The current Zhang Shougui was no longer the same as before, and Wang Jiuling had long ago withdrawn from the position of Prime Minister and the Imperial Court. He was no longer that lofty 'Bright Minister' of the Tang Dynasty, second only to one and above all.
In terms of authority and status, Zhang Shougui was no longer inferior to Wang Jiuling. At the very least, he no longer needed to look up to him.
But even so, Zhang Shougui did not dare to be careless.
"Hmph, Zhang Jiuling, I'm not making things difficult for your grandson. It's your Wang Clan that has repaid kindness with enmity and made an enemy of me. See for yourself what he's done. Your good grandson took advantage of my absence to attack my subordinates. You're also a soldier, so you should know what the consequences are for taking people to attack active soldiers, right? "
Zhang Shougui coldly said.
Although his expression was cold, there was a tinge of fear in his expression, completely different from how he treated his old butler.
This was not just because Wang Jiuling was unwilling to retreat. Although he had resigned from the position of Prime Minister, he had still been invited into the Four Quarters Embassy by the Holy Emperor, so he still possessed enormous influence in the court. It was also because Zhang Shougui knew that Wang Jiuling was an extremely powerful scholar.
Wang Jiuling was not famed for his literary prowess, but his cultivation on the literary path had been acknowledged by the literary world several decades ago.
If not for the fact that Wang Jiuling's ambitions lay elsewhere, he might have already become the leader of the literary path.
Wang Jiuling was getting older, and the wounds he had sustained on the battlefield had caused his cultivation on the martial path to decline by the day. He was no longer as formidable as he had been in the past.
But his cultivation in the literary path would definitely not be affected by this kind of thing. On the contrary, as he grew older, his Psychic Energy would only get stronger and stronger, and his attainments on the literary path would be even higher than his attainments on the martial path.
Back when he was still the 'Bright Minister of the Tang Dynasty' and presiding over the court, Wang Jiuling's Psychic Energy had already reached a terrifying level.
After so many years, not even Zhang Shougui knew what level his cultivation had reached.
Those on the literary path were skilled in mental attacks that could pierce through Stellar Energy to attack the soul. This was completely different from the martial path. In front of the leader of the literary path, not even the strongest martial artist dared to be careless.
Wang Jiuling was in the Four Quarters Embassy, but he could still sense what was going on. Moreover, his thoughts were transmitted to everyone's minds.
One could well imagine his strength.
"Although I don't know what's going on. However, I will give you an explanation for this matter sooner or later! "
That old voice was mellow and heavy, resounding in everyone's mind once again.
"Grandfather!"
On the other side, Wang Chong was sitting on the ground with his eyes narrowed. But at this moment, his eyes widened. If the first time was an illusion, then at this moment, Wang Chong was sure that the voice belonged to his grandfather.
"I didn't think that even Grandpa would come.
Wang Chong's heart was in turmoil, but he soon calmed down.
He had mobilized all of the Wang Family's guards in the capital, as well as the forces that were on good terms with the Wang Family. Even Elder Ye and Elder Zhao had come. It would be strange if his grandfather didn't know about it.
"Hmph, Wang Jiuling, I'll wait for your explanation!"
On the other side, Zhang Shougui was not thinking so much. Wang Jiuling had already appeared, and with the addition of The King of Song, someone of Zhang Shougui's status would not be able to intervene.
"Let's go!"
With a cold face, Zhang Shougui turned and left with a wave of his sleeve.
Behind him, although the Youzhou soldiers were unwilling, they could only follow.
"Wait a moment!"
Just when Zhang Shougui was about to leave, a voice came from behind him. This voice stunned not only Zhang Shougui, but also Bai Siling, Zhao Yatong, Xu Gan, Marchioness Yi, and Huang Qian-er.
Because all of them could tell that this was Wang Chong's voice.
"What does he want to do?"
Everyone was dumbfounded. No one knew what Wang Chong was thinking. From start to finish, Wang Chong had never given a reason for his actions.
Wang Chong was not an impulsive person. At the very least, in the majority of their interactions with Wang Chong, he had always been a rational person.
Thus, his sudden impulsiveness was even more perplexing.
"Lord Zhang, please wait!"
Wang Chong pushed himself up with his right palm and stood up. Step by step, he began to walk toward Zhang Shougui.
The rain was already beginning to lessen, no longer as heavy as before. But there were still pearls falling.
"Brat, what do you want to do?"
Zhang Shougui turned his head and stared at Wang Chong, his eyes dark and unkind.
The courtyard was quiet, the mood rather tense. No one knew what Wang Chong wanted to do at a time like this. The timing was far too sensitive.
Wang Chong said nothing, but when he was still several zhang from Zhang Shougui, he stopped and gave a deep bow.
"There is something that Wang Chong never had the chance to say. Lord Protector-General, many thanks for your assistance in the Regional Commanders incident and when Wang Chong was imprisoned! "
As soon as he finished speaking, the entire place fell into dead silence.
Zhang Shougui stared at Wang Chong, his eyes flickering. But in the end, he sneered.
"Hmph, I thought that you'd forgotten."
Zhang Shougui coldly said, his voice brimming with derision.
He naturally knew what Wang Chong was talking about. When Fomonlința, Gao Xianzhi, and Geshu Han appealed to the Imperial Court to have Wang Chong executed, it was he and Zhangchou Jianqiong who had led the charge to support Wang Chong.
