I am a soldier in the border army

Chapter 671 Peace and Prosperity! A Rehearsal Before Ascending the Throne!
The great river is vast, stretching for countless ages, and its waters have nourished countless lives.

Unfortunately, nowadays, the surging waves are no longer as clear and pure as described in ancient books, but have been stained with a turbid yellow color at some point.

"What are your thoughts, Cao Qing, upon viewing this great river?"

The treasure ship sailed through the storm, amidst strong winds and high waves.

Upon hearing this, Cao Wu, who was standing respectfully behind Han Shao, pondered for a moment before responding.

"The river water is turbid, just like the filth of this mundane world today, which is no longer as clear as it once was."

Upon hearing Cao Wu's remark, Han Shao chuckled.

"But I never expected that Minister Cao would be such a person who admires antiquity."

Upon hearing this, Cao Wu felt slightly ashamed.

"Your Majesty is too kind. I was just a mere warrior in the past, how could I know anything about the past?"

"I just heard people talk about the past before, and this is just something I felt compelled to say."

Historical records were mostly kept secret by the imperial family.

Those from ordinary aristocratic families certainly wouldn't dare to claim to know or admire the past.

Upon hearing this, Han Shao pondered for a moment before speaking.

"Ignorance of the past is unacceptable."

"The ancestral lineage is the foundation of a clan's connections."

"Moreover, history serves as a lesson..."

At this point, Han Shao paused slightly before continuing.

"By taking history as a mirror, we can understand the rise and fall of dynasties and learn from our gains and losses."

"When you have the chance in the future, Cao Qing should read it more often."

After Han Shao finished speaking, Cao Wu was stunned for a moment, and then hurriedly clasped his hands in a respectful gesture after he came to his senses.

"Thank you for your instruction, Your Majesty. I will keep it in mind."

"I will definitely study diligently from now on."

Upon hearing this, Han Shao nodded slightly in satisfaction.

Without a doubt, Cao Wu was a smart man.

With just a few words, he had made him completely understand that their southward march to the capital was not just about purging the court of corrupt officials, nor was it simply about becoming a powerful minister who held the emperor hostage.

He would later convey his thoughts to the others, thus giving his subordinates a heads-up to prevent them from being confused or having wild thoughts.

The reason he insisted on going through this roundabout way was not because he wanted to create mystery, but rather it was a means of controlling his subordinates.

"Give me some time, and I will surely bring peace and tranquility to this world!"

Han Shao gazed at the turbid yellow of the great river ahead and spoke from the depths of his feelings.

……

"The path ahead is clear, lower the sails! Raise the boat to thirteen feet and six inches!"

At the command of the treasure ship commander, the massive treasure ship slowed down as it entered the relatively narrow Luo River, and the water-drafted hull quickly rose to the surface.

There was no other way; the Luo River was a tributary of the main river, and its water was not as deep.

To pass smoothly, certain conveniences must be sacrificed.

However, this only made the already huge ship appear even more majestic. Even from a distance, it looked like a mobile city floating on the river, so imposing that it was hard to look directly at it.

"Minister Cao, Luoyang is just ahead."

"This is your old home, so you're practically the host here. You'd better guide me."

Upon hearing this, Cao Wu was filled with shame.

The old place is indeed the old place.

But back then he was just a lowly captain, hardly a landlord.

But since Han Shao had said so, he could only bite the bullet and shamelessly agree.

"Here."

As it turned out, the surrendered Imperial Guards of the capital handled the matter very well and cleanly in order to fulfill their pledge of allegiance.

At least the treasure ships did not cause the slightest disturbance as they sailed along the Luo River.

As the massive outline of the ancient imperial capital in the distance gradually broke through the clouds, it appeared before everyone's eyes.

Not to mention the soldiers on the treasure ship, even Han Shao was momentarily stunned.

Squinting at the ancient capital for a while, Han Shao sighed with a hint of self-mockery.

"I'm like a country bumpkin coming to the city."

The metropolises of my past life may have surpassed Luoyang, the eastern capital, in scale by more than a fraction.

But how can the so-called city skyline compare to the direct and awe-inspiring sight of the massive city walls that are hundreds of feet high?

Youzhou was located on the frontier, a place of harsh cold and poverty.

Even Zhenliao City is far inferior to Luoyang, the eastern capital.

"Why should Your Majesty be so modest?"

Upon hearing this, Cao Wu quickly replied.

"No matter how grand and magnificent a mere dead city may be, how can it compare to the king's heroic and majestic figure?"

