Chapter 433: Plans for the Southwest! (1/2)
Chapter 433: Plans for the Southwest!
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
The following year was to be a year of intense change for the empire. If Wang Chong's predictions were on the mark, in at most half a year, a large-scale battle would break out on the southwest border of the empire, one which would end in unprecedented defeat.
And this series of changes would incite the avarice of the powers surrounding the empire. The Eastern and Western Turkic Khaganates, Goguryeo, the kingdoms of the Western Regions, and even the distant Abbasid Caliphate and Charax Spasinu would start having ambitions.
'A roof will leak on the night of a downpour.' 'Blessings do not come in pairs but misfortune never comes alone.' Regarding relationships between empires, these principles were even more applicable.
The moment a break appeared, the pack of wolves would charge in and pick the prey clean!
Although Wang Chong had told Li Siye to wait for one year, Wang Chong did not expect to need this long. If the Great Tang could pass the entire year in peace, the catastrophe from his memories probably wouldn't descend.
If that really was the case, then Wang Chong would happily let Li Siye go.
If he didn't need to confront that future catastrophe, if he didn't need to respond to the calamities of the empire and the perils confronting the Central Plains, why would he need to rack his brains and spend so much energy obtaining the Hyderabad ore and Meteoric Metal?
And if the empire really could endure those calamities without a problem, what harm would there be if Wang Chong gave all those things up?
Wang Chong's forthrightness had clearly taken Li Siye by surprise. Wang Chong was actually willing to just abandon a fortune of one hundred million taels of gold. This was not something any normal person could do.
”Very well! Young Master Wang!”
Li Siye looked into Wang Chong's eyes as he addressed him respectfully for the first time. Wang Chong's words had stirred the heroic spirit within him.
”If your Wang Clan really can give up on the hundred million taels of gold that the Hyderabad ore and Meteoric Metal represent and offer it up to the Imperial Court, what harm is there in Li Siye working for your Wang Clan for a few years? At the very least, if it really is as you say and a war really will break out on the southwest border, I, Li Siye wouldn't even need your order to gladly make my way there!
”If a true man of character can't make a name for himself, leave a dazzling record on the annals of history, make a contribution to the empire and the common folk, then what meaning is there in seeking out profits? If one can truly make a contribution, what does it matter if one dies for it, if one loses their head?”
Even a teenager like Wang Chong could uphold this ideal. As someone who believed himself to be a true man of character and as an adult with a tall and sturdy body, Li Siye couldn't possibly admit defeat to a child.
”Okay!”
Wang Chong was elated. After waiting for so long, he had finally heard those long-anticipated words. Those words were like sweet nectar to his ears.
”Li Siye, when a gentleman speaks…”
”Even a team of horses won't be able to catch up1!”
Li Siye was without hesitation, his words resolute and decisive.
At this moment, his eyes were firm and bright.
More than two months after Li Siye had been transferred from the Beiting Protectorate, Wang Chong had finally managed to gain the loyalty of the Invincible Great General!
……
Winter passed and spring arrived. Ice began to melt and all things began to grow. In the blink of an eye, a new year had come.
Row upon row of buildings had been built in Deflecting Blade Manor, their soaring eaves and arches lavish and beautiful.
Atop a high arch at the center of Deflecting Blade Manor, Wang Chong was seated cross-legged, floating in the air like it was flat ground.
After more than a month, Wang Chong's Phantom Steps had once more advanced. His body was now as light as a feather. Even if he stepped on a tree branch that was as thin as a finger, it still wouldn't sink.
This was a display of how far he had advanced.
Whoosh!
Wang Chong let out a long breath, his eyes glimmering as he slowly withdrew his technique.
Swooshswooshswoosh!
Right when Wang Chong opened his eyes, a black silhouette leapt from the eave of a distant building. It flew across golden roofs as dexterously as a cat.
The black silhouette had started off a fair distance away, but it needed only the blink of an eye to appear in front of Wang Chong.
”Young Master, your ginseng tea!”
The figure deferentially kneeled on the rooftiles as it offered Wang Chong a hot cup of ginseng tea. Up close, it was possible to see that this black silhouette was wearing a mask and had a slender and shapely figure. It had been extremely dexterous, and it seemed to carry with it a faint and alluring scent. If this wasn't Miyasame Ayaka, who was always at Wang Chong's side, who else could it possibly be?
With the new year, Wang Chong had once more deepened his influence with the Imperial Army instructors. On the spirit vein, the work of the old Imperial Army instructors began to show its effects as even more retired instructors joined Wang Chong.
Wang Chong had transferred some of them to the spirit vein to teach the students there. But he had also sent some of them to his home to protect his mother.
These abundantly experienced Imperial Army instructors were far more loyal and reliable than experts he could hire from the outside.
With those people to replace her, Miyasame Ayaka naturally had more time to spare.
While secretly protecting the Wang Clan for more than a year, Miyasame Ayaka had no other duties or any distracting thoughts, allowing her to focus on cultivation. She was now much stronger than she was in the past.
Her Spectre Steps had made a great leap in progress. Even in broad daylight, unless she was noticed beforehand, she could sneak by completely unseen.
Even Wang Chong found it hard to track her down at times.
”I've troubled you!”