“Everyone, advance at full speed!”
A bellow urged the Mo Saber soldiers forward, and they crossed several thousand feet in the blink of an eye and vanished into the darkness.
Wang Chong didn’t have to wait for long. Just when the advance at the Center Gate was being stymied, in a distant area…
“Kill!”
Amidst earth-rending shouts and shaking earth, a vast energy slammed into the Qian Gate.
A spy team member appeared in front of Wang Chong and reported, “General Guo Ziyi’s Wushang Cavalry had successfully arrived at the Qian Gate and have begun their assault!”
A moment later, there was a boom like a wave crashing onto shore, this time coming from far to Wang Chong’s right.
A few moments later, another scout appeared and kneeled in front of Wang Chong. “Your Highness, Li Siye’s army is attacking the Kun Gate!”
These two reports greatly invigorated the soldiers at the Center Gate.
The white-tasseled general, Guo Ziyi!
In the border incident, he had led a force of only seven hundred and routed a Western Turkic army of eight thousand, almost completely wiping them out. This incident had caused his reputation to soar.
As for Li Siye, he had already become renowned throughout the world after the Battle of Talas. Everyone now knew that Wang Chong called him the ‘Invincible Great General’.
Even though Li Siye was not included in the ranks of the Great Tang’s Great Generals, no one had any doubt that this giant of a man would one day become one of the pillars of the empire in the same vein as Gao Xianzhi and An Sishun.
The arrival of these two was unquestionably a major boost to the strength of Wang Chong’s side.
“It’s about ready!”
Wang Chong listened to the faint sounds of fighting in the distance and subtly nodded.
The attack on the Center Gate was merely a probe, but now was the time for the true assault. The Qian Gate, Center Gate, and Kun Gate were the three vital passages into the heart of the Imperial Palace. Only by attacking all three at once was there any hope of breaking the Hundred Thousand God-Devil Execution Formation.
“Reporting!”
Mounted scouts galloped into the depths of the palace.
“Milord, the Qian Gate is under fierce assault! It’s the Wushang Cavalry under the King of Foreign Lands. Their strength is incredibly formidable and our men can’t hold. Grand Marshal Lu Qiongji is already headed to the Qian Gate!”
“Reporting! The Kun Gate is under heavy assault, and we have suffered heavy losses. The enemy is unquestionably the Mo Saber Unit that appeared at the Battle of Talas. Their leader is Wang Chong’s Invincible Great General, Li Siye. Marshal Duan Zhuyan is vigorously attempting to hold the line!”
With these two reports, the pressure on the Eastern Palace instantly multiplied.
Even Hou Junji couldn’t help but crease his brow.
“How many soldiers do they have?” Hou Junji asked.
“Around three thousand at the Qian Gate and around four thousand at the Kun Gate. Added together with the forces at the Center Gate, we are currently being assaulted by a force of around fifteen thousand,” one of the horsemen reported. He paused before adding, “In addition, the King of Foreign Lands has yet to make his move!”
In truth, all of their plans circled around Wang Chong. While he had many soldiers, the true threat was that posed by the man himself.
As the saying went, shoot the horse to shoot the man and capture the king to capture the underlings. As long as they could kill Wang Chong, the rest of the soldiers weren’t even worth thinking about.
Alas, Wang Chong was simply too sharp. He had still yet to walk past the Center Gate, leaving their plan to surround and kill him useless.
“How is the offensive on Taiji Palace going?” Hou Junji asked.
The other scout bowed and replied, “Following Milord’s orders, more than half of our soldiers are being used to stop the King of Foreign Lands and any other potential reinforcements. The entirety of our elite forces have been used to attack Taiji Palace. However, the resistance from the Saint Martial Barracks is exceptionally fierce and the soldiers extremely strong. We still have yet to break through!”
“Understood! Have them continue the assault! No matter how strong the Saint Martial Barracks is, it can’t last thirty minutes. Now… only half that time remains!
“As for the King of Foreign Lands, leave him to me!”
