Who could have imagined that these small red flowers, so common on the plateau, could actually help martial artists increase their lung capacity, increase the activity and adaptability of their cells, and allow them to live on the plateau like the Ouzan people?
But no one else besides Wang Chong knew of this method.
If the Ouzan people knew of this, they would definitely do everything in their power to get rid of this red stonecrop. It wasn't as if this had never happened before. This was why Wang Chong had done so much to conceal this secret, even having Yang Hongchang use the name of the Arabs to purchase it.
Where there was profit, there would be motivation. Although no one was currently buying and selling the red stonecrop, once Yang Hongchang bought it, it would appear on the market.
And it would definitely be the Ouzan people who would gather and sell it. Not even if they were beaten to death would they ever imagine that Wang Chong was buying these things to use against them.
"Everything is ready except for the east wind. It's time to move on to the next phase of the plan!"
Wang Chong put down his teacup and lightly tapped the table with his right index finger, a profound light in his eyes.
"Zhang Que!"
Wang Chong called out.
"Marquis, this lowly one is here!"
Very quickly, a thin and small figure with a rock eagle on his shoulder walked in with large strides. He seemed to have been waiting outside the hall for a long time.
"Do you still remember the plan I told you about? Now, take your eagle team and go out to investigate. I want to know what's going on there at all times, especially if the Ouzan people appear there. "
Wang Chong said.
"Understood! Be at ease, Marquis. This lowly one will not fail this mission. "
Zhang Que was eager to go, his face brimming with excitement. After bowing, Zhang Que impatiently took his leave. Wang Chong was now placing more and more importance on him, and a scholar would die for a bosom friend. Thus, Zhang Que was more eager than anyone else to carry out a mission given to him by Wang Chong.
… …
Time slowly passed, and the City of Steel once more fell into silence. After a few brief clashes, the border between Qixi and Ouzan returned to its usual calm.
In the northwest, while everyone's attention was focused on Ouzan, Qixi, and Wushang, in the southwest corner of Ouzan's northern border, at the place closest to Wushang, several small shadows had appeared and were silently observing.
"Captain, is this the place Marquis asked us to investigate?"
At the bottom of the plateau, a member of the eagle team looked up and said. To be honest, other than the precipitous terrain, they couldn't see anything special about this place. There wasn't even a single Ouzan cavalry.
"Yes."
Zhang Que nodded.
"But I don't see anything special here. Furthermore, there isn't even a single Ouzan cavalryman. Are we supposed to just stand here and watch? "
Another member of the eagle team said.
"Hey."
Hearing this, Zhang Que finally turned his head and glanced at his companion behind him.
"In all the world, there is still no one who dares to question Marquis like this. The last was Huoshu Huizang and Dalun Ruozan, and all of you saw what happened to them. Not too long ago, there was also Dayan Mangpoje. In the end, his cousin, Dayan Pugyal, was killed by Marquis, and he even destroyed Zhangzhung Training Camp.
"In the northwest, if Marquis were to fart, the Protector-Generals and Great Generals of the empire, and the Ouzan Great Generals of the plateau would probably spend half a day studying it. No one can keep up with Marquis's thoughts. At the very least, I don't dare to question Marquis's decisions. "
Hearing Zhang Que's words, the members of the eagle squad standing behind him awkwardly fell silent.
"Captain, you're the closest to Marquis, so why don't you tell your brother what we're doing here?"
A quick-witted member of the eagle team nudged Zhang Que's arm, a fawning expression on his face.
Whether it was in the capital of the Tang Dynasty or in the northwest, the Young Marquis of the Tang Dynasty was known for his intelligence and farsightedness.
There were many times when his actions seemed ordinary and unremarkable, but later on, it would be proven that they had clear goals, intentions, and decisions that had been made after careful consideration.
In the City of Steel, many people would speculate on what Lord Marquis would do next in their free time.
"This …"
Zhang Que instantly hesitated.
"Captain, just tell us."
"That's right, hurry up and tell us."
… …
The other members of the eagle team began to clamor.
"This … forget it. This is just my speculation. You absolutely can't tell anyone."
Zhang Que hesitated for a very long time, but in the end, he couldn't stand up to the clamor.
"Look carefully at this area. Doesn't it look like a very large triangle? When Marquis goes to war, he never makes a decision without reason. As long as a few people are stationed on this triangle, it will be easy to defend and difficult to attack. The Ouzan can attack us from here at any time, and if they can't win, they can retreat. But it will be very difficult for us to attack. This is the steep terrain you speak of. "
Zhang Que was no fledgling. After spending many years at the Eagle's side, he had heard many of Wang Chong's exploits and understood many things about the battlefield. In particular, he had gone on an expedition with Wang Chong, so he had some understanding of military affairs.
