The war had ended several days ago, and An Yaluoshan had spent every moment since then at Zhang Shougui’s side, attending to his every need. Only now did Cui Qianyou finally have the opportunity to ask this question.
And in that major battle several days, Zhang Shougui had been in great peril. At that time, Cui Qianyou had been ready to attack Zhang Shougui from behind, working with Yeon Gaesomun to end his life. But to his surprise, An Yaluoshan charged out from his side, not only stopping him but also saving Zhang Shougui from Yeon Gaesomun.
And recently, he had proposed to poison Zhang Shougui’s medicine, but An Yaluoshan and Gao Shang had both rejected him.
“You still don’t understand. Zhang Shougui needs to be killed, but not now. He still has use to us!”
An Yaluoshan slowly straightened his body, his domineering eyes erupting with ambition.
“After all, the Andong Protectorate army was created by Zhang Shougui, and there are still many officers and soldiers in its ranks loyal to him. Moreover, this is still Tang territory while I am a Hu. I need Zhang Shougui’s recognition in order to have a firm grip on my position. Finally, did none of you hear? Zhang Shougui is going to recommend for me the post of Andong Protector-General!”
An Yaluoshan’s eyes flashed with derision.
He had earlier been thinking of ways to get Zhang Shougui’s help so that he could properly take command of the Andong Protectorate army and obtain the acknowledgment of the people of Andong. He truly had not expected that Zhang Shougui would recommend him to be temporary Andong Protector-General, saving him a great deal of effort.
It was truly a pleasant surprise.
“Zhang Shougui won’t be able to last for very long,” Gao Shang suddenly said. “We’ve already received word from the capital that Your Excellency has been promoted to Andong Vice Protector-General. Together with Zhang Shougui’s recommendation, all of Youzhou, including the three border fortresses, will be under our control. Once Your Excellency assumes the post, Zhang Shougui truly can be eliminated. At that time, he will be more of a hindrance than a help.
“Before this, Zhang Shougui cannot die. This something His Excellency and I decided together,” Gao Shang sternly said.
In Andong, Gao Shang was the number one strategist, and many of his conjectures had proved to be correct in the aftermath. For this, Cui Qianyou and Tian Qianzhen were filled with respect for him.
“The only hindrance is that King of Foreign Lands!” another person said. This man was thin and weak. He grasped a pan flute in his hand from which a red tassel hung. He appeared refined, cultured, cunning, and smart. This was An Yaluoshan’s number two strategist, Yan Zhuang.
Gao Shang specialized in divination and fortune-telling, and he had wandered the realm and developed a deep understanding of the Central Plains.
Yan Zhuang possessed none of these qualities, but he had known An Yaluoshan ever since he was a ‘slave general’. He had some intelligence, and he was good at reading the mood and noticing subtle details. This made him a master of human relations.
“Based on what’s happened, it seems that this man has an extremely high opinion of Your Excellency, even writing a letter to Zhang Shougui claiming that we were poisoning him. The thought of it still makes me break out in a cold sweat. Fortunately, we intercepted the letter and were able to switch the poison from his food to his tea. He only looked out for poison in his food, never realizing that his favorite tea had been poisoned. This was how we were able to deceive him and gain his trust, and is the reason Zhang Shougui is not suspicious of us right now,” Yan Zhuang said.
Everyone’s expressions turned strange when this matter was brought up, and even Gao Shang slightly frowned.
That youth in the capital had always been their greatest fear. Putting aside his divine grasp of military strategy, he seemed to be able to see the future, something that not even Gao Shang could match. Only a few of them had known about the poisoning, all of them An Yaluoshan’s close aides.
Outsiders had no idea of it, but that youth in the capital had seemed to know, turning An’s entire inner circle paranoid and suspicious for a time. Even now, it was still a mystery just how he had known.
The proud and confident Cui Qianyou and Tian Qianzhen and the wise Gao Shang and Yan Zhuang all feared this man, and did not dare to make any reckless claims about him.
