Chapter 662: Assassination! (1/2)
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
”Oh?”
Wang Chong's eyes gleamed, a hint of surprise finally revealing itself.
”What do you mean?”
Although he was displeased by the Huang Clan, Wang Chong had full confidence in Zhang Shouzhi.
”If Young Master thinks back, you would definitely remember that the Huang Clan actually constructed a good portion of the steel walls. But later on, once they had finished using up all their refined iron and went to the market to purchase more, they realized that all the ore had been bought,” Zhang Shouzhi said.
”How could that be!”
Wang Chong immediately questioned Zhang Shouzhi's words.
”All the places in the Great Tang Empire are sending a constant stream of refined iron and iron ore to the capital. For the last few centuries, there's always been an abundant supply, with the markets never running out. How could they run out when it came time for the Huang Clan to buy some more?”
Wang Chong's face was covered in disbelief. It wasn't because he didn't believe Zhang Shouzhi, but because the Huang Clan's excuse was not very convincing at all. He had lived in the capital for many years, and when he used to loaf about and get into trouble, he associated with the scions of many other clans and became familiar with many aspects of the capital.
The Huang Clan's excuse was standing on very shaky ground. Let alone him, no other person would easily believe such a reason.
”In normal circumstances, this truly would be impossible, but a certain incident took place at the time. For some reason, the Arab merchants in the capital began to act abnormally. After selling off their pearls and agates, they didn't buy their usual silk, tea leaves, and porcelain. Instead, they began to buy refined iron and iron ore. It was precisely because of their interference that the Huang Clan couldn't find any iron ore and refined iron to use.”
Buzz!
Before Zhang Shouzhi could even finish speaking, Wang Chong's entire body trembled and he raised his head to stare at Zhang Shouzhi.
”Sir Zhang, what did you say just now? The Arabs?”
”Young Master Chong, what's wrong?”
Zhang Shouzhi was given a fright by the look on Wang Chong's face. Other than during the southwestern war, Zhang Shouzhi had never seen this sort of expression on his face.
”Sir Zhang, you said just now that the Arab merchants bought up all the refined iron and iron ore in the capital?”
Wang Chong ignored Zhang Shouzhi's question, his arm shooting out to grasp onto Zhang Shouzhi's. When he saw Zhang Shouzhi give a confused nod, Wang Chong felt his mind begin to almost explode with activity.
Whoosh!
The carriage was quiet, but Wang Chong's mind was in a state of complete mayhem.
Three years of war, ten years of preparation!
Refined iron and iron ore had always been connected to battle and death. There was only one reason for the Arabs to begin buying up the refined iron and iron ore of the Central Plains: the Arabs were preparing for a new war!
And as for a target worthy of the Arabs' attention…
In Wang Chong's memory, west of the Western Regions, the Abbasid Caliphate lay in the lands of the far west. While the Great Tang Empire of the east was slowly halting its expansion and slowly trending toward a defensive stance, the distant Abbasid Caliphate had already subjugated all its neighbors.
Even Charax Spasinu had become its vassal state.
Meanwhile, the Great Tang of the east still had this sort of impression of the Arabs: they appeared similar to the Hu, and only knew how to buy and sell incense, jewels, and camels. Their country was extremely small, around the size of Mengshe Zhao or Goguryeo.
Yet nobody in the Great Tang knew that once the empire finished its expansionary phase, it would welcome its most glorious era of power.
This was an empire harboring 28 million people, covering 12.6 million square kilometers, even larger than the Great Tang. In this era, there were only two great empires that could stand level with each other.
One was the Tang, and the other was the Abbasid Caliphate.
But in this era, neither empire would admit to the other's existence.
If the Abbasid Caliphate wanted to start a war, it would only be in one direction: the east, to the Great Tang or to Sindhu.
”Young Master, Young Master…”
A worried voice came from the distance. A weathered and elderly face slowly began to appear in Wang Chong's vision.
Zhang Shouzhi was looking worriedly at Wang Chong. They had just been talking about the Huang Clan and the Arabs when Wang Chong mysteriously froze in place, inaudibly muttering to himself.
”Ah! I'm fine.”
Wang Chong shook his head and came back to his senses.
”I understand what's going on with the Huang Clan now. Tell them that I can put aside the matter of the southwest for now. As long as they can complete our agreement, I'll act as if nothing ever happened. But next time, I won't be so merciful.”
With the Wang Clan's current status and influence, even a long and storied sword-smithing clan like the Huang Clan with a lineage stretching back centuries could be crushed into dust.
This was no simple threat.
”Of course! Of course!”
Zhang Shouzhi was elated at Wang Chong's words.
”After such a massive mistake, not even if you gave them all the daring in the world would they ever dare to make another mistake.”
Architects shared a natural relationship with sword-smithing clans. In addition, the Huang Clan was the largest sword-smithing clan in the Great Tang and could still be very useful. If Wang Chong wanted to do anything in the future, the Huang Clan would definitely be capable of playing a big role.