Chapter 380

Chapter 380

Can a strategist not ascend the throne? Final Volume: The Rise and Fall of Royal Power, The World United Chapter 380: The Death of Wang Yun

What, a slight cold?

In Qiao Yan’s steady steps, aside from the heavy cloak she wore, who could tell she was even slightly unwell?

This was just an excuse she used to fool people, allowing her subordinates to follow her inside.

It’s not hard to explain why she would do this.

Qiao Yan’s arrival in Chang’an, persuaded by Xianyu Yin, and her immediate audience with the Emperor without even resting at the Grand Marshal’s residence, fully satisfied Liu Yang’s needs.

Whether she brought her subordinates due to Yu Fan’s prophecy or because she had long harbored rebellious intentions and thus was wary of Emperor Liu Yu, it didn’t matter.

The result was the same.

The traps set within the Chang’an Palace were not something Qiao Yan could easily escape.

The deeper she went, the better!

The quieter the assassination of the Grand Marshal, the easier their subsequent operations.

“You’re right,” Wang Yun’s voice suddenly came from behind, making Liu Yang turn his gaze from Qiao Yan’s back to Wang Yun’s direction, “Let her go. Bringing guards into the Chang’an Palace, though not explicitly forbidden, gives us ample room to maneuver.”

If she wants to leave, forget it!

Within the palace, there are at least three deadly ambushes for her. She might dodge one or two with her agility and combat skills, but she can’t possibly counter all the dangers.

“Send word immediately, don’t rush to act, wait until she enters the Emperor’s bedchamber.”

The twenty or so elite guards following Qiao Yan made Wang Yun feel somewhat troubled.

The trouble wasn’t how to kill them all, but the fact that these close guards would fiercely protect Qiao Yan, giving her a chance to hide in the complex terrain of the palace after dodging the first wave of attacks.

If she breaks out, as Qiao Yan and Lu Lingju analyzed, with Wang Yun only controlling part of Chang’an and the Youfufeng garrison to the west, the situation could reverse in an instant.

They couldn’t take such a risk.

A slight cold, huh? She can’t use that excuse to enter the bedchamber!

Let’s see how she reacts alone.

By now, Liu Yu and Zhang Zhongjing were no longer in the bedchamber.

Upon hearing of Qiao Yan’s arrival at Tong Pass, Wang Yun immediately ordered the pitiful Emperor to be moved to another palace.

Liu Yu wasn’t entirely powerless; he had dealt with the Wuhuan in Youzhou and participated in quelling rebellions there. With Zhang Zhongjing’s recent care, he even tried to resist.

Unfortunately, outnumbered, his resistance failed, and he was knocked unconscious.

So he couldn’t see that Qiao Yan, whom he had high hopes for and was also the source of his psychological burden, had already tightened her cloak and was walking up the steps to the bedchamber.

Only Qiao Yan.

Since it was an audience with the Emperor, she couldn’t have her subordinates surrounding her.

But so what?

With the system chattering in her ear, acting as another pair of eyes, Qiao Yan had already reached the bedchamber door, even nodding politely to the servant opening the door, showing utmost respect.

The lingering medicinal smell rushed towards her as the door opened, but her face showed no sign of discomfort, full of respect for the Emperor.

Even the servant at the door, Wang Yun’s confidant, tasked with killing Qiao Yan, couldn’t help but be impressed by the Grand Marshal’s demeanor.

Thinking such a person might die in this hall, he felt a pang of pity.

No! Wrong, Wang Yun saved his life, how could he have such thoughts!

Before his inner turmoil could show, Qiao Yan had already stepped into the hall.

Liu Yu preferred simplicity, even after becoming Emperor.

The bedchamber’s layout and the number of attendants reflected this.

Compared to Qiao Yan’s twenty-plus guards waiting outside, Liu Yu had fewer attendants.

Their quiet duties made it seem like only Liu Yu’s muffled coughs could be heard.

Qiao Yan walked past them towards the bedchamber’s depths, Liu Yu’s sickbed.

Stopping there, she bowed respectfully.

“Qiao Yan greets Your Majesty. What urgent matter requires my presence?”

The figure behind the curtain coughed, then reached out a hand, seemingly struggling to rise and show respect to this loyal minister.

But the sudden change happened in an instant!

The hand about to touch the curtain suddenly held a dagger, and the coughing stopped.

The figure on the sickbed, as if infused with energy, lunged at Qiao Yan.

But before his dagger could strike, an arrow pierced his throat.

As if fearing he wasn’t dead enough, a second arrow pierced his chest.