“And there is one other matter. During our war, many of that man’s Wind, Forest, Fire, and Mountain teams appeared in Youzhou. Our operation this time can’t be hidden from him,” Yan Zhuang said.
“It’s fine!”
Surprisingly, Gao Shang shook his head, his expression calm.
“Plans are made and then put into motion. Youzhou is settled, and even if he’s noticed, he can’t change anything. But we should still be cautious around this man. I sense that in the future, when the dragon ruling the Nine Provinces changes, this man will be our greatest foe. Your Excellency, once you take the throne, this is the first man you must kill!”
An Yaluoshan said nothing, but his expression instantly turned ice-cold and murderous.
“Bastard!”
A furious roar came from the distance, piercing through the clouds like an arrow. Even at a distance of ten-some li, they could still hear it loud and clear, and they all turned to look.
“It’s the Protector-General!”
Cui Qianyou raised an eyebrow, immediately recognizing the voice.
“Heh, it seems the imperial decree has arrived!”
Gao Shang and Yan Zhuang smiled.
“Let’s begin the next phase!”
……
Several days later, the realm was shaken by a piece of news. For his outstanding performance in the war of the northeast, Deputy General An Yaluoshan of the Andong Protectorate had been promoted to Andong Vice Protector-General.
As for Andong Protector-General Zhang Shougui, for his personal gain, he had drawn the public outcry of the entire northeast, causing an army of three countries to attack Youzhou. This had led to grievous losses in the Andong Protectorate army and the extermination of the Roaring Tiger Army, and even the common people of Andong had been affected. The Andong Protector-General could not escape the blame, so he had been removed from his post and made Governor of the Kuo Province!
Chapter 1975 - A Hero’s Twilight Years! Wang Chong’s Respect!
Chapter 1975: A Hero’s Twilight Years! Wang Chong’s Respect!
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
Zhang Shougui’s recommendation had been accepted, and An Yaluoshan, a veteran general of Youzhou, had been promoted to Andong Protector-General on a temporary basis. Once the Imperial Court found a suitable candidate, he would be dismissed.
This news shook the realm, and its impact was particularly felt in the upper echelons of the military.
Zhangchou Jianqiong, Gao Xianzhi, An Sishun… these Protector-Generals and Great Generals had all heard of Zhang Shougui’s reputation as they slowly climbed through the ranks of the military. When Zhang Shougui was famous, these renowned generals of the empire were still officers or commandants. In the past, Zhang Shougui’s dazzling military record had been admired by all.
This was precisely why Zhang Shougui wielded so much influence in the military.
But now, this renowned general of undefeated reputation, who had once reached for the highest echelons of political power and desired to become Prime Minister, had been stripped of his military authority and demoted to Governor of the Kuo Province because of a single war. This was an absolute humiliation for someone with such a legendary life!
Everyone who heard this news could not help but feel shaken.
“What’s going on? Wasn’t Zhang Shougui supposed to enter the capital and see the Emperor to personally explain what happened in Youzhou? Why was this sort of decree suddenly issued?”
In the main hall of the King of Foreign Lands Residence, Wang Chong felt his heart sink upon receiving the news.
No words were more shocking than these in the report brought back by his spy team. Wang Chong remembered that this place was where Zhang Shougui had met his end.
Not long after the Sage Emperor demoted him to Kuo Province, Zhang Shougui had died of depression.
History had gone through many twists and turns, and many things had changed compared to his last life. Wang Chong had never imagined that this was how he would once again encounter the title of ‘Governor of Kuo Province’.
In the end, Zhang Shougui had still been demoted to the Kuo Province.
And it was also through this title that he knew his fate.
After being stripped of his position as Andong Protector-General, Zhang Shougui should have had enough seniority that he still had a chance of staging a comeback and returning to Youzhou. But now, Zhang Shougui had lost all hope.
The Governor of Kuo Province was an out-and-out civil position!
For a general to be assigned a civil post meant that Zhang Shougui had lost any chance to rise again.
