Chapter 1214: Shock! Stripping of Military Authority! (1/2)
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
King of Foreign Lands!
No one had expected the Sage Emperor to show such favor to Wang Chong, not merely making him a Duke or adding some minor title, but making him the King of Foreign Lands! Such a reward was simply unprecedented and surpassed everyone's expectations.
”King of Foreign Lands, King of Foreign Lands! The Imperial Court has made Lord Marquis a King!”
”Hahaha, wonderful! In the future, we can call our lord His Highness!”
Wang Chong's subordinates all began to raise their heads, their eyes shining bright and their expressions excited. King! King! This was even higher than Duke, a title that none of them had ever dared to imagine. From this moment, Wang Chong was a true King, on equal level with King Qi and King Song.
The Great Tang had been established more than two hundred years ago, but there had never been any King outside the imperial family. Wang Chong's unmatched achievements and record had allowed for a break in this precedent so that he could become the King of Foreign Lands!
At this moment, Bahram, the Sassanid Princess, the rebel leaders, Banahan, the Gangke King, and even the surrounding Anxi Protectorate army soldiers had faces red with happiness for Wang Chong.
Service had its rewards, and Wang Chong was a friend of the Sassanid Dynasty and leader of the coalition army. All of them felt sincere happiness over the fact that he was able to gain the high regard of the Great Tang Empire.
At this moment, the only person who remained calm was Wang Chong.
His gaze flitted past that silk-robed eunuch of some status and to that civil official who was waiting on the side with closed eyes and those inflexible and solemn emissaries behind him. His brows almost imperceptibly creased. It was truly worth being happy about this new title, but it didn't seem like these people before him were in the mood to celebrate.
And the eunuch had still not finished reading from the imperial decree.
As expected, the eunuch's sharp voice rang out once more.
”In addition, through discussion amongst the Six Bureaus, the Young Marquis is made Advisor-in-Waiting, and is to take part in the government and immediately return to the capital to be debriefed. As for his military authority and all the matters concerning Khorasan, they are to be transferred to Wen Changqing, Tang Chengyu, and Li Fanming. In addition, Wang Yan is granted the title of Barbarian-Pacifying General, Wang Fu the title of Tiger Roar General, and both are to be transferred to the northeast…”
Boom!
Upon hearing this, everyone was struck dumb. Gao Xianzhi, Feng Changqing, Xi Yuanqing, Banahan, the Gangke King, Bahram, and the rebel leaders all had expressions of extreme shock on their faces.
”What's going on? Being made an Advisor-in-Waiting and taking part in the government? Does His Divine Majesty plan to transfer the Young Marquis away?”
”Transfer of military authority? Why does there have to be a transfer of military authority? All of us trust in the Young Marquis, and it is only because of him that we are able to resist the Arabs. If the Young Marquis is transferred away, who will deal with the Arabs!”
”This is wrong! Why is he only an advisor? Isn't he the King of Foreign Lands? Why does he have such a minor official position?”
The surrounding crowd was in an uproar. If they had not heard it for themselves, they would have all believed the listener to be going deaf. The nearby Feng Changqing stared at Wang Chong's back, his mind tossing and turning with great waves.
Wang Chong had been made King of Foreign Lands, placing him far above the Dukes and Prefectural Dukes, a truly most noble status. But without any actual power, even the highest of Kings was just an empty title. The Great Tang's imperial household was home to so many Imperial Princes, but only King Song and King Qi wielded any actual power. The Imperial Court had stripped Wang Chong of his military authority and taken away his position as Qixi Protector-General, but all they had given him in return was the title of Advisor-in-Waiting and the ability to participate in court sessions. This was a classical example of apparent promotion but real demotion!
How could it be like this? Just what happened?
Feng Changqing's eyes went round, his lips trembled, and his heart was in turmoil. After handing so many administrative tasks, Feng Changqing had believed that he had a firm grasp of the shifts and policies of the Imperial Court, but he had never expected to encounter something like this in his lifetime!
Extremely noble status and extremely lowly authority had gathered together on the same person.
Next to him, Gao Xianzhi's face was stricken with shock, and his gaze slowly turned from the eunuch to Wang Chong. After several major victories, this was definitely not the award ceremony that all of them had expected.
Almost instinctively, Gao Xianzhi felt that there was a problem in the Imperial Court.
The shrill voice was still echoing in everyone's ears as Su Hanshan, Banahan, the Gangke King, and the others all received their rewards. Finally, Wang Chong raised his head and stepped forward to receive the decree.
”Subject, receive the decree!”
Silence!