The Human Emperor

A few moments later, in Taihe Palace, in front of the assembled officials, Gao Lishi personally announced Wang Chong’s rewards.

“Acceding to the will of the heavens, the Emperor declares: the King of Foreign Lands has done a service for both the court and the country. In the northwestern campaign, he defeated the Arab army of two million, six hundred thousand soldiers, conquered Arabia, and raised the prestige of my country. For this, the King of Foreign Lands is rewarded a jade dragon token, fifty million taels of gold, fifty boxes of coral, twenty boxes each of pearls and jade, and the title of the Empire Guardian Great General. In addition, the lands to the west of the Cong Mountains, including Khorasan and all of the Arabian Empire, is placed under the administration of the King of Foreign Lands so that he may protect it for the empire!

“The mother of the King of Foreign Lands, Madam Zhao, has displayed excellence in raising her son. She is to be made First-Rank Lady by Imperial Decree. She is also to be awarded five hundred thousand taels, thirty thousand rolls of silk, and a phoenix plume dress!

“The father of the King of Foreign Lands, Wang Yan, has displayed excellence in raising his son. He is granted the first-rank title of the Loyal and Brave Duke and one million taels of gold!”

As that voice resounded through the hall, even Wang Chong couldn’t help but widen his eyes.

Since ancient times, meritorious subjects had always been amply rewarded for their achievements.

But rarely were their parents also rewarded so richly. Let alone his mother being granted a rank-one title, his father had been made a rank-one duke!

In normal circumstances, his father would have needed several decades to reach the rank of state duke, slowly rising step by step through the ranks.

This reward and favor were unprecedented. And besides that, the Sage Emperor had handed over the entirety of the Arabian Empire for Wang Chong to administer.

Probably very few had even dared to imagine this level of reward. In the past, many officials would have immediately jumped out of their ranks to furiously object and criticize.

But not only did none of the officials object, they smiled as if this was only right and proper.

Wang Chong was capable and virtuous. He had been honed enough through his many trials, and he had proved to them all that he was dutiful and trustworthy, a person devoted to the empire.

But the Sage Emperor was not done with his rewards.

“…Moreover, the King of Foreign Lands has always fearlessly thrown himself into battle, in the war of the southwest, the Battle of Talas, the Rebellion of the Three Princes, and now this war with Arabia. For his illustrious achievements, the Sage Emperor apprehends the wills of the heavens, and in his wise judgment, grants an Imperial Dragon Bracelet! With this, the King of Foreign Lands may execute first and report later, representing Us in matters of state!

“In the war of the northwest, hundreds of thousands of soldiers threw themselves into battle, heedless of their own lives, to obtain safety for the Central Plains. All these soldiers are loyal and righteous men. The Department of State Affairs and Grand Scribe Yan Wenzhang are to enter this matter into the annals of history and spread word of their deeds to the entire realm so that all the people may learn from them.

“In his status as Nine Provinces Protector-General and Supreme Marshal, the King of Foreign Lands displayed excellence in his command and merits above those of other generals. Imperial Painter Yan Benchu is hereby ordered to compose a portrait of the King of Foreign Lands so that it may be placed in the Lingyan Pavilion for future generations to revere and praise!”

A commotion broke out in the hall, the officials chattering amongst themselves. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Li Linfu’s eyes flew open.

The Sage Emperor had personally decided on this reward. Even though Li Linfu was Prime Minister, he had not viewed the contents of the decree beforehand.

Lingyan Pavilion!

Lingyan Pavilion had been established several hundred years ago, when many meritorious officials who had contributed to the founding of the empire had been venerated within, but nobody could even remember the last time a new person had been enshrined within the pavilion.

It was even said in the Great Tang that to be made King was easier than being enshrined in Lingyan Pavilion.

None of the rewards the Sage Emperor had previously given could match having a portrait enshrined in Lingyan Pavilion.

“Your Majesty!”

Let alone the others, even Wang Chong was trembling in shock, staring at the Sage Emperor in disbelief.

He didn’t know much about the Lingyan Pavilion, but he knew that being enshrined within it in this reign was excruciatingly difficult.

Despite all the meritorious officials and superb generals in the Great Tang Empire, many of them having been ennobled as Marquises, Dukes, and even Kings, only a scant few were able to enter the Lingyan Pavilion.

Crown Prince’s Junior Guardian Wang Zhongsi, despite his title as Great Tang War God and his unstoppable campaigns across the borders, had still not been able to gain entry into the Lingyan Pavilion.

Andong Protector-General Zhang Shougui, thriving with ambition, had singlehandedly kept down the Turks, Xi, Khitans, and Goguryeons, rendering achievements almost on par with Wang Zhongsi’s, but he had also failed to enter Lingyan Pavilion.

This reward alone made Wang Chong the envy of all the generals of the realm, even the Protector-Generals and Great Generals.

The hall was absolutely still, but a few moments later, cheers rang out.

“Such wisdom from His Majesty!”

All the officials began to bow.

“Honored officials!”

Wang Chong looked around at the smiling officials in a daze.

