Chapter 1985 - Personal Welcome!
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
Not many people knew about the incident, and as it had taken place in the middle of the night, not many had noticed it. But there had been a Hu drinking at the same tavern that night who had witnessed it all. This man had been Wunu Shibi’s information source.
“In the past, everyone would have treated this at most as some hedonistic scion of the capital terrorizing an innocent servant. While not common, it also isn’t rare. But could some hedonistic scion have become the Nine Provinces Protector-General held in awe by the world? Could an ordinary Hu have become the Andong Protector-General who defeated Yeon Gaesomun?”
“This…”
Irbis Shiyun’s brow furrowed. He had clearly sensed how suspicious the matter was.
There could not be so great a coincidence in this world. Considering the present status of this pair, the incident back then was not as simple as it seemed.
“Heh, you get it now? There are some people who are now saying that the King of Foreign Lands has the ability to predict the future,” Wunu Shibi said.
“Ah!!”
Irbis Shiyun’s eyes flew open.
“Haha, I’m just teasing you!”
Wunu Shibi couldn’t help but loudly laugh, much more relaxed now.
Wang Chong’s ability to predict the future was just a far-fetched and overexaggerated rumor spread amongst the people. But there truly was something odd about this man.
Before the war of the southwest had begun, he had already constructed Lion City, which had served as a crucial turning point in that war. Without Lion City, the Annan Protectorate army would have been wiped out in the first battle, and the war would have been decided there.
As for the Battle of Talas, before Abu Muslim had even begun to send his scouts into the Western Regions, Wang Chong had already built his City of Steel in Wushang and had prepared a large number of steel modules.
Although it was said initially that Wang Chong had done all this to defend against the Western Turkic Khaganate and the Ü-Tsang Empire, when Wang Chong led his army to Talas and set up two stalwart steel defense lines across the battlefield, everyone realized that Wang Chong had actually been targeting Arabia.
When these wars had yet to begin, the King of Foreign Lands had already predicted that they would be enemies and made the appropriate preparations. The thought of it truly sent shivers down one’s spine.
At the time, Wunu Shibi felt fear, wondering if this fellow really could predict the future.
But after thinking it over, Wunu Shibi would once more reject the idea.
“Regardless, this is an extremely important piece of intelligence!”
Wunu Shibi quickly returned to the topic at hand, his face turning grim.
“That’s not all. The elite intelligence teams of the King of Foreign Lands, the Wind, Forest, Fire, and Mountain teams, were all sent to Youzhou after the war of the northwest ended. His spies have been noticed around the Eastern Turks, the Xi, the Khitans, and in Goguryeo. The concentration is simply unbelievable. In some ways, he’s putting more focus on gathering intelligence in Youzhou than the war against Arabia.
“If you were to say that there was nothing wrong there, ha! No one would believe it.”
Wunu Shibi didn’t need to say any more. There was a clear shock in Irbis Shiyun’s eyes.
Wang Chong’s four spy teams had risen in prominence alongside Wang Chong’s illustrious battle record. Even though no one knew the exact details about them, not their numbers, training methods, organization system, or communication method, this did not prevent them from becoming known as the most elite intelligence organization in the world.
For an intelligence organization aimed at an empire to now be aimed at a single man left Irbis Shiyun deeply astonished.
“Regardless, both of these men will be present at the feast of all countries. If the rumors are true, it will be a feast to look forward to!” Wunu Shibi said.
A spectator did not mind if things turned into a mess. Besides, the Great Tang was the enemy of all the other countries, and the Great Tang’s power was closely linked to Wang Chong and An Yaluoshan.
These two plus the Sage Emperor were enough for the other countries to send the best emissaries they could to attend this feast of all countries.
Irbis Shiyun turned contemplative.
Meanwhile, at the King of Foreign Lands Residence…
Wang Chong was seated on his throne, his eyes half-closed in thought.
“Your Highness, An Yaluoshan has departed Youzhou. Traveling with him are Cui Qianyou, Tian Chengsi, and Gao Shang. We’ve already dispatched the Wind, Forest, Fire, and Mountain teams to track their route, but we’ve found no sign of them so far.”
Zhang Que got down on one knee in the hall, shame on his face.
The four teams had never failed before, but this time, the four teams had gone seven or eight days without finding any trace of these men. One couldn’t help but feel puzzled.
This fact had also made him so ashamed that he did not dare to raise his head in front of Wang Chong.
Wang Chong completely closed his eyes, a pensive look on his face.
“You cannot be blamed for this,” Wang Chong finally said.
“Since An Yaluoshan dares to come to the capital, he must have made ample preparations. It would be far stranger if you had been able to find him.”
