"Your subject Yuwen Kai greets His Majesty!"
A few days later, in the Xuanzheng Hall of the Great Han's Chang'an City Imperial Palace, Yuwen Kai held a thick document that looked like fabric and bowed respectfully to Yang Hao.
"Rise."
Yang Hao looked up from the memorial in his hand and smiled as he nodded at Yuwen Kai below.
"My dear minister, you have worked very hard these past days!"
"Your Majesty, this is what I should do. How can it be considered hard work!"
Yang Hao smiled faintly. The expansion of Chang'an City, along with cities in Tianyue Prefecture, Dayan Prefecture, and parts of Weiyang Prefecture, were constantly seeing new cities being built under the Ministry of Works, centered around Yuwen Kai.
Recently, the Azure Dragon Legion advanced north into the southern reaches of the Taigu Wilderness, the Qiongqi Legion delved deep into the Tianyao Wilderness, and the Qilin Legion followed closely. The Split Sky Hornbill Legion in the east was also pressing hard on the Blood Feather Crane tribe, with vast swathes of territory being continuously brought under the control of the Great Han.
These lands were inhabited by countless beast tribes. The Great Han and the human race bore no enmity or entanglement with these tribes. The Fiery Rhino tribe, the Blood Python tribe, and the Iron Lion tribe had all been purged by the Han army.
These areas had few cities, mostly serving as strongholds for the armies of the top tribes. To further consolidate these regions and strengthen defenses, increasing resistance was necessary.
Yang Hao had long ordered the front-line armies to continuously update local maps. These were then rushed to the Ministry of Works in Chang'an by the Embroidered Uniform Guard, where Yuwen Kai personally oversaw the detailed planning of some cities and strongholds.
"Your Majesty, the matters you assigned have been planned."
"Your Majesty, please take a look!"
Yuwen Kai unfolded the fabric in his hand. It was enormous, almost filling the entire hall. Yang Hao scanned it and saw a massive map, along with designs for several cities.
"Your Majesty, these are my plans for the locations of cities and military strongholds based on the local geography over the past few days. These are my conceptual designs for these cities and strongholds for Your Majesty's review!"
Yang Hao descended from his imperial throne and examined the hundreds of meticulously planned cities and military strongholds, which were densely connected and extremely flexible.
"Your Majesty, there are a total of one hundred and twenty-eight cities and strongholds, occupying all the strategic positions on the map. There are also over a thousand treacherous paths, where I have set up checkpoints."
"Excellent!"
"Excellent!"
Yang Hao looked at the map. The Great Han's territory was continuously expanding. The myriad tribes of the wilderness needed to coexist peacefully with the human race. After all, their unity could form a considerable force. As for those with irreconcilable blood feuds with humans, their tribes would be annihilated!
Yang Hao's gaze moved upward. For the Great Han to become continuously stronger, it was imperative to consolidate all possible strengths step by step. These vast wilderness territories, with their myriad beast tribes, were generally scattered and difficult to control due to their peculiar habits. The establishment of these cities would gradually draw them closer to these urban centers.
Once these cities were built, they would not only consolidate the region and strengthen defenses for the court but also serve as an excellent defensive line against external enemies.
"Yuwen Kai, I task you with overseeing this grand project. Within the Great Han's territory, excluding Dayan Prefecture and Tianyue Prefecture, you may mobilize officials and resources from all other regions!"
"I have only one requirement: these cities are to be established as early as possible without damaging the nation's foundation!"
"Your subject obeys!"
Yuwen Kai bowed respectfully, his face slightly flushed with excitement. Once these cities were built, they would lay a solid foundation for the Great Han to step out of the Southwest Region and even dominate the Savage Realm.
After Yuwen Kai retreated, Yang Hao's body suddenly emitted dragon roars, and a vast, surging primal energy roamed within his imperial robe.
He closed his eyes and checked his internal skeletal structure. It had almost turned dark gold. He then opened his eyes: "It's time!"
He immediately turned and entered a secret chamber. Wei Zhongxian stood respectfully outside the chamber door, guarding the surroundings.
After Yang Hao entered the secret chamber, he immediately sat cross-legged in the center. It had been half a month since he was promoted to Emperor Dynasty and broke through the Tongtian barrier. His cultivation had risen from the first level of Tongtian to the fifth level. His blood had continuously turned golden, and his skeleton was transforming from gold to dark gold. His cultivation speed had greatly increased.
A vigorous blood essence surged within him like an ancient behemoth, creating a sky-shattering aura. Within his bloodline, strands of golden dragons were nurtured.
The gradually forming dark gold skeleton granted him an extremely powerful physique.
"Come on!"
Yang Hao gently closed his eyes. The formation of the dark gold skeleton was the opportune moment to practice the Great Emperor Golden Body.
The Great Emperor Golden Body, as recorded in the Universal Firmament Emperor Scripture, was merely the initial stage of physical cultivation. The completion of the Great Emperor Golden Body could: first, greatly enhance cultivation talent; second, forge a powerful physique capable of withstanding a strong blow from a martial artist two major realms higher; and third, enable summoned heroes to break through five minor realms, and summoned soldiers to advance by three minor realms.
To this end, he had also summoned the soldiers under Dugu Xin, Han Shizhong, and others in advance, and used faith points to transport the army to their side.
The occupation of parts of the three great wilderness territories had brought him a full thirty million faith points. He had consumed ten million to buy blind boxes and obtained a new legion set and banner – the Black Tortoise Legion!
"Boom!"
Golden dragons coursed through his body. The Universal Firmament Emperor Scripture, in operation, exuded divine power, continuously enveloping Yang Hao's blood, meridians, and bones.
"Roar~~"
Dragon roars reverberated, and waves of potent golden primal energy violently filled the entire secret chamber, even leaking out and permeating the entire imperial palace.
Within his body, the golden blood erupted with terrifying power like a vast ocean, surging and churning within the meridians and blood vessels. Golden dragons clung to the blood vessels, breathing in and out endless radiance.
"Hum~~"
Yang Hao suddenly opened his eyes, and two beams of golden light shot out. A dark gold skeleton gradually coalesced in the secret chamber.
"Rumble!!"
Explosive roars echoed through the secret chamber!
"Bang!"
The skeleton instantly surged into Yang Hao's body and merged with his dark gold bones. Intricate dao inscriptions formed on the dark gold skeleton, densely covering the entire structure.
"Gurgle gurgle~~"
All the golden blood within his body was instantly devoured by the dark gold skeleton.
After absorbing all the blood, a small golden figure clad in an imperial robe faintly appeared in Yang Hao's heart.
"Crack~~"
The heavens shattered, and all clouds dispersed!