The Human Emperor

Translated by: Hypersheep325

Edited by: Michyrr

There was at least one thing that Zhang Que was right about. The Confucian Sect clearly had ulterior motives in announcing their latest progress in advancing the cause of the Harmonious World at a time like this. There was no doubt that Wang Chong’s pacification of the Rebellion of the Three Princes had placed a great pressure on their shoulders.

The Confucian Sect was clearly trying to use this chance to solidify their influence with the people. But…

This matter truly must be taken care of!

With one last tap of his finger, Wang Chong slowly opened his eyes.

The Confucian Sect had its roots in the Spring and Autumn Period, a history of more than one thousand years. They had been constantly waiting, hoping to realize their dream of the Harmonious World. Now, they finally had their chance, so it was simply impossible to make them willingly retreat. Through his actions, Li Junxian was clearly showing that he planned to struggle to the end.

But no one understood more than Wang Chong that the Great Tang was about to face crisis after crisis. Only sufficient strength would allow the Great Tang to protect itself in the apocalyptic era.

This conflict with the Confucian Sect needed to be brought to an end, and now was the best time.

“Zhang Que, prepare some ink for me,” Wang Chong said.

“Yes!”

Zhang Que was delighted to hear this. He walked over to Wang Chong’s desk, took the ink stick, and began to grind out ink for Wang Chong.

Wang Chong sat pensively behind the desk. After a few moments, he took up his brush, and once Zhang Que was done grinding, he unrolled a sheet of paper, dabbed his brush in ink, and began to write.

‘Your Majesty, the subject Wang Chong has a memorial!

‘In this current era, the various foreign countries stand in great numbers, all of them vying for supremacy and hungrily eying the Great Tang. The Great Tang was a country established through martial might, and only strength can subjugate and cow these countries so that the Great Tang can become the strongest empire of the eastern world!

‘However, the Great Tang has disbanded its prefectural armies and greatly reduced the armies of the border protectorates, in addition establishing Confucian Sect supervisors to control the border armies. This is tantamount to destroying one’s own walls and crippling one’s own limbs.

‘The ancients said that the non-Han are completely different from the denizens of the Central Plains, fearing strength and spurning kindness. Now that the Great Tang has crippled itself, the surrounding countries are certain to harbor ill intentions, and the Great Tang might soon be facing challenges on the border.

‘For the sake of the people of the realm, this subject earnestly pleads for the prefectural armies to be restored and for the army overall to be greatly expanded!’

Words flowed out from his brush onto the paper like a stream of water.

One’s environment would have an effect on one’s temperament, and after all the trials and experiences he had been through, Wang Chong’s chicken scratch had transformed. Although his writing still could not compare to the great masters of calligraphy, it had begun to possess its own style and strength.

“Zhang Que, ready my carriage. I’m going to the palace!”

With a wave of his sleeve, Wang Chong sent out a stream of Stellar Energy to dry the ink and then quickly stood up.

Wang Chong’s carriage was soon passing through the palace gates. But rather than heading for Taihe Palace, he headed for Taiji Palace.

“King of Foreign Lands, we meet again.”

Before Wang Chong could even get close, a dignified and deep voice drifted over from Taiji Palace. Wang Chong looked up and saw a stalwart figure standing upon the steps to Taiji Palace, watching him.

“Eunuch Gao!”

Wang Chong stopped several dozen steps away and deferentially bowed.

“Do you have a matter that you need to see His Majesty about?”

Eunuch Gao smiled. He had sensed Wang Chong’s presence the moment he came through the palace gates and had personally come out to meet him. Gao Lishi greatly admired this youth. When the Eastern Palace ambushed and imprisoned him, it had been Wang Chong who had found him, and Wang Chong had also played a critical role in pacifying the coup against the Sage Emperor.

Wang Chong earnestly nodded. “Yes! Wang Chong has a memorial to submit and wishes to see His Majesty. Could Sir Eunuch relay my message?”

“Heh, does it have to do with the Confucian Sect?”

To Wang Chong’s surprise, Eunuch Gao did not seem intent on moving from the steps.

Wang Chong’s heart thumped as he blurted out, “His Majesty already knows?”

“Heh, what is there in this realm that His Majesty does not know? Let alone something taking place within the capital!”

Eunuch Gao smiled as he confirmed Wang Chong’s suspicions.

“His Majesty knew that you would come, so he long ago ordered me to wait here. If you have a memorial, this old slave can receive it and send it to His Majesty.”

Wang Chong’s heart thumped again. He had been brimming with certainty upon entering the palace, but now, he was no longer sure about the Sage Emperor’s intentions.

But he quickly calmed himself down.

Wang Chong stepped forward and offered the memorial to Eunuch Gao.

“King of Foreign Lands, thank you for your service. Know that His Majesty has carefully considered everything!” Eunuch Gao said as he took the memorial.

Wang Chong was taken aback. He gave a nod and quickly departed.

……

Restore the prefectural armies, recruit more soldiers, expand and occupy!

Not long after Wang Chong was reinstated as Qixi Protector-General, his first memorial to the Sage Emperor was announced to the Imperial Court, setting off a maelstrom.

