A Good Landlord in the Tang Dynasty: Starting from the Village Chief

Chapter 660 Armored and Spear-Holding, the Emperor's Body is at Peace

Li Yuan didn't go to sleep until after midnight last night.

He was half-asleep when he was awakened by the eunuch, "Your Majesty, wake up."

Li Yuan groggily opened his eyes. The palace was dimly lit, and several eunuchs stood around the imperial bed with terrified expressions.

"Your Majesty," the eunuch's voice trembled with fear, his teeth chattering.

Li Yuan's eyes stung and ached. He rubbed them, annoyed that he had been disturbed before dawn. "What has disturbed you?" he demanded.

The young eunuch stammered, "Your Majesty, there are...there are rebels outside! The rebels have stormed into the palace! Please...please Your Majesty, leave quickly!"

Li Yuan was stunned.

"Your Majesty, let's go quickly," another eunuch said.

Li Yuan vaguely heard the sounds of clashing swords, and his face was filled with disbelief.

"Who, who has rebelled?"

The eunuch was also bewildered. Suddenly, soldiers arrived, and some of the imperial guards who were stationed at the palace gates even defected.

They have now reached the outside of the bedchamber.

Li Yuan hurriedly got up, grabbed a robe and put it on, but before he could even step out of the palace gate...
Many torches had already gathered around.

A group of armored soldiers, covered in blood, carrying spears, swords, shields, and bows and crossbows, had already blocked the entrance.

A young eunuch screamed in terror, "Protect the Emperor! Someone, protect the Emperor at once!"

Hou Junji raised his bow and fired an arrow, but the arrow missed the screaming eunuch and instead hit a palace maid next to him, who screamed in terror.

Hou Junji threw down the bow, saying, "What a broken bow, it's not accurate at all."

Li Yuan looked at the palace maid lying dead in front of him, his body trembling uncontrollably. How dare they shoot an arrow and wound someone right in front of him!
Who are you?

Hou Junji stepped forward a few paces, the bloodstains on his armor emitting a strong, pungent smell of blood.

"Your Majesty, I, Marquis Junji, General of Chariots and Cavalry of the Prince of Qin and Founding Viscount of Quanjiao County, have come to protect Your Majesty in order to defend you, as the Crown Prince and the Prince of Qi are plotting a rebellion!"

"Erlang's man?" Li Yuan's face turned pale. He remembered the name Hou Junji. It seemed that Hou Junji was Shimin's friend when he was young at the Wugong Villa in Jingxi. The Hou family was also a military family in Guanzhong.

Shimin had once told him in jest that his comrade Hou Junji was brave and skilled in charging into battle, but not good with a bow and arrow, and could never improve his skills.

Today, however, he witnessed firsthand Hou Junji's poor archery skills; he aimed at a eunuch but instead shot a palace maid.

But Li Yuan felt that Hou Junji did it on purpose.

To dare to shoot at the emperor's close attendants is a great disrespect to the emperor.

He deserves to die.

"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince and Prince Qi are plotting a rebellion. There are many traitors in the palace, and it is extremely dangerous. I request that Your Majesty temporarily move to the Dragon Boat on the Sea Pool."

Li Yuan narrowed his eyes. Intuitively, he felt that the one who rebelled was not the Crown Prince or the Prince of Qi, but his second son, the Prince of Qin.

Li Yuan remained silent.

Torches flickered in the palace, creating a tense atmosphere.

The emperor turned his head and glanced at a middle-aged eunuch beside him, giving him a meaningful look.

The middle-aged eunuch mustered his courage and stepped forward, saying, "Hou Junji, you should quickly lead your troops to retreat outside and guard the area, lest you disturb His Majesty's presence."

Hou Junji sized up the eunuch, then grinned and chuckled coldly.

Suddenly, his expression changed.
He reached out and snatched the spear from the armored soldier beside him, then hurled it forcefully at the eunuch.

The pale-faced, beardless middle-aged eunuch's eyes widened in terror; before he could react or dodge...

The spear, just a few steps away, had already struck him, a tremendous force piercing his chest and passing right through.

Blood splatters,

Warm blood splattered onto the emperor's face.
One drop even splashed into Li Yuan's eye, turning his entire field of vision into a blood-red mess.

Hou Junji killed another eunuch in front of the emperor.
He clapped his hands, "The spear throw was still the most accurate."

Li Yuan was so shocked that he couldn't speak.

He had come to a complete understanding that traitors and rebels were right before his eyes.

"Your Majesty, that old dog must be a member of the Crown Prince's traitorous faction. Please move to the sea pond immediately!"

