The rebellious grandson of Emperor Zhenguan of the Tang Dynasty: Please, Your Majesty, be called Cro

Chapter 142 Breaking Through Two Gates in Succession, Li Tai's Military Counseling!

Prince Li Tai of Wei lay prone on his horse, his back already soaked with cold sweat, the night wind brushing against his skin, sending chills down his spine.

Having just passed through Anfu Gate, a perilous journey, he couldn't suppress the surge of joy in his heart at the thought that he had already entered the heart of the imperial city.

"Your Highness, what do you think of my plan?" Zheng Renze, standing beside Li Tai, pulled on the reins, slowing the pace to ride alongside him, his tone full of smug satisfaction.

"Using the pretext of the deposed crown prince plotting a rebellion in the east of the city, we can enter the imperial city from the west; no one will stop us!"

"Yes, after this great undertaking is accomplished, Lord Zheng will become the prime minister." Li Tai was also excited and promised Zheng Renzhe.

"Thank you, Your Highness!" Zheng Renze's smile deepened.

"After passing Anfu Gate, the next step is Yong'an Gate." He raised his hand and pointed to the wide east-west street in front of him, his eyes gleaming.

"Behind the gate lies the Secretariat's administrative hall. I've planted an informant inside. Once we capture Yong'an Gate, we can advance directly into the Taiji Palace from the administrative hall, and our grand plan will succeed!"

Zheng Renze laughed heartily, his brows furrowed with pride. The entire plan for this military remonstrance was his doing. Having been frustrated for so long, he was now pleased with himself for first instigating the King of Wei to stage a military remonstrance and then acting according to his plan, which had gone smoothly all the way.

Everyone knows that the Tang Dynasty's imperial city is heavily fortified, and the best way to directly attack the imperial residence is through the Xuanwu Gate on the north side.

Xuanwu Gate is located at the northern end of the imperial city. Once the gate is breached, one can directly enter the royal inner garden and get close to the emperor's residence. It is the shortest route and the fastest way to achieve results.

The Xuanwu Gate Incident more than ten years ago was a pivotal event in which the current emperor seized power by using this northern passage.

Because he had personally experienced that bloody palace coup, Li Shimin was extremely vigilant about Xuanwu Gate. Elite troops from the Left and Right Imperial Guards were stationed year-round outside the gate in the western inner garden, and the palace gate was surrounded by heavy troops.

Furthermore, General Li Junxian, the Left Martial Marquis, personally led a battalion of elite troops to be stationed here, taking turns on duty day and night, and patrolling constantly.

The entire Xuanwu Gate was fortified like an iron barrel, making it difficult even for birds to pass through. The shortcut on the north side had long been completely blocked, making a surprise attack impossible.

On the other hand, the path to the south of the imperial city is winding and complex. At first glance, there seems to be no flaw at all.

To enter the city from the west, one must first pass through two city walls and gates, then through the area of ​​the Secretariat and the government office, and then through several palace gates before arriving at the Taiji Palace.

Once inside the palace, one must traverse numerous halls before finally arriving at the Ganlu Hall, the emperor's sleeping quarters.

Along the way, city gates of all sizes were scattered like stars in the sky. The main gates were often guarded by hundreds of soldiers, while the side gates were guarded by dozens of elite troops.

If anything unusual happens anywhere, the sounds of clappers and horns will instantly spread throughout the entire area, and the palace guards will surround the area from all sides, blocking it layer by layer.

Ordinary troops are simply not enough to force their way through each level.

But Zheng Ren chose the southern route, which seemed to be the most difficult to take, for Li Tai.

Firstly, the emperor's mind was entirely focused on guarding Xuanwu Gate, and the other gates on the south side had never been the focus of defense. Over time, the guards became lax and the morale of the troops dropped.

Whether it's bribing secretly or deceiving under false pretenses, it's much easier than at the North Gate;

Secondly, the identity of Prince Wei, Li Tai, was his greatest protection.

He was His Majesty's most favored prince, and everyone in the court and the country regarded him as the crown prince and the future monarch of the Tang Dynasty.

Ordinary gatekeepers dare not offend them easily, let alone obstruct them without authorization; this is a natural advantage that others cannot obtain.

The first gate might be a bit difficult. But the guard of the first gate is Wei Shizhong, a member of the Wei family of Jingzhao.

Wei Ting, the head of the Wei family, is now a loyalist to the King of Wei. Although this old fox may not be willing to support the King of Wei's military remonstrance.

However, by pretending to be Wei Ting and sending him a letter, Wei Shizhong did not have enough time to verify its authenticity.

If Wei Shizhong lets the first gate pass, the guards at the second and third gates will be more likely to believe: "The first gate has already been opened, so why should I doubt it?"

