The Human Emperor c1-2382

by Huangfu Qi (皇甫奇)

  The old man was the chief foreman, the representative of the clan alliance for this project. All matters involving construction speed were under his control.

  “Twenty days?”

  Zhao Jingdian frowned and put up one finger.

  “I only give you ten days. In ten days, the road must reach Wushang.”

  “This…”

  After a brief moment of hesitation, the old man nodded.

  “Although it’s somewhat difficult, it shouldn’t be too big of a problem. If Milord is in a hurry, I can personally supervise the task and urge them on.”

  “Okay!”

  Zhao Jingdian nodded and said no more.

  Wang Chong had given him a time limit of twenty days, but Zhao Jingdian was well aware that something that necessitated the marquis personally writing a letter hurrying him on was extremely urgent, so Zhao Jingdian had changed this limit to ten days.

  I hope that this can be of help to Lord Marquis! Zhao Jingdian quietly said to himself.

  ……

  While the pace on the construction of the cement road was being quickened, countless chimneys across the Central Plains were belching out black smoke. All the sword-smithing clans, sword shops, and smiths had begun to fully mobilize, frenziedly working on the steel modules that Wang Chong required.

  If one looked down from the skies and viewed these tens of thousands of sword shops and smiths, they would see a most grandiose and magnificent sight!

  “Pack up all these steel modules! I need them to be delivered to Qixi as quickly as possible! As for payment, there’s no need to worry about that. Our customer is the Wang Clan of the capital, and there’s nothing more trustworthy than a clan of ministers and generals. The buyer is precisely the Young Marquis whose title was personally bestowed by the Sage Emperor.”

  In an ancient residence within Jiangnan, a refined steward dressed in blue robes was currently pressing a caravan to quickly load the steel modules onto the carriages. Having already gone through the process once, these sword-smithing clans had greatly increased their speed and efficiency.

  “Save it! The Qixi Protector-General, eh? Our Great Tang’s Eighth Great General! Is there anyone in the Great Tang that doesn’t know of him? Relax! I’m not concerned about such things.”

  Outside the estate, the burly caravan leader gave a hearty laugh and made a gesture. With the clinking of bells, this caravan of ten-some carriages immediately set off for Qixi.

  East to west, north to south, thousands upon thousands of such caravans, loaded with countless steel modules, set off on their nonstop journeys to Qixi.

  When Wang Chong gave the order, the entire Great Tang was available for him to use.

  ……

  Time slowly passed. Eight days later, the two-zhang-wide cement road finally arrived in Wushang, causing a great stir within the City of Steel.

  “Cement road! Cement road! …Everyone, come and look! The new cement road has finally reached us!”

  “Ah, let me go and see!”

  “I can’t believe it! What a strange thing! It’s really even tougher than stone!”

  In the City of Steel, the atmosphere was jubilant as thousands of workers flooded out of the city. This new cement road in the Great Tang had been built from soft sand and lime, but it was even tougher than stone, could hold dozens of tons of weight. Even those warriors who could strike with the weight of one thousand jin found it very difficult to damage this road, a fact that had already spread throughout the entire Great Tang.

  And this brand-new cement road was currently being built from the capital to Wushang, filling the entire city with anticipation.

  “Lord Zhao, welcome back.”

  As fireworks filled the sky, Master Architect Zhang Shouzhi personally led the craftsmen and workers out of the city to welcome Zhao Jingdian.

  “Senior Zhang, we meet again.”

  Zhao Jingdian clasped his hands in greeting and gave a faint smile. The two had fought side by side in the war of the southwest, and were old friends.

  “That’s right, where’s Lord Marquis?”

  Zhang Shouzhi buried his hands in his sleeves and said with a faint smile, “Lord Marquis has already gone to Qixi, but even if you go to Qixi, you probably wouldn’t be able to find him.”

  “Oh, why is that?”

  Zhao Jingdian’s eyes widened in surprise. He had worked day and night on the Silk Road, supervising the construction, exactly so that he could reach Wushang as quickly as possible and meet with Wang Chong. But it was now apparent that the situation was different from what he imagined.

