"Hehe, it's fine."
Waving his hands, Zhangchou Jianqiong suddenly burst into laughter and stopped Wang Gen.
"So Wang gongzi is interested in military affairs as well. But then again, how could the younger brother of a general not be interested? It'll only benefit him in the future. "
As expected of a Protector-General, Zhangchou Jianqiong managed to resolve the awkwardness with a wave of his hand.
"Hehehe, that's right, that's right! I've interacted with Wang gongzi a few times, and he is indeed interested in military affairs. It's rare for me to meet Lord Zhangchou here, so I knew that he wouldn't let this opportunity slip by. Hahaha! "
Yang Zhao reacted swiftly and tried to mediate the situation.
Upon hearing Zhangchou Jianqiong's words and Yang Zhao's agreement, the atmosphere in the banquet eased up once more. The generals of the Annan Protectorate who had been rather dissatisfied with Wang Chong nodded, accepting this explanation.
Wang Chong's father, Wang Yan, and his elder brother, Wang Fu, were both commanders in the military, so it was only natural for them to be interested in military affairs.
As one of the few Protector-Generals of the empire, it was only natural for Lord Zhangchou to seek his guidance.
"Hehe, Wang gongzi has lived in the capital for a long time, so it's normal for you to be unfamiliar with military affairs. Ouzan is located on a plateau, and the journey south to Jiannan is long and treacherous, so it won't be easy. Furthermore, Ouzan has never been to the mainland before, so they aren't familiar with the terrain. Unless someone guides them, it's impossible for them to gain anything.
"However, the Ouzan people have a red face, which is completely different from us Tang people. Any spy would be able to tell with a glance. Furthermore, the Ouzan people who enter Jiannan are under strict surveillance. Other than the Tea Horse Road, the other cities on the mainland are strictly forbidden from entering. Besides, Ouzan is a sparsely populated place, so it's difficult for news to spread. To put it bluntly, only you and I know that we have entered the capital, but the Ouzan people... might not know about it. "
Zhangchou Jianqiong stretched out a finger and wagged it at Wang Chong with a smile.
Roar!
The commanders around him burst into laughter. As the elite generals of Annan, they knew the Ouzan people better than anyone else.
Wang Chong didn't say anything. His brows furrowed even more, and the worry in his heart deepened.
"Of course, we are not hoping for the enemy to make a mistake. I have managed the Annan Protectorate Manor for more than ten years, and it has long since become an impregnable fortress. Moreover, all the rules and regulations have been fully restored. Even if I am not there, it can still operate normally. Moreover … there are still the 180,000 elite soldiers that I have painstakingly trained. Even if the people of Ouzan come south, what is there to be afraid of? "
Zhangchou Jianqiong harrumphed coldly. His eyes were filled with disdain, and his expression was one of unparalleled arrogance. As the Southern Protector-General, one of the few top-notch commanders of the empire, it was impossible for him to reach this position without some ability.
Southern Border had not been at war for more than ten years, it was not because of geography, and even more not because of luck. It was strength. There were no weak soldiers under a strong general, and he, Zhangchou Jianqiong, had no weak soldiers under him!
The 180,000 elite soldiers were the greatest guarantee of the empire's southern border!
"To think that even Zhangchou Jianqiong would be the same!"
Hearing Zhangchou Jianqiong's words, Wang Chong felt an indescribable feeling in his heart. There was no doubt that Zhangchou Jianqiong was a qualified commander.
Jiannan wasn't as peaceful as it had been all along. The peace that he had enjoyed over the past decade wasn't a coincidence, but the result of Zhangchou Jianqiong's meticulous training.
With a complete system, a large army, and countless experienced commanders, Zhangchou Jianqiong was no ordinary commander.
He was definitely qualified to be a commander.
But not even Zhangchou Jianqiong could have imagined that the calamity of the southwest and the northwest would start from the Annan Protectorate Manor that he had suppressed.
All 180,000 elites would perish in battle!
Zhangchou Jianqiong's Annan Protectorate Manor would become the first protectorate in the history of the empire to be disbanded due to a crushing defeat!
