For access to a complete chapter, you can subscribe to my patreon.com/caleredhair
“Your Majesty!”
Du Heng and Consort Zhen were greatly shocked. Xiao Wenxuan’s words were too astonishing for the two of them.
“I know my own body. Even if I escape Chang’an, I cannot endure this long journey. Moreover, what the Crown Prince wants is my life. If I don’t die, he will pursue you relentlessly.”
At this moment, Xiao Wenxuan’s weak body suddenly straightened a little. He had thought a lot during the days he lay on the bed, and he had made a decision in his heart.
Du Heng said anxiously, “Your Majesty, a country cannot be without a monarch for a single day. If Your Majesty does not leave, this world will fall into great chaos.”
“Your Majesty, General Du is right. As long as the green mountains remain, there will be no fear of lacking firewood. As long as Your Majesty can escape Chang’an and go to Qingzhou, gathering the loyal armies from all directions will surely quell the rebellion of the Crown Prince and the Prince of Zhao.”
“Cough, cough, cough. You think too simply of the Prince of Zhao. Since he has taken such a dangerous move this time, he must have absolute reliance. Besides, the other vassal kings of different surnames also have their own ulterior motives. Now that the Prince of Zhao has rebelled, they will certainly take the opportunity to declare independence,” Xiao Wenxuan said.
Concubine Zhen said, “Your Majesty, there are no vassal kings of different surnames, but we still have the Prince of Yong, the Prince of Wei, and Ming’er. They are still loyal to the imperial family.”
“That’s right, there are them, but I’m afraid I won’t live to see that day.” Xiao Wenxuan suddenly coughed violently, and a trace of blood suddenly flowed from the corner of his mouth.
“Your Majesty.” Concubine Zhen became even more flustered at the sight.
Xiao Wenxuan spat out the blood from his mouth. He sneered, “It seems they have calculated exactly when I will die. You don’t need to say more. Du Heng, no matter what, you must send Consort Zhen to King Qi. Otherwise, the Prince of Zhao will threaten with Consort Zhen. At that time, if King Qi saves her, he will put himself in danger. If he doesn’t save her, he will be reviled by the world as unfilial. This is my last order.”
Du Heng’s eyes welled up with tears. He had followed Xiao Wenxuan for twenty years, from battlefields to unifying the world. He understood that many people in Great Yu Empire called him a muddle-headed ruler, weak and incompetent.
But having accompanied Xiao Wenxuan all these years, he also understood that the current Great Yu Empire’s accumulated problems were too deep, so severe that even its emperor was powerless.
He believed that if it hadn’t been for Xiao Wenxuan’s mediation over the years, the Great Yu Empire would have long ago been divided into seven states. Of course, he also admitted that Xiao Wenxuan was not a perfect person; he had his own shortcomings.
It was precisely his obsession with the throne that led him to a moment of confusion, allowing the barbarians to enter the pass.
“Yes, Your Majesty. Even if it costs my life, I will safely deliver Consort Zhen to His Highness King Qi.” Du Heng knelt on the ground and said firmly.
As the three were speaking, suddenly a cry of “kill” rang out from outside Bīshuǐ Pavilion.
Du Heng abruptly stood up. He understood that the outer palace guards had arrived.
Xiao Wenxuan also looked outside Bīshuǐ Pavilion at this moment. He picked up a sharp sword from the ground and slowly walked towards the outside of Bīshuǐ Pavilion. Then he said to Du Heng, “Remember what you promised me.”
Du Heng nodded heavily and said to the soldiers behind him, “Protect Consort Zhen.”
Concubine Zhen wanted to go out with Xiao Wenxuan, but she was immediately stopped by Du Heng and the soldiers in the courtyard. Watching Xiao Wenxuan slowly and with difficulty walk towards the battlefield, Concubine Zhen’s tears flowed down.
Outside Bīshuǐ Pavilion, the Crown Prince, leading the outer palace guards, had arrived and launched an attack with over six thousand outer palace guards.
