Chapter 1706 - Ü-Tsang’s Sincerity!

The Great Sun Court Official was a post that Wang Chong had some vague recollection of. The Ü-Tsang Empire worshiped the sun, and the Seven Great Tsenpos were also known as the Heavenly Tri, or Scarlet Heaven Kings. The Tri referred to the sun. It was for this reason that their elite Mutri Great Cavalry and their illustrious court officials wore and revered the color scarlet, for this was the color of the sun.

Wang Chong recalled that this Great Sun Court Official was one of the Tsenpo’s close officials and possessed an extremely high status. Wang Chong had not imagined that the Tibetans would send such a high-ranking official.

Suddenly, Wang Chong understood, but he remained silent. He turned to the Big Dipper Army generals behind him. This was the territory of the Big Dipper Army, and it was both right and reasonable that the Big Dipper Army decide what to do with the Tibetans.

The high-ranking Big Dipper Army generals in the back seemed to understand what was going on.

“Your Highness was the man our general respected the most, so you are naturally the man most respected by our Big Dipper Army. As our general is no longer present, please deal with these people as you see fit, Your Highness!”

The highest-ranking Big Dipper Army general suddenly took two steps forward and respectfully bowed.

“That’s right. We leave everything to Your Highness!” the other generals agreed.

The two letters written by Geshu Han before his death had both been for Wang Chong, and Wang Chong had been the first to arrive after their general’s death. Moreover, Wang Chong had also agreed to investigate the truth for them. Wang Chong was a benefactor to the Big Dipper Army, and given his status and prestige, he naturally had the right to represent the Big Dipper Army in dealing with these Tibetans.

More importantly, these generals had heard these Tibetans calling out Wang Chong’s name before this, so they had clearly come to see him.

Wang Chong was quiet for a few moments and then finally nodded.

He suddenly turned his head. “Speak. For what reason did your Imperial Minister send you?!”

Wang Chong’s words frightened the Tibetans. But that Great Sun Court Official Pagur seemed to have expected this.

“Your Highness, I know that all of you are overcome with grief over the sudden death of Great General Geshu, and there are even rumors going around that this matter was done by the Tibetans. But we Tibetans can swear an oath to the gods of the plateau that we have no connection to this matter. We are also stricken by grief over Great General Geshu’s death!” Pagur sternly said.

“Who asked you to shed your fake tears here?!”

“The Great General is dead, so shouldn’t you be ecstatic?!”

“The Tibetans can’t be trusted!”

“Get them out of here!”

The Big Dipper Army soldiers and Longxi people once more grew restless. The Big Dipper Army and Ü-Tsang were old foes and had fought over this land for decades, both sides losing numerous men. Now, the Tibetans had come to Great General Geshu’s funeral, and no one would believe that they had come simply to offer their condolences.

Pagur bowed and said with an expression of deep sincerity on his face, “I know that our words are very difficult to believe, but these come from the heart. Although Great General Geshu was our enemy, all Tibetans admired his valor. When the Tsenpo and Imperial Minister learned of the grievous news, they were overcome with grief. The Tsenpo has already ordered the plateau’s armies to withdraw three hundred li, additionally promising that the Big Dipper Army will not be attacked for an entire year! Any who defy this order will be executed!

“Besides that, the Tsenpo has also set up a spirit tablet in the royal capital to join all the generals and people in paying his respects!”

Everyone was stunned by these words. Even though they were long-time foes of the Tibetans and regarded them with great hostility, they were momentarily speechless.

These Tibetans were far meeker than they had expected.

Even Wang Chong was surprised. Although he had predicted the goal of these Tibetans, he had not expected that they would even withdraw their soldiers three hundred li to clear their name, and that the Tsenpo would even set up a spirit tablet in the royal capital to commemorate Geshu Han.

This was an extremely rare occurrence in Tibetan history.

Wang Chong quickly came back to his senses and indifferently said, “I understand your Imperial Minister’s intentions, but the Imperial Court is still investigating what happened to Great General Geshu, and the final judgment is up to the court.”

Wang Chong was well aware that the Tibetans had not suddenly found their conscience. If Geshu Han’s death didn’t cast suspicion on the foreign countries, with Ü-Tsang being the greatest suspect, they would have never taken this attitude.

And given that they had sent a high official like the Great Sun Official, and that their party happened to arrive right when Wang Chong happened to arrive at Big Dipper City, their intentions were clear.

The Tibetans definitely did not hold that much respect for Geshu Han, but they were simply forced to act for the sake of their own well-being.

