Chapter 1585: The Emperor is Awesome

A lightning-fast warm-up battle thus ended with a vast disparity in forces, where the few triumphed over the many.

Xu Que, like a God of War, slowly returned leading three thousand troops.

Behind them, yellow dust filled the sky and the scent of blood permeated the air, yet neither could block the imposing aura radiating from their bodies.

Hu Zhengtang watched that lean figure, feeling as though he were dreaming.

To charge an enemy formation of hundreds of thousands with only three thousand troops and return without a single casualty—such a feat in the military history of the Nine Provinces belongs to this one man alone!

But the question was... when did His Majesty acquire such ability?

"Why are you still staring blankly? Let's go back."

As he passed Hu Zhengtang, Xu Que patted the Border Defense General on the shoulders: "I know my majestic demeanor as the Saint of Pretentiousness leaves you unable to extricate yourself, but the soldiers within the city still need you to reorganize them."

"Ah, ah-oh-oh, yes, Your Majesty!" Upon hearing this, Hu Zhengtang hastily turned and followed behind Xu Que.

Hooves clattered as the few leaders brought the three thousand troops to the foot of the City Wall.

Sitting atop his horse, Xu Que swung the Long Blade in his hand fiercely and roared loudly: "May Eastern Tang stand eternal!"

The soldiers on the City Wall shouted in unison: "May Eastern Tang stand eternal! Your Majesty is mighty!"

The shouts shook the heavens, piercing through the clouds!

Xuan Yuan Wanrong happened to arrive on the City Wall at that moment; seeing this scene, shock appeared in her eyes.

"He's actually fine... What exactly did that bastard do?"

"He's actually fine... What the hell did that bastard do?"

In the distance, Bai Qi heard the unified shouts of the Eastern Tang Soldiers and was completely stunned.

"What? That general is actually the Emperor of Eastern Tang?!"

The Deputy General beside him muttered: "Didn't they say... the Emperor of Eastern Tang was a frail Scholar who only knew how to conduct research?"

"Are you blind! Whoever gathered that previous intelligence, drag them out and execute them by military law!" Bai Qi glared and scolded.

If he had known that general was actually the Emperor of Eastern Tang, he would never have deployed such a small force earlier; launching a full-scale assault would have been entirely justified!

If they could have captured the Emperor of Eastern Tang directly, there would have been no need to fight any further battles afterward.

"What a pity... missing this opportunity means it will never be possible again." Bai Qi sighed with deep regret, his heart growing angrier the more he thought about it.

Damn it, not only was he slapped in the face, but it was by a frail Monarch!

Where does my reputation as a God of War stand now?

Where does the face of your father, the God of War, go?

On the other side, as Xu Que entered the city, news spread that he had led three thousand troops to charge through an army of hundreds of thousands.

The entire Tianmen Pass City was completely ignited by this news.

"Heavens! Our Emperor actually knows how to lead troops into battle?"

"Not only that, I heard that this time His Majesty brought only three hundred troops, charged back and forth through the enemy's formation of hundreds of thousands, and emerged without a scratch!"

"What? His Majesty brought only three people and slaughtered hundreds of thousands of the enemy until they were overturned in chaos?"

"Let me tell you, I heard our Emperor led just three men to pierce through the soldiers of the Qin Kingdom, slapping the face of that God of War, Bai Qi, severely!"

"Heavens, do you know? His Majesty alone, on a single horse, took the head of the Qin Kingdom's God of War from amidst ten thousand armies!"

"Oh my god, do you know? His Majesty alone, single-handedly, took the head of the Qin Kingdom's God of War from amidst ten thousand armies!"

The news became increasingly absurd as it spread.

In the end, it was directly rumored that Xu Que had gone alone to slaughter the King of Qin, abducted the Queen and Concubines of Qin, and didn't even spare the Empress Dowager.

Upon learning this news, the King of Qin was furious beyond measure.

"What nonsense are those commoners spouting! Transmit my order: mobilize the entire nation to attack Eastern Tang!"

"What nonsense are those commoners spouting! Transmit My decree: mobilize the entire nation to attack Eastern Tang!"

Even so, the people of Eastern Tang remained plunged in a frenzied atmosphere.

Our Emperor His Majesty is invincible across the Kingdom!

This was the thought in their hearts.

