Zhangchou Jianqiong had entered the capital in a low-profile manner. It was only when Wang Chong received the news that the influential Andong Protector-General had stealthily entered the capital.
It was clear that Zhangchou Jianqiong was determined to succeed in this trip to the capital.
"Let's enter."
Wang Chong beckoned before stepping into the Ten Sun Tavern. The crimson Persian carpet was embroidered with images of blazing lava, and the two sides of the carpet were adorned with golden carvings. It wasn't gold, but real gold.
In this Goguryeon tavern, one could see inlaid gems, agates, and luxurious wooden furniture made from ancient wood that was at least a thousand years old.
Black crystals could be seen all around the tavern.
This Goguryeon Ten Sun Tavern was truly extravagant. But of course, the cost of living was also ridiculously high.
Even the Vast Crane Pavilion that the Yao Clan privately operated paled in comparison to this tavern, not even worth a mention.
Unless one was a wealthy merchant or tycoon, it was impossible for them to afford such a price.
However, Zhangchou Jianqiong didn't lack money. Not only did the Andong Protector-General receive a generous stipend, more importantly, Wang Chong knew that the other party wasn't one to restrain himself.
Over the years of guarding Annan, Zhangchou Jianqiong had earned quite a sum of money from the Six Zhao of Erhai.
However, Wang Chong didn't mind it at all. Zhangchou Jianqiong's hands were extremely clean. Even though he was vicious to outsiders, he had never extended his hands to internal affairs. He would only take what he should and not take what he shouldn't.
Even so, the royal court and the commoners turned a blind eye to the Andong Protector-General's actions.
In the Ten Sun Tavern, a figure was already waiting at the entrance of the staircase. He was dressed in a grayish-black casual robe with wide sleeves and a golden-red belt tied around his waist. He exuded a dignified aura.
"Chong-er, you're here."
Upon seeing Wang Chong, Wang Chong's big uncle's eyebrows relaxed and he beckoned him over.
"Big uncle."
With a faint smile, Wang Chong hurried forward to meet him. After not seeing him for a period of time, his eldest uncle's complexion was rosy, and he looked even more spirited and dignified than before.
After surviving several crises for the family, Wang Chong knew that his uncle was now riding the crest of success in the imperial court. Although his rank had not risen, his authority and status had increased significantly. That golden-red belt was a gift from the Holy Emperor.
Consort Tai Zhen incident and the regional commanders incident had raised the prestige of the Wang Clan significantly. Wang Chong was not a member of the imperial court, so it was impossible for him to benefit from it. Therefore, the biggest beneficiary of this matter was Wang Chong's uncle.
The Wang Clan was of the same root, and they were bound together for good or ill. Although he wasn't the one who benefited, Wang Chong was still genuinely happy.
Now that grandfather has retired, big uncle has become the Wang Clan's protective umbrella in the royal court. Wang Chong couldn't participate in the court's politics, so he could only help his uncle in this way.
"You must have waited for a long time."
Wang Chong walked over with a friendly look on his face.
"Hehe, it's alright. I've only been here for a while."
Upon seeing Wang Chong walk over, Wang Gen's stern gaze softened significantly. With a smile, he looked at Wang Chong with the concern and doting of an elder looking at a junior.
This kind of closeness was unimaginable to him in his previous life. This was what Wang Chong was most proud of, and what he was most proud of.
Wang Chong very much enjoyed this sort of harmonious relationship between a junior and a senior that was devoid of scheming.
"You should have received Zhangchou Jianqiong's invitation, right?"
Wang Gen looked at Wang Chong and said with his hands behind his back.
"Un, I'm surprised. To think that the Southern Protector-General would invite me over. "
There was no need for Wang Chong to hide anything from his big uncle. Wang Chong was indeed surprised to receive Zhangchou Jianqiong's invitation. Zhangchou Jianqiong was the revered Southern Protector-General, an existence on the same level as Fomonlința, Gao Xianzhi, Geshu Han, and Wang Shougui. He was a colossal crocodile in the empire's military.
On the other hand, Wang Chong … was a nameless nobody. He didn't even hold a single official position. Even a squad leader in the military had a higher rank than him.
The difference in their statuses was like the distance between heaven and earth. One was in the sky while the other was on the ground. That was why Wang Chong found it strange.
"Heh, there's no need for you to belittle me. Zhangchou Jianqiong's trip to the capital this time around has contributed greatly. Besides, hmph, as a descendant of the Wang Clan, who would dare to look down on you? "
Wang Gen harrumphed coldly. There was an intimidating aura in his eyes. Wang Chong was currently the Qilin son of the Wang Clan, the most outstanding, promising, and promising disciple of the Wang Clan's younger generation.
Anyone who dared to look down on Wang Chong would be looking down on the entire Wang Clan!
"Hehe."
Wang Chong chuckled as he felt warmth in his heart. Even though big uncle didn't say it directly, Wang Chong could still sense the protective tone in his words.
"Right, big uncle, is little uncle not here?"
Wang Chong asked.
Since Zhangchou Jianqiong was intending to rope in the Wang Clan, there was no reason for him to let little uncle off. After all, even though little uncle wasn't in the capital, he wasn't too far away from here.
"I told him not to come."
Wang Gen replied.
"Ah!"
Wang Chong looked at his big uncle in surprise.
