The Human Emperor (1-200)

C90: Patriot!

In the hall, everyone was dumbfounded. No one understood what was going on. In the past, the old master would have already flown into a temper. To think that he would calmly ask for Wang Chong to present the greatsword forward!

In the entire hall, Cousin Wang Li was the first one to react. He could vaguely fathom something, and a contemplation cloaked his face.

Big Uncle Wang Gen unintentionally saw the look on his son’s face and heaved a long sigh. Complex emotions swam in his eyes.

“Oh, there are words on the sword?”

The moment the old master unwrapped the black cloth wrapping the sword, a few ancient words appeared on the handle. His interest was immediately piqued.

“Yes, this is the name grandson has given this sword.”

With a lowered head, Wang Chong replied.

“Patriot!”

Lifting the ‘greatsword’ from the black cloth wrapping it, the old master could see that there was no beautiful agate or gemstone or it. The entire ‘greatsword’ was black. Simple and practical.

And the word on the sheath made the old master’s eyes twinkle:

【Patriot】

“This sword is called Patriot Sword!”

At the same moment, Wang Chong’s voice echoed in the room.

“Chong-er, how can you come up with such a name? Grandfather is a highly-esteemed minister of the royal court, and he has contributed greatly to it. He was the one who stabilized and laid the foundation for the country, and even His Majesty hold him with high regard. How can a simple word like ‘Patriot’ encompass his merits? Aren’t you being too flippant with your sword?”

Before the old master could speak, Big Uncle Wang Gen saw the word on the sheath of the sword and frowned. Wang Chong’s previous performance has left him impressed, and it could be seen that he has put great effort into it.

However, Wang Chong’s efforts seemed to crumble here.

Wang Gen’s father was a respected minister in the Great Tang Empire, and the only one who could compare up to him was Old Master Yao of the Yao Clan. Using the word ‘Patriot’ was severely underestimating his father’s contributions and standing in the Great Tang Empire.

In the end, Wang Chong was only a fifteen-year-old child. He might be capable in other aspects, but he was still lacking in experience in politics.

“Big uncle, you’re mistaken! Nephew isn’t trying to encompass grandfather’s contributions through this sword, but to express the words in grandfather’s heart!”

Kneeling on the floor, Wang Chong turned to his grandfather:

“‘The emperor’s worry is the subordinate’s humiliation, and the emperor’s humiliation is the subordinate’s demise’. If the emperor is worried over the affairs of the nation, the subordinate would take it as a humiliation. If the emperor is humiliated, the subordinates would die to express their guilt! Thus, during the Western Han era, when Crown Prince Lai Dan was killed, Chang Hui charged into the Western Regions regardless of the danger to destroy Kucha. This is what a patriot is!”

(Western Han BC 77)

“When Gu Ji was killed, Chen Tang wrote a report to the emperor, ‘Those who dares to sully the strong Han will be destroyed, no matter how far they may be’, and destroyed Zhizhi Chanyu. This is what a patriot is!”

(Western Han & Xiongnu, BC36)

“During the era of Emperor Ming of Eastern Han, Ban Chao was ordered to lead an army to the Western Regions, and at Shanshan County, he met an envoy of the Xiongnu. The armies of the Xiongnu were powerful, and their defenses were incredible. Ban Chao said that ‘One couldn’t obtain a cub without entering the den of a lion’ and led 72 Han soldiers to slay the Xiongnu, thus expelling them from the Tarim Basin. This is what a patriot is!”