"Your Majesty!"
In the Grand Hall of the Imperial Court of the Great Han Dynasty, ministers of the Imperial Court bowed respectfully to Yang Hao as he entered.
"Rise!"
Yang Hao spoke lightly, "Prince Yuwen Yongyan of the Chi Ye Imperial Dynasty, Elder Nantian Puhe of the Nantian Family, and Imperial Preceptor Qian Cun of the Xi Ling Imperial Dynasty!"
"Excellent!"
"Figures of great standing from three top powers have descended upon the Great Han, declaring their intention to destroy this Emperor!"
"Have the various tribes forgotten the bloody might of the Great Han after two years of suspended hostilities?"
"Hmm?"
"Your Majesty!"
Li Si smiled wryly. He knew Yang Hao was determined to raise an army and attack the three major powers. For the past two years, the Great Han had enjoyed peace, and its overall national strength had greatly improved.
The two years of suspended hostilities, borne out of a "better safe than sorry" attitude, had instead been met with increasing pressure from several powers, and now they sought to destroy the Great Han.
This war was one the Great Han had to fight!
It was unavoidable!
"Your Majesty, according to the news from the Embroidered Uniform Guard who infiltrated the Chi Ye Imperial Dynasty and the Nantian Family yesterday, the Sword God Holy Land has mobilized two hundred thousand sword cultivators and is advancing heavily towards the Nantian Family and the Chi Ye Imperial Dynasty. This might be a good opportunity for us to strike!"
"What about the Xi Ling Imperial Dynasty?"
Yang Hao raised an eyebrow. The joint attack by the three top powers was peculiar, especially the Xi Ling Imperial Dynasty.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, there is no news from the Xi Ling Imperial Dynasty yet. However, according to Ji Hongwen, a million-strong army of the Xi Ling Imperial Dynasty has been discovered on the northern frontier of the Huoyun Cave."
Changsun Wuji cupped his hands, frowned, and moved to the map, pointing to the border area between the northern part of Huoyun Cave and the Xi Ling Imperial Dynasty.
"Your Majesty, this place is called Jie Guan (Boundary Pass). One hundred and twenty thousand years ago, the Xi Ling Imperial Dynasty mobilized a million troops to pressure the Huoyun Cave, and a bloody battle ensued for a thousand years. After both sides lost a million troops and two Venerables, a ceasefire was signed here, hence its name Jie Guan!"
"Jie Guan is a strategically important position that is difficult to attack. The Huoyun Cave lacked sufficient resources, and was later retaken by the Xi Ling Imperial Dynasty. Since then, the Huoyun Cave lost its initiative in the north, and the northern defense line became a mere formality."
"Furthermore, according to intelligence from the Embroidered Uniform Guard, two-thirds of the Nantian Family's forces are concentrated on the eastern front, confronting the Sword God Holy Land, while one-third of their forces are gradually advancing westward. Within a few days, they will surely push into the Huoyun Cave!"
"The Chi Ye Imperial Dynasty is in a similar situation!"
"The armies of the four top powers are almost entirely engaged on their borders. War is only a matter of time. It remains to be seen whether the Sword God Holy Land will strike first, attacking the Nantian Family and the Chi Ye Imperial Dynasty, or if the Nantian Family, the Chi Ye Imperial Dynasty, and the Xi Ling Imperial Dynasty will join forces to destroy the Huoyun Cave and then attack the Great Han!"
"This war is inevitable. Rather than waiting to be annihilated, it is better to strike proactively!"
Changsun Wuji's expression was solemn, and his tone carried a hint of killing intent. "I suggest we ally with the Huoyun Cave and march out of our borders!"
"To pacify the world in one war!"
"And you?"
Yang Hao's expression was calm as he looked at Li Si, Fang Xuanling, and Du Ruhui.
"I concur!"
"I concur!"
"I concur!"
...
"Good!"
Yang Hao said softly, "Li Si, draft an imperial decree!"
"Order the Xuanwu Legion to immediately advance to the northern frontier to relieve the Qinglong Legion and the Kui Niu Legion in defending the border."
