The Human Emperor

Translated by: Hypersheep325

Edited by: Michyrr

Countless factions began to probe Wang Chong’s estate, trying to figure out what was going on. As they were preparing to devote immense time and energy into investigating, the news came much easier than imagined.

An hour later, the news that the King of Foreign Lands was to personally welcome An Yaluoshan, the new ‘Andong War God’, spread through the capital.

“Interesting, truly interesting. To have the mighty Nine Provinces Protector-General personally welcome the new Andong Protector-General? What is the Sage Emperor of the Tang Empire thinking? Or has our Nine Provinces Protector-General fallen out of favor so quickly?

“Regardless, this is an excellent development!”

A playful smile appeared on Wunu Shibi’s lips. He pinched his fingers, upon which the thin slip of paper in his hand exploded into tiny pieces that rained down from the wooden railing.

“Truly surprising. These two… are going to so quickly meet? We’ll soon find out whether the rumor is true or false.”

Elsewhere, Namri Songtian had already brought Ü-Tsang Third Prince, Mangri Rinda, to the inn prepared by the Great Tang’s Chamberlain of Dependencies. At this time, a messenger bird flew down, and when he read the report, Namri Songtian was startled, but then he smiled.

The Ü-Tsang Empire had naturally learned about the relationship between Wang Chong and An Yaluoshan.

A few moments later, Namri Songtian and Mangri Rinda took their leave.

Whoosh!

The news carried by the messenger birds put all the countries into motion. No matter what the time was, anything involving Wang Chong was not a minor matter. Each with their own thoughts and plans, the delegations from the various countries began to gather around the city gate.

While the common people of the capital hung up lanterns and streamers to celebrate the coming feast of all countries, the eastern gate of the capital had turned into the center of a vortex.

Numerous factions circled around it, anticipating the meeting between Wang Chong and An Yaluoshan, two powerful subjects of the Great Tang.

……

Time slowly passed, and it was soon the time An Yaluoshan had told the court that he would arrive.

Many people were coming to this feast of all countries. Besides the emissaries from each country, there were also many of the Great Tang’s high nobles, generals, governors, and circuit inspectors. Given the large number of people, the Imperial Court had requested that everyone report their arrival time to the court.

At this time, there was a thronging crowd at the city gate, and in the middle of this crowd, at the center of the gate, were powerful golden-armored soldiers, like gods descended from heaven. They were divided into eight formations in the shape of the eight trigrams.

These energetic and powerful men were Wang Chong’s hand-picked elites.

Each one was strong enough to contend against one hundred opponents.

A hundred-some guards stood in the crowd, presenting an intimidating sight.

As one of the most powerful Kings in the Great Tang, Wang Chong had a host of privileges. He could raise a private army without reporting it to the court so long as it did not exceed one thousand soldiers.

These were men Wang Chong had brought out to ‘welcome’ An Yaluoshan!

Past the city walls, the crowds continued to go here and there, but at the gate, it was so quiet that it seemed like another world.

Wang Chong himself was wearing golden armor, his cape flapping in the wind as he stood upon the city wall.

He squinted toward the northeast and quietly waited.

An Yaluoshan had not appeared, but Wang Chong was in no rush, his face calm and composed.

There were many kinds of welcome. The Chamberlain of Dependencies chose to use the meek and subservient one, placing the foreigners above all. There was also the welcome of the Bureau of Rites, which felt neither too affectionate nor too remote. And there was also the general’s welcome, the one used at the Feast of Hong Gate.

(TN: As a reminder, the Feast of Hong Gate took place between the Qin and Han Dynasties, when Xiang Yu and Liu Bang, the leaders of opposing factions, had not yet broken out into open hostilities. Nevertheless, the feast was a tense affair, and Liu Bang eventually found it necessary to secretly escape before Xiang Yu had him killed.)

Taptaptap!

At this moment, Zhang Que walked over and got down on one knee.

“Your Highness, we still haven’t found him.”

His voice was tinged with worry and unease.

“No rush. Just wait,” Wang Chong indifferently said.

“Your subordinate will search again!”

Zhang Que grit his teeth and left.

……

At this time, sixty-some li from the capital, a carriage of the style usually found in Youzhou rolled along the official road.

“Your Excellency, the capital is up ahead. Are we really going?”

Inside the carriage, Cui Qianyou was incredibly anxious.

The King of Foreign Lands was waiting there in full martial attire. There was still time if they wanted to go back to Youzhou or go in through another gate, but once they advanced another twenty li, Wang Chong’s spies would be everywhere. It would be too late to retreat.

An Yaluoshan sat on his seat with a straight back, his eyes flashing as his mind turned.

