Chapter 1981: Triumph in the Northeast! Announcement to the Realm!
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
“Old Eagle!” w.a.n.g Chong suddenly said.
“Your subordinate is here!”
Old Eagle almost instantly appeared in the study.
“Speak to Earth Mouse. I need him and his men to head to Youzhou,” w.a.n.g Chong sternly said.
Ever since the northwest expedition, Earth Mouse, the martial artist who had helped w.a.n.g Chong out from the Origin Immortal Cave, had served at w.a.n.g Chong’s side. w.a.n.g Chong had also recruited a significant number of martial artists who formed a team under Earth Mouse.
This was an extremely special team.
The matter of the Yeluohe and otherworldly invaders was not something ordinary soldiers had the strength to confront. But Earth Mouse’s team was able to do what these soldiers could not.
“Yes, Your Highness!” Old Eagle replied without hesitation, lowering his head.
Zhang Que was mature now, and Old Eagle could leave many military affairs to him without worry. Old Eagle was now responsible for handling some incredibly difficult or special missions for w.a.n.g Chong.
Not long after w.a.n.g Chong departed, an eagle with a golden hoop around one claw, one that was only used for special incidents, flew in through the window.
w.a.n.g Chong opened the letter, glanced at its contents, and paled.
……
Bang!
Several days later, a shocking piece of news sent an earthquake through the Great Tang and shockwaves through the world.
In Youzhou, the newly appointed temporary Andong Protector-General, An Yaluoshan, had taken advantage of the fact that the war had just ended to catch the Goguryeons unawares, launching a war of revenge against Goguryeo. The Andong Protectorate army was full of indignant soldiers, their rage propelling them to certain victory over an army of hundreds of thousands of Goguryeons. They had taken two important forts on the Goguryeon border, Baiyan City and Ans.h.i.+ City.
During Zhang Shougui’s tenure, he had attacked Goguryeo several times, but he had never been able to take the major strategic fortresses of Baiyan City and Ans.h.i.+ City. Yeon Gaesomun had made these into impregnable fortresses, and Zhang Shougui had been forced to fall back in the face of their tall and st.u.r.dy walls every time, losing many soldiers each time. After that, he stopped his a.s.saults on Goguryeo.
But this time, An Yaluoshan’s Andong Protectorate army had dealt Goguryeo a mighty defeat, obtaining an unprecedented victory and annihilating these two st.u.r.dy barriers.
This historic victory ‘intimidated’ the surrounding countries, avenged those soldiers killed in Yeon Gaesomun’s attack, displayed the might of the Great Tang, and raised the morale of Youzhou’s people.
“Hahaha, good! Wonderful! An Yaluoshan truly has given Us face! Good Hu son, We only just made you the temporary Andong Protector-General and you’ve already defeated Yeon Gaesomun, doing what Zhang Shougui could not. For this wonderful surprise you have given Us, you have truly lived up to Our expectations!”
In Taiji Palace, the ‘Sage Emperor’—or perhaps one could say ‘Third Son Xuan’—heartily laughed, joy on his face.
That b.a.s.t.a.r.d had fostered the youngest son of the w.a.n.g Clan, who had destroyed Arabia, but he, Third Prince Xuan, as the right and proper member of the imperial household, was not one bit lacking.
That plump Hu son in Andong had just barely taken the post of temporary Andong Protector-General, but he had already defeated Yeon Gaesomun and taken several forts, surpa.s.sing Zhang Shougui in a single stroke. In the future, he was certain to become a new War G.o.d of the Great Tang, an existence on par with w.a.n.g Chong.
“Haha, Your Majesty, An Yaluoshan is truly both intelligent and courageous. Your Majesty is blessed by the heavens, and this is proof that Your Majesty has an excellent eye for talent. There is no need to continue paying regard to that w.a.n.g Chong or allow him to continue ruling the court alone!” Zhao Changfu loudly declared.
Zhao Changfu’s words made the ‘Sage Emperor’ nastily scowl.
w.a.n.g Chong had become his greatest barrier both inside and outside the court. With the Peace Pavilion, the selection of women, and his various other proposals, his meddling hand could be felt. Even though there was no firm evidence, he was sure that w.a.n.g Chong was behind it.
The mighty Son of Heaven owned the world, but he was being secretly hindered by a subject. How absurd!
“That treasonous subject is truly regarding Us less and less!” the ‘Sage Emperor’ darkly said, his eyes gleaming with a savage light.
“We demoted Zhang Shougui to the Kuo Province, but he defied Our will and brazenly held a banquet for a defeated general, even hosting him at his estate! Does he have even the slightest respect for Us?!”
Almost everyone knew that w.a.n.g Chong had led King Song and numerous officials in welcoming Zhang Shougui. The palace had also heard of it, and he had been so furious at the time that he had raged in Taiji Palace for two hours.
“Your Majesty, you cannot allow that w.a.n.g Clan son to continue acting impudently. With this victory in the northeast, Your Majesty should richly reward An Yaluoshan and use him to hinder w.a.n.g Chong. At the same time, Your Majesty can let all the people of the realm know that Your Majesty is powerful and wise. Even without w.a.n.g Chong, Your Majesty can still keep peace in the realm and awe all the surrounding countries!”
