The Human Emperor c1-2382

by Huangfu Qi (皇甫奇)

  Forced into a corner, Crown Prince Yi tried to find Emperor Wu of Han to explain this matter to him, but he ended up being blocked by Jiang Chong and his allies. Eventually, the imperial tutor convinced Crown Prince Yi to lead an army to eradicate those corrupted officials. Thus, Crown Prince Yi raised an army and killed Jiang Chong and his allies. However, one of the conspirators, Su Wen, managed to get away, and he reported to Emperor Wu of Han that Crown Prince Yi was planning a coup d'etat.

  Shocked by the actions of his son, Emperor Wu of Han dispatched an army to suppress Crown Prince Yi. Eventually, both armies clashed, but Crown Prince Yi's army proved to be at a critical disadvantage. Eventually, the despairing Crown Prince Yi committed suicide.

  In the royal court, no one dared to speak of this matter for fear of bringing the emperor's rage upon them. However, unwilling to see the conspirators get away scot-free, an official known as the Third Elder of Huguan, Linghu Mao, wrote a memorial to the emperor stating why the crown prince couldn't possibly have raised a coup d'etat. After reading the memorial, Emperor Wu of Han also found the matter suspicious, and so he investigated the matter. Eventually, he realized that the crown prince had been framed, and he killed all those who had deceived him into turning against his own son. But of course, it was already too late then.

  ---

  As for Princess Zhuyi and Princess Yangshi, they were done in by a separate matter in the same era concerning the gu. (This matter came before Crown Prince Yi's incident)

  Back then, Prime Minister Gongsun He's son was arrested for embezzling military funds. In order to appease the emperor so as to save his son, Gongsun He personally arrested a wanted criminal known as Zhe Anshi.

  However, the vindictive Zhe Anshi turned around and framed Gongsun He's son of adultery with Princess Yangshi, and he claimed that the Gongsun Clan had buried voodoo dolls in the royal palace to curse Emperor Wu of Han.

  Angered, Emperor Wu of Han ordered the death of the entire Gongsun Clan and their kin. Even Princess Zhuyi, the daughter of Queen Wei Zifu, a distant relative of the Gongsun Clan, was implicated and killed as a result. The powerful Wei Clan fell into decline after the matter. (Note that the Wei Clan and the Gongsun Clan were relatives, and having considering how they had a prime minister, Gongsun He, and a queen in their midst then, they were an exceptionally powerful clan)

  As both incidents occurred in the same era, they are collectively termed as the "Calamity of the Shamanic Gu".

  (The stories are translated with reference from Chinese Wikipedia and Baidu.)

  Wow, I have written such a long story here, so I won't bore you with the other contexts then!

  Chapter 319: New Winds!

  Chapter 319: New Winds!

  When Wang Chong raised the issue of Emperor Wu of Han and the Gongsun Clan, Wang Gen fell into silence. The Gongsun Clan during the Emperor Wu of Han's era and the Meng Clan in Qin Shi Huang's era; these were case studies that all officials had to study from when starting their career in politics.

  Wang Chong had already put the matter lightly.

  When the Gongsun Clan and Meng Clan were at their peak, their might was something the Wang Clan couldn't hope to compare to. And Gongsun He, Meng Tian, Meng Yi, and the others... Wang Gen might be an important official of the royal court, who had the influence to sway politics, but there was still a huge gap between him and those famous personages of history.

  "Chong-er, what are you trying to say?"

  After a long silence, Wang Gen finally spoke. His voice was much deeper, and his attitude had become much graver than before. It seemed like Wang Chong's words had forced him to think through many things.

  Even though Wang Gen still didn't think that the Sage Emperor would disqualify the First Prince from the throne, his voice was no longer as certain as before.

  "The First Prince is the eldest son of the queen, and it has been a custom since ancient times for officials to support the eldest son of the main family. Compared to the other princes, the First Prince is clearly the most qualified to inherit the throne, and he is the most likely one to do so as well. Chong-er, do you intend for our Wang Clan to change our attitude toward the First Prince due to the chance that the successor to the throne might change?" Wang Gen asked gravely.

