Hearing this, Hou Junji couldn't help but shrink his eyes.
Fanglin Gate is the gateway to Yeting Palace, next to Xuanwu Gate.
Although it is not an important gate of the imperial city, it is still closely guarded by heavy troops.
Moreover, if these people from aristocratic families want him to open the Fanglin Gate, they must go to the imperial palace!
Thinking of this, Hou Junji couldn't help but remind him solemnly: "As you know, the person guarding Xuanwu Gate now is Zhang Shigui, the Duke of Guo State. Although this man is not well-known, he is also a fierce general who cannot be underestimated!
Moreover, as you are loyal to Li Tang, even if you capture Fanglin Gate and Yeting Palace, you may not be able to capture Taiji Palace!"
The two men from aristocratic families smiled lightly, "I don't need to worry Duke Chen about this matter!"
"snort!"
Hou Junji looked unhappy when he saw that people from these aristocratic families were still hiding things from him.
"I hope your secret hand will be more effective than mine, otherwise the years of planning and hundreds of years of inheritance from your family will all be in vain!"
The two aristocratic families did not dare to offend too much towards the Duke of Chen, Junji, who was in charge of the military power of the Tang Dynasty, so they quickly apologized with a smile.
"Don't misunderstand, Mr. Chen Guo. It's not that we don't believe you, but that we don't know what the family is planning! Only a few people in our family know about the secrets involving the palace guards!"
"That's it! However, I still want to remind you that since the prince, Fang Xuanling, Changsun Wuji and others have begun to doubt the army, these Japanese princes do not dare to make any move.
In fact, I am already a little suspicious. The prince is beginning to doubt me?
If you want to rely on me to capture Chang'an, do it as soon as possible!"
"Thank you very much Mr. Chen Guo for reminding me!"
Hearing this, the two aristocratic families also looked solemn.
None of them dared to look down upon Changsun Wuji and Fang Xuanling, two of Li Shimin's closest confidants.
The lights in Chen Guogong's mansion stayed on until midnight, and then slowly went out!
…
Two days later.
Li Xuan was secretly called into the East Palace by Li Chengqian.
However, this time, only two ministers, Fang Xuanling and Changsun Wuji, were present in the Xiande Hall of the East Palace.
Seeing this, Li Xuan couldn't help but have a smile on his face.
"Gao Ming, are you going to close the net?"
"Wang Shu Yingming, according to the detective report, one hundred thousand bandits came to the mountains and forests outside Chang'an City early this morning, and no bandits joined anymore!" Li Chengqian nodded in response.
"One hundred thousand?"
Hearing this, Li Xuan's eyes narrowed, "Do you know how many of those thieves are trained soldiers and how many are strong men who were recruited?"
"Back to Uncle Wang, there are at most 40,000 trained soldiers among these people!" Li Chengqian replied.
"Only 40,000?"
Li Xuan breathed a sigh of relief.
The combat prowess of the trained generals and those of the strong men brought in are not at the same level at all.
Thinking about it, Li Xuan asked subconsciously: "Does Gao Ming know where these 100,000 thieves are hiding? Or, has he already taken control of those rebellious people in the Twelve Guards Army?"
"What does Uncle Wang mean?"
Hearing this, Li Chengqian's eyes lit up and he couldn't help but look at Li Xuan expectantly.
"exactly!"
Li Xuan nodded slightly, "The best defense is to attack. Instead of waiting for the thieves to attack at night, it is better to take the initiative and use the power of thunder to go out of the city and defeat the 100,000 thieves.
In this way, I can sleep well at night. More importantly, in this way, I, Erlang Twelve Guards, can suffer fewer casualties."
"Uncle Wang is wise!"
Li Chengqian nodded and said: "Uncle Wang, don't worry. In order to cover up their tracks, the one hundred thousand bandits marched at night and rested in the woods during the day. This morning, the one hundred thousand bandits just gathered twenty miles away from Chang'an City.
in the mountains and forests.”
Li Xuan looked happy and said directly: "In this way, we can directly capture Hou Junji, Li Jing will be in charge of Chang'an, and I will directly lead an army of 50,000, 500 artillery, 2,000 bombs, and 20,000 arrow bombs.
Defeat those 100,000 thieves!"
Hesitation flashed in Li Chengqian's eyes, "Uncle Wang, that's an army of 100,000 thieves. Isn't it too little that Uncle Wang only led an army of 50,000 people?"
Li Xuan smiled disdainfully, "It's just a ragtag group of people. If it weren't for the purpose of capturing more prisoners, my king would only be able to bring an army of 30,000 people!"
"Okay, now that the plan has been decided, let's summon the twelve generals in Chang'an City. In front of all the generals, first control Hou Junji and his cronies, and give me 50,000 soldiers.