“What?!”

In the Secretariat Advisor Residence, Elder Song, Sword Ghost, Bamboo Mirror, and the other members of the Confucian Sect were all furious upon hearing the news.

“I knew it would be like this! These bastards! So many people died in the Rebellion of the Three Princes, and he saw the losses suffered in that battle with his own eyes. Does he still think it’s not enough?”

“All the other countries are watching us! It was only with great difficulty that we managed to get them to sign the peace treaties so we could maintain this peace. If we let him restore the prefectural armies and recruit more soldiers, all the other countries will be provoked, and our work will have been for nothing!”

“We have to stop him no matter the cost!”

“He moved too quickly. We just posted our announcements and he’s already sent his memorial to the Sage Emperor. He has no opposition in court and has the support of Zhangchou Jianqiong and the other border generals. Suppressing him is too difficult!”

Everyone in the hall was agitated.

“Worst of all is that the Sage Emperor presides over the court, not the First Prince. We have no way of fathoming the Sage Emperor’s intentions.”

Elder Song sighed. His comment made the mood in the room even more oppressive.

For the sake of taking the throne and completely controlling the Imperial Court, the First Prince had been willing to work with the Confucian Sect and had served as its greatest backer in its expansion of political power. But the Sage Emperor… was not guaranteed to be so willing.

“Regardless, we can’t let the Imperial Court pass this memorial. We have to stop it no matter the price,” the white-robed young woman on the side solemnly said.

“Senior Brother, what do we do now?”

She turned to Li Junxian, who was sitting cross-legged in the back.

Li Junxian had been sitting there all this time, his eyebrows locked together.

“The current situation is extremely disadvantageous for us!” Li Junxian finally said. “There’s the southwest, the northwest, and now the feat of saving the emperor. In normal circumstances, we would truly find it difficult to stand against him. However, we wisely chose to not support the First Prince in his rebellion. Thus, neither Taiji Palace nor the King of Foreign Lands Residence have grounds to criticize our Confucian Sect.

“Moreover, the Confucian Sect and Confucian school have always been of one body, like the left and right hand. The Confucian school began in the Spring and Autumn Period and has persisted for more than one thousand years. Its influence has transcended that of imperial authority, rooting itself in the people of the realm. Thus, as long as we don’t make any mistakes, the Sage Emperor cannot banish us as he pleases.

“In other words, we still have a chance!”

Li Junxian raised his head, a profound light in his eyes.

“Sword Ghost, prepare ink and paper for me. I will personally deliver a memorial to the Sage Emperor! In addition, mobilize all our power and influence. We need as much of the court and people to stand on our side as possible.

“The Harmonious World is a righteous cause for the good of all, not some selfish pursuit. We can’t allow it to be destroyed at the hands of these aggressive military men.”

“Yes!” Sword Ghost energetically replied, clenching his fists.

A few moments later, the ink, brush, and paper were placed on Li Junxian’s desk. Li Junxian focused himself, took up the brush, and began to write.

‘The lowly subject Li Junxian presents a memorial to the Sage Emperor: the sages say that if the people are subdued through virtue, the realm rejoices, and if they are subdued through strength, the realm is rife with discontent. If martial might could unite the realm, the world would have long ago been united. War is used to stop war, so wars never come to an end. The Confucian Sect comprehends this principle, so for generation after generation, it has worked to correct the people through benevolence and righteousness so that the people of the world can put down their weapons and enjoy eternal peace!

‘The King of Foreign Lands has said that the cultures of the foreigners are completely different from that of the Central Plains, that they fear strength and spurn kindness. But if this was so, why did Qibi Heli serve Emperor Taizong for several decades, and when Taizong died, swear to protect Emperor Taizong’s tomb for the rest of his life? Was Qibi Heli not a Hu?

(TN: Qibi Heli was a Turkic general who served Emperor Taizong. When Emperor Taizong died, he wanted to commit suicide to follow him, but Emperor Gaozong forbade him from doing so.)

‘The dynastic record contains numerous accounts of loyal Hu generals, handsome or ugly, fat or thin, tall or short. There are Hu and there are Tang, but are there Tang hearts and Hu hearts? As the saying goes, when people hold the same ideals, they will be of the same heart.

‘The Confucian Sect seeks to use the heart of benevolence and righteousness to reform the Hu so that future generations might enjoy everlasting peace!’

Once he finished writing the last line, Li Junxian solemnly raised his head.

“Prepare my clothes! I will head to the palace myself and explain the Confucian Sect’s view to the court!”

“Yes!”

……

Boom!

As the Confucian Sect submitted its memorial, Li Junxian and Wang Chong, the leaders of the Confucians and the militarists, once more stirred up a storm in society.

The militarist-Confucian conflict that had faded into the background once more stepped onto stage.

“The battle in the capital just ended, but the King of Foreign Lands is already thinking about causing trouble on the border? Just when will their aggression ever end?!”

“These military men are leading the country down the wrong path! I have to stand on the Confucian Sect’s side no matter what! Does this King of Foreign Lands bastard really want rivers of blood to flow through the Great Tang?!”