A heart shot, incredibly precise and fast!

“To impersonate the Emperor, you’re far from ready!”

The two mechanical sounds and Qiao Yan’s cold shout seemed to trigger the hall’s transition from silence to chaos.

As Dian Wei and others rushed in, the attendants attacked Qiao Yan.

In the rapid movement, Qiao Yan’s crossbow couldn’t hit them, and they were confident that even with a repeating crossbow, she couldn’t hit them all in time!

This was their chance.

But in that split second, Qiao Yan retracted her crossbow and flung her cloak outward.

Under the cloak’s visual cover, she drew two spear shafts from her heavy cloak, merging them into one with unexpected speed, sweeping the nearest assassin away.

Who brings a spear into an audience with the Emperor!

This is no different from wearing swords in court!

But with their assassination plot exposed and Liu Yu not present, Qiao Yan’s actions were purely self-defense!

Self-defense in the palace!

Her mercy towards the people and her ruthless extermination of enemies didn’t conflict.

The spear’s wind intercepted an arrow, redirecting it towards another.

Even knowing the redirected arrow’s force was greatly reduced, the momentary hesitation was unavoidable.

But that brief delay was enough for Qiao Yan’s spear to appear before him, piercing his skull without mercy.

This time, it wasn’t the cloak sweeping towards the others, but their companion’s corpse.

Following was Qiao Yan’s spear, swift as a dragon!

Compared to her earlier two arrows, this spear technique clearly showed that Qiao Yan’s position as Grand Marshal wasn’t just due to political maneuvering, but real skill.

The man trying to slash her from behind met a sharp silver gleam.

Qiao Yan, as if with eyes on her back, flung her spear towards him, grabbing the shaft and thrusting it into his vitals.

The short weapon’s danger was fully demonstrated against Qiao Yan’s long spear.

Though the narrow space wasn’t ideal for a spear, they still had a chance, but Qiao Yan wasn’t alone.

Just the distance from the door to the sickbed!

In the shock of Qiao Yan killing three, Dian Wei and his twenty-plus elite guards had reached her side.

These elite guards, trained by Dian Wei for years, were highly coordinated.

Some engaged the assassins, while others escorted Qiao Yan out.

In their clash, the assassins realized these men weren’t just strong—they wore heavy armor!

Even pulling up chainmail face masks, fully embodying “wind barriers”!

Qiao Yan didn’t need to worry about her subordinates.

In their internal selection, these were the best; losing to Wang Yun and Liu Yang’s men two-to-one would be unacceptable!

But…

Exiting Liu Yu’s bedchamber wasn’t escaping the trap, but the start of their crisis.

No need to detect ambushes; Qiao Yan already heard the hoofbeats of cavalry approaching.

“Using cavalry against us on foot, how extravagant.”

Before Qiao Yan finished, the cavalry appeared.

Leading them was a familiar face!

None other than Liu Bei and Guan Yu.

Though Qiao Yan knew of Liu Bei’s choice from Wang Yun’s meeting at the Minister over the Masses’ residence, seeing the historical Emperor Zhaolie make such an unwise decision still evoked a sigh.

But it was fleeting.

Liu Bei, with Han blood, choosing to “eliminate traitors” wasn’t surprising!

With different stances, let the battle decide!

Cavalry against infantry, with absolute numerical advantage, Liu Bei didn’t bother testing their armor with arrows, charging straight at Qiao Yan.

The cavalry’s sabers’ fierce wind hadn’t reached Qiao Yan, but the chill was already felt.

Facing this, Qiao Yan, seeing Liu Bei’s hesitation, calmly ordered Dian Wei, “Throw!”

This brief command might confuse others, but not Dian Wei, who had followed Qiao Yan for nearly twelve years.

His hand halberd, reforged after becoming a general, was sharper and more suited to his style.

Swinging it was like Qiao Yan’s strike against Zhu Rong in Yang Province.

And throwing—

Before Qiao Yan’s command faded, Dian Wei rushed forward, seemingly indifferent to the approaching cavalry.








The nearby cavalry, like a general charge, rushed to the front of the formation.

At the moment he stepped out of the crowd, one of the two hand halberds was suddenly flung into the air by Dian Wei, tracing a rapid arc.

Even if the trajectory were a straight line, this hand halberd was not something anyone on the opposing side could intercept.

Because the path it took was too low!

So low that it severed both legs of the steed Liu Bei was riding, slowing its gallop and causing it to fall to the ground.

Dian Wei’s astonishing arm strength and years of practice made his weapon unexpectedly useful at this moment.

