Zhutian: Starting from the Space-Time Merchant

Chapter 396: Falling Cup as a Number
"Gao Huaide, you will lead your troops to storm the imperial city at 5 PM."

"Han Lingkun, you will lead your troops to seal off Bianjing City at 1:15 PM."

"Murong Yanzhao, lead your troops out of the city and take over the military camps outside the city."

"Zhao Kuangyi, you lead three hundred axemen and lie in ambush inside the mansion. When I smash the cup as a signal, enter immediately!"

With a solemn expression, Zhao Kuangyin instructed his trusted men, "You must act with utmost care and decisiveness, without hesitation!"

Everyone bowed in unison, "We obey!"

Zhao Kuangyin hosted a banquet for the civil and military officials in the city, taking advantage of the time gap before news from the south arrived to gain control of Bianliang.

Historically, when he donned the yellow robe, he already controlled most of the imperial guards.

Naturally, a scene of "It's cold, put on another layer of clothing" could be staged.

But things are different now. In Bianliang, only the majority of the Imperial Guards, the Crane Control Army, are under his control.

In addition, there were Lin Dao's Iron Cavalry, Fu Yanqing's Shu Army, Li Chongjin's City Garrison, and Han Tong's Palace Guards.

And there's also Zhang Yongde, who is the nominal leader of everyone.

In this situation, the idea of ​​adding a layer of clothing when it gets cold naturally won't work.

He had only one option: to gather everyone together and capture them all at once.

This unexpected banquet invitation aroused suspicion among many people.

After all, no one made an appointment in advance, and the event was on such a large scale, so everyone was worried.

Zhu Wen did this before: he would invite people to drink until they were drunk, and then send troops to launch a surprise attack.

After that, incidents of using banquets as a pretext for fighting and framing people became increasingly common.

Fortunately, after learning that Lin Dao readily accepted the invitation, everyone relaxed their guard and most people accepted the invitation.

As the sun set, countless candles were lit in Zhao Kuangyin's mansion, making the vast hall as bright as day.

One by one, the invited civil and military officials entered the mansion to attend the banquet.

"Brother Zangyong."

Zhao Er found Gao Huaide, who was about to leave, and whispered, "My brother has something to say."

Gao Huaide immediately bowed his head and said, "Please speak."

"The emperor's youngest son is ultimately a problem."

"Han Tong didn't attend the banquet either."

"Please consider this carefully, Brother Zangyong."

The words were somewhat veiled, but Gao Huaide understood perfectly.

This is to get him to kill Chai Zongxun and Han Tong!
There is no doubt that murdering a young master is a crime deserving of infamy.

"Brother Zangyong," Zhao Er said again in a low voice, "my brother said that he would treat you well after the matter is accomplished!"

Someone always has to bear the blame.

Moreover, in this inhumane world, what does mere infamy matter?

Gao Huaide nodded heavily, turned around, mounted his horse, and went to mobilize troops.

Watching his departing figure, Zhao Er laughed heartily.

This was also due to the urgency of the situation. Zhao Kuangyin did not consider things carefully and did not explain to Gao Huaide and others that Chai Zongxun could not be killed for the time being. He should hold the emperor hostage to command the princes for a period of time, and only after the situation in various places was stabilized could he be dealt with in another way.

Zhao Er, without stopping, hurriedly went to find Han Lingkun.

"Brother Deshun."

"My brother has something to say."

"That Li Chongjin is a powerful general who is related to the empress and controls the city's garrison troops. He will certainly not submit and should be dealt with decisively!"

Han Lingkun had no doubts whatsoever. He responded and rode away to mobilize his troops.

Zhao Er, whose eyes were red, had another nosebleed.

His prolonged close contact with high levels of radiation, coupled with various other stimuli, has damaged his mind.

Unable to think calmly, Zhao Er had only one thought in his mind: he would do anything to achieve his wish!
Even if gods and Buddhas try to stop us, we will still kill them!
Wiping away the blood from his nose, Zhao Er, his eyes red, rushed to the hiding place of the axemen.

