Chapter 1822 - The Confucian Sect's Self-Redemption!
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
“The Arabs seem to have a complete plan. Not long after occupying the Western Regions, they began to follow their plan and erect a massive fortress. They even brought all the craftsmen with them from Arabia. In addition, the Arabs have too many soldiers coming, and the cities and forts of the Western Regions are too crude. They might not be very comfortable with using them,” Zhang Que explained.
Wang Chong had been listening this entire time, and at this moment, he frowned.
An ambush, craftsmen, building fortifications—all of this formed a neat, orderly, and intricate plan.
Even though he had yet to see the commander, Wang Chong sensed that it was an extremely troublesome person.
“Order Su Hanshan to gather all the soldiers at the triangular pass. He simply needs to menace the Arabs for now. There’s no need for him to attack,” Wang Chong sternly said.
The Arab soldiers were increasing by the minute, and meanwhile, the Great Tang suffered a great disadvantage in terms of distance.
Moreover, three hundred thousand soldiers was of little consequence to the army of millions the Arabs were sending.
In contrast, if the soldiers at the triangular gap were lost, it would have major ramifications for Wang Chong’s next plans.
“How is Zhang Shouzhi doing?” Wang Chong asked.
“Following Your Highness’s orders, the diagrams have already been sent to Senior Zhang. He is currently in the middle of establishing the defensive line in Qixi, but not enough time has passed. The great clans need time to transport steel modules to the City of Steel, and there is currently a severe shortage of steel!” Xu Keyi reported.
He was the one in charge of this particular matter. Wang Chong had begun to prepare against Arabia a long time ago. Although there was no war going on, Wang Chong had been sending steel modules to the west this whole time. Each module had been packed in a wooden crate and secretly moved into the City of Steel, but even so, his preparations had been greatly lacking.
The Arabs had come with an army far vaster than imagined. Wang Chong’s initial arrangements could not hold against an army of 3.8 million.
Wang Chong lightly tapped on the edge of the model and firmly said, “Don’t worry about it. Start dismantling the steel fortresses at the triangular gap. You can dismantle them all, except the walls on the northern side, and use their parts for the defensive line!”
Wang Chong’s firm order shocked everyone, and then they suddenly had a realization.
When Wang Chong first set up the steel fortresses at the triangular gap and at Wushang, everyone had believed that he had gone through such great efforts to deal with Ü-Tsang and the Western Turks, but now, it seemed that they had all been prepared for a situation like this.
The two steel fortresses set up at the triangular gap and the outer city of the City of Steel had been built on a particularly large scale, and people had found it strange as to why Wang Chong needed so much land. But now, everyone understood. With the steel modules from the two steel fortresses, there was enough to set up a basic large-scale defense line, even if it still wasn’t quite enough to realize the entirety of the fortifications.
“Yes, your subordinate will go and inform Senior Zhang.” Xu Keyi solemnly said.
“Has there been any news from Xue Qianjun?”
Wang Chong quickly turned to Guo Ziyi.
Unlike the others, Guo Ziyi had earlier been sent overseas, so he had the greatest understanding of what was going on in the islands.
“Your Highness, the Eastern Islands have been completely conquered. We also recruited a few natives and supported a Queen Sami, placing the area under her control.
“Upon learning that the Arabs had invaded, Xue Qianjun started his way back to the Central Plains with his one hundred and fifty thousand soldiers. In addition, he also has an army of eighty thousand made up from local elites of the Eastern Islands. Although it can’t compare to the Wushang Cavalry, it is still an extremely impressive fighting force,” Guo Ziyi said.
Miyasame Ayaka had come from the Eastern Islands, and though it was not as strong as the Central Plains, it was still home to many formidable warriors. It was these warriors that had given Xue Qianjun quite a lot of trouble in the conquest.
But while the soldiers of the Eastern Islands were formidable, they had no skill in battle formations. Xue Qianjun had needed only the Cutting Formation to topple their armies.
In the face of effective formations, not even the bravest of the Eastern Islands’ warriors could do anything to stop Xue Qianjun’s progress.
Miyasame Ayaka remained calm and emotionless as she listened to Guo Ziyi’s report, as if its contents had nothing to do with her.
The people of the Ten Eastern Islands didn’t have an intense attachment to their homeland, and that place was still not united. Its warriors were more concerned about their own strength and glory.
Wang Chong gave a slight nod upon hearing this.