But this was not the end.

The damage to the horse’s legs caused the charging steed to stumble and fall forward. Seeing Liu Bei about to fall, Guan Yu quickly caught him.

However, the impact of this collision caused more than just chaos!

If Liu Bei hadn’t been leading a hastily assembled cavalry, he wouldn’t have needed to charge ahead, setting an example or hoping to intimidate Qiao Yan with his decent combat skills.

His fall caused the cavalry behind him to lose control, creating chaos.

At this moment, Qiao Yan drew her crossbow again and fired a volley at the cavalry.

With only ten bolts in stock, each arrow was crucial, which was why she had abandoned her long spear earlier in the palace.

Because this weapon could now play a greater role!

Qiao Yan hadn’t expected to face cavalry with infantry, but she knew her adaptability wouldn’t falter in unfamiliar situations—it would only help her make the right choices at critical moments.

Like now!

Only she could carry a specially crafted weapon in her cloak, but the eight short arrows she fired in such a short time seemed like eight people shooting simultaneously at close range, all aiming for their hands holding the horse-cutting swords!

“Seize the horses!”

At Qiao Yan’s command, her subordinates, along with those who had safely retreated from the palace, rushed toward the temporarily unruly cavalry.

The clanking of their heavy armor was no quieter than the neighing of the horses, and the killing intent in their eyes instantly unnerved the untrained opposing forces.

Guan Yu tried to intervene, but it was too late.

Before his long blade could strike one of the armored soldiers, a spear shot out, blocking his path.

Not a defensive move from below, but a horizontal strike!

She was already on horseback!

While Guan Yu had been rescuing Liu Bei, he missed seeing Qiao Yan mount her horse, but he could tell this move had been practiced countless times—it was too fast.

Years as the Grand Marshal under the Son of Heaven had honed Qiao Yan’s skills, and she maintained a strict discipline, never forgetting the need for vigilance in times of peace.

This attitude would not betray her.

In this critical moment, mounting her horse first allowed her to block Guan Yu with her spear, followed by a relentless flurry of attacks.

As long as she could hold off Guan Yu, her plan was halfway to success.

The narrow road in front of the palace limited the number of cavalry that could engage.

In the clash of blades, Qiao Yan’s subordinates also seized horses.

These horses, offered to the Son of Heaven as mounts for the Imperial Guards, were no ordinary steeds. Though carrying heavy-armored cavalry was a challenge, it was not impossible!

For elite soldiers accustomed to handling fierce horses from Bingzhou and Liangzhou, taming these warhorses was no difficult task!

They even managed to seize the horse-cutting swords from their opponents.

And all this happened in just a few moments after Qiao Yan and Guan Yu’s cavalry clashed.

What was even more unexpected was that Qiao Yan, despite having the upper hand, showed no desire to prolong the fight. After parrying Guan Yu’s attack, she led her subordinates toward the palace without hesitation.

This wasn’t just to avoid giving Liu Yang’s forces time to encircle her.

It was also because—

She had heard another sound.

A commotion coming from the direction of the palace!

For Wang Yun, killing her inside the palace would be his ultimate goal, so the noise from that direction couldn’t be a foolish distraction.

The only possibility was reinforcements arriving under Qiao Yan’s orders.

From the tremors on the ground, it was clear they were numerous.

Before coming to Chang’an, Zhao Yun had discussed the future of the realm with her. Given Zhao Yun’s reliability and his years of training troops in the Guanzhong region, mobilizing the Huayin garrison to Chang’an shouldn’t have been an issue.

And Lü Lingju, sent to rally the Grand Marshal’s troops to rescue Xianyu Fu, was entirely focused on earning merit for Qiao Yan, ensuring no delays in her actions.

They couldn’t afford to be slow!

Who knew what consequences a delay might bring in such a critical moment.

Before Wang Yun and Liu Yang could see the outcome within the palace walls, they were met with a terrifying sight.

Zhao Yun’s army, seemingly indifferent to the fact that they were charging toward the heart of Chang’an—the palace—came with overwhelming force. From another direction, Xianyu Fu, who had supposedly been imprisoned by Xianyu Yin, appeared alongside a young female general, leading a cavalry charge.

With Xianyu Fu’s appearance, the Imperial Guards who had been following Xianyu Yin’s orders were thrown into confusion.

Whose orders should they follow now?

But the more likely answer was not their current superiors.

When they looked toward Xianyu Fu and Lü Lingju, they saw an important figure behind them.

It was Huangfu Song, the Grand Commandant.