Normally, Wang Chong wouldn’t have needed to come forward and advise caution in granting this sort of reward, as another official would have objected. But to his surprise, everyone was in full support. Wang Chong was left both surprised and moved.

“King of Foreign Lands, there’s no need to be humble. A sovereign’s orders cannot be defied. If you are not fit to enter Lingyan Pavilion, then no one is! His Divine Majesty’s reward for you is perfectly appropriate.”

“Correct! King of Foreign Lands, quickly go and accept. Once you enter Lingyan Pavilion, I will be able to brag for the rest of the life that I worked together with one of the luminaries of Lingyan Pavilion.”

Everyone smiled as they whispered to him.

After a few moments of silence, Wang Chong finally stepped forward. “This lowly subject accepts the decree! May the Emperor live ten thousand years, ten thousand years!”

“Congratulations to user for obtaining the achievement ‘Enshrinement in Lingyan Pavilion’ and becoming a legendary figure of the Great Tang. You have been rewarded 100,000 points of Destiny Energy!

“Congratulations to user for killing the High Priest (Incomplete). You have been rewarded 200,000 points of Destiny Energy!

“Congratulations to user for killing important character ‘Hierophant Khatabah’ (Deceased). You have been rewarded 500,000 points of Destiny Energy!

“Congratulations to user for killing 2 million Arab cavalry. You have obtained the special achievement ‘Arab Destroyer’ and accumulated 800,000 points of Destiny Energy!

“Congratulations for obtaining total victory in ‘War of Destiny: East and West, Great Tang and Arabia’. You have been rewarded with 1,500,000 points of Destiny Energy! For completely altering the course of history on the continent, you have been rewarded an additional 600,000 points of Destiny Energy!

“Congratulations to user! For your string of achievements, particularly your immense victory that has established a new balance of power on the continent, user has been promoted to ‘Archon of Destiny’!

“Congratulations to user for officially becoming ‘Archon of Destiny’. A new ability is unlocking. Unlocking will require three months!”

A string of messages rushed into Wang Chong’s mind, the Stone of Destiny speaking once more. The Sage Emperor’s rewards had been the final checkmark that formally ended the unprecedented war between the Great Tang and Arabia.

In the war of the northwest, Wang Chong had spent an astonishing 1 million points of Destiny Energy to maintain the sandstorm, almost emptying his reserves. But now, the after-battle rewards had been granted, and Wang Chong now had 3.7 million points of Destiny Energy.

This was the greatest reward Wang Chong had received since his reincarnation, much greater than his harvests from previous wars.

At this moment, Wang Chong felt sincere joy in his heart.

……

A few moments later, news of the rewards the Sage Emperor had granted Wang Chong took flight and spread across the realm.

The news that another official was being added to Lingyan Pavilion had the entire empire in a stir.

But nobody objected to the news. They only felt joy and sincere happiness.

When they heard the news, people across the country went out into the streets to celebrate, shooting fireworks into the air.

At this moment, Wang Chong truly became the hero revered by all.

……

As crowds cheered on both sides of the street, Wang Chong’s carriage carried him home.

The court session had concluded. Deep in the Imperial Palace, in front of Taiji Palace, stood two motionless figures.

A firework exploded brilliantly in the air, accompanied by countless cheers. The capital was awash in a festive mood as everyone celebrated Wang Chong’s triumph.

The Sage Emperor stood on the steps, his hands behind his back and a faint, almost invisible, smile on his lips.

“Wang Chong, We truly did not misjudge you,” the Sage Emperor softly muttered.

“It is all due to Your Majesty’s nurturing!” Gao Lishi said, bowing slightly.

The Sage Emperor softly chuckled, exuding a warm and harmonious air.

Today, Wang Chong was the undisputed main character, even above the Son of Heaven himself. But the Sage Emperor appeared to not mind, only feeling sincere joy.

The soft sound of a bell came from within Taiji Palace, and the mood instantly changed. All the maids and guards, even the Dragon Guards, retreated far into the distance, leaving behind the Sage Emperor and Gao Lishi.

Gao Lishi lowered his head and said, “Your Majesty, it’s time to head in!”

The Sage Emperor slightly wrinkled his brow, and his smile slowly faded. But with a light wave of his sleeve, he entered Taiji Palace.

Thump! The palace gates slammed shut.

Eunuch Gao’s pupils constricted, and his face became tinged with worry and hesitation. Taking up a medicine jug, he entered Taiji Palace.

There were no witnesses to this scene as the sky gradually darkened.

……

Meanwhile, rather than returning to his own estate, Wang Chong had the carriage take him to the Wang Family Residence.

At this time, the Wang Family Residence was brightly lit and festooned with banners and streamers to celebrate Wang Chong’s victorious return.

“Chong-er, you’ve finally returned!”

At the main gate, Wang Chong’s mother, Madam Zhao, stood in front of all the maids and servants, ready and waiting to welcome Wang Chong home. Upon seeing him, the lady of the Wang Family went red in the eyes, her face full of smiles.

“Mother!”

While he might have been the aloof and majestic King of Foreign Lands to outsiders, the invincible Great General and Nine Provinces Protector-General, in front of his mother, he would always be a child.