Bao Zheng's words were filled with grand passion.
Yang Hao nodded repeatedly, "You must ensure that the people suffer no loss of personal safety or property during their relocation!"
The establishment of a nation required iron-blooded conquest in its early stages, but the support and hearts of the populace could not be overlooked or underestimated.
"Your subordinate remembers!"
Bao Zheng bowed respectfully, his expression solemn, and replied with firm conviction.
"Officials dispatched from Yizhou, Jingzhou, and Yangzhou, how has the recovery of governance progressed?"
Liangzhou and Yongzhou were the first to be conquered. After more than a year of development and consolidation, the lives of the people had significantly improved.
Under the governance of Wu Yong, Youzhou, Jizhou, and Xuzhou were gradually regaining their vitality.
The capital region, Sili, Yanzhou, and Yuzhou, under the rule of the former Wu Kingdom, had been minimally affected by warfare. After simple maintenance, they quickly recovered.
"My Lord, the officials dispatched have gradually taken control of the three prefectures, and the infrastructure of the cities within these prefectures is largely complete."
Zhu Sheng bowed slightly and presented a letter. The dense script within meticulously detailed the various administrative affairs of the three prefectures.
After briefly understanding and addressing some important matters, Yang Hao nodded lightly. The thirteen prefectures of the empire, having endured the baptism of war, were like shattered pottery, with everything needing to be rebuilt. A period of three to five years of consolidation would be required for rapid recovery.
"Since that is the case, Zhu Sheng, Gongtai, complete the handover of Liangzhou's administrative affairs. In three days, we shall relocate to the new capital—Chang'an!"
"Order Bao Zheng to be fully responsible for the state establishment ceremony and the enthronement. Announce to the entire nation that the state will be established in one month!"
Yang Hao's eyes blazed as he shouted. Two years had passed since the first of the ancient heroes was summoned into existence. Not only had he survived the traitor's blade after his transmigration, but he had also ascended to the position of Prefect of Shujun. With the help of numerous ancient heroes, Yang Hao had finally brought this land under his control!
He was no longer the archeologist from a peaceful era, but a man who had endured bloodshed and faced death multiple times, shedding his naivete and panic. Now, his heart was like an iron pillar, suppressing the four directions with boundless heroism!
Although there was still a significant gap between him and the wise rulers of past Chinese dynasties, Yang Hao believed that he would gradually reach the pinnacle, holding power over the world with an open palm.
"We obey!!"
Bao Zheng excitedly bowed in haste, followed by all the officials in the hall, whose hearts trembled with excitement. Some even had tears of joy in their eyes. All of them knelt down, offering their heartfelt congratulations!!
"We obey!!"
Everyone in the hall bowed down in unison, calling out in deep voices.
...
...
Bingzhou Fortress.
After months of repair and reinforcement, the once desolate and dilapidated fortress was renewed. It stood tall with elite soldiers of Shu Han, their war spears and halberds arrayed in dense formations.
"General Gao Shun, according to the intelligence from Lord Jing Ke, the Jin soldiers are likely to arrive in the coming days, with a large army pressing the borders."
Liao Hua's tone was solemn. The Yuan Qi within his body had subtly reached the realm of half-step Grandmaster. Liao Hua, who was the first to be summoned and was initially at the bottom of the cultivation ladder, had, through his own efforts, finally caught up to the general level.
"Do General Shan Xiongxin, General Zhang Han, and Lord Jing Ke have any news to report?"
Gao Shun polished his Soul-Chasing Spear. After the previous great battle, his Elite Trap Camp had suffered heavy losses. Faced with three Grandmasters and an army of one hundred thousand, he and Liao Hua alone would likely not be able to hold the fortress.
"General, the three, General Shan Xiongxin and the others, will arrive tonight. With their powerful support, we will surely spill the blood of the Jin soldiers and forge our empire of ten thousand miles!"
Liao Hua's face contorted, and fierce light erupted from his eyes. As he spoke, his words exuded iron-blooded combativeness!
