Shuhan

The cold winter quietly retreats without anyone noticing, like an old man slowly taking off his heavy white clothes and handing the earth over to the vibrant spring.

The sunlight gradually became warm and soft, shining on the ancient and vast land of Youzhou, filling every corner with the breath of revival.

The snow gradually melts under the caress of the sunlight, turning into streams that flow into the rivers, nourishing the land.

The grass seemed to have heard the call of spring and began to stick its head out. The tender green color was particularly dazzling among the withered yellow. With their tenacious vitality, they announced the end of winter and the arrival of spring.

In this land full of hope, ownerless fields were redistributed to tenants who once could only look up to the aristocratic families.

These newly registered citizens are now guarding the land they were allocated, with their hearts filled with unprecedented excitement and anticipation.

They know that the arrival of spring means a new beginning and that they can change their destiny with their own hands.

The government sympathized with the people and not only distributed high-quality seeds but also allowed them to borrow oxen, which undoubtedly added strong support to their spring farming plans.

To the north of Ji County, Kongdong Mountain stands majestically, like a guardian god quietly overlooking the land.

At the foot of the mountain, the construction of Guangyang Palace is in full swing.

This palace is not only a resting place for the emperor during his tours, but also a symbol of national strength and majesty.

In the core area of ​​the palace, a magnificent palace has risen from the ground. The golden glazed tiles sparkle in the sun, and the red palace walls look particularly solemn.

The interior of the palace is magnificent with carved beams and painted buildings, and every detail reveals the royal luxury and nobility.

Outside the palace, officials' residences were still under construction in full swing. Busy craftsmen were moving around, carrying bricks and stones or carving wooden beams. Sweat and dust were intertwined, but no one complained, because everyone knew that participating in such a project was the honor of their lives.

In order to ensure the safety of the palace, 20,000 imperial guards were stationed here. They were dressed in iron armor, holding spears, marching in step, and with great momentum.

These imperial guards are all elite soldiers who have been strictly selected. Their eyes reveal determination and loyalty, as if no invader can cross this Great Wall of Steel.

In addition to the imperial guards, there were also 10,000 elite cavalrymen from various grassland tribes. They were invited here not only to strengthen the defense, but also as a gesture of goodwill and control by the court to the grassland tribes.

These cavalrymen are tall and strong, with superb riding skills. They wear colorful battle robes and have sharp scimitars hanging around their waists, demonstrating the bravery and fierceness of the children of the grassland.

As the palace gradually took shape, scholars from You and Bing states, as well as those who had dreams and desired to change their destiny, flocked here.

Some of them are talented, some are excellent in martial arts, but they all hope to realize their dream of soaring to the sky by getting close to the emperor and showing their talents.

Every morning, a large number of people would gather in the open space outside the palace. They would recite poems, paint, or compete in martial arts, trying to attract the attention of officials and get a chance to see the emperor.

In the deep and quiet hinterland of Guangyang Palace, an ancient and elegant study stands quietly, surrounded by carefully trimmed green bamboos. The bamboo leaves rustle in the breeze.

In the study, the flickering candlelight casts a soft and warm glow, making the scent of ink and agarwood in the air even more intense.

Liu Chan, dressed in gorgeous imperial uniform, was sitting behind a large desk. Although his face had a natural warmth, a barely perceptible worry could not be concealed between his brows.

In Liu Chan's hand was tightly grasping a secret report that had been sent by the military commander from the distant Yecheng at full speed. The thin piece of paper seemed to carry a thousand-pound weight.

His eyes jumped between the lines, and every time he finished reading a line, his brows would involuntarily frown a little.

Finally, when the last line of words came into view, Liu Chan couldn't help but sigh, with a bit of helplessness and emotion in his voice: "This Sima Yi is indeed quite resourceful. He actually dared to attack the nobles of Jizhou. I wonder how much resentment this will arouse among the people of Jizhou.

It's just a pity that our military power in Jizhou is too weak. We tried to stir up the situation in Jizhou several times, but Sima Yi easily suppressed them. Instead, we suffered heavy losses and had to go underground. "

Beside Liu Chan, a beautiful woman with a plump figure and stunning appearance stood quietly. She was Zhou Che.

After giving birth, Zhou Che's figure has taken on a more mature charm, her skin is as delicate as cream, and the charm revealed between her eyebrows shows both maternal tenderness and feminine charm.

She was wearing a gorgeous gold-woven dress and a pair of rings and bracelets around her waist, which swayed gently with her movements, making pleasant sounds.

