Chapter 1159: The Glory of a Noble Title! (1/2)
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
”But, this was no ordinary battle. Senior Brother's battle was one hundred thousand versus five hundred thousand. This was a major victory while being outnumbered…” Little Jianjian angrily retorted, his face utterly unconvinced. He lowered his head, pouting, and clutched his fingers together while his eyes stared at his feet.
”You still dare to talk back!” Su Zhengchen angrily rebuked.
”That's how it's always been,” Little Jianjian huffed, but his voice was almost inaudible.
At this moment, another elderly voice came from out of the house. It was different from Su Zhengchen's, less powerful and dignified. ”Little Jianjian, enough. Don't talk back to your master. Your master knew of the matter regarding your senior brother some time ago. You should take your leave now.”
”I understand, Uncle Fang!”
Little Jianjian stuck out his tongue and made a face before running off.
Little Jianjian had no idea that two elderly pairs of eyes within the house closely watched him leave, only looking away after a long while.
Su Zhengchen was seated in an armchair, his eyes glancing at the old servant next to him as he sternly said, ”Fang Hong, you spoil him too much. It was just a battle, and yet he wasn't able to keep his composure at all. How can he command an army like this, plan out strategies, and subjugate the four directions?”
The art of war was one of planning and strategy. On the line were the lives of tens of thousands of soldiers and the people of one's country, making it a matter of utmost importance to the state. Thus, Su Zhengchen had always been strict and harsh when managing his army, and he treated Little Jianjian in the same away.
”Haha, Old Master, there's no need to be so harsh on him. After all, he's just a child of eight or nine. And besides, doesn't Old Master have that child Wang Chong to inherit your legacy?” the old servant Fang Hong said with a smile.
”You…”
Surprisingly, Su Zhengchen was momentarily speechless.
The old servant silently smiled. After serving his master for more than half his life, he keenly understood his master's thoughts and plans. Su Zhengchen had never admitted it, but deep down in his heart, he was already treating Wang Chong as the disciple that would inherit his legacy. Otherwise, why would he teach him the Art of God and Demon Obliteration, and then also train four thousand Azure Martial Army soldiers for him?
It was just that Su Zhengchen would never admit that out loud.
”You'll spoil this child rotten eventually. I really can't deal with you two!”
Su Zhengchen glared at his nearly sixty-year-old servant, and then turned his eyes on the wine cup on the table, downing it in a single gulp.
The old servant remained silent, but the smile on his face deepened. He took up the white porcelain wine jar and silently filled Su Zhengchen's cup once more.
His master normally didn't drink more than four cups of wine, but this was the eighth time today he had filled his cup, something Su Zhengchen had failed to realize. Although Su Zhengchen claimed that this was just an ordinary battle, Fang Hong could clearly tell that no one was more elated than his master over the news.
Seeing that the wine jar was about to be emptied, the old servant silently exchanged it for a new one and continued to fill Su Zhengchen's cup.
Though he had served his master for many years, Fang Hong had rarely seen him so happy. Particularly after meeting that child he called Chong-er, his master had been smiling more and more frequently, which was a great source of comfort for Fang Hong.
……
As the news of the victory at Talas continued to spread, its effects on the capital widened.
Slap! Slap!
As the imperial announcements were posted on the city gates of the capital, revealing even more details, the entire capital began to buzz with chatter.
”Hahaha, what did I say? The Young Marquis is the reincarnation of the Heavenly Mandate1 Star, come to assist His Majesty in sweeping over the barbarians and continuing the Great Tang's golden age.”
”To contend against five hundred thousand with one hundred thousand, this Young Marquis is truly the War God of the new generation! Only the Crown Prince's Junior Guardian Wang Zhongsi and the War God from the generation before that, Su Zhengchen, can compare to such accomplishments on the battlefield!”
”Hahaha, he truly is a descendant of Duke Jiu. The Wang Clan has three generals, a truly loyal and devoted clan. We should request the Sage Emperor and the Imperial Court to grant the Wang Clan a noble title!”
”That's right! Let's go together to request the Sage Emperor to give the Wang Clan a noble title!”
……
Crowds had thronged at the various city gates, gathering together the peddlers, merchants, tycoons, and even the nobles of the capital. Not only that, the tea houses, wine houses, and inns of the capital, or anywhere else where people were gathered, were buzzing with conversation on the gruesome battle that had taken place at Talas.
As everyone loudly chatted, their faces shone with pride.
The talk about granting a noble title to the Wang Clan had originally been only discussed by the common people, but later on, even officials of the court became deeply convinced and began to submit memorials, eventually creating a loud voice that could not be ignored. And all these memorials eventually gathered in the depths of the Imperial Palace in the Sage Emperor's hands.
Halls loomed within the Imperial Palace, and in the very depths of the Imperial Palace was a golden hall, majestic and solemn. Like a giant bird with unfurled wings, it towered over the Imperial Palace, looking down upon the entire capital.
The Taiji Palace, the residence of the Great Tang's Sage Emperor.
No matter how furious the storms of the outside world, this place would be eternally calm.