The Human Emperor c1-2382

by Huangfu Qi (皇甫奇)

  "I can't believe it!"

  "What a desperate battle!"

  "Even the soil has turned red. Just how many people died here!"

  "Milord might be wrong. This Wang Chong is even scarier than we imagined."

  ……

  Countless scouts, investigators, and spies gazed at the scars of the southwestern war in shock. They were all people that lived on the hellish landscape of the battlefield, so they had a deep understanding of it.

  Far too many people had died on this battlefield. Whether it was the northwest, the northeast, or Beiting, these places were embroiled in war throughout the year. But none of those wars had ever had this sort of desperate aura. To these veterans, this cold and sinister stench lay far too thick on this land.

  And unlike those generals who resided high above, all these lower-level veterans could feel the intense struggles and screams of these soldiers in their final moments.

  One hundred thousand soldiers of the Annan Protectorate army had contended against five hundred thousand soldiers of the Mengshe–Ü-Tsang army. When they first heard of this news, they found it very difficult to believe, because conflicts on the border rarely reached this scale. But when they saw the size of the battlefield and the layers of red soil that extended several feet into the ground, none of them had any more doubts.

  Shock was the only emotion that all those who arrived here felt.

  Just the thought of that boy called Wang Chong, leading the one hundred thousand soldiers of the Annan Protectorate army in carving a bloody path through and defeating the five hundred thousand soldiers of the Mengshe–Ü-Tsang army, made these soldiers feel a deep respect for this youngest son of the Wang Clan.

  Flap flap!

  Countless pigeons took off in all directions, bringing new information to their masters, whether it was the generals of the border or the foreign powers around the Great Tang…

  The intelligence reports of these powers had all added a name with extremely great weight: Wang Chong!

  ……

  Putting aside the activity on the Great Tang's southwest and its borders, the empire itself was shrouded in an air of celebration and liveliness.

  Gallop!

  "Make way, make way!"

  Not long after Wang Chong's reward ceremony concluded, red-uniformed cavalry galloped out of the gates of the palace to various places in the capital.

  Swish!

  The leader of this unit of cavalry dismounted and quickly strode toward the city wall, upon which he pasted a pronouncement written on yellow paper and stamped with the seal of the Six Bureaus.

  After doing this, the unit of cavalry quickly departed.

  "Hahaha, Wang Chong has been made a marquis, a marquis!"

  "The Young Marquis? I've never heard of it before. Did His Majesty make this position just so that he could make him a marquis?"

  "Hey, just based on his achievements in the southwest alone, what does a marquis matter? This is a young hero! A grand reward is only expected!"

  "That's right! Hear, hear!"

  "Hahah, it seems like His Majesty greatly favors him! This is a blessing for the empire!"

  ……

  Once the cavalry left, a large group of people gathered around the announcement—peddlers and carriers, merchants and porters, restaurant owners, performers, calligraphers and painters.

  "Make way, make way!"

  A voice suddenly came from outside. At some point, an old man who appeared to be a teacher squeezed his way through the crowd and to the proclamation.

  "Let me take a look."

  "Haha, old man, what are you squeezing in for? Is someone of your age trying to learn how to be conferred the title of marquis?" someone jeered, eliciting roars of laughter from the crowd.

  But the old teacher appeared to not hear. He squinted at the announcement, his expression focused, a finger pressing against the word that he had seen from a distance.

  "A fief! A fief! I didn't see wrongly! In the three hundred years of the Great Tang, His Majesty actually broke tradition and conferred upon him a fief!"

  The teacher's voice was loud, his expression fraught with excitement.

  Buzz!

  An invisible energy seemed to suck the air out of the crowd. Their laughter suddenly dwindled away into absolute silence.

  A fief!

  Anyone who had lived in the capital for a long time and experienced various celebrations would know at the very least that 'conferring of title without fief' was a tradition of the Great Tang. In the Sage Emperor's era, no one had ever been conferred a fief.

  No one had expected the Sage Emperor to confer Wang Chong a fief!

  This was a massive show of favor!