"Since that is the case, the entire army will be on high alert. Extend the scouts outwards to observe the enemy's movements from afar. There is no need for concealment. The opponent has a peak Grandmaster, and the area within several miles is under his control."
Gao Shun spoke gravely. With a peak Grandmaster stationed there, the Jin Kingdom likely sought something within the former Wu Kingdom's capital. It was highly probable that they were after the Xuanyuan Token.
After Lu Kang pacified Sili, he handed over the item obtained from Xie Lü Fensan to Chen Gong. After Chen Gong and Zhu Sheng conducted extensive research based on numerous documents, they discovered that the Xuanyuan Token was related to a dynasty's secret treasure from ten thousand years ago.
It was highly possible that within it lay a secret method for a kingdom to advance to a dynasty. The King of Jin, who regarded the thirteen prefectures of the Wu Kingdom as nothing, had dispatched an army of one hundred thousand, traveling a thousand miles, solely for the Xuanyuan Token. It was likely that the Jin Kingdom possessed other Xuanyuan Tokens.
The Jin Kingdom, with its thousand-year history and strong national power, currently had a king whose Yuan Qi cultivation had reached the Returning Origin realm. Its subordinate Grandmaster officials and generals were numerous. For thousands of years, they had sought to advance to a dynasty but had found no clear path.
Now, with the Xuanyuan Token in hand, it was undoubtedly the sole method for the Jin Kingdom to achieve dynastic status!
The deaths of one hundred thousand Jin soldiers in the heartland of the Wu Kingdom had caused no ripples in the Jin capital. The demise of two Grandmasters was akin to the loss of two ants, not eliciting any anger from the Jin court.
A single order was issued, dispatching three Grandmaster powerhouses to lead tens of thousands of troops, their imposing might directed towards the border.
It was conceivable that these two Grandmaster powerhouses, if placed in the Wu Kingdom, would be formidable figures, each a hero sweeping across a region. Such cultivators, dying in a foreign land, had not received attention from their homeland.
Gao Shun sighed repeatedly, feeling it was a great injustice to these two!
...
...
That night, under the leadership of Shan Xiongxin, Jing Ke, and Zhang Han, fifty thousand elite troops of the Wadang Army entered the city one by one and were stationed at the Bingzhou Fortress.
"Hahaha, congratulations to General Liao Hua for breaking through to half-step Grandmaster! My Lord was also greatly pleased to hear this news. Now, my Lord can finally relax a bit!"
Shan Xiongxin said with a hearty laugh, patting Liao Hua on the shoulder.
Among these ancient heroes, only Liao Hua and Wu Yong had not yet reached the Grandmaster realm. Wu Yong was stationed locally, diligently handling administrative affairs. Yang Hao's greatest concern was Liao Hua, who was summoned first. Now that he had broken through to half-step Grandmaster, Yang Hao could finally put his mind at ease.
"General Liao Hua, please look!"
As Jing Ke spoke, he extended his palm, and a brown Ascension Pill lay quietly in his hand.
"This... this is an Ascension Pill?"
Liao Hua was astonished, looking at the Ascension Pill with disbelief.
After Zhou Yuji and Zhu Sheng broke through to half-step Grandmaster, they were the first to take the Ascension Pill and successfully advance to the Grandmaster realm.
Liao Hua had been present at Zhou Yuji's breakthrough, witnessing firsthand the immense Yuan Qi contained within the pills refined by Wan Mizhai, which had deeply shocked him.
"Indeed. My Lord specifically ordered this to be brought for you, General. We hope you will quickly improve your cultivation to help my Lord expand our territory!"
Zhang Han said solemnly, his tone serious.
"Your subordinate will certainly not fail my Lord's trust. I thank my Lord!!"
Liao Hua knelt on one knee, bowed respectfully, and accepted the Ascension Pill from Jing Ke's hand.
A quarter of an hour later, a surge of majestic Yuan Qi swept through the fortress. Following that, Liao Hua stepped out and stood in the sky above the fortress.