Understanding the intentions behind those questioning gazes, Zhao Jingdian hurriedly shook his head. After several days of interaction, the crowd also knew that he wasn’t a person who would lie.
In any case, this event was truly an eye-opener to Xu Qi, Gao Feng, Nie Yan, and a few others who came from humble backgrounds.
The Three Great Training Camps were an initiative from the Sage Emperor, and building something in one’s vicinity was no easy task. This was the first time they were catching a glimpse of the extent of Wang Chong’s financial means and political influence.
“Hahaha, as expected of my brother! I’ll have a share of the manor in the future as well!”
Unlike the reactions of most, upon hearing the news, Wei Hao burst into laughter, and excitement gleamed in his eyes.
“Isn’t this kid… being a little too high-profile?”
On Vermilion Bird Peak, Marchioness Yi, along with a group of her powerful female compatriots, also noticed the sudden appearance of the manor.
“What’s that Wang Chong trying to do?”
On Azure Dragon Peak, Abutong and a few other Hu recruits also noticed the conspicuous residence and its guard complement. Under Abusi’s instructions, they had been focusing primarily on Wang Chong’s movements, so they were among the last to realize that the new manor opposite to Kunwu Training Camp actually belonged to him.
Abutong didn’t believe that Wang Chong would do something meaningless. Thus, a deep frown appeared on his forehead.
“Isn’t that Wang lad acting a little too fast? Is he planning to expand his influence quickly by building a base here?”
On the same peak, Zheng Xuan also noticed the huge commotion.
Hualala! A moment later, two pigeons flew from Azure Dragon Peak into the distance. One was headed for King Qi while the other was headed for Zhou Jue.
…
Despite all the uproar, the person in question, Wang Chong, was oblivious to these events.
He had been spending all of his time cultivating the Art of Life Massacre in the training chambers of Kunwu Training Camp for the past month. During this period of time, he rarely returned back to his room, and Zhao Jingdian and the others found it hard to even meet him.
The past month’s hard work didn’t pale to Su Hanshan’s training efforts in the slightest.
“Almost there. I should be able to grasp the technique soon.”
Seated cross-legged in the dark chamber, Wang Chong thought.
In the past month of training, Wang Chong’s mastery of fundamental swordsmanship had improved by leaps and bounds. On a wooden block divided into thousands of segments, he could accurately strike any wooden block he was aiming for now.
Recently, he had been getting a feeling that he was about to reach Minor Accomplishment in the Art of Life Massacre—the successful cultivation of sword qi.
Chi!
As swift as lightning, Wang Chong drew his sword and slashed. With this slash, a small silver thread-like Origin Energy flew out.
Half of this Origin Energy emission carried a sharp disposition and was both hot and glaring. On the other hand, the other half remained translucent and without tension. The two surges intertwined with one another as they charged straight toward the eyes of a wooden dummy standing ten zhang away.
(~33m)
After a month of hard work, Wang Chong’s swordsmanship had reached the level that he could even accurately pierce the vitals of a wooden dummy whilst standing amidst the darkness… In fact, he could even easily impale a tiny ant in the lightless chamber with his sword if he so wished.
He was confident that once this sword energy strikes the dummy, it will impale its eye, leaving behind a finger-sized clean slit.
Peng!
Despite Wang Chong’s immense expectations, the sight he was anticipating didn’t occur. Three to four zhang before reaching the dummy, the surge of Origin Energy suddenly warped. The two different energies clashed in midair and eventually, with a loud buzz, dissipated.
“Seems like it’s still a failure!”
Wang Chong sighed as the light in his eyes faded. Su Zhengchen’s Art of Life Massacre was much more difficult to cultivate than he’d thought.
This ultimate art seemed to have a far greater requirement on one’s talents.
“… Half sword qi and half Origin Energy, I can manage this, but it’s still not working right. Sword qi is simply too domineering and is unable to tolerate energy of differing nature from it. My swordsmanship will stay weak as long as the situation persists. What is going on? … Am I still lacking somewhere?”