  Marquis, a fief, and even a courtesy name bestowed by the Son of Heaven…

  This day was foreordained to be Wang Chong's day. All his rewards had broken the precedent of the Great Tang. Yet no one felt this to be inappropriate. On the contrary, the streets were festooned with ribbons and lanterns while firecrackers were ignited.

  Some actors and performers were even performing on the ends of the streets for free.

  Only those who had truly lived through the southwestern war understood just what sort of panic it had evoked in the capital. The mobilizations of soldiers, the news of defeats, the various foreign powers encroaching on the border—all of these things had made the capital quake.

  Not even the oldest person in the capital had ever experienced something like this. A vast empire threatened by foreign powers from all sides actually found itself without a single soldier to use.

  This was true terror.

  But in their most terror-stricken moment came the news that Wang Chong had won a major victory in the southwest.

  At the most dangerous and riskiest of moments, this youngest son of the Wang Clan had desperately pulled against the tides and rescued the southwest, rescued the empire. Whether he was made a marquis, conferred a fief, or bestowed a courtesy name…

  No one felt any impropriety. All this was deserved!

  ……

  Flap flap!

  A carrier pigeon flapped its wings as it flew through the air, landing in a heavily guarded estate in the western part of the city. On the board hanging over the gate, two words had been written in a bold and flamboyant style: 'Xu Residence'!

  "The Sage Emperor has richly rewarded Wang Chong, making him a marquis, giving him a fief, and even bestowing a courtesy name on him… This is a problem."

  In the Xu Clan Residence, Xu Qiqin's big uncle Xu Henian frowned as he read the letter in his hand, a deep concern appearing in his eyes. During the southwestern war, under pressure from King Qi and for the sake of political reasons, the Xu Clan had placed Xu Qiqin under strict house arrest, driving away the guards from the Wang Clan and breaking off its relationship with it.

  The Mengshe–Ü-Tsang army in the southwest had been five hundred thousand strong, and it had renowned generals like Dalun Ruozan and Huoshu Huicang commanding it. Anyone could have seen that victory was impossible in the southwest and occupation was just a matter of time.

  Even now, Xu Henian did not think his judgment was wrong.

  If he had to pick between the Wang Clan and King Qi, it would undoubtedly be the imperial clansman who was more powerful and worthy of his trust. Thus, Xu Henian had placed Xu Qiqin under house arrest and broken off her communications with the Wang Clan.

  No one could have expected the southwest to be won and that boy called Wang Chong to be the greatest contributor.

  A marquis, a fief, a courtesy name…

  The first news from the Imperial Palace had been like a needle stabbed deep into Xu Henian's heart, causing his expression to contort into a nasty grimace. Even a fool could see that the Wang Clan was now in good graces and the Sage Emperor highly favored the youngest son of the Wang Clan. For a long period of time, one could expect the Wang Clan to be shrouded in the Emperor's favor, and this would only increase with time.

  "Reporting!"r />
  While Xu Henian was sitting in his room in worry, a voice suddenly came from outside.

  "Master, the newly titled Young Marquis has come to pay a visit. He is already at the gate."

  "What?!"

  Xu Henian's body trembled at this news as he bolted up. This was truly a case of 'speak of Cao Cao and Cao Cao arrives1'. He had never expected the main character of the reward ceremony to already be at the Xu Clan's gates.

  "Does he plan to use his momentum to publicly denounce us?"

  Xu Henian's gaze chilled as this idea came to mind.

  He had a rough idea of Xu Qiqin's relationship with this youngest son of the Wang Clan. They were both in the age of youthful romance, so the relationship between man and woman could not be escaped.

  Xu Qiqin had been placed under house arrest, and the first thing Wang Chong had done after being made a marquis was to rush over to the Xu Residence to pay a visit. His goal was as plain as day.

  "Tell him that we won't see him!" Xu Henian immediately ordered with a wave of his sleeve.

  Who cared if it was the Wang Clan?

  The Xu Clan had existed for centuries, its origins traced back to the final days of the Sui. Even if it was a clan of ministers and generals, the Xu Clan could still choose whether they wanted to meet or not.