Hearing Liu Chan's sigh, Zhou Che opened his red lips and spoke softly but firmly: "Don't worry, Your Majesty. Although the Jianjun Division is temporarily at a disadvantage, there is still hope. The resentment of the Jizhou nobles towards Sima Yi is an opportunity we can take advantage of. At the critical moment, if we can win their support, we may become a powerful force for the revival of our Han Dynasty."

Liu Chan heard this, a glimmer of approval flashed in his eyes, he nodded slowly, his eyes revealing deep thought: "You are right, the military division changed from open to covert, just to find those nobles who still have feelings for the Han Dynasty, or those who are dissatisfied with Sima Yi.

In this chaotic world, people’s minds are unpredictable, but if one or two key figures can turn against us at a critical moment, the entire situation may change.”

Having said that, Liu Chan's gaze involuntarily fell on Zhou Che.

Zhou Che felt the weight of this gaze, and a warm current surged in her heart. She gently held Liu Chan's hand.

Liu Chan held Zhou Che's hand in return, feeling the warmth and strength, and seemed to have more confidence in his heart.

He stood up, walked to the window and looked at the bright moon outside.

After a while.

Liu Chan turned around and said to Zhou Che, "Send an order immediately to have the military commanders strengthen their infiltration into Jizhou, especially those nobles who are dissatisfied with Sima Yi. We must contact them secretly and win their support.

At the same time, we must also pay close attention to the internal developments of Cao Wei. Sima Yi's move will inevitably cause a series of chain reactions. We must be prepared to respond to possible changes at any time."

Zhou Che nodded immediately.

After Mount Xumi, Liu Chan asked again:

"Tuoba Liwei, has he been behaving well recently?"

Zhou Che frowned slightly when he heard this, and shook his head, with a barely perceptible worry in his tone: "This man is very ambitious. These days, he has been in frequent contact with various tribes on the grassland, and seems to be plotting something."

There was a hint of worry in her eyes. It was obvious that she was well aware of Tuoba Liwei's movements and the complexity and danger behind them.

Liu Chan's eyes flashed with a gleam of light. He gently stroked the jade pendant on the table, pondered for a moment, and slowly asked: "Has Tuoba Liwei contacted the Wei Kingdom?"

He asked this question lightly, but the weight in his tone was enough to make the air freeze.

Zhou Che nodded, his voice getting even deeper: "The envoys from Wei did go there secretly, but our spies were unable to find out what they talked about."

Her eyes were fixed on Liu Chan, trying to catch any change of emotion on the emperor's face.

When Liu Chan heard this, murderous intent instantly filled his eyes. His fingers tapped lightly on the table, making a dull sound, as if expressing his inner dissatisfaction and anger.

Tuoba Liwei, the Xianbei Khan, actually colluded secretly with the Wei State. How audacious he was!
In his heart, he already felt deeply fearful and dissatisfied with what Tuoba Liwei had done.

However, Liu Chan was the king of a country after all. He quickly suppressed his emotions and his face returned to normal, as if the anger just now was just an illusion.

He looked at Zhou Che and said in a calm but firm voice: "How is Kebi Neng on the grassland now?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Che immediately replied, "With the Xianbei moving south, there is a rare gap on the grassland, and Kebi Neng took the opportunity to restore his power. He was originally a prestigious leader on the grassland. Although his power is not at its peak now, it is still easy for him to mobilize 20,000 to 30,000 cavalry." Her tone showed both recognition of Kebi Neng's strength and a clear insight into the situation on the grassland.

Liu Chan's eyes became extremely deep at this moment, as if he had seen the changing situation on the grassland and the infinite possibilities hidden behind it.

He was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke: "Send an envoy to inform Kebi Neng that he can manage Tuoba Liwei's sphere of influence in the north, and the Han Kingdom will not help Tuoba Liwei."

When Zhou Che heard this, he immediately understood.

His Majesty the Emperor wanted to use Kebineng to weaken Tuoba Liwei's power, so that Tuoba Liwei would have to ask for favors from the Han Dynasty and change from being an unruly person to a vassal of the Han Dynasty.

This is a tactic of using the opponent's own strength to defeat him. It not only saves the Han Dynasty's military consumption, but also achieves the goal of controlling the grassland. It can be said to kill two birds with one stone.

She looked at Liu Chan, a hint of admiration flashing in her eyes.