The influx of Huayin troops into Chang’an and the minor conflict at the Weiwei Mansion were enough to draw his attention.

This was already too big a commotion.

But what he hadn’t expected was that, compared to these events, something even more unbelievable was happening: Wang Yun, one of the Three Excellencies, had the audacity to take control of the palace’s defenses and trap both the Son of Heaven and Qiao Yan inside.

Lü Lingju and Zhao Yun’s forces joined together, and under Xianyu Fu’s command to “open the gates,” they charged into the palace to rescue Qiao Yan. Huangfu Song, however, remained at the city gate, shouting, “Wang Zishi, do you know what you’re doing!”

This was utterly absurd!

How dare he!

This was the Son of Heaven’s residence.

But Wang Yun’s reckless actions had turned it into a place where anyone could interfere.

If Wang Yun could be intimidated by Huangfu Song’s questioning tone, he wouldn’t be Wang Yun.

“What am I doing?” Wang Yun repeated.

He was already disoriented by the sudden appearance of these forces, and Huangfu Song’s question made it clear that his plan to quietly eliminate the threat had turned into a pipe dream.

But even now, with Liu Yang paralyzed by fear, Wang Yun had no intention of abandoning his plan.

He suddenly raised his voice and shouted back, “I’m doing what I think is right!”

This phrase had appeared in Liu Yang’s response to Liu Yu, and now it was Wang Yun’s answer to Huangfu Song.

This disregard for laws and rules, acting solely on personal whims, made Huangfu Song frown.

On Wang Yun’s vaguely visible face, there was no guilt for his actions—only the frustration of having his grand plan interrupted.

He even avoided Huangfu Song’s gaze with an almost indifferent air, looking toward the palace walls.

There, he saw Qiao Yan, having seized a horse, join forces with Lü Lingju, who had broken into the palace, and charge toward the city gate.

If she could pass through that gate, she would escape this encirclement and survive.

Wang Yun could no longer think about what punishment he might face once Liu Yu was released, or why Liu Bei and Guan Yu, whom he had entrusted with such an important task, had failed to stop Qiao Yan, allowing her to break free so easily and even gain a mount, looking as triumphant as ever!

The blood-stained spear in Qiao Yan’s hand burned Wang Yun’s eyes like a searing flame.

No! It wasn’t over yet!

If he could just eliminate her, there was still a chance to salvage the situation!

He snatched the fire starter from Liu Yang’s hand, lit it, and pressed it against the fuse leading to the city wall.

The gunpowder, improved by Zuo Ci, had been buried at the city gate after Wang Yun took control of the palace. Due to its instability, it had been reserved as a last resort.

Now, as the fuse burned, it was not just the final trump card—it was Wang Yun’s lifeline.

The sound of the burning fuse was almost drowned out by the approaching hoofbeats, but Wang Yun knew full well that once ignited, the explosion would be as earth-shattering as the heavens collapsing.

He could no longer hear Huangfu Song shouting at him from below the city wall.

Nor could he see if anyone was climbing the wall to drag him down.

All he could see and hear was the moment Qiao Yan and her group passed through the city gate, the fuse finally burned out, and a burst of fiery light erupted.

As the flames exploded, a chorus of concern for Qiao Yan’s safety rose from outside the gate.

These concerns merged into a unified shout.

“Grand Marshal!”

The flames that instantly filled the gate’s archway left those who had expected to see Qiao Yan emerge breathless with tension.

But before panic could take hold of their hearts, they saw two horses charging out of the still-burning gate—none other than Qiao Yan and Lü Lingju!

Where was the explosion?

Wang Yun rubbed his ears in disbelief, confirming that he wasn’t deaf from the noise—there had been no explosion, just a fizzling spark.

Even the spark might have been a cheap imitation.

From the corner of his eye, Wang Yun could see that neither Qiao Yan nor Lü Lingju was injured.

They were in perfect condition.

Especially Qiao Yan, who, as she charged out of the gate, didn’t pause for a moment.

She flung her spear into the ground and took a bow from Lü Lingju.

She turned, drew the bow, and nocked an arrow.

Aiming directly at Wang Yun.

At the same moment, Liu Bei and Guan Yu, who had been chasing Qiao Yan’s group, finally arrived at the palace gate.

But they were too late.

The arrow Qiao Yan decisively fired shot through the air, brutally piercing Wang Yun’s forehead.

The force of the impact pushed the Minister over the Masses, already standing at the edge of the city wall due to the explosion, one step back.

Then, he toppled backward, falling from the wall.

And hit the ground.