Chapter 342: Ascend the Throne and Become the Emperor (1/2)
Chapter 342: Ascend the Throne and Become the Emperor
Translator: Sparrow TranslationsEditor: Sparrow Translations
…
The night was as cold as water. Compared to the Great Xia Dynasty, the Southern Mountain Range was clearly much colder at night. The water vapour at night froze into hoar frost, causing the entire Southern Mountain Range to seem as if it was covered by a misty veil.
In the Yan Ya settlement.
The big settlement that was closest to the Great Xia, which was also the strategic trading location for the Southern Mountain Range and the Great Xia. The area it covered was huge, containing a total of eighteen small settlements.
In the Yan Ya settlement, a mountain beast at least a hundred pounds in weight was being roasted on a huge bonfire. Animal oil dripped unceasingly onto the flame, producing a sizzling sound.
Around the bonfire satt twenty youths dressed in either robes or armours. The leader wore a fine green armour, holding a jade flute in his hand.
It was Wu Feng.
”Young Master Wu, congratulations!” A youth scholar raised his wooden cup as he bit into the meat, shouting loudly towards Wu Feng.
”It is still a little too early to talk about celebrations.” Wu Feng shook his head with a gentle smile.
”Ha ha ha… Young Master Wu is too humble. We have already occupied the two main settlements of Yan Ya and Shi Zun and our army strength have reached twenty thousand people, thirty percent of the total number of participants. The number one of the combat examination is now Young Master Wu’s, not just in name, but also in reality.”
”That’s right! Young Master Wu, why do you insist on remaining so humble?”
”Even though we lost in the hands of Young Master Wu, we lost contentedly. If Young Master Wu is able to successfully obtain number one in the combat examination, it would also be a good thing for us.”
”That’s right, as long as Young Master Wu obtains first place, our ranking would naturally not be low.”
When the scholars heard this, they stood up one following another, raising the wooden cups in the hands and voicing out their inside thoughts.
Wu Feng smiled once again, gazing at the constellations in the night sky. He tightened his grip on the jade flute. ”What a pity, I lost in the theory examination!”
”The theory examination is indeed unfortunate. However, the top three in this theory examination aren’t in very favourable positions now.” A scholar quickly stood out and advised.
”That’s right, Nangong Hao is still hiding in his Icy Monkey Settlement. Ever since the start of the examination, the number of soldiers in his hand remained at two thousand without any progress. And, even though Yan Xiu now has six thousand people, he is still unable to occupy any settlement, hence also pose no threat to Young Master Wu. As for Fang Zhengzhi…”
”Ha ha ha… can you not mention him?”
”That’s right, he isn’t even here, how can he attain any ranking? Ha ha ha…”
The other scholars also began to laugh out one by one, each of them raising their cups in celebration, their faces flushed red and their eyes filled with mockery.
”As long as the combat examination is ongoing, we cannot even let down our guard for a day. Starting from tomorrow, we will press on with our attack on the Thunderous Lion Settlement!” When Wu Feng heard this, he returned his gaze towards the people around him as a cold smile appeared on the edges of his lips.
”Yes, take down the Thunderous Lion Settlement in one move!”
…
The second morning.
The morning frost emanated waves of chilliness as the wind blew upon it. In a huge army camp within the Southern Mountain Range, rows of soldiers braced the cold, patrolling back and forth the camp.
Their ink-dark skin emanated a faint warm air.
Inside an ordinary military tent.
Fang Zhengzhi stretched out his body, slowly rising from his bed. He looked around his tent and decided to experience the military life of the Southern Mountain Range, at the same time conveniently filling up his stomach.
Just as he reached the entrance of the tent, two spears intersected in front of him.
”Banned from going out!”
”Even my meals must be controlled?” Fang ZHengzhi looked at the two soldiers blocking his path with some confusion. Didn’t he already integrate perfectly into the Southern Mountain Range army?