Hou Junji’s eyes flashed with a chilling light.
He suddenly turned his head and asked, “Kim U-Seok, have you found the Fifth Prince?”
“There have been no reports as of yet. We already searched Jinyang Palace, but we found no sign of Li Heng, so we’ve begun searching other places. We suspect that the King of Foreign Lands warned him, allowing him to prepare for this!
“Given how much time has passed, he’s probably already left the Imperial Palace,” Kim U-Seok reported.
He was currently coordinating the operation, with all the information from the palace passing from his birds to him, and then to Hou Junji.
“Relax. He hasn’t left yet,” Hou Junji declared, leaving Kim U-Seok dumbstruck.
“But…”
Kim U-Seok truly couldn’t understand. Given the current state of the capital, why wouldn’t Fifth Prince Li Heng flee the capital as soon as possible if he wanted to save himself?
“If he ran away now, he would no longer be worthy of inheriting the throne of the Nine and Five. Moreover, all nine outer gates of the capital are under our control. Even if he runs, he won’t be able to escape. Our men outside the palace have yet to find him, not even your birds, which can only mean that he never left the Imperial Palace!” Hou Junji calmly concluded. Although this was speculation, from Hou Junji’s expression, it was clear that he believed that it was the absolute truth.
“But why has he remained in the palace instead of leaving?”
Kim U-Seok couldn’t help but frown. He couldn’t think of any reason for the Fifth Prince to remain.
“Heh, of course, it’s to save His Majesty.”
Hou Junji softly chuckled, a profound look in his eyes.
“It’s about time! Our Fifth Highness should be making his way here soon.”
As Hou Junji spoke, he suddenly shifted his body to the southeast and vanished.
Chapter 1761 - The Lone Silence Ancestor Appears!
Chapter 1761: The Lone Silence Ancestor Appears!
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
“Kill!”
At the Qian Gate, two-hundred-some Imperial Army soldiers had assembled into a simple eight-sided formation. This formation rapidly turned as it charged past the gate and toward the several thousand Wushang Cavalry.
Bang!
But before those soldiers could get very far, what felt like tens of thousands of cavalry stampeded toward them.
“Cutting Formation!”
The Wushang Cavalry scattered like petals, and then, right before they reached the wall, they turned around and charged back. Even with the boost from the Hundred Thousand God-Devil Execution Formation, the two hundred soldiers were quickly scattered.
In terms of pure offensive power, the Wushang Cavalry were far superior to the one thousand clan experts.
Bang!
The Wushang Cavalry shifted formations and charged, plunging into the army stationed behind the Qian Gate like a giant sword.
“Ah!”
Screams tore through the night as countless bodies dropped.
……
Roooar!
“Ha!”
At the same time, thunderous bellows resounded in front of the Kun Gate as the several thousand Mo Saber soldiers raised their Mo Sabers and marched forward. These soldiers moved in such unison that they seemed like a moving wall, their momentum far greater than any cavalry charge.
Bang!
The Mo Sabers swung down, packed with immense force t
hat sent the several hundred Imperial Army soldiers in front of them flying through the air and screaming into the rear.
“Hurry and retreat!”
“Careful!”
Faced with the immense power of the Mo Saber Unit, the Imperial Army soldiers scrambled away.
The reputation of this soldier type had started to rise after the Battle of Talas, but tales were completely different from experiencing it personally. This was something that couldn’t be stopped, a mountain hurtling at them, and they couldn’t help but tremble in fear.
“Bastard!”
Watching the Imperial Army soldiers being pushed back again and again by the Mo Saber Unit, Duan Zhuyan couldn’t help but scowl beneath his armor.
Clang!
Duan Zhuyan stomped forward, his crimson halo sweeping outward. At the same time, Duan Zhuyan charged forward on his horse, leaving a long trail in the air as he charged at the Mo Saber Unit.
Roooar!
Space twisted, and then the white-headed, red-footed, giant ape appeared behind Duan Zhuyan and charged together with him. Its two arms like miniature mountains punched with destructive power.