Wang Chong pondered the issue. This was already his eleventh failure, and he was starting to think that something had gone wrong in his cultivation of the technique.
“I’ll just have to put it aside for now!”
Sighing, Wang Chong stood up when suddenly ‘kachacha‘, the sound of bones cracking echoed from his body. Compared to before, his aura also seemed to have grown a little stronger.
Practicing with the sword could cultivate one’s character too, ultimately altering one’s entire disposition. A month of cultivating the Art of Life Massacre had caused Wang Chong to take on a slightly sharp aura, reminiscent of a sharp sword being drawn from the sheath. It was both composed and majestic, inducing both respect and fear.
On top of that, during this period of time, Wang Chong had consumed the hundred-year-old ginseng that Chai Zhiyi gave him. Even though he didn’t go through the additional effort of cultivating his internal energy, it still grew significantly.
He hadn’t made the breakthrough to Origin Energy Tier 8 yet, but his fighting prowess had grown tremendously.
“Seems like everyone has been working hard over the past month as well!”
Upon emerging from the training chamber, Wang Chong saw many figures running around busily.
After the attack, everyone in the training camp seemed to be putting their life on the line to train their martial arts. Even sparing they treated it like an actual battle.
Be it the archers, cavalry, or infantry, they seemed to be charging ahead with all their might, and diligence always pays off. The atmosphere in the training camp felt totally different from its inception, with the overall strength of the recruits increasing at an amazing pace.
Qiu!
As Wang Chong was walking around the main peak, a crisp and sharp sound suddenly echoed above his head. Lifting his gaze, he saw several carrier pigeons dancing in the sky above him, and there were several more headed here from the capital.
The recruits that came from the ordinary citizenry were unlikely to bear much responsibility. So, Wang Chong immediately guessed that those were headed for the noble scions in the training camp.
Qiu!
Wang Chong chuckled at the sight, but then a different sounding chirp echoed from the distance. Looking upward, he saw a carrier pigeon flying directly down toward him. Before he could finish guessing who the pigeon was here for, he suddenly realized that it was here for him.
“Hmm?”
He frowned as his eyes fell on the carrier pigeon.
“This is… a letter from big uncle?”
Spotting the gold ring on the left leg of the pigeon, bewilderment flashed across Wang Chong’s eyes.
This carrier pigeon was indeed raised by Big Uncle Wang Gen and nothing was unusual there. What had him in shock was actually the gold ring. In the Wang Clan, this gold ring held great significance and would only be used to announce extremely important matters. Otherwise, it would never make an appearance.
“Big uncle wishes to meet me?”
After browsing through the content of the letter, Wang Chong’s eyebrows shot up.
Chapter 229: Zhangchou Jianqiong Comes to the Capital!
Chapter 229: Zhangchou Jianqiong Comes to the Capital!
As an influential official of the royal court, Big Uncle Wang Gen was plagued with many responsibilities. Unless it was for something extremely important, he wouldn’t
go to the trouble of contacting Wang Chong, much lest seek him out. The previous time that the man came to look for him seemed to be when he committed that ‘disastrous mistake’.
Besides, big uncle should be aware of the strict regulations surrounding the Three Great Training Camps. Unless it was for something of vital importance, it would be unwise to disturb Wang Chong with it.
While he asked himself, “Why?” Even so, he quickly sneaked out of the mountaintop camp.
He traveled down the slope of the main peak by following a small path and slipped away. Not far off from Kunwu Training Camp was a carriage covered with green cloth tucked in a valley between some mountains, and a few Wang Clan guards were standing around it, warily assessing the surroundings.
“Big uncle!”
He walked right past the guards, who made no move to obstruct him, and climbed into the carriage compartment. There within he found Big Uncle Wang Gen.
Despite being dressed in casual attire, a green robe, rather than his usual robe of office, his every gesture seemed still to wield the authority befitting an influential minister of the royal court, naturally exuding an aura of magnanimity.
