Whoosh!
A few moments later, a carrier pigeon took off from the palace and flew toward the Secretariat Advisor Residence.
Meanwhile, within the Secretariat Advisor Residence located in the northwestern part of the capital, Li Junxian was seated cross-legged within a hall, wearing a white Confucian robe and a white band tied around his hair.
He was surrounded by a circle of bronze lanterns. To the front and left side was a small mountain of bamboo tubes containing ancient texts. To the right were numerous books and documents of the Imperial Court.
Li Junxian had his back straight and a thin brush in his hand as he wrote out a document for the Imperial Court on the desk in front of him.
His confident writing style exuded a sense of exquisite beauty.
Taptaptap!
Suddenly, a flurry of footsteps shattered the silence.
Li Junxian lightly creased his brow. Raising his head, he saw a Confucian Sect disciple rapidly approaching, a worried look on his face.
“What’s wrong?” Li Junxian asked. After a single glance, he turned his head back down to his work.
“Young Master, it’s bad! The Advisor-in-Waiting suddenly returned to the capital last night! This information is one hundred percent confirmed!”
Buzz!
Li Junxian’s brush froze in the air.
“I see.”
Li Junxian quickly returned to his writing.
The Confucian Sect disciple was struck dumb by Li Junxian’s abnormal calm.
“Young Master, this is bad news! That man represents the militarists in the court, and we disbanded the prefectural armies while he was gone. Now that he’s back, he won’t just let the matter drop.” The voice of Elder Song came from behind Li Junxian and resounded through the hall.
“That’s right! Given that man’s temper, he’ll incessantly attempt to ruin the plans of Young Master and the Confucian Sect,” the white-clothed girl standing next to Elder Song agreed.
The mention of Wang Chong’s name had caused the expressions of Elder Song and the white-clothed girl to darken and fear to appear in their eyes.
As members of the Confucian Sect, an organization that had persisted for more than a thousand years, they had little respect for the generals of the court, but Wang Chong was an exception.
His ‘Might Makes Right’ had left the Confucian Sect badly battered, and they had even been forced to use the influence of Master Zhu to finally suppress the matter. This had been the only time where the entire force of the Confucian Sect had to be mobilized against one person, and every person in the Confucian Sect knew his name.
This was why that Confucian Sect disciple had been so worried and anxious upon receiving the news.
Tap!
Li Junxian finished off his last word and finally raised his head, placing the brush on its rack.
“Elder Song, Junior Sister, there’s an appropriate measure for every situation. Moreover, the matter is settled. Even though he’s returned to the capital, he won’t be able to stir many waves.”
Li Junxian’s eyes were calm and his expression composed.
“Moreover, that incident has now passed and ‘Might Makes Right’ has been banned throughout the empire.”
Even if Wang Chong was the most brilliant general in the three-hundred-year history of the Great Tang, he was still just one man. And in that crucial one month, they had finished everything they needed to do. Not even the King of Foreign Lands could do anything now.
Everyone nodded in agreement. But just when they thought that their young master was not concerned about Wang Chong, Li Junxian spoke again.
“However, those subordinates of the King of Foreign Lands have been anticipating his return all this time, as have many people within the court. It’s fine if he’s learned his lesson from last time, but if he makes any strange move, we no longer need to be polite with the Wang Clan.
“Li Qing, pass on my order. Keep a strict watch on the Wang Clan’s every move, particularly the King of Foreign Lands. Inform me the moment he makes any movement,” Li Junxian firmly ordered the Confucian Sect disciple.
Everyone was slightly surprised by Li Junxian’s order. Although their young master seemed calm, he clearly was not as indifferent about the incident from before as he appeared.
Chapter 1575 - Wang Chong’s Movements!
Chapter 1575: Wang Chong’s Movements!
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
Young Master still feels threatened by that man. Young Master’s path has been smooth ever since he was a child, and he was hailed as a heaven-sent genius by the old sect master, but this time, Young Master has run into a real foe, Elder Song inwardly mused.
Why had the heavens produced both a Zhou Yu and a Zhuge Liang? His young master and that other youth seemed to naturally reject each other. They were both too strong and too talented for the heavens to contain them both at the same time.
No matter what, I have to think of a way to help Young Master and kill that Wang Chong, Elder Song decided.
In the middle of his musings, a familiar figure rushed into the hall.
“Young Master, the First Prince has sent another message. This is the fourth time this month.” Sword Ghost began talking the moment he came in.
Buzz!
The hall fell quiet once more. Elder Song, the white-clothed girl, Li Junxian, and even the Confucian Sect disciple, Li Qing, all grimaced.
“Senior Brother, are we really not going to go with him on this?” the white-clothed girl hesitantly said, her expression tinged with fear. “He’s the First Prince, the heir apparent. If we offend him, then…”
The First Prince possessed extraordinary status, and if they didn’t support him, the Confucian Sect would have little hope of advancing its dreams. To refuse him at a time like this was extremely unwise.
Everyone fell silent at these words. They naturally understood her reasoning, but what they were being asked to do…
“Junior Sister!”
Li Junxian slowly stood up from his table.
