"Haha, how could that be! Didn't I prepare a gift for you? "
Wang Chong smiled and opened his palm, revealing a pair of teardrop-shaped earrings of exquisite workmanship.
These were the high-quality agates that Yang Hongchang had presented to Wang Chong not too long ago. Wang Chong had found the best craftsman in the Western Regions to make them into a pair of earrings. It was perfect for Huang Qian-er.
As expected, Huang Qian-er's eyes, so cold that they could kill, immediately became much more pleasant upon seeing this pair of exquisite earrings.
She coldly harrumphed and shot a vicious glare at Wang Chong, but she still accepted the pair of agate earrings.
"I've brought the White-hoofed Shadow to you. I'll leave the rest to you."
Huang Qian-er dismounted and handed the reins to Wang Chong.
"Someone, bring Young Lady Qian-er inside to rest. Find a few maids to serve her well."
Wang Chong took the reins and gave an order.
Wushang was a long journey from the capital, and the journey had been arduous. Although Huang Qian-er had said nothing, Wang Chong could not understand that a girl like Huang Qian-er was willing to travel all the way from the capital.
After having Huang Qian-er taken care of, Wang Chong quickly left with the White-hoofed Shadow.
… …
While Wang Chong was welcoming Huang Qian-er and his White-hoofed Shadow in the City of Steel, in the distant capital, an abnormally intense debate was taking place in the Imperial Court.
"Ten million taels of gold? Are you joking? Where does the Imperial Court get so much money to squander? And who knows if those people can be trusted? "
"That's right. The silver of the imperial court is spent like water every year. Six to seven hundred thousand soldiers, the food for the horses, and the officials in various places. Which place doesn't need money? If there's a drought or flood, don't you need to prepare some money in advance? "
"If all the money is spent on the army, what about other places?"
"And ten million taels of gold isn't a small sum. Do we have to give ten million taels to anyone who asks? This is gold, gold! It's not silver, nor is it ten million copper coins! "
…
The debate in the Imperial Court was extremely intense. The Imperial Censors, Assistant Ministers, all the officials of the Six Ministries, and even the dukes and nobles of the Imperial Court all joined in.
Everyone quarreled.
"Bastard! What did he mean by casually taking out ten million taels? These were warhorses, warhorses that the imperial court lacked the most! This is something that can't be bought with money. "
"When the nest is overturned, no eggs can remain intact. If the skin is gone, how can the hair attach to it? These war horses are used to protect the country. If they can't even protect the country, what's the point of talking about anything else? Everything has its priorities. If you can't even bear to spend money on such an important matter, then what else is worth spending money on? "
"That's right! The Young Marquis was a marquis personally appointed by His Majesty and given a courtesy name by the Son of Heaven. If not even his words could be trusted, what else could be trusted? Don't tell me you don't even believe in His Majesty's foresight! "
"The imperial court doesn't have any pastures, so they can't raise a large number of warhorses. This is an opportunity that has been presented to us. It's a once in a blue moon opportunity that can't be missed. It would be too late for regrets if he wanted to buy it in the future. No matter how precious ten million taels of gold is, can it be more important than the safety of the Tang dynasty? "
…
The Imperial Court was clearly divided into two factions, neither willing to give in. Three hundred thousand warhorses, and the best warhorses of the Turks at that. This was something that would have been unimaginable in the past. Almost all the generals of the army were participating, and all of them knew that this was an enormous opportunity.
"You're going all out to fight! You're going all out to fight! As long as I, Wen Fugu, still have a single breath left in me, I will never allow you to do this. "
Next to the cinnabar coiling dragon pillar, Assistant Minister of Rites Wen Fugu had an agitated expression on his face, his voice resounding.
"Whoever wants to pass this proposal will have to step over my dead body," Wen Fugu said coldly.
As a member of the Confucian faction in the court, Wen Fugu had always loathed war. He would never agree to a matter of ten million taels of gold.
Wen Fugu had been one of the most extreme opponents of the court's debates.
"Wen Fugu, you bastard!"
Wen Fugu's words almost caused the soldiers to explode with rage.
"Haha."
No one noticed that beneath another coiling dragon pillar, King Qi, dressed in his official robe, was sneering. There was no need for him to appear in this court debate. Wen Fugu alone was enough to keep them busy.
"Wen Fugu, do you want to die? I'll grant you your wish! This is the Alchemy Iron Coupon bestowed by the late Emperor. Take it and commit suicide! "
Suddenly, a furious voice boomed through the hall like a clap of thunder. This voice came out of nowhere, and the extreme anger in it startled everyone. In an instant, the hall fell silent. Even Wen Fugu shuddered and abruptly turned his head.
Outside the hall, a figure strode in with a majestic gait. His eyes were so furious that they could spit fire, making one's heart tremble.
