Chapter 1705 - Geshu Han's Testament! (II)
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
Wang Chong opened one of the letters, and a line of words that seemed to have almost been chiseled in the paper appeared before his eyes.
‘To Wang Chong:
‘If you have received this letter, I have probably encountered some misfortune…’
Wang Chong was immediately taken aback by the letter’s first line.
Great waves stirred in Wang Chong’s mind. It was already surprising enough that Geshu Han had left him two letters, but based on the first line, Geshu Han had seemingly predicted what would happen to him.
But how could that be?!
Wang Chong continued reading.
‘…With the Sage Emperor withdrawing into seclusion, we have entered an autumn of many incidents. I have spent many sleepless nights pondering these things, but I cannot shake off my worries. At present, the Confucian Sect is rising while the militarists are in decline, and the Eastern Palace is opening its eyes. The Anxi Protector-General was given a de facto demotion and transferred back to the capital, and after the Setting Sun Villa incident, Beiting Protector-General An Sishun is now being escorted back to the capital. Such a major incident was unheard of in previous reigns, but after long contemplation and a survey of the Nine Provinces, I sense that this matter is far from over. The Eastern Palace desires the realm, and Anxi and Beiting are far from enough.
‘There are six major garrisons in the realm. Qixi, as a source of reserve soldiers, is not worth the Eastern Palace’s regard, and in Youzhou, Protector-General Zhang is an extremely sharp individual that would make success unlikely for the Eastern Palace. This leaves only Big Dipper and Annan. Annan is adjacent to Mengshe Zhao and Ü-Tsang. If an army is recalled to the capital from there, it must go through Big Dipper. Thus, if one desires Annan, one must first take Big Dipper. Of the four major garrisons left, the only one the Eastern Palace can touch is Big Dipper!’
These two paragraphs left Wang Chong standing in a daze.
The entire realm had been stunned by the Setting Sun Villa incident, and everyone had been focused on the one hundred generals and Beiting Protector-General An Sishun. Even Wang Chong had been drawn in by this unprecedented event. No one would have imagined that at this time, Geshu Han had already predicted that the man in the Eastern Palace would strike at him next.
Everyone in the realm knew of the Big Dipper Great General’s martial might, but few knew that Geshu Han was such a meticulous thinker.
‘A man will die eventually, and Geshu’s death is insignificant. But there is one matter that I cannot let go. With the Great Tang under the control of the Confucian Sect, the army does not even have three hundred thousand soldiers. On the borders, Arabia, the Eastern and Western Turkic Khaganates, Ü-Tsang, and Goguryeo are all like hungry tigers. Dalon Trinling, We Tadra Khonglo, Wunu Shibi, and Ozmish Khagan are all tigers and wolves. While the countries seem docile, they were simply predators lying in wait for their prey. In the future, these countries are certain to join together, and the Great Tang will be in great peril. And in the west, the Arabian Empire, while defeated, is far from spent, and it is only a matter of time until its return. The Great Tang is afflicted by problems both internal and external, cutting off its own hands and feet. In the face of such great peril, you are the only one I can rely on.
‘When I am dead, there is no need to send me off or investigate the matter. By all possible means, you must remember that even if you suffer in silence, the Nine Provinces and its people are more important than anything else. In the future, you will be the only person they can rely on…’
Wang Chong’s heart was heavy as he read the letter, for a long time unable to speak. Finally, he closed the letter and opened the second one.
‘Everything is as I predicted. They’ve truly struck! Those people are coming to my location right now. I don’t have much time…’
Wang Chong was stunned upon seeing the second letter. Unlike the second, this one was written in great haste and apparently under dire circumstances.
“How could this be?!”
Wang Chong’s heart thumped. Geshu Han had seemingly written this letter right before the attack, but how could that be?
Wang Chong swiftly continued to read.
‘Geshu has spent his entire life guarding Longxi, careful and conscientious. Though this life comes to an end today, Geshu has long been indifferent to death. But there is only one thing that I am unable to let go…
‘Geshu’s only wish in life is the safety and peace of the country…
‘Although Geshu is a Hu, I have always been loyal to the Tang, and my convictions have never wavered…
‘Wang Chong, I entrust the Great Tang to you…’
The letter came to a sudden stop. The handwriting became unrecognizable, and a long stroke left by a dragging brush marked the very end. It seemed as if those people had broken into Geshu Han’s room by then and attacked.
There was nothing else.
