When Great Tang fell into an era of darkness and chaos, when the Great Tang military was often in a disadvantageous position, his surprise attacks often created opportunities for his allies.
In that era, there were many who pinned their hopes on him.
But just like a comet, his brilliance only shone for a short moment before disappearing altogether.
His inferior martial arts had become his Achilles’ heel.
And one inappropriate command ordering for a ‘frontal assault’ had become the direct cause of his death. If one were to trace back the main reason for his death, it would tie back to the fact that he had followed the wrong master.
Because of this, countless people had sighed in lamentation!
“Sun Zhiming!”
Looking at the kneeling examinee, a thought flashed across Wang Chong’s head.
The other person who commanded Sun Zhiming to forcibly injure his potential contender so as to pave his way into Kunwu was most probably ‘Deng Mingxin.’
He was also the one whose flawed command directly resulted in Sun Zhiming’s death.
“To think that it would be them!”
It was one thing if Wang Chong had never encountered them, but now that he had, he couldn’t simply just let things be. If he didn’t recall wrongly, Sun Zhiming would fail the first round of recruitment due to Deng Mingxin.
It would be another six months before he finally manages to enter Kunwu Training Camp.
Even though it was only a difference of six months, this small time difference made a world of a difference.
Many instructors chose to take on only a single batch of recruits so the future recruits lost the opportunity to come under them. On top of that, most of the instructors who took multiple batches of recruits chose to focus a majority their efforts on the first batch, thus neglecting the others. On top of that, some of the better instructors were also promoted in the meantime.
Furthermore, as the Three Great Training Camps initiative had only just begun, the royal court was paying particular attention to it so a huge quantity of resources was devoted to the training camps. That would not be the case for future batches.
Thus, for those who craved for success, getting into the camp in the very first batch was of paramount importance!
“Enough! Get up!”
As these thoughts flashed across Wang Chong’s head, a glint flashed across his eye as he strode over.
“Sun Zhiming, get up. There’s no need for you to plead with him. As a man, how can you plead with this kind of despicable scum?”
Wang Chong grabbed Sun Zhiming’s elbow and pulled him up from the ground.
Dumbfounded, Sun Zhiming stared blankly at the youth who had suddenly appeared before him. He had never seen this person before, and he had no idea why the other party knew his name.
“What is going on?”
“Bastard, who the hell do you think you are? How dare you interfere in our affairs?”
“Who the heck are you? This has nothing to do with you so I advise you to not get involved and just scram!”
…
While Sun Zhiming was dazed by the abrupt happenings, Deng Mingxin and the others had already flown into a rage. The trio was in the midst of teaching Sun Zhiming a lesson and Wang Chong’s intervention had displeased them.
The Three Great Training Camps were of utmost importance to them as well, and anybody who tried to wreck their plans would be their mortal foe.
“If I were you, I would leave at this very moment!”
Deng Mingxin stepped forward and glared at Wang Chong furiously. His voice dripping with hostile intent.
“Deng Mingxin, if I were you, I would scram at this very moment! I am not someone you can trifle with!”
Wang Chong sneered coldly.
“Bastard, how dare you talk to Young Master Deng like that?!”
One of Deng Mingxin’s lackeys couldn’t hold himself back anymore and shot a punch straight toward Wang Chong.
Hong long long!
A cloud of dust rose and cloaked the area. No one saw what Wang Chong did, but Deng Mingxin’s lackey spun in the air before crashing heavily onto the ground. The immense force of his fall caused the entire ground to tremble for a short moment.
Putting aside Deng Mingxin, even the examinees in the area were stunned.
Only then did Sun Zhiming finally come to a realization. He stared at the youth before him in shock, realizing that the other party probably came from a lustrous background.
“Who in the world are you?”
Deng Mingxin narrowed his eyes in fury.
“Guards, guards! Someone is attacking other examinees!”
