Chapter 412: History Is Written By the Victors

"Sage, something terrible has happened: the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army has rebelled!"

At that moment, Ji Ge, who was enjoying leech therapy in the Petal Crown Radiance Hall, heard someone shouting at him from afar.

The voice grew nearer.

It was Yu Chaoen's voice.

Soon, Yu Chaoen ran up to Ji Ge, crawled on the ground and shouted, "Sage! The Yinqiang Xiaojie Army has rebelled! They are marching along Zhuque Avenue, heading toward Xingqing Palace!"

Rebel? The Yinqiang Xiaojie Army?

Ji Ge hadn't yet grasped the situation; today was supposed to be the day the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army received rewards at Xiangji Temple—how could they rebel?

Shouldn't they have just shouted in anger, then discovered an ambush by the Divine Strategy Army and reluctantly retreated to the main camp?

When that time came, Ji Ge would send people to the main camp to pacify the Yinqiang Xiaojie soldiers and immediately distribute silk, grain, and fodder as rewards.

From then on, the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army and the Divine Strategy Army became mortal enemies, unable to collude, and naturally formed two factions.

They could only rely on me, the Son of Heaven.

Why does this differ from what we expected?

Ji Ge's face showed puzzlement but not panic. He whispered sternly, "Why panic? Bring Xian Yu Zhongtong to see me!"

"Sage, the Divine Strategy Army near Xiangji Temple has already been defeated by the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army; the routed troops have entered Chang'an through the South Gate, everywhere! Xian Yu Zhongtong is probably already…"

Yu Chaoen dared not continue.

"What! Over ten thousand Divine Strategy soldiers are gone?"

Ji Ge sprang up, ignoring the leeches attached to his arm!

"Your Majesty, it is indeed so; I would never dare deceive you."

Yu Chaoen knelt on the ground, weeping and trembling all over.

"They've rebelled, they actually rebelled…"

Ji Ge flopped onto the dragon throne, his spirit seemingly ripped away.

Instead, Gao Lishi beside him remained utterly calm.

Gao Lishi stared intently at Yu Chaoen, scolding bluntly, "You useless fool, have you seen clearly what banner the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army is marching under! Whose orders are they following within Chang'an! They are only three thousand men—how could they hope to overturn the Great Tang? Have you finally understood the situation?"

His words snapped the dreamer awake!

Hearing Gao Lishi, Ji Ge finally came to his senses.

A rebellion must have an exit strategy; it can't be just for a flashy stunt in Chang'an, right?

What does the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army intend? What does Fang Chongyong intend?

"Right! Tell me quickly! What banner are they raising!"

Ji Ge stepped forward, seized Yu Chaoen by the collar, and asked bitterly, "Answer me, you useless—"

Now clarifying the enemy's intent and who backs this rebel force is the most important matter. In Ji Ge's view, armies are divine weapons, inherently without thought.

They only follow orders.

Thus the core question now is: whose command do they obey!

"I, I dare not get too close; they seem to be displaying their banner at the front of the formation, and I can't see it! I am guilty! Guilty!"

Yu Chaoen fell to his knees again, crying nonstop, infuriating Ji Ge, who kicked him to the ground.

"Useless! No use at all!"

Ji Ge's chest heaved with anger as he gasped heavily.

At that moment, Cui Qianyou entered the room, his expression calm, crossing his arms in salute, and said, "Sage, the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army has blocked every gate of Xingqing Palace! Only two hundred guards remain inside, just enough to hold the Petal Crown Radiance Hall. Please remain still here; I will try to buy time."

"Enough, Lishi, lead the way; I wish to speak with the Yinqiang Xiaojie soldiers."

Ji Ge sighed; he vaguely felt this incident was not that serious, since the chance of the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army being bought by a prince was almost zero.

Since no prince stood behind them, it meant the situation had not become irreparable.

"Your Majesty, may I go and take a look?"

Gao Lishi knelt and pleaded.

Cui Qianyou said nothing, but in fact he believed only Ji Ge could resolve the crisis. Sending Gao Lishi would, due to "insufficient sincerity," worsen matters.

