The Human Emperor c1-2382

by Huangfu Qi (皇甫奇)

  “Upon receiving the news, I immediately dispatched all my men. I’ve already learned that the Confucian announcement can be found in every region of the city! Milord, it seems like these people are using their momentum to frantically build support.”

  The third to speak was Old Eagle, and he looked at Wang Chong with an extremely grave expression.

  Old Eagle had accompanied Wang Chong when he had gone to see the leader of the Confucian Sect at Drunken Moon Pavilion. Thus, when he learned of this Confucian campaign, he immediately smelled a scheme.

  “Milord, I sense that the Confucian school has come prepared. Posting these notices throughout the city might only be the beginning. They might be doing something else very soon.”

  Zhang Que bowed and said, “Milord, the information I’ve obtained is about the same as my master’s. But there is something a little different from what Master reported. Our people have discovered that many old Confucians have begun lecturing on the ideas of ‘benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom’, ‘peace is to be cherished’, and ‘opposition to war’ in the tea houses and restaurants of the capital. While speaking, they use the relationships the Great Tang has with the surrounding countries to draw in many people.”

  “Posting announcements, lecturing…”

  Wang Chong stood in the garden of the Wang Family, his eyes closed, countless thoughts running through his mind. The Confucian school—or ‘the Confucian Sect’, to be more precise—really was beginning to campaign for support of its ideals.

  “Milord, what do we do? The Confucian school has come with a furious momentum, and their ultimate target might be us.”

  Zhang Que worriedly looked at Wang Chong.

  These words caused everyone to turn their attention to Wang Chong. No matter what the Confucian school did, in the end, it would definitely be aiming at the militarists. And Wang Chong, as a leader of the militarists, was bound to be one of their targets.

  “Don’t act recklessly!” Wang Chong sternly said, his eyes still closed and his expression ice-cold. “The Confucians are only announcing their achievements on the borders. Even without them, this is still something we would have to do. They still haven’t revealed their goals or taken any unusual actions, so it’s not convenient for us to do anything right now.”

  Building schools to teach the Tang language was a project that Wang Chong had already started in Khorasan. It was just that the Confucians had now taken over this role. In this aspect, the two sides actually shared the same opinion. Not even Wang Chong could find anything wrong about these actions.

  Wang Chong suddenly opened his eyes and sternly said, “If something strange is happening, there is definitely someone behind it! The Confucians must have a goal in beating their drums so vigorously, but no matter what they’re planning, they can’t touch me for now. Their goal might be elsewhere. Xu Keyi, write a letter for me to Li Siye and Su Hanshan. Tell them that if anything strange happens, they must endure. They cannot be the first to issue a challenge and give the adversary any sort of pretext!”

  He suddenly thought back to Li Junxian’s parting words at Drunken Moon Pavilion.

  Chapter 1264 - Counterattack!

  Chapter 1264: Counterattack!

  Translated by: Hypersheep325

  Edited by: Michyrr

  “Yes, Milord.”

  Xu Keyi swiftly left to carry out the order. Wang Chong had actually already sent quite a few letters to the northwest, but Xu Keyi had never questioned Wang Chong’s orders.

  Flap flap!

  However, Xu Keyi had only taken a few steps when a flapping of wings came from overhead. Looking up, he saw a hawk descending from the sky, with an extremely striking green bracelet around its right claw.

  “Milord, a letter from the northwest!” Cheng Sanyuan sternly said.

  Wang Chong’s subordinates in different regions would send messages with different symbols. This allowed one to know where a letter was coming from without needing to read the letter.

  The hawk landed on Old Eagle’s shoulder. Old Eagle opened the letter, glanced at it, and immediately paled.

  Old Eagle quickly strode over and whispered into Wang Chong’s ear, “Milord, it’s bad! Li Siye and Su Hanshan have sent a letter saying that there’s been an incident in the army!”

  Boom! Shockwaves resounded through Wang Chong’s mind, and he took the letter from Old Eagle with a heavy heart.

  Su Hanshan had written the letter, and it confirmed all of Wang Chong’s unease and speculations.

