The Human Emperor c1-2382
Page 1170
But Wang Chong’s wars were different.Five billion taels of gold had already been sent back to the capital, and their arrival had caused a stir in the entire realm.
Chapter 1928 - Welcoming the King of Foreign Lands Back to the Capital!
Chapter 1928: Welcoming the King of Foreign Lands Back to the Capital!
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
Five billion taels of gold!
Not even the last several decades of tax revenue in the Great Tang could reach this sum. And there had also been many pearls, agates, and other kinds of treasure.
This sort of thing had never happened in the history of the Great Tang.
Not only were all the families of those who had died in battle richly compensated, all of the great clans, craftsmen, and common people who had in some way contributed to the war effort were also richly rewarded. All of the expenses of the war were paid from this massive fortune.
In addition, the Imperial Court had long ago issued an official announcement stating that this money would be used on the people, for fixing roads, repairing fields and levees, and assisting the homeless elderly and children. Besides that, each household would receive a sum of money to use on their daily livelihood.
The initial gold had already been distributed across the various provinces and commanderies.
Even more gold would come later on to assist the people of the Great Tang in their livelihood.
Rather than hurting the people, the war had benefited them, providing the Central Plains gold and resources like never before. Such a thing had never happened in any previous dynasty.
Since this was the case, what need was there for the militarists to have so many disputes with the Confucians?
The Confucians opposed the militarists because war was damaging to the people, but if each war allowed the empire to flourish and fill its coffers, what complaints would they have? The Imperial Court probably would have offered their full support long ago.
Of course, the most important reason was that Wang Chong and the others had saved the Central Plains.
“Come on! Let’s go and welcome him!”
The civil officials boarded their carriages, anxious to get to the western gate.
In a wondrous sight, almost the entire capital turned out to welcome Wang Chong.
As everyone’s eyes brimmed with anticipation, someone suddenly cried out.
“Look over there! The King of Foreign Lands’ carriage!”
“Where? Where?”
The crowd instantly grew agitated and looked to the west. And when that resplendent noble carriage flying the banner of the Great Tang emerged…
Boom!
The crowd around the gate instantly exploded with thunderous cheers.
“King of Foreign Lands!”
“King of Foreign Lands!”
“King of Foreign Lands!”
The people, so excited that their faces were red, were yelling with all their might. Their heaven-shaking shouts could be heard from more than a dozen li away!
As the crowd cheered, the army of one-hundred-thousand-some soldiers began to slowly emerge in the distance.
The capital was the heart of authority in the empire, a core area. In normal circumstances, an army of one hundred thousand would have never been permitted to enter the capital, but this time was different. The Sage Emperor had personally ordered that the army should enter the capital so that the people could see these heroes. At the same time, he was also acknowledging these soldiers who had spilled their blood on the battlefield.
Bang!
As the cheers shook the heavens, inside his carriage, Wang Chong had also taken notice of the commotion outside.
“Milord, we’ve arrived at the capital!” Zhang Que, who was riding a warhorse, said from outside the carriage.
“Mm!”
Wang Chong nodded. Raising the curtain, he looked out at the vast crowd gathered by the city walls. Even at this distance, he could sense their joy and passion.
Less than half a year had passed since his departure, but it had felt like several years to Wang Chong.
The militarist-Confucian conflict had caused his departure to be greeted with some mixed emotions, but now, Wang Chong enjoyed wholehearted support and was returning as a triumphant hero. He couldn’t help but sigh.
But the most important thing was that the entire empire had been baptized through this war. Their hearts had been united. That was what was most important, what Wang Chong had wanted to see!
As the carriage got closer and closer, the crowd grew more and more enthusiastic.
Their eyes bright, they stood on their tiptoes and stretched their necks in the hopes that Wang Chong might see them.
When the procession neared the gate, Wang Chong raised an arm and called out, “Stop!” The entire army stopped, and after a few moments, Wang Chong opened the carriage door and exited.
Bang!
Upon seeing Wang Chong’s heroic and divine figure emerging from the carriage, the already ecstatic crowd erupted with even louder cheers. Even from a hundred li, one could hear their voices.
