Second-hand time travel: Liu Bei, the big-eared bandit

Chapter 250 Where is it safe?
The armored cavalry charged to the front of the Tiger Warriors' formation, already within range of the crossbows, but no one in the Tiger Warriors' formation fired an arrow.

Bows and crossbows are strictly prohibited within Luoyang City. They are not issued to any troops unless they are used to defend Luoyang City or to fight outside the city.

(According to the Han Dynasty's "Law on Possessing Bows and Crossbows" and "Law on Stables": In the absence of external war, the imperial guards were not to be equipped with bows and crossbows. Weapons were to be centrally managed and could not be used outside of war. Any civilian official found hiding a crossbow was to be arrested immediately. Anyone found hiding a crossbow in the imperial palace was to be executed without pardon. Anyone who used a crossbow without authorization was to be cut in half at the waist and executed in the marketplace.)
Especially after the assassination attempt on the prince, it was even less likely that the Imperial Guards would be equipped with crossbows.

Seeing Liu Bei charging towards him, Yuan Shu retreated and disappeared into the crowd.

Behind him, his elite guards, wielding halberds, lined up to meet Liu Bei.

There were only five hundred Tiger Warriors here, but they all seemed to be ready to die. They were not afraid of the armored cavalry at all, and their formation remained intact.

Upon hearing of Yue Yin's death, Liu Bei and Qian Zhao charged ahead, riding into the enemy ranks, their battle cries echoing behind them.

The warhorse overwhelmed the front ranks of the Tiger Warriors and, propelled by its momentum, charged forward another ten paces before being stopped by the Tiger Warriors.

The area outside the palace gate is spacious, but the palace gate itself has a U-shaped structure, with protrusions on both sides forming passageways. To the west is the Imperial Guard Camp, and to the east is the Yellow Gate of the Northern Palace.

Five hundred fierce warriors blocked the passage, making it completely impassable.

Cavalry cannot effectively maneuver in such a place, and the confined space is not suitable for using lances.

Liu Bei and Qian Zhao crashed in purely by the force of their horses. After being stopped, the two simultaneously dismounted and became armored warriors, slashing left and right with their swords.

The armored cavalry in the front row followed suit, charging into the enemy formation and joining Liu Bei in foot combat within the Tiger Warriors' ranks.

The armored cavalry were extremely well-equipped, and even when dismounted they were heavily armed infantry. The opposing Tiger Warriors were also fully armored. When the two sides clashed, the armor plates rattled and sparks flew from the armor plates from time to time.

In reality, the killing efficiency is very low in this situation. The front-line Tiger Warriors who were knocked over by the horses are probably in a worse state—they have already been trampled underfoot by the advancing troops.

Both sides were squeezed together, making it difficult for most to maneuver, except for Zhao Yun, who had few people around him.

The enemies in front of Zhao Yun had all fallen; his efficiency was so high that even the Tiger Warriors behind him dared not advance.

And none of the allied forces were actually staying with Zhao Yun.

At this moment, only Zhao Yun remained on his horse. After breaking through the fierce guards surrounding Liu Bei, he slashed down the enemy in front of him with his spear and then surveyed Yuan Shu's figure from his high vantage point.

Yuan Shu, protected by several men, retreated to the very back of the formation. He glanced at Liu Bei from afar, and then dust rose from the base of the wall of the Huangmen House on the east side of the passageway.

Yuan Shu likely set fire to the palace's eunuch quarters.

This is not the Huangmen Office. The Huangmen Office's office area is in the Southern Palace. Although it is managed by eunuchs, most of the officials in the Southern Palace Huangmen Office are scholars, such as the Huangmen Attendant.

The Huangmen House on the North Palace side is a subordinate agency of the Huangmen Department, roughly equivalent to the property management office and staff dormitory of the North Palace. The Imperial Physician's House stationed in the North Palace is also located here.

The smoke and dust gradually grew larger, rising along the palace walls and looking like a gray-black curtain.

Yuan Shu also disappeared into the smoke.

The sounds of fighting clearly shook the palace. Someone peeked out from the palace wall, but was quickly obscured by the smoke.

The person who showed his face was Zhang Feng.

Liu Bei was engrossed in the battle and didn't see Zhang Feng, but Zhang Feng did get a clear look at Liu Bei's troops.

He was indeed quite familiar with Liu Bei's troops.

"Ahem... Liu Bei's troops are outside, presumably there for his teacher, Mr. Yue..."