  After Wang Chong left, the three Confucian experts assumed authority over the army. Moreover, Wang Chong’s de facto demotion and his escort away by the Bureau of Rites and the Golden Guards had infuriated the Qixi Protectorate army and the mercenaries. The Confucians’ decision to retreat from Khorasan and betray the promise made to the Sassanid Dynasty and the other rebel armies had only added to the pile of discontents.

  And after many more Confucian experts arrived to oversee the army and restrict them, the army’s discontent reached its peak.

  Even though Wang Chong had sent several letters to have Su Hanshan and Li Siye restrain the soldiers, there were some things that even the two of them could not control.

  At the start, it was only one or two people, but as more and more people began to talk, the three Confucian commanders were eventually forced to send down an order strictly forbidding any talk of Khorasan, with those who disobeyed to be dealt with by military law. Soon after, three soldiers were found talking about what had happened at Khorasan and were imprisoned by the Confucian supervisors. As more and more people learned the news, they began to talk openly about it.

  The three Confucian commanders ordered that all these people should be arrested, and by the time Su Hanshan and Li Siye found out, it was already too late. This was because the bandits Su Hanshan had trained and Li Siye’s Wushang Cavalry had been in the group arrested. The former had irascible temperaments that were easily angered while the latter had lost many people in the two major battles and were incredibly dissatisfied to see all they had worked for be turned to naught, and they were furthermore indignant at the injustice inflicted upon Wang Chong. It was these traits that caused these two groups to be arrested by the Confucians.

  Although the two had received Wang Chong’s requests to fully restrain the army, at a time like this, as commanding officers, they could only participate in the resistance against the three Confucian commanders to protect their subordinates. Before straightening their backs and heading out, the two had written this letter to Wang Chong explaining the entire situation.

  “In other words, Su Hanshan and Li Siye have both been imprisoned by now!”

  Wang Chong grimaced as he finished reading the letter. The plans of men were no match for the plans of heaven. Even though he had done his utmost to try and stop it, his efforts had still come too late.

  Su Hanshan and Li Siye were both core subordinates for Wang Chong and had fought with their lives on the line together with Wang Chong. Su Hanshan had fought together with him in two major wars while Li Siye had served at his side even earlier, since the southwest. Wang Chong could not stand by and watch as these two suffered misfortune. And it was precisely for these reasons that Wang Chong understood why his two subordinates, though clearly understanding that their actions were unwise, still stood up against the three Confucian commanders after their soldiers were arrested.

  All of this seemed very normal, but Wang Chong could smell the thick scent of a scheme.

  “Old Eagle, the Bureau of Military Personnel has already agreed to the requests for transfer that I had Su Hanshan and Li Siye submit, so why are the two of them still there?” Wang Chong suddenly said.

  Since his meeting with Li Junxian, Wang Chong had had Su Hanshan and Li Siye submit requests of transfer to move from the border back to the interior. Actually, any place would do, whether it was the capital, the southwest, Longxi, or even Youzhou to the northeast. With Wang Chong’s current connections
in the army, none of this was a problem. Moreover, the special circumstances caused by the conflict between the militarists and Confucians meant that the requests for transfer were easily approved. Wang Chong had even gotten the documents through Zhangchou Jianqiong himself.

  Old Eagle lowered his head and sternly said, “Not long ago, the two sent a letter saying that they really had done as Milord requested, but all the documents, including the order from the Bureau of Military Personnel, are being held up by the three Confucian commanders. The three of them are keeping Su Hanshan and Li Siye on the basis that they lack capable officers.”

  “Bastard!”

  Wang Chong’s expression sank and his body began to exude a chilling aura. What had been just a hunch was now a certainty. While the events in the northwest appeared to be a coincidence, they were actually all planned out by someone.

  Li Junxian!

  Wang Chong suddenly recalled that white-robed young Confucian in Drunken Moon Pavilion. The ‘battle’ between this pair had started far earlier than he had imagined.

