Jinting Han people

The one who came to report was Meng Tao. He said to Liu Xian, "Brother, the bandits should have come from the Xianyang Palace in the north. I checked their numbers, and there are about three hundred of them."

Recalling the intelligence given by Zu Ti, Liu Xian hurriedly marched while saying to his subordinates, "Don't panic. It's only been a short time. Dong Ai and the others shouldn't be able to get here yet. As for Xianyang Palace, if I remember correctly, it should be his nephew, Dong Xiao, the Right Guard of the Imperial Guard. Before Prince Qi breached Qianqiu Gate and Shenwu Gate, this should be the last of the generals in the palace who obeyed Prince Qi's orders."

In war, the most terrifying thing is the unknown, especially on a snowy night like this. Nothing can bring more peace of mind than clear instructions.

The group passed through the corridor and entered the main hall of the Taiji Hall. The main hall was brightly lit, illuminating the place where the ministers paid homage to the emperor. They could also see the heavy snow falling from the south gate and the candlelight flickering in the wind, as if it might go out at any moment.

At this moment, dozens of armored soldiers stood inside the hall, facing the north gate in full battle array. Hearing Liu Xian emerge, Zhuge Yan, the leader, immediately stepped forward and asked, "My lord, what do we do now?"

Liu Xian decisively said, "Extinguish the lights, hide behind the wall, let them in first, then listen to my command and kill the enemy together!"

"Yes!"

After everyone responded, they immediately began to move within the hall. As if a gust of wind had swept through, the candles in the hall were extinguished one by one. The hall was instantly shrouded in darkness. Using the faint light from the western palace, they groped their way to the four walls of the main hall, and then concealed themselves in the shadows.

Soon, hurried footsteps sounded outside the North Gate, and one could even faintly hear someone urging, "Hurry! Hurry up! Don't let anyone snatch the Emperor away!"

But when they arrived at the main hall and found it pitch black, they were taken aback. Someone whispered, "Could it be that they've succeeded? Why are there no lights?"

But since they had already come this far, there was no reason not to go in and take a look; otherwise, how could they explain themselves to King Qi? So, with this question in mind, they pushed open the north gate of the palace.

Each of them carried a torch, and the light shone into the main hall through the north gate. The first thing that came into view was the wide-open south gate. A few steps further, one could see the decapitated body of Liu Zhen and the bodies of the more than seventy armored soldiers he had led, lying haphazardly below the steps of the south gate.

Upon seeing this, Dong Xiao, the leader, was greatly alarmed. Without even looking around, he immediately raised his torch and rushed forward to investigate. He quickly recognized Liu Zhen's body through his armor and exclaimed, "The Duke of Anxiang is dead just like that? Who did it?"

In his shock, Dong Xiao was completely unaware that a soldier from the Sili Prefecture was hiding in the window curtains not far away, less than three zhang away from him.

The accompanying armored soldiers gradually entered, finding the hall too dimly lit, and began groping to relight the oil lamps. When they reached the lamp bases, one of them noticed they were still warm, which puzzled him. After a few thoughts raced through his mind, he suddenly realized: there were still enemies inside!
Just as he was about to shout, Liu Xian drew his sword from its sheath. The blade flashed like lightning, instantly slicing through the man's neck, while he shouted, "Kill the traitor!"

At his command, the people lying in ambush in the darkness immediately made their move.

The first to charge into the enemy ranks was Guo Mo. Hidden behind a pillar, he heard the noise, gripped his long spear, let out a strange cry, and leaped into the crowd. His tall figure cast a long shadow in the firelight, making him appear as if a mountain spirit had appeared out of nowhere. He thrust his spear at a man wearing double-layered armor; with a muffled thud, the spearhead pierced the armor. He then lifted the man up and flung him away.

Such superhuman strength truly terrified the surrounding Qi soldiers. Before they could even retaliate, Guo Mo held his long spear horizontally and swung the shaft left and right, completely disrupting the enemy's formation.

As Liu Xian made his move, Zhuge Yan and Meng Tao arrived at his side, protecting him while fighting alongside him. The Qi soldiers, still unprepared, were thrown into disarray by the close-quarters attacks, scattering in all directions. In an instant, Li Sheng and Meng He arrived from the east to join the battle.

However, the Qi army soldiers, outnumbered the enemy, and although initially stunned, their superior numbers emboldened them, leading to a counterattack against Liu Xian and his men. If they were to regroup, their superior armor would indeed pose a significant threat.

