mtl008 Chapter 660 Dilemma
Chapter 660 Dilemma
Liang Xiaoming nodded: "So you plan to hand over Chongzhen to Li Zicheng, let history repeat itself on Coal Hill, and then you jump out to play the savior and win people's hearts?"
“Of course, I had already thought it through on the way to Beijing, and I already told you. As for Yang Sichang…” Liu Ye snorted, “I will not let him go as long as I have the chance.”
After talking for a while, Liu Ye suddenly stopped, listened for a moment, and then said to Liang Xiaoming, "Don't you think it's much quieter tonight than usual? Something's not right..."
Liang Xiaoming laughed and said, "Is it because you were attacked in the alley that you're so scared that you're seeing enemies everywhere? This is the garrison of the Beijing Garrison, right under the emperor's nose. It's not some back alley where anyone can just pop out and hit you on the back of the head with a brick."
Liu Ye didn't laugh, but said seriously, "It's precisely because this is the Beijing Garrison's location that the surrounding area is so lively. Although many of these soldiers are sons of noble families from the capital, they don't eat or live here, and they rarely train, but they are well-paid, supporting many of the surrounding merchants. Usually, this time of year is bustling and noisy, but today it seems like they've all collectively agreed to close up shop, which is a bit unusual..."
Now that you mention it, it does seem to be true...
“Although the Shenji Battalion has cleared space for us, there are still the right and left outposts of the Five Armies Battalion (Note 1) and the steward battalion of the Shenshu Battalion in the main camp. It’s not convenient for us to openly deploy sentries on their territory…” Liu Ye stood up. “We were a bit too arrogant. It’s inconvenient to deploy open sentries, but it would be better to set up a few hidden sentries. If Chongzhen and Yang Sichang have a mental breakdown and decide to attack us, we’ll probably suffer a great loss. I’d better go out and take a look…”
Liu Ye went outside and ordered, "Someone, call Lin San and Qin Tian here, and send a few quick-witted men from each of them to look around..."
Liang Xiaoming comforted him, "Perhaps you're overthinking it. There are still several units of the Beijing Garrison in the main camp, numbering several thousand. If they really wanted to use dirty tricks, would they wipe out their own people as well? I don't believe they could do that."
Liu Ye sneered: "I wish I were being too sensitive. But you should never underestimate the cunning of politicians. Political struggles are a matter of life or death, and a few thousand Beijing garrison soldiers cannot be our shield..."
Two miles from the camp gate, a large contingent of soldiers stood ready, with over a dozen cannons already set up and hundreds of breech-loading cannons densely packed together—although the breech-loading cannons couldn't fire that far, they still added to the imposing presence. This was only the frontal blockade; the other directions had just as many cannons.
The deputy commander of the Shenji Battalion, who was in charge of the entire operation, was surnamed Fu and came from a long-established noble family. In recent years, the Beijing garrison had hardly fought any battles, and this was the first time he had commanded such an important operation. He was inevitably a little nervous and paced back and forth, waiting for the time to open fire.
A guard nearby whispered, "Sir, are we really going to fire when the time comes? There are still several thousand men from the Five Armies Battalion and the Divine Pivot Battalion inside. If we blow them all up, our Divine Machine Battalion will be the talk of the town..."
Deputy General Fu replied irritably, "What can I do? This is an order from the palace. I'm the one who's been wronged."
Just then, a commotion arose from behind. Fu, who was already in a bad mood, found a way to vent his anger and hissed, "Who's making a scene? If they alert the other side, I'll chop you down first!"
Several soldiers rushed over in a panic and reported: "Sir, someone claiming to be from the palace wants to cross over here, and no matter how we try to persuade him, he won't listen..."
"From the palace?" Deputy General Fu felt a chill run down his spine. Why was it that the very thing he feared most was happening? He adjusted his helmet, straightened it, and said, "Let's go, let's go see which deity is behind this."
He led a few trusted men through the crowd of soldiers, where swords and spears were poised to strike. Seeing a sedan chair trying to push its way forward despite the soldiers' warnings, he quickly approached and asked, "May I ask who you are? We can't go any further. We are just following orders, please understand..."
The sedan chair stopped, and a slender arm emerged from the side curtain, offering a piece of paper and waving it, as if to show it to him.
Deputy General Fu stepped forward, carefully took the torch, and had his men hold it closer. After a careful look, he was greatly surprised and immediately knelt down, respectfully greeting Princess Kunxing: "Your subject, Deputy General Fu Ankang of the Divine Machine Battalion, greets Princess Kunxing."
When the soldiers behind him saw their commander kneel down, they also knelt down in unison.
Fu Ankang wasn't intimidated by the princess's status, but by the document itself. It clearly stated, "Seeing this edict is like seeing the Emperor," and was signed with the Emperor's name. Although it lacked an imperial seal, Fu Ankang didn't dare question its authenticity.
A clear voice came from inside: "Did you see clearly? If you see clearly, let me pass."
"But……"
Do you want me to ask my father to punish you?
Fu Ankang was sweating profusely. After a struggle with his thoughts, he decided there was no need to resist and had no choice but to order his troops to make way.
After the sedan chair entered the encirclement, the subordinate next to him asked, "Sir, what should we do now? Should we fire the cannon or not?"
"I fucking know what to do?" Fu Ankang roared in a low voice. After pacing anxiously back and forth a few times, he ordered, "Quickly send someone to the palace to report. This is a matter of great importance, and I cannot make the decision on my own."
Under the cover of night, the sedan chair passed through the blockade and sped into the military camp.
"What? The army has completely surrounded this place and set up hundreds of cannons of various sizes?"
Liu Ye was shocked and slammed his fist on the table.
Liang Xiaoming, Yan Guang, and the others standing nearby turned pale. The military camp was only a few miles in circumference; with hundreds of cannons aiming at it, the entire camp would likely be razed to the ground.
Qin Tian slammed his fist on the table in frustration. "The general's premonition was right. Our men were just sent out and haven't returned yet. If we wait for their news, it may be too late."
“It’s too late now.” Liu Ye regained his composure. “We are surrounded not only by the Shenji Battalion, but also by the main forces of the Five Armies Battalion and the Shenshu Battalion. Their numbers are several times, even ten times, ours. In this pitch black, we can’t even see the direction to break through. We don’t have any artillery to fight back. Our chances of survival are slim.”
Zhu Meichu said anxiously, "So, you'd better come with me quickly. The old man told me that they're looking to arrest a wanted criminal for treason, not you. You'll be safe as long as you come out with me."
Time was of the essence, and Liu Ye had no time to ask Zhu Meichu why she had come to rescue him. He shook his head after hearing her words: "Princess, your father wants to kill me, not someone else. I will not go with you like this. Let alone whether you can take me out under the noses of tens of thousands of troops, even if we can escape, what will happen to my men? Are you going to leave them all here to die under the cannons just so I can survive?"
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Note 1: The Beijing Garrison consisted of three major battalions: the Five Armies Battalion, the Divine Pivot Battalion, and the Divine Machine Battalion.