The distance from the East Palace to Xuanwu Gate is not that short. However, although Li Jiancheng is not as good at marching and fighting as Li Shimin, he also knows the importance of military speed. So in less than half an hour, Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji were waiting for Li Xiaochang. Under the escort of the army, they arrived outside Xuanwu Gate.
As one of the gates that guard the palace, Xuanwu Gate is naturally guarded by many guards. But when they saw such a large group of people suddenly rushing towards the palace gate, all the guards were startled. The general hurriedly rushed to the palace gate. The door was tightly closed. Then he climbed up to the observation deck above the palace gate. He shouted to the army that had rushed to the palace gate: "You are so bold. You dare to charge into the palace. Don't you know that this is a major crime against the Nine Clan?" .”
When they arrived at the Xuanwu Gate, Li Jiancheng also walked out from the escort of the sergeants. He raised his head and looked towards the observation tower. He shouted loudly: "I am Li Jiancheng, the prince of the East Palace. I have something important to come to the palace to meet the saint. Why don't you open it quickly?" Palace gate, important matters have delayed my affairs, but you cannot afford it."
Those guards were able to guard the important position of guarding the palace gate. Naturally they recognized Li Jiancheng, the crown prince of the East Palace. When he looked closely, he saw that he was not the crown prince himself. Suddenly, these guards all secretly complained. Prince, prince, you said you wanted to enter the palace. Entering the palace. Why are you bringing so many people with you? You bring so many soldiers and horses. Who dares to open the palace door? These guards dare not open the palace door. But they also dare not offend Li Jiancheng. They can only be miserable. Face shouted: "His Royal Highness, this, this. If the prince wants to enter the palace, please disperse the soldiers and horses behind him. Otherwise, the villain really dare not open the palace door."
"Bastard." Hearing that the little guard dared to order him to do things, Li Jian immediately frowned. Li Yuanji, who was behind him, immediately stepped forward and shouted at the superior: "Little guard. You dare to speak to us like this. I think you are the one who really wants to kill the nine tribes. Why don't you get out of here and open the palace door."
The guards lowered their heads and looked. Isn't this His Highness King Qi? Suddenly, these guards felt their foreheads hurt even more. Although Li Jiancheng was the prince, Li Jiancheng was usually gentle and obedient, so these guards were not very afraid of Li Jiancheng. But Li Jiancheng Yuanji was different. Everyone in Chang'an City knew that Li Yuanji had a bad temper and would fight with fists and kicks if anything went wrong. It might not be a big deal if he offended Li Jiancheng, but it would really be a disaster if he offended Li Yuanji. They were just afraid. If they opened the palace door and let so many soldiers and horses rush into the palace, their heads would definitely not be saved. So no matter what, they still did not dare to open the palace door.
"Fifth brother." Li Jian immediately shouted and stopped Li Yuanji behind him. He frowned and looked at the observation tower above. It was obvious that if he did not disperse these soldiers and horses, then the guards above would They would never open the palace door. But after an assassination, Li Jiancheng could not disperse the soldiers and horses used to protect his life. In this way, the two sides seemed to be in a stalemate. But Li Jiancheng did not panic. He frowned and shouted again: "Where is your general Chang He? Call him to come and talk to me."
At this point, the palace door can only be opened through Chang He. Chang He is Li Jiancheng's confidant. Li Jiancheng is also confident that Chang He can obey his orders. Obviously, the guards on the observation deck also know that they cannot make the decision. After Li Jiancheng reminded them, they immediately rushed to find their superior. Not long after, an ordinary-looking general appeared on the observation deck. He glanced down. After hesitating for a moment, he still shouted. : "What will happen to the general? See His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
Seeing Chang He finally come out, Li Jiancheng was a little impatient. He immediately shouted to Chang He: "Chang He, just come. I have something important to go to the palace. You can give it to me immediately." Open the palace door."
"This..." Chang He looked at the nearly three thousand soldiers and horses behind Li Jiancheng. His face was full of hesitation. After a long time, he said: "Your Highness, you are leading so many people. This is to..."
"Chang He." Seeing that Chang He didn't open the door immediately, Li Jiancheng didn't have time to say anything. Li Yuanji, who was next to him, couldn't bear it anymore. He immediately shouted loudly: "What nonsense are you talking about? I asked you to open the palace door. You Just open the palace door for me. If you are delayed for anything, can you afford it?"
After being shouted at by Li Yuanji, Chang He's face became more and more ugly. However, he did not dare to say anything to Li Yuanji. He hesitated for a long time. Then Chang He gritted his teeth and shouted to Li Jiancheng: "Your Highness, please wait a moment. The general will immediately open the palace door for His Highness." After saying that, Chang He turned around and disappeared from the observation deck.
After hearing what Chang He said, Li Jiancheng also showed a smile. Finally, Chang He was willing to obey his orders. Not long after, the palace door of Xuanwu Gate was slowly opened. Chang He was seen walking quickly from Xuanwu Gate. He came out and faced Li Jiancheng with cupped fists and shouted: "Your Highness, the palace door will finally be opened. However, His Highness has to bring so many people into the palace. This, this is really inappropriate. Your Highness, please think again."