"The soldiers of the court are fighting a bloody battle at the border. It's because of the corpses of countless soldiers that all of you are able to talk freely here. Drought and floods, salaries, and all that nonsense about going all out to fight. Just what are you all talking about? Was the world of the Great Tang just empty talk? Did the Northern Frontier and the Western Regions just talk?
Wen Fugu, you are a pedantic scholar who harms the country and the people. Your death is a small matter, but it's a grave matter. Don't you want to die? Today, I'll fulfill your wish. "
King Song was unable to restrain his rage. His right hand swung down, and with a clang, he smashed a metal ticket into the ground in front of Wen Fugu.
Having served in the court for so long, this was the first time anyone had seen the King of Song so angry. His eyes were as cold as winter, and his gaze was as sharp as a sword, seemingly able to pierce through a person.
There were so many people in the hall, but no one dared to meet his gaze. At this moment, even King Qi, who was hiding under the coiling dragon pillar, was startled, let alone the others.
"Song …"
King Qi was just about to step forward when the King of Song glared at him. The look was so fierce that it seemed like he wanted to take him down with him. Even someone as perverse as King Qi couldn't help but shiver. He stopped in his tracks, startled.
What is this madman trying to do? It's just a few million taels of gold. It's not even his own. Why is he fighting so hard?
For a moment, King Qi was frightened by the King of Song.
It was just a few million taels of gold. The money spent was the court's. What did it have to do with him? King Qi was only objecting for the sake of objecting. He didn't really care about this matter. He didn't have that much determination in his heart, and he didn't have that much perseverance.
It was not worth it to start a life and death struggle over such a matter, to the point where both sides would suffer losses.
This bastard. Is it worth it for the sake of the youngest son of the Wang family?
King Qi gritted his teeth, secretly hating. But when he saw the fierce look in the King of Song's eyes, he really couldn't make up his mind to fight to the death with him.
"Speak! Who else? "
The King of Song said furiously. This matter had been dragged on for nearly a month, and his patience was almost worn out. It was a once-in-a-lifetime matter that was beneficial to the country and the people, but it had been forcefully turned into the current situation, and all his anger had been aroused.
"Wen Fugu, you sinner. You don't even know a thing about military tactics. If something happens at the border and there aren't enough warhorses, it will affect the military situation, causing the people at the border to be plunged into misery and suffering, and the common people to be slaughtered, this king will hold you accountable. Even if you die, this king will erect a tombstone. I will write your shame and harm the country on it and erect it in front of your grave. "
The King of Song was infuriated by these last words.
Even though Wen Fugu was fearless in front of the court, he couldn't help but feel stifled upon hearing the King of Song's words, unable to speak. Scholars didn't fear death. What they cared about was reputation. Given the King of Song's reputation, he was clearly furious to say such words. Moreover, given his style, he was a man of his word.
Wen Fugu had to admit that he truly didn't understand military affairs. If something really did go wrong and this stele was erected in front of his grave, it would be a fate even more difficult to accept than death.
Wen Fugu stared at the King of Song, his lips parting several times, but no words came out.
He had to admit that he had truly been frightened by The King of Song.
Even Wen Fugu, his greatest opponent, had been intimidated by the King of Song, and King Qi had remained silent. For a moment, the Imperial Court was deathly still.
The fierce debate instantly quieted down.
The horse purchase case, which had been hotly debated for nearly a month, finally reached an agreement after a few hours. At nightfall, a messenger pigeon with black feathers and golden eyes took off from the capital. It flew across the capital, over mountains and rivers, all the way to the distant Wushang.
Flapflap!
Several days later, as the sun shone down, the pigeon flew through the window and landed in front of it.
"Haha, it's a success."
Wang Chong put down the letter from the King of Song and glanced at the pigeon on the window, a faint smile on his lips. The funds for the purchase of horses had finally been approved. Although the King of Song had played down the matter in his letter, Wang Chong was well aware that with King Qi playing tricks in the Imperial Court, this matter would not be so easily approved.
As for the faint hint of apology in the King of Song's letter, revealing that the initial amount was only ten million taels of gold, Wang Chong didn't care too much about it. If there was a first, there would be a second. Crucially, the Imperial Court had opened the door to the purchase. Moreover, once the Imperial Court and the army saw the first batch of high-quality Turkic warhorses, they would naturally bring up the second and third batches.
As these thoughts flitted through Wang Chong's mind, he heard a familiar voice.
"Congratulations to user for unlocking the mission 'Warhorses of the Tang Dynasty'. The reward is 400 points of Destiny Energy.
"Additionally, this mission has no time limit. The more warhorses user buys, the greater the reward. For every ten thousand warhorses, user will be rewarded with 100 points of Destiny Energy. User has already obtained 11,000 warhorses and is rewarded with an additional 110 points of Destiny Energy. "
… …
"Mm? There's a mission like this?! "
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