nycdaug Chapter 319 Old Cai Guarding the Tunnel Exit
Chapter 319 Old Cai Guarding the Tunnel Exit
The palace was already under martial law, with the imperial guards stationed at every intersection and outside the palace. Wei Jiutong, the chief of the imperial guards, personally monitored the little emperor's movements, and although he didn't say a word, he followed his every move.
Xiao Wuji went straight to his mother's Shuning Palace and looked around. The familiar eunuchs and palace maids were all replaced by unfamiliar faces.
Sister Yuli, who came to the palace to accompany him, was left by my mother and should be safe for the time being. We must find a way to send the news out of the palace. The wise and intelligent aunt will definitely find a way to turn the tide.
The young emperor Zhao Wuji was silently calculating in his mind, and with heavy and firm steps on his short legs, he walked towards his mother's bedroom.
The eunuch Liu Cheng'an, who was holding the pen, was tied up with rags and gagged, and imprisoned in a side hall of the Chuigong Palace. Looking at the dozens of eunuchs and palace maids who were also tied up and imprisoned here, he felt sad and angry!
You damn traitor Wei Jiutong, His Royal Highness the Regent and the Emperor trusted you and asked you to continue to be responsible for the duty of protecting the Emperor, but you, a dead eunuch with eight generations of lack of morality, betrayed the Emperor and the empresses!
Liu Cheng'an was so angry and resentful that he forgot that he was also a eunuch. He cursed Wei Jiutong, the chief eunuch of the imperial guards, in his heart for being a traitor.
Dark clouds were looming over the capital city, threatening to destroy it, and a strange atmosphere was shrouded in it.
The emperor claimed to be ill and did not attend the court. Several important officials of the court requested to enter the palace to visit the emperor who was in poor health, but were turned away. The palace gates were closed, guarded by the imperial guards, and there was not even a single eunuch or palace maid who came out to buy things. This was really strange.
Prince of Bohai Gao Huaide and Duke of Lu Cao Bin were worried, so they called together several important officials of the court, including Prime Minister Xue Juzheng, Vice-Minister Luo Ji, Shen Lun, and Privy Councilor Chu Zhaofu, to discuss the matter.
After analyzing it over and over again, several people all felt that something was wrong. Yesterday was a day off, and all officials who were not on duty were resting at home. Today was not a day off, but many ministers claimed to be sick and did not go to work. Last night, several imperial guards were mobilized on the street, but Chu Zhaofu, as the Privy Councilor, did not know about it. This was really strange.
The honest Luo Ji expressed his worries, "Could it be that someone is plotting something and has controlled the emperor?"
Everyone had this suspicion in their hearts, and after hearing what Lord Luo said, they started discussing it without any scruples. If there really was someone plotting with evil ambitions, the most urgent thing would be how to rescue the emperor?
Cao Bin pondered for a moment and suggested: "His Royal Highness the Regent is not in the capital. This matter must be told to the Regent Princess to see if the prince has left any means to defeat the enemy."
"Yes! I will go tell Li'er, so that she won't be in danger. She should be prepared early." Luo Ji couldn't sit still anymore, he got up and ran out.
The Regent's Palace was surrounded by a team of imperial guards. The shadow guard angrily asked the princess whether she should charge out.
Luo Li's heart was pounding with nervousness, her palms were sweaty, but her mind was very calm.
"Since the imperial guards have surrounded the palace by order and are not allowing anyone in or out, we cannot fight them head-on.
Mo Ming, take six shadow guards with you, let's go through the tunnel and head straight to the Mo Yun Cavalry Camp in the south of the city. Hong Gu, go to the Big Foot Women's Army Camp in the west of the city and transfer all 800 female soldiers to the Mo Yun Cavalry Camp in the south of the city."...
A group of people came out of the tunnel. The old gatekeeper was waiting in the study at the exit of the tunnel.
Hong Gu, who got out first, was startled and put the sword in her hand across the old man's neck, "What are you doing here?"
