Chapter 1287: A Battle of Paths! (1/2)
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
”Wang Chong, the heart of the people is the heart of the heavens, and the will of the heavens is the will of the people. Now, the minds of the people have begun to change to a longing for peace and a disgust for war. Do you still have a way to deal with this? This is the way of the world, and the strength of any man is insignificant before the march of history. A praying mantis trying to stop a carriage will only bring destruction upon itself. Now, it is time for me to see what you choose. This is your last chance!!”
Li Junxian's eyes became extremely sharp with these final words. A waterfall descending from a high mountain was grandiose and unstoppable. From start to finish, the trend had been set, and no one could stop it now!
Even Wang Chong… could do nothing!
……
”Your Highness, it's bad!”
Early in the morning of the next day, Su Shixuan rushed into Wang Chong's study, his face ghastly pale.
”…The Confucian Sect has invited many ordinary people affected by the chaos of the wars on the border to the inns and tea houses, and they are telling everyone about their experiences of the damage inflicted by war. This matter has sent an earthquake through the capital, and these inns and restaurants are basically packed!”
”What!”
Wang Chong's eyes widened and his hands froze mid-writing.
”When did these things happen?”
”Just last night!” Su Shixuan said, his entire person brimming with concern. ”The Confucian Sect's people in the past would always try to at least somewhat conceal their actions, but they're not hiding this time. Your subordinate worries that this is only the beginning. The Confucian Sect will probably start taking even more actions now!”
As Su Shixuan spent more and more time with Wang Chong, he had gradually begun to grasp a few principles and develop some understanding. The Confucian Sect would never be satisfied with the current situation. It definitely had even greater ambitions, and Wang Chong was one of its primary targets.
Wang Chong said nothing, but his brow began to crease.
The storytellers the Confucian Sect had sent into the inns and tea houses of the capital had already built up the mindset of the people in the capital to a certain extent, akin to a powder keg. Now, the Confucian Sect was lighting a spark so as to detonate this powder keg.
”Investigate this further!” Wang Chong said.
Su Shixuan quickly left with this order, and soon after, countless warhorses left the Wang Family Residence, headed for the various inns and tea houses of the capital.
Whether it was Wang Chong, Su Shixuan, or even the instigators of it all, Li Junxian and the Confucian Sect, they had all gravely underestimated the effects those common people who had been affected by the chaos of war would have on the capital.
The cruelty and terror of war and the pain that came from losing one's loved ones had provoked all the people of the capital. This, together with the encouragement of the Confucian Sect, had hundreds of thousands of people gathering together to call for the continuation of peace and the cessation of all wars, to cherish this hard-fought moment where treaties had been signed with all the foreign countries. There were even some who proposed that the Great Tang should reduce its own armies!
They pleaded for sons to leave the army and return to the sides of their parents so that the pain of eternal separation could be staved off.
And in the span of a single day, the people of the Confucian Sect were able to take advantage of this large-scale petition to propose to the Imperial Court that the army be reduced by three hundred thousand soldiers.
This proposal shook all of society and the entire empire.
”Impossible! This is unacceptable!”
A voice thundered through the Imperial Court. Wang Chong was like an enraged lion, his eyes bloodshot and apparently ready to devour people alive. Everyone was frightened out of their wits by Wang Chong's stance.
”The Great Tang has already greatly reduced its army. If another three hundred thousand soldiers are disbanded, even if the soldiers disbanded belong to the prefectural armies, the entirety of the Great Tang will only have around three hundred thousand soldiers left. With such a small army, how can the empire be protected if there's an incident on the border?!”
Wang Chong's rage was on full display. The Confucians' actions had touched his bottom line.
”As long as I am here, this proposal will never be passed!”
On the other side, when Li Junxian heard Wang Chong's words, a sharp light flashed in his eyes.
”King of Foreign Lands! You have seen the people of the capital. The people long for peace, and there is nobody who wants war. Do you plan to use this incident to make a name for yourself?” Li Junxian sternly said. With a wave of his sleeve, he stomped forward and opposed Wang Chong. In the entire Imperial Court, only the Confucian Sect's Secretariat Advisor could contend against Wang Chong.
”Moreover, the foreign countries have already reduced their armies by a total of nearly one million soldiers. By reducing its armies, the Great Tang is expressing its resolve to never again engage in war with the foreign countries. Since there will be no more wars, what need is there for so many soldiers?!”
”Absurd! This proposal can never be allowed to pass! Since the beginning of history, when have wars ever truly ceased? If we lack an army when a war begins, the land and people will suffer calamity. Will you be able to take responsibility when that time comes?!” Wang Chong harshly said.
There was a limit to everything, and the actions of the Confucian Sect posed a severe threat to the empire. For the first time, Wang Chong felt an intense desire to kill Li Junxian.
”Thus, are we not still maintaining three hundred thousand soldiers instead of dissolving the entire army? It is absolutely imperative that the army be reduced! King of Foreign Lands, the world is at peace, the general trend set. Anyone who breaks this hard-won peace will be a criminal to history. Or perhaps, King of Foreign Lands, with your gift for speaking, you can go and explain things to those people who have lost their sons, daughters, wives, fathers, and brothers!”