“We’re still not sure about the details, only that the Sage Emperor truly did issue a decree ordering Lord Zhang to return to the capital in Taiji Palace. But not long ago, at Taide Palace, the Sage Emperor suddenly changed his mind, saying that it made no difference if Zhang Shougui came to the capital or not and that there was no need for his report, so he simply demoted Zhang Shougui to the post of Governor of Kuo Province,” Zhang Que said, his mind also unsettled.
Zhang Shougui was a powerful figure in the Tang military, one of its leading lights. No one had expected the Sage Emperor to decide Zhang Shougui’s fate in such a hasty manner.
And this decree had been issued without any input from the Bureau of Military Personnel or the officials of court.
“Where is Zhang Shougui now?” Wang Chong said.
Zhang Que bowed and said, “Lord Zhang is at the town of Zhaoling, ten days from the capital!”
Wang Chong said nothing, but his brow creased as he began to think.
Zhang Shougui was in an incredibly awkward position now. He had been returning to the capital to report, but now, he had suddenly been ordered to become Governor of Kuo Province. Zhang Shougui was probably confused as to what to do: see the Emperor or report to the Bureau of Personnel?
Moreover, according to custom, when major officials from the border arrived at the capital, they had to go and see the Emperor whether they needed to or not. Only once they had an audience could they handle other affairs.
But the Sage Emperor clearly had no desire to see him. Otherwise, he would not have issued that decree.
Moreover, Zhang Shougui was exceptionally proud, and in the past, he had offended many court officials. With his status as Andong Protector-General, he was fine, but now that he was a lowly Governor of Kuo Province, he was outranked by many of his old foes. Upon meeting any old acquaintances, he would probably have to bow, and how could someone as proud as him do such a thing?
“Pass on my order! Announce that the King of Foreign Lands will be respectfully welcoming the Protector-General back to the capital. On the day of Lord Zhang’s arrival, this king will personally hold a welcoming feast to celebrate a war god of my Great Tang!”
Wang Chong’s eyes flashed as he spoke.
“Your Highness!”
Everyone was surprised by Wang Chong’s words.
Wang Chong’s relationship with Zhang Shougui could not be described as good. In truth, Zhang Que and the others believed that their liege had gone far beyond the call of duty for Zhang Shougui’s sake.
If Zhang Shougui had not been so proud and had listened to Wang Chong, things wouldn’t have gotten this bad.
Zhang Shougui was a tiger without claws, and many in the court opposed him. There were also many who wanted to remain uninvolved and did their best to stay away. No one had expected their liege to voluntarily join the fray.
Moreover, given Wang Chong’s current status, by making the announcement that he was personally welcoming Zhang Shougui, Wang Chong was using his own status to raise Zhang Shougui’s. This meant that no one in the capital would be able to use this chance to hit Zhang Shougui while he was down.
Though hesitant, Xu Keyi decided to speak up in the end.
“Your Highness, if you do this, you might incur some displeasure from the civil officials in court.”
Wang Chong was a general, a militarist, and his relationship with the civil officials had never been good. It was only after the war of the northwest that he had managed to somewhat change their opinion of him. In their view, this was a poor time to help Zhang Shougui.
Moreover, as Andong Protector-General, Zhang Shougui had truly done many contemptible things. What the civil officials hated the most was that he had the power to mint currency in Youzhou.
Since ancient times, only the imperial household had the true authority to mint currency, and only the Imperial Court was permitted to put this currency into circulation. In minting his own currency, Zhang Shougui could already be considered a rebel in some aspects.
This was one of the greatest taboos for a subject.
Back then, this matter had caused a great storm in the court. All the imperial censors had joined together to censure Zhang Shougui, and all of the civil officials had stepped forward and submitted memorials demanding that Zhang Shougui be removed from the post of Andong Protector-General.
But at the time, the situation in the northeast was in turmoil, with the Xi, Khitans, and Goguryeons constantly raiding the border. Thus, the Sage Emperor quashed the matter, but ever since, Zhang Shougui had been loathed by the civil officials.
