Chapter 1712 - Meeting Again with Zhao Fengchen
Dark clouds hung low over the tense capital, and within an out-of-the-way restaurant, Wang Chong finally met with Imperial Army Marshal Zhao Fengchen.
“Your Highness, you’re finally here!”
Within the restaurant, Zhao Fengchen relaxed the moment he saw Wang Chong, and he hastily went up to welcome his savior. Even though he had known Zhao Fengchen for some time now, Wang Chong had never before seen him so nervous.
“Don’t panic. What happened?” Wang Chong said, his composed expression and terse words immediately calming Zhao Fengchen down.
The two sat down, and Zhao Fengchen quickly began to explain what was going on.
“The situation is bad. Four days ago, the First Prince suddenly summoned all the officers of the Imperial Army and said that he was extremely dissatisfied over our performance last time. Since the Imperial Army is responsible for guarding the Imperial City, he said that he could not permit fisheyes to be mixed in with the pearls and was going to reshuffle the Imperial Army and reselect Grand Marshals and Marshals. The Grand Marshals, as leaders of the Imperial Army, needed to possess ample actual combat experience, and this trait would be one of the first priorities in the selection!” Zhao Fengchen said.
The room was quiet as Zhao Fengchen worriedly stared at Wang Chong. This was no ordinary shifting of the Imperial Army, and he had not come for himself. At any other time, Zhao Fengchen would have never held a surreptitious meeting with Wang Chong.
But this period in time was unique. In the Setting Sun Villa incident, one hundred generals had been unseated and replaced by the First Prince’s men, and now Geshu Han was dead, Fumeng Lingcha replacing him. Gao Xianzhi had already been stripped of his military authority and dispatched to Mengshe Zhao, allowing the First Prince to take control of the Anxi Protectorate army. If the Imperial Army joined them, then the First Prince would control more than half of the empire’s armies.
“One doesn’t move around soldiers in times of peace. It would be one thing if there was war and chaos on the borders, but the Great Tang is at peace right now. For the First Prince to try and interfere with the armies of the Great Tang at a time like this makes his intentions obvious. Even many of the great clans sense that something is wrong, all of them shutting their gates in fear!” Zhao Fengchen sternly said.
Ever since the Setting Sun Villa incident, many people in the capital had sensed that something was not right, that things were developing in a frightening direction. And now, not even Zhao Fengchen could sit still. If the First Prince seized control of the Imperial Army, no one dared to imagine what would happen next.
Wang Chong said nothing, but his eyes turned solemn.
It’s finally begun! Wang Chong quietly said to himself, a profound look in his eyes. Zhao Fengchen would have undoubtedly been flabbergasted if he could hear Wang Chong’s internal voice, because Wang Chong didn’t seem surprised in the slightest.
Anxi, Beiting, Big Dipper… now, he’s finally moved onto the Imperial Army!
Wang Chong’s mind was seething, and everything was clear now. He already had his suspicions back in Big Dipper City, when Fumeng Lingcha had tried to provoke and delay him, that something might have happened in the capital. And in Wang Chong’s considerations, the First Prince’s target was most likely to be the Imperial Army.
With control over the one hundred thousand soldiers of the Imperial Army, as well as the elites of Anxi, Beiting, and Big Dipper, the First Prince would have forces on both the inside and the outside, and there would be almost no one in the capital that could stop him. Not even Wang Chong and his half of the Commander Tally would be able to do much.
As these thoughts passed through his mind, Wang Chong turned to Zhao Fengchen and spoke in an infectiously calm voice that made one want to believe in him. “When is the Imperial Army’s skill exhibition and inspection to take place?”
“Tomorrow at noon!” Zhao Fengchen said.
Wang Chong couldn’t help but widen his eyes at this. Although he knew just how meticulous the First Prince’s plans were—and that since Fumeng Lingcha had been ordered to delay him at Big Dipper City, there wouldn’t be much time left for him—Wang Chong had not expected that there would this little time.
Starting from now, even if one took into account the night, Zhao Fengchen had only one day left. But the Imperial Army forbade drilling at night, so this limited his time even more.
Hou Junji!
Wang Chong’s heart sank as he once more thought about the master strategist at the First Prince’s side.
“Don’t panic for now. Leave everything to me!” Wang Chong said, his words soothing Zhao Fengchen. “In addition, for this period of time, I will need you to remain in your barracks at all times. Do not consume any food or drink unless it was prepared by a close friend.”
“Ah!”
Zhao Fengchen was shaken by Wang Chong’s words.
“You mean, could it be…”
“Do not seek to do harm, but also do not let down your vigilance!”