  It wasn't easy for him to utter those words. In the first place, he had called Wang Chong over to persuade him to join the ranks of the First Prince.

  "I don't mean for us to sever our relations with the First Prince," Wang Chong replied.

  "Does big uncle recall the old incident of Wei Jin Nanyang?"

  Weng!

  Upon hearing Wang Chong's words, Wang Gen's body jolted, and his body straightened slightly. Wang Chong's words seemed to have moved him.

  Of the Wang Clan, Wang Yan and his son pursued the military, whereas Wang Gen walked on the path of an academic. Studying and quoting historical affairs to guide the governance of a nation was the duty of an academic.

  Naturally, Wang Gen knew what the old incident of Wei Jin Nanyang referred to, as well as Wang Chong's intentions.

  Staring deeply into Wang Chong, Wang Gen asked, "You mean that you wish to emulate the Zhuge Clan of Nanyang..."

  "Un!" Wang Chong nodded.

  The history of this world was similar to that which Wang Chong knew of, and the matters regarding the Three Kingdoms, Wei, and Jin, were similar as well. However, in this era, those events had yet to be glorified and popularized.

  Nevertheless, the matter of the Zhuge Clan splitting into three and pledging allegiance to three different powers, thus allowing their clan to survive in that era of chaos, had occurred too.

  That was a strategy that powerful clans utilized to ensure their survival.

  "I understand!" Eventually, Wang Gen sighed deeply and said, "But Chong-er, do you truly understand what the doings of the Nanyang Zhuge Clan truly signify?"

  "Un." Wag Chong nodded.

  "It hasn't reached the point where we have to do anything yet, but I feel that we shouldn't rush into anything just yet. Perhaps our entire Wang Clan might eventually ally with the First Prince, but for the time being, I don't think that we have to choose our sides yet." Those words were spoken slowly and clearly.

  "Chong-er, I understand your intentions." Wang Gen sighed deeply once more. He knew that it was impossible for him to achieve his initial goal anymore. While he was a little disappointed, Wang Chong's words did make sense.

  Their points of view might diverge, but they were both acting with the welfare of the clan at heart.

  Wang Gen wanted Wang Chong to pledge allegiance to the First Prince for this purpose, and Wang Chong's rejection was for the same reason, as well.

  From another point of view, Wang Gen even felt gladdened by Wang Chong's response. At the very least, this showed that Wang Chong cared deeply for the future of the clan.

  "... You have grown up, I am happy for you," Wang Gen said with complex emotions in his heart. "Let's do as you said. I know how I should deal with the First Prince."

  Wang Gen was already in his fifties, and Wang Yan wasn't young, either. The second generation of the Wang Clan was unlikely to advance any higher than this.

  The Wang Clan would have to be shouldered by the next generation, which consisted of Wang Chong, Wang Li, Wang Bei, Wang Fu, and the others. It was about time for them to mature and take up responsibility.

  It was too early to tell whether Wang Chong's decision was right or wrong. Perhaps they might regret missing this crucial opportunity in the future, but regardless, Wang Gen was willing to support Wang Chong's decision.

  This was the risk the Wang Clan had to take for the maturing of the next generation.

  ---

  Wang Chong initially arrived with a heavy heart, but when he left, he was filled with respect for Wang Gen.

  He knew how his rejection would affect his big uncle's standing with the First Prince. At the very least, for a long period of time, big uncle would be snubbed by the First Prince, and a permanen
t gap would open in their relationship due to this matter as well.

  Wang Gen understood this fact well, but he still chose to support him. The deep trust Wang Gen had in him made him extremely touched.

  Big uncle, you won't regret the decision you made today.

  Getting onto his carriage, Wang Chong swiftly departed from big uncle's residence and headed for Kunwu Training Camp. Once there, he realized that his Deflecting Blade Manor was on the verge of exploding from the massive number of people camped there.

  Astonishingly, even more people had arrived on the perimeter of the Deflecting Blade Manor on the second day to join it.

