Chapter 479: The Reunification of the Han Dynasty's Thirteen States

Liu Biao brought his entourage before Huang Zhong.

Looking at Huang Zhong astride his warhorse, bitterness welled up inside him.

Immediately after, a wave of humiliation swept over him.

To think that he, a dignified member of the Han Imperial Clan, Inspector of Jingzhou Liu Biao, had one day fallen to such a state.

Truly, one wrong step and the whole game is lost!

Suppressing the turmoil within, Liu Biao took out the Inspector's great seal, raised it high above his head, and bowed respectfully to Huang Zhong:

"The guilty subject, Inspector of Jingzhou Liu Biao, together with the civil and military officials of Jingzhou, opens the city and surrenders to General (Jiangjun) Huang Zhong!"

Seeing Liu Biao's action, the civil and military officials of Jingzhou following him immediately dropped to their knees and cried out in unison:

"We, the civil and military officials of Jingzhou, are willing to submit to General (Jiangjun) Huang Zhong!"

With Liu Biao's surrender, Jingzhou once again returned to Liu Bian's hands.

……

Meanwhile, in Yangzhou, under Zhang Liao's offensive, Liu Yao's last Yuzhang Commandery had also fallen.

And he was overtaken by Zhang Liao's pursuing forces while fleeing.

With Liu Yao captured alive, Yangzhou once again came under the Imperial Court's control.

……

As for the final Jiaozhou, Inspector Shi Xie was simply no match for Ma Chao and the two hundred thousand troops of the Qilin Legion.

In a mere twenty days, it had already been occupied by Ma Chao.

Inspector Shi Xie was also captured alive by Ma Chao on the battlefield.

At this point, the thirteen states of the Han Dynasty were once again fully reunified.

……

Luoyang.

"Victory report! Victory report!"

"General Lü Bu's Shenwu Legion has successfully recovered Yanzhou, and Inspector Liu Dai has also been captured alive by General Lü Bu. The army will return to the capital in a matter of days!"

"General Guan Yu, leading the Qinglong Legion, has successfully recovered Qingzhou and will return to the capital in a matter of days!"

"General Zhao Yun……"

……

The messenger soldier shouted all the way as he headed toward the Imperial Palace.

"I never expected that in less than a month, the Six Legions would have taken these six states — that's simply incredible!"

"Of course! With the might of the Six Legions, how could those Rebel Party ever stand against them!"

"Exactly! I've heard that the people of those six states, including Jingzhou, had long been fed up with those Inspectors."

"Why even talk about that? It's His Majesty who's formidable! Long live His Majesty! Long live the Han Dynasty!"

"Long live His Majesty! Long live His Majesty!"

"Long live His Majesty! Long live His Majesty!"

For a time, the entire Luoyang City echoed with voices praising Liu Bian and the Han Dynasty.

At the same time, Liu Bian in the Imperial Palace also received the messages from the Six Legion Commanders.

"Hahaha, excellent! This Emperor did not expect Fengxian and the others to move so swiftly."

"In a mere twenty days, they have successfully recovered these six states. Now, the Han Empire has finally been reunified once more!"

After reading the victory reports sent by Lü Bu and the others, Liu Bian could not help but laugh heartily with joy.

Then, turning to Eunuch Chief Steward Li Liangcheng beside him, he said in a loud voice:

"Li Liangcheng, notify the Hundred Officials that a Grand Court Assembly will be held tomorrow!"

"This servant obeys the decree!"

After Li Liangcheng departed, Liu Bian also headed toward Diao Chan's palace.

Such a joyous occasion naturally called for someone to celebrate with properly.

Early the next morning, Liu Bian left Diao Chan's palace and arrived at the Court Hall well ahead of time.

After a night of exertion, not a trace of fatigue could be seen; instead, he looked even more spirited.

By this time, outside the Court Hall, the Civil and Military Officials had also arrived.

When Eunuch Chief Steward Li Liangcheng came out, he shouted to the Hundred Officials in a loud voice:

"By His Majesty's decree, the officials shall enter the court!"

