A son who doesn't resemble his father? Love you, old man, see you at Xuanwu Gate!

Chapter 27 Monarchy
The sky was faintly bright, and the autumn frost was glistening.

On the vast plains, the huge training ground had already unfolded into a desolate and somber scene.

The rising sun shone on the weapons, like countless cold stars, dazzling and blinding.

The deep sound of drums rose from afar, growing louder as they approached, each beat like a heartbeat emanating from the earth's bosom.

The drumbeats gradually intensified, like the first drops of rain, followed by the sharp sound of horns tearing through the sky, like a hawk breaking through the clouds, powerful and stirring.

Amidst the sounds of drums and horns, the thunderous thud of countless iron boots crashing into the ground resounded in unison, causing the dust beneath their feet to tremble and leap about in alarm, like thunder rumbling across the earth, making the air hum and vibrate.

On the training ground, the soldiers were arrayed like chess pieces.

Looking into the distance, the spearheads stand tall and upright, forming a metallic forest that gleams coldly and sways slightly. The heavily armored infantry formation resembles a fortress cast in steel, with a cold, hard luster floating on their black armor. Their shields are closely packed together, standing firm like a formidable fortress.

The cavalry formation stood silently on the flanks, their warhorses neighing softly, their hooves pounding the ground, puffs of white mist billowing from their nostrils. The cavalrymen sat upright on their horses, their cloaks billowing like surging waves, as they charged forward. The chariot formation, on the other hand, resembled lurking giants, their axles rumbling, the copper studs on their wheels gleaming brightly in the sunlight.

Suddenly, a loud shout, as clear as tearing silk, rang out: "Long live Your Highness! May you enjoy eternal happiness!"

With a wave of the command flag, tens of thousands of Northern Army soldiers roared in unison, "Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

The sound reverberated through the mountains and echoed along the Wei River!
On the high platform, Liu Ju's eyes shone brightly as he watched the ranks of soldiers rolling forward like a torrent, his heart surging with overwhelming emotion.

"Isn't this overstepping one's bounds?" Sima Xiangru, who had been specially "invited" to observe the ceremony, muttered under his breath.

May the emperor live a thousand years, enjoy eternal happiness, and may the army cheer like mountains – this is the imperial procession of the Han emperor.

But he could tell that it was heartfelt praise and support from the Union soldiers.

Liu Ju could not change the flaws of the military merit system for the time being, but in order to stop the rampant corruption in the army, he offered another solution.

Since the officers and generals embezzled money to pay for their crimes in case of emergency, Liu Ju issued an order through Grand Marshal Wei Qing and General Huo Qubing to all the officers and generals of the Han Dynasty, stating that if any force majeure led to their punishment and execution, all the money and provisions for their crimes would be paid by the Crown Prince's palace.

Liu Ju knew that this was not a fundamental solution, and it would be difficult to completely stop the officers from their corrupt thoughts. At least on the surface, the officers had restrained themselves considerably.

All the vacancies were cleared, and the pensions were paid in full. With the deficit reduced, the living standards of all the soldiers improved significantly. People are all made of flesh and blood, especially in a melting pot like the army. Liu Ju was able to provide them with meat, even if not every meal, but every meal was more satisfying than any previous emperor.

Similarly, Liu Ju's prestige in the army surpassed that of previous emperors, perhaps only slightly less than that of Emperor Gaozu.

As if sensing something, Liu Ju shifted his gaze from the chariot formation he had been looking at to Sima Xiangru.

He was over sixty years old, yet he still had a handsome appearance, with white hair and a youthful face. No wonder he could make Zhuo Wenjun, the daughter of a wealthy man, fall in love at first sight and secretly pledge their lives to each other. Even while guarding the tomb, he could still find a concubine. I heard that the father of that concubine was six years younger than Sima Xiangru.

Animals!

"May Your Highness live a long and prosperous life!" Sima Xiangru bowed respectfully and sang in praise.

"Don't just sit there, write these down," Liu Ju said with a smile.

"What does Your Highness mean?"

"Is our army mighty?" "Mighty!"

Is our army strong and powerful?

"Magnificent!"

"Write a long poem."

"yes…?"

Regardless of Sima Xiangru's character, his abilities are undeniable. This military review began at dawn and ended at the end of Shenshi (3-5 PM). By the time the soldiers returned to camp at Youshi (5-7 PM), a "Grand Review Ode" was already on Liu Ju's desk.

