Fomonlința's Warning (2)
Li Siye had personally spoken of this matter, and he had praised them greatly.
Wang Chong had also felt that they were not bad after observing them, so he had given them the task of guarding and guarding the City of Steel. Up until now, the two of them had done an outstanding job in handling the danger.
"Rumble!"
The cloud of dust from the north was getting closer and closer. Everyone in the City of Steel could feel the trembling, and all the craftsmen had long ago taken refuge within the walls. The busy construction also came to a halt.
The vicinity of the City of Steel was suddenly silent, leaving only the neighing of the warhorses from the north.
The atmosphere was extremely tense at this moment.
More than one hundred thousand pairs of eyes nervously stared at the silent and oppressive silhouettes in the roiling dust. Only Wang Chong sat on his horse, his expression relaxed, neither servile nor overbearing as he silently waited.
"Buzz!"
As they got closer, the warhorses slowed, and a massive war banner, more than one zhang tall, was raised in the roiling dust. On this black dragon-patterned war banner was a golden rock eagle, one of the most commonly seen creatures in the Western Regions. Its eyes were sharp, its claws like hooks, and its feathers like iron. It seemed like it was about to break out of the banner.
This was the first time Wang Chong had seen such a war banner since arriving in the Western Regions.
As Wang Chong was examining this war banner, an extremely muscular and tall figure on a warhorse galloped out of the dust like a demon god.
At this moment, everyone could clearly see that this person had a thick beard, a greenish-black complexion, and a pair of eyes like copper bells. As they looked around, they exuded a cold and intimidating light.
The moment this person appeared, a tidal wave of pressure pressed down. Other than Wang Chong, everyone in the City of Steel, including the resolute Cheng Sanyuan and Su Shixuan who had experienced the trials of the southwest, lowered their heads, none of them daring to meet his eyes.
"Wang Chong! — "
Just as everyone lowered their heads, a wild voice that sounded like the grinding of a sword rang out in everyone's ears. The voice was sharp, and it carried a sense of superiority and oppression.
Upon hearing this hostile voice, Wang Chong immediately chuckled.
"Lord Protector-General!"
After calling out these four words, Wang Chong immediately urged his horse forward and welcomed him without the slightest bit of fear. In the entire Tang dynasty, in the entire Western Regions, there was only one person who could speak with such a unique voice, like the hum of a saber or sword: Qixi Protector-General Fomonlința.
"… I still can't hold myself back!"
Wang Chong sneered in his heart, but he didn't show it on his face.
Wushang was so close to the Qixi Protectorate that nothing he did could escape Fomonlința's notice. But it was clear that when the City of Steel suddenly rose to a height of fifteen meters and continued to rise, Fomonlința realized that he had miscalculated and could no longer sit still.
The cries of warhorses resounded through the area!
As countless nervous gazes watched, Wang Chong urged his horse forward, leaving a trail of dust in his wake as he drew closer and closer to Fomonlința. In the distance, the world-renowned Protector-General began to slow down, and the churning dust gradually settled, revealing rows of black-armored elite soldiers who were clearly veterans of the battlefield.
In the harsh sunlight, all these black-armored soldiers marched in unison, as if they were one person. They did not make the slightest mistake in their advance.
Even someone of Wang Chong's insight found it very difficult to find fault with them.
Not bad. As immovable as a mountain, as aggressive as fire! In his early years, Fomonlința guarded Anxi, so he definitely has a knack for leading soldiers!
Wang Chong quietly said to himself.
Even though he and Fomonlința were at odds, Wang Chong had to admit that this Great General of the empire in Qixi truly did have some outstanding qualities. Qixi's geography was unique. To the west was the ambitious Ouzan Plateau, and to the west was the Turkic cavalry led by Ishbara Khagan of the Western Turks. For Fomonlința to be able to survive in this crevice and keep the other two factions at bay, there was no need to doubt Fomonlința's strength.
These immovable and aggressive Qixi cavalry before him were proof that Fomonlința had displayed the extraordinary abilities of an Imperial Great General!
Alas, his jealousy is too strong! His desire for power is too strong!
As this thought flitted through his mind, Wang Chong quickly regained his composure.
Fomonlința truly was very valiant. If one were to put aside certain things, Wang Chong would even be happy that the Tang dynasty had such a Great General. Alas, Fomonlința was too selfish.
He was a Hu, so he had recklessly promoted Hu in the army. Almost all the important positions in the army were occupied by Hu. Whether or not the Han had talent, they were always suppressed.
Moreover, Fomonlința seemed to be establishing a small Hu court in Qixi.
Otherwise, a memorial to Wang Chong regarding the Regional Commanders incident would not have infuriated him so much.
Moreover, while Qixi was more than capable of defending, it lacked the ability to advance. In all his years, Fomonlința had never taken the initiative to attack. Qixi's situation had never changed in all the years he had presided over it.
It could only passively wait for Ouzan and the Western Turks to attack.
