“You’re here!”
Wang Chong continued to look out the balcony, his hands behind his back.
“Heh, you don’t seem surprised.”
The man in the black robe at the entrance was none other than Hou Junji!
The entire capital was tense and countless soldiers were moving in the shadows, dark clouds threatening to engulf the city, entirely because of these two people.
But at this sensitive moment, these two core individuals had appeared in the same measly Blue Phoenix Pavilion.
“Why should I be surprised? Weren’t you the one who arranged the meeting?” Wang Chong indifferently said, appearing as if nothing in the world could shake him.
“Oh?”
A hint of surprise flashed in Hou Junji’s eyes, then he walked up to Wang Chong and stopped.
“Where did this come from? This old man has never exchanged any messages with you, or did Kim U-Seok go behind this old man’s back and tell you something?”
Wang Chong held his hands behind him and indifferently said, “The saber has left its sheath, hanging overhead but yet to fall. You seem to have something to say, or did I mistake Senior’s meaning?”
Despite the question, Wang Chong’s expression seemed absolutely certain.
The First Prince had taken over the Imperial Army, Anxi, Beiting, and Big Dipper, but after seizing the outer gates, he had done nothing else. While others might not have seen anything from this, it was a clear signal to Wang Chong.
One man had control over all the First Prince’s soldiers, but before the decisive confrontation, he wanted a meeting.
“That’s right!”
Hou Junji profoundly glanced at the youth and slightly nodded.
“I finally understand why someone as picky as Su Zhengchen made an exception after so many decades and chose to make you his disciple in his old age!”
Hou Junji had always been slightly hostile to Wang Chong, but this could be considered the highest of praises from him.
“You remember our deal from before?”
Hou Junji smiled.
“Do you still think the Fifth Prince can ascend the throne of the Nine and Five?”
“The dust has not settled until the last moment, and no one knows who has gotten the deer until it is dead. Is it not too early for Senior to say these words?”
Wang Chong finally turned around.
Bzzz! As their eyes met, the air itself seemed to freeze.
Hou Junji in his black robe seemed so weak that he couldn’t even truss a chicken. He seemed like nothing more than an ordinary old man, but Wang Chong keenly understood that this man was an unprecedented menace to the empire. The Setting Sun Villa incident and the Big Dipper City incident, the initial Great Buddhist Temple incident, and the recent Imperial Army competition had all been his handiwork.
And things were still far from over. This old man had yet to fully unleash the power of the Army-Shattering War God.
“Haha, at this stage, you still won’t concede? Let your master come out! If he doesn’t come out, he will never get the chance!”
Hou Junji’s eyes flashed as he finally revealed his true motive for meeting Wang Chong.
“I presume that he does not want to see the Great Tang’s Imperial Palace turn into a sea of fire!”
Chapter 1738 - The Day Before the Decisive Battle! Old and New War Gods Meet!
Chapter 1738: The Day Before the Decisive Battle! Old and New War Gods Meet!
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
Wang Chong’s heart thumped in realization. Although Hou Junji was facing him, he still believed that his true opponent was the recluse of the Su Residence, Su Zhengchen.
Wang Chong now understood his goal. For the Army-Shattering War God, not being able to have one final match with Su Zhengchen to completely surpass him was an enormous regret.
Perhaps in his eyes, someone as young as Wang Chong could never give such an astonishing performance. Everything had to be because of his master.
Wang Chong felt greatly calmed when he realized this, and he was even more determined to not expose the truth.
“To deal with you, my master still doesn’t need to come out!” Wang Chong indifferently said.
“Heh, stubborn old man!” Hou Junji took two steps forward and sternly said, “He can hide for now, but he can’t hide for the rest of his life! Once I take care of you, he’ll have no choice but to come out!”
Perhaps because Wang Chong had also ‘studied’ the art of war from Su Zhengchen, or perhaps because this was the moment before their decisive battle, Hou Junji finally decided to stop restraining himself.
Bang!
Hou Junji took a light step forward, and enormous energy immediately erupted from his body. He was like a tiger flaunting its claws or a dragon soaring to the heavens. At that moment, his eyes oozed contempt and his demeanor transformed, exuding majesty, dominance, conceit, pride, and sheer power.
Anyone who saw Hou Junji at this moment would instinctively be awed.
Hou Junji was now free of any restraint, and it was impossible to connect this sense of power and dominance with the black-robed elder from before.
Even Wang Chong, who had long known about Hou Junji’s true identity, couldn’t help but be slightly shaken.
Wang Chong was also a renowned War God who had seen many Great Generals, but even the veteran Great Generals were greatly lacking compared to the true Hou Junji.
As Hou Junji stood there, the hair on his temples rising into the air due to the power he was unleashing, his mind had already gone back in time, immersed into the memories of a distant era.
Hou Junji was proud and powerful, and his flawless record in that chaotic era of campaigning was proof of his ability.
As one of the earliest of Taizong’s subjects, Hou Junji had followed Taizong for much longer than Su Zhengchen, and he had much greater seniority.
Even when Su Zhengchen was at the height of his fame, Hou Junji had never lost to Su Zhengchen, but he was still regarded by everyone else as being beneath Su Zhengchen. This was something Hou Junji’s pride could not bear.
