The Human Emperor

Translated by: Hypersheep325

Edited by: Michyrr

Time slowly passed. The first court session of the Great Tang after the rebellion was bound to attract the attention of countless people, and after about one hour, a messenger bird came from the direction of the Imperial Palace and descended into a lush plum forest on the northwestern side of the Imperial Palace.

Sword Ghost received the letter and very quickly came forward to report it, bowing as he spoke.

“Young Master, we’ve just received word that in today’s court session, Wang Chong came forward and submitted a memorial requesting that the Sage Emperor issue a general amnesty pardoning all those who took part in the rebellion excepting the main culprits of the First Prince, Second Prince, and Third Prince. Due to the King of Foreign Lands’ earnest pleading, the Sage Emperor agreed, and Prime Minister Li Linfu is preparing the relevant documents. The general amnesty will probably be announced soon!”

The room inside the thatched hall was spacious and bright, clean and simple. Seated in the direct north and south were Master Zhu and Li Junxian, both wearing Confucian robes. Hearing Sword Ghost’s report, Li Junxian instantly frowned.

“With things settled, I was already planning to have you submit a memorial to the Sage Emperor requesting a general amnesty, but alas, you don’t have enough weight. Moreover, the Sage Emperor has always been an aggressive sovereign, so there is no guarantee that he would listen to you.”

Master Zhu had a straight back and a hearty complexion, seeming not at all like someone more than a hundred years old.

“But I didn’t think that the boy from the Wang Clan would react even faster than we did. He’s the leader of the militarists and one of the pacifiers of this rebellion. I can tell just from what he’s said today that it will be harder and harder for us to suppress him.”

Li Junxian said nothing, but his handsome eyebrows creased even more.

In this coup, Wang Chong had put on a dazzling performance, and while the Sage Emperor had changed a lot, he had still been an unabashed member of the war faction in the past. This was one of the reasons Li Junxian had not gone to court today. Thus, Li Junxian was startled to hear Sword Ghost’s report.

The coup was the most sensitive matter of all, particularly as the First Prince had colluded with factions that reached from the capital to the border, including many great clans. At a time like this, anyone who dared to speak up for these people would be considered one of the First Prince’s fellow conspirators and be suspected of participating in the rebellion. In all of the Great Tang, Wang Chong was probably the only one who was capable of preventing this matter from getting any worse.

Moreover, Wang Chong had also been the one to save those officials from their imprisonment in Taihe Palace. He was the only one capable of soothing their anger.

“I truly didn’t think that, in the end, he would win!”

After a long period of silence, Li Junxian sighed. Wang Chong’s chances of winning in the Rebellion of the Three Princes were minuscule, and there had been a greater chance that he and the entire Wang Clan would be turned to dust in the wind. But in the end, he had won.

“We’ve already missed the best chance. I worry now that the Rebellion of the Three Princes is only the beginning, and they might use this momentum to go on the offensive, expanding the size of the army and the power of the militarists. All of our previous efforts will be for nothing!”

After a few moments of silence, Master Zhu said, “It’s not just a possibility. It is a certainty!

“Our plans succeeded in disbanding three hundred thousand soldiers, dissolving the prefectural armies, and switching out many of the officers in the army. Given that Wang Clan boy’s previous style, he’s definitely going to use this chance to expand and restore the army. If my guess is right, it will be the turn of the Confucian Sect to go on the defensive.”

The thatched hall was quiet. Even Sword Ghost outside had his brows furrowed, his heart heavy.

“Senior Brother, is there no other way?” Li Junxian said.

“The only path left is to go on the offensive!” Master Zhu softly said, his words instantly catching the attention of Li Junxian and Sword Ghost.

“Senior Brother, what do you mean?” Li Junxian probed.

“In this situation, if we want to avoid all our previous work being undone, we can’t let the Sage Emperor favor that Wang Clan boy. While everyone is focused on the Rebellion of the Three Princes, we should go on the offensive and use this chance to solidify the status of the Confucian Sect. This is our last chance!” Master Zhu said.

“Junxian, you should have made progress in the various foreign countries, yes?”

Master Zhu glanced at Li Junxian.

Buzz!

Li Junxian shivered in realization.

“Senior Brother, thank you for your instruction. Junxian understands how to proceed.”

Li Junxian bowed and left the thatched hall.

……

Wang Chong’s memorial proved highly effective. A few days later, the Imperial Court formally announced a general amnesty. All the accomplices in the Rebellion of the Three Princes were to be judged lightly and forgiven for their misdeeds. With the Sage Emperor’s approval, the Court of Judicial Review, the Imperial Clan Court, and the Bureau of Punishments dropped their investigations.

Under Wang Chong’s strenuous efforts, the negative effects of the Rebellion of the Three Princes were slowly minimized. A few days later, as everyone was still discussing the aftermath of the Rebellion of the Three Princes, another matter captured the attention of the capital’s residents.

“Stand aside! Stand aside!”

In various parts of the capital, Confucians parted the crowd and posted announcements right next to the posters regarding the Rebellion of the Three Princes.

These people left as quickly as they had come, swiftly vanishing into the crowd.

The crowd immediately rushed over to see what the announcement said.

