Qi Ning had naturally seen through Xiao Shaozong's cunning, but it really surprised Qi Ning that this man had such deep inner strength.
He suddenly realized that Xiao Shaozong knew him very well, and he knew himself and his enemy, but he knew very little about Xiao Shaozong. This alone gave Xiao Shaozong the upper hand. It was really difficult for this dwarf-like heir apparent. It hides too many unknown secrets.
He stared at Xiao Shaozong below the city, with a smile on his lips again, and said to the city: "Xiao Shaozong, do you know your guilt?"
He was full of internal energy, and when he shouted, the soldiers on both sides could hear him clearly.
Xiao Shaozong showed a smile and said: "You entered the palace and assassinated the emperor, and now you have led the Yulin camp to rebel and cause rebellion. The old marquis in Jinyi and General Qi knew about it, and they must be heartbroken. How could they have thought that Qi There is such an unfaithful and unfilial traitor in our family."
"The King of Huainan has a majestic appearance and a tall figure, but why did he give birth to a son as short as a dwarf like you?" Qining sighed: "Xiao Shaozong, tell me the truth, are you really the son of King Huainan?"
Qining said such vicious language in an understatement, and many people were shocked.
This is just like being scolded by a tough guy, but its lethality is so powerful.
The corners of Xiao Shaozong's eyes twitched slightly, but he still remained calm and said: "It's really disappointing that someone from the dignified and well-dressed Qi family can say such vulgar words."
"Comparatively speaking, I think King Huainan is even more disappointed." Qi Ning said: "In order to achieve your own goals, you use your biological father as a tool. Xiao Shaozong, you are so vicious-hearted that you are rare in the world." He sighed. , said: "It's a pity that the stupid husband of King Huainan didn't understand that it was his son who sent him into despair even if he died."
Xiao Shaozong shook his head and said: "You know very well that it is not difficult to break the imperial city. There are only a thousand soldiers in the city, so why do you need to involve them in becoming a treasonous army?"
Qi Ning put his hands on the battlements and stared at Xiao Shaozong without saying a word. After a long time, he finally said: "Xiao Shaozong, surrender!"
This sentence spread far and wide. Whether it was the Yulin Guards at the top of the city or the soldiers and horses below the city, they all felt that Qining had gone crazy. Now that the army was approaching the city, the imperial city was trapped, and the Yulin Guards were overwhelmed by soldiers and horses ten times their own. Under siege, Qi Ning was already like a turtle in an urn, but in such a situation, Qi Ning actually asked Xiao Shaozong to surrender. Everyone felt that it was ridiculous, and some even felt that there was something wrong with their ears, otherwise how could they hear such incredible words.
Chi Danmei was also startled. She looked at Qi Ning and saw Qi Ning smiling and looking calm and collected.
"If you get off your horse and kneel under the city now, I can guarantee that your life will be safe." Qi Ning said: "I will ask the emperor to ask you to guard the mausoleum of Emperor Taizu. For many years, you have been sitting like a tortoise in the Huainan Palace. I must be used to being alone."
Xiao Shaozong seemed to feel that he could not communicate with Qi Ning, and said directly: "Hand over the emperor's holy body!"
Qi Ning sneered inwardly. Xiao Shaozong did not say hand over the emperor, but said hand over the emperor's holy body, which made everyone feel that the emperor's life or death was uncertain.
At this moment, Qi Ning saw a group of people appearing behind the military formation, and a burst of excitement suddenly appeared in the originally deathly silent military formation.
Of course, Xiao Shaozong also noticed the movement from behind. He turned his horse around and turned around. He saw a large group of officials being stopped by soldiers and horses. When he heard someone shouting over there, Xiao Shaozong whispered a few words to a general beside him. The general rode over and ordered the soldiers to get out of the way. Dozens of officials immediately came towards Xiao Shaozong. The first one was the old Yuan Shangshu from the Ministry of Rites. Lu Xiao and Yuan Moxian from the Ministry of War supported him on the left and right, followed by many officials.
Xiao Shaozong got off his horse and stepped forward to greet him, but he first offered his hands to the officials.
Mr. Yuan Laoshang glanced towards the city and finally said: "Your Majesty, this... what on earth is going on?"
"Old Minister, Qining assassinated the emperor, and now he and the Yulin army are guarding the imperial city." Xiao Shaozong said with a bitter smile: "The incident happened in a hurry. The little king accepted the emperor's order and mobilized troops to encircle and suppress the rebellion."
All the officials changed their expressions, and Lu Xiao immediately asked: "My lord, you said Qining assassinated the emperor, then... where is the emperor now?"
"The Emperor... has passed away." Xiao Shaozong's eyes turned red and he choked with sobs: "Xiao Wang was ordered to go out of the city to mobilize troops and horses, and he did not dare to delay...!"
As soon as these words came out, the ministers were horrified, and many people started to cry loudly. Lu Xiao asked urgently: "The emperor was killed, then... where is the holy body now?"
Xiao Shaozong said: "You are still in the palace." He shouted: "Where is Guihe?"
A person came forward from behind. It was Guihe, the eunuch in charge of ceremonies in the palace. Guihe's face was filled with tears, and he knelt on the ground and said in a trembling voice: "Everyone...my lords, the emperor has passed away...!"
Yuan Laoshangshu said sternly: "What happened?"
