Tiantang Splendid

Chapter 4957 Outside Chengtian Gate
In the heavy snow, the soldiers of the Right Jinwu Guard rushed northward along Suzaku Street, like a tide, giving people great psychological pressure. These soldiers wore armor, held swords and shields, and carried muskets. Although they moved quickly and at a very fast speed, they always maintained a coordinated distance between each other. Once they encountered an attack, they would react immediately and fight back on the spot.

Zheng Rentai was a man who knew military affairs well. He could tell at a glance that this army reorganized by the Left and Right Garrison Guards was the most powerful army in the world. In particular, it inherited the advantages of the Right Garrison Guard, which was the first to be equipped with firearms and change its tactics. It could be considered the best among the Sixteen Garrisons of the Tang Dynasty.

The only one who can keep pace with it is probably its "sister army" Zuo Jinwu Guard...

When they reached the junction of the Imperial City and Zaitian Street, the Right Jinwu Guards quickly deployed and moved to the east and west sides, with a strict formation and strong military appearance, confronting the Right Leading Army Guards across the street.

Swords and shields were raised, muskets were aimed, and the air was filled with murderous intent.

A large group of civil servants who arrived earlier were blocked and were inexplicably caught between the two armies. The two armies were on the verge of a war, and it seemed that a war was about to break out...

Liu Li, who was among the civil servants, was even more frightened and sweating. The conflict between the military and the civil servants had been going on for a long time. Both sides complained about each other and wanted to get rid of each other as soon as possible. Could it be that these soldiers took advantage of the chaos in the Taiji Palace and the possibility of a mutiny to start a war and get rid of them, the civil servants?
Anyway, when the time comes, they can just say "accidental injury" to shirk responsibility. There are thousands of soldiers fighting in one place and no one knows who did it...

"Everyone, calm down! Calm down!"

Liu Li quickly stood up and asked his servants to hold torches and move closer to him, so that the light of the torch would shine on his face so that the army could see him more clearly, so as to avoid "accidental injury" and then use the excuse of "it was too dark to see his face clearly"...

When Zheng Rentai saw that it was Liu Li, he immediately clasped his fists and said, "So the Minister of the Central Secretariat is here too. I'm sorry for not recognizing him before."

Liu Li was about to speak when Han Ai, the Minister of Justice, stood up from behind him, pointed at Zheng Rentai and shouted, "You are ordered by the Emperor to protect the country and guard the palace. Now the situation in the palace is critical and His Majesty is completely unaware of the situation. Not only did you not go to the palace to rescue the King, but you also prevented us from entering the palace to visit him. I wonder what you are trying to do?"

This is equivalent to pointing at Zheng Rentai's nose and accusing him of treason.

However, he was indeed qualified. His father Han Zhongliang supported Emperor Gaozu when he started his rebellion in Jinyang, and he sold his family property to finance the military expenses. Later, he served as the Minister of the Dali Temple for a time, and was a founding hero.

That’s not all. Later, in the dispute between Qin Wang Li Er and the Crown Prince, he clearly expressed his support for Li Er, and followed Li Er in his battles all over the country, making great contributions. He was a "hidden meritorious official in the palace" and a "meritorious follower of the dragon", a true "emperor's lackey".

Compared to Zheng Rentai, a "double-faced minister" who was originally loyal to Prince Yin and was Prince Yin's brother-in-law, Han Ai was naturally full of confidence and did not take the other party seriously at all.

Liu Li immediately broke out in a sweat and quickly pulled Han Ai to his side. He felt helpless about this colleague who, despite his age, still had some "dandy habits".

If it were under normal circumstances, let alone criticizing Zheng Rentai, even if Liu Li spit on his face, he would not blame him, but would praise him as a "real man". But what time is it now?
When the emperor is in danger and the country is in turmoil, "the one with the strongest army and horses will be the king"!
The more chaotic the situation is, the more the knife-holder has the final say. If you provoke him at this time, you will be the only one who will be in trouble!
The point is that it's bad enough that you get into trouble, but it's bad that you get us all into trouble...

Zheng Rentai was very well-mannered and did not get angry at Han Ai's scolding. Instead, he patiently explained, "It is not that I am preventing you from entering the palace. It is just that the situation is unclear now. I will not let anyone into the palace without receiving the imperial edict."

In a way, he is right.

But the problem is that at the moment the East Palace is in the midst of war, while there is no movement in the Taiji Palace. This in itself is contrary to common sense, and it is obvious that something is wrong with the Taiji Palace as well.

Blindly adhering to principles and watching the king fall into danger without doing anything, how is this different from standing idly by?

Besides, if the king died, how could there be any imperial edict?

Sun Renshi, the general of the Right Jinwu Guard, was far away, but he heard Zheng Rentai's words clearly, and immediately shouted: "Bullshit! I have received a message from Li Junxian, saying that he wants all the ministers to come to the palace to discuss important matters, but you have turned a deaf ear to it and ignored it, which shows that you have ulterior motives!"

Zheng Rentai snorted coldly, facing the suspicious eyes of the ministers, and explained: "Li Junxian is no better than the leader of the Hundred Cavalry Division. He has no rank and no duties. How can he issue orders on behalf of Your Majesty? If you follow his words and ruin things, who will bear the responsibility?"

"This one……"

Liu Li and others remained silent and hesitant.

It must be said that Zheng Rentai's words made sense. The current situation of His Majesty is unknown. No one can afford to rashly break into the palace because of Li Junxian's words, with unpredictable consequences.

Civil servants are rigorous in their work and think a lot, so they are bound to be hesitant.