Once the Hundred Officials had entered the Court Hall, they knelt and bowed to Liu Bian seated high upon the Dragon Throne:

"Your subjects pay respects to Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty!"

Seeing this scene, Liu Bian raised his hand in a gesture of lifting them up and said in a commanding voice:

"Precious Subjects, rise!"

"Your subjects thank Your Majesty!"

After everyone had risen, Eunuch Chief Steward Li Liangcheng began to carry out his duties.

"Those with matters to memorialize, present them; those without, retire from court!"

As his words fell, Minister of War Cao Cao immediately stepped forward (Chulu) and said respectfully to Liu Bian:

"Reporting to Your Majesty, your subject Cao Cao has a Memorial to present!"

"Permission granted!"

"Thank Your Majesty!"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the Six Legions of our Han Empire, having set out on campaign twenty days ago, have as of yesterday all captured the states they were assigned to attack."

"Now, the Han Dynasty's Thirteen States have once again returned to grand unification!"

"This is all thanks to Your Majesty's wise and divine martial leadership, and the brave enemy-slaying merits of the soldiers of the Six Legions!"

"Congratulations, Your Majesty, on unifying Tian Xia!"

After Cao Cao finished speaking, he looked at Liu Bian with excitement, his face full of reverence.

One had to know that from Liu Bian's execution of Dong Zhuo and his regaining of power, to the present unification of Tian Xia, only a short seven months had passed.

From ancient times to the present, no one had ever possessed such ability.

And Liu Bian had accomplished it — truly unprecedented and unmatched.

And the ministers, upon hearing Cao Cao's words, also bowed and shouted loudly:

"Your ministers congratulate Your Majesty on unifying Tian Xia!"

At this moment, no one could remain calm.

Especially Yang Biao, Wang Yun, Cai Yong, Lu Zhi, and the other Old Ministers — every single one of them was so moved that tears streamed down their aged faces.

Wasn't the unification of the Han Empire what they had longed to see in their lifetimes?

And Guo Jia, Xun Yu, and the others also wore faces full of excitement — although they all knew that Liu Bian's unification of Tian Xia was only a matter of time.

However, once it was truly unified, no one could remain calm.

"Hahaha, it is all the merit of the soldiers."

"Without the soldiers on the front lines fighting bloody battles, our Han Empire could not have returned to unification in such a short seven months!"

"Your Ministers, please rise!"

"Your ministers thank Your Majesty!"

After everyone had risen, Liu Bian turned to them again and said solemnly:

"Now that our Han Empire has finally been reunified, I plan to establish the Emperor's Return two months from now, before the New Year."

Upon hearing this, the Hundred Officials all shuddered — they had heard Liu Bian speak of the Emperor's Return more than once.

They also longed greatly for the wonders of the Emperor's Return.

After striving for so long, the establishment of the Emperor's Return was finally about to begin.

Liu Bian took in the expressions of everyone.

Then, turning to the Minister of Works Xun You, he said with authority:

"Gongda, I require you to construct a sacrificial Gao Tai outside the east of Luoyang City. I will have the blueprints sent to you after court is dismissed."

"You must complete it before the sacrificial ceremony!"

Seeing Liu Bian speak with such solemnity, Xun You immediately stepped forward and said gravely to Liu Bian:

"Please rest assured, Your Majesty. Your minister will spare no effort to accomplish this!"

Seeing this, Liu Bian nodded with satisfaction.

Then, turning to the Minister of Rites Cai Yong, he said with authority:

"Old Loving Minister Cai, as for the corresponding matters of the sacrificial rites, I leave them to your Ministry of Rites to handle."

Upon hearing this, Cai Yong immediately replied respectfully to Liu Bian:

"Please rest assured, Your Majesty. This Old Minister will certainly handle this matter well for Your Majesty!"

After giving instructions to Xun You and Cai Yong, Liu Bian turned to Cao Cao with a smile and said:

"Mengde, the welcoming of the Six Legions' soldiers on their Emperor's Return shall be handled by your Ministry of War."