The second day of the third month in the thirty-ninth year of the Great Han, nearly a year had passed since Dian Wei's birth.
"Zhulu Xianyu, establishing a kingdom and proclaiming himself emperor in a month. What do you think this invitation means, Xianyu?"
In the Xuanzheng Hall of Chang'an City, Yang Hao closed the invitation from Zhulu Xianchao.
"Divine Emperor, this minister believes this matter is not simple. Xianyu has been announcing to the entire Western Frontier a year ago to build momentum for his enthronement!"
"This minister estimates that Xianyu wishes to use his coronation ceremony to gauge the foundations of Qingxuan Xianchao and Hengtian Xianchao," Li Si said solemnly.
"Testing the foundations of the two Xianchaos?"
Yang Hao frowned slightly. The Embroidered Uniform Guard was investigating the friction between the three parties over the past ten million years.
Hengtian Xianchao was very strange. For ten million years, they had been in constant conflict with Qingxuan Xianchao and Zhulu Shengmen, but each time they attacked abruptly and then suddenly retreated and made peace.
If one were to carefully study the battlefields each time, one would find that Hengtian Xianchao had not exerted much effort. Each time, Qingxuan Xianchao and Zhulu Shengmen went all out, while Hengtian Xianchao was able to cope with ease.
Although the battle losses were heavy each time, the high-level combat power was basically not lost, only some insignificant soldiers.
Yang Hao speculated that it might be related to the Hong family. With the continuous investigation by the Embroidered Uniform Guard over the past decade, it has been confirmed that Hengtian Xianchao was indeed backed by the Hong family.
For over ten million years, Hengtian Xian Di's ambition was so great that he wanted to annex Qingxuan Xianchao and Zhulu Shengmen. However, due to the Hong family's plans to protect the Blood Sea Suspended Coffin, he had to restrain his ambition.
For over ten million years, wars have been continuous, partly to satisfy his selfish desires, and partly to train his troops.
After the matter of the Blood Sea Suspended Coffin was settled, Hengtian Xian Di rekindled his ambition, but then the battle of Beiyou Sea occurred, and Hengtian Xian Di once again gave up.
Now, with the Undead City about to open, Hengtian Xian Di was extremely frustrated. He could only continuously dispatch troops for harassment and sneak attacks, using the lives of hundreds of thousands of soldiers to vent his dissatisfaction. However, this was all he could do.
"Xianyu's coronation ceremony, it seems I must personally attend!" Yang Hao said after a moment.
"Divine Emperor, at Xianyu's enthronement, the high-level officials of Qingxuan Xianchao and Hengtian Xianchao will definitely attend. Our Great Han Divine Dynasty is not as powerful as the three overlords, and our status is lower. Only if the Divine Emperor goes in person can we show sufficient respect!"
Li Si said.
"But even so, Divine Emperor, you must handle this trip with caution, and it is best to bring the Li Yuanba Illustrated Record with you!"
"It's a pity that Ziyun Mountain and Jian Gong have not yet been dealt with. Otherwise, the national fortune would definitely increase again, and Meng Tian, Tian Dan, and Wei Xiaokuan could also make a breakthrough to the Supreme realm!"
After a slight pause, Li Si stroked his beard as a hint.
"Report! Urgent report from Tianlan City!"
Just then, Mao Xiang rushed in from outside the hall and reported respectfully.
Tianlan City?
Yang Hao's eyebrows twitched.
Tianlan City was where the Xuanwu Legion, led by Tian Dan, was stationed. To the west of this city was Ziyun Mountain, and to the east was Jian Gong!
For ten years, Tian Dan had repeatedly submitted memorials requesting to lead troops to sweep through Ziyun Mountain and Jian Gong, but all were rejected by Yang Hao. One reason was that the foundations of the three overlords were unknown, and there was no justifiable cause for dispatching troops. Another reason was that the Great Han still needed to consolidate its newly occupied cities. This matter was thus delayed until now.
"Read!"
Yang Hao commanded.