”Stop, princess has ordered Fang Zhengzhi into her tent for questioning!” Right at this moment, a chief sergeant with a piece of animal skin on his shoulder walked over. Almost a hundred soldiers wearing rattan armour followed behind him.
”Roger!” The two soldiers instantly kept their spears when they saw the chief sergeant.
Fang Zhengzhi frowned slightly. Even though he didn’t know what had happened, from what was transpiring in front of him, it didn’t seem like something good.
However…
If you can’t do anything to prevent them, you might as well sit back and take things as they come.
He didn’t have any better idea at this moment. Who asked him to accidentally step into the main army of Princess Shan Yu. That could only be attributed to fate.
…
Inside the military tent, Princess Shan Yu lay on the golden animal skin. However, the animal leather she wore on her body had changed into a purple and plated leather clothing.
A faint light flowed around the the armour plate. Combined together with her wheat-coloured skin, it revealed a certain beauty and nobility within her wildness.
Fang Zhengzhi happened to see this when he walked in.
However, he kept silent. Because, there were twenty generals wearing heavy armours standing along the two sides of the military tent, their expressions solemn.
Interrogating a criminal?
Fang Zhengzhi felt that the atmosphere seemed strange, hence obediently kept his mouth shut.
”Why didn’t you kneel upon seeing the princess?” A trace of anger flashed across a general’s face when he saw Fang Zhengzhi’s behaviour.
”Ah… All of these elaborate formalities and etiquettes should be done away with whenever possible. Even I didn’t complain, what are you all complaining about?” Fang Zhengzhi twitched his mouth, glancing at the other party with disdain.
”Preposterous! You have already betrayed your country for glory. Now, you are a person of the Southern Mountain Range, hence you should naturally obey the rules of the Southern Mountain Range. How could you just do whatever you want as and when you…”
”Alright, Fang Zhengzhi, I have a question that I wish to ask you.” Princess Shan Yu sat up at this moment, gesturing towards the general who was prepared to continue speaking and looking towards Fang Zhengzhi with her dark eyes.
”Princess, please ask!” Fang Zhengzhi instantly replied.
”Two voices are echoing beside my ear. I want to listen to your opinion. The first voice is that even though the Southern Mountain Range is a vast territory with abundant resources, there are many mountains and forests, and also heavily populated by fearsome beasts. Furthermore, every year, we have to donate tens of thousands of horses to the Great Xia. Most importantly, we must take up the responsibility of being the natural shield of the Great Xia to defend them from the demon race. It is very unfair.” As Princess Shan Yu spoke, she fixed her eyes tightly upon Fang Zhengzhi’s.
”It is indeed very unfair!” Fang Zhengzhi nodded without even thinking.
”Yes, the second voice is that even though the Southern Mountain Range donates tens of thousands of horses to the Great Xia, the Great Xia gives us crops and foodstuff in exchange. Our Southern Mountain Range indeed serves as the natural shield for the Great Xia, however, the Great Xia has sent people to teach the Law of Dao, strengthening the foundations of the Southern Mountain Range. Hence, it is very fair!” Princess Shan Yu continued when she saw Fang Zhengzhi nod.
”Yes, it is very fair!” Fang Zhengzhi nodded once again.
”...” Princess Shan Yu’s mouth opened a little. Looking at Fang Zhengzhi’s sincere expression, she actually didn’t know what to say next.
On the other hand, when the twenty generals standing by the side heard this, they began to shake their heads. Can this guy at least have some opinions of his own? He simply might as well not have said anything.
”Princess, please continue.” Fang Zhengzhi waited for a while before urging, seeing that Princess Shan Yu didn’t speak.
”Continue with what? I have finished what I wanted to ask!”
”Oh, since you have asked all that you want, there is nothing else. I will make my move first.” When Fang Zhengzhi finished speaking, he immediately turned around and walked towards the entrance of the tent.
”Stop right there!” A general bellowed.
”What is it?” Fang Zhengzhi turned back his head with a confused look on his face.
”Why did you not answer the questions princess asked?”