  Zhang Shouzhi could see through Zhao Jingdian’s confusion and explained, “There’s a war going on in Talas, and everyone has placed their hopes on Lord Marquis. How could Lord Marquis possibly sit still at a time like this?

  “In addition, don’t ask me where Lord Marquis is. Not even I know that right now. Lord Marquis has always been one to carefully ponder his plans, and his thoughts are not something that people like us can fathom.”

  Zhao Jingdian nodded, his expression pensive.

  ……

  Wang Chong was not in Qixi, though very few people knew of this. Even Xu Qiqin, the person closest to Wang Chong, only knew that he had gone to the Western Regions to see some people, but not even she knew the specific details.

  “Lord Marquis, ahead of us is the territory of the Gangke people. These people are extremely simple and don’t even know how to ride horses. Does Milord really want to hire them?”

  In the northeast corner of the Western Regions, a barren and sparsely inhabited region, Yang Hongchang and Wang Chong were riding side by side. Behind them were five thousand soldiers of the Qixi army. When he heard that Wang Chong was coming to the Western Regions, Yang Hongchang had immediately put down all his other tasks and personally gone to receive him.

  But Yang Hongchang was still completely bewildered by Wang Chong’s decision.

  “If Milord wishes to hire mercenaries, this one knows many decent mercenary groups, any of them more formidable than the Gangke Tribe. In addition, the Gangke Tribe doesn’t have a lot of people. They really can’t be of use.”

  “There’s no need for that. We can talk about hiring other mercenaries later. This time, I came specifically for the Gangke Tribe.”

  Wang Chong was riding the White-hoofed Shadow. He waved his hand in refusal, his expression confident and unconcerned.

  “But…”

  “There’s no need,” Wang Chong leisurely said. Wang Chong always had his reasons for his actions, never randomly firing off arrows, but there was no need to explain his reasons to Yang Hongchang.

  At this moment, a Han general rode up and whispered in Wang Chong’s ear. “Lord Marquis, the scouts ahead have sent back word that people have come to bar our path. They are probably the Gangke.”

  This Han general appeared similar to the guards around Wang Chong, but he wore the armor of the Qixi Protectorate army. During Fumeng Lingcha’s tenure, Han generals were quite rare.

  Wang Chong had only found him by consulting the register of the Qixi Protectorate army. This person was called Xue Qianjun, and his original rank was commandant. He had served in the Qixi Protectorate army for fifteen years, and though he had made no small number of achievements, he had never been promoted. Upon discovering him, Wang Chong had made an exception and directly promoted him to general, placing under his command all the Han soldiers of the Qixi Protectorate army.

  As the Qixi Protector-General, Wang Chong possessed an authority that was difficult to imagine. In promoting a commandant directly to general, Wang Chong didn’t even need to obtain the agreement of the Imperial Court and the Bureau of Military Personnel. He just needed to approve the decision and then submit a memorial to the Imperial Court afterward.

  “Oh? Don’t get into a fight with them yet. Wait for me to arrive.”

  Wang Chong’s eyes gleamed as he urged his horse forward. A few seconds later, Wang Chong could see the people that Xue
Qianjun had spoken of. These people were natives of the Western Regions, but unlike the tall people of the other kingdoms and tribes of the Western Regions, they were much shorter, only around five feet.

  They were also much less muscular, and their bodies were covered in dust and filth, as if they hadn’t bathed in six or seven years, their hair tangled into mats. Most unbearable of all was the stench rising from their bodies. Even though he was still around seven zhang away, he could already smell that nasty odor.

  Upon seeing them, Wang Chong finally understood why the Gangke had been pushed away by the rest of the Western Regions.

  Chapter 855 - The Kings of Mercenaries!

  Chapter 855: The Kings of Mercenaries!

  Translated by: Hypersheep325

  Edited by: Michyrr

  Despite their wretched appearance, no one dared to underestimate the Gangke, and even the Qixi Protectorate army scouts that Wang Chong had dispatched appeared very cautious around them. The reason was simple: their eyes. Even though their clothes were tattered and their bodies filthy and reeking, these Gangke people had extremely savage eyes, like those of starving wolves.

