Chapter 38

Hearing his own name, Lü Bu was overjoyed, immediately stepped forward, clasped his fists and respectfully said: "I, the subordinate, have received the order; I will surely pacify Liangzhou for the Emperor."

"At the same time, notify Zhang Liao, who is stationed in Chang'an, to send troops to attack Bingzhou."

Cao Lao Aiqing leads Two Hundred Thousand Xiyuan Eight Captains to cooperate with Lü Bu, while Luoyang will be defended by Yuan Shao's fifty thousand Yulin Army.

Yuan Lao Aiqing, the heavy responsibility of defending Luoyang is now entrusted to you!

"I, the subordinate, have received the order; I will surely guard Luoyang well for the Emperor!" Yuan Shao immediately said to Liu Bian with a solemn expression.

This time, for the expedition, I will personally lead the army.

After arranging everyone's tasks, Liu Bian solemnly addressed the people below.

"What, Emperor, you cannot! As the Emperor, how can you risk yourself? This old minister absolutely disagrees!"

"Yes, Emperor."

Upon hearing that Liu Bian wanted to personally lead the army, Grand Tutor Yuan Kui immediately stepped forward to oppose.

The officials below the hall also all opposed.

"You Ministers, are you not just worried about my safety? You should know that I am different from other emperors; with my Innate Realm strength, who in this Tian Xia could be my opponent?"

Liu Bian, seeing everyone's worry and anxious expression, spoke loudly with an imposing aura.

"That also won't do; on the battlefield, blades are blind, and if the Emperor's dragon body were injured, we ministers would find it impossible to atone even with ten thousand deaths."

Having heard Liu Bian's explanation, the ministers still disagreed with his personal expedition; the Han dynasty had finally produced a wise ruler like Liu Bian who could turn the tide, and they certainly did not want any mishap to befall him.

"Hehehe, you Ministers worry about my safety; I am deeply touched." Regarding the ministers' concern, Liu Bian felt very satisfied.

"Since you are worried, I will let you Ministers see my strength."

Liu Bian saw that the ministers still wouldn't relent, so he wanted to show them a display of strength.

With a thought, Liu Bian's body was suddenly adorned with a supremely noble purple-gold Nine-Clawed Golden Dragon armor, and in his hand appeared a precious sword—this was exactly the Emperor Sword and Emperor Armor he had obtained.

The Emperor Armor was still being used for the first time by Liu Bian; since obtaining it, it had remained dormant in his dantian.

Then, he mobilized the Innate True Qi in his dantian, circulating it through the Supreme Emperor Art: "Golden Dragon Protects the Body."

"A chant..."

A resounding dragon cry echoed through the hall, and immediately everyone saw a golden halo appear around Liu Bian; on its surface, a five to six zhang long purple-gold Nine-Clawed Golden Dragon, its scales flashing with cold light, coiled majestically and solemnly.

"A hiss..."

Seeing this shocking scene, the ministers below were all stunned into a daze.

Liu Bian's imposing and mighty display—let alone in the feudal late Han era, even in modern urban society it would be considered incredibly explosive!

"Your Majesty's divine might, I submit!"

Cao Cao, with his strong mentality, was the first to recover, immediately staring at Liu Bian with a fervent expression.

Hearing Cao Cao's voice, everyone also came to their senses, immediately looking at Liu Bian with fiery eyes, they excitedly shouted: "Your Majesty's divine might surpasses the world; we submit!"

Seeing the ministers' fiery gazes, Liu Bian felt a chill. "These people surely don't have any strange hobbies, do they?" Thinking this, he immediately shuddered.

"Now, you Ministers need not worry about my safety anymore! With my strength, standing there they cannot break my defense." Putting away the armor, withdrawing the protective true qi, Liu Bian smiled and said to everyone.

"Your Majesty's power reaches the heavens; I have been presumptuous, I will no longer obstruct Your Majesty." Yuan Kui said to Liu Bian with an embarrassed expression.

"We ministers agree to Your Majesty's personal expedition." The ministers also no longer objected.

"Good, that's settled then; in two days, we will muster the troops on the battlefield and set out." Liu Bian immediately said to everyone.

"Yes!"

Wang Lao Aiqing, have all the equipment for the Xiliang Army been sent?" Thinking of the Three Treasures of the Horse for the Xiliang Army, Liu Bian asked Wang Yun aloud.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, I have already arranged for the Thirty Thousand sets of equipment for the Xiliang Army to be sent to General Lü Bu's hands five days ago." Wang Yun said respectfully to Liu Bian.

"Good, Loving Minister, you've worked hard; we must also speed up the subsequent production." Liu Bian reminded Wang Yun.

Upon hearing Liu Bian's words, Wang Yun promptly replied: "Please rest assured, Your Majesty; I will keep an eye on this matter."

Liu Bian nodded in satisfaction.

"For this expedition, Jia Xu and Guo Jia will accompany me, while Xun Yu, Yuan Kui, and Yang Biao will be responsible for overseeing the state."

Liu Bian's gaze swept over those few individuals, and he spoke to them in a stern tone.

"We ministers will obey the edict and surely not disappoint Your Majesty's trust!" Upon hearing Liu Bian's words, they immediately straightened their bodies, their faces full of solemnity and resolve.

Their voices were uniform and resonant, full of loyalty and determination. In each person's eyes, a steadfast color could be seen.

"Good, the three Ministers will handle affairs; I am very reassured. During the time I am away on campaign, the Han Empire will be entrusted to you. The rest of you must cooperate well with the three Ministers; I hope you do not disappoint me."

Liu Bian stood before the Gao Tai Dragon Throne, his posture tall and imposing, like an immovable mountain peak. His gaze swept over every official in the Gongting, as if he could see through their eyes the loyalty and responsibility deep within their hearts.

"We ministers will certainly obey the edict, cooperate well with the three officials, and not disappoint Your Majesty's trust."

The ministers all knelt down and responded in unison. Their voices rang like a thunderclap throughout the Gongting, each official's face beaming with steadfastness and determination; they were willing to stand with Liu Bian to guard the nation, striving hard for its prosperity and peace.

"Good, you Ministers are all loyal subjects of mine, and loyal subjects of my Han Empire!"

"Each of you is a pillar of my Han Empire; with your assistance, I believe we can surely create a glorious, powerful golden age, making the people of my Han Empire all like dragons!"

Liu Bian, seeing the steadfastness in everyone's eyes, his expression solemn and dignified, spoke.

"We ministers will surely go through fire and water for Your Majesty and the Han Dynasty."

The ministers all knelt down and shouted in unison.

Now that the political affairs are finished, let's talk about what cultivation realms you have reached over the past month or so." After finishing the political affairs, Liu Bian again inquired about everyone's cultivation progress.

"Let the Civil Officials speak first!"

"Oh, right, those over thirty need not report; among you, being able to cultivate at all is already good; in just over twenty days, there won't be much progress!" After saying this to the civil officials, Liu Bian added another reminder.

"Your Majesty, let me, your humble servant, speak first; after over twenty days of cultivation, I have successfully broken through to the Tongsheng Second Layer Realm."

Seeing that everyone standing before him was over thirty years old, Xun Yu immediately stepped forward and respectfully reported his cultivation progress to Liu Bian.