Clang!
At this moment, the sound of a bell came from outside Drunken Moon Pavilion, accompanied by cheers from the crowd on the street. It was finally time to commemorate the Buddha's birthday.
"Young Master, it is time to offer sacrifices to the saints!"
A figure stepped forward and whispered. It was none other than the white-robed scholar Li Junshan who had taken Li Junxian's place in the wooden door.
Li Junxian blinked, took in a deep breath, and quickly turned around.
Someone at his side had already offered him a prayer written in cinnabar.
"The strength of the world, the hearts of all things, the Hundred Saints of the Hundred Saints:
We of the younger generation of the Confucian Sect, Li Junxian (Li Zhoushan/Zhang Songjin …), are bound to carry on the great wish of the Hundred Saints, to work together as one to realize the long-cherished wish of the Hundred Saints of the Great Harmony of the World, to unite the four seas into one, to eliminate the scourge of war and bring peace to the world. The great Dao is difficult, and sacrifices are bound to be made. As long as the common people are fortunate and no longer treated like grass or fish, even if our bodies are crushed, we will not hesitate!
This oath is borne by the heavens and earth, witnessed by ghosts and gods! "
… …
With the white-robed Li Junxian at their head, the group raised their wine cups, their expressions solemn and their eyes brimming with determination.
The loud and clear voice resounded throughout the entire restaurant, but under the effect of an invisible force, the voice was confined within the restaurant. Even the waiters and the shopkeeper behind the counter on the first floor, who were close by, had lazy expressions on their faces as if they couldn't hear anything. It was as if they were in another world that was separated from the rest of the world.
"To the saints!"
"To the saints!"
Once the prayer was finished, Li Junxian raised his cup and drained it in one gulp. Soon after, everyone else in the restaurant, their expressions suffused with determination, also drained their cups.
"Young Master, do you need me?"
Once the ceremony was over, a voice came from behind Li Junxian. The black-robed man wearing the white mask slowly walked up to Li Junxian, his hands gripping a simple and unadorned sword. At the same time, everyone in the room focused on Li Junxian.
The mood was solemn!
The Hundred Saints of the Hundred Saints were the final ceremony!
"There's no need!"
After a few moments of silence, Li Junxian shook his head and extended his right hand to take the sword from the black-robed man. Swish! Without the slightest hesitation, the black hairband on Li Junxian's head was cut in two. The moment the black hairband fell to the ground, it seemed to weigh a great deal!
Cutting off his hair was like cutting off his head!
Once it started, there was no turning back!
"Let's go!"
With a grave expression, Li Junxian walked out of Drunken Moon Pavilion with his snow-white feet, followed by the rest of the group.
…
The Wang Family Estate was heavily guarded.
At this moment, in the study, Wang Chong sat motionlessly with his eyes closed, meditating. In front of him was an old map of the continent. This was the map that Dalun Ruozan had brought out of Ouzan, the most precious map of the world. At this moment, the territories of Ouzan, the Eastern Turks, the Western Turks, the Goguryeo Empire, the Xi, the Khitans, and Arabia to the west had all been marked out by Wang Chong with black pieces. Moreover, three small red triangular flags had been planted in the territories of Arabia, Ouzan, and Youzhou to the northwest.
"Troubles from within and without …"
After a long while, Wang Chong opened his eyes and gave a deep sigh.
In this massive upheaval in the Imperial Court, Wang Chong would not just have to face Li Junxian and the mysterious Confucian Sect he led, but also the many enemies of the Tang Dynasty on the border. Although the Tang Dynasty had won major victories at Talas and Khorasan, it had also paid a heavy price. The Tang Dynasty had gone to great lengths to obtain its current situation, but an internal strife had ruined everything.
Wang Chong could even imagine that Ouzan's Dalon Trinling, the Western Turks' Ishbara Khagan, the escaped Duwusili, the Goguryeo Empire's Yeon Gaesomun, and Arabia's Mutasim III would all be beaming with joy, perhaps even adding fuel to the fire. They were using the conflict between militarists and Confucians to further tear the Tang Dynasty apart.
But this was not the only thing that worried Wang Chong. As he looked past the Beiting Protectorate to the Turkic steppe in the north, no one knew better than Wang Chong that a Little Ice Age, rarely seen in centuries, would soon sweep down from the north.
Last year's blizzard of Khorasan, which had frozen hundreds of thousands to death, paled in comparison. In the face of this unprecedented winter, all the nomadic tribes of the north of the Central Plains would be forced to band together and march south to attack the Tang Dynasty.
And after that, that enormous army of otherworldly invaders that would not die even if their vitals were wounded would descend from the heavens and bring true death to this world.
There was far too little time left for him.
Swish!