  “Get in touch with Minister of War Zhangchou Jianqiong and tell him to immediately have the Bureau of Military Personnel intervene in this affair. In addition, write two letters for me—one to the Anxi Protectorate and the other to Longxi. Request Gao Xianzhi, Feng Changqing, and Big Dipper Great General Geshu Han to join with me to apply pressure. In addition, if possible, have Beiting Protector-General An Sishun apply pressure as well. All the Great Generals are in the same boat now, so An Sishun should understand what the right decision is. I’d like to see just who would dare to act recklessly under the combined pressure of three Great Generals and the Bureau of Military Personnel!”

  Wang Chong’s expression was frigid.

  “In addition, Zhang Que, take my token and go to the King Song Residence. With both my and King Song’s token, ride nonstop for Qixi. The Imperial Court is one thing, but I’d like to see if they would dare to make an enemy of all the Protector-Generals and Great Generals and the entire Bureau of Military Personnel!”

  Three Great Generals, two Kings, and the Minister of War was an unimaginably immense power, enough to inspire dread and reverence in anyone.

  “Yes, Milord!”

  Old Eagle and Zhang Que both left.

  “Cheng Sanyuan, immediately get in touch with Minister of War Zhangchou Jianqiong. I need all the information on the three Confucian commanders as quickly as possible!” Wang Chong sternly said.

  Cheng Sanyuan bowed and hurriedly said, “This subordinate will deliver this order!”

  “Xu Keyi, it’s not right to leave a visitor without a gift. Prepare a memorial to the court. I want everything those three Confucian commanders have done announced to the entire Imperial Court!”

  Wang Chong turned to the Imperial Palace, a dazzling light in his eyes.

  Xu Keyi was elated to hear these words and lowered his head.

  “This subordinate will deliver this order!”

  Boom!

  Several hours later, when Wang Chong’s memorial was delivered to court and into the ears of the assembled officials, it immediately unleashed a storm in the capital. Wang Chong was illustrious and renowned, hailed as the War God of the new generation, and he wielded enormous influence in society. Whether it was due to the fact that he was the Son of Heaven’s disciple, his achievements in the northwest, or his status as the King of Foreign Lands, Wang Chong’s every word and movement possessed great weight.

  This was actually the first time Wang Chong had submitted a formal memorial of censure in his capacity as King of Foreign Lands. Moreover, his target was the three newly-appointed Confucian commanders of the Qixi Protectorate army. Once the incident was exposed, it immediately sent shockwaves through society.

  ……

  Flapflap!

  As Wang Chong’s memorial was making waves in the capital of the empire, countless birds flew into the sky. In the darkness, a white pigeon flew into a remote and secluded bamboo garden in the northwest part of the capital. A candle was lit in this garden, and behind this candle, a white-robed Confucian was gracefully studying some ancient text.

  “Young Master, what do we do? The other side counterattacked too quickly. We only just seized his subordinates in the northwest, but he’s already begun to take action, reporting the matter to the Imperial Court. It doesn’t seem like we’re much of a match for him within the army.” A voice came out of the darkness, from a bowing, black-robed elder behind Li Junxian. On his right wrist was a black symbol indicating that he was an expert of the Confucian Sect.

  Wang Chong’s counterattack had been too swift and too fierce. Their original plan had been to use Wang Chong’s subordinates in the northwest to threaten him and make him have second thoughts about doing anything. At the very least, if he was looking to aid the northwest, he wouldn’t have the attention to do anything else. But they had not expected that Wang Chong’s reaction would be so intense, that he would be so unyielding and focused that they were the ones caught off guard.

  “Young Master, we’ve also heard from our men in the Bureau of Military Personnel that Zhangchou Jianqiong has already drafted a military order pressuring the three experts of our sect in the northwest. Zhangchou Jianqiong could not have learned of this news so quickly. The King of Foreign Lands must have informed him. Even though we have men in the Bureau of Military Personnel, there are undoubtedly measures being implemented in other areas. We are now the ones in a disadvantageous position. Young Master, should we inform Wen Changqing, Tang Chengyu, and Li Fanming to release the King of Foreign Lands’ two subordinates and all the other imprisoned soldiers?” Another voice came from the side, but in the dim light of the candle, one could see that the figure outlined was that of what appeared to be a young woman of sixteen or seventeen. This girl was wearing a simple white cloth robe, and her hair was black like ink, cascading down her head, kept in place only by a single unadorned wooden hairpin. She gave off a tranquil and serene aura, like that of an orchid.

