Chapter 42

West of the city, at the gate of the Xiliang army camp, early in the morning, several senior officers of the Xiliang army were already standing at the camp gate, looking as if they were waiting for an important person.

The leader was none other than Lü Bu and Cao Cao, who were leading this expedition, along with others.

As early as yesterday, Cao Cao had already arrived with his two hundred thousand troops; today, they were all waiting for Liu Bian's arrival.

Soon after, Liu Bian and his entourage appeared at the camp gate, and Lü Bu and the others hurried forward to meet them.

「Your humble servant, Lü Bu, Cao Cao, Chen Gong, pay respects to Your Majesty! 」 Lü Bu, Cao Cao, and Chen Gong, seeing Liu Bian and his party, hurried forward to pay their respects.

「Your humble servant pays respects to Your Majesty! 」

The people behind them, seeing the actions of Lü Bu and the two others, immediately realized that this young man, with extraordinary bearing, handsome appearance, and an imperial aura emanating from his whole body, was the emperor of the Han Empire.

They all clasped their fists in salute and shouted loudly.

「Generals, no need for excessive courtesy; please rise! 」

Liu Bian dismounted, handed his horse to the soldier behind him, and smiled as he spoke to the crowd.

「Thank you, Your Majesty! 」 Upon hearing Liu Bian's response, everyone straightened up.

「Mengde, you came rather early, didn't you? Are you afraid I won't let you go? 」

Looking at the arriving Cao Cao, Liu Bian said with a teasing expression.

「Your Majesty, you jest; I harbor no such intention—I merely wished to see you sooner! 」

Hearing Liu Bian's words, Cao Cao's old face flushed red, and he defended himself.

「Haha, I never thought you, Cao Mengde, would also flatter! 」

Hearing Cao Cao's words, Liu Bian immediately laughed, wondering if this was still the historically decisive and ruthless Cao Cao.

「Your Majesty, what I said is all true! 」 Cao Cao immediately defended himself. That solemn expression of his indeed seemed fitting...

「Alright, I won't tease you anymore; let's enter the camp first! 」 After saying a few words to Cao Cao, he then addressed the crowd.

「Your Majesty, please enter the camp. 」

Lü Bu immediately stepped forward, gesturing for Liu Bian to proceed, then followed behind him as they walked into the main camp.

「Are the soldiers all assembled? 」 As they walked, Liu Bian asked Lü Bu beside him.

「Your humble servant, I have already gathered the soldiers; they are now assembled at the drill ground! 」

Hearing Liu Bian's question, Lü Bu promptly replied.

「Very well, let's go straight to the drill ground; don't keep my soldiers waiting anxiously! 」 Liu Bian immediately told Lü Bu.

「I humbly obey your command, Your Majesty; please follow me. 」 Upon hearing Liu Bian's intention to go directly to the drill ground, Lü Bu immediately took the lead, and the party hurried straight to the drill ground.

From afar, the people saw rows of neatly aligned soldiers holding long spears, standing solemnly in the drill ground, a fierce killing intent washing over them.

「Your Majesty, please ascend the platform! 」

Beneath the drill ground's high platform, Lü Bu respectfully said to Liu Bian.

Thereafter, Liu Bian stepped forward with determined strides toward the platform.

The soldiers below, seeing Liu Bian clad in purple-gold imperial armor, with an imperial sword at his waist, though young in age, were deeply shaken by the imperial aura emanating from his entire being.

「Is this the emperor of the Han Empire we serve? He is indeed mighty; surely only such an emperor could lead us in restoring the Han! 」

Gazing at Liu Bian's solemn, dignified expression and the imperial aura radiating from him, every soldier felt a profound shock within.

At this moment, they acknowledged Liu Bian's status; looking into his eyes, they were filled with awe and fervor.

Soon after, Liu Bian stood upon the drill ground's high platform; he swept back his cloak with an imposing gesture, turned, and gazed down at the fifty thousand soldiers standing in neat rows, holding spears and swords.

「Pay respects to Your Majesty! 」

Seeing Liu Bian turn, Lü Bu and the others standing before the troops immediately dropped to one knee, shouting loudly with faces full of fervor.

「Pay respects to Your Majesty! 」 Following Lü Bu's words, the fifty thousand soldiers below all dropped to one knee and shouted loudly.

That deafening sound made the entire drill ground feel as if it were trembling.

Standing on the platform, Liu Bian, looking at the soldiers kneeling below, also felt his blood boil.

Thereafter, he walked to the front of the platform, extended both hands, and with a stern expression said to the crowd: 「Soldiers, rise! 」

「Thank you, Your Majesty! 」

Afterward, another round of loud shouts came, the voices uniform and united, the momentum grand.

「Soldiers of the Han Empire, I am the emperor of this Han Empire; today I will lead you to suppress the rebel faction of Dong Zhuo. 」

Liu Bian stood on the platform, wearing the imperial armor and bearing a purple-gold treasure sword at his waist—precisely the System Reward's imperial armor and imperial sword—heroically addressing the masses of soldiers below.

「Since Dong Zhuo and his ilk plotted rebellion, the people of our Han Empire have all suffered oppression, causing the common folk of Sili, Liangzhou, and Bingzhou—the Three States—to endure unbearable hardship. 」

Liu Bian's face grew grave, his voice low as he continued: 「Countless civilians have been displaced, torn from their homes; how many have starved or fallen ill during their exile? 」

His eyes revealed sympathy and sorrow for the people.

「Even the people of our Han Empire have resorted to eating each other's children! 」

Liu Bian's voice rose with passion, his face filled with anger and anguish, as if he could feel the people's suffering.

「Now, although I have slain the rebel chief Dong Zhuo and rescued the people of Sili, Liangzhou and Bingzhou remain under the control of his followers; the people of these two provinces still await my rescue. Tell me, what should we do? 」

Liu Bian's expression grave, eyes flashing with killing intent, he loudly questioned the fifty thousand neatly arrayed soldiers below.

The fifty thousand soldiers beneath the platform listened silently to Liu Bian's speech, their gazes steadfast, their faces solemn.

When they heard Liu Bian mention the people's suffering, a flicker of grief and anger crossed their eyes.

At this moment, hearing Liu Bian's inquiry, the fifty thousand soldiers shouted in unison: 「We wish to follow Your Majesty on campaign, to save the people! Kill! Kill! Kill! 」

Their cries echoed to the heavens, expressing their resolve to follow Liu Bian into battle.

The fifty thousand soldiers' morale was high, ready to fight for the state and the people's welfare.

Liu Bian nodded in satisfaction, knowing these soldiers were loyal and brave, and that they would become a vital force in his quest to conquer all under heaven.

「Very well, you all should know: without a state there is no home; if our Han Empire grows strong, would these people still dare to rebel, still dare to oppress the populace? 」

「No! No! No! 」 At this moment, the crowd's fervor was wholly stirred by Liu Bian, and they all roared.

Good, worthy of being my Han Empire's soldiers, worthy of being my Han Dynasty good young men!

Emperor, today I promise you, as long as I, Liu Bian, remain the emperor of my Han Empire.

From now on, my Han Empire will have no marriage alliances, no indemnities, no territorial cessions, no tribute payments; the Son of Heaven guards the nation's gate, the monarch dies for the state altar!

Liu Bian's expression was solemn, with a look of determination on his face as he spoke to the soldiers below.