The capital city of Jianye was still sleeping, but on both sides of the streets leading from the city gates to the imperial city, many sleeping people were awakened by the noise outside.
The capital has always been heavily guarded. Ever since the Qinhuai Army marched north, a curfew has been implemented in the Jianye capital. After dark, the streets and alleys are closed to pedestrians, so at night the entire capital is deathly silent, and the people are locked up. I don't dare to go out easily due to my own doors and windows.
But tonight was obviously special.
The noise in the street outside shouldn't have been there.
The awakened people looked out through the cracks in the windows and discovered that on the long street, groups of soldiers and horses were marching towards the city. It was like a pack of wolves breaking into the capital. Many soldiers held torches high and marched towards the city. The long street shone as brightly as day, and the firelight shone on the soldiers' spears and swords, and on their armor, emitting an icy cold light.
The people who saw this scene were frightened.
Many people did not dare to open the windows and leaned close to the windows to listen. They heard the sound of armor rubbing together, the sound of neat and rapid steps, and even the sound of horse hooves. Wherever they passed, it was like thunder shaking the earth.
The north gate of the capital city of Ye is Zhengwu Gate. After entering Zhengwu Gate, the wide Xuanwu Street leads directly to the imperial city without any obstacles in the way. The densely packed soldiers and horses marched neatly and orderly from Xuanwu Street to the imperial city. In front of them were five soldiers. Riding a platoon of cavalry, followed by hundreds of cavalry, were the infantry with bright armor.
The horses passed by in front, kicking up the dust on the long street. The entire team was like a giant dragon breaking into Kyoto, fiercely rushing towards the heart of Kyoto, as if it was going to swallow the heart of Kyoto in one bite.
Among the troops, flags were fluttering, and the word "Xuanwu" was painted on the light yellow flag. It was written in blood red, giving people a sense of cruelty and killing intent with blood splashed on it.
The Xuanwu Camp is the main force that guards the capital. Although its equipment and combat effectiveness may not be better than those of the Yulin Camp or even the Tiger God Camp, there are many soldiers and horses, tens of thousands of them. However, it has never been seen since the establishment of the Xuanwu Camp. The soldiers and horses of Xuanwu Camp entered the imperial city.
Xuanwu Camp has always been stationed in the northwest of the capital. Military regulations are strict. Without the emperor's decree and the order of the Ministry of War, no soldier is allowed to leave the station without permission.
The Xuanwu Camp has always been the most complex among the several armies in the capital. There are many forces among them. Whether it is the Jinyi Qi family, the Jindao Tantai family, or even the Sima family and the Wuxiang Hou Su family, they can all be in the Xuanwu camp. However, with the ups and downs of these big families, the power of the Housu family of Wuxiang has almost ceased to exist in Xuanwu Camp. When the Sima family was in power, they carried out some rectification of Xuanwu Camp, and even cooperated with the King of Huainan After making a deal and agreeing to transfer Wu Dalin out of the Yulin Camp, he instead asked Qu Yanzhi, the deputy commander of the Black Blade Battalion, to be transferred to the Xuanwu Camp as the commander. Taking this opportunity, he was once excluded from the army and his strength was already there. The weakened Jinyi Qijia and Tantai Golden Sword forces.
However, after the emperor got rid of the Sima clan, Qu Yanzhi was transferred back to the Black Blade Camp to replace the deceased Chu Cangge and lead the Black Blade Camp, while the Xuanwu Camp appointed new candidates by decree.
The emperor did not directly issue an order, but first asked the generals of Xuanwu Camp to recommend generals who could convince the public. Qin Zhong stood out and was recommended by the generals as a new candidate. The emperor soon issued an order to appoint Qin Zhong as the commander of Xuanwu Camp.
Qin Chong was able to be elected as the commander of Xuanwu Camp by the generals. Although he had the ability to lead troops, the most important thing was his background.
Qin Chong's father followed the old marquis of Tantai to fight in the early years, and was later transferred to the command of the old marquis of Wuxiang. When Qin Chong was young, he also trained under the old marquis of Wuxiang, and was later transferred to the Qinhuai Army. He made a lot of contributions on the battlefield, and was later transferred to the Xuanwu Camp as deputy commander because of his merits. He was a low-key man and had not been promoted for many years, but he had a very harmonious relationship with the generals in the army.
The Qin family has some relationship with several hereditary princes, so no one knows for sure which faction he belongs to. When there is a dispute among the factions in the Xuanwu camp, Qin Chong has always stayed away, so in the eyes of the generals Later, after Qin Zhong became the commander, he would at least be able to balance the forces of various factions in the army.
After Qin Zhong took office, he didn't know whether he got the emperor's instructions to reorganize the Xuanwu Camp. Many low-level generals were promoted, but many veteran generals were dismissed. Most of the low-level generals were from the grassroots, and there was no one behind them. With the background of a hereditary prince, although it was impossible to completely eliminate the factional disputes in Xuanwu Camp in a short period of time, Qin Chong also controlled Xuanwu Camp.
Under a large flag with red characters on a black background, Qin Chong was riding on his horse, squinting his eyes slightly as he watched the soldiers of the Xuanwu Camp advancing in an endless stream along Xuanwu Street towards the imperial city.
His expression was stern, and the black armor was draped on his strong and burly body, giving him an aura of calmness and authority.
He knew the responsibilities of the Xuanwu Battalion better than anyone else, which was to guard the capital and guard against any foreign troops approaching the capital. However, he obviously did not expect that one day this troop would enter the capital from Zhengwumen, and its target Pointing directly at the imperial city.
Although there was no transfer order from the Ministry of War, the emperor's imperial edict was enough for Qin Chong to obey the order immediately.
