The news from the Forbidden Army did not lag behind. When the garrison suddenly imposed martial law in Kyoto after nightfall, they had already learned about the emperor's assassination in Xingliang Mansion, but there was no response.

The reason is very simple. Without an imperial edict, the Imperial Guards must not leave the palace.

Then the garrison division drove the three thousand fine cavalry of the Tibetan Front Guard out of Kyoto. King Liu Zan of Yan successfully took control of the Five Army Governor's Mansion. Hou Guliang of Guangping, who was most promising to stand up and take charge of the overall situation, was trapped in the Hou's Mansion. The Forbidden Army was the only one capable of changing the situation.

The power of the situation. But when Liu Zan was reaching the peak of his life step by step, the imperial army chose to be a bystander.

In a green building to the east of the palace, several commanders of the imperial army frowned at the general who was sitting calmly. They tried countless times to persuade him to unite with Guangping Houguliang to stabilize the situation in Kyoto. However, every time they opened their mouths, they would be met with a slap in the face.

Suddenly scolded.

The general's name is Li Zi. He is forty-seven years old this year and has been given the title of Marquis of Hejian. He is not a descendant of the founding princes, but started as a soldier in the army. With his numerous military exploits and unfathomable martial arts skills, he is now a member of the Daliang Army.

A general who can barely compete with Gu Liang.

The Forbidden Army has a total of 15,000 people, with five commanders, each leading 3,000 people.

Excluding the 3,000 people who escorted the Holy Emperor to Xingliang Mansion, there are still 12,000 people inside and outside the palace.

Li Zi's stern gaze swept across the faces of his commanders one by one, and finally looked at Wang Jiuxuan who had never said a word, and said in a deep voice: "What do you think of this matter?"

Wang Jiuxuan replied calmly: "The general will agree with what the Marquis has done."

The other three commanders looked sideways, despising this taciturn colleague in their hearts. Although they did not deny that Wang Jiuxuan was outstanding in ability, the biggest reason why this man could suddenly become the commander of the Forbidden Army was his grandfather, who was a Zuo Junji.

Li Zi continued to ask: "Why?"

Wang Jiuxuan replied: "It is difficult to tell whether the assassination of His Majesty is true or false. If it is indeed Pei Yue's fault, then the fourth prince is now the most suitable person to preside over the overall situation. His actions did not break the rules. If this incident is false,

The imperial army must not move without permission. The first thing is to protect the palace and prevent anyone from taking advantage of the chaos to do anything wrong. As long as His Majesty returns to the capital safe and sound, the fourth prince will be a grasshopper after the fall and will not be able to jump around for long."

Li Zi nodded slightly, and then said to the other commanders: "Did you hear everything clearly?"

Although they were still dissatisfied in their hearts, the three commanders did not dare to be rude in front of Li Zi, and they all responded: "General, I understand."

Li Zi said calmly: "Let's all go back and rest. No one can lead the troops out of the palace without my general order."

"Obey the order." The four commanders stood up and agreed, then left the festival hall.

Li Zi looked at their backs with unspeakable eyes.

…

The long dark night has finally passed.

I don’t know how many people couldn’t sleep that night, and I don’t know how many people were running around in secret. For some older people, it seemed like they were back to that autumn sixteen years ago. After the death of the late emperor, all the martial arts generals closed their doors tightly.

At the same time, they sent their most trusted subordinates to collude with each other, because everyone knows that even though it is extremely dangerous when the imperial power changes, it is also the most likely opportunity to soar into the sky.

The news of His Majesty's assassination in Xingliang Mansion has spread throughout Kyoto, and even the shopkeepers and crews of the Xiangyun are aware of it, but these people only have worry and fear in their hearts.

Because those people said that the traitor who poisoned His Majesty was Pei Yue, the Marquis of Zhongshan.

Xiangyun is attached to Pei Yue. If Pei Yue falls, I don't know how many people will be implicated.

When the first ray of sunshine appeared in the sky, Kyoto did not wake up as usual, but was immersed in a strange dead silence.

