Chapter 797: The Western Regions Quake! (1/2)
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
”Haha, as of now, only we can build these steel fortresses, with the city in Wushang being the greatest proof. These modular cities have our distinctive brand, and Fumeng Lingcha would never be such a fool that he would try and take them. Even if he had a mind to, not a single one of the many ministers in the court would believe that Fumeng Lingcha and his Qixi Protectorate army had constructed this fortress.”
Wang Chong smiled as he looked at the confused expressions on the faces of his subordinates.
”Moreover, the fortress was damaged after the battle. Without our help, Fumeng Lingcha would never be able to repair it. In addition, only we understand how to operate the many mechanisms of the fortress and understand what sort of maintenance needs to be done. Fumeng Lingcha is a smart man. Even if he wants to snatch it from us, it wouldn't be now. By sending people into the fortress right now, Fumeng Lingcha probably has other plans… Speak—what's going on?”
These last words were aimed at the scout who had given the report.
The scout didn't dare to be slow, quickly explaining the situation. It turned out that when Wang Chong was gathering the army, around twenty people from the Qixi Protectorate army had snuck their way. The movements of these people were rather strange. They did nothing except look around as if searching for something.
The strangest thing of all was that these weren't ordinary scouts. Although they had removed their emblematic armor, experienced scouts could tell at a glance that these were army officers.
”Very well, you're dismissed. As for the Qixi Protectorate army officers in the fortress… Cheng Sanyuan, bring some soldiers with you and drive them out. Although I'm not a person who would quibble over every small thing, the Qixi Protectorate army is acting far too arrogantly here,” Wang Chong said.
”Yes, Lord Marquis!”
Cheng Sanyuan quickly gathered forty-some Wushang Cavalry and went to carry out the order. The teamwork of the Wushang and the power of their formations meant that if these Qixi soldiers still refused to leave, they would only be looking for trouble.
There was a trotting of hooves and a whispered voice at Wang Chong's ear. ”Lord Marquis, Fumeng Lingcha's people couldn't be looking for Dayan Mangban's corpse, could they…?” Li Siye, riding his Ferghana steed, stood like a guardian god at Wang Chong's side. As he watched Cheng Sanyuan's group leave, a hint of doubt flashed in his eyes.
”Mm.”
Wang Chong didn't turn his head, only giving a subtle nod, his expression turning serious.
”Fumeng Lingcha probably didn't know at the start, but he should have captured a few Tibetans by now and realized what happened to Dayan Mangban. On the battlefield, there are far too many eyes and mouths. When I was dealing with Dayan Mangban, probably no small number of Tibetans who had charged witnessed him being captured by Elder Fang and Elder Du… There's nothing that can be done about that.”
”But as long as Fumeng Lingcha can't get his hands on Dayan Mangban's corpse, he'll find it very difficult to snatch the credit for this hard-fought battle from Lord Marquis,” Li Siye whispered as he trotted his horse another few steps forward.
”Haha, this is why I was never afraid that Fumeng Lingcha would take the credit for these deeds. There are some things that you can't take credit for just because you want to. Dayan Mangban arose from the Great Snow Mountain Holy Temple, was a Tibetan Brigadier General, the Asura War God of Ü-Tsang, and he had quite the accomplished record in the Western Regions. As long as we have Dayan Mangban's body, Fumeng Lingcha will find it very difficult to claim the credit for this battle.”
Wang Chong broke into a grin. It wasn't that he was an incredibly tolerant and open-minded person that could allow Fumeng Lingcha to take any credit he pleased, but that Fumeng Lingcha had never been able to take the credit away in the first place.
Dayan Mangban was one of the commanders of the Tibetan side of this battle. Presumably, when Fumeng Lingcha saw Wang Chong come out empty-handed, he thought that Dayan Mangban had escaped. After all, if a Brigadier General put all their mind into escaping, their chances were rather high.
However, Wang Chong had stepped onto the plateau already ready to deal with Dayan Mangban, so how could he have allowed him to escape?
”Let's go! If all goes as expected, Fumeng Lingcha should be paying us a visit very soon.”
Wang Chong gave the order, and shortly afterward, all the Wushang Cavalry entered the fortress. Not long after Wang Chong entered, the ten-some Qixi officers who had infiltrated the fortress were driven out.
”What are you doing! We're from the Qixi Protectorate army!”
”Do you really think this is your territory! You dare touch us! This is rebellion!”
”Arrogant! Release me!”
All the people from the Qixi Protectorate army had their arms tied around their backs and were being pushed out of the city. Although they were being forced to walk forward, they continued to curse, their words growing more and more profane.
”We're still at war with Ü-Tsang. Tell them that if they don't just shut their mouths, we'll handle them like they were deserters. As a marquis of the Imperial Court, it shouldn't be a problem for me to deal with a few deserters for Protector-General Fumeng Lingcha,” Wang Chong indifferently said as he looked down from the wall at the expelled Qixi officers. This message was quickly passed on, and those officers immediately fell quiet, their entire bodies trembling and their lips tightly pursed in fear.
”Lord Marquis, Fumeng Lingcha is coming over,” Cheng Sanyuan warned.
A burst of wind blew over the walls as Wang Chong turned to look. In the distance, a stalwart man wielding a large saber more than seven feet long was riding a mighty steed toward the steel fortress, his appearance like a god descended to the mortal realm.
”Hmph, have the gate closed.”
Wang Chong waved his right hand and coldly laughed.