February 10th, Year 1 of the Han Dynasty, Chang'an City, Han Dynasty.
Since the establishment of the Han Dynasty, over a month has passed. Through a month of development and operation, the Han Dynasty's Chang'an City has become prosperous and thriving. The Han Dynasty's territory extends west to the Loulan Kingdom, east to the overseas Lingyin Sect, north to the waters of the former Goryeo territory, and south to the Baiyue Kingdom, spanning one-third of the land on Tianyue Island.
At the hour of Yin on February 10th, Year 1 of the Han Dynasty, with stars dotting the sky, civil and military officials gathered at the Vermillion Bird Gate of the Han Royal Palace. Among them were Bao Zheng, Chen Gong, Wu Yong, all present and arrayed beside the Vermillion Bird Gate, awaiting the opening of the palace gates.
At the very beginning of the Han Dynasty's establishment, Bao Zheng had advised Yang Hao to convene a court assembly on the first and fifteenth days of each lunar month to oversee affairs of the realm. However, due to ongoing battles on the front lines and the grand San Yuan festival, the court assembly had been repeatedly postponed.
Just three days prior, Yang Hao had issued a royal decree for all civil and military officials in positions of power across the land to hasten to Chang'an to receive the Han King's commands.
On the battlements of the Vermillion Bird Gate, the Tiger Guards patrolled the surroundings. The Eastern Depot's agents and the Embroidered Uniform Guard were arrayed on both sides, striking fear into the hearts of the assembled civil and military officials, who stood rigidly in place, daring not to move.
In less than a month since the establishment of the Han Dynasty, officials had been frequently arrested by the Eastern Depot's agents and had their entire families executed. Anyone who defied King Han Yang Hao's orders or the will of the common people had been put to death. Sudan Novel Network.
Even members of King Han Yang Hao's own clan had been directly executed by Bao Zheng. Bao Zheng, as the Minister of Rites and concurrently the Prefect of Sili, presided over Chang'an City. Within Chang'an City were many who had followed the King from the beginning and members of the royal family, all indulging in feasting and revelry, arrogant and overbearing.
Even Yao Wen, who had followed Yang Hao from Han Jia, began to reveal his wild nature after settling in Chang'an, bullying men and women, seizing cultivation resources, and acting recklessly. It wasn't until Zhang Long and Zhao Hu apprehended him within the city and he was executed by Bao Zheng's cleaver in the bustling marketplace that the night of terror descended for all the clan members and high officials. In Chang'an City alone, Bao Zheng, Di Renjie, and the Eastern Depot had executed over 30,000 people.
The presence of agents and guards was visible everywhere across the country. Wherever they went, officials lay dead in the streets. Since then, all officials, high and low, had conducted themselves with integrity, remembering King Han Yang Hao's royal decree.
Officials from humble backgrounds took on great responsibilities!
"Clang~~"
"Clang~~"
"Clang~~"
...
"Screech~~"
After nine earth-shattering sounds, the Vermillion Bird Gate slowly opened. The military generals, led by Wang Baobao and Yuchi Gong, and the civil officials, led by Changsun Wuji and Du Ruhui, orderly entered the palace.
At the hour of Mao on February 10th, Year 1 of the Han Dynasty, outside the Taiji Hall of Chang'an City, Han Dynasty.
As dawn began to break, all the civil and military officials outside the Taiji Hall, dressed impeccably and with stern expressions, bowed and stood in the plaza, quietly awaiting the Han King's summons.
After a short while, the Taiji Hall slowly opened, revealing the figure of Wei Zhongxian. He stood at the entrance and shouted, "All officials, enter the hall to pay your respects!!"
The civil and military officials bowed in greeting. The military generals stood on the right, and the civil officials on the left, as they proceeded into the hall in order.
Upon entering the Taiji Hall, the officials looked up and saw Yang Hao seated on the throne, his eyes closed, with waves of royal aura condensing around him. Since Yuan Tiangang severed the dragon veins of the Three Kingdoms and they converged upon the Han Dynasty, the three kingdoms' royal auras were also absorbed into Yang Hao's body by Yuan Tiangang. At this moment, his royal aura was profound, with faint sounds of dragon roars.
"Your subject(s) pay respects to Your Majesty, wishing Your Majesty eternal peace!!"
The ministers collectively knelt on both knees, shouting their salutations.
"I am well!"
After the ritual of three kowtows and nine bows, they divided and stood on both sides, awaiting Yang Hao's royal decree.
