Dayan Dynasty, 960 A.D., September 1, National Ceremony Day.
The sky is clear.
Since the founding of the country, this was the ninety-sixth time that the Dayan Dynasty had organized a grand celebration.
As the sun rose, the streets became more and more lively with pedestrians.
Everyone was unaware of anything that had happened at the Public Security Department at noon last night.
Because at this time, all the officials of the Public Security Department, under the tight control of the City Defense Force, were careful with their words and actions with each passing note they sent out.
The directive that was conveyed from the Public Security Department was that the Public Security Team must unconditionally cooperate and fully assist the City Defense Force in patrolling and 'protecting' the order within the city.
Thus far, the Public Security Department had become a puppet!
General Qin's residence.
In the hall, a middle-aged man with a stout figure and a tough face sat in the main seat.
"You said that a large number of city defense troops have appeared on the streets?"
The middle-aged man's voice was loud and powerful, and between his words and demeanor, there was a sense of iron-blooded might filled with a sense of oppression.
This person was none other than the Great Yan Dynasty's State General, Qin Xiong!
His pair of brilliant eyes gazed at the four men dressed as Vice Generals standing next to him.
Qin Yu also had a grave expression on his face at this moment, standing at the very back quietly listening.
"General, not only that, several city gates were also closed by the city defense forces this morning, prohibiting all people from entering or leaving."
The bearded vice general standing at the first place said with a composed face.
"It seems that I guessed correctly, the City Defense Army is using the power of their position to desire to completely blockade the Imperial Capital City."
Qin Xiong's thick eyebrows were slightly furrowed as he said in a deep voice, "In this way, our 100,000 Zhenbian Army stationed outside will not be able to enter the city in the first place to support us even if there is any unexpected situation within the city!"
"General, now with this kind of momentum, those bastards from the city defense army are already very obvious, why don't I send out a signal for my brothers to troop to the city and be ready at any time."
The bearded Vice General proposed with a ferocious face.
Qin Xiong stretched out his palm and said calmly, "There's no rush, if we soldier down now, it's highly likely that we'll be caught in a trap, and we'll even be backtracked on the charge of mutiny and rebellion."
"In that case, wouldn't that allow the city defense forces, who have long been eyeing the city, to find a reason and be more able to launch a mutiny in a dignified manner."
Upon hearing this, the four vice generals' faces were slightly aghast, and they immediately saluted in unison, "General is wise!"
"According to the past practice, if the City Defense Army wants to intervene in the maintenance of law and order within the city, not only do they need a military order, but also a handwritten order from the Emperor himself before they can be fully executed."
Qin Xiong's gaze was like a torch as he asked in a deep voice, "On the side of Ma Yu of the Public Security Department, can any news be transmitted?"
The bearded Vice General shook his head and said, "No. The men we sent there were all stopped halfway down the road as well."
Hearing this, a trace of coldness flashed across Qin Xiong's eyes.
The development of events was already approaching step by step just as he had guessed before.
However, even so, Qin Xiong was not able to stop it.
This situation was not because he was incapable, but because the person behind the other camp was the son of the Yan King.
If the Grand Prince did not explicitly make a mutiny, threatening the Yan King, as well as jeopardizing the foundation of the entire dynasty.
Even if it was the Great General Qin Xiong, he could not openly confront the Great Prince.
Otherwise, it would be committing a crime from below.
Therefore, Qin Xiong must wait.
And this, too, was a strategy that Grand Imperial Prince Yan Peng had anticipated.
He knew very well that as long as he didn't actually initiate a mutiny, Qin Xiong couldn't do anything to him at all.
And at that time, once the mutiny was launched, then it would be a situation where the forces of the Grand Prince's camp, were in full control.
"Father, are we proceeding as planned next?"
Qin Yu stood out and asked solemnly.
At this time, he had changed from his usual hangdog self, that strict, calm demeanor, quite the flavor of a general's style.
"Well, His Majesty has the Underworld Pavilion Organization secretly protecting him, nothing should happen."
Qin Xiong blandly said, "Then ... let's set off."
As the voice fell, the crowd walked out of the hall.
The three hundred elites who had been waiting in the compound immediately followed towards the Qin Mansion's gate.
These people, all of them were carefully selected elites from the Zhenbian Army.
Each person's eyes, essence flickered, and they were covered in a murderous aura!
...
The center square, backed by the eastern wall of the palace.
It was the largest square in the Imperial Capital City, and even the entire Great Yan Dynasty, bar none.
That vast area was enough to accommodate hundreds of thousands of people visiting.
The streets on both sides were wide and narrow, and the floors were all paved with green granite, which was flat and sturdy, and could be used for military parades of tens of thousands of soldiers.
On every day of celebration, the central square was the royal place where the event was held, and it was bustling with activity.
The east wall of the palace, on the other hand, was set up as a huge high platform.
