Wang Chong had grown up in the capital, so the number of Hu here was nothing to be surprised about. But now, Wang Chong could see that there were even more Hu in the capital.
Goguryeons, Ouzan, Western Turkic Khaganate, Turks, Arabs … almost all of them could be found in the crowd.
With a glance, Wang Chong could tell that there were ten-some spies among the Hu, but the people around him had gentle and kind faces and seemed oblivious to all this.
"Haha, in the Harmonious World, there's no need to stand on ceremony. Take it!"
Not far away, a shopkeeper said with a faint smile. He quickly stuffed a piece of cloth into the hands of a Hu who clearly practiced martial arts.
"Haha, we're all one family, so there's no need to be so distant. I know that you don't have much money, so I'll give this to you at half price! "
Another shopkeeper nearby said.
"Take care! Come often in the future! Just like Advisor Junior Zhang said, the world is one family, so there's no need to be polite with us. "
Enthusiastic voices came from all around him. Wang Chong could see that everyone had a kind expression on their faces, seemingly unaware of the danger that lurked in the air.
Wang Chong felt a stabbing pain in his heart, and he began to walk even faster.
Along the way, he could see that the atmosphere of the capital was completely different. The massive capital of the Great Tang was like a defenseless city, opening its bosom to everyone.
"Eh? Isn't that the King of Foreign Lands?"
While he was muddle-headed along the way, a familiar voice came from the front.
At first, Wang Chong didn't realize who it was, but a moment later, Wang Chong finally remembered, and his body trembled.
"Cheng Qianli?!"
After fighting side by side with Cheng Qianli at Talas for so long, Wang Chong would never mistake his voice.
But Wang Chong remembered that Cheng Qianli and the Anxi Protectorate army were stationed in the Western Regions, not allowed to leave their garrisons without a military order. How could they appear in the distant capital?
Wang Chong suddenly raised his head. In the dense crowd opposite him, Wang Chong suddenly saw a familiar figure.
His body was ramrod straight, and he held his head high. The aura he exuded was like a raging fire that had been tempered hundreds and thousands of times. It was the Vice Protector-General of the Anxi Protectorate, Cheng Qianli, and in front of him, Wang Chong saw an unexpected figure.
— Gao Xianzhi!
"How could this be?!"
Seeing that imposing figure, Wang Chong's entire body shook violently, instantly setting off huge waves.
He was already surprised that Cheng Qianli showed up here. It was not normal for Gao Xianzhi to show up with him.
A Protector-General, a Great General, was a figure whose every action could affect the entire world.
They had high ranks and extraordinary statuses, and their actions concerned the safety of the entire border. In normal circumstances, without a decree from the sovereign, they would not appear in the capital for at least thirty or forty years.
"Protector-General Gao, General Cheng, why have you appeared here?"
Wang Chong came back to his senses and quickened his pace toward these two figures. At almost the same time, Gao Xianzhi and Cheng Qianli parted the crowd and walked toward Wang Chong.
"Wang Chong, you're finally awake!"
Sincere joy appeared on Gao Xianzhi and Cheng Qianli's faces as they looked at Wang Chong.
"Qianli and I paid a visit to your residence, but you were unconscious the entire time. Recently, I heard that your injuries had gotten much better, so we were planning to pay you a visit. I didn't think that we'd run into you here!"
As an important general of the empire, Gao Xianzhi had always presented himself as dignified and dignified. It was only in front of Wang Chong, the youngest marquis of the Tang dynasty, that Gao Xianzhi would show this amiable and approachable side.
But Wang Chong had no time to reminisce with these two.
"Lord Gao, General Cheng, what's going on here? Why aren't you at the Anxi garrison, but in the capital? "
Wang Chong said to the duo.
"Buzz!"
At Wang Chong's words, the smiles on their faces instantly vanished, their expressions turning grim.
"This … Wang Chong, I won't hide it from you. In truth, I'm no longer a Protector-General. The Imperial Court stripped me of my military authority, and the Anxi Protectorate is currently under the control of the Confucian Sect Army Supervisors."
After a few moments of silence, Gao Xianzhi finally revealed the truth. Cheng Qianli also fell silent.
Boom!
Wang Chong's eyes went wide at Gao Xianzhi's words, a look of disbelief on his face.
"Actually, we're not the only ones who've been summoned back. Almost all of the generals and commanders at the borders have been summoned back. The military's situation is already hopeless."
The military has lost its momentum, "Cheng Qianli sternly said, his expression extremely gloomy.
Wang Chong said nothing, but his chest was heavy and he felt like he was suffocating.
"Your Highness, the Confucian Sect has gained power in the court, and the entire empire is under their control. We've already lost the capital to contend against them."
Cheng Qianli sorrowfully said.
As a general who had spent his entire life on the battlefield, he would have never been willing to accept such an outcome. But now, the First Prince was regent and had formed a massive alliance with the Confucian Sect. This faction had taken control of the Imperial Court, and no other faction could stop it.
