The Human Emperor (1-200)

C169: War God of the Current Era

Zhangchou Jianqiong wasn’t the only one observing the situation in the royal court.

While Zhangchou Jianqiong’s black kite was flying straight for the capital, a commotion was occurring in a massive tent erected in the northeast of Great Tang. It was filled with golden cups and silver bowls, and mats made of tiger skin were laid over the ground. It was excessively extravagant.

(Black kite is a species of bird)

Within the tent stood a spirited figure who seemed to be in his forties. He was eating and drinking in large mouthfuls while laughing heartily. Even so, he carried a ferocious disposition that intimidated those around him.

“Hahaha, Zhiyi, did you see the letter on the table? This is a petition from a hundred generals! They are all pleading with me, the Auxiliary General of Great Tang! The Protector-General of the Eastern Protectorate Manor! One of the founding dukes, bestowed with Nanyang County!”

The armor on him trembled slightly along with his movements, as though reflecting his agitation. He seemed to be in an extremely good mood.

“This… Grand Marshal, do you really intend to interfere in this matter? Back then, a single word from Duke Jiu caused you to spend almost two decades by the barren borders.”

Not too far away, across a burning pot of charcoal, a scholarly-looking, middle-aged general sat cross-legged. His mustache drooped down at the edge of his lips, giving others the impression of a refined gentleman. He was Zhang Shougui’s aide, as well as his life-and-death comrade, Wu Zhiyi.

The both of them had entered the military together, and they had once fought against the Ü-Tsang in Guazhou, which was in Great Tang’s Longxi Province. To date, Zhang Shougui had managed to become the Eastern Protector-General, and his name induced fear among the Khitans, Kumo Xi, and the Turks further up. Even so, the two of them remained as good partners, buddies that transcended beyond life and death.

Even the currently famous general who fought against the Ü-Tsang and was praised with the saying, ‘In the night beneath the Big Dipper Stars, Geshu Han visits with his saber,’ Big Dipper Great General Geshu Han, was only guarding the lands that he had once protected in the past.

In terms of qualifications, Geshu Han could only be considered a junior. Before a senior like Zhang Shougui, there was nothing for him to boast of.

There were many aggressive generals in Great Tang, and those who were able to subdue Geshu Han stood in the minority. However, Zhang Shougui just so happened to be one of them.

This was also the reason why so many Conferred Generals chose to send their letters toward the Eastern Protectorate Manor.

In the Great Tang Dynasty, there were very few people who could stand up against influential Hu generals, who wielded immense military authority in their hands, such as Go Seonji, Fumeng Lingcha, Geshu Han, and An Sishun.

However, Auxiliary General Zhang Shougui was definitely one of them.

Even though Conferred Generals had a significantly higher standing than ordinary generals, the weight of their words was still slightly lacking.

“Hmph, that Zhang Jiuling made use of his seniority to prevent me from becoming the prime minister, so how can I ever forget that?”

Hearing Wu Zhiyi’s words, Zhang Shougui’s face immediately darkened. Zhang Shougui knew that Wu Zhiyi was referring to the matter twenty-three years ago involving the Sage Emperor.

Back then, when Zhang Shougui was just assigned to Youzhou, he eradicated the Khitan Tribes, who were an immense threat to Youzhou and Great Tang’s northeast, and successfully warded off the Ü-Tsang in the Gansu Province. This had granted him immense prestige, and there were rumors that he was likely to be promoted to become the prime minister.