You can't only love the Qing Dynasty when you're eating the fruits of others' labor.

Chapter 56: The Plain Blue Banner fights to the death against the Qing and restores the Ming; the Two Yellow Banners fight to the death.

The sound of drums awakened everyone in the southern part of the city.

This is no ordinary drumbeat; it's an emergency troop mobilization drumbeat!

The Five Cities Military Command has many garrisons, with three military camps in the inner city and four military camps in the southern city.

According to Chiang Kai-shek's military orders, once the drums sounded to signal the start of the troop assembly, all soldiers were required to immediately don their armor and, under the command of their officers, quickly move towards the South City Military Command.

The scouts must leave the camp immediately.

If any of the camps in the South City fail to reach the South City Military Command within 2 quarters of an hour, all officers below the commander level shall be executed.

……

Inside the flower hall.

Green Pearl's movements as she donned her armor were skillful and calm, clearly indicating she had practiced a lot.

Wan Chun held a plate of snacks and was responsible for feeding the young master.

Jiang Qingyun stood still, arms outstretched, chewing incessantly, his mind constantly racing.

There's going to be a war!

They must have ample energy and be fully equipped with armor.

"Husband, something's happened?"

Jiangnan hurried in, already dressed in armor, with a bow and arrows at his side and a long spear in his hand.

Jiang Qingyun swallowed the lard cake in her mouth and spoke rapidly:
"There's unrest in the inner city, but I don't know the specifics. I'm going to lead troops to quell the rebellion. You stay here in the manor. After I leave, everyone in the manor will be under your command. Anyone who causes trouble, kill them."

Before leaving the mansion, Jiangnan couldn't help but give him some instructions:

"Brother, you must protect the adults."

"The ship is with us, or we die."

Jiang Bei's attitude remained unchanged; the professional ethics of bodyguards were not just empty words.

……

"My lord, please speak."

Zhao Zesheng leaned closer, wanting to discuss it.

Jiang Qingyun's expression remained unchanged.

I'm an 18-year-old veteran of the government with 20 years of work experience. I know when to be blind, when to be stupid, and when to be ruthless, without any ambiguity.

How can we assume now that it was a mutiny by the Plain Blue Banner?
Isn't this just because they think they're not close enough to the vortex?
I must feel lost right now, extremely lost.

"Commander Zhao, wait for the scouts to return and don't make any wild guesses now."

"As ordered."

……

Patrol soldiers arrived one after another; having many warhorses was advantageous, as it allowed the army to move quickly.

Under Chiang Kai-shek's banner, the number of soldiers is increasing.

Everyone craned their necks to look north, where they saw black smoke billowing into the sky behind the majestic Zhengyangmen Arrow Tower, and the sound of cannons rising one after another.

Who's fighting whom?
Has the Forbidden City fallen?
Many people are asking why we are not providing assistance now?

Jiang Qingyun remained silent, wanting to see if anyone would jump out and criticize his command today; if so, he would behead them on the spot.

The leader's authority cannot tolerate the slightest provocation.

In the distance~
The scouts finally returned, and the riders, anxious, galloped their horses, kicking up clouds of snow.

……

Donghua Gate.

Sharp arrows pierced the chests of the two yellow-flag guards, and cold blades sliced ​​through the imposing yellow jackets.

The Zhenglan Banner has already captured Donghua Gate and is now besieging Wenhua Hall.

The doors and windows of Wenhua Hall were all blocked off, and a group of imperial guards stood guard inside, constantly shooting arrows at the rebel soldiers of the Plain Blue Banner.

"Heavy infantry, charge!"

A group of soldiers with braids, wearing double-layered blue cotton armor, bent over, raised their shields, and charged forward, followed by a large number of lightly armored archers.

Close-range firefight.

Bow against bow.

The once imposing imperial guards were being slaughtered one after another.

Although the yellow jacket looked imposing, it couldn't stop the arrows. Fighting a heavily armored opponent with no armor was like Liu Shita fighting Jiang Qingyun – she was completely overwhelmed.

My knee was pressed down onto my shoulder.

A second-class guard, wounded in the lung by an arrow, coughed up blood and mumbled, "Two yellow flags, fight to the death!"

These people risked their lives to buy precious time.

The fully armed imperial guards finally arrived at the battlefield, bringing with them several Western-made cannons.