Neigh!
There was a loud neigh, and then a giant of a man mounted upon a Ferghana steed and carrying a massive Wootz Steel sword charged forward to meet him.
Boom!
Swords clashed in an explosion of sparks as the horses rammed into each other. At the same time, Li Siye’s violent Stellar Energy clashed with Duan Zhuyan’s.
Boom! The earth itself seemed on the verge of collapsing as a shockwave swept outward, slamming into the surrounding walls with a metallic clang.
Buzz!
Li Siye was unmoved, standing there like a god, but Duan Zhuyan and his horse were sent staggering backward.
“How could this be?”
Duan Zhuyan’s eyes narrowed as he stared at this giant man, disbelief on his face.
……
The Qian Gate, Center Gate, and Kun Gate were all under fierce attack, and the Hundred Thousand God-Devil Execution Formation was under pressure like never before.
Gales howled through a nervous darkness, and the shouts of fighting resounded through the heavens. The countless common folk in the capital trembled in fear and unease.
“Reporting!”
Wang Chong continued to observe the battle as he presided over the formation. At this moment, a horseman rode over.
“Your Highness, we’ve noticed someone from the Duke of Zhao Residence on the perimeter. He has asked to see Your Highness.”
The horseman stopped ten-some steps away and dismounted.
“Someone from the Duke of Zhao Residence?”
Wang Chong raised an eyebrow in surprise.
“Let him come!”
The Imperial Palace was a battlefield, and it was truly surprising for someone of the Duke of Zhao Residence to risk their life and come to the front line. Only something extremely important would necessitate this.
A few moments later, a middle-aged scholar rushed up, his face pale and panicked.
“Your Highness, it’s terrible!”
The man dropped to his knees and immediately kowtowed three times.
“In today’s morning court session, the First Prince fooled all the ministers and officials into Taihe Palace and then placed the building under heavy guard, imprisoning them all within. This one barely managed to escape. Your Highness, you must save the officials and my liege!”
The man was getting more frantic as he spoke, and he began to kowtow fiercely, his hair breaking free of its bindings and his head beginning to bleed.
Xu Keyi and the others all looked at Wang Chong.
The officials were the core of the Imperial Court. Without them, the government would find it hard to function properly. The First Prince had clearly imprisoned them within Taihe Palace so that he could threaten them into accepting his succession once he finished with his coup. In this way, treason would become a right and proper enthronement.
It was one thing if they accepted his status, but if they refused… there was no question that the First Prince would not show mercy.
This was a matter of utmost importance that could not be delayed, but the battle had reached its fiercest point and required Wang Chong’s presence.
“Don’t panic!” Wang Chong comforted, looking to a figure nearby.
“Wei Qingge!”
“Your subordinate is here!”
Wei Qingge hurriedly lowered his head.
“Take some men to Taihe Palace. Hou Junji is focused on Taiji Palace, so there won’t be too many people at Taihe Palace. I’ll give you twenty Wootz Steel cavalry, and also, Seniors Heaven Deaf and Earth Mute!”
“Your Highness, please give us your orders.” Two strange voices came from behind Wang Chong.
Given the importance of the Rebellion of the Three Princes and Wang Chong’s lack of manpower, he had also brought many experts from the martial arts world with him in this operation.
“I must trouble you with this task. You must save those officials!” Wang Chong said.
“Your Highness, be at ease. The two of us will handle this matter properly.”
Heaven Deaf and Earth Mute quickly left with some martial arts experts, following Wei Qingge to Taihe Palace.
The battle continued to intensify, the war cries, thick flames, and smoke threatening to reach the heavens.
Wang Chong focused on this battle with all his attention.
“Your Highness!”
But not long after Wei Qingge had left, Miyasame Ayaka appeared, one hand gripping her abdomen.
Wang Chong looked over, and his expression became grave. “You’re injured!”
