return the favor. There is no time to be afraid, the victory or defeat is already decided!”
While they were talking, the three-way drum had finished playing, and officers in messy clothes rushed over in twos and threes. They saw Wang Wenzuo and the prince standing at the door of the tent, all dressed in armor, and their expressions changed drastically. Wang Wenzuo said: "You will enter the tent quickly, Your Highness has something to say!"
Everyone claimed that it was so. They first waited for the prince to enter the tent, followed Wang Wenzuo, and then stood up on the left and right sides. The prince's eyes swept across everyone's faces, and he counted them silently. He found that six people had not arrived, and turned to Wang Wenzuo.
"Play the drum again. If it hasn't arrived yet, send someone to the tent to bring him!"
After playing the drum again, four more people came, including Wu Sansi, who was the left guard of the East Palace. When he saw him entering the tent, his face changed drastically, and he hurriedly said to Wang Wenzuo: "The drum sounded just now, I thought yes--"
"Wu Wei, please return to your position first. Your Highness has something to say!" Wang Wenzuo looked majestic.
"Yes, yes!" Wu Sansi stood in his position with an awkward expression. Wang Wenzuo didn't wait any longer. He turned around and bowed to the crown prince: "Your Majesty, the guards of the East Palace, except for Wang Anqing led by the right prison gate and Yu Wenqing led by Zuo Yuhou, the rest have already arrive!"
"If you don't beat the drums, you are calling the army slow. Let us first remove these two men from their official positions and replace them with their deputy positions for the time being!" The prince looked majestic, and he looked like a god in his armor. Everyone said yes, and the two lucky ones looked happy. Wang Wenzuo carefully observed everyone's faces and judged what they were thinking from the details.
"There is a change in the palace, and I must return to the capital immediately. Military matters are left to General Wang to decide. If there is anyone who does not respect military orders, so be it!" After saying this, Li Hong pulled out his sword and killed the people in front of him with one blow. Case cut off a corner and then handed the sword to Wang Wenzuo. Wang Wenzuo hurriedly bowed and took the prince's sword with both hands. After bowing, he turned around and said coldly to the generals: "The generals will return to camp immediately and order the soldiers to dress up. We will set off in half an hour to return the capital!"
"Follow the order!" all the generals responded in unison.
Wu Sansi followed the others and was about to leave the tent, but was stopped by Wang Wenzuo: "Brother Wu, wait! Your Highness has something to say!"
Wu Sansi stopped, followed Wang Wenzuo to the Crown Prince, bowed down and saluted: "I pay my respects to His Highness the Crown Prince!"
"Your talisman letter will be handed over to Saburo, and his official position will be temporarily taken over by him!" the prince said coldly.
"Yes!" Wu Sansi had guessed a little bit. He tamely took off the fish bag from his waist and handed it to Wang Wenzuo.
"Back off!" the prince said.
Wu Sansi bowed again and then left the tent under the escort of two sergeants. As soon as he left the tent, Li Hong asked: "Sanlang, how did you feel about the generals just now?"
"Your Highness, please rest assured! I have already sent people from my personal bodyguard to set up an ambush on the roadside. If there is anyone with ulterior motives, I will definitely send someone to Chang'an to report the news. Just take the messenger and ask and you will know!"
"That's it!" The prince breathed a sigh of relief: "I hope everything goes well!"
Time passed quickly, and half an hour passed in the blink of an eye. Each army lit their torches and embarked on their way back to Chang'an in order. Ordinarily, this time is not enough time to pack up, let alone at night, but this place is very close to Chang'an and there is no need for baggage, so each army discarded all the tents and baggage, so they could finish packing within half an hour.
Heavy footsteps stepped on everyone's heart. The vast majority of people in the team did not know what was waiting for them in the future, and only a few were eager to try. The moonlight shines on the Weishui River, as if it were plated with silver. Through the car window, watching the soldiers crossing the pontoon, Li Hong's worries continued to increase. He tried his best to bury his fear under a heavy and calm mask, but he still existed, and continued to grow as the distance between himself and Chang'an City shortened. Growing, every sound made him more and more uneasy.
Wang Wenzuo was riding a horse at the front of the team, with the big flag flying above his head, his voice was decisive, and his expression was resolute, just like he was on the land of Baekje and Wa. Li Hong couldn't help but think to himself, if he could be like that How nice it would be for him to be the same! I have tried my best to learn from Saburo, but now it seems that I have not learned enough. Thinking of this, he was more than a little depressed.
Suddenly, Wang Wenzuo turned the horse's head and came towards the prince. Li Hong couldn't help but feel a little nervous. Was there any accident? He thought to himself.
"Your Highness, you need to go to the front!" Wang Wenzuo whispered.
"The front?"
"Yes, after passing the Wei River, we are about to reach the city gate! Only you can open the city gate!" Wang Wenzuo whispered: "And it is best for the soldiers to see you! This way the soldiers will not waver! "
"I understand!" Li Hong took a deep breath: "I will do everything you say!"
The figure of the prince under the banner had an immediate effect. Whether they were officers or soldiers, their original hesitation and confusion were immediately dispelled. They raised their arms to the prince of the empire and cheered spontaneously. The prince didn't know what to do and looked at Wang Wenzuo blankly. Wang Wenzuo made a gesture and looked at him encouragingly. He raised his arms and waved twice to the ranks of soldiers.