The army, don't give those rebellious people in the city a chance to resist, just kill them directly outside the city!"
"Yes, Uncle Wang!"
Li Chengqian stood up directly, slightly arching his hands towards Fang Xuanling and Changsun Wuji, "Those rebellious officials in the city who have not yet been arrested will be handed over to my uncle and the prime minister!"
After saying that, he and Li Xuan walked out.
On the side, Fang Xuanling and Changsun Wuji subconsciously raised their hands in return. After reacting immediately, they looked at each other with their mouths open, their faces full of dumbfounded expressions.
How could such a major matter be discussed so hastily?
Um?
Wait, the key point is that the prince didn't ask the two of them for their opinions this time, and they didn't even say a word?
"Hey, room minister, what is this?"
Changsun Wuji tugged at the beard under his mouth with his hands, his face full of anxiety.
"For the present, this is the only way!"
"well……"
Changsun Wuji stamped his feet again and walked out.
"In that case, let's catch those people who are eating them inside and outside first!"
"Exactly, with King Jin and Duke Wei here, maybe King Jin can defeat the 100,000 bandit army in one fell swoop!"
"..."
at the same time.
Hou Junji, who was inspecting the city defense with Li Jing, saw his confidant waving to him secretly. After returning to the military camp, he made an excuse and went to the dark place, and the confidant hurried over.
"General, something happened!"
Hou Junji's expression condensed and he asked directly: "What's the matter?"
The confidant quickly reported in a low voice: "Just an hour ago, the prince sent someone to Lijiazhuang to invite King Jin into the palace! Before that, the prime minister and the eldest grandson Sikong had also gone to the East Palace!"
"Prince Jin, Fang Xuanling, and Changsun Wuji all went to the East Palace?"
Hou Junji couldn't help but his face darkened.
After thinking for a moment, he said to his confidants: "Go back home quickly and tell them to be careful. I will return home after I am done with this matter!"
"Yes, General!"
The confidant nodded in agreement, turned around and walked out.
However, as soon as he turned around, he felt his eyes darken, and his two arms had been grabbed, making him unable to move.
"I have met His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and the King of Jin!"
Behind him, Hou Junji looked panicked and quickly bowed his hands.
“I wonder what the old minister’s personal guard did to alarm His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and the King of Jin?”
"It's no big deal!"
Li Xuan chuckled lightly and said softly: "I am just a little curious. Who are the people in your Duke Chen's mansion that you just mentioned? They can actually command you to be the Duke of the Tang Dynasty all the time.
Are you always monitoring me and the prince?"
"this?"
Hou Junji's face suddenly stiffened. Faced with Li Xuanba so directly, even if it was him, his heart couldn't help but tremble.
"After all, you are also a Duke of the Tang Dynasty, His Majesty's minister, don't you know how His Majesty treats you?"
Li Xuan sighed helplessly, "Come on, come and have a good talk in the big tent, don't let those soldiers see the joke!"
Hearing this, Hou Junji felt inexplicably relieved, and subconsciously followed Li Xuan and Li Chengqian into the tent!
And where he couldn't see, the personal guards of Chen Guogong were controlled by all the prince's guards.
Even his Duke Chen's mansion was tightly surrounded by thousands of imperial guards.
In the big tent, as soon as Hou Junji walked in, his expression changed again and he felt something was wrong.
All the generals and commanders of the Twelve Guards Army who were staying in Chang'an City gathered in the big tent.
However, in this case, he could only stand aside quietly.
"See His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, see His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin!"
All the Twelve Guards Generals saluted Li Chengqian and Li Xuan with solemn faces.
Li Chengqian returned the greeting slightly, then sat on the main seat and remained silent.
In the big tent, the atmosphere suddenly became weird.
Seeing this, Li Xuan let out a sigh.
Everyone looked at Li Xuan.
"Everyone, I have summoned you all here today because the rebellious thieves from the aristocratic families have arrived outside the city." Li Xuan said.
"What?"
"The bandits have arrived outside the city?"
"How come I don't know?"
"How dare those traitor troops come to attack Chang'an?"
"..."
All the generals and commanders looked surprised.
As for Hou Junji on the side, he looked horrified. The prince and King Jin had actually controlled the movements of the armies outside the city?
Li Xuan ignored these generals and continued: "There are a hundred thousand bandits in total, and they are gathering in the mountains and forests twenty miles outside the south city at the moment. According to the interruptions of those bandits, they should attack Chang'an tonight.
Give up the attack!"
"How brave!"
Hearing this, a black bear-like captain suddenly filled with anger, "A mere hundred thousand thieves dare to attack Chang'an of the Tang Dynasty at night. They really don't know how to live or die!"