"When the prince was having a discussion with the emperor tonight, assassins suddenly appeared. We were waiting to escort the emperor to leave, but there were so many assassins...!" Guihe wiped his tears and said, "We recognized that the assassin was led by the traitor Qi Ning. Then The assassin was cruel and ruthless, so the emperor gave the golden arrow to the prince, and ordered the prince to dispatch the Yulin Army into the palace to hunt down the assassin, but...but...!"
"But what?" Lu Xiao said sharply.
"But before the Yulin Army could be mobilized, the emperor... was assassinated." Guihe cried: "I have no ability to rescue the emperor. He deserves death for his crime, he deserves death for his crime...!"
At this time, all the officials were crying one after another. An official rushed up from behind and said loudly: "Your Majesty, let's rush into the city, catch the traitor Qining, and cut him to death with a thousand knives...!" It was Dou, the Minister of Household Affairs. Kui.
Xiao Shaozong sighed: "There is a traitor in the Yulin army who helped Qining control the Yulin camp. Xiao Wang had no choice but to immediately mobilize the troops outside the city and enter the city to quell the chaos."
Lu Xiao said: "Your Majesty should know that mobilizing troops and horses requires an order from the Ministry of War. Tonight, the troops and horses entered the city without the Ministry of War knowing. Is this...?"
"Master Lu, defeating the traitors is like putting out a fire. There is no time to delay." Dou Kui said immediately: "Is it necessary for the prince to inform the Ministry of War first, and then discuss the deployment of troops through the Ministry of War? If that were the case, the traitors would have fled completely. "
"That's right, Your Majesty acted decisively and was able to trap Qining in the city in time." An official immediately responded: "Now that the imperial city is besieged, it will be difficult for the traitors to fly even if they have wings."
Xiao Shaozong said: "Master Lu, the emperor gave me the golden arrow to mobilize troops quickly to quell the rebellion. I really don't dare to delay. If Master Lu feels that this is against the law, Xiao Wang will take the blame after the rebellion is suppressed."
Lu Xiao was speechless when he said this.
"Get the golden arrow!" Xiao Shaozong said in a deep voice.
Another person came up from behind, holding a golden arrow rolled up with yellow silk. After Xiao Shaozong took it, he opened it carefully. The golden arrow was just in the shape of an arrow, but it was not as long as an ordinary arrow. All the officials knew that this golden arrow was similar to that of an ordinary arrow. The gold medal and the jade seal all represent the emperor's power and position. The gold medal has always been given to imperial envoys sent abroad, while the golden arrows are directly used to mobilize troops. When the soldiers and horses of the capital see the golden arrows, it is like seeing the emperor. With this golden arrow, troops and horses can be mobilized in critical moments.
"Your Majesty, when the assassin entered the palace to kill, could it be that the secret guards in the palace did not take action?" Lu Xiao frowned and said, "Why did the emperor ask the prince to mobilize the Yulin guards?"
"The secret guards are distributed throughout the palace, and there are not many of them. If there are only a few assassins, it is more than enough for the secret guards in the palace to deal with it." Xiao Shaozong said calmly: "But the number of assassins entering the palace tonight is large, and they attack each one separately. In order to ensure that the assassins can be killed in one fell swoop, it is naturally necessary to mobilize the Yulin Army."
"Since the Yulin Camp has been mobilized, why does the prince want to transfer the Xuanwu Camp to the capital?" Lu Xiao asked.
Xiao Shaozong took out a note from his arms and handed it to Lu Xiao. Lu Xiao reached out to take it, glanced at it, and his expression suddenly changed: "Is there a traitor in Yulin Camp?" He looked up at Xiao Shaozong: "Your Majesty, where did you get this? "
Xiao Shaozong said: "The little king rushed to the Yulin camp and ordered Chi Fengdian to lead troops into the palace to suppress the thieves. When he came out of Ying, someone suddenly gave the little king this note. There were so many people at the time that the little king didn't know who it was. After seeing the content inside, I was still doubtful, but... if there was really a ghost in Yulin Camp, then there must be changes in the palace, so the little king mobilized troops from outside the city to take precautions, but he didn't know that Yulin Camp actually turned against him. "
Lu Xiao and Lao Shangshu looked at each other with suspicion.
"Your Majesty, are you sure that the Emperor has been killed?" Yuan Laoshangshu thought for a moment and finally asked.
Xiao Shaozong sighed: "Little Wang only hoped that it was a lie, but when your father-in-law saw it with his own eyes, he came out of the palace to report it. Little Wang couldn't believe it either."
Lu Xiao glanced at the top of the imperial city and then said: "My lord, there are still queens and many nobles in the palace. If we order an attack on the city, do you know the consequences?"
"Of course Xiao Wang knows." Xiao Shaozong sighed: "So Xiao Wang did not order an attack on the city, but a temporary siege. He was worried that Qining would be crazy and would be detrimental to the queen and the nobles."
Yuan Laoshang wrote: "Then what are you going to do now?"
"The little king has asked Qining to hand over the emperor's holy body." Xiao Shaozong said solemnly: "It's just that this person is stubborn. Fortunately, you all arrived in time. What to do next, the little king wants to discuss with you all. We need to work out a good way, which will not only prevent the emperor's holy body from being damaged, but also ensure the safety of the queen and the nobles. The most important thing is to bring these regicide traitors to justice."
Lu Xiao suddenly asked: "Your Majesty, with all due respect, why did Qin Ning enter the palace to assassinate the emperor? He is already a Duke of the empire and is highly valued by the emperor. Why would he rebel against the imperial court and sneak into the palace to assassinate the emperor?" Asked Xiao Shaozong: "What reason does he have for doing this?"