Red Mansion: After being expelled from the family, I was granted the title of Marquis of Mobei

Chapter 141 The golden cicada escapes from its shell
Two hours later, everyone in the hall was staggering and slumped over. A group of Western Navy generals were already completely drunk and were being led back to their rooms to rest by their personal guards.

As the saying goes, what the superiors do, the subordinates will follow suit. Since the commanders and generals were like this, the Western Navy's army was naturally no better.

At this time, the Western Navy troops were also in groups of three or five, drinking and making merry in the city, and some even started looting.

After all, in ancient times, it was customary not to sheathe one's sword for three days after a city fell, and the loot belonged to the soldiers, which was quite common.

Some might argue that Mirror City is a city of the Great Zhou Dynasty, and its inhabitants are all citizens of the Great Zhou Dynasty, so how could this be?

Little did they know that there was an ancient saying that described armies: "Bandits pass by like a comb, soldiers pass by like a fine brush."

The meaning is obvious: bandits robbed people like combs, and some would escape unscathed.

However, the army's looting was like sifting through a sieve; basically no one escaped.

This is the quality of ancient armies.

This is precisely why Yue Fei's army, which would rather freeze to death than dismantle houses and starve to death than plunder, was so unique and had such high combat effectiveness.

Military combat effectiveness and strict military discipline are two sides of the same coin; without military discipline, there is no combat effectiveness.

Time flies, and before we knew it, it was late at night.

After a day of indulgence, the soldiers of the Western Navy stationed in Mingjing City were all drowsy and sleepy. Even the soldiers on duty were dozing off.

Just as the defenses of Mingjing City were nearly empty, more than two thousand armored Western Sea barbarians emerged from the city's tunnels and quietly made their way towards the two city towers on the east and west sides.

After the Western Sea barbarians reached the city walls, a massacre ensued.

The Western Navy guards on the city walls were mostly fast asleep, not taking the city's defenses seriously at all.

After all, in their eyes, the Western Sea Barbarians should only flee in panic when they see them, how could they possibly have the guts to attack the city?

However, things are just that magical.

The arrogance and conceit of the Western Navy doomed them to a tragic end.

A moment later, the city wall fell into dead silence.

The soldiers guarding the city tower died in their sleep, completely unaware of what was happening. Even though some of them were awakened, it was to no avail.

After the city gates were taken over by the Western Sea Barbarians, they quickly opened the two city gates and then sent a signal to the outside world with torches from the city walls.

Before long, tens of thousands of Western Sea barbarians who had been lying in ambush outside the city easily entered Mingjing City.

What followed turned into a one-sided massacre.

Although there are seventy or eighty thousand Western Navy soldiers in the city, no one sleeps in armor.

Those familiar with armor know that it takes at least fifteen minutes to put it on properly.

In addition, the Western Navy in the city had indulged themselves all day and were sleeping like dead pigs.

The Western Navy's commanders were also completely drunk, which left the Western Navy's vanguard leaderless. Faced with the Western Sea barbarians' surprise attack, no commander was able to step forward to issue orders and rally the troops.

In contrast, the Western Sea barbarians were all fully armed and well-rested.

In an instant, the city was transformed into a battlefield of carnage.

The barbarians from the Western Sea ravaged the city, and no one could control them. Mingjing City was like a living hell, with corpses everywhere and cries of agony echoing across the land.

Two hours later, the night raid came to an end.

The High Priest of the Western Sea, Shamituo, led his army to the residence where the Duke of Nan'an was staying and surrounded it.

It is worth mentioning that even after he became a prisoner and was carried to the novice monk's place, the Duke of Nan'an was still hungover and did not react at all.

Shami looked at the Duke of Nan'an in front of him and couldn't help but smile and say.

"If all the generals of the Great Zhou are such fools, let alone the small Western Sea, it wouldn't be difficult for the various tribes of the Western Sea to take over the Central Plains."

A tribal chief standing nearby said with a smile.

"The High Priest's strategy is truly masterful. Our army annihilated the Western Navy's vanguard without lifting a finger. It's incredibly satisfying."

"This Central Plains is the seat of the Great Zhou Emperor, so why can't the High Priest sit on it?"

Although Shamito was pleased with these words, he was still very aware of his own limitations.

Shamito waved his hand and said.

"Our Western Sea has a population of only a million and an army of only a little over 100,000. Compared with the Great Zhou, we are vastly different in size. It is already very good that we can occupy the Western Sea."

"Alright, let's not talk about this anymore. Look, this good-for-nothing is sleeping so soundly. Someone, help him cool off."