By standing on Zhang Shougui’s side, Wang Chong had a high chance of tearing apart the uneasy peace between the civil and martial factions.
Wang Chong shook his head and calmly said, “You’re wrong!
“Mistakes are mistakes, and merit is merit. Zhang Shougui spent his life on horseback and rendered great service for the Great Tang. The flaws cannot obscure the splendor of jade, and as a meritorious subject, it is only right that he receives this sort of welcome.”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
His subordinates were dazed, but they quickly realized what was going on. Respect bloomed in their hearts as they took their leave.
Ten days went by in the blink of an eye. At this time, the eastern gate of the capital welcomed a guest.
There were few people on the road, and the man in question wore black robes and a scarf hat. Riding a horse, he stood at the center of the road and gazed at the large and familiar eastern gate of the capital. His expression was mournful and there was indescribable melancholy in his heart.
He was home!
In the past, when he returned to the capital, he had come with great vigor and energy, and all the officials of the court had treated him with reverence, even calling him Duke Zhang. But now, after a major defeat, his body burdened with illness, his return was bleak and cold.
Not a single person in the capital had come out to meet him. Zhang Shougui’s heart was wracked by an indescribable sorrow.
Governor of Kuo Province!
This news had probably spread throughout the capital.
A general being made a civil official was a major disgrace, and Kuo Province was far from the battlefield, in the peaceful interior. Zhang Shougui’s chances at a comeback were over, as were his hopes of returning to Youzhou.
And in the future, in this civil post, there would be many ‘senior officials’ of the bureaucracy waiting in line to give Zhang Shougui a sharp prod on the back.
“Lord Zhang!”
As Zhang Shougui was overcome with boundless grief, a young, bright, and majestic voice came from the direction of the city gate.
Rumble! A moment later, the gates opened, revealing rows of mounted soldiers in dazzling golden armor, their banners snapping in the wind as they rode out in neat and orderly ranks.
This was a grand and majestic procession, bord
ering on the divine.
And in front of these resplendent horsemen were two striking figures garbed in imperial robes, none other than two mighty Kings of the Great Tang, Wang Chong and King Song.
At their side were Minister of War Zhangchou Jianqiong, Chamberlain of Palace Revenues Yang Zhao, Beacon General Jiang Yunrang, the Duke of Guo, the Duke of Chai, and many officials of the court, both civil and martial.
It had been at least two years since Wang Chong had last seen Zhang Shougui.
When Wang Chong rode forward and carefully examined the former Andong Protector-General, he found that the brash, arrogant, and ambitious Zhang Shougui had become much older.
His complexion was pale and haggard, and his face covered in wrinkles. It was impossible to associate this man with the individual who had once vied with Wang Zhongsi for supremacy and sought the position of Prime Minister.
“Nine Provinces Protector-General, King of Foreign Lands Wang Chong is present and welcomes Protector-General Zhang!”
“King Song of the Great Tang is present and welcomes Protector-General Zhang!”
“Minister of War Zhangchou Jianqiong is present and welcomes Protector-General Zhang!”
“Anxi Protector-General and Feather Forest Army Great General Gao Xianzhi is present and welcomes Protector-General Zhang!”
“Chamberlain of Palace Revenues Yang Zhao welcomes Protector-General Zhang!”
“Duke of E Yuchi Xiong welcomes Protector-General Zhang!”
“Duke of Guo Zhang Qiling welcomes Protector-General Zhang!”
One voice after another loudly resounded over the capital. In order to welcome Zhang Shougui, Wang Chong had made full use of his immense influence.
Chapter 1976 - Exposing An Yaluoshan! (I)
Chapter 1976: Exposing An Yaluoshan! (I)
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
King Song, Zhangchou Jianqiong, and Yang Zhao were one thing. But even the Duke of Guo, the Duke of E, and other elder statesmen of the Great Tang had all been mobilized by Wang Chong into coming to the city gate to welcome Zhang Shougui.
The Human Emperor c1-2382 Page 1197