Xue Qianjun had been recruiting soldiers throughout his campaign in the Eastern Islands. With his one hundred and fifty thousand soldiers and eighty thousand Eastern Island elites, he had an immense force of two hundred and thirty thousand. This additional force of soldiers would be a great boost to the Great Tang’s power.
Wang Chong took one last glance at the model before giving his order.
“It’s enough. Pass on my order! All soldiers should march to Qixi at full speed!”
Speed was paramount in war. Before daybreak of the next day, Wang Chong had gathered his men to set off for Qixi.
As Wang Chong and his men were mounting up, a crisp voice spoke into his ear.
“King of Foreign Lands, you’ll definitely defeat the Arabs and drive them out of the Western Regions, right?”
Wang Chong stopped and saw a small boy of seven or eight standing in front of a house. The boy was thinly dressed but had bright eyes. He held a small wooden sword in his hand and was looking at Wang Chong with admiration and anticipation.
“Mm!”
Wang Chong’s heart warmed as he nodded at the boy.
“Wonderful!”
The boy was so delighted it was like he had already heard the news that Wang Chong had won.
At this moment, the doors and windows over the houses on both sides opened, and countless people flowed into the empty street.
“King of Foreign Lands, you have to give those invading dogs a good beating!”
“Right! Beat them so hard that they piss themselves! Let the Arabs experience the power of our Great Tang!”
The people of the capital were filled with righteous fury. The Arab assault had clearly stimulated their anger and pride.
“Relax. I will definitely defeat the Arabs and drive them out!”
Wang Chong felt an even greater surge of warmth as he looked around at the excited and trusting faces.
War was a matter for soldiers. He had chosen to set off before daybreak because he did not want the mood of war to influence the people. But seeing this ‘prepared’ scene, Wang Chong knew that the people of the capital had probably stayed up the entire night waiting for him here so that they could send him off.
Behind Wang Chong, Xu Keyi, Zhang Que, and the others were filled with emotion. The militarists had been suppressed for too long, and their reputation had fallen into the gutter. It was very rare now for them to see a sight like this where the people of the capital came out to cheer them on.
At this moment, Zhang Que’s sharp eyes spotted several figures in Confucian robes making their way through the crowd. Grimacing, he whispered to Wang Chong, “Your Highness! It’s them!”
“Mm.”
Wang Chong nodded, his smile fading.
“It’s the Secretariat Advisor!”
“Today is the day that the King of Foreign Lands sets out. What are they doing, coming here with weapons?”
“Hasn’t the Confucian Sect already lost? The Sage Emperor already gave the order. Are they defying an imperial decree and trying to stop him with force?”
More and more people in the crowd began to notice the Confucian Sect members, and they all warily looked at Li Junxian.
Li Junxian pretended not to hear the chatter of the crowd, and his eyes brimmed with resolve as he continued forward.
The Confucian Sect members soon arrived in front of Wang Chong.
The air was tense, with Zhang Que and Xu Keyi placing their hands on their weapons.
“Li Junxian, your Confucian Sect has already completely lost, so what are you doing here? Are you still not satisfied?” Wang Chong said from atop the White-hoofed Shadow.
The Confucian Sect had lost to him before the entire world, and would have no chance of a comeback in the reign of the current emperor. But Li Junxian had a stubborn personality. Now that Li Junxian’s convictions had crumbled, Wang Chong had no idea what sort of crazy act he might commit.
But at this moment…
Thump!
In front of Wang Chong and the crowd, Confucian Sect Leader Li Junxian and the Confucian Sect disciples behind him got down on their knees.
“Confucian Sect Leader and sinner Li Junxian is willing to lead the several thousand members of the Confucian Sect in redeeming ourselves, following the King of Foreign Lands to the northwest to resist the foreign enemy!
“King of Foreign Lands, please accept our wish!”
Li Junxian, wearing a cloth robe, his hair in disarray, lowered his head before Wang Chong.
“King of Foreign Lands, please accept our wish!”
Behind him, the Confucian Sect members all lowered their heads. They no longer had any of their former sharpness and energy. Like ordinary people, they meekly and reverentially bowed.
“!!!”
Everyone was struck dumb, even Wang Chong. But he quickly noticed Li Junxian’s sallow, pained, and ashamed face. Understanding what was going on, he sternly nodded.
“Rise!”
Wang Chong’s eyes flashed as he walked over to Li Junxian.
……
Bang!
Following Wang Chong’s orders, the world rumbled and groaned as tens of thousands of soldiers marched day and night, converging from different areas on Qixi. Li Junxian and his Confucian Sect were amongst them. This was their only chance to redeem themselves to the Great Tang and the people of the realm.