Pagur took a few steps forward and sternly said, “Thank you, Your Highness! When the Tsenpo and the Imperial Minister dispatched me, they had a small request. They hoped that I would be able to enter the spirit hall to pay respects to Great General Geshu and display the reverence of all Tibetans.”

Wang Chong shook his head and firmly said, “That’s not necessary. It’s best if you quickly take your leave!”

These Tibetans hadn’t even gone inside the city, but had already provoked such rage. What would happen if they entered Geshu Han’s spirit hall?!

“Get out of here! Leave!” cried the surrounding crowd of soldiers and common folk.

A complicated expression flashed in Pagur’s eyes. He knew that it was impossible for him to enter Geshu Han’s spirit hall.

Swish!

At this moment, a completely unexpected development took place.

Pagur’s subordinates suddenly took out their Tibetan daggers, turned around, and cut the throats of their horses. Blood gushed out as the stalwart highland steeds shrieked and thudded to the ground!

“Your Highness, generals, I know that you do not believe us, but this is all irrelevant. Time will show that Great General Geshu’s death had nothing to do with us! Even though we and Great General Geshu regarded each other as enemies, we would never resort to such a shameless and despicable method.

“These warhorses were divine stallions of our Ü-Tsang. We Tibetans do not harm our own warhorses, as their souls are the purest and most loyal, and they serve as the most loyal comrades to our warriors. Only when a most revered hero passes will we offer the souls of our steeds to accompany the hero in death!

“This is the greatest ritual our Ü-Tsang Empire can offer to a deceased hero!”

After saying all this, Pagur made a gesture. A moment later, all the Tibetans prostrated in the direction of Geshu Han’s spirit hall, kowtowing three times. This action was so sudden that there was no time to stop it.

“Your Highness, thank you for letting us say our piece!”

After the kowtows were done, the party stood up and bowed to Wang Chong.

Wang Chong looked at Pagur and calmly said, “The Imperial Minister has truly gone through great pains!”

Even though he had understood Dalon Trinling’s intentions from the start, he could not help but express his praise.

The deceased were of utmost importance. Regardless of what the true intention of these Tibetans was, no one could criticize them for the respect they had paid to Geshu Han.

“Tell your Imperial Minister and Tsenpo that respect is not found in words, but in the heart. Clever words and a fawning countenance are futile gestures. If Ü-Tsang still has designs on the Great Tang and Longxi, a day will come when we meet on the battlefield! At that time, this one might not just stop at Zhangzhung, but will personally meet with your Imperial Minister in the royal capital!” Wang Chong coldly said.

Pagur’s face paled at Wang Chong’s words.

At this time, almost all the foreign countries around the Great Tang paled at the mention of the King of Foreign Lands, and Ü-Tsang had keenly felt the pain he could inflict.

Not only had Dusong Mangpoje been defeated and the triangular gap seized, Wang Chong had even attacked their heartland and destroyed one of their three training camps. This was a pain that all Tibetans had felt, a humiliation that all of them wanted to redeem.

However, no matter how angry he was, Pagur had to admit that the youth’s words were not some empty threat, but something completely capable of being realized. In this world, only this youth had the ability to threaten an entire country with just himself!

“This one will relay your message to the Imperial Minister and the Tsenpo.”

Pagur took in a deep breath and turned around. They mounted their remaining horses, several of them sharing mounts, and after one last glance at Big Dipper City, they rode off.

After watching Pagur leave, Wang Chong turned around and said to the Big Dipper generals, “Let’s all go back. No matter what Ü-Tsang is planning, they won’t engage in any large-scale attack on the Big Dipper Army and Longxi in the short term. If the Tibetans truly show any abnormal movements, I will personally handle the matter. At that time, the Tibetans won’t just be facing the Big Dipper Army.”

“Thank you, Your Highness!” the generals gratefully said.

With Geshu Han and his top-class generals dead, the Big Dipper Army was in a perilous state. If the Tibetans took advantage of this opportunity, Big Dipper City and Longxi would be in great danger.

With Wang Chong’s guarantee, all the members of the Big Dipper Army were emboldened. The Great Tang was in chaos, with Gao Xianzhi’s recall, the Setting Sun Villa incident, and Geshu Han’s death all happening in close succession. Even simple soldiers were vaguely able to sense something.

But this youth’s promise had singlehandedly stabilized the situation in Longxi!

As the Big Dipper Army generals returned, there was a flapping of wings. A black silhouette was rapidly moving across the gloomy sky toward them.

Wang Chong hadn’t noticed at first, but when he saw what sort of bird was flying toward him, his pupils constricted and his eyelids twitched.