At the Palace Front Office, military generals were rushing over one after another, but Zhang Yongde was no longer there.
Zhao Kuangyin sat dejectedly in the hall for a while with a dark face, his heart filled with anger and sadness, a feeling of betrayal welling up. Four years ago, Zhang Yongde transferred Zhao Kuangyin from Kaifeng Prefecture to the Imperial Guards. In the Battle of Gaoping, they trusted each other and fought side by side. After the battle, Zhang Yongde spared no effort to ask for merit for him. All the past scenes seemed to have happened just yesterday.
But at this critical moment, when Zhang Yongde was needed the most, he disappeared. Zhang Yongde and the commander of the left wing went to the camp of the Control Crane Army together, saying that they would send someone to the palace to ask what happened. What else was there to ask now? Why did he hurriedly leave the Dianqiansi Yamen and hide in the camp of the Control Crane Army
As expected, when disaster strikes, everyone flees. Zhang Yongde must have realized the danger and was not willing to take risks in adversity. The best option was to run away. Zhao Kuangyin thought to himself: I treat you as a brother and respect you very much, but you are playing tricks on me like this.
At this time, Zhao Pu and Shi Shouxin came to the hall with a group of military officers. Zhao Kuangyin got up and left the hall before he could figure out what to do next. Zhao Pu saw him and hurriedly followed him. The two of them walked to the signing room behind the hall. Zhao Pu closed the door and asked quickly: "Where is Zhang Yongde?"
Ran away. Zhao Kuangyin said directly, and casually put the package in his hand on the table and pushed it, "Please keep this thing for me, it's useless."
Zhao Pu had a gloomy face and stood there in a daze, looking equally sad.
Kuangyin added: We must also leave the Dianqian Division quickly, as it is possible that the rebels have already entered the imperial city.
Dozens of generals have come. Why don't you just ascend the throne here? Zhao Pu showed a crazy look. I will ask Shi Shouxin and others to help. I will put the yellow robe on the lord in a while. Most of the others will be forced to follow.
Kuangyin's mouth twitched when he heard this. In this world where military generals replaced the emperor for five consecutive dynasties, there were experience and examples to follow. Zhao Kuangyin was already the second-ranked military general in the Zhou Dynasty two years ago. There was only Zhang Yongde and Li Chongjin above him. He had no chance to go to the outer town. In this case, Zhao Kuangyin never thought that the huge temptation was impossible. But some things seem to be within reach, but in fact they are out of reach.
What's the use? Kuang Yin shook his head.
Zhao Pu said anxiously: Then, tell these generals who have come here to return to the camp and gather their troops.
Kuang Yin didn't care about being sad. After a moment's silence, he said: Send someone to check the west of the imperial city immediately. The road to the south is not easy to pass, so go around from the north of the imperial city. Make sure that the rebels enter the imperial city without Xihua Gate. In times of crisis, it is a strong defensive fortification, and a strong attack is also very laborious and time-consuming.
Zhao Pu clasped his fists and said: I will find someone right away.
Kuang Yin was very rational and calm in the critical moment, and did not panic. He nodded and said: "Send my personal soldiers to check the situation. When they get the news, tell them to report directly to the Central Army of the First Army of the Left Wing of the Iron Cavalry. We can't stay here. I will go to Shi Shouxin, Wang Shenqi and Han Chongyun and tell them to take the Iron Cavalry's generals to the military camp to discuss matters. It is even more difficult to command the troops other than the Iron Cavalry."
You must take the things carefully. Kuang Yin pointed at the bundle that Zhao Pu was holding. This thing has really become a useless bundle now.
Kuangyin quickly assessed the situation: Zhang Yongde had left first, so he could not catch up with the left wing of the Konghe Army to force him to take the throne; the plan to mobilise the army in the name of supporting the emperor outside the imperial city was no longer feasible. Zhao Kuangyin did not dare to move a small number of troops, as the other side was sending out a large army; with a small number of troops and no name to inspire the army, it would be useless. Mobilising the army was the key.
There was absolutely no need for him to declare himself emperor. Under the current circumstances, if he did so he would become a sitting duck for the entire imperial guards. Since Zhang Yongde was no longer around, raising an army in the name of quelling the rebellion was the best option left.
After he figured out all these things, he was ready to face the reality and deal with it. He walked out of the signing room with Zhao Pu.
At this moment, a general suddenly came forward and clasped his fists and said: General Zhao, Wang Pu has brought his men to the government office.
Zhao Kuangyin was startled and immediately asked: How many people did you bring
Several dozen riders, the general replied.
Zhao Kuangyin heaved a sigh of relief after hearing this, and hurriedly called Zhao Pu to go out with him. At this time, all the generals in the hall ran to the door of the government office, and someone was talking loudly outside.
When they got outside the gate, they saw dozens of cavalrymen escorting the Privy Councilor Wang Pu and several eunuchs in front. Wang Pu shouted: "I have brought the imperial edict and the military order of the Privy Council. Where is Zhang Yongde, the chief inspector in front of the palace?"
Someone shouted: Zhang Dujian has gone to control the left wing of the Crane Army.
The palace commander Zhao Kuangyin, the chief military officer Shi Yanchao, and the commanders of all the wings came out to receive orders from Wang Pu, and it seemed that he had no intention of entering the government office.
