Chapter Thirty-Five: Advance! The Field of a Hundred Battles

The great hall was enveloped in an unnatural silence. King Wu of the Empire raised his eyes to the figure behind the beaded curtain—the Emperor of Men. All seemed as usual, yet King Wu sensed a subtle, irresistible pressure.

“My decision is made. The left wing of the Heavenly Strategy Army will be stationed at the Sword South Protectorate!”

At that moment, the Emperor’s commanding, resonant voice echoed through the hall. With those few words, he abruptly rose from the dragon throne and strode away. Each syllable was a gem, law following his word, and the entire Taiji Hall fell into an absolute stillness.

Within the assembly, Grand Minister of Works, Deputy Censor Yang Wenyuan, and all the civil officials sat in stunned silence. None protested the mobilization of the Heavenly Strategy Army, nor did anyone openly support it. The matter far outweighed the previous issue of garrisoning the agricultural troops. None had anticipated the Emperor would decide so forcefully today. On the other side, King Wu’s face was grave, and the Marquis of Sacred Martial, the Divine General of Celestial Feathers, and other military commanders were all deeply troubled.

The ruler speaks no idle words. Once the Emperor has spoken, further debate is meaningless.

“We obey, Your Majesty!”

The military commanders accepted the decree with respectful voices. However unwilling in their hearts, they could only bow their heads. Once the Emperor commands, there is no room for change.

“Farewell to Your Majesty!”

“Long live the Emperor!”

Thus ended the day’s court session. With the toll of the golden bell, the civil and military ministers poured out of the Taiji Hall like a tide.

“Your Highness, the Emperor is forcibly requisitioning the left wing of the Heavenly Strategy Army to guard Sword South. What are we to do?”

“Yes, Your Highness, the left wing is our elite force. To draw all the Heavenly Strategy elite like this—isn’t it excessive?”

“Indeed, the Heavenly Strategy Army has always fought on all fronts. Since the reign of Emperor Taizong, never has so much force been dispatched to one place. First His Majesty demoted you in secret, then scattered the Army’s organization. This is truly too much!”

…

No sooner had the court adjourned than a crowd of military officers surged toward King Wu, voicing their complaints.

“Enough. Affairs of state are not child’s play. The Emperor has spoken; the decree cannot be changed. Since he wishes the left wing to guard Sword South, they shall go. Remember, Heavenly Strategy belongs to the Tang Empire—not to any one person.”

King Wu spoke calmly, soothing the officers as he walked out. Since the Emperor had regained control of the court, King Wu increasingly felt that the Emperor was wary of the Heavenly Strategy Commandery.

Leaving the Taiji Hall, King Wu’s attention was drawn by a figure in a bright red ceremonial robe standing before the divine path. Pausing for a moment, he walked toward the man.

“Can’t make sense of it?”

“Hmph! You’ve spent two centuries building the Heavenly Strategy Commandery, and now you let him dismantle a powerful army with a few words?”

The Marquis of Sacred Martial, hands clasped behind his back, glared angrily at King Wu.

“He’s been wary of the Heavenly Strategy Army for two hundred years—you know that well enough. If I’d stayed away from the Eastern Capital, he wouldn’t have dared touch the Army. But after the Northern Frontier battle, I didn’t expect him to make me a king so quickly. Once I left Heavenly Strategy, matters slipped beyond our expectations. Still, things aren’t hopeless. Besides, Nanzhao has been drilling its troops these years; sooner or later, there will be war in Sword South. Stationing the Army there is not necessarily a bad thing. The old drunkard’s next plan should begin soon. Wait and see…”

King Wu sighed softly.

“Isn’t today the day the scholars from the Eastern Capital enter the Hundred Battles Training Ground?”

The Marquis of Sacred Martial suddenly asked.

“They’ve gone. The Yang family’s scholar accompanied them, and several young talents from Shanglin Park were selected to join. I’ve arranged everything. We’ll see in three months. The timing is a bit rushed, otherwise the old drunkard wouldn’t have sent him to the Eastern Capital so soon.”

At this, a faint smile lifted the corners of King Wu’s troubled face.

………………

Hooves clattered!

Crowds surged through the Eastern Capital, and lines of cavalry streamed out the southern gate. These riders were not the Dragon Martial Guards, but spirited scholars of the Eastern Capital.

Princes, nobles’ sons, scions of officials, descendants of generals—every kind of person was represented.

“Hahaha, what a lively spectacle! Li Fu, look, so many people!”

Yang Zixu sat astride his horse, laughing exuberantly at the scene.

“Mhm.”

Li Fu nodded, but a figure in the crowd caught his eye. That person’s delicate face flashed a cold smile at Li Fu.

“Someone from the Shangguan family.”

Seeing the mark on the reins, Li Fu’s brows twitched ever so slightly.

For the sons of princes and ministers, joining the army requires passing through the Hundred Battles Training Ground. Of course, one may choose not to enter the training ground, and still join the ranks. But in that case, you start as a lowly soldier, whereas those who graduate from the training ground enter the army at least as captains.

The Hundred Battles Training Ground lies seventy li south of the Eastern Capital, nestled in the mountains. Not too far, yet not too close. Too far, and it’s unsafe—too close, and the noble trainees might succumb to boredom and sneak into the capital at night for revelry, which has happened before.

Following the main road south for forty li, then passing a checkpoint and turning onto a side path, by dusk the participants finally glimpsed a towering mountain range.

Atop one of the peaks, thick vegetation had been cleared, replaced by clusters of buildings and training facilities.

At the mountain’s base, a massive yellow banner fluttered in the wind, bearing two characters:

“Hundred Battles!”

“What a fierce aura of combat!”

Yang Zixu gazed at the banner atop the mountain and spoke in a low voice.

“The Duke of Wing founded this training ground by imperial decree—his vision was remarkable. Nearly eighty percent of Tang’s military stars came from here. It was well worth the late emperor’s own calligraphy for the words ‘Hundred Battles.’”

Li Fu looked at the banner, thinking to himself.

The Hundred Battles Training Ground has produced countless talents and military stars for the Tang army. Most of the governors of the four protectorates are graduates. Wang Zhongsi, Gao Xianzhi, even many princes of the royal family trained here; the Marquis of Sacred Martial himself underwent three months of training in his youth.

“Zixu, once inside, don’t be careless. I heard that those who qualified for the Hundred Battles Training Ground this time all fought their way through fierce competition among thousands. Some are true experts,”

Li Fu turned to Yang Zixu and spoke suddenly. Days ago, Yang Ning had mentioned this, and now, as they set out, Li Fu saw that among the group, there were indeed some formidable figures—two, in particular, seemed to possess the early Morning Dew stage of cultivation.

“Are you kidding? I’m already at mid-stage Tianyuan. Are there really monsters with Morning Dew cultivation here? Do you think everyone’s as abnormal as you?”

Yang Zixu exclaimed in disbelief. His abilities in the Eastern Capital were hardly mediocre—especially his talent. If not for his constant idling about the city, neglecting his practice, he wouldn’t be stuck at upper Tianyuan stage now.