Side Story Chapter 18 - Wang Haibin (1/2)
Side Story Chapter 18: Wang Haibin
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
Several days later…
“Since I have Imperial Father’s approval, those things we prepared should be put to use now.”
Li Taiyi’s eyes grew more resolved. Everything was going at the pace he had set out, and he was certain that he could alter the result of that crucial war in the future.
But his preparations were far from over.
As Li Taiyi made up his mind, Gao Lishi said, “Your Highness, His Majesty also said that he wishes to see you.”
“I understand,” Li Taiyi said as he put down the military text he was reading.
Li Taiyi quickly boarded his carriage and made his way to Taiji Palace.
As Li Taiyi passed through a set of high walls, a vigorous voice rang out.
“A true man should die on the battlefield while making his name. Only by gaining some level of achievement on the borders can this life not be considered wasted!”
Li Taiyi raised an eyebrow, his closed eyes opening as he peered out of the window.
Atop the high walls was an armored figure, clearly some officer of the Imperial Army, who was watching the sun rise in the east with a melancholy face.
The capital was at peace, and the Imperial Army had nothing to do other than man its posts. They could even take a short break from their duties without much of a problem.
This wasn’t strange at all within the Imperial Army.
But this officer atop the wall still left an extremely deep impression on Li Taiyi. He seemed to be entirely different from the other soldiers of the Imperial Army.
Another powerful Imperial Army soldier ascended the wall and said, “Commander Wang, while the capital is small, one can enjoy peace and quiet here. Why do you insist on finding fame on the battlefield?”
Neither of them had noticed Li Taiyi.
People went in and out of the palace all the time. It wasn’t just court officials, but also eunuchs and functionaries. The Imperial Army stood guard here every day, so they had gotten used to every situation. Even if they had noticed him, they wouldn’t have paid him any attention.
The two Imperial Army soldiers were just chatting. There was nothing to cause a fuss about.
That Commander Wang was shaken from his stupor and sorrowfully said, “Commander Bai, you are right that the capital is at peace, but this is not a world at peace. We both have aspirations, but we can only remain in this palace until we grow old and retire. Is this not a lifelong regret?
“Is there any meaning in life as an idling dog?”
He had entered the palace in his teens, believing that he would one day be sent to the border where he could emulate Ma Yuan of the Great Han and have his body wrapped in horse leather. But now, he was twenty-eight, nearing his thirties, having spent ten-some years in the palace with no sign of being sent to the border.
(TN: Ma Yuan was a famous general of the Great Han who once said to a friend that he would want his body to be wrapped with horse leather, meaning that he wanted to die on the battlefield in military service, where horse leather would be the cloth used to cover the bodies of the dead.)
It appeared that he would spend the rest of his life in this humdrum fashion.
Commander Bai had nothing to say. He could only shake his head and smile. He knew this Commander Wang far too well.
Every person had their own ambitions!
Although he admired this ambition, for the majority of the Imperial Army, living a life of luxury in the palace was not a bad thing.
“Commander Wang, it’s time for training,” Commander Bai said.
This was the main reason he had appeared here.
“Mm.”
Commander Wang helplessly sighed as he stood up.
Although the sovereign’s orders could not be defied, he would never so easily give up on his ideals and aspirations.
“All men, assemble!”
With a shout, the surroundings rumbled, and solemn-faced Imperial Army soldiers began to swiftly gather in front of Commander Wang, their synchronized and disciplined movements creating an intimidating aura.
They seemed different from the other units of the Imperial Army, exuding the decisive auras of battlefield veterans.
“This…”
In the distance, Li Taiyi’s eyes widened at this sight.
He had been listening in on their conversation and stopped his carriage out of curiosity, but now, this unit of the Imperial Army left an extremely deep impression on him.
“This man isn’t just an officer, but one with the qualities of a fine general…”
Li Taiyi’s eyes twitched.
He called over an attendant. “Servant, go and ask for the name of that Marshal for me!”
The attendant didn’t take long, and Li Taiyi came to know that the name of this commander was ‘Wang Haibin’!
(TN: Wang Haibin’s claim to fame is being the father of Wang Zhongsi. Someone with a mind for details will realize what happens to him.)
Li Taiyi noted down Wang Haibin’s name and continued on his way.
This was just a minor interlude for Li Taiyi.
What was most important was meeting his father.
……
Li Taiyi got off his carriage at Taiji Palace. As he looked at the palace, he felt that his mood was different from his last visit.
In the first visit, he had been filled with curiosity and reverence, but this time, he was brimming with confidence and a pride that came before setting out with an army.
Li Taiyi quickly walked up the white jade steps and into Taiji Palace.
“Paying respects to Imperial Father.”
Li Taiyi saw his father reviewing memorials at his desk, and immediately bowed.
“Xuan’er, rise.”
The Tang Emperor was not as stern as he usually was, putting down his brush and waving Li Taiyi over.
Li Taiyi grunted and went up to the Tang Emperor.
The Tang Emperor examined Li Taiyi with his bright eyes, and after a while, he nodded and began to sternly speak.
“Xuan’er, you have truly grown up. We have investigated the matter of the peace talks with the Turkic Empire. The Turkic Empire has not made any subsequent statements since First Prince Ashina Cui’s return.
“It seems that your judgment was correct. There truly is something off about the peace talks.”
Li Taiyi bowed and respectfully said, “Your son did only what should have been done. Even without your son, Imperial Father would probably have still seen through the schemes of the Turks.”
“Mm.”
The Emperor quickly changed the topic and began to talk business.
“Earlier, you wrote a memorial to Us expressing a desire to head to Ü-Tsang…”
As the Tang Emperor spoke, he pulled a memorial out of the pile, clearly Li Taiyi’s.