Moreover, Li Zhengyi had led forty thousand soldiers to reinforce the southwest, but they had been ambushed by the Ouzan, consuming the small number of soldiers that the Tang Dynasty had managed to accumulate with great difficulty. The Imperial Court could only send a limited number of soldiers.
At this moment, Wang Chong very naturally thought of his father and big brother.
Father and Big Brother should have around twenty thousand soldiers on both sides. Although they are infantry, they are experienced soldiers tempered through blood and fire. Their defense is extremely formidable. They should have been able to play a role in the Battle of Talas and the war with the Arabs. But this is still not enough. These soldiers are far from enough to deal with the soldiers of the Arabian Empire.
Wang Chong's mind was in turmoil as he recalled the information from his last life about the Battle of Talas. In the battle between Gao Xianzhi and Abu Muslim, the Arabs had gathered at least three hundred thousand soldiers. The Arabs were even more vicious and skilled in battle than the Ouzan. The soldiers of Qixi were far from enough.
The soldiers of the Imperial Court that haven't experienced any major battles are useless. Bringing these recruits is just sending them to their deaths. And the places where the Tang Dynasty has the most soldiers are the border protectorates. Zhang Shougui and I have clashed, so he definitely won't help me. Moreover, transferring soldiers is too far away, and Youzhou is truly too far. Even if An Sishun can help Beiting, he'll definitely find an excuse. As for Longxi … Geshu Han doesn't even have enough soldiers, so he probably won't be able to take care of himself. Asking him to help me is just wishful thinking.
At this time, the only place that can send soldiers is the Annan Protectorate. I've already destroyed the Ngari Royal Lineage, and the Mengshe Zhao Empire has already submitted to the Tang Dynasty. The Annan Protectorate is truly no longer a threat.
Wang Chong thought for a few moments before writing down the name of the Annan Protectorate. This was the only thing he could think of in this short amount of time.
Soldiers were necessary, but as for weapons and food, Wang Chong already had the hybrid rice of the Qixi Armory and Jiaozhi, so he didn't need the Imperial Court's help. What they really needed the most was gold and silver. War was a war of wealth, and what was consumed the most was gold and silver. Moreover, with these things, Wang Chong could recruit more mercenaries. This was also the most practical method in a short period of time.
Wang Chong added one name after another. Once he was done, Wang Chong stood up and rolled up the letter. Just as he was about to place it back into the bamboo tube, thunderous cheers came from outside the City of Steel.
"Wang Chong, come quickly! Your second brother Wang Bei is here! — "
Suddenly, Xu Yi-qin's voice came from the distant walls of the City of Steel.
"What?!"
When Wang Chong heard this, his body shook violently. He couldn't believe his ears. Swoosh! Putting down the letter, Wang Chong flew through the window and out.
A few moments later, a sea of people had gathered outside the city gate. Countless people were surging along the cement road leading to Wushang. These people had fierce faces and were dressed in completely different clothes. They were actually bandits and highwaymen! Let alone others, even Wang Chong was dumbfounded by this sight.
But very quickly, Wang Chong's attention was drawn to a cold and aloof figure at the very front of these bandits and highwaymen.
"Second Brother!"
Wang Chong rejoiced and immediately flew over. The two brothers fiercely hugged each other.
"Little Brother, I'm here," Wang Bei indifferently said.
Wang Bei said indifferently. His expression was cold and there wasn't much change on his face. However, his eyes, which usually kept people at arm's length, revealed traces of warmth.
Wang Chong's second brother Wang Bei had suppressed his Berserker Syndrome and walked out of the prison of the Imperial Palace. Moreover, on his way from the capital to Wushang, he had subdued a large number of bandits and highwaymen, giving Wang Chong eight to nine thousand soldiers. No one had expected this, and the morale of the soldiers in the City of Steel soared.
And the arrival of Wang Chong's second brother Wang Bei was like a primer. Soldiers began to pour in from all directions. The first to arrive were those from Deflecting Blade Manor. Su Hanshan had brought Sun Zhiming, Fang Xuanying, Xu Gan, Chen Burang, Zhuang Buping, and Chi Weisi.
These future 'generals' of Deflecting Blade Manor had been dispatched by Wang Chong to the southwest, Beiting, and other places to temper themselves. Tempered by blood and fire, all of them had made significant progress.
And soon after, Wang Chong's request was approved. Wang Chong's father Wang Yan and big brother Wang Fu rushed to the Qixi Protectorate headquarters as quickly as possible. Wang Chong had prepared a large number of transport carriages in the capital to transport these twenty thousand soldiers so as to shorten the time.
On the other side, Annan Protector-General Xianyu Zhongtong had received Wang Chong's request and sent eight thousand elites of the Annam Protectorate to Wushang.
Four thousand of them were elite cavalry. If not for the special rules of the various protectorates, Xianyu Zhongtong would have sent even more soldiers to Wang Chong.
