Chapter 300: The Road Ahead

Morning light pierced the cloud layer like a golden sword, sweeping away the last remnants of night, precisely landing on the lofty eaves and glazed tiles of the Hall of Purple Majesty, refracting a blinding brilliance.

Before the palace square, the imperial way paved with Han white jade was spotless, glowing with a warm sheen in the morning sun.

Civil and military officials had already stood in orderly rows on both sides of the imperial way according to rank.

They wore brand-new court robes, their caps neat, their expressions solemn yet hinting at excitement.

Today is no ordinary court assembly.

Bells and chimes rang in unison, elegant music played.

A solemn guard of honor emerged slowly from behind the hall, banners blocking the sun, canopies like clouds.

Chen Wen donned the black upper crimson lower twelve-symbol robe, wore a crown with twelve strands of beads, slowly ascended the Crimson Steps, and sat upon the Dragon Throne.

The crown's strands hung down, pearls and jade swaying lightly, veiling part of his face yet enhancing his inscrutable majesty; his gaze, torch-like, swept over the officials below and this hall symbolizing supreme power.

"Long live the emperor, long live, long long live!"

The homage rose like mountain cries and sea tides, surging like a tide, echoing across the wide palace square, dispelling the last morning mist.

Chen Wen slightly raised his hand.

"All officials, rise."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

As the voice fell, officials rose, stood with hands at their sides; the whole square fell silent, only the flags rustling in the wind.

An invisible force named "order" and "authority" permeated the air.

This was not the clamor of Jinzhou's triumph, nor the extravagance of myriad nations coming to court, but a dynasty atmosphere that had settled and solidified.

Chen Wen's voice, passing through the crown strands, clearly reached the whole field; though not loud, it carried the power to establish the throne over the world.

"The Battle of Jinzhou settled the northern border; rectifying conduct and discipline, initially clearing officialdom; new policies implemented, gradually showing results."

"This is the fruit of officials and I working together with one heart."

"Yet although the world is initially settled, many undertakings await revival; although external threats are temporarily eased, hidden dangers remain."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over Zhang Cheng, Wang Ru, Qian Gui, Shi Dun, Li Hong and other core senior officials, also over those newly promoted officials whose faces still showed youth but were full of vigor.

"The road ahead is long, the burden heavy and the way far."

"Internally, we must make orders flow more smoothly, the people wealthier, granaries fuller, education more flourishing."

"Externally, we must strengthen borders, make the four barbarians more fearful, raise national prestige, and secure the territory."

His voice gradually rose, carrying an undeniable determination.

"This is not a one-day effort; we need perseverance, we need unity as a city!"

"I hope officials, do not forget your original aspirations, faithfully fulfill your duties, and together with me expand the foundation of Great Chen for myriad generations!"

There was no passionate stirring, only heavy responsibility and expectation.

Yet these plain words could ignite the fire in officials' hearts more than any grand rhetoric.

"Officials solemnly obey the imperial edict!"

"Willing to die for Your Majesty!"

"Willing to die for Great Chen!"

The enthusiastic response again echoed through the clouds.

Chen Wen slightly nodded.

He knew that after the baptism of war and internal purification, this team already possessed the potential to advance toward higher goals.

The court dispersed, officials returned to their posts, the huge state machinery began a new day's operation.

Chen Wen returned to the Hall of Martial Virtue, took off the heavy robe, and changed into regular attire.

He did not immediately bury himself in documents, but alone ascended again to the highest Xiangluan Pavilion in the palace city.

By day, Bianliangcheng presents a different scene than by night.

The city's outline was clear, streets crisscrossed, carriages like weaving, people like ants.

The Bian River lay like a belt, boats came and went, sail specks dotting the water.

Looking far, one could faintly see fields beyond the city connected, the countryside lush green.

A vigorous upward vitality surged in this city, on this land.

His internal Fortune Momentum resonated faintly with this scene; as it flowed, it became ever more weighty and vast, unfathomable.

This power originated from this land, from the myriad peoples.

It would also feedback to them.

His gaze passed over Bianliangcheng, toward a more distant place.

To the north lay the already-submitted but still needing to digest deterrence former Northern Han lands, and the vast grasslands where Khitan wolf packs lurked;

To the west lay the treacherous Shu Road and many forces awaiting submission;

To the south lay the apparently obedient but actually scheming Southern Tang, Wu Yue, and Jingnan;

Moreover, hidden beneath all appearances like a bone-deep ulcer were the remnants of the Iron Crow Army, the whereabouts unknown Zhao Kuangyin, and that cold mystery pointing to the essence of the world — "Node", "Deviation", "Cleanup Agreement", "Variable", "End".

These are obstacles he must face and overcome.

The great victory at Jinzhou was merely a prologue.

The real challenge may have just begun.

But in his heart there was no fear at all.

From the ignorant youth of Jiao Tu Zhen to the present emperor of Great Chen who holds the universe;

From relying on the system to chop trees for survival, to now controlling sixty-four times the power, moving the dynasty's Fortune Momentum;

From only protecting those nearby, to now embracing all under heaven…

This road, he walked arduously, yet step by step left firm footprints, extremely solid.

The confusion and chill brought by those information fragments had not disappeared, but had been transformed by him into a stronger driving force.

No matter whether this world is real or illusory, a script or a game, he will follow his own will and move forward!

He wants to see whether the Fortune Momentum forged from the will of the myriad people is stronger, or whether that cold "rule" is harder.

He wants to see whether the dynasty he founded with his own hands can endure for myriad generations, or whether that so-called "end" can destroy it!

His gaze became extraordinarily sharp, as if it could pierce the void and directly behold the truth hidden behind the historical mist.

The Fortune Momentum within him seemed to sense his grand aspiration that transcended the dynasty and pointed to the world's origin; it suddenly accelerated its flow, emitting a low, immense rumble that only he could hear.

The reset Growth Progress Bar, at this moment, seemed to twitch slightly, its accumulation speed appearing to quicken a bit.

This is not an end.

This cannot even be considered the conclusion of a stage.

This is merely the beginning of a higher starting point.

The journey of the Great Chen Emperor Chen Wen will advance toward deeper starry skies, vaster heavens and earth, and……a harsher truth.

He stood atop the Soaring Phoenix Pavilion, his shadow stretched long in the sunlight.

Beneath his feet lay Bian Liang, revived with vitality, the dynasty he had founded with his own hands;

Before him lay a future shrouded in mist yet brimming with infinite possibilities.

The wind stirred his robes, causing them to flutter and snap.

He slowly raised his hand, as if to grasp the sunlight that illuminates all things, to grasp the unpredictable fate.

The new journey lies beneath his feet.

And he has already set out.