Chapter 154

The carriage rumbles, the horses whinny.

The young Zhou King, who is Gu Xuan, wearing a suit of Mingguang treasure armor, fully armed, drove the royal carriage out of the Wang Gong Dongmen.

This suit of treasure armor of his is the royal family's secret-transmitted Kai Zhou; it is said to have been passed down from the Da Zhou Gaozu of former years.

Of course.

It is merely identical in appearance; over so many years, the many armor plates have long since been replaced anew, yet precisely because of this, the armor's protective ability is even more outstanding.

As long as Gu Xuan lowers his face helmet, it can almost be said to be impervious to ten thousand arrows.

Unless there is a fierce general making a powerful assassination attempt, otherwise it is very difficult to break this armor's defense.

And to speak of it, if it were the original Zhou King, wearing no matter how firm armor would be useless; in one or two moves he would be overturned by someone, and then captured alive.

But now, the one inside is Gu Xuan.

With his Peerless martial power that can rival a thousand men, combined with this armor impenetrable to knives and spears, in this Capital City, even to call him a true Ten-thousand-man Enemy would not be an exaggeration!

Following behind him is a small squad composed of palace guards, inner attendants, and the like, numbering no more than a few hundred.

Most of them are the Zhou King's original team from before his enthronement, counting as sharing his glory and sharing his loss.

There are also a small portion who, over these days, Gu Xuan recruited by various means from the Feather Forest guards; they are all descendants of fallen soldiers of the past, their loyalty can be called reliable.

Such a makeshift force cannot be said to have much combat power; more than anything it relies on Gu Xuan this Zhou King's appeal and loyalty to hold together.

And Gu Xuan also did not think of relying on these hundred-odd people; all they can do is merely to activate the momentum, the more vast the better.

Of course.

Even if Gu Xuan is now the King, wanting to summon these people to follow him to their deaths is obviously a kind of extravagant hope.

At this moment.

These few hundred people, the reason they are willing to follow him, charging straight for the Sima Shang residence.

On one hand, it is because many among them, as the Zhou King's direct subordinates, originally suffered oppression from the Sima Family's side, and have long endured to the point of unbearable.

On the other hand, it is because after Gu Xuan summoned these people together, he slightly displayed his strength after cultivating the Da Zhou Divine King Formula to the Peak Perfection.

With a casual strike, several stone steles and stone horses weighing several tons each all split four ways and cracked five ways, almost turning into powder.

Such terrifying power shocked everyone present to the extent of staring with wide eyes and gaping mouths.

No one had expected that the originally puppet-like King actually concealed his brilliance and nurtured his obscurity to such a degree.

He actually, without gods knowing or ghosts aware, cultivated the High Ancestor His Majesty's peerless supreme art to such a profound level!

Perhaps, the High Ancestor His Majesty of that year was also merely so; there is even a high possibility he was inferior!

Years of hibernation, silent until speak!

Watching Gu Xuan before them clad in golden bright Mingguang armor, all the Feather Forest guards, inner attendants, official servants, etc., not one failed to feel a certain shock.

At this moment, in their hearts an inexplicable confidence welled up unbidden.

This Position before them, I fear is a King not inferior to the High Ancestor His Majesty, far from the dim-witted puppet everyone assumed in the past.

To ask, a King who originally already nominally holds incomparably noble status, possessing Peerless martial force, suddenly rising in revolt — there is truly some possibility of overturning the Power Minister.

Because he is after all the legitimate Sovereign; the great righteousness is still on his side.

And the many Aristocratic Families and the Sima Family are merely attached cooperative relations; it cannot be called deeply rooted; at worst they just re-attach to the royal family.

Not far inside the Gong Men, lying haphazardly are several dozen corpses.

They are the Sima Family confidants represented by the palace eunuch second-in-command Cheng Bao; at the moment Gu Xuan decided to rise up, they were seized by the many guards and executed on the spot.

In fact.

Over these years, relying on the Sima Family's power, these people have not done a little bullying inside the palace; they have long been the target of universal hatred.

Now since they have already decided to follow the King in a fight to the death, these people naturally met the ending they deserved.

……

Gu Xuan drove the war chariot, aura imposing, leading men to charge out of the Wang Gong Dongmen.

Their target is precisely straight toward the General's Mansion direction in the Capital City.

Because this day is precisely the day after the palace Grand Court Conference, and also the actual office day of Grand General Sima Shang.

Because after the court conference, the ministers and subordinates of the Three Offices and Six Ministries all have to go to the General's Mansion to discuss actual affairs, finally decided by Sima Shang.

Therefore.

This day, Sima Shang, the Sima Family core personnel, and even their many confidants, will all gather at the General's Mansion.

And this has long been the convention for years; today is naturally no exception.

Obviously, this is precisely the date Gu Xuan wants, giving him a chance to catch them all in one net!

With one person's power, surrounding the Power Minister Family — whoever it was would only think it a fool's dream, too absurd.

However, for Gu Xuan, this is nothing more than normal.

