My father, Li Shimin, please call me Crown Prince

Chapter 418 Blowing Up Xuanwu Gate

Xuanwu Gate.

News of Hou Junji's crushing defeat has already reached us.

Although Hou Junji was besieged, there were still quite a few Liaodong soldiers at the five gates of the imperial city, but they were too late to get there.

After Hou Junji entered Taipingfang, these scattered soldiers knew that there was no way to rescue him, so they could only gather together and head towards the Crown Prince.

Li Chengqian had not yet received news that Hou Junji had been captured, but it was easy to see that Hou Junji had no chance of winning under the combined attack of Li Ji and Li Jing.

It's just a matter of time. Given the current situation, Li Jing and Li Ji will naturally not be stingy with their troops and will only try to resolve the battle quickly.

"Your Highness."

Du He was somewhat worried.

Hou Junji's side suffered a defeat, losing tens of thousands of Liaodong soldiers, and their side is now completely isolated.

This means that the troops in Chang'an, under Li Jing's leadership, can directly intervene in the battle at Xuanwu Gate.

Not only that, the troops in the imperial city were also liberated, which was nearly 20,000 imperial guards.

Only a few thousand Liaodong soldiers escaped and returned.

The troops stationed at the five gates of the imperial city were not just these people, but many of them were former members of the Left Golden Guard who had previously defected.

Under such circumstances, it was impossible for these Left Jinwu Guards to follow and join Li Chengqian.

"Where is Lu Tong?"

Li Chengqian asked calmly.

Before he finished speaking, a general rushed over.

"This humble general, Lu Tong, greets Your Highness the Crown Prince."

It was vaguely visible that Lu Tong looked somewhat disheveled.

Hou Junji was stationed at the Vermilion Bird Gate, while Lu Tong was stationed near the Yanxi Gate.

When Lu Tong learned the news, he knew it was too late, so he led the remaining Liaodong soldiers and some of his personal guards to come over.

Li Chengqian was somewhat surprised that Lu Tong did not rebel at such a moment.

In fact, he had already prepared for the possibility of Lu Tong's betrayal.

In Li Chengqian's mind, Lu Tong was not necessarily very loyal.

But Lu Tong arrived at this moment.

"Please forgive me, Your Highness, but many people from the Left Golden Guard have fled."

Lu Tong's face showed a hint of shame.

Li Chengqian glanced around and found that Lu Tong was surrounded by only a few people.

Zhao Jie explained the situation in a low voice from the side.

Logically speaking, Lu Tong should have at least a thousand men under his command, which is the configuration of the Left Jinwu Guard at Yanxi Gate, but only a hundred men came with him.

The Left Jinwu Guard of Yanxi Gate did not participate directly, which means that many people fled.

Li Chengqian looked at Lu Tong indifferently.

He knew that Lu Tong had let them go.

Given this situation, if Lu Tong were to completely defect, he would definitely need to bring more people with him.

But he let the people go, while he himself stayed.

interesting.

Under the Crown Prince's gaze, Lu Tong became nervous.

Lu Tong's Adam's apple bobbed, and fine beads of cold sweat appeared on his forehead. The Crown Prince's gaze was calm and unwavering, yet it was like two icy blades, piercing through the layers of Lu Tong's thoughts. The struggles he had suppressed deep within his heart were now pounding painfully in his chest with each heartbeat.

"Your Highness," Lu Tong suddenly knelt on one knee, his voice still hoarse.

"This humble general dares not lie. When I learned of General Hou's defeat, the Left Jinwu Guard at Yanxi Gate was already in chaos."

He lowered his head, the events of the past flooding his memory like a tidal wave.

At that time, he was standing under Yanxi Gate. The news of Hou Junji's defeat at Taipingfang was shouted out by a Liaodong soldier covered in blood. The soldier had just passed by when he collapsed to the ground, reporting on Hou Junji's situation.

The Left Jinwu Guard was instantly in an uproar.

"General, let's run!"

Deputy General Wang Kui was the first to rush over, still clutching the military tally he had just taken off.

"General Hou has been defeated, and the Crown Prince's side won't be able to hold out for long! With Li Jing and Li Ji joining forces, there will be no place for us in Chang'an!"

Wang Kui was Lu Tong's old buddy.

His face was filled with anxiety, and the straps of his armor were half undone: "We have brothers from the Left Golden Guard. If we go and join General Li Ji, with our skills, we can surely make a name for ourselves!"
Zhao Hu, the captain of the personal guards standing nearby, also chimed in, "General, Brother Wang is right! The Crown Prince is a trapped beast now; there's no need for us to die with him."

Lu Tong silently watched his brothers from the Left Golden Guard. Hundreds of Left Golden Guards were arguing around a few junior officers. Some had already removed the insignia from their armor, while others were trying to run into the city's streets.

The wind swept sand and dust across the city tower, making the sounds of battle at Xuanwu Gate in the distance seem to come and go.

"Support Li Ji?"

Lu Tong suddenly laughed, but his laughter was tinged with bitterness: "Have you forgotten how General Li dealt with soldiers who deserted in the face of battle back then?"