"Your Majesty has come with your Tiger Warriors. Even the capital city is but an object in Your Majesty's hands. We await Your Majesty's arrival to admire them."

Being a martial artist by origin, his flattery was a bit too forceful.

But it still made Han Shao laugh out loud.

"Cao Qing is a good talker."

"Then I will listen to you and go to enjoy the scenery."

Having said that, he was about to go and invite Gongsun Xinyi to come with him to visit this city, one of the two capitals of Dayong.

Unfortunately, Gongsun Xinyi seemed somewhat listless, whether due to morning sickness or seasickness.

This left Han Shao speechless.

It seems that in some aspects it is indeed unrelated to the strength of one's cultivation level.

After offering some gentle words of comfort, and seeing that she was not seriously injured, Han Shao had no choice but to disembark first after the treasure ship docked.

……

Yang is located south of the mountain and north of the river.

North of the Luo River lies Luoyang.

"Your humble servants respectfully welcome Your Majesty!"

"Welcome, Your Majesty!"

With the generals leading the way, the three armies shouted, like a mountain roaring and a tsunami crashing, shaking the world.

"No gift."

Dressed in a magnificent imperial robe, Han Shao leisurely strolled down from the treasure ship.

The black steed Ao Lie, now transformed back into a divine steed, looked down upon the masses beneath him, regarding them as nothing.

Han Shao, however, looked down at the Imperial Guards who had come to greet him. After staring at them for a moment, he smiled faintly.

"Have a heart."

The treasure ship was enormous, and making it dock smoothly like before at this temporary pier was no easy task.

The group of surrendered imperial guards, who were meeting Han Shao for the first time, were initially quite nervous, but their tense expressions suddenly relaxed when Han Shao gave them a light and casual compliment.

"Your Majesty, please move your carriage and follow us into this Eastern Capital."

Han Shao nodded.

"good."

……

As one of the two capitals of the Great Yong Dynasty.

The eastern capital Luoyang and the western capital Haojing were roughly the same in terms of regulations.

It is also divided into North and South Palaces.

However, the Southern Palace of the Eastern Capital has fallen into disrepair due to years of neglect.

Beigong, on the other hand, seemed to remain as majestic and sacred as ever.

Especially the Taiji Hall, which serves as the main hall, and the Yong'an Palace to the north, can still be seen as magnificent sights, their brilliance shining brightly and reflecting the sky, despite the passage of time and changes in the world.

With the army leading the way, Han Shao rode his horse through the Zhuque Gate and couldn't help but be amazed as he looked at the towering gate tower that reached into the clouds.

Upon seeing this, Cao Wu, who was accompanying them, quickly offered an explanation.

"Your Majesty, this is the Vermilion Bird Palace."

Vermilion Bird Palace?
Looking at the tower's structure and scale, which seemed to connect with the sky, Han Shao didn't even need to use his divine sense to guess that this tower must be one of the core hubs through which Emperor Taizu of the Great Yong Dynasty, Ji Tianyuan, transformed the world's fortune for his own use.

When I used my divine sense to investigate further, the truth was indeed so.

Han Shao played with the flavor.

"Do you think Ji Yin would be furious if I destroyed this place?"

Hearing Han Shao address Ji Yin by his given name, his tone was not respectful but rather full of mockery and contempt.

The accompanying Zhenliao Army soldiers smiled knowingly, while the surrendered Imperial Guards' expressions changed.

But they quickly lowered their eyes, pretending they hadn't heard anything.

However, after saying those words, Han Shao did not actually destroy the Vermilion Bird Palace.

Destruction is easy, construction is difficult.

Therefore, unless absolutely necessary, he would never intentionally become a disruptor.

Moreover, Ji Tianyuan's arrangements back then did have many merits, and he might not be unable to use them when the overall situation is stabilized.

If that's the case, why make things difficult for yourself in the future just for a moment of pleasure?

"Okay, let's go in."

"Here."

……

Even before entering the Vermilion Bird Gate, the overwhelming malevolent aura and resentment of the Eastern Capital, accompanied by the thick smell of blood, rushed towards them.

However, Han Shao, who was already used to all of this, not only showed no dissatisfaction, but also smiled with satisfaction.

Well done.

After a quick scan of the city with his divine sense, Han Shao then spoke.

"Those who have made contributions will be generously rewarded."

"There is no distinction between inside and outside."

Upon hearing Han Shao's emphasis on this additional point, the surrendered Imperial Guard generals could no longer contain their excitement.

