Chapter 953 - 914: Coincidence and Mishap

On an auspicious day, Li Shimin decided to launch the Xuanwu Gate Incident.

Early in the morning, Li Shimin, along with his group of ten, including Zhangsun Wuji, Yu Chigong, Hou Junji, Zhang Gongjin, Liu Shili, Gongsun Wuda, Dugu Yanyun, Du Junchuo, Zheng Rentai, and Li Mengchang, arrived at the door of the room where Zhao Rong and his five companions were staying.

Li Shimin knocked on the door and said,

"Hello, Brother Zhao Rong, Miss Lili, Yu Lan, Xuelian, and the assistant, have you woken up yet?"

Zhao Rong, who was freshening up at the time, heard that Li Shimin had personally come to call on him,

He quickly opened the door and went outside.

When Zhao Rong saw that Li Shimin had brought ten people from his group to find him,

He knew that today Li Shimin was going to spark the Xuanwu Gate Incident.

Thus, Zhao Rong returned to his room, woke up the assistant, Miss Lili, Yu Lan, and Xuelian, and said to them:

"Wake up quickly. Would you like to witness a historic moment happening right in front of you?"

The assistant rubbed his eyes and asked Zhao Rong, saying,

"Brother Zhao Rong, what historic moment could happen right in front of us...?"

Miss Lili climbed out of bed, very curious, and asked,

"Could it be that Li Shimin is going to ascend the throne and become the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty?"

Yu Lan reminded Miss Lili, saying,

"Li Shimin hasn’t launched the Xuanwu Gate Incident yet; how could he become emperor?"

"Moreover, at this time, Li Yuan is still alive; he hasn’t abdicated."

Xuelian added from the side, saying,

"After Li Shimin launched the Xuanwu Gate Incident, he not only killed his brother Li Jiancheng and his brother Li Yuanji, but also killed Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji’s ten children, who were his ten nephews."

Upon hearing how cruel history actually was,

Zhao Rong couldn’t help but sigh, saying,

"The higher the power, the greater the danger."

As Zhao Rong led the three ladies and the assistant out,

Li Shimin immediately greeted them very politely, saying,

"Brother Zhao Rong, today, I, Li Shimin, have an important task. Please help me by advising. How about it?"

Zhao Rong agreed with Li Shimin, saying,

"No problem, Li Shimin. I will definitely help you achieve victory in the Xuanwu Gate Incident."

Listening to Zhao Rong, Li Shimin was very happy.

He snapped his fingers, and Yu Chigong from behind brought out five horses and gave them to Zhao Rong and his companions, saying,

"Alright, now you can ride these horses and go to Xuanwu Gate with us."

As Zhao Rong and the three beauties and the assistant mounted their horses and followed Li Shimin towards Xuanwu Gate,

The assistant felt very excited and asked Zhao Rong, saying,

"Brother, do you think it’s possible that Li Shimin could fail at the Xuanwu Gate Incident and be killed by Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji?"

Zhao Rong shook his head, took out a history book for the assistant to read, and said,

"History clearly records that Li Shimin succeeded in the Xuanwu Gate Incident."

"He shot his brother Li Jiancheng and his brother Li Yuanji with arrows."

"So rest assured, Li Shimin couldn’t fail; he only could succeed."

Miss Lili, very concerned, asked Zhao Rong, saying,

"Brother Zhao Rong, should we prepare some weapons to assist Li Shimin in fighting Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji’s army if necessary?"

Zhao Rong shook his head, thinking it wasn’t necessary, and said,

"Because Li Yuanji and Li Jiancheng have their troops ambushed outside Xuanwu Gate,"

"When Li Shimin’s group of ten and Li Yuanji, Li Jiancheng met at the Xuanwu Gate,"

"Actually, it was a case of many against few."

At this point, Xuelian nodded and said to Zhao Rong,

"Sometimes, some things really are destined."

"Although Li Jiancheng was a middle-aged man with stronger connections and a military group,"

"And they had brought a force of 2000,"

"However, coincidentally, when they met Li Shimin, it was at Xuanwu Gate."

"And Li Yuanji and Li Jiancheng’s army was ambushed outside of Xuanwu Gate."

"All these coincidences and missteps led to Li Yuanji and Li Jiancheng’s defeat and Li Shimin’s success."

Just as Zhao Rong and his companions were about to reach Xuanwu Gate,

Suddenly, nearly 2,000 troops appeared ahead,

And leading those 2000 troops were the brothers Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji themselves.

When Li Yuancheng and Li Jiancheng, leading their 2000 troops, discovered Li Shimin and his group of 10,

They immediately charged over and surrounded Li Shimin’s team.

Seeing that before reaching Xuanwu Gate, they were already surrounded by several thousand troops led by Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin,

Li Shimin was very shocked and asked Zhao Rong, saying:

"Brother, didn’t you say we would encounter Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji when we reached Xuanwu Gate?"

"Why are we surrounded now before even reaching Xuanwu Gate by Li Jiancheng and Li Yuancheng’s troops?"

Seeing the scene before him, Zhao Rong was also stunned,

He recalled some scenes from a TV drama and felt puzzled, saying:

"Logically, you should have encountered Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji alone when you reached Xuanwu Gate..."

"But why did history change,

And Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji, along with their troops, lay in ambush ahead of Xuanwu Gate,

And surrounded you,

"Most importantly, your group of ten was ambushed..."

Riding on horseback next to Li Shimin was Zhangsun Wuji, who saw their group of ten surrounded by Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji’s troops.

He was greatly alarmed and said to Li Shimin:

"Brother, not good, we’ve been ambushed,

we might end up dying by Li Yuanji and Li Jiancheng’s swords today..."

Dugu Yanyun spoke pessimistically:

"Brother Li Shimin, originally, when we followed you, we thought you would definitely achieve victory in the battle for the crown prince’s throne,

but little did I expect that today, we fell into Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji’s ambush,

today seems doomed for us to die..."

Li Mengchang prepared for death, closed his eyes, and said:

"Although we are about to be killed by Li Yuancheng and Li Jiancheng’s troops,

I have no regrets dying,

because I’ve followed Brother Li Shimin..."

Zhang Gongjin, moved, said:

"Earlier, everyone believed Li Shimin would seize the throne,

but now it seems everyone was mistaken,

The one who can seize the throne seems to be the middle-aged man Li Jiancheng..."

Du Junzhuo decided to sacrifice himself to protect Li Shimin; he said:

"Although we are surrounded by Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji’s troops,

but we ten cannot just stand here waiting to be killed,

we should die fighting rather than being captured and beheaded..."

Gongsun Wuda, panting heavily, said:

"Yu Chigong, protect Brother Li Shimin,

I will rush up and take Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji’s heads..."

Hou Junji decided to risk his life to protect Li Shimin; he said:

"Brother Li Shimin, although we are surrounded by the 2000 troops over there,

haven’t you noticed that there’s a small river beside?"

If we jump into that river, surely we can escape..."