The Human Emperor c1-2382

by Huangfu Qi (皇甫奇)

  “Now is not the time to be happy.”

  To their surprise, Li Junxian’s voice was abnormally calm and devoid of any joy.

  “They’re only reducing their armies, not completely dissolving them. Right now, countless people are watching us both openly and in the shadows. If we show the slightest flaw in this matter of reducing the armies, someone will inevitably seize this flaw and use it to make trouble. Moreover, although the rulers of all the countries have agreed to reduce their armies, we can’t rule out that they are only pretending to agree and not actually carrying out the disarmament, or disarming much fewer soldiers than they agreed to. We must guard against all these things!

  “A man cannot succeed without trust. Regardless of what the rulers were thinking when they first agreed, since they agreed, we must ensure that they hold up their end!”

  Li Junxian’s eyes became extremely sharp.

  “Yes, Young Master!”

  The old man and young woman both solemnly bowed.

  “We will dispatch men to oversee the disarmament!”

  “Mm! The minds of all people are inclining toward peace, and the Harmonious World is the irresistible trend. Neither the militarists of the Great Tang nor the rulers of the other countries can do anything to stop it. If one wishes for the heart of a Bodhisattva, one requires a thunderous hand. Go!”

  Li Junxian waved his sleeve, and the two of them immediately left to carry out his orders.

  ……

  At this moment, in another place in the capital, thirty-five hundred hand-picked experts had gathered in front of the Bureau of Military Personnel.

  These people all had sharp and bright eyes, pronounced temples, and calloused hands. One could tell at a glance that they were martial artists.

  An official of the Bureau of Military Personnel, his demeanor clearly that of a general, stood in front of the steps and sternly said, “This time, all of you will be in teams of four hundred. You will be infiltrating Ü-Tsang, Mengshe Zhao, Goguryeo, Arabia, the Xi, and the Khitans to observe their disarmament process. Remember, all of you are just ordinary people with no post of any sort in the army. Even if something happens to you, the Imperial Court will never admit to anything. In addition, you must remain hidden throughout this mission. You cannot allow anyone to discover you, understood?!”

  When Zhangchou Jianqiong was moving from the Annan Protectorate to the capital, he had brought with him many officers from the southwest, a group that later became the backbone of the Bureau of Military Personnel. This person was one of them.

  “Understood!”

  The more than three thousand experts replied in unison, their cries resounding through the air.

  “Go!”

  With this order, the experts mounted horses and immediately split into eight teams, each with more than four hundred people, all of them galloping off into the distance.

  When this force of soldiers was gone, the official on the steps finally turned around and walked over to Zhangchou Jianqiong, who was waiting by the entrance.

  “Milord, everything has been taken care of.”

  “Mm. I give you full authority over this matter. I want up-to-date reports on any signs of activity from those countries,” Zhangchou Jianqiong sternly said.

  “Yes, Milord!”

  ……

  Several hours after that, in the Wang Family Residence, many experts had also gathered at Wang Chong’s study. Many of these had unfamiliar faces. Some of them were experts sent by King Song, Elder Ye, Elder Zhao, and Zhangchou Jianqiong, but more were experts from various sects or mercenaries that Wang Chong had recruited from the underworld.

  By relying on his reputation as the Son of Heaven’s disciple, a King of the Great Tang, and the slayer of Qutaybah, Wang Chong had successfully managed to draw many experts to his cause.

  Wang Chong placed his hands behind his back and suddenly said, “Have all of you remembered the spots I marked on the map?”

  “We’ve remembered it all!”

  Everyone in the study had somber expressions as they replied almost simultaneously.

  “Very good!”

  Wang Chong’s eyes flashed as he gave a satisfied nod.

  “The Imperial Court is currently unstable and experiencing a period of many troubles. The surrounding countries will definitely try to use this chance to weaken the Great Tang. Lord Zhangchou has definitely realized this, and their mission is to compel the foreigners to reduce their armies. Whether they’re willing to or not, they at least have to superficially comply. If they want to make the Great Tang pay a price, they have to pay a price of their own first.

