Chapter 1928: Welcoming the King of Foreign Lands Back to the Capital!

Chapter 1928: Welcoming the King of Foreign Lands Back to the Capital!

Translated by: Hypersheep325

Edited by: Michyrr

Five billion taels of gold!

Not even the last several decades of tax revenue in the Great Tang could reach this sum. And there had also been many pearls, agates, and other kinds of treasure.

This sort of thing had never happened in the history of the Great Tang.

Not only were all the families of those who had died in battle richly compensated, all of the great clans, craftsmen, and common people who had in some way contributed to the war effort were also richly rewarded. All of the expenses of the war were paid from this massive fortune.

In addition, the Imperial Court had long ago issued an official announcement stating that this money would be used on the people, for fixing roads, repairing fields and levees, and assisting the homeless elderly and children. Besides that, each household would receive a sum of money to use on their daily livelihood.

The initial gold had already been distributed across the various provinces and commanderies.

Even more gold would come later on to assist the people of the Great Tang in their livelihood.

Rather than hurting the people, the war had benefited them, providing the Central Plains gold and resources like never before. Such a thing had never happened in any previous dynasty.

Since this was the case, what need was there for the militarists to have so many disputes with the Confucians?

The Confucians opposed the militarists because war was damaging to the people, but if each war allowed the empire to flourish and fill its coffers, what complaints would they have? The Imperial Court probably would have offered their full support long ago.

Of course, the most important reason was that Wang Chong and the others had saved the Central Plains.

“Come on! Let’s go and welcome him!”

The civil officials boarded their carriages, anxious to get to the western gate.

In a wondrous sight, almost the entire capital turned out to welcome Wang Chong.

As everyone’s eyes brimmed with anticipation, someone suddenly cried out.

“Look over there! The King of Foreign Lands’ carriage!”

“Where? Where?”

The crowd instantly grew agitated and looked to the west. And when that resplendent noble carriage flying the banner of the Great Tang emerged…

Boom!

The crowd around the gate instantly exploded with thunderous cheers.

“King of Foreign Lands!”

“King of Foreign Lands!”

“King of Foreign Lands!”

The people, so excited that their faces were red, were yelling with all their might. Their heaven-shaking shouts could be heard from more than a dozen li away!

As the crowd cheered, the army of one-hundred-thousand-some soldiers began to slowly emerge in the distance.

The capital was the heart of authority in the empire, a core area. In normal circumstances, an army of one hundred thousand would have never been permitted to enter the capital, but this time was different. The Sage Emperor had personally ordered that the army should enter the capital so that the people could see these heroes. At the same time, he was also acknowledging these soldiers who had spilled their blood on the battlefield.

Bang!

As the cheers shook the heavens, inside his carriage, Wang Chong had also taken notice of the commotion outside.

“Milord, we’ve arrived at the capital!” Zhang Que, who was riding a warhorse, said from outside the carriage.

“Mm!”

Wang Chong nodded. Raising the curtain, he looked out at the vast crowd gathered by the city walls. Even at this distance, he could sense their joy and passion.

Less than half a year had passed since his departure, but it had felt like several years to Wang Chong.

The militarist-Confucian conflict had caused his departure to be greeted with some mixed emotions, but now, Wang Chong enjoyed wholehearted support and was returning as a triumphant hero. He couldn’t help but sigh.

But the most important thing was that the entire empire had been baptized through this war. Their hearts had been united. That was what was most important, what Wang Chong had wanted to see!

As the carriage got closer and closer, the crowd grew more and more enthusiastic.

Their eyes bright, they stood on their tiptoes and stretched their necks in the hopes that Wang Chong might see them.

When the procession neared the gate, Wang Chong raised an arm and called out, “Stop!” The entire army stopped, and after a few moments, Wang Chong opened the carriage door and exited.

Bang!

Upon seeing Wang Chong’s heroic and divine figure emerging from the carriage, the already ecstatic crowd erupted with even louder cheers. Even from a hundred li, one could hear their voices.

The crowd had gone completely crazy!

“King of Foreign Lands!”

“King of Foreign Lands!”

“King of Foreign Lands, I love you!”

There were quite a few beautiful young women who blushed as they excitedly called out amidst the cheers of the crowd.

Wang Chong gently smiled and began to walk forward.

At the gate, the Imperial Army was keeping order.

Wang Chong had only taken two steps when the crowd suddenly parted. Civil and military officials, all of them dressed in their court robes, walked out in an orderly fashion. They stopped seven or eight steps from Wang Chong and deferentially bowed.

“King of Foreign Lands, welcome back to the capital!”

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“Commander Equal to the Three Dukes Zhao Mi pays respects to the King of Foreign Lands! The King of Foreign Lands has defeated Arabia, raising the prestige of my Great Tang. Zhao Mi is filled with respect and offers this meager gift to celebrate Your Highness’s triumphant return!”

(TN: Commander Equal to the Three Dukes, 开府仪同三司, was an honorary title given to civil or military official. 开府 means that they were given the right to establish their own offices and hire their own staff, and 仪同三司 means that they were given the same rights in this respect as the Three Dukes.)

