"I understand. Leave the matter of the city to me. "
Zhang Shouzhi solemnly said.
"Mm."
Wang Chong nodded, a smile on his face. Raising his head to the sky, he saw several large blue birds unfurling their wings and flying over the City of Steel.
Recently, with Wang Chong's appearance, more and more birds had been flying over the City of Steel to scout the area.
Wang Chong shook his head, unconcerned. Faintly smiling, he began to head off to another location.
Gallop!
But not even Wang Chong noticed that while he was heading off, in the northern part of the City of Steel, five or six li away, a fully-armored horseman gave Wang Chong a profound glance, and then suddenly turned around and began to head northwest.
"It's time to report to Milord!"
The warhorse neighed, and the cavalryman with the distinct characteristics of the Hu left a trail of dust as he quickly vanished into the distance. They advanced along the official road leading to the Western Regions. After several hundred miles, the cavalry left the official road and turned into a magnificent dark golden hall.
"Qixi Protectorate!"
Raising his head, he could see a massive black plaque hanging high above the entrance to the dark golden hall. Five words were clearly written on it.
This was the famed Qixi Protectorate, the place that had repelled the Ouzan to the east and the Western Turkic Khaganate to the west, the most crucial place in the path of the Tang Dynasty to the Western Regions.
Wang Chong had established a fief and a city in Wushang, and the closest one was the Qixi Protectorate.
"Hmph, he clearly knows that Qixi is my territory, but he still dares to establish a fief and a city here. He truly is bolder than the heavens. It's only been a year. Does he really think that we've forgotten about the Regional Commanders incident? "
In the vast hall, a stalwart black figure sat upright on a hollowed out metal throne like a crouching tiger or a coiled dragon, and his entire body emitted a powerful aura that was vast like the ocean.
Fomonlința was the most powerful Protector-General in the northwest of the Tang Dynasty!
Although the Qixi Protectorate was not the frontline, the Anxi Protectorate, Beiting Protectorate, and Longxi's Big Dipper Army were the most reliable and capable of providing timely reinforcements, whether it be the Anxi Protectorate, Beiting Protectorate, or Longxi's Big Dipper Army.
Moreover, Fumeng Lingcha's existence allowed the three protectorates to avoid fighting on multiple fronts and being attacked from the front and rear.
To put it simply, Fomonlința controlled an important 'throat'.
Because of this unique characteristic, not even Gao Xianzhi, Geshu Han, or An Sishun, these influential Great Generals of the empire, dared to offend him.
Moreover, Fomonlința was extremely old and experienced, and he had made his name long before Gao Xianzhi, Geshu Han, and An Sishun. His prestige among the Hu was extremely high, similar to Zhang Shougui and Wang Zhongsi's status among the Han.
Thus, when Fomonlința made his appeal, so many Hu generals had responded, submitting memorials to the Regional Commanders incident to have Wang Chong executed.
But Fomonlința had never imagined that in just a year, this' culprit 'had not only failed to flee far away from him, but had even dared to open a city right under his nose. This was no longer just audacity and impudence, but naked provocation and humiliation.
Not even Geshu Han or An Sishun would dare to act so impudently, but this was precisely what the youngest son of the Wang Clan was doing.
"Milord, that youngest son of the Wang Clan has just been made a marquis and has also been bestowed a courtesy name by the Son of Heaven. He's at the height of his success. Moreover, the fief was approved by the Imperial Court and the Holy Emperor. With these two 'swords of authority', it will be very difficult for us to do anything to him!"
In the hall, to Fumeng Lingcha's left, a burly Hu general spoke.
Wang Chong's city was built at Wushang, only several hundred li from Qixi. The most unhappy were probably not Protector-Generals and Great Generals like Fomonlința, but the Hu generals fighting on the border.
Although the Holy Emperor had still passed the 'Regional Commanders Incident', the time it would take to carry it out had been greatly reduced. Moreover, compared to the original contents, the authority and status of the Regional Commanders had been greatly reduced, and they could no longer be considered true Regional Commanders.
Because of this matter, all the Hu generals on the border were gnashing their teeth, hating Wang Chong to the bone. This was because Wang Chong had not only harmed Protector-Generals like Fomonlința, but also the path forward for all the Hu.
After all, Imperial Great Generals like Fomonlința would have to abdicate sooner or later, and all the Hu generals would have a chance to take their place.
All the Hu generals wanted to kill Wang Chong's appearance in Qixi, but the only problem was that the Imperial Court was a threshold they could not cross.
"Hmph, back then, I wasn't even afraid of the white-clothed Arabian Mochaha, so why would I be afraid of a brat who's still wet behind his ears? So what if he has a fief decree from the Imperial Court? So what if Wang Jiuling was once the Prime Minister of the Tang dynasty? Qixi is my territory. Do you think I can't take care of him?! "
Fomonlința sat boldly on his throne, his eyes exuding a cold and sharp light that chilled the bones.