"Order the Lie Tian Si Legion to immediately advance to the eastern frontier and relieve the Zhuque Legion in defending Jianmen Pass!"
"Order the Qiongqi Legion to continue its stationed defense on the northeastern frontier!"
"Order the Qinglong Legion, Baihu Legion, Zhuque Legion, Qilin Legion, Taotie Legion, Kui Niu Legion, and Jin Ni Legion to return to Chang'an immediately!"
"Order the Imperial Court to draft a detailed strategic plan, enhance the coordination between all departments, mobilize all resources, and ensure there are no mistakes. Present it once it is drafted!"
"As for the attack on the three top powers, await further decree!"
"Your subjects respectfully bid farewell to His Majesty!!"
...
"Prime Minister, what is the intention behind His Majesty's actions?"
"The major legions are all stationed at the borders. If we were to attack the three powers, we would only need to issue an order, and the army would march out through the Myriad Beasts Realm. Now, they are being recalled to Chang'an, what does this mean?"
Changsun Wuji and others frowned. What was the Emperor's intention? With the army stationed at the border, marching through the Myriad Beasts Realm would be the optimal route. The teleportation arrays on the Eastern Desolation Continent could barely accommodate the passage of large armies. Now, they were choosing a more circuitous route, making it difficult to understand.
"Alas!"
"How can the Emperor's thoughts be fathomed by us? Rather than wasting our minds on such matters, let us focus on our duties!"
"Furthermore, immediately coordinate with all departments to procure and transport all necessary army supplies back to Chang'an!"
Li Si frowned.
Three months later, the atmosphere on the Eastern Desolation Continent grew increasingly heavy. The Sword God Holy Land did not attack the Chi Ye Imperial Dynasty or the Nantian Family, but instead reinforced their border with another five hundred thousand sword cultivators. All trade and interactions between the three powers were severed, and the air was thick with the scent of impending war.
The three powers had not moved, nor had the Xi Ling Imperial Dynasty advanced into the Huoyun Cave. At this moment, the Eastern Desolation Continent seemed like a can of gasoline, requiring only a tiny spark to erupt into cataclysmic waves.
"Your subject, Sun Simiao, pays his respects to His Majesty!"
"Long live His Majesty, ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand years!"
"How is it?"
Yang Hao's expression flickered. The Nirvana Pill and the Spirit Nourishing Pill had been delivered to the Alchemy Hall over three months ago. It had taken more than two months to gather the spiritual materials and precious herbs required for both pill recipes.
The rarity of the materials had almost depleted one-third of the Great Han Dynasty's national treasury. Even with this, only enough materials for less than three hundred pill refinements were collected. The cost was enormous.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, the Alchemy Hall has collected materials for three hundred-plus portions of the two pill recipes. Fifty-three attempts failed, and successfully refined four hundred and forty-one Nirvana Pills and three hundred Spirit Nourishing Pills!"
"I have immediately instructed Mao Xiang to personally deliver the pills to the ten major legions. Here are the remaining pills, please Your Majesty review them."
"Very good. All other pills have been distributed to the various departments. You may withdraw."
"Your subject withdraws!"
Yang Hao looked at the three Spirit Nourishing Pills in his hand. Over the past three months, state affairs had been extremely busy. The Eastern Desolation Continent was changing daily, and the entire continent seemed to be shrouded in a bloody red mist. The major powers were all struggling.
In the past three months, Yang Ye, Fei Yingdong, and Yan Tiancheng had broken through to the peak Venerable realm. Gao Changgong, Ma Yuan, and Han Shizhong had shattered the barrier of the Spirit Cultivation realm and stepped into the Venerable realm.
In the past three months, the Great Han possessed five peak Venerables, its strength formidable!
What pleased Yang Hao the most was that the soldiers under the ten major legions, cultivated by the heroes, had finally made breakthroughs after two years of accumulated effort in these three months.
They had broken through the Spiritual Venerable realm barrier and stepped into the Heavenly Martial realm!
Across the entire Eastern Desolation Continent, the might of the Great Han could suppress all enemies!