Chapter 2151: Li Heng Appoints a General!
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
The woman had a graceful bearing and wore a golden crown atop her black hair. Despite the raging snowstorm, she wore only a layer of dark blue gauze, with her smooth abdomen and navel exposed to the elements, yet she did not seem to feel the cold. A snowflake-shaped, ice-blue ornament had been attached to her navel, and as it swayed with her body, it radiated charm and grace.
Through the dark blue gauze, one could see those sources of countless fantasies, tightly bound in snow-white cloth.
On her face, she wore a golden veil, her phoenix eyes peeking out. As they looked around, they carried with them a soul-seizing power, but also a sharp and vicious energy.
This was the Queen of the Xi!
Everyone knew that the warriors of the Xi tribe were fierce warriors who did not fear death. But very few people knew that the leader of the Xi was such a young and beautiful woman.
In the northeast, very few people had ever seen the Xi Queen, but with the cold wave imminent, the Queen of the Xi had finally appeared.
The Xi and Khitans were extremely close to each other, so the two great tribes had decided to bring their strongest warriors together first before heading out.
Ding!
Atop her horse, the Queen of the Xi raised a violet-gold scepter. A moment later…
Rumble!
The earth rumbled, and as the Khitan King and Xi Queen gave their orders, the tens of thousands of Khitan and Xi warriors transformed into a flood of steel that swept toward Youzhou.
As the forces of the alliance gathered, they built up a momentum that could make the entire world pale.
As the alliance gathered, the heavens fell into turmoil.
Meanwhile, on the Tibetan Plateau…
The once-lush pastures that had been a fairyland for the Tibetan shepherds were now sealed in snow, the ground covered in a thick white carpet.
Beneath the snow, the gra.s.s had long ago wilted. Without pastures, the fates of the shepherds became obvious.
“Imperial Minister, there’s no taking back a loosed arrow. Have you made your decision?”
In front of the imposing royal palace, Namri Songtian worriedly glanced at Imperial Minister Dalon Trinling.
The letter from the countries of the northeast had arrived some time ago, and Ü-Tsang had already sensed the changing of the Dragon Qi in the Central Plains.
Fight, or not fight?
Ü-Tsang had to make its decision today.
The Western Turks had already sided with the Great Tang, ruining Ü-Tsang’s plans to join with the alliance army.
A natural barrier had appeared between Ü-Tsang and the other countries, and the situation was extremely grim. If the alliance failed to win, Ü-Tsang would be annihilated.
It was not that man’s style to spare Ü-Tsang. Ü-Tsang’s fate rested entirely on Dalon Trinling.
Dalon Trinling said nothing.
He sat motionless on his highland steed for a very long time.
Even with his dazzling intellect, Dalon Trinling was hesitant, his mind grappling with this enormous decision.
“Haaah…”
A long sigh pierced through the snowstorm and traveled into the distance. Dalon Trinling suddenly extended his hand and placed it on the saber at his waist.
His eyes suddenly turned hard and resolved.
“Pa.s.s on my order! Mobilize the army! Prepare to move out!”
Clang! Dalon Trinling pulled out his saber and pointed it at the sky.
As Dalon Trinling gave the order, the part of the heavens representing Ü-Tsang s.h.i.+fted, and a bleak energy penetrated through the void, a sharp sword pointed at the Central Plains.
On the ground, after a moment of silence, all of the Tibetan Plateau began to tremble.
This tremor was very weak at first, but it took only a few short moments to become as loud as thunder.
Neigh!
The neighing of warhorses came from the distance. Behind Dalon Trinling, on both sides of the Ü-Tsang royal palace, two thin, black lines appeared on the horizon, rapidly expanding into giant waves.
“Kill!”
In a flash, a vast sea of Tibetan cavalry arrived, sweeping past Dalon Trinling with an unstoppable momentum and carrying Ü-Tsang’s do-or-die resolve toward the Western Turkic Khaganate.
And as the heavens s.h.i.+fted, the entire world experienced a momentous s.h.i.+ft.
Goguryeo formally declared war against the Great Tang!
The Eastern Turks formally declared war against the Great Tang!
Ü-Tsang formally declared war against the Great Tang!
The Xi and the Khitans formally declared war against the Great Tang!
In the s.p.a.ce of a single day, all the countries to the north of the Great Tang had combined their armies and declared war. This news stunned the world.
And what was most shocking of all was the final piece of news.
The Andong Protectorate had rebelled!