  “However, whether it’s Dalon Trinling, Ishbara Khagan, or Goguryeo Emperor Yeon Gaesomun, none of them are mediocre individuals. No matter what they’ve agreed to, it’s only a plan of convenience, and they must be planning something else. The places I’ve marked out are the most suspicious areas, places where it is easy for them to hide and train soldiers after reducing their armies. Your mission is to keep track of these places and see if there’s any sign of activity, understood?!” Wang Chong sternly said.

  “Yes, Milord!”

  “We will not let you down!”

  The experts bowed with unprecedented resolve in their eyes.

  “Go!” Wang Chong ordered with a wave of his sleeve. Bzzz! With this order, the study door opened, allowing the group to shoot out. They did not leave together, instead using their own abilities or techniques to flip over the walls like ghosts and disappear.

  As Xu Keyi watched these people leave with astonishing speed, a hint of worry appeared in his eyes.

  “Your Highness, can these people really be trusted?”

  From the way they had left, it was clear that they couldn’t cooperate with each other, completely unlike well-disciplined soldiers.

  “Everything has its advantages. Although these people from sects or the underworld might lack training and can’t cooperate very much with each other, there is an advantage to disorder. When they encounter any problems, they can be flexible and react according to the situation. In addition, they won’t attract as much suspicion. Probably more than thirty percent of the experts Zhangchou Jianqiong selected from the Bureau of Military Personnel will be watched. This is why I recommended Zhangchou Jianqiong to be ready to perform a rescue operation at any time.

  “As for them, no matter who they were before or what they did, I trust that there will be no problems with their loyalty when it comes to the empire! Tang will always be Tang!”

  With these last words, Wang Chong looked out the window, a profound expression in his eyes. At that moment, not even the nearby Xu Keyi noticed the flash of deep concern in Wang Chong’s eyes.

  The Great Tang was currently vexed by problems both internal and external. Li Junxian and his Confucian Sect had given the foreign countries an opportunity not seen in a thousand years. He had learned from the west that Ü-Tsang’s Imperial Minister Dalon Trinling had already emerged, an existence that even the previous Great Tang War God, Wang Zhongsi, had feared. And as for Ishbara Khagan, Ozmish Khagan, Yeon Gaesomun, and the Caliph of Arabia, all of them were mighty rulers with burning ambitions.

  Li Junxian and his group thought about things far too simply. They had opened a gap in the steel walls that he had tried so hard to build for the Great Tang and brought in a pack of wolves.

  Now, not only did Wang Chong have to stop Li Junxian from furthering the Great Tang’s predicaments, he also needed to keep out fierce opponents of the Great Tang like Dalon Trinling, Yeon Gaesomun, and Wunu Shibi.

  The study was quiet and Xu Keyi remained confused. After a long while, he seemed to understand something, and all doubt vanished from his eyes.

  Chapter 1282 - Storytellers!

  Chapter 1282: Storytellers!

  Translated by: Hypersheep325

  Edited by: Michyrr

  Whoosh!

  One flock of birds after another scattered in various directions, as did various groups of c
avalry, each with their own mission. Whether it was the Great Tang or its surrounding countries, an undercurrent was surging beneath their surfaces. The disarmament of the various countries had attracted the attention of countless people, but while the entire world was focused on this mass disarmament, few people noticed the Imperial Court silently passing two proposals.

  The first proposal was for all Great Tang soldiers to withdraw two hundred li in response to the movements of the other countries. The second proposal was to open twenty-three ‘treaty cities’. In these treaty cities, it was encouraged for the people of the Great Tang and foreign countries to interact and trade so as to facilitate the flow of manpower. The explanation the Imperial Court gave was that since the Great Tang was now allies with the other countries, the people needed to deepen their understanding of each other so as to avoid the necessity of war.

  These proposals were all passed after Li Junxian entered the Secretariat as the Secretariat Advisor. And for such a ‘minor’ matter, without good reason, not even King Song could stop it.