The old man guarding the gate had a wrinkled face, but his dim eyes suddenly flashed with a gleam of brilliance, "I am Old Cai, and I am here to guard the exit of this tunnel on the orders of the prince. Today, the imperial guards have surrounded the palace, and I am here to wait for the princess."
Luo Li was inexplicably pushed up while holding her son. Old Cai stood up from his seat and bowed respectfully, "I am Old Cai, your subordinate, to see the Regent Princess."
Knowing that this person was arranged by Zhao Defang, Luo Li immediately trusted him. "Mr. Cai, please don't be polite. We need to leave the city. Can you arrange it?"
Old Cai straightened up, and his hunched body revealed an overbearing aura.
"Reporting to the princess, the shadow guards all know the underground tunnel leading to the outside of the city. I am an old servant beside the prince's master. After following the prince down the mountain, I am responsible for protecting his safety.
The prince has ordered that if the princess encounters danger in the capital, I will be at the princess' disposal to protect your safety."
Is this a peerless master? Luo Li looked up and down at the plain-looking old man Cai, her eyes full of trust: "Ghost Hand followed the prince to the battlefield, and now another peerless master has appeared. The safety of this princess and my son is in your hands."
Old Cai smiled and said, "Thank you for your trust, Princess. Your Highness's master, Uncle Wu Chi, will be here in the next two days. You will have many peerless masters around you."
"Really?" Luo Li was even more surprised. Zhao Defang's master Feng Xuanzi was someone who could defeat the demon Xuan Yinzi, and Wu Chizi simply looked down on the Ghost Hand Poison Doctor's martial arts. These two people were the real peerless masters in the world, right?
Damn it! With a bodyguard of this level, what else do I have to fear?
The Mo Yun Cavalry under Regent Zhao Defang has expanded to six thousand men. He brought three thousand to the front line and left three thousand elite Mo Yun Cavalry in the military camp outside the capital to be responsible for the safety of the princess and his son.
Cheng Haonan, the chief military officer in front of the palace, personally led 20,000 elite imperial guards and set up camp three miles away from the Mo Yun cavalry camp, setting up a alert formation.
Even so, Cheng Haonan was unsure. He did not dare to be confident that the 20,000 elite imperial guards under his command could destroy the 3,000 elite Moyun Cavalry. However, the palace was launching a coup, and the 3,000 Moyun Cavalry, who were feared by everyone, had to be kept under close watch and not allowed to make any unusual moves.
Cheng Haonan was also worried about another thing. At the critical moment, he realized that the prestige of Regent Zhao Defang in the Song army was too high. When he brought 20,000 troops here yesterday and formed a semi-encirclement formation to block the Moyun Cavalry Camp, the 20,000 imperial guards almost mutinied.
In the hearts of the soldiers of the Song Dynasty, the Song Dynasty's God of War, Regent Prince Zhao Defang, was a person they worshipped like a god. Asking them to fight with the personal soldiers of His Royal Highness the Regent Prince would be a betrayal of their beliefs.
Even Cheng Haonan himself would not believe that the regent Zhao Defang was plotting a rebellion and usurping the throne. The throne under the current emperor was given to him by the regent Zhao Defang. It would be a miracle if the soldiers of the Song Dynasty believed this crime as an excuse.
Cheng Haonan complained in his heart about his ambitious elder brother. Instigated by several ministers, he dreamed of overthrowing the Regent Zhao Defang and replacing him as the regent. He did not even consider the pros and cons of the Cheng family, a new royal relative, in advance. Would they be a match for the Regent Zhao Defang?
Cheng Haonan sat in the big tent depressed, thinking about his worries in a heavy and flustered mood. After the incident, his old father and elder brother told him about this shocking conspiracy. The plan has already started. As a member of the Cheng family, Cheng Haonan has no other choice.
"Report!... Lord Du Yuhou, the Regent Princess is here and wants to enter the Mo Yun Cavalry Camp." A junior officer ran in and knelt on one knee to report.