荔枝影院

Edited by: Michyrr

“Your Majesty, this subject objects!”

With a resounding voice, King Song stepped out of his rank, his expression solemn.

“Your Majesty, this subject objects!”

“Your Majesty, this subject objects!”

“Your Majesty, this subject objects!”

The generals were invigorated and added their cries to those of Duke Jiu and King Song. The generals and civil officials were once more in a stand-off, and just when it seemed like the quarrel was about to be renewed...

“Enough! We understand how to proceed.”

A dignified voice resounded from above like a god speaking from the highest heavens. The Sage Emperor had finally spoken.

“King Song, Zhangchou Jianqiong, the two of you are given full authority in this matter. Immediately mobilize the army to reinforce Talas. The memorial submitted by Gao Xianzhi and temporary Qixi Protector-General Wang Chong is entirely passed. Zheng Chengli, Zhou Taiqin, your Bureau of Revenue will do everything in its power to assist, supplying all the money and grain necessary. No mistakes are permitted. The other bureaus should provide their support as well!”

These words were issued from behind the bead curtain like laws, the entire world falling into a hush as it listened.

The Grand Preceptor, King Qi, and all the civil officials were struck dumb. No one had expected that the Sage Emperor would end this quarrel between civil and military officials like this. On the other end, Duke Jiu faintly smiled while King Song, Jiang Yunrang, and the other generals all inwardly rejoiced.

The words of the sovereign were no joking matter! No matter how intense the conflict between civil and military was, everything was settled once the Sage Emperor spoke.

“This subject will carry out the decree!”

All the generals in the hall loudly proclaimed their agreement. As for the civil officials, no matter how unwilling they were, even they had to lower their heads. The Sage Emperor did not lightly express his opinions, but once he did, there was no room for alteration.

“This old subject will carry out the decree!”

The officials of the Bureau of Revenue who had been mentioned by name, as well as all the other civil officials, proclaimed their agreement.

“Go!”

That divine and thunderous voice echoed through the hall. With the Sage Emperor’s decree, the entire Great Tang came to life like a giant war machine. Soldiers from various areas were summoned and readied to reinforce Talas.

......

Whoosh!

Not long after the Sage Emperor ended the court debate, a carrier pigeon took off into the sky, traveling with remarkable speed toward Anxi. Several days later, this carrier pigeon descended into Talas, but the shocks that it sent through the city made it seem like a plummeting meteor.

“Wonderful!”

All the generals in the city had gathered in the reception hall, and their faces were red with excitement. After many days of stalemate, the Imperial Court had finally decided to reinforce Talas. This was undoubtedly the best news everyone had heard in some time. Even Gao Xianzhi had been alarmed and left his cultivation.

Vice Protector-General Cheng Qianli placed his hands on the table and happily proclaimed, “Lord Protector-General, with the backing of the Sage Emperor and the Imperial Court, we’ll have much more initiative at Talas. We might even be able to defeat the Arabs.”

The Imperial Court had remained in a stalemate for far too long, but every important decision often required a long period of consideration. Moreover, they had asked the Imperial Court for reinforcements after achieving a victory, which was out of step with custom and made the proposal even more difficult to pass. Cheng Qianli had already begun to consider what the Anxi Protectorate army should do while the Imperial Court continued to delay.

“True! It’s definitely unprecedented for this decision to pass so quickly. King Song, the Beacon General, and all the military officials in court stood on our side. Even Duke Jiu appeared. But this matter still isn’t something worth being too happy about.”

After his initial excitement, Gao Xianzhi began to calm down, his brows slowly furrowing.

“The Imperial Court needs to defend too many places. In many places, pulling soldiers would affect the entire defensive situation, so there really aren’t many soldiers available. I worry that even with the Sage Emperor’s decree, the Imperial Court still won’t be able to send many soldiers.”

“Haha, Lord Protector-General worries too much. I’ve already taken care of everything. We can get at least twenty thousand soldiers from the capital, and if we add that to the soldiers from the various protectorates and the prefectural armies, we can get fifty to sixty thousand elite soldiers from the Imperial Court. For soldiers, quality over quantity. Although we still have far fewer than the Arabs, we have enough to fight a battle with them.”

“Oh?!”

The eyes of the gathered generals brightened in surprise. None of them were surprised about being able to get soldiers from the border protectorates, as this was something that Wang Chong and Gao Xianzhi had already finished negotiating. But all of them couldn’t help but confess their shock that the capital could send twenty thousand soldiers of its own.

Gao Xianzhi suddenly thought of something and cautiously asked, “Wang Chong, you want to transfer soldiers from the Imperial Army?”

Wang Chong gave a firm nod.

Boom!

This simple movement immediately threw the minds of the generals into turmoil. Even Gao Xianzhi and Cheng Qianli were stunned by Wang Chong’s bold action. They glanced at each other, too shocked for words.

