Chapter 26: with translation of chapter title

In the blink of an eye, twenty days passed, and as one ton of sweet potatoes was distributed into the hands of the Luoyang commoners, they all felt gratitude and devotion toward Liu Bian.

Relying on this batch of sweet potatoes, Liu Bian harvested nearly a hundred thousand National Fortune Value, and without hesitation decided to use all of it to continue exchanging for sweet potatoes, hoping to enable the commoners of the entire Sili region to plant this miraculous crop.

With a wave of Liu Bian's hand, ten tons of sweet potatoes appeared before everyone once again.

Although Wang Yun and the others had already witnessed Liu Bian's methods before, each time they saw him conjure objects out of thin air, they were still utterly shocked.

"Old Loving Minister Wang, please quickly send people to distribute these sweet potatoes to the commoners who have not yet planted them, and instruct them to plant them as soon as possible."

Otherwise, missing this opportunity, they would only be able to plant when summer arrives.

"What we lack most now is time, so we must clearly instruct those below; if anyone dares to outwardly comply while inwardly defying, they will all be punished for treason!"

Liu Bian spoke with a solemn expression to Wang Yun and the others, and the killing intent in his words sent a chill down their spines.

Hearing Liu Bian's words, Wang Yun and the others felt a jolt in their hearts, quickly nodded and agreed, promising to follow Liu Bian's demands.

They fully understood the importance of this matter and also grasped Liu Bian's determination and attitude toward it.

"By the way, during this period, have the various marquises sent anyone with the idea of stealing sweet potatoes?" The first batch of sweet potatoes had been planted for over ten days, and the marquises in all regions should have received the news.

Liu Bian obtained sweet potatoes, a food yielding nearly ten thousand catties per mu, and no one could remain unmoved.

"Your Majesty, the commoners know that the sweet potatoes you gave can yield about ten thousand catties per mu, and they are all moved to tears of gratitude toward you; the sweet potatoes are also well protected by the commoners, so there is no need for me to send people to supervise."

The spies of the various marquises under heaven, disguised as itinerant merchants, tried to spend large sums to buy from us, but I directly refused them; they then began to think of buying from the commoners.

"But the commoners are not foolish either; they also know the importance of sweet potatoes, so no matter how high a price they offer, the commoners still do not sell."

Wang Yun looked at Liu Bian with excitement, his face full of awe.

"That's good, but there's no need to worry too much; from now on, we must be more vigilant. I fear they will not give up easily; if ordinary means fail, they will resort to underhanded tactics."

Liu Bian gave these instructions with a solemn expression.

"Understood, please rest assured, Your Majesty; this old minister will certainly handle this matter properly, but currently we lack manpower, and I fear some places may be neglected!" Wang Yun said to Liu Bian with a troubled expression.

"Just do your best, Minister; after a while we will have plenty of usable people. The Recruitment Proclamation has been out for twenty days, and those coming from the farthest reaches of Luoyang should by now have arrived at the Zhao Xian Guan; I will go take a look later." Liu Bian explained to Wang Yun, speaking softly.

Thereafter, Wang Yun quickly arranged personnel and began organizing the distribution of sweet potatoes.

At the same time, he also selected some experienced farmers as technical instructors to ensure that every planting household could master the correct planting methods.

Under Liu Bian's strong promotion, the Sili region saw a surge in sweet potato planting.

Liu Bian's National Fortune Value also experienced a surge. All of this happened afterward; after leaving Wang Yun's mansion, Liu Bian headed toward the temporarily requisitioned Zhao Xian Guan in Luoyang City.

It is worth mentioning that the Eunuch Chief Steward Li Liangcheng, who attended Liu Bian, actually possessed an Xuan Yin Divine Body; for this, Liu Bian also imparted a Cultivation Method to him, and after twenty days of cultivation, he successfully broke through to the Houtian First Level.

And Xiahou Dun also possessed a Man Shen Body, and he broke through to the Houtian Second Level, his strength becoming even greater.

The fifty thousand Huben Army soldiers guarding the Imperial Palace were even more remarkable: ten broke into the First-rate Martial General rank, a hundred reached the Second-rate General rank, and all the others reached the Third-rate General rank; at this point, Liu Bian, relying solely on the fifty thousand Huben Army commanded by Xiahou Dun, could match the two- to three-hundred-thousand-strong armies of the various marquises under heaven.

This is still considering the fear of battlefield archery; if the two armies clashed in close combat, they could even repel a fifty-thousand-strong army, and a Third-rate General facing ten ordinary soldiers would still feel no pressure.

Seeing the cultivation achievements of the Huben Army, Liu Bian looked forward to the progress of the various soldiers of the Han Empire after one month.

The Zhao Xian Guan was established near the Imperial Palace for convenient management, and many mansions of court officials are located on Zhuque Street, also close to the Imperial Palace.

Not long after, Liu Bian, accompanied by Xiahou Dun, Li Liangcheng, and others, arrived at the gate of the Zhao Xian Guan.

The guard at the gate, seeing them approach, immediately stepped forward and asked, "Are you all here to join the Zhao Xian Guan?"

Liu Bian did not answer verbally, but instead gave Li Liangcheng a glance.

"Quickly go report to Lord Lu, and say that His Majesty has arrived in person." Seeing this, Li Liangcheng immediately understood and shouted loudly to the guard.

"This servant deserves death; this servant has eyes but no pearls, unaware that His Majesty's august presence has graced us; please forgive me, Your Majesty!" Upon learning that the young man before him was the present emperor Liu Bian, the guard was instantly frightened and fell to his knees begging for mercy.

"No need for ceremony, rise." Liu Bian said lightly to the guard, then lifted his foot, stepped over the guard, and walked straight into the Zhao Xian Guan.

"Why don't you quickly go inform your superiors to come out and receive the imperial carriage?" Looking at the guard still standing dazed on the spot, the Eunuch Chief Steward Li Liangcheng beside him rebuked him angrily.

"The guard that Lord Lu hired is really something, lacking any perceptiveness, unlike the little imperial eunuchs we have trained…"

Looking at the guard's performance before him, Eunuch Chief Steward Li Liangcheng couldn't help but compare him in his heart to the little imperial eunuchs he had trained.

Thereafter, everyone followed Liu Bian's steps and entered the Zhao Xian Guan together......

Liu Bian and the others slowly entered the Zhao Xian Guan; what met their eyes was a throng of heads, very lively.

He could not help but exclaim, "Lord Lu has indeed not disappointed expectations; in less than twenty days, he has gathered so many talents, truly delightful. I only wonder whether among them are the famous civil and military officials of history who have come to seek refuge."

Just then, a person hurried forward from ahead—it was the current Minister of Works, Lu Zhi. Upon seeing Liu Bian, he immediately knelt and paid his respects, respectfully saying, "Old Minister Lu Zhi greets Your Majesty; I failed to welcome you from afar, please forgive me, Your Majesty."

The dozen or so people behind him, seeing this, instantly understood that the person before them was the future Son of Heaven of the Han Empire they would serve—Liu Bian—and they all knelt and paid their respects.

"Commoner greets Your Majesty..."

Liu Bian smiled and waved his hand, signaling everyone to rise: "Lord Lu, everyone, no need for formalities, please get up quickly."

Thereafter, he turned his gaze toward the crowd behind Lu Zhi, carefully examining each person's face and expression.

The crowd also felt Liu Bian's gaze, and they all lifted their heads to meet his eyes, as if secretly observing this young monarch. After all, the sovereign chooses his ministers, and ministers also choose their sovereign.