The crowd had gone completely crazy!
“King of Foreign Lands!”
“King of Foreign Lands!”
“King of Foreign Lands, I love you!”
There were quite a few beautiful young women who blushed as they excitedly called out amidst the cheers of the crowd.
Wang Chong gently smiled and began to walk forward.
At the gate, the Imperial Army was keeping order.
Wang Chong had only taken two steps when the crowd suddenly parted. Civil and military officials, all of them dressed in their court robes, walked out in an orderly fashion. They stopped seven or eight steps from Wang Chong and deferentially bowed.
“King of Foreign Lands, welcome back to the capital!”
“Commander Equal to the Three Dukes Zhao Mi pays respects to the King of Foreign Lands! The King of Foreign Lands has defeated Arabia, raising the prestige of my Great Tang. Zhao Mi is filled with respect and offers this meager gift to celebrate Your Highness’s triumphant return!”
(TN: Commander Equal to the Three Dukes, , was an honorary title given to civil or military official. means that they were given the right to establish their own offices and hire their own staff, and means that they were given the same rights in this respect as the Three Dukes.)
“The Capital Prefecture Overseer Han Sanyuan pays respects to the King of Foreign Lands! The King of Foreign Lands has defeated Arabia and is a hero of my Great Tang. This Han has prepared a meager gift and hopes that Your Highness will accept it!”
“Imperial Censor Deng Youlong congratulates the King of Foreign Lands on your triumphant return and offers this humble gift!”
“Great General of the Sixteen Guards Wei Wudao congratulates the King of Foreign Lands on your triumphant return!”
(TN: The Sixteen Guards were soldiers stationed at the capital that were called up from their local provincial garrisons that were usually rotated in and out.)
“Minister of Ceremonies Jiang Youqin pays respects to Your Highness and offers this humble gift! Your Highness, please accept it!”
“The Duke of Guo Residence offers this gift to celebrate the triumphant return of the hero of the Great Tang!”
“The Duke of Tan Residence offers this gift to celebrate the triumphant return of the hero of my Great Tang!”
“Prince De offers this gift to celebrate the triumphant return of the hero of the Great Tang!”
“Prince Shou offers this gift to celebrate the triumphant return of the hero of the Great Tang!”
“The Zhang Clan of the capital congratulates the hero of the Great Tang on his triumphant return!”
“The Wei Clan of the capital congratulates the hero of the Great Tang on his triumphant return!”
“The Chu Clan of the capital congratulates the hero of the Great Tang on his triumphant return!”
The
calls of congratulation around the western gate of the city were endless.
As the crowd listened to the officials presenting gifts to Wang Chong, they all beamed. For officials to present gifts in the public view was originally a great taboo, but nobody in the capital found it inappropriate here.
The King of Foreign Lands had saved the Great Tang and saved the people of the realm. If the officials presented him with gifts, the people would rejoice for him.
When they thought about the injustice Wang Chong had suffered in the militarist-Confucian conflict, they felt that he was getting too little!
At the gate, as Wang Chong saw the rows of officials bowing to him and voicing their congratulations, he felt deeply moved.
“Gentlemen, please rise. Wang Chong only did his duty! Your words are too much!”
As Wang Chong spoke, he returned the bows.
As he spoke with these officials, Wang Chong ordered Zhang Que to collect the gifts.
“King of Foreign Lands, we should head to the Imperial Palace first. His Majesty is waiting,” n official finally said.
1 reply – 43 minutes ago
Wang Chong once more boarded his carriage and was escorted by the crowd to the Imperial Palace.
The crowd only increased as he went, following him like a shadow.
At the gates of the Imperial City, the crowd finally stopped.
Atop the gates, a majestic figure wearing golden robes adorned with the five-clawed dragon stood.
Merely by standing there, this man exuded the supreme aura of a god looking over the world.
Everyone and everything in the world seemed insignificant before this man.
Wherever this man appeared, that place would become the center of the world.
“Your Majesty!”
In his carriage, Wang Chong sensed that familiar energy from the distance. The only man with this aura was the reigning Sage Emperor!