Seeing this, Mao Bao did not rashly draw his sword to join the battle. Instead, he hid in a corner of the palace and took out his longbow. He squinted and surveyed his surroundings. Even in the chaos, he could clearly distinguish who was enemy and who was friendly. But he did not rush to attack. Instead, he searched for the enemy commander in the crowd. After scrutinizing the situation for a while, he finally discovered that the leader, Dong Xiao, had retreated to the northern edge of the palace, seemingly wanting to retreat while giving orders.

Having identified his target, Mao Bao shifted his position slightly, leaping onto a higher platform for better aiming. He drew a specially made white-feathered armor-piercing arrow from his quiver, its arrowhead sharp and long enough to instill fear. He took a deep breath, drew the bowstring, and then pulled it taut with his thumb until the longbow was fully drawn.

With a sharp crack, the bowstring snapped back to its original position, and the armor-piercing arrow struck Dong Xiao in an instant, piercing his side and abdomen. Although it did not kill him immediately, the intense pain almost exhausted Dong Xiao's strength, causing him to fall to the ground, unable to move.

Seeing this, Guo Mo disregarded the enemy's encirclement and attack, relying on his thick armor, he withstood the barrage of spears from the surrounding Qi soldiers, forcing his way through the crowd. No one could stop him; they could only watch helplessly as he reached Dong Xiao. Without hesitation, Guo Mo drew his saber, severed Dong Xiao's head, and then, holding it atop his own bloodied spear, taunted the Qi soldiers, "Who wants to be the second one?!"

These people's determination to resist was not firm to begin with, and when they saw their leader killed, their fighting spirit vanished instantly, and they gradually began to collapse.

Liu Xian had no intention of getting entangled in a fight with these armored soldiers; it would be a waste of time. He immediately shouted, "We are ordered to suppress the rebels, and we will only punish the ringleaders, not the others. If you want to live, either surrender or get out of here!"

Having said that, he ordered his soldiers to gather their weapons and return to his side. Most of the Qi soldiers did not want to surrender. Seeing that the enemy had no intention of pursuing them and only made a slight commotion, it is unclear who left first, but the rest of them all left the hall and scattered in all directions.

At this point, less than a quarter of an hour had passed between Liu Xian leaving his palace and repelling the enemy. But in Liu Xian's view, this was far too long. If Dong Xiao hadn't been chasing so quickly, he would have acted almost immediately, forcing the Emperor and Empress to come out even if they were unwilling. Time was of the essence; many matters of propriety were no longer important.

Seeing the enemy retreat, Liu Xian ordered his men to continue guarding the palace gates. He then led only a few men back to his bedchamber. The Emperor and Empress had already changed their clothes. Perhaps because they had never been so close to weapons before, both of them looked somewhat pale. However, what puzzled Liu Xian was that the Empress's face seemed to have a sickly flush.

Yang Xianrong smiled at Liu Xian and said, "Lord Liu, you have worked hard to kill the traitors. We are ready."

Having said that, she handed the stamped memorial to a maid, instructing her to return it to Liu Xian. This solved Liu Xian's biggest problem at the moment. He breathed a sigh of relief, took the memorial in his hand, and then said, "Your Majesty, Your Highness, the situation is extremely urgent. The imperial carriage is already prepared in front of the East Hall. Let us go now!"

So Yang Xianrong led the emperor out of the palace. It was still dark, and the maids lit lanterns to illuminate the emperor's path. But when they stepped out of the corridor, the gruesome scene of corpses strewn across the Taiji Hall made them pale. The emperor was also somewhat shocked, muttering to himself, "Even if they came seeking an official position, I would have granted it. Why kill them like this?"

But the Empress, amidst this scene, felt no fear whatsoever; the stench of blood only intensified the crimson flush on her face. Her gaze swept over the dark bloodstains among the corpses, she inhaled the filthy odor rising from the hall, and the biting snow wind brought her unprecedented clarity. At that moment, she realized with a start that this was precisely what she had so passionately fantasized about.

Or perhaps, the doting on Yang Xianrong by her family since childhood had numbed her to peace and wealth. She yearned for a legendary and romantic life, a yearning that made her unafraid of difficulties and hardships, allowing her to enjoy the thrill of life and death, and only then could she feel truly alive.

Actually, while Liu Xian was leading his troops in the fierce battle inside the hall, she had secretly peeked through the crack in the door. Even though she couldn't see anything clearly, she couldn't suppress her curiosity. She saw the firelight flickering in the hall, scattering amidst the chaotic figures, followed by flashing swords, clashing weapons, and the screams and shouts of the people—sounds that were hardly human. When it all ended, she seemed to hear a dance she had never heard before, one that dazzled and mesmerized her.

