Chapter 2123: Target! The Western Turkic Khaganate!
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
The horn of the Great Snow Mountain!
Everyone turned in shock toward the source of the sound.
Everyone knew that at the highest point of the Great Snow Mountain Holy Temple, the holy land of Ü-Tsang, was a ma.s.sive white horn. This was a sacred object of the temple and a symbol of the highest authority in the empire. Only the High Monk was permitted to use it.
Over the course of decades, this horn had rarely been used.
Everyone knew that when the horn blew, something important had happened.
More importantly, each blare of the horn was accompanied by a prophecy.
“Dalon Trinling, come to the holy temple!” An ancient voice, tinged with a soul-soothing power, resounded through the hall.
“High Monk!”
Everyone was alarmed by this voice, even the Tsenpo rising from his throne.
The High Monk did not appear for just anything. Had the holy temple produced a new prophecy?
The Tsenpo felt a vague unease.
But regardless of what they thought, the High Monk’s energy vanished after he had said what he had come to say.
“You’re all dismissed. I will pay a visit to the holy temple. As for Youzhou, that can wait until after I come back!”
Dalon Trinling had also considered the possibility of a prophecy, and with a grave look on his face, he quickly left the hall.
Dalon Trinling set off for the holy temple, and no one knew what conversation transpired there.
But half a day later…
Whoos.h.!.+
A messenger bird took flight from the royal palace of Ü-Tsang, carrying with it Dalon Trinling’s handwritten letter to Youzhou.
After a long period of hesitation, Ü-Tsang had finally agreed to join the alliance!
At this time, an enormous alliance had taken form to the north of the Great Tang. The only country that had yet to express its stance was the Western Turkic Khaganate.
……
Meanwhile, in the capital of the Great Tang…
Hwooo!
The weather was dark and gloomy, cold winds howling. In this short period of time, the temperature of the Central Plains had dropped ten-some degrees, and it felt like winter had come early.
Many of the large families had already started coal fires.
It was possible to see hawkers selling firewood on every street, twice the normal amount.
The bustling streets of the capital were now much more desolate. Rather than pedestrians, patrolling hors.e.m.e.n from the City Guard were now a common sight.
Meanwhile, to the southwest of the Imperial Palace, the King of Foreign Lands Residence…
In the main hall, a coal brazier forged in the shape of a beast head was placed in the center, the flames within burning bright red and radiating warmth.
w.a.n.g Chong and Xu Qiqin were seated across from each other, dressed respectively in black clothes and a white dress. On the sandalwood table between them was a teapot, two cups, and several plates of pastries. The atmosphere was extremely quiet and serene.
“…All the coal has been delivered to the provinces according to plan. As for the kerosene, twenty percent has been allotted for distribution to the various circuits while the rest has been delivered to the front lines of the northeast and northwest. Besides that, all the cloth and blankets made from the cotton and wool have been distributed.
“As for the local situation, the governments of the provinces have posted announcements to calm the people, and all the villagers in remote areas have already been moved to safe zones near the county cities. The local governments have also expanded the ranks of the bailiffs to maintain order and safety.
“But even so, the situation is not good at all. The temperature is dropping far too quickly, and the moat outside the city is already starting to freeze. Moreover, this drop in temperature is showing no signs of stopping.
“We’ve already sent men to the north, and from what they have seen, the great cold wave is advancing on the Turkic Khaganates and Goguryeo. In a month at most, these countries will be completely engulfed by the blizzard, and after that, the cold wave will sweep south toward the Great Tang!
“In addition, even though we’re still purchasing food and wool, offering to pay twice what we usually pay, these products are no longer purchasable on the market. The other countries have begun to place restrictions on these items. The Great Tang has far more people than the other countries. If we had not made preparations in advance, the results would have been unimaginable!”
Xu Qiqin held a list in her hand as she reported on various matters. With her last words, she breathed a soft sigh of relief.
In all things, preparation meant success while lack of preparation led to ruin. Although the cold wave had yet to engulf the south, the damage it had already done in the north was enough to make anyone s.h.i.+ver in fear.
Attempting to prepare for the cold wave right as it was about to erupt was far too late.
w.a.n.g Chong was unperturbed. For this matter, the Imperial Court had spent more than one billion taels of gold, himself putting out four to five hundred million. This wasn’t even considering the large amounts of hybrid rice he was importing from the Promised Land.
Otherwise, the tens of millions of people in the Great Tang would have never been able to get through this period smoothly.
“Mm, I trust you. With you handling things, at least the Great Tang will be able to get through this period peacefully,” w.a.n.g Chong said.
When it came to logistics, Xu Qiqin had never disappointed him.
Xu Qiqin softly smiled, her face slightly blus.h.i.+ng.