“The Confucian Sect has its rules, and the sect masters of each generation have always forbidden intervening in the War of the Princes. This is how the Confucian Sect has always conducted itself. Only by not meddling with imperial authority can we obtain authority that surpasses it. For the Confucian Sect to always be able to swiftly develop a connection with the new sovereign when governments shift and obtain their assistance requires this.
“The First Prince truly has assisted us, and he is the heir apparent. And all will be well if he succeeds, but if he fails, the Confucian Sect will probably end with him. Thus, we cannot agree to the First Prince’s request no matter what,” Li Junxian sternly said.
‘We cannot cast aside the rules of the sect! This matter is not to be mentioned again!” Elder Song declared.
The white-clothed girl knew that she had said the wrong thing and hastily lowered her head.
“Senior Brother, Elder, this was my mistake. I will never mention this again,” the girl softly whispered.
“Young Master, how should we reply to the First Prince?” Sword Ghost once more brought back everyone’s focus.
Li Junxian raised his head and firmly declared, “Draft a reply for me with the same response. If the First Prince ascends the throne, our Confucian Sect will give our full support.”
……
The news of Wang Chong’s return had not caused a great stir, but through certain methods, it was quickly transmitted to those people who wanted to keep an eye on the Wang Clan.
In Hu Harp Street, Pipa Alley, only several blocks away from where Wang Chong had met ‘Big Golden Tooth1‘, a Hu wrapped in a thick robe was rapidly making his way through the crowd.
The Hu around him were ceaselessly chattering, and there were far more than there had ever been before.
Although Hu Harp Street was home to a significant number of Hu, they usually didn’t even reach twenty percent
of the crowd. But now, the crowd almost entirely consisted of Hu.
The man rushed into the depths of the alley. Stopping in front of an exotically designed door, he loudly knocked.
Dokdokdok!
A slat was opened on the gold-painted door, allowing an eye to peep out. After a glance, another Hu let the man inside.
“Milord, we just received word that Wang Chong has returned to the capital. However, we still don’t know where he is right now.”
The Hu bowed the moment he entered the room.
This room was completely pitch-black, and it felt like the Hu was talking to himself. But soon after, a light began to shine. Not far from the Hu was a curtain, and behind the curtain was an imposing silhouette.
The imposing figure’s right arm was extended, their hand open to reveal a luminous pearl the size of a chicken egg. It was this pearl that was lighting the room.
“There is no activity from the Wang Clan?” A hoarse voice spoke in the Hu tongue, soft and drifting, giving off an extremely strange feeling.
“No, but, Milord, the King of Foreign Lands has always been hostile toward us Hu, and he’s always been firmly in the pro-war faction, constantly calling for armies to attack the Hu. His return bodes ill for us!”
The Hu scout was clearly very afraid of the King of Foreign Lands.
After the southwest and Talas, Wang Chong had killed more than one million Hu, becoming their worst nightmare. In certain Hu countries, the mention of ‘Great General of the Central Plains Wang Chong’ would cause children to start wailing in the night.
“Heh, his return is fine too.”
A strange laugh came from behind the curtain.
“Now that he’s back, we finally begin to stir the waters and throw the Great Tang into complete disarray. There’s no need for us to worry about him, as we have many more problems to concern ourselves with. Let the Confucian Sect handle him!
“Now, how is our plan proceeding?” the man behind the curtain asked.
The Hu scout lowered his head. “Milord, we’ve started preparations. In the capital, we have fifty thousand soldiers and about three thousand stores. With this cover, we’ve been able to gather a large amount of intelligence, much of which we have sent to various countries,” he said, a tone of extreme respect in his voice.
“Hmph, good! Let us just sit back and watch the Great Tang! We can just reap the benefits as the King of Foreign Lands once more shifts the political scene of the Great Tang! Just thinking about it makes one excited!”
The man gave an owlish laugh that slowly faded away. Finally, even the light of the pearl vanished, and the entire room was cast into darkness.
……
As time slowly passed, more and more people came to know that Wang Chong had returned to the capital. A strange mood had settled in, and countless people were wondering what Wang Chong’s next move in the militarist-Confucian conflict would be.
Vermillion Bird Street was packed with carriages. The common people and merchants cared little about the political climate. As long as the Great Tang didn’t collapse, their lives wouldn’t change very much: safe, prosperous, healthy.
At this time, the capital’s Star-Plucking Pavilion was welcoming a special guest.
This man was wearing a bamboo hat from which a black veil hung down, concealing his face. A sword more than four feet long hung from his waist, clearly displaying the man’s prestige and wealth. The man had to lower his head slightly to get past the door, and then he took the stairs all the way to a refined and secluded room on the third floor.
“Entering!”
As the man stepped in, a voice called out.
“You’re here! Lord Marquis has been waiting a long time!”
The man flicked away his bamboo hat, which accurately drifted onto a nearby chair.
The face beneath the hat was tough and hardened, determined and dignified. This was a general who had been through the bloody battlefield, but he also possessed a nobility and grace other generals lacked. This was none other than Imperial Army Commander Zhao Fengchen.
“It’s just a meeting. Is there any need to dress up like that?”