There were no people on the street, and the early summer breeze blew in, with a few green leaves floating in the wind.

On the wall of the north gate of Kyoto, Chengyang Hou Zhangwu was neatly dressed, with his hands on the wall stacks and his eyes calmly looking at the scenery outside the city.

Until an endless black spot appeared in his sight.

After running around for most of the night, Shengjia finally rushed back to Kyoto from Xingliang Prefecture. Because he was worried that traveling too fast would aggravate Emperor Kaiping's condition, the speed along the way was very slow.

Logically speaking, when the holy driver appears in sight, the garrison must immediately open the city gate and go out to greet the holy driver. However, this time the soldiers on the city wall did not react at all. They looked at the long team that was gradually approaching.

, all clenched the weapons in their hands.

The holy driver was escorted by the Wuding Guards, while the cavalry of the Zangfeng Guards maneuvered nearby.

Zhang Wu looked at the torrent of cavalry and felt quite emotional.

The garrison division was mainly composed of infantry, although there was also a cavalry unit, but in terms of military appearance alone, it seemed that it was not as good as the Tibetan front guards under the city. The old man's face was covered with wind and frost, and his eyes seemed to have a winter chill.

Footsteps sounded behind him. Zhang Wu did not look back and said calmly: "Your Highness, have you ever thought that this matter may be a trap set by His Majesty?"

Liu Zan put on his royal uniform and looked even more noble. Hearing this, he smiled and said, "Uncle Zhang, do you think Duke Dingguo really died of illness?"

Zhang Wu was speechless, and then laughed knowingly.

Liu Zan also looked at the holy cavalry that suddenly stopped seven or eight miles away from the city, and sighed: "My father has always liked to dig holes for others, but he never seemed to have thought that one day that hole might harm him.

."

Zhang Wu was slightly startled, turned to look at Liu Zan, who was confident, and said with a strange expression: "It seems that His Highness has a back-up plan."

Liu Zan said softly: "This is all due to my father's teachings. You need to leave some room for action to avoid situations beyond your control."

He stretched out his arms as if he wanted to hold the world in his arms.

Liu Zan had been dreaming of this day since many years ago. He did not want to be a rich prince, nor did he want to live his whole life in the shadow of Emperor Kaiping, nor did he want those useless brothers to step on his head.

He had dreamed more than once of the scene where he was dominating the world, and he was even more convinced that he could do better than that middle-aged man.

Outside Kyoto.

The Zangfeng Guards were divided into two groups on the left and right to protect the central army, while the Wuding Guards formed a defensive posture on the spot.

In the middle army, Pei Yue looked at the generals around him and said calmly: "You stay where you are. Without my order, you will never be allowed to act rashly."

All the generals surrendered.

Pei Yue glanced at the holy driver in the distance, then rode forward on his horse, heading towards the north gate of Kyoto surrounded by dozens of soldiers.

This journey is not long, only six or seven miles, and it can be reached in a matter of seconds if you gallop on horseback. However, both the garrison divisions above the city and the officers and soldiers of the Beiying below the city felt that this period of time was extremely long.

King Yan Liu Zan stood behind the wall, staring at the young figure riding the horse, and the corners of his mouth slowly curved.

When he was about a hundred steps away from the city gate, Pei Yue tightened his reins, and his soldiers immediately held shields in front of him to prevent cold arrows from the city wall.

Pei Yue raised his head and looked at the young man in royal uniform in front of the gatehouse. The scene at the Huxin Pavilion in Xianyunzhuang could not help but come to mind.

The silence is startling.

Liu Zan cleared his throat and said, "Pei Yue, surrender."

Pei Yue could hear the pride in his words and replied calmly: "What do you mean by this, Your Highness?"

Liu Zan said loudly: "It is now known to the whole world that you plotted to murder my father and intended to rebel. Because of my friendship with you in the past, I promise to kill you only and never implicate others. If not, you will stay.

The more than a thousand people in the Zhongshan Marquis Mansion must die without a burial place."

He looked down at Pei Yue, and his voice spread around him through the morning wind.

"To surrender or not to surrender?"
Chapter completed!