In the war of the southwest, if not for Wang Chong, the Annam Protectorate would have been completely wiped out. The entire Annan Protectorate would have disappeared, and Zhangchou Jianqiong's foundation in the court would have been completely obliterated.
Not only that, when the southwest was occupied by Mengshe – Ü-Tsang, he had been the main person in charge of the southwest. Even though he had already entered the court and become the Minister of War, no longer managing the Annan Protectorate, this enormous responsibility still meant that he would be removed from office and demoted.
It was even possible that he would be implicated and sent to prison.
The occupation of the entire southwest was not something some minor official could handle!
It was not an exaggeration to say that Wang Chong had given him and the Annam Protectorate a new lease of life.
"Young Master, Zhangchou has already prepared a banquet in the residence. Could Young Master accompany us so that Zhangchou can welcome Young Master?"
Zhangchou Jianqiong spoke extremely humbly and courteously.
If they hadn't seen it with their own eyes, they wouldn't have believed that a dignified Minister of War, a first-rank official of the court, would be so humble and respectful to a teenager. But now that they understood Wang Chong's monstrous achievements in the southwest, they didn't think it was too much.
"Okay! Then I'll have to trouble Milord to lead the way! "
Wang Chong smiled, and without the slightest hesitation, he readily agreed. Zhangchou Jianqiong was the Minister of War, and he had personally come out of the city gates to welcome him. His sincerity and etiquette had both reached the pinnacle. No matter what, he should not be refused.
"Siling, Hong Ying, Huang Qian-er, and everyone else, you can return first. I will go with Lord Zhangchou to the Minister's Residence. "
"Yes, Young Master!"
Bai Siling, Zhao Yatong, Huang Qian-er, and the others all nodded.
"If Young Master wishes to go, then go. Then we'll invite you another time. "
Even Guo Feng and Chai Zhiyi moved to the side. The Minister of War of the Tang dynasty was in charge of the mobilization of all the armies in the world. Although he was not the only one who had the final say in the Tang dynasty, he was undoubtedly an individual with real authority.
If the patriarchs of the Guo Family and Chai Family were to appear, they might be able to say a few words, but Guo Feng and Chai Zhiyi were not qualified.
"Chong gongzi, please!"
Standing by the side of the carriage, Zhangchou Jianqiong respectfully opened the carriage door and invited Wang Chong up. Everyone, including Guo Feng and Chai Zhiyi, had looks of envy on their faces.
The ferocious tiger of the Tang dynasty, the Minister of War, waited by the carriage and opened the door for him personally. In the entire capital, among the young generation, perhaps only Wang Chong could receive such treatment.
— — This was a treatment that even many aristocratic families, including nobles, generals, and ministers, could not receive!
Rumble, rumble, rumble! The carriage drove all the way through the city gates, heading in the direction of the Minister of War's residence. Wherever the carriage passed, the people in the capital who had already received the news burst into thunderous cheers.
"Wang Chong! Wang Chong! Wang Chong! "
"Wang Chong! Wang Chong! Wang Chong! "
"Wang Chong! Wang Chong! Wang Chong! "
… …
Not since the beginning of the year had the capital been so lively. Countless people excitedly gathered on the two sides of the street, cheering so loudly that their faces were flushed red. The sound of fireworks and firecrackers reached a crescendo at this moment.
In the history of the Tang dynasty, ever since the War God of the Tang dynasty, Wang Zhongsi, defeated Ouzan in Longxi and conquered the plateau, no one had ever received such a spontaneous and enthusiastic welcome from the people of the capital.
This was completely a welcome for a hero!
"Chong gongzi, after this battle, the Wang Clan will enjoy endless glory and wealth!"
Zhangchou Jianqiong lightly pushed open the window, and seeing the sea of people outside welcoming him, he quickly retracted his gaze.
"I hear that the Bureau of Rites is already discussing your reward, and the Imperial Court is also discussing your reward. Once they reach a conclusion, His Majesty will immediately summon you to the palace and formally reward you. In the war of the southwest, Young Master has rendered a heaven-shaking service. From now on, you are certain to soar, your future limitless! "
As Zhangchou Jianqiong spoke, his expression and voice were extremely respectful, devoid of any jealousy.
At present, Wang Chong didn't even have half an official position, not even a minor one, much less anyone else. But all the nobles and nobles of the capital knew that his future was limitless, based on the contributions he had made in defeating Dalun Ruozan, Huoshu Huicang, and Duan Gequan by spending all his wealth and recruiting his subordinates to defeat Dalun Ruozan in the southwest.
There was even a rumor in the capital that he was the 'Eighth Great General of the Tang dynasty'!
In terms of pure strength, even Zhangchou Jianqiong had to admit that Wang Chong's grasp of the art of war had reached a level where he could stand shoulder to shoulder with the world's top-class Great Generals, perhaps even surpassing them.
To have such accomplishments at seventeen, not even Zhangchou Jianqiong dared to guess what heights he would reach in the future.
This was also the deeper reason why Zhangchou Jianqiong had personally come out to welcome Wang Chong.
But at this moment, Wang Chong had no idea what Zhangchou Jianqiong was thinking.
"Milord is too polite."
Wang Chong returned the bow. Neither arrogant in victory nor dejected in defeat.
The carriage rumbled into the residence of Zhangchou Jianqiong's minister.
The welcoming banquet that Zhangchou Jianqiong had prepared for Wang Chong was extremely grand. There were grapes from the Western Regions, guavas, dates, bananas from Cochin, pineapples, coconuts, sea cucumbers, sea urchins, shark fins from the Goguryeo Empire, giant whales captured from overseas … and all sorts of exotic fruits and delicacies.
