Chapter 424: Harvest! (2/2)
'A centipede can die, but it will never fall over.' The current Great Tang was far from that mighty hegemon that valiantly swept through the world. Yet the elites and higher-ups of this empire still contained extremely formidable figures that could not be underestimated.
That Central Plains youngster in the square was the best example!
Dusong Mangpoje had wanted to kill him many times, but he had ultimately managed to suppress the desire.
Although he wasn't clear on the youngster's exact background, it was certainly no ordinary one. That youngster had deliberately attempted to provoke him several times into striking. Dusong Mangpoje had understood what that youngster wanted. If he killed the youth, the Great Tang Empire would have an excuse to attack him in the capital.
If such a thing really did occur, then it would be just like the youth said. He would not have made it out of the capital alive.
The youth's predictions had been right on the mark.
”…I had believed that the Central Plains were waning when I made this trip to the Great Tang. I didn't expect to meet such an evil young man on the last day. The lot of the Central Plains is still not completely exhausted!”
Dusong Mangpoje mentally sighed.
The First Prince and the elite horsemen under him served as a cover, allowing him to see the Sage Emperor with his own eyes. This had been a top-secret mission that nobody except the members of their group knew of. Not even the ministers of the Great Tang had been able to see through it.
Dusong Mangpoje had originally believed that nobody would see through it, not even after they finished the First Prince's trick and returned to the plateau of the empire. Unexpectedly, that young man had seen through it, and then he had killed that Tibetan horseman without hesitation, damaging the imposing demeanor of the Tibetan party.
Of course, it would have been fine if that was all. After all, it was just a trick the First Prince had thought up on the spur of the moment, just a game.
But then that youngster had exposed his identity. This was what had truly shocked Dusong Mangpoje.
If this youth had been some famous figure of the Great Tang, he would have been able to accept it. But the youth's age meant that it was impossible for the youth to have ever seen him, much less recognize him.
Just like that, the identity that he had kept intact for three months had been exposed, truly leaving Dusong Mangpoje unprepared.
”Great General, I'm sorry. It's all because I've dragged you down!”
At this moment, a voice came from his side. Dusong Mangpoje turned his head and saw a 'Tibetan horseman' looking at him with an expression of shame.
”There's no need for First Prince's apology. I was the one who decided on this venture. Coming to the Great Tang has been a dream of mine for many years and has nothing to do with you. There's no need for First Prince to criticize yourself.”
Dusong Mangpoje grinned and waved his hand.
This ashamed 'Tibetan horseman' was naturally the actual Ü-Tsang First Prince. Tibetans were a dauntless and fierce people who worshipped strength.
The Ü-Tsang First Prince was a prime example of this, and he had a proud personality that did not make it easy for him to apologize to others. However, the First Prince also knew that the gravity of the situation could not be underestimated.
If a Great General of the Great Tang Empire infiltrated Ü-Tsang alone, then the Tibetans would assuredly put all their strength into making sure they stayed.
This was obviously the situation facing Dusong Mangpoje.
Although the others were doubtful, not daring to be sure that someone was truly after them, the Ü-Tsang First Prince knew that the elites of the Great Tang would not let this chance pass by.
If he hadn't been so proud and taken with his intelligence, stirring up that practice ground incident, the situation would have never reached this point.
It could be said that if anything bad happened to Dusong Mangpoje, it was all his fault.
Ü-Tsang had millions of brave soldiers, but it only had a scant few Great Generals. If Dusong Mangpoje were to encounter some mishap in the Great Tang, it would be a massive stain on this mission and deal a critical blow to his chances of becoming the next Tsenpo.
This was the reason for the First Prince's concern.
”Listen to what I have to say. As long as we are still within the confines of the Great Tang capital, Great Tang won't dare to touch us. But once we are a certain distance from the capital, everything changes. If something happens to us, the Great Tang will easily push the responsibility to someone else.
”Moreover, to deal with me, they will definitely attack the rest of you as well. Only this way can they make the incident look convincing. This is why I've escorted you out of the capital. In a little while, none of you should take the main road. Once we leave this place, split up into groups and choose a direction to escape. Do not look back until you return to the Tibetan Plateau,” Dusong Mangpoje ordered, his voice carrying an ominous tone.
”General, you're not coming with us?”
An Ü-Tsang officer suddenly sensed something and raised his head.
”Of course he can't go with you!”
It wasn't Dusong Mangpoje replying. A voice had suddenly spoken, frightening the Tibetans.
”Who, who is it?”
”Who's lurking around out there! Get out here!”
……
As some of their comrades shouted, a few of the horsemen seemed to sense something and turned around as one, their bright scimitars leaving their sheaths to aim at the direction the voice had come from.
Whoosh!
A breeze blew past. An aloof figure dressed in snow-white clothes emerged in front of the party. With his silk belt drifting in the wind and his hands clasped behind him, he slowly walked out of the rustling forest.
His thin body exuded an energy as mighty as the mountains and seas.
Boom!
A silver boot lightly touched the ground, and the world quaked. The energy of the forest in a several-thousand-zhang radius suddenly transformed. All the grass, trees, the branches and leaves began to emit a sharp energy, all of it aimed at Dusong Mangpoje's party on the main road.
Neigh!
The warhorses whinnied, and in an instant, all these fine steeds trained on the Tibetan Plateau reared up, their eyes open and their manes bristling. It was as if they had sensed some terrible danger.