Zhao Changfu bowed, adding oil to the fire.
“A reward! Of course! Pa.s.s on this decree! The Bureau of Personnel is to draft a decree formally appointing An Yaluoshan as Andong Protector-General, and this victory is to be announced to the entire realm. We wish all the world to know of this victory!” the ‘Sage Emperor’ savagely said.
“Not only that, for this victory in the northeast, We wish to hold a feast of all countries!
“Hear this decree! One month from now, a feast of all countries will be held in the capital. We want all the other countries to see the power of the Great Tang, to see Our empire!
“Order all the Dukes, Kings, n.o.bles, Great Generals, t.i.tled generals, regular generals, provincial governors, and circuit inspectors to partic.i.p.ate in this feast!
“Order An Yaluoshan to also return to the capital. We wish to richly reward him!
“Order the Bureau of Rites to construct a stele to commemorate this feast of all countries for Us! We want all the people of the realm and their descendants to know of Our deeds!”
The ‘Sage Emperor’ swiftly issued a series of orders.
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
Delighted, Zhao Changfu left the hall.
Whoos.h.!.+
A few moments later, a messenger bird flew off toward Youzhou.
Just as usual, Zhao Changfu emerged from the Imperial Palace and made for his carriage so he could head home. But at this moment, in a flash of light, a figure barred his path.
“Lord Zhao, His Highness wishes to see you!”
The man had a cold expression, a muscular right arm placed on the hilt of a saber at his waist.
Whoos.h.!.+
Zhao Changfu instantly paled and immediately turned to run back to the Imperial Palace.
But another figure appeared and blocked his path. Several more figures appeared and began to converge on him from all sides.
“Guards! Guards! Hurry…”
Zhao Changfu panicked and immediately began to call out to the Imperial Army soldiers standing guard behind the gate. But the golden-armored soldiers all looked away, ignoring him.
Zhao Changfu immediately understood, and his face went ghastly pale.
“Lord Zhao, please, do not keep His Highness waiting!”
At this moment, Xu Keyi, dressed in casual attire, walked out.
Zhao Changfu was too simple-minded. How could they just let him leave after waiting for him for so long?
And while his liege might not have been so influential as to mobilize the Imperial Army, he had more than enough prestige to take control of the soldiers guarding the gates. Moreover, all of the Imperial Army knew that his liege did not possess selfish motives, so they would not move to stop him.
Zhao Changfu’s body trembled as he mentally struggled over what to do. Finally, his face ashen, he reluctantly boarded the waiting carriage.
……
An hour later, Zhao Changfu emerged from the King of Foreign Lands Residence with a mournful expression, seeming to have experienced a great scare.
Back in the estate, Xu Keyi and Su s.h.i.+xuan stood behind w.a.n.g Chong and watched the Auxiliary a.s.sistant Minister of the Bureau of Personnel leave.
“Your Highness, are we really letting this opportunistic scoundrel go?” Xu Keyi said.
Zhao Changfu was an opportunist who had used his offering of beauties to lead the ‘Sage Emperor’ astray, and he was a sower of discord who had caused no end of trouble. Just because of him, there were many people in the capital trying to imitate him and offer beauties to the ‘Sage Emperor’, but in the end, they only ended up wiping his b.u.t.t for him.
For such a man, not even death was good enough!
“Let him go!” w.a.n.g Chong indifferently said as he watched him board the carriage.
“Lowly people have their uses, and giving him a warning is enough. Moreover, even without him, someone else like him will appear in the Imperial Palace. Besides… for An Yaluoshan to come to the capital is not necessarily a bad thing.”
w.a.n.g Chong’s eyes brightly gleamed.
Zhao Changfu was not some stubbornly unyielding man. The moment he saw w.a.n.g Chong, he confessed everything he knew without the slightest prompting, even the feast of all countries and An Yaluoshan’s summons to the capital.
Xu Keyi and the others were so indignant that they had wanted to kill him on the spot, but w.a.n.g Chong had been unperturbed.
With the victory in the northeast and the seizure of the critical forts of Baiyan and Ans.h.i.+, An Yaluoshan was fully mature. Once he became the real Andong Protector-General, Youzhou would be his territory, and w.a.n.g Chong would no longer be able to interfere.
But if An Yaluoshan had been called to the capital, everything was different. At the very least, w.a.n.g Chong would not be so helpless.
An Yaluoshan, it’s already been two years since our last meeting. I… am looking forward to it! w.a.n.g Chong thought.
He looked up at the sky and saw dark clouds converging.
A storm was coming.
……
Several days later, in Youzhou, Gao Shang turned to An Yaluoshan after reading the letter.
“Your Excellency, we succeeded. I’ve just received word from Zhao Changfu that the Sage Emperor is using the victory in the northeast to hold a feast of all countries, and Your Excellency is invited.”
“Finally succeeded?”
An Yaluoshan let out a long sigh, and his aura turned restless, his eyes erupting with ambition.