The Human Emperor

Translated by: Hypersheep325

Edited by: Michyrr

Both Wang Chong and Hou Junji had second meanings in their words, needles hidden within pillows. In their remarks, they had been subtly making blows at each other.

“The formation isn’t bad, but alas, the larger the formation, the more men and resources that are required. You have far from enough men, so in the end, you’re still rather hard-pressed. This old man spent several decades planning for this operation. Do you really think that this is all this old man has?”

As Hou Junji spoke, he smiled and removed a third piece from the jar at his side.

Li Heng, Miyasame Ayaka, Li Jingzhong, and the soldiers of Jinyang Palace felt their hearts sink. Wang Chong had just barely managed to stabilize the situation by borrowing the power of mountains and rivers, but in the end, Hou Junji still had another move.

Even though Hou Junji simply needed to defend the gates, it was apparent that the Army-Shattering War God of Taizong’s era was not one to just sit on his hands and defend.

“All of your soldiers are focused on assaulting the three gates, but what would happen if another force of soldiers attacked from the rear? And what if these soldiers were the renowned Tongluo Cavalry?”

Hou Junji smiled, but there was a dangerous gleam in his eyes.

Clap!

Hou Junji pressed the third piece on the board, right behind one of Wang Chong’s white pieces. The black pieces in that area had originally been split into two groups, but this black piece connected them, turning them into a massive dragon that hemmed in Wang Chong’s pieces from both the front and the back.

And as that black piece landed, the hand that Hou Junji had kept behind his back made a gesture.

Creee!

The sharp cry of a gyrfalcon came from the distance, and the bird soon swooped through the night sky and vanished.

The cry traveled over a long distance, and Wang Chong couldn’t help but turn grim upon hearing it.

At the same time, in the northwest region of the Imperial City, countless stalwart cavalry stood in orderly ranks.

These soldiers all had bright eyes and somber auras. One could tell at a glance that these were all veteran cavalry.

Moreover, unlike other cavalry, the armor worn by them and their horses was made entirely of bronze, and this armor was covered in countless patterns, the mark of numerous inscriptions and formations.

The Tongluo Cavalry!

Across the world, this was the only cavalry force to use this kind of bronze armor. Even without Wootz Steel weapons, the Tongluo Cavalry was still an elite fighting force famed throughout the world for its strength, and it was entirely on par with Wang Chong’s Wushang Cavalry.

A Tongluo expert received a descending gyrfalcon and then rode toward the front of the army, where the imposing Tongluo Great General, Abusi, waited.

“Patriarch, Hou Junji has sent word. He wants us to deploy our soldiers as we planned.”

Abusi sat upon his Tongluo stallion, his bulky figure making him seem like a mountain. But unlike in the past, when Abusi looked at the fires rising from the depths of the Imperial Palace or listened to the roars of fighting, he appeared absentminded.

No one could tell what he was thinking at this time.

Another Tongluo general rode up from the rear, a worried look on his face. “General, are we really doing this? The moment we attack the King of Foreign Lands, there’s really no going back for us. If things go bad, our Tongluo people will truly die without a grave.

“And the King of Foreign Lands was once our ally. We fought alongside him at Talas, and many of the brothers in the tribe know him. His Divine Majesty has also treated us well. Is this really worth it?”

The area fell silent. This man had clearly voiced the opinions of many others, and countless people turned to see how the Tongluo Great General would answer.

Abusi said nothing, but for a moment, a hint of hesitation appeared in his eyes. It was no easy task for him to make this decision.

“Patriarch, now is not the time to hesitate!” the first Tongluo general said, the fierce gyrfalcon still perched on his hand. “Did you forget what Hou Junji said? The First Prince is ascendant, and if the Tongluo don’t do as he requests, what will happen to us when the new emperor takes the throne? Whether it’s the King of Foreign Lands, the Sage Emperor, or the First Prince, in this matter, what is of most importance has always been the welfare of the Tongluo! Don’t forget why we submitted to the Great Tang in the first place!”

These words finally caused a shift in Abusi’s eyes.

“That’s right!”

Whether it was Wang Chong or the First Prince, in tonight’s turmoil, the most important thing was always the welfare of the Tongluo.

Clang!