  Anyone who saw these eyes would immediately judge these people to be extremely dangerous. For some insignificant goal, they could suddenly put their lives on the line, savagely fighting until both sides ended up dead.

  They really are exactly as the legends described them.

  Wang Chong’s lips perked upward as he inwardly rejoiced.

  The Gangke Tribe was a small tribe rejected by the rest of the Western Regions and known as ‘filthy pigs’. But Wang Chong knew them to have a thunderous name that would one day rumble across all of the Western Regions: Kings of Mercenaries!

  Of all the kingdoms and mercenary tribes of the Western Regions, these were the most vicious, most reliable, and most loyal of mercenaries, the kings of this domain.

  Just like how the Mamelukes were called the Kings of Soldiers and the Kings of Slaughter in the Abbasid Caliphate because they were essentially machines born for the purpose of battle, the Gangke had nurtured this vicious and pugnacious personality through the fact that they were rejected and bullied by all the other tribes, forced to live in this land where they lacked water, food, and clothes.

  The barren lands they lived in meant they had no weapons or armor, nor were they able to raise any warhorses. Thus, the other kingdoms of the Western Regions regarded them as a weak tribe, ill-suited for battle and not worth hiring as mercenaries. That the Gangke could not raise warhorses in the primarily cavalry world of the Western Regions was particularly fatal.

  This conclusion meant that no one had ever tried to hire the Gangke, causing the Gangke to always struggle on the border between life and death. The number of small tribes like this that disappeared in the vicious and cruel Western Regions was uncountable.

  But through tenacious struggle, the Gangke would survive, and through their formidable and indisputable performance in fierce wars, obtain a reputation as mercenary kings. And their loyalty and reliability, their resolve to never retreat, would win the respect and acknowledgment of all peoples.

  Five thousand Wushang Cavalry and the soldiers of Qixi were far from enough for this war. Wang Chong needed many mercenaries, and of the most reliable sort. He did not want the Karluks1, the tribe currently considered the best mercenaries in the Western Regions, who might defect the moment the tides turned.

  The more such mercenaries one hired, the more harm they would eventually do.

  In Wang Chong’s view, the most reliable of the countless mercenary tribes of the Western Regions, the one that he could trust to serve as his right and left arms, was the Gangke Tribe.

  “Congratulations to user for unlocking the mission ‘Kings of Mercenaries’!

  “The Gangke are a small tribe of the Western Regions known as ‘filthy pigs’, but also the future kings of mercenaries. Despised by all, they eke out a miserable existence on the periphery, but their hearts are proud and suspicious of outsiders. To truly obtain their aid, one must obtain their true and heartfelt respect, after which they will become your most loyal allies, never betraying you or regarding you as an enemy!

  “Mission success will be rewarded with 1200 points of Destiny Energy. Mission failure will be penalized with 4400 points of Destiny Energy!

  “Notice: this mission contains risks. If the Gangke sense your contempt and scorn, they will become lifelong sworn enemies!”

  Silence followed, with no other sound.

  “Mm?”

  Wang Chong’s eyes widened as he pulled on the reins of his horse.

  The Stone of Destiny gives a notice at a time like this… interesting.

  The Stone of Destiny rarely issued missions. In terms of strength and population, the Gangke were a border tribe with very little presence in the Western Regions. But the Stone of Destiny had offered up a reward of 1200 Destiny Energy for this mission. It was clear that even the Stone of Destiny had to acknowledge the importance of these future kings of mercenaries.

  Sworn enemies? This is no small price!

  With this thought, Wang Chong quickly began to ride forward again. Ahead, the Qixi scout was still in a stalemate with the Gangke. Without Wang Chong’s order, this scout clearly did not dare to act on his own. When Wang Chong arrived, the scout quickly moved to the side. The filthy and disheveled Gangke also seemed to understand that Wang Chong was the leader and turned to look at him.