  "Yes, Master!"

  "Wait a moment!"

  The servant outside had just turned and walked a few steps when Xu Henian called him back.

  "Hmph, a marquis, a fief, and a courtesy name from the Son of Heaven… That boy from the Wang Clan is currently at the peak of his success. The entire capital is watching him. If we refuse him at the door, the Xu Clan will become the target of the entire Great Tang. That's exactly what this brat intends to do, which is why he's acting so confident."

  After the victory in the southwest, Xu Henian was well aware of how great Wang Chong's reputation in the Great Tang was. For Wang Chong to pay a visit on his own initiative at a time like this, if the Xu Clan were to refuse him at the gate for no reason, not even he could predict what the Xu Clan would end up as once the people were done with their rebukes.

  No one in the capital would dare to not give Wang Chong face. After all, his body had just been branded with the mark of 'The Son of Heaven's Disciple'.

  ______________

  1. 'Speak of Cao Cao and Cao Cao arrives' is just a Chinese version of the English idiom 'speak of the devil'. It apparently originates from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Cao Cao was a figure from the Three Kingdoms period following the end of the Han Dynasty. He was an ambitious and capable general who ruled the kingdom of Wei.

  Chapter 658: Courtesy Before Force!

  Translated by: Hypersheep325

  Edited by: Michyrr

  Hmph, who cares if you're a new marquis? No one can stop my Xu Clan from putting its own daughter under house arrest. I would like to see what sort of tricks you can play.

  Xu Henian was inwardly furious.

  "Come, lay out the incense table. Let us go out and welcome our guest!"

  Xu Henian led a large group of maids, servants, and guards in a majestic procession marching toward the main gate.

  Boom!

  The gate of the Xu Clan suddenly flew open. The gloomy-faced Xu Henian stepped out, followed by the clan guards.

  A bronze carriage was parked outside. Xu Henian immediately noticed that a young man dressed in a crimson ceremonial robe was quietly standing next to the carriage, his back to the gate.

  The gentle breeze ruffled the young man's sleeves, causing him to exude an aura of elegance and grace.

  "Lord Xu, I have long awaited this first meeting!"

  Hearing the activity behind him, Wang Chong smiled and shook out his sleeves before turning around. At the age of seventeen, Wang Chong was in his prime, and as a descendant of a clan of ministers and generals, he possessed a lofty demeanor that no ordinary scion could possess. Coupled with the fair and handsome face he had inherited from his parents and the calm and composed attitude that he had tempered on the cruel battlefield…

  The current Wang Chong exuded an aura of serenity and elegance that anyone would admire.

  A dragon among men!

  This was the thought that anyone who met Wang Chong would have.

  'Appearance arises from the heart, and one's circumstances alter according to one's heart.' After the baptism of the southwestern war, Wang Chong's every move and action exuded an admirable aura. No sign of that good-for-nothing wastrel could be seen on him!

  Even Xu Henian, who had arrived at the head of such a majestic procession, was dumbstruck.

  Wang Chong was much more handsome and elegant than he had imagined.

  "Hmph, we are honored by Young Master Wang's presence. What noble errand brings you here?"

  Xu Henian quickly regained his senses and gave a cold snort. He stared unkindly at Wang Chong with clearly little intention of letting him in.

  Wang Chong faintly smiled, in no rush whatsoever.

  So this is Xu Qiqin's big uncle, Xu Henian.

  Wang Chong took measure of the middle-aged man who had appeared at the gate. Although he had interacted with Xu Qiqin many times and knew the people of the Xu Clan, he had not met a single one of them.

  This person is resolute and steadfast, but he's lacking a little daring. King Qi probably used him to alter the Xu Clan's attitude and have Xu Qiqin placed under house arrest.

  While Wang Chong's face showed no expression, his mind was working through countless thoughts.

  The moment he returned to the capital, he had found out that Xu Qiqin had been imprisoned in the Xu Residence by her big uncle and father. She was cut off from the outside world and was even banned from stepping outside her room.

