Chapter 1773 - Breaking Through the Saint Martial Barracks!
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
Gallop!
Hooves thundered as Abusi withdrew his ten thousand Tongluo Cavalry.
But this was only a temporary withdrawal from the palace gates, not a wholesale retreat.
Hiss!
As Zhangchou Jianqiong watched the Tongluo leave, he sighed in relief.
Although he had spent nearly twenty years as the Annan Protector-General and had spent almost his entire life in danger, and although he was the fierce Tiger of the Empire, Zhangchou Jianqiong had found this bloodless negotiation the most dangerous event in his life by far.
After all, there was simply too much on the line in this battle.
“This negotiation was almost ruined by that Abutong. It’s good His Highness was ready!”
Zhangchou Jianqiong turned to Chi Weisi and inwardly rejoiced.
His old subordinates behind him also found themselves still shivering from fear. For a moment, they had sensed that the Tongluo Great General had already made up his mind to attack.
They had done their best to appear calm, but if the Tongluo Cavalry had charged, they really wouldn’t have been able to stop them.
Chi Weisi smiled and said, “Heh, His Highness was also taking precautions. If it had been possible, I would have preferred fighting on the battlefield.”
In all things, preparation led to success and lack of preparation led to failure. Wang Chong had also not known that Abutong would appear, but he had still called Chi Weisi back and planted him in the Penal Court soldiers. It was just his habit to be so cautious.
“The Tongluo aren’t that easy to persuade. They’re simply moving according to what benefits them. Right now, our first priority is to find a way to help Wang Chong break this stalemate!” Zhangchou Jianqiong said.
When the nest was overturned, would the eggs still be safe? If they didn’t stop the First Prince, countless people would be dragged into this mess, and Zhangchou Jianqiong could not even guarantee his own safety. This was one of the reasons he had appeared here.
“Hyah!”
With these thoughts in mind, Zhangchou Jianqiong quickly began to head back.
“Everyone, listen up! We’re heading for the Imperial Palace’s West Gate!”
Zhangchou Jianqiong charged off with his two thousand soldiers, passing through the open gate of the Imperial Palace and heading for the West Gate.
The Imperial Palace of the Great Tang had four main gates: East, South, West, and North. The one that King Qi and the other officials used to enter and exit the palace was known as the Palace Gate, but to be more precise, this was the South Gate. The East Gates and West Gates could also be used, but they were much less famous than the South Gate.
One of his old subordinates couldn’t help but worriedly ask, “Milord, the Tongluo still haven’t left. What do we do if they…”
“Relax; Abusi and the Tongluo regard promises far more importantly than we do. If not, the Tongluo Cavalry would have never become renowned throughout the world!”
As Zhangchou Jianqiong spoke, a massive black halo erupted from beneath his feet and spread to all his soldiers. The strength of these two thousand elites exploded as they rushed toward the West Gate.
Not long after Zhangchou Jianqiong had gone, Chi Weisi smiled and glanced in the direction of the Qian, Center, and Kun Gates. But instead of heading there, he passed through the gates and rode off in another direction.
This battle had just begun…
He had an even more important task ahead of him!
……
Elsewhere, Wang Chong and Hou Junji silently stared at each other while Miyasame Ayaka, the Fifth Prince, Li Jingzhong, and Fei Yuhan nervously watched.
The ten thousand Tongluo Cavalry had surged over like a massive wave, come to a sudden stop, and then quickly retreated. This short period of time had been packed with twists and turns.
Even though they couldn’t see anything, the shift in the mood told everyone that something had happened with the Tongluo.
After all, given their speed, the Tongluo should have already been attacking the three gates.
Whoosh!
A few seconds later, a gyrfalcon descended and landed amongst the Imperial Army stationed at Hou Junji’s side.
An Imperial Army soldier glanced at the report, paled, and rushed up.
“Milord, bad news! The Tongluo…”
But before he could walk very far, a sharp rebuke exploded in his ears.
“Silence!”
Fei Yuhan suddenly turned his head, and his freezing eyes immediately shut the Imperial Army soldier up.
It was obvious that the Tongluo had withdrawn. Wouldn’t announcing this fact just ruin morale for no reason?
Fei Yuhan naturally would not permit him to do such a thing.
“I truly underestimated you. To think that you would make him withdraw…!”