One force drops ten meetings; what he wants is this effect — first annihilate the Power Minister force that harms the nation, then integrate military strength, exterminate those Alien Races outside who burn, kill, rape, and plunder!

Boom—!

When the royal war chariot followed by several hundred people rushed onto the Capital City's broad main street.

It is morning, precisely under the bright sky and broad daylight.

No one expected that the seemingly cowardly and decadent Zhou King His Majesty would actually have such a decisive move?!

And as the Supreme, the method he employs is still personally charging the formation, alone wearing armor, standing at the very front of the troop.

For a moment, all who saw This Scene — citizens, Xunji Bingding, even the soldiers who rushed over — none were not dumbstruck, almost petrified.

How could this possibly have a chance?

Everyone knows the current Zhou King His Majesty has no strength to truss a chicken, awed by the Power Minister Sima Clan's force, long like a lamb awaiting slaughter, only waiting for the day forced to abdicate; if his life is slightly better, he might barely manage a good end.

Relying merely on such blood Qi courage, I fear even a good end will be difficult.

Under such a great commotion, the Sima Family's reaction can also be completely called not slow.

In the General's Mansion, Sima Shang, seated on high, looked incomparably majestic, and with hawk-like gaze and wolfish mien, he naturally possessed the bearing of a peerless heroic tyrant.

Originally he was listening to the reports of his subordinates, his eyes slightly narrowed, unknown what he was pondering.

When the news arrived, all officials present were shocked to the point of stupefaction, some even losing composure on the spot, frightened to the extent of falling backward.

How could it be like this?!

The Zhou King... he completely doesn't play by the rules?

Not quietly waiting, planning for a dignified end in the future, why must he still be so troublesome?

This was the first thought that flashed through the minds of many officials.

Of course, there were also still some people who, beyond shock, felt admiration for the Zhou King, and simultaneously also sadness.

These people either did not get along with the Sima Clan, or originally had hearts inclined toward the royal house, merely forced by the general trend, having no choice.

【69】 These people either did not get along with the Sima Clan, or originally had hearts inclined toward the royal house, merely forced by the general trend, having no choice.

For a time, the entire General's Mansion became somewhat chaotic and clamorous, far unlike the solemn gravity of the past.

Yet Sima Shang, residing on the throne, showed not the slightest panic, and naturally his attendants sternly rebuked, demanding the ministers maintain silence.

And Sima Shang himself, his gaze cold and gloomy, scanned the ministers, observing their expressions and reactions, like a bloodthirsty and ruthless Tiger King!

"The King is young and immature, by his side there must be treacherous men bewitching him."

"Qing Zhong, you lead men over, handle it a bit."

Obviously, even in such a situation, Sima Shang also didn't feel the slightest need to personally step forward to handle it.

In his view, this generation's Zhou King was too weak, even such a fierce and violent strike was no different from a child's tantrum.

And the so-called Qing Zhong, naturally was his third brother Sima Gu, this was a decisive and ruthless figure with heavy killing intent.

And long before Sima Gu led men to go.

One of the Sima Clan's confidants, the Forbidden Army Xiyuan Commander, had long since led his subordinates, right in the market streets, intercepting before Gu Xuan's chariot.

Their speed was fastest, and also completely understandable.

Because the Xiyuan Forbidden Army was closest to the Wang Gong, first to discover the movements on this side.

And this was also long within Gu Xuan's expectations.

Facing this sudden obstruction, Gu Xuan did not kill, but alone took the lead, personally standing at the very front of the formation, raising his sword and angrily rebuking: "I am the Sovereign, who dares block me!"

The Great Zhou Dynasty founded the nation thousands of years, even though the royal house is now somewhat declined, it is still the nominal co-lord.

And within the Forbidden Army, not all are the Sima Family's diehard loyalists, many are merely people serving for pay.

Moreover, this is in broad daylight, in the open streets, with so many citizens watching.

Therefore.

Without specific orders from superiors, no one dared truly do anything to Gu Xuan.

Finally.

These Xiyuan Forbidden Army soldiers for a time feared, dared not act, and scattered in retreat.

Such a scene was also long within Gu Xuan's expectations.

But the next moment, just as Gu Xuan's several hundred men were about to break through the blockade, advancing toward the General's Mansion, the Sima Clan's other reinforcements ultimately still arrived in time.

Led by General Sima Shang's third brother Sima Gu, the Central Forbidden Army they led arrived, intercepting Gu Xuan's formation.

The Central Forbidden Army's status is special, different from the Xiyuan Forbidden Army, they are the core of the core of the Sima Family, confidants among confidants.

Their armor is best, combat power also strongest, among them quite a few mid-level officers are former Sima Family dead warriors.

Undoubtedly, the Sima Clan this time to block Gu Xuan, ultimately still deployed elites.

The leader's figure was majestic, murderous aura heavy, precisely the Sima Family's Lao San Sima Gu, currently holding the post of Zhonghujun General, commanding the Central Forbidden Army.