Wang Chong solemnly nodded.
Zhao Fengchen trembled in understanding.
The precedent of the carriage in front served as an example for those in the back. An Sishun had already been escorted to the imperial prison and Geshu Han’s death was still fresh on his mind. In every dynasty, the struggle for the throne had always been cruel and bloodstained. Since the First Prince had already made his move against the Imperial Army, who could say that he wouldn’t move against Zhao Fengchen?
What did a puny Zhao Fengchen matter, compared to the throne?
With Wang Chong’s assistance, Zhao Fengchen quickly took his leave. Not long after he left, a figure silently appeared behind Wang Chong.
“Your Highness!” Zhang Que respectfully called out, his head lowered.
Wang Chong nodded, his expression devoid of emotion.
“Starting from now, increase our men watching the capital, particularly around the residences of King Qi and the Prime Minister!”
There was no need to discuss the relationship between King Qi and the First Prince. Almost all the men who supported the First Prince in the court were part of King Qi’s faction. As for Li Linfu, this slick and smooth official was the number one treasonous minister in all of the Tang Dynasty. While he normally kept this hidden, causing people to forget, he was never someone that could be disregarded.
According to the reports Wang Chong had received, he had already entered the palace many times to visit the Eastern Palace by himself.
“This subordinate will go!” Zhang Que solemnly said, bowing.
“In addition, get in touch with Yang Zhao and Li Jingzhong. Give these letters to them!”
Wang Chong’s sleeve shook as several letters appeared between his fingers. Zhang Que was taken aback. When had Wang Chong had the time to write these letters?
But he quickly came forward, took the letters, and left a few moments later.
The room fell quiet now that Zhang Que was gone.
Wang Chong stood next to the sandalwood table, his hands behind his back. Rather than leave, he looked up at the ceiling, his thoughts drifting off into the endless void.
Beiting, Big Dipper, and now the Imperial Army… this was now the final threshold!
That most significant of rebellions that had swept across the Great Tang, the Rebellion of the Three Princes, was finally close at hand. But for Wang Chong, his greatest concern was not the Imperial Army.
“Your Majesty, I hope you are well!
Clouds of worry flitted across Wang Chong’s brow. The First Prince truly was worrisome, but Wang Chong was far more worried about what all these events implied. The First Prince was a patient man, but the Setting Sun Villa incident, Big Dipper City incident, and the Imperial Army incident taking place now were the actions of a man who felt no fear.
If something hadn’t happened to the Sage Emperor within Taiji Palace, the First Prince couldn’t be assured that such actions wouldn’t have consequences, and he would never have been so bold!
But Wang Chong could not speak of this to anyone, not even Zhang Que.
No one knew what sort of consequences such words would provoke.
Wang Chong remained motionless in the room by himself, no one aware of what he was up to. Around two hours later, Wang Chong finally walked out. No one knew where he went, and even Zhang Que lost his trail.
Finally, at the Zi Period (11pm-1am), Wang Chong returned to his residence, but he said nothing about where he had gone.
……
In the Eastern Palace, the lanterns had been lit.
“How is it? Has Fumeng Lingcha taken control of the Big Dipper Army?” A resounding voice, soaked in ambition, echoed through the hall.
A figure standing by the door bowed and reported, “Your Highness, Great General Fumeng has already demoted all the former Big Dipper Army officers and replaced them with his own men. In addition, the former subordinates of Qixi who the King of Foreign Lands once transferred to the Beiting Protectorate have already been transferred to Big Dipper City to assist Great General Fumeng in controlling the situation. While there are still dissenting voices amongst the soldiers, Great General Fumeng has been able to suppress them, and it should not affect the overall situation.”
This man was twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, a new face in this palace. He had the heroic and aloof bearing of a noble scion. As the First Prince gained more and more control over the court, more and more great clans came to serve the First Prince, and many of their outstanding descendants entered the Eastern Palace.
“Hmph, it seems that this prince did not pardon him and let him out of the imperial prison in vain!”
The First Prince nodded, his eyes domineering and vicious.
After controlling the court for more than half a year, particularly after seizing control of Beiting, Big Dipper, and Anxi and finally reaching that most anticipated final step, the First Prince’s demeanor had transformed, and he was more and more seeming like a hegemon.
Whoosh!
A pigeon flew in the window. Kim U-Seok’s eyes flashed and he strode forward to receive it.
“Your Highness, we’ve just received word that Wang Chong has returned to his residence. He was missing for a period of time, and no one knew where he went, but we judge that he probably went to meet Zhao Fengchen.”
Kim U-Seok came forward and bowed.