When Wang Chong came in, the latter’s brows were slightly pinched together in a frown, seemingly troubled over some matter.
“You’ve arrived!”
Seeing Wang Chong entering, Wang Gen raised his head, and the furrow of his brows slowly eased. A sincere smile touched his eyes.
“Please, sit; sit!”
Wang Gen gestured to his side, at a seat almost right next to himself; this reflected his deep trust and fondness for his nephew.
Such a treatment would have been unimaginable in the past.
“Big uncle.”
Wang Chong didn’t turn down the offer. After bowing respectfully, he took the indicated seat.
The attitude that big uncle assumed with him was vastly different from before. Wang Chong knew that his recent performance had truly won the other party’s trust and respect, and Big Uncle Wang Gen had already regarded him as a core member of the clan!
The affection seemed to spill over onto his mother and little sister as well. His big uncle also having seemed to treat them kindly in recent times, his former austerity disappearing entirely.
“How is the training camp?”
Wang Gen asked with a smile. Instead of diving straight into official matters, he started out asking after Wang Chong’s affairs in the training camp, showing the kindness of an elder.
“It’s been fine, other than the assault on the first day.”
Wang Chong gave his smiling response.
He had also adopted a very casual attitude before his big uncle, now regarding the latter as a trustworthy elder. Putting aside all of the minor issues, Wang Chong’s immediate family and Big Uncle Wang Gen’s family branch had never really had a grudge from the start.
Even the worst of the conflict seemed to be only the rivalry between Cousin Wang Li against big brother and second brother, centered on the struggle over inheriting grandfather’s influence.
However, Wang Chong had already decided not to fight against his cousins over anything. Instead, he would support them in progressing even further and attaining even greater achievements than before.
The Wang Clan should not fight over the little pond they were in—they should aim for the greater world instead.
“Hoh, I’ve also learned of this matter. The Goguryeons have suffered significant death tolls after several battles with the Southern Protectorate Manor, and the Turks with the Eastern Protectorate Manor. So, in a way, their operation could be considered a tragic failure. However, with this precedence, it’s hard to determine whether it would ever happen again. That’s why I’ve sent some of the clan experts to protect you and ensure your safety.”
Wang Gen said.
As an influential royal court official, his work kept him almost completely confined to the capital. There was no need for him to have so many experts guarding him day and night, and he could easily spare a few for Wang Chong.
“Thank you, big uncle.”
Delighted, Wang Chong nodded his head. What he was most lacking in at the moment were top-notch experts by his side.
Wang Gen also smiled in response. In his view, Wang Chong was the greatest hope for the continuing prosperity of the Wang Clan.
He, his Third Brother Wang Yan, and Fourth Brother Wang Mi were incapable of inheriting his father’s influence. The same applied for his eldest son, Wang Li, Wang Yan’s other sons, Wang Fu and Wang Bei, and all other offspring of the Wang Clan. Now, the only hope remaining lay with this youngest nephew of his.
He knew that if Wang Chong was able to successfully inherit his father, Duke Jiu’s, influence, his nephew would surely be able to bring the Wang Clan to greater heights in the future.
The fate of the Wang Clan depended on him!
It wouldn’t be a waste no matter how many resources he devoted to the latter.
“Right. Has Yang Zhao contacted you recently?”
Wang Gen suddenly queried.
“Yang Zhao? Why is big uncle asking about this?”
Wang Chong frowned in bafflement.
While he’d become sworn brothers with Yang Zhao thanks to the Consort Taizhen Incident, he had only met the latter once or twice, and their relationship didn’t seem to have grown that intimate yet. Besides, given that he was enlisted in the training camp already, it made it even more inconvenient for the both of them to meet.
“No?”
Wang Gen straightened his back as a sliver of doubt flashed across his eyes.
“Even so, it should be around this time. Take note of this matter. He should come looking for you soon.”