The sound of artillery fire from outside the city was getting closer, which was a signal of the Firearm Battalion approaching. Therefore, he had to kill Xiao Wenxuan before the Firearm Battalion broke into the imperial palace.
“Whoever takes Du Heng’s head will be granted the title of Ten Thousand Households Marquis and rewarded with ten thousand taels of gold!”
The desire for the throne had driven the Crown Prince into a frenzy. He screamed hoarsely like a raging beast.
The soldiers shouted and rushed towards the inner palace guards defending in front of Bīshuǐ Pavilion. The soldiers, under heavy rewards, were equally frenzied. They continuously charged the battle formation formed by the inner palace guards. Their morale was high due to being twice in number.
Casualties continued to occur. The inner palace guards continuously retreated against an enemy twice their size. Although they were equally brave, the disadvantage in numbers was sometimes impossible to overcome.
While the palace was in fierce battle, Chang’an City had fallen into chaos.
The City Defense Battalion had closed the gates of Chang’an City to prevent any troops other than the Prince of Zhao’s from entering the city, and multiple factions were fighting in Chang’an City.
The Right Guards, dispatched by the Crown Prince, quickly arrived at Vermillion Bird Street and launched a charge against the Firearm Battalion, but they were gradually defeated under the fierce attack of the Firearm Battalion.
At the same time, the news of the Crown Prince assassinating the Emperor spread throughout Chang’an City through the shouts of scouts. Some military generals and ministers, after confirming the news, unhesitatingly joined the Firearm Battalion, while some ministers were busy packing their valuables to flee, and more ministers were trembling with fear, praying that they would not be affected and preparing to congratulate the new monarch.
“Fire!”
“Bang, bang, bang…”
Luo Hong commanded the musketeers to steadily advance towards the imperial city. The training in Qingzhou had taught him how to command firearm troops. Under the continuous firepower of three-stage firing, the charging outer palace guards fell in droves.
However, enemies ten times their number charged again and again, as if they could never be completely killed.
Luo Quan and Luo Hong stood together. The power of the firearms shocked him. In the past, how could these men of the Firearm Battalion so easily defeat the men of the Right Guards?
As they were engaging the Right Guards, there was a sudden confusion behind them, and then a large number of troops came from the west. Luo Quan immediately picked up his telescope to observe, and then he was overjoyed. “It’s the people of the Third Prince and Fourth Prince.”
Fiji was behind Luo Quan. He said, “This Third Prince is too cautious. If we hadn’t launched the attack first, he would have waited indefinitely.”
“The King of Chu is an old fox; he’s just a little fox.” Luo Quan cursed, and then he said to Luo Hong, “Take this opportunity to immediately rout them.”
Luo Hong nodded. Now that the Right Guards was being attacked from both sides, it was the time to utterly defeat them. He immediately ordered his soldiers to attack fiercely.
Under the pincer attack of the Left Guard and the Firearm Battalion, the Right Guard quickly fell into chaos, and large numbers of soldiers fled without fighting.
The imperial city was right in front of them. The Left Guard and the Firearm Battalion, after their combined attack, seemed to have an understanding and headed towards the imperial city.
At the same time, a group of ministers shouting “Save the Emperor” also rushed out with their household troops and generals.
Upon reaching the imperial city, the Left Guards soldiers immediately launched an assault. The soldiers carried ladders and climbed the city walls. Just then, a series of cannon shots suddenly rang out. Cannons on the inner palace city walls spewed fire and unleashed shells.
Luo Hong was greatly shocked. He immediately shouted, “Pull the cannons up and smash open the city gate! Hurry!”
“Your Majesty, why did you install cannons in the inner palace?” Luo Quan also stamped his foot.
Some of the cannons Xiao Wenxuan purchased from Qingzhou were deployed outside the city gate, and some were deployed within the imperial palace for defense. Now, these cannons became their biggest obstacle in attacking the city.