Li Yuan was breathing rapidly, but he forced himself to remain calm.

Having spent his whole life hunting, today he was pecked in the eye by a goose.

Suddenly I understood everything.

Yesterday, the King of Qin reported that the Crown Prince and the King of Qi had engaged in illicit sexual relations in the palace and demanded a face-to-face confrontation in the palace today. It seems that this was premeditated.

It's hateful that I couldn't see through it.

Li Yuan remained silent.

Hou Junji frowned.
He pointed to the eunuch he had first shot at, "Your Majesty, this man is also a traitor!"

He said to the guards on either side, "Take this thief down."

Two armored soldiers stepped forward.

The young eunuch screamed, "Your Majesty, save me!"

The armored soldier grabbed the eunuch and dragged him to the corridor.
The firelight flickered.

This is the last darkness before dawn.

Hou Junji raised his hand, "Cut!"

A soldier raised his sword high and beheaded the struggling, screaming eunuch.

Blood splattered.

The eunuchs and palace servants around Li Yuan screamed in terror.

"Your Majesty, this place is not safe. Please move to the sea pool immediately."

Li Yuan watched as Hou Junji killed three people in front of him in a short period of time.

he knows,
If they don't leave now, this audacious fellow might just throw another spear.
But that spear might accidentally hit him.

These people have already staged a palace coup and rebelled; they might not be afraid to assassinate the emperor.

Thinking of this, Li Yuan asked with a bitter expression, "Where is Erlang?"

"His Highness has heard of the rebellion of Crown Prince Qi and has rushed to Xuanwu Gate. He is currently in Linhu Palace. Once His Majesty is safely moved to Haichi, Prince Qin will surely come to pay his respects."

"Let's go."

Li Yuan sighed.

The founding emperor of the mighty Tang Dynasty has now fallen to such an end.

He now remembered Li Gang's words from not long ago: either depose the crown prince and install the King of Qin, or protect the crown prince and kill the King of Qin, otherwise disaster would surely befall them.

Little did I know, my words would come true!
Hou Junji stepped forward with his spear and grabbed Li Yuan's arm, saying, "Your Majesty, I am helping you up."

Li Yuan gritted his teeth and allowed himself to be supported by him in what was almost a coercive manner.

Hou Junji didn't even let the emperor go back to change his clothes. He just left a captain behind and had him take a few eunuchs and palace servants inside to get clothes for the emperor before following them.

The group then took the emperor hostage and headed north towards the sea. Dawn was breaking.
Li Yuan saw that from the palace northwards to the lake, there were corpses lying all along the way.
Bloodstains
Swords and blades left behind.

On the way, Zheng Rentai led a group of men to meet him.

Li Yuan remained silent.

Under the 'guards' of these fierce soldiers, they arrived at the lake.

On the lakeshore, a group of armored soldiers stood guard, and there was also a large dragon boat.

Li Yuan did not see Li Shimin.

Hou Junji practically dragged him onto the dragon boat.

Only a junior eunuch and a palace maid were left to accompany the emperor onto the ship.
The armored soldiers rowed the dragon boat and sailed into the center of the sea pool.

The deck and cabins were filled with elite soldiers, clad in armor, carrying spears, swords, and bows.

Li Yuan sat in the cabin, his hair disheveled, his clothes in disarray, looking utterly wretched.

As dawn breaks,

It's almost dawn.

In front of Xuanwu Gate,

Crown Prince Li Jiancheng arrived in the morning light with a group of Eastern Palace guards. The emperor had decreed that he be received in the Linhu Palace early this morning.

Linhu Palace is close to Xuanwu Gate. The Crown Prince exited from the North Gate of the East Palace and came to Xuanwu Gate from the east.

As he rode his horse, Jiancheng was still wondering what the emperor wanted to see him about today.

Since Wang Gui, Xue Wanche and others were exiled, he has not had a single confidant to consult with, and even Yuanji is still imprisoned in the palace.

Could it be that the emperor is about to announce today that he will enfeoff Shimin in Nanning Prefecture?
A gentle morning breeze blows.

Xuanwu Gate is right in front of us.

General Chang He stepped forward to greet them.

"Your Highness,"

Has the King of Qin arrived yet?

"Not yet. His Highness was the first to arrive, but the prime ministers haven't arrived yet."

Li Jiancheng smiled slightly at Chang He and patted his arm, saying, "Thank you for your hard work."

Chang He led the way, escorting the Crown Prince into Xuanwu Gate. The group of Eastern Palace guards behind him were left outside the palace as usual.

