The Human Emperor c1-2382

by Huangfu Qi (皇甫奇)

  This was an age-old tradition in which the Confucian Sect used certain secret arts to increase the cultivation level of the appointed successor or new sect master, as well as pass on the sacred sword. This would allow each new sect master to break through the barriers in their way and counter any difficulties.

  Reformation was never easy, and there was bound to be opposition from all sides. What the Confucian Sect wanted was a reformation, the greatest reformation of all. If they wanted to end all wars and disasters in this world and oppose the vast power of the militarists, if they wanted to deal with all the various difficult situations they would encounter in the surrounding countries, they would need the support of immense martial might. This was provided by the ‘crowning ceremony’.

  In this ceremony, the supreme and righteous sacred sword of the Confucian Sect played an extremely important role. It was through the sacred sword that the boost to the cultivation of the Confucian Sect’s new successor was completed.

  The elders and sect master of each generation would take the noble energy they had cultivated throughout their lifetime, refine it, and pour it into the Noble Sage Sword so that it could serve as a source of energy for the next sect master.

  Li Junxian had only recently absorbed the energy within the Noble Sage Sword and had still not fully digested its power. This was not the right time for him to fight with another.

  “The First Prince has arrived!” A shrill voice came from within the Imperial Palace, drawing everyone’s attention.

  Everyone looked toward the Imperial Palace. Two large imperial canopies appeared on the walls, and then First Prince Li Ying, accompanied by a great crowd of officials, made his appearance.

  “Paying respects to the First Prince!”

  All the commoners outside the Imperial Palace got to their knees and lowered their heads, and even the Hu shivered. Although the Hu didn’t have a custom of prostrating, they still frantically bowed at the waist.

  According to the laws of the Great Tang, Princes did not have enough of a status to receive prostrations from commoners, but the First Prince was different. He was the current regent, handling matters in court in place of the Sage Emperor. He was essentially the avatar of the Sage Emperor, so he naturally held a different kind of status.

  “Paying respects to Your Highness!”

  Li Junxian and King Qi turned to face the First Prince and bowed.

  “Ha, the First Prince is here. Wang Chong, let’s see what you do now.”

  King Qi coldly sneered, a smug smile on his lips.

  Time and time again, he had suffered a loss at Wang Chong’s hand. From the Vast Crane Pavilion incident to the Consort Taizhen incident and then the Penal Court incident not too long ago, he had almost never obtained the desired result.

  And even now, after making so many preparations and predicting Wang Chong’s movements, even after finding the Three Elders of the Northern Sea who were stronger than even Great Generals, he was still sent bowling over. He was nursing the greatest grudge in the world.

  But this time, the one dealing with Wang Chong was the First Prince. Just through the fact that Wang Chong had brought so many men to create trouble in front of the palace gates, the First Prince could charge Wang Chong with a crime.

  “Paying respects to the First Prince!”

  Wang Chong took in a deep breath and also bowed.

  It had to be said that Wang Chong had not expected all this. A court session was in progress, but the First Prince had left his place in Taihe Palace and appeared on the palace walls. From this, one could see just how badly he wanted to deal with Wang Chong.

  “Wang Chong, you are very bold!”

  The First Prince’s cold gaze instantly locked onto Wang Chong.

  “In the middle of a court session, you actually dare to lead a large number of soldiers and cause an uproar in front of the palace gates! Do the laws still exist in your eyes? Does the Imperial Court?”

  The First Prince’s complexion was ashen and his eyes were dark and sinister. If looks could kill, Wang Chong would have died countless times by now.

  Wang Chong was not the only participant in this ruckus outside the palace; Li Junxian and King Qi had also contributed. But the First Prince had not even mentioned them. By singling out Wang Chong, he made his aims loud and clear.

  “Your Highness, that’s not all. The Sage Emperor gifted him ballistae to honor him for his achievements, but he actually brought these weapons of war to the palace gates. This king fears that he has received too much fame and begun to harbor disloyal notions. Your Highness, no matter what, you cannot lightly forgive him. Only a heavy punishment will do to serve as a warning to others!”