Wang Chong felt like his heart was being stabbed by a needle. Although the two of them had only touched on the matter and had not said too much, how could Wang Chong not know what they were feeling?
The Anxi they had fought for for more than half their lives had been occupied by a sparrow. One could easily imagine what they were feeling.
"Let's go! It's rare for us to run into each other today. Let's go drink until we're drunk!"
Gao Xianzhi put his arm around Wang Chong's shoulder, and the three of them headed for the nearest restaurant.
This gathering lasted from noon to night, and Wang Chong did not return home until very late at night.
Days passed, and in these last few days, Wang Chong was finally able to connect to the information he had neglected while he was unconscious.
At the same time, the latest news from the border was also being sent to the Wang Clan Residence.
Flapflap!
In a short period of time, messenger pigeons flew into the Wang Family's mansion from all directions, bringing news from the borders.
"Ouzan has obtained the latest news. The Tsenpo is recruiting an army at Bariba Canyon and is secretly training them. Based on what we can see, this army has reached six hundred thousand, and not only has it not decreased, it has even increased. Your Highness, please make a wise decision! "
"On the seventeenth, the new Emperor of Mengshe Zhao, Fengjiayi, is gathering the Manchus of the south and training wild elephants on a large scale, preparing to rebuild the army. Based on the information we have obtained, Mengshe Zhao has more than fifty thousand elephants, ten times the size of the original White Elephant Corps. Your Highness, please make a clear decision! "
"On the fifteenth, our scouts reported that the northeast patrol disguised themselves as Goguryeons had successfully infiltrated eleven southern cities of Goguryeo. After paying the lives of ten scouts, we finally obtained news that Yeon Gaesomun is on a large scale on the southern coast, building warships and training sailors. He has gathered more than four hundred thousand sailors and is preparing to attack the Tang Dynasty on the waterways.
"On the nineteenth, there has been no fighting on the northern border for several months, but just a few days ago, one of our logistics units was ambushed by an unknown force. Two thousand civilians were killed, and one thousand escorting cavalry were ambushed and completely wiped out. All the supplies, weapons, and provisions have been plundered, and their whereabouts are unknown. Although there is no clear evidence, we can basically confirm that the target is the Western Turkic Khaganate. Based on the information we have gathered, the various Hu have begun to change their tactics, moving from the open to the dark and continuing to pose an enormous threat to us!
"All the border armies have been ordered by the Army Supervisor to strictly forbid the investigation of such looting and disappearances. The soldiers are becoming increasingly dissatisfied."
… …
One piece of information after another was delivered to Wang Chong, each one stabbing at Wang Chong's heart. He was getting more and more worried. The entire Tang Dynasty was beset with danger, but no one seemed to notice.
Although Wang Chong had gathered a great deal of information, the Imperial Court was currently under the control of the First Prince and Li Junxian, and it would not listen to any of his suggestions.
No matter what, I can't let this continue!
Wang Chong quietly said to himself. He made up his mind.
But at this moment, another matter completely disrupted Wang Chong's plans.
"Chong-er, your mother has something to discuss with you."
Three days later, Wang Chong's mother, Madam Wang, suddenly appeared in Wang Chong's room, her expression solemn and her eyes unprecedentedly serious.
"You're no longer young. Based on the customs of the noble children of the capital, you should be able to marry and have children at your age. You were unconscious for seven days, and your mother was truly afraid. Your mother has thought for a long time, and it's about time for you to start a family.
"Your mother saw that you and Miss Xu were in love, and that she was the one who took care of you day and night while you were unconscious. While you were unconscious, she became much thinner. Of all the girls in the capital, your mother likes this child the most.
"Thus, while you were unconscious, your mother made a decision. It would have been fine if you remained unconscious, but if you could wake up, I would have this child become my Wang Clan's daughter-in-law."
"What?!"
Wang Chong was flabbergasted by his mother's words. He had never expected such a thing.
"What, you're still not willing?"
Madam Wang grimaced, her voice instantly tinged with displeasure.
"This … your child doesn't dare."
Wang Chong hurriedly lowered his head. Ever since he was young, he had been extremely respectful to his mother, so he would never dare to say half a word of disobedience in front of her. Only then did Madam Wang's eyes ease.
"Thus, after you woke up, your mother personally went to the Xu Residence. The head of the Xu Clan has already agreed, and Miss Xu has also given her approval. This child probably loves you to the extreme.
"The eighth day of this month is an auspicious day for weddings. Your mother has already invited a famous matchmaker in the capital and prepared a grand gift. You can get married on that day. This way, your mother can also hold a grandson a little earlier. Your mother doesn't want to live in fear anymore. "
Madam Wang sternly said.
Wang Chong stood there in a daze, unable to come back to his senses for a long time. This matter was far too unexpected. Wang Chong had never imagined that his mother would mention this matter to him at a time like this. Moreover, he was still young and could still struggle for a few more years.
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