"Thank you for the reward, Your Majesty!"

Han Shao nodded and said nothing more.

After walking for a while, a group of bald men, their bald heads gleaming in the sunlight, were chanting scriptures and holding a large-scale Buddhist ceremony.

It seems they are diligently performing rituals to appease the wronged souls who died unjustly in the city and to dispel their malevolent energy, so as to prevent those wronged souls and malevolent energy from shortening the lifespan and well-being of the city's residents.

That's good.

There's a saying that goes something like this: even a piece of toilet paper has its uses.

He was responsible for killing, and these bald thieves were responsible for cleaning up his mess; it was a good use of them.

Just as he was chuckling, Li Jing, clad in full armor, suddenly opened his eyes and then hurried over with a look of panic on his face. But before he could speak, Han Shao had already said with a smile.

"You're even faster than Lonely Footsteps."

"What? Are you, the commander-in-chief, trying to steal the vanguard from Commander Feng?"

In this battle, Han Shao only deployed three of his "Four Heavenly Kings".

Qi Shuo was the only one who was imprisoned in Bingzhou.

The goal was simple: to keep an eye on the grasslands and prevent any horses from the northern grasslands from heading south and getting involved in the changing of the world.

Even the current Khan of the grasslands, Taiji, is his most loyal and fiercest hunting dog.

At this moment, Li Jing, who had come closer, finally had time to bow and apologize.

"I am sorry that I was unable to greet Your Majesty."

Upon seeing this, Han Shao suddenly lost his footing and fell off his horse.

Only after personally helping Li Jing to his feet did he speak gently.

"Thanks for your hard work."

Han Shao would also use the title "Cao Qing" to comfort Cao Wu.

But for old people like Li Jing, there's no need for that.

Just as Li Jing knew that the king was coming, but did not come out of the city to greet him, Han Shao did not even have a trace of doubt.

She just glared at him with a hint of resentment and pity.

"I've told you so many times, the commander-in-chief's responsibility is not to lead from the front or be on the front lines."

"If this happens again, I will punish him severely."

Despite being scolded like this, Li Jing remained calm and simply said helplessly.

"Dongdu, one of the two capitals of the Dayong Dynasty."

"I am truly worried, Your Majesty, please forgive me."

The powerful clans of the world seemed to be a united front.

In reality, there are also clear distinctions.

The most obvious gap is the division into Guandong and Guanxi, with the old Hangu Pass as the boundary.

And Luoyang, the eastern capital, was the core of the Guandong aristocratic families.

To completely subdue them would be a terrifying prospect, given the sheer number of powerful experts in the Upper Three Realms accumulated over the years by these powerful clans of Guandong.

So even though he knew that his king must have already made arrangements, Li Jing still couldn't put his mind at ease and had to come in person.

"Are you hurt?"

Hearing Han Shao's slightly furrowed brows as he spoke, Li Jing felt a warmth in his heart and quickly replied.

"Your Majesty, rest assured, Jing is unharmed."

"It's just that the methods left behind by those old fogies are a bit troublesome and will take some time to wear them down."

This is why he was unable to go and greet the emperor earlier.

Upon hearing this, Han Shao's expression relaxed.

"That's good."

Having said that, he took Li Jing's arm and pulled him along to walk with him.

"Your Majesty, you mustn't!"

Seeing Li Jing's panicked expression, Han Shao glared at him.

"Back then, you dared to risk your life to entrust your wife and children to me."

"Over the years, he dared to risk his life and brave arrows and stones for the sake of the lonely one."

"What? You've lost the courage to walk the same path as me?"

What could Li Jing say upon hearing this?
All I could do was give a helpless, bitter smile.

"Your subject will humbly obey Your Majesty's command."

Seeing this, Han Shao laughed with satisfaction.

She pulled him along and strode towards the North Palace Taiji Hall ahead.

……

The white jade steps, layer upon layer, lead directly to that majestic and sacred magnificent palace.

It seemed to reach the heavens.

The emperor and his minister ascended the steps, followed by armored generals in succession.

"Has my great general ever imagined that one day... we commoners who fight each other would be in this state today?"

Han Shao's words were just casual conversation, a brief moment of reflection.

To his surprise, Li Jing pondered and recalled the events quite seriously for a while before nodding in agreement.

"I thought about it."

"Have you thought about it?"

Han Shao was quite surprised.

Li Jing then answered honestly.

"Your Majesty, do you feel that this moment is just like that moment before?"