"I am not at that point yet."

Ji Ge waved his hand, and the blood‑courage that surged during the past coup was rekindled!

He led Gao Lishi and Cui Qianyou, followed by Ji Ge's Divine Strategy guards, to the gate of Xingqing Palace.

Before the doors opened, voices from outside shouted, "Traitorous officials rule, slaughtering the loyal! All Yinqiang Xiaojie soldiers plead for the Sage to uphold justice!"

The cries rose like waves, one after another, deafening all.

"Traitorous officials rule, slaughtering the loyal! All Yinqiang Xiaojie soldiers plead for the Sage to uphold justice!"

"I, Fang Chongyong, request the Sage to uphold justice, to relieve the Great Tang's suffering from the rebellion of the Heavenly Gang!"

"We humbly ask the Sage to uphold justice and eradicate the treacherous officials of the court!"

From outside came wave after wave of pleas.

Hearing this, Ji Ge's spine instantly straightened.

"Yu Chaoen, you have slandered the loyal Yinqiang Xiaojie soldiers as rebels and their petition as treason; what crime does that merit?"

Ji Ge looked at Yu Chaoen, questioning in a harsh tone.

"Is this even allowed?"

Yu Chaoen cursed Ji Ge in his heart for his shamelessness, burning bridges, yet he also realized the situation was dire!

"Sage, I am foolish, please forgive my sin!"

Yu Chaoen knelt, kowtowed and pleaded, but deep inside he despised Ji Ge's heart, cold as ice, hard as iron!

"Now the pleading is too late. Bring him down and behead Yu Chaoen."

Ji Ge calmly waved his hand, and now he was not anxious at all.

"Foolish ruler! Dog thief! You will meet a bad end sooner or later!"

Yu Chaoen was being dragged away while shouting curses. In the next instant, his mouth was stuffed with a rag, and he could only emit a "wu wu wu" sound.

Where he passed, a filthy mark was left: he had been so frightened he wet himself.

"Your Majesty, I have come to open the door for you."

Gao Lishi bowed to Ji Ge, awaiting his approval.

Whether to open this door, though merely a "rubber stamp," is a crucial decision that will determine if the crisis can be resolved.

Ji Ge's Adam's apple moved; he swallowed a mouthful of saliva, then nodded and said, "Open the door!"

Now this feeling was exactly like the tension he felt when he first decided to strike first and launch a coup against his aunt, Princess Taiping!

It made his heart race to an almost unbearable pace!

The main gate of Xingqing Palace was not often opened; even when Ji Ge returned to the palace, only the inner gate was opened.

Accompanied by a souring, rusted iron axle turning, the gate of Xingqing Palace swung open.

Ji Ge looked up and saw a multitude of Qiu Ba kneeling before him, each dressed impeccably, armed to the teeth!

"I, Fang Chongyong, humbly request Your Majesty to uphold justice for the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army!"

Fang Chongyong raised his Swift Wind Illusion Blade with both hands above his head and bowed, pleading.

"Please, Your Majesty, grant us justice!"

The group of Qiu Ba behind Fang Chongyong shouted in unison.

"Alas, speak up if you have matters. I am now bewildered and ignorant, not knowing why you have come to Xingqing Palace."

Ji Ge looked surprised, helped Fang Chongyong to his feet, and then helped each of the Qiu Ba behind him to stand.

"Your Majesty, Right Prime Minister Li Shizhi, Minister of Justice Zhang Jun and a number of others colluded with the Divine Strategy Army commander Xian Yu Zhongtong. They coveted the rewards the Emperor gave the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army, and plotted to slaughter us when the awards were to be distributed at Xiangji Temple.

Fortunately, the Ministry of Revenue's Officer Di Wu Qi, who understood the great righteousness, informed us. The Yinqiang Xiaojie Army, with only a few thousand soldiers, narrowly escaped disaster and crushed the rebel forces.

Because we feared the Right Prime Minister's treason and that the Divine Strategy Army might be bought to join the rebellion, we had to issue a forged edict and come to Xingqing Palace to protect Your Majesty. It was unavoidable; we ask Your Majesty to forgive our improper protocol.