If Wang Chong heard Zhang Que's words, he would assuredly have a whole new level of respect for him, because Zhang Que truly had guessed a few things.
"But even this is useless. Even if Marquis occupies this place, he won't be able to defend it. Does Marquis intend to build a fortress here?"
A member of the eagle team said.
"That's right. Even if we occupy it, it's useless. Besides, the area in front of us is flat land, perfect for the charge of Ouzan warhorses. With our backs against the cliff, isn't that just a dead end?"
Another member of the eagle team said.
"This … I don't know. Marquis definitely has his reasons for doing this. How could we possibly guess at them? "
Zhang Que said.
"We should hurry and investigate and report to Marquis. If we delay Marquis's plan, none of us will be able to bear the consequences."
Everyone's hearts tightened at these words, and they put away their joking thoughts.
Creee!
In the blink of an eye, the birds on everyone's shoulders and arms soared into the sky.
… …
Boom!
Hammer after hammer smashed down on the red-hot iron, sending sparks and roiling clouds of smoke. Widening his field of vision, he could see blacksmiths all around him with their arms bare, their backs drenched in sweat as they hammered furiously again and again.
"Hurry!"
"Everyone, put in more effort! The people from the capital have already urged us three times. "
"This is a major client, the Son of Heaven's disciple. If we mess it up, Lady Xu won't forgive us! She won't come looking for us in the future. "
… …
In the Tang dynasty's Jiangnan West Road, Hongzhou, in the Zhang Clan's sword shop, a supervisor with a whip in his hand was making his way through the furnaces, lecturing them as he went.
Flapflap!
As he was speaking, a pigeon suddenly flew down. The supervisor's eyes flashed as he caught the pigeon and opened the letter in the bamboo tube, upon which his face rapidly paled.
"All of you, hurry up! This is the fourth time that Lady Xu has sent a letter to urge us. If we don't forge twenty steel plates by today, none of us can sleep! "
The supervisor loosened the whip in his hand, and with a swish, he lashed it viciously in the air. After patrolling the sword shop a few times, he quickly strode away.
After leaving the sword shop and crossing the threshold to the main gate, he saw two stone lions standing guard. In front of the lions were rows of carriages, apparently waiting for something.
"Have all the modules been loaded?"
The supervisor asked the clan leader on the first carriage.
"They're all loaded. We can set out at any time."
The middle-aged commander with slender arms and a cold expression said seriously.
Several months ago, no one would have known what the word 'module' was or what it meant. But now, in the entire Jiangnan West Road, as long as it was related to blacksmithing, everyone would know of it. Everyone was used to it.
All the sword smiths, sword shops, and sword-smithing clans of the Jiangnan West Road probably knew of this word.
"Okay, let's set out. Don't delay the Young Marquis's business. If something happens, we won't be able to bear the consequences. This is a rare big client, and the family values it very much. Don't make any mistakes. "
There won't be any problems, "the supervisor sternly said.
"Lord Steward, be at ease. The clan has already sent sixty experts. There won't be any problems."
The stern-faced leader of the clan quickly gave the order to set off. "Go!" With a shout, a whip lashed through the void, and the entire convoy set off with a rumbling sound.
"Neigh!"
The neigh of horses resounded through the air as the Zhang Clan's convoy set out, followed closely behind it. If one looked down from the sky, one would see that all of Hong Province was being transported by one convoy after another for Wang Chong.
Even larger, the Jiangnan West Road and all the prefectures and commanderies of the Tang Dynasty were being transported by the Zhang Clan's caravans, forming a flood that traveled along the Silk Road toward the distant Wushang.
It was like a massive machine slowly turning. Behind Wang Chong's every decision were the countless clans and prefectures of the Tang Dynasty, all of them providing him with 'blood' and support.
… …
Yang Hongchang's efficiency was much faster than he had imagined. Several days after Wang Chong's order was passed down, in the early morning, while everyone was sleeping, a convoy carrying two wooden chests, tightly nailed down, was escorted into the City of Steel by a group of guards.
"Marquis, fortunately, we did not disappoint you. Following Marquis's directions, we found several chests of rhodiola. However, our clan head said that Marquis must have a deeper meaning in his actions. Whether or not this rhodiola is what Marquis wants is up to Marquis to decide. Once everything is confirmed, we can purchase it on a large scale and send it over in a steady stream. "
In the City of Steel, in a richly ornamented building, the old butler bowed and sincerely said, "Master, I've been waiting for you for a long time.
"Mm."
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.
