Chapter 1609: Hunting with the Khagan on Mount Sanmi!
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
Whoosh!
On the day of the execution, the news of the events that had transpired within the capital—and the words Wang Chong had spoken to the crowd—sprouted wings and flew to the countries bordering the Great Tang, traveling as far as Arabia and Charax Spasinu. And to Wang Chong’s final words, these countries all fell silent.
Wang Chong’s words were nothing more than a brazen threat to these countries, but none of them dared to retort.
Arrogance needed a basis, and there was no doubt that the King of Foreign Lands had this basis. Whether it was Mengshe Zhao, Ü-Tsang, the Western Turks, or the Arabian Empire, they had all been defeated by him.
Did a defeated general dare to speak up courageously?
“The Confucian Sect lost this round, as did all the countries around the Great Tang. With the King of Foreign Lands there, it will not be very easy for us to destroy the Great Tang. The Western Turks have lost all face, as one of their generals has been executed in the capital of an enemy country. We will have to see how Ishbara Khagan responds.”
In the incense-laden palace of Ü-Tsang’s royal capital, Dalon Trinling folded up the letter and put it in his sleeve, his eyes pensively turning toward the ceiling.
The conflict within the Tang Empire had involved all countries, but it was ultimately a dispute between the Western Turks and the Great Tang. The other countries were very limited in what they could do, even if they wanted to intervene.
“Hear my order. In the Tsenpo’s name, write a state letter to the Great Tang saying that Ü-Tsang is closely watching this matter and that we hope that the Great Tang can give all the other countries a proper explanation,” Dalon Trinling indifferently said.
“Yes, Great Minister!”
……
“Bastard! Bastard! Bastard!”
Amongst all the countries, no one was more enraged than Ishbara Khagan of the Western Turks.
The thunderous roars, like those of an enraged lion, resounded over the holy Mount Sanmi. The hundred-thousand-some Turkic elites around the mountain could only lower their heads in fear.
“Absolutely ridiculous! The Tang Empire attacks the vanguard of my regular Western Turkic army as it pleases and even manages to snatch two officers from an army of more than ten thousand and take them back to their capital! Our Western Turkic Khaganate has become a joke to the other countries now!”
Within his tent, Ishbara Khagan was furious, the veins on his arms bulging in rage.
“Can the heavens no longer control the King of Foreign Lands? In the Tang Empire, is it the Son of Heaven or the King of Foreign Lands that is greater!? Is it the First Prince who is regent or Wang Chong? Write a letter for me with all these words! I demand an explanation from the Tang Empire! If I don’t get a good one, then the Great Tang can look forward to a war!”
Ishbara Khagan slammed a fist down. A fierce gale broke out, obliterating the steel table, chairs, and the tent itself. A terrifying fissure was gouged out of the top of Mount Sanmi.
……
“Bastard thing!”
Within Taihe Palace, a grim mood reigned. All the officials trembled, not even daring to breathe too loudly. Seated on a raised platform, the First Prince was massaging his forehead with two fingers while his chest burned with rage.
Ever since he had returned, Wang Chong had not wasted a moment of time, stirring up one problem after another. The Public Order Squad incident was hardly over and he was already causing another incident.
What Li Ying found the most unbearable were the vexatious words in Ishbara Khagan’s letter.
‘In the Tang Empire, is the Son of Heaven greater or the King of Foreign Lands greater?!’ ‘Is it the First Prince who is regent or Wang Chong?’ Although Ishbara Khagan had said these words in anger, all of them struck at the First Prince’s pain points.
He was first in line to the throne and the heir apparent of the Great Tang. He was even now the regent in place of the Sage Emperor, clearly beneath only one man in the empire, but he could not order around Wang Chong.
Although Ishbara Khagan had spoken these words in rage, they reflected the First Prince’s thoughts. Moreover, Wang Chong’s operation had been completely his own idea, with nothing reported to the First Prince. Not even the authority of the heir apparent seemed to be able to restrain Wang Chong.
Thump!
The First Prince got angrier the more he thought about it. He snatched up the letter from the Western Turks and threw it down.
“Give this letter of state to the King of Foreign Lands! His willful actions have put us on the verge of a war with the Western Turks! He started this problem, so let him handle it!”
The First Prince gnashed his teeth, the veins bulging out of his forehead. His last words were bellowed with such force that they resounded throughout the Imperial Palace.
A few moments later, a silk-robed eunuch conveyed the First Prince’s rage, Ishbara Khagan’s letter, and the news of the clouds of war developing on the border to Wang Chong.