With these thoughts in mind, Abusi pulled out his sword.

“Everyone, hear my order! Advance on the Qian Gate, Center Gate, and Kun Gate!”

Roooar!

Abusi had barely spoken when all the Tongluo exploded with earthshaking roars.

Boom!

A few moments later, Abusi led his thousands of Tongluo Cavalry charging forward in a torrent of metal.

Unlike before, the Tongluo had mobilized almost all their warriors this time.

It was oft said that the Tongluo could not exceed ten thousand, for above ten thousand, they were invincible. As ten thousand Tongluo Cavalry charged out of the northwest region of the Imperial City, their momentum was simply terrifying.

Such was the din created by their charge that it completely drowned out the sounds of fighting. Even the forces fighting at the three gates noticed this astonishing development.

The killing intent exuded by the Tongluo Cavalry caused even the space above the Imperial Palace to twist and deform, and the entire Imperial City trembled and quivered.

“Heheh, Abusi, you finally moved out!”

Deep within the Imperial Palace, the First Prince gazed at that moving storm of energy and smiled. The Hundred Thousand God-Devil Execution Formation and the Tongluo Cavalry were the two gifts he had prepared for Wang Chong.

He had wasted quite a lot of words convincing the Tongluo, but in the end, he had made them mobilize.

Wang Chong’s soldiers had been determined to charge into the Imperial Palace and enter Taiji Palace, but they were stymied at the three gates by the Hundred Thousand God-Devil Execution Formation. With Abusi charging up from the rear and the formation at the front, Wang Chong’s forces would be completely crushed.

The fighting prowess of the Tongluo was unparalleled. Even if Wang Chong had mobilized all of his Wushang Cavalry and not just several thousand, they would still not have been able to stave off attacks from both the front and the back!

“Wang Chong, you have to pay the price for opposing this prince! This prince will make sure you die without a grave!”

The First Prince stared in the direction of the Qian, Center, and Kun Gates, his eyes seething with a chilling killing intent.

……

“Your Highness, the Tongluo! The Tongluo are coming this way!”

At the same time, a member of the spy team, dressed in dark clothes, was bounding toward Wang Chong. The moment he hit the ground, his body staggered, a clear sign that he was wounded.

“Seize him!”

Upon seeing that man, several dozen Imperial Army soldiers pulled out their weapons and lunged at him.

In the distance, the unperturbed Hou Junji raised two fingers and gestured. Behind him, Eastern Palace Guard Captain Fei Yuhan understood. It was better to attack morale than to attack the city. Letting this scout come over was clearly of greater benefit to their own side.

“Stand aside! Let him come!”

This order immediately had those lunging Imperial Army soldiers stop and withdraw.

Even Miyasame Ayaka, Li Heng, Li Jingzhong, and the forces of Jinyang Palace also backed away, opening a path for the scout.

“Do you need to go over?”

Hou Junji looked across at Wang Chong, glancing at the scout before looking back with a smirk.

“There’s no need,” Wang Chong nonchalantly said, remaining seated.

In the distance, the stampeding of hooves sounded like a rumbling thunderstorm as it approached the three gates.

Even from this distance, the ten thousand Tongluo Cavalry were like a raging tsunami, threatening to engulf the world in their dreadful power.

But Wang Chong quietly sat on the stool like his feet had taken root into the ground.

Even though he knew that Hou Junji had already colluded with the Tongluo Cavalry, even though he knew that probably the most powerful force in the entire capital had been mobilized and was heading for Li Siye, Guo Ziyi, and the Lone Silence Ancestor, Wang Chong’s eyes remained like a placid lake, without even the smallest ripple of emotion.

Wang Chong looked at Hou Junji and indifferently said, “Senior has truly gone through such great pains to deal with me! You even persuaded the Tongluo.”

“Heh, the art of war is the art of victory. Naturally, a price must be paid to achieve victory. Moreover, the Tongluo are a powerful force, so why not use them?” Hou Junji casually remarked, taking a sip of his tea.

The thundering of hooves was getting louder and louder, that tsunami getting closer and closer. That crescendoing sound only made Hou Junji appear more relaxed. The one who needed to handle this problem was Wang Chong, and he was truly looking forward to Wang Chong’s solution.