  King Qi decided to add fuel to the fire. Now that he had the First Prince to support him, he feared nothing.

  Chapter 1589 - The Second Memorial! (I)

  Chapter 1589: The Second Memorial! (I)

  Translated by: Hypersheep325

  Edited by: Michyrr

  “King of Foreign Lands, the First Prince and all the officials are here, so it’s time to give a proper explanation!” Li Junxian demanded. “With no decree from the palace, you privately commanded more than nine thousand members of the Public Order Squad to appear in front of the Imperial Palace gates. Even if the Hu have congregated and blocked the gates, this is a matter for the Chamberlain of Dependencies and the Bureau of Rites to handle. In other words, it is for King Qi to handle, not you.”

  After accusing Wang Chong, he quickly turned his focus to Zhangchou Jianqiong, who was standing near the First Prince.

  “In addition, if I remember correctly, Lord Zhangchou said that the Public Order Squads were established by the Bureau of Military Personnel. But even though they were set up by Lord Zhangchou, the one commanding the Public Order Squad cavalry is not Lord Zhangchou, but the King of Foreign Lands who should have been resting at home. Do the King of Foreign Lands and Lord Zhangchou have an explanation for this?”

  Zhangchou Jianqiong was part of Consort Taizhen’s faction, so all the members of court, even the First Prince, were somewhat fearful of him and did not try to push him too badly. But Li Junxian did not have the same apprehensions. Anyone who colluded with Wang Chong to ruin the Confucian Sect’s Harmonious World was a mortal foe of the Confucian Sect.

  As expected, Zhangchou Jianqiong’s heart thumped upon hearing Li Junxian’s questions and his face paled.

  He had long ago known that the matter wouldn’t end so easily. Whether it was the First Prince, Li Junxian, or King Qi, they would all make trouble over this. Thus, when Wang Chong first proposed the Public Order Squads, Zhangchou Jianqiong had objected.

  Even worse was that these three were making trouble at the same time.

  But rather than being worried about himself, he was more worried about Wang Chong.

  Using the excuse of a rebellion taking place at the gates, the First Prince had broken precedent and left in the middle of a court session, leading all the officials to the walls. He was clearly determined to use this chance to seize Wang Chong and deal him a heavy blow.

  It seemed to be about the Public Order Squads, but the reality was far more complex.

  “Li Junxian, you are a civil official, so I do not blame you for not knowing the rules of the Bureau of Military Personnel. The Bureau of Military Personnel is the central pivot around which all the armies of the Great Tang turn. Whether a general or noble, as long as they belong to the military, they are under the control of the Bureau of Military Personnel. What is wrong with this king appearing here?

  “Moreover, as a noble of the court and former Qixi Protector-General, does this king not even have the right to command several thousand Public Order Squad cavalry? And no matter how many soldiers there are, they do not belong to this king but to the Bureau of Military Personnel. It’s not like King Qi, who has two thousand personal soldiers, all of them even better equipped than the Divine Martial Army that Great General Geshu trained for several decades. And even the Pen
al Court, while seeming to be under the authority of the Imperial Court, has become yet another personal army of his, moving however he pleases. He even mobilized the entirety of the soldiers at the Penal Court for his personal use.”

  Wang Chong shot a glance at King Qi.

  King Qi instantly paled at these words, not having expected Wang Chong to implicate him in this affair.

  “Wang Chong, don’t go slandering others. I heard that there was an incident at the gates of the Imperial Palace and rushed over with my men to give aid. In my haste, I could only think of the Penal Court. How could this be the same as what you have done?!”

  King Qi was fuming with rage by the end. Wang Chong was possibly the only person who could make him so angry.

  “Wang Chong, this prince is waiting for your explanation!”

  On the high gate tower, the First Prince ignored King Qi, his eyes fixed on Wang Chong.