Wang Kui's face turned pale: "But we're not deserters, we're...we're assessing the situation!"

"Assess the situation?" Lu Tong clenched his fist tightly. "Then tell me, how has the Crown Prince treated us?"

These words stunned Wang Kui and Zhao Hu.

Back then, before the Crown Prince went to Liaodong, Lu Tong defected to the Crown Prince, and the Left Jinwu Guard should not be too arrogant.

Not only was he prestigious, but the Crown Prince also received numerous benefits and rewards.

Later, when the crown prince rebelled, Lu Tong had no choice but to surrender to the Prince of Jin. The difference in their treatment was like night and day.

Later, when the Crown Prince entered the city to oversee the country, he thought he would be purged, but to his surprise, the Crown Prince disregarded past grievances and accepted the Left Jinwu Guard.

"But...but the Crown Prince is about to lose!"

Zhao Hu stamped his foot in frustration: "Even if he treated us well before, are we going to lose our heads because of him?"

Lu Tong turned to look in the direction of Xuanwu Gate, where the firelight was even brighter than before.

"If you want to leave, I won't stop you."

Lu Tong suddenly spoke, his voice so calm it was unsettling.

Wang Kui was stunned: "General, what about you?"

“I will stay.” Lu Tong drew his sword from his waist, the blade gleaming coldly in the setting sun. “I, Lu Tong, am not a loyal minister or a righteous man, but one cannot forget one’s roots. The Crown Prince has treated us well, and now that he is in trouble, I cannot turn my back on him.”

The commotion gradually subsided, and hundreds of eyes stared at him, some hesitant, some fearful, and some with admiration.

"Those who wish to leave, follow General Wang now," Lu Tong's voice echoed across the square. "Those who wish to stay, come with me to Xuanwu Gate. Remember, this journey is fraught with peril, so don't regret it."

The crowd fell silent for a moment, then someone suddenly shouted, "Wherever the general goes, I will go!"

Lu Tong looked in the direction of the sound and saw it was his personal guard.

Then, several more sounds rang out, intermittent but becoming clearer and clearer.

"I'll stay too!"

"I stayed."

"I am willing to die with you, General!" Wang Kui's eyes suddenly reddened as he looked at the scene before him, and he shoved the military tally into Lu Tong's hand: "General, I will stay too!"

"No need." Lu Tong pushed the military tally back, patted his shoulder, and said, "Take them with you, and take good care of your families. If... if I can survive..."

In the end, only one hundred people were willing to stay.

When faced with life and death, few people remain steadfast.

After all, they weren't without options, and they didn't necessarily have to go to their deaths.

If I survive, I might be punished by His Majesty, but the law does not punish the masses, so I might be able to continue working as a member of the Imperial Guard.

After making the decision, Lu Tong didn't rest. He immediately gathered the remaining troops from Liaodong and headed towards the western inner garden.

Lu Tong, kneeling on the ground, took a deep breath and pressed his forehead against the cold ground: "Your Highness, this humble general knows that surrendering at this time is like playing a game. But the hundred men under my command are all willing to die with Your Highness. If Your Highness does not abandon us, we are willing to serve Your Highness like dogs and horses."

"Get up." Li Chengqian's voice finally warmed up a bit. "Xuanwu Gate still needs manpower. Take your people and go assist them."

Lu Tong looked up abruptly, a flicker of surprise crossing his eyes, quickly replaced by overwhelming joy. He kowtowed deeply: "This humble general obeys!"

Watching Lu Tong lead his thousands of men toward Xuanwu Gate, Zhao Jie couldn't help but say, "Your Highness, Lu Tong, this man..."

Now is a critical moment for Xuanwu Gate. If Lu Tong has already secretly pledged allegiance to His Majesty...

Rebellion at Xuanwu Gate at this time would be far more troublesome than losing the capital.

Even worse, they suffered a complete defeat.

"I know."

Li Chengqian interrupted him: "At this time, anyone who is willing to risk their life is worth trusting."

Looking around, Xuanwu Gate has now reached its most critical moment.

Yuchi Jingde and Cheng Yaojin held the city wall tightly, preventing Xue Rengui's men from going up.

Beneath the city walls, Su Dingfang commanded the elite troops of Liaodong, including musketeers, in a fierce battle against Li Shimin's Xuanjia Army and Imperial Guards.

The appearance of arquebusiers undoubtedly brought a huge advantage to Li Chengqian's side.

But the Imperial Guards were too numerous.

Even if they can kill a large number of enemies, their own losses cannot be ignored.

One for three, that's the limit.

However, Li Chengqian's forces were less than 20,000, and even with the several thousand men brought by Lu Tong, they barely exceeded 20,000.

However, at Xuanwu Gate, Li Shimin still had at least 60,000 troops, not to mention the 20,000 imperial guards who could come to support him, as well as the troops of Li Ji and Li Jing.

This means that if time drags on any longer, Li Shimin's forces could reach over 100,000.

How can you win with 20,000 against 100,000?
Not far from Xuanwu Gate.