  “We’ve come with good intentions…”

  A voice suddenly spoke, not Wang Chong’s, but the scholarly and refined Yuan Shusong, riding next to Wang Chong. His expression was natural and open, causing people to inadvertently relax and let down their guard. The Gangke language was a niche language in the Western Regions that few people except themselves spoke. Not even Wang Chong knew how to speak it.

  Yang Hongchang had worked in the Western Regions for many years, but not even he knew that language.

  Across the Great Tang, only that erudite scholar of the languages of the Western Regions, Yuan Shusong, knew how to speak it.

  “This is an expression of our kindness. We hope that you will accept them!”

  Yuan Shusong clasped his hands and glanced at Wang Chong, who gave a nod, permitting Yuan Shusong to wave to the rear. Soon after, several muscular Qixi soldiers carrying large bamboo baskets walked forth.

  The baskets were opened, revealing wheat flour, corn, grapes, guavas, honeydew melons, and various kinds of meat.

  “Food!”

  Upon seeing these things, the Gangke couldn’t help but cry out in surprise, their eyes brightening. They were clearly tempted, with several of them even subconsciously licking their lips, the hostility in their eyes somewhat fading.

  Sir Yuan really was correct…

  Wang Chong gave a nod of approval. Yuan Shusong was the finest language scholar of the generation, but he was also an extremely old hand of the Western Regions. He had spent more than half of his life traversing them, interacting with every place and tribe and developing a deep understanding of them.

  Not even Yang Hongchang could compare.

  In this excursion, it was Yuan Shusong who had advised using food instead of gold to open communications with them, a detail that only Yuan Shusong could have thought of. The reaction proved that this method had been correct.

  “What do you plan on doing? Our Gangke Tribe has nothing to give you.”

  A Gangke immediately stepped forward and began to speak with Yuan Shusong.

  “These foods are a show of kindness, a gift to commemorate our first meeting. We hope to obtain your help. This one is our leader.”

  Yuan Shusong spoke in a refined manner as he turned to gesture at Wang Chong.

  His unique temperament was showing its power, as the hostility of the Gangke began to fade.

  “Please tell your leader that I wish to hire the Gangke Tribe as my ally.”

  Wang Chong suddenly spoke, not in the language of the Central Plains, but in the Ga
ngke language. Yuan Shusong had taught him during their journey.

  “If an agreement is made, we can offer the Gangke Tribe generous rewards.”

  Thump!

  Wang Chong made a gesture, ordering another bamboo basket to be opened. This one was not full of food, but gold. At this gleaming gold, the Gangke paled. They lived in a very poor environment and had never seen this much gold.

  “Please wait a moment. I will inform the leader.”

  One of the Gangke immediately turned and left, rushing into a small tent in the distance. Wang Chong and Yuan Shusong silently exchanged glances. If they were right, that tent was where the Gangke King lived.

  I wonder if it’s that one…

  Wang Chong gazed at that tattered tent, a thought flitting through his mind.

  Heroes were a product of their time, and the world was full of crouching tigers and hidden dragons, far more complicated than one could imagine. Just like how the outbreak of the calamity made the people of the Central Plains realize that a small mountain village in the barren northwest was home to the world’s strongest cavalry, the Western Regions was also home to an existence that all people regarded with fear.

  Until they truly revealed their edge, all people regarded them with contempt, but when that disaster began to sweep through the world, no one could remain hidden and all secrets were exposed.

  The Gangke King was that most legendary existence hiding in the Western Regions!

  As the War Saint, Wang Chong was also a legendary existence of the Central Plains, forging his legends through fire and blood. Alas, even as the War Saint, Wang Chong had never met the Gangke King.

  The reason for this was simply that the Gangke King had fallen in the early stages of the calamity.

  The Gangke were fierce, courageous, fearless, and loyal. Even when the battle appeared unfavorable, they would never retreat, fighting to the last man. This was a positive trait that earned them everyone’s respect, but it was also their downfall that others could exploit. Once all the Gangke men died in battle, their orphans and widows were robbed by the other tribes, all their accumulated wealth snatched away.