In the 960th year of the Roland Imperial Calendar, June 12th is the summer festival day.
clear.
From a very early time, the public security station in the imperial capital had dispatched all its forces. However, what surprised Commander Sak, the chief of the Imperial Security Office, was that early this morning, the sky was still dark. Groups of people from the imperial guards have already appeared on the road.
These guards are obviously mobilized from the four acropolis around the imperial capital. They are brightly armored and fully armed. Everyone looks like they are facing a big enemy. For a few days, due to the increase in the number of immigrants, the law and order were a little chaotic, but after all, it was an annual festival, so it seemed that there was no need to make it so close to the enemy, right
Commander Sark saw something wrong at a glance: These guards were not wearing the benefit costumes of the celebration day, but a pair of combat equipment! All the infantry were wearing new armor just changed this summer, with long swords hanging from their waists and shields in their hands.
The highest official of the Public Security Department stood on the street, frowning as he watched a group of guards passing by quickly. He was full of doubts, and immediately returned to the office of the Public Security Department, and then called one of his subordinates to let him Immediately go to the military high command for instructions.
But soon, the bad news came back, and even the four teams of security station soldiers sent out by Sac's commander in the morning quickly returned their rewards. It is said that there are guards blocking the patrol of the security station soldiers.
Sack was furious. A guy dressed as a Guards officer came in outside the Imperial Capital Police Department, looking at the badge on his chest. He is a fifth-level knight, deputy commanding officer.
"Commander Sark!" With an indifferent expression on his face, this guy broke into Commander Sark's office with two entourages, and then loudly read out an order: "Special order from the command: In order to maintain the law and order of the imperial capital, the imperial capital city defense As well as all the deployment of public security, etc., it is temporarily under the control of the Guards, and the Public Security Department of the Imperial Capital is temporarily under the control of the Guards, and everything is at the disposal of General Juncker, the Second Division of the Royal Guards!"
finished. This guy put this military order on the table of Commander Sak.
General Juncker of the Royal Second Division
Junker's second division of the royal family is in charge of the defense of the imperial capital! Why do you control our Public Security Bureau!
The thirty-nine-year-old Sac looked at the military order in front of him. It clearly bears the signature of Earl Raymond of the Rowling family, the deputy chief of the High Command, and the official seal of the High Command.
Sac suddenly felt a chill in his heart... Is something going to happen? It has always been a decree that the Guards are in charge of the outer city defenses, and the public security office is in charge of the inner city. But the Guards suddenly took the order of the high command and demanded to take over all the powers of the security post...
Commander Sark knew in his heart that even if the official document of the command department was genuine, it was still far from legal procedures! Fully take over the imperial capital. This must be ordered by His Majesty himself! But looking at the strange Guards officer with cold eyes in front of him, Commander Sark sensed that the opponent's hand was on the hilt of his sword. If he dared to refuse, the opponent would attack immediately!
Sac is very aware of his own strength. Although he has the title of a fourth-level knight, he is not in the world. His strength is not even enough for the third level, but he has grasped the high position of the Public Security Bureau entirely by relying on the power of his family. He couldn't help but look outside the door. He secretly scolded his guards for being too dereliction of duty! He actually let these guys in so casually! Although these guys have an emergency military order issued by the military, they should at least notify them!
"Okay..." Sac hesitated for a while, but in the end he still didn't dare to refuse. He hesitated for a while: "I don't know how the military needs our Public Security Bureau to cooperate?"
"It's very simple." The strange officer let go of the hilt of his sword: "From now on, you are only in charge of the area near the Magic Union in the east of the city, and the other areas are handed over to our Guards. And..." His face With a smirk: "Following the military order of General Junke. Recently, the security of the imperial capital is in chaos. In order to ensure the safety of the security department and protect the safety of the security department and the important officials of the empire. I brought an infantry squadron to guard the security department. Out of the ground..."
Sac immediately became angry: "What! You are blatantly surrounding the Public Security Department!! Bold! I want to talk to that bastard Junker!"
"Sorry, this is a military order!" The strange officer sneered: "Commander Sak, please cooperate!"
As soon as the words fell, several soldiers wearing the armor of the Guards rushed in from outside. The guards outside the door had already been beaten to the ground. Sac was startled and angry, and suddenly shot up, but suddenly saw the security guards outside the door. The courtyard of the department is already full of guards!
The officials and officers of the Public Security Department in other offices faced these wolf-like guards and these heavily armed guys. Seeing the shining long sword in the opponent's hand, he retreated into the room knowingly.
"Are you trying to rebel!" Sac sat weakly in the chair.
"It's 'protection'." The officer said indifferently: "As long as you don't make trouble yourself. I will ensure your safety!"
