The Human Emperor c1-2382

by Huangfu Qi (皇甫奇)

  "Replying to Milord: our people disguised as Hu merchants have been keeping an eye on the Qixi Protectorate headquarters this entire time," the kneeling messenger said. "In addition, we also requested the aid of the Arabs in keeping watch. We just received word that Fumeng Lingcha has already left the protectorate headquarters and is currently heading toward the front lines on the plateau."

  "And what of Gao Xianzhi?" Dusong Mangpoje said.

  Along the northern edge of the plateau, the Ü-Tsang Empire only cared about two people: Fumeng Lingcha and Gao Xianzhi. These two Imperial Great Generals were not that far from each other, and they could reinforce each other if the situation called for it.

  "Gao Xianzhi is currently vigorously training his soldiers in preparation for battle. Based on the reports from our spies in Anxi, he's likely planning to attack the kingdoms west of the Cong Mountains, so he should have no time to worry about Qixi. In addition, the relationship between Gao Xianzhi and Fumeng Lingcha has never been good. It has always been Qixi going to the aid of Anxi, and Anxi will rarely go to the aid of Qixi. The chance of this happening is extremely low." The scout gave his honest assessment.

  "Then let's move out. There's no need to worry about General Dayan. I will help him keep an eye on Fumeng Lingcha. Without the threat of Fumeng Lingcha, General Dayan shouldn't encounter any problems."

  Dusong Mangpoje gave a faint smile as he pushed aside his tea cup and rose, walking out of the black tent.

  His army rumbled, kicking up its own cloud of dust as it set off for the northern lines.

  ……

  "Hurry! Pour the solder!"

  "It's in the wrong position. Move the second module to the left a little."

  "Keep going! The second level is nearly complete! Hurry and get the beehives ready."

  In the northeast corner of the Tibetan Plateau, at the triangular gap, the eight to nine thousand craftsmen were working like bees. In the course of several hours, a small-scale 'City of Steel' had emerged, glimmering with a silvery light as it took shape.

  This was a mini-fortress, much smaller than Wushang's City of Steel, around one-twentieth the size.

  Although it was small, as a military fort, it was enough to hold around fifty thousand soldiers, more than enough for Wang Chong's purposes.

  Wang Chong had arrived at this number after careful thought. Moreover, this fortress was constructed on that triangular gap on the northeast corner of the Tibetan Plateau, preventing the Tibetans from using it to enter and exit the plateau.

  However, the Great Tang was capable of using the triangular gap to enter the fort so that it could be defended against Ü-Tsang. If all went as expected, this would be the first fortress between the Great Tang and Ü-Tsang.

  Wang Chong's modular construction method once more displayed its might. In some few hours, a fortress was beginning to slowly rise from the plateau out of nothing.

  Although the construction was still not complete, two levels had been finished. With each floor being three meters tall, the total of six meters was already enough to grant it some basic defensive capabilities.

  The third level was still being worked on and was well on its way to completion. Once the third level was completed, the fortress would be nine meters high, and the miniature City of Steel would have put its first roots down into the plateau, endowed with significant defensive capabilities.

  Creee!

  While the craftsmen were busy, a shrill cry suddenly came from the distance. Wang Chong, standing on the wall, followed this sound and saw that several birds of prey were currently flying in his direction.

  It wasn’t just vultures this time. There were also many rock eagles, gyrfalcons, large hawks, sparrow hawks… There were fifty to sixty, forming a massive flock.

  "Milord!"

  Zhang Que was standing to the side, that rock eagle of his perched on his shoulder. His entire body was taut as he stared at the massive flock of birds, and he twisted his head to look at Wang Chong. The birds that had appeared this time were far too numerous. The eagle team alone would be very hard-pressed to deal with them.

  "Haha, there's no need to worry about them. Just let them come."

  Wang Chong smiled and waved his hand.

  "In addition, Li Siye, get ready. Our guest of honor has arrived."

  "Yes, this general will go."

  Li Siye clasped his fist in his hand and then descended from the wall, his armor clattering.

  "All soldiers, hear my order! Quickly gather and prepare to meet the enemy!" Li Siye's voice rang out like a bell over the plateau. Li Siye took the lead, riding his Ferghana steed to the front of the army.

