More importantly, although very few people knew the name of Agudu Lan, the name of the Black Wolf Yabgu was frequently mentioned in the Imperial Court.
This person's name was almost always on the list of invading enemies from Qixi and Beiting. This person was definitely one of the core members of the Western Turkic Khaganate's warmongering faction, one of the Turkic upper echelons that gave both Qixi and Beiting great headaches.
No one had expected that this person, who had a reputation in the Imperial Court of the Tang Dynasty and was viewed by the Tang Dynasty as a major threat to the northern steppe, would die at the hands of Wang Chong.
"How could this be? This Black Wolf Yabgu has always been crafty. Beiting and Qixi tried to kill him several times, but he always managed to escape. How could he die in Qixi? "
"Fomonlința wasn't able to kill him in Qixi, so how could Fomonlința have left, leaving Qixi leaderless and the Black Wolf Yabgu dead?"
"Could it be a false report? This kind of problem has occurred before. Everyone thought that the Black Wolf Yabgu had died in Beiting, but then he suddenly became as lively as a tiger and reappeared. "
"How could this be? This sort of thing might happen to others, but how could it happen to the Young Marquis? He made such a great contribution in the southwest that even His Majesty bestowed him a courtesy name. How could he not recognize the Black Wolf Yabgu? An official report of victory to the Imperial Court is no trifling matter! "
… …
The hall was abuzz with chatter. All the military officials knew of the Black Wolf Yabgu's background and were stunned. As for the civil officials, although there were some who doubted Wang Chong, the majority firmly believed him.
After all, Duke Jiu had been the head of the civil officials when he was still on the throne. Moreover, he was a person of noble character, a person of virtue and prestige, deeply respected by the people of the world. His grandson would never make a false report for the sake of military merit.
"Bring out the report!"
At this moment, a gentle voice came from the upper reaches of the hall. Chief Eunuch Gao Lishi, who was standing beside the Holy Emperor, waved the horsetail whisk in his hand and suddenly spoke.
In an instant, the entire hall fell silent. Everyone turned to look at the Guardian of Insignia who had delivered the letter. They watched as the Guardian of Insignia stood up, passed through the center of the hall, and walked upwards.
Amidst the crowd, no one noticed that The King of Song's gaze was closely following the figure of the Guardian of Insignia. His brows were tightly knitted together as a vague thought flashed through his mind.
In the great hall, Eunuch Gao received the memorial from the Golden Guards and passed it behind the bead curtain. A moment later, the report reappeared in Eunuch Gao's hands.
"The identity of the Black Wolf Yabgu has been confirmed. The Yabgu's seal and tiger tally, as well as the Black Wolf Yabgu's head, are already on their way to the capital!"
Eunuch Gao's face was ruddy, and he smiled as he looked at the officials below the stage.
"Buzz!"
The hall buzzed with activity, and now, no one had any objections. Just like the Tang Dynasty, high-ranking Turkic officials of the Yabgu's level all had their own Yabgu's seal on their bodies. The Yabgu's seal was the best way to verify one's identity. The Black Wolf Yabgu would never so easily discard his Yabgu's seal. If Wang Chong had killed the Black Wolf Yabgu in Qixi and obtained the Yabgu's seal, then there was basically no doubt about the Black Wolf Yabgu's identity.
"I didn't think that he really would kill the Black Wolf Yabgu!!"
Everyone in the hall felt a deep throbbing in their hearts. The Black Wolf Yabgu who had dominated the northwest and rarely met his match had truly died, died at the hands of Wang Chong. This crafty foe had met his end in the northwest in such a shocking and unexpected manner, and the one who had killed him was a youth of sixteen or seventeen.
"The Wang Clan's Qilin son truly lives up to his reputation."
Everyone was deeply stunned by this news.
"Your Majesty, this subject has a memorial!"
As the hall buzzed with chatter and the officials discussed, The King of Song suddenly stepped out of his ranks and loudly declared to the Holy Emperor. His words immediately attracted the attention of all the civil and military officials in the hall.
"Your Highness The King of Song, speak."
Eunuch Gao, who seemed to understand the will of the heavens, said with a faint smile.
"This subject has an idea about the candidate for the new Qixi Protector-General. This lowly subject strongly recommends the Young Marquis of Wushang, Wang Chong, to be the new Qixi Protector-General! "
The King of Song clasped his hands and solemnly declared.
Bang!
Like a massive meteor crashing into the hall, The King of Song's words immediately set off a massive uproar among the officials.
"Absurd!"
Before the other officials could say anything, King Qi was the first to jump out.
"The King of Song, have you gone mad? That Wang Chong is only a half-grown brat, and you're actually recommending him for Qixi Protector-General! Which one of the candidates recommended by these officials isn't more qualified than that Wang Chong? If even he can become Qixi Protector-General, doesn't that mean anyone else can? How can a brat who still smells of his mother's milk convince the masses! "
King Qi was extremely agitated. Putting aside his personal grudges with The King of Song and having clashed with The King of Song so many times, the King of Song's performance this time had left King Qi most shocked. No one with a brain would recommend a sixteen or seventeen-year-old boy for the important position of Qixi Protector-General. Even if he didn't have so many personal grudges with The King of Song, King Qi would never agree.
This was the most absurd proposal King Qi had ever heard.