In this life, he needed to fairly defeat Su Zhengchen at least once and prove to everyone that he was the stronger one! This was one of the grudges that kept him bound to this earth!
“Let’s wait until you defeat me first!” Wang Chong sternly said.
“Hmph!”
Hou Junji waved his sleeve and harrumphed, ending the discussion on this subject.
“Let me ask you… The art you used on the western drilling ground to heal Zhao Fengchen’s injuries and recover his mental and physical energy was not a part of Su Zhengchen’s teachings, and the formation the Xuanwu Army used was also not of Su Zhengchen’s line, at least as far as this old man knows. Where did you learn them from? Have you betrayed your master and learned other martial arts besides his?”
A hint of killing intent appeared in Hou Junji’s eyes. Betraying one’s master was a grave crime. Even though he was Su Zhengchen’s enemy, he would not permit this sort of disrespect.
“So that was what you came here for!”
Wang Chong grinned. He thought that Hou Junji had remained unaware, but it seemed as if he had noticed something suspicious at the western drilling ground.
But if Hou Junji thought that he could threaten Wang Chong with just this, he was gravely mistaken.
“Is not Senior a farsighted and shrewd strategist? Then guess!”
Hou Junji’s eyes chilled, and the restaurant instantly fell silent.
“You’re truly quite bold. You clearly knew that I was coming to meet you, but you still came alone. If I kill you now, perhaps our agreement will end early, and this old man wouldn’t need to do much at all to seat the First Prince on the Supreme Throne of the Nine and Five!”
Wang Chong said nothing, only stared into Hou Junji’s eyes. He could sense the killing intent lurking within and knew that Hou Junji was not bluffing. If
possible, he would not relinquish this chance.
“Senior, in truth, what I want to say is that… these words go the same for you as well! After all, the entire empire already thinks you dead!” Wang Chong indifferently said.
Hou Junji grimaced at Wang Chong’s words.
Bzzz! A formless energy exploded out of Hou Junji’s body, and at the same time, the aloof Wang Chong unleashed his own energy. The two energies slammed into each other with a tremendous explosion, and a nearby sandalwood table was blown to smithereens, the debris swept into a corner of the restaurant by the shockwave.
The entire capital was already in a precarious situation. A historic conflict could break out at any time, and the two sides in conflict were precisely the two people present in this building.
If Hou Junji were killed, the First Prince’s side would have its wings snapped, and the same would happen to Wang Chong’s side with his death.
Whoosh!
Vortices of energy revolved around the two as the pair entered a standoff.
“Senior was hailed as the Army-Shattering War God, but one hundred years have worn away at your sharpness. Have you fallen so far as to consort with that shameless Celestial God Organization?” Wang Chong suddenly asked, a harsh gleam in his eyes.
Hou Junji had not been making idle threats. Wang Chong’s Psychic Energy had already encompassed the entire restaurant, and not long after Hou Junji had appeared, sixteen men in black had appeared around the restaurant, with two of them almost being at the Subtle realm.
It was obvious that Hou Junji was willing to go to any lengths to kill him if the opportunity presented itself.
“The art of war is the art of deception. As long as one can win, what does it matter the methods one uses?” Hou Junji indifferently said, unmoved by Wang Chong’s criticisms.
“In addition, do you really think those ten ballistae you have positioned one hundred meters away can threaten me?”
Hou Junji’s eyes also gleamed with harsh light. Wang Chong had noticed the men in black, so how could Hou Junji not notice the ballistae Wang Chong had hidden? Even though Wang Chong had placed them two streets away and had moved them into position at the very last moment, he still hadn’t been able to hide them from Hou Junji.
Ever since the Battle of Talas, Wang Chong’s five-man ballista teams had become renowned throughout the world for their terrifying accuracy and firing speed, causing all the other countries to tremble in fear. Ten ballistae were equivalent to fifty elites, and they could fire one hundred bolts in the space of a second.
“Not enough to kill the enemy, but enough to protect oneself! In addition, this is near the palace gates. Tell me: how long do you think it will take for the Imperial Army to arrive? Or are you saying that even if the palace gates are on fire and all the people of the capital are watching, the First Prince will still be able to sit unperturbed in his palace?!” Wang Chong coldly said, a confident expression on his face.
Hou Junji couldn’t help but frown. At his level of cultivation, even ballistae posed little threat to him, and they would naturally be ineffective against the men in black. But if Wang Chong had set up these ballistae purely to hinder him and aid in his own escape, then this was more than enough.
At Wang Chong’s level of strength, the smallest sign of weakness from his opponent was enough for him to flee!
More importantly, ballistae were the Great Tang’s heavy weaponry and strategic military assets. The technology and skill behind them had always been one of the Great Tang’s greatest secrets. The use of these military weapons in the middle of the capital would be certain to cause a great stir in the populace. This was probably Wang Chong’s true goal.
While the balance was currently tipping in favor of the First Prince’s side, and he had control of nearly all the armies inside and outside the palace, even he would become restless if too many eyes were paying attention to the palace gates.