  Behind him, the five thousand Wushang Cavalry swiftly formed up.

  In the rear, the eight-thousand-some craftsmen seemed to sense that something was amiss, and they became slightly anxious. Only Wang Chong remained calm.

  "Dayan Mangban, it's about time you showed up."

  Wang Chong clasped his hands behind him and smiled.

  Scouts would precede the army, and for a Tibetan army to send ten-some scouting birds ahead of it was already quite impressive. For there to be fifty to sixty birds this time meant that behind them, an army of unprecedented size was making its way here.

  Wang Chong's judgment was on the mark. A few moments later, following closely behind the birds of prey, a fierce turbulence surged out of the horizon.

  This turbulence carried vast quantities of grass and dust that shrouded the entire battlefield.

  Although this was the only thing on the horizon, everyone instantly felt an air of tension, an invisible pressure surging toward them in a wave.

  Neeeigh!

  Soon after, they could hear the cries of warhorses as a light whisper that quickly became as loud as thunder.

  Bong! Bong!

  As the drums banged, a massive black banner was thrust out of the horizon, visible even before the warhorses had appeared.

  This banner was the height of six or seven people, with a red border and black background. Depicted upon it was a blazing white flame, like a devilish flower of the underworld, exuding the thick stench of death.

  And beneath this massive banner, everyone could see a tyrannical figure, bursting with a desire to kill and slaughter, that viewed the entire world with disdain.

  This person was riding a divine steed taller than a man, its body as white as snow but its hooves as red as blood.

  Just a glance from this man and horse caused a chill in the deepest depths of everyone's hearts.

  Dayan Mangban!

  As Wang Chong looked into the distance, this name emerged in his mind. There was only one person in Wang Chong's memories who could exude such a formidable pressure from such a long distance, and that was Dayan Mangban.

  That snow-white steed with bloody hooves from the Great Snow Mountain was the firmest proof of his identity.

  Rumble!

  As these thoughts flitted through Wang Chong's mind, a massive boom of thousands of galloping horses rose from the horizon. Tibetan warhorses surged out from Dayan Mangban's left and right, a massive wave sweeping over the world.

  "Ready!"

  Li Siye's voice came from the front of the army, his mountainous figure like a rock in the middle of a surging river, exuding an aura of peerless might.

  Clang! He raised his signature enormous sword, shining with a cold light in the gloomy sky, and the atmosphere in this northeast corner of the Tibetan Plateau instantly turned somber.

  Rumble! The warhorses continued to get closer, and the atmosphere became as taut as a drawn bowstring.

  Far from Wang Chong, in another area, Heba Ye became nervous. "Milord, it's Dayan Mangban. The Tibetans really did show up."

  On the night of Pulan He's death, he had been in the camp and exchanged blows with that mad devil of a Tibetan Brigadier General. The experience had left such a deep impression that it haunted his nightmares to this day.

  He had recognized Dayan Mangban at a glance.

&
nbsp; "No! It's not just Dayan Mangban… There's also Dusong Mangpoje." An indifferent voice came from the side. Fumeng Lingcha was riding on a black steed, a profound look in his eyes as he looked into the distance.

  Great Generals were extremely sensitive to powerful existences of the same level. Although there appeared to be nothing before him, Fumeng Lingcha could already sense the presence of Dusong Mangpoje.

  Although he was surrounded by a mighty force of soldiers, he was as obvious as a beacon in the darkness to Fumeng Lingcha.

  "Ah!" Heba Ye paled, unable to suppress this yelp as he looked at Fumeng Lingcha. Dayan Mangban was difficult enough to deal with, but with Dusong Mangpoje here as well, this meant that almost all of the Ü-Tsang Empire's forces along the northern border had been mobilized.

  "Milord, do we need to mobilize as well?" Heba Ye asked.

  "That bastard. It seems he already predicted this."

  Fumeng Lingcha clenched his fists and shot a glare to his left in the direction of the triangular gap, his eyes spitting flame.

  He was almost sure right now that this was all within that Wang Clan brat's calculations.

  According to the laws of the Imperial Court, if Wang Chong moved out on his own to the plateau and encountered an army like Buluhu's, even if he died, his death would be in vain. Fumeng Lingcha would be able to avoid any blame and perhaps even deride the Wang Clan a little.

