I rode and slashed unparalleled in the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 1127 Leaving Yumen Again
Meanwhile, the grand ceremony in the Central Plains quickly spread to every corner of the Han Dynasty's territory through the extensive coverage in the "Great Han Monthly Report" and word of mouth.

The titles of "Emperor" and "Empress," as well as the scene of the divine beast descending before the altar in the southern suburbs and the people kneeling in worship, were thus imbued with countless mythological colors, deeply imprinted in the memories of the people at that time, and became a distinct mark of the beginning of an era.

However, Su Yao did not linger in Luoyang after the ceremony. For him, the establishment of such an honorific title was far from the end, but rather the clarion call for a new journey.

Having resolved the issue of legitimacy, he was finally able to devote all his energy to the western expedition.

Parthia and even Rome—this time, he was determined to wipe out these last two targets in one fell swoop.

So, more than four months after leaving Anxi, Su Yao finally embarked on his journey back.

In the fifth year of the Kaiyuan era, in early May, the square in front of the Luoyang Palace was packed with people.

Today marks the official start of His Majesty the Emperor's western tour. He will depart from here on his griffin, returning to the Parthian front.

Therefore, Empress Wu Zetian, Su Yao's concubines and children, all the civil and military officials, and almost all the people of the city came here to see them off.

The morning light gilded the magnificent Luoyang city wall with a golden edge, and everyone's eyes were focused on the proud golden divine beast standing in the center of the square, and the figure in black armor and red robes beside it, carrying a golden pestle.

Indeed, in order to facilitate the battle ahead, Su Yao naturally could no longer wear the solemn crown robes he wore during the sacrificial ceremony that day, but instead put on a set of black dragon-patterned armor that was more suitable for battle.

Su Yao's gaze swept over the kneeling officials and the surging crowd before him, finally settling on Wan Nian at the very front of the crowd.

Wan Nian was not wearing court attire today, but instead wore a moon-white brocade long dress with a light pink gauze shawl over it. Perhaps due to her pregnancy, her waist was slightly thicker than usual, and her brows showed less of the majesty she displayed in court and more of the gentleness of a new mother.

She held the young Crown Prince Yongping's hand in one hand, and gently stroked her slightly protruding belly with the other. Her eyes held reluctance, but even more so, trust and expectation for Su Yao. When Su Yao looked at her, she suppressed a sob in her throat, nodded slightly, and mouthed silently, "Take care, my husband, and return soon."

Su Yao felt a warmth in his heart and strode forward, first bending down to pat Crown Prince Yongping on the head. The little fellow was already four years old, dressed in a tiny crown prince's robe, looking up at his awe-inspiring father with a face full of admiration. In a childish voice, he clumsily imitated the adults around him, bowing and saying, "Father... may you be victorious..."

Su Yao laughed heartily, picked up his son, and lifted him in the air, eliciting giggles from the little guy that eased the sadness of parting. He handed Yongping back to the wet nurse beside him, then walked to Wannian, ignoring the countless gazes around them, gently stroked her slightly protruding belly, and whispered, "Take care of yourself, wait for me to come back."

Wan Nian's cheeks flushed slightly as she grasped his hand, her eyes glistening with tears. "Yes, my children and I will be waiting for your triumphant return in Luoyang." She paused, her voice even softer, "Thousands of miles away, war is merciless. My husband must... must take good care of himself."

"Don't worry." Su Yao smiled confidently, "There's no one in this world who can hurt your husband yet."

Having said that, he took a step back, his gaze sweeping over the group of concubines behind Wan Nian—Zhen Jiang, Cai Yan, Cui Ying, Yuan Xiaoyu, and other noble ladies from aristocratic families, along with the Xiongnu Princess Yun, the Wusun Princess Ashli, the sisters from the Cheshi Kingdom, and foreign concubines like Safia, all lined up in a row. Some were holding swaddling clothes, some were leading young children by the hand, and some were slightly pregnant; at this moment, they all looked at him with concern and reluctance in their eyes.

Su Yao nodded slightly to them, saying nothing more, everything was understood without words.

He then turned around, his gaze sharpening as he swept over the civil and military officials, led by Lu Zhi, Xun Yu, Wang Yun, and Yuan Shao.

"During my western tour, all matters of state will be decided jointly by the Empress Dowager and the Three Departments! You must do your utmost to assist me, stabilize the country, and nurture the people, without any slackening!"