"It's not appropriate for our Wang Clan to get involved too deeply. The two of us are more than enough. There's no need for little uncle to enter, "Wang Gen said seriously.
Wang Gen sternly said as he stared deeply at Wang Chong.
"Big uncle, please enlighten me."
Understanding, Wang Chong put away his smile and sternly bowed to ask for guidance. Clearly, his big uncle wasn't waiting for him just to catch up with his nephew but to teach him.
Even though Wang Chong had two lifetimes of experience under his belt, he would never underestimate his big uncle, nor would he think too highly of himself.
His big uncle had spent his entire life dealing with politics, and in this aspect, he was far more experienced than Wang Chong.
"Zhangchou Jianqiong is a man of great ambition and resolution. We can't afford to offend such a person, but there's no way he will side with us just because we helped him. A person like him will never side with any faction. He is a faction on his own, "Wang Chong's big uncle said.
Wang Chong's big uncle said. An invisible ripple shrouded the surroundings, shrouding the conversation between Wang Chong and Wang Gen.
Wang Chong was taken aback. He knew the course of history, so he knew that Zhangchou Jianqiong was indeed a man of great ambition. His desire for power was boundless, and it was impossible for him to side with any faction.
But big uncle …
Wang Chong recalled that not too long ago, his big uncle had sought him out for guidance due to his lack of understanding of Zhangchou Jianqiong. But now, with his decades of experience in the royal court and politics, he was actually able to accurately grasp Zhangchou Jianqiong's personality.
Through this, he was able to deduce how to treat Zhangchou Jianqiong and dissuade his little uncle from doing so.
In that life, Wang Chong only remembered his big uncle's harsh, inflexible, strict, and unreasonable attitude toward him. He also remembered that his big uncle's misjudgment had caused the Wang Clan to fall into an abyss of despair.
But this time, Wang Chong had a deep impression of his big uncle.
"I understand."
Wang Chong said.
"Un. During the banquet later, you mustn't offend Zhangchou Jianqiong, but you mustn't get too close to him either. Zhangchou Jianqiong is different from Yang Zhao. Yang Zhao might not understand this, but Zhangchou Jianqiong does. So, you must treat him differently. "
Wang Gen said solemnly.
He had high hopes for this nephew of his, and he didn't wish for anything to happen to him before he stepped into the political arena. This was especially so for a Protector-General like Zhangchou Jianqiong.
"Big uncle has met Zhangchou Jianqiong?"
Wang Chong suddenly asked, not answering the question.
"Un."
Wang Gen was surprised, but he quickly nodded. "I saw him from afar in the tavern when he entered the city."
Wang Chong nodded. There were some things that didn't need to be explained too clearly. At this point, Wang Gen already understood the situation.
Zhangchou Jianqiong was still waiting inside, so it wasn't wise for the two of them to stay outside for too long. Understanding his big uncle's intentions, Wang Chong knew what he had to do.
After chatting for a moment, the two of them walked up the stairs.
Even though the streets of the Goguryeons were cold and deserted, the Ten Sun Tavern was bustling with activity.
The first thing Wang Chong saw was a group of black-armored generals on the second floor, drinking and playing rock-paper-scissors merrily.
They should be the generals that Zhangchou Jianqiong brought over from Annan.
Wang Chong thought.
These generals were slightly different from those in the north, and they carried the unique traits of the people from Jiannan. Since Zhangchou Jianqiong had decided to enter the capital, it was impossible for him to be alone. At the very least, he could trust some trustworthy generals.
Other than the generals that Zhangchou Jianqiong had brought over from Jiannan, there were also many Goguryeon men and women on the second floor. Upon seeing Wang Chong's group, they immediately turned to look at them hatefully.
"Hmph!"
Wang Chong harrumphed coldly before heading up to the third floor together with Big Uncle Wang Gen.
"Hahaha, Jiexin, you're here! — — "
Before he could reach the third floor, a loud laugh rang out, and he was one step ahead of him, taking the initiative to climb up the stairs. Even before Wang Chong could see the person, he had already heard the other party's voice.
That person … should be Zhangchou Jianqiong!
Wang Chong thought.
Unlike the second floor, even though the atmosphere on the third floor was lively, it was much quieter. Upon seeing Big Uncle Wang Gen, a muscular man with a powerful aura stood up from the floor.
Wang Chong had never met Zhangchou Jianqiong before, but upon reaching the third floor, Wang Chong could immediately tell who the real Zhangchou Jianqiong was.
On the left side of the hall on the third floor, close to a three-legged Gold Crow sculpture on the wall, a strong bearded man with extremely broad shoulders, a dragon waist and a tiger back stood up from the ground.
It was just a simple movement, but it was as if a mountain had risen from the ground, emitting an aura that seemed capable of shattering the heavens and rending the earth.
In his previous life, Wang Chong wasn't qualified to meet these influential Protector-Generals of the Tang dynasty.
This was the first time he was meeting Zhangchou Jianqiong.
Zhangchou Jianqiong's aura was powerful, far surpassing that of anyone Wang Chong had met so far. More importantly, his aura was as firm as a mountain, carrying with it the unique traits of a soldier.
Anyone who saw him would know at first glance that he was definitely not a general, but a commander!
But what attracted Wang Chong the most was his eyes.
They were a pair of eyes brimming with ambition, and he didn't bother concealing it at all!
Zhangchou Jianqiong!
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