We also ask Your Majesty to render justice for our wronged soldiers!

After speaking, Fang Chongyong grabbed Di Wu Qi, pointed at him and said, "Everything I have said can be testified by Officer Di Wu Qi. This time, thanks to his early warning."

Di Wu Qi dared not speak, only saluted Ji Ge with a crossed-hand salute, terrified to the core.

Upon hearing this, Ji Ge was instantly filled with shock and anger.

He showed an incredulous expression and questioned Gao Lishi beside him, "I ordered Li Shizhi to handle this properly, yet he stooped to murder meritorious soldiers? How dare he act so wantonly? Does he still see me, the Son of Heaven, in his eyes?"

"Reply, Your Majesty, I was unaware of such matters. The silk and grain from Taifu Temple have already been dispatched."

Gao Lishi said with an innocent expression.

Seeing Ji Ge play along with his line of thought, Fang Chongyong finally breathed a sigh of relief, realizing that this bold move had placed him in an invincible position.

He pulled the handwritten letter that Li Shizhi had given to Xian Yu Zhongtong from his chest, presented it to Ji Ge with both hands and said, "Your Majesty, every word I have spoken is true; the inner plot is extremely deep. The Yinqiang Xiaojie Army came solely to protect you. By reading this letter, you will know its authenticity. It was penned by Li Shizhi himself; I can confront him face‑to‑face."

After speaking, Fang Chongyong stepped back one pace, remaining silent and waiting!

"Traitors! This band of rebels seeks to ruin my Great Tang Empire!"

Ji Ge skimmed through the letter in a single glance, angrily flung the document to the ground! He felt unsatisfied and even couldn't help but step on it a few times!

"Your Majesty, the Council Hall is no trivial matter; it holds authority to mobilize the Southern Yamen Guard.

Although I have already dispatched troops to the Imperial City to suppress, I am uncertain whether anyone will act against Your Majesty by issuing reckless edicts.

Please, Your Majesty, lead the loyal and brave soldiers of the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army to the Imperial City, seize the central government, and set things right!

If delayed, should anyone collude with a prince to rebel, the consequences would be unimaginable, Your Majesty!"

Fang Chongyong knelt on one knee, pleading.

"Please, Your Majesty, set things right and uphold justice!"

Behind Fang Chongyong, another mass of Qiu Ba knelt on the ground.

"Your Majesty, given the current situation, only the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army can intimidate the petty scoundrels in the court, then conduct a thorough investigation.

Conversely, the Divine Strategy Army has a complex origin, so Your Majesty must be on guard."

Gao Lishi leaned close to Ji Ge and whispered.

Ji Ge saw the signal flags raised by the soldiers beside Che Guangqian, and his spirit wavered.

"Yinqiang Xiaojie, by imperial decree, suppress the rebels!"

"Blades have no eyes; idle men keep away!"

"Traitorous ministers betray the state; their crime warrants extermination!"

"If anyone obstructs, they will be deemed accomplices!"

What a formidable tactic!

Ji Ge sighed in admiration within his heart.

These Qiu Ba were clearly mutineers, yet they painted themselves as protectors of the throne!

However, the arrow was already nocked and had to be released; Li Shizhi's handwritten letter alone proved he was unfit to be Chancellor. The matter had progressed to this point, involving the Council Hall's ministers, the Six Ministries' secretaries, and the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army's Qiu Ba.

Between the two, a sacrificial banner must be raised.

Ji Ge could not imagine what these Qiu Ba would do if he stood on Li Shizhi's side.

Therefore, the Chancellor must be sacrificed.

There is no right or wrong here; whoever wins is justice!

The losers will be devoured.

"All officers, please follow me to the Imperial City!"

Ji Ge shouted to the multitude of Yinqiang Xiaojie Army's Qiu Ba.

"Long live!" "Long live!" "Long live!"

Outside the gates of Xingqing Palace, the sound of "long live" resounded through the clouds!