Miyasame Ayaka’s body was dripping in sweat, and he could see blood seeping out from beneath her hand. It was obvious that she had been badly injured. Wang Chong immediately thrust out a palm, sending a bright stream of Stellar Energy into her body.
Miyasame Ayaka lightly grunted, but her complexion began to rapidly improve as the Stellar Energy treated her wounds.
“Your Highness, the situation is bad. The Fifth Prince is personally leading a force of three thousand men this way, but the First Prince has already taken notice and is sending soldiers to surround them and wipe him out. Your subordinate risked death to break through and report this. Your Highness, you must save the Fifth Prince!”
Miyasame Ayaka’s report immediately set everyone on edge. Even Wang Chong couldn’t help but frown.
The Fifth Prince was the Great Tang’s future Son of Heaven. He was the only person capable of competing with the First Prince for the throne, and if he died, the consequences would be unthinkable.
“Wang Chong, the board is set. Would you like to play a game of chess with this old man?”
The air buzzed as Hou Junji’s familiar voice arose from the depths of the Imperial Palace, tinged with scorn.
“Right, if you want to save the Fifth Prince, you might have to be a little faster.”
Hou Junji’s comment had everyone in consternation.
“Your Highness!”
Miyasame Ayaka’s face tightened as she glanced at Wang Chong. Hou Junji had clearly noticed the Fifth Prince, and he was not one to give his opponents much time.
“Hou Junji is about to make his move. It seems he wants to use the Fifth Prince to hold me down!”
To everyone’s surprise, Wang Chong didn’t seem nervous at all. On the contrary, he even smiled.
“Only now can this battle truly be considered to have begun! Lone Silence Ancestor, I leave the rest to you!”
“Lone Silence Ancestor?”
Miyasame Ayaka looked at Wang Chong in confusion.
She looked around, but she didn’t see anyone around Wang Chong besides armored soldiers.
“Heh, is it my turn now?”
At this moment, an armored soldier walked up from the rear, a deep voice coming from beneath the helmet.
This armored soldier did not have a very intense a
ura, and had perfectly mixed in with the other soldiers. But a moment later, his body erupted with awesome energy.
Clang!
As this happened, the man lightly gripped his helmet and casually tossed it aside.
His hair danced in the wind as his elderly but fierce face was revealed.
“This is…”
Even Xu Keyi and the others were startled by this transformation. They had also failed to notice this elder who had snuck up so close to Wang Chong’s side.
“Lone Silence Ancestor, I’ll have to trouble you in a little bit.”
Wang Chong faintly chuckled.
He had personally requested the Lone Silence Ancestor’s aid. In truth, after the end of the northwest expedition, the Lone Silence Ancestor had mentioned that he would be coming to the capital, and this just so happened to be that time. The Origin Immortal Formation needed someone powerful to preside over it. If Wang Chong was gone, someone needed to replace him, and the Lone Silence Ancestor was one of the best candidates.
“Mm.”
The Lone Silence Ancestor firmly nodded.
He had some understanding of the Origin Immortal Formation, and moreover, presiding over the formation merely meant pouring energy into the Energy Condensation Pearl. The Lone Silence Ancestor was more than enough for this task.
Chapter 1762 - Meeting with Hou Junji!
Chapter 1762: Meeting with Hou Junji!
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
“Cheng Sanyuan, Xu Keyi, all of you must now listen to the Lone Silence Ancestor’s orders. His orders are my orders, understood?” Wang Chong said.
“Yes!” everyone respectfully called out. Although this was surprising, none of them had ever doubted Wang Chong’s orders.
“Miyasame Ayaka, follow me!”
After settling everything, Wang Chong left with Miyasame Ayaka and several other forces, mounting his horse and riding in the Fifth Prince’s direction.
Hou Junji’s energy was rapidly approaching the Fifth Prince, and Wang Chong did not dare to delay.
…………
At the same time, in a place distant from the three gates…
“Kill!”
Fire burned in the darkness, which echoed with the clamor of fighting.
The Human Emperor c1-2382 Page 1080