Hou Junji’s eyes slowly turned grave as he stared at the youth seated across from him.
“Hah, as I said, Senior can persuade him to work for you, and so can I!” Wang Chong indifferently said.
Hou Junji narrowed his eyes, and while his expression remained calm, his mind was in turmoil.
He was forced to sigh in praise of this youth!
The Tongluo Cavalry formed an extremely important part of his plan, but Wang Chong had easily undone their assault. It had been a very long time since he had battled with such an equal.
An invisible energy began to seethe inside Hou Junji’s body, like a precious sword slowly being pulled from its sheath.
It’s been a long time since I last felt like this!
A thought suddenly occurred to Hou Junji.
He was forced to admit that this youth made his blood seethe and boil.
The world continued in silence as Wang Chong and Hou Junji stared, neither of them backing down, neither of them speaking. It was an extreme silence best described with the saying ‘silence reigns, yet still one seems to hear the rumble of thunder’. This sight made everyone’s hearts shiver in fear.
(TN: This saying originates from a poem by Lu Xun, one of the preeminent figures in modern Chinese literature. Originally, the line was meant to represent the silent fury of the suffering masses.)
These two… are just too frightening!
Fei Yuhan felt cold sweat collecting on his temples and dripping down. For a second, he felt that even though there were more than one hundred thousand soldiers doing battle in the capital, all of them were merely pieces on the chess board between the two.
In this game, the two could transform the world with a wave of their hand. Whether these soldiers lived or died in this rebellion depended on just a single thought from one of these two.
As each small piece landed on the board, he felt like peals of thunder were exploding in his heart!
“You’re truly someone who leaves a deep impression! Since ancient times, the heroes have always been the young, and the waves of the river in the back are always pushing down the waves in the front. This one move from you tells me that you don’t disgrace your title as War God,” Hou Junji finally said.
“But even so, you have still failed to break through. In the end, you will lose this battle!
“In addition, it seems that it’s about time.”
Hou Junji smirked at Wang Chong.
Buzz!
Upon hearing this, Wang Chong grimaced. Behind him, Miyasame Ayaka, Li Heng, and Li Jingzhong turned nervous, a sense of ill foreboding surging in their minds.
With the Tongluo withdrawn, they had believed that they had escaped disaster, but from Hou Junji’s reaction, it seemed that this was not so!
Whoosh! Hou Junji reached into his jar with his right hand and removed the fourth piece. As the light of the flickering torches gleamed on the piece, everyone felt like their souls had been seized, and tension completely saturated the air.
Clap!
By the time anyone could react, Hou Junji had already placed his piece on the board. For a moment, the entire world was drained of sound.
Boom! As if in response to the placement of this piece, the sounds of fighting from the depths of the palace drowned out the battles at the Qian, Center, and Kun Gates, and blazing flames soared to the sky.
At almost the same time, a bird descended from the skies and landed amidst Hou Junji’s troops. A few moments later, an excited Imperial Army soldier rushed over.
“Reporting!
“Milord, news from the rear! The Saint Martial Barracks has been broken!”
This short report was like a boulder crashing down, immediately stirring up great waves.
“What?!”
“How could this be? How could the Saint Martial Barracks have been so easily broken?”
The Fifth Prince had originally been very composed, but this news was like a bolt of lightning. His face paled and his body became unsteady.
The Saint Martial Barracks was an important barrier for Taiji Palace. Without the defense of the Saint Martial Barracks, the Sage Emperor was in grave danger.
“Your Highness!”
Li Jingzhong helped up Li Heng in panic.
All of this had happened too quickly. The King of Foreign Lands should have been able to deal with Hou Junji and the First Prince, and it seemed like many of Hou Junji’s attacks had already been thwarted, so this development had come completely unexpectedly.
To think that the Saint Martial Barracks would fall at a time like this…!
“Kill!”
The cries of fighting from the depths of the Imperial Palace were deafening, and one could hear miserable screams amidst the clashing of weapons. Even though they couldn’t see what was going on, they could tell that the Saint Martial Barracks was in a complete rout.
This force had been smaller than the First Prince’s force, and had only held on using the formation and terrain. But even this stiff resistance had finally reached its limit.
On the other side, Wang Chong’s face had turned exceptionally grim.