Deng Mingxin’s other lackey reacted swiftly to the situation and shouted loudly to the top of the mountain. This was the first day of the training camps, and anybody who dared to make a move on the other examinees would have to face the wrath of the imperial guards. In fact, it was even possible for one to be even stripped of one’s qualification as an examinee.
“Who is it? Don’t you know that fighting is forbidden here? “
The commotion had already attracted the attention of several Imperial Army members. They rushed up to the group like ferocious tigers, encircling the group in an instant. Every single one of them had an impatient look on their faces, and it was clear that they wouldn’t hesitate to get physical if they had to.
“Hmph, it’s him! I don’t know what’s wrong with him, he just suddenly rushed forward and attacked us!”
Upon seeing the arrival of the Imperial Army members, Deng Mingxin’s lackey pointed to Wang Chong and sneered coldly.
Deng Mingxin didn’t say anything, but his eyes shone with glee and excitement.
“I had already told you to scram but sadly, you simply refuse to listen to me and chose to get involved instead.”
Deng Mingxin sneered coldly.
Against an oaf like Wang Chong, there was no need for him to make a move at all. All he had to do was to play some underhanded tricks to teach him a harsh lesson.
Without this bit of wits, how could he possibly maintain a firm grip on Sun Zhiming such that the latter would never dare to retaliate?
“Is that so? I’ve already told you that I’m not someone you can trifle with.”
Wang Chong sneered coldly and before everyone’s gazes, he whipped out a token from his waist.
Two simple words were inscribed on the token, but it made the faces of the spectating crowd lose their color.
“King Song! This is King Song’s token!”
Shocked exclaims echoed in the area.
The arrogant Deng Mingxin and group suddenly felt as though their eyes were being pricked with needles. Their complexion swiftly turned awful.
“I know who he is, he is Wang Chong!”
“My gosh! He really came to Kunwu Training Camp!”
An uproar broke out. There was someone who finally put everything together and identified Wang Chong.
Upon realizing that the person before him was Wang Chong, Deng Mingxin’s heart abruptly turned cold.
He finally understood why the other party dared to interfere in his affairs. However, it was already too late.
It was as though someone had placed a mountain on his heart, weighing him down.
“So it’s Wang gongzi!”
“Given Wang gongzi‘s character, it is impossible for him to attack other examinees. ——What is wrong with you all? How dare you all make a move in Kunwu Training camp? Are you all dying to get disqualified?”
“Take him away. How could he be so brazen as to make a move on Chong gongzi in the training camp! Strip him of his qualification as an examinee!”
…
The words of the Imperial Army members made the faces of the duo turn even more awful. Even in front of such a huge crowd, the Imperial Army members were blatantly siding with Wang Chong. The guards grabbed the unconscious lad on the ground and dragged him down the mountain.
Just like
that, he was kicked out from the first round of recruitment!
“Gongzi?”
The face of the other lackey beside Deng Mingxin turned livid.
“Right, gongzi, if you have the time, please try to make a few more Wootz steel swords! One sword a month is really too little.”
After walking a dozen zhang away, one of the Imperial Army members suddenly turned around and said impassionately.
In the Imperial Army, regardless of which squadron one was in, be it whether one was stationed in the royal palace or outside, there was not a single soldier who didn’t know of the Wootz steel sword. After all, even the Grand Marshal of the Imperial Army had spent his money to buy Wang Chong’s ‘Death Abyss’.
“I understand.”
Wang Chong smiled and nodded his head. Abusing his authority for the first time… it felt kind of refreshing!
‘The number of great generals who came from here was definitely more than sufficient to light up the entire sky.’
It is a Chinese superstition that one can determine the fate of a country or such via the skies. For example, the emperor would have a star belonging to him, and if it dims, it might mean that disaster is going to befall the empire. Similarly, generals have a star themselves as well.
Chapter 193: Changing Fate!
“Wang Chong… You’re Chong gongzi!”
