Chapter 016: Taking Leave

Yang Yuhuan, being a connoisseur, was delighted by the fist-sized ruby and nodded repeatedly, showing great satisfaction with the gift.

Yang Guozhong struggled to tear his gaze away from the gem.

He had just tried to nettle Wang Bo, but now he had to admit that Wang Bo had made a grand gesture this time.

Such a large gem was rarely seen in the world. If it were him, he would never part with such a rarity to present to the emperor, but would instead treasure it and admire it daily.

Li Longji clearly understood this as well and was very pleased with Wang Bo's actions. Patting Wang Bo on the shoulder, he said, "My beloved minister is truly loyal, and I am deeply gratified."

This was exactly the effect Wang Bo wanted.

After all, what he needed to do now was to do everything possible to prevent the An-Shi Rebellion from occurring.

Saying a few nice words cost nothing, and giving away a few gems, though costly, didn't bother Wang Bo. After all, he could have as many of these things as he wanted. Offering one to curry favor with Li Longji and Yang Yuhuan was no big deal.

Then, the Grand Banquet of Ultimate Bliss officially drew to a close.

This revelry, which disregarded rank and status, had drained everyone's energy and stamina. When the tipsy Emperor Li Longji left with Yang Yuhuan and the gem, the other attendees also departed one after another.

As they were leaving, Yang Guozhong blocked Wang Bo with a forced smile and said softly, "A few days ago, I heard that General An had been making frequent unusual moves, seemingly harboring ill intentions. But after meeting you today, I realize that rumors are just rumors. It seems I have misunderstood General An."

Wang Bo thought, you haven't misunderstood An Lushan; you've only misunderstood me.

He smiled slightly and said, "My loyalty to the Great Tang is as clear as the sun and moon. Chancellor Yang, you have truly misunderstood me."

Yang Guozhong: ...

His earlier words were merely a warning, but he hadn't expected the other to seize the opportunity to climb up. This guy's skin was too thick.

As if I don't know you've long harbored rebellious intentions?

He glared at Wang Bo, fuming, and finally snorted coldly before turning and leaving.

Wang Bo watched Yang Guozhong's retreating figure and couldn't help but chuckle.

No wonder An Lushan never looked this guy in the eye; mainly because his skill level was too low.

Li Linfu was quite different.

From the residual information left by An Lushan, he seemed both startled and fearful of the former chancellor Li Linfu.

When Li Linfu was chancellor, no courtier dared to breach court etiquette. An Lushan, relying on the deep favor of Emperor Xuanzong, would not bow deeply when entering the court.

Li Linfu ordered Wang Hong to perform the proper rites. Wang Hong stepped forward briskly, bowed deeply with great respect, and only then did An Lushan gasp in fear, gradually bending his waist.

Whenever he spoke with Li Linfu, Li Linfu would always anticipate An Lushan's thoughts and speak them first. An Lushan thought he was omniscient like a god. Every time he saw Li Linfu, even in the dead of winter, he would sweat profusely in fear.

Thus, An Lushan held Li Linfu in awe and respect.

But Yang Guozhong was different. This guy couldn't subdue An Lushan mainly because his skill was too low, so An Lushan didn't take him seriously.

After this encounter with Yang Guozhong, Wang Bo found that Yang Guozhong's ability was indeed lacking.

No wonder An Lushan looked down on him.

...

After the Grand Banquet of Ultimate Bliss ended, all of Chang'an was discussing the fist-sized ruby. Countless people were envious, jealous, and hateful toward Yang Yuhuan.

Even Li Longji planned to reward Wang Bo generously. The next day, a rumor even spread in the palace that Li Longji, seeing An Lushan's loyalty, intended to give him another military governorship.

When Wang Bo heard this news, his first reaction was that Li Longji had lost his mind.

Being the military governor of three towns was already insane enough.

An Lushan's ambition had already been nurtured, and he was ready to rebel. Giving him another governorship—were you afraid he wouldn't rebel?

Even your own son didn't have such power.

But later, Wang Bo heard that Yang Guozhong, together with Crown Prince Li Heng, strongly opposed this matter, so it was dropped.

Upon hearing this, Wang Bo nodded.

That was the right choice.

It was fortunate that it was him; if it were the real An Lushan, he might have wanted to draw his sword and kill both the crown prince and Yang Guozhong.

But then again, if it were the real An Lushan, he probably couldn't have produced the fist-sized ruby.

The day after the Grand Banquet of Ultimate Bliss, Wang Bo went to the palace and asked Li Longji for leave, deciding to return to his base.

Li Longji also felt that a military governor should stay in his own territory and serve the court well, so he didn't detain Wang Bo and let him go.

Because he believed that at this time, An Lushan was still a loyal minister to him.

He wouldn't rebel.

As for Wang Bo, actually, Wang Bo didn't want to go back either. He also wanted to stay in Chang'an and witness its splendor.

But he had no choice but to return.

Before An Lushan came, he had instructed his confidants that if he were imprisoned in Chang'an, they must raise an army and quickly attack Chang'an to rescue him.

That is, if Wang Bo didn't rush back, the An-Shi Rebellion would inevitably break out.

Therefore, Wang Bo had to hurry back.

So on the day after the Grand Banquet of Ultimate Bliss ended, Wang Bo asked Li Longji for leave, and Li Longji readily agreed. That afternoon, Wang Bo hastily left Chang'an with his men.

Wang Bo traveled like the wind, with no one stopping him. In just three or five days, he returned to his base.

After Wang Bo returned to his residence, An Lushan's confidants immediately sprang into action.

Many people galloped and gathered together.

As An Lushan's confidants, they naturally knew that An Lushan planned to rebel, so they gathered to discuss with their boss when to rebel.

Wang Bo certainly wouldn't rebel, because no one knew better than him the horror of the An-Shi Rebellion.

In that war, too many people died.

Although Wang Bo wasn't sure exactly how many died in that war, he estimated that the death toll was not inferior to that of World War I.

And World War I had tens of millions of deaths.

So Wang Bo certainly wouldn't let the An-Shi Rebellion break out, but his subordinates had been brainwashed by the previous An Lushan, eagerly awaiting the outbreak of war to achieve merit and reach the peak of life.

If Wang Bo now said they wouldn't rebel, his subordinates might kill him, install An Lushan's son as leader, and continue the rebellion.

Of course, for these people to kill Wang Bo was a pipe dream.

But Wang Bo still decided to settle the matter once and for all.