Chapter 1740: Su Hanshan Moves Out! (1/2)
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
The model was extremely detailed, and it was probably the only model that incorporated all the prefectures and commanderies.
This feat was only possible with extremely detailed surveillance. It was obvious that Wang Chong had been preparing for this 'war' far more than most of them had imagined.
”Pass on my order! Tell Su Hanshan at the triangular gap that I'm leaving Zhang Zheng's army to him!” Wang Chong coldly said.
As his eyes flitted across the rolling mountain ranges on the model, he snatched up a flag and thrust it into an area eight-hundred-some li from the Beiting Protectorate headquarters.
”There's more than one road from the northern frontier to Gold Bull Mountain, but all of the roads must pass through here, Great Bear Pass! Tell Su Hanshan to get ready!”
”Yes, Your Highness!” everyone replied in excited unison.
”In addition, inform the great clans that, just like before, we need to borrow their strength!” Wang Chong sternly said.
”Yes, Your Highness!”
”Zhang Que, starting now, release all your scouts. I want twenty-four-hour surveillance on Zhang Zheng, the capital, the border, and all the surrounding countries. Inform me on the slightest sign of movement!”
Wang Chong issued order after order, each one extremely clear and precise. These orders served to greatly calm everyone else.
”Go!”
Wang Chong waved his hand, upon which Zhang Que, Xu Keyi, and the others swiftly departed.
Whoosh!
A few moments later, countless birds flew out of the King of Foreign Lands Residence.
……
Whoosh!
As these birds took off, within the Imperial Palace, gyrfalcons and eagles were also flying in and out of the Eastern Palace.
The Eastern Palace was brightly lit and bustling at this late hour, brimming with a tense air.
Kim U-Seok, with a sharp-eyed gyrfalcon on his shoulder, walked up to the First Prince and got down on one knee.
”Your Highness, we just received word that the King of Foreign Lands Residence is showing signs of activity, exactly as expected. They've begun to send messages to the border.”
A gentleman was willing to die for his friends, and in the Eastern Palace, he had received unprecedented favor and was able to fully display all his abilities. This was a treatment he had never received in Goguryeo.
Kim U-Seok naturally did everything in his power to help the First Prince gather information, and the King of Foreign Lands Residence was naturally his top priority. The only person in all of the realm who might hinder the First Prince's plans was that King of Foreign Lands.
”It really was as you predicted!”
The First Prince coldly chuckled from his throne as he turned to the Ghost King.
”The one who makes the most calculations in the tent will defeat the one who makes fewer. With you here, this prince can accomplish anything.”
Ever since the Ghost King had come to serve him, he had been able to predict almost every development, allowing the First Prince to successfully seize the soldiers and authority he desired. Everyone in the Eastern Palace now looked to the Ghost King for guidance.
Hou Junji merely softly smiled at the First Prince's words, little emotion on his face.
”Your Highness, do not let your guard down until the final moment has passed,” Hou Junji nonchalantly said.
The First Prince chuckled, clearly not taking Hou Junji's warning too seriously.
Meng Tu took a step forward and sternly said, ”Your Highness, the King of Foreign Lands has made his move. Our most urgent task is to think of countermeasures so that Zhang Zheng's Beiting Protectorate army can reach the capital safely. The Beiting Protectorate army is a veteran force possessing immense strength, and they're all Hu and easy to control. If we have its assistance on the outside, together with Fumeng Lingcha, then even if there are some areas that refuse to submit, they won't be able to build up much momentum. We cannot allow this army to be stopped.”
The Eastern Palace fell quiet as everyone turned to Hou Junji.
”Heh! Your Highness does not need to worry. I have already made arrangements!”
Hou Junji smiled.
”The closest source of troops that can intercept Zhang Zheng is the triangular gap. That's the only place he can pull troops from!
”But if the soldiers at the triangular gap appear in the Great Tang, Your Highness does not need to be worried in the slightest, and Zhang Zheng does not need to rush over to the capital. Zhu Tong'en, you're familiar with the laws of the Great Tang. What is the penalty for privately raising an army?”
”It is punished the same as fomenting a rebellion: execution!” Zhu Tong'en firmly declared.
Everyone understood, smiles appearing on their lips.
Yes, the fact that Wang Chong was training soldiers at the triangular gap had ceased to be a secret.
But those soldiers were not in the Central Plains, so they did not fall under the laws of the Great Tang. Moreover, the Qixi forces, in conflict with the Ü-Tsang Empire, after suffering grievous losses in that area, had long ago withdrawn its garrisons from that region of the plateau.
Wang Chong's two steel fortresses and his garrisons there served as a perfect defense for the Great Tang against Ü-Tsang. This was why the Imperial Court had given its tacit approval.