Chapter 135: Emperor Wu, Resuming the Campaign

Liu Ju Ben, full of worries, returned from the construction site of the great ship to the sleeping chamber in the front hall of Weiyang Palace.

His brows were tightly knit, his expression somewhat weary.

Li Yan, who had just become a married woman, was sitting inside the hall waiting for Liu Ju Ben to return.

Seeing Liu Ju Ben in this state, concern welled up in her heart instantly; she hurriedly rose and quickly walked to his side, asking softly:

"Your Majesty, what has happened? Look at you, so burdened with worries."

Li Yan's voice was gentle, carrying a hint of worry, like a spring breeze that lightly brushed over Liu Ju Ben's agitated heart.

Liu Ju Ben let out a long sigh, sat down on the couch, and told Li Yan in full detail about the problem with the warship timber and how, despite seeking solutions from all sides, he had found no clue.

Li Yan's insight was naturally not that of an ordinary woman; after hearing him, her delicate brows furrowed slightly, and both fell into contemplation.

After a moment of silence, Li Yan tried to ease the oppressive atmosphere; she picked up the hairpin beside her and gestured for Liu Ju Ben to put it on her.

Liu Ju Ben instinctively reached out to help her, but the instant his fingers touched the hairpin, his motion froze abruptly, his eyes locked on that hairpin, and he stood stunned.

"This hairpin…… where did you get it?" Liu Ju Ben spoke slowly, his voice tinged with an excitement he could barely conceal.

Li Yan, somewhat puzzled by his reaction, nevertheless answered truthfully: "This was given to me by Empress Dowager, who said it was a gift sent back from the Western Regions by Father Emperor, saying it came from Magadha."

Liu Ju Ben's gaze grew ever hotter as he stared fixedly at the hairpin, murmuring to himself: "This wood, this wood comes from India……"

A flash of insight crossed his mind, and he immediately recalled what kind of wood was used to build ships when Zheng He of the Ming dynasty sailed to the Western Oceans.

Basically, it was teak from Southeast Asia and India, of course there were other materials, but in terms of texture and corrosion resistance, teak was undoubtedly the best.

But now Sang Hongyang and Jin Rizhe have risen in rebellion, blocking the overland route to the south, and going by sea is not realistic either.

Moreover, at this time the manufacture of steam engines had not yet been scheduled, power was insufficient, so Liu Ju Ben abandoned that idea.

At this stage, wooden ships are sufficient.

And the region producing teak, India, is precisely the Magadha of this time!

"Father Emperor, he must be right there!"

Having grasped the crux of the problem, Liu Ju Ben rose to his feet and loudly ordered the attendant: "Get the horses ready at once, send someone to Magadha as quickly as possible to find the Retired Emperor! Be sure to inform him of the warship timber matter and request assistance!"

Having realized the key to the problem, Liu Ju stood up and loudly ordered the attendant: 'Immediately prepare the horses, send someone to Mojietuo Kingdom at the utmost speed to seek the Retired Emperor! Be sure to inform him of the shipbuilding materials matter and request assistance!'

Liu Ju Ben turned to Li Yan, his eyes full of hopeful light, and said: "Li'er, this hairpin is the key to solving the warship timber problem; if we can obtain high-quality wood from Magadha, the construction of our Han navy's warships will have hope."

Li Yan saw Liu Ju Ben's fighting spirit reignite in his eyes, her own heart stirred, and she nodded lightly.

The blazing sun hung high, unleashing its scorching rays without reserve, baking the whole earth to a sizzling heat.

Magadha lies in the tropics, summer approaching, the whole world feels like a furnace.

Emperor Wu Liuche rode a sturdy black horse, standing imposingly on the vast lands of Magadha.

The dry hot wind swept up yellow sand, blowing into his face and striking his gaunt cheeks, bringing faint pains.

At this moment his golden battle armor gleamed brilliantly in the sunlight, forged for him by the local nobles and aristocrats after his conquest of the Greater Yuezhi.

At this moment, his golden battle armor shone brilliantly in the sunlight, having been crafted for him by the local nobles and aristocrats with all their effort after his conquest of the Dayuezhi.

Liuche urged his horse to turn, at the mountain pass leading into Magadha, he looked back over the Greater Yuezhi lands just trampled flat by the Han Army, his eyes full of heroic ambition.

Li Guang and Huo Qubing at his side felt the same.

Yet such conquest did not satisfy Liuche; the blazing imperial heart within him drove him to turn his keen gaze toward the southern Magadha.