  After the various incidences, Wang Chong's Deflecting Blade Manor had become the brightest star, as well as the goal of the recruits from Longwei, Shenwei, and Kunwu.

  Finally, the time had come for him to reap the fruits of his efforts.

  ------

  Like dandelions, a consciousness slowly drifted and expanded within an endless darkness. In here, the concept of time, space, and temperature were non-existent. The only thing that existed was endless void...

  This was a mysterious space, a world that belonged to the Laws.

  "I have finally found it!"

  After some time, a voice suddenly reverberated amidst the darkness. Like a strike of lightning, it caused the entire space to tremble.

  At the very edge of the dandelion-like consciousness, a spark of light suddenly appeared. Within the radiance was a small speck of shadow that harnessed incomparable energy.

  Taking a closer look, the speck of shadow seemed to resemble a miniature book page.

  This was a small fragment of the Power of Law.

  In the world of martial artists, it went by another name: the Book of Law.

  Grasping the Book of Law and fusing it with one's consciousness was known as "comprehension".

  Weng!

  Wang Chong's consciousness immediately extended forward to hook the Book of Law before swiftly pulling it into his consciousness.

  All of a sudden, the darkness retreated and light resurfaced.

  Wang Chong finally opened his eyes. Before him was an exquisitely-crafted rosewood tile inscribed with the image of sparrows and flowers. Above it was an ancient yet elegant table with a piping Yixing clay teapot atop it.

  "My cultivation has advanced a little."

  Exhaling deeply, Wang Chong felt energy coursing through his body.

  After leaving big uncle's residence, Wang Chong seemed to have tossed everything regarding the royal court and the War of the Princes to the back of his mind and devoted all of his time to the Deflecting Blade Manor and raising his cultivation.

  The advancement between Origin Energy Tier 9 and True Martial realm 1-dan was a huge gap.

  What was required at this stage was not Origin Energy, but an incredibly deep comprehension of the Power of Law.

  When Wang Chong first started cultivating his halo, he was still able to absorb large amounts of the Book of Law everyday.

  But as time passed, the amount of information from the Book of Law he could absorb during a given period of time gradually decreased.

  Today, Wang Chong had only managed to grasp 24 fragments of the Power of Law. Compared to the hundreds at the start, it was truly insignificant in comparison.

  Nevertheless, Wang Chong didn't give up.

  The fundamentals would determine the ultimate height of the construction. The more Power of Law that one comprehended in the initial phase, the greater one's accomplishments would be in the future.

  This was a trick in the cultivation of martial arts. It was often neglected, but it made a significant difference.

  Thus, even though Wang Chong had already met the requirements to making the breakthrough to True Martial realm, and he could only absorb a pathetic twenty or so Power of Law fragments every single day, he still chose to persevere on.

  With this strong foundation, his cultivation would soar in the future!

  And after several months of effort, Wang Chong's work was nearly done.

  It should be about time to obtain that item from Instructor Zhao, Wang Chong thought.

  To advance from Origin Energy Tier 9 to True Martial 1-dan, other than the comprehension of Law, one also needed a halo cultivation technique to bind the Power of Law together and manifest its might.

  There were two main things that Wang Chong hoped to obtain from this training camp. One of them was the hundreds of budding generals who would eventually leave their mark on the world, and the other was a war halo cultivation technique which was in Zhao Qianqiu's possession.

  This war halo cultivation technique had been completely buried in the dust in his previous life. No one in the training camp, including Su Hanshan, had managed to obtain that technique.

  For some reason, Zhao Qianqiu didn't impart that technique to others.

  Wang Chong didn't know what kind of secrets were hidden behind it, but he knew that the war halo hidden within this training camp was definitely one of the strongest ones out there.

  Every time he remembered how Zhao Qianqiu had actually allowed such a powerful technique to be buried in the dust, he couldn't help but find it a huge pity.

  However, Wang Chong was in no hurry.

  Getting up from the floor, Wang Chong walked up to the rosewood table and poured himself a cup of steaming tea. Sipping on it slowly, he allowed the light fragrance to slowly fill his mouth.

  Life shouldn't be all about strength and training. Using the popular phrase from another world, there should be poetry and the distant, too.