Wang Chong’s bewilderment deepened. Why was Yang Zhao looking for him, and how could big uncle be so certain of it?
Ignoring Wang Chong’s doubtful gaze, Wang Gen fell silent for a moment before changing topics and revealing the true purpose of his visit.
“Zhangchou Jianqiong seems to be intending to come to the capital!”
“WHAT!”
Wang Chong became wide-eyed with shock at the news, like he’d watched a mountain split apart before his very eyes.
As the Protector-General of the Southern Protectorate Manor, Zhangchou Jianqiong wielded immense authority in Great Tang’s military circles. Given his influence, it was unlikely that he would only be coming by for a casual look.
And as expected, Big Uncle Wang Gen continued.
“Zhangchou Jianqiong has been protecting Jiannan for more than two decades now. Erhai and Ü-Tsang have been relatively calm in recent years, resulting in Zhangchou Jianqiong not earning much military merit. That’s why he’s requested for a different position in the capital instead.”
Wang Gen replied impassively, without revealing the slightest hint of emotion on his face.
Wang Chong’s face was grim.
Zhangchou Jianqiong was an existence whose influence equaled great generals such as Go Seonji and Fumeng Lingcha. How could a man of his caliber be content with just some minor official position? His ambitions was way greater than that!
“Seems like a big player is about to barge into these troubled waters!”
Wang Chong surmised.
Most of the positions in the royal court were fixed. The current status quo was actually a result of countless internal struggles and vicious infighting. If Zhangchou Jianqiong were to suddenly enter at this point, it would mess up the power distribution of the royal court.
The entry of a new power could wreck the stability that was achieved with much difficulty. All existing powers, including the Wang Clan, would be affected by this abrupt twist. After all, there was only so much meat to go around. If the number of competitors vying for it was to increase, clearly everyone would be impacted.
More importantly though, Zhangchou Jianqiong was still factionless at the moment!
Wang Chong suddenly understood big uncle’s aim in appearing at Kunwu Training Ca
mp to look for him. In truth, the one standing at the center of this affair wasn’t anyone else of the Wang Clan, including big uncle.
It was himself.
In the Regional Commanders Incident, amongst the powerhouses that supported him stood one Zhangchou Jianqiong. That meant the Wang Clan owed Zhangchou Jianqiong a huge favor, or to be more precise, Wang Chong owed Zhangchou Jianqiong a huge favor.
“What seat is he aiming for?”
Wang Chong inquired.
“Minister of War!”
Was the reply.
Ssss!
Wang Chong’s eyelids twitched as he gasped.
“That seat… His appetite sure isn’t small!”
The Minister of War governs all military mobilizations and directs all border armies of Great Tang. It was, in the truest sense, a position of great influence in the royal court
In terms of standing, the Minister of War stood above even the Protector-Generals.
To be aiming for the seat of the Minister of War the moment he was initiated into the royal court, the other party’s appetite could only be called immense.
This matter had happened too suddenly. Even Wang Chong was totally caught off-guard, lest to say, big uncle and the rest.
This was a reshuffling of the cards among the upper echelons of the royal court. Big uncle, King Song, King Qi, the Yao Clan, the prime minister… everyone, be it willingly or unwillingly, would be embroiled in the matter.
Sudden understanding came. Seemed like King Song’s intentions must also be playing a role in Wang Gen’s sudden visit.
“Did Yang Zhao come looking for you?”
Wang Chong asked.
“Not yet. But even if he had such intentions, it won’t be him doing the visiting, at least not by himself.”
Wang Gen replied calmly. Wang Chong understood the meaning behind his words. Big Uncle Wang Gen was an influential official who determined the future of the empire, whereas Yang Zhao was still a nobody without the slightest power in his hands—there was simply too huge a disparity in their positions.
While Wang Chong knew that Yang Zhao would eventually become a major power in Great Tang, there was still some time before then.
The Human Emperor c1-2382 Page 174