"Life comes from hardship, and death comes from ease. Even the Annan Protector-General, Zhangchou Jianqiong, harbored such a careless mentality, let alone Xianyu Zhongtong, who had been influenced by him. I was intending to keep Zhangchou Jianqiong in Jiannan, but from the looks of it now, even if he were to remain there, it would still be unavoidable! "
Wang Chong's heart was agitated, and an indescribable sorrow welled up in him.
When Zhangchou Jianqiong said these words, there was a hint of pride in his voice. Wang Chong could sense that Zhangchou Jianqiong was extremely confident in his plans in Annan.
But it was precisely because of this that Wang Chong felt an inexplicable sense of sorrow.
That tragedy in the southwest … Wang Chong had always thought that it was just a coincidence that could be easily changed. But it was only now that Wang Chong realized something.
Regardless of whether it was Zhangchou Jianqiong or Xianyu Zhongtong … no matter who was in power, this tragedy was unavoidable.
The Tang dynasty had been peaceful for too long, and their arrogance had not only seeped into the royal court, but also into the military.
"Lord, have you ever thought about what would happen if Ouzan and Mengshe Zhao were to work together?"
Wang Chong suddenly asked.
As soon as those words were spoken, the proud and smiling Zhangchou Jianqiong's face abruptly warped. The entire room fell silent, to the point that one could hear a pin drop.
The generals of Annan glared at Wang Chong with rage in their eyes.
Wang Chong's words might have been a joke to him, but to the generals of Annan, there were countless comrades and even their families and children there. It was the place where they belonged for the rest of their lives.
Wang Chong's joke wasn't funny at all.
"Isn't Wang gongzi going a little overboard?"
The middle-aged scholar beside Zhangchou Jianqiong stroked his mustache and said.
"Hehe, Wang gongzi, it's fine if you don't go overboard. Let's eat! Let's eat! "
Yang Zhao hurriedly tried to mediate the situation.
He was perplexed. This sworn brother of his had always been a playboy with an outstanding disposition. But for some reason, he felt as though he had turned into a completely different person, asking about such sensitive matters.
He was intending to matchmake Zhangchou Jianqiong with the Wang Clan, a clan of ministers and generals in the capital. However, if this were to continue, the banquet might not be able to proceed any further, and everyone ended up parting on bad terms.
"Mengshe Zhao has just swept through Erhai and conquered the other five Zhao Kingdoms. King Geluofeng is in high spirits and is at the peak of his ambitions. I heard that the Great Tang's decree, Mengshe Zhao, is about to launch an attack. On the other hand, Ouzan is currently building up his army, training a large number of cavalrymen, and purchasing steel. He has already amassed a force of 300,000 cavalrymen. "
"Building up his army and expanding his army? If he doesn't have any ulterior motives, why would he do so? Annan is situated in the crevice between Ouzan and Mengshe Zhao, and both sides are countries of tigers and wolves. If the two sides were to ally with one another, have you thought about what will happen to Annan? "
Wang Chong stared at the other party and asked.
Even before the renowned Protector-General of Annan, Wang Chong didn't back down in the slightest. Annan's affairs concerned the lives of 180,000 elites and countless civilians. Even if he were to risk incurring Zhangchou Jianqiong's wrath, there were some things that he had to say and do.
In the current Annan Protectorate Manor, from the Protector-General Zhangchou Jianqiong to the ordinary soldiers, no one had the slightest awareness of danger.
At this moment, there had to be a person, a voice, to warn them. Otherwise, if tragedy were to befall them, it would be too late.
Wang Chong was glad that he had met Yang Zhao on the streets outside the Bluebottle Pavilion. It was also because of Yang Zhao that he had obtained this opportunity.
The reason why he had rushed to this banquet instead of cultivating on the spirit vein wasn't to curry favor with Protector-General Zhangchou Jianqiong, nor was it to rope in the generals of Annan. Rather, it was for this opportunity, an opportunity to speak before the generals of Annan.
Even if he were to incur Zhangchou Jianqiong's hatred, it didn't matter to him.
"Chong-er!"
Wang Gen glanced at his nephew, and a hint of worry flashed across his eyes. Before this banquet, he did warn Wang Chong not to get too close to them, lest he brought trouble upon himself.
But now, Wang Chong was standing on the opposite side of Zhangchou Jianqiong.