Moreover, relying on Prince Wei Li Tai's status, coupled with the chaos in Longqing Ward in the east of the city, the lie that "the deposed crown prince plotted a rebellion and His Highness Prince Wei entered the palace to protect him" was enough to make it seem incredibly real.

Once you get through the two largest city gates, Anfu Gate and Yong'an Gate, what's there to worry about in opening the remaining small gates inside the palace, which are guarded by only a dozen or so people?

Hundreds of riders moved silently along the main street in front of the palace, their footsteps echoing on the cobblestones. The soft clatter of armor against armor and the muffled thud of horses' hooves disappeared into the deep night.

The group dared not speak loudly, everyone held their breath and focused their attention on the majestic Yong'an Gate, the palace gate tower at the eastern end of the cross street.

"Open the gates quickly! The deposed crown prince is causing trouble in Longqing Ward in the east of the city. We are under orders from the Right General of the Martial Guard to relieve the garrison at the palace!"

"The King of Wei is here! The deposed crown prince has rebelled again outside the city, and the King of Wei wishes to enter the palace to attend to His Majesty! Open the city gates immediately!"

Following the same procedure as at Anfu Gate, at Yong'an Gate, Li Tai looked at the hesitant gatekeepers on the city wall and felt his heart pounding wildly in his chest.

Passing through this palace gate, one arrives at the Taiji Palace, where the emperor held court, and the Ganlu Hall, where the emperor resided.

The emperor, that supreme position, is already beckoning to him!

"This—Your Highness, Prince Wei—" On the city tower, the general guarding the gate hesitated, peeking out with difficulty: "Your Highness, please allow me to report that, according to regulations, without His Majesty's personal edict, the city gate must not be opened without permission—"

"This humble general is of lowly status and dares not disobey orders—"

"You scoundrel, how dare you look down on me?" Li Tai stepped forward and said.

"I am the King of Wei. I have already allowed passage through Anfu Gate, so why can't you?"

"If the deposed Crown Prince Chengqian leads the remaining rebels to attack Xuanwu Gate, what imperial decree will Father issue? If this jeopardizes the entire operation, how will you bear the responsibility!"

"What, are you implying that I'm rebelling?"

The goalkeeper shrank back, hesitated, but ultimately opened the Yong'an Gate for Li Tai.

Meanwhile, in the inner court of Taiji Palace, on a high platform in the North Garden.

The night wind was fierce, fluttering the hem of the Emperor's plain brocade robe. Li Shimin stood beside the stone railing of the high platform, surrounded by no eunuchs or attendants, only Wang De by his side.

Li Shimin held a long, rectangular telescope in his hand—the very telescope Li Xiang had crafted for Fang Yi'ai. He peered through the telescope toward Longqing Ward and saw that the fiery inferno in the east had gradually died down; the scene of black smoke billowing into the night sky was no longer visible.

"Hmm, it seems Qiu Xinggong has already gone to provide assistance," Li Shimin said. "Presumably, the fire is no longer a problem."

"Even in the dead of night, Your Majesty is still concerned for the people, ascending the platform to gaze upon the land. You are truly a wise ruler for all ages," Wang De said, stepping forward to straighten Li Shimin's cloak. "But Your Majesty, you should still take care of your health."

"I am fine. I just had a sleepless night," Li Shimin said.

His heart was filled with worries. The imperial examinations and the selection of an heir were both pressing concerns. He spent a sleepless night.

Hearing that Longqingfang was on fire, and thinking of his eldest son, he decided to bring a lookout tube up to take a look.

Seeing that the fire was under control, he felt a little relieved.

These days, he has been truly restless. Whenever he closes his eyes, he either thinks of Li Xiang's curse or Li Tai's words about killing his son and passing the torch to his brother.

When a fire suddenly broke out in Longqing Ward tonight, he immediately became suspicious, even wondering if Li Tai had secretly orchestrated it. Now that the fire has gradually died down, he finally suppressed the lingering resentment in his heart.

"Now that the fire has died down, it must have been just an accident," Li Shimin thought to himself.

"I was overthinking it. I shouldn't have thought of Qingque that way."

Li Shimin exhaled a slight breath of the cold night air, his wrist drooping slightly, as if he were about to put down the telescope in his hand and step down from the stage.

But before the telescope had fully descended, the superior view shifted westward, sweeping across the wide street in front of the palace, and suddenly passing over the Yong'an Gate and the courtyard of the government offices to the west.

Li Shimin suddenly exclaimed "Eh!" and quickly raised the telescope again to observe carefully.

"Your Majesty? What's wrong?" Wang De asked in confusion.

"—There are soldiers in the Hall of State Affairs."

Li Shimin's voice suddenly turned cold.

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