When Yang Xianrong realized this joy, she secretly glanced at Liu Xian beside her, recalling his various legends. Some thoughts lingered in her mind, and she couldn't help but smooth her hair, thinking: This is truly a man who can bring bloodshed.

Leaving the Taiji Hall and boarding the carriage, the group headed east through the East Zhonghua Gate. It was clear that Luoyang Palace was no longer silent; not only were the western gates engulfed in flames, but the clamor of the imperial guards gathering at the Yunlong Gate could also be heard. Further east, soldiers from all parts of the palace could be seen converging like streams.

The soldiers guarding and patrolling the palace gates along the way had already received the military orders from the King of Changsha. Because they were unsure of Sima Yi's chances of victory, they had initially hesitated. But upon seeing the yellow dragon banner flying and the imperial carriage moving, they were all greatly surprised, exclaiming, "Is the Emperor going to personally lead the expedition?" This was a scene they had never imagined before. Although their hesitation hadn't subsided, their instincts compelled them to follow, protecting the Emperor's carriage.

Thus, when Liu Xian escorted the carriage all the way to Yunlong Gate, the number of guards around him had swelled from less than a hundred to over a thousand.

At this moment, most of the palace guards had gathered in front of Yunlong Gate, forming a dense swarm of over ten thousand people, like countless ants. They were whispering among themselves, discussing the sudden turn of events. When the imperial palanquin came into view, they all involuntarily stopped talking and turned to look west. Seeing the emperor and empress standing on the palanquin, and without knowing who started it or what the reason, once someone began to cheer, tens of thousands of people followed suit, cheering towards the sky.

No matter how unworthy the current emperor may be, to most people, the emperor is a deity, the embodiment of destiny, the master of all living beings, and the embodiment of miracles and greatness. Therefore, when they witness the emperor, they cannot help but feel excited and moved, believing that they have been blessed by fate.

Faced with so many admiring glances, even someone as oblivious as Sima Zhong couldn't help but be moved. He recalled his father's teachings, tried to straighten his body, put on an unnatural smile, and attempted to project a non-existent air of authority as he waved to the crowd.

Yang Xianrong's performance was much better. Standing behind the emperor, she remained composed even amidst thousands of troops. Her magnificent attire and elegant appearance exuded a dignified air, adding a touch of imperial majesty to the emperor.

When Liu Xian led the two to the top of Yunlong Gate, Sima Yi, along with his former officers and subordinates, had been waiting there for some time. He first greeted the Emperor and Empress, then asked Liu Xian, "Were there any unexpected events along the way?"

Liu Xian smiled and said, "Everything is as expected." After saying that, he handed the already stamped memorial to Sima Yi.

"Good! Good! Good!" Sima Yi's joy was palpable, and he exclaimed "Good!" three times. He took the memorial, then strode to the top of Yunlong Gate. Under the watchful eyes of everyone, he unfolded the memorial, read it aloud, and then displayed the imperial seal on the document to all the imperial guards, signifying that the emperor had granted his approval. Finally, he drew his sword, raised his arm, and shouted, "Kill the traitors! Kill the traitors!"

The Imperial Guards then shouted, "Victory! Victory!" The shouts swept through the snowy night and lasted for a long time.

At this point, only half an hour had passed since the start of the coup, and Sima Yi had successfully gained military power over the palace guards.

But this was just the beginning. Sima Yi then discussed with Liu Xian, "I have already sent men to close all the palace gates and dispatched messengers to inform the generals of the outer army at Xuanwu Field. Judging by the time, the Prince of Qi should be getting anxious. My lord, in your opinion, what method will he use to break this deadlock?"

"Since he has lost the initiative, it's too late for any method we use." Liu Xian stroked his sword hilt and said, "Let them fight their battles, we'll fight ours. Your Highness, the righteous cause is now on our side. As long as we protect His Majesty and repel their advance, victory will surely be ours!"

Upon hearing Liu Xian's words, everyone's spirits lifted. They looked towards the West Palace, where, illuminated by the still-burning flames at the twin gates, the outline of the Grand Marshal's residence could be vaguely seen. There, too, was a bustling crowd of soldiers.

Liu Xian's prediction that the King of Qi would inevitably lose was clearly a move to appease the army. No war has a guaranteed victory or defeat, because ultimately, a person's life and death are in their own hands. This was true even for Sima Jiong, who was a step too slow to react. (End of Chapter)