mtlumby2d Chapter 1781 Out of control!
Chapter 1781 Out of control!
Chen Pin's expression finally changed completely. The disguised doubts and grievances receded like the tide, leaving only shock and the paleness of being seen through.
His last bit of hope was completely shattered by Liu Xiu's words.
Not only did the other party know that he was setting an ambush, they even knew the method and location of his ambush, as well as his inner hesitation!
Liu Xiu no longer gave him a chance to think, his voice suddenly became extremely sharp, like a sword drawn from its sheath:
"No! You understand! Prime Minister Chen Pin, you mobilized your imperial guards here and laid a dragnet. Aren't you just waiting for me to enter the city so you can capture me and all the loyal and righteous people in one fell swoop?"
He waved his hand suddenly, pointing around: "Now, I am here! I am standing right in front of you! If you don't take action, don't blame me--"
A cold light flashed in his eyes: "It's better to strike first!"
The last five words, like cold arrows, pierced through Chen Pin's last psychological defense.
It's over! It's all over! The plan has been completely exposed!
Since Liu Xiu dared to expose it in person, he must have been fully prepared!
If I don't take action now, once he takes the initiative to attack, I won't even have a chance to resist!
We can only fight to the death, and perhaps we can win in the chaos by relying on the advantage of numbers!
In a flash, countless thoughts flashed through Chen Pin's mind, and were eventually replaced by desperate madness.
The respect and humility on his face disappeared without a trace in an instant, replaced by a ferocious and resolute cruelty!
He took a step back suddenly, as if to stay away from Liu Xiu's sharp edge. At the same time, he used all his strength to roar heartbreakingly, his voice becoming sharp and distorted due to extreme tension and excitement:
"Prince Liu Xiu of Chenliu! He murdered his clan members and framed Prince Qinghe! He has evil ambitions and intends to usurp the throne! Such a disloyal, unfilial, unkind, and unjust person, the Han Dynasty must not fall into his hands!"
"Where are the Imperial Guards?! Capture this traitor! Life or death!"
Xiao Yan, the Zhaowu school lieutenant who had already prepared himself, now knew that there was no way out. He immediately rushed out from the ranks of the officials, sword drawn, and shouted in a loud and murderous voice:
"The Imperial Guards are here! Following the Prime Minister's orders! Execute the traitor Liu Xiu!"
"kill!!!"
It was as if the gates of hell had opened!
In an instant, countless imperial guards wearing helmets and armor, holding spears and sharp blades, surged out like a tide from the deep city gate, from the soldiers' hiding corridors on both sides of the city wall, and even from behind the welcoming team of officials!
They had obviously been lying in ambush for a long time, and when they received the order, they immediately showed their ferocious fangs!
The bright sunlight shone on their cold iron armor and sharp gun tips, reflecting a chilling light.
The sound of heavy footsteps, the clashing of armor, and the shouts of killing that reached the sky instantly replaced the previous silence. The terrifying murderous aura spread, turning the entire area outside the Suzaku Gate into a huge killing trap!
Three thousand well-trained imperial guards, like an ever-tightening iron barrel formation, instantly surrounded Liu Xiu, Huo Guang and their thousand soldiers!
The spears were like a forest, the swords were like snow, and all the sharp blades were pointing at the young prince on the white horse in the center.
Had the civil and military officials who had just intended to surrender ever seen such a scene?
They were already scared out of their wits, screaming and running away in all directions, pushing and trampling on each other, in chaos, just wanting to get away from this place of trouble that was about to turn into a Shura field.
The situation is completely out of control!
Chen Pin, escorted by his trusted family generals, retreated to the rear of the Imperial Guards. His face flushed with excitement and fear. He pointed at Liu Xiu, who was surrounded by enemies, and shouted sternly:
"Liu Xiu! Don't be so arrogant! You only have a thousand exhausted soldiers with you, while I command three thousand elite imperial guards! Today is the day you die! Kill me!"
Faced with heavy encirclement inside and outside, and facing enemies that are several times larger than themselves and well-equipped, the cold and fierce military force is almost within reach.
Huo Guang and his soldiers instantly contracted their formation and protected Liu Xiu tightly in the center. Everyone had a solemn look on their faces and gripped their weapons tightly, preparing for a bloody battle that was destined to be extremely brutal.
However, Liu Xiu, who was at the center of the storm, did not show any panic on his face.
He didn't even look at the murderous imperial guards around him. His gaze still penetrated the crowd and fell on the ferocious face of Chen Pin in the distance.
Instead, that elusive, indifferent smile reappeared on the corner of his mouth, as if he had anticipated this decisive situation.
He spoke softly, his voice not loud, but strangely, amidst the deafening shouting and killing, his words reached Chen Pin's ears clearly:
"Oh? Three thousand imperial guards? Prime Minister, is that all you have?"
When these words were spoken, not only was Chen Pin stunned, but even the extremely tense atmosphere around him seemed to stagnate.
It has come to this point, why can he still be so calm?
Even... with a hint of contempt?
Liu Xiu's calmness formed an extremely strong contrast with the tense and desperate situation around him, which cast a deeper layer of uneasiness and doubt on everyone's heart.
The crisis has arrived and the killing is inevitable, but the outcome seems far from certain.
Although Chen Pin felt a sinking feeling in his heart at Liu Xiu's unusual calmness, the arrow was already on the string and he could not afford to lose the upper hand in momentum.
He suppressed his suspicion and let out a cold laugh, amplifying his voice to ensure that every frightened official and murderous soldier around him could hear it clearly:
"Prince Chenliu! Now that things have come to this, you are trapped in a jar, unable to escape! Why continue to bluff?"
He stepped forward, pointed at Liu Xiu and his subordinates who were surrounded by enemies, and spoke with a tone of consolation and threat that sounded like he was sure of victory:
"Since you are of royal blood, I will give you one last chance. If you immediately order your soldiers to lay down their weapons and surrender, I may, for the sake of the late emperor, petition the empress dowager to spare your life!"
He paused, his eyes becoming even more sinister, and his voice becoming sharper: "If you insist on resisting, don't blame me for being ruthless!"
"Swords have no eyes. Outside the Suzaku Gate is where you will die! Prince Chenliu, I'm afraid you won't make it through this test today!"
Faced with this naked threat of death, Liu Xiu did not look at the shouting Chen Pin, but slowly raised his eyes.
That gaze, as cold as substance, passed over the glaring spears and halberds and swept towards the civil and military officials who were huddled outside the encirclement, trembling and at a loss.
His voice was steady and clear, with an unquestionable power that struck everyone's heart:
"My Lords, have you seen clearly? This is the Prime Minister's last resort."
He paused briefly, giving everyone a moment to digest the situation, and then posed a soul-searching question:
"Now, it's time for you to make a decision."
"Do you support the Prime Minister and have me executed right here, or... do you support me and have this traitor who forged the imperial edict and disrupted government, and surrounded and murdered my relatives?"