"Long live, long live!" cheers erupted from the queue, which shocked the prince. He seemed to want to take his hand back, but was stopped by Wang Wenzuo: "People's hearts can be used!" Li Hong gritted his teeth, and then He waved hard. The soldiers cheered even more enthusiastically, and some even spontaneously sang "The Music of the King of Qin Breaking the Formation": "The leader of the state accepted the law and resigned, and the prime minister punished the rebellious officials. Xian sang "The Music of Breaking the Formation" to enjoy the peace. The Emperor of the Four Seas The wind has been quilted, and the virtues and waters have been clear for thousands of years; the military clothes have not been worn, and today the success is achieved. The Lord opens the Changli calendar, and the ministers are loyal to Dayou; you see that after Yan Ge, it will be Taipingqiu."
Hearing the singing of the soldiers, the prince's face showed a bit of fear, but more of it was joy. It was the first time for him to taste such a taste. It was like drinking the legendary fairy brew and jade liquid, and his whole body was filled with joy. Feeling like a fairy, almost wishing to soar.
"Your Highness, Chang'an is not far away. Please order the entire army to be silent so as not to disturb the defenders!"
Wang Wenzuo's voice woke up the prince, and he nodded: "order the three armies to be silent!"
Wang Wenzuo responded, and he summoned the riders to give orders. A moment later, more than ten riders were running along the ranks, shouting loudly as they galloped: "Chang'an is approaching, all armies should be silent, and those who disobey orders will be killed!" All armies suddenly became silent.
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Chang'an City, Murong Mu's residence.
Murong Nao was woken up by a violent knock on the door.
"What's going on outside?" Murong Nao, who was half asleep, looked out the window. It was still dark: "Who? It's in the middle of the night!"
"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has summoned Captain Murong to rise quickly!"
His Royal Highness? The surprised Murong Miao quickly jumped up from the couch. He was currently on duty with the North Gate Forbidden Army, and supposedly he should be at the camp near Xuanwu Gate. But a few days ago, he got Wang Wenzuo's secret message and asked him to take leave from the army. Instead of staying in the military camp, he lived in his own home. He quickly put on his clothes and walked out. He saw two men in black standing in the yard. The leader looked very familiar, it was Li Bo.
"Captain Li? Why are you here?"
"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has just entered the city. He wants to do something big, so he calls you to see him!" Li Bo said.
Murong Miao has completely woken up: "What about your master?"
"Serving beside His Highness!"
"Okay, wait a minute!" Murong Miao turned around and went into the house, took a robe and put it on. He also took a horizontal knife and a bow and arrow, went out and said to Li Bo: "Let's go!"
Murong Miao followed Li Bo out, heading north along Zhuque Street, then turned east, and then north to Yanxi Gate, entered the palace city, and came all the way to the East Palace. It was already dawning at this time, and he entered the front hall. Before he could kneel down and salute the prince, the prince immediately asked: "I want to help the country. You have served in the North Gate Imperial Army for many years. Can you teach me?"
Murong Miao was stunned by the prince's question. Wang Wenzuo on the side hurriedly explained: "The emperor does not hesitate to revere his body, the queen appoints villains to cruel officials, and many noble people in the court are killed. The prince wants to enter the palace to persuade the two saints, but he is afraid that someone will Stop me, you have been guarding the army at the North Gate for many years, do you have any suggestions?"
After hearing what Wang Wenzuo said, Murong Miao immediately understood. He kowtowed and said, "Your Highness, if you want to do great things, you must first get the Xuanwu Gate!" After that, he took out the paper and pen, and began to write on it the central and northern parts of the palace. The deployment diagram of the gate guard army is here.
Chang'an City of the Tang Dynasty was composed of three parts: the outline city, the imperial city, and the palace city. The palace city is located in the middle of the north and is the center where the emperor lives and handles government affairs. Directly south of the palace city is the imperial city, which is full of central government offices. The rest of the area outside the palace city and the imperial city is where the common people live, which is commonly known as the 108th Street.
The palace city can be divided into three parts according to the east, middle and west: the East Palace is the Prince's East Palace, and the West is the Yeting Palace where the maids live. The Imperial Palace Taiji Palace is in the middle, with the largest area, the most prestigious status and the strictest palace restrictions.
Taiji Palace follows the layout of the front dynasty and the back bedroom: in the middle and south are the emperor's palace and the official offices of the three provinces, also known as Nanya, with many palaces and halls; in the north is the harem where the emperor and his concubines live, with many ponds and gardens.
Taiji Palace has three gates to the south. The south gate in the middle, Chengtian Gate, is the ceremonial center for the emperor's foreign court ceremonies. Outside the gate is the famous Tianjie Zhuque Street. The northern palace wall of Taiji Palace shares the tall city wall with the northern wall of Kuocheng. It only has two gates to the north, one is the small Anli Gate in the northeast, and the other is the north gate Xuanwu Gate in the west in the middle. Outside Xuanwu Gate is the northern forbidden garden, which is vast and inaccessible to outsiders. Forbidden Garden is bounded by the Wei River in the north, the Chan River in the east, and the Feng River in the west. It is surrounded by water on three sides and forms the northern defensive center of Chang'an City.
The Taiji Palace is surrounded by many restrictions, and there are imperial guards inside and outside the palace. The Imperial Guards were stationed at the palace gates and main halls according to their respective duties. Among them, the Imperial Guards stationed at the Xuanwu Gate at the north gate and the Taiji Hall in the main hall were the most important. The Forbidden Army with Xuanwumen as its camp was later collectively referred to as the "Beiya Forbidden Army" or the "Beimen Forbidden Army". (End of chapter)
