Chapter 177: Preparing the Army for War

Seeing the six Grand Commanders respond with faces full of determination, Liu Bian nodded in satisfaction.

After resolving these matters, Liu Bian suddenly stood up from the dragon throne, walked to the front of the high platform, and swept his gaze majestically over the assembled officials.

Then, he spoke to the officials with a face full of authority:

"I intend to launch a military campaign against the remaining six provinces in three months' time."

"The Han Empire has been divided for too long; it is time for it to be reunified!"

Upon hearing this, the officials were startled for a moment, then all revealed expressions of excitement, bowing in unison before Liu Bian and shouting in one voice:

"Your Majesty is wise! We, your subjects, second this!"

By now, their strength was already invincible under heaven.

Currently, there were nearly a hundred people whose strength had reached the Postnatal Realm alone.

As for the original fifty thousand Xiliang troops under Lü Bu and the one hundred thousand Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry under Zhang Liao, even the weakest among them had already reached the strength of a First-rate Martial General.

These men, with the help of the Spirit Stone Fragments Liu Bian had bestowed upon them at the time, had all broken through to the strength of a First-rate Martial General in one fell swoop.

Now, only those at the Divine General Realm could serve as Centurions, and only those at the Postnatal Realm or above could hold positions of Thousand-man Commander or higher.

With such formidable strength, the officials had long been looking forward to the unification of the world.

If it hadn't been for the lack of sufficient grain and fodder for such a large army to go on an expedition, they would have long since submitted memorials to Liu Bian to send the troops.

But now, with the harvest of sweet potatoes, plus the cattle and sheep captured from the Xiongnu by Zhang Liao some time ago, and the family assets confiscated from the aristocratic clans in the three provinces of Sili, Liangzhou, and Bingzhou—

The imperial treasury was finally a bit fuller.

If they could harvest one more season of sweet potatoes, they would no longer have to worry about grain and fodder.

Moreover, in Liu Bian's system space, there were still one hundred tons of hybrid rice seeds.

Liu Bian had not yet distributed these seeds, as he was waiting for Xu Shu and the others to fully control the situation in the four provinces including Yuzhou before distributing them equally among those provinces.

Seeing that not a single official opposed him, Liu Bian nodded in satisfaction.

"Since none of you, my beloved ministers, oppose this, then it is decided!"

"Wenruo, after you and the cabinet go down, contact the four Inspectors—Xu Shu, Ju Shou, and the others—and arrange the affairs of Yuzhou and the other three provinces as soon as possible."

"In these four provinces, all of our established policies must be implemented; the land in the hands of the aristocratic clans must all be handled according to what was implemented in Sili."

"If there are any aristocratic clans that dare to disobey, they shall be dealt with strictly without exception: their homes confiscated and they themselves demoted to slaves!"

"Our Han is currently in need of manual labor; the construction of the Yinghun Shrine and the Royal Academy both require a large amount of manpower."

As for those aristocratic clans that dare to resist, simply killing them would be a bit of a waste.

If these people truly dare to resist, they are the best labor force.

"We, your subjects, obey the decree!"

Upon hearing this, the Ministers of the Six Ministries and the cabinet ministers all responded with solemn faces.

They knew that this time, quite a few aristocratic clans in these four provinces would likely be struck from the records.

Back when Liu Bian's decree was first sent to the thirteen provinces of the Han, in these four provinces, apart from the reduction in taxes—

Not a single bit of land in the hands of the aristocratic clans had been handed over.

"Remember, I only give you one month!"

In order to quickly bring the four provinces into order, Liu Bian imposed a time limit on them.

"We, your subjects, obey the decree!"

Hearing this, the men's expressions tightened, and they all responded loudly and solemnly.

"Mengde, have Gan Ning and Taishi Ci departed for Xuzhou?"

At this moment, Liu Bian suddenly asked Cao Cao about the whereabouts of Gan Ning and Taishi Ci.

Upon hearing this, Cao Cao immediately bowed and replied:

"Reporting to Your Majesty, Generals Gan Ning and Taishi Ci departed for Xuzhou three days ago."