Sun Renshi said loudly: "If the Duke of Tongan is willing to protect himself and is unwilling to take any risks for the safety of Your Majesty, then you may as well make way for me to enter Chengtian Gate. If Your Majesty blames me in the future, I will bear the responsibility!"

Zheng Rentai was furious: "How dare you! You are just a deputy general, and you dare to show off your power over me even if you hold the position of a general? Get out of here quickly, or I will treat you as a traitor!"

Although he was unwilling to help Li Shenfu, Li Fuhu and others to break into the Taiji Palace and usurp the throne, he was in favor of them in his heart. How could he let Sun Renshi lead his army into the Taiji Palace when the situation was uncertain?

We must buy as much time as possible for Li Shenfu...

Sun Renshi refused to give in and responded sharply: "The Duke of Tongan was also a meritorious official in the Zhenguan period and a veteran general on the battlefield. How dare you play the thief crying thief? Well, today I will see whether you are consistent in your words and deeds and have no selfish motives!"

Immediately, he urged his warhorse onto Tianjie and headed towards Chengtian Gate.

Zheng Rentai was furious and shouted, "Master Sun Ren, don't go too far! Do you really think I dare not shoot you to death?"

"Hoohoo!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the soldiers of the Right Army Guards behind him had not made any move, but the soldiers of the Right Jinwu Guards opposite him all drew their swords and drew their muskets, holding them horizontally with murderous intent, as if they were ready to launch an attack at the command of the commander-in-chief.

At the same time, Sun Renshi rode non-stop, crossed the long street, and directly entered the army formation of the Right Army Guard, with a distance of less than ten feet from the enemy soldiers.

The guards of the right army, who were holding knives, spears, and bowstrings, were a little nervous. Naturally, they did not dare to make any moves without the order of the Marshal. But even if the Marshal really ordered to shoot Sun Renshi, would they dare to kill him?
That’s the General of the Right Jinwu Guard!

One of the sixteen generals of the Tang Dynasty’s military, he can be called the “commander-in-chief”!

Although it is a soldier's duty to obey orders, everyone understands that once the order to shoot Sun Renshi was given, Zheng Rentai's position would be self-evident. Even if he did not rebel, he must have sympathized with the rebellion or even participated in it.

That's rebellion!
He is a traitor!
Do you want to follow the Marshal in rebellion?

Even though everyone understands the principle of "the winner takes it all", no one can make a decision easily.

Zheng Rentai pursed his lips and looked at Sun Renshi who broke into his own army without hesitation. His eyes were bloodshot and he gritted his teeth, but it was difficult for him to order to shoot him.

Even the soldiers understood this truth, so how could he not understand it?
It's just that he was not afraid of the word "rebellion". Instead, once he gave the order to shoot Sun Renshi, he would be on a path of no return. He could only follow Li Shenfu to the end, with no room for maneuver.

The risk is too great...

On the opposite side, Liu Li looked at Sun Renshi's fearless back with admiration. This talented general, who had been unknown in the past but was recommended by Fang Jun and entrusted with an important task, was using his own life to test Zheng Rentai's position.

If Zheng Rentai had no intention of rebelling, he would definitely give way at this moment and allow Sun Renshi to enter the palace to rescue him.

If Zheng Rentai had already plotted a rebellion, he would definitely shoot Sun Renshi to death, and would not hesitate to go into full-scale war with the Right Jinwu Guard to buy time for his accomplices.

No matter what, we cannot continue to delay or obstruct.

Sun Renshi used his own life to break the current dilemma. Otherwise, if it continued to drag on, the palace would be in danger...

Many civil servants also reacted one after another, looking at Sun Renshi's back with complicated eyes, which had a sense of desolation as "the wind is whistling and the Yishui River is cold", tragic and majestic.

Zheng Rentai tightly grasped the hilt of the sword at his waist, staring with wide eyes at Sun Renshi who charged forward into his own formation. The soldiers, who had not received his orders, breathed a sigh of relief and moved aside as if fleeing, clearing a path like cutting through the waves...

And wasn't Zheng Rentai also relieved?
The Left Jinwu Guard has remained motionless and as steady as a rock until this moment, and Fang Jun is nowhere to be seen. In particular, the war in the East Palace has been raging and has no sign of ending, which means that Lizheng Palace is as solid as a rock and the prince is safe... All signs indicate that the situation is extremely unfavorable to Li Shenfu.

Sun Renshi's fearlessness of life and death also helped Zheng Rentai make up his mind.

However, from this moment on, his career as the Right General of the Imperial Guard might have come to an end. How could a man with ulterior motives take on the important task of guarding the capital?

Returning to Xingyang to live in seclusion in a dignified manner is the best outcome...

After letting out a sigh of relief, Zheng Rentai seemed to have aged a few years. He sat on his horse and watched Sun Renshi, Liu Li and others rush in through Chengtian Gate. He shook his head helplessly, waved his hand and ordered his officers: "Return to Anfu Gate and leave this place to the Right Jinwu Guard."

"Commander!"

The officers were stunned and refused to obey the order.

Everyone knows that something has happened in the Taiji Palace. If we can guard Chengtian Gate and protect Taiji Palace at this time, it will be a great achievement no matter what. How can we give this achievement to others in vain?
Zheng Rentai no longer had any desire to make progress. He sighed, said no more, and rode his horse westward.

Snow fell on the long streets and the palace walls were towering. From then on, he was far away from the struggle for power and ended up living a leisurely life in the mountains and rivers.

It was not a loss for him to meet a rising star like Sun Renshi who gave him a fatal blow and finally punished him for his indecisive and hesitant character.