"Your humble subject Tian Dan respectfully submits a memorial today:"
"On the first day of the third month in the thirty-ninth year of the Great Han, at the Mao hour, your humble subject led a guard detachment to patrol outside the city. Unexpectedly, at the Si hour, disciples of Jian Gong and members of Ziyun Mountain had a dispute at the Mingyue Pavilion in Tianlan City. The conflict between the two sides escalated, and they engaged in a fierce battle at Mingyue Pavilion, damaging thirty-eight halls and pavilions, affecting over three thousand four hundred citizens, of whom more than three hundred unfortunately died. It has been verified that two hundred and seventy of them were from Qingxuan Xianchao and Hengtian Xianchao!"
"Upon this incident, your humble subject immediately returned to the city and apprehended the individuals from Ziyun Mountain and Jian Gong. They are currently detained in the Tianlan City prison."
"Your humble subject believes that the individuals from Ziyun Mountain and Jian Gong have shown contempt for the might of our Divine Emperor and violated the laws of the Great Han Divine Dynasty. To appease the hearts of the citizens and uphold the national prestige of our Great Han Divine Dynasty, your humble subject, though untalented, is willing to lead the army to sweep away Ziyun Mountain and Jian Gong!"
"Your humble subject further implores Your Majesty to clearly expound upon the laws of Han and, with utmost sincerity and trepidation, this humble subject submits this report."
"Humbly requesting Your Majesty's sacred judgment!"
"Commander of the Xuanwu Legion, Tian Dan!"
"The second day of the third month in the thirty-ninth year of the Great Han!"
Mao Xiang reported solemnly.
"This Tian Dan!"
Yang Hao couldn't help but laugh and cry as he listened to the contents of the memorial.
Similar memorials had not stopped for the past decade. Disputes between Ziyun Mountain and Jian Gong were merely staged by Tian Dan himself, all for the purpose of finding an excuse to attack Ziyun Mountain and Jian Gong.
In fact, this could not be entirely blamed on Tian Dan. The Xuanwu Legion had been established for over thirty years, but compared to other legions, its achievements did not rank high, and it had little fame externally.
Among the ten great legions of the Great Han Divine Dynasty, many beings knew of the other legions, and could even recite the names of their commanders, generals, and deputy generals off the top of their heads.
But when it came to the Xuanwu Legion, many beings could only shake their heads. Even in the intelligence agencies of Qingxuan Xianchao and Zhulu Shengmen, the Xuanwu Legion was only briefly mentioned.
It was not that Tian Dan needed this battle to make a name for himself, but that the Xuanwu Legion needed it!
Especially needed!
The Xuanwu Legion should not remain unknown.
"Divine Emperor, since General Tian Dan is so insistent, why not grant his request?"
Li Si also seized the opportunity to say.
In the past ten years, over a hundred states and prefectures had been largely stabilized. The Great Han was fully capable and had the energy to annihilate Ziyun Mountain and Jian Gong.
However, Yang Hao had always rejected Tian Dan's memorials, so Li Si had not submitted any proposals in recent years.
"Divine Emperor, with the opening of Undead City imminent, the Hong family will undoubtedly focus their plans around Undead City, and Hengtian Xianchao will naturally not make a move at this time."
"With Zhulu establishing a kingdom and Xianyu about to proclaim himself emperor, the entire Zhulu is fully preparing for the coronation ceremony and has no energy to concern itself with other matters."
"Three days ago, Qingxuan Xian Di recalled King Zunshuo, Qing Yu, who was leading troops outside. The three kings have gathered in Shengdi City, and it is likely that the struggle for succession among the three dragons is about to begin!"
"Based on the above analysis, this minister believes that the time has come to sweep away Ziyun Mountain and Jian Gong!"
"Granted!"
Yang Hao said sternly, "Grant Tian Dan permission to lead the Xuanwu Legion to attack Ziyun Mountain and Jian Gong. He is very confident, is he not? Then let him sweep away Ziyun Mountain and Jian Gong in half a month, and accompany me to Zhulu Xianchao a month later to attend Xianyu's coronation ceremony!"
"Your will be done!"
Mao Xiang rose and walked out of the hall.
"Regarding Xianyu's coronation ceremony next month, I order Dian Wei and Meng Tian to accompany me as observers. I order Crown Prince Yang Chen to oversee the state, and Li Si, you will assist him. If the Crown Prince is incompetent in state affairs, you have the right to veto his decisions!"
"Your humble subject Li Si obeys your command!"
Li Si received the decree and bowed. The sharpened sword of ten years was about to be unsheathed. In this short decade, the Great Han had undergone earth-shattering changes.