"Yes."

At the novice monk's command, a guard quickly brought over a bucket of well water.

Then a bucket of well water was poured on the Duke of Nan'an.

The Duke of Nan'an was instantly jolted awake by the cold water, his whole body shivering.

"Who, who?"

After sitting up, the Duke of Nan'an was stunned by what he saw. He rubbed his eyes, yawned, and said...

"Oh, it was just a dream. What kind of dream is this? To dream about these wild men from the Western Sea? How disappointing."

Seeing this, Shami Tuo couldn't help but smile, then flicked his whip, leaving a red mark on the face of the Duke of Nan'an.

"Hey, you bastard, how dare you hit me? Do you know who I am?"

Shami Tuo smiled calmly and said.

"You think you're dreaming, you idiot."

"Wake up, you are now a prisoner of my Western Sea Tribe."

"It's probably no use trying to show off your power as the Duke of Nan'an here."

The Duke of Nan'an finally came to his senses and looked at Shamituo with a look of horror.

"Impossible, impossible, how could you possibly breach Mingjing City?"

"Shami said disdainfully."

"It is because of a foolish commander like you that we were able to break through Mingjing City."

"By the way, Duke of Nan'an, I must thank you for your military equipment. I must say, the craftsmen of the Great Zhou are truly remarkable. The armor and weapons they produce are far superior to those of the various tribes of the Western Sea."

"Come on, take him away and lock him up."

"Yes."

After dealing with the Duke of Nan'an, Shamituo immediately summoned the leaders of the various tribes in the Western Sea and discussed overnight how to continue the war and negotiations with the Great Zhou.

At midnight, the Divine Capital Palace was filled with a chilling atmosphere.

At the palace gate, Consort Yue was dressed in full armor, her usual elegance transformed into a murderous aura.

Consort Yue was a daughter of a military family, with superb martial arts skills, even surpassing those of Marquis Yue.

The young Yuehou, standing to the side, remarked with great emotion.

"Your Majesty, it's been four years since you last wore this armor."

Concubine Yue nodded slightly and said.

"The last time I wore this armor was when His Majesty launched a coup, and I was in the Prince's Palace leading the guards to protect the palace."

"I never expected things to turn out this way. Life is truly unpredictable."

Prince Zhongshun listened calmly to the words of Consort Yue and her brother.

"Alright, the initial plan has been successful. Now is not the time for you two siblings to chat. Let's get started."

Consort Yue spoke with a sharp gaze.

"I have been waiting for this day for a long time."

"Next, we'll split into three groups. Prince Zhongshun will lead three thousand men straight to Kunning Palace and kill that vile Empress."

"Marquis Xiaoyue led five thousand men to the Wenhua Hall and immediately executed the Crown Prince."

"As for me, I will leave the Qianqing Palace to you."

"Furthermore, order the three Dukes of Beijing to immediately lead three thousand men to surround Shen Congxing's residence, and spare no one, including any relatives related to the Empress." "Yes, sir."

Following Consort Yue's order, Prince Zhongshun and Marquis Xiaoyue began their operation.

At this time, the 20,000 imperial guards left in the palace were all commanded by Prince Zhongshun's former trusted generals, so they were naturally under no pressure to command them.

Not long after, the imperial city, which had been quiet for only five years, was once again engulfed in bloodshed.

Prince Zhongshun and Marquis Xiaoyue's operation went very smoothly. With the cooperation of the Imperial Guards, the two easily stormed into Kunning Palace and Wenhua Hall.

It's a pity that the Empress and the Crown Prince are still dreaming about how they will settle scores with their enemies once they take power.

Now, however, he can only helplessly become a victim of the knife.

After Prince Zhongshun and Marquis Xiaoyue succeeded, they led their troops to Qianqing Palace to aid Consort Yue.

However, what they didn't know was that Consort Yue was standing in the Qianqing Palace, her face pale.

The vast Qianqing Palace was empty. On the dragon's desk lay a head, the owner of which was none other than Xia Shouzhong, the chief eunuch of the six palaces.

Next to the head, there was a letter.

Upon seeing Xia Shouzhong's murder, Consort Yue immediately sensed that something terrible was about to happen.

Because Xia Shouzhong had always been Consort Yue's informant.

Previously, Jia Jue had secretly left the capital, and the news was kept very secret. Apart from Xia Shouzhong, no one would have leaked the information.

At this moment, Xia Shouzhong died, but Emperor Yongping was nowhere to be found, and Consort Yue felt a gloom rising in her heart.

