"Your Highness Prince Qin, I will accompany you."
The Grand General of the Guards also stepped forward. "Intercepting Lan An is not enough.
The Directorate of Works only has firearms, and the ammunition is in the Armory of the Grand Commandant's Office. Your Highness may also need to dispatch troops to guard the Armory. You alone may be too busy."
Speaking of which, if firearms and ammunition are not combined, then ammunition should be more dangerous.
Feng Xiwu, well aware of this, was about to agree to the Grand General of the Guards' request when Li Yang, who had gone to interrogate Lan Huajing, returned.
He rushed into the main hall without even bowing, gasping, "Your Highness, Lan Huajing has confessed. Lan An has taken those five thousand Tiger Leopard Battalion soldiers to the Directorate of Works.
Chai Xiyun has taken the Lan family and Chai family troops to the Grand Commandant's Office Armory. The Princess Consort has already rushed to the Grand Commandant's Office Armory.
He told you to quickly lead your troops out of the city to find Lan Huaxiao. Lan Huaxiao took twelve cannons out of the city this morning. Any feudal lord entering the capital is in danger of being blown up by cannons."
The successive news was more shocking than the last.
Feng Xiwu immediately turned and said to Si Fengwu, "Imperial Brother, immediately issue a notice in the name of the Crown Prince, ordering all feudal lords to stop ten li outside Ziyang Pass and not to approach Ziyang Pass.
Li Yang, immediately summon nine golden eagles for sending messages."
Upon hearing this, Li Yang did not hesitate. He first took out his bamboo whistle and blew it. Ru Yue and Duan Yue, who were guarding the Emperor Gengshi in the sleeping quarters, did the same.
Si Lan took ink and brush and the Crown Prince's seal of Si Fengming and began to write.
After Feng Xiwu had arranged everything, he cupped his hands to Si Fengming and said, "I leave this to you, Imperial Brother. I will handle matters outside the palace. Please rest assured, Imperial Brother."
Si Fengming nodded, "Two secret guards are enough to stay with His Majesty. Let Shi Er Yue protect my sister-in-law, and you can be more at ease."
With the defense formation of Zichen Palace activated, only a small number of people were needed to guard against internal traitors like the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of State Carriages. Leaving a master like Duan Yue was a pure waste.
Feng Xiwu also hoped that Lu Qingwan's safety would be better guaranteed.
He did not refuse and nodded frankly. Then he announced loudly, "Shi Er Yue, immediately leave the palace and go to the Grand Commandant's Office Armory to find the Princess Consort. Ensure the Princess Consort's safety without fail!"
As soon as these words were spoken, except for Duan Yue, who was hidden in the sleeping quarters, three figures descended from the beams of the main hall.
Like ghosts, they appeared before Feng Xiwu and said, "Your command is our will," and then disappeared like ghosts.
Feng Xiwu immediately turned around. "General, General Gu, the Directorate of Works is entrusted to you two. Inner Guard, go to the Directorate of Works with the two generals.
Imperial Forest Army, follow me out of the city."
Logically speaking, as Feng Xiwu had just arrived in Zhongzhou, many people were still in doubt about his identity and would not obey him.
However, since the Lan family's rebellion, Feng Xiwu had fought against the Tiger Leopard Battalion, and Lu Qingwan had protected the officials' families. Their capabilities were evident.
Emperor Gengshi was in a coma in Zichen Palace. If he and Si Fengming truly wanted to seize power, no one could stop them.
Even so, they still tried their best to protect Emperor Gengshi, protect the officials, and even considered the feudal lords far outside the imperial city. This showed the officials the strength and sincerity of the two brothers.
In just half a day, when Feng Xiwu spoke again, no one doubted him.
Upon hearing Feng Xiwu's orders, everyone got busy.
Meanwhile, Lu Qingwan had already led the troops of the Prince's Mansion and the Crown Prince's Mansion to the Grand Commandant's Office.
As expected, the Grand Commandant's Office was already surrounded by heavy troops.
Upon seeing them, the other side drew their bows and nocked their arrows, ready for battle.
Lu Qingwan, mounted on her horse, said coldly, "Lan Huajing has been executed. Lan An is trapped in the palace and cannot leave. Lan Huaxiao is alone outside Ziyang Pass, facing a pincer attack.
This consort gives you a chance. Those who surrender their weapons, I will personally report to His Highness the Crown Prince, and past transgressions will be forgiven.
Those who resist will be killed without mercy!"
The Tiger Leopard Battalion soldiers were shaken upon hearing that Lan Huajing was executed and Lan An was trapped.
However, they only wavered for a moment. Before they could respond, an unfamiliar voice was heard.
"Princess Consort Qin's actions are indeed swift!"
As he spoke, the gate of the Grand Commandant's Office was opened, and a young general in black armor emerged.
"It's a pity that this general is still a step ahead."
Chai Xiyun stood on the high steps in front of the Grand Commandant's Office and said carelessly, "Princess Consort Qin is as beautiful as a flower. How could Prince Qin bear to send you to such a place?
Aren't you afraid that if this general is not careful, with a bang, your beautiful face will be blown apart?"
Lu Qingwan, astride her tall horse, seemed to patiently bicker with Chai Xiyun. "Thank you for your concern, General Qin. If I were the kind of person who relied on beauty, you wouldn't see me here.
On the other hand, General Chai, are you not afraid of your tongue being injured by the strong wind when you speak?
If firearms were so easy to get, why didn't you just blast me with cannons? Why are you still babbling here?
Could it be that General Chai doesn't know how to use firearms at all, or, General Chai is not experienced enough and cannot open the door to the Armory?"
As soon as Lu Qingwan finished speaking, Chai Xiyun's face changed, but he quickly regained his composure.
"Princess Consort Qin is joking. The Grand Commandant manages the Armory. This general enters and exits it as if it were his own home. If the door to the Armory cannot be opened, Princess Consort Qin must be talking about herself, right?"
Chai Xiyun said, and with a wave of his hand, a pair of black-armored soldiers emerged from behind him.
They aimed their firearms directly at Lu Qingwan and the soldiers beside her. There were twenty of them, not many, but the word "firearms" was enough to scare off a group of people.
Chai Xiyun said triumphantly, "Princess Consort Qin, surrender your weapons, or resist. I will give you two choices.
If you make your men lay down their weapons now, I can spare your life. Otherwise, a hole in this beautiful face will not look good!"
"A hole? Are you talking about something like this?"
Lu Qingwan said, and suddenly raised her hand.
With three rapid shots, two gunmen beside Chai Xiyun fell to the ground. At the same time, the white feather on Chai Xiyun's hat was shot down.
Lu Qingwan hooked the ancient-looking palm-sized thunderbolt on her finger and spun it. "This is what firearms are called, do you see?"
Then she turned and ordered the person beside her, "Si Han, kill them for me!
Anyone who resists will be killed without mercy!"
As soon as her voice fell, she aimed the palm-sized thunderbolt in her hand again and shot consecutively behind Chai Xiyun.
Twenty gunmen were instantly mowed down. Lu Qingwan then stepped forward, wielding a steel whip in one hand and the King of Ten Thousand Phoenixes in the other, attacking from both sides and quickly dealing with the twenty gunmen.
The silver threads of the King of Ten Thousand Phoenixes wrapped around Chai Xiyun's neck. "You should be glad you weren't foolish enough to play with your inferior repeating firearms in the firearms camp, otherwise, I would have made you sacrifice yourself to heaven first!"
After saying that, she tightened her grip, and Chai Xiyun's head was instantly severed from his body.