  But now, Wang Chong was occupying the triangular gap, very close to the camp of the Qixi Protectorate army. If both an Imperial Great General and a Brigadier General of Ü-Tsang showed up and the Qixi Protectorate army still showed no reaction, then it was truly incompetent. Whether or not Wang Chong died, Fumeng Lingcha would still have to explain himself to the Imperial Court.

  In a normal situation, Fumeng Lingcha wouldn't have cared, but it wasn't too long ago that Dayan Mangban and his White Braves had 'broken through' the defensive lines of the Qixi Protectorate army and attacked Wang Chong's City of Steel.

  In the end, they had also made a large swing and attacked a camp of the Qixi Protectorate army, killing five thousand Qixi soldiers and General Pulan He.

  Chapter 772: Long-Distance Standoff!

  Translated by: Hypersheep325

  Edited by: Michyrr

  The two incidents added together would become more than a simple problem of proper conduct. The Imperial Court would begin to wonder if Fumeng Lingcha was incompetent, and if the Wang Clan and King Song exploited this issue, his position as Qixi Protector-General would be at risk.

  When that time came, not even he would be able to say anything to defend himself.

  And besides that, the person who had come just had to be the one who had killed his subordinates, Dayan Mangban. Although Heba Ye and the others had not said anything, Fumeng Lingcha could sense that everyone was expecting him to move out and avenge Pulan He and the other soldiers of Qixi.

  If he did nothing, he would lose the faith of his soldiers, with the worst-case scenario being rebellion and desertion.

  "Pass on my order! Mobilize the army and have them march here as quickly as possible. But entering the battle without my authorization is out of the question, as are any other actions. Violators will be executed!" Fumeng Lingcha said.

  "Yes!"

  Elated, Heba Ye took off.

  On the side, Fumeng Lingcha mentally sneered, and as he turned to glance in Wang Chong's direction, his eyes shone with a cold light. He didn't care what that brat had calculated, but if he really thought that Fumeng Lingcha would help him, then he was gravely mistaken.

  Dayan Mangban had to be killed, and the Qixi Protectorate army could not just sit on the sidelines and watch. However, he would only enter the battle once Wang Chong and his five thousand cavalry had been wiped out.

  At the very least, he would not strike until Wang Chong was killed in battle.

  If Wang Chong thought that by occupying this triangular gap and luring over a Tibetan Great General and Brigadier General, he could borrow Fumeng Lingcha's strength, then he was far too naive.

  He would strike, but definitely not in the way that brat imagined!

  ……

  "Milord, Fumeng Lingcha really did show up!"

  Meanwhile, in the rear of the vast Tibetan army, several figures exuding storms of energy were also looking in Fumeng Lingcha's direction.

  This region was covered in the scouting birds of Ü-Tsang: gyrfalcons, rock eagles, vultures… It was simply impossible to hide anything from their eyes.

  "Continue to watch him. As long as Fumeng Lingcha doesn't hastily interfere, it's enough."

  Dusong Mangpoje stroked his mustache, his expression indifferent and confident, as if he had planned for everything.

  "In addition, keep an eye on the movements of the Qixi Protectorate army… Tell General Dayan Mangban that I will deal with Fumeng Lingcha."

  "Yes, Milord!"

  The messengers quickly set off with their orders.

  ……

  Putting aside Fumeng Lingcha and Dusong Mangpoje for the moment, in the front, Dayan Mangban was leading an army of tens of thousands, including his five thousand White Braves, toward the triangular gap in the northeast. With Dusong Mangpoje behind him, Dayan Mangban had no need to worry about Fumeng Lingcha.

  The only person in his eyes was Wang Chong.

  "Bastard! Damned thing!"

  Dayan Mangban clenched his teeth, killing intent washing over his heart. This immature Great Tang youth had used the corpses of twenty thousand recruits, seven thousand Qinghai Soldiers, and General Dayan Pugyal to avenge his killing of Qixi General Pulan He and his five thousand soldiers. After that, he had advanced onto the plateau, building a fortress and brashly eliminating the forces stationed on the edge of the plateau. The speed of his operations and frequency were simply absurd.

