The Western Regions, the Charax Spasinu … one faction after another began to appear around the mountain range. But these Hu and foreigners were far from the only ones paying attention to this war. Zhang Shousi, Fomonlința, Geshu Han, Gao Xianzhi, An Sishun, and all the other Tang Dynasty Protector-Generals and Great Generals of the Central Plains had sent their most elite spies to the southwest to scout the area.
Although more than a month had passed since the war in the southwest, these top-class generals of the Tang Dynasty still had no idea how Wang Chong had managed to defeat the Mengshe – Ü-Tsang army. This was still an inconceivable mystery to them.
Although all the information related to the war had reached their hands, there were some things that could not be explained with words on paper.
Before this, the name of Wang Chong had been an insignificant, nameless pawn to many Great Generals. Many of them had even prepared themselves for a major defeat in the southwest and for all sides to call for help.
But at this moment, the southwest had been won!
— — This was something that no one had expected.
Wang Chong was now a simple name. Even the Hu Great Generals who had hated him to the bone during the Regional Commanders incident, Fomonlința, Gao Xianzhi, Geshu Han, An Sishun … none of them dared to underestimate him.
"Impossible!"
"What a bitter battle!"
"Even the ground is red! Just how many people have died?!"
"Milord might be wrong. This Wang Chong is even more frightening than we imagined."
… …
Countless scouts, spies, and scouts stared in shock at the 'ruins' of the southwest war. They had all survived on that hellish battlefield, so they all had a deep understanding of the battlefield.
Far too many people had died on this battlefield. Whether it was the northwest, the northeast, or Beiting, there were far too many wars every year. But no war had ever exuded such a bitter atmosphere. This cold and sinister aura was far too strong for the veterans of the battlefield.
Unlike the high and mighty generals, all the low-level veterans could feel the intense struggles and screams of the low-level soldiers before their deaths.
When the Annam Protectorate of one hundred thousand against five hundred thousand Mengshe – Ü-Tsang soldiers, they had always found this news hard to believe, as battles on the border rarely reached this scale. But after seeing this huge battlefield and the thick red mud that was several feet deep, no one doubted it anymore.
Shock was the only feeling everyone had when they arrived here.
And one only had to think about how this youth called Wang Chong had led the one hundred thousand soldiers of the Annam Protectorate to carve a bloody path through the encirclement, defeating more than five hundred thousand soldiers of the Mengshe – Ü-Tsang army. Everyone felt a deep respect for this youngest son of the Wang Clan, whom they had not thought much of before.
Hualala!
Countless messenger pigeons flew in all directions, and new letters flew in all directions. Not only the generals at the border, but also the foreign empires of the great powers around the Tang dynasty …
In the dossiers of all the forces, an extremely important name was added — — Wang Chong!
… …
Putting aside the activity in the southwest and the borders of the Tang dynasty, at this moment, the Tang dynasty was shrouded in excitement and celebration.
Gallop!
"Make way, make way!"
Not long after Wang Chong's reward ceremony concluded, red-clothed cavalry galloped out of the city, traveling to various places in the capital.
Whoosh!
The leader of the cavalry dismounted from his horse and strode to the wall, where he pasted a yellow announcement stamped with the seal of the Six Bureaus onto the wall.
After doing this, the cavalry galloped away.
"Hahaha, Wang Chong has been made a marquis, Wang Chong has been made a marquis!"
"The Young Marquis? I've never heard of him before. Did His Majesty specially set up a marquis for him? "
"Ha, given his achievements in the southwest, what's a marquis to him? A young hero like this should be heavily rewarded! "
"Correct! Well said! Well said! "
"Haha, it seems like His Majesty thinks very highly of him! This is a blessing for the empire! "
… …
The moment the cavalry left, a large group of people immediately gathered around. All the peddlers and servants, merchants, porters, restaurant owners, jugglers, calligraphers and painters … Everyone came from all directions and gathered in front of the yellow notice.
"Make way, make way!"
Suddenly, a voice came from outside. It was unknown when, but an old man who looked like a teacher forcefully squeezed in from the outside and squeezed under the yellow notice.
"Let me take a look."
"Haha, old sir, what are you squeezing in for? You're already so old. Do you also want to learn how to be made a marquis? "
Someone teased, and in an instant, the crowd exploded into an uproar.
But the old man seemed not to hear. He squinted in front of the announcement, his expression focused as he placed a finger on the words that he had already seen outside.
"A fief! A fief! I didn't see wrong! The Tang dynasty has been around for three hundred years, and His Majesty has actually made an exception and granted him a fief! "
The old man's voice resounded, his expression excited.
"Buzz!"
As soon as the teacher's voice fell, it was as if an invisible force had sucked away the air around them. The originally laughing crowd suddenly became silent, not a single sound could be heard.
A fief!
Those who had lived in the capital for a long time and seen all sorts of celebrations knew a little: 'Bestowing official titles but not fiefs' was a tradition of the Tang dynasty. In the era of the Holy Emperor, there had never been a fief.
