Chapter 2062: Forward Base!

Translated by: Hypersheep325

Edited by: Michyrr

An Yaluoshan’s intent to rebel was clear, and four hundred thousand Hu soldiers had already been assembled in Youzhou. The moment An Yaluoshan began his assault, those four hundred thousand soldiers would sweep out from the northeast like a flood and engulf the Hebei Circuit.

At that time, this forward base would be a dike against the flood of soldiers, the greatest fortress to hold the rear against An Yaluoshan.

This matter was of utmost significance, and two hundred thousand soldiers could never stand against four hundred thousand soldiers, so a peak Great General was needed to preside. And while Zhangchou Jianqiong and Tongluo Great General Abusi were completely capable of holding their own, they were far from enough when it came to resisting and intimidating An Yaluoshan and his four hundred thousand men.

In the Great Tang, the only person besides Wang Chong who could do this was the previous War God, Crown Prince’s Junior Guardian Wang Zhongsi.

Wang Zhongsi had a divine grasp of the art of war and an almost unblemished battle record. Most importantly, An Yaluoshan was not familiar with him at all and could not predict Wang Zhongsi’s movements!

“Everything is ready. The two hundred thousand men should arrive in a few days!” Wang Zhongsi quickly said.

His voice was brimming with endless energy and majesty!

Even though he had already retired from the army to take the Crown Prince’s Junior Guardian post, he retained that decisive and iron-blooded demeanor from his career on the battlefield.

This sort of aura was not normally perceivable, but whenever it came to war, Wang Zhongsi would reveal his sharp edge, as though a blade emerging from its sheath. He did not do this intentionally. He simply exuded a naturally intimidating aura.

When it came to holding a fort, Wang Zhongsi was far better than Zhangchou Jianqiong or Abusi.

When Wang Chong heard these words, he gave a slight nod.

The arrival of two hundred thousand soldiers at the forward base, transferred from various regions, was a matter involving many details and excessive planning. Wang Chong had believed that Wang Zhongsi would need seven days at the minimum to complete this task, even as long as ten-some days.

But in just four or five days, Wang Zhongsi had taken care of everything. One hundred thousand soldiers that had been garrisoned in the Cang and Ying Provinces had already moved into the forward base, and the remaining hundred thousand would arrive in a few days.

Wang Chong couldn’t help but sigh at this efficiency.

Wang Zhongsi paused a moment before adding, “But Youzhou has already noticed, and An Yaluoshan’s reaction seems to be that they wish to garrison their own forces in the forward base to assist the expeditionary force, and also observe the situation within the base.

“I don’t know your specific plan, but if An Yaluoshan is set on making difficulties for us in advance, two hundred thousand soldiers won’t be enough to stop him. I suggest that we change our plans and first set up some defensive countermeasures. They can be somewhat simple, but we must have them. In addition, they also can’t be too obvious, or else An Yaluoshan might use them as an excuse to meddle with the forward base, or even just attack it.”

Wang Chong nodded. “Alright, let’s do everything as Lord Junior Guardian proposes. I will inform all the great clans to cooperate!”

The Imperial Court was already determined to deal with An Yaluoshan, but it needed to be amply prepared before moving out and could not stimulate An Yaluoshan beforehand.

“…In addition, how has An Yaluoshan responded to the forward base?” Wang Chong said.

A sharp and rude voice butted in at this time. “This is His Majesty’s decree. While An Yaluoshan has always wanted to try something, he is incapable of doing so. His Majesty’s decree and Lord Junior Guardian’s supervision leave him without the audacity. If he really tries something, he will essentially be committing rebellion, and His Majesty can take care of him directly!”

The one who had spoken was a man standing not far behind Wang Zhongsi, Bian Lingcheng!

This General of the Palace Gates who had brought Gao Xianzhi up through the ranks during the Sage Emperor’s reign and then personally destroyed his career later on had experienced a complete reversal of fate upon encountering Wang Chong.

The new Emperor Li Heng had assessed him, and then surprisingly promoted him to deputy commander of the Imperial Guard.

The commander was Li Jingzhong!

Everyone fell silent in thought.

Wang Chong nodded. He had been keeping a close eye on Li Jingzhong and Bian Lingcheng. If those two started to show any signs of their selves from his last life, Wang Chong would take care of them without hesitation.

But it currently seemed that the two of them were still very useful, and perhaps because they were still fearful of Wang Chong, they had not made any strange movements.

A thoughtful look appeared in Wang Chong’s eyes.

Silence reigned in the hall.

