12dz Chapter 1904 This is a trap!
Chapter 1904 This is a trap!
Zhang Ben roared at the top of his lungs, "Crossbowmen, release your arrows! Suppress them!"
"Everyone else, get ready to roll logs and rocks, and hit them when they get close!"
The attention of the defenders in the entire East Gate area was almost completely attracted by the sudden and fierce attack outside the city, and they were nervously engaged in defensive operations.
At this moment, the grain transport team that had just entered the city wall and was about to advance to the last outpost of the main city gate was also shocked by this sudden change and stopped in its tracks!
The horns and shouts outside the city were like the agreed signal, and also ignited the final determination in their hearts!
The leader of the team quickly exchanged glances with the leader of the Jinyiwei who was mixed in the team - the time has come!
The defenders' attention has been drawn outside the city, and now is the best opportunity to take action!
"Quick! Someone, report this to the Queen Mother immediately! The Chu army is storming the east gate!"
On the city gate tower, Zhang Ben was directing the defense while yelling to the soldiers around him.
He didn't know that a more deadly crisis had quietly arrived from behind.
And that seemingly harmless grain transport team, like a wolf sneaking into a flock of sheep, showed its sharp fangs and aimed directly at the throat of this magnificent pass - the city gate hub!
Chang'an City, Imperial Palace, Weiyang Palace.
The early morning light shines through the carved window lattices, casting mottled shadows on the palace covered with gorgeous carpets.
In stark contrast to the tension and solemnity of the outside world, this place still maintains an almost luxurious tranquility.
Empress Dowager Cixi Dugu Jia had just stood up and sat in front of the dressing table, allowing two skillful maids to comb her still thick black hair and apply exquisite makeup to her.
The bronze mirror reflected her well-maintained face, but it could not hide a hint of harshness and fatigue between her brows.
Although the Chu army besieged the city, she did not seem to take these minor issues seriously, or rather, she forced herself to maintain her composure in order to stabilize the people's hearts, which were already in turmoil.
At this moment, a burst of extremely hurried and even panicked footsteps came from outside the palace, breaking the tranquility in the palace.
A guard who was responsible for delivering military intelligence rushed into the hall without even waiting for the eunuch to pass on the message. He fell to his knees with a thud, his voice distorted by fear:
"Qi... Report to the Queen Mother! No... It's bad! The Chu army... The Chu army suddenly launched a massive attack on the East Gate! The attack is extremely fierce!"
This news was like a stone thrown into an ancient well, but it did not cause much waves in Dugu Jia's heart.
She didn't even raise her eyebrows, still looking through the bronze mirror, admiring the maid putting a golden hairpin on her hair.
"Why are you panicking?"
Dugu Jia's voice was flat, with a hint of displeasure: "The height of Chang'an City's walls and the depth of its moats are the best in the world!"
"Even if Chu Ning has supernatural powers, he won't be able to reach the city walls without three to five months and the lives of hundreds of thousands of soldiers!"
"What's there to be afraid of with just one attack?"
She turned her head slightly and glanced at the trembling guard with the corner of her eye, her tone filled with unquestionable majesty:
"Go tell Zhang Ben, the commander of the East Gate, to hold the city and follow our plan!"
"Rolling logs, rocks, bows, crossbows, and kerosene, use them all! Make the Chu army pay the price in blood! If you lose the city gate, bring your heads to me!"
"Yes... yes! I obey your command!"
The guard kowtowed as if he had been pardoned, and crawled out.
After sending away the guard who reported the news, the indifference on Dugu Jia's face gradually faded, replaced by a cold, calculating look that everything was under control.
She waved her hand, signaling the maid to stop dressing.
"Go," she instructed the trusted old eunuch beside her, "tell the commander of the Imperial Guard, Shen Congwen, to come see me immediately!"
"I obey your command." The old eunuch bowed and accepted the order, then left quickly.
In just a cup of tea, Shen Congwen, wearing black armor and a long sword at his waist, hurried to the Weiyang Palace.
He had obviously heard about the Chu army's attack on the city, and his face was solemn and had a hint of subtle worry. Upon entering the hall, he immediately knelt on one knee:
"Your Highness, I, Shen Congwen, pay my respects to the Empress Dowager! I wonder what instructions the Empress Dowager has for this urgent summons?"
Dugu Jia slowly turned around and looked directly at Shen Congwen. She didn't ask him to stand up, but instead gave the order in a condescending tone with murderous intent:
"Commander Shen, I order you to immediately gather your three thousand most elite Imperial Guards and ambush them in the houses and alleys on both sides of Qinglong Street, the main road leading to the East Gate!"
Shen Congwen was stunned when he heard this, and raised his head, his face full of confusion:
"Queen Dowager, the Chu army is currently attacking the city. Why are they ambushing the city streets now? Could it be... to prevent spies from causing trouble?"
"spy?"
The corners of Dugu Jia's mouth curled up in a cold and cruel arc, like a venomous snake spitting out its tongue: "It's more than just a spy! It's someone who wants to sell out his master for fame and fortune, opening the door to thieves!"
Her words were like thunder, exploding in Shen Congwen's ears!
Dugu Jia no longer kept the secret, his voice like ice hitting the ground: "That old thief Li Bi, and those traitors Wang Yu, Zhao Ming, and Zhang Tao, they have already secretly defected to Chu Ning!"
"Today, they will use the grain transport team as a cover to seize the East Gate and let the Chu army into the city!"
Shen Congwen's pupils suddenly contracted, and the blood drained from his face in an instant!
He finally understood why the Queen Mother acted so "indifferent" to the unusual movements in Li Bi's house three days ago. It turned out... it turned out that everything was within the Queen Mother's calculations!
She was not completely unaware, but was deliberately indulging herself, or even... deliberately using those thirty lashes to force Li Bi and the others to take risks, so that she could catch them all in one fell swoop!
What a deep scheme! What a cruel method!
Dugu Jia looked at Shen Congwen's shocked expression, a look of satisfaction appeared on his face, and he continued to order:
"Your ambushes don't need to worry about the Chu army outside the city, nor do you need to worry about the defenders on top of the city!"
"You have only one goal—wait for that rebellious 'grain transport team' to successfully open the city gates. The Chu army's vanguard will pour into the city and join forces with the rebels. They'll think they've succeeded, and their formation will be at its most disorganized and relaxed..."
Her eyes flashed with terrifying murderous intent, and she spoke word by word:
"Kill them for me! Target, Chu Ning!"
"Kill Chu Ning at all costs! If you can take his head, I will make you a marquis of ten thousand households and give you a reward of one hundred thousand!"
Shen Congwen took a breath of cold air!
He finally understood the Queen Mother's entire plan! This was simply a huge trap!
Using Chang'an City as bait and the East Gate as the entrance to the trap, they deliberately lured Chu Ning and his most elite troops into the city, and then took advantage of their familiarity with the terrain to carry out a decapitation operation in street fighting!
As long as Chu Ning is killed, the hundreds of thousands of Chu troops outside the city will be leaderless and will surely collapse without a fight!
By then, the crisis will be resolved and we may even turn defeat into victory!