“The Capital Prefecture Overseer Han Sanyuan pays respects to the King of Foreign Lands! The King of Foreign Lands has defeated Arabia and is a hero of my Great Tang. This Han has prepared a meager gift and hopes that Your Highness will accept it!”

“Imperial Censor Deng Youlong congratulates the King of Foreign Lands on your triumphant return and offers this humble gift!”

“Great General of the Sixteen Guards Wei Wudao congratulates the King of Foreign Lands on your triumphant return!”

(TN: The Sixteen Guards were soldiers stationed at the capital that were called up from their local provincial garrisons that were usually rotated in and out.)

“Minister of Ceremonies Jiang Youqin pays respects to Your Highness and offers this humble gift! Your Highness, please accept it!”

“The Duke of Guo Residence offers this gift to celebrate the triumphant return of the hero of the Great Tang!”

“The Duke of Tan Residence offers this gift to celebrate the triumphant return of the hero of my Great Tang!”

“Prince De offers this gift to celebrate the triumphant return of the hero of the Great Tang!”

“Prince Shou offers this gift to celebrate the triumphant return of the hero of the Great Tang!”

“The Zhang Clan of the capital congratulates the hero of the Great Tang on his triumphant return!”

“The Wei Clan of the capital congratulates the hero of the Great Tang on his triumphant return!”

“The Chu Clan of the capital congratulates the hero of the Great Tang on his triumphant return!”

The calls of congratulation around the western gate of the city were endless.

As the crowd listened to the officials presenting gifts to Wang Chong, they all beamed. For officials to present gifts in the public view was originally a great taboo, but nobody in the capital found it inappropriate here.

The King of Foreign Lands had saved the Great Tang and saved the people of the realm. If the officials presented him with gifts, the people would rejoice for him.

When they thought about the injustice Wang Chong had suffered in the militarist-Confucian conflict, they felt that he was getting too little!

At the gate, as Wang Chong saw the rows of officials bowing to him and voicing their congratulations, he felt deeply moved.

“Gentlemen, please rise. Wang Chong only did his duty! Your words are too much!”

As Wang Chong spoke, he returned the bows.

As he spoke with these officials, Wang Chong ordered Zhang Que to collect the gifts.

“King of Foreign Lands, we should head to the Imperial Palace first. His Majesty is waiting,” n official finally said.

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Wang Chong once more boarded his carriage and was escorted by the crowd to the Imperial Palace.

The crowd only increased as he went, following him like a shadow.

At the gates of the Imperial City, the crowd finally stopped.

Atop the gates, a majestic figure wearing golden robes adorned with the five-clawed dragon stood.

Merely by standing there, this man exuded the supreme aura of a god looking over the world.

Everyone and everything in the world seemed insignificant before this man.

Wherever this man appeared, that place would become the center of the world.

“Your Majesty!”

In his carriage, Wang Chong sensed that familiar energy from the distance. The only man with this aura was the reigning Sage Emperor!

Whoosh! Wang Chong got out of his carriage and immediately spotted the Sage Emperor standing atop the gate.

Just like Wang Chong remembered, the Sage Emperor had that eternally majestic and noble aura. But unlike before, there was a hint of longing on his austere face.

Not even Wang Chong had imagined that the Sage Emperor would come to the gate of the Imperial City to welcome him.

“Lowly subject Wang Chong pays respects to His Majesty!”

Wang Chong immediately bowed to the Sage Emperor.

At the same time, all the common people and even the officials got down on their knees.

“May the Emperor live ten thousand years, ten thousand years!”

Thunderous cheers that came from the depths of their hearts resounded over the gate.

The Sage Emperor had ruled for several decades, and under his reign, the Great Tang had reached an unprecedented level of peace and prosperity. Even Wang Chong had been favored and nurtured by the Sage Emperor. Thus, the Sage Emperor had a supreme status within the minds of the people.

The Sage Emperor faintly smiled as he majestically intoned, “Rise!”

“Thank you, Your Majesty!”

As the crowd got to their feet, the Sage Emperor turned to Wang Chong.

“Wang Chong, you have finally come. We truly did not misjudge you!”

His eyes contained admiration, trust, relief, and joy, and his tens of thousands of words were condensed into that one comment.

Wang Chong felt deeply moved.

For the war of the northwest, the Sage Emperor had placed all the soldiers of the empire and fate of the Central Plains in his hands. This was an enormous display of trust and confidence.

Moreover, the sovereign was meant to remain enthroned in his palace. Never in the history of the Great Tang, or even the Sui, had a sovereign come to the gates of the Imperial City to welcome a returning Great General. Only Wang Chong had ever enjoyed this honor.

And the Sage Emperor was the sovereign hailed and revered by all the people of the realm, making this honor even more precious.

Wang Chong lowered his head and respectfully said, “My utmost gratitude, Your Majesty! This lowly subject did not fail the mission, did not disappoint Your Majesty’s trust!”

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