The Forbidden City is fully armed, with dozens of cannons stored in its archives. Today's attack was mainly due to the surprise attack by the Plain Blue Banner.

Near the Wenhua Hall, the sounds of battle were deafening, and blood and flesh flew everywhere.

……

Emperor Shunzhi and his ministers had already moved to the inner court, and the guards had temporarily set up barricades in front of the Qianqing Gate.

Empress Xiaozhuang has finally appeared!
This woman is no ordinary person; she captivated everyone the moment she appeared.

“Ao Bai.” “Yes, Your Majesty.”

"Go and command the repelling of the rebels. You must defend the three main halls. No matter what, the three main halls cannot be lost; they represent the dignity of the imperial court."

"Whoo."

Ao Bai mounted his horse and charged toward the Wenhua Hall.

……

Sony.

"The slave is here."

"You will leave the palace through the Shenwu Gate, mobilize troops to defend the emperor, and surround the rebels. This is a matter of great importance; you will take the imperial seal to mobilize the troops."

"The slave obeys."

Sony was overwhelmed with emotion. Trust, absolutely trust. Without the Imperial Seal, he might not have been able to mobilize the elite cavalry, the largest force in the inner city.

……

"Fan Wencheng".

"The minister is here."

“Go out through Xihua Gate and mobilize the troops from the Five Cities Garrison to garrison the Six Ministries. They are the closest to the government offices.”

"My minister obeys."

……

“Nikan, Yuele”.

"The slave is here."

"You two go out from Shenwu Gate and take control of the nine gates of the capital. No city gate shall be opened without orders. Open the side gate of Zhengyang Gate and let the reinforcements from the Five Cities Garrison in."

"Whoo."

The two princes were so obedient, they were like servants.

……

"Proclamation to the Forbidden City: all palace gates must remain closed. Any reinforcements arriving from anywhere must wait outside the palace. Anyone who attempts to force their way into the palace will be rewarded with a shot."

"Open the armory and distribute weapons. Anyone who takes up a sword or spear and stands here today, whether a palace maid, eunuch, or imperial chef, will be rewarded according to their merits afterward."

"Your Majesty and I are here, awaiting your triumphant return."

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

The crowd was filled with excitement and shouted in unison.

Strangely enough, everyone was full of confidence, and smiles even appeared on their faces.

……

The Imperial Guards were few in number, but they had cannons.

The Zhenglan Banner rebels were numerous, but lacked firearms.

The Grand Minister of the Imperial Guard, Ao Bai, was even more ferocious. Wearing three layers of heavy armor, he charged continuously, losing two warhorses in the process, and finally recaptured the Wenhua Hall.

He was covered in blood, brandishing his knife and roaring:

"fire."

Several iron balls crashed into the tight shield formation of the Zhenglan Banner, sending limbs flying.

"rush!"

Ao Bai took the lead, and with his personal guards, he fiercely suppressed the Plain Blue Banner.

……

"What if we can't take the Forbidden City?"

A colonel shouted, clutching his injured arm.

"Even if I die, I'll take as many people down with me. I'm going to the Six Ministries to kill people, who's coming with me?"

Korkun stepped forward and led a group of men to take a shortcut along the Tongzi River towards the Six Ministries.

The guards at the Meridian Gate hurriedly used their bows and arrows to block the retreat, but to little effect. They could only watch helplessly as hundreds of rebel soldiers headed towards the Six Ministries, unable to open the palace gates to rescue them.

After Korkun left.

The old Zuo Ling who had been recounting the feud between the Aisin Gioro and the Plain Blue Banner in the teahouse that day also stepped forward.

Old ginger is spicier, and old people are more yin.

The old man's voice was like that of Jia Xu the moment he opened his mouth.

"The Regent is dead, and those two white flags have become the obedient dogs of the two yellow flags. Four Niru, come with me to drag them down with you."

……

Ao Bai, who had regained control of Donghua Gate, witnessed an unbelievable scene.

He grabbed a guard.

"Look at that flag, what does it say?"

"It seems to be about overthrowing the Qing and restoring the Ming!"

"Overthrow the Qing and restore the Ming?!" Ao Bai trembled with rage. "They've rebelled! They've really rebelled! Kill them all! Slaughter all these unfilial descendants of the Plain Blue Banner!"

(End of this chapter)