The Human Emperor c1-2382

by Huangfu Qi (皇甫奇)

  "This subordinate understands," Li Siye grunted, but his face showed no emotion. His eyes were fixed on Dayan Mangban.

  The atmosphere was deathly still, the two commanders silently standing across from each other.

  "Interesting!"

  Seeing that Dayan Mangban was doing nothing, neither advancing nor retreating, only sitting there on his horse with that gloomy expression, Wang Chong inwardly smiled and lightly urged his horse forward. As he rode out from the opening in the steel walls, he instantly grabbed the attention of everyone present.

  Even the distant Fumeng Lingcha couldn't help but look over.

  "Milord, this boy is quite bold," someone softly whispered by Fumeng Lingcha's side. "Isn't he afraid that Dayan Mangban will suddenly explode forward and try to kill him? After all, Dayan Mangban is a Brigadier General!"

  Fumeng Lingcha creased his brow in thought for a few moments. "It's not that he's not afraid, but that he believes that Dayan Mangban won't do anything!"

  Although he hoped that Wang Chong's judgment was wrong and wished to see Dayan Mangban ride forward and kill Wang Chong, Fumeng Lingcha was well aware that eight or nine times out of ten, Wang Chong's judgment was correct. It wasn't because Dayan Mangban was a benevolent soul, but because this scion of the Wang Clan had many clever tricks up his sleeve and was much more difficult to deal with than most.

  If it were so easy, then Dayan Mangban would have succeeded on his first try!

  Fumeng Lingcha clenched his teeth and coldly declared, "Keep a close watch! Tell Heba Ye that the moment the brat is killed, the army will move out, fight for a while, and then immediately retreat. When the time comes, we can not only cast off all the blame, we can even submit a memorial pushing all the blame to that boy and the Wang Clan backing him."

  "Yes!"

  A subordinate immediately left with the order.

  Fumeng Lingcha nodded at this before turning back around to continue his observations.

  He truly didn't care if Dayan Mangban chose this moment to strike or not, because Wang Chong's fate was already decided. With his meager force, Dayan Mangban and Dusong Mangpoje would be more than enough to ensure his death. Fumeng Lingcha simply couldn't imagine how Wang Chong could possibly emerge alive from this situation.

  "Enjoy it while you can. A price must be paid for the rashness of youth."

  A cold light glimmered in Fumeng Lingcha's eyes, and then they regained their calm.

  Chapter 773: A Meeting of Enemies

  Translated by: Hypersheep325

  Edited by: Michyrr

  "Dayan Mangban, we meet again. Did you get my gift?"

  Wang Chong slowly trotted his horse forward, smirking.

  Buzz!

  At these words, Dayan Mangban's complexion instantly turned dark, a fierce anger emerging in his eyes. He naturally knew what Wang Chong was talking about. The 'gift' Wang Chong spoke of was undoubtedly the twenty-seven thousand soldiers of Zhangzhung Training Camp and the Dayan Clan's Dayan Pugyal.

  "There's no need to worry. You'll quickly be receiving my 'gift' as well."

  Dayan Mangban rode his horse forward, coldly staring at Wang Chong, a savage glow in his eyes.

  "Hahaha, then I look forward to it."

  Wang Chong heartily chuckled. He wasn't worried that Dayan Mangban would strike, but rather that he wouldn't. After all, he still had the 'Threat to Qixi' mission to complete. Just his words and Dayan Mangban's personality ensured that Dayan Mangban would not lightly choose to retreat.

  "Oh, by the way, Dayan Mangban, besides you, I've also prepared a gift for the Ü-Tsang Empire. Do you see that fortress behind me? In the future, these fortresses will extend all the way into the interior of the plateau, right up to the Tsenpo's royal capital. I've always respected His Majesty the Tsenpo, so I plan to build this sort of fortress outside the royal capital to express my respect!"

  "Impudent!"

  At these words, Dayan Mangban's eyes grew even colder, even more brimming with rage. Even Dusong Mangpoje at the rear of the army had to slightly frown at these words. Wang Chong was clearly making a naked threat, and unlike his conflict with Dayan Mangban, this was a threat aimed straight at the Tsenpo of the Ü-Tsang Empire.