Xianyu Zhongtong and Wang Chong had forged a friendship that had been tempered through blood and fire, through life and death.
Not only that, even though the Imperial Court was strapped for soldiers and could not mobilize many, the Imperial Court had still sent an additional ten thousand soldiers to Wang Chong. Together with Wang Chong's father and big brother, the Annam Protectorate of the southwest, they were all sent to Wushang. In addition, the greatest aid the Imperial Court had given Wang Chong was money.
The Imperial Court had given Wang Chong ten million taels of gold, of which five million were in gold yuan notes. This was enough money for Wang Chong to hire a large number of soldiers in the Western Regions.
Time slowly passed, and every day, a large number of soldiers would arrive at Wushang's City of Steel. Wang Chong was doing his utmost to race against time, sending countless carrier pigeons and rock eagles to Talas each day to gather intelligence. At the same time, Wang Chong was also using the ten million taels of gold the Imperial Court had given him to recruit soldiers and increase his own strength.
He had even used this gold to hire twelve thousand regular soldiers from Greater and Lesser Balur.
Now, all I need is the Meteoric Metal!
In the City of Steel of Wushang, in Wang Chong's residence, Wang Chong mentally sighed as he looked out the window at the plum blossoms that were about to bloom. The Qixi Protectorate was now fully prepared, and all that was missing was the Meteoric Metal. Wang Chong had done a great deal of preparation. Soldiers, food, WuZi Steel weapons … everything that could be done, Wang Chong had done.
But deep in Wang Chong's heart, there was still one deep regret: the Meteoric Metal.
Even someone as powerful as Wang Chong, who had the memories of his past life after his reincarnation, could not control some things, and the Meteoric Metal was one of them. His cousin Wang Liang had gone overseas to search for the Meteoric Metal for a very long time. Logically speaking, he should have returned long ago, but for some reason, there had been no news.
I wonder how he's doing right now?
Wang Chong quietly said to himself.
But not even Wang Chong knew that on the other side of the eastern coast of the Tang Dynasty, an unprecedentedly powerful fleet of ships was currently arriving.
"Out of the way, out of the way! The fleet is about to enter the harbor!"
"Heavens, whose fleet is this? Why is the waterline so deep? Just how much cargo are they carrying! "
"Can't you see? You don't even recognize the flag of the Wang Clan? How ignorant! "
"Ah! Young Marquis … "
… …
The craftsmen on the docks looked in shock at that massive ship, which was several stories tall, and began to back up.
Clap!
At almost the same time, the first ship docked. A long rope ladder was thrown down from the ship, and one crew member after another, their skin tanned by the wind slid down the rope ladder. As they looked at the familiar Central Plains, they spread open their arms and laughed.
"We've finally returned!"
Following closely behind these crew members was a long wooden plank reinforced with steel plates. Amidst the sounds of machinery, it was erected high up from the ship, and then with a loud boom, it fell down like a golden mountain and jade pillar. After a few moments of silence, a thin but extremely capable figure appeared on the other end of the wooden bridge.
He was dressed in a shabby embroidered robe, but he still retained the elegance of a scion of a great clan. His long years of drifting on the sea had darkened his skin, and his face was marked by many hardships. But his eyes were unprecedentedly bright, brimming with vitality and prestige.
"After more than half a year, I've finally returned to the Central Plains …"
Wang Liang stood at the end of the wooden bridge, his hands clasped behind his back as he gazed into the distance. The strong sea breeze caused his hair to dance in the wind. Wang Liang's aura was steady and heavy, like that of an experienced veteran who had sailed the sea for decades. And it was hard to believe that he was actually just a young man of twenty-one or twenty-two.
"From top to bottom, the Wang Clan is bound together for glory and bound together for loss. Cousin, I hope that I haven't dragged you down …"
The trials of life, the trials of the sea, and the considerations of life and death had long ago made Wang Liang understand many truths that a young man like him should not understand, and he also understood the true essence of this colossal clan of ministers and generals. Great clans had their own responsibilities, and each person had their own distinct authority. Only then could they maintain the operation of this colossal clan and prevent it from falling apart.
In the current Wang Clan, the spearhead was Wang Chong. He was the most dazzling existence of this generation of the Wang Clan, and he was also the crux of the Wang Clan's glory. He was irreplaceable. And Wang Liang himself was the end of this spear, the handle. Although each person's role was different, it was all the same.
Wang Liang did not understand military affairs, nor did he understand Wang Chong's ambitions and plans. Thus, he could only use his own method to support Wang Chong, his cousin, and the entire Wang Clan.
… …
As these thoughts flitted through his mind, Wang Liang quickly regained his composure. His entire demeanor was like an unsheathed sword, gradually becoming sharp and brimming with prestige. Turning around, Wang Liang waved his hand behind him as he sternly shouted.
"Begin unloading!"
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