Only high-ranking officials and dignitaries of the court, as well as princes and nobles, were qualified to enter, and then witness King Yan's personal presence to preside over the celebration ceremony.
At this time, around the square, there was already a sea of people, and on the periphery of the streets on both sides, there were still quite a number of cities that were arriving one after another, forming a long queue.
This kind of horrible popularity, sound boiling!
On the high platform of the Imperial City, at this time, there were also quite a number of nobles and celebrities gathered, as well as palace officials.
However, these people, when they went out early in the morning and saw the city defense forces appearing on the streets, they more or less knew some hidden information.
Now that they were standing on the high platform, most of them had a worried look in their eyes, very different from the ordinary people who were immersed in the joyful atmosphere of the square below.
At this moment, Qin Xiong walked up to the platform with his head held high as he was guided by the palace maids.
He, who had served as a general for many years, had a majestic aura, causing those guards and maids underneath to slightly lower their heads, not daring to look at him.
As for Qin Yu, there were also those four vice generals, after entering the palace, they disappeared without a trace and secretly launched their operations according to the plan.
"General Qin has come."
Seeing Qin Xiong's arrival, those palace officials and celebrity nobles, immediately brightened up.
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For a while, they flocked over and said something complimentary.
"Everyone, today is the day of our Great Yan Dynasty's celebration, and as it has gone smoothly in the past, it will be the same today."
Qin Xiong waved his hand and said in a deep voice.
The meaning of his words was undoubtedly as clear as a mirror in everyone's mind, and it was as if they had eaten a tranquilizer pill at that moment.
Throughout the generations, Qin's General House, not only the great achievements, but also the most important point is the loyal officials and good generals.
As long as he was there, as well as the 100,000 Zhenbian Army stationed outside the Imperial Capital, it felt as if no matter how big things were, they would be able to calm down.
"Elder brother Qin, it's been a long time, you're still as formidable as you were back then."
At this moment, a bright laughter rang out.
However, he saw that it was a middle-aged man wearing a black brocade coat, with long black hair, revealing a bit of debauchery.
And behind him, Gu Yunle followed closely like a good son.
Obviously, this black-robed middle-aged man was his old man, Gu Lie.
As Gu Lie walked, those high-ranking officials and nobles who were originally clustered around Qin Xiong were slightly shocked, and then their faces were rather reverent as they dispersed one after another.
As everyone knew, the Gu Clan was the most powerful ancient martial arts family in the Great Yan Dynasty.
Its power was located in the northern territory of the dynasty, with an extremely wide area, just like a country within a country.
Although the Gu Clan's territory belonged to the jurisdiction of the Dayan Dynasty on the map, it was completely out of control more than three hundred years ago.
Because of the ancient family heirlooms, every generation of children are outstanding, and even more than three hundred years ago there was a member of the clan who had transcended the Nine Realms and reached the terrifying level of the Holy Realm.
With those Ancient Clan powerhouses sitting in their territories, the successive kings of the Great Yan Dynasty had never mobilized their armies to truly control the Ancient Clan's territories, even though they were ambitious.
"Ancient disciple, I can't imagine that you really came over to join the celebration, why didn't you say a word to me in advance."
Seeing Gu Lie walk in, Qin Xiong's rigid face instantly revealed a smirk.
Immediately, he took a big step forward and directly embraced Gu Lie with both hands.
The feelings of the two seemed to be non-trivial.
"I know that you have been busy with military affairs lately, even if I notify you in advance, how can I have the time to entertain me."
Gu Lie laughed meaningfully, "When you're done with your busy schedule today, we'll get drunk again."
"Good."
Qin Xiong patted Gu Lie's shoulder, knowing that the latter was also an understanding person.
However, the Gu Clan had always adhered to an ancestral tradition, which was that it would not interfere in the power disputes of the Imperial Family.
The person who claimed the title of Emperor as long as he belonged to the Yan Clan lineage, then no matter which one it was, they acquiesced and maintained a neutral situation.
"Uncle Qin, didn't the oldest two come?"
Gu Yunle looked around, seeing no sign of Qin Yu, he couldn't help but ask.
"Lao Er?"
Qin Xiong was slightly surprised, his gaze strangely looking at Gu Yunle.
Regarding the fact that the four of them had formed a bond, it was obvious that he was not yet aware of it, nor did he know that the second in line was Qin Yu.
Only then did Gu Yunle realize that he had addressed Qin Yu out of habit.
"Yunle, who is the second in line you are talking about?"
Gu Lie glanced at Gu Yunle and asked suspiciously.
"It's like this ..."
Gu Yunle heatedly smiled, then told the matter of his private friendship with Lin Hao, Lei Meng and Qin Yu.
After hearing that, Qin Xiong and Gu Lie couldn't help but glance at each other.
Immediately, both of them laughed.
It seemed that they were not averse to the younger generation's ties of worship.
