Chapter 1740: Su Hanshan Moves Out! (2/2)
But that was then and this was now. If Wang Chong sent his army from the triangular gap to stop Zhang Zheng, the Eastern Palace had enough reason to arrest him.
The First Prince had been so cautious, even taking over the Imperial Army and the border armies, precisely because Wang Chong existed. But if the hindrance of Wang Chong was no more, the First Prince would have nothing to fear, and no one in the Great Tang would be able to stop him!
”Good! Ghost King, this prince was right to trust you! Kim U-Seok, starting from now, keep a twenty-four-hour watch on the triangular gap. Inform me as soon as Wang Chong moves his troops out. When the time comes, this prince will personally lead the Golden Guards to seize Wang Chong and his entire clan for the crime of rebellion!”
The First Prince had a chilling gaze, streaked with killing intent.
”This subordinate will deliver this order!”
Countless gyrfalcons, rock eagles, and golden hawks took to the skies, flying toward the distant triangular gap. At the same time, countless soldiers began to gather at the triangular gap, an invisible killing intent beginning to engulf it.
A crisis was imminent!
……
Whoosh!
As messenger birds flew here and there, on the ground, at the edge of the plateau, tens of thousands of cavalry stood in neat rows within the lush grass.
At the very front of this army, Su Hanshan and Li Siye stood side by side, both looking into the distance.
One could see far into the horizon from the lofty heights of the Tibetan Plateau, even the City of Steel and the Qixi Protectorate headquarters.
The howling winds caused the plateau grass to somberly rustle.
”Are they ready?” Su Hanshan suddenly said, his hair dancing in the wind.
”Ready!” a voice resounded from the rear.
”Very good!”
Su Hanshan coldly chuckled as he crushed the letter in his hand.
”His Highness sent a letter some time ago that once we leave the triangular gap and advance eastward, Hou Junji will use this chance. While the triangular gap is being watched, the moment we enter the Central Plains, he will accuse us of starting a rebellion and seize His Highness. There are probably already sentries stationed at the two roads from the triangular pass into the Great Tang.”
”Milord, then why don't we send men to remove the spies the First Prince has planted at those two roads?” one of the ballista officers asked.
”There's no need. It's a temporary solution, but not a long-term one. They can watch out for us at other places besides the triangular gap. As long as we're in the Great Tang, it doesn't matter where they discover us,” Su Hanshan coldly said.
Whoosh!
As he was speaking, a messenger bird descended. A horseman received the bird, glanced at the letter it carried, and hurriedly rode up to the front.
”Milord, we've received a report that suspicious people have been discovered on the road to the City of Steel!”
Buzz!
All fell silent at the horseman's report, but Su Hanshan remained indifferent. Wang Chong's letter had explained everything, and Hou Junji's actions were all within expectations.
”Milord, what do we do now? If we can't leave the triangular gap, how can we stop the Beiting Protectorate army's march?”
The officers all frowned in frustration, and all of them looked to Su Hanshan.
They had never exchanged blows with the Beiting Protectorate army, but the soldiers of the triangular gap did not fear the strength of any protectorate army. However, none of that mattered if they couldn't even march into the interior.
The situation of the Great Tang was extremely tense, and border armies of the Great Tang were forbidden from entering the capital region. This would always be taken as a sign of rebellion.
And it wasn't just Zhang Zheng marching to the capital. If they couldn't stop him, the entire capital would be transformed as the other protectorate armies followed.
This would only increase the pressure on their liege.
”I already have a plan! Zhang Long!” Su Hanshan suddenly said.
”Your subordinate is here!”
”I've written out all the orders on this paper! Do as I have instructed, and set out immediately. Remember, you must follow my instructions to the letter, or else you will be dealt with in accordance with military law!” Su Hanshan coldly ordered.
”This subordinate will go!”
……
Horses neighed as the army swiftly departed. But instead of heading toward the City of Steel or the Qixi Protectorate headquarters, it headed into the plateau.
Flapflap! Messenger birds soared into the air, and while a murderous current surged beneath the Central Plains, numerous soldiers began to move.
Time slowly passed, the sun setting and the stars rising. Far away in the capital, in the King of Foreign Lands Residence…
The massive model was covered in little flags. Besides red flags, there were also white flags, the two entangled with each other like two tigers brawling.
Wang Chong stood in front of this giant model, his mind in a trance. No one else knew what all these flags represented.