Inside the hall, the sounds of string and wind instruments filled the air, and dancers gracefully performed.

The civil and military officials toasted each other, their laughter and chatter creating a lively atmosphere.

Lin Dao sat next to Fu Yanqing, drinking and laughing with him.

“Second Aunt went home a few days ago.” Fu Yanqing, holding a wine cup, said with a smile, “She said that there isn’t a single temple in or around Bianliang City where people pray for children. She wanted to pray for a child, but she didn’t know where to go.”

Temples are not to be trusted.

Lin Dao shook his head in response, "Especially those temples that claim to offer children."

“There are often cases where people use the pretext of seeking Buddhist guidance to deceive respectable women into committing acts of humiliation in quiet rooms.”

"To preserve their reputation, no one dared to speak out."

"Those who conceive as a result only enhance the reputation of temples for seeking children, leading to more people being harmed."

"Those who pray for a child should worship their husbands, not any gods or Buddhas."

Fu Yanqing smiled awkwardly.

He originally wanted to talk about Lin Dao's offspring, since his second wife had been married to him for some time, but there was no sign of pregnancy.

Military generals like them could die on the battlefield at any time.

Therefore, leaving offspring is an extremely important matter.

Unexpectedly, Lin Dao took the opportunity to criticize the sordid affairs of Buddhism.

Fu Yanqing was also helpless. Lin Dao was so disgusted with Buddhism. He didn't know how Buddhism had offended him.

As the two were chatting and laughing, the music in the hall suddenly stopped, and all the dancers left.

Everyone was puzzled and looked at Zhao Kuangyin, who was in the main seat.

Zhao Kuangyin, who was holding a wine cup, stood up with a solemn expression.

"Gentlemen, I have received news."

"His Majesty is on the banks of the Huai River~"

"~~~"

When Chai Rong's unfortunate events were recounted, everyone was astonished.

The emperor was defeated, and his fate remains unknown.

"His Majesty has ordered my foolish younger brother to return and convey his decree, appointing me as Privy Councilor in charge of all the armies, and the Chancellor in charge of government affairs, to jointly assist the young emperor."

These words caused an uproar among everyone.

"I knew it! There's no such thing as a pleasant banquet!"

Zhang Yongde laughed angrily, "You little rascal, you've got some serious ambition!"

"What makes you think you can command all the armies?!"

Zhao Kuangyin glanced at Lin Dao, who was drinking with his head down, and Fu Yanqing, who was sitting silently.

He slowly raised his hand. "Just for this!" With that, he suddenly smashed the wine glass in his hand onto the ground.

The next moment, the clanging sound of armor resounded from outside.

A large number of armored soldiers surged in and surrounded the hall.

Zhao Er personally led dozens of armored soldiers into the hall.

Seeing the sharp blades in the hands of the armored soldiers, all the civil and military officials who had been invited complained bitterly.

This is truly a banquet with no good intentions; it's a trap!

"Zhao Kuangyin!"

Zhang Yongde stood up angrily, pointing a finger at Zhao Da, "You want to rebel?!"

His personality wouldn't normally allow him to stand out so easily.

The problem is that he is Chai Rong's brother-in-law, a member of the imperial family, and currently the commander of the army.

Once Zhao Da gains power, Zhang Yongde will definitely not have a good ending.

Even if you comply at this point, the result will be the same.

Since that's the case, it's better to take the lead in the resistance. If we can get support from Lin Dao and others, things might turn around.

Before Zhang Yongde could say anything, he heard hurried footsteps beside him.

He subconsciously turned his head to look, only to see a cold, sharp blade of light whistling towards him.

Crimson blood spurted several feet.
Everyone in the hall frowned.

Shaking off the bloodstains from his weapon, Zhao Er looked around, his eyes filled with disdain.

Fu Yanqing stared at Lin Dao, wanting to see what he had in mind.

After all, both of them were military commanders; one was Chai Rong's brother-in-law, and the other was Chai Rong's father-in-law.

Zhao Da plotted a rebellion and would certainly not let them go.