Zhang Feng coughed as he spoke to Zhang Rang.

"With Doctor Yue having just passed away, how could Liu Bei have entered Luoyang so quickly?"

Zhang Rang pondered for a moment: "Distribute weapons to the eunuchs..."

"Father... Zhang Changshi, the Emperor has already left a will. Should we really disobey it?"

Zhang Feng said uneasily, "Don't talk nonsense... there's no such thing as a will!"

Zhang Rang looked around and whispered, "If Marquis Shi succeeds to the throne, we will be imperial relatives; if Marquis Dong succeeds to the throne, who will we be? Liu Bei and Marquis Dong are already fellow disciples. His master died protecting Marquis Dong, so Liu Bei will definitely support Marquis Dong!"

"But it seems we can't stop Liu Bei from entering the palace!"

Zhang Feng was still somewhat aware of the situation. With the current Tiger Warriors outside the North Palace, plus the few eunuchs inside the palace, it would be difficult to stop Liu Bei's troops.

Moreover, Liu Bei didn't abide by any palace regulations; he rode his horse into the city, clearly showing he didn't care about unleashing a massacre.

"...Then let's send His Majesty to the Southern Palace first! Let's go!"

Zhang Rang and his group of eunuchs turned and left.

After the emperor fell seriously ill, he did not stay in the West Garden, but instead recuperated in the North Palace. Moreover, he did not stay in the Zhangde Hall, but in the Yongle Palace—Liu Hong only dared to trust the Empress Dowager, and he wanted to see Liu Xie more in his final moments.

The North Palace was the living quarters of the imperial harem, while the South Palace was the emperor's administrative area. The two palaces were connected by three elevated walkways, which were pedestrian bridges.

Upon arriving at Yongle Palace, Zhang Rang lowered his head and gritted his teeth, probably making a decision for himself, before quickly entering the palace.

"Your Majesty, I, Zhang Rang, report that Liu Bei, the governor of Qingzhou, is plotting a rebellion and is currently leading his troops to attack the North Palace. He has already set fire to the palace gates. Please seek refuge in the South Palace immediately..."

Upon meeting Empress Dowager Dong, Zhang Rang began to 'cry and complain'.

"Liu Bei? Wasn't it said that He Miao was causing trouble? How come Liu Bei has appeared now?"

Empress Dowager Dong looked exhausted, clearly having not slept all night. She had barely finished speaking when she realized, "Liu Bei! It's that traitor..."

At this point, the Empress Dowager was already gritting her teeth, clearly thinking of Dong Zhong, who was killed by He Jin because of Liu Bei's troublemaking.

"Master Yue was Liu Bei's teacher. Now that Master Yue is dead, Liu Bei has no more scruples. Moreover, he is a member of the imperial clan, so he must be planning to establish himself as emperor... Empress Dowager, please take His Majesty and Marquis Dong to the Southern Palace for temporary refuge!"

Seeing that the Empress Dowager seemed to harbor resentment towards Liu Bei, Zhang Rang suppressed the sorrowful expression on his face and urged her on.

"...Go and fetch Lord Dong immediately!"

The Empress Dowager hurried into the main hall, where the Emperor was lying ill, but she did not see Liu Xie.

"Lord Dong? Xie'er? Come out quickly..."

The Empress Dowager entered the palace to search for him, only to find Liu Xie at the entrance of a side hall, his clothes stained with blood.

Inside the side hall lies the remains of Yue Yin.

The two halberds had been taken out and placed beside Yue Yin.

"Quickly change your clothes and come with me... It's dangerous here."

The Empress Dowager felt that Liu Xie's appearance was too conspicuous and planned to have him change into the clothes of a minor eunuch to avoid any unforeseen circumstances.

But Liu Xie shook his head: "This is the blood of Doctor Yue... it should not be discarded."

Empress Dowager Dong was reaching out to take Liu Xie's hand when she heard this and her hand trembled violently: "...Then let's not change. Let's leave quickly. It's not safe here."

"Where are you going?"

Liu Xie looked at the Empress Dowager: "If this place isn't safe... then is it safe elsewhere?"

The Empress Dowager remained silent, looked at Liu Xie, sighed, and turned to instruct the palace servants: "Take Lord Dong away..."

Liu Xie was picked up by a palace servant, and he did not struggle, but his eyes were fixed on the corpse of Yue Yin in the side hall.

(End of this chapter)