Han Shao was taken aback upon hearing this, and after a moment's thought, he suddenly realized what was happening.

"You mean... the time we trampled Dragon City back then?"

Li Jing nodded.

"Back then, the king led three hundred of our remaining soldiers to break through Dragon City and trample the royal palace."

“On that day, when I glimpsed that palace outside the Wuhuan King’s palace, I had a vain thought.”

"If one day I could follow Your Majesty to the capital city of Weiyang, what a magnificent sight that would be!"

Upon hearing Li Jing's words, Han Shao was stunned for a moment before finally bursting into laughter.

"They say people who aren't family don't enter the same door."

"It seems that you and I, ruler and subject, are truly a match made in heaven!"

"You look honest and kind, but I never expected that your rebellious spirit would have appeared even earlier than mine!"

Upon hearing this, Li Jing, for the first time, did not show any shame or embarrassment at Han Shao's praise, but instead revealed a sense of pride and honor.

Walk with the king, share his path, even if it means rebelling!
For Li Jing, it was also an honor!

"Your Majesty, that day is drawing near."

“That fleeting thought I had back then is no longer a fleeting thought.”

And it seems to be to confirm his statement.

Before they had even finished walking down the white jade steps, a series of urgent shouts came from below.

"Good news! Your Majesty! Good news!"

"General Feng Can has breached Tongguan! I have been specially ordered to come and report this victory to Your Majesty!"

Tongguan!

The final choke point and key to the capital city of Haojing!
The significance of breaking through this barrier is self-evident!

That meant the army would march straight into the capital, clearing the way without any further obstacles!

As the news of victory echoed over Luoyang, the eastern capital, the surrendered generals of the Imperial Guards wore complex expressions.

Meanwhile, the fierce and ruthless generals of the Zhenliao Army made no attempt to hide their overjoyed excitement.

"Your Majesty! Great joy! Great joy indeed!"

The sounds rose and fell for a while, finally merging into a unified shout.

"Congratulations, Your Majesty, on the imminent success of your reign!"

Han Shao paused on the towering white jade steps.

He suddenly turned around and looked back at the densely packed armored soldiers behind him and below.

At this moment, Li Jing had already silently withdrawn his arm from his grasp and subtly taken a step back.

He then clasped his hands in a fist salute, bowed, and asked for instructions in a calm voice.

"Your Majesty, shall we continue down these jade steps?"

Han Shao withdrew his gaze and then smiled.

"Go, why don't you go?"

Although the towering white jade staircase in the capital city was already within reach, the one in the eastern capital city was already beneath their feet.

Having already embarked on this path, giving up halfway has never been in his nature.

"This can be considered a rehearsal in advance..."

The words weren't spoken loudly, but they were enough for most people to hear.

That's enough.

"Your Majesty, please ascend the steps!"

"Your Majesty, please ascend the steps!"

"Your Majesty, please ascend the steps!"

The sound was like waves, each one higher than the last.

It contains both urging and strong anticipation.

Finally, it even transformed into an invisible force, lifting Han Shao step by step to the top.

When Han Shao finally realized what was happening, he saw that Li Jing, who had been walking almost side by side with him, had fallen far behind him.

Standing alone on the high ground, Han Shao turned around, a hint of disappointment flashing in his eyes.

'Will I ultimately be all alone?'

But after a fleeting thought, he still resolutely turned around.

The imperial steps are already in front of us.

That's already the highest!
One step, two steps, three steps...

Although the moment he stepped onto the imperial steps, a tremendous force suddenly descended from the void and slammed into his shoulder.

Despite being supported by layers of armored tigers and wolves below, he still walked very steadily, as if it were effortless.

When he finally reached the highest point, his cultivation, which had already reached a certain limit, began to surge and churn again, and then suddenly increased dramatically.

Unfortunately, even after calming down, it was still a little short.

However, Han Shao did not become discouraged in the slightest; instead, his gaze became as sharp as a heavenly blade.

As he abruptly turned and stared at the armored tigers and wolves below, he silently uttered that phrase once again.

'Is the emperor born with a special destiny?'

"It is the one with the strongest army and the most powerful horses who will do it!"

The moment the thought left his mind, Han Shao, dressed in a magnificent imperial robe, suddenly drew the Yazi longsword from his waist, which had long since become merely decorative.

"Gentlemen, you are here by my command!"

"Raise an army immediately! Follow me to purge the emperor's inner circle! Slay the traitors! Trample the capital!"

……

(End of this chapter)