May 16th, the first year of the Great Han.
As dawn broke, the area formerly known as Tianyue, now Sili, was bustling with a dense throng of warriors. They moved in pairs, some as families, others as factions, departing from various parts of Sili towards the newly designated twelve prefectures.
Yuwen Kai and a contingent of officials from the Ministry of Works surveyed the maps of the Great Han’s territory drawn by the Brocade Guards, planning the construction of new cities.
Bao Zheng, along with Changsun Wuji, selected qualified and outstanding officials from Sili to proceed ahead, arriving at the new prefectural seats to handle administrative matters. The next imperial examination was also put on the agenda.
Governors and generals such as Zhu Sheng, Liao Hua, Meng Tian, and Lu Kang, bearing the royal decree of the Human King Yang Hao, set off from Chang'an City towards their appointed destinations.
In a single day, the entire newly formed territory of the Great Han teemed with crowds of warriors and soldiers of the Great Han. With the assistance of the Han officials, they settled down in the burgeoning lands.
...
May 18th, the first year of the Great Han.
As dawn broke, guards from the Imperial Guard knocked on the doors of Han Qin Hu, Shi Wansui, Qin Qiong, Lu Junyi, Wang Baobao, and Yu Chi Gong.
The weather had gradually warmed, remaining cool and humid. Several ancient heroes, led by the guards, arrived at the Royal Palace Square, quietly awaiting Yang Hao's summons before the Xuanzheng Hall.
Shortly thereafter, Changsun Wuji, Du Ruhui, Fang Xuanling, and Li Si also arrived before the hall, offering a slight bow to the generals.
"Lord Changsun, may I ask why the Human King has summoned us?" Han Qin Hu asked, frowning. The other heroes had already received their appointments and departed for their garrisons, while the six of them had waited in their residences in Chang'an City since the court session ended, two days having flown by.
"Heh heh, General Han, the Human King naturally has matters to entrust to you, hence your presence. Please wait patiently!" Changsun Wuji replied with a chuckle, deflecting Han Qin Hu's question.
"Alas, Lord Changsun, could it be that the Human King intends to move against the three great dynasties?" Shi Wansui remarked. Before the Great Han was elevated to a dynasty, these three great dynasties and three divine palaces commanded hundreds of thousands of troops, advancing towards Tianyue with great fanfare.
To return a courtesy is only proper; if the enemy offends us by one step, we shall slay them a hundred steps!
"Squeak~~"
The doors of the Xuanzheng Hall slowly opened. Wei Zhongxian scurried over, extending his hand, "Esteemed lords, His Majesty is within the hall and requests to see you!"
"Thump thump~~"
With solemn expressions, they entered the Xuanzheng Hall.
"Your subject pays respects to the Human King. May the Human King be well!"
They all knelt on their knees and bowed deeply.
"Rise!"
Yang Hao gestured with his hand, "Changsun Wuji, how are the administrative affairs of the various prefectures progressing?"
The Great Han had newly divided the land into thirteen prefectures. Apart from Sili, the rest of the territory was uninhabited except for vegetation.
"Your Majesty, yesterday, tens of millions of Great Han citizens have entered the new prefectural seats. The construction of houses and dwellings is all proceeding in an orderly manner."
"Ten thousand qualified and outstanding officials have been selected from Sili and have taken up their posts in the new locations!"
Changsun Wuji bowed deeply.
"Li Si, have the coordinates for the Blazing Sun Dynasty been locked on?" Yang Hao turned his gaze towards Li Si. Yesterday, he had entrusted this matter to Li Si, who had been discussing it with Bi Xi.
"Your Majesty, the coordinates have been confirmed. The coordinates set by the Human King Mang ten thousand years ago in the Blazing Sun Dynasty are undamaged!"
"If our Great Han were to enter the Blazing Sun Dynasty, the location would be Mount Yunwu, at the border of Wuzhou and Huizhou in the southern part of the Blazing Sun Dynasty!"