Wang Gen wasn't worried about Zhangchou Jianqiong. After all, he had come from a clan of generals and ministers for several generations. Even if Zhangchou Jianqiong had some grudges against him, he wouldn't be able to do anything to the Wang Clan.
What Wang Gen was worried about was Wang Chong. He could sense that there was something amiss with Wang Chong at the moment.
"Brat, what nonsense are you spouting?"
"Is this how you speak to an adult?"
"Don't think that you're Duke Jiu's descendant. Don't go overboard!"
…
At the banquet, the generals of the Annan Protectorate Manor couldn't hold themselves back any longer. Their faces darkened, and they looked incredibly awful. It should have been a joyous occasion for the Protector-General to invite them to a banquet out of goodwill.
Yet, this young master of the Wang Clan didn't know what was good for him.
It was one thing for him to say that Ouzan would launch an attack at any time, but now, he was saying that Ouzan and Mengshe Zhao would work together to attack the Annan Protectorate Manor. This was too much.
Were they thinking that the Annan Protectorate Manor was too peaceful?
"Lord Wang, we respect you as an influential official of the royal court, but what do you mean by this? Are you trying to humiliate Lord Wang?"
Wang Chong was too young, and it wasn't appropriate for them to get angry with him. Thus, many of them vented their frustrations on Wang Gen.
Those who didn't know what was going on might even think that it was Wang Gen's doing.
"Shut your mouths!"
At that moment, Zhangchou Jianqiong's expression turned cold. He raised a few fingers and shouted at his subordinates to stop. As the Annan Protector-General, he couldn't possibly be so magnanimous and magnanimous.
Contrary to everyone's expectations, not only did Zhangchou Jianqiong not get angry, he even had a contemplative look on his face.
Initially, Zhangchou Jianqiong thought that the lad before him was intentionally making a fuss. But when he heard the latter half of Wang Chong's words, he didn't get angry at all.
Because what Wang Chong said was the truth.
His spies had just received intelligence that the Seventh Emperor of the Ouzan Empire was currently training his troops by the Qinghai Lake, recruiting the herdsmen and training the cavalry.
On the other hand, Mengshe Zhao's Gelofeng was indeed growing more and more arrogant and disrespectful toward the Tang dynasty. This was something he could sense more clearly than anyone else.
Mengshe Zhao was a vassal state of the Tang dynasty. In the past, Gelofeng still had some respect for him. But now, there were many orders that even he couldn't carry out anymore.
He was only pretending to obey them!
The latest news he received was that Gelofeng had just dismissed the prime minister and other officials who were close to the Tang dynasty in Mengshe Zhao, and he had recently promoted a few youths and warmongers from Mengshe Zhao.
This wasn't good news for the Annan Protectorate Manor.
It was clear that Mengshe Zhao and the Ouzan Empire were disloyal to the Tang dynasty. However, it just so happened that Zhangchou Jianqiong wanted to enter the Bureau of Military Personnel, and he wanted to leave this matter to his successor.
Yet, he didn't expect a fifteen-year-old lad from the Wang Clan to expose this matter before him.
Has the Wang Clan's intelligence network reached such a level?
In that instant, Zhangchou Jianqiong shot a deep glance at Wang Chong as countless thoughts flashed across his mind. A moment later, Zhangchou Jianqiong's gaze fell on Wang Gen, who was standing beside Wang Chong.
In his heart, Zhangchou Jianqiong still found it hard to believe that the words he had just spoken were the idea of a young lad like Wang Chong. In the depths of his heart, Zhangchou Jianqiong was more willing to believe that it was Wang Gen's idea.
Wang Gen's silence further confirmed his conjecture.
Wang Gen is an influential official of the royal court, and he has the right to enter the royal palace to meet with the emperor. For him to say those words through the mouth of his nephew, it can't be without reason. Could it be that this is the will of the Holy Emperor?
Zhangchou Jianqiong thought.
What he didn't know was that he had guessed wrongly. All of this was Wang Chong's own idea. Wang Gen's trust in this nephew of his had reached a level that made one's hair stand on end.
It wasn't just him; The King of Song was the same as well.
Thus, even though he didn't know why Wang Chong would do such a thing, once Wang Chong did something, neither Wang Gen nor The King of Song would stop him.
Because they knew that this child would never do something without a motive.
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