Xiao Shisan's face was solemn and said: "Empress Yu, Liangyuan, I heard that Your Majesty received the report, and I have urgently transferred the three major battalions in the suburbs of Beijing into the city. But now the military strength in the city is really empty: the Zuoyuan battalion lost half of it when the former commander Huo Changfeng judged Kyoto, and it has not yet been replenished; most of the auxiliary camp was taken away by the five princes; and a few days ago, His Royal Highness took away the troops of the Fengtai battalion. Now we have to wait for the nearest state and county government troops to come to help, but it will take a few days. For now, the only way to do this is to defend Kyoto first. ”

The queen said: "But if the reinforcements do not arrive and the city is broken, the people of the city and the whole palace will all die under the rebel sword?"

After Xiao 13 pondered for a moment, he bowed down to the queen and said, "If you really can't defend it, when the city is about to break, you can break through from the weak place of the rebels." However, if there are no reinforcements outside the city, and there is no city to defend, it is a last resort to break through the siege. Therefore, Shicai's subordinates said that they should first mobilize all the troops and people, defend Kyoto to resist the enemy, and wait for foreign aid. ”

The queen sighed thoughtfully after a long time.

"Chief Guard, I don't know anything. The rebels used to play the banner of Great Qi and Qing Jun, but now that His Royal Highness is not in Kyoto, why did they come here to attack the city like this? Are they already planning to throw away the banner of loyalty to Great Qi?"

"Hui Liangyuan's words, the rebels attacked the east and west, leading His Highness to lead the army to the Yuzhou front, if they break through Kyoto at this time, His Highness will lose the time, place, and people of the Great Qi Imperial Court. Regardless of whether the rebels continue to support the abolished prince or not, they have more chances of winning. ”

Xiao Shisan said hatefully, "As for the banner, the rebels are besieging Kyoto under the pretext of rescuing King Wei this time. ”

"Rescue the Wei King?" I sneered, "what a clever ploy. If they had their hearts for King Wei and betrayed Kyoto that day, they would not have chosen King Wei's wedding day. King Wei, who has already turned away and abandoned him, now finds a reason, but he can use it and use it so handy!"

I heard that there was a young military advisor in the rebel army, who was scheming. Since the rebels raised the flag, they have done a series of actions, all of which have been planned and dispatched by this person. ”

The queen raised her hand and rubbed the corners of her forehead, "This palace knows." You go down first. ”

Xiao 13 was about to respond, I got up and saluted the queen and said, "Queen Mother, please ask the Queen Mother to make a statement to my father and the emperor and relieve King Wei's ban." ”

The queen said curiously: "Why? Since the rebels want to save King Wei, it means that King Wei has already colluded with them. If necessary, he can take the king as a hostage, so that the rebels must not act rashly. How could his ban be lifted at this time?"

I replied calmly: "The rebels attacked the city this time to rescue King Wei. If the ban is lifted, even more, the king can take the initiative to defend the city against the enemy. The rebels used an excuse to defeat themselves. What's more, you just said that there are no suitable generals in Kyoto today. And King Wei and His Royal Highness have been carefully cultivated by their father since they were young, and they have both studied under famous teachers, Wen Taowu has long been famous. If the ban is lifted, then there will be a good general in Kyoto City, and the rebels will lose the morale of the army, won't they kill two birds with one stone?"

Hearing this, Xiao 13 echoed: "What Liangyuan said is a good policy. Don't worry, after the ban is lifted, if His Royal Highness King Wei can't completely reassure people, you can send someone to 'attendant' on the side......"

The queen said softly: "This palace will try to mention it to Your Majesty." ”

Xiao 13 wanted to speak and stopped.

I smiled slightly: "The chief of the guard was born in the Black Armor Army, and he is a general who has experienced the blood of the battlefield. Now is the time for you to lead the Black Armor Army left behind by Your Highness and really play a role. At the time of crisis, the gate of the Huiyin Hall was not as important as the four gates of Kyoto. ”

Xiao 13 immediately said: "Subordinate Xie Liangyuan is considerate. It's just that before His Royal Highness left, he had instructed that he would not leave Liangyuan's side and protect Liangyuan thoroughly——"

I bowed my head and said, "You also said that the troops in the city are obviously insufficient now. There is still a shortage of talents. It is enough for you to leave ten soldiers in the Hall of Huiyin. If it's really an emergency, come back to find me. Discipline and educate you, and live up to His Highness's entrustment!"

The last sentence was slightly ridiculous, and the queen's frown was slightly relieved, and she also said: "That's it." You have been with me for the past few days, and there are many garrisons in the palace in Yongning Palace, so you should be safe. ”

I smiled.

Seeing this, Xiao 13 saluted and said, "In this case, my subordinates will arrange it." After speaking, he turned around and strode out of the temple gate.

The queen summoned Ye Shangyi and instructed Shicai to relieve the ban on the king of Wei. Ye Shangyi should get off and hurriedly went to the Mingde Palace where Emperor Wei was located.

The temple was terriblely quiet for a while. The queen and I looked at each other and smiled bitterly, and said in a flat tone, "Sit down and wait slowly." After all, there is only so much we can do, so we still have to wait for His Majesty and the pillars of the DPRK and China to come up with ideas and countermeasures. As for resisting the enemy and killing thieves, it is the business of men. All we can do at this time is to prepare the wine. When the real city was broken and there was no room for it, he committed suicide and martyred himself. ”

We were startled, then suppressed our panicked heart and replied respectfully, "Yes." Quietly sat on the side and looked out of the hall.

The sky lit up minute by minute. A palace man came into the hall to extinguish the candle and bring up wisps of green smoke. It makes people feel even more breathless.

Ruan Liangdi and Xu Fengyi also came to Yongning Palace. Everyone was worried, but they could only sit quietly in the deep palace and wait.

I don't know if it was an illusion caused by a concern or if there was a real sound, and the faint dull sound of impact never stopped. Cuinong entered the hall and said, "The maid asked the guards who came to Yongning Palace to change shifts, this is the sound of the rebels continuing to attack the door with logs. ”

This means that the rebels have crossed the barrier of the moat, and now they have entered the battle of life and death above and below the city walls and inside and outside the city gates.

The queen has been very calm and peaceful since she said the words of preparing the wine, and at this time she leaned on the phoenix seat and closed her eyes to recuperate.

After Ruan Liangdi listened to Cuinong's words, she kept pulling the handkerchief in her hand, without saying a word, only her face was white. One by one, he rubbed the string of agate beads on his wrist and hung his head silently.

I supported myself with my hands, and my mind was restless: if I had given Sheng Yao the method of repeating the crossbow earlier, I might have been able to relieve the siege of Kyoto now. When Sheng Yao was leaving, I asked Xiao Shisan to send the box, which was based on the principle of the method of repeating crossbows, and asked Chifu to find one of the two small self-defense crossbows that the craftsman raised in the Yang Mansion and built by Seiko.

I didn't hand over the drawings to Shengyao for a long time, on the one hand, because I felt that without my father's approval, the matter of crossing the cloud tower should be kept secret. Then I can't give Sheng Yao a reasonable explanation for holding such drawings. On the other hand, among the sharp weapons that are reluctant to shoot at Changruo, there are crossbow arrows that I provide.

But on the Yanping Gatehouse, the fear for Shengyao's safety overwhelmed everything.

Although in the next few days, I still felt uncomfortable for being ashamed of Changruo.

But I don't regret it.