Whoosh! Wang Chong got out of his carriage and immediately spotted the Sage Emperor standing atop the gate.
Just like Wang Chong remembered, the Sage Emperor had that eternally majestic and noble aura. But unlike before, there was a hint of longing on his austere face.
Not even Wang Chong had imagined that the Sage Emperor would come to the gate of the Imperial City to welcome him.
“Lowly subject Wang Chong pays respects to His Majesty!”
Wang Chong immediately bowed to the Sage Emperor.
At the same time, all the common people and even the officials got down on their knees.
“May the Emperor live ten thousand years, ten thousand years!”
Thunderous cheers that came from the depths of their hearts resounded over the gate.
The Sage Emperor had ruled for several decades, and under his reign, the Great Tang had reached an unprecedented level of peace and prosperity. Even Wang Chong had been favored and nurtured by the Sage Emperor. Thus, the Sage Emperor had a supreme status within the minds of the people.
The Sage Emperor faintly smiled as he majestically intoned, “Rise!”
“Thank you, Your Majesty!”
As the crowd got to their feet, the Sage Emperor turned to Wang Chong.
“Wang Chong, you have finally come. We truly did not misjudge you!”
His eyes contained admiration, trust, relief, and joy, and his tens of thousands of words were condensed into that one comment.
Wang Chong felt deeply moved.
For the war of the northwest, the Sage Emperor had placed all the soldiers of the empire and fate of the Central Plains in his hands. This was an enormous display of trust and confidence.
Moreover, the sovereign was meant to remain enthroned in his palace. Never in the history of the Great Tang, or even the Sui, had a sovereign come to the gates of the Imperial City to welcome a returning Great General. Only Wang Chong had ever enjoyed this honor.
And the Sage Emperor was the sovereign hailed and revered by all the people of the realm, making this honor even more precious.
Wang Chong lowered his head and respectfully said, “My utmost gratitude, Your Majesty! This lowly subject did not fail the mission, did not disappoint Your Majesty’s trust!”
Chapter 1929 - Enshrinement in Lingyan Pavilion!
Chapter 1929: Enshrinement in Lingyan Pavilion!
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
A few moments later, in Taihe Palace, in front of the assembled officials, Gao Lishi personally announced Wang Chong’s rewards.“Acceding to the will of the heavens, the Emperor declares: the King of Foreign Lands has done a service for both the court and the country. In the northwestern campaign, he defeated the Arab army of two million, six hundred thousand soldiers, conquered Arabia, and raised the prestige of my country. For this, the King of Foreign Lands is rewarded a jade dragon token, fifty million taels of gold, fifty boxes of coral, twenty boxes each of pearls and jade, and the title of the Empire Guardian Great General. In addition, the lands to the west of the Cong Mountains, including Khorasan and all of the Arabian Empire, is placed under the administration of the King of Foreign Lands so that he may protect it for the empire!“The mother of the King of Foreign Lands, Madam Zhao, has displayed excellence in raising her son. She is to be made First-Rank Lady by Imperial Decree. She is also to be awarded five hundred thousand taels, thirty thousand rolls of silk, and a phoenix plume dress!“The father of the King of Foreign Lands, Wang Yan, has displayed excellence in raising his son. He is granted the first-rank title of the Loyal and Brave Duke and one million taels of gold!”As that voice resounded through the hall, even Wang Chong couldn’t help but widen his eyes.Since ancient times, meritorious subjects had always been amply rewarded for their achievements.But rarely were their parents also rewarded so richly. Let alone his mother being granted a rank-one title, his father had been made a rank-one duke!In normal circumstances, his father would have needed several decades to reach the rank of state duke, slowly rising step by step through the ranks.This reward and favor were unprecedented. And besides that, the Sage Emperor had handed over the entirety of the Arabian Empire for Wang Chong to administer.Probably very few had even dared to imagine this level of reward. In the past, many officials would have immediately jumped out of their ranks to furiously object and criticize.But not only did none of the officials object, they smiled as if this was only right and proper.Wang Chong was capable and virtuous. He had been honed enough through his many trials, and he had proved to them all that he was dutiful and trustworthy, a person devoted to the empire.But the Sage Emperor was not done with his rewards.