Wang Chong's eyes brightened in surprise at Yang Hongchang's words.
"Sa 'id?"
This was the first time Wang Chong had heard of this name.
In the future war between the Tang Dynasty and Arabia, the two great empires of the east and west, there were several names that would play a pivotal role in determining the course of the war. And one of these names was the Lord of Talis.
Although Gao Xianzhi was a foreigner, as the Anxi Protector-General, one of the Twin Paragons of the Empire, Gao Xianzhi's strength could not be doubted.
Wang Chong had once studied all of his records. Gao Xianzhi's greatest trait was his fondness for cavalry. Soldiers valued speed, and when they marched one thousand li, they would often appear in unexpected directions.
Alas, even a wise man could make a mistake. Gao Xianzhi's greatest failure had been underestimating his opponent and failing to occupy Talas before the time limit had been set.
As a result, what was supposed to be a surprise attack from a thousand miles away eventually turned into a protracted siege battle. And in the City of Talas, it was the Lord of the City of Talas who had resisted the Annam Protectorate and held down Gao Xianzhi, exhausting the Tang army's morale.
A single misstep had led to subsequent missteps. Although Gao Xianzhi was extremely skilled in surprise attacks, sieges were his natural weakness. In all seriousness, it was precisely the Lord of Talas that had led to the ultimate defeat of Gao Xianzhi and the Anxi Protectorate army, causing the Tang Dynasty to lose three million square kilometers of territory in the Western Regions that it had spent centuries developing.
Not many people knew about the Lord of the City of Talas, and this was the first time Wang Chong had heard of him.
"When you interacted with Sa 'id, what sort of person did you think he was?"
Wang Chong's brow rose as he immediately asked.
"This person has a very good reputation in the Western Region and has a lot of prestige. I once heard about him in the Western Region. Sayed was doing business with someone and promised them a batch of goods. However, something happened and the person he did business with died of a serious illness. After Sayed found out, he followed the trail and spent two years until he found the person's family. In the end, he gave the goods to the person's widow and son and left a sum of money for them. "
"Because of this matter, the merchants of Talas and the surrounding areas have great faith in him. They know that he is a man of his word and will never give up."
Yang Hongchang paused for a moment before changing the topic.
"But I've interacted with him for a while and know that the Lord of Talas isn't as simple as he seems. He is extremely strict with his subordinates, and if anyone violates his rules, Sayed will show no mercy. In Talas, he has executed maids, servants, merchants … so many people respect and fear him. "
"The Silk Road runs from the Tang Dynasty to Arabia, spanning more than ten thousand li and passing through many countries. Thus, many Hu merchants choose to secretly evade taxes. But Talas is different. All the Hu merchants pay their taxes the earliest and most conscientious, so no one stealthily evades taxes. As a result, the security there is excellent. In a place as chaotic as the Western Regions, this is extremely rare. "
Wang Chong said nothing, but his straight brows slowly creased.
The matter that Yang Hongchang spoke of was not good news for the Tang Dynasty. With a person like Sayed present, the future war between Arabia and the Tang Dynasty would be extremely disadvantageous to the Tang Dynasty.
"Yang Hongchang, I want you to help me with something. Are you willing?"
Wang Chong suddenly said.
"Marquis, please speak."
Yang Hongchang immediately lowered his head and bowed.
"I want you to take a group of people into Talas and help me keep an eye on the movements of Arabia and Talas. No matter what happens, if there is even the slightest disturbance, especially if the Arabs are acting strangely, I need you to immediately report to me. "
Wang Chong sternly said.
"This … Marquis, we Han look different from the Hu. If we blend in with the Hu, we'll be very conspicuous and will be easily noticed. In these circumstances, it'll be very difficult to obtain any useful information. And if we're noticed and become suspicious, our lives will be in danger. "
Yang Hongchang had a troubled look on his face.
"Haha, the Hu also have seventy-two kingdoms, and not all of them are of the same mind. Since it's easy for the Han to become suspicious, you can go find some Hu. Sir Yang has operated in the Western Regions for many years. Surely you can hire a few Hu? "
Wang Chong heartily laughed.
"This … even the Hu might not be of the same mind as us. It's common for them to take money and not work. "
Yang Hongchang hesitantly said.
Seeing this, Wang Chong only grinned. He did not argue with Yang Hongchang, only saying five words.
"Ten thousand taels of gold!"
"This …"
"Twenty thousand taels of gold!"
"But …"
"I'll add twenty percent more tea leaves. At the same time, I'll waive the taxes your Yang Clan has to pay when leaving the Western Regions."
Wang Chong extended two fingers.
"Marquis is wise. This lowly one will do his utmost to supervise those Hu and have them work for our Tang Dynasty to the death. He will also keep an eye on the movements of Talas and the Arabs. This lowly one guarantees that Marquis will be the first to know of the slightest disturbance. However, this lowly one's clan has recently encountered some difficulties. If Marquis were to increase the quota of porcelain by twenty percent, this lowly one would be eternally grateful. "
Yang Hongchang had a 'sincere' expression on his face as he spoke.
