Chapter 1038: The Final Verdict! (1/2)
”Your Majesty, this subject objects!”
With a resounding voice, King Song stepped out of his rank, his expression solemn.
”Your Majesty, this subject objects!”
”Your Majesty, this subject objects!”
”Your Majesty, this subject objects!”
The generals were invigorated and added their cries to those of Duke Jiu and King Song. The generals and civil officials were once more in a stand-off, and just when it seemed like the quarrel was about to be renewed…
”Enough! We understand how to proceed.”
A dignified voice resounded from above like a god speaking from the highest heavens. The Sage Emperor had finally spoken.
”King Song, Zhangchou Jianqiong, the two of you are given full authority in this matter. Immediately mobilize the army to reinforce Talas. The memorial submitted by Gao Xianzhi and temporary Qixi Protector-General Wang Chong is entirely passed. Zheng Chengli, Zhou Taiqin, your Bureau of Revenue will do everything in its power to assist, supplying all the money and grain necessary. No mistakes are permitted. The other bureaus should provide their support as well!”
These words were issued from behind the bead curtain like laws, the entire world falling into a hush as it listened.
The Grand Preceptor, King Qi, and all the civil officials were struck dumb. No one had expected that the Sage Emperor would end this quarrel between civil and military officials like this. On the other end, Duke Jiu faintly smiled while King Song, Jiang Yunrang, and the other generals all inwardly rejoiced.
The words of the sovereign were no joking matter! No matter how intense the conflict between civil and military was, everything was settled once the Sage Emperor spoke.
”This subject will carry out the decree!”
All the generals in the hall loudly proclaimed their agreement. As for the civil officials, no matter how unwilling they were, even they had to lower their heads. The Sage Emperor did not lightly express his opinions, but once he did, there was no room for alteration.
”This old subject will carry out the decree!”
The officials of the Bureau of Revenue who had been mentioned by name, as well as all the other civil officials, proclaimed their agreement.
”Go!”
That divine and thunderous voice echoed through the hall. With the Sage Emperor's decree, the entire Great Tang came to life like a giant war machine. Soldiers from various areas were summoned and readied to reinforce Talas.
……
Whoosh!
Not long after the Sage Emperor ended the court debate, a carrier pigeon took off into the sky, traveling with remarkable speed toward Anxi. Several days later, this carrier pigeon descended into Talas, but the shocks that it sent through the city made it seem like a plummeting meteor.
”Wonderful!”
All the generals in the city had gathered in the reception hall, and their faces were red with excitement. After many days of stalemate, the Imperial Court had finally decided to reinforce Talas. This was undoubtedly the best news everyone had heard in some time. Even Gao Xianzhi had been alarmed and left his cultivation.
Vice Protector-General Cheng Qianli placed his hands on the table and happily proclaimed, ”Lord Protector-General, with the backing of the Sage Emperor and the Imperial Court, we'll have much more initiative at Talas. We might even be able to defeat the Arabs.”
The Imperial Court had remained in a stalemate for far too long, but every important decision often required a long period of consideration. Moreover, they had asked the Imperial Court for reinforcements after achieving a victory, which was out of step with custom and made the proposal even more difficult to pass. Cheng Qianli had already begun to consider what the Anxi Protectorate army should do while the Imperial Court continued to delay.
”True! It's definitely unprecedented for this decision to pass so quickly. King Song, the Beacon General, and all the military officials in court stood on our side. Even Duke Jiu appeared. But this matter still isn't something worth being too happy about.”
After his initial excitement, Gao Xianzhi began to calm down, his brows slowly furrowing.
”The Imperial Court needs to defend too many places. In many places, pulling soldiers would affect the entire defensive situation, so there really aren't many soldiers available. I worry that even with the Sage Emperor's decree, the Imperial Court still won't be able to send many soldiers.”
”Haha, Lord Protector-General worries too much. I've already taken care of everything. We can get at least twenty thousand soldiers from the capital, and if we add that to the soldiers from the various protectorates and the prefectural armies, we can get fifty to sixty thousand elite soldiers from the Imperial Court. For soldiers, quality over quantity. Although we still have far fewer than the Arabs, we have enough to fight a battle with them.”
”Oh?!”
The eyes of the gathered generals brightened in surprise. None of them were surprised about being able to get soldiers from the border protectorates, as this was something that Wang Chong and Gao Xianzhi had already finished negotiating. But all of them couldn't help but confess their shock that the capital could send twenty thousand soldiers of its own.