“Your Highness, this is no minor matter. Ishbara Khagan is furious. Our scouts report that after sending this letter threatening war, he has already begun to gather the tribes and ready them to attack our northern region. Once a war begins, countless lives will be lost!”
In Wang Chong’s study, Bian Lingcheng bowed, worry in his eyes.
The eunuch ordered to deliver the First Prince’s will to the Wang Family Residence had been one that he had bribed. The King of Foreign Lands had been stripped of his official post and King Song had not attended morning court in quite some time, so the Imperial Court was under the almost-total control of the Confucian Sect. Bian Lingcheng feared that Wang Chong did not understand the gravity of the situation, so he had come over to pay a visit.
“All the officials in court are criticizing Your Highness and the First Prince is furious. If a war breaks out, the First Prince will put all the blame on Your Highness. You must take this matter seriously!” Bian Lingcheng worriedly said.
Although he had his conflicts with Wang Chong, Wang Chong even threatening him with evidence of his crimes, Bian Lingcheng had both respect and fear for this king. After all, this was a man who had money, ability, and power!
And even Bian Lingcheng had to clap his hands upon seeing the result of the border incident. After all, he was a Tang as well!
The mood in the study was grim. Cheng Sanyuan, Xu Keyi, and all the others looked concernedly at Wang Chong. It was obvious that if this matter were not handled well, the First Prince would use this chance to seize Wang Chong.
“Heheh, relax!”
Surprisingly, Wang Chong merely glanced at the letter from the Western Turkic Khaganate before carelessly tossing it aside.
“I know what you’re thinking. Report to the First Prince that I have my plans for this matter. Leave everything to me!”
Wang Chong faintly smiled, his composed expression a stark contrast with the nervous faces in the room.
Everyone watched in confusion as Wang Chong took a brush from the writing rack, dabbed it with ink, unrolled a sheet of paper, and then wrote a few lines. He swept Stellar Energy over the paper to dry the ink, rolled the paper back up, and handed it to Old Eagle.
“Send this letter to Ishbara Khagan of the Western Turkic Khaganate. Once he receives this letter, he will naturally know what to do.”
Everyone glanced at each other in surprise. Wang Chong had written so quickly that by the time they had realized what was going on, Wang Chong had already rolled up the letter. No one knew what he had written.
“Your Highness.”
They all hesitated to speak, but Wang Chong merely smiled, offering no explanation.
“Go!”
Wang Chong waved his hand, and Old Eagle swiftly left with the letter.
A few moments later, a hawk began its long journey to Mount Sanmi.
……
“What has the Great Tang said?”
On the peak of Mount Sanmi, a dignified voice rang out from a newly-erected golden tent.
“Khagan, the Great Tang’s Imperial Court is currently in great turmoil. First Prince Li Ying has already received our letter, and we have heard that the First Prince is furious. Once we begin a war with the Great Tang, the King of Foreign Lands will be roundly criticized. We have heard that the First Prince has long been dissatisfied with him, but he lacked a good excuse. In addition, the Great Tang has said that they will give us a reply soon,” a Western Turkic King within the tent reported.
“Hmph, tell those officials of the Great Tang, and that Li Ying, that even if they hand over the four hundred men who attacked our forces, this matter will be far from settled! Can you bring back water that has been spilled? The Great Tang disgraced the Western Turks in front of all the other countries, so we will never let this matter go so easily!”
Ishbara Khagan found it hard to calm his rage.
Although his letter was proving effective, it was not enough for him. The two of them had signed a peace treaty, but the Great Tang had clearly broken its terms.
Since the Great Tang had broken the treaty first, he could not be blamed!
“Reporting!”
Hasty footsteps came from outside, and soon after, a stalwart Turkic soldier rushed in and kneeled.
“Reporting! The Great Tang has sent a letter. Khagan, please examine it!”
The Turkic soldier offered the recently received letter with both hands.
“Hmph, as they say in the Central Plains, speak of Cao Cao and Cao Cao appears. We warned them many times to no avail. Trying to offer compensation now is simply too late!”
Ishbara Khagan sneered as he turned to the Turkic warrior.
“Bring it over!”
Everyone in the tent focused on the letter.
As Ishbara Khagan opened the letter and read, the room fell silent.
“Bastard! This is absurd!”
A roar resounded over Mount Sanmi. Ishbara Khagan was enraged by the contents of the letter, his face turning red.
Only one line had been written on the letter:
‘Within three days of the army’s mobilization, I will be hunting with the Khagan on Mount Sanmi!’