Wang Chong looked at the silhouettes outside the walls and sighed.
These people were the greatest resources of the Wang Clan, as well as the greatest legacy of his grandfather. Even though the Wang Clan was usually poor, even though Wang Chong was a direct descendant of the Wang Clan, his monthly allowance couldn't even reach the Vast Crane Pavilion. In fact, he was even toyed with by a hoodlum like Ma Zhou.
However, in the Central Plains, in the Tang dynasty, there was no one who dared to look down on the Wang Clan.
The old man was a person of virtue and prestige, and was highly respected in the court. On the other hand, his students and old acquaintances were spread all over the world, and they were involved in all sorts of professions. Some of them were in charge of finances, some of them were involved in the military, some of them were officials of various prefectures, some of them were teachers, some of them were scholars, some of them were officials of the borders, and some of them were generals of the military …
Regardless of which profession they were in, these people wielded extraordinary influence!
The status of a clan of generals and ministers wasn't just for show. Even when the Yao Clan was at its peak, they didn't dare to look down on the Wang Clan. Instead, they viewed the Wang Clan as a thorn in their side, a thorn in their flesh.
To Wang Chong, after his second reincarnation, what he wanted the most was the acknowledgement of his grandfather's old acquaintances and students. Whoever obtained the approval of these people, whoever was able to unite these people would possess an extremely great power!
However, it wasn't easy to obtain this power. Even Wang Chong's grandfather was helpless before it. This wasn't a problem of grandfather's approval. In order to obtain this power, one had to obtain the acknowledgement of everyone.
It was easy to obtain the acknowledgement of one or two people, but it wasn't an easy task to obtain the acknowledgement of so many people!
Thus, Wang Chong's big brother didn't succeed, Wang Chong's second brother didn't succeed, Wang Chong's cousin Wang Li didn't succeed as well. In fact, Wang Chong's big uncle, uncle, father, and little uncle had all failed long ago!
The succession of a large clan had never been an easy matter. It wasn't just the Wang Clan, the Yao Clan, and the other clans as well. It was just that the difficulty and methods of succession differed.
In the future, when the old master passed away, he might have acknowledged big uncle as his successor. However, it was hard to say how many people truly approved of Great Uncle.
For many people, perhaps out of respect for the old master, they would acknowledge him on the surface. However, it was absolutely impossible for him to truly mobilize this power like the old man did.
This was also the greatest problem of the Wang Clan's succession!
At the same time, it was also a sore point for the old master!
"Boom!"
Just as Wang Chong's mind was in turmoil, the doors of the Four Quarters Embassy suddenly opened, and the crowd outside excitedly filed in.
There was no crowding. Everyone naturally lined up neatly and walked in the direction of the Erudite Pavilion in an orderly manner. Their faces were rosy, and they chatted as they walked. Their natural and joyful expressions made it seem as if the 70th birthday celebration was not for Wang Chong's grandfather, but for their own family members.
Seeing this, Wang Chong let out a long sigh in his heart. In the entire Wang Clan, grandfather was probably the only one who could earn their heartfelt respect.
Coming down from the fake mountain, Wang Chong saw these people entering the Erudite Pavilion to offer their blessings to the old master.
Without the old master's permission, the Wang Clan wasn't allowed to interact with the old master's students and old friends. This was a taboo. As such, when these people offered their blessings, be it Wang Chong or little uncle, they all avoided them.
The entire ceremony lasted for a very long time. Row after row of people entered without bringing any gifts. This was also the old master's rule. After offering their blessings, row after row of people walked out from the main entrance.
The entire process was orderly!
After an unknown period of time, the entire ceremony finally came to an end.
In an instant, the atmosphere in the courtyard suddenly became tense. Wang Chong's big aunt, big aunt, and mother Zhao Shu Hua all became nervous. Everyone looked in the direction of the Erudite Pavilion in anticipation!
Only Wang Chong's little uncle chuckled lightly. With his hands behind his head, he leaned against a fake mountain with a content expression.
"Brat, do you think grandfather will call you in?"
Unknowingly, Cousin Wang Zhu Yan suddenly walked around a bamboo forest and appeared behind Wang Chong.
"Heh, second sister, if big aunt finds out that you are here. Aren't you afraid that she will pull your ears? "
Wang Chong chuckled, not replying directly.
"Brat, are you itching for a beating?"
Using the bamboo forest as cover, Cousin Wang Chong avoided her mother's gaze and raised her fist threateningly. Big aunt had always disliked Cousin Wang Chong being too close to the Wang Clan. This was something that Wang Chong had always known.
However, this didn't change Cousin Wang Chong's personality.
At her age, even if big aunt wanted to control her, it would be hard for her to do so. Just that, it was inevitable for her to be 'taught' a lesson by big aunt every time.
"I really don't understand why you grandsons would view such things with such importance. My big brother is like this, your big brother is the same, and from the looks of it now, even you brat is the same! "
Wang Zhu Yan stretched out her finger and flicked it lightly, sending a bamboo leaf flying far away. Her eyes were filled with disdain and dissatisfaction.
