"Your Majesty, this subject objects!"
A resounding voice resounded through the hall. The King of Song, ceremonial tablet in hand, stepped out of the ranks, his expression solemn and respectful.
"Your Majesty, this subject objects!"
"Your Majesty, this subject objects!"
"Your Majesty, this subject objects!"
… …
The morale of the generals in the hall soared, and they stepped forward to respond to Duke Jiu and the King of Song. The generals and civil officials once more faced off against each other, and just when it seemed like they were about to clash, a voice rang out …
"Enough! We have already made a decision. "
At this moment, a majestic voice, like that of a god from the nine heavens, came from behind the beaded curtains of the hall. The Sage Emperor had finally spoken.
"The King of Song, Zhangchou Jianqiong, the two of you are fully in charge of this matter. Immediately mobilize the army to reinforce Talas. The memorials submitted by Gao Xianzhi and Qixi Protector-General Wang Chong have all been approved. Zheng Chengli, Zhou Taiqin, the Bureau of Revenue will do everything in its power to cooperate. All money and grain must be delivered without delay. In addition, the other departments will do everything in their power to cooperate! "
It was just a few sentences, but every single one of them was like a gem. His words were powerful and resonant, and the entire world became incomparably silent at this moment.
In the Imperial Court, the Grand Preceptor, King Qi, and all the civil officials were dumbfounded. No one had expected the Holy Emperor to use this method to end the dispute between civil and military officials. Duke Jiu faintly smiled, while The King of Song, Jiang Yunrang, and the other generals were ecstatic.
A sovereign's words were not to be taken lightly! No matter how intense the conflict between civil and military officials was, as long as the Holy Emperor spoke, everything would be settled.
"This subject will carry out the decree!"
All the generals in the hall respectfully acknowledged the decree. As for the civil officials, no matter how unwilling they were, they were forced to lower their heads. The Holy Emperor never lightly expressed his opinion, but once he did, there was no room for change.
"This old subject will carry out the decree!"
All the officials from the Bureau of Revenue and the civil officials acknowledged the decree.
"Go!"
That rumbling voice was incomparably majestic, like thunder, reverberating throughout the hall. Following the Holy Emperor's order, the entire Tang dynasty was like a huge war machine, operating rapidly. Soldiers responded to the summons and prepared to reinforce Talas.
…
Hualala!
Not long after the Holy Emperor appeared and the Imperial Court made its decision, a carrier pigeon flapped its wings and soared into the sky, flying toward Anxi with astonishing speed. Several days later, the messenger pigeon landed in the city of Talas. Rumble! It was like a heavy bomb had been dropped on the city, causing massive waves to ripple through the city.
"Great!"
In Talas, all the generals had gathered, their faces red with excitement. After so many days of stalemate, the Imperial Court had finally decided to send reinforcements to Talas. This was the best news they had heard in a while, and even Gao Xianzhi was alarmed and left his seclusion.
"Lord Protector-General, with the support of the Holy Emperor and the Imperial Court, we'll be able to take the initiative in Talas. We might really be able to defeat the Arabs."
In the hall, Anxi Vice Protector-General Cheng Qianli rested his hands on the table, a look of joy on his face.
The Imperial Court had been in a stalemate for far too long, and every major decision required a long time to be passed. Moreover, this was a major victory, so it would be extremely difficult to get the Imperial Court to send reinforcements based on past conventions. Cheng Qianli had even begun to think about what the Anxi Protectorate army would do if the Imperial Court took so long to make a decision.
"Indeed! It was absolutely unprecedented for the resolution to be passed so quickly. The King of Song, the Beacon General, and almost all the military officials of the court stand on our side. Even Duke Jiu has appeared. But this matter is far from optimistic. "
After his initial excitement, Gao Xianzhi calmed down and began to frown.
"The Imperial Court needs to defend far too many places, and in many places, a single move will affect the entire situation. It simply can't send many soldiers. I'm worried that even with the decree of the Holy Emperor, the Imperial Court won't be able to send many soldiers. "
"Haha, Lord Protector-General worries too much. I've already taken care of everything. We can transfer at least twenty thousand soldiers from the capital. Together with the soldiers from the protectorates and a portion of the Xiang Army, we can get fifty to sixty thousand elites from the Imperial Court. Soldiers are valued for quality over quantity. Although we still can't compare to the Arabs, we can still put up a fight. "
"Oh?!"
The eyes of the generals brightened in surprise. Transferring soldiers from the protectorates along the border was not unexpected. In truth, this was something that Wang Chong and Gao Xianzhi had already agreed on. But for him to be able to mobilize nearly twenty thousand soldiers from the capital was truly astonishing.
"Wang Chong, you want to transfer the Imperial Army?"
Gao Xianzhi suddenly thought of something and probed.
Wang Chong grunted and gave a firm nod.
"Boom!"
This seemingly ordinary action instantly set off massive waves in the eyes of the generals. Even Gao Xianzhi and Cheng Qianli were stunned by Wang Chong's daring idea. The two of them looked at each other, shocked speechless.