"Please rest assured, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and King Jin, there are only a hundred thousand bandits. We will definitely keep them all under the city wall tonight!"
"Exactly. How can we, the Twelve Guardsmen, be provoked by those hundred thousand thieves?"
"..."
All the generals and commanders were filled with indignation.
Li Xuan didn't have time to wait for these generals to show their loyalty. His face darkened and he couldn't help but mocked: "Huh, a group of generals who graduated from the martial arts hall are so brainless? In the martial arts hall, I
Is this how all the generals of the Tang Dynasty taught you?"
On the side, Li Jing's face darkened, and the corners of his mouth twitched slightly.
The generals and commanders, whose faces were filled with excitement, were stunned and looked at Li Xuan blankly.
Li Xuandao: "You think that those aristocratic families are all brainless fools. With only a hundred thousand troops, they dare to attack Chang'an City of the Tang Dynasty at night. How can they not have a secret hand?"
"Is it possible that you haven't received the news that hand-thrown bombs have appeared in the rebel armies of Goguryeo and Tubo? Although the power of those hand-thrown bombs is not as powerful as the hand-thrown bombs of the Tang Dynasty, but one
If the bullets are thrown from my hand, I, Erlang, the Twelve Guards of the Tang Dynasty, will be killed and wounded several people!"
After hearing this, all the generals also calmed down.
Li Xuan continued: "Furthermore, what if, as you want, you lay ambush on the city wall at night and wait for the thieves to attack? Even if you are prepared, how many people will be killed or injured under the attack of a hundred thousand thieves?
Even if we break down a few city walls and burn down a few houses, how much damage will it cost?"
"Moreover, those aristocratic families have been preparing carefully for so long to rebel. You have never thought that if no one in the army colluded with the rebels outside the city, how could they dare to attack Chang'an City like this?"
At this time, the twelve generals could no longer bear it. The black bear-like captain who was the first to speak spoke again.
"May I ask His Highness the King of Jin, who dares to live up to the emperor's favor and rebel against our country, the Tang Dynasty?"
Li Xuan did not answer, but looked directly at the generals in the tent.
"I will give you a chance. If you stand up for yourself, I may be able to spare your life!"
All the generals and commanders couldn't help but look around with suspicious expressions on their faces.
After a few breaths, no one came forward.
Li Xuan sighed helplessly and looked at Hou Junji aside.
"Chen Guogong, you brought them to the road of rebellion. You can bring them out yourself. I will kill you, but you can let your family members go. Since you have taken this road, you will die.
awareness.
If anyone wants to try to get away with it, I believe that this king can kill your entire clan!"
Li Xuan's voice was not loud, but it sent chills to the hearts of all the generals in the tent.
However, I was more shocked and disbelieving.
Hou Junji hurriedly said: "Your Highness the Crown Prince, Your Highness the King of Jin, I joined your Majesty's Palace of Qin in the early years and followed your Majesty all the way to conquer the world. Even in the battle of Xuanwu Gate, I was the first to contribute.
Your Majesty has always had high hopes for me since he came to the throne. How could I collude with those aristocratic families and rebel against the Tang Dynasty?"
"Moreover, your Hou Junji's mother is Mrs. Dou, a member of Queen Taimu's tribe."
Li Xuan sneered, and then his expression became solemn.
"However, I really don't understand why you still rebel against the Tang Dynasty when His Majesty treats you so favorably. Since a man has done such shameful things, don't defend yourself, otherwise people will look down upon you.
As for your Duke Chen's mansion, it should have been captured by the Crown Prince's guards. And the rebellious families in your mansion, no one can escape!"
Hearing this, Hou Junji showed a trace of despair on his face, and then his face turned angry again.
"Li Shimin treats me preferentially? What a joke. I helped Li Shimin ascend to the throne, and he was the first to do so. As a result, he made me the general of Zuowei, granted him thousands of households in the city, and was controlled by those whose merits are not as good as mine?"
I am very loyal to him, Li Shimin, and he has been through life and death on the battlefield. He is a great general and hero, but he covets a few boxes of gold, silver and jewels. As a result, he is impeached by the officials and must be imprisoned and punished?
Also, how much contribution I made to the Tang Dynasty, but in the end, I can only be ranked seventeenth on the list of Lingyan Pavilion’s heroes..."
At this moment, Hou Junji no longer had any scruples and directly burst out the resentment that had been suppressed for many years.
He knew that no matter what kind of backup those aristocratic families had, the rebellion of these aristocratic families was destined to fail because their every move was under Li Tang's surveillance.
Before it even started, it was already defeated!
As for those cronies who were preparing to follow Hou Junji in rebellion, all of them could not help but look frightened.