“There’s no time!” Gao Shang declared. He was dressed as a scholar, and gripped an old paper fan in his hand. His expression was that of a composed and confident strategist.

“The Sage Emperor has issued his decree, so there is no going back. That is the same as telling the Sage Emperor that our Youzhou plans to rebel!”

Cui Qianyou instantly fell silent.

Youzhou did not have the strength to oppose the court just yet, so opposing a decree was not a wise decision.

“Moreover, this is a blessing, not a disaster. We would have to oppose that man in the capital eventually. If we turn back now, how will His Excellency win the servitude of the masses, and how will he lead the generals of Youzhou in conquering the world?”

Gao Shang opened his fan and lightly waved it.

His back was straight and his eyes looked ahead with a wise and all-seeing light.

Cui Qianyou deeply frowned, but he could say nothing.

A tiger, once mounted, was hard to get off. They truly could not retreat.

“But this way is far too dangerous. We all know that man’s style.” Tian Chengsi spoke up at this time, his expression aloof. Although he was not as worried as Cui Qianyou, his meaning was clear.

That man in the capital was powerful, and to see him at this time was very risky.

“Relax! It’s not as dangerous as you think!” Gao Shang calmly replied. “It was the Sage Emperor who ordered him to come and welcome us. If he dares to attack His Excellency, he would defy the Sage Emperor’s will, which is rebellion, and even the powerful Wang Clan will be wiped out. That man in the capital would not dare to take such a risk. The Sage Emperor is already dissatisfied with him. If he dares to strike, he would be delivering evidence right to the door of the Sage Emperor!”

“Lord Gao and I came to this conclusion after repeated discussion.” Yan Zhuang finally voiced his opinion. As he looked toward the capital, there was a cautious look in his eyes.

“The capital is his territory and where he has the most spies. It will be hard to hide from him so long as we are in the capital. Rather than clashing with him in a great battle elsewhere, it is better to use the name of the Sage Emperor to suppress him and openly enter the capital. This is a much safer method, as the imperial decree will restrain him from taking reckless action.

“This was why, when we received the news from Zhao Changfu, Lord Gao and I did not object. In addition, we have to take a little risk for the sake of the Dragon Qi,” Yan Zhuang said.

The mention of Dragon Qi finally caused some movement from An Yaluoshan, a ripple of emotion in his eyes.

“Enough! I’ve already made up my mind!”

These words immediately had everyone’s attention, and Tian Chengsi and Cui Qianyou, who had wanted to say something more, swallowed their words for now.

For the sake of winning Zhang Shougui’s favor, An Yaluoshan had transformed himself from a Turkic warrior and seasoned horse archer that could loose an arrow with both hands into a plump and naive character, turning himself into the ‘buffoon’ of the Andong Protectorate.

But at this moment, An Yaluoshan’s aura had undergone a heaven-shaking transformation.

His expression was aloof, and his entire body exuding an intimidating aura like that of a savage tiger seeking its prey.

“You can’t get the tiger cub without entering the tiger den! We want the Central Plains, but how can this come without paying a little price?”

An Yaluoshan’s visage turned frightening.

“And besides, no one can bully around An Yaluoshan! Zhang Shougui could not… and neither can he! One day, just like how I dealt with Zhang Shougui, I will exterminate him and his Wang Clan!”

An Yaluoshan’s voice was cold and collected, but his subordinates were shaken by his words.

“Your Excellency!”

Everyone in the carriage lowered their heads.

“Ashina, I’ll make him pay one day.”

The figure of a man flashed through An Yaluoshan’s mind. He recalled how, on that stormy night, Wang Chong had killed Ashina Sugan.

Ever since his return from the capital, An Yaluoshan had never mentioned this matter again, as if he had forgotten. But An Yaluoshan knew that he would never forget. Until he was strong enough, he would bury it deep in his mind.

For a gentleman, ten years was not too late to seek revenge. He would continue to endure and wait until that moment of vengeance!

Wang Chong! Two and a half years… In truth… I am also looking forward to this! An Yaluoshan quietly said to himself.

As all these thoughts flew through his mind, An Yaluoshan quickly turned cold and aloof.

“Pass on my order! Gather our men and prepare to enter the city!”

“Yes, Your Excellency!”

Whoosh! Following An Yaluoshan’s order, numerous messenger birds took to the skies.

An Yaluoshan had prepared a hundred-some carriages with Youzhou’s insignia for this trip to the capital, and on this trip, he had changed carriages several dozen times. It was precisely through the cover of these carriages that An Yaluoshan had managed to successfully escape the eyes of the Wind, Forest, Fire, and Mountain teams.

But these carriages were not merely to fool enemy spies. An Yaluoshan had also loaded them with his Youzhou elites.