  “Your Highness, Wang Chong had no disloyal notions, and I truly had a reason for leading soldiers here. If not for the inability of the City Guard, allowing the Hu to run rampant in the city, and if not for the officials in court saying that we should tolerate the Hu because they are newcomers, causing tens of thousands of Hu to gather in front of the Imperial Palace gates, I would not have led so many soldiers here. There would not have even been a need for the Public Order Squads to be established. It is precisely the incompetence of certain people that caused all this. Seeing as these people could not even handle this matter properly, allowing such an incident to take place at the feet of the Son of Heaven, this lowly subject was obligated to fulfill his duty as a noble of the Great Tang and personally intervene,” Wang Chong righteously proclaimed.

  Li Junxian’s expression darkened. Wang Chong was clearly criticizing his policies and trying to drag him into the water.

  “This matter was a decision made by the Imperial Court. Great plans can be ruined by just a touch of impatience. King of Foreign Lands, with the First Prince here, it is never your place to act rashly!” Li Junxian coldly shot back.

  “Every post has its duty, and those not in those posts should not assume those duties. Do you not even understand this simple principle? Or are you saying that all the officials in court do not compare to a single King of Foreign Lands?”

  It was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop. Wang Chong, Li Junxian, King Qi, the First Prince, and even Minister of War Zhangchou Jianqiong were all here. These were some of the most powerful political figures in the entirety of the Great Tang Empire, and no one else dared to interrupt.

  But at the same time, whether it was the Imperial Army, the Public Order Squad cavalry, the Penal Court soldiers, or even the kneeling crowd of commoners, all of them were listening attentively to every word.

  They all vaguely sensed that this dispute could change the political structure of the Great Tang, and it would also decide the fate of the renowned King of Foreign Lands.

  Ever since Master Zhu had appeared, everyone had come to know of the militarist-Confucian conflict. The conflict between Li Junxian and Wang Chong was, in the end, a quarrel between the militarists and Confucians, one that was far from over.

  “Hmph, Li Junxian, do you know what it means to enjoy the status of a position while doing none of the work? You and your Confucian Sect were the ones who let these Hu come in, but you’re incapable of properly handling them. These Hu go around the capital like they own the place, fighting, arguing, intimidating, taking items without paying for them, harassing the women of the capital in broad daylight… They even ignore the laws of the Imperial Court and the authority of the sovereign, making a ruckus right in front of the palace gates.

  “Several days ago, as this king was traveling down a busy street, I saw with my own eyes a group of Hu harassing someone’s fiancée. When the groom came to ask for an explanation, he almost ended up being beaten up. If they dared to act so brashly in broad daylight, one can only imagine what the Hu are acting like elsewhere. Gathered officials, can you not imagine the state of the capital now?

  “The Hu have provoked the anger of the masses. And when this king went to question the City Guard, they said that the Secretariat Advisor had declared that none of the Hu in the capital were under their jurisdiction, and they were ordered to not interfere.

  “Li Junxian, you want nothing more than for the Great Tang to be at peace with the other countries so you can have your Harmonious World. So, is your Harmonious World one where the common folk of the Great Tang are bullied while the Hu can eat, drink, and fight as they please?

  “Li Junxian, you’re someone who reads books, right? Someone who practices according to the sacred texts? Your Highness, for you to ask this question is just right. This lowly subject would like to formally impeach the Secretariat Advisor for a dereliction of duty!”

  Wang Chong’s cold voice was deafening as he reached into his left sleeve and raised up high a memorial.

  Buzz!

  Elder Song, Bamboo Mirror, the white-clothed girl, and the other Confucian Sect experts all paled. Even Li Junxian, King Qi, and the First Prince grimaced.

  For Wang Chong to privately gather more than nine thousand men of the Public Order Office and appear at a sensitive place like the gates of the palace without imperial decree should have been a grave crime, an excellent opportunity to seize him.

  But he had turned around and submitted a memorial impeaching Secretariat Advisor Li Junxian.

