Chapter 1972: Zhang Shougui Defeated in Battle (1/2)

Edited by: Michyrr

The situation changed far faster than imagined. Just when Wang Chong was sending many of his men to Youzhou to investigate An Yaluoshan, a shocking incident occurred.

A major battle took place in the northeast. The Goguryeo Empire mustered its entire army and attacked the Andong Protectorate, and Zhang Shougui was defeated in battle!

Bang!

This news caused all of the Great Tang to tremble!

Zhang Shougui was an existence in the Great Tang second only to Crown Prince's Junior Guardian Wang Zhongsi. In the northeast, Zhang Shougui was the lynchpin, and everyone believed that as long as this Great General was present, the northeast would remain an impregnable fortress whose safety would never be threatened.

Thus, even though the northeast's situation was complicated, bordering the Turks, Xi, Khitans, and the Goguryeo Empire, no one in the empire had ever worried about that place. Everyone believed that Zhang Shougui was enough.

But now, this war god had been defeated. Everyone was stunned by this news!

Soon afterward, the news that Zhang Shougui had been severely ill for some time began to spread.

The illustrious Andong Protector-General's many old wounds had flared repeatedly, and he had been suffering from illness for far longer than imagined, at least three months before the start of this war.

When Goguryeo attacked, Zhang Shougui was completely unprepared.

When he received word of the attack, Zhang Shougui rose in alarm from his sickbed and hastily prepared for battle. But because of his severe illness, Zhang Shougui made many serious mistakes on the battlefield, causing the Andong Protectorate army to take heavy losses.

Not only that, even more news came that the Xi and Khitans, learning of the situation in Youzhou, had joined the battle. While the Eastern Turkic Khaganate had yet to join, it was also showing signs of movement.

One nightmarish piece of news after another was coming from Youzhou, and all of the Great Tang was reeling. The people in the capital panicked and called for Wang Chong to come out and deal with the situation at Youzhou.

At this moment, the King of Foreign Lands Residence was brightly lit. Wang Chong stood in the main hall, also keeping a close eye on the situation.

It had only been about half a month since the start of his house arrest, but all these events were occurring in rapid succession.

All of this had happened too quickly and with no warning.

Even more shocking was that the proud Zhang Shougui, who considered himself invincible and undefeatable, had suffered the greatest defeat of his life in his old age!

As a fellow general, Wang Chong had always held a sliver of respect for Zhang Shougui. Putting aside their opposing standpoints, Zhang Shougui had truly rendered great service to the Great Tang. Wang Chong had not expected that, in this life, he would see with his own eyes Zhang Shougui's decline and defeat, the tragic end to a resplendent career.

There were some things that could not be changed, and Wang Chong's attention was demanded elsewhere.

The Great Tang was strong and powerful, even having exterminated the Arabian Empire's army of more than two million. Meanwhile, the opponents this time were three minor border kingdoms and the Eastern Turkic Khaganate.

Wang Chong was not worried about the danger in the northeast. He instinctively sensed that the matter was not so simple, that there was a secret lurking beneath.

”Old Eagle, Zhang Que, order the Wind, Forest, Fire, and Mountain teams, and all of our spies in the northeast, to gather all the information they can on this war, particularly the Goguryeo Empire. I need all the details, especially on why Yeon Gaesomun dared to attack the Great Tang at this time.”

Wang Chong held a letter in his hand as he turned to the two.

”Yes, Your Highness!” Old Eagle and Zhang Que replied in unison.

Following Wang Chong's orders, countless scouts and spies began to investigate this war.

At the same time, Zhangchou Jianqiong and King Song stepped forward, and the Bureau of Military Personnel opened an important war conference, preparing to muster soldiers toward the northeast to stop the army of the Xi, Khitans, and Goguryeons while at the same time dealing with the possible impact this could have on the people.

Although Wang Chong was prevented from leaving his estate by the Sage Emperor's decree, he could participate from a distance.

The Great Tang had more than enough strength to deal with any turmoil in the northeast, but the capital was far from Youzhou, and even sending soldiers would take some time. It was impossible to influence the war in the short term.

At the same time, a condemnation Yeon Gaesomun had written on Zhang Shougui began to madly spread in the northeast.

It was said that Yeon Gaesomun had read this denouncement two days before his army attacked Youzhou in order to rally his troops.

As it was written in Goguryeon, the exact details were not known, but even those in the capital knew that this denouncement existed.

The Goguryeons claimed that they had good reason to attack, that Andong Protector-General Zhang Shougui had done something that forced Emperor Yeon Gaesomun to counterattack.

This series of developments left everyone dazzled and confused as to where to start.

”Just what is going on?”

In the King of Foreign Lands Residence, Wang Chong summoned Old Eagle and Zhang Que.