"This area, spanning dozens of miles, is a paradise for demonic beasts. Furthermore, the spiritual energy here is thin, and the level of demonic beasts is not high. Few martial artists from the Blazing Sun Dynasty hunt beasts here!"
Li Si said with a stern expression.
"Good!"
"Han Qin Hu, Shi Wansui, Qin Qiong, Lu Junyi, Wang Baobao, Yu Chi Gong!"
Yang Hao's eyes blazed as he spoke. The construction of the Great Han's territory was proceeding in full swing, and everything was in order. Now, sixty thousand Great Han soldiers were ready to march, and the Blazing Sun Dynasty would be conquered in one fell swoop.
"Your subordinate is present!"
Han Qin Hu, Shi Wansui, Qin Qiong, Lu Junyi, Wang Baobao, and Yu Chi Gong stepped forward, their expressions resolute, bowing in unison. They had been in Chang'an City for two days, secretly guessing that the King might be preparing to act against the three great dynasties.
"I decree Han Qin Hu as the main general and Shi Wansui as the副 general, leading two hundred thousand Great Han soldiers. They will depart from Mount Yunwu and march east!"
"I decree Qin Qiong as the main general and Yu Chi Gong as the副 general, leading two hundred thousand Great Han soldiers. They will depart from Mount Yunwu and march south, to crush the southern part of the Blazing Sun Dynasty!"
"I decree Wang Baobao as the main general and Lu Junyi as the副 general, leading two hundred thousand Great Han soldiers. They will depart from Mount Yunwu and march west!"
"Once the south is pacified, the three armies will merge to crush the Blazing Sun Dynasty for me!"
Yang Hao's voice, like the roar of a dragon, shook the heavens and souls.
"We humbly obey the royal decree!"
Han Qin Hu, Shi Wansui, Qin Qiong, Lu Junyi, Wang Baobao, and Yu Chi Gong roared and departed to receive their orders.
Watching their receding figures, Yang Hao turned to the assembled civil officials, "Expedite the construction of the various prefectures and stabilize them as soon as possible!" He then turned and walked out of the Xuanzheng Hall.
"Your subjects humbly obey the royal decree!"
Changsun Wuji, Li Si, and the others knelt.
Outside the west gate of Chang'an City, in a deep mountain, a blue teleportation array, hundreds of feet wide, slowly rose. Waves of spiritual energy emanated outwards. Bi Xi and Li Si guarded it, constantly stabilizing the array with their spiritual energy.
"Hum~~"
The array hummed, and the blue array slowly took shape. In the center was a deep blue vortex, exuding wisps of dark gas.
Li Si gazed into the blue vortex and could faintly discern streaks of light.
"Thump~~"
"Thump~~"
"Thump~~"
At that moment, the entire valley rumbled with thunder, and the very mountains seemed to tremble. Slowly, led by Han Qin Hu, Shi Wansui, Qin Qiong, Lu Junyi, Wang Baobao, and Yu Chi Gong, sixty thousand troops marched towards the teleportation array.
Before the array, Han Qin Hu, Shi Wansui, Qin Qiong, Lu Junyi, Wang Baobao, and Yu Chi Gong dismounted, bowed deeply towards the direction of the Royal Palace.
"Boom~~"
"Boom~~"
The sixty thousand troops knelt on one knee, their expressions solemn, with a hint of bloodlust in the air.
"Generals, it is time to depart!"
Li Si approached and said to them. The array was stable and capable of accommodating the army's passage.
Han Qin Hu, Shi Wansui, Qin Qiong, Lu Junyi, Wang Baobao, and Yu Chi Gong bowed slightly to Li Si and Bi Xi. Then, Shi Wansui, Qin Qiong, Lu Junyi, Wang Baobao, and Yu Chi Gong led the army into the teleportation array.
A quarter of an hour later, only Li Si, Bi Xi, and Han Qin Hu remained in the valley.
"In that case, this general bids farewell!"
Han Qin Hu clasped his fists, then turned and stepped into the teleportation array, vanishing from the valley.