Chapter 1916 - Future Master of the Central Plains?!
Chapter 1916: Future Master of the Central Plains?!
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
The treasure Wang Chong had noticed was unremarkable compared to all the other treasures in the treasury, but Wang Chong had noticed it because it was a treasure of the Central Plains, completely different in style from the others.
Whoosh!
Wang Chong reached out with his hand, summoning that treasure into it.
“What’s wrong?”
The others noticed what Wang Chong was doing and gathered around him.
Wang Chong held a roller made of white jade. Wrapped around it was an ancient painting from the Western Han Dynasty.
This sort of painting was priceless, and it was impossible for an ordinary person to possess it. Moreover, given the difference in the cultures of the Arabian Empire and the Central Plains, Wang Chong would never believe that someone as proud as Mutasim III would have a hobby of collecting the art of the Central Plains.
Wang Zhongsi walked up from the back and slightly frowned when he spotted a teardrop symbol on the white jade roller.
“Why would something from Youzhou appear here?”
The collecting world of the Central Plains had regional divisions. Some major collectors had developed methods for establishing the authenticity and lineage of precious paintings and other articles, placing small marks on them.
At the same time, this method would also make them identifiable if they were stolen.
Before Wang Zhongsi’s retirement, he had visited Youzhou and been the guest of several major and wealthy collectors, so he recognized the mark.
Everyone felt their hearts thump in dismay, and the mood in the treasury instantly turned strange.
Abusi walked up and asked, “Is it Protector-General Zhang Shougui?”
Youzhou was Zhang Shougui’s territory, and when a top-class painting from that region appeared here, it was very easy to link it with Zhang Shougui.
Zhang Shougui had a personality unlike the other Protector-Generals or Great Generals, and it was impossible to fathom his actions. Although the Great Tang had been at war with Arabia, no one would find it strange if Zhang Shougui was privately exchanging messages with Mutasim III.
“No, impossible!
“Youzhou is too far away from here. What could Zhang Shougui ever get from the Arabs?
“And the Arab army was pressing on our borders. No matter how unbridled Zhang Shougui is, even he would understand what exchanging messages with Mutasim III at a time like this meant. I don’t believe he would ever do such a thing,” Gao Xianzhi gravely said.
The best case for Zhang Shougui’s painting appearing in Mutasim III’s treasury was that it had been gifted long ago, before the war between the Great Tang and Arabia had started.
But the worst case was unpardonable treason!
If the Sage Emperor learned of this, demotion and imprisonment were completely possible.
But Gao Xianzhi would never believe that Zhang Shougui would do such a thing. Although the two of them had rarely interacted, and their regions were separated by the Central Plains, Gao Xianzhi was confident that someone as important and influential as Zhang Shougui would not be so rash.
Treason was no small matter. For a moment, nobody spoke.
Whoosh!
Suddenly, a small slip of paper about the width of two fingers slipped out of the jade roller.
This sudden change drew everyone’s attention.
Swoosh!
Wang Chong immediately extended his finger, and before the slip of paper could fall to the ground, it flew up into his hands.
A string of characters had been written on the two-foot-long slip of paper. Surprisingly, it was written in Arabic, not the language of the Central Plains.
“What does it say?”
Zhangchou Jianqiong slightly frowned.
He had no idea how to read Arabic.
After a moment of silence, a frowning Gao Xianzhi read the words.
“The future master of the Central Plains greets the master of the Arabian Empire!”
It was like a boulder had slammed into the ground, and the others shuddered, their faces flashing with anger.
‘Future master of the Central Plains’!
Just who was the master of the Central Plains of the east? Only the Sage Emperor!
“Bastard! What audacity!”
Zhangchou Jianqiong was ashen, his fists clenched in rage.
Everyone present was a Great General or Protector-General of the Central Plains, and here in front of them was a tribute offered in the name of ‘the future master of the Central Plains’ to Arabia! Such arrogance and boldness could not be forgiven!
This was rebellion!
“We must have this matter harshly investigated!” Zhangchou Jianqiong bellowed.
It had been many years since such a thing had last happened in the Central Plains. The Sage Emperor was the supreme sovereign revered by all its people. For someone to dare plot rebellion while he was still enthroned was utterly revolting!
“Wang Chong, did you notice something?” Someone suddenly interrupted Zhangchou Jianqiong.
Wang Zhongsi was staring at the nearby Wang Chong as he spoke.
Everyone immediately turned their attention to Wang Chong.
