The Human Emperor
chapter-560

Translated by: Hypersheep325

“It’s finally begun!”

When the massive Mengshe–Ü-Tsang army rumbled over the horizon, Wang Chong felt his mind surge with a flurry of emotions. This combined army was like a boundless sea, and as it swept toward the solitary mountain, it exuded an intimidating aura that was impossible to imagine.

Wang Chong had imagined countless times this battle of the southwest that would decide the fate of the empire, but nothing compared to the shock that came of seeing it with his own eyes. Only by standing at the very top of the mountain and looking all around could one truly feel that oppressive feeling coming in from all sides.

Although he had already killed more than fifty thousand Tibetan cavalry, this was only one wave of the combined Mengshe–Ü-Tsang army, which still had more than five hundred thousand troops. It had been far from a fatal wound.

【Warning: Major event “Decisive Battle of the Southwest” has formally begun! At present, the Annan Protectorate army consists of 64824 soldiers. Once the number of survivors of the Annan Protectorate army drops below 40000, user will be obliterated and the trial will be failed! But for every ten thousand soldiers of the Mengshe–Ü-Tsang army killed by user, user will be rewarded with 50 points of Destiny Energy and an increase in the limit by 500 soldiers!】

【For every one hundred thousand enemy soldiers user kills in the decisive battle, user’s halo will be rewarded with a temporary one-level boost. This reward is only effective during the decisive battle. Upon mission conclusion, the effects will be removed!】

……

Amidst Wang Chong’s agitation, a familiar voice that only he could hear rang out in his mind. Wang Chong appeared somewhat stunned by this voice, a look of surprise on his face.

There’s a reward to increase the limit?

This news had truly taken Wang Chong by surprise. The decisive battle of the southwestern war was already upon him, and Wang Chong only had sixty-thousand-some soldiers of the Annan Protectorate army under him. The rest of them were the reinforcements he had brought and his father Wang Yan’s soldiers.

In this sort of decisive battle, it was very easy for these sixty-thousand-some soldiers to drop below forty thousand. But this reward of an increase in limit changed things. Although ten thousand kills only raised the limit by 500, in these desperate circumstances, this was the best news in Wang Chong’s ears.

Although 500 is extremely small, it can accumulate. If I kill twenty thousand, then it will be 1000, and if I kill fifty thousand, it will be 2500! And if I reach 100,000, I can get an extra 5000 added on to the limit!

Wang Chong’s mind was abuzz with excitement.

Although 5000 was just a drop in the ocean in a battle like this, in Wang Chong’s situation, it was a great boon. Moreover, the Stone of Destiny had also mentioned that he could boost his halo during the battle. This was a surprising harvest.

Even though it’s only a temporary boost… that’s enough!

Wang Chong long ago had a thought that the Stone of Destiny wasn’t always going to oppress the user, creating certain-death situations for them, because that was of no benefit to the Stone of Destiny.

Moreover, this was not in line with the Stone of Destiny’s behavior. After all, it wasn’t an intelligent object.

Now, his conjectures had proved true.

As expected!

Wang Chong took in a deep breath and quickly steadied his composure. No matter what sort of opportunities the Stone of Destiny provided, they were only opportunities. The increase in his limit and the boosts to his halo were all things that he still needed to work for.

The crucial point of this battle was not the Stone of Destiny, but himself!

“Everyone, stand ready! Prepare to meet the enemy!

“Sword smiths! Hurry with the welding!

“Inscription masters, work with them!

“Sir Zhang, the foremen, and the other craftsmen, follow the diagrams and quickly set up the wall!”

……

Wang Chong stood on the summit like a statue, his arm swinging down as he issued a string of orders. Rumble! Smoke continued to plume from the summit as the flames spitting from the numerous furnaces on the mountain grew even more intense.

The thick smoke obscured the sun, and the waves of heat came one after the other. It was like some fire monster was breathing into the sky.

And with Wang Chong’s orders, the nearly one hundred thousand soldiers of the Tang army, the craftsmen under Zhang Shouzhi, and the sword smiths, inscription masters, and craftsmen sent by Xu Qiqin began to work like a finely tuned machine.

The entire mountain was a hive of activity!

“Hoooo!”

“Haaaa!”

With shout after shout, large metal pieces were erected on the mountainside, one after the other. Each of them was taller than a man, and they were covered in holes, screws, bolts, metal bars…

Such a thing had never appeared in all of the Great Tang’s history. Not even a master architect like Zhang Shouzhi, who had worked in the palace, had ever seen something like it.

Small screws and bolts would be placed into the holes on two massive pieces of metal, these screws and bolts covered in toughening inscriptions, and then hot flames would be used to weld the pieces together.

One piece, two pieces, three pieces…

Each of these heavy metal walls had places for other pieces to be welded on, and they quickly formed a massive and sturdy wall.

Clangclangclang! Metal struck metal as sparks shot into the air.

Wall by wall, a city of steel miraculously emerged on the craggy sides of the mountain, row upon row rising from the earth. Beneath the eyes of the Mengshe–Ü-Tsang army, a strange and extensive wall was being constructed.

Swish!

Wang Chong stood on the summit and unfurled a white diagram, more than one zhang tall and more than four feet wide. A mountain towered on this diagram, its surface covered in countless tiny symbols that only Wang Chong could understand. It was a diagram that Wang Chong had given to Xu Qiqin several months ago.