Chang He watched Li Jiancheng walk towards Linhu Palace.

A smile appeared on his lips, and he breathed a sigh of relief; the anxiety that had been gripping him finally subsided.

Li Jiancheng often walked the road from Xuanwu Gate to Linhu Palace. Not long ago, he was even placed under house arrest in Linhu Palace for several days by the emperor because of Yang Wengan's rebellion.

As he walked, Li Jiancheng felt that something was off about today.

A feeling I can't describe.

Just at this time,

A rider suddenly emerged from the woods ahead.
Who else could it be but Shimin atop that magnificent horse?

"Brother!"

When Li Jiancheng heard that shout, he felt a chill run down his spine.

Chang He said that the King of Qin had not yet entered the palace, so how come he appeared in front of him?

Be vigilant.

Once completed, they can immediately turn their horses around and leave.

Unfortunately, it was all too late.

Suddenly, several more riders appeared ahead, led by a tall, dark-skinned man, none other than Yuchi Gong, who had once snatched the Qi King's spear with his bare hands.

At this moment, Li Jiancheng had only one thought.
Leave this place immediately, leave the palace.

He kicked the Akhal-Teke horse, a tribute from the Western Regions' Kang Kingdom, and the steed immediately accelerated.
Yuchi Gong saw him constantly charging back,
They also charged at each other on horseback.

The two riders charged closer.

Yuchi Gong stretched out a large hand.
Li Jiancheng was shocked and furious.
However, when they passed through Xuanwu Gate, they had already removed all their weapons, including their swords.

At that moment, he instinctively reached for his sword, but found nothing.

Yuchi Gong grabbed Li Jiancheng with his large hand and, with a forceful pull, lifted him off the saddle.

Like an eagle catching a chick.

Li Jiancheng felt completely bewildered, and then the next moment he was pinned to the saddle by Yuchi Gong, the warhorse galloping and jolting violently.

Yuchi Gong captured the Crown Prince.
He led him on horseback to Li Shimin's horse.

"Your Majesty, capture him." After saying this, Yuchi Gong pulled out a leather rope, tied Li Jiancheng's hands together behind his back, and then threw him in front of the King of Qin's horse.

Li Jiancheng was thrown face-first into the dirt, his mouth covered in mud.

He was so angry that he kept cursing.

Li Shimin dismounted and helped Jiancheng up.
He looked at him with a complicated expression.
"Brother, why are you plotting rebellion?"

Li Jiancheng stared intently at Li Shimin.
"You're the one crying 'stop thief' while you're the one who led troops into the palace to plot a rebellion!"

Li Shimin shook his head.
"No, today it is my elder brother and Yuanji who are plotting a rebellion, causing chaos in the palace, intending to kidnap His Majesty and seize power."

Upon receiving the news, I led the guards of the Prince of Qin's residence to the emperor's aid. With the assistance of loyal and righteous men in the palace, we quelled the rebellion, captured my elder brother and Yuanji alive, and rescued His Majesty.

Li Jiancheng's face flushed red. "You're distorting the truth!"

Li Shimin patted the dirt off his elder brother, then used his sleeve to wipe his face clean, and sighed softly, "The victor is king!"

Yuchi Gong made a chopping motion at Li Shimin.

Li Shimin remained silent for a moment, and finally shook his head.

"Send the Crown Prince to Linhu Palace and take good care of him!"

East,

A red sun leaps out of the clouds, radiating countless golden rays.

Hou Junji rode up on horseback, his face beaming with joy.

"Your Majesty, His Majesty has already set sail on the sea!"

Li Shimin was overjoyed, "Where is the Prince of Qi?"

"King Qi resisted fiercely, killing and wounding several of our brothers, but we still managed to capture him and have brought him to the Linhu Palace."

Li Shimin looked at the rising red sun and exhaled a long breath.

He beckoned to Yuchi Gong, "Go to Haichi and pay your respects to His Majesty. Tell him that the Crown Prince and the Prince of Qi have plotted a rebellion, which I have already quelled with my troops. I fear there will be unrest both inside and outside the capital. I request His Majesty to issue an imperial edict ordering all the armies inside and outside the palace, as well as all the troops in the country, to be under my command, so as to protect the Emperor and stabilize the nation!"

Li Shimin paused for a moment, then beckoned to his brother-in-law, Changsun Wuji.

"Fuji, go to the capital immediately to see Wuyi and tell him that the palace has made its decision. Ask him to invite all the prime ministers to the palace to discuss important matters at Linhu Hall!"

(End of this chapter)