Looking at Gu Xuan and the others coming to meet them, Sima Gu's gaze was incomparably cold and gloomy, flashing with inexplicable fierce light.

This moment, in his heart, toward Gu Xuan there was a kind of extreme anger.

"If not for our Sima Family initially supporting you as Zhou King, you right now would still be an unremarkable clan scion?"

"These days, not peacefully being a good puppet, still thinking of buying people's hearts would be one thing, but actually still having the guts to charge the formation?!"

These were the few strands of thought that flashed through Sima Gu's mind, very much wanting to angrily rebuke at Gu Xuan.

But under such public scrutiny, broad daylight, street occasion, he ultimately still forcibly held it back, did not carry out this kind of verbal cannon attack.

Obviously.

He is a ruthless figure in the Sima Family second only to Sima Shang, possessing both decisiveness and endurance.

And not only that, Sima Gu's martial force is also quite high, can be called a fierce general, in the past also participated in campaigns against the Quanrong Tribe, also established military merit.

However, at this moment, he is more just a commander's role.

The true fierce generals are the two incomparably majestic Forbidden Army generals beside Sima Gu, Jie Da and Jie Er two brothers.

These two are both over two meters tall, black-faced with curly beards, cheek sword scars sinister like centipedes, wearing refined iron armor, wielding giant axes or great halberds, bodies emanating heavy killing intent, obviously both are ruthless fierce generals who kill without blinking.

Their appearance made the countless citizens watching on both sides of the wide street hold their breath in concentration, obviously feeling a kind of fear.

No other reason, these two are famous dead warriors and fierce generals in the Sima Family.

In the past, when suppressing a rebellion against the Sima Clan in the Capital City, it was the Jie brothers, wearing two layers of heavy armor, leading men to literally hack apart hundreds of people, hack apart in the literal sense.

Famous from one battle, the Jie brothers also became existences in the Capital City that could stop children's crying, because truly too fierce.

Without doubt, such figures are one of the confidences the Sima Family can now suppress everything.

Despite this,

However, as trump card-like existences, the Jie brothers initially did not go on stage to fight, but let subordinates' soldiers go block Gu Xuan and the others.

Nothing to hesitate about.

A seemingly unequal battle, thus erupted in the Capital City's Nanqu market streets, Gu Xuan holding the Wangzu Chuancheng Baojian, personally charging into the fray, killing toward the enemy army.

The Central Forbidden Army even though are the Sima Family's core confidants, but no one ever thought, there would be a day they must clash with the Sovereign, this obviously surpassed everyone's expectations, no one dared truly wound him.

Therefore.

Where Gu Xuan's sword point aimed, this army actually retreated step by step, and victory seemed to have a glimmer of hope.

And Gu Xuan also did not reveal his strength; until this very moment, he still charged and tore open a breach relying solely on the royal house's prestige, for he knew the true slaughter had not yet arrived.

For a time, Gu Xuan actually gained the upper hand with a squad of just over a hundred men, and the battle line continued to advance toward the General's Mansion.

And not only that, even the Central Forbidden Army began to waver.

Such a scene naturally made Sima Gu, whose gaze was already incomparably cold and gloomy, furious to the extreme, reaching a kind of limit.

He truly found it somewhat hard to believe that even though his clan's power had reached such a formidable level, it was still difficult to dissolve the royal house's authority.

Ultimately it still reached that critical point; he turned to the Jie brothers beside him and coldly issued the order to resolve matters.

Fairly speaking, even at such a moment, Sima Gu did not actually want to kill the King in his heart; the impact would be too terrible.

The order he issued was to subdue the King.

But under such fierce battlefield charging conditions, the Jie brothers would find it hard to guarantee their own safety while still showing mercy.

Therefore.

The next moment, an event that terrified all soldiers and civilians on both sides of the street occurred.

Only to see the Jie brothers gallop over on horseback; with one charge, the incomparably sharp halberd tip of the Great Halberd pierced into Gu Xuan's armpit.

Judging by the look of it, it seemed to have stabbed directly into his heart.

The King, just like that, was killed in the open street by someone?!

Without a doubt, this is an event that shocks everyone; since ancient times there has never been such a thing!

Even Jie Da, the perpetrator, and Sima Gu, who gave orders from the rear, were stunned.

The crime of regicide, no matter which era it is placed in, is an unforgivable heinous crime; moreover, it happened in broad daylight, under the watchful eyes of so many people.

The originally extremely noisy, clamorously ear-piercing street battlefield fell completely silent for a time; even the originally warring sides stopped.

Everyone stared dumbfounded at the Zhou King's body, pierced and lifted up on the tip of Jie Da's Fangtian Huaji.

"Your Majesty..."

Behind Gu Xuan, several guards led by Huang Jing turned ashen-faced and wailed in grief, their hearts tearing and lungs splitting.

However.

The next moment, on Gu Xuan's body, which had its eyes closed and appeared heavily injured and dying, a ferociously powerful Qi mechanism erupted.

(Chapter End)