“If we wish to endure this bitter cold, we must attack the Great Tang!”
“Dalun Ruozan, Dusong Mangpoje, Huoshu Huicang… almost all of the elites of our Ü-Tsang have lost their lives to the Tang. No matter the time, the Great Tang will always be our Ü-Tsang’s greatest foe. Man cannot fight with the heavens. Only by joining with the other countries and attacking the Great Tang can we avenge those lost soldiers, and only then can we survive!”
Even Namri Songtian had turned to Dalon Trinling.
It was clear that he had the same idea as all the other generals.
Ü-Tsang was a mortal foe of the Great Tang, and with the internal discord within the Great Tang and An Yaluoshan commanding an army that could threaten the Great Tang, the other countries had an ideal opportunity.
“Let me think some more!”
Dalon Trinling closed his eyes and thought.
He understood what the generals were thinking, but this was a matter of utmost importance, and he could not make a decision recklessly.
The generals found it hard to conceal their disappointment.
But none of them dared to question the Imperial Minister’s decision.
Bwooom!
As everyone hesitated, the sound of a horn rang out through the royal palace.
As the horn blared, everyone’s minds shivered, and the image of a vast snowy mountain soaring into the heavens appeared in everyone’s minds!
Chapter 2123 - Target! The Western Turkic Khaganate!
Chapter 2123: Target! The Western Turkic Khaganate!
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
The horn of the Great Snow Mountain!
Everyone turned in shock toward the source of the sound.
Everyone knew that at the highest point of the Great Snow Mountain Holy Temple, the holy land of Ü-Tsang, was a massive white horn. This was a sacred object of the temple and a symbol of the highest authority in the empire. Only the High Monk was permitted to use it.
Over the course of decades, this horn had rarely been used.
Everyone knew that when the horn blew, something important had happened.
More importantly, each blare of the horn was accompanied by a prophecy.
“Dalon Trinling, come to the holy temple!” An ancient voice, tinged with a soul-soothing power, resounded through the hall.
“High Monk!”
Everyone was alarmed by this voice, even the Tsenpo rising from his throne.
The High Monk did not appear for just anything. Had the holy temple produced a new prophecy?
The Tsenpo felt a vague unease.
But regardless of what they thought, the High Monk’s energy vanished after he had said what he had come to say.
“You’re all dismissed. I will pay a visit to the holy temple. As for Youzhou, that can wait until after I come back!”
Dalon Trinling had also considered the possibility of a prophecy, and with a grave look on his face, he quickly left the hall.
Dalon Trinling set off for the holy temple, and no one knew what conversation transpired there.
But half a day later…
Whoosh!
A messenger bird took flight from the royal palace of Ü-Tsang, carrying with it Dalon Trinling’s handwritten letter to Youzhou.
After a long period of hesitation, Ü-Tsang had finally agreed to join the alliance!
At this time, an enormous alliance had taken form to the north of the Great Tang. The only country that had yet to express its stance was the Western Turkic Khaganate.
……
Meanwhile, in the capital of the Great Tang…
Hwooo!
The weather was dark and gloomy, cold winds howling. In this short period of time, the temperature of the Central Plains had dropped ten-some degrees, and it felt like winter had come early.
Many of the large families had already started coal fires.
It was possible to see hawkers selling firewood on every street, twice the normal amount.
The bustling streets of the capital were now much more desolate. Rather than pedestrians, patrolling horsemen from the City Guard were now a common sight.
Meanwhile, to the southwest of the Imperial Palace, the King of Foreign Lands Residence…
In the main hall, a coal brazier forged in the shape of a beast head was placed in the center, the flames within burning bright red and radiating warmth.
Wang Chong and Xu Qiqin were seated across from each other, dressed respectively in black clothes and a white dress. On the sandalwood table between them was a teapot, two cups, and several plates of pastries. The atmosphere was extremely quiet and serene.
