"Won Shu-young, don't speak nonsense! How could the Emperor of Arabia say such a thing? Do you think you can treat the rumors of the marketplace as true? Do you know how great of a calamity it will provoke if this gets out? "
The Eagle harshly rebuked.
Won Shu-young's expression froze. He knew that he had spoken out of turn and immediately shut his mouth.
"Enough! Eagle, he's speaking the truth! "
Wang Chong extended a hand to stop the Eagle.
All the foreigners, all the sovereigns of the countries bordering the Great Tang, no matter how disdainful they were of the Great Tang or how much they loathed it, none of them dared to say such words in front of all their ministers.
Because such words would be the source of disaster.
Moreover, such words would truly incite a fierce war between the two countries. This was no minor matter. But Wang Chong knew that the Abbasid Caliphate Emperor really had said these words.
Unlike the countries bordering the Tang Dynasty, Arabia was extremely far from the Central Plains, separated by tens of thousands of li and many other countries. Moreover, Arabia was extremely aggressive. From the moment of its birth, it had always been expanding, killing, and conquering.
Arabia had not been able to possess such a vast territory at the start, but the result of constant expansion and annexation. From this point of view, Wang Chong was not at all surprised that the Emperor of Arabia would say such covetous words about the Central Plains.
In truth, the Arabs were already baring their fangs and claws at the Tang Dynasty.
Won Shu-young raised his head and shot a grateful glance at Wang Chong. For some reason, this young 'Young Marquis' gave him a completely different feeling from the noble nobles he had known.
"Master Yuan, continue."
Wang Chong raised his hand and continued.
"The Imperial Court is in dire need of people who understand Arabia, but very few people have actually been to Arabia, so we naturally won't be able to get anything out of them. Therefore, in this regard, we really need the Headmaster of the Academy to give us some pertinent advice, because this is very important to us and the imperial court. "
At the end of his speech, Wang Chong's expression was solemn. Wang Chong had some understanding of Arabia in this world, but Wang Chong had still never been to Arabia. Whether it was in this life or in the past, Wang Chong's understanding of the Tang dynasty was all on paper and in the oral accounts of others.
He had never had such first-hand information before.
"This … Since Marquis asked this lowly one to speak, then this lowly one will be bold enough to speak. When this lowly one was young, I traveled through Arabia and felt that it was only a matter of time before Arabia became an enemy of my Tang dynasty. With their personalities, they would covet the Central Plains sooner or later. Moreover, the Arabs have great stamina, drinking horse's milk and goat's milk from childhood, and eating date palms. Coupled with the hot climate, their physiques are even stronger than the Han of the Central Plains. They are natural warriors. In addition, they have a habit of worshipping courage, not fighting. Thus … this lowly one feels that the Arab warriors are even stronger than the soldiers of our Tang dynasty! "
Seeing how serious Wang Chong was, Won Shu-young hesitated for a while before finally speaking.
As soon as he finished speaking, the room fell silent.
The Eagle didn't really believe it. The people of the Tang dynasty were famed throughout the world for their bravery and courage. Otherwise, they would have never been able to suppress the surrounding barbarians, much less achieve their current golden age. But Won Shu-young had traveled through Arabia before, so he had no choice but to believe his words.
As for Wang Chong, his heart was heavy.
Wang Chong had always known that the Arabs were not easy to deal with, but Won Shu-young's words still left him rather surprised. Won Shu-young had probably been to the Western Regions and seen the Anxi Protectorate army, but he had still said such words. This could only mean one thing: that the Arab warriors were extremely powerful and had given him a massive shock.
"Marquis, given the nature of the Arabs, they will sooner or later become an enemy of my Tang dynasty. They cannot be underestimated! "
Won Shu-young lowered his head and sternly said.
"Have you said these words to anyone else?"
Wang Chong solemnly said.
"This lowly one said these words when I returned from my travels and even submitted a memorial to the imperial court. Unfortunately, I was imprisoned by the Office of the Chamberlain of Dependencies and even spent seven years in prison, eating prison meals for seven years."
Won Shu-young gave a deep sigh.
"Buzz!"
Wang Chong and The Eagle were both stunned.
"These bastards, do they still have any regard for the law!"
The Eagle clenched his fists in rage. Neither of them had expected that Won Shu-young would suffer such a fate.
"These scoundrels truly have gone too far."
Wang Chong's eyes were also twitching. If Won Shu-young had not personally said these words, Wang Chong would have never known that he had suffered such a fate. The Imperial Court had established the Chamberlain of Dependencies to entertain the envoys of the various countries and show that the Tang dynasty of the Central Plains was a state of benevolence and propriety.
But now, the Chamberlain of Dependencies was gradually forgetting its original duties and becoming a place to curry favor with the envoys of the various countries while suppressing its own people.
"Marquis, we really have to do something. Those people from the Chamberlain of Dependencies are getting more and more excessive. If this continues, won't the Chamberlain of Dependencies become a place to serve foreigners? "
The Eagle turned his head to look at Wang Chong said.
Wang Chong said nothing. The affairs of the Chamberlain of Dependencies were extremely complicated and could not be explained in a single sentence. This was because the Chamberlain of Dependencies was directly responsible to the Holy Emperor, but the Holy Emperor had no interest in such a trivial matter.