Upon careful examination, one would discover that the mountain that Wang Chong had drawn out on this diagram for Xu Qiqin was exactly the same as the mountain the army was located on. And one would be stupefied to discover that Wang Chong had drawn this mountain before the war in the southwest had even begun.

There was no doubt that before things had even reached this point, Wang Chong had already predicted this war and even decided that this mountain would be the location of the final battle!

“Chong-er, how is it?”

A voice rang out at Wang Chong’s ear. On the summit, Wang Yan and Xianyu Zhongtong were standing behind Wang Chong, their expressions incredibly grave. The battle was imminent, and Mengshe Zhao and Ü-Tsang had mobilized all their forces.

Dalun Ruozan, Huoshu Huicang, Geluofeng, Duan Gequan… these were figures who could shake the whole world with how they moved. These people that Zhangchou Jianqiong had been locked in a stalemate with for much of his career, his mortal foes in the southwest, were now leading an army of five hundred thousand to this place, sweeping over the earth.

The lives of the nearly one hundred thousand people on the mountain as well as the lives of the nearly one million civilians of the southwest… all of their fates would be decided by this battle.

The Imperial Court could send no more troops and the Annan Protectorate army had nowhere to retreat.

They were fighting this battle with their backs against the wall!

And against these world-shaking opponents, both Wang Yan and Xianyu Zhongtong were feeling an enormous pressure. But neither of them would show much emotion on their faces or in their words.

The southwest and the lives of these one hundred thousand soldiers will depend on this child.

Wang Yan and Xianyu Zhongtong looked at Wang Chong at the same time, their eyes filled with anticipation. Strictly speaking, the war in the southwest was already a defeat. At the very least in the early stage, the two had suffered a complete defeat.

The true turning point had been when Wang Chong had appeared.

If there was one person in the southwest who could salvage the situation and resolve these dangers…

Then that person could only be Wang Chong!

Ever since the successful breakout from last night, the two had handed over all their military authority to Wang Chong, even choosing to completely place themselves under Wang Chong’s command.

They had not wasted a single word discussing this decision.

Of course, the two had not made this decision recklessly. In last night’s battle, Wang Chong had already proved himself. Moreover, neither of them could understand the diagram in Wang Chong’s hand.

But there was one thing that both of them understood.

Wang Chong had clearly brought the army here because he had made ample preparations. These furnaces and other forging implements were proof of that. Moreover, several caves had been dug out in the summit, where a large number of provisions had been stored, wrapped in oil paper.

As for the steel walls before them…

These would serve as the best cover for the army!

“It’s almost done, around eighty percent! Based on my calculations, even if Huoshu Huicang sends his elite cavalry, it’s already too late! While I was making them go around in circles yesterday, I had already calculated the time needed. Moreover, given the losses they received last night, the Tibetans won’t be breaking off from the Mengshe Zhao army again. Even if we gave them the chance, they wouldn’t dare to come!” Wang Chong declared confidently.

Only Wang Chong could speak with such confidence in front of two elite generals like Wang Yan and Xianyu Zhongtong while confronting an opponent like Great General Huoshu Huicang.

Confidence arose from strength. If Wang Chong had dared to say this yesterday, he would definitely have become a laughing stock. Right now, however, even the harsh Wang Yan had acknowledged that Wang Chong had the strength to say such words.

“Pick up the speed; don’t get careless! Huoshu Huicang didn’t even know you existed last time, but he’ll definitely have prepared differently this time,” Wang Yan cautioned. “In addition, the Tibetans also have Dalun Ruozan. This person has a store of knowledge as deep as the sea. On the surface, it seems like Geluofeng was the one who sent messengers to persuade Ü-Tsang to form an alliance, but it was actually Dalun Ruozan who was truly directing things behind the curtains.”

“Eh?!”

Wang Chong turned his head to glance at his father, a hint of surprise flashing through his eyes. He naturally knew that Dalun Ruozan had been the true mastermind. To put it more precisely, the two had worked hand in hand.

The ambitious Geluofeng had been the mastermind on the surface while Dalun Ruozan had been the mastermind in the shadows.

It was the fact that his father had noticed this that was truly shocking.

…But maybe I underestimated Father. Although he’s a little inflexible, he’s not lacking in intelligence. Otherwise, he couldn’t have reached his current level!

With this thought, Wang Chong quickly regained his composure. Though surprised, Wang Chong quickly realized that perhaps he didn’t understand his father as much as he thought. Only now, fighting side by side with his father, was Wang Chong slowly beginning to understand him a little.

“Father, be at ease. I won’t let you down!”

Wang Chong turned and smiled, his eyes quickly calming. It had always been Wang Chong’s heartfelt desire to fight alongside his father, but this had been impossible in his last life.

But now, it could finally be realized.

Hwoooo! As the fierce winds sent his hair flying, Wang Chong stood next to the stalwart figure of his father, his heart buzzing with delight. At this moment, he felt no fear, panic, or anxiety, only endless calm. His mind was like a deep pool.

Dalun Ruozan, Huoshu Huicang! Come! Let me see what sort of tricks you have up your sleeve!

As he welcomed the fierce gales, Wang Chong’s eyes blazed, exploding with a powerful fighting intent!