Chapter 667: The Cultivation of the Han's Civil and Martial Officials

Holy Emperor Year Five, March.

Today was once again the day the Han Empire convened the Grand Court Assembly.

"Your subjects pay respects to Your Majesty! We wish Your Majesty boundless holy longevity!"

In the tall, majestic Dilin Hall, Liu Bian sat upright upon the Dragon Throne atop the Gao Tai.

The Civil and Military Officials, arrayed in four rows below, bowed to Liu Bian in unison.

In the Han Empire, apart from the Grand Court Assembly when officials knelt, at other times they only needed to pay obeisance; there was no need to constantly kneel.

Liu Bian's commanding gaze swept over the assembled ministers. He raised his hand in a slight lift, parted his lips, and his authoritative voice rang in their ears.

"My ministers, rise!"

"Your subjects thank Your Majesty!"

After everyone had risen, Eunuch Chief Steward Li Liangcheng called out in his sharp, effeminate voice:

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

As Li Liangcheng's words fell, Minister of Personnel Xun Yu and Minister of War Cao Cao stepped forward and said respectfully to Liu Bian:

"Reporting to Your Majesty, this humble official has a Memorial to present!"

Looking at Xun Yu and Cao Cao who had stepped forward together, Liu Bian nodded slightly and said to them:

"Granted!"

Hearing this, Xun Yu and Cao Cao exchanged a glance. Xun Yu nodded to Cao Cao, signaling him to speak first.

Cao Cao did not stand on ceremony with Xun Yu; he merely cupped his hands toward Xun Yu and said to Liu Bian:

"Reporting to Your Majesty, since half a year ago when Your Majesty ordered my Six Ministries to compile the cultivation status of all people in the Han, my Six Ministries have now completed the tally and have come specially to report to Your Majesty!"

After speaking, Cao Cao raised a compiled booklet with both hands.

Eunuch Chief Steward Li Liangcheng, seeing this, shrewdly stepped forward, took it from Cao Cao's hands, and respectfully placed it on the desk before Liu Bian.

Liu Bian opened it, quickly scanned it, and a look of satisfaction appeared on his face.

After closing it, Liu Bian said to Cao Cao:

"Mengde, present the situation you have compiled to the Emperor and Your Ministers, so that Your Ministers may also gain a clear understanding of our Han's strength!"

Hearing this, Cao Cao cupped his hands toward Liu Bian and said respectfully:

"This humble official obeys the decree!"

After briefly organizing his words, Cao Cao cleared his throat and said to Liu Bian and the officials:

"Reporting to Your Majesty and fellow colleagues, This Official shall now report on the cultivation levels of our Han Empire's various Army Corps and the garrison troops of each State and Prefecture."

"According to my Ministry of War's tally, as of the end of the second month of Holy Emperor Year Five, the strength of our Han's Major Armies has greatly increased."

"First is the Shenwu Legion under Commander Lü Bu, which has: one at Martial Emperor Four Heavens, one at Martial Emperor First Level, five at Martial King Nine Heavens, ten at Martial King Five Heavens, fifty at Martial King First Heaven, one thousand at Martial Ancestor Realm, and all other Soldiers are at Xiantian Six Heavens or above."

Hearing Cao Cao's words, everyone was shocked; such strength had more than doubled compared to half a year ago.

"Excellent! I never expected our Han's strength to have increased so much!"

"Indeed! And this is only one Shenwu Legion. You must know that the other Major Armies are only slightly weaker than the Shenwu Legion!"

"I truly look forward to seeing just how strong our Han truly is!"

Hearing the officials' discussion, Liu Bian felt a hint of pride within. In such a short time, the Han had already possessed such formidable strength.

However, since this was still the Grand Court Assembly, he feigned displeasure on his face and rebuked the ministers:

"Silence! Such commotion on the Gongting — what manner of decorum is this!"

Startled by Liu Bian's rebuke, the ministers hurriedly pleaded guilty before him.

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger; your subjects know their fault!"

"Enough, all of you mind yourselves. Mengde, continue!"

After chastening the officials, Liu Bian continued speaking to Cao Cao.

Hearing this, Cao Cao also continued, speaking to Liu Bian and the officials.

"The Qinglong Legion currently has: one at Martial Emperor Four Heavens, one at Second Heaven of Martial Emperor, one at Martial Emperor First Heaven, two at Martial King Nine Heavens, ten at Martial King Five Heavens, one hundred at Martial King First Heaven, one thousand at Martial Ancestor Realm, and all other Soldiers are at Xiantian Fifth Heaven or above."

"The White Tiger Legion has: one at Martial Emperor Four Heavens, one at Second Heaven of Martial Emperor, two at Martial King Nine Heavens, ten at Martial King Five Heavens, one hundred at Martial King First Heaven, one thousand at Martial Ancestor Realm, and all other Soldiers are at Xiantian Fifth Heaven or above."

"The Zhuque Legion has one at Martial Emperor Four Heavens, one at Second Heaven of Martial Emperor, two at Martial King Nine Heavens; the numbers at other cultivation levels are the same as the previous two legions."

"In the Xuanwu Legion, there is one at Martial Emperor Four Heavens, three at Martial King Nine Heavens, five at Sixth Heaven of Martial King, five at Martial King Five Heavens; as for those below Martial King Five Heavens, the numbers are the same as the other Four Divine Beast Legions."

"Commander Ma Chao's Qilin Legion currently has: one at Martial Emperor Four Heavens, one at Second Heaven of Martial Emperor, one at Martial Emperor First Heaven, two at Martial King Nine Heavens, ten at Martial King Five Heavens; those below are the same as the other legions."

"Commander Gan Ning's Navy has: two at Martial Emperor Four Heavens, four at Martial King Nine Heavens, ten at Martial King Five Heavens, one hundred at Martial King First Heaven, eight hundred at Martial Ancestor Realm, and all other Soldiers are at Xiantian Fifth Heaven or above."

"As for the three Beast Armies, the Chaos Legion has one at Martial Emperor Six Heavens, two at Martial Emperor First Heaven, two at Martial King Nine Heavens…"

"In Commander Li Jing's Qiongqi Legion, there is one at Second Heaven of Martial Emperor, one at Martial Emperor First Heaven, two at Martial King Nine Heavens, ten at Martial King Third Heaven…"

"Commander Xue Rengui's Taotie Legion has three at First Heaven of Martial Emperor Realm, two at Martial King Nine Heavens, ten at Martial King Third Heaven…"

"Your Majesty, in our Han today, the Ten Main Combat Corps alone already possess twenty-one Martial Emperor Realm experts."

"Moreover, this does not yet include the generals of each State and Prefecture, nor the various Tributes of the Tribute Hall. If these people are added, our Han's Martial Emperor Realm experts will double."

"This is what my Ministry of War has compiled regarding the strength of all our Han's martial generals and Army Corps."

After speaking, Cao Cao cupped his hands toward Liu Bian, turned, and returned to his position.

Seeing that Cao Cao had finished, Xun Yu beside him stepped forward two paces and said respectfully to Liu Bian:

"Reporting to Your Majesty, since Minister Cao has finished reporting on the cultivation status of the martial generals and Major Armies, This Official shall now report on the situation of the Civil Officials."

"Granted!"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, in our Han Empire today, there are currently ten people whose Literary Dao Cultivation has reached the Hanlin Realm."

"There are thirty people whose Literary Dao Cultivation has reached Jinshi, and nearly one thousand people whose cultivation has reached the Juren Realm."

"As for those at the Scholar Realm, there are already over ten thousand, and among others who have studied the Literary Dao, their cultivation has at minimum broken through to the Tongsheng Realm."