Seeing Old Zhong hesitating, Xiaozhao couldn't help but tense up:

"What is it?"

A hint of confusion flashed in Old Zhong's eyes as he said:

"Here's the thing, after the troops entered the city, I sent a few spies disguised as drunkards to scout the situation."

"The spies reported back that..."

"The East Splendor Gate and Chenhui Gate were wide open to the outside, not a soul was seen on the city walls, except a few Daoists performing rituals..."

"...?"

A question mark floated across Xiaozhao's face as he suddenly realized something, and asked:

"General Zhong, could there be some deceit involved?"

Old Zhong shook his head confidently, pulled out a roster from his body, handed it to Xiaozhao, and explained:

"Chu Dao conducted a personnel count after securing Dongying and found no troops were preemptively transferred from the capital, everything is normal."

"Perhaps... it's just the officials up to some mischief again."

Xiaozhao took a deep breath; at this point, there's no time to retreat, a look of resolve flashed in his eyes:

"With the arrow already drawn, it must be fired. General Zhong, prepare...To enter the palace!"

"Order received!"

Old Zhong clasped his fists towards Xiaozhao, turned back to the main force, and began the final combat preparations.

Very quickly, even Xu Yun, who had no combat tasks, was given a machete.

Along with.....

A small bottle.

According to Wang Bing, it's called...

He Ding Hong.

After a quarter of an hour.

The main force was divided into two parts, cautiously approaching the East Splendor Gate and Chenhui Gate.

According to the original battle plan.

The army can now light torches, raise commands, and set up ladders to start attacking and seizing the gates.

But the open palace gates changed Old Zhong and Wang Hou's minds temporarily:

They selected an elite infantry unit called 'capital', with a size of 105 people.

Then split it into two, carefully advancing towards the city gates.

A little while later.

The captain crouched and reported back:

"Report, there are a total of twelve Daoists stationed at the two palace gates, all are completely under control!"

Old Zhong glanced at him and coldly asked:

"Was there no noise?"

The captain smiled, shook his head, and said:

"Rest assured. Ten of them were sound asleep, snoring louder than our footsteps. By the time they reacted, their mouths were already sealed."

Confusion flashed again in Xiaozhao's eyes, increasingly unable to grasp Zhao Ji's intentions.

But soon, he still issued the order:

"In that case, the whole army should quiet down and sneak into the palace!"

According to Old Zhong and Wang Hou's earlier plan.

After breaching the East Splendor Gate, there were three gates in front of the crowd, including the Right Jiasu Gate and the Left Jiasu Gate.

If they could breach the Left Jiasu Gate, they'd reach the Imperial Ceremony Hall.

Beyond that was the Forbidden City.

Hence, whatever Zhao Ji might be up to, the fact that the East Splendor Gate could be crossed silently suggests that the next Right Jiasu Gate could catch the Imperial Guard unprepared, increasing the success rate of their action.

But soon, after advancing not far, the armies discovered.....

Even the Right Jiasu Gate was completely open, and no Daoists were stationed there either.

Xiaozhao:

"...0.0?"

What on earth is happening?

Then came the Left Jiasu Gate, equally deserted.

Seeing this scenario.

Even Wang Hou and Old Zhong, despite their decades of combat experience, were dumbfounded:

"0.0?"

On the other hand.

Perceiving the effortless approach to the heart of the Imperial Palace, the mood of the entire errant group instantly soared.

Despite the ecstatic surroundings of Civil Servants, Xu Yun's emotions were strangely melancholic, even furious:

Perhaps back when Wanyan Zongwang's brothers were outside Bianjing City, watching Emperor Huizong of Song and Emperor Qinzhong of Song slowly walk out to surrender, Xiaozhao and the others felt exactly the same way...

More accurately.

Emperor Huizong of Song back then must have been far more outrageous than he is now:

Tonight, despite the palace gates being wide open, Bianjing lacked a formidable enemy outside and had Dongying guarding inside.

Excluding unique circumstances like Xiaozhao's, there was at least some theoretical security guarantee.

But during Jingkang?

That was truly a match of life and death...

Aside from bizarre and idiotic, Xu Yun simply couldn't find words to describe Zhao Ji.....

And so.

Just like that.

A group majestically passed through the three gates originally expected to consume a lot of time and arrived outside Huitong Gate within the Forbidden City.

Upon reaching this point.

Xiaozhao and the others were inevitably discovered.

But in a certain sense.

Whether discovered or not at this stage hardly mattered:

Now, with 80% of the Imperial Palace's guard forces stationed on the south, north, and west sides, completely unaware that the crystal from the Forbidden City had been stolen.

In the Forbidden City, only Wang En and Palace Guards led by the Imperial City Department were left, totaling just over 200 people.

200 against 4396.

Even with the help of the five-meter high walls of the Forbidden City, it's not even a comparable level of combat.

"Kill!!!!"

"Charge!"

"Boom——"

At this moment, Zhao Ji was sleeping soundly with a certain Imperial Consort, dreaming of conquering the Liao Kingdom and forcing Yelv Hongji to open the city and surrender, while he was indulging in the consort of Emperor Xingzong of Liao.

Only to be rudely jolted back to reality by the sounds outside.

As the Great Song Emperor rubbed his eyes, a surge of fury arose in his chest.

He was about to summon an eunuch to inquire about the situation:

"Li Guding, get me..."

But before he could finish, the room was violently broken into.

"Boom——"

The Imperial Consort beside him awoke in shock, quickly pulling over the quilt to cover her jade body:

"Ah!!!!"

Yet perhaps due to being exhausted by indulgence, Zhao Ji remained somewhat muddled.

In his blurred vision, he suddenly saw the shadows of ancestors like Zhao Kuangyin and Zhao Guangyi emerging, seemingly in the Chenqiao Posthouse?

At the same time.

Along with the shadows, a cold voice echoed in his ears:

"It's all over, brother."

........

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