  In the Ü-Tsang Empire, the Tsenpo held supreme status as a manifestation of a god. Any Tibetan commander would find it impossible to bear Wang Chong's words.

  "Brat, you're seeking death!"

  Dayan Mangban closed his eyes and took in a deep breath. No one had ever dared to act so brashly in front of him before. In the past, his opponents would all be trembling in fear, and even Pulan He's face before his death had been stricken with fear, his entire body trembling.

  Dayan Mangban had never experienced such a challenging foe.

  "…All recklessness has a price to pay. I will definitely crush your corpse under the hooves of my horse, lop off your head, and then display it on the edge of the plateau so that all Tang know what will happen to those who challenge me."

  "Hahaha, I'm different from you. Killing you is just a part of the process, not the goal. In the future, I will eradicate all the forces the Ü-Tsang Empire has bordering Qixi, completely resolving any threats to it. Not only that, I will thrust the banner of the Great Tang into the heart of Ü-Tsang, toppling it over so as to show everyone what happens to enemies of the Great Tang."

  Wang Chong gave a roar of laughter.

  Buzz!

  In the rear of the army, Dusong Mangpoje, who had originally been putting all his attention on Fumeng Lingcha, couldn't help but deeply frown at Wang Chong's words.

  And the distant Fumeng Lingcha also couldn't help but frown.

  "Milord…"

  Several of the Qixi scouts by Fumeng Lingcha's side seemed to brighten up and subconsciously glance at Fumeng Lingcha. Although Wang Chong was their opponent, even they, as soldiers of the Qixi Protectorate army, couldn't help but admire him for these words.

  "Everyone, shut up!" Fumeng Lingcha harshly rebuked, his face gloomy. He naturally knew what these subordinates were thinking, but this only served to stimulate his jealousy and killing intent.

  No matter what, this brat can't be allowed to survive.

  Fumeng Lingcha clenched his fists, causing his knuckles to crack.

  The more outstanding Wang Chong was, the greater a threat he posed to the Hu. He could not be allowed to live.

  But Fumeng Lingcha had no idea that there was a person at this time who wanted to kill Wang Chong even more.

  If Dayan Mangban was just angry at the start, by now, he was on the verge of going insane.

  "Wang Chong, if you wanted to provoke me, then you've succeeded. I've changed my mind now. I won't let you easily die. You care a lot about Qixi, right? I will kill each and every soldier of Qixi and make the Great Tang's Qixi Protectorate nothing more than a part of history." Dayan Mangban smiled savagely.

  "Let's go!"

  Dayan Mangban almost immediately turned his horse around and left. Behind him, the White Braves followed, the hooves of their horses clopping against the ground as they galloped off.

  "Xu Keyi, tell all troops to get ready. A major battle will soon be upon us."

  Wang Chong narrowed his eyes as he watched Dayan Mangban leave.

  "Yes, Lord Marquis!"

  Xu Keyi turned and left with the order.

  "Li Siye, there's no going back. We must kill Dayan Mangban!" Wang Chong said, continuing to look forward.

  "Lord Marquis, this general will do everything possible to carry out this order," Li Siye sternly replied.

  Wang Chong nodded and continued to silently look in the direction Dayan Mangban had left. Dayan Mangban was a madman, and once he locked onto a target, he would madly attack it.

  In the past, this was precisely how the Qixi Protectorate's armies had been exhausted, and it was this trait that resulted in the mission 'The Threat to Qixi'.

  Dayan Mangban's final words before leaving had stirred many thoughts in Wang Chong. Wang Chong's greatest
concern right now was that his own actions had led to a far earlier onset of Dayan Mangban's madness.

  There was no retreat now. If he wanted to avert Dayan Mangban's crazed actions and prevent the Qixi Protectorate from walking the same path to destruction, he had to exterminate Dayan Mangban here.

  "Hyah!"

  Wang Chong urged his horse on, turning it around and riding back to his army.

  ……

  On the other side, around two thousand zhang away, Dayan Mangban returned to his own army, and countless gazes began to focus on him, all of them waiting in the somber atmosphere for Dayan Mangban to give the order.

  "Milord, shall we attack?" a Tibetan general said, a vicious and murderous light in his eyes.