Sac already regretted his behavior of dispatching a large number of soldiers from the Public Security Bureau early this morning! Most of the security bureau soldiers were dispatched by Commander Sak to patrol around the imperial capital early in the morning. As a result, the empty security bureaus were taken down by the opponent, and they had no resistance at all.
"Okay." Sac nodded resignedly: "You said just now that you want my people to patrol around the Magic Union, but now you have blocked all my people in the Public Security Bureau, how can I issue my orders! "
"It's very simple." The officer took out a few blank orders from his pocket and placed them in front of Sac: "You just order, and my people will send your orders to your subordinates!"
Sac stared dumbfounded at the blank orders in the format of the Public Security Bureau in front of him. He reached out to pick up a quill pen beside the table, but his heart was agitated, and he couldn't help shaking his wrist, and a thick drop of ink dripped on the snow-white ground. on paper...
Most people don't know what happened in the early morning, but when the sun comes out and there are gradually pedestrians on the street, everyone suddenly realizes that the soldiers from the Public Security Bureau who patrolled back and forth in the past are gone, replaced by a Teams of heavily armed and murderous guards.
Each of these guards had a sturdy and indifferent expression, not at all festive and festive, but as if they were about to go to the battlefield. Pedestrians on the road saw it and couldn't help avoiding it from a distance.
Then the news came: early in the morning. Several city gates of the imperial capital were closed. The guards issued a notice and the city gate was temporarily closed. All people are prohibited from entering or leaving. Some people questioned. The other party only said that the ancient magic circle will be opened in the imperial capital today, so the city gate will be closed. At the same time, the 100-meter area around the city gate is designated as a restricted area, and no idlers are allowed to approach.
Although these situations seem too weird, for ordinary people, the word "coup" has never been thought of. After all, the mainland has been peaceful for hundreds of years, and the news that the magic circle will be opened on the festival day has been circulated for a long time, so everyone is surprised. But there was no panic or commotion.
Until the morning, about 3,000 guard cavalry appeared outside the city. These cavalry quickly divided into several squadrons and outflanked several city gates of the imperial capital.
Du Wei meditated all night. Before that, he had completely filled the five-colored stone ring with magic power. After a night of meditation, Du Wei had recovered all the magic power. After getting up, he put it on under the service of Made After putting on the most expensive dress, the countess sent someone to Du Wei with a pair of brand new leather boots.
When Du Wei walked out of his small building, he had already noticed a trace of tension in the house, the guards of Luo Lin's house. Fully armed, the warriors wore light armor and carried short military crossbows with them. The three hundred guards of the Luo Lin family all mounted their horses and waited at the gate of the Earl's Mansion.
Du Wei's father, Earl Raymond, came out followed by the chief guard of Alpha. The earl is wearing a uniform of the military high command. The straight uniform was obviously carefully ironed, even the corners and neckline were so sharp. The count wore long riding boots. Alpha personally led a black war horse, the Earl put on a pair of white gloves, and then glanced at his son. He said lightly: "Let's go, let's go to the central square of the imperial city now, it is the busiest place today, and there will be a festival ceremony starting at noon."
What is unusual is that for such a festival, the Earl did not bring his wife along with him, but instead kept her at home on the pretext that the Countess was unwell.
Du Wei followed his father on the horse. In such public occasions for festivals and celebrations, in order to highlight the martial arts tradition of the Luo Lin family, horse-drawn carriages are not used. Alpha arranged a high-quality white horse for Du Wei. Du Wei looked around and suddenly said, "Isn't my brother going too?"
"Gabri... I asked him to stay at Mr. Lan Hai's house." The earl said lightly, then turned his horse's head and was about to set off, when he suddenly looked back at Du Wei: "I... told you two days ago Do you want to understand those words?"
"I think it very clearly." Du Wei's tone was also very flat, and then he asked: "Father, are you sure?"
"There is nothing in the world that is completely sure, as long as there is 70% certainty, it is already a great chance of winning." The Earl seemed to smile.
The guard cavalry of Luo Lin's family were all on their horses, and a golden bell was hung on each of their horses. As the horses' hoofs trampled lightly, the crisp and melodious bells intertwined into one piece.
Surrounded by three hundred Luo Lin's most elite guards, Du Wei followed his father to the central square outside the imperial city.
The central square is the largest square in the imperial city. It is backed by the imperial palace and faces the entire imperial city area. The square is so big that it can accommodate tens of thousands of troops for inspection. The cyan slate is paved, enough for five or six carriages to travel side by side.
Every summer festival day, lively celebrations will be held here. On the imperial city, His Majesty the Emperor will personally visit the high platform to preside over the celebration ceremony. At the same time, some high-level personnel from the temple and the magic union will be invited to participate.
For the celebrations on the square below, a military parade will be held, and there will also be a long queue of oil festivals formed spontaneously by the people.