The man seated on the chair turned around. It was none other than Wang Chong.
It had been many months since the Battle of Talas. As Zhao Fengchen was a member of the Imperial Army, he had been called back to the palace, but even though they hadn’t met in a few months, they still maintained their friendly relationship.
“There’s nothing to be done! Everyone in the palace is afraid of their own shadows, worried that they could get pulled into the War of the Princes.”
Zhao Fengchen bitterly smiled as he seated himself across from Wang Chong.
“So, you’ve also heard of what happened to the Fifth Prince?” Wang Chong asked.
He had arranged for a meeting with Zhao Fengchen precisely to ask about Li Heng’s matter. Although he had sent some martial artists to protect Li Heng, this was a plan that only treated the symptoms. If he didn’t find out the true sources of the assassins, he would just tire himself out, and it wouldn’t matter how many experts he sent to protect Li Heng.
“Mm.”
Zhao Fengchen nodded, his face turning solemn.
“Not many people in the palace know about this, and it seems like the First Prince is trying to suppress it, but an attempt on a Prince’s life within the palace is no trifling matter. Moreover, many of my brothers from the Imperial Army are moving around the Imperial Palace, so this matter has not been kept as much of a secret as one might imagine.”
“You’re a commander of the Imperial Army, responsible for keeping the Imperial Palace safe. Have you found no clue as to those assassins’ origins?” Wang Chong said.
“The matter isn’t that simple. The First Prince knows of my relationship to you, so before the incident, I was transferred from my original duty area. The Fifth Prince’s palace is the responsibility of another commander. The Imperial Palace is very strict on matters like this, and we’re to strictly keep to our assigned areas. Not even I can recklessly enter the patrol areas of other commanders.
“…Moreover, even though this matter has been kept secret, anyone with eyes can see that it’s related to the War of the Princes. The higher ranks of the Imperial Army have all taken fright and don’t dare interfere!” Zhao Fengchen sternly said.
The War of the Princes was fraught with dangers. It wasn’t just the great clans, but even the commanders of the Imperial Army who feared being drawn in. After all, these commanders of the Imperial Army didn’t have just themselves to look out for.
Chapter 1576 - Great Waves!
Chapter 1576: Great Waves!
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
Wang Chong said nothing, only frowned. The situation was more complicated than he had imagined.
Wang Chong tapped on the table and suddenly asked, “What has your Zhao Clan said?”
Buzz!
Zhao Fengchen shuddered at these words like he had been stabbed by a needle.
“As expected, I can’t hide anything from you. The clan has already told me to keep my distance from this matter and try not to interfere. They fear the War of the Princes more than anyone else!”
The Zhao Clan was an extremely old clan that had seen numerous factional disputes, so it well understood how cruel the War of the Princes could be.
For some people, this might be a chance to make their name in a single leap, but for great clans like the Zhao Clan, all Wars of the Princes were like primordial beasts that needed to be kept as far away from as possible.
“But the clan is the clan and I am me. Assassins traversing through the palace and even attempting to take a Prince’s life without repercussion is a disgrace on the name of the Imperial Army. So there’s no need for you to worry about me,” Zhao Fengchen remarked, seemingly knowing what Wang Chong was concerned about.
Zhao Fengchen had changed after experiencing Talas and Khorasan, and hi
s personality had become much more composed.
“In addition, if you want to investigate those people who tried to assassinate the Fifth Prince, I know a few people in the palace. They have always admired Your Highness for your righteous ways, and with their help, it should be much easier to find the truth,” Zhao Fengchen said.
“。”
“Mm.”
Wang Chong nodded, his eyes flashing. Zhao Fengchen was still the same Zhao Fengchen. Whether in this life or the last, he was always of firm and unyielding mind. This was also why he had wanted to get close to Zhao Fengchen and forged a Wootz Steel sword for him.
“I also have a few people to investigate this matter. In a few days, think of a way to get them into the palace as soldiers of the Imperial Army. They might be of great assistance to you.”
Zhao Fengchen’s eyes flashed in surprise, but he quickly nodded.
After receiving a token from Wang Chong and conferring for a little longer, Zhao Fengchen left.
“There are many new faces in the Imperial Army. What is the First Prince up to?”
Wang Chong thoughtfully raised his head. Zhao Fengchen had given him an important piece of news before leaving. It had been a long time since the Imperial Army garrisoned in the Imperial Palace had been touched, but it was now frequently being reshuffled, with many new faces appearing in the various divisions. And some of the officers had been switched out for people that Zhao Fengchen had never seen before.
Zhao Fengchen said that he had almost been replaced himself. However, his achievements at Talas and the accolades of the Sage Emperor had ultimately caused those attempts to fail.
This had some part to play in the apprehension felt by those in the palace.
I really hope it’s not that!
With this thought flitting through his mind, Wang Chong left as well.
As the temperature cooled, Wang Chong emerged in a secluded part of the restaurant, boarded his carriage and set off. Within the carriage, Wang Chong continued to think. The Imperial Palace had his uncle-in-law and Zhao Fengchen, so the Fifth Prince would be safe for now.
The Human Emperor c1-2382 Page 974