  "Do not rush! Without my order, no one is allowed to recklessly act."

  To the surprise of his generals, Dayan Mangban waved his hand and rejected the proposal. His gaze was cold, and his emotionless eyes were still fixed on the silvery-white walls of the fortress.

  "General…"

  The surrounding officers were all dumbstruck. Dayan Mangban had just returned with a frightening grimace, so everyone believed that he would immediately give the order to attack. Instead, he had made the exact opposite decision.

  Dayan Mangban said nothing, gave no explanation. His expression was cold and calm, making it impossible for anyone to tell what he was thinking.

  At this moment, the only people who could remain composed and at ease were those White Brave officers who had followed Dayan Mangban through his many campaigns.

  "That brat was intentionally trying to provoke Milord, but this will only lead to his destruction!"

  The White Brave officers followed Dayan Mangban's gaze. All of them had heard that conversation loud and clear. That Young Marquis had been intentionally provoking their commander, and truthfully, he had succeeded. But if he believed that angering their commander would let him succeed, then he was gravely mistaken.

  'Mad' did not mean 'impulsive', and it certainly didn't mean 'stupid', at least not in their commander's case.

  These White Brave officers had followed Dayan Mangban through many campaigns, so they were extremely familiar with his personality. The angrier and crazier he was, the calmer and more rational he would be. This was how their commander could become 'Imperial Brigadier General' and 'Asura of the Plateau', not 'Madman of the Plateau'.

  "Zeren, have you finished preparing the things I asked of you?" Dayan Mangban suddenly said, his eyes still fixed on those walls, his voice frigid.

  A Tibetan officer in his early thirties, whose face bore that characteristic flush of the plateau, bowed and said in Tibetan, "Replying to Milord: it's all ready. The several dozen tribes around the northern border have received Milord's orders and left several hours ago. They should arrive soon."

  "Very good. Wait for my order," Dayan Mangban said.

  "Yes, Milord," Zeren said.

  All was quiet, and an invisible tension was slowly strengthening, pulling the atmosphere tighter and tighter. At this moment, everyone was waiting for Dayan Mangban's order.

  "Brat, you'll definitely regret your actions. Only death will be able to purify the idiocy in your body!"

  Dayan Mangban's complexion was ashen, but his eyes glimmered with madness.

  Dayan Mangban was extremely clear on what Wang Chong was doing and why he was doing it. Only a fool like Buluhu would charge heedlessly into that array of steel walls. The strongest formation of the Tibetan cavalry was the Echelon Formation, and no empire understood this formation more than the Ü-Tsang Empire.

  If the formation fell into chaos, then what might would it have to speak of?

  And those steel walls…

  Dayan Mangban had not forgotten that in the southwest, Dalun Ruozan and Huoshu Huicang had lost to these steel walls. If Wang Chong thought that provoking Dayan Mangban would make him heedlessly charge in, then he was truly looking down on him.

  He definitely would attack, but not in the way Wang Chong imagined.

  ……

  "Lord Marquis, they still haven't attacked!"

  In the triangular gap, Li Siye was observing the Tibetan army.

  "Mm."

  Wang Chong nodded, his brow slightly furrowed and his face solemn.

  "This Dayan Mangban is even harder to deal with than we imagined. I originally thought that given the momentum he had come with and his advantage in numbers, he would quickly give the order to attack. It seems like… I've underestimated him."

  When Dayan Mangban had left, his eyes had been frightening and spitting rage. Even a blind man could notice that. Yet after all this time, the Tibetan warhorses were still neighing and whinnying, but they still showed no signs of attacking.

  No wonder he's the 'Threat to Qixi'. It's no easy task to kill him off, Wang Chong quietly said to himself.

  Chapter 774: The Cunning Dayan Mangban!

  Translated by: Hypersheep325

  Edited by: Michyrr

  Dayan Mangban was far calmer than imagined, but this was in no way good news. However, the more outstanding Dayan Mangban was, the more Wang Chong wanted to kill him. A person who could act crazily but still maintain a cool head was definitely a powerful foe of the Great Tang.

  For Qixi and the Central Plains, Wang Chong had to think of a way to kill him.

  Mooo!