“You all heard it! Why haven’t you dispersed yet?” Hou Junji suddenly called out.
For a few moments, there was silence, and then there was a massive boom as figures broke out from the walls and vanished in various directions.
Wang Chong sensed these powerful figures vanishing, but his face was completely unperturbed, as if he had long ago expected this.
The proud Hou Junji was someone who only struck if he was certain about the kill. Since the chances of killing Wang Chong had now plunged, he naturally had no reason to keep the men in black around.
Wang Chong continued to ‘watch’ the men in black until they had gone far, far away.
“Withdraw!” Wang Chong suddenly said to Hou Junji. “Even if you have control of the Imperial Army, and also Anxi, Beiting, and Big Dipper, you still will not succeed!”
Wang Chong had already been down this path once, and the Rebellion of the Three Princes had not succeeded in his last life. Now that he, the new War God of the Great Tang, had control over a powerful force, he would do his own part to make sure that the rebellion failed.
“You were one of Taizong’s valued subjects, an important general who campaigned for the empire. You should understand what effects a rebellion will have on the empire.”
Chapter 1739 - Rotation of Garrisons!
Chapter 1739: Rotation of Garrisons!
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
“Heh, this is why you were willing to come here and meet me? At this stage, you think I would agree?” Hou Junji coldly said. “If you came with these hopes, I’m afraid you’ll leave disappointed.”
“Senior, whether you agree or not, there are some things that I must do.”
Wang Chong shook his head. He had expected this response from Hou Junji, but even if there was only a sliver of hope, he still needed to try his best to stop him before the decisive confrontation.
“This empire is not as strong as you think it looks. Arabia, Ü-Tsang, the Eastern and Western Turks, Goguryeo—these are all ambitious countries. While they have temporarily stepped back for now, they still hungrily eye the Great Tang. Everything you do and everything we do has not escaped their notice. As long as they have a chance, they’ll attack us together and break the Great Tang in a single blow, bringing calamity and disaster on the people. Is this what you want to see?
“Not only that, the Great Tang is facing many more dangers than we can see. Senior should understand more than anyone else what awaits the Central Plains if the Great Tang weakens!
“Senior is also a Tang. Do you really wish to see the country collapse?” Wang Chong sternly said.
Since ancient times, the strong eating the weak had always been the law of the land. The Youzhou Rebellion, the attack by the surrounding countries, the Great Ice Age, and that dreadful calamity… there were simply too many disasters waiting for this country. Even Hou Junji was probably unaware of all these hidden threats.
Alas, the Stone of Destiny’s restrictions prevented Wang Chong from directly mentioning them, and he could only make subtle implications.
The restaurant was quiet. While Hou Junji’s face had been cold and unmoved at first, there was a slight ripple of emotion on his face as he heard Wang Chong’s last words.
“It’s too late! Kid, if you had said these words to me several decades ago, I might have listened, but it’s a pity. Anything you say is useless now. It doesn’t matter if all the people of the empire are in peril and the earth is rendered barren. This old man already offered the first half of his life for this empire. Let fate deal with the rest.
“Since we cannot come to an agreement, this old man has no reason to stay!”
Hou Junji turned around and began to make for the stairs.
“In addition!”
Hou Junji stopped at the stairs, his back to Wang Chong.
“Since you said that our conflict is connected to the fate of the Great Tang, then let’s add that to our bet as well! If you’re really trying to change things, then do your best to try and stop me!
“…But I will show no mercy!”
His voice continued to echo through the restaurant, but the man himself was gone.
“The same for me!” Wang Chong softly muttered under his breath, though Hou Junji was no longer there to listen.
Wang Chong quickly left Blue Phoenix Pavilion.
Rumble!
Outside the restaurant, an ornate carriage slowly drew up next to Wang Chong.
Wang Chong boarded the carriage, where Xu Keyi was waiting.
“Your Highness, how was it?” Xu Keyi respectfully asked.
“Let’s go! The First Prince has finished his preparations and will make his move soon!” Wang Chong calmly said.
Xu Keyi trembled in shock.
The carriage began to move, and a few moments later, a messenger bird descended from the skies. Wang Chong glanced at the letter it had delivered and instantly paled.
“Return to the residence!”
With this terse order, the carriage hastened toward the King of Foreign Lands Residence.
Several hours later, the capital was struck by earthshaking news.
The First Prince had ordered that ten thousand soldiers from the Beiting Protectorate were to move south, to Gold Bull Mountain, four hundred li to the northwest of the capital, under the excuse of a rotation of garrisons.
Garrison rotations were no minor matter. If the common folk had not sensed anything after all the previous incidents, including the Imperial Army competition and the seizing of the outer gates, then after this order, even the slowest of them began to notice something strange.
Garrison rotations at the capital were not unprecedented, but in the current prosperous state of the Great Tang, the last one had taken place several decades ago. Particularly in a time of peace, this order was extremely strange.
“The winds herald a coming storm!”
In a tea house of the capital, a white-robed scholar sat by a window, his brows tightly creased as he looked out at the city.
“I hope that the Great Tang can survive all of this!”
The scholar drained his cup and vanished into the city.
The Human Emperor c1-2382 Page 1067