Chapter 605: Conspiracy to usurp the throne
As the saying goes, a good general is the courage of his soldiers. When Zhao Heng picked up the sword and rushed forward, the people in the imperial guards were greatly encouraged, and then some of them followed Zhao Heng and rushed forward.

This scene left the civil servants present dumbfounded. How come the emperor seemed like a different person?

However, Ke Zheng's eyes lit up, but soon dimmed again. He looked worriedly at the rebels who had already attacked the gate of the imperial city, fearing that everything was already too late.

But it must be said that Zhao Heng's sudden outburst stunned this group of civil servants and imperial guards.

However, at this time, there were already some sporadic rebels charging towards this side, and seeing his own guards being chased and killed by the rebels and fleeing everywhere, Zhao Heng secretly cursed them as trash.

Then he raised his bloody sword high, imitated the generals charging at the time of the Chanyuan Alliance, and shouted loudly:
"Soldiers, the time has come to defend our country. Follow me and kill these rebels!"

"For every rebel head I take, I'll give him a promotion. For every five rebels I kill, I'll give him a title."

"Kill!" Zhao Heng didn't know whether these words had a morale-boosting effect on the soldiers.

But he was as excited as if he had been injected with chicken blood. After he finished speaking, he rushed forward with his sword in hand. But halfway through the run, he realized something was wrong.

Looking back, he saw only a dozen people following him and rushing over. Then, seeing that the main group did not move, they stopped instantly.

Because the rebels were already close at hand, and at this time there were thousands of imperial guards following Zhao Heng, Finn pointed his weapons at Zhao Heng.

When the group of upright people saw this, they all knelt down and begged for mercy.

Even though these scholars are usually weak and lazy, they surrendered faster than anyone else at this time.

Zhao Heng was dumbfounded when he saw this. The imperial guards who were protecting him rebelled at the critical moment, and this group of scholars immediately surrendered.

"You, you bunch!" Zhao Heng wanted to say you bunch of beasts, but when he saw the knives in their hands, he wisely changed his words and said, "Why did you betray me?"

However, the leader of the imperial guards ignored Zhao Heng's suggestion and just shook his head and said:

"Surround them~, don't let the officials escape!"

······
"Kill!"

"The dog emperor is right in front of us!" At this time, the rebels had already reached Zhao Heng and surrounded him.

"Hahaha, it really was effortless. I didn't expect that I could get it with the power of Conglong!"

The speaker was a burly general. He came up to Zhao Heng with a big laugh and said:
"Sir, I am sorry for the offense!"

"Marquis of Jiaxing?" Zhao Heng recognized the man at a glance.

Like Lin Hao, he is one of the four commanders of the Four Military Camps (Fen, Yao, Lian, Xian) of the Western Suburbs Camp appointed by him personally. These Four Military Camps, Four Wei Camps and Four Yong Camps together form the Twelve Regiments.

These twelve regiments led a total of 300,000 guards to defend the capital. Previously, Gao Hu had taken away 50,000 troops to reinforce the border, and later Lin Hao took away 100,000 troops.

In other words, there were still 150,000 troops in Bian Jing, but Zhao Heng also knew that these 150,000 troops were the remaining old, weak, sick and disabled.

After all, such things as eating empty salaries and sucking the blood of soldiers are not uncommon, but even so, it is no problem to mobilize 50,000 elite troops.

Moreover, after being reminded by the Queen, he ordered the selection of elite troops to supplement the 12th Regiment Camp. Gao Hu and Jiaxing Hou were selected by him personally in an attempt to regain control of the East and West Camps from Lin Hao.

When Emperor Taizong Zhao Guangyi was in power, he was afraid that the Zhao family would repeat the mistakes of the Chai family of the Later Zhou Dynasty, so he first divided the 300,000 imperial guards who protected the capital into two large camps in the east and west.

Then it was further divided into twelve camps, namely Four Wu, Four Wei, and Four Yong, and each camp was controlled by a commander. Each commander led an army, and they were independent of each other and checked and restrained each other.

To prevent someone from becoming powerful enough to threaten the Zhao family's country and its people.

Before his death, Zhao Guangyi specifically instructed Zhao Heng to be cautious when selecting the commanders of the twelve battalions and not to let them become too united.

It is necessary to select those who have conflicts with each other or those who are one's own confidants, and Zhao Heng did so as well.

The Marquis of Jiaxing was an old minister of Zhao Heng's palace, but he didn't expect that he would be the first one to betray him!
"Marquis Jiaxing, I have treated you and your group well, why did you rebel and betray me?" Zhao Heng asked with a grim face.