Transferring soldiers from the Imperial Army!

Such a thing had never happened in all of history. The Imperial Army was responsible for protecting the capital and guarding the Emperor, and was not allowed to leave for just any reason. The Great Tang had been founded two-hundred-some years ago, and there had never been a case where soldiers were transferred from the Imperial Army while the border armies remained untouched. Gao Xianzhi and Cheng Qianli might have been supreme individuals of the empire, but not even they dared to imagine such a thing.

“Wang Chong, are you sure? Will the Imperial Court agree?”

“Lord Protector-General, all things stem from authority, and though there’s no precedent for this matter, that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. The Imperial Court has one hundred thousand soldiers in the Imperial Army, and the various borders are all properly garrisoned. The Imperial Court faces no threats at this moment, making the Imperial Army the best place to transfer soldiers from. Don’t forget that the Arabs have sent out the Mamelukes this time, and will also be sending the Behemoth Army and the Skyquaking Army. When three Arab governors gather, ordinary soldiers won’t be able to hold against them,” Wang Chong sternly said.

“But transferring soldiers from the Imperial Army is no minor matter. If we do this, we will be roundly criticized by all the officials. And no one in the Bureau of Military Personnel, not even King Song or Zhangchou Jianqiong, has the authority to transfer soldiers from the Imperial Army!” Gao Xianzhi said. It wasn’t that he didn’t agree with Wang Chong, but this idea was simply too crazy and audacious!

“Haha, General doesn’t even fear death, but you fear the scholar’s brush?”

Wang Chong grinned.

“The Sage Emperor rarely interferes in the politics of the court, but now that the Sage Emperor has spoken, we have a major advantage on our side. As long as you and I write another memorial, I am confident His Majesty will agree.”

These casually said words from Wang Chong left Gao Xianzhi, Cheng Qianli, and all the other generals fearful and anxious.

Gao Xianzhi and Cheng Qianli exchanged speechless glances.

Only Wang Chong remained unperturbed and composed. In truth, the generals had nothing to do with the Great Tang’s current situation. The true director of this all was the Sage Emperor. The civil officials criticized the generals as being fond of war, but it was really the Sage Emperor that was fond of war. It was precisely through his support that the Great Tang had reached its current size and situation.

Gao Xianzhi and Cheng Qianli were still a little hesitant, but Wang Chong knew that as long as they asked, the Sage Emperor would agree.

Seeing the mood in the room, Wang Chong added the final weight to tip the scales. “Milord, this chance only comes once. If we don’t do our utmost to transfer soldiers now, requesting soldiers from the Imperial Army won’t be of any help once we lose Talas.”

“This... Fine!” At these words, Gao Xianzhi clenched his teeth and made up his mind.

“Qianli, I’ll leave this matter to you and Protector-General Wang. But if we do this, there’s no going back!”

The first sentence was for Cheng Qianli, but for the second sentence, Gao Xianzhi turned his head to Wang Chong. By bringing in the Imperial Army, the entire matter would take on a completely different nature. If they were defeated, both Wang Chong and Gao Xianzhi could put aside any thought of further advancement.

“We could never go back in the first place.”

Wang Chong faintly smiled, not a hint of hesitation in his eyes. All that was lacking in his preparations was the final touch. There had been no going back for Wang Chong for a very long time.

A few moments later, an eagle soared into the skies of Talas, carrying to the capital a memorial drafted by Wang Chong and Cheng Qianli, and stamped with Gao Xianzhi’s seal. Just as Wang Chong had expected, this request set off a storm.

But before the civil officials of the court could even begin their criticisms, the Sage Emperor issued a decree that left all of them dumbfounded.

“Granted!”

This simple word quashed all debate, ending the crisis before it even erupted. The Imperial Army had a special status, but if the Sage Emperor had given the order, not even the civil officials could say anything. Moreover, Wang Chong had requested only ten thousand soldiers from the Imperial Army, exactly one-tenth. This number was neither too large nor too small. It was exactly the limit the important officials of court could accept, and would not affect the Imperial Army’s duty of guarding the capital too significantly.

......

In the northwest region of the capital, a muscular and stalwart figure was seated cross-legged within an elegant hall built in an ancient style. As he sat motionless, waves of energy flowed off his body. Behind him stood an upright Wootz Steel saber more than seven feet long, making the man appear even larger and mightier. But if one looked again, one would notice that both this man and the Wootz Steel saber were floating in the air. Those who could float in the air while cultivating were at least at the Brigadier General level.

Marshal of the Imperial Army, Zhao Fengchen!

This man was the number four individual of the capital’s Imperial Army and was also climbing the ranks the fastest. Other than the three Grand Marshals, Zhao Fengchen wielded the most authority in the Imperial Army.