At this moment, they also realized that while Wang Chong had been the one to discover the painting, he had yet to say a single word.
His brow was creased and his head was lowered in thought.
“Protector-General An, do you recognize this seal at the end?” Wang Chong suddenly raised his head and asked a befuddling question.
An Sishun was taken aback, but he knew that Wang Chong had to have his reasons for asking this question. He quickly focused on the seal in question.
He hadn’t looked closely before, but he quickly noticed that there was a cinnabar seal at the end of the white slip of paper, about the size of a thumb. Upon close inspection, he saw that it was in the shape of a mountain.
After looking over it, he shook his head.
“I have not!”
Wang Chong closely examined An Sishun’s face, and only after determining that he was not lying did he put the slip of paper away.
“I see,” Wang Chong indifferently said.
Wang Chong’s face was completely unperturbed, but deep down, his mind was in absolute turmoil.
An Yaluoshan!
An Sishun might not have recognized it, but Wang Chong immediately knew it as ‘Mount Yaluo’, the mountain of a Hu god of war!
Later on, it would become An Yaluoshan’s most favored symbol.
An Yaluoshan had modified the shape of the mountain somewhat, but Wang Chong had still recognized it.
In this war between the Great Tang and Arabia, Wang Chong had never imagined that he would find this mark here.
While others might not have understood the meaning of the message, Wang Chong was keenly aware of its significance.
Wang Chong had never imagined that An Yaluoshan’s tentacles had reached so far. He had probably attempted to get in touch with the Arabian Empire long before the war, trying to make an alliance.
Wang Chong didn’t know the details, but from the final outcome, it appeared that the proud Mutasim III, with his millions of soldiers and numerous experts, had clearly not given much regard to the ‘future master of the Central Plains’, something that the man had probably not expected.
“I thought of something right now, but after thinking about it, I’m probably mistaken,” Wang Chong nonchalantly said, swiftly talking past his strange behavior.
“It’s not like we can’t investigate who this ‘future master of the Central Plains’ is. Zhang Que, take this treasure to Mutasim III and ask him where it came from. As it has nothing to do with Arabia, Mutasim III won’t have any reason to hide anything.”
“Yes, Milord!” Zhang Que immediately replied.
“Lord Junior Guardian, you’re the closest to His Majesty. Have the treasury sealed and then take a record of all the treasures here. Once all the other Protector-Generals have had a chance to review, we can send everything to the capital!” Wang Chong said.
After a few moments of hesitation, Wang Zhongsi finally nodded. “Mm.”
A fortune of nearly two trillion taels of gold had to be handled cautiously. A long night would lead to many dreams, so it was best to get the treasures on the road to the capital as quickly as possible. With this fortune, the prosperity of the Central Plains was guaranteed for the next few centuries!
The group quickly began to set about their tasks.
As they were leaving, no one noticed a dark cloud of worry pass across Wang Chong’s brow.
An Yaluoshan?
The future master of the Central Plains?
Just how far had he developed? Were his wings now strong enough that Zhang Shougui could no longer suppress him?
Regardless, this was not a good development.
An Yaluoshan, we’ll meet again eventually. As long as I’m here, you’ll never get that sort of chance!
Wang Chong’s eyes narrowed, glinting with killing intent.
A moment later, all of his emotions disappeared.
He could handle An Yaluoshan once he returned. He still had two other matters here to take care of.
……
Several days later, after the affairs in Baghdad had been settled, Wang Chong, Wang Zhongsi, and the other Great Generals appeared at the holy city of Hamuhad, led by an Arab noble toward that large well that concealed a lost civilization.
“Could it be that this is where Khatabah discovered and subdued that Ifrit?”
Gao Xianzhi frowned as he stared pensively at the well with its diameter of twenty-some meters, its rim covered in sealing inscriptions.
The Ifrit had left a deep impression on all of them. If Wang Chong had not found a way to deal with it, the consequences would have been unthinkable.
Wang Chong’s first order upon arriving at Baghdad had been to seal Hamuhad and find the origin of the Ifrit.
But Gao Xianzhi had not expected the clues to point to this well.
It wasn’t the first time Gao Xianzhi had encountered a deep pit like this. After the Battle of Talas, he and Wang Chong had found the ruins of the Elam Dynasty beneath Khorasan. There, they had found the Book of Paimon and information on the Seventy-Two Demon God Pillars.
But he had not expected that the Arabian holy city of Hamuhad would also be hiding something similar beneath its surface.
A lost civilization and a World-Destroying Ifrit had been found here.