Everyone looked toward Wang Chong, even Wang Zhongsi, waiting for his decision.

This was a sort of respect!

This no longer had much to do with Li Heng’s decree. Wang Chong’s strength and character had naturally placed him on the spot of the Great Tang’s number one man.

Wang Chong raised his head and looked to his right, at Tongluo Great General Abusi. “Abusi! The forward base doesn’t have enough soldiers yet, and An Yaluoshan also has his Yeluohe that others can’t deal with! In a few days, set out with your army and march overnight to the forward base in the Cang Province!”

“Yes! Your Highness!” Abusi respectfully said, lowering his head.

Wang Chong gave a slight nod. Since the Rebellion of the Three Princes, the relationship between the two of them had significantly changed.

The forward base already had Crown Prince’s Junior Guardian Wang Zhongsi presiding, and now with Abusi and his ten thousand Tongluo Cavalry in reserve and Wang Chong providing support from far in the rear, they created a formation that was more than enough to intimidate An Yaluoshan.

Once the discussions were done, the military leaders turned to a model of the northeast and began to play out various scenarios, confirming that there were not many flaws or weaknesses. It was only after this was done that they ended the meeting.

Once King Song, Zhangchou Jianqiong, and the others had gone, having decided the specific steps and plans regarding Youzhou, Wang Chong was left alone with Old Eagle.

“Has General Bahram given a reply?”

Wang Chong quickly turned to Old Eagle.

Bahram was the Sassanid Great General, and his Aswaran Cataphracts were not Tang. They had little to do with the Youzhou mission, but they played an important role in Wang Chong’s plans.

“Great General Bahram has already sent a reply. He has gathered all the Aswaran Cataphracts and is proceeding along the Silk Road through Samarkand and into the Great Tang!” Old Eagle sternly said.

Bahram shared a friendship with Wang Chong, and when Wang Chong gave the order, Bahram would answer the call without hesitation, not even considering whether the Sassanids needed him to hold the fort.

But Old Eagle still felt rather confused.

“What’s wrong? Do you have any doubts?”

Wang Chong gave him a piercing glance and then took a sip from his tea.

“Your Highness, this… Your subordinate simply thinks that the situation in Arabia is not entirely stable, and Great Generals Gao Xianzhi and An Sishun still need his support. To bring him over at this time might…”

Old Eagle didn’t continue.

“Speak. What happened?”

Wang Chong softly chuckled, then he calmly said, “Is it Li Linfu?”

Old Eagle would not lightly doubt him. There had to be a reason for his questions.

“Yes!”

Old Eagle clenched his teeth and gave a reluctant nod.

He could not hide anything from Wang Chong.

“Your Highness currently controls the court and has His Majesty’s trust. While the imperial censors have remained silent, they are already beginning to privately grumble. Moreover, there are rumors spreading in the capital claiming that Your Highness’s relationships with the Sassanids, Arabia, Mengshe Zhao, and other countries is too ambiguous, that you are getting too close.

“Your subordinate investigated this, and while these rumors appeared to all be coincidences, in reality, they are all inextricably connected to the Prime Minister. Although wise people all know that this is slander, your subordinate worries that this will end up harming Your Highness!”

Old Eagle was not much of a scholar, but he had worked in the Bureau of Punishments, so he had some understanding of politics.

When it came to ‘the achievements of the subject alarming the sovereign’, enough rumors could occasionally make the truth irrelevant. The people would only believe what they wanted to hear.

There was no disputing that Wang Chong was too close to Bahram, as during the war of the northwest, he was even able to command their forces against the Arabs. ‘Colluding with outsiders’ had always been a taboo.

Li Linfu understood this, which was why he dared to start these rumors.

Old Eagle was worried that this would damage Wang Chong’s reputation, causing him to voice these questions, but alas, Old Eagle was a poor liar.

“Heh, this man… truly doesn’t rest!”

Wang Chong grinned, a mocking expression on his lips.

Li Linfu was quiet in the court, but he was getting even livelier under the surface.

Wang Chong understood what he was thinking. With the enthronement of the new Emperor, Li Linfu had fallen out of favor while Wang Chong’s portfolio had risen. Li Linfu was extremely greedy for power, and he naturally couldn’t endure this, so he naturally placed all the blame on Wang Chong.

He had been constantly engaging in small operations under the surface.

But these were just a minor itch for Wang Chong. The more Li Linfu acted like this, the more he would fall out of favor with Li Heng.

Everything he was doing was accomplishing exactly the opposite of what he wanted.

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