bayedsolid Chapter 694 Put down your weapons
Chapter 694 Put down your weapons
As the sky grew darker, the thick dusk hung heavily over the imperial city, adding a sense of oppression to the entire palace.
Zhang Xianhuai stood quietly in front of Xuanwu Gate, like a pine tree.
Hearing what Li Jingyou said, his expression remained unchanged. He raised his hands, and with a steady and unhurried movement, he bowed to Li Jingyou, his robe sleeves swaying slightly as he spoke respectfully, "Your Highness, without the express order of His Majesty, no troops may enter the palace."
Every word was exceptionally clear in this gradually quieting atmosphere.
When Li Jingyou heard this, a look of undisguised disdain flashed across his face. He curled the corners of his mouth slightly and snorted contemptuously.
He slowly narrowed his eyes and stared straight at Zhang Xianhuai, his gaze full of questioning: "Is it the emperor's order? Now that the emperor's life and death are uncertain in the palace, as his biological son, is it possible that even visiting him has become a luxury?"
His voice unconsciously rose in a tone of urgency, echoing in the air and making the ears of those around him buzz.
Zhang Xianhuai looked at the agitated Crown Prince in front of him, sighed secretly, frowned slightly, looked at Li Jingyou sincerely, and explained in a gentle voice: "Your Highness, His Majesty is still alive, but his health is not good. We are only following His Majesty's order to impose martial law on the palace."
As he said this, he shook his head slightly.
Li Jingyou laughed as if he had just heard something ridiculous. His laughter was filled with suspicion. "Father's order? You just said that Father was unconscious. How could he have issued an order or passed down a decree?"
"I absolutely do not believe it. Since there is no clear order, Commander Zhang, please get out of the way immediately!"
After saying that, he strode forward, his white robe fluttering in the wind, faintly emitting a sense of oppression that could not be ignored.
Zhang Xianhuai looked at the stubborn Li Jingyou and sighed heavily again, his face full of confusion and embarrassment.
After a moment of hesitation, he slowly reached into his arms and carefully took out an imperial edict.
He held the imperial edict high in his hands, and its bright yellow color became even more eye-catching against the darkening sky.
"Your Highness, the Emperor has clearly decreed this. May I ask, do you intend to disobey the Imperial Order?"
Li Jingyou looked at the yellow imperial edict in Zhang Xianhuai's hand. His originally arrogant expression froze for a moment, and a look of hesitation appeared on his face.
Just as Li Jingyou hesitated, the person beside him hurriedly stepped forward, slightly sideways, leaned close to Li Jingyou's ear, and whispered a warning: "Your Highness, be careful, this is very likely a false imperial decree!"
Li Jingyou nodded subconsciously, becoming more and more suspicious of this so-called "imperial edict".
At this moment, a dull and heavy sound of horse hooves suddenly came from afar. The "clack clack" sound came from far away, like a heavy hammer hitting everyone's heart, making everyone's heartbeat accelerate.
Everyone couldn't help but look in the direction where the sound of horse hooves came from, only to see the black mass of the Black Armored Army approaching rapidly in the distance.
The soldiers of the Black Armor Army were dressed in heavy black armor, which shone with a cold light in the afterglow. They were tall and mighty, and each of them exuded the solemn and murderous aura of a veteran on the battlefield.
Just the powerful momentum that came towards them made the Jinyiwei on the opposite side feel the huge pressure like a mountain.
You have to know that these are the heavy cavalry of the Tang Dynasty. Not only are all of them excellent in riding skills and martial arts, they are also equipped with the most sophisticated firearms. They are an invincible army that is feared on the battlefield. They once followed Li Shimin and created the glorious military exploit of defeating 100,000 with 3,000 men.
When Zhang Xianhuai saw this scene, his originally calm face couldn't help but frown, and he looked at the person who came with a serious expression.
He straightened his back, raised his voice, and sternly asked the leading general, "General Zhai, are you also going to disobey the imperial edict?"
Zhai Huo, riding a tall and strong warhorse, stood at the front of the battle formation with an upright posture. He looked directly at Zhang Xianhuai with a firm gaze and spoke word by word, "Commander Zhang, the Black Armor Army will only obey the orders of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
As soon as he finished speaking, he raised the spear in his hand high. At the same time, all the Black Armor Army behind him raised their spears in unison. Their movements were neat and powerful, accompanied by roars.