Xuanwu Camp had 15,000 soldiers and horses. Although he received the emperor's order to enter the city to quell the chaos, Qin Chong still left 3,000 soldiers and horses to garrison in the camp to prevent any unexpected events.
The remaining soldiers and horses were divided into four groups and entered from the four gates of the capital. Among the four groups of soldiers and horses, he personally led 2,000 soldiers and horses to enter from the Zhengwu Gate. The remaining 10,000 soldiers and horses were divided into three groups and were led by his subordinates. The troops will enter the city from the other three gates.
When the soldiers and horses approached the city gate, the Hushen Camp who controlled the city gate immediately opened the city gate. This made Qin Chongkuan, who had been doubtful, make up his mind. Since the Hushen Camp could open the door and let people pass, it also proved that the Hushen Camp had also received peace orders. The will of chaos.
The soldiers of the Xuanwu Camp advanced vigorously and forcefully. Qin Zhong clamped his horse's belly and led the few soldiers around him into the team.
With the flickering fire and the sound of horse hooves, Qi Ning at the head of the imperial city naturally saw the soldiers and horses moving towards this side.
The entire imperial city was a trap, and Qining finally understood Xiao Shaozong's plan.
Xiao Shaozong used the emperor's will to mobilize soldiers and horses into the city, naturally to besiege the imperial city. In the eyes of the world, Qining sneaking into the palace was of course evil. Xiao Shaozong withheld the name of rebellion by entering the palace to assassinate, so of course the soldiers and horses entered the city. It is to destroy Qi Ning, a treacherous traitor.
Xiao Shaozong may not have thought that the Yulin Guards would be subdued by Qi Ning. Perhaps in Xiao Shaozong's plan, the Yulin Guards were searching for Qi Ning in the palace. It would be better for Qi Ning to die in the hands of the Yulin Guards, even if the Yulin Guards could not. Kill Qi Ning, but send troops into the city and surround the entire imperial city. Even if Qi Ning has the strength of a grand master, he cannot resist thousands of troops.
Qining looked solemn.
If the Yulin Camp is conquered by him, then Xiao Shaozong will of course beat the Yulin Guards as rebels. To Xiao Shaozong, it doesn't matter how many people are sacrificed. As long as Qining can be completely killed, it is okay for the Yulin Guards to be buried with them.
The Xuanwu Camp, the Tiger God Camp and even the Black Knife Camp totaled tens of thousands of soldiers and horses, but the Yulin Guards in the palace were less than a thousand, and they had to guard each gate of the palace and the gates of the imperial city. There are only a few hundred soldiers, and there is a huge difference in military strength.
Of course, Qining still had a chance to leave before the troops and horses entered the city and completely surrounded the imperial city, but he knew very well that if he left at this time, the charges Xiao Shaozong had imputed on him would be completely confirmed, and everyone in the world would think that he was Chu's traitorous ministers will not be explained clearly no matter what.
"My lord!" Qi Ning was looking at the soldiers and horses rolling toward the imperial city like fire dragons in the distance. Suddenly, he heard someone behind him saying: "Vice-Commander He, please go to a place."
Qi Ning frowned and hesitated for a moment, then followed the man into the palace. When he arrived at a palace, He Qingzheng was waiting outside the palace with a stern expression. When he saw Qi Ning coming, he hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward and whispered. Said: "My lord, we have found the emperor!"
Qi Ning's body trembled, "Your Majesty?"
"Please, Mr. Guo!" He Qing raised his hand, and Qi Ning entered the palace. He Qing led the way. When he arrived at a Nuan Pavilion, two Yulin guards were guarding the door. He Qing opened the door and took a look. Qi Ning glanced at him and walked into the Nuan Pavilion. As soon as he entered, he smelled the smell of blood. He walked a few steps forward. There was a bead curtain in front of him and an antique soft couch behind the curtain. , He Qing raised his hand to open the bead curtain, and Qining saw a person lying on the soft couch. He approached slowly and saw the man wearing a dragon robe, lying on his back with his limbs spread out. From the wooden couch There was blood flowing down, and blood dripping on the ground, and the smell of blood was emitted from this.
Qining clenched his fists and walked to the wooden couch. He saw that the man's throat had been cut open and there was blood underneath. Perhaps it had been too long and the blood had solidified, but the face looked like that of the little emperor Longtai.
Qi Ning changed his color slightly and glanced at He Qing. He Qing's expression was solemn. Qi Ning stared at the man's face. After a moment, he breathed a sigh of relief and said: "He is not the emperor, this is a puppet pretending to be the emperor."
He Qing seemed to be relieved and said: "But... his appearance is very similar to that of the emperor."
"Xiao Shaozong has been using the emperor's name to control the government, so naturally he has chosen a substitute a long time ago." Qining said: "The puppet's blood has solidified, and he must have been dead for a while. If I am not wrong, when Xiao Shaozong left the palace, he treated him He did it with poison." He sneered: "He said that I entered the palace to assassinate the emperor. This is to leave evidence here to prove that the emperor was indeed killed."
"Not many people know about it yet." He Qing said in a low voice: "I have also told them to keep quiet when I find the two people here. If people mistakenly think that this puppet is the emperor, it will inevitably cause chaos. I am afraid that the situation cannot be controlled. live."
Qi Ning nodded slightly, stared into He Qing's eyes and said, "Why would Deputy Commander He believe that he must be a puppet? And why would he believe me?"
"The late emperor was wise and wise, and there will definitely be no problems with the arrangements he made." He Qing's voice was soft but categorical: "Since the silver sword is in the hands of the Duke, then the Duke must be the savior of Da Chu. The general will definitely help you with all his strength, even if you die!"