“Right; how are things on your end?”
Xu Qiqin quickly regained her focus.
The situation was urgent. She was primarily helping w.a.n.g Chong by calming the people and helping the local governments withstand the cold, but w.a.n.g Chong was personally presiding over foreign affairs.
One domestic and one foreign, the two perfectly complemented each other.
w.a.n.g Chong took a sip from his tea before confidently saying, “It’s about ready!
“All the steel and craftsmen have already arrived.”
Xu Qiqin’s eyes flashed as she asked, “What of An Yaluoshan?”
“Same as usual, anxious to make his move. He’s been gathering his soldiers, so he will probably start soon,” w.a.n.g Chong indifferently said.
“So you’re saying that he’s already succeeded in persuading Goguryeo, the Eastern Turkic Khaganate, the Xi, and the Khitans?”
Xu Qiqin saw the implication in these words, her brows creasing in concern.
“There’s a solution for every problem, and I’ve already handled matters. If An Yaluoshan dares to send out his soldiers, that will be the day he seeks his own destruction. I have a big surprise waiting for him.”
w.a.n.g Chong put down his tea cup, his eyes cold and his face exuding a natural confidence.
From the moment he had been reincarnated, he had been waiting for this day.
In this An-s.h.i.+ Rebellion, he had already removed the ‘s.h.i.+’. This time, he would get rid of the ‘An’ once and for all and remove this threat to the Great Tang!
“Your Highness!”
Rapid footsteps interrupted w.a.n.g Chong’s train of thought, and a moment later, Zhang Que rushed inside with a letter.
As his mouth opened to speak, he spotted Xu Qiqin and froze.
“L-lady Xu… Your Highness, I’ll take my leave and come back later.”
Zhang Que felt embarra.s.sed and immediately backed out of the hall.
“There’s no need!” w.a.n.g Chong lightly said with a wave of his sleeve. Zhang Que had clearly misunderstood something.
“Speak! What happened?”
“Yes!”
After a moment of hesitation, Zhang Que recalled the contents of the letter, and his face turned grim as he began his report.
“We’ve just received word that An Yaluoshan’s soldiers are showing increased signs of activity in the northeast, seemingly preparing to begin their a.s.sault. In addition, our scouts in Youzhou have also found traces of Tibetans.”
Buzz!
w.a.n.g Chong’s pupils constricted, his expression turning ice-cold.
Dalon Trinling!
He had been constantly watching the other countries this entire time, and he had sent them letters warning them against alliance. And it had only been the countries bordering Youzhou that had had close relations with An Yaluoshan, but if Dalon Trinling and Ü-Tsang joined An Yaluoshan’s alliance, the situation became entirely different.
Though An Yaluoshan had a powerful army and Gao Shang advising him, in the end, he was not mature enough.
But Dalon Trinling was different. He was even older than the likes of Zhangchou Jianqiong, and he was considered one of the finest strategists of the continent.
For the two of them to join would be like giving An Yaluoshan wings. He would have the strength to sweep over the realm!
Clap!
w.a.n.g Chong flicked his fingers, sending a bolt of energy outward. On a metal fretwork table nearby, a large map of the Great Tang and its environs unrolled.
w.a.n.g Chong rose and walked over.
Zhang Que and Xu Qiqin followed.
w.a.n.g Chong scanned the map, his gaze flitting over Youzhou, Goguryeo, and the Eastern Turkic Khaganate, and then Ü-Tsang, before suddenly, it turned and stopped at a region in the northwest corner of the map.
“The only country that has yet to express its stance is the Western Turkic Khaganate!
“It’s not that easy to make an alliance! Attend me! Write a letter to Ishbara Khagan!”
w.a.n.g Chong coldly chuckled, a sharp glint in his eyes.
The Western Turkic Khaganate was located between Ü-Tsang and the other countries, serving as an extremely important hub region.
An Yaluoshan had already recruited Ü-Tsang and the other countries in the north. If he also got the Western Turkic Khaganate, he would succeed in creating an arc of allies around the Great Tang that could exert enormous amounts of pressure.
But w.a.n.g Chong would not let them finish this arc.
The moment Ü-Tsang joined An Yaluoshan’s alliance, the Western Turkic Khaganate to the northwest became of vital importance.
If he could throw a wrench into the Western Turkic Khaganate, he could split off Dalon Trinling from An Yaluoshan.
The combo of Dalon Trinling and An Yaluoshan would be extremely difficult to deal with if they were together, but when separated, they would be much less of a threat. w.a.n.g Chong could even deal with them one by one!
“Yes!”
Zhang Que bowed and quickly departed.
Whoos.h.!.+
A few moments later, a messenger bird flapped its wings and flew toward the northwest.