Wang Chong inwardly chuckled. Merchants valued profit, and business was business. To put it bluntly, Yang Hongchang was not willing to work for free. The Silk Road was also known as the Golden Road, and what Hu merchants bought the most in the capital were silk and tea wares.
However, the Imperial Court had placed a limit on silk and tea wares. Each great clan had a quota that could not be exceeded.
It was not surprising that Yang Hongchang wanted an additional quota of tea leaves and porcelain. Twenty percent more every month would be nearly ten thousand taels of gold. A steady stream would make a considerable profit.
"Deal!"
Wang Chong indifferently said as he glanced at Yang Hongchang.
"If you do this well, your Yang Clan's caravans on the Silk Road will be escorted by the soldiers of the Imperial Court. In addition, you should also know that I'm establishing a fief city on the Silk Road. "
"I know!"
Although Yang Hongchang was doing his best to conceal it, his bright eyes still betrayed the excitement in his heart. There was no one on the Silk Road who did not know of the city Wang Chong spoke of.
But the Yang Clan's influence was meager, and it could not compare to those great clans and nobles, so Yang Hongchang had not dared to mention it. But how could he not have such thoughts?
"Do a good job. I'll leave you a few plots of land in that city. In the future, no matter what you do there, your Yang Clan will not have to pay any taxes. "
Wang Chong said.
"Many thanks, Marquis! All members of the Yang Clan are willing to swear loyalty to Marquis to the death. Even if this lowly one has to sacrifice his life, he will definitely complete the matter of the City of Talas for Marquis! "
Yang Hongchang was overjoyed and immediately knelt on the ground.
Merchants valued profit, and the generous profits that Wang Chong was offering had already surpassed the Yang Clan's normal business on the Silk Road. In particular, the plot of land that Wang Chong had promised in the City of Steel was something that would last for generations to come, something that would benefit future generations.
Based on this alone, the Yang Clan would be able to stand for centuries without falling. Moreover, with the massive tree that was the Wang Clan behind them, the Yang Clan's meteoric rise was just around the corner.
Wang Chong silently smiled at the kneeling Yang Hongchang.
Only by knowing oneself and knowing one's enemy could one emerge victorious in a hundred battles. The City of Steel had to be built, and the cement roads had to be repaired, but the true enemy of the Tang Dynasty, the Arabs to the west of the Cong Mountains, also had to be paid attention to.
And Yang Hongchang was the most suitable candidate. No one understood the Western Regions better than the merchants of the Silk Road.
Yang Hongchang quickly left with the order, along with ten-some guards of the Wang Clan and a chest of gold. Yang Hongchang was free to use these people and the gold.
The top battles were all battles of strategy and information. Whoever had the faster information, the more informed, the deeper, and the more thorough strategy would be the final winner.
But in this era, there were far fewer people who shared Wang Chong's thoughts.
It's about time for me to go to Wushang.
Wang Chong raised his head, this thought flitting through his mind.
Several days ago, Wang Chong had received a letter from Li Siye informing him that his operation in Wushang had not gone as smoothly as he had imagined. The Wushang of this life seemed even fiercer and fiercer than it had been in the last, and it was even more unwilling to be tamed.
It had to be said that even someone like Li Siye, the future Invincible Great General, had run into a snag there. It had to be said that Wang Chong was extremely surprised.
In the end, he would still have to personally subdue the number one cavalry force of the Central Plains!
"Hyah!"
Five days later, Wang Chong set out from the capital with his army, heading for Wushang on the Silk Road to the northwest. The wheel of history continued to roll forward, and Wang Chong was finally about to face the strongest, fiercest, fiercest, and most difficult subordinate to subdue.
… …
To the northwest of the Tang Dynasty, to the south of Qixi, and to the east of Longxi, was a vast mountain range. The mountains there were steep and the terrain treacherous. The slightest carelessness could lead one to fall into a bottomless abyss and shatter one's bones. Moreover, the mountains would occasionally be shrouded in white fog that obscured one's vision and made it very easy to get lost.
Moreover, this place was barren, with no gold, no treasure, and no roads connecting it. Not even the bandits and brigands of the Silk Road were willing to venture too deeply into this place.
It was like this place had been forgotten by the world. No one knew of it and no one cared about it.
And this place was Wushang.
"Milord, these unruly people are too impudent. It's fine if they don't listen to the summons, but they even stole the token that Marquis gave to Milord. They're simply too unbridled and lawless! In this subordinate's view, we should mobilize the army and completely exterminate them. "
On the barren mountain range, a hazy mist drifted in front of them. An armored general stood side by side with the enormous, giant-like Li Siye. His face was filled with anger.
"That's right! They didn't listen to orders and even injured Du Wu and Luo Chuan! They've gone too far! "
To Li Siye's right, a deputy general also angrily said. As he spoke, he glanced at the ground behind him. In the fog, he could see figures lying on the ground, constantly bleeding. These were the comrades who had entered Wushang with them.
In this remote and desolate area, there were dilapidated houses everywhere. The fact that they were willing to cross the mountains to recruit soldiers showed that they thought highly of them. Who would have thought that these people not only spoke rudely, but also dared to attack them.
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
