Chapter 13 - Protecting the Emperor
[The throne room in the Palace of Heavenly Purity]
While Muten knew the real reason he was at the forbidden city, there was a second personal reason for being her. That being the Princess Yunxin. One of the youngest sisters to the emperor, despite the chaos afflicting the land, it was she who put him at ease. Today though was not the day was going to be the case. Cao Kun and Wu Pefiu were going to meet with the Emperor and it was likely to be bloody. He kept his pistol close at hand. Still he did want to spend some time with the princess.
Upon seeing Yunxin, she ran over to him smiling. She bowed towards him and he bowed towards her. It was clear that she was happy to see him and despite the dark circumstances that he knew were going to go down, Muten was glad to see her as well.
“It is so good to see you”
“I wish we could spend more time together but the city is still in chaos.”
“Come I will have a servant prepare tea for us.”
She took his hand and guided him towards her wing of the Forbidden city, which was in the inner sanctum of the city as she was a princess. Muten was thankful that he would be able to keep an eye upon the road towards the palace itself. As they arrived, one of her handmaidens began to brew the tea. After a couple of minutes she poured two cups of silver needle tea for Muten and Yunxin.
“I do hope that the chaos of the city will come to a close soon. I heard some peasants sought to burn the gates of the Forbidden City before the soldiers arrived.”
“Don’t we all.But even after the city is restored to order it likely means I will be off to fight, either in the south where chaos is reigning or in the north.”
“If only things were like the old days.”
“If things were like the old days, there would be no cinema.” Muten said, smiling as he sipped his tea.
“Perhaps when this chaos is all over I can star in my own movie.”
“Well you are a princess, perhaps you could. It could even be a racing film.”
“A film of me racing, now that would be something to watch.”
“Indeed. Hopefully there will be some downtime between restoring order to the city and restoring order to the country, so we can drive the cars again.”
“I will beat you.”
As he sipped his tea from the palace, he noticed that Cao Kun and Wu Pefiu walked past the main path towards the imperial palace. They were flanked by a number of attendees. While Muten could not see their guns he did not doubt that they had them on. The feeling of lightness faded and he knew today was the day of truth. The princess looked over towards the window.
“Oh those two. It's nothing to worry about. You need to relax more.”
She made his heart calm and light but it was clear she did not know what was coming. She was naive and blissfully ignorant of this plot and for that he was glad. Muten was prepared to take life but he didn’t want Yunxin’s hands to be stained with blood. He took a breath and then smiled sweetly to her. “You are right it is nothing to worry about.”
“I do hope that I can drive again. With all the chaos I have been cooped up in the city and I want some freedom. It's why I like driving. I can go as fast as I want.”
“When this is over, I promise we can go and drive around.”
“You promise?
“That I do.”
No sooner had he said those words, then the sound of gunfire broke the mood and caused chaos throughout the emperor. Screams sounded throughout the room.
“Fuck!” Muten swore under his breath. The guards in the room were mostly ceremonial from his few visits to the emperor. The actual imperial bodyguards with guns often were fewer. But moreover this was an ambush.
“What is going?”
“Your brother is in danger.” Muten said in a rapid tone as he stood up.
“What..but...Cao and Wu wouldn’t.” the tone in her voice was utterly confused and nervous. However nervous she was showing, it was clear that she was starting to grasp at the last moment what was going on.
“I shall see you soon, do not worry”
With those words he sprinted down the hall and towards the throne room. He had no idea how much time he had. He quickly pulled out his pistol and slammed in the magazine into his pistol and cocked it as he rushed down the hall. The sound of bullet fire getting louder and louder.
As he rushed into the imperial palace it was an utter chaos and bullets flying everywhere. He ducked behind one of the ancient pillars. Several of the imperial guards lay on the ground. Precisely artifacts were broken and filled with holes as if they were swiss cheese. Meanwhile a manchu guard slammed his sword into a Zhili guard and then grabbed the zhili’s pistol and shot another one in the face before getting shot in the head by another one of Wu’s guards.
Muten fired his pistol as often as he could into the Zhili guards. He was trying to find Wu Pefiu and Cao Kun.Muten himself kept firing into the crowd of Zhili soldiers. Running out of bullets he rolled from pillar to pillar and grabbed a pistol of a dead Zhili soldier and shot another one in the face. As he fired a bullet would lodge itself into his shoulder though he kept firing at the guards.
After an hour or two of firing the battle came to an end. As the battle came to an end the adrenaline coursing through his veins returned to normal levels and as such the pain roared against him. Grunting in agony from being shot in the shoulder, he took the time to survey the battlefield.
The throne room was an utter mess. Manchu guards and Zhili guards lay on the ground dead. Among the bodies was the captain of the Imperial guard as well as Wu Pefiu and Cao Kun. The room was covered with bullets. Priceless artifacts dating centuries back were smashed and filled with bullet holes. The ancient pillars were covered in bullet holes. In short the throne room for the son of heaven was utterly trashed.
“Go tell his majesty… that.. He is safe.” Muten shouted at one of the servants slumping against the pillar in pain. The Servant bowed and then ran off to find the Emperor. Muten took the time to rip off some of the dead Zhili’s soldier uniform and tie a bandage around his arm.
A short time later the emperor enters the throne room. He is flanked by his brother Pujie as well as several imperial bodyguards all carrying submachine guns. The emperor is nervous and appalled at all the bloodshed as gazes down at the bodies. Seeing the emperor, Muten immediately stands up and then kowtows before him, while he is still in pain from the battle he does the best to mask it as he kowtows to the emperor.
“Dearest Brother, I believe it’s time for you to make a speech” Pujie says towards his brother.
“I,” Puyi begins to reply, his voice uncertain, “I am not sure I can do that.”
Pujie looks to give a reply when the doors are thrown open and Li Bingzhi walks in. At first the guns are drawn to the general. Muten was well aware of Li, he was one of the higher ranking generals in the army. It was long suspected that he had monarchist sympathies but he was also a member of the Zhili clique like many in the army. The guards were concerned that another confrontation with the Zhili was about to begin. That was until Li kowtowed to Puyi, his face nearly touching the floor.
“Your Imperial Majesty, the City is being secured as we speak. However, Jiang Baili and several other Zhili generals have retreated to Luoyang! They are planning a campaign to destroy us and take Beijing!” Li said. Muten wondered if Chen Xiaolu was among those who fled south. Knowing Xiaolu the answer was almost certainly yes and the next time that the two met would be on the field of battle.
This news brought relief to the imperial guards and the emperor’s brother who lowered their guns. Pujie moves over to Puyi and whispers something to him. Muten wasn’t sure what it was. While he had spent time with their sister, the emperor himself or his brother was another matter altogether. Puyi took a deep breath and then walked outside. His bodyguards followed, followed by his brother and then Li Bingzhi and Muten. A number of people had gathered outside the throne room. Nearly everyone who was in the imperial city that day was there wanting to know what happened and if the Emperor was alright. Puyi nervously attempts to gather himself before speaking.
“I, the Xuantong Emperor, Son of Heaven, formally proclaim any members of the Zhili clique who do not swear fealty to me by tomorrow no-” Puyi’s voice cracks and he takes a moment to steady himself before speaking again, “Who do not do so by tomorrow noon to be traitors to the Great Qing!”