Although His Majesty seems gentle on weekdays, once it comes to national affairs, his wisdom and decisiveness are admirable.

She bowed respectfully and said in a firm voice: "I will obey your order and will do my best to handle this matter."

Liu Chan nodded with satisfaction, his eyes fell on the night sky outside the window again, but he was already thinking about the next step of the chess game in his heart.

The situation on the grassland is complicated and it is not easy to fully control it.

But as long as he has enough wisdom and patience, he believes that the flag of the Han Dynasty will eventually fly high on the grassland.

He has a big heart, and the grassland will definitely not be the end.

He wants to make the whole world belong to the Han people!

Time flies by.

March of the seventh year of Tianming.

As the spring sunshine gradually softened, the Military Academy became a bustling scene.

After countless days and nights of hard study and hard work, the first-term students of You and Bing states finally ushered in their long-awaited graduation moment.

The gate of the Military Academy was open, as if it was the gateway to future glory, and every student's face was filled with excitement and anticipation.

Liu Chan was dressed in a gorgeous dragon robe and sitting on a high platform. His eyes were deep and majestic, as if he could see through everyone's thoughts.

Beside him, there are rows of exquisite swords, which are a recognition of the graduates' efforts and expectations for their future journey.

With the sound of melodious music, the graduation ceremony officially began.

Liu Chan stood up slowly. His voice was steady and powerful, like a mountain pressing down on everyone's heart: "Dear students, today is an important day for you in the Military Academy. You are not only the future of the Han Dynasty, but also the hope of the people. I hope you can remember your mission and work hard to restore the Han Dynasty and save the people from danger!"

Every word he said exploded in the students' hearts like spring thunder, inspiring their fighting spirit and passion.

They stared at Liu Chan closely, with a determined light flashing in their eyes, as if at this moment, they had already seen themselves fighting bravely on the battlefield in the future.

Someone immediately shouted: "We will definitely follow the president, restore the Han Dynasty, and save the people from the water and fire!"

After someone started, the others immediately responded:
"We will definitely follow the principal, restore the Han Dynasty, and save the people from the water and fire!"

"We will definitely follow the principal, restore the Han Dynasty, and save the people from the water and fire!"

Liu Chan was very satisfied with everyone's reaction.

After the speech, Liu Chan personally presented swords to the graduates.

He walked up to each student, solemnly handed the sword in his hand to them, and whispered a word of encouragement.

These swords are not only weapons, but also symbols of their identities, representing that they have become pillars of the Han Dynasty and disciples of the emperor.

Among them, there was a student named Li Che, who had a tall figure, a handsome face, and a gleam of wisdom in his eyes.

He performed well and achieved excellent results in the Military Academy, so he was directly granted an official position by Liu Chan.

When Liu Chan handed the sword to him, he was so excited that he trembled all over and said with a choked voice: "Your Majesty, I will fulfill my mission and go through fire and water for the country of Han without hesitation!"

Liu Chan looked at him with a glimmer of admiration in his eyes.

Although these children of noble families came from prominent families, they were able to stand out in the Military Academy, which showed that they not only had extraordinary talents, but also firm beliefs and determination.

They are both children of aristocratic families and disciples of the emperor. From now on, they will shoulder a dual mission and contribute their strength to the great cause of the Han Dynasty.

After the sword-awarding ceremony, the students bowed to Liu Chan and said goodbye.

Almost all of them were given official titles.

The highest one is the county magistrate, and the lowest one is the county official.

These are positions where you can do practical work and get promoted easily.

Although they were about to go their separate ways, they all kept Liu Chan's instructions and expectations in their hearts.

These people knew very well that from now on they would be the minions of the Han Dynasty and the eyes and ears of the emperor. No matter where they went, they would fight for the interests of the Han Dynasty.

As long as they work hard for His Majesty and the Han Dynasty, their future will definitely not be bad!
Some of those who graduated from the Military Academy have now become high-ranking officials in the court or local commanders.

They may become one of them!
Liu Chan watched them leave, his heart filled with emotion.

The growth and struggle of these students is not only personal glory and achievement, but also the hope and sustenance for the future of the Han Dynasty.

Every step of their growth will add solid strength to the Han Dynasty.

As the students left, the Military Academy gradually returned to peace.

But this calm is only temporary, because the second phase of Youbing is about to start recruiting students.

And so it goes on.

With all the talents in the world gathered, how could the two states of You and Bing be unstable?

Why should the Han Dynasty worry about not becoming strong? (End of this chapter)