Geshu Han’s last request filled Wang Chong’s heart with sorrow. Even at the final moment of his life, Geshu Han was not worried for himself, but the country and its people.
As he gazed at the forceful words and then looked again at the cold but still dignified body in the coffin, Wang Chong tightly clenched his fists, deep admiration and bottomless sorrow welling up in his heart.
The man in the coffin had been a fearless commander of the empire and a true hero!
This was not how his life should have ended!
Great General, be at ease! I will fulfill your wish! Wang Chong silently said to Geshu Han.
Wang Chong turned his head to the officers and firmly declared, “Everyone, please be at ease. No matter what, I will find out the truth of what happened to your general!”
“Thank you, Your Highness!”
The officers in the spirit hall were overcome with emotion and began to wail and weep.
Whoooah!
A ruckus came from outside of the city, followed by the furious cries of the Big Dipper Army and the crowd.
“What’s going on?”
Wang Chong’s brow immediately furrowed as he looked out. The Big Dipper Army officers also began to stand with anger in their eyes.
Today was Big Dipper Great General Geshu Han’s mourning day, and all of the Big Dipper Army and many common folk of Longxi had gathered. To cause a ruckus at this solemn occasion was to deeply disrespect Great General Geshu and the Big Dipper Army.
“Reporting!”
A few moments later, a soldier dressed in cloth mourning clothes rushed in.
“There’s a group of Tibetans outside! They say that they’ve come to pay their respects to the Great General and are trying to come in!”
“What?!”
“What audacity, to appear at a time like this!”
The officers in the spirit hall were all infuriated.
“Come! Pass on my order! Have all those Tibetans killed! Offer their blood to the general!”
The Tibetans were long-time enemies of the Big Dipper Army, and Great General Geshu’s death had been extremely suspicious. These Tibetans were definitely one of the suspects. No matter who had come, if they dared to be rude at the general’s burial, they would all be executed!
“Yes!”
Several Big Dipper Army officers immediately took up their weapons and walked out, fiendish expressions on their faces. But before they could walk even a few steps, a dignified voice called them back.
“Wait!” Wang Chong suddenly called out. “There’s no rush. It’s just a few people, and they can’t stir up much trouble. Let’s see what these Tibetans have to say first!”
As he spoke, Wang Chong strode out.
The officers in the hall hesitantly glanced at each other before nodding and following.
As Wang Chong emerged, the ruckus outside grew larger and larger, and there were Tibetan voices mixed in as well. As Wang Chong arrived, he finally saw the Tibetans.
A group of around twenty Tibetans had appeared outside the city, all of them riding highland steeds, though these were much more muscular than ordinary highland steeds. These Tibetans were all armored and were in a defensive formation. The Big Dipper Army’s soldiers had surrounded them, and a variety of weapons were aimed in their direction, ready to strike at any moment.
“Kill them!”
“Kill these Tibetans!”
The Big Dipper Army soldiers and Longxi people cried out in agitation. If not for the need to wait for orders from their superiors, the soldiers would have turned the Tibetans into corpses long ago.
“The general is here!”
When Wang Chong and the others arrived, the soldiers all took a step back, but their weapons remained tensely aimed at the Tibetans.
Wang Chong passed through the crowd and began to closely examine the Tibetans.
This is not an ordinary Tibetan general!
This was Wang Chong’s first thought as he scanned the group. The leader of the Tibetans was completely different from the normal Tibetan. He wore red armor that was designed in a domineering style. Wang Chong understood that this armor was only worn by the guards of Ü-Tsang’s royal capital and the generals who served directly at the Tsenpo’s side.
Whoosh!
As the Big Dipper Army officers came out with Wang Chong, the Tibetans also noticed them. The Tibetan in scarlet armor said something, and all the Tibetans threw down their weapons.
At this moment, the Tibetan general spoke in stiff Tang language. “Is this the Great Tang’s King of Foreign Lands, His Highness Wang Chong?”
“Yes!” Wang Chong replied, somewhat surprised. Thousands of thoughts ran through his mind, and then he seemed to realize something, though he kept it to himself.
“This one is the Great Sun Court Official of the Ü-Tsang Empire, Pagur. We have come to pay our respects to Great General Geshu, and mean no harm! Your Highness, please see for yourself!”
The man bowed as he spoke in a resounding tone.
“What Great Sun Court Official!? Who ordered you to come!?”
“We don’t need your fake tears! Get out!”
Shouts came from all around, everyone extremely agitated. But Wang Chong, who was only three or four steps away from the Tibetans, couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow.