"Why did you betray me?" Jiaxing Hou sneered and said, "You really wronged me!"

Then Jiaxing Hou said harshly:
"Ever since I supported your Zhao family to wear the yellow robe and seize the world, your Zhao family has been suppressing the military commanders openly and covertly, and the civil officials even regard us as enemies!"

Jiaxing Hou shrugged his shoulders with a helpless expression. Since you Zhao family are not human, then why should we hesitate?
In fact, if he had a choice, he would not want to rebel. After all, his family was already one of the top wealthy families in the Song Dynasty.

But the Queen personally summoned all twelve commanders together and told them clearly that she already controlled 80% of the troops in the capital.

Back then, the yellow robes worn by the Zhao family were put on with the help of these military generals. Since the Zhao family treated them like this, they should take off the Zhao family's yellow robes themselves!

The purpose of her summoning them was to seize the Zhao family's kingdom. After the success, she would definitely support the military generals to achieve a balance between civil and military affairs and each perform their duties.

Since the queen dared to say it clearly, it meant she was absolutely sure. Moreover, at that time, Queen Liu Wan was in control of the government, and Zhao Heng hid in the harem all day long and refused to see anyone.

There were rumors outside that Zhao Heng's health was failing and his death was not far away.

At that time, Marquis Jiaxing was still considering whether to agree or not. However, before he could make a decision, the family that had helped Zhao Kuangyin to wear the yellow robe stood up to support the Queen's enthronement.

How could he dare to hesitate any longer at this point? In this matter, he would either be a carnivore or a lamb to be slaughtered and eaten!

At this time, Zhao Heng's urge to smoke came back again. He kept yawning and wanted to take a puff.

But in the current situation, I can only force myself to say:

"Marquis Jiaqing, don't be too happy too soon. My Song Dynasty still has loyal ministers. Just wait. It won't be long before someone will lead the heavenly army to rescue you!"

"When the time comes, all of you rebels will lose your heads and your entire family will be executed!"

"Haha, the emperor is talking about Gao Hu, right? I'm afraid you don't know that the one who attacked the city was General Gao Hu!" Marquis Jiaxing said with a sneer.

"Gao Hu also betrayed me?" Zhao Heng looked at Marquis Jiaxing in confusion, his face full of disbelief. Gao Hu was Concubine Xian's brother and one of the people he trusted the most!

"Hahaha, you foolish emperor!" Jiaxing Hou seemed to know something happy, and then said with a smile:

"I'm afraid you still don't know who started the rebellion!"

"You deserve to be usurped as an emperor!"

At this time, Zhao Heng remembered that the Zhao family really didn't know who started the rebellion, and then asked angrily: "Tell me, who is it, who is behind you, who is plotting to usurp the throne~!"

Zhao Heng was not a fool. Even if he had a hundred times the courage, he would not dare to usurp the throne even if he had a hundred times the courage.

Then he thought of Lin Hao, who was once so powerful, and asked again:
"Is it Marquis Jing'an?
But then Zhao Heng denied it. After all, Lin Hao was currently fighting with the Liao Kingdom and it was impossible for him to come back to lead the rebellion.

Therefore, there must be someone behind him. Who else but Lin Hao has the strength to rebel now? After all, even Gao Hu betrayed him.

But apart from them, there were two others who could raise the banner of rebellion, so they blurted out:
"Could it be my two good brothers?" Then Zhao Heng suddenly realized: "Only his two brothers can do such a thing!"

After all, their Zhao family had done everything for the throne. The famous "Candle Shadow and Axe Sound" was done by his father Zhao Guangyi.

Therefore, it would not be surprising if there were one or two more people in the Zhao family who rebelled for the throne.

However, Marquis Jiaxing just looked at him with a sneer, and Zhao Heng immediately knew that he might have guessed wrong.

Then he couldn't help muttering to himself:

"It can't be the Queen, right? If you say it was Consort Xian who rebelled, he would believe it. After all, Gao Hu did rebel, but it's impossible for the Queen to rebel!"

"You're right, it's me!" Liu Wan said calmly, as if she was talking about something that had nothing to do with her.

At this time, Queen Liu Wan was dressed in military uniform and was surrounded by a group of nobles as she slowly walked towards this side.

"Queen you~!" Zhao Heng looked at his queen Liu Wan in astonishment.

Even though the queen appeared in front of him in military uniform, Zhao Heng still didn't believe that it was Liu Wan who planned the rebellion.

