Chapter 211

The darkness before dawn is the deepest.

But on the eastern official road of Bianliangcheng, it was illuminated by countless torches as bright as daytime.

The sounds of men and horses marching converged into a low rumble.

It broke the last silence between heaven and earth.

It also startled the cold crows roosting in the woods.

Chen Wen rode on his warhorse.

The gait of his mount beneath him was steady and powerful.

He could clearly feel.

The aura exuded by the troops behind him, mixed with excitement, tension, and soaring fighting spirit.

This was different from when they left Chen Bridge Station last night.

The news of Chai Rong's illness and death.

Overlayed with the news of the new dynasty's establishment.

Like a potent medicine.

Let everyone clearly realize.

They no longer have a way back.

And there is no need to look back again.

They are following this new emperor.

They are treading on a road leading to a brand-new future.

His name.

Is called Chen Dynasty.

"Your Majesty."

A scout officer came flying from the vanguard.

He reined his horse a few steps before Chen Wen's mount.

He nimbly dismounted.

He knelt on one knee.

"Ten li ahead lies the eastern gate of Bianliangcheng; the city walls are lit with torches. The city gate… is already wide open!"

Upon these words.

The generals beside Chen Wen were all invigorated.

The city gate stood wide open.

This is at least a positive sign.

It means that inside Bianliangcheng.

They do not intend to carry out a futile resistance.

Shi Dun couldn't help but curl his mouth, speaking in a deep, hollow voice.

"Your Majesty, it seems Han Tong and Zhang Yongde are actually aware of the times."

He patted the iron staff hanging beside his saddle.

"It saves us a lot of trouble."

Chen Wen gave a slight nod.

His face showed little surprise; Wang Po held steady at Chen Prefecture.

Han Tong and Zhang Yongde controlled the military power of Bianliangcheng.

Since these two chose tacit acceptance and support at Chen Bridge.

Then opening the city gate of Bianliangcheng to welcome the new lord is a natural course of action.

His gaze swept over the solemnly standing troops behind him.

He issued the order in a low voice.

"Pass the order: the whole army, straighten your appearance, slow the speed, keep to the prescribed formation! Advance!"

"As you command!"

The order was passed down layer by layer.

The originally hasty troop's speed gradually slowed.

The footsteps and hoofbeats became more neat and uniform.

A solemn and imposing aura.

Naturally spread out.

This is the unique bearing that only an army that has endured bloody battles and carries the spirit of the new dynasty can possess.

The sky gradually brightened.

The east showed a fish-belly white.

When the majestic outline of Bianliangcheng became clear on the horizon.

The sun just leapt above the horizon.

Myriad rays of golden light poured down.

It dyed this mighty city under heaven with a layer of splendid color.

It also illuminated the dark mass of people outside the city gate.

Banners fluttered, canopies gathered like clouds.

Civil and military officials wore formal court robes.

According to rank, they were arranged neatly and orderly.

Standing at the very front.

They were precisely the Palace Front Commander Han Tong and the Commander of the Imperial Guard Cavalry and Infantry Zhang Yongde.

Both wore armor, outer official robes, and had solemn expressions.

Behind them.

They were officials of various ministries, their number far exceeding Chen Wen's expectations.

Obviously.

Not only were they the military-system officials directly under Han Tong and Zhang Yongde's jurisdiction.

Even many civil-official-system officials also appeared in the welcoming procession.

Their expressions varied: curiosity, scrutiny, unease.

Also a hint of excitement they could not conceal.

Further out.

Then came the solemnly standing Forbidden Army soldiers.

They held weapons.

Their armor was bright, their military appearance strict and orderly.

They silently gazed at this Jun Ying coming from the east, exuding a stern aura.

When Chen Wen's troop proceeded to about one li from the city gate.

Han Tong and Zhang Yongde exchanged a glance.

Both stepped forward simultaneously.

The civil and military officials behind them.

Also like a tide, they followed forward.

Chen Wen lightly raised his hand.

The huge entourage behind him instantly halted.

Not even a sparrow chirped.

Only the occasional snort of warhorses.

And the sound of flags snapping in the morning wind.

This silent obedience.

The pressure it brought to the Bian Liang officials opposite was far greater than clamor and noise.

Chen Wen dismounted.

His motion was steady and composed.

Shi Dun, Zhang Cheng, Wang Ru, Qian Gui and other core civil-military.

They also closely followed thereafter.

Dismounted and proceeded on foot.

Walked toward the welcoming procession.

The distance between the two sides kept shortening.

Fifty steps.

Thirty steps.

Ten steps.

Han Tong and Zhang Yongde stopped at a point five steps away from Chen Wen.

Their gazes quickly swept over Chen Wen.

This person, once their colleague, is now the emperor of Great Chen.

He wore a bright yellow military uniform, though without a crown.

But the steadiness and dignity in his brow.

Yet it displayed his identity more clearly than any crown.

Especially those behind him: Shi Dun's valor, Zhang Cheng's competence, Wang Ru's calm, Qian Gui's efficiency.

Each one displayed this.

This new emperor is not alone.

He possesses a solid and powerful core team.

Han Tong took a deep breath, no longer hesitating.

He lifted the front of his battle robe, first kneeling on one knee, clasping his fists and speaking loudly.