Everyone here, including Brother Ji, felt their suspended hearts fall back into place. Because this sudden upheaval, for them, had already substantially ended.

……

The Vermilion Bird Gate on the south side of the Imperial City was named for facing Vermilion Bird Avenue, and was a key node on the longitudinal central axis of Chang'an.

At this very moment, the Gate Guard soldiers who should have been on duty here—a gatekeeping force composed entirely of eunuchs—had already vanished without a trace.

The Gate Guard had been established during the Zhenguan era.

At that time, Li Erfeng lived in the Imperial City, so the Gate Guard's use of eunuchs, and the eunuchs' diligent gatekeeping, was in fact only to be expected.

However, ever since Emperor Gaozong of Tang, the Son of Heaven no longer resided in the Imperial City. Sometimes he lived in Daming Palace, and after the Kaiyuan era he lived in Xingqing Palace. The outer city of the Imperial City was actually where officials conducted their business, while the inner city was where grand ceremonies were held.

How loyal the eunuchs were to the civil officials could be figured out even with one's toes. Counting on the eunuchs to guard the Imperial City with all their heart and effort was truly wishful thinking.

Just now, He Changqi had already led five hundred soldiers of the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army charging through the Vermilion Bird Gate. And the Gold Guard's young lordlings who were temporarily standing in for the city defense here were no match at all for He Changqi's fierce and seasoned troops—one and all, they were sent tumbling to the ground.

"Damn it!"

Zhang Guangsheng climbed up from the ground and rubbed his aching shoulder.

Many of the weaklings under his command were still groaning on the ground, each and every one of them in a wretched state.

Zhang Guangsheng should count himself lucky—his luck had always been decent.

If Fang Chongyong hadn't given word beforehand, telling He Changqi and the others to remove the spearheads from their lances and clear the way with wooden clubs instead. Otherwise, these weaklings of the Gold Guard wouldn't merely be rolling on the ground groaning right now.

They would have all set off for the Yellow Springs together, keeping one another company on the road.

"General Zhang, who are these people? They can really fight—I couldn't even take a single move from them."

A Gold Guard halberdier struggled up from the ground and walked over to Zhang Guangsheng's side, rubbing his aching belly as he complained.

"Never mind that. If they'd wanted to kill us, we'd have been dead already.

Something major has happened in Chang'an today."

Zhang Guangsheng sighed. The Gold Guard's garrison was also in the Imperial City—should they return to it now, or not?

The deterioration of Chang'an's military preparedness was truly not his Zhang's problem!

Suddenly, from the corner of his eye, Zhang Guangsheng caught sight of a large force heading toward the Vermilion Bird Gate—and coming from the direction of Xingqing Palace!

He thought it was the Divine Strategy Army coming to suppress the rebellion, so he led his men forward to make contact. To his surprise, when he got close, he discovered that Brother Ji, wearing a dragon robe, was right at the very front of the column!

Beside Brother Ji was Fang Chongyong, and behind them was a whole string of officers and soldiers armed to the teeth!

"General Zhang, what's going on? Why are you here?"

The moment they met, Brother Ji couldn't help but berate and interrogate him.

Right now, he felt extremely dissatisfied with every single unit responsible for Chang'an's city defense.

They couldn't even guard Chang'an properly, letting people charge all the way to Xingqing Palace with ease—what were they all good for?

Brother Ji had never felt Chang'an to be so unsafe!

If the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army had been loyal to some imperial prince, or if a border army unit of comparable caliber had come today, wouldn't that have been a disaster?

"To answer the Sage, the Vermilion Bird Gate was just breached, and your humble general leading the Gold Guard could not hold them off..."

Zhang Guangsheng was about to explain further, but Brother Ji impatiently waved his hand and said, "Enough. Gather your men, join the column, and enter the Imperial City with Us!"

Brother Ji was perfectly courteous to the officers and soldiers of the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army, but he had no good expression whatsoever for Zhang Guangsheng.

"Oh, yes, yes, yes—your humble general will go assemble the troops right away."

Zhang Guangsheng hastily bowed to Brother Ji, his back already soaked through with sweat.

(End of this chapter)