Sun Zhiming became dumbstruck the moment he realized this fact. Wang Chong’s bravery in speaking up against the regional commanders policy despite the hostility from the Hu and his imprisonment had become something no one didn’t know of in Great Tang.
Sun Zhiming didn’t expect the one who appeared and stood up to Deng Mingxin for him would be that Wang Chong. In an instant, Sun Zhiming’s heart began to beat wildly in agitation.
“Wang gongzi, there’s no grudge between us so why must you stand against me?”
Deng Mingxin glared at Wang Chong with a dark expression.
Upon learning of Wang Chong’s identity and seeing King Song’s token in his hand, it was clear that he had picked a fight with the wrong person this time.
“Where did your arrogance go to? Why? Are you going to give in now?”
Wang Chong said coldly as he nonchalantly tidied his robe.
“But regardless, I only have a message for you. Sun Zhiming’s affairs shall be my affair from now on!”
These words left an incomparably grave expression on Deng Mingxin’s face.
“Wang gongzi, do you really intend to go to such extents?”
Deng Mingxin took in a deep breath. Knowing that there was no way to settle this matter amiably anymore, he decided to just go all in.
“My background might be inferior to you but there’s nothing for you to be gleeful about. There are plenty of people who can trample over you in this Kunwu Training Camp. King Song might possess immense influence, but there’s still a King Qi standing above him. ——Sun Zhiming, you better think it over and decide whether you’ll go with me or him. You should know better the result of offending King Qi. By then, it won’t just be a matter of your father being stripped of his position!”
He was determined to keep Sun Zhiming. It wasn’t just for the matter of whether he could get into Kunwu Training Camp or not. Rather, Sun Zhiming was the only talent he had received from his father.
Even that person had said that Sun Zhiming possessed immense talent and instructed him to grasp onto him tightly. As long as Sun Zhiming remained under him, it wouldn’t be difficult for him to accomplish great things in the future.
Furthermore, he was also depending on Sun Zhiming to join King Qi’s faction.
He didn’t mind Wang Chong teaching his lackeys a lesson, and he was fine with his pride being trampled upon as well. However, Sun Zhiming was one thing he couldn’t compromise on.
“Hmph!”
Seeing that Deng Mingxin was still threatening Sun Zhiming at this moment, Wang Chong’s rage flurried.
If Sun Zhiming continued to follow Deng Mingxin, it would only be a matter of time before he was destroyed. Since Deng Mingxin was willing to use his background and King Qi’s name to force Sun Zhiming into submission, then Wang Chong didn’t mind using his lustrous background to teach that despicable scum a lesson.
“Deng Mingxin, I finally understand why you dare to speak so arrogantly. I see, so you’ve decided to side with King Qi. However, do you think that that makes a difference?”
Wang Chong sneered coldly. Since Deng Mingxin was unwilling to release Sun Zhiming and was using his background to threaten the latter, the other party shouldn’t blame him for getting nasty.
“Hmph, Deng Mingxin, if I recall correctly, your father’s name is Deng Zhou, right? Fine! You and your father can return to the countryside tomorrow!”
Those words made Deng Mingxin’s face darken.
“Wang Chong, stop bragging here. Who do you think that you’re scaring? I’m only afraid that you don’t have the influence to do so!”
“Heh, we’ll see tomorrow then.”
Wang Chong sneered.
His big uncle, Wang Gen, was an influential official in the royal court, and King Song was also reinstated into his former positions. As long as the two collaborated with one another, it was a walk in the park to send a minor official back to his hometown.
Deng Mingxin’s father, Deng Zhou, was an official in the Bureau of Personnel, and he wielded the authority over the livelihood of the officials. It was through this influence that the Deng Clan was able to hold onto Sun Zhiming tightly.
It would be interesting to see what Deng Mingxin would threaten Sun Zhiming with once Deng Zhou falls.
“Sun Zhiming, don’t worry. Regardless of what happens, I’ll be by your side! So just rest assure and do your best in the examination. As for Deng Mingxin, the person named Deng Zhou will disappear from the Bureau of Personnel from tomorrow onward so you don’t have to worry about him threatening you anymore.”