  Enjoying and experiencing life, living in the present, this was Wang Chong's goal in this life. The future was important, but cherishing the present was even more so.

  Boom!

  Putting down the teacup, Wang Chong walked to the door and opened it. A bustling commotion immediately burst into his view. Unfolding before his eyes was a sight very different from several months ago.

  _______________________________

  TL Notes:

  Wei Jin Nanyang are places/ factions in that era

  Naturally, the Zhuge Clan also consists of the famous Zhuge Liang (or Zhuge Kongming).

  Zhuge Liang had pledged allegiance to Liu Bei of Shu Han, but his brother, Zhuge Jin, and his cousin, Zhuge Dan, had pledged allegiance to Sun Quan of Eastern Wu, and Cao Cao of Cao Wei, respectively.

  ‘Poetry and the distant’: This is a famous phrase from Gao Xiaosong. There are many interpretations, but basically ‘poetry and distance’ refers to dreams, relaxation, and that sort of thing.

  Chapter 320: New Winds (2)

  Chapter 320: New Winds (2)

  The Deflecting Blade Manor was currently bustling with a huge crowd of nearly a hundred. This formed a stark contrast to how it was in the past when only the usual few consisting of Wang Chong, Zhao Jingdian, and a few others dropped this by area.

  Wang Chong's initial intention was to bring in only the recruits of Kunwu Training Camp. The interest from Longwei and Shenwei were completely unexpected, resulting in the insufficient capacity of the Deflecting Blade Manor to house everyone.

  "Gongzi!"

  Beyond the door stood an ordinary-looking young man. He had a common square face and inconspicuous feature, making it easy to overlook him if not for the tenacity that shone through his eyes. Upon seeing Wang Chong, the young man bowed respectfully.

  "We have finished organizing those who are here for the examination. If gongzi wishes to, the examination can be carried out anytime you wish."

  His demeanor was neither excessively humble nor arrogant when he spoke. This young man was the talent whom Wang Chong brought in from Longwei Training Camp, Wei Anfang.

  Wang Chong's judgement was spot-on, Wei Anfang was indeed currently tiding through the most difficult period of his life. Nothing seemed to be going well, and he was being snubbed by his comrades as well.

  On top of that, Wei Anfang even offended the eldest son of his clan in Longwei Training Camp. As
such, when he received Wang Chong's invitation letter, he literally leaped up in joy, accepting the request without any hesitation.

  With just this single letter, Wei Anfang easily freed himself from the oppression of his clan and the eldest son.

  ——After all, the Wei Clan had been racking their heads over how they could build a relationship with the Wang Clan when Wang Chong's invitation letter arrived at this precise moment.

  Wei Anfang's capability didn't let Wang Chong down either.

  He wasn't particularly outstanding, but he was always able to arrange and accomplish the tasks which Wang Chong instructed him orderly and punctually.

  With Wei Anfang around, Zhao Jingdian was finally freed from his duties. The first thing that Wang Chong did was to dispatch the latter to the spirit vein to train.

  In Wang Chong's previous life, Zhao Jingdian didn't just play an auxiliary role, he was his most capable general. It would be a huge mistake if the other party's talent and fighting prowess were tied down over such miscellaneous affairs.

  "Un, do as you deem fit."

  Wang Chong nodded. Under Wei Anfang's lead, he descended a flight of wooden stairs, and after turning at a corner, two long flagpoles appeared before him. One of them bore the flag of the Deflecting Blade Manor whereas the other was just a wooden stick that had been stuck in recently.

  Two recruits were currently standing beneath the wooden flagpoles, and a huge crowd was gathered around them.

  "Come, which one of you dares to challenge me?"

  "Hah, allow me then! Ten gold taels!"

  "Deal"

  Amidst loud cheerings from the crowd, the two men suddenly rushed up to the flagpoles and began scaling it.

  Wang Chong chuckled as he gazed at the two nimble figures climbing the flagpoles. This was the place where he had planted the flag, but somehow, it had turned into an area where the crowd gathered for leisure and competed on their movement technique.