After this battle, Xu Que became famous overnight, his portrait sung and circulated throughout the Kingdom.

Walking through the city, although the commoners did not dare approach to disturb the Imperial Carriage, they all looked at Xu Que with eyes full of reverence.

"Wonderful! Look, this is the prestige of Us, the Emperor." Xu Que greatly enjoyed this atmosphere. "Quickly investigate who spread these rumors? Find them, and Us shall reward them heavily!"

Xuan Yuan Wanrong accompanied him at his side; looking at this lad who had stayed with her for two years, she vaguely felt a strange sensation arise.

"This lad... indeed isn't completely useless."

Although his current reputation was exaggerated by rumors, the things Xu Que had done were undeniably real.

While in the Imperial City, she had clearly never seen him practice martial arts, nor had she ever seen him study military strategy, so how could he possess such ability?

This bastard always seemed to be this way, capable of producing something unexpected.

Noticing Xuan Yuan Wanrong's gaze, Xu Que glanced at her, then suddenly crossed his arms tightly: "Why are you looking at me with such eyes? Have you, woman, finally been unable to restrain your desire to covet me, the Saint of Pretentiousness, and are preparing to force yourself on me right here on the street? That's not very good... so many people are watching. However, if you insist, we can discuss it after we return..."

Noticing Xuan Yuan Wanrong's gaze, Xu Que glanced at her, then suddenly crossed his arms tightly: "Why are you looking at me like that? Have you finally lost control of your desire to covet this Saintly Self and are preparing to force yourself on me right here on the street? That's not very good... so many people are watching. But if you insist, we can discuss it when we get back..."

Xuan Yuan Wanrong instantly turned black with anger, waved her hand, and left without looking back.

This lad... was still a bastard as always.

Xu Que smiled indifferently and did not follow her back; instead, he went to Hu Zhengtang's residence.

Seeing Xu Que arrive, Hu Zhengtang hastily rose to pay respects: "Greetings, Your Majesty."

"Rise and be at ease." Xu Que waved his hand and sat down in a chair. "What is the current situation?"

A trace of worry appeared on Hu Zhengtang's face: "Reporting to Your Majesty, the King of Qin has gone mad; currently, four million troops are stockpiled at the border, having mobilized almost all the military strength within his country."

A trace of worry appeared on Hu Zhengtang's face: "Reporting to Your Majesty, the King of Qin has gone mad; currently, a full four million troops are amassed at the border, having mobilized nearly all the military strength within the country."

Four million!

The soldiers were all stunned.

Even adding the Imperial City troops Xu Que brought, the garrison of the entire Tianmen Pass City numbered less than one million.

Although the main reason was that Eastern Tang had not seen war for a long time and had few domestic garrisons, plus Xu Que had vigorously developed serfs and infrastructure over the past two years, causing most people to go farming instead.

But this disparity was simply too vast!

"It seems the King of Qin is truly furious this time... four million troops; he has even deployed all the gunners annexed from the other several nations after the government," Hu Zhengtang murmured, feeling that the road ahead was pitch black.

The soldiers, originally full of enthusiasm, now sank into deep dejection.

How the hell are we supposed to fight this?

With a personnel ratio nearing one to four, the enemy could drown Eastern Tang's gunners just by each spitting a mouthful of saliva.

"Do not panic; with this Sect Master... ahem, with this King here, everything can be discussed," Xu Que cleared his throat and said mysteriously, "To be honest, this King is the Sect Master of the Heaven-Exploding Sect; when the fighting starts, the Heaven-Exploding Sect's Heavenly Soldiers will naturally come to the rescue!"

Hu Zhengtang smiled weakly, "Your Majesty, please do not joke; what Heavenly Soldiers and Generals? Perhaps you should return to the Imperial City first; as long as you remain, our Eastern Tang will at least not fall."

It did not matter if the border was lost; as long as Emperor Xu Que still lived, Eastern Tang would have a day when it rose again.

Just as everyone was at a loss, a Messenger suddenly arrived.

"Report! The King of Qin has reached the frontline and sends an Envoy to visit!"

Upon hearing this, everyone immediately froze.

Why did the King of Qin suddenly send an Envoy again?

Could it be that he is here to persuade us to surrender once more?

Have they truly forgotten that their previous Envoy is still imprisoned within the Imperial Palace of the Eastern Tang Kingdom?