However, such conquest did not satisfy Liuche; the blazing imperial heart drove him to turn his keen gaze southward toward the Mojietuo Kingdom.

Emperor Wu lightly waved his hand; the Han Army soldiers immediately received the order and marched into Magadha with mighty momentum.

At this time Magadha had just experienced the peak of the Peacock Dynasty under Ashoka, as well as the overthrow of that dynasty by the Shunga Dynasty, and was now in the early period of the Andhra Dynasty.

As soon as Liuche set foot on Magadhan soil, he could keenly feel the desolation and complexity left behind after the land had just undergone tumultuous changes.

During the heyday of the Peacock Dynasty under Ashoka, this place had been a blissful land where Buddhism flourished, trade prospered, and the nation was strong; Ashoka's edicts were inscribed in all directions, and the compassionate light of the Dharma seemed to shine upon every inch of earth.

However, with the Shunga Dynasty overthrowing the Peacock Dynasty, the former glory was shattered; now, in the early Andhra Dynasty, Magadha struggles desperately to move forward amidst the historical whirlpool.

The political situation is chaotic, the people's livelihoods are declining, religions are growing increasingly complex, and the inhabitants of this land are living in dire straits.

Inside the tent, Liuche's silhouette was cast upon the tent wall.

At this moment he was attentively listening to a guide named Shi Liu explain the situation in Magadha.

Shi Liu was slender in build, his skin darkened from years of running under the scorching sun.

He had originally been a noble during Ashoka's era; in those prosperous times, his ancestors wore fine robes, entered and left the court, participated in numerous state affairs, and enjoyed great honor.

However, with the fall of the Peacock Dynasty and the rise of the Shunga Dynasty, ruthless political struggles dragged him into the abyss; his family was unjustly persecuted, lost everything, and was forced to flee in disgrace to the Greater Yuezhi.

Only upon the arrival of Emperor Wu were his talent and knowledge of Magadha recognized, and thus he became a guide for the Han Army.

At this moment, Shi Liu slightly bowed his body, his expression tense yet striving to remain calm, his fingers tracing on the spread-out sheepskin map.

"Great Majesty Ashoka, Magadha now appears as a loose sand, but in reality various forces surge with hidden currents. The old nobles, while nominally submitting to the Andhra Dynasty, are secretly recruiting troops and buying horses, dreaming of regaining their former power. Checkpoints stand everywhere, the people suffer immensely, and over a mere morsel of food they often brawl."

Shi Liu's voice carried a slight tremor, both from nervousness at being able to converse with this far-renowned Son of Heaven of Han, and from heartache over his homeland's tragic state.

He has always revered Emperor Wu Liuche as the reincarnation of Ashoka; at first the emperor showed some disdain, but over time he came to see this as well a means of winning people's hearts.

He has always revered Emperor Wu of Han, Liuche, as the reincarnation of Ashoka; at first the emperor showed some disdain, but over time he came to see it as a means of winning people's hearts.

Emperor Wu slightly furrowed his brow, his eyes fixed on the key locations marked on the map of Magadha, quickly calculating countermeasures in his mind. "What about the religious aspect?"

Emperor Wu of Han frowned slightly, his eyes fixed on the various key points marked on the map of the Mojietuo Kingdom, quickly calculating countermeasures in his mind: 'What about the religious aspect?'

"Your Majesty, during the Peacock Dynasty Buddhism flourished, but once the Shunga Dynasty came to power it ruthlessly suppressed Buddhism, smashing temples and expelling monks. Now, although Buddhism still has followers, its vitality is greatly weakened. Meanwhile, Hinduism and other sects have taken advantage of the situation, and constant clashes between followers of different faiths have thrown the whole country into chaos."

"Your Majesty, during the Maurya Dynasty Buddhism flourished, but when the Shunga Dynasty came to power, it ruthlessly suppressed Buddhism—temples were destroyed, monks expelled. Although Buddhism still has followers today, its vitality is greatly weakened. Meanwhile, Hinduism and other sects have taken advantage of the situation to rise, and constant clashes between followers of different faiths have thrown the entire country into chaos."

After listening, Emperor Wu reflected for a moment, then said slowly: "This time I have come, I will surely put an end to this chaotic situation. The people of Magadha are mired in water and fire; I shall descend as a savior, overturn this corrupt old order, and bring them peace and prosperity."

At this moment, the sound of footsteps came from outside the tent, and Li Guang and Huo Qubing strode in.

At that moment, the sound of footsteps came from outside the camp, and Li Guang and Huo Qubing strode into the camp.