Chapter 271: The Banquet Starts! (1/2)

Chapter 271: The Banquet Starts!

Minister of War!

The position that Zhangchou Jianqiong was aiming for was significant for anyone. No deployment in the Bureau of Military Personnel could circumvent the orders of the Minister of War.

Unlike the previous Minister of War, Zhangchou Jianqiong possessed both power and ambition. If he were to rise to that position, there was no way he would be content with being a puppet who would defer to anyone.

This was precisely the reason why the topic regarding Zhangchou Jianqiong's promotion had been delayed for so long. Even Big Uncle Wang Gen had to reaffirm this matter with Wang Chong twice before agreeing to make a stand.

Zhangchou Jianqiong was an outsider in the royal court. He was an uncontrollable variable whose appearance would mess up the distribution of power.

This was precisely what the veterans of the royal court feared about him.

The Southern Protector-General becoming the Minister of War all of a sudden was no joke.

As such thoughts emerged in Wang Chong's head, he quickly regained his calm as he took a stand beside Big Uncle Wang Gen.

”Brother Zhangchou, I've kept you waiting!”

At the same time, Big Uncle Wang Gen also stretched out a hand as a display of courtesy and walked forward. In the entire Wang Clan, the only person who was of equal standing to this Southern Protector-General was probably Wang Gen.

The only difference between them was that Zhangchou Jianqiong was a military officer, whereas Wang Gen was a government official.

Even though their fields of expertise didn't overlap, Wang Gen's credentials in the royal court weren't beneath that of Zhangchou Jianqiong. In fact, due to the Wang Clan's standing, he had participated in the decision-making process determining Zhangchou Jianqiong's promotion. In that sense, his influence did exceed Zhangchou Jianqiong.

It was to satiate his desire for such power that Zhangchou Jianqiong wanted to enter the royal court.

”Haha, this must be famous young genius of the Wang Clan, Wang Chong!”

After chatting with Wang Gen, Zhangchou Jianqiong didn't take a seat, but turned his gaze meaningfully to Wang Chong instead.

”Thank you, lord, for your undue compliments, I am indeed Wang Chong. I have yet to express my gratitude to you for the matter regarding the regional commanders incident!”

Since Zhangchou Jianqiong had turned his sight to him, there was no need for Wang Chong to hold back either. He stepped forward and bowed graciously to the latter.

”Haha, there's no need for thanks.” Zhangchou Jianqiong waved his hands casually. ”It was a matter involving the fate of the empire, I only helped you out of my own conscience. There's no need for you to think too much into it. Rather, despite Wang gongzi's young age, the fact that you possess such astute judgement, magnanimity, and a heart that worries for the nation is truly rare. You'll surely achieve great things in the future.”

He had noticed Wang Chong as soon as the younger man started walking up the stairs. Perhaps Wang Chong thought that he wouldn't attract any attention just by maintaining a low profile, but this was impossible in itself.

There were two main people he wanted to meet by inviting the Wang Clan over to the Goguryeon's Ten Sun Tavern. First, would be the influential Wang Gen, who wielded the bulk of the authority in the clan, and the other would be the proud scion of the Wang Clan, who caused such a huge uproar with his actions.

Humble when required, outspoken when needed; magnanimous in speech, graceful in gestures; a position that neither demeans nor overstep his boundaries... As expected of a scion from a prestigious clan. Everyone claimed that with only Wang Gen propping up the clan, the Wang Clan would surely decline when Wang Jiu Ling passed away. From the looks of it now, that doesn't seem to be the case. The Wang Clan's prosperity will survive yet another generation!, Zhangchou Jianqiong thought as he instantaneously made a precise judgement of the Wang Clan.

Duke Jiu was old, and Wang Gen had already reached the peak of his career. As such, the Wang Clan's future lay on the shoulders of the third generation offspring.

Among all the children of the Wang Clan, the most outstanding one was clearly Wang Chong. Despite his young age, he had met the Sage Emperor and managed to walk out of the imperial prison alive. Not to mention, he was currently favored by the Sage Emperor, so his future was likely to be boundless.

Back in their time, regardless of whether it was Wang Gen or Zhangchou Jianqiong, neither had succeeded in receiving the favor of the emperor! As long as Wang Chong didn't err badly, he would surely become yet another influential figure on the royal court.

Having read the pulse of the Wang Clan, Zhangchou Jianqiong understood what he had to do to reinforce his standing in the capital.

”Hahaha…!”

At this moment, a loud laughter suddenly sounded out, capturing everyone's attention. Wang Chong turned around and saw a figure walking out from one of the compartments on the third floor at this very “coincidental” moment.

This person was dressed in a white robe and a black coronet. He had a graceful disposition reminiscent of a scholar.

”Yang Zhao!”

Recognizing that figure, Wang Chong fell into a short moment of thought. Yang Zhao had clearly arrived early, but he chose to remain out of sight in the compartment by the side. Only after Zhangchou Jianqiong had greeted both his big uncle and him did he choose to make a timely appearance.

This seemed to be the effect that Zhangchou Jianqiong and Yang Zhao were intentionally going for.

”... Lord Zhangchou, how is it? I'm right, aren't I?” Yang Zhao chuckled heartily.

”Indeed! Wang gongzi sure is an excellent youth, a dragon that soars above all men. How could a person who comes from the noble Wang Clan possibly be ordinary?” Zhangchou Jianqiong smiled in response.

The tone that Zhangchou Jianqiong and Yang Zhao took with one another was much more casual and intimate, as though they were true brothers. With just a glance, it was certain that they had a deep relationship.

”Hahaha, we're all one family. Come, Lord Wang, do take a seat!”

With an amiable chuckle, Yang Zhao walked over with a raised hand. Astonishingly, he actually overstepped his boundaries and invited Wang Gen to his seat in place of the host, Zhangchou Jianqiong.

Yet, Zhangchou Jianqiong continued smiling cordially, paying it no mind at all.

What is going on?

Taking this peculiar scene into sight, Wang Gen's eyebrows twitched slightly in astonishment. He knew of Yang Zhao and Zhangchou Jianqiong's relationship, but it seemed that the duo was much more intimate than he had expected.