What puzzled Fu Yanqing was that Lin Dao acted as if nothing had happened, drinking wine and eating mutton with his chopsticks.

'So composed?'

The sight of blood made the atmosphere in the hall even more oppressive.

At this moment, Feng Dao slowly stood up.

In an instant, everyone's eyes were on him.

This person has extremely high prestige and an even more complex network of relationships.

It's not something that can be easily intimidated by mere threats of force.

Feng Dao asked calmly, "You say that His Majesty's dying wish was for you, Zhao Kuangyin, to command all the armies?"

"Okay, do you have any evidence?"

"We can't just say things without any basis, can we?"

Zhao Kuangyin immediately looked at his younger brother and said, "His Majesty's dying wish is documented here, and there is the imperial seal as proof."

Zhao Er took out the seal and handed it to Feng Dao for inspection.

Feng Dao naturally recognized Chai Rong's seal.

After examining it, he nodded and said, "It is indeed His Majesty's seal."

After saying this, he handed the seal over to a group of civil and military officials for inspection.

After everyone had confirmed the authenticity of the document, Feng Dao looked at Zhao Er again and asked, "Since His Majesty ordered you to bring back the last will and testament, then you should clearly explain His Majesty's last will and testament in front of all the civil and military officials!"

Zhao Er nodded, glanced around at everyone, and then spoke in a loud voice.

"His Majesty has ordered me to return to Bianliang City to convey his last will and testament, with the imperial seal as proof."

His Majesty's dying wish was...

He first glanced at Zhao Kuangyin, then looked at Lin Dao.

He took a breath before speaking.

"Feng Dao is hereby appointed as the Grand Councilor of Military and State Affairs, overseeing all government affairs!"

"Lin Dao is hereby appointed as Privy Councilor, overseeing all military affairs and commanding all departments!"

"Together, we will assist the young emperor!"

Upon hearing this, the hall fell into a brief silence, and everyone looked astonished.

Immediately, a loud bang was heard.

Zhao Kuangyin stared at his younger brother with an incredulous expression. "What did you say?!"

"I shall speak," Zhao Er said again, his face expressionless. "His Majesty appointed Lin Dao as the Privy Councilor, to command all the ministries."

"It was you who forced me to alter the will and attempted to seize power and rebel!"

The people in the hall were all talking amongst themselves, and their gazes toward Zhao Kuangyin were quite complicated.

There was sympathy, contempt, and ridicule.

He can't even handle his own brother, yet he wants to seize power?
With such mediocre skills, who would be willing to submit?
"I see."

Feng Dao exchanged a glance with Lin Dao without showing any emotion, then addressed the crowd, "Have you all heard that? Are you willing to obey His Majesty's dying wish?"

The smart ones have already sensed that something is wrong.

Even a less intelligent person knows that this is better than being held at someone's neck and coerced.

They all stood up and bowed in unison.

"I will obey His Majesty's dying wish!"

The imperial court, to put it bluntly, is just a group of people.

With the approval of the civil and military officials in the court, everything will be accomplished.

Without approval, even the emperor's edict cannot leave the palace!
Now, everyone accepts the dying wish conveyed by Zhao Er.

This means that Lin Dao and Feng Dao have become the rulers of the entire Great Zhou Dynasty.

According to the common rules of chaotic times, Lin Dao, who holds military power, is the true ruler of the world.
"Hahahahaha~~~"

Zhao Kuangyin, who had finally come to his senses after being shocked, roared angrily with red eyes.

"Have you finished performing your Southern opera?"

"All soldiers, listen to my command! Seize the traitor!"

Once he came to his senses, Zhao Kuangyin bypassed Zhao Er and gave orders to the armored soldiers; this was his true trump card.

But none of the soldiers responded to him.

It was only then that Zhao Kuangyin realized with horror that these armored soldiers were not his men at all!
Lin Dao slowly stood up and smashed the wine glass in his hand on the ground.

He casually said, "All soldiers, listen to my command and seize the traitor."

Three hundred axemen, both inside and outside the palace, shouted in unison.

"Yes, sir!!"

(End of this chapter)