  As he was thinking, a strange cry suddenly came from the other side. On this somber battlefield, these cries were abnormally loud.

  "Mm?"

  Wang Chong turned his head to look and saw that the vast Tibetan army had fallen into turmoil. Meanwhile, at the front of the Tibetan army, Dayan Mangban gave Wang Chong a glance, a strange light flashing in his eyes, and then he pulled on his reins and swiftly vanished into the army.

  "Lord Marquis, there's something wrong. This isn't the sound of warhorses!" Xu Keyi suddenly said. In a battle, both sides would usually ride horses, so it was very strange for the sounds of beasts other than warhorses to be heard, and yet those cries from before definitely did not belong to warhorses.

  "They truly aren't warhorses!" Wang Chong sternly said, his expression grave. Xu Keyi had only heard that something was wrong, but Wang Chong could already tell what had made the sound.

  "Those are the Tibetan… yaks!"

  Rumble!

  As if responding to Wang Chong's voice, the ground suddenly began to quake and a rumble came from the opposing side. Two thousand zhang away, the vast Tibetan army parted, revealing thousands upon thousands of black yaks, roaring and stomping, their sharp horns aimed at the distant steel walls as they charged.

  Mooooo!

  The thousands of black yaks were bulging with muscle, their moos rising and falling in waves. Behind them, a massive cloud of dust plumed into the air. At this moment, everyone paled.

  "Lord Marquis!"

  In their shock, everyone turned to Wang Chong.

  In this standard battle of cavalry, no one had expected the Tibetans to use this tactic. These yaks that were native to the plateau had massive bodies, sharp horns, and muscular physiques. At full charging speed, each of them could strike with the weight of nearly one thousand jin.

  If these thousands of yaks charged through the openings in the steel walls, just the first wave alone would be sufficient to throw the Tang formation into chaos.

  "Lord Marquis, these yaks have their ears blocked!" Cheng Sanyuan said, his expression fraught with concern.

  He had participated with Wang Chong in the war of the southwest, and when Geluofeng had used the elephants that lived in Mengshe Zhao's forest to charge, Wang Chong had used 'lion's roars' to frighten and alarm them. In the end, these elephants had turned around and wreaked havoc on the Mengshe–Ü-Tsang army.

  But this tactic would have no effect this time. Yaks already had long and thick fur that somewhat blocked their ears, reducing the effectiveness of any sonic attacks. And these yaks also had their ears blocked by something.

  It was obvious that Dayan Man
gban and the others had already received their lessons from the southwest and prepared themselves for this move.

  The air was tense as everyone felt the sound of the charging yaks thundering against their hearts, and they all subconsciously turned to Wang Chong.

  ……

  "That brat from the Wang Clan is probably doomed!"

  In the distance, Fumeng Lingcha was observing the battlefield. Although Fumeng Lingcha also hated Dayan Mangban down to his bones, wanting nothing more than to personally behead him, he had to admit that this madman of Ü-Tsang was truly quite formidable.

  The other commanders of Ü-Tsang would heedlessly charge as long as they had the advantage in numbers, with the deceased Buluhu serving as a representative case.

  But Dayan Mangban was different.

  He seemed crazy and irritable, his actions completely out of line with common sense, but he was also terrifying in all other aspects as well. Even though he had the White Braves and forty to fifty thousand additional soldiers, in a situation of seemingly overwhelming victory, he could still endure. He had even mobilized thousands of yaks to serve as his vanguard.

  If Fumeng Lingcha were in Wang Chong's place, even he would have little luck in surviving such meticulous planning.

  Wang Chong's only option was to retreat from the triangular gap and return to Wushang, but if he did that, those eight to nine thousand craftsmen would become ghosts under Tibetan hooves. If that boy truly dared to do such a thing, Fumeng Lingcha would be able to submit memorials criticizing him to death.

  "Ha, they say that if the heavens sin, then one can still survive, but if you bring disaster on yourself, your death is certain!"

  Fumeng Lingcha sneered as he looked to Wang Chong and his five thousand Wushang Cavalry as if they were already corpses. He felt no sympathy for Wang Chong. With no understanding of his own strength, he had dared to step onto the plateau, so this result was far too predictable. And besides… this brat dared to be his enemy!