Moreover, the true controller of the Chamberlain of Dependencies was not the Holy Emperor, but King Qi. As long as King Qi was around, toppling the Chamberlain of Dependencies would not be a simple matter.
But they truly could not be allowed to do as they pleased.
"There seems to be someone called Zheng Chenzhou in the Chamberlain of Dependencies, right? Think of a way to replace him. "
Wang Chong said calmly.
"Marquis, are you talking about that Prince Ouzan from last time …"
The Eagle probed.
"Mm."
Wang Chong sneered and nodded, his expression exuding a domineering air.
"The Chamberlain of Dependencies should also be taught a lesson. Kill the chicken to warn the monkey. Let's start with that Ouzan person's Zheng Chenzhou."
In the past, Wang Chong really would not have been able to do anything to those officials of the Chamberlain of Dependencies. But now, the Wang Clan's influence and status, as well as the King of Song's status as a member of the imperial family, was enough to influence the situation in court. To replace Zheng Chenzhou, who was suppressing his own people and currying favor with Ouzan, was truly as easy as turning over one's hand.
This could also be considered a warning to the Chamberlain of Dependencies.
With these few words, Wang Chong had already decided the fate of an official of the Chamberlain of Dependencies. Even Won Shu-young couldn't help but be stunned, gaining a new understanding of this youth's power and status.
"Master Yuan, to tell the truth, I intend to build a school dedicated to teaching the languages of the Western Regions, the Abbasid Caliphate, Charax Spasinu, Sindhu, Ouzan, and the other countries. This will increase our Tang Dynasty's understanding of the surrounding foreign countries. I am prepared to provide this school with a large sum of money and long-term support, but the school is lacking a teacher. I wonder if the Headmaster is willing? "
Wang Chong looked at Won Shu-young and smiled, revealing his true goal. The countries of the Western Regions all spoke different languages. If he wanted to govern the western frontier, he needed people who understood the languages of the Western Regions, including the languages of the Abbasid Caliphate and Charax Spasinu.
And the best way to do that was to groom him now.
"Is Marquis speaking the truth?"
The moment Wang Chong said this, Won Shu-young raised his head in delight.
"Master, what do you mean?"
Wang Chong smiled.
"I couldn't ask for more, I couldn't ask for more …"
Won Shu-young was extremely excited. His life's goal was to build a school to teach the languages of the various countries of the Western Regions and the foreigners. This would increase the Tang Dynasty's understanding of the various foreign countries, so as to avoid miscalculations and endless disasters.
Unfortunately, in his several decades in the capital, no one was willing to help him. Everyone either looked down on him or ridiculed him. Won Shu-young was so depressed that he decided to leave the capital and travel to the Western Regions.
By the time Wei Guo and Wei Wu found him, he had already packed up his belongings.
But Won Shu-young had not expected that when he was at his lowest and most despondent moment, he would have such a massive turnaround.
"Hahaha, Master, I'll leave this matter to you. The Eagle, I'll leave this matter to you. Build the school as quickly as possible. In addition, tell Elder Hu and Elder Ye to select talented descendants from the various clans and send them to the school to learn the languages of the various countries. "
Wang Chong heartily laughed.
With Won Shu-young's Master Yuan, Wang Chong's plan to govern the Western Regions was like a tiger that had grown wings. With the addition of a crucial figure like Master Yuan, the final hole in his plan had been filled.
"Yes, Marquis."
The Eagle quickly led Won Shu-young away.
Not long after The Eagle and Won Shu-young left, Wang Chong's final guest of the day appeared.
"This lowly one Yang Hongchang pays respects to Marquis."
With a resounding voice, a slightly plump middle-aged man with the appearance of a merchant, ten agate rings on his fingers and a red coral jade pendant hanging from his waist, strode in with his head held high and bowed to Wang Chong.
"There's no need to stand on ceremony. Rise."
Wang Chong slightly raised his hand. Unlike Won Shu-young, Wang Chong got straight to the point.
"I hear that Sir is extremely good at business and has connections with the Hu merchants of the Western Regions on the Silk Road. You even went deep into the Abbasid Caliphate to sell ceramics and tea leaves?"
"Marquis thinks too highly of me. My clan truly does have a few small businesses and some dealings with Hu merchants. However, the Hu merchants are very xenophobic and aren't very willing to do business with merchants other than their own. Thus, our business has never been very large, just a few small transactions. "
"As for Arabia and Charax Spasinu … in my early years, my clan didn't know the immensity of the heavens and lost a great deal of capital in these two countries. We didn't make much money, but we barely made a name for ourselves."
Yang Hongchang said.
"Mm."
Wang Chong nodded. The merchants of the Western Regions, Charax Spasinu, and Arabia were extremely xenophobic. This Yang Hongchang and his Yang clan were one of the few clans of the Tang Dynasty that could do business on the Silk Road.
"There is a city called Talas on the Silk Road. Does Sir Yang know of it?"
"Talas?"
Yang Hongchang finally raised his head and looked at the Young Marquis in astonishment.
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