Zhang Shougui was the mighty Andong Protector-General, and in both seniority and status, he was more than a single level above Wang Chong. He naturally couldn't bring up this matter of his own volition.
If Wang Chong didn't bring it up, he would never do so for the rest of his life.
But it was precisely because he had helped Wang Chong that Zhang Shougui had become even more enraged when he realized that the one who had attacked him was Wang Chong.
Saying that the Wang Clan 'returned kindness with enmity' was no joke!
"No matter what Lord Protector-General's reasoning was, no matter how dissatisfied Lord Protector-General was with me, kindness is kindness. I owe Lord Protector-General a favor. In the future, I will definitely return this favor. However, this is not my true reason for calling out to Lord Protector-General. "
As Wang Chong spoke, he slowly straightened his body, his expression neither servile nor overbearing. Even after the battle, even after experiencing so many things, even after almost dying at Zhang Shougui's hands, Wang Chong remained as calm and composed as ever. Even before Zhang Shougui, the Andong Protector-General, he showed no fear.
Zhang Shougui's eyes swirled as he examined Wang Chong. Finally, there was a slight change in his expression.
"Just what do you want to say?"
Zhang Shougui sternly said.
In the Youzhou Protectorate headquarters, he had long ago obtained an investigation report on this youth. Although he had clashed with Wang Chong, and it had even been extremely unpleasant, Zhang Shougui would not underestimate Wang Chong too much.
"I only want to say that Ming Emperor has an insightful heart. Although the capital is far, it is a clear example everywhere. Lord Protector-General resides in Youzhou, and as a subject, it is best for you to have a more respectful heart! "
Wang Chong said profoundly.
"Buzz!"
Zhang Shougui's body trembled at these words, and his face instantly paled. Even Ashina? Not even when Sugan was killed had he shown this sort of reaction.
"In addition, I hope that Lord Protector-General will be more careful of the people at your side! Sometimes, your true enmity is not necessarily with those standing in front of you, but with those standing at your side! "
Wang Chong said. As he spoke, Wang Chong's gaze fell upon An Yaluoshan, a profound look in his eyes.
Zhang Shougui looked at Wang Chong with a strange gaze, but he quickly regained his composure.
"Hmph, there's no need for you to say these words. It would be more appropriate if it were your grandfather."
Zhang Shougui coldly sneered.
Wang Chong only faintly smiled, declining to comment. As he watched Zhang Shougui and his Youzhou soldiers vanish beyond the crumbling walls, Wang Chong's expression did not change in the slightest.
Whether or not Zhang Shougui listened, Wang Chong had already done all he could for Zhang Shougui.
Zhang Shougui was not a bad person. Even though he had clashed with Zhang Shougui, even though he had almost died at Zhang Shougui's hands, Wang Chong did not hide this fact.
But there was a major problem with his personality.
Zhang Shougui was too proud! At the same time, he was too conceited!
His decades in the military, his age of sixty, and his belief that he would be the future Prime Minister of the empire had made Zhang Shougui look down on everyone and extremely conceited.
He was so conceited that he would not listen to any advice, and besides the Holy Emperor, he would ignore all rules.
No! It was not just the Emperor. In truth, in Youzhou, Zhang Shougui's arrogance had reached a point where he even dared to fool the Holy Emperor.
In the future, he would be framed by An Yaluoshan and lose his position as Protector-General. One reason was because he had been careless and unprepared. The other reason was also because of his personality.
If not for his arrogance and conceit, even if An Yaluoshan wanted to frame him, An Yaluoshan might not have succeeded.
As for how An Yaluoshan had managed to successfully frame Zhang Shougui in such a short time, not even Wang Chong was very clear about this.
There were far too many riddles and doubtful points in the events of the past. Even Wang Chong had gone too far.
Although An Yaluoshan had managed to become Zhang Shougui's adopted son, in Wang Chong's view, this adopted son was probably just an empty title. His true status in the Andong Army was not very good. How had he managed to replace Zhang Shougui and take control of the Youzhou Army in just two short years? Even many of his seniors from back then found it incomprehensible.
Moreover, Zhang Shougui was a legendary figure of the empire, a titan of the army. His strength could be seen from today's events. Just the tip of the iceberg was enough to suppress all of them.
But after the Holy Emperor stripped him of his military authority, Zhang Shougui 'died of depression' less than a year later.
Died of depression?
What did this mean? This sort of supreme expert, who could destroy the heavens with a snap of his fingers, would also die of depression? This was simply a joke.
At the very least, in Wang Chong's view, this sort of thing was unacceptable, completely absurd.
But Zhang Shougui's death was an undeniable fact.
Far too many inexplicable things had occurred around that calamity.
Some of these things could be changed by human strength. And some things … could not be changed by human strength.
Whether one liked Zhang Shougui or not, there was one thing that everyone had to admit:
Zhang Shougui's death was a massive loss to the empire! It was precisely because of his death that the rebel army of Youzhou had completely lost control.
"Hualala!"
The clattering of hooves against the rain came from the distance. Upon hearing this sound, Wang Chong's shoulders swayed, but his eyes quickly cleared.
This was the sound of the Imperial Army!
All the scions of the great clans living in the capital were extremely familiar with this sort of sound.
There was no doubt that the battle was over, and his uncle had arrived with his men. The Imperial Army was responsible for guarding the capital, and there were some things that not even his uncle could stop.
"Let's go as well!"
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