"In the year of Yuanshou, in the golden autumn, the Crown Prince, basking in the glory of the sun and clouds and wielding the majesty of the Heavenly Law, solemnly presided over the Northern Army. The stars and constellations hung down, as if the celestial bodies were surrounding the sun; the banners fluttered, like rainbows spreading across the sky. The bugle sounded in the moonlight, and the frosty wind swept across the gate. Where the gate was wide open, the soldiers stood solemnly like a forest, their steps like those of dragons and tigers."

Then, after the three drumbeats, all eyes were turned. The elite warriors, clad in black armor that gleamed in the sun, their blades seemingly frozen in purple lightning; their chariots, with their thunderous hubs, roared like lightning, leaving a trail of dust that blotted out the sky. The forest of swords stood solemnly, the halberds and spears pointing towards the clouds. Bows were drawn to their fullest extent, crossbows were unleashed, their strings gleaming coldly as if to shoot down the heavens. Suddenly, commands rang out like tearing silk, the formations unfolding like the Five Elements, shifting like surging waves; then they coalesced like a solid rock, an unyielding wall, all blades pointing towards the Purple Palace. The wind whipped the great banner, its sound like the roar of pines; the sun shone on the golden gongs, their light dazzling the eyes. The brave warriors drew their swords and struck pillars, shouting "Long live the Emperor!" their voices shaking the heavens, causing the clouds to part in response.

I beheld the Crown Prince, his jade crown majestic, seated regally upon the cloud-topped platform, his bearing calm and focused. His eyes held a light that seemed to reach the heavens, his might surpassing that of the entire realm. To him, these fierce warriors were like elite troops at his command; to him, this array of cold iron was like a formidable fortress upon which the throne rested. Suddenly, an old soldier with white hair, tears streaming down his black armor, pointed to the young man in the formation and whispered, "This truly embodies the spirit of Huaiyin, his awe-inspiring presence still lingers!"

Alas! Banners and pennants blot out the sky, brave warriors all harbor the heart to die for their country; golden armor gleams in the north star, the crown prince already possesses the aura of someone destined to rule. With the long spear in hand, what fear is there of the barbarian sands? Today, his majestic bearing is enough to make the vast seas surge and the Tianshan Mountains bow low. The glorious reign of the Han Dynasty is now foreseeable to extend without end!

……

Anyone who has participated in a military parade knows that cleaning up the aftermath of a parade is often more arduous than during actual combat.

Liu Ju, Wei Qing, and Huo Qubing had nothing to do. As dusk approached, the three uncles and nephews strolled along the banks of the Wei River, occasionally glancing into the camp, where crowds of people gathered and the sounds of orders being relayed and shouts echoed.

"According to reports, after the court deliberation, Li Cai, Zhuang Zhu, Zhou Yangyou, and their families were all imprisoned by the Court of Justice," Wei Qing said as he walked.

"Tell Zhang Tang to kill him quickly," Liu Ju said indifferently.

According to Han law, severe punishments were carried out in the winter months, and pardons or redemptions were granted in the spring. Therefore, executions were decided on the last day of the twelfth month.

This is the projection of the ancient concept of "harmony between man and nature" into the legal system.

The way of Heaven is that spring is warm so that all things can grow, summer is hot so that all things can be nourished, autumn is cold so that all things can wither, and winter is bitter so that all things can hide themselves to await the coming year... And the administration of a sage should conform to the concept of Heaven, so "Heaven has four seasons, and the king has four policies": celebration, reward, punishment, and penal law. These four policies of the king correspond to the four seasons of spring, autumn, summer, and winter, respectively.

If we wait until spring, the Emperor will surely grant a general amnesty, and Li, Zhuang, and Zhou Yang will have a chance to live. We must eliminate them before winter.

Wei Qing wanted to say something, but when he opened his mouth, no sound came out.

Liu Ju pretended not to know and slowly paced around. Huo Qubing couldn't stand the awkward atmosphere and said, "Brother Ju, Cavalry Commandant Li Gan came to me and said that the Minister of the Imperial Guard has transferred him to the Southern Army as a general. It seems that the Li family has turned against us."

Liu Ju instinctively stopped in his tracks, his expression difficult to decipher. "It's a deal."

"Double happiness."

(End of this chapter)