12dz Chapter 1950: Dark Night Conspiracy
Chapter 1950: Dark Night Conspiracy
Hundreds of miles away, Chu Ning, who was leading a large army to the eastern front, received this urgent report from the rear.
On the wide official road, the black-clad army moved forward silently and swiftly, like a giant python with no end in sight.
In the central command position, Chu Ning, dressed in military attire, rode his horse with a calm expression, seemingly pondering the situation on the eastern front.
Shen Lian, a commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, galloped up from the side and rear of the group. Upon approaching Chu Ning, he nimbly dismounted, knelt on one knee, and held up a small bamboo letter tube with both hands: "Your Majesty, Li Bi of Chang'an City, urgent message by carrier pigeon!"
Chu Ning reined in his warhorse, his black cloak fluttering slightly in the wind.
He reached out and took the letter tube, crushed the sealing wax, took out the thin paper rolled inside, and unfolded it to read.
His eyes quickly scanned the contents of the letter.
When Li Bi mentioned that remnants of the previous dynasty were trying to obstruct him, and the last sentence, "more than 5,000 new soldiers have been recruited," a playful look slowly appeared on his usually expressionless face.
"Ah……"
He let out a soft, enigmatic chuckle, drawing curious glances from the generals beside him.
"I didn't expect Li Bi to have such courage."
Chu Ning's voice carried a hint of surprise and scrutiny: "Under the covert threat, you not only did not back down, but acted swiftly and decisively."
"While maintaining stability, they also recruited soldiers, and in just a few days, they were able to assemble a force of five thousand people."
He casually handed the letter to Ran Ming beside him for a reading, his gaze fixed on the distant direction of Chang'an City, his expression unfathomable.
"It seems that this person is not entirely a sycophantic and incompetent person. He does have some practical talent and genuinely wants to make a future for himself here with me."
He pondered for a moment, then instructed Shen Lian: "Reply to Li Bi and say that I am aware of the situation and that the handling of the matter is in accordance with my wishes."
"I have high expectations for his performance. I hope he will make good use of the newly recruited soldiers to stabilize the rear and prevent me from having any worries about the east."
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Shen Lian accepted the order and immediately went to arrange a reply.
Chu Ning said no more, spurred his horse, and the black horse let out a long neigh, accelerating once more.
The army continued its relentless march like a rolling iron torrent toward the war-torn eastern front.
He gave Li Bi initial approval, but behind this approval lay cold manipulation and testing.
He wanted to see just how far this surrendered official, struggling to survive in the cracks, could go in this turbulent Chang'an city.
His attention was now mostly focused on the battlefield in the east, the battlefield that would soon determine the fate of the world.
……
That night.
The night was as dark as ink, enveloping Chang'an City tightly.
The daytime clamor and restlessness brought about by news of recruitment and land redistribution gradually sank into a deathly silence as the curfew began.
Only the orderly, heavy footsteps of the night patrol soldiers and the occasional bark of a dog broke the unsettling silence.
In the southeast corner of Chang'an City, beneath what appears to be an ordinary, even somewhat dilapidated, residential building, lies an extremely secretive dark room.
The dark room is hidden deep underground, with its entrance cleverly disguised under an abandoned stove. It is connected only by a narrow, winding passage, making it extremely difficult to find.
Inside the dark room, the space was cramped, the air was stuffy, and there was a smell of damp earth and old wood.
The only lamp, no bigger than a bean, was placed on a simple wooden table in the center, its dim, flickering light the sole source of light.
It barely dispelled the pitch-black darkness, but it also cast shadowy shadows around it, adding to the eerie and unsettling atmosphere.
The flickering flames cast dim light and shadows on the faces of two figures sitting opposite each other, their entire bodies shrouded in wide black robes. This obscured their features, allowing one to sense only the oppressive and chilling aura emanating from beneath the robes.
After a long silence, the slightly hunched man in black robes on the right spoke first.
His voice was unusually hoarse, like a broken bellows being pulled, carrying a weariness born of hardship and a deep-seated hatred, echoing in the small, confined room, sounding particularly jarring:
"Can't wait any longer!"
His tone was urgent and anxious: "Our men are monitoring them day and night, and that old dog Li Bi and that traitor Zhang Tao are recruiting new soldiers at a rate far exceeding expectations!"
"In just a few days, the number has exceeded five thousand!"
"If we let them continue like this, once the new recruits are fully trained and join the ten thousand Chu troops, Chang'an City... will truly become an impenetrable wall!"
"It would be as difficult as climbing to heaven for us to reclaim our ancestral heritage!"
His voice trembled slightly with excitement, and his withered fingers moved unconsciously across the rough wooden table, as if sketching a scene of revenge.
Opposite him, the mysterious man, whose figure was relatively tall and whose composure was faintly revealed beneath his black robe, slowly raised his head.
The light from the oil lamp brushed past the edge of the hood of his black robe, vaguely revealing a chin with strong, defined lines.
His voice was relatively younger and more composed, but it was also lowered and had a metallic quality.
"What Elder Zong said is exactly what I was thinking."
He said in a deep voice, "Li Bi and others are using the equal distribution of land and the recruitment of soldiers to win people's hearts, and their power is gradually growing."
"If we wait until they are fully grown, we will have no chance. Now, although it seems extremely risky, it is also a critical moment when the opportunity is fleeting."
He leaned forward slightly, the dim light illuminating a fleeting, sharp glint in his eyes:
"According to reports from our spies planted in various locations, the forces we have secretly contacted and gathered, along with those loyal and brave men who still have their hearts set on the Han Dynasty, are now sufficient to organize a powerful surprise attack! Enough to storm into the city!"
"Oh?"
The owner of the hoarse voice perked up and hurriedly asked:
"What is the specific plan? Chang'an City Gate is heavily guarded, especially at night. A direct assault would result in too many losses and would be unlikely to succeed."
The younger man in black robes let out a barely audible sneer, tinged with a hint of triumphant satisfaction at his successful scheme:
"A direct assault won't work, but we can coordinate an attack from the inside and outside!"
He lowered his voice, his words like the hiss of a viper: "This recruitment drive is a mixed bag. Although the screening is strict, it's not without its flaws."
"Dozens of our men have already infiltrated the new recruits using forged identities and local vouchers."
"Furthermore, due to his loyalty and bravery, he has been assigned to the garrison at Zhengyang Gate!"
"Zhengyang Gate?"
The hoarse voice carried an unbelievable surprise.
Zhengyang Gate is one of the main gates of Chang'an City. If we can control this gate, our army can advance straight in!
"Exactly!"
The young man in black robes said confidently, "I have already agreed on a secret code with them. Three days from now, it will be the day when their team is on night duty guarding the side gate of Zhengyang Gate."
"At that time, as soon as the signal is given, they will launch a sudden attack, eliminate the Chu soldiers in their own ranks and the unreliable new recruits, and open the city gates!"