"Therefore, tonight I will personally lead the elite Western Army to enter the city through the New Cao Gate from outside the city—the guards of the New Cao Gate are loyal to His Highness, and we have already established contact with him in advance."

"At that time, we'll break through the East Splendor Gate and storm into the palace, defeating Jia Su on both sides, and directly reach the Forbidden City!"

Wang Hou also nodded; this plan was devised by him and Old Zhong together. He further added:

"What Uncle Yi mentioned is the best plan, but the risks mainly lie in two points."

"Firstly, the Western Army is stationed at Dongying outside the city, and the mobilization must be extremely swift, leaving no time for the Capital Imperial Guard to react."

"Secondly, the East Splendor Gate is easy to defend and hard to attack. To breach it and reach the Forbidden City in front of the Emperor, a bloody battle is likely unavoidable."

As soon as Wang Hou said this,

The atmosphere on site immediately became several degrees more tense.

You should know that.

Currently, though Tong Guan has not yet ascended as the Imperial Secretariat, out of the three major Imperial Guards of Great Song, truly effective forces being depleted only include the Hebei Imperial Guard.

The Capital Imperial Guard, although slightly inferior in combat prowess compared to the Western Army battle-tested over the years, isn't outrageously weaker by multiples.

Not to mention the Imperial Guard responsible for defending the Imperial City, considered absolutely elite within the Capital, with exceedingly strong combat power.

According to the longstanding system of the Imperial City,

The number of Imperial Guards on duty in the palace each day reaches a staggering eighteen hundred people.

Counting the Personal Guard Camp of the Guard Department, the total reaches over two thousand six hundred people.

Two thousand people...

With the palace walls and other equipment, plus giving them sufficient time to react, it's uncertain whether an attack could truly succeed.

However, compared to Wang Hou's impressively determined stance, Xu Yun's expression was far more subtle, tinged with amusement:

Won't Old Zhong and the others, upon arriving outside the gates only to find the two Eastern Palace gates wide open, mistakenly assume it's a trick of Empty City strategy?

That's right.

Xu Yun is stirring things up again!

In his past life, after Xu Yun ventured into writing by the sea, he had come across a lot of knowledge about historical coups.

Thus he knew clearly.

The palace gates would often become a solid barrier for the attacking side during a coup.

If the gates weren't breached in time, reinforcing defenders arrived, it could become a complete defeat.

As the orchestrator behind this coup, how could he leave this major problem unresolved?

To solve this issue, the first step is to confirm one thing:

The Western Army's position is at Dongying outside the city; entering the city can only be through the New Cao Gate.

After passing the New Cao Gate, to enter the Imperial Palace, only the two major eastern doors are available.

Although Xu Yun didn't know Xiaozhao's exact timing for action.

Considering the deteriorating situation in the Capital, estimating when events would occur was not difficult, whether within a week or after a week.

So, estimating the time is about right.

Xu Yun then communicated the matter to Zhao Ji through Guo Jing:

Your Highness, a true dragon transformed its path in the East Sea a few days ago, and you are the living true dragon. Therefore, the dragon energy will naturally be drawn into the palace.

Yet dragon energy is peculiar; once it enters the palace, it can be easily absorbed.

Thus, the best approach is to open the East Gate wide, without keeping guards inside the gate.

By then, I'll draw a formation; after dragon energy is refined through Wende Hall, Chuigong Hall, and Jiyin Hall, it can completely be absorbed by you!

Zhao Ji is a man who dared to open the city gates and unleash Six Jia Divine Soldiers even when the Jin Army reached the city, self-proclaimed Emperor Daojun, convincing him remains quite easy.

Not to mention the current Guo Jing, further empowered by Xu Yun, has turned into a master deceiver.

Honestly speaking.

If only observing what Guo Jing did, there's probably few alchemists in history as vigorous as him.

Today capturing ghosts, exorcising demons; tomorrow proclaiming a comet, and the following day, forecasting an earthquake—who could withstand such things?

Even if Emperor Qin Shi Huang or Emperor Wu of Han saw such a man, they'd definitely bestow the title of National Preceptor.

Therefore, after hearing about the matter.

Zhao Ji immediately approved Guo Jing's arrangement, leaving the two Eastern Gates completely open without reservation.

After completing the formation that day, Zhao Ji was even persuaded to shout, "The advantage is with me," a matter not fit for outsiders.

The scene shifts back to reality.

Tonight, the actions Xiaozhao embarked on truly are a race against time, with no room for delay.

Thus, after assigning the battle tasks, Old Zhong and Wang Hou promptly set out with several commanders.

Xiaozhao, Xu Yun, Old Su, and a group of civil servants, mounted on more than a dozen horses with hooves silenced by cotton, quietly departed from Prince Jian's Mansion.

The six arts of a gentleman are rites, music, archery, riding, writing, mathematics; riding belongs to the art of riding.

Hence, even an octogenarian like Old Su possessed commendable horsemanship.

Or did you think the car god of Gaoliang River could leave whenever they pleased?

A quarter of an hour later.

The group arrived at a landmark near the Imperial City:

The Great Goods Warehouse.

This was Xiaozhao's uncle's property, and upon knowing the plot, the surroundings had been cleared in advance.

Then everyone entered the prepared shelter and began waiting for Old Zhong's news,

An hour later.

The hour reached late-night Chou, about two in the morning.

Just as the group was sweating with anticipation, a rustling sound suddenly came from outside.

A moment later.

Old Zhong's tall figure sneaked out from outside the door; he hurriedly bowed to Xiaozhao:

"Your Highness, Dongying outside the city has been successfully controlled, under me the elite Western Army of 4396 men all entered the city!"

"Recently, with upheavals in the capital, the officials declared a curfew; now the watchmen throughout the eastern city are all our people, troops entering the city extremely smoothly; just..."

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