The new Andong Protector-General, at the head of an army of six hundred thousand Youzhou cavalry, had joined the other countries in formally declaring war against the Great Tang!
Shock!
Stupefaction!
Everyone in the Central Plains had been rendered speechless by this series of events.
What in the world had happened?
Was An Yaluoshan not the Andong Protector-General freshly appointed by the court, who had rendered great service for the realm?
Why had he rebelled against the empire?
And hadn’t the Great Tang declared war against Goguryeo?
Why had all the other countries joined in?
Though the weather had been growing colder and colder, all of the people felt as if the world had changed in the span of a single day!
A war of unprecedented scale had engulfed the eastern world.
All eyes in the Central Plains now turned to the capital. Everyone awaited the Imperial Court’s decision, though perhaps it was better to say that they awaited the movements of one man.
“All of you couldn’t restrain yourselves any longer?”
To the southwest of the Imperial Palace, within the majestic King of Foreign Lands Residence, w.a.n.g Chong stood in front of the main hall. A snowstorm howled above him, but not a single snowflake could even drift onto his shoulder. All snowflakes seemed to encounter an invisible barrier when they got three feet from w.a.n.g Chong and slid to the ground.
w.a.n.g Chong’s gaze was contemptuous, his entire body exuding a domineering aura.
“Since you want a fight, this king will fight to the end and end all of you!”
He flicked his finger, sending the letter from Zhang Que flying through the air. After flying several dozen feet, the letter exploded into paper bits that rained down over the capital.
The countries had finally joined together!
w.a.n.g Chong was neither shocked nor surprised. After all his effort, the Great Tang was no longer the same Great Tang.
In his last life, the Central Plains had been in shambles after the Sage Emperor’s death, and it would have found it very hard to fight even one battle against the alliance army.
But now, the Great Tang was a mighty wall that all the other countries needed to bring down. And behind this barrier, the Great Tang’s million-man army would serve as the worst nightmare for the other countries, demanding their respect.
w.a.n.g Chong would not give the alliance any more chances. He would complete the job and end all wars between the countries of the continent.
There would be no truce!
This time, the winner would take all. Only one side would stand at the apex.
“Li Jingzhong, is His Majesty ready?” w.a.n.g Chong said without turning his head.
“Your Highness, the Imperial Court has been in session throughout the night, and everything has been decided. The Six Bureaus are hard at work, and His Majesty has already decreed that all the resources of the empire are at your disposal. Starting from now, Your Highness’s words are His Majesty’s words. No one can defy them.”
Only a few paces behind w.a.n.g Chong, Li Jingzhong bowed, his expression filled with awe and reverence.
The Great Tang had a million-man army, and w.a.n.g Chong stood at the top of it. Above him was only the Emperor, and beneath him were all the people of the Central Plains, including all the soldiers and generals. All of them were at w.a.n.g Chong’s beck and call.
If w.a.n.g Chong wanted to rebel, no one would be able to stop him.
It was an unthinkable level of authority.
But all levels of the court, including Li Heng, had absolute trust in him. This was w.a.n.g Chong’s current status.
Li Jingzhong swallowed before adding, “In addition, His Majesty has said that he is waiting for you at the northern drilling ground.”
“Mm!”
w.a.n.g Chong gave a slight nod, and then he vanished like a ghost. Li Jingzhong couldn’t even tell how he had left.
At the northern drilling ground, cold winds howled as snowflakes drifted down from dark clouds.
A somber air engulfed the drilling ground. Tens of thousands of cavalry were neatly arranged across the training ground, their bodies radiating killing intent that distorted the air.
At the very northern end of the drilling ground, a high platform had been set up. A ma.s.sive dragon banner flapped above it, and beneath the banner was a youthful figure wearing imperial robes. He stood straight and tall, his eyes awesome and chilling. While his face was young, it possessed the aura of a sovereign.
This was the Emperor of the Great Tang, Li Heng.
Behind Li Heng stood Zhangchou Jianqiong, the Grand Preceptor, the Grand Tutor, Beacon General Jiang Yunrang, and more than half of the other major officials of the court.
Bzzz! In a flash of light, w.a.n.g Chong appeared in front of Li Heng, his cape flapping and his armor s.h.i.+ning.
“Lowly subject w.a.n.g Chong pays respects to His Majesty!”
His voice resounded through the drilling ground as he got down on one knee.
Since ancient times, for every campaign, the sovereign would build a platform and erect his banner. This ceremony was known as the appointing of a general.