Transferring the Imperial Army!
Such a thing had never happened in all of history. The Imperial Army was responsible for guarding the capital and protecting the Emperor. It would never lightly leave. In the two-hundred-some years since the founding of the Tang Dynasty, the Imperial Army had already been transferred without moving its soldiers from the border. This was unprecedented. Although Gao Xianzhi and Cheng Qianli were supreme figures of the empire, they didn't even dare to think about such a thing.
"Wang Chong, are you sure? Will the Imperial Court agree? "
"Lord Protector-General, there is no precedent for this, but it is not impossible. The Imperial Court has one hundred thousand soldiers in the Imperial Army, and all the borders are garrisoned. The Imperial Court poses no threat. If you want to transfer elite soldiers, the Imperial Army is the best choice. Don't forget that Arabia has even dispatched the Mamelukes, the Behemoth Army, and the Skyquaking Army. With all three Arab governors gathered in the future, ordinary soldiers won't be able to stop them. "
Wang Chong sternly said.
"But transferring the Imperial Army is no small matter. If we do this, we'll definitely be criticized by the officials. Moreover, neither The King of Song nor Zhangchou Jianqiong have the authority to transfer the Imperial Army! "
Gao Xianzhi said. It wasn't that he didn't agree with Wang Chong, but that Wang Chong's idea was too crazy and daring!
"Haha, General doesn't even fear death, so why would you fear a scholar's brush?"
Wang Chong grinned.
"The Holy Emperor rarely interferes in the political affairs of the Imperial Court. The fact that the Holy Emperor has personally spoken is an enormous convenience. As long as you and I submit a joint petition, I am confident that His Majesty will agree."
Wang Chong's words were light, but the contents of his proposal made Gao Xianzhi, Cheng Qianli, and all the other generals in the hall palpitate.
Gao Xianzhi and Cheng Qianli looked at each other, speechless for a long time.
Only Wang Chong remained calm and composed, his face unperturbed. The current structure of the Tang Dynasty had nothing to do with the generals. The true leader was the distant Holy Emperor. The civil officials of the court accused the generals of being warlike, but the true warlike one was the Holy Emperor. It was precisely because of his support that the current structure and territory of the Tang Dynasty had come into being.
Gao Xianzhi and Cheng Qianli were still somewhat hesitant, but Wang Chong knew that as long as Talas spoke, the Holy Emperor would definitely agree.
"Milord, we only have one chance. If we don't do our best to mobilize soldiers now, once Talas is lost, it will be useless to mobilize the Imperial Army."
Wang Chong observed Gao Xianzhi's expression and added the final piece of his bargaining chip.
"This … fine!"
Upon hearing Wang Chong's final words, Gao Xianzhi's eyes flickered. He clenched his teeth and finally made up his mind.
"Qianli, I'll leave this matter to you and Protector-General Wang. But if we do this, we'll have no path of retreat! "
The first part of his sentence was directed at Cheng Qianli, but the last part was directed at Gao Xianzhi and Wang Chong. Now that the Imperial Army was involved, the nature of the entire matter would be completely different. Once they were defeated, neither Wang Chong nor Gao Xianzhi would be able to advance in their official careers.
"There was no path of retreat in the first place."
Wang Chong faintly smiled, not a hint of hesitation in his eyes. Everything was ready except for the east wind. For Wang Chong, there had been no path of retreat for a very long time.
Flapflap! A few moments later, an eagle soared into the sky from Talas and flew toward the capital. The memorial drafted by Wang Chong, coordinated by Cheng Qianli, and stamped with Gao Xianzhi's seal quickly flew to the capital. Just as Wang Chong had predicted, Wang Chong's request to mobilize the Imperial Army caused massive waves in the capital.
But before the civil officials of the court could impeach him, the Holy Emperor's decree left everyone dumbfounded.
"Permitted!"
It was a simple word, but it immediately suppressed all the arguments. A potential crisis had not even erupted, but it had already been eliminated without a trace. Although the Imperial Army had a special status, if the Holy Emperor gave the order to mobilize them, not even the civil officials of the court could say anything. And Wang Chong had requested in his memorial to mobilize ten thousand Imperial Army soldiers, exactly one-tenth of the Imperial Army. This was not a small number, but it was also not too much. It was the limit that the officials of the court could tolerate, and it would not have too great of an impact on the Imperial Army's duty to protect the capital.
… …
In the northwest of the capital, in a clean and elegant palace hall, a stalwart figure was seated cross-legged in meditation, his body exuding an aura that was like a tide. Behind him, a Wootz Steel saber, more than seven feet long, stood unmoving, accentuating the man's imposing figure. If one looked carefully, one would see that both the seated man and the seven-foot-long WuZi Steel saber were floating in the air. Anyone who could float in the air was at least a Brigadier General.
Quasi-Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Army, Zhao Fengchen!
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