Wang Chong did not care that An Yaluoshan had ‘disappeared’. He was more worried about something else.
The capital was his territory, but An Yaluoshan had still dared to work through Zhao Changfu to get an invitation to the capital. There was something fishy going on.
Wang Chong sensed that An Yaluoshan had a big scheme brewing for this visit to the capital.
“Order all the members of the Wind, Forest, Fire, and Mountain teams tracking An Yaluoshan to withdraw and concentrate on the area within thirty li of the capital,” Wang Chong indifferently said.
“Yes, Your Highness,” Zhang Que said.
This was the best solution for now. At least it would have a higher success rate than blindly searching.
No matter how secretive An Yaluoshan was, he still had to enter the capital.
“An imperial decree has arrived!” A shrill voice that sounded like the cry of a duck came from outside, accompanied by the stomping of many feet.
The door was opened, upon which a fair-skinned old eunuch strode through, accompanied by a host of minor eunuchs and guards.
The old eunuch glanced at Wang Chong and said, “An imperial decree has arrived. Make haste and receive it.”
“Your Highness… we couldn’t stop him.”
The estate guards on the sides had panicked and ashamed expressions.
“It’s fine. You’re dismissed,” Wang Chong said, a slight crease in his brow.
While the King of Foreign Lands Residence was heavily guarded and forbidden to the common folk, guards were useless against the eunuchs sent by the Sage Emperor.
Not even the boldest guard would dare to obstruct an emissary of the Sage Emperor.
Whoosh!
With a wave of his sleeve, Wang Chong stood up from his throne and confidently descended.
“Wang Chong receives the decree!”
“Acceding to the will of the heavens, the Emperor declares…
“The current Andong Protector-General, An Yaluoshan, has brought fortune to the country, Youzhou, and the people of the realm. In order to express the Imperial Court’s high favor and commend him, it is decreed that the honored official personally welcome An Yaluoshan into the capital!
“The honored official has served the empire well as a model for the realm to aspire to, and is to spare no effort in accomplishing this task. Thus is the Emperor’s decision!”
The eunuch’s voice rang out through the hall, and then his eyes focused on Wang Chong.
“Your Highness, receive the decree. This is an expression of His Majesty’s favor to you. Please do not disappoint His Majesty.”
The eunuch had a derisive look on his face.
“Bastard!”
Wang Chong’s subordinates were all furious. For this eunuch to dare use this tone in front of their liege was simply absurd, but as Wang Chong had said nothing, none of them dared to express their anger.
“Wang Chong receives the decree!”
Wang Chong was indifferent, apparently not hearing the mocking tone in the eunuch’s voice. He quickly came forward and took the decree from the eunuch.
“Your Highness, the Andong Protector-General will be here soon. In a little while, Your Highness should go out to welcome him so that all of the Great Tang can aspire to imitate you!”
After saying this, the old eunuch departed.
“Your Highness, this is too much. What’s so good about An Yaluoshan? He only won a minor victory, but the Imperial Court is making Your Highness go and welcome him!”
Cheng Sanyuan and Su Shixuan came up to Wang Chong and complained, aggrieved looks on their faces.
“The Imperial Court is clearly trying to humiliate Your Highness!”
“It’s fine!”
Sensing that the eunuch and his guards were gone, Wang Chong raised his head and slowly smiled.
“It’s just a minor matter. And besides, I arranged for this to happen!”
“Ah!”
Su Shixuan and Cheng Sanyuan trembled in shock.
Everyone stared at Wang Chong in a daze.
Wang Chong had arranged for this? What was going on?
Wang Chong merely smiled.
Zhao Changfu was a lowly man, but even lowly men had their uses. An Yaluoshan could use Zhao Changfu to openly enter the capital, so Wang Chong could borrow an imperial decree to go out and welcome An Yaluoshan.
For An Yaluoshan to come to the capital was not normal. If Wang Chong wanted to learn what was going on, meeting the man personally was the best method.
Moreover…
Two and a half years had passed. Just how much had that man who had barely escaped his blade managed to mature?
We’re finally meeting again! I’m looking forward to it!
Wang Chong raised his head, a savage glint in his eyes.
……
Whoosh!
Not long after the eunuch left, numerous men concealed around the King of Foreign Lands Residence scattered like frightened birds.
As the home of the greatest War God of the Tang Empire, perhaps the entire continent, the King of Foreign Lands Residence had become a convergence point for countless spies.
For many empires, the movements of the King of Foreign Lands represented the movements of the entire Tang Empire.
For one of the Sage Emperor’s eunuchs to enter the King of Foreign Lands Residence at this time was not normal!