It was almost noon when Du Wei and others came to the square. Along the way, Du Wei was silent and his expression was very calm. Keep calm, don't ask, don't say, don't say a word, it seems that this is already expected.
Quite a number of citizens have gathered on the square, and the streets on both sides are even more crowded. A large number of citizens are still flocking to the long streets on both sides of the square. The long dragon seems to be lined up a thousand meters away.
When we came to the square, the Earl got off his horse and took Du Wei's hand with his own hands. Then he took Du Wei all the way to the high platform under the imperial city. The aristocrats of the family had already arrived, but Du Wei glanced over and found that many aristocrats were not relaxed, and some even secretly looked at Earl Raymond. His face was worried.
Ordinary people may not understand the abnormality of today's situation, but these rich and nobles do! What's more, the Guards had dispatched a large number of soldiers to patrol around the noble's house two days ago, which had attracted the attention of many people. What's even more strange is that some nobles were quite dissatisfied with this, and some even sent people into the palace to meet His Majesty to protest, but His Majesty the Emperor did not see him at all!
The crowd below was noisy, and Du Wei sat on the high platform. Looking down at the ordinary people who were still immersed in the joyful atmosphere of the celebration day, I couldn't help but sigh in my heart.
Finally, at noon, when the sun in space was hanging in the center of the head, the golden gate of the palace slowly opened, and a group of palace guards wearing golden armor ran out slowly on all white horses. It is the guard of honor, holding the horn high, and blowing the loud charge - this is also a tradition left over from the Aragon era.
Behind them are all kinds of court officials. Those court guards, court maids, court honor guards, court scholars and so on. They all came out in a queue, and finally, two wrestlers were two meters tall. With his upper body naked, exposing his rock-like muscles, he walked out pushing a huge golden drum with all his strength.
The sound of the horn stopped, and the two wrestlers beat the drum hammer...
Boom! Boom! Boom...
The heavy drum beats seemed to hit people's hearts! The sound of a drum spread far away, and the people who heard the sound of the drum in the distance. The noise gradually stopped... Everyone knows that according to the traditional ceremony. Your Majesty the Emperor, we are about to grow up!
After twelve drum beats, the ruler of the Roland Empire, His Majesty the current Emperor, the highest authority on this continent: Augustine VI, finally appeared!
With a loud horn, all the nobles on the high platform stood up and bowed slightly facing the gate of the imperial city, while some generals of the military performed standard knight salutes.
Du Wei glanced at his father, but found Earl Raymond's face was calm, facing the gate of the imperial city, but his body was still upright! Surprised glances had already been shot from people around, but at this moment, no one dared to ask him anything.
Du Wei finally saw clearly what His Majesty Emperor Augustine VI looked like around him...
His first impression was: old!
The emperor, now in his seventies, was already an old man on the verge of death. Although he wore a gorgeous yellow robe and a crown made of pure gold on his head, the crown was inlaid with a circle of tiny gold diamonds. Du Wei couldn't help but take a breath when he saw the gemstone in the middle... It turned out to be a multicolored stone!
Augustine VI walked very slowly, his pace seemed a little slow, his face was very serious, not at all happy like a celebration day, and in his half-opened and half-closed eyes, there was a sparkle that did not match his age. The old emperor's appearance vaguely had the outline and shadow of Prince Chen, but he was a bit more aggressive and majestic than Prince Chen.
But Du Wei still saw the oldness of the emperor. He noticed carefully that when the emperor passed by Du Wei's side, his hands were behind his back, trembling gently and uncontrollably!
The emperor stepped onto the platform that belonged to him alone. Everyone was at least 20 meters away from him. There were only two people in the latitude who followed him quietly. The one on the left was an old man in a red robe. In style, he is clearly a magician. On the right is a tall and thin man in a gray cotton robe. He doesn't wear any badge on his chest, but he always holds a long sword in his arms.
Only these two people followed the emperor every step of the way. The others, even the emperor's two sons, could only be placed 20 meters away on both sides of him.
Du Wei saw Prince Chen, who still had a calm face and a warm smile like a spring breeze. He was standing next to a chair on the lower left of the emperor, as if he didn't care about what happened today. He even met Du Wei's eyes and smiled friendly.
And that great prince. Haven't shown up yet.
Augustine VI's eyes swept across the audience, his eyes looked like an old man, although old, but still full of majesty, Du Wei only saw one thing in the emperor's eyes: eagles watching wolves!
"Then... let's begin!"
Augustine's voice was very hoarse, he didn't talk too much nonsense, he just said this briefly, and then sat down.
As the emperor sat on the chair and waved lightly. The two wrestlers under the imperial city behind him immediately slammed the huge drum again with all their strength, and the sound of the drum was heard in a hurry...
In the distance, at the end of the long street, there was a burst of loud and clear horns immediately, and immediately, Du Wei immediately felt a murderous aura coming from a distance!
