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The Yong'an Palace has a circumference of 698 zhang (a traditional Chinese unit of length, approximately 3.33 meters). Inside the palace, there are halls such as Jingfu, Anchang, and Yanxiu. Like the Yongle Palace, it was intended as a residence for the Empress Dowager to live out her retirement.
However, the Empress Dowagers of the Han Dynasty generally had the fine habit of not only meddling in court affairs with one hand but also with one foot. Therefore, the palaces usually housed various administrative offices, bearing no resemblance to the so-called "peace" and "joy."
Previously, the Yong'an Palace was the residence of Empress Dowager Dong. After Empress Dowager He came to power, she had Empress Dowager Dong killed, and the palace has been abandoned ever since.
If it weren't for Cao Cao's background in a eunuch family, with many informants in the palace—though many died in the last palace turmoil—there were still some who reported to Cao Cao. Otherwise, who would have thought that Li Ru had hidden the deposed Emperor Liu Bian here?
To enter the palace and rescue him, one must first get past the guards of Yong'an Palace.
Normally, palace guards are usually the responsibility of the Imperial Forest Guards, and Yong'an Palace was no exception. However, after Empress Dowager Dong's death, the Imperial Forest Guards at Yong'an Palace were disbanded, with most of the original personnel sent to the frontier for garrison duty. Therefore, the current guards at Yong'an Palace are a mix of Imperial Forest Guards transferred from other palaces and Xiliang soldiers.
These personnel are stationed in the palace, so their daily meals are naturally provided within the palace.
Originally, Yuan Shu's plan was to use Cao Cao's palace personnel to drug the guards during dinner—not with poison but with a sedative. Poison often causes noticeable effects, while sedatives are relatively safer and more reliable.
This way, they only needed to deal with the guards who were on duty and thus delayed their meals, significantly reducing the pressure of entering the palace.
Cao Cao went all out this time, not only having his informants in the Southern Palace drug the Imperial Forest Guards but also having his people infiltrate Yong'an Palace to drug the guards there. However, after the rescue of the deposed Emperor, whether successful or not, these exposed individuals would be as good as dead or ruined.
The brutality of palace intrigue is no less than that outside the palace. With so few positions available, no one would employ someone who has made a mistake or is under suspicion. Therefore, these people, for Cao Cao's ambition, are not only risking temporary downfall but possibly their entire lives or even their lives.
Additionally, regarding the mansions of the nobles in Buguangli and Yongheli, Cao Cao also made arrangements.
Now, they just had to wait quietly for the right moment...
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Yuan Shu and Zhang Xiao were now outside the Southern Palace, their eyes unblinking, fixed on a small side gate in the southwest corner of the palace.
A side gate is a small door with only one panel, usually used for the comings and goings of servants, for shopping, or for the removal of unsightly items.
As the agreed time approached, Yuan Shu's breathing became increasingly rapid...
Damn Cao Cao still hadn't shown up!
Yuan Shu really wanted to turn around and leave now, but Zhang Xiao had already brought the soldiers behind him, and things had reached this point. There was no turning back now.
Under the tense gaze of Yuan Shu and Zhang Xiao, the side gate of the Southern Palace finally opened little by little. A young eunuch stuck his head out from behind the door, looked around, then took out a red cloth and waved it left and right outside the door before quickly retreating, leaving the side gate half-open.
Success!
Yuan Shu had been worried that Cao Cao's people in the Southern Palace might not act according to plan since Cao Cao hadn't shown up. Now, seeing the agreed signal, his heart finally settled.
Yuan Shu turned and whispered to Zhang Xiao, "It's done. Please, General, quickly lead the troops into the palace and search the palaces on both sides of the Yongxiang. I will guard the rear here!"
Zhang Xiao acknowledged, then waved his hand back, leading the soldiers, crouching low, and filing into the Southern Palace through the side gate.
Yuan Shu watched as Zhang Xiao led the soldiers, all charging into the Southern Palace. He stood quietly for a while, hearing the growing clamor inside the palace, the sounds of shouting and fighting beginning to emerge. He chuckled darkly, then turned and left with his personal guards.
That's enough.
As for Zhang Xiao's retreat?
Better secure my own retreat first!
The sounds of slaughter from the Southern Palace finally reached the outside world, and in an instant, the entire city of Luoyang was in chaos.
***************
At Yong'an Palace, Cao Cao was in a bit of trouble.
According to the original plan, Yuan Shu's operation in the Southern Palace went smoothly. Unfortunately, when it came to Cao Cao, there were some hiccups.
In Luoyang City now, Dong Zhuo was the absolute boss, and his Xiliang soldiers naturally followed suit, acting arrogantly. Originally, today's meal was supposed to be millet rice, but unexpectedly, the Xiliang soldiers at Yong'an Palace suddenly wanted to eat soup noodles...
They had to hastily prepare the soup noodles, rendering the drugged millet rice completely useless.
Another difference between Yong'an Palace and the Southern Palace was that although Yong'an Palace also had a side gate in the southwest corner, it was too close to the Northern Palace. If they used the side gate like in the Southern Palace and were discovered, the guards from the Northern Palace would arrive in no time. Then, they wouldn't just be facing the few guards at Yong'an Palace but also the large number of Imperial Forest Guards from the Northern Palace...
Therefore, for Cao Cao to rescue the deposed Emperor now, he had to act before the Northern Palace guards could react, opting for a frontal assault to quickly take the Emperor away.
However, before the frontal assault, there was still some room for maneuvering. Cao Cao had already considered this and had a backup plan...
The chaos in the Southern Palace had begun to affect the entire city. The common people who had been walking and working on the streets were now scurrying around like headless flies, seeking a place to hide. The streets were in disarray, with various items scattered everywhere, accompanied by cries, shouts, and the neighing of livestock. The entire city of Luoyang was in an uproar.
The guards at Yong'an Palace also began to tense up, gripping their weapons tightly, watching the direction of the Southern Palace.
Suddenly, a rider galloped from the street corner, quickly arriving in front of Yong'an Palace. The messenger on horseback abruptly pulled the reins, causing the horse to rear up and stop abruptly.
The messenger took out a tiger tally from his pocket and shouted to the guards on the palace wall, "There's a rebellion in the Southern Palace! By the General's order, mobilize the Imperial Forest Guards to quell the rebellion!"
Hearing this, the Imperial Forest Guards on the palace wall quickly lowered a basket. The commanding officer of the Imperial Forest Guards inside the palace took the tiger tally brought by the messenger, carefully matched it with his own, and confirmed it was indeed the mobilization tally. He then hurried down the wall, gathered his Imperial Forest Guards, opened the palace gate, and led them straight to the Southern Palace.
If only Cao Cao could have accessed the Xiliang soldiers' tally, he would have liked to mobilize them as well!