  But the most striking trait about her was the boundless energy within her body. If one looked carefully, one would notice that this girl was barefoot and hovering several inches off the ground. Her toes were smooth and exquisite, as if they had been carved from jade. They even seemed to faintly glow in the candlelight.

  Li Junxian said nothing, only slowly raised his eyes from the ancient scroll. The faint candlelight threw out a long and slender shadow against the wall, imbuing him with a sense of deepness and calmness. He was like an ancient well, a deep pool, and nothing would ever be able to stir any ripples in his mind.

  The place was quiet. The elder of the Confucian Sect and the white-clothed girl silently watched Li Junxian, waiting for his answer.

  Chapter 1265 - The Black Symbol, Bird Seal Script!

  Chapter 1265: The Black Symbol, Bird Seal Script!

  Translated by: Hypersheep325

  Edited by: Michyrr

  Wen Changqing, Tang Chengyu, and Li Fanming were the three nails that the Confucian school had managed with great difficulty to place in the army. Given Wang Chong’s status, now that he had reported this matter to the court, there was a sixty to seventy percent chance that he could actually topple those three. More importantly, Wang Chong could use them to attack the Confucian school.

  This was because the information on Wen Changqing, Tang Chengyu, and Li Fanming was all available to be investigated.

  “There’s no need!” Li Junxian lightly said, putting down the ancient scroll and slowly standing up. “This battle has only just begun. Have Tang Chengyu and the others delay while we try to respond to the Bureau of Military Personnel. Keep his subordinates imprisoned for now. As for the King of Foreign Lands, I will deal with him, making him incapable of doing anything to those three for a while.”

  In the northwest, they had not issued their ‘challenge’ first. Rather, it had been Wang Chong’s subordinates who had first defied military orders. Even if Wang Chong informed the Imperial Court, he could
only save his subordinates and not actually do anything to the three Confucian commanders. Li Junxian had already carefully considered every detail of this plan. Moreover, his goal had never been to deal with Wang Chong’s subordinates.

  “Elder Song, have the preparations for that other matter been completed?” Li Junxian suddenly said.

  “Young Master, be at ease. Everything is ready. All we need is Young Master’s order,” Elder Song said.

  “Then begin!”

  ……

  Wang Chong, King Song, Zhangchou Jianqiong, Wang Gen, Lu Ting, Elder Ye, and Elder Zhao had all gathered in the King Song Residence. Even Wang Chong’s little uncle Wang Mi was present, called back from Heaven Pillar Mountain on the outskirts of the capital. Wang Chong, King Song, and Zhangchou Jianqiong sat side by side while the others were seated in a circle down below.

  Gathered here was one of the most powerful factions of the court. The Wang Family Residence was not secretive enough, and the King of Foreign Lands Residence was still being constructed and would not be ready for two or three months. Thus, Wang Chong had borrowed King Song’s residence to gather everyone.

  King Song scanned the room and suddenly said, “Wang Chong! Everyone is here! Give everyone a summary of the information that you’ve recently gathered!”

  “Mm!”

  Wang Chong proceeded to relay everything he had turned up in his investigations ever since his return to the capital, including how he had used Zhang Shougui’s incident to find Li Junxian. The only thing he concealed was the matter of the Sage Emperor.

  The Sage Emperor was the backbone of the empire, the primary strength stabilizing the hearts of the people. If the Sage Emperor’s condition were made known, it would probably cause panic and turmoil throughout society.

  The room was quiet as everyone seriously listened to Wang Chong’s words. Everyone had seen what Wang Chong had done in the Imperial Court. But no one had imagined that while everyone was still immersed in the chaos, Wang Chong had already begun to investigate the main schemer behind the curtains.