“…All the coal has been delivered to the provinces according to plan. As for the kerosene, twenty percent has been allotted for distribution to the various circuits while the rest has been delivered to the front lines of the northeast and northwest. Besides that, all the cloth and blankets made from the cotton and wool have been distributed.
“As for the local situation, the governments of the provinces have posted announcements to calm the people, and all the villagers in remote areas have already been moved to safe zones near the county cities. The local governments have also expanded the ranks of the bailiffs to maintain order and safety.
“But even so, the situation is not good at all. The temperature is dropping far too quickly, and the moat outside the city is already starting to freeze. Moreover, this drop in temperature is showing no signs of stopping.
“We’ve already sent men to the north, and from what they have seen, the great cold wave is advancing on the Turkic Khaganates and Goguryeo. In a month at most, these countries will be completely engulfed by the blizzard, and after that, the cold wave will sweep south toward the Great Tang!
“In addition, even though we’re still purchasing food and wool, offering to pay twice what we usually pay, these products are no longer purchasable on the market. The other countries have begun to place restrictions on these items. The Great Tang has far more people than the other countries. If we had not made preparations in advance, the results would have been unimaginable!”
Xu Qiqin held a list in her hand as she reported on various matters. With her last words, she breathed a soft sigh of relief.
In all things, preparation meant success while lack of preparation led to ruin. Although the cold wave had yet to engulf the south, the damage it had already done in the north was enough to make anyone shiver in fear.
Attempting to prepare for the cold wave right as it was about to erupt was far too late.
Wang Chong was unperturbed. For this matter, the Imperial Court had spent more than one billion taels of gold, himself putting out four to five hundred million. This wasn’t even considering the large amounts of hybrid rice he was importing from the Promised Land.
Otherwise, the tens of millions of people in the Great Tang would have never been able to get through this period smoothly.
“Mm, I trust you. With you handling things, at least the Great Tang will be able to get through this period peacefully,” Wang Chong said.
When it came to logistics, Xu Qiqin had never disappointed him.
Xu Qiqin softly smiled, her face slightly blushing.
“Right; how are things on your end?”
Xu Qiqin quickly regained her focus.
The situation was urgent. She was primarily helping Wang Chong by calming the people and helping the local governments withstand the cold, but Wang Chong was personally presiding over foreign affairs.
One domestic and one foreign, the two perfectly complemented each other.
Wang Chong took a sip from his tea before confidently saying, “It’s about ready!
“All the steel and craftsmen have already arrived.”
Xu Qiqin’s eyes flashed as she asked, “What of An Yaluoshan?”
“Same as usual, anxious to make his move. He’s been gathering his soldiers, so he will probably start soon,” Wang Chong indifferently said.
&nbs
p; “So you’re saying that he’s already succeeded in persuading Goguryeo, the Eastern Turkic Khaganate, the Xi, and the Khitans?”
Xu Qiqin saw the implication in these words, her brows creasing in concern.
“There’s a solution for every problem, and I’ve already handled matters. If An Yaluoshan dares to send out his soldiers, that will be the day he seeks his own destruction. I have a big surprise waiting for him.”
Wang Chong put down his tea cup, his eyes cold and his face exuding a natural confidence.
From the moment he had been reincarnated, he had been waiting for this day.
In this An-Shi Rebellion, he had already removed the ‘Shi’. This time, he would get rid of the ‘An’ once and for all and remove this threat to the Great Tang!
“Your Highness!”
Rapid footsteps interrupted Wang Chong’s train of thought, and a moment later, Zhang Que rushed inside with a letter.
As his mouth opened to speak, he spotted Xu Qiqin and froze.
“L-lady Xu… Your Highness, I’ll take my leave and come back later.”
Zhang Que felt embarrassed and immediately backed out of the hall.
“There’s no need!” Wang Chong lightly said with a wave of his sleeve. Zhang Que had clearly misunderstood something.
