Journey to the West: Starting by taking Sun Wukong as my disciple!-Chapter 589 - 588 The Emperor’s Hardship

Because the emperor is mortal, it’s possible that his martial prowess isn’t even as high as his ministers’, but they all listen to the emperor not for any other reason, but solely because he is the emperor.

Yet the higher his position, the less secure he feels inside.

For an emperor’s power all stems from his ministers and generals; without them, the emperor is nothing more than an ordinary person.

It is precisely for this reason that the emperor feels increasingly insecure about those ministers who hold higher positions.

He doesn’t know whether they might rebel or harbor thoughts of becoming the emperor themselves, so he has to rely on other means to control them.

Such as keeping them in the capital or taking away their powers.

It turns out that affairs of the mortal world are so complex; indeed, for an emperor to consolidate his position in the mortal world is not an easy task.

He must not only manage his own country well but also prevent foreign barbarians from seizing his territory, and also watch out for the ministers around him—all done by a mortal without a trace of magical power.

After listening to Chai Wei, Tian Peng finally realized why emperors in the mortal world were replaced so frequently, and even some who became emperor only lasted two or three years before they were replaced.

The darkness within could only be known by those closest to the emperor or those coveting the throne.

He thought back to when he had followed the official from Kaifeng Prefecture to Chang’an and saw the emperor. Although dressed in magnificent attire, the emperor’s spirit looked much aged.

Commoners age first in appearance, but it’s quite the opposite for the emperor; he ages first in heart and spirit.

Chai Wei had a question he had been wanting to ask. Looking at the queue, it would be a few more people before it was his turn. There was still time to ask anything he wanted, so he hastily asked the question he had been itching to ask.

"You actually know that those participating in the military examination aren’t commoners, don’t you? Why then did you still choose to take part in the military examination?"

"I didn’t know," Tian Peng answered honestly.

Chai Wei was stunned. That couldn’t be right; how could he not know? If he didn’t, why would he participate in the military examination?

"It’s not that I didn’t know at all, just that I found out quite late. I only learned about it when I was registering. But that didn’t seem to conflict much with my decision to take the examination," Tian Peng added, finishing what he hadn’t said before.

Indeed, after saying that, it seemed almost meaningless; since he only knew by then, whether he knew or not was irrelevant.

"Then why did you come to take part in the military examination?" Chai Wei asked again. "Looking at your martial prowess, if you were to simply enlist in the army, it seems you would rise through the ranks faster than if you participated in the military examination."

"Moreover, the official positions provided through the military examination are titular ones with little room for advancement, but it’s different with the army. If you’re willing, you could even become a Marshal..."

Hearing the title of Marshal, Tian Peng almost laughed out loud. It seemed he couldn’t escape this title, whether in heaven or on earth; it always followed him.

"I don’t care about that, but indeed, I didn’t come to the military examination of my own volition."

Chai Wei wasn’t surprised at all by this response.

He knew that someone as outstanding as Zhu Ganglie would not be participating in the military examination, an utterly tedious affair.

"So why are you here?"

After thinking for a moment, Tian Peng said cautiously, "Actually, I came here on a wager. I was planning on staying home to farm, but someone saw that I was well-built and insisted that I participate in the military examination, so here I am."

"That person, is he the Governor of Bianjing who wrote the recommendation letter for you?" Chai Wei asked, puzzled.

Tian Peng nodded, "Actually, it wasn’t just one person, there were two."

"Who else is there? Who could it be?"

Tian Peng didn’t answer directly but teased him instead, "Take a guess, you might just get it right."

A guess? Really?

Chai Wei thought about it for a while, but he really couldn’t figure out who it could be. Did the Governor of Bianjing have another reason for recommending him, or could it be possible that Zhu Ganglie still had acquaintances in the capital?

"You really can’t guess?" Tian Peng said with a laugh, seeing Chai Wei scratching his head in thought. "Do you want a hint?"

Chai Wei truly had no idea, so he nodded, "Okay, give me a hint. I really can’t figure it out."

"The less you dare to think of someone," Tian Peng began.

"The less I dare to think of someone, the more I should think it’s them?" Chai Wei scratched his head. "Surely it can’t be my father? Besides him, I truly can’t think of anyone else."

"Do I look like I’d be acquainted with your father?" Tian Peng rolled his eyes.

"Then, I really can’t think of anyone."

Chai Wei indeed couldn’t come up with an answer and scratched his head again. "Zhu, you know, us martial types aren’t exactly brainy. Just tell me, I really can’t think of anyone."

Seeing that Chai Wei honestly didn’t know, Tian Peng let out a sigh and told him straight, "The one from above."

He looked up, but wasn’t the whole place just one floor? Who could be above?

When he turned his head and saw that Zhu Ganglie was looking at him as if he were an idiot, he immediately understood. When Zhu Ganglie referred to ’the one from above’, he meant His Majesty.

Chai Wei’s eyes widened in surprise, "His, His...really?"

"Really, why would I lie to you?" Tian Peng spread his hands. "Besides, do I look like I need to lie to you? Whether I lie or not, I’m destined to be number one anyway."

His words were indeed irritating, yet true. Chai Wei was still struggling to wrap his head around the fact that the Emperor had asked Tian Peng to join the martial examination.

"Really? But why?"

"There’s no why; I don’t know either," Tian Peng honestly replied. "Your Majesty didn’t explain to me. He just told me to stay in Chang’an, and then the Governor of Bianjing happened to suggest that I take part in the martial examination. Afterward, His Majesty recommended that I participate."

"So that’s how it is," Chai Wei nodded. "I think I can guess a bit of the reason."

Tian Peng nodded, "If you think you can guess, do you think I can’t guess what His Majesty’s intentions are?"

"Are you playing word chain here?" Chai Wei shot Tian Peng a look. "So, before you even took office, His Majesty already entrusted you with a very important mission."

"Sort of," Tian Peng replied. "But I don’t see it as a mission; to me, it feels more like a challenge."

"A challenge?" Chai Wei was puzzled. "Brother Zhu, why would you say that? This is clearly a great responsibility that has been entrusted to you."

"You don’t even understand this; how are you going to lead troops into battle in the future?" Tian Peng quickly threw the disdainful look back at Chai Wei.

Chai Wei wanted to return the look but indeed didn’t understand what was going on, so he held back and asked humbly, "I’m still young, you know. Even if I have to lead troops into battle, it won’t be for a few more years. Now is the time for me to learn, right?"

"You..." Tian Peng looked at Chai Wei and realized that what he said made some sense, so he didn’t tease him anymore. Instead, he replied directly, "Because I’m from the countryside, I’ve never been to Chang’an, and His Majesty has never met me. He’s neither clear about my strength nor certain whether I’m a talent he can use."