One message after another was reported to Li Shimin.

As he listened to the continuous stream of good news, a smile involuntarily appeared on Li Shimin's lips.

By this point, the overall situation was already settled.

"Xuanling, do you think the fire at Xuanwu Gate is getting weaker?"

He raised his chin, his voice devoid of any anxiety: "No matter how fierce the Crown Prince's musketeers are, they can't withstand the Imperial Guards surging forward like a tide. I just received a report from Li Jing that Hou Junji has been captured, and Li Ji's infantry are only three miles away from Xuanwu Gate."

Fang Xuanling smiled gently on his aged face, stroking his white beard, and said, “Your Majesty is wise. The Liaodong troops under the Crown Prince’s command were no match for the Imperial Guards. Now that Hou Junji has been defeated, Lu Tong’s remaining troops number only a thousand. It is no exaggeration to say that they are at their last gasp.”

Even someone as cautious as Fang Xuanling couldn't see any chance of the Crown Prince winning.

The prince has already made his move, and that's the soldiers carrying 'small cannons'.

It did indeed cause a large number of casualties to the Imperial Guards.

But this isn't a cannon; armor and shields can block it, it's just a bit better than a bow and arrow.

The Xuanjia Army is fully armored; it won't be long before they charge in. What can the Crown Prince do then?
Changsun Wuji stood aside, his usually serious face unusually relaxed, and took over the conversation, saying, "Prime Minister Fang is right. Just now, Yuchi Gong sent someone to report that the sound of muskets on the city wall is getting less and less frequent, which means that the gunpowder is almost used up. Those soldiers have been fighting for a day and a night, and their eyelids are drooping. The Imperial Guards only need to charge three more times, and I guarantee they can tear a gap in the wall."

The Liaodong soldiers were indeed elite, but their numbers were insufficient. The Imperial Guards, on the other hand, had more troops and could take turns charging and fighting.

This conserves a lot of physical strength.

By now, the Crown Prince's Liaodong troops have become exhausted.

Changsun Wuji looked at the Emperor with a confident tone: "Your Majesty, in my opinion, we will definitely be able to take Xuanwu Gate before dawn. That child Li Chengqian... is still too inexperienced. He thinks he can defy fate with some novel firearms, but he has forgotten that the foundation of this world has always been the support of the people."

Li Shimin gazed at the faint lights in the direction of Xuanwu Gate in the distance and suddenly laughed: "The people's hearts are with me? I think he has forgotten that the key to the gates of Chang'an is still in my hands."

"Issue an edict, telling Li Jing not to rush over, but to first guard the area around the Western Inner Garden. I want Chengqian to see clearly that even if he has wings, he can't escape Chang'an City."

The biggest problem now is that we must prevent Li Chengqian from escaping Chang'an, which is what happened before.

Li Shimin knew that if Li Chengqian had escaped Chang'an, the tragedy he witnessed today would not have been confined to Xuanwu Gate, but would have unfolded throughout the entire Tang Dynasty.

The Tang Dynasty could not withstand such turmoil; Liaodong would ultimately become a major problem.

If Li Chengqian had fled to Luoyang and relied on Liaodong for support, it would have led to a protracted war.

Fang Xuanling and Changsun Wuji exchanged a glance, both seeing relief in each other's eyes.

The clanging of armor from the Imperial Guards changing shifts was perfectly synchronized, carrying the composure of victors.

This protracted standoff is finally coming to an end.

But is Li Chengqian really going to lose?

"Your Highness, the situation at Xuanwu Gate is not optimistic."

"His Majesty's Xuanjia Army is too strong; our side has been suffering repeated defeats."

Du He's report was tinged with anxiety.

Their initial goal was to occupy the city walls, which would allow them to utilize the advantage of their artillery.

Without the obstruction of Xuanwu Gate, it was as if they were facing the Imperial Guards face to face.

With the addition of cannons and muskets, the numerical advantage of the Imperial Guards became ineffective.

But now, the strategic objectives cannot be achieved, and the artillery cannot get past the city walls, which means defeat.

If the rebellion fails, what other outcome can there be?

Li Chengqian put down his crystal telescope; he knew the situation on the city wall better than anyone else.

The Xuanjia Army is truly fierce and formidable, worthy of being called the elite of the Tang Dynasty's elite forces.

"How many Thunderbolts are left?"

Li Chengqian's voice remained as steady as Mount Tai, without the slightest tremor.

Du He hesitated before replying, "It weighs about 1,500 jin."

After saying that, he said with some concern, "The suicide attack might not be very effective."

He thought His Highness intended to do what he had done before: send assassins with Thunderbolts to break through Xuanwu Gate, just as he had done with Li Jing.

However, the Crown Prince himself had previously stated that this plan would not be very effective.

Li Chengqian shook his head slightly and said, "Of course not. Our army has already occupied the area around Xuanwu Gate, and that's enough."

"Order that all the Thunderbolts be taken and tied to the Xuanwu Gate."

"I want the Xuanwu Gate to collapse completely."

(End of this chapter)