"Subject!"

"Palace Front Commander Han Tong!"

"Greetings to Your Majesty's holy arrival! Long live Your Majesty!"

"Long live! Ten thousand times long live!"

Zhang Yongde beside him.

And the dense mass of civil and military officials behind him.

Like wheat fields blown over by the wind.

All knelt down in unison.

A sound like mountains shouting and seas roaring.

Resounded loudly beneath Bianliangcheng.

"We subjects respectfully welcome Your Majesty's holy carriage!"

"Long live Your Majesty."

"Long live."

"Ten thousand ten thousand years!"

"The sound waves rolled."

"It rushed straight into the clouds."

"It startled more birds on the city walls into flight."

"It also proclaimed this city as the hub of the world."

"It formally submitted to its new master."

"They bowed their heads and pledged allegiance."

"Chen Wen stood before the crowd."

"He calmly accepted this obeisance."

"His gaze slowly swept over the kneeling crowd before him."

"It swept over the tall and majestic city gate tower."

"His gaze swept over the nervous soldiers on the city walls; what rose in his heart was not entirely elation."

"More so, it was a heavy sense of responsibility."

"This is Bian Liang; since the Five Dynasties, many dynasties have risen and fallen."

"the stage where you finish your song and I appear."

"Now! It's his turn to control the rise and fall of this place."

"He could clearly feel."

"The growth progress bar inside his body that had remained at 65%."

"At this moment."

"Accompanied by the sound of the mountain-shouting 'long live', and by the submission of this mighty city."

"It twitched slightly."

"It advanced a little, reaching 66%."

"The Fortune Momentum whirlwind surrounded his body."

"It also seemed to resonate with this city."

"It operated more smoothly; the inner golden light was more substantial."

"All officials, rise."

"Chen Wen's voice was not loud."

"Yet it clearly reached everyone's ears, carrying an indisputable calm power."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

"The crowd kowtowed again, then rose to their feet."

"Many people's gazes furtively fell on Chen Wen."

"Trying to read from this new emperor's expression and demeanor."

"To discern more."

"Han Tong stood up, stepped forward, and bowed, saying:"

"Your Majesty, all departments and storehouses within Bianliangcheng have been inspected and sealed."

"All units of the Forbidden Army have been ordered to stand by! Awaiting Your Majesty's further orders."

"His report was concise and forceful."

"It showed his effective control over the situation in Bian Liang."

"It also demonstrated his ability and attitude."

"Chen Wen nodded, his face showing a hint of approval."

"General Han! General Zhang! And all you officials!"

"You have worked hard."

"His gaze swept over Han Tong and Zhang Yongde."

"And the officials behind them with various expressions."

"The world is in turmoil; it is a time to employ people."

"If you can understand the greater good and stabilize Bian Liang."

"To spare the people from the ravages of war is a great service to the state."

"I! My heart is greatly comforted."

"These words."

"It is both affirmation and reassurance, and also sets the tone."

"Defining their actions as 'great service to the state'."

"It largely alleviated the psychological burden of 'abandoning the old lord'."

"Indeed, many officials who heard these words visibly relaxed."

"Especially those officials originally belonging to the Later Zhou civil official system."

"Zhang Yongde also bowed and spoke, his voice steady."

"Your Majesty, the interior of the imperial palace has also been cleaned."

"All implements are ready; we respectfully invite Your Majesty to enter the palace and ascend the hall, to settle the hearts of the world."

Chen Wen stared at the yawning, deep city gate before him.

He seemed able to see beyond it the palace representing the pinnacle of power.

He took a slight breath.

He said in a low voice.

"Good."

Then I will trouble the two generals.

And lead the way for all the officials ahead.

I.

Today I shall enter Bian Liang.

"We obey the order!"

Han Tong and Zhang Yongde stepped aside to clear the path.

They bowed, gesturing an invitation.

Chen Wen strode forward.

He walked firmly toward the gate of Bianliangcheng.

Shi Dun, Zhang Cheng, and the others followed closely behind.

Behind them.

The elite Jing'an Army soldiers began to enter the city in orderly fashion.

Taking over the city defenses.

When Chen Wen's steps crossed the high threshold of the city gate,

he clearly felt

that his aura seemed to completely connect with the city's ley lines.

an immense, genuine sense of power.

filling his entire body.

The progress bar seemed to twitch slightly again.

Although it had not risen again,

but the accumulated foundation

was evidently deeper.

The morning sun had fully risen.

Golden light spilled over the Imperial Way.

It fell on Chen Wen and the civil and military officials and elite soldiers behind him.

It also fell on the distant, magnificent imperial palace complex ahead.

A new road lay

beneath his feet.

A new era

lay before his eyes.

And Chen Wen knew

that stepping through this gate

was only the beginning.

The true challenge

lay in the true intentions of veteran officials like Han Tong and Zhang Yongde,

the movements of the regional military governors,

the threat from Northern Han and the Khitan,

and the Iron Crow Army lurking in the shadows, which would not give up easily.

would all come in the days ahead.

one after another.

But he feared nothing.

for he possessed a system that could alter efficiency,

a loyal team,

and above all, the belief and resolve to end this chaotic age and usher in peace.

His steps were steady.

He walked toward the palace city that symbolized supreme power.

step by step.