Chapter 23 23. Palace Emergency

Seeing the gate of the palace, the running team suddenly stopped, and it turned out that there were soldiers strictly checking.From a long distance, Cao Cao saw Jian Shuo of the Huang family leading his soldiers and searching them one by one in front of them. Even those who were allowed to bring swords to the palace were banned this time, and the crutches of several veteran officials were also taken away.No iron is allowed to enter the palace tonight. Once you enter the palace, you have to obey the rules. In an instant, everyone was silent, and gradually even the bells stopped.The blue and black clothes can't be seen at a glance, like a flock of crows rushing to their nests.Entering the Yimen Gate, passing through the complex road sandwiched by high walls, you can hear the echo of clogs stepping on the green bricks in the silence, which adds a sense of terror.

After leaving the complex road, it suddenly became clear, and saw the open space in front of the Yutang Palace, the dark habayashi army with bows and arrows in their hands.General Zhonglang, General Zuo Zhonglang, General Right Zhonglang, General Huben Zhonglang, General Habayashi Zhonglang, Habayashi Zuojian, Yubayashi Rightjian, the generals of Guanglu Xun's Seven Departments and Wei Wei's subordinates The armor is bright, and an alley flashes out, and the lights in the hall are brilliant like a mirage. Hundreds of officials have been gradually separated according to rank and title while walking, and a tide of people stepped up the steps to the hall.Only now did Cao Cao see Chen Wen, brothers Bao Hong and Bao Xin among them, all looking down at the road worriedly.Here Cui Jun helped his father Cui Lie up the jade steps, and Yang Biao and Yang Qi supported the elderly Yang Ci to rest step by step, while Yuan Ji supported Yuan Feng and Yuan Kai on the other side.In the night of early spring, there was a layer of dew on the jade steps, which is really difficult for people who are more than a few years old.

Cao Song broke free from his son's hand, pointed to Yuan Ji and whispered in a low voice, "I have good legs and feet, go and help them." Cao Cao hurried over, grabbed Yuan Kai's sleeve, and carried the old man up.Yuan Ji nodded to express his gratitude, after all, this is not a place for gossiping.There is a hierarchical system for the court meeting of officials. Although Yutang Hall can accommodate more than 200 people, there are too many people here today. When the ministers, lieutenants, and servants enter, it will be almost crowded.Officials below the doctor can only stand outside the hall, and looking behind them, small officials such as Zuo Cheng, Ling Shi, Yushu, Yezhe, and Zhuang Cong crowded together, some of them were lined up on the jade steps, and they could only stretch their legs. Looking in the neck, there are some who just came out and couldn't squeeze anymore.Cao Cao wanted to get together with Brother Bao Xin, but they couldn't squeeze through at all, so he squeezed next to Yuan Ji at the front of the hall entrance.

This late-night court meeting is quite different from the usual ones, and all the ceremonies of worship are exempted. Originally, Shang Shuling, Sili Xiaowei, and Yushi Zhongcheng were lined up in a row in the south, named "Three Independent Sitting", and they were all removed tonight, so that people outside People can also see clearly.In addition, officials of the inner court were also present to listen to the court.I saw that the emperor Liu Hong had been sitting on the dragon throne long ago, but he was dressed in a hastily untied clothes and his face was very pale.Not far behind him, Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong, Duan Gui and other twelve permanent attendants stood with their heads bowed, and Lu Qiang, Guo Sheng and other big and small yellow gates were also densely packed in the corner of the hall. The old eunuch Cheng Huang, who was many years old, was escorted here, and it was so dim behind the palace lantern that it was difficult to see who else was there.

After a long time, the rustling of clothes and crowns finally stopped.I saw Jian Shuo galloping up to the palace: "Long live back, most of the officials above 400 shi in Beijing have already entered the palace. Those who have not arrived will be detained by soldiers in the palace, and they are not allowed to leave the house." Liu Hong didn't speak, but raised his hand. Jian Shuo understood, turned around and shouted to the outside of the palace: "Close the palace gate!" "Close the palace gates...close the palace gates...close the palace gates..." the eunuch passed on the orders layer by layer.All the officials looked at each other in blank dismay: What are you doing closing the door?

"Everyone!" Liu Hong stood up, "This is not a court meeting, but something terrible happened. Tonight, someone went to the province to secretly report that the Taipingdao recruited soldiers and horses, gathered more than a million people, and will rebel on the fifth day of the next month. .” As soon as this remark came out, there was an uproar. "Silence! Everyone is silent!" Jian Shuo shouted at the top of his voice. "Thinking of the horned wolf's ambition and entrusting evil magic to the righteous way, I will definitely punish him! But what is even more frightening is that the rebels have already penetrated into the land of Henan, right under the nose of Luoyang. The name of this thief is Ma Yuanyi is the confidant of Zhangjiao, the first bandit of the Taiping Dao, and he sent his disciple Tang Zhou into the palace to buy eunuchs and assassinate the widow!" Everyone could see the fear in the emperor's eyes, "Fortunately, Tang Zhou was afraid of the incident and went to the province to subdue the law , have reported the Taipingdao thieves."

As he said that, he grabbed a roll of bamboo slips from the imperial case and threw them on the hall, "If this matter is accumulated in the house, it must be removed! Ma Yuanyi and his gang of rebels must be wiped out tonight. I have issued an edict that Luoyang's eleven gates At the same time, be alert, and guard the eight passes of Gyeonggi to defend against the enemy."