In between the wine, there were also beautiful dancers from the Western Regions, Arabia, and Charax Spasinu, adding to the alluring atmosphere.
This welcoming banquet lasted from day to night, with Zhangchou Jianqiong constantly offering toasts, intending to get Wang Chong drunk and stay the night at the Minister of War's residence.
"Young Master Chong, words cannot express my gratitude for the southwest. In the future, if you have any use for me in the capital, just say the word! Even if I have to go through fire and water, I will not hesitate! "
At the height of his intoxication, Zhangchou Jianqiong suddenly raised his bronze cup and sat upright, his expression solemn.
This was the first time since he had entered the capital that Zhangchou Jianqiong had revealed such a solemn and solemn expression.
"Haha, many thanks, Milord. Cheers!"
Wang Chong stared in a daze at Zhangchou Jianqiong, and then he suddenly understood. He raised his cup and clinked it against Zhangchou Jianqiong's cup.
"Congratulations to user for obtaining 'Great General's Appreciation' (1 rank)! You have been awarded 50 points of Destiny Energy! User's potential has been increased by 1. "
A voice suddenly resounded in his mind.
"Mm?"
A hint of surprise flashed through Wang Chong's eyes at the Stone of Destiny's voice. This was the first time he had heard of a reward called 'Great General's Appreciation'.
The number of Great Generals in the world could be counted on one's fingers, and it was not easy to obtain their appreciation.
During the Regional Commanders incident, Zhangchou Jianqiong had submitted a memorial in support of him, but at the time, Wang Chong had not received any Great General's appreciation.
But now, after drinking together at the Minister of War's residence, he had received the Stone of Destiny's notification of 'Great General's Appreciation'.
"Interesting."
Hearing the voice in his mind, a smile crept onto Wang Chong's lips. Given the amount of Destiny Energy he currently had, 50 points of Destiny Energy wasn't much at all. Instead, it was the Stone of Destiny's Appreciation that piqued Wang Chong's interest.
"I wonder what is the use of this' Appreciation '?"
It had been more than a year since Wang Chong had received the Stone of Destiny, but he had never seen such a unique reward before. He had no idea what this' Appreciation 'could be used for.
However, even though he couldn't sense an obvious increase in his strength, Wang Chong could still deduce that this was a reward that indirectly raised his fighting prowess.
By the time Wang Chong left Zhangchou Jianqiong's residence, it was already late. Li Siye was waiting outside the Minister's Residence.
"Gongzi, how is it?"
Upon seeing Wang Chong walk out, Li Siye hurriedly walked up to him with a concerned expression. At the same time, he draped a fox cloak over Wang Chong's shoulders.
"There's no need for that."
Wang Chong chuckled as he pushed aside the fox cloak that Li Siye had draped over his shoulders.
When he first stepped out of the residence, he was still drunk and his steps were unsteady, but with a blink of his eyes, his entire being seemed to have undergone a complete transformation. All the alcohol in his body was transformed into white steam that was forced out of the top of his head.
The current Wang Chong didn't seem the least bit drunk at all.
With the rise in his martial arts, Wang Chong was able to use more and more techniques. Forcing out the alcohol in his body was a mere trifling matter.
"You should return to the residence first. There's no need to wait for me. In a while, I'll return on my own."
Wang Chong said.
"But, Gongzi …"
"There are no buts. Siye, you saw what I did in the war of the southwest. Do you think that anyone can harm me now?"
Wang Chong faintly smiled as he glanced at Li Siye.
Li Siye hesitated for a moment. Although he was still a little worried, he could sense that volcanic energy in Wang Chong's body that could erupt at any moment, and he was instantly rendered speechless.
"Yes, Gongzi."
Li Siye turned around, his mountainous figure quickly vanishing into the darkness.
"Let's go to the western part of the city."
Wang Chong boarded a nearby bronze carriage that his clan had sent and parked on the side of the street. Quietly seated in the carriage, he took out a white chess piece from his sleeve.
This seemed like an extremely ordinary chess piece, but Wang Chong had sensed the pulsing energy within it from the very start. In the entire capital, there was only one person who could cause this white chess piece in his hand to undergo this sort of transformation.
"Senior …"
Wang Chong raised his head, a complicated look in his eyes.
"Stop here. You don't need to worry about the rest of the journey."
A few moments later, they arrived at a place not far from the Ghost Tree District. Wang Chong stopped the carriage, gave a few instructions to the driver, and then disembarked.
"It's been a long time since I've been here."
Wang Chong exhaled. As he gazed at the city walls, the buildings, the trees, and the thick darkness, he felt a sense of nostalgia.
Now that he thought about it, it had probably been more than half a year since he had last been here. To Wang Chong, this place represented a person, a person of special significance even in the Tang dynasty.
Whoosh!
With a flick of his sleeve, Wang Chong strode toward the plaza in the Ghost Tree District. The plaza that used to be bustling with activity was now completely silent. There was not a single person to be seen, and the surroundings were frighteningly quiet.
With great familiarity, Wang Chong walked in the direction of his memories. Turning a corner, Wang Chong saw the massive silhouette of a tree in the distance. In the darkness, it seemed like a primordial beast, baring its fangs and brandishing its claws, a terrifying sight.
Beneath the silhouette of the tree was a faint orange light. In the light, an old man and a young man were seated, their bodies slightly bent. In front of them was a chessboard.
There were no pieces on the chessboard, but there were two full jars on either side.
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