No one had expected that the Holy Emperor would grant Wang Chong a fief!!
What sort of grace was this!
A marquis, a fief, a courtesy name bestowed by the Son of Heaven …
On this day, the capital was buzzing with activity, destined to belong to Wang Chong. All sorts of rewards were bestowed, breaking the precedent set by the Tang dynasty. But no one felt that there was anything wrong with this. On the contrary, the streets were decorated with lanterns, and fireworks and firecrackers were lit.
Some theatrical troupes and sideshow troupes even put on free performances on the streets.
Only those who had truly experienced the war of the southwest knew what sort of panic it had caused in the capital. All sorts of soldiers were mobilized, all sorts of news of defeat, and all sorts of foreign countries were taking advantage of the situation to stir up trouble.
In the several centuries of the Tang dynasty, not even the oldest elder in the capital had experienced anything like this. The massive empire, under the threat of all sorts of foreign countries, had no soldiers to use.
This was the most frightening of all.
But it was in this moment of greatest panic that came the news of Wang Chong's great victory in the southwest.
This youngest son of the Wang Clan had turned the tide at the most dangerous and perilous moment, saving the southwest and the empire. Whether it was a marquis, a fief, or a courtesy name …
No one thought much of it. This was what he deserved!
… …
Flapflap!
A messenger pigeon flapped its wings, flying through the air to land in a heavily guarded estate in the western part of the city. On the plaque over the main entrance of the estate were several large and flamboyant words:
'Xu Residence!'
'The Holy Emperor has greatly rewarded Wang Chong. Wang Chong has been made a marquis, a fief, and the Son of Heaven has bestowed a courtesy name … this is going to be troublesome.'
In the Xu Clan Residence, Xu Yi-qin's big uncle, Xu Henian, looked at the letter in his hand, his brow creased in deep concern. In the war of the southwest, the Xu Clan, under pressure from King Qi and political considerations, had completely imprisoned Xu Yi-qin, expelled the Wang Clan's guards, and severed all ties with the Wang Clan.
The southwest had been guarded by five hundred thousand Mengshe – Ü-Tsang soldiers and renowned generals like Dalun Ruozan and Huoshu Huizang. Anyone would have believed that victory in the southwest was impossible and that its fall was only a matter of time.
Even now, Xu Henian believed that his judgment had been correct.
Moreover, between the Wang Clan and King Qi, there was no question that King Qi, who was a member of the imperial family, had more authority and was more trustworthy. Thus, Xu Henian had made the decision to imprison Xu Yi-qin and prevent her from having any further contact with the Wang Clan.
But who could have expected that the southwest would be won, and that boy called Wang Chong would become the greatest contributor?
Made a marquis, a fief, a courtesy name …
The first news from the Imperial Palace was like a dagger stabbing into Xu Henian's heart, causing his expression to turn extremely nasty. Even a fool could see that the Wang Clan was in a period of great favor. The Holy Emperor regarded this youngest son of the Wang Clan with great importance. At the very least, the Wang Clan would be favored by the Emperor for a very long time, and it would only get more and more so.
"Reporting!"
As Xu Henian was sitting in his room, his brow furrowed in worry, a voice came from outside.
"Master, the Young Marquis, newly conferred by the Imperial Court, has come to pay his respects. He is already at the door."
"What?!"
Xu Henian's body trembled and he immediately stood up from his seat. As the saying went, speak of the devil. He had just been thinking about how to deal with this matter, but the main character of the reward ceremony had already arrived at the Xu Clan's doorstep.
"Is he trying to use his power to denounce me?"
Xu Henian's eyes chilled as he immediately thought of something.
He knew a little about the matter between his niece, Xu Yi-qin, and that youngest son of the Wang Clan. They were both youths, at the age where they first awakened to love, and they could not escape from the affairs of men and women.
Xu Yi-qin had been imprisoned and confined to the estate. Wang Chong had just been made a marquis not long ago, and now he had run to the Xu Clan to pay his respects. His goal was obvious.
"Tell him that I won't see him!"
Xu Henian immediately said with a wave of his sleeve.
So what if it was the Wang Clan?
The Xu Clan had several hundred years of history, dating back to the end of the Sui Dynasty. Even if it was a clan of ministers and generals, the Xu Clan could still choose to not see them.
"Yes, Master!"
"Wait a moment!"
The servant outside the door had barely taken a few steps when Xu Henian called him back.
"Hmph, a marquis, a fief, and a courtesy name bestowed by the Son of Heaven … that brat from the Wang Clan is currently at the height of his success, and the entire capital is watching him. If I refuse him at the door, the entire Xu Clan will become the common enemy of the Tang Dynasty. That brat has made up his mind, which is why he dares to act so fearlessly. "
After the victory in the southwest, Xu Henian was well aware of how high Wang Chong's prestige in the Tang Dynasty was. If Wang Chong took the initiative to pay his respects at this time, but the Xu Clan refused him at the door for no reason, there was no telling how badly he would be cursed.
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