Yang Ge lifted the Cold Moon Blade and walked to the far left, placing his hand on the sheath and lifting the head of the first bodyguard: "Are you the Assistant Minister of Revenue Jin Zhihua?"
The brocade-clad strongman escorting this bodyguard astutely stepped forward to remove the rag stuffed in the man’s mouth, and the bodyguard immediately begged pitifully, "Marquis Luting, spare my life, I am not Jin Zhihua, I am the doctor from the Ministry of Punishment, Du Shunbo..."
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"Crack."
The crisp sound of bones echoed, and Du Shunbo, who had just been wailing a second ago, instantly mastered the highest secret of the Iron Shirt technique by retracting his head into his stomach.
Yang Ge slowly moved to the second bodyguard and lifted his head by the sheath: "Are you the Assistant Minister of Revenue Jin Zhihua..."
The brocade-clad strongman moved to remove the rag from this man’s mouth, but the bodyguard shook his head frantically in terror, avoiding the strongman’s hand.
"Crack."
Not talking?
If you don’t talk, you also have to play turtle.
Yang Ge shifted his steps again, approaching the third bodyguard.
But this time, before he could speak, the mentality of this bodyguard completely collapsed. He struggled wildly on the ground, rolling around like a maggot while desperately pointing at a kneeling bodyguard in the center: "Jin Zhihua, that wretch is Jin Zhihua... "
"Wuu wuu wuu..."
Seeing this, Jin Zhihua also panicked and rolled frantically on the ground.
"Thud."
The Cold Moon Blade gently touched the ground, and Yang Ge turned his head to look at Nangong Feiying behind him: "Among them, is there anyone not an official?"
Amidst a cacophony of zeeing and wailing, Nangong Feiying earnestly scanned each face and after a long while shook his head, "No!"
Yang Ge nodded, the Cold Moon Blade unsheathed and resheathed, a flash of the bright blade light, and severed heads chaotically rolled on the ground...
Yang Ge bent down to pick up Jin Zhihua’s head, turned around, and walked briskly out of the brothel.
Nangong Feiying followed his steps, whispering, "Second Master, among these people, there are those whose crimes do not merit death."
"It’s not important."
Yang Ge chuckled back, "Don’t they just love to be in the same foul breath? Just as well, I enjoy a spree of senseless killing!"
An official appearing in such a place at such a time, who there does not deserve to die...
Nangong Feiying also chuckled, "You decide!"
The two mounted their horses, and Nangong Feiying turned his horse’s head: "To King Wu’s residence?"
Yang Ge shook his head: "First, let’s find the Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Personnel, Wen Renjian!"
The smile on Nangong Feiying’s face stiffened.
Second Master is indeed Second Master!
Even his killings have more poise than ordinary people!
...
"Your Majesty, Marquis Luting has beheaded the Minister of Revenue Meng Ziqian outside the houses of Qingyu Lane."
"Your Majesty, Marquis Luting has beheaded the Assistant Minister of Revenue Jin Zhihua, the Assistant Minister of Rites Bao Rong, the doctor from the Ministry of Punishment Du Shunbo... and thirty-two other officials, at the Inviting Moon Pavilion!"
"Your Majesty, Marquis Luting has beheaded the Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Personnel Wen Renjian at Wen’s official residence!"
"Your Majesty, Marquis Luting has beheaded the Assistant Minister of Personnel Zhuang Nianchun and forty-six people from the Zhuang family at the Everlasting Summer Gate!"
"Your Majesty, Marquis Luting has killed Prince Wu, the heir to King Wu, and one hundred twenty-seven guards at King Wu’s residence!"
"Your Majesty, Marquis Luting led his forces to the outskirts of Marquis Guangde’s residence, encountered a thousand soldiers led by the advance guard of the residence army, Jin Yande, and their complete force of eight hundred met their demise!"
The night had deepened, yet the imperial study of Ziwei Palace was still brightly lit.
Emperor Zhaode, Zhao Hong, the second in command of the Imperial Horse Supervisor Tang Xiong, the Grand Secretary Wang Jiangling, and the commander of the Brocade Guard Shen Fa, all gathered together.
The eunuchs waiting outside the hall rushed in one after another, delivering shocking news to the Emperor.
There had been a long silence in the study, the four of them held their tea bowls without uttering a word, drinking their tea in an atmosphere so tense it seemed water could be wrung out of it.
They were horrified at Yang Erlang’s ruthlessness in cutting down everyone from the Minister of Revenue, the senior official of the Ministry of Personnel, to the Vassal King ... with a single stroke!
They were also horrified at the ruthlessness of the entire court and military, daring to stir up the troops of the twenty-six imperial guards!
How would this end?
Who could end it?
Just as the four men inside the hall were sweating profusely, feeling underestimated by Yang Erlang’s commitment in entering the capital, suddenly a eunuch rushed in, stammering as he bowed, "Your Majesty, the East City military commander Xiao Siyi has raised troops in rebellion, opened the Upper East Gate wide, and allowed the five guards of the residence army into the city..."
The study fell silent for a moment, all four men stared in astonishment at the trembling eunuch, the air seemingly filled with a soundless question, "How dare they?"
"Smash!"
Zhao Hong slammed his tea bowl into the golden bricks, stood up leaning on the desk, his face flushed as he roared, "It’s started, everyone’s rebelling!!!"
The five guards of the residence army were established by Emperor Taizu at the founding of the nation as the upper twelve guards, the personal army of the Emperor, guarding the royal carriage. Even during the reigns of Xiping and Emperor Zhaode, the guards were rarely utilized, yet they were treated with special favor, with only rare admonishments.
Why would they rebel? How could they dare to rebel?
Shen Fa and Wang Jiangling looked at each other and simultaneously sighed silently... they had nurtured a set of veterans who could not be hit, scolded, or even slightly displeased without throwing a fit!
The root of the problem still lay in the capital garrison.
The upper twelve guards were established by Emperor Taizu at the nation’s founding as the personal army of the Emperor, the soldiers inherited their positions from their fathers and grandfathers and were always provided with the best provisions and honors among the imperial troops. Even after the battle-ready spirit deteriorated post-establishment, the three generations of Zhao emperors, remembering their deeds of securing the land and guarding the capital, continued to bestow favors upon them.
It was not until before the death of the previous emperor, realizing that the royal guards no longer had the strength to continue to undertake the responsibilities of defending and expanding the territory and guarding the capital, that they selected brave men from the military across the country to establish the capital garrison outside of the twenty-six royal guards, gradually replacing the status, provisions, and treatment of the upper twelve guards...