Whether it was to change the outcome of the upcoming Battle of Talas, to gather more soldiers for Anxi, or to change the situation in Qixi, Wang Chong had to think of a way to remove Fomonlința or transfer him elsewhere!
As long as Fomonlința was present, he would be unable to move freely in the Western Regions. This was a fact that had to be changed.
The rumbling slowly died down as the two sides got closer and closer, and the atmosphere grew tenser and tenser. Finally, Wang Chong and Fomonlința, one young and one old, were only eight to nine zhang away from each other, and the atmosphere was extremely tense.
The two looked at each other in silence.
"Impudent! In front of Lord Protector-General, why haven't you dismounted and bowed! "
Suddenly, a loud roar came from the side. It was one of Fomonlința's deputies, armed to the teeth and armed with a black bandolier, pointing a finger at Wang Chong as he spoke in a harsh voice.
He's trying to intimidate me!
Wang Chong inwardly chuckled, his eyes fixed on Fomonlința. In the past, with the difference in ranks and Wang Chong not holding any official post, Fomonlința truly would have been able to easily suppress him.
But that was then, and this was now. Even in the face of this Hu Protector-General, the Great General of Qixi whose words carried enormous weight, Wang Chong felt no fear.
Moreover, he was the true 'Grand Marshal of the Central Plains'!
"Impudent! Our Milord is the Young Marquis of the Imperial Court, a title personally bestowed upon him by the Son of Heaven. He is a true duke of the Tang Dynasty, his status no lower than Lord Protector-General's. Moreover, the Holy Emperor personally bestowed a courtesy name upon him, making him the 'Son of Heaven's disciple'. He represents His Majesty the Holy Emperor. Do you dare to have Marquis bow?! "
As expected, a rebuke came from behind him, and before Wang Chong could say anything, Cheng Sanyuan had urged his horse forward and rebuked Fomonlința's deputy. Although they couldn't resist Fomonlința's Great General pressure and gaze, they were still capable of dealing with his deputy.
Wang Chong remained motionless on his horse, nodding his head in approval.
Cheng Sanyuan and Su Shixuan truly had reacted very quickly. In this sort of situation, they were much better suited than him. This was also why Wang Chong valued them.
"Lord Protector-General, I pay my respects. I did not know of Lord Protector-General's arrival and failed to welcome you. For what noble purpose has Milord honored us with his presence? "
Wang Chong clasped his hands and spoke from atop his horse.
His words immediately drew everyone's attention.
The City of Steel was quiet. The moment the commanders of both sides spoke, even Cheng Sanyuan and that Fomonlința shut their mouths. Everyone knew that the protagonists of today's meeting were these two.
Every word that came out of their lips was highly likely to affect the future of the City of Steel and all of Qixi. No one dared to interrupt at a time like this.
Fomonlința said nothing, but his hawk-like eyes slowly turned as he examined Wang Chong like a hawk staring at its prey.
Even though the two sides had been mortal enemies during the Regional Commanders incident. Fomonlința had even been the first to submit a memorial requesting that the Holy Emperor execute Wang Chong. But in reality, this was the first time Fomonlința had seen this' culprit '.
Even though he was brimming with enmity toward this Wang Clan youth, Fomonlința had to admit that this boy was completely different from what he had imagined.
Young!
Truly too young! He looked no more than sixteen or seventeen!
At this age, even someone as proud as Fomonlința was still struggling in the Western Regions. But Wang Chong had already become the Young Marquis of the Tang dynasty, had been bestowed a courtesy name by the Son of Heaven, and had a high official rank.
If Wang Chong had only relied on his illustrious family background and his reputation as the 'former Prime Minister of the Tang dynasty', he would have been able to do well. But it just so happened that not too long ago, he had personally led a team to defeat names like Huoshu Huizang, Dalun Ruozan, and Duan Gequan.
Even now, Fomonlința doubted just how much of this was true.
But the coalition army of Ouzan and Mengshe Zhao had only suffered a crushing defeat after Wang Chong had joined. Moreover, they had lost hundreds of thousands of soldiers, including a large number of cavalry. Their losses were far greater than those of the Tang dynasty, and this was an indisputable fact.
To have this sort of ability at the age of sixteen or seventeen was something that Fomonlința believed was absolutely impossible. Even if he had started practicing the art of war in his mother's womb, it would still be impossible.
The art of war was not something that could be learned from just reading a few books on the art of war. It was something that could only be obtained through the hardships of war and experience countless battles. All formidable generals were like this.
But this was not the only thing that left Fomonlința confused and uncertain.
Having spent half of his life on the battlefield, Fomonlința had killed countless opponents on the battlefield. For this reason, his body exuded such a thick and baleful aura that not even his personal guards dared to approach him, much less meet his eyes.
In the Western Regions, there was once a rumor.
A notorious criminal of the Western Regions had fled for several decades, but no one had ever been able to catch him. In the end, while in Qixi, he had accidentally bumped into Fomonlința's carriage, and with just a glance, he had been so frightened that he had lost control of his bowels and bladder and died.
This was the baleful aura on Fomonlința's body.
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