At this time, everyone made way, revealing Zhao Kuangyin from behind the crowd. And although Shi Yanchao was in the crowd, he was the tallest, a full head or more than half a head taller than the others, and was very conspicuous.
In this situation, Zhao Kuangyin had no choice but to step forward and say: Zhao is here.
When the eunuch was about to step forward to announce the decree, Wang Pu stretched out his hand to stop the eunuch, and rode forward and said: The Privy Council has been ordered to commend the generals. Then he read out the list of promotions and commendations for the generals in the Palace Front Office.
At this time, Zhao Pu asked: I heard that the rebels attacked the imperial city. Have the rebels occupied the imperial city? Who issued these military orders
Wang Pu said calmly and loudly: Who told you that you were a rebel? The military officer personally agreed in front of the imperial palace, and the eunuch Yang Shiliang was a trusted member of the emperor. I and others were also present. The empress was ordered to supervise the country. In order to strengthen the defense of the imperial city, the empress ordered the mobilization of troops. The army entered the imperial city and acted according to the order. How can you be a rebel? If you mobilize troops without the empress's order and the military order of the Privy Council, it is treason and rebellion.
At this time, Zhao Pu shouted: "The troops have entered the imperial city. Unless the emperor himself comes to issue the decree, how can we know whether this imperial decree is from the emperor or not? Is the queen acting as regent by order? Maybe you have held the emperor hostage by force and forged the imperial edict?"
It really sounds reasonable, and perhaps that is the truth, but Wang Pu actually snorted, handed the imperial edict, the imperial decree, the military order of the Privy Council to an eunuch, and then left on his own horse. He ignored Zhao Pu at all, let alone argued with him.
Zhao Pu was left standing there, feeling extremely embarrassed, as if he had punched the air and was despised and abandoned by others.
Seeing this, Zhao Kuangyin felt that the fight between Zhao Pu and Wang Pu was still too weak, just like an ordinary civilian fighting a fierce general, and they couldn't even match half of their moves.
The Privy Councilor came in person to deliver the imperial edict and military orders. I suspect they are fake. Since the Privy Councilor could forge the edict to help the Queen, doesn't it prove that the Queen has taken control of the situation and power? What's the difference between a fake or real one
The generals were already talking about it. A few of them had a strange red glow on their faces, those were the ones who suddenly became famous.
After the An-Shi Rebellion in the middle of the Tang Dynasty, the power and fame of the title of Jiedushi skyrocketed. Until recently, it has been a well-known name for two hundred years. For any military commander, the title of Jiedushi is a symbol of identity and status, and others have to be polite when speaking to them.
Since the Zhou Dynasty, the power of the Jiedushi has been greatly weakened and restricted. Except for a few towns in the northwest Hedong and Hebei, the other Jiedushi have little power. In particular, most of the imperial guards who are concurrently Jiedushi are remote governors who receive salaries, which is equivalent to the kings and princes who have no actual fiefs since the Tang Dynasty. However, these cannot completely eliminate the enthusiasm of the military generals for the Jiedushi. What everyone wants is status, identity and dignity.
Anyone who has achieved a rank has either made great achievements or accumulated experience over several generations, which is not easy. Now, to achieve a rank all of a sudden, let alone through reliable channels like the imperial edict from the palace and the military orders from the Privy Council, even if it is just a dream, everyone wants to stay in the dream for a while longer.
Zhao Kuangyin was also stunned, and a thought popped up in his mind: How long has it been since I heard the sound of horse hooves? Maybe, but definitely less than an hour.
It took the Queen only half an hour from mobilizing troops to fully controlling the situation. Every step was exquisite and perfect, every step was simple, direct and effective. The bold, violent and fast approach was full of delicate style.
Sweat beads appeared on Zhao Kuangyin's forehead. He suddenly remembered the thunderous methods used by Emperor Chai Rong before and after the Battle of Gaoping. And now this woman was not inferior to Chai Rong, but even more terrifying.
Even though Empress Fu was his mortal enemy, Zhao Kuangyin suddenly felt a sense of awe. He felt that his biggest mistake was to be her enemy.
But Zhao Kuangyin felt that his power was actually greater than that of Empress Fu's party, and for a moment he was still a little unwilling. His mood was extremely complicated and chaotic in an instant.
The eunuchs outside were still reading the imperial edicts and imperial decrees. Everyone seemed to be intoxicated by the benefits that were within reach and very tangible, and they were still listening. Zhao Kuangyin didn't care about the eunuch's imperial edict, and quickly left the gate of the yamen and said to Zhao Pu: There is no need to send people to investigate, and immediately summon my personal soldiers to prepare horses and leave the yamen in front of the palace. Guo Shao's troops must have captured the palace and forced the ministers of the two palaces in the imperial city to serve the queen.
Zhao Kuangyin then said to one of his retainers: Go and call in Shi Shouxin, Wang Shenqi and Han Chongyun.
Soon, three people came in. Zhao Kuangyin said bluntly: The entire imperial army was rewarded, but we were not included. Do you think the rebels will let us go
Shi Shouxin and others frowned and were speechless.
Zhao Kuangyin said: "Follow me, let's go to the 1st Army of the Left Wing of the Iron Cavalry and talk about it first. In the barracks, they dare not force us for a while."
Zhang Yongde went directly to the camp of the Konghe Army. Zhao Kuangyin followed his approach and felt that it was a relatively safe place for the time being. He immediately took his generals and personal soldiers and hurried out through the side door.