Li Junxian's expression was cold and aloof, his voice deafening. He had also been caught off guard by this news. The battle at Khorasan had been far too sudden. If the Tang Dynasty sent soldiers, all their hard-won gains would be for naught.
"… Moreover, the relationship between Arabia and Khorasan is very complicated. Khorasan was originally Arab territory and has been ruled by Arabia for thirty years. This lowly subject recommends that we first negotiate with Arabia and express the position of the Tang Dynasty so that we can resolve this matter as peacefully as possible."
"Your Highness, this subject agrees!"
At almost the same time, an official walked out of the ranks and coldly stared at Wang Chong.
"King of Foreign Lands, the Battle of Talas and the Battle of Khorasan have only just concluded. Have not enough of the Tang Dynasty's soldiers died? It was one thing to protect the Western Regions. But this is a war between Arabia and the Sassanid Dynasty. Do the warriors of our Tang Dynasty also have to bleed? King of Foreign Lands, I think that you've gone senile! "
"You've also heard the cries of the people of the capital! Anyone who dares to send soldiers now will be committing a crime against the world! King of Foreign Lands, peace has not been easy to come by. Remember, you are a King of the Tang Dynasty, not a King of the Sassanid Dynasty! "
… …
Civil official after civil official stepped forward, each wave of opposition louder than the last. Not to mention civil and military officials, even if this incident did not happen, they would not have been able to pass. For the Tang Dynasty to send soldiers in a war between Arabia and the Sassanid Dynasty was simply absurd!
Wang Chong said nothing, only looked at the generals in the Taihe Palace. But this time, even the generals were shrinking back. If it were any other matter, they would have immediately hesitated. But now … the voices of the capital's opposition to war were still ringing in their ears, and the crowds outside the Imperial City were endless. Not even they had the courage to ask the Tang Dynasty to deal with Arabia for the sake of the unrelated Sassanid Dynasty.
As he saw the averting gazes of the crowd, Wang Chong seemed to understand something, and his heart chilled. What he was most worried about had still happened. The people of the Confucian school were weary of war, and the actions of the Confucian school were effective. Even the generals of the court were unknowingly affected.
"Your Highness, without the lips, the teeth will be cold. Without the skin, where will the hair attach itself to? Khorasan is the dam that the Tang Dynasty uses to stop the flood. If the dam collapses and the flood comes pouring down, will the Tang Dynasty still be able to exist …? "
Wang Chong said bitterly. However, before he could finish, the First Prince interrupted him.
"King of Foreign Lands! The military is a matter of great importance to the country. We can't ignore it. That's what you said. Let's put an end to this matter for now. Allow me to report to Imperial Father before making a decision! "
That one sentence made Wang Chong swallow back all the words he wanted to say.
"Everyone, the court is dismissed!"
"Farewell, Your Highness!"
As the cold and aloof First Prince stood up and left, Wang Chong's heart felt empty. He felt like he had stepped on air and was falling into the depths of the void.
In his muddleheaded state, Wang Chong had no idea how he had left Taihe Palace and the Imperial Palace.
"Raising a tiger is inviting calamity! This is raising a tiger to invite calamity!
"Does no one understand that once Khorasan is breached, the Tang Dynasty will be the next target of the Arabs?
"Khorasan has always been a source of strength. If the Arabs are allowed to reoccupy it, given time, those Sassanids who fought against the Arabs will turn against the Tang Dynasty. The Arabs will be like a tiger that has grown wings!"
… …
As countless thoughts flitted through his mind, Wang Chong felt like something was stuck in his chest and his heart was in extreme pain. In the southwest, when he had faced an army of hundreds of thousands, an army that far outnumbered his own, even when he knew that the odds were against him, Wang Chong had never felt so uncomfortable. But those evasive eyes of the generals in the Imperial Court …
When the world was at peace, the hearts of the people longed for peace. When had the hearts of the people crumbled to such an extent?
The carriage rumbled!
After traveling for some time, Wang Chong finally heard a familiar voice at his ear. "How long have you been traveling?"
"Your Highness, the Imperial Court did not pass it, right?"
Su Shixuan's cautious and uneasy voice came from outside.
Hiss!
Wang Chong leaned against the carriage, his eyes half-closed as he took in a deep breath, finally coming back to his senses.
"It's impossible to pass the Imperial Court!"
After a long while, Wang Chong finally spoke.
"Ah!"
Outside the carriage, Su Shixuan trembled, his face paling. Although His Highness had seemed a little off when he left the court, Su Shixuan had never imagined that the Imperial Court would directly reject the proposal to send troops to Khorasan. If this was the case, wouldn't Bahram and Princess Adiya … Su Shixuan's heart sank.
The carriage was quiet.