“…Moreover, the King of Foreign Lands has always fearlessly thrown himself into battle, in the war of the southwest, the Battle of Talas, the Rebellion of the Three Princes, and now this war with Arabia. For his illustrious achievements, the Sage Emperor apprehends the wills of the heavens, and in his wise judgment, grants an Imperial Dragon Bracelet! With this, the King of Foreign Lands may execute first and report later, representing Us in matters of state!“In the war of the northwest, hundreds of thousands of soldiers threw themselves into battle, heedless of their own lives, to obtain safety for the Central Plains. All these soldiers are loyal and righteous men. The Department of State Affairs and Grand Scribe Yan Wenzhang are to enter this matter into the annals of history and spread word of their deeds to the entire realm so that all the people may learn from them.“In his status as Nine Provinces Protector-General and Supreme Marshal, the King of Foreign Lands displayed excellence in his command and merits above those of other generals. Imperial Painter Yan Benchu is hereby ordered to compose a portrait of the King of Foreign Lands so that it may be placed in the Lingyan Pavilion for future generations to revere and praise!”Boom!A commotion broke out in the hall, the officials chattering amongst themselves. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Li Linfu’s eyes flew open.The Sage Emperor had personally decided on this reward. Even though Li Linfu was Prime Minister, he had not viewed the contents of the decree beforehand.Lingyan Pavilion!Lingyan Pavilion had b
een established several hundred years ago, when many meritorious officials who had contributed to the founding of the empire had been venerated within, but nobody could even remember the last time a new person had been enshrined within the pavilion.It was even said in the Great Tang that to be made King was easier than being enshrined in Lingyan Pavilion.None of the rewards the Sage Emperor had previously given could match having a portrait enshrined in Lingyan Pavilion.“Your Majesty!”Let alone the others, even Wang Chong was trembling in shock, staring at the Sage Emperor in disbelief.He didn’t know much about the Lingyan Pavilion, but he knew that being enshrined within it in this reign was excruciatingly difficult.Despite all the meritorious officials and superb generals in the Great Tang Empire, many of them having been ennobled as Marquises, Dukes, and even Kings, only a scant few were able to enter the Lingyan Pavilion.Crown Prince’s Junior Guardian Wang Zhongsi, despite his title as Great Tang War God and his unstoppable campaigns across the borders, had still not been able to gain entry into the Lingyan Pavilion.Andong Protector-General Zhang Shougui, thriving with ambition, had singlehandedly kept down the Turks, Xi, Khitans, and Goguryeons, rendering achievements almost on par with Wang Zhongsi’s, but he had also failed to enter Lingyan Pavilion.This reward alone made Wang Chong the envy of all the generals of the realm, even the Protector-Generals and Great Generals.The hall was absolutely still, but a few moments later, cheers rang out.“Such wisdom from His Majesty!”All the officials began to bow.“Honored officials!”Wang Chong looked around at the smiling officials in a daze.Normally, Wang Chong wouldn’t have needed to come forward and advise caution in granting this sort of reward, as another official would have objected. But to his surprise, everyone was in full support. Wang Chong was left both surprised and moved.“King of Foreign Lands, there’s no need to be humble. A sovereign’s orders cannot be defied. If you are not fit to enter Lingyan Pavilion, then no one is! His Divine Majesty’s reward for you is perfectly appropriate.”“Correct! King of Foreign Lands, quickly go and accept. Once you enter Lingyan Pavilion, I will be able to brag for the rest of the life that I worked together with one of the luminaries of Lingyan Pavilion.”Everyone smiled as they whispered to him.After a few moments of silence, Wang Chong finally stepped forward. “This lowly subject accepts the decree! May the Emperor live ten thousand years, ten thousand years!”