Hearing this, Liu Bian immediately said to Cao Cao with a solemn expression:

"Good. Tell the Inspector of Xuzhou, Chen Gong, that once Gan Ning and the other arrive, he is to fully cooperate with them in recruiting soldiers."

"I want to see the presence of our Han Navy in the unification war three months from now!"

By then, the Jingzhou battlefield and the Yangzhou battlefield will be the home turf for the navy.

If the navy's assistance is missing, the progress of attacking those two provinces will be delayed.

Upon hearing this, Cao Cao's body trembled, and he replied solemnly to Liu Bian:

"This humble subject obeys the decree!"

Hearing this, Liu Bian nodded in satisfaction, and then said to the officials with authority:

"By the way, Cao Xing, who is garrisoning Hangu Pass, is to be transferred back to Fengxian's Shenwu Army to serve as a Grand General of the Shenwu Legion."

"His official rank is Fourth Rank, his salary is six hundred shi, and he is to be rewarded with one Yellow Grade Ultimate Weapon, the Qingfeng Blade!"

"Hao Meng, the defender of Hangu Pass, has performed meritorious service in garrisoning the pass; he is now conferred the title of Fourth Rank Anyuan General of the Han Empire, with a salary of six hundred shi, and rewarded with one Yellow Grade Ultimate Weapon, the Yanyue Blade!"

"Cheng Lian, the defender of Hulao Pass, has performed meritorious service in garrisoning the pass; he is now conferred the title of Fourth Rank Xingye General of the Han Empire, with a salary of six hundred shi, and rewarded with one Yellow Grade Ultimate Weapon, the Liuyun Blade!"

After hearing this, the hundred officials all respectfully shouted in unison:

"Your Majesty is wise! We, your subjects, bow in submission!"

Such clear rewards and punishments are the mark of a wise monarch of a generation.

These two had garrisoned Hangu Pass and Hulao Pass for so long, and Cao Xing and Cang Ba, who were with them, had all received rewards.

If they hadn't promoted the two of them, they would likely have harbored grievances in their hearts.

Although it wouldn't go so far as betrayal, the necessary emotions would still have sprouted.

Soon, Liu Bian called Xun Yu to take up the brush and write the imperial edicts of appointment for the men on the spot.

He handed the rewards for the three men along with the edicts to the Eunuch Chief Steward Li Liangcheng to be sent to them by fast horse.

After the group discussed a few more issues, the Grand Court Assembly finally came to an end.

"Phew, it's finally over. Three months from now, there will still be nearly six months left until the time limit for Task Three."

"Recovering the six provinces within six months is not too difficult!"

After the hundred officials retreated from the court, Liu Bian returned to the Imperial Study, let out a long sigh, and couldn't help but exclaim.

"Your Majesty, the Commander of the Shadow Guards, Tai'a, requests an audience!"

Just as Liu Bian had let out a breath, the Eunuch Chief Steward Li Liangcheng hurried to Liu Bian's side and said respectfully.

"Oh, tell Tai'a to come in!"

Hearing that it was Tai'a requesting an audience, Liu Bian couldn't help but feel a bit curious.

Generally speaking, Tai'a would absolutely never seek him out unless there was something going on.

After Li Liangcheng brought Tai'a in, Tai'a immediately bowed respectfully to Liu Bian:

"This humble subject Tai'a pays respects to Your Majesty!"

"Rise. Tai'a, why do you seek an audience with me?"

Waving his hand at Tai'a, Liu Bian asked him.

"Your Majesty, I have just received intelligence from the Dark Guards in Youzhou: the Prefect of Liaoxi, Gongsun Zan, took advantage of Lord Liu's return to the capital to seize the opportunity to attack Liaodong Commandery."

"Yesterday, the Prefect of Liaodong, Gongsun Du, resisted to the death, but in the end, he was defeated by Gongsun Zan."

"Gongsun Du was killed, and now, Gongsun Zan has already occupied the entire Liaodong Commandery."

"Now, he already has the lands of the two commanderies of Liaoxi and Liaodong under his command!" ===== CHAPTER 178 =====