“The latest good news! The latest progress in the Harmonious World! Celebrate with our lord!”

A literate peddler began to read the announcement, and the surrounding crowd grew energetic. More and more people began to gather around.

“What does it say there? Can someone read it for me?” a curious individual in the crowd shouted.

Everyone knew about the militarist-Confucian conflict, and they also knew that Secretariat Advisor Li Junxian was heavily promoting the learning of Han in the various foreign countries. And not too long ago, one had even been able to see tens of thousands of Hu men and women of all ages within the capital.

The crowd was immediately interested to hear about what new progress the Confucian Sect had made.

A scholar in the crowd began to read the contents of the announcement.

“Two hundred and sixteen days have passed since the Imperial Court signed peace treaties with the various countries to advance the cause of the Harmonious World. Much progress has been made with the various countries, and the Imperial Court will now announce these results to the realm!

“First, since the signing of the peace treaties, the Imperial Court has enjoyed friendly relationships with the other countries, with no major wars. In addition, the Imperial Court has increased communication and advanced its understanding with the other countries. For the sake of encouraging economic prosperity, many treaty markets have been opened. In the Goguryeo Empire, three new markets have been opened, two in the Eastern Turkic Khaganate, four in the Western Turkic Khaganate, three in the Ü-Tsang Empire, two in Mengshe Zhao, and one in the Arabian Empire.

“Through these treaty markets, bilateral trade has been greatly boosted. The livestock, salt, iron, cloth, fruit, silver, and gold of the various countries is streaming into the Central Plains and enriching its people.

“Second, with the Imperial Court’s vigorous support and friendly discussions with the various countries, the Imperial Court has continued to build schools in foreign lands. At present, the Imperial Court has established more than sixty-one hundred schools, and the number of foreign students learning the language of the Great Tang has greatly expanded.

“There are more than twenty thousand students in Goguryeo, sixteen thousand in the Eastern Turkic Khaganate, eighteen thousand in the Western Turkic Khaganate, fifty thousand in Arabia, forty thousand in Ü-Tsang… In total, there are around one hundred and sixty thousand foreigners learning the language of the Great Tang in these countries.

“Only by increased understanding can war be avoided. This can only be of benefit to the Great Tang.

“Third, in order to avoid war and establish friendly relations, the number of Tang entering foreign countries has also increased. At present, the people engaged in trading caravans with foreign countries number one hundred thousand.

“Fourth, after numerous discussions and negotiations, the other countries have completely accepted the Confucian school and the language of the Great Tang. The expansion of Confucian teachings and the Great Tang language has also received the support of the foreign royal households. Many members of royal households have also become members of the Confucian school. Among them are Prince Abdullah and Princess Shajihali of Arabia, Third Prince Zhanba Nanka of Ü-Tsang, the Sixth and Seventh Princes of the Western Turks, the Third, Seventh, and Twelfth Princes of the Eastern Turks, and the Fourth Prince of Goguryeo.

“These various Princes and Princesses have a revered status and immense influence. That they were persuaded to learn Confucian principles is a manifestation of the dazzling culture of our Great Tang and will further advance the understanding between the Great Tang and its surrounding countries.”

The first few articles were nothing much, but the last had the crowd widening its eyes in joy.

“What? Even foreign royalty have become Confucians?!”

“Wonderful! I didn’t think that the Confucians would have so much influence! In the future, won’t the entire world be speaking the language of our Great Tang?”

“As expected of the Secretariat Advisor! It’s only been six months, but he’s made so much progress. Even the foreign royals treat us with such high regard! The prestige of our empire is unsurpassed!”

The crowd swiftly turned restless.

“What? Let me see! Let me!”

Even more people gathered around the poster. In the middle of the crowd, a single figure watched solemnly from the distance. Soon, that person that turned around and vanished into the crowd.

……

At the King of Foreign Lands Residence…

“Your Highness, it’s bad! The Confucian Sect has started to move!”

A few moments later, a weather-worn Zhang Que stepped into Wang Chong’s study.

Wang Chong was in the middle of reading a book, but when he heard Zhang Que, he looked up with a frown.

Zhang Que wasted no time and immediately began to report on the intelligence he had gathered.

“Your Highness, the Rebellion of the Three Princes was just pacified. For the Confucian Sect to announce their progress with the other foreign countries at a time like this bodes ill,” Zhang Que sternly said.

Wang Chong put down his book, his brow furrowing. The militarists were ascendant after the Rebellion of the Three Princes, and Li Junxian’s Confucian Sect was bound to take action to resist him. Wang Chong had expected this, but he hadn’t expected the Confucian Sect to be in such a rush.

“Your Highness, the Confucian Sect is made up of nothing but stubborn pedants who only know how to talk about war on paper, but they provide no great benefit to the country. The Great Tang has always lacked soldiers, and it must also defend against so many other countries. The prefectural armies have already been dissolved, and the armies on the border have been more than halved. If they’re allowed to continue, who knows how many problems they could stir up!? Your Highness, we can’t allow this!” Zhang Que said.

Wang Chong said nothing, and his eyes slowly closed. A finger began to lightly tap against his desk as he began to ponder.