The Human Emperor

Translated by: Hypersheep325

Edited by: Michyrr

A hundred rumors did not compare to a single meeting. This eastern empire was far more frightening than the Arab Governors and Deputy Governors had ever imagined.

“Now is not the time to talk about this!” A cold and aloof voice cut off all the conversations.

Clang! With the clattering of armor, the crowd parted, and Abu Muslim walked out from the rear.

Abu Muslim got down on one knee and sternly declared, “Hierophant, the Tang are far stronger than we imagined. Tomorrow, I wish to command the army and personally deal with the Tang! I’ve fought with them many times, and no one understands them more than me!”

Whoosh! The massive hall immediately fell silent. Everyone stared at the former Governor of the East, even Khatabah and the High Priest.

After a few moments of silence, Khatabah spoke.

“Abu Muslim, you think I cannot subdue these eastern infidels?”

“This subordinate would not dare!”

Abu Muslim’s face paled, and he hurriedly lowered his head.

In the western world, the Hierophant possessed supreme status, even above the Caliph. No one dared to doubt the Hierophant, as doing so was suicidal. Not even the Caliph dared to do so, let alone Abu Muslim.

“Your subordinate only wishes to wash away the shame of the Battle of Talas and once more serve the empire in swiftly conquering the eastern world!” Abu Muslim said.

These words caused Khatabah’s face to somewhat relax. The Governors and Deputy Governors in the hall all glanced at Abu Muslim and softly sighed in relief. It was clear that he had passed this first trial.

“…Abu Muslim would never dare to question the Hierophant. As a warrior, I only hope to defeat the Great Tang in a fair battle. I hope that the Hierophant will fulfill my desire,” Abu Muslim respectfully said.

Khatabah gazed at Abu Muslim, his face cold and emotionless.

The illustrious Governor of Iron and Blood was undoubtedly one of the top Governors in Arabia, but unfortunately, in the Battle of Talas, he had ruined the reputation of the entire empire. As for Khatabah, he was a legendary existence of Arabia who had never lost a battle. While Abu Muslim had his own illustrious reputation and a deep understanding of the east, Khatabah was never one to use losers.

“Heh, Apolis is dead. Since he’s so anxious to fight, what harm is there in Hierophant giving him a chance?” the High Priest suddenly said.

Khatabah was taken aback and glanced at the High Priest. He had never imagined that the High Priest would speak up for Abu Muslim.

The High Priest rarely intervened in military affairs. For him to make an exception indicated that he clearly had a high opinion of Abu Muslim.

Khatabah was rather surprised and confused. Why did the High Priest hold a defeated general like Abu Muslim in such high regard?

“Abu Muslim, I will give you one chance. Tomorrow, in the first attack, I will give you five hundred thousand soldiers. I do not like a general who loses twice. If you fail this time, I will personally execute you!” Khatabah said.

“Many thanks, Hierophant!”

Abu Muslim was elated by Khatabah’s reply. An ordinary Governor would have felt some apprehension, but not Abu Muslim.

“Rise! I’ve gathered all of you here to discuss tomorrow’s battle. All of the empire, including His Majesty the Caliph, is watching us. I do not wish this battle to drag on for too long. We must conquer the east as quickly as possible!” Khatabah loudly proclaimed, his expression firm.

“Hierophant, our most urgent task is to find a way to restrain the enemy Great Generals.” A rough voice resounded through the hall. A stalwart general squeezed through the crowd and grimly continued, “These eastern generals are much more powerful than we initially thought. Apolis underestimated them too much, causing him to die at their hands!”

Shamsudin!

This man was the Governor of Kairouan in the western part of Arabia and was one of the high nobles, possessing a lofty status in the empire. Only someone like him had the right to speak to Khatabah at a time like this.

(TN: Kairouan is a city located in what is now the country of Tunisia.)

“Correct. Those two Tang Great Generals were extremely strong. Ordinary Governors and Deputy Governors like us are no match for them. Only top-class Great Generals of Abu Muslim’s level can deal with them.” The Governor of Fez, Hasim, also stepped forward.

Just like Shamsudin, he was also a high noble, and they were extremely close friends.

The other Governors and Deputy Governors all agreed with the words of Shamsudin and Hasim, fear in their eyes.

