Chapter 1747: Preparing for Battle! I (1/2)
Chapter 1747: Preparing for Battle! (I)
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
With thundering hooves, squads of cavalry swept over the capital like a whirlwind, their stern voices rumbling across the capital.
”What's going on? Why is today's curfew so soon? Isn't there still two hours?”
An old man stood on the second floor of a restaurant and looked at the cavalry running around outside. But he had only gotten halfway through his words when he was pulled back inside.
”You don't want to live anymore? Get back here!” an old woman said in a raspy voice, and then everything fell silent.
Bangbangbang!
From west to east, north to south, windows were shuttered and doors were slammed shut. After curfew, the capital became like a city of the dead.
In the outer city, torches burned as the cold-eyed Imperial Army soldiers locked the gates. At certain crucial areas, ballistae were stationed.
The sharp tips of the bolts gleamed with intimidating light in the evening gloom.
Creee!
A sharp cry resounded over the Imperial Palace, traveling as far as ten li. As that gyrfalcon flew over the palace walls, the Imperial Palace was plunged into silence.
”That man… has he already become so bold?”
Within Yuzhen Palace, a veiled woman, her tender white feet bare, stood at the door to the palace and softly muttered. She could see that the entire harem had gone pitch-black.
This was the third day of curfew, and the consorts and concubines had all sensed that something was wrong and decided to extinguish their lights. Even their maids and eunuchs had become uneasy and taken shelter within the palaces.
”Sister, be at ease. No matter how bold he is, he would never dare to touch you!”
Yang Zhao stood in front of the door, dressed in his official attire. He stood in front of Consort Taizhen as if he was a high wall.
The carefree smile was gone from Yang Zhao's lips, and gone was the wastrel who had first come to the capital. All that was left was weather-worn tenacity and strength.
Consort Taizhen creased her brows and softly asked, ”Is there really no way to see His Majesty?”
Yang Zhao could only shake his head.
”The Imperial Palace is completely under the First Prince's control, and the Imperial Army soldiers have all been replaced with his own men. I sneaked over to Taiji Palace once to take a look, but that place has been completely surrounded, with guards at almost every step. Outsiders can't even hope to get in. The First Prince's desire to rebel is now out in the open, and he would never allow anyone to get close,” Yang Zhao sternly said.
His eyes pierced through the darkness in the direction of the Eastern Palace. Eagles circled above that place, causing it to exude a powerful pressure, even from a distance. After a few moments, Yang Zhao turned in another direction.
”Right now, we can only believe in Second Brother. He's the only one in the capital who can stop the First Prince!”
No one understood more than Yang Zhao that the only reason the First Prince had yet to mobilize his forces was that he was afraid of Wang Chong.
Whoosh!
A breeze blew past Yuzhen Palace, causing their robes to flap and rustle. Consort Taizhen was taken aback by Yang Zhao's words. It wasn't too long ago when the writer of the 'Three Songs of Purity and Peace' had been just a young boy, but in the blink of an eye, he had become the War God of the empire.
Hopefully… he can succeed! Consort Taizhen said to herself, her thoughts drifting into the distance with the wind.
East of the harem residences, past several high walls, the Eastern Palace was brightly lit. Countless Golden Guards and Imperial Army soldiers stood guard outside, as solid as a steel wall.
Within the Eastern Palace, the First Prince, the Ghost King, Lu Qiongji, Duan Zhuyan, Bai Hanzhou, Huang Tianzhao, Meng Tu, Kim U-Seok, Zhu Tong'en, Asura… all of them were gathered here.
The burning torches in the hall illuminated everyone's face enough to see the murderous intent in their eyes.
All of their eyes were focused on a small model of the capital. The King of Foreign Lands Residence, the King Song Residence, the Minister of War Residence, Taihe Palace, Taiji Palace—all these places were represented in this model.
The struggles on the border were now irrelevant. With the arrival of the Beiting Protectorate army imminent, the only place of true importance was the capital.
The most critical moment had finally come!
”Ghost King, when will we strike?”
There was a fire burning in Li Ying's eyes. While he was trying his best to suppress it, one could still hear the impatience in his voice.