Military affairs and politics had always been unrelated to women.
The 'major affairs' in the Erudite Pavilion had never had anything to do with them, granddaughters and daughters-in-law. Grandfather had never invited her in either.
On the other hand, it was the eldest grandsons who were 'bleeding' from the competition. This made her feel both dissatisfied and disdainful.
Wang Chong smiled and shook his head, not replying to her words.
He was determined to fight for the rights to enter the 'Erudite Pavilion', and he was determined to do so with all his might. However, this fight wasn't for personal authority.
Wang Chong had his own reasons for fighting for the rights to the pavilion!
If he wanted to fulfill his wish and accomplish the mission he shouldered in his life, Wang Chong had to find a way to make use of grandfather's influence and gain their recognition.
However, Wang Chong couldn't tell Cousin Wang Chong about this.
The entire Wang Clan was spread out around the Erudite Pavilion, waiting silently. After an unknown period of time, resounding footsteps sounded. A fully-armored Imperial Army commander appeared at the entrance of the Erudite Pavilion.
This Imperial Army commander glanced around and soon, he walked toward the crowd.
The gazes of the crowd unconsciously gathered on the commander of the Imperial Army. Even Wang Chong couldn't help but hold his breath.
"Young Master Li, Duke Jiu has ordered for you to enter the conference hall."
Just eight to nine zhang away from Wang Chong, the Imperial Army commander's footsteps came to an abrupt halt. He turned to Wang Chong's cousin Wang Li and said.
"Li-er, what are you waiting for? Your grandfather has called for you. "
Big aunt's face lit up in joy as she urged him on.
Wang Chong's heart rose high before falling back down. It felt empty.
"So it wasn't me …"
For an instant, Wang Chong thought that the Imperial Army commander was here to look for him.
Cousin Wang Li soon entered the Erudite Pavilion.
This wasn't his first time entering the Erudite Pavilion. But every time he entered, Wang Chong could still sense that he was still a little nervous.
After the Imperial Army commander entered, he suddenly appeared once more. This time, he headed straight for Wang Chong and stood before Wang Chong.
"Chong gongzi, Duke Jiu invites you over!"
The Imperial Army commander's attitude was extremely polite.
In an instant, the air in the Four Quarters Embassy froze. Xing-shi stared at the fifteen-year-old Wang Chong in shock, and her complexion immediately turned awful.
There had never been a fifteen-year-old who was summoned into the Erudite Pavilion before. Wang Chong was only a child, and the old master had completely shattered her understanding.
"Damn it! The old master is too biased! "
Xing-shi gritted her teeth as she clenched her fists tightly in her sleeves.
Wang Chong paid no heed to Xing-shi's awful complexion. At this moment, there was only joy in his heart, and his heart was finally at ease.
"It's finally my turn!"
Wang Chong was overjoyed.
Even though everyone in the garden was shocked, Wang Chong wasn't surprised at all. In order to reach this stage and gain the respect of the old master, he had done too many things.
Be it saving the clan from danger at the Vast Crane Pavilion, scheming against Yao Guang Yi by the borders, the Hyderabad ores plan, and presenting a sword for the old master's seventieth birthday …
Wang Chong had done all he could. It wasn't easy for him to reach this stage. Big aunt might think that the old master was biased toward him, but Wang Chong knew that this wasn't any special favor. He had earned it through his own hard work.
"Mother, I'll be going in first."
Wang Chong walked over and tugged on his mother's hand.
"Un."
Madam Wang stroked Wang Chong's head with a delighted expression.
"Second sister, let's go!"
Wang Chong mischievously gestured to the back of the bamboo forest. Disregarding whether she could see him or not, he walked toward the Erudite Pavilion.
There wasn't anyone in the hall, but voices could be heard from the back of the hall. The old master and his subordinates never discussed matters in the hall, and they didn't allow anyone to view them.
Even the Imperial Army guarding the area wasn't allowed to enter.
"Whether I can win the old master's trust or not depends on this."
Wang Chong took in a deep breath, walked around a screen of flowers and birds more than one zhang tall, and appeared in the conference hall at the back of the hall.
The conference hall was filled with people.
As soon as Wang Chong walked in, he saw the old master seated at the very top. Around him, Wang Chong saw many white-haired elders. Every single one of them had a calm demeanor, and they exuded an authoritative aura.
Upon seeing Wang Chong enter, these white-haired elders immediately turned to look at him.
Even though Wang Chong was mentally prepared, he couldn't help but feel his heart tighten when he saw these white-haired elders in the conference hall. Most of the old master's old friends and students had left for his birthday.
Those who were left behind were all old subordinates of the old master who played an important role under his command. They held extraordinary weight! Of all the people who came to the birthday today, they had the highest prestige, and they also had the greatest influence and rallying power!
To gain the recognition of the old master's old friends and students, the opinions of these white-haired elders in the conference hall carried a great deal of weight.
Only by conquering them and gaining their recognition would he be able to gain the recognition of the old master's old friends and students!
This was a test!
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