"Your Majesty, we obey your decree! We respectfully bid farewell to Your Majesty, wishing you military success and a swift return in triumph!" The officials responded in unison, their voices resounding through the heavens.

Su Yao said no more and reached out his hand to Safia beside him. The girl had also changed into a Parthian-style hunting outfit that was easy to ride. The combination of leather and light armor outlined her agile figure. She took a deep breath and placed her hand in Su Yao's palm.

Su Yao put his arm around her waist, and with a swift movement, lightly leaped onto Griffin's broad back. The griffin let out a clear, resounding cry that echoed through the sky, its massive wings unfurling and whipping up powerful gusts of air that caused the flags below to flutter and the clothes of the crowd to billow.

"Let's go!" Su Yao glanced back at Luoyang one last time, looked at his wife, children, and subjects, and then patted Griffin on the neck.

With its giant wings flapping, Griffin used all four legs to propel its massive body into the air, carrying the two of them straight up into the clouds.

"Long live the Emperor!"

"Long live your Majesty!"

Below, a deafening farewell roared once more. Countless people knelt on the ground, gazing up at the golden figure soaring higher and higher until it became a tiny dot, merging into the western azure sky until it disappeared completely...

A journey of ten thousand miles begins with a single step. But Su Yao's journey lies in the heavens above.

Griffin flew at an incredible speed, the Central Plains rushing past beneath his feet. Mountains, rivers, cities, and fields appeared like the lines on a chessboard, clear yet minuscule.

Safia clung tightly to Su Yao's waist, the fierce wind making it almost impossible for her to open her eyes, her heart filled with indescribable excitement and a touch of trepidation. She was about to return to her homeland, but in a completely new and supreme identity—the Emperor's concubine, the victor's family member.

Su Yao sensed her nervousness and burst into laughter that cut through the wind: "Scared?"

"No!" Safia shouted back, trying to make her voice sound calm. "It's just... the wind is too strong!"

Su Yao burst into another hearty laugh, maneuvering Griffin to lower the altitude slightly, but without reducing the speed at all.

They traveled westward, passing through Chang'an without entering, and flew directly to Yumen Pass.

Several days later, when that familiar, majestic pass reappeared on the horizon, the soldiers guarding the pass saw the golden light in the sky from afar and immediately burst into thunderous cheers.

"It's His Majesty the Emperor! His Majesty has returned!"

"Open the door quickly! Welcome us!"

Hou Cheng had already received the news and led all the soldiers of the pass to line up outside the pass to welcome them. Compared to the shock and fear last time, this time their faces were filled with boundless fervor and awe.

"This humble general, Hou Cheng, respectfully welcomes His Majesty the Emperor! Long live His Majesty!" Hou Cheng knelt on one knee, his voice hoarse with excitement. Behind him, thousands of soldiers knelt in unison, the clanging of their armor like thunder.

Su Yao piloted the Griffin down slowly, looked at Hou Cheng, and smiled, "General Hou, you've worked hard guarding the pass. Now that I've returned, would you like to shoot a few more arrows at me?"

Hou Cheng was so frightened that his face turned pale, and he kowtowed repeatedly: "This humble general dares not! This humble general would never dare! I was blind and ignorant in the past, and offended Your Majesty. Please forgive me!"

"Get up, it was just a joke." Su Yao waved his hand. "How's the matter I entrusted to you going?"

Hou Cheng quickly rose and respectfully reported, "Your Majesty! In accordance with your decree, the Western Regions Development Company has collected the latest batch of provisions and military equipment, totaling 3,000 carts and over 10,000 laborers. Escorted by troops dispatched by the General of the Western Expedition, they were transported westward from the pass ten days ago! In addition, the 30,000 elite troops conscripted from Longyou and Liangzhou have also been assembled, led by Commander-in-Chief Lü Bu and commanded by Generals Zhang He and Qu Yi. They will set off soon!"

"Good!" Su Yao nodded in satisfaction. "This time, I will conquer Parthia in one fell swoop and show my might in the west! Hou Cheng, you should also prepare yourself, muster your troops, and set off with the army. I will give you a new person to guard Yumen Pass."

Upon hearing this, Hou Cheng was overjoyed and knelt down again with a thud, kowtowing three times: "This humble general thanks Your Majesty for your grace! This humble general will swear to serve Your Majesty to the death, and will be your vanguard, even at the cost of ten thousand deaths!"

(End of this chapter)