Chang He did not stop himself. He just made such a suggestion to himself. This made Li Jiancheng more acceptable. In fact, he did not mean to bring so many troops into the palace. The purpose of his entering the palace was to Complain to the emperor, not to force the emperor into the palace. The purpose of these soldiers and horses is just to protect the safety of Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji along the way. Now that they have entered the palace, I understand that no matter how bold Li Shimin is, he will not dare to send assassins to the palace. Come here. Thinking of this, Li Jiancheng also nodded and said: "Okay. As you said, King Qi and I will enter the palace alone."
"Your Highness." Li Xiaochang, who was behind Li Jiancheng, immediately changed his expression after hearing what Li Jiancheng said. He stepped forward and said to Li Jiancheng: "Your Highness, if you are not afraid of ten thousand, you are afraid of the worst. Since the King of Qin dares to assassinate him in the East Palace, Your Highness, there is no guarantee that he has not arranged assassins in the palace. Please be careful, Your Highness."
Hearing what Li Xiaochang said, Li Jiancheng also hesitated. What Li Xiaochang said was not unreasonable. After all, if something happened and you regret it, it would be too late. At this time, Li Yuanji also said to Li Jiancheng immediately. : "Brother, you might as well take Yang Wenqian and Yu Wenbao with you and lead more than ten of the most skilled guards from the East Palace into the palace. If there is any problem, we can also have room to turn around."
As soon as Li Yuanji finished speaking, Yang Wenqian and Yu Wenbao immediately came out of the queue and saluted Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji with clasped fists. As the commanders of the guards of the East Palace and Prince Qi's Mansion, the skills of these two people are naturally not weak. Especially Yuwen Bao was tall and burly, with an iron spear in his hand. He was very brave and brave. After seeing these two generals, Li Jiancheng nodded lightly. He immediately asked Yang Wenqian to order more than ten of the most skilled guards. . Then turned to Chang He and said: "Just now, King Qi and I were assassinated in the East Palace. We must be careful. These people must protect me. They must follow me into the palace."
Hearing Li Jiancheng's words, Chang He seemed to be in a dilemma. He looked at Li Jiancheng and then at Li Yuanji. He opened his mouth and seemed to want to persuade him. Li Yuanji immediately glared. At the same time, Yang Wenqian and Yu Wenbao were both generals. The weapon in his hand was raised. Seeing this, Chang He immediately shrank his head. Finally, he quickly moved his body out of the way and said to Li Jiancheng: "Since His Highness insists on doing this, the general will not dare to stop him. Your Highness, please." "
Although Chang He was a bit disobedient before, Li Jiancheng did not blame him. After all, this matter violated Chang He's responsibilities. He nodded lightly. Li Jiancheng took the lead to walk towards the palace. And Li Yuanji also He snorted coldly at Chang He and waved his hand. He took Yang Wenqian, Yu Wenbao and others and followed Li Jiancheng into the palace in a swaggering manner. As for Li Xiaochang and others, they hesitated for a moment. They led the troops and formed an array directly at the entrance of the palace to wait for Li Jiancheng. news.
As for Chang He, after sending Li Jiancheng and others into the palace respectfully, he straightened up again, turned to Li Xiaochang and gave a clasped fist salute. He glanced at the soldiers and horses behind Li Xiaochang, and said to Li Xiaochang: "This... Prince of Nghe An County. So. There are many soldiers and horses displayed outside the palace gate. The general really cannot afford this risk. Can you..."
Regarding Chang He's request, Li Xiaochang didn't even think about it and just shook his head and rejected it. However, Li Xiaochang was not as domineering as Li Yuanji. He was polite to Chang He and said: "General Chang, it's not that I don't want to give you face. Today's situation is really too special. The prince was assassinated in the East Palace. This is simply an unheard-of thing. The prince is the crown prince of the Tang Dynasty. As officials of the Tang Dynasty, we should protect the safety of the prince. So we We must not leave here. If anything happens to the prince in the palace, we will rush into the palace to protect the prince. Even if we are accused by His Majesty for this, we will not hesitate."
Li Xiaochang's words have reached this point. Then Chang He has no reason to ask Li Xiaochang to retreat. In desperation, Chang He can only say to Li Xiaochang: "Prince. In this case, the general can only temporarily guard the palace gate." Closed. This is not really because the general is unwilling to do things for the prince. It’s just that the general’s responsibility is that there is really nothing he can do about it. But please rest assured, the prince. If anything happens to the prince, the general will definitely open the palace door. And Follow the prince to escort him."
Although he was a little dissatisfied with Chang He being so stubborn, he still stood by Li Shang after all. Li Xiaochang couldn't say much. He hesitated for a moment, then nodded in agreement. Then Li Xiaochang gave many warnings and instructions. If something happened in the palace, The palace door must be opened. Chang He nodded repeatedly, patted his chest and agreed. Then he entered the palace door. Soon, the palace door of Xuanwu Gate was closed.