“Speak! What happened?”
“Yes!”
After a moment of hesitation, Zhang Que recalled the contents of the letter, and his face turned grim as he began his report.
“We’ve just received word that An Yaluoshan’s soldiers are showing increased signs of activity in the northeast, seemingly preparing to begin their assault. In addition, our scouts in Youzhou have also found traces of Tibetans.”
Buzz!
Wang Chong’s pupils constricted, his expression turning ice-cold.
Dalon Trinling!
He had been constantly watching the other countries this entire time, and he had sent them letters warning them against alliance. And it had only been the countries bordering Youzhou that had had close relations with An Yaluoshan, but if Dalon Trinling and Ü-Tsang joined An Yaluoshan’s alliance, the situation became entirely different.
Though An Yaluoshan had a powerful army and Gao Shang advising him, in the end, he was not mature enough.
But Dalon Trinling was different. He was even older than the likes of Zhangchou Jianqiong, and he was considered one of the finest strategists of the continent.
For the two of them to join would be like giving An Yaluoshan wings. He would have the strength to sweep over the realm!
Clap!
Wang Chong flicked his fingers, sending a bolt of energy outward. On a metal fretwork table nearby, a large map of the Great Tang and its environs unrolled.
Wang Chong rose and walked over.
Zhang Que and Xu Qiqin followed.
Wang Chong scanned the map, his gaze flitting over Youzhou, Goguryeo, and the Eastern Turkic Khaganate, and then Ü-Tsang, before suddenly, it turned and stopped at a region in the northwest corner of the map.
“The only country that has yet to express its stance is the Western Turkic Khaganate!
“It’s not that easy to make an alliance! Attend me! Write a letter to Ishbara Khagan!”
Wang Chong coldly chuckled, a sharp glint in his eyes.
The Western Turkic Khaganate was located between Ü-Tsang and the other countries, serving as an extremely important hub region.
An Yaluoshan had already recruited Ü-Tsang and the other countries in the north. If he also got the Western Turkic Khaganate, he would succeed in creating an arc of allies around the Great Tang that could exert enormous amounts of pressure.
But Wang Chong would not let them finish this arc.
The moment Ü-Tsang joined An Yaluoshan’s alliance, the Western Turkic Khaganate to the northwest became of vital importance.
If he could throw a wrench into the Western Turkic Khaganate, he could split off Dalon Trinling from An Yaluoshan.
The combo of Dalon Trinling and An Yaluoshan would be extremely difficult to deal with if they were together, but when separated, they would be much less of a threat. Wang Chong could even deal with them one by one!
“Yes!”
Zhang Que bowed and quickly departed.
Whoosh!
A few moments later, a messenger bird flapped its wings and flew toward the northwest.
Chapter 2124 - The Western Turks' 'Prophecy' of Apocalypse!
Chapter 2124: The Western Turks’ ‘Prophecy’ of Apocalypse!
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
Time continued to pass, and the temperature of the northern end of the continent continued to plunge, the world becoming blanketed in snow.
With each passing day, the situations of the various countries grew worse.
At this moment, in the northwest, to the north of Beiting, the distant Western Turkic Khaganate had become the center of attention.
The mood had turned strange and bizarre.
At this moment, around the Western Turkic holy mountain of Mount Sanmi…
Whoosh!
Bitter winds howled across a vast steppe that had been turned into a sheet of white. Shepherds wearing thick fur capes were driving snow-covered and ill livestock to the south.
This sort of scene could be found all over the steppe.
As the weather grew colder and colder, both the livestock and the Western Turks themselves faced dire situations with regards to food and cold!
Each day, numerous people froze to death.
The empire was in great peril.
“Fourth Prince, we don’t have much time left!”
At the base of the mountain a chubby man looked into the distance as he rubbed his hands.
The man, wearing thick wool clothes and sporting a thick beard, was none other than horse merchant Hulayeg.