Even when Liu Wan herself admitted it, Zhao Heng still found it difficult to accept it. He was so good to Liu Wan that he even handed over the affairs of state to Liu Wan despite opposition from all the civil and military officials in the court.

With this trust, the woman he trusted the most actually rebelled against him. How could Zhao Heng accept this?

"There is no point in talking any more. Today's events must eventually come to an end!"

Liu Wan interrupted Zhao Heng who seemed to be talking. Without even needing to listen further, Liu Wan knew what Zhao Heng wanted to say.

It was nothing more than questioning her about rebellion, and she was too lazy to explain.

The rebellion has already begun, and she is only one step away from the throne of the emperor, so there is no need to ask the reason!

Liu Wan said expressionlessly:
"I will give you two choices. First, you take the initiative to abdicate to me. I will keep the bloodline of the Zhao family unbroken for the sake of our relationship as husband and wife!"

"Secondly, I will be branded as someone who plotted to usurp the throne, but if that happens, it will be difficult for me to preserve the bloodline of your Zhao family."

"Please consider this carefully!" Liu Wan looked at Zhao Heng expressionlessly.

"Let me abdicate the throne to you!" Zhao Heng said subconsciously, but halfway through his words he suddenly realized something.

"Wait, what did the Queen say? You want me to abdicate the throne to you?"

"You actually carried out the old deeds of Wu Zhou. Aren't you afraid of being despised by the people of the world?" At this moment, Zhao Heng felt terrible.

Why did he trust Liu Wan so much and dare to hand over all government affairs to Liu Wan? It was because Liu Wan did not have the conditions to usurp the throne.

Behind Wu Zetian's establishment of the Wu Zhou Dynasty, there was at least the Wu family, which was not doing well.

But what does Liu Wan have? She doesn’t even have any relatives, just a foster brother Liu Mei.

As a woman, how could she ensure the inheritance of the throne in the future? She couldn't successfully usurp the throne and then pass the throne to her brother's son, right?
Or, Liu Wan returns the Song Dynasty to the Zhao family, but by then his son Zhao Zhen will have plenty of ways to control Liu Wan!
The problem is that Liu Wan is already second only to the emperor, and usurping the throne is totally a loss-making thing. There is no need for her to rebel, so why bother with so much effort to usurp the throne?
"Is it not possible?" Liu Wan said with a faint smile:

"Why can't I do what Wu Zhao could do? Besides, I am still very interested in becoming an empress!"

"Puff~!" Zhao Heng was so angry that he spat out a mouthful of blood. Then his eyes turned black and he fainted.

However, at the moment he fainted, he was still thinking in his mind that this was a dream, just a dream, and when I wake up again, everything will return to normal.

Not to mention Zhao Heng who fainted from anger, everyone present at this moment opened their mouths in shock.

Afterwards, a group of civil and military officials followed Liu Wan to the main hall, where many civil and military officials had already gathered.

Liu Wan sat directly on the dragon throne, and many officials below looked at her in surprise. Many officials in the court knew nothing about the rebellion today.

That's why they were so surprised to see Liu Wan sitting on the dragon throne.

Then Liu Wan waved her hand, and immediately the imperial guards tied up all the civil servants and brought them in front of Liu Wan.

At this time, Liu Wan simply explained the matter and immediately gained the full support of the generals, who all made friends with Liu Wan.

"My lords, are you willing to submit to me?" Liu Wan didn't waste any words and asked the civil servants directly.

Lin Hao had told him before that most of these clean civil servants are the kind of people who only respond to hard measures and not soft ones.

As long as a knife is placed on their necks, they will immediately support her to become the empress.

Therefore, Liu Wan’s idea was very simple. As long as this group of upright people were willing to surrender, she didn’t care whether they were sincere or fake.

He would use anyone who was capable of working for him. He would use anyone, even someone like Ke Xiang.

As long as she can temporarily stabilize the political situation, once she has control over all military and political power, she will naturally have plenty of ways to deal with these people.

However, Liu Wan's words instantly made this group of clean civil servants swell up.

They knew that no matter who was the emperor, it would ultimately require scholars like them to govern the world.

At this time, the Queen wanted something from them, so they had to take advantage of her. However, everyone was not stupid, and no one was willing to be the first to speak up.

So after Liu Wan finished asking, these upright civil servants all looked at each other in silence.

This scene made Liu Wan feel very ridiculous. These guys whose brains had fallen into the water, did they think they were the wimps like the old Zhao family who did not kill the literati?
Of course, there are also people who are clear-headed, such as Ke Zheng.

(End of this chapter)