Wang Chong picked up a brush from the brush rack, grabbed a few sheets of paper, and pressed them down with a paperweight. After a few moments of silence, he began to write. One incense stick's worth of time, two incense sticks' worth of time, an hour, two hours … for more than four hours, Wang Chong remained in his study, his brush furiously writing.
Countless thoughts surged through Wang Chong's mind. He was using everything he had learned to devise strategies and do his utmost to change the fate and development of this world.
Thump thump thump!
At this moment, someone knocked on the door.
"Your Highness, this subordinate has a matter to report!"
The Eagle's voice could be heard clearly.
"Come in."
Wang Chong quickly raised his head and said.
The door creaked open, and the black-clothed and dusty Eagle walked in.
"Your Highness, something has happened. Ever since we left Drunken Moon Pavilion, our people have been keeping an eye on that place, but this subordinate just received news that the young man called Li Junxian and those Confucians have all disappeared. "
The Eagle bowed in front of Wang Chong, a look of deep guilt in his eyes. Losing his target the first time was forgivable, but he had still failed this time.
"There's no need to worry!"
The Eagle had originally believed that Wang Chong would at least give him a few words of rebuke, but to his surprise, Wang Chong remained completely unperturbed, as if he had long ago predicted this situation.
"That Li Junxian is much stronger than you, so it's understandable that you couldn't find him."
Wang Chong indifferently said. No one could follow an Imperial Great General, and the Li Junxian that had appeared in Drunken Moon Pavilion just so happened to be an expert of the Imperial Great General level, one that was on par with him. If such a person wanted to, not even the Eagle's entire force would be able to find him. What truly interested Wang Chong was something else.
"You just said that those Confucians had also disappeared. What's going on? Li Junxian isn't easy to follow, but those Confucians should be much easier to follow.
"Our people were able to follow them at the start, but we quickly realized that after they left Drunken Moon Pavilion, they had all left the capital. Moreover, while we were following them, it was clear that another faction was interfering. If it wasn't a large number of identical carriages appearing along the way, it was a large group of people. Some of our scouts were even knocked unconscious."
The Eagle sincerely said.
If the other party had remained in the capital, the Eagle was confident that he could have followed them, but if they had left the capital, not even the Eagle would have been able to keep up with the vastness of the Nine Provinces, let alone if the other party had been prepared.
Wang Chong frowned at these words, but he quickly relaxed.
"Let them go. Since they've already revealed themselves, they can no longer hide. No matter how long they disappear, they'll eventually reveal themselves."
"Your subordinate understands!"
The Eagle immediately lowered his head.
"That's right!"
Wang Chong picked up a few envelopes from the table and passed them over.
"These six letters have all been sealed. Send them to the addresses on them. This matter must be kept extremely secret. Not even Xu Keyi and the others can know of it. Understood? "
The Eagle was startled. He had been at Wang Chong's side for some time now, but he had rarely seen Wang Chong speak in such a solemn tone. Not even Xu Keyi and the others could know of this.
"Yes, Your Highness."
The Eagle asked no more questions. Taking the letters, he quickly left the study.
… …
A few moments after Old Eagle left, a servant of the Wang Clan hurriedly rushed into the room.
"Young Master, Chamberlain of Palace Revenues, Lord Yang Zhao, requests an audience!"
"Oh?"
Wang Chong had been meditating with his eyes closed, but when he heard these words, he opened his eyes. A strange look flashed through his eyes.
"Tell him to wait a moment. I'll be right there."
Ever since they parted, Wang Chong hadn't seen his' sworn brother 'for a long time. Although the first time he showed up was in a gambling den, and he was in rags, even Wang Chong couldn't help but sigh in admiration. His' sworn brother 'truly had a knack for his career. In terms of speed of promotion, the Chamberlain of Palace Revenues was the Holy Emperor's official in charge of finances. Even the Ministry of Revenue was under his control. It could be said that the economic lifeline of the entire empire rested in his hands. He was an important official who reported directly to the Holy Emperor in financial matters. The last time Wang Chong went to court, he had heard that Yang Zhao had become the Chamberlain of Palace Revenues. But at that time, Yang Zhao wasn't in the court. Wang Chong only vaguely knew that he had been sent to do something.
Wang Chong didn't expect Yang Zhao to pay him a visit at this time.
In the living room of the Wang Clan, Wang Chong met with Yang Zhao, who had come to pay him a visit. It had been almost a year since they last met, but the Yang Zhao before him was completely different from before. He wore a bright red official robe, a black hat, and a golden fish talisman on his waist. Not only did he not have the slightest 'bandit' aura, he even had the aura of a high-ranking official.
But even though he had become the Chamberlain of Palace Revenues and was favored by the Holy Emperor because of Consort Tai Zhen, the current Yang Zhao clearly didn't have that carefree attitude. Instead, he seemed to be preoccupied and restless.
"Ah! Wang Chong, I finally see you! "
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