In front of him was a young Hu of unusual bearing. He wore black robes, on the back of which had been woven a blazing sun and a howling wolf. He was looking in a daze at the peak of Mount Sanmi. This was none other than the Western Turkic Fourth Prince that Wang Chong had once taken hostage, and his name was Barshad!
Ever since Agudu Lan’s death, Fourth Prince Barshad’s and Hulayeg’s statuses in the Western Turkic Khaganate had grown worse and worse. And as they both fell out of favor, they gradually began to draw closer and closer.
By now, Hulayeg had become the Fourth Prince’s close confidant.
“With this great snow, the Khagan will probably make his decision in a few days.”
Hulayeg looked through the snow at the summit as he spoke.
“The Khagan is growing more favorable to the First Prince with each passing day. Once the Khagan decides to ally with that side, we will completely fall out of favor.”
Hulayeg glanced at the Fourth Prince.
In the past, the Fourth Prince enjoyed immense favor, but ever since about one year ago, when the Khatun died, everything had changed.
First Prince Irbis Shiyun obtained Great General Wunu Shibi’s support and rose into Ishbara Khagan’s good graces. Slowly, he came to replace the Fourth Prince as the next Khagan.
As for Fourth Prince Barshad, his past connection with Wang Chong caused him to be rejected by the court and come to be regarded as part of the pro-Tang faction.
This was not a big deal in the past, but now, the court was rife with hidden dangers. The Western Turks had divided into two factions, pro-Youzhou and pro-Tang, and the struggle for supremacy was extremely vicious.
Since ancient times, the War of the Princes had always been the cruelest of conflicts. This was true not just for the imperial households of the Central Plains, but also for foreign courts.
The current situation indicated that the moment the First Prince took the throne, Fourth Prince Barshad and his entire faction would probably be pulled up by the roots and completely exterminated.
“I do not believe that Khagan would treat me that way!”
The Fou
rth Prince clenched his teeth as he looked up at Mount Sanmi, but his tone of voice betrayed his lack of certitude.
“Haaah…”
Hulayeg could only deeply sigh.
A new sovereign brought with him new officials. The Khagan had favored Barshad only because of the Khatun. With the Khatun dead, how could Ishbara Khagan possibly treat him the same way?
Gallop!
Galloping came from the direction of the summit.
Hooves kicked up snow from the surface of the mountain, drawing the pair’s attention.
“Is that Fourth Prince Barshad?” a voice boomed out.
“The Khagan has ordered the Fourth Prince to immediately enter his tent for an audience!”
Barshad and Hulayeg trembled. They glanced at each other, both seeing the solemnity in each other’s eyes.
“Let’s go!”
Without another word, the two of them began to push their way through the snowstorm toward the summit.
At this moment, atop Mount Sanmi, within a giant tent…
Hiss! Pop!
Red chunks of charcoal burned within a giant bronze fire basin, hissing and crackling as sparks leapt into the air.
Muscular figures brimming with energy were gathered around the basin, their expressions grave.
“What’s the situation?”
Ishbara Khagan was seated cross-legged on a fine Sassanid rug as he sternly spoke.
One of Jiudu Fuluo’s subordinate generals lowered his head and solemnly said, “Your Majesty, the situation is even worse than we imagined. Great General Jiudu Fuluo has sent word that the snowstorms have completely ravaged the north. He tried to go past Lake Baikal and venture farther north to investigate the source of this cold wave, but when he was still seven to eight hundred li from the arctic forests, he could advance no farther.
“Great General Jiudu Fuluo tried many times to penetrate the blizzards, but the moment he got close, the Stellar Energy around his body would freeze into shards and his physical and mental energy would be rapidly consumed. If he did not turn back at once, he would have died on the spot.
“From what the Great General has said, it seems that only those at the Dark Radiant Heaven realm or above can penetrate that storm!”
The Human Emperor c1-2382 Page 1282