  Besides the events in the Imperial Court, within the capital, the Confucians were continuously posting announcements, and even an ordinary child of the capital now knew that the Tibetans, Turks, Goguryeons, and all the other peoples were learning the language of the Great Tang. The Confucians were opening more and more schools in foreign lands with each passing day, and every day, more and more Hu were entering these schools to learn the Tang language in admiration of its culture.

  The people were so focused on this subject that the gambling houses began to offer odds on the number of new schools and new Hu students added each day. This sort of special wager won unexpected attention from many people.

  At the same time, the idea of using benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trust to slowly change the Hu and make them develop amicable relationships with the Great Tang to create a world of eternal peace also began to raise a great clamor in the capital.

  Slowly and quietly, the minds of the people began to change.

  “Your Highness, it’s bad!”

  Several days later, when Wang Chong was seated in his study reading through the information sent back from the various foreign countries, Su Shixuan urgently rushed in. He held a paper in his hand and appeared extremely uneasy and worried.

  “There’s talk in the capital that someone is about to compare the economic relationship between the Great Tang and the foreign countries from before and after the war. The situation seems very unfavorable toward Your Highness!”

  Su Shixuan’s face was red and he could hardly catch his breath. Su Shixuan had served Wang Chong from the war of the southwest all the way to the campaigns of Talas and Khorasan. All of these wars had been fraught with peril, but no matter how dangerous the situation had been, Su Shixuan had never once panicked.

  “Calm down and speak slowly.”

  Wang Chong glanced at Su Shixuan, then raised his brush and wrote out a line of words on the document he was reading. After that, he placed the document aside and put the brush on its stand.

  Su Shixuan took in a deep breath and appeared much calmer, but he still seemed rather uneasy.

  “Your Highness, some busybody in the capital has started comparing the situation on the border from before and after the war,” Su Shixuan urgently said. “He says that before every war, all the people living by the border were peaceful and happy, and the people of both countries would trade and interact. But once soldiers start a war, these places will be strewn with corpses, the towns and villages burned to the ground. The living standards of the people living by the border will also rapidly plunge.”

  Wang Chong raised his head and nonchalantly asked, “What does this matter have to do with us?”

  “Your Highness was made King of Foreign Lands by His Majesty and is the leader of the militarists. These people are aiming their spears at Your Highness and the militarists, particularly at Your Highness!” Su Shixuan sternly said.

  Buzz!

  Wang Chong’s brow slightly creased at these words.

  “Milord, that’s not all. It’s currently very popular to espouse such ideals in the capital, and many storytellers have stopped talking about the Three Kingdoms, the Wei-Jin era, or legends from the underworld, and have started talking about this matter instead. And their actions have attracted the attention of many people in the capital, with even small children running over to hear their stories. This was an announcement we picked up from a restaurant while coming here. Your Highness, please take a look.”

  As Su Shixuan spoke, he placed the paper on Wang Chong’s desk, his expression fraught with concern.

  Wang Chong took the paper and glanced at it. He said nothing, but his brow furrowed even more tightly.

  This advertisement did not have many details. It only said that today, during the Xu Period (7-9pm), there would be a ‘free chat about the surrounding lands’ and that all the people of the capital were welcome to come and listen.

  “Milord, this matter is extremely unfavorable to you. I suspect that this is also the work of the Confucian Sect!” Su Shixuan said.

  Wang Chong said nothing, only closed his eyes and rested his back against his sandalwood chair, looking contemplative. After some time, he opened his eyes once more.

  “I will personally handle this matter. Tonight, during the Xu Period, I will go and listen for myself!”

  ……

  The Inn in the Clouds!

  This was one of the most renowned inns in the capital. Although it was not frequented by many high officials or nobles, it was often patronized by traveling merchants. Of the major merchants who visited the capital, more than eighty percent would choose to stay in this place.