  This was a move that no one had expected.

  “This prince will make the final decision on this. Have the memorial brought up.”

  Although the First Prince was taken aback, he quickly regained his composure and gestured at a eunuch, who quickly descended from the walls.

  Regardless of what Wang Chong was impeaching Li Junxian for, the First Prince could not allow him to succeed. By sending a eunuch, he was clearly stating that Wang Chong’s impeachment would be shelved.

  “The only thing this prince wishes to ask you for is an explanation for the Public Order Squad.”

  The First Prince looked around at the nine-thousand-some Public Order Squad cavalry. No matter what reason Wang Chong had, none of them was enough to explain why he had led so many soldiers to such a sensitive place.

  Just because someone else was committing murder on the streets didn’t meant that one could commit arson. The First Prince was grimly clutching to this point.

  “Ha!”

  Wang Chong softly chuckled, completely unsurprised by the First Prince’s stance.

  The First Prince and Li Junxian were colluding, and he had never once believed that a single memorial would be enough to impeach Li Junxian. However, the establishment of the Public Order Squad was inevitable, and no one could stop it.

  “Your Highness, the Public Order Squad was established because of the Hu, and even if Your Highness had not asked, Wang Chong would still have personally gone to the court to submit a memorial regarding it. Moreover, because of this matter, this lowly subject has already written a memorial. Your Highness, please read it!”

  Wang Chong produced a second memorial from his sleeve, and everyone instantly paled. The crowd was unsurprised by the first memorial impeaching Li Junxian, as the two were not on friendly terms and had the militarist-Confucian conflict between them. But this second memorial was completely different.

  It was obvious that Wang Chong had come prepared, not just in establishing the Public Order Squad, but also in mobilizing his men to arrest all the Hu in front of the palace gates.

  Chapter 1590 - The Second Memorial! (II)

  Chapter 1590: The Second Memorial! (II)

  Translated by: Hypersheep325

  Edited by: Michyrr

  In a flash, everyone looked at Wang Chong with a sense of deep dread.

  The First Prince took in a deep breath and coldly ordered, “Bring it up!”

  Li Ying hated Wang Chong down to the bones for helping Fifth Prince Li Heng oppose him, but now that Wang Chong had so openly made a statement, Li
Ying was compelled to look the memorial over.

  All was deathly still as all eyes focused on the second memorial in Wang Chong’s right hand.

  The eunuch heading down took both memorials from Wang Chong and then returned, offering them to First Prince Li Ying.

  The mood turned strange as everyone turned their focus to the First Prince and Wang Chong’s memorial.

  No one knew what Wang Chong was selling, but there was no question that Wang Chong had come prepared and that he was not at all as passive as they had expected. Just when the First Prince and Li Junxian had firmly seized control of the Imperial Court, Wang Chong had come forward like a cold and sharp sword, pressuring everyone on the scene.

  “As expected, no matter what, you can’t look down on the King of Foreign Lands!”

  Some of the old officials on the gate tower sighed. These people had been important officials before Li Junxian’s appearance, and all they had experienced told them just how formidable Wang Chong was.

  All those operations targeted against Wang Chong and the Wang Clan had all failed.

  Even so, they were all very interested in how Wang Chong would manage to recover from a situation where he was so clearly in the wrong. Just what was written in this memorial?

  King Qi’s goateed advisor stepped forward and whispered into his ear, “Your Highness, the situation looks bad. That kid has clearly come well-prepared. The First Prince won’t let him go just because of this one memorial, right?”

  “Impossible! No matter what Wang Chong has written in his memorial, the First Prince will never let him go. There’s no hope of escaping this disaster for him!”

  King Qi glared at the confident and composed figure of Wang Chong.

  Brat, I’d like to see how long you can keep that smug expression! King Qi mentally cursed.

  Based on his understanding of Li Ying, nothing but a miracle could let Wang Chong escape.

  The fact that Wang Chong was supporting Li Heng from the shadows was enough for the First Prince to not forgive him.