"Then Milord means …"
The general next to him widened his eyes and hurriedly asked.
"Hmph, the construction of a city is time-consuming and exhausting. It'll take at least two or three years to complete. Even if his City of Steel is fast, it'll still take seven or eight months. He's currently in the limelight, so I'll give him two months to focus on the construction. After two months, even if he's in the limelight, it'll be over. At that time, it'll be time for us to strike! "
Fomonlința viciously glared at the general next to him.
"In addition, send a letter to Geshu Han and An Sishun. I'm sure that the two of them will be very interested in that brat."
With these final words, Fomonlința's eyes became extremely profound.
Flapflap!
A pigeon descended through the open window and into Big Dipper City. In an elegant and quiet study. The study was lined with bookshelves, and the shelves were piled high with scriptures, histories, biographies, collections, and some ancient books.
A crane shaped cauldron stood in the corner, exhaling a thick sandalwood fragrance that permeated the study, making the place seem ancient, quiet, and elegant.
If one had not seen it with their own eyes, they would have found it very difficult to believe that a study like this could exist on the front lines of the empire, a place where wars were frequent.
"You've come?"
A gentle and dignified voice came from the room. An arm stretched out. The five fingers were slender and pure white, and at the same time, they contained boundless power. With a light pinch, a letter was extracted from the pigeon's leg.
Upon opening the letter, there were only a few simple words: 'Wang Chong has arrived in Wushang.'
"As expected."
Geshu Han appeared unsurprised, and with a shake of his finger, the letter shattered and scattered onto the table.
"Lord Protector-General, what should we do next?"
A deep voice came from behind Geshu Han. Around three paces away, a Big Dipper Army general was standing there, waiting for some time.
"That Wang Chong is now the Young Marquis of the Imperial Court, and the entire world knows that the Son of Heaven has bestowed him a courtesy name. Do we really have to move against him? And from a certain perspective, that brat actually helped us out in the war of the southwest. Do we really have to deal with him? "
"What do you think?"
Geshu Han calmly replied without turning his head.
Behind him, the Big Dipper Army general was taken aback. He didn't expect Geshu Han to ask such a question.
"The Wang Clan is currently in the limelight, and it has that relationship with The King of Song. It truly isn't wise to deal with them now. Moreover, that brat was too disrespectful to Lord Protector-General in the Regional Commanders incident. Even now, our brothers still have some complaints about him. In addition, he could have built his fief anywhere, but he chose to build it in Wushang right under our noses. This is simply too disrespectful to Milord. If we don't teach him a lesson, let alone Milord, even our brothers won't be able to take it lying down.
"In addition … Qixi's Fomonlința has also sent a letter to Milord, hoping that we can work together with him to put some pressure on that Wang Chong. If we don't do anything, given how close we are, Fomonlința will probably have some complaints about us as well."
The Big Dipper Army general said.
"Haha, it seems like you understand."
Geshu Han put down the 'Spring and Autumn Annals' in his left hand and stood up from his desk. His back was ramrod straight, and invisible waves of energy roiled around him. An aura as vast as the mountains and seas exuded from his body.
At this moment, Geshu Han was looking up to a lofty mountain. Even the general behind him had slightly lowered his head in respect.
"Wushang's geographical location is unique. How can it be that easy for him to build a city there and take advantage of it? Moreover, the war of the southwest is for the empire, but the construction of Wushang is for private interests. These are two separate matters, so there's no need to worry.
"Besides, if he doesn't have the ability to establish a foothold in Wushang, we might actually be helping him by pressuring him a little. Isn't that a good thing as well? That way, he'll understand that the world isn't as easy as he thinks."
Geshu Han indifferently said.
"Milord's words are reasonable."
The bearded Big Dipper Army general nodded obediently. However, his eyelids suddenly twitched, and as if recalling something, he hurriedly exclaimed, "That's right.
"But, Milord … Wushang City isn't just his problem. He's also pulled in nearly eighty percent of the great clans of the capital. If we move now, we'll offend nearly all of them."
Upon hearing those words, the Big Dipper Army general frowned in deep melancholy.
Meanwhile, the confident and carefree Geshu Han couldn't help but frown and fall silent. The study was eerily still.
It had been some time since the construction of Wang Chong's City of Steel began, but no one had made any major moves. It wasn't because of the Wang Clan's influence and status, but because of the eighty percent of the great clans in the capital that Wang Chong had bound to his war chariot.
In the many years that the Tang dynasty had developed, these great clans were no longer ordinary clans. Their influence extended deep into the court, the military, and the prefectures and prefectures of the empire.
They represented the strongest factions of the empire.
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