"Your Highness, forgive this one for being so bold. Although this old subject has always treated Your Highness with great respect, isn't Your Highness's proposal a little too rash? There is no precedent in the empire for a seventeen-year-old to become Qixi Protector-General and command tens of thousands of soldiers. Isn't it a little inappropriate for Your Highness to propose him as Qixi Protector-General? "
Even the elderly Imperial Censor Hao couldn't help but step forward and object.
"Your Highness, no. I know that Your Highness has been on good terms with the Wang Clan for several generations, but the Qixi Protector-General position concerns the safety of the entire Western Regions and the tens of thousands of soldiers in Qixi. Isn't putting a seventeen-year-old child in such an important position too childish? Abusi finds it difficult to agree! "
Even the Tongluo Great General Abusi, who rarely interfered in the court, couldn't help but step forward.
In the Kunwu Training Camp, Wang Chong had tied up his son Abutong and hung him naked from a bamboo pole in front of everyone, causing the father and son to lose all face. The King of Song's proposal for Wang Chong to become Qixi Protector-General was absolutely unacceptable to Abusi.
"That's right. There are quite a few Hu in the Qixi Protectorate, and after the Regional Commanders incident, the relationship between Wang Chong and them became very strained. The soldiers of Qixi even joined together to impeach Wang Chong and demand that he be executed. And now, Wang Chong has also impeached Fomonlința. How can the Hu of Qixi submit to him? If he becomes Qixi Protector-General, won't it cause Qixi to become even more divided? Not only will it not help Qixi's stability, it will only add hail to snow. Please forgive me for finding it very difficult to agree! "
Another official from the imperial court also stepped out and objected.
"That's right. Putting aside everything else, he probably won't be satisfied with just martial arts. This cannot be allowed! "
One official after another, The King of Song's words incited a massive debate in the court, with more than half of the civil and military officials standing up to oppose The King of Song.
"Your Highness …"
This time, even Wang Chong's big uncle, Wang Gen, was staring at The King of Song, his eyes wide and speechless. The King of Song's proposal was far too bold. Not even he could say such a thing. In terms of seniority, wasn't even Wang Chong's father, Wang Yan, more suitable than Wang Chong? Wang Gen simply couldn't understand why The King of Song would bring up Wang Chong instead of Wang Yan.
Elsewhere, the newly appointed Minister of War, Zhangchou Jianqiong, and Yang Zhao, who was standing next to the coiling dragon pillar, were also exchanging surprised glances.
Not even they had expected The King of Song's proposal. But at a time like this, the two of them had wisely chosen to remain silent and watch the situation develop.
The King of Song still maintained his calm, a smile on his lips as he listened to the fierce objections of the officials. The vague idea in his mind grew clearer and clearer, and the smile on his lips grew wider and wider.
"Your Majesty, and my colleagues, I believe that the Young Marquis, Wang Chong, is not only suitable for the position of Qixi Protector-General, but also the best candidate. In the entire empire, there is no one more suitable than him for the position of Qixi Protector-General. "
The King of Song had a composed expression, a faint smile on his face. His every movement exuded a powerful and infectious confidence.
"I know why all of you oppose him. It's just that he's young and inexperienced, not enough to convince the masses. Moreover, Wang Chong has clashed with all the Hu in the empire. But I believe that suitability for Qixi Protector-General is based on ability, not these minor details. Qixi's position is extremely unique. It is the throat between the interior and the Western Regions. To the left is the tall and thin Ouzan Plateau, where the Ouzan cavalry could charge down at any moment and plunder the Central Plains. To the right is the Turkic steppe, the territory of the Western Turkic Khaganate. These two factions have always been a mortal malady to our Tang Dynasty. We discussed the selection of Qixi Protector-General as quickly as possible in order to prevent the soldiers of these two empires from invading in the chaos.
"But now, everyone can see what Qixi is like now that Fomonlința has left. On the left is the Ouzan Plateau. After the battle of the triangular gap, the Ouzan army suffered grievous casualties, at least one hundred thousand soldiers. Even an imperial Brigadier General like Dayan Mangpoje died there. Dusong Mangpoje has also fled, and it will probably be a very long time before they can find suitable soldiers to invade the interior. As for the east, the greatest danger is the Black Wolf Yabgu Agudu Lan, but now, even Agudu Lan is dead. And this is even when Wang Chong has not yet taken up the post of Qixi Protector-General. Before he has even become Qixi Protector-General, he has already done everything that a Qixi Protector-General should do, resolving the complex situation of a pincer attack on Qixi. May I ask, if he is not suitable for Qixi Protector-General, who is more suitable? "
The more The King of Song spoke, the clearer he became, and the more determined he was to recommend Wang Chong as Qixi Protector-General.
"And have all of you forgotten how Wang Chong overturned the tide in the war of the southwest and defeated Mengshe Zhao and Ouzan? Even famed generals like Duan Gequan, Huoshu Huicang, and Dalun Ruozan had been defeated by him, and now Dusong Mangpoje had joined the fray as well … He had even survived such formidable foes and difficult circumstances, and he had even killed more than four hundred thousand soldiers of the Mengshe – Ü-Tsang army. If even this sort of experience was said to be insufficiently experienced, then what could be considered insufficiently experienced? In the Great Qin Empire of more than one thousand years ago, Gan Luo became prime minister at the age of twelve, and Wang Chong became Qixi Protector-General at the age of seventeen.
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.