Yang Hao slowly opened his eyes and gazed at the pillars of the Han Dynasty within the hall. A shimmering light flickered in his eyes. It was precisely because of these loyal and capable ministers that the Han Dynasty had gradually become prosperous and strong.
"Since the establishment of the Han Dynasty, it has been a long time since I have had a proper heart-to-heart talk with all of you. From my departure from Han Jia, it has taken over three years to achieve eternal peace and expand our territory. Expanding territory is easy, but remembering our original intentions is difficult!!"
"Our territory spans over ten thousand li, and the Han Dynasty's domain is vast. I hope all of you will remember my royal decree and act in accordance with the wishes of the people of the Han Dynasty!!"
"Chen Gong, Xu Chu, Liao Hua, heed my command!"
"Your subject is here!"
The three stepped forward, standing before the hall, bowing their heads and kneeling on both knees!
"I command Chen Gong to oversee all political affairs in the former territory of the Goryeo Kingdom, and to ensure the swift and smooth resumption of governance in all prefectures and counties of Goryeo!"
"I command Xu Chu and Liao Hua to lead the great army and be stationed in the former territory of the Goryeo Kingdom!"
After the collapse of the Goryeo Kingdom, Fang Xuanling had first stabilized the political affairs, but the governance of other regions still required further attention.
"Your subject respectfully obeys the royal command!"
The three knelt on both knees, received the command, and rose.
"Gao Shun, heed my command!"
"Your subject is here!"
Gao Shun, who had arrived in Chang'an earlier, responded with a shout and knelt on both knees!
"Take the soldiers out of the barracks and immediately lead the Xiàn Zhèn Battalion to southern Jingzhou to rendezvous with Lu Kang!"
"Your subordinate obeys the command!!"
With the Xiàn Zhèn Battalion reappearing, they would surely suppress all enemies!
"Zhu Sheng, Zhou Yuji, heed my command!"
"Your subject is here!"
The two stepped forward and stood before the hall, bowing their heads in unison!
"I command Zhu Sheng to oversee all political affairs in the southern Jin Kingdom. You two will immediately lead the army to rendezvous with Qi Jiguang at Yuehai Pass!!"
"Your subject respectfully obeys the royal command!"
The two knelt on both knees, received the command, and rose.
This Jin Kingdom, situated between the territories of the Han Dynasty, was already like a fish in a barrel, destined for destruction.
"Wu Yong, Cheng Yaojin, Shan Xiongxin!"
"Your subject is here!"
The three stepped forward and stood before the hall, bowing their heads in unison!
"I command Wu Yong to oversee all political affairs in the former territory of the Liao Kingdom, and Cheng Yaojin and Shan Xiongxin to lead the army and be stationed in the former lands of Liao!"
"Meng Tian, Zhang Han!"
"Your subject is here!"
The two stepped forward and stood before the hall, bowing their heads in unison.
"I command Meng Tian to be the commander and Zhang Han to be the deputy commander, stationed at the border between our Han Dynasty and the Abyss of Soul Imprisonment."
"Your subject respectfully obeys the royal command!"
The two knelt on both knees, received the command, and rose.
"Zhang Jiao, Yuan Tiangang!"
"Your subject is here!"
The two, clad in Taoist robes, stepped forward and stood before the hall, bowing their heads in unison!
"I command you two to accelerate the establishment of Taoism and guard the eastern coastline of the Han Dynasty!"
With the two of them stationed there, the eastern coastline of the Han Dynasty would naturally not require Liao Hua and Zhou Yuji's jurisdiction.
"Your subject respectfully obeys the royal command!"
The two knelt on both knees, received the command, and rose.
As for Langya Prefecture, Yang Hao was not worried. Currently, the Chu Kingdom and the Abyss of Soul Imprisonment were in a strong alliance, and Loulan would not easily break ties with the Han Dynasty.
"Yao Li, Jing Ke!"
"Your subject is here!"
The figures of the two slowly appeared before the hall, bowing their heads.
"I command you two to be stationed in Chang'an!"
"Your subject respectfully obeys the royal command!"
The two knelt on both knees, received the command, and rose, their figures gradually disappearing.
"Wang Baobao, Yuchi Gong!"
Among the ranks of military generals, a man in a yellow robe with a sable-trimmed cap, and another with a dark complexion, stood before the hall.
"Your subject is here!"
"I appoint you as General of Cavalry and General Yang Wu!"
"Your subject thanks Your Majesty!"
Wang Baobao and Yuchi Gong bowed deeply.