The armor gleamed in the sun, as if it had been plated with a layer of gold! The most elite infantry of a group of about 3,000 guards, wearing the best armor. Formed a long phalanx, walking slowly at the end of the street! The footsteps of the soldiers were unusually orderly, and the entire phalanx looked as if it had been made out of knives!
The neat steps trampled on the ground, and there was a very rhythmic sound, whoosh! Swish! Swish! Swish sound...
The crowd began to cheer, and the people on both sides of the road threw the prepared flowers towards the phalanx in the middle of the road from time to time, but the soldiers did not mess up at all. From the central square.
"Father." Du Wei looked at the original phalanx of soldiers. He suddenly turned his head, looked at Earl Raymond and smiled, and then he smiled softly: "When will the "program" you prepared start?"
Count Raymond said calmly: "Hurry up."
As soon as Earl Raymond's words fell. The infantry phalanx had gradually passed the central square. Under the eyes of His Majesty, three thousand people drew out their long swords in a uniform movement at the same time, and three thousand bright long swords pointed at the sky!
Augustine VI nodded with a smile, then raised his hand to the soldiers...
At this moment, the sound of horseshoes suddenly came from the distance of the long street!
The kick sounded like thunder!
Following the exclamation from the crowd in the distance, a group of heavily armored cavalry came galloping! These cavalry are obviously the elite among the elite. All the knights on the horse wear at least three or more knight badges, and uniform black steel armor. Uniform black horses, uniform red capes! The alternation of black and red forms an amazing symbol of "iron and blood"!
The closed helmet made it impossible to see the knight's face, and thousands of cavalry galloped all the way, their horseshoes trampled on the blue stone road, making a very rhythmic thunder! The skills of these elite knights in manipulating horses are also top-notch. A thousand cavalry actually formed a long queue, which was compact and neat, and even the sound of horseshoes was so consistent!
When they came close to the square, the cavalry suddenly slowed down. The horses were under good control, and none of the horses lost their rhythm. Divided into two teams, and then in the tide, a golden knight slowly rode out of the queue!
This knight was also riding a black horse, and his armor was completely golden. I don't know if it was made of some special magic materials. There was a wave of magic power that made Du Wei's heart flutter faintly through this armor!
The knight on the horse rode out and gently took off his helmet. The bright red cloak behind him fluttered in the wind. Du Wei saw his appearance clearly... After just one glance, Du Wei immediately confirmed that this must be the eldest prince!
The eldest prince's appearance looks seventy percent similar to that of the old emperor. Compared with Prince Chen, he is a little less gentle and kind, but more murderous! But different from the majesty of the old emperor, this eldest prince's eyes are more sinister!
"My lord." Du Wei was looking at the eldest prince, when footsteps and a low voice came from behind him, a middle-aged general quickly walked over, and came behind the earl, he looked forty years old, with a shrewd and capable face , wearing light armor, which is exactly the uniform of a guard officer, he smiled softly at the Earl, "The outer city has been arranged."
Earl Raymond nodded, then glanced at Du Wei, and suddenly said: "Du Wei, come, let me introduce you, this is General Junker of the Second Division of the Guards, and also my friend for many years .”
Du Wei didn't have time to detail this General Junker, because suddenly, there was a burst of exclamation from the square!
The eldest prince who was riding on the horse suddenly drew out his long sword, and far away, on the horse, pointed the edge of the sword at the high platform under the imperial city! Point to Augustine VI sitting on the high platform!
"Your Majesty... Father!" The eldest prince's voice came steadily, even in such a noisy place, his voice still fell into everyone's ears very clearly! Obviously this eldest prince's martial arts skills are quite high!
"Dear father." The eldest prince shouted loudly with a hint of awe in his voice, "Excuse me, is the sword in my hand sharp?"
As soon as the words fell, thousands of knights around him shouted with majestic voices at the same time: "Lee!
This roar almost frightened some people who were close to them to sit on the ground!
"Father! My warrior, how majestic is he!"
All the knights shouted loudly: "Mighty!!"
The eldest prince lightly flicked the edge of the sword, looked at Augustine VI with sharp eyes, and asked loudly: "Such a sharp sword, such a majestic warrior! Are you qualified to take over this great empire!!"
…
The audience was shocked!
Augustine VI was still sitting on the chair, but his face was extremely gloomy, and his palms were trembling faintly...
A thousand heavily armored knights, their bright red battle robes fluttering, pointed their sharp swords at Augustine VI on the high platform! The eldest prince stared straight at his father with eyes like a sword's edge, and then his sigh spread throughout the audience, and he said coldly and decisively: "Father, you have hesitated for more than twenty years. Today, I There must be an answer, today!
At this moment, a dark cloud floated across the sky, blocking the sunlight, and in an instant, darkness enveloped the imperial capital...