  Dayan Mangban had always viewed himself as extremely proactive, his leadership as sufficiently crazy, but he had never imagined that there was someone even crazier.

  "Once I shatter your army, I'll definitely tear your corpse to shreds to vent my fury!"

  Dayan Mangban's forehead creased as madness surged through his mind. Dayan Mangban was well aware that this naked challenge of Wang Chong's was intended for him.

  "Halt!"

  At a distance of around two thousand zhang, Dayan Mangban raised his right palm and gave the order for the army to stop. The vast army suddenly came to a stop, forming a straight line.

  "Zeren, Luosang, Deji, follow me!"

  Dayan Mangban waved his hand, and several White Brave officers along with ten-some White Brave elites kicked up dust and rode toward the triangular gap, toward those steel walls shining like silver scales. Behind these walls, that massive steel fortress loomed, still under construction.

  Upon seeing this, Dayan Mangban's face darkened, twisting into a grimace. He naturally hadn't forgotten that night assault on the city. Even though he had personally led two-thousand-some White Braves to attack that massive City of Steel, his abilities had still fallen short.

  From the start to the end of that battle, those firm gates had remained closed.

  It was clear that Wang Chong intended to play the same trick, moving everything up to the plateau. Just the thought of this stoked the flames of rage in Dayan Mangban's heart.

  "Interesting—the guest of honor is coming!" As he looked down from the high city walls at Dayan Mangban and his ten-some elites riding toward him in a cloud of dust, Wang Chong's lips curled into a smile.

  "Let's go together and take a look."

  Going down the wall, Wang Chong mounted the White-hoofed Shadow and led his subordinates to the front of his army.

  In this tense atmosphere, the movements of both commanders instantly attracted everyone's attention.

  Hooves thundered across the earth as the two parties drew close. At a distance of around one hundred zhang from Wang Chong's forces, Dayan Mangban and his party of ten-some White Brave elites came to a stop, their horses stomping at the ground wh
ile snorting.

  Dayan Mangban sat like a lofty mountain on a snow-white steed with blood-red hooves, gifted to him by the Great Snow Mountain. His cold gaze was as sharp as a sword as it scanned the defenses Wang Chong had laid out in front of the triangular gap, carefully taking in every steel wall, every opening. No detail could escape his eyes as he attempted to find the best area to break through.

  In this entire process, Dayan Mangban did not make a single noise, but he exuded an invisible pressure that chilled everyone to the bone.

  "Lord Marquis, this is Dayan Mangban?" Suddenly, a vigorous voice came from Wang Chong's forces. While Dayan Mangban had been taking stock of Wang Chong, another mountain of a figure was taking his measure. At the front of the five thousand Wushang Cavalry, Li Siye and Wang Chong stood side by side, their gazes cold and stern.

  During Dayan Mangban's raid on Wushang, Li Siye had not been at the City of Steel, but in Wushang Village training the recruits. It was for this reason that upon his return, he had felt a deep sense of guilt and self-criticism. For Wang Chong's bodyguard and closest follower, to be missing at such a crucial moment was a massive dereliction of duty.

  Fortunately, Wang Chong had been able to rely on his abilities to escape the lethal strike and frighten away Dayan Mangban. Otherwise, if something more serious had happened, Li Siye would probably never be able to forgive himself.

  The best method to compensate for this mistake was killing Dayan Mangban and cutting off his head.

  "Haha, yes, that's him." Wang Chong smiled and nodded.

  In the time between their meetings, Dayan Mangban's aura had grown even more vigorous. It seemed like he had made some substantial progress in his martial arts. Alas, no matter how much progress he had made, his death was certain today!

  "Li Siye, don't get careless," Wang Chong indifferently said as he looked into the distance. "Dayan Mangban is a Tibetan Brigadier General, second only to individuals like Fumeng Lingcha and Dusong Mangpoje. Take a look. Even though the Qixi Protectorate army is so close by, he doesn't care. In addition, his plans are bold and imaginative, and he doesn't operate according to common sense. Although he suffered a setback at Wushang, he wasn't dejected at all by his failure. On the contrary, before going back, he turned around and attacked the Qixi Protectorate army, killing Pulan He. In summary, this fellow is extremely difficult to deal with. You must be careful."