Without a second thought, Consort Yue immediately opened the letter beside her.

"My beloved consort, by the time you read this letter, I will have already quietly left the palace."

"I know that the Empress and the Crown Prince have also lost their lives at your hands."

"Aren't you curious why I knew about your plot, yet still left the Empress and the Crown Prince for you to slaughter?"

"Don't worry, when I order the army to defend the capital and capture you, I will answer your questions."

"Furthermore, I would like to add that you should not assume that the throne will necessarily go to the second son just because the Crown Prince is dead."

"You know best what you've done."

"Anyone can sit on this throne, but the second son is the only one who is not fit to be emperor."

"Alright, my beloved concubine, just wait and see. The day we reunite won't be long."

"Considering our years of marriage, I advise you to end it yourself. You know that you have no chance of winning except by surprise."

After reading the letter, Consort Yue looked terrified. It was all over.

Consort Yue knew perfectly well that it was all over.

The most crucial element of this plan is to capture Emperor Yongping, so that we can use the emperor to command the feudal lords.

Just like the coup d'état launched by Emperor Yongping four years ago, he also firmly controlled the retired emperor.

Imagine if the retired emperor had fled the palace and then ordered troops from all over the country to come to his aid. With the Imperial Guards alone, it would have been impossible for Emperor Yongping to maintain firm control of the situation.

With Emperor Yongping's current prestige, if he gives an order, within ten days hundreds of thousands of troops will come to the capital to protect the emperor.

By then, Consort Yue and the others will definitely be dead without a burial place.

Just as Consort Yue collapsed to the ground, looking utterly hopeless, Marquis Xiao Yue and Prince Zhongshun arrived at the Qianqing Palace.

Upon seeing Xia Shouzhong's head on the dragon's desk and Consort Yue slumped on the ground, the two hurriedly inquired.

"Your Majesty, what... what's wrong?"

Consort Yue said, her face deathly pale.

"It's over, it's all over. His Majesty knows, His Majesty knows everything. We're doomed, and so is our son."

The two paused for a moment, then picked up the letter beside them.

After reading it, the two fell silent.

They knew that their deaths were imminent.

Time flew by, and dawn broke in the blink of an eye. In a secluded courtyard deep in the mountains outside Beijing, the British official was talking with his daughter, Zhang Guifen.

The British Duke looked at his daughter and asked.

"Fen'er, tell your father the truth, did you all already know something?"

“Yesterday, the Beijing garrison mutinied, and then you led the British government and the entire Sheng family through the tunnel to this deep mountain.”

"What exactly is going on?"

Zhang Guifen shrugged and then said.

"Dad, would you believe me if I said I didn't know what happened?"

After thinking for a moment, the British Duke said...

"Was it something that brat Jia Jue told you before he left the capital?"

Zhang Guifen nodded slightly and said.

“These were indeed arranged by my husband in advance, but he did not tell us the whole story.”

"Father, don't worry, my husband would never harm us."

The Duke of England sighed and said.

"I believe that, but right now I'm completely blind, I know nothing about the situation outside, and I don't know what will happen outside."

Just as the Duke of England was feeling sentimental, a maidservant came into the hall, bowed, and said...

"Madam, someone has arrived at the villa. They specifically requested that the Duke come to the gate to greet them."

Zhang Guifen looked shocked after hearing this.

"How is this possible? How could anyone have gotten here?"

The Duke of England waved his hand and said.

"Alright, don't think about it too much. I'll go take a look."

After saying this, the British Duke got up and headed for the door.

At this moment, a carriage was parked outside the gate of the villa. The Duke of England came to the carriage and said somewhat hesitantly.

"May I ask who you are? I am Zhang Bi, the Duke of Yingguo."

Then a voice that was all too familiar to the Duke of England came from inside the carriage.

"Old Duke, come to the carriage to talk."

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, is that you?"

The British duke suspected he was hallucinating.

Inside the carriage, Emperor Yongping spoke calmly.

"It is I, the old Duke. Come up."

"The minister obeys the order."

Upon entering the carriage, the Duke of Yingguo quickly bowed to Emperor Yongping and said...

"This old minister was unaware of Your Majesty's arrival and has failed in the proper conduct of a subject. I beg Your Majesty to punish me."

Emperor Yongping waved his hand and said.

"My old lord has made a strong statement, no courtesy."

The British Duke then said.

"Thank you, Your Majesty. By the way, Your Majesty is dressed in white dragon robes, yet you have no guards with you. Why have you come to this remote mountain? Has something happened?"

(End of this chapter)