“Congratulations to user for obtaining the achievement ‘Enshrinement in Lingyan Pavilion’ and becoming a legendary figure of the Great Tang. You have been rewarded 100,000 points of Destiny Energy!“Congratulations to user for killing the High Priest (Incomplete). You have been rewarded 200,000 points of Destiny Energy!“Congratulations to user for killing important character ‘Hierophant Khatabah’ (Deceased). You have been rewarded 500,000 points of Destiny Energy!“Congratulations to user for killing 2 million Arab cavalry. You have obtained the special achievement ‘Arab Destroyer’ and accumulated 800,000 points of Destiny Energy!“Congratulations for obtaining total victory in ‘War of Destiny: East and West, Great Tang and Arabia’. You have been rewarded with 1,500,000 points of Destiny Energy! For completely altering the course of history on the continent, you have been rewarded an additional 600,000 points of Destiny Energy!“Congratulations to user! For your string of achievements, particularly your immense victory that has established a new balance of power on the continent, user has been promoted to ‘Archon of Destiny’!“Congratulations to user for officially becoming ‘Archon of Destiny’. A new ability is unlocking. Unlocking will require three months!”A string of messages rushed into Wang Chong’s mind, the Stone of Destiny speaking once more. The Sage Emperor’s rewards had been the final checkmark that formally ended the unprecedented war between the Great Tang and Arabia.In the war of the northwest, Wang Chong had spent an astonishing 1 million points of Destiny Energy to maintain the sandstorm, almost emptying his reserves. But now, the after-battle rewards had been granted, and Wang Chong now had 3.7 million points of Destiny Energy.This was the greatest reward Wang Chong had received since his reincarnation, much greater than his harvests from previous wars.At this moment, Wang Chong felt sincere joy in his heart.……Boom!A few moments later, news of the rewards the Sage Emperor had granted Wang Chong took flight and spread across the realm.The news that another official was being added to Lingyan Pavilion had the entire empire in a stir.But nobody objected to the news. They only felt joy and sincere happiness.When they heard the news, people across the country went out into the streets to celebrate, shooting fireworks into the air.At this moment, Wang Chong truly became the hero revered by all.……As crowds cheered on both sides of the street, Wang Chong’s carriage carried him home.The court session had concluded. Deep in the Imperial Palace, in front of Taiji Palace, stood two motionless figures.Bang!A firework exploded brilliantly in the air, accompanied by countless cheers. The capital was awash in a festive mood as everyone celebrated Wang Chong’s triumph.The Sage Emperor stood on the steps, his hands behind his back and a faint, almost invisible, smile on his lips.“Wang Chong, We truly did not misjudge you,” the Sage Emperor softly muttered.“It is all due to Your Majesty’s nurturing!” Gao Lishi said, bowing slightly.The Sage Emperor softly chuckled, exuding a warm and harmonious air.Today, Wang Chong was the undisputed main character, even above the Son of Heaven himself. But the Sage Emperor appeared to not mind, only feeling sincere joy.Bong!The soft sound of a bell came from within Taiji Palace, and the mood instantly changed. All the maids and guards, even the Dragon Guards, retreated far into the distance, leaving behind the Sage Emperor and Gao Lishi.Gao Lishi lowered his head and said, “Your Majesty, it’s time to head in!”The Sage Emperor slightly wrinkled his brow, and his smile slowly faded. But with a light wave of his sleeve, he entered Taiji Palace.Thump! The palace gates slammed shut.Eunuch Gao’s pupils constricted, and his face became tinged with worry and hesitation. Taking up a medicine jug, he entered Taiji Palace.There were no witnesses to this scene as the sky gradually darkened.……Meanwhile, rather than returning to his own estate, Wang Chong had the carriage take him to the Wang Family Residence.At this time, the Wang Family Residence was brightly lit and festooned with banners and streamers to celebrate Wang Chong’s victorious return.“Chong-er, you’ve finally returned!”At the main gate, Wang Chong’s mother, Madam Zhao, stood in front of all the maids and servants, ready and waiting to welcome Wang Chong home. Upon seeing him, the lady of the Wang Family went red in the eyes, her face full of smiles.“Mother!”With a surge of warmth in his heart, Wang Chong embraced his mother.