Wang Chong replied calmly as he patted Sun Zhiming’s shoulder. He exuded an aura which instinctively made one wanted to believe him.
The current Wang Clan had just reborn and all of its members were united along the same front. On top of that, King Song and Consort Taizhen were standing behind the Wang Clan as well. Protecting a Sun Zhiming wasn’t a problem at all!
“Gongzi, thank you!”
Sun Zhiming bowed deeply in gratitude.
The reputation of ‘Duke Jiu’ was resounding. There was no one in Central Plains who had never heard of that name. If Wang Clan were to stand up for them, there would really be no need for him to worry about his father’s matter anymore.
“Bastard! Sun Zhiming, you better not regret your decision today!”
Upon seeing this sight, how could Deng Mingxin still not understand Sun Zhiming’s choice? His face turned livid, and he furiously flung his sleeves backward and left.
Given that Sun Zhiming had already chosen Wang Chong, there was nothing else he could do.
If he were to remain here, he would only embarrass himself further!
“Gongzi!”
Seeing Deng Mingxin leave, the other lackey hurriedly followed him with a darkened face.
Wang Chong chuckled internally as he watched the two departing figures.
‘It takes a villain to deal with a villain’, to deal with someone with Deng Mingxin, Wang Chong didn’t mind playing the role of a ‘villain’.
Most of the people in Kunwu Training Camp were ordinary civilians and the offsprings of minor officials. Toward them, Wang Chong would never flaunt his background.
But if someone wanted to use his influence to gain an unfair advantage over others, then Wang Chong wouldn’t mind using his as well to teach that person a lesson.
“Sun Zhiming, you possess good talent but your root bone is slightly lacking. After the examination ends, come and look for me. I’ll impart you a Panther Bone cultivation technique.”
Wang Chong said.
Learning martial arts was something progressive
. It wasn’t that Wang Chong was unwilling to impart him a higher level root bone cultivation technique but that Sun Zhiming hadn’t even reached the most basic Panther Bone.
There was no use imparting him with a Tiger Bone cultivation technique given his lack of foundation.
“Thank you, gongzi!”
Delighted, Sun Zhiming stood up and bowed deeply. Root bone cultivation technique had always been confined within the doors of the general and minister clans.
Sun Zhiming knew that his talent was above average but his mediocre root bone had tied him down. There was once an elder who had told him that if he could make up for this flaw, his future would surely be boundless.
This was the reason why Sun Zhiming was determined to enter Kunwu Training Camp.
Sun Zhiming didn’t expect Wang Chong to be willing to impart the secret art of cultivating one’s Panther Bone to him.
“Hehe, there’s no need to thank me. Also, if possible, I recommend you to learn a movement technique as well. Even though the speed of a cavalry is incredible, it doesn’t make one invulnerable. After all, one should consider the possibility of one’s mount being killed in battle.”
“Movement technique?”
Sun Zhiming was taken aback. He didn’t expect Wang Chong to abruptly bring up this matter.
Wang Chong simply chuckled mysteriously. There were many reasons to Sun Zhiming’s death; an unwise command from a superior, his weak cultivation… All these had played a contributing role to his eventual demise.
Back then, when Wang Chong first heard of Sun Zhiming’s affairs, based on his instincts as the Grand Marshal of the Central Plains, he sensed another fatal flaw in Sun Zhiming—He didn’t pay much importance to the cultivation of movement techniques.
To be fair, the charging speed of a steel cavalry was formidable. As long as one possessed a good mount, it shouldn’t matter whether one learned movement techniques or not.
But once one’s mount was killed, the lack of agility would surely prove to be fatal.
From the inception of Great Tang, there were countless great generals who found themselves surrounded by bulks of enemies. However, with their unparalleled cultivation, they were often able to charge out of the encirclement.
The Human Emperor c1-2382 Page 149