  Although he wanted to help Xu Qiqin escape the constraints of her clan as quickly as possible, Wang Chong did not act rashly. Only after the reward ceremony did he finally pay a visit to the Xu Clan.

  "Lord Xu is too respectful. The Xu Clan is a renowned and noble clan, a master of the art of logistics. Wang Chong had long ago wished to visit but only today found the time."

  Wang Chong clasped his hands and gave a deep bow.

  "In addition, this one had long ago made an appointment with Young Lady Xu, but Young Lady Xu never arrived or gave any reply. This one was concerned and so came to pay a personal visit."

  "Ha, was there something like that? Why didn't I know?"

  Xu Henian coldly snorted, a harsh light flashing through his eyes. He was well aware of Wang Chong's intentions. There was no appointment. It just served as a convenient excuse.

  Xu Qiqin had been imprisoned in the residence for more than a month, with not even a fly being able to get in, much less any message.

  "…In addition, Qiqin is currently ill and not receiving guests as she recovers. If Young Master Wang wishes to see her, I advise Young Master to return to your residence and wait for Qiqin to get better. It will be completely fine for Young Master to visit then."

  The moment Xu Henian finished saying these words, he immediately adopted the attitude of someone declining visitors. He had opened the gate and met the visitor, leaving no grounds to criticize him.

  Wang Chong was young, and so if he dared to rush to someone else's residence and publicly denounce them, it would be like a novice trying to show off in front of the master. He was looking down too much on the Xu Clan.

  "Lord Xu, my nephew has personally come to pay a visit. Is Lord Xu intending to refuse him at the door, not even serving him a cup of tea?"

  A dignified voice suddenly spoke as the door of the carriage opened. A calm and composed figure emerged, his every movement imbued with the aura of a high official of the court.

  "Lord Wang!"

  Xu Henian paled at the sight of this figure. He had only seen Wang Chong, never expecting that Wang Chong's big uncle would accompany him, but he had been sitting inside the carriage this entire time.

  Wang Gen had heard every word exchanged between the two.r />
  "Lord Xu, since my nephew made an appointment with your niece, let the two of them resolve their difficulties. Lord Xu wouldn't interfere and forcefully refuse for your niece, right?"

  Wang Gen stared at Xu Henian, his expression extremely unkind. Given a closer look, one could even see a hint of burning anger on his face.

  Wang Chong was currently the most talented and most capable individual of the Wang lineage, the one that everyone in the clan hoped would inherit the influence of the Old Master.

  Under his hands, the Wang Clan could reach even greater heights.

  And in a single event, the Sage Emperor had conferred upon him the title of marquis, a fief, and even a courtesy name… amply displaying the Son of Heaven's favor to Wang Chong. In the capital, countless nobles and clans were viewing the Wang Clan in a new light and clamoring to establish a relationship with it.

  In just the few days since Wang Chong had entered the city, the Wang Clan had received countless marriage proposals, and some of them were from clans with even greater influence than the Xu Clan.

  These clans all wanted to marry their most outstanding daughters to Wang Chong, but Wang Chong had agreed to none of them, and it was no easy task to gain Wang Gen's nod of approval.

  Given Wang Chong's current status, ordinary girls were not fit for him. But Wang Gen hadn't expected that when Wang Chong paid a personal visit to the Xu Clan to see Xu Qiqin, her big uncle Xu Henian would reject them at the door.

  This greatly displeased Wang Gen.

  "This… Lord Wang has misunderstood. Henian would never dare."

  Xu Henian bowed, his forehead dripping sweat. The power of the Xu Clan primarily rested in the Bureau of Personnel and the Bureau of Revenue, in positions that wielded little real power. An important official like Wang Gen who wielded real authority stood on a completely different level.

  Xu Henian would dare to refuse Wang Chong at the gate, but he would never dare to do so to Wang Gen.

  Wang Chong was a junior, so it was fine to reject him. Wang Gen, however, was a peer of the same generation, and if he were to refuse him, he would not merely be ending their relationship but committing a fatal offense.