Although they had not participated in that first battle, witnessing it had left a deep impression on them.

Although Arabia had many Governors and Deputy Governors, not many were able to reach the level of those two Tang Great Generals. As could be seen from the results of that battle, many Governors and Deputy Governors were simply no match for the Tang Great Generals.

Khatabah was quiet for a moment, his brow slightly creasing.

“There is no need for you to worry about these eastern Great Generals. I have an idea on how to proceed. Saleh!”

“Your subordinate is here!” A voice rumbled through the hall.

All the Governors and Deputy Governors immediately scattered as if the speaker had the plague.

A moment later, a muscular man appeared, wearing a horned helmet and a black visor that masked his face. The area for several dozen feet around him was deserted.

“He’s Saleh!”

“The war fanatic who would kill even those on his side! Wasn’t it said that he was already dead?”

“Ah, if I knew that he was that Demon King Saleh, I would haven’t stood next to him for so long!”

“You really got lucky there!”

The surrounding Governors and Deputy Governors were all stricken with fear, particularly those who had been standing next to him.

Battle Fiend Saleh!

This was an infamous Demon King of Slaughter in Arabia. It was rumored that he had a cruel and aggressive personality. In battle, he enjoyed tearing his opponents in two and even feasting on their raw flesh and blood. It was even rumored that this general of Khatabah’s had already eaten eighty-eight extremely formidable enemy generals.

But the most dreadful thing about Battle Fiend Saleh was that when he pushed his cultivation to its limits and entered a berserk state, his eyes would turn red and he would fail to distinguish between friend and foe. At that time, his strength would soar but he would lose all rationality. Not only would he kill his foes, he would kill his comrades.

This trait earned him a terrible reputation within the empire. Even the Governors and Deputy Governors of the empire feared him like he was some demonic emperor, let alone his foes.

But it was rumored that Battle Fiend Saleh had died in a battle ten-some years ago. Yet to their surprise, he was still alive. The scale of this eastern expedition was simply unheard of in the history of the empire, and all of the empire’s Governors and Deputy Governors had been gathered.

As these Governors all managed different territories, there were many present that they did not recognize. Saleh was wearing his trademark bull-horn helm, but nobody had paid it any mind at first, taking him to be a subordinate of some Governor. But to their surprise, this had been Saleh himself.

“Saleh, in tomorrow’s battle, I leave those two Tang commanders to you and the Generals of God,” Khatabah commanded.

“Hah, Hierophant, be at ease. If those two move out again, I will personally go in there and rip them in half!”

Saleh sinisterly chuckled, his body seething with thick killing intent that appeared red like blood.

This sight had the others in the hall both fearful and relieved.

Saleh was even stronger than Abu Muslim. He stood at the very top of the empire’s rankings. If he went out, he was definitely capable of killing those Tang commanders!

While the enemy commanders were powerful, their greatest problem was the steel walls. This empire was skilled in defensive fortifications, and they were able to erect those steel walls with astonishing speed. In the little time that had passed, they had already managed to effectively repair the gap created by the Behemoths.

“We Arabs are masters of the cavalry charge. If we cannot get rid of those steel walls, we will not be able to utilize our full strength.”

“That’s right! And those ballistae and giant ballistae also pose a massive threat to us. If we can’t take care of those two, even if we can defeat the Great Tang, it will come at a heavy price, and we won’t have enough strength to conquer the other countries.”

Several other people began to speak at this time.

Arab cavalry was unparalleled in the world, and no other cavalry force in the world even came close. Even though the Great Tang had killed Apolis and two hundred thousand Arab cavalry in the first battle, all of them still firmly held on to this belief.

No matter how outstanding the Tang soldiers seemed, they were still no match for the Arab cavalry in their eyes.

Their true fear was the mysterious weapons used by the Great Tang.

If they could not break the steel defense line, if they could not get close to the enemy, then the power of the Arab cavalry charge became nothing.

What would become of the Arab cavalry’s reputation if this were allowed to occur?

“There’s no need to worry about that,” the High Priest suddenly said. “The first day’s battle was only the beginning. The Hierophant and I have yet to use our full strength, and we have already found a way to deal with those steel walls. Tomorrow, we will be certain to give you a pleasant surprise.”

All the Governors and Deputy Governors turned to the High Priest in curiosity.