"It turns out that your boss is the Tianyan Academy's martial dao wizard, Lin Hao, who has gained a lot of fame in the past few years."
Gu Lie laughed and looked squarely at Gu Yun'er.
That pleased gaze was as if for the first time, he felt that his own son, after all, had done something extremely right and great.
Qin Xiong also praised, "I've heard some rumors about Lin Hao's deeds when I was at the border, he is indeed a rare talent."
"It's a pity that he prefers freedom as a person and doesn't want to be constrained."
Speaking of this, Qin Xiong let out a sigh of emotion, "Even for this celebration, he refused the Fourth Highness's invitation and didn't come to participate."
"Elder brother Qin, you're wrong in saying that."
Beside him, Gu Lie laughed and shook his finger, saying meaningfully, "I think Lin Hao's choice was a smart one, so as not to get strung up in this mess and get into trouble."
Hearing this, Qin Xiong smiled without saying anything, but he also knew what the so-called muddy water was.
Just like Gu Lie, although he had come to participate in the celebration this time, but if a coup were to really occur, if the interests of the Gu Clan were not touched, he was afraid that he would be like a spectator, choosing to sit back and watch.
However, just as they were talking about Lin Hao.
Unbeknownst to them, at this moment, Lin Hao, as well as the many members of the Underworld Pavilion, were still trapped in the formation inside the Golden Sea Pavilion.
"It's already dawn."
Lin Hao's eyes slightly condensed as he looked at the skylight above his head.
Although he couldn't hear the movements of the outside world under the isolation of the formation, by time, there was almost only half an hour left before the celebration was officially held.
Immediately, his gaze turned to the formation's light shield, and the energy flowing from the runes was clearly weakened by a large margin.
However, if he wanted to break the formation, according to the current progress, it would take at least an hour.
And after a whole night of furious attacking and pounding, the assassins present in the Underworld Pavilion, even though they had their turns and rested, one by one, they all gradually appeared to be tired.
"Forget it, it's better to wait and see what happens first."
Lin Hao hesitated in his heart for a while, and then dismissed the idea of taking out the talisman puppet beasts to help break the formation.
The four Rune Puppet Beasts were considered his life-saving cards nowadays, and if anything happened, he could still get them out to block them.
At this time, the trapped formation was not dangerous, and he felt that there was no need to expose the power of his bottom card.
"Don't rest, all of us will mobilize our strength and fight for time to break the formation to protect His Majesty!"
Seeing that the sky had already dawned, Dark Eagle, Feng Ming and Long Jiu, the three leaders of their group, were obviously unable to remain calm any longer.
At that moment, all the members of the Underworld Pavilion, regrouped, and a martial arts attack swept out, concentrating their strength towards the position of the array eye in a frantic onslaught.
Bang Bang Bang ...!!!
For a time, violent concussive sounds resounded even more intensely.
The speed at which the formation's light shield dimmed became significantly faster, undoubtedly shrinking by half.
However, with this level of intense consumption, later on, even if the formation was broken, this group of Underground Pavilion assassins, I'm afraid that they wouldn't have much battle power left.
Half an hour later.
As the sun shone on the high platform in the center square, a loud and clear sound of bells and drums resounded melodiously.
The golden gate on the eastern wall of the palace slowly opened.
The once-in-a-decade celebration ceremony was finally officially opened!
After the gates were completely opened, a team of palace imperial guards in gold and red armor, riding black steeds, appeared in the countless spectators' line of sight at an even speed.
This was followed by the palace's honor guard, each of them strong and powerful, holding up various types of musical instruments and blowing the music from the founding ceremony back then, instantly igniting the atmosphere of the scene.
"Long live the Great Yan Dynasty!"
"Long live the Yan King!!!"
The civilians on the square were emotionally charged, cheering slogans loudly.
And then, the music of the honor guard stopped.
In its place, a sound of drums and hammers ...
Dang! Dang! Dong ...!!!
The heavy and extremely rhythmic drum beats were like thunder in spreading throughout the entire center square!
As the sound of the drums spread far and wide, the audience seemed to have an excellent tacit understanding and immediately stopped clamoring.
The officials on the platform, as well as the king's relatives and nobles, have risen solemnly.
Because everyone knew that according to the traditional rituals of the celebration, once the drums sounded, it meant that the Yan King had appeared!
Moreover, the drums also had their own flavor.
Every time it sounded, it symbolized a decade.
Now that the Great Yan Dynasty had been founded for 960 years, the drums had to be beaten ninety-six times!
Dang! Dang! Dang! ...
Just like that, when the ninety-six drumbeats were finished, the supreme ruler of the Dayan Dynasty, the current ruler, King Yan, finally made his appearance.
The officials and ministers on the high platform, the people in the plaza, all of them had all risen to their feet and stood up and faced the gates of the imperial city, bending slightly.
With a respectful etiquette, they greeted their king.