This elite army that followed Li Shimin to defeat 100,000 with only 3,000 men has gone through countless battles. Even as time passes, until now, they still only obey Li Shimin's orders in their hearts. In their hearts, the prince is the continuation of Li Shimin's will and the only person they are willing to swear allegiance to until death.
Zhang Xianhuai saw that Zhai Huo had made up his mind and knew that it was futile to try to dissuade him. He shook his head with a complicated expression and sighed helplessly, "Since you have all made up your minds, I will not try to persuade you anymore."
"Commander Zhang, if you don't clear the way, don't blame me for not remembering our past friendship."
Zhai Huo raised the spear in his hand, with the tip slightly downward, pointing directly at Zhang Xianhuai.
Zhang Xianhuai had no expression on his face. He just stared at Zhai Huo quietly. After a moment, he slowly waved his hand.
The Jinyiwei behind him understood what he meant and quickly lit the fireworks that had been prepared in advance.
In an instant, fireworks shot up into the sky in the palace, and colorful lights bloomed brilliantly in the night sky, but with a hint of weirdness.
Li Jingyou saw the flashing fireworks and suddenly felt something was wrong. He then realized that the situation was far more complicated than he had imagined.
They were completely unaware that after they entered the city, the Three Thousand Battalion also quietly entered the city, and the Five Army Battalion had now begun to evacuate the people in the city in an orderly manner.
All this was happening silently, but they were kept in the dark, as if they were stepping into a carefully laid trap step by step.
When Zhai Huo heard the sudden sound of heavy horse hooves behind him, his heart sank and he immediately realized that something was wrong.
The sound of horse hooves was rapid and powerful, obviously a well-trained cavalry unit.
He subconsciously looked back and saw that the soldiers of the Three Thousand Battalion had surrounded them.
The Three Thousand Battalion was behind him, but he was full of doubts and didn't know who was leading this Three Thousand Battalion.
It wasn't until Qin Ruzhao slowly appeared, spear in hand, riding a nimble warhorse, that Zhai Huo's eyes flickered with doubt, and he couldn't help but ask, "Qin Ruzhao? You weren't serving as a frontier official in the north. When did you return to Chang'an?"
His tone was full of surprise. He could never have imagined that this envoy from the north would suddenly appear here.
Qin Ruzhao looked at him sternly.
"As long as I am here, no one can disrespect His Majesty. I will only count to three. Put down your weapons and I will spare your lives."
As he spoke, he slowly raised his spear, pointing the tip directly at Zhai Huo, which was chilling.
"one!"
This sound shocked everyone present.
Even when Qin Ruzhao started counting, Zhai Huo remained unmoved. He gripped the spear tightly in his hand and looked at Qin Ruzhao with firm eyes.
The Black Armor Army soldiers behind him stood like resolute statues, and the aura they exuded was in no way inferior to that of the 3,000-strong battalion opposite.
You are all the most elite troops of the Tang Dynasty. Each of you has experienced hundreds of battles and has fought in countless life-and-death battlefields. No one will give in easily.
They were loyal to Emperor Taizong and showed no fear even in the face of death.
Li Jingyou looked at the tense scene before him, weighing the pros and cons in his mind, and finally said, "Put down your weapons."
Hearing Li Jingyou's words, Zhai Huo's face was full of disbelief and his eyes widened.
"Your Highness, what did you say? Lay down your weapons? It's come to this, are you going to lay down your weapons?"
He could never have imagined that at this critical moment, the prince would choose to compromise.
There was reluctance in his voice, as if he was questioning why the prince gave up so easily.
Li Jingyou did not answer, but just looked at Zhai Huo with a complicated expression.
The Xuanjia Army only respects Li Shimin and the Xuanjia Army's military order. They will obey the prince's words. Even if the prince orders them to commit suicide, they will do it without hesitation.
Because this was the last will of Emperor Taizong, an order that they believed could not be violated.
In their hearts, the prince's will was the continuation of Emperor Taizong, and they had to obey it unconditionally.
"Put down your weapons!" Li Jingyou spoke again, his voice firmer.
This time, his eyes revealed determination, as if telling Zhai Huo that this was his final decision.
Zhai Huo gritted his teeth, feeling unwilling, but he slowly dropped the spear in his hand and looked at Qin Ruzhao with some dissatisfaction, anger still burning in his eyes.
His body trembled slightly, as if he was trying hard to suppress the dissatisfaction in his heart.
The Black Armor Army soldiers behind him also put down their weapons. Although they were unwilling, they still obeyed the prince's orders.