  At the Xu Period, the guests had just finished dinner. When Wang Chong arrived in civilian clothes at the Inn in the Clouds, the place was brightly lit and packed with people. Many stools had been placed outside, and many of the people of the capital who had come to listen were seated there.

  “Come, come, come! Sit where you please and listen to as much as you want! There’s some tea and snacks over there!”

  “Welcome! Welcome! No need for money!

  “You don’t believe me? Of course we’re not taking money! Don’t you see all the people sitting there? Heh, honored guest, I won’t hide it from you. Someone already paid for you!”

  Outside the inn, several servants with white scarves tied to their shoulders were diligently working, bringing over tea or water, or helping people get seated.

  “Milord!”

  Su Shixuan worriedly glanced at Wang Chong. Both he and Wang Chong had clearly heard that servant’s last words. A merchant would not get up early if there was no money to be made, and the Inn in the Clouds was renowned for making money. Normally, if so many people were gathered here and not paying a single coin, they would have been driven away long ago for disturbing the inn’s business. They would never be serving them tea and exchanging pleasantries.

  He would never believe that there wasn’t someone secretly promoting this matter from the shadows.

  Wang Chong said nothing, but he naturally understood what Su Shixuan was thinking. Too many things had taken place in the capital recently, and if there was something abnormal going on, there was certain to be a schemer in the background. Of course, he was keenly aware of just who was meddling in the background.

  “Reserve a box seat for me!” Wang Chong calmly replied.

  Entering the inn, they quickly walked up a set of carved stairs and entered one of the box seats of the Inn in the Clouds. This seat had the closest position to the stage, and there was a screen to block out the eyes of others while still giving Wang Chong a clear view.

  Clap!

  After some time, there was a clap from the stage, causing the entire inn to fall silent.

  Within the box seat, Wang Chong saw a storyteller of fifty-some years, dressed in an azure robe, step onto the stage. In a flash, everyone was focused on this storyteller.

&n
bsp; “Honored guests! It is said that the Great Tang is the strongest in all the world, that the King of Foreign Lands became renowned throughout the realm for his achievements in battle and became the first King of the Great Tang with a different surname, that the Central Plains has entered a period of true wealth and power. But how many people know of the price and hardships needed to achieve all this?”

  These first words from the storyteller elicited a frown from Wang Chong.

  “My Great Tang stands firm amongst the foreign countries. It has pacified the Turks, subdued the southern barbarians, repelled the foreigners of the west. Its achievements are known throughout the realm. But do any of you know of its relationships with the foreign countries before all these wars? In the southwest, by the Erhai, the Great Tang had been at peace with Mengshe Zhao for several decades, the people of both sides trading and interacting with each other. In the twenty-seventh year of the Sage Emperor’s reign, the number of people heading into the Six Zhao to buy and sell all kinds of products, fresh produce, fruit, and rice was uncountable. If you had looked down from the walls of the now-ruined Lion City on the Erhai plains, you would have been stunned by the hustle and bustle. There were woman wearing bamboo hats and carrying children in baskets on their backs, elders, and strong men who helped tea merchants carry the bricks of tea. There were even people who wore jade belts in the same style as in the Great Tang.

  “And on the vast Erhai, countless distinguished gentlemen sailed on boats. Both the gentlemen of the Great Tang and the gentlemen of Mengshe Zhao could be found on these boats. On these boats, a square table would be placed, and a little stove on this table to warm the wine so they could drink while composing poems. A most pleasing and delightful scene! The fine poems composed every day would spread throughout the Six Zhao of the Erhai and the Great Tang’s southwest, capturing the imagination of the people.

  “And privately, the people of the two countries had already begun to intermingle, with innumerable marriages. Some people had a Tang father, a Mengshe Zhao mother, and a Mengshe Zhao grandmother. And there were so many of these marriages that there were even entire villages of mixed blood. Based on the numbers from the Bureau of Revenue, in only twenty-seven years, there were twenty-eight thousand mixed-blood marriages officially recorded, and who knows how many more were left unrecorded!?