Wang Chong said nothing, his expression extremely haggard. Although the First Prince had said to wait until he reported back to the Holy Emperor before making a decision, no one understood better than Wang Chong that he was saying that the Tang Dynasty would never send troops to Khorasan. And without the Tang Dynasty sending troops, Khorasan would never be able to stop the constant Arab attacks.
Wang Chong felt like his insides were aflame.
"Shixuan, we don't have time. Prepare a brush and paper and immediately write a few letters for me."
After some time, Wang Chong opened his eyes and sternly said.
"Your subordinate will go!"
Su Shixuan bowed. The matter of Khorasan was no small matter, and according to Wang Chong's orders, everyone had brought brush and paper with them so that Wang Chong could issue an order at any time.
"The first letter is to be sent to Anxi's Gao Xianzhi. Have him take forty percent of the army, as well as Cheng Qianli, Lou Shiyi, Xi Yuanqing, the Iron Wall Army, and the Mo Saber Unit in training. Have them go to Samarkand in the name of patrolling the border and then set out at night to reinforce Khorasan. I will have Lord Zhangchou of the Bureau of Military Personnel take three thousand ballistae to work with them. "
Wang Chong sternly said.
"Yes, Milord!"
The carriage clearly slowed, and Su Shixuan began to write according to Wang Chong's orders.
"The second letter is to be sent to Qixi's Su Hanshan and Li Siye."
The more dangerous the moment, the calmer Wang Chong's voice became. Through the activities of Wang Chong and Zhangchou Jianqiong in the Imperial Court, Su Hanshan and Li Siye had finally been released, and because of this matter, their prestige in the army had soared. Even the three Confucian commanders were now much more restrained.
"Tell them to mobilize all the Wushang Cavalry and immediately head to Khorasan. In addition, tell them to erase the Wushang Cavalry from the army and restore their freedom. "
"Ah?!"
Su Shixuan's brush paused, a hint of shock appearing on his face. But Su Shixuan quickly realized something and lowered his head.
"Yes, Your Highness!"
Of all Wang Chong's subordinates, only the Wushang Cavalry were the most special. They were far more powerful than any other army, and not even the Mamelukes were a match for them. But even though Wang Chong had brought them along with the Qixi Protectorate to Arabia during the battle of Talas and Khorasan, the Wushang Cavalry did not belong to the Qixi Protectorate.
After the battle, they were supposed to be incorporated into the regular army, but the Wushang Cavalry were too numerous and did not belong to any protectorate army, so they had not been completely integrated into the regular army. If they were going to reinforce Khorasan, they would probably be the strongest fighting force on Wang Chong's side.
The carriage was moving slower and slower, and in the end, it was not much faster than walking. Outside the carriage, the rustling of writing never stopped. One letter, two letters, Su Shixuan swiftly wrote according to Wang Chong's orders.
"The third letter. Notify the King Gangke of the Western Regions for me! Have him use my name to recruit soldiers from the various kingdoms of the Western Regions. Tell the chiefs of the various tribes that the cooperation will continue as before. They will receive sufficient compensation from me! "
Order after order was issued from Wang Chong, his expression growing calmer and calmer. Outside the carriage, Su Shixuan continued to respond, his brush furiously writing.
"The last letter. Write it for me to the Caliph Mutasim III of Arabia …"
Wang Chong said.
Su Shixuan was startled by these words, a hint of astonishment appearing on his face. He could understand writing to Gao Xianzhi and Su Hanshan and erasing the Wushang Cavalry from the army, but Su Shixuan had never imagined that Wang Chong's last letter would be to the Caliph of Arabia. Was his Highness trying to persuade the Caliph to withdraw?!
Wang Chong had no idea what Su Shixuan was thinking. He was deep in thought.
"Tell Mutasim III to immediately withdraw his army. Tell him that courtesy demands reciprocity. If he refuses to withdraw, I will personally take Baghdad in the future. In addition, tell him that if Khorasan falls and the Arabs massacre the city, the same thing will happen to the Arabs! "
Wang Chong's voice was icy cold as he spoke these last words.
Su Shixuan froze, and then he understood. The Great Tang and Arabia were tens of thousands of li apart, and the Imperial Court had yet to make a decision. What they needed to consider right now was not how to save Khorasan, but how to deal with Arabia's vengeance if the city were to fall.
Back then, the Great Tang and the Aswaran Cataphracts had worked together to kill nearly one million Arab cavalry. To the Arabs, this was a blood feud, and given the Arabs' usual style, there was an eighty to ninety percent chance that they would massacre the city once it was breached. Wang Chong's last words were clearly meant to prevent this from happening.
Given the tough personalities of the Arabs, it was clearly impossible to intimidate them with a single letter, but it was completely different if this person was Wang Chong. If Wang Chong could kill nearly one million Arab cavalry, he would be able to kill even more Arab soldiers, and even massacre cities.
This letter was not just a deterrent or a threat, but a real threat.
Wang Chong had the ability to carry out everything he said!
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
