Three Kingdoms: Start by buying a governor.

Zhang Rang continued reading, reaching the last line: "Your subject Liu Ce, relying on Your Majesty's divine might and the soldiers' valiant efforts, has achieved a small merit. I offer sacrifices at Langjuxu to Heaven to inform my ancestors, awaiting the imperial decree for a final decision."

Liu Hong beamed with joy, slapping his dragon throne and shouting, "Excellent! Modest! Bo Lue is too modest! This is no small feat, it's an unparalleled achievement! The sealing of the wolf's lair! My imperial brother has accomplished it! Hahahaha!"

Then, Zhang Rang picked up the victory report from Goguryeo and read it aloud:

"Your subject... Liu Ce reports again: The King of Goguryeo colluded with the Xianbei to rebel, sending 20,000 elite troops to invade our borders. Your subject ordered Xue Rengui, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and others to lead troops to intercept and annihilate the enemy. Afterwards, they penetrated deep into Goguryeo, capturing most of the city. After destroying the main force of the Xianbei, your subject led his troops to Goguryeo... capturing the inner city of Goguryeo, capturing Gao Nanwu and dozens of ministers alive. They have now been executed, and their heads are presented..."

"boom!!!"

The moment those words were spoken, Deyang Palace erupted in chaos!

Liu Hong grinned from ear to ear, slapping his dragon throne and shouting, "I knew it! My imperial brother is the most capable! The Xianbei and Goguryeo dared to invade our Han Dynasty, and this is what happened to them! One lost its main force, and the other was destroyed!"

The powerful ministers were completely dumbfounded.

We looked at each other, our eyes filled with disbelief.

They had considered that Liu Ce might win, but they didn't expect him to win so decisively and so dramatically.

Eighty thousand Xianbei cavalrymen were wiped out, Goguryeo was destroyed, and the Wolf Dwelling Mountain was sealed...

Yang Ci's hands trembled as he stroked his beard, muttering to himself:

"This...this Marquis of Champion is too capable! He's taken care of both the Xianbei and Goguryeo, two tough nut to crack! And in just a few months? Three months? Four months?"

The ministers below were chattering away, like a marketplace:

"My God! Eighty thousand Xianbei cavalry! Wiped out just like that!"

"And the head of the King of Goguryeo! That's a true feat of destroying a nation!"

"The Marquis of Champion's methods are ruthless! Who among the alien races would dare to invade again?"

This is a huge achievement.

It was so large that it frightened the powerful families.

Looking at the chaotic scene below, Liu Hong was not angry at all; instead, he laughed even more triumphantly.

He slapped the dragon throne and shouted:

"Quiet! Quiet!"

"Issue my order: have the men outside bring in the head, and then have the representatives of the Xianbei come in! I want to see with my own eyes what these rebellious barbarians really look like!"

Soon, more than a dozen wooden boxes were carried into the hall.

Upon opening it...

Kui Tou's head was wide open in anger, his face still showing the terror of impending death.

Kebineng's mind was relatively calm, but his eyes were full of resentment.

The head of Goguryeo King Go Nam-mu was still stained with blood, which frightened several timid ministers so much that they shrank back and almost fell over.

The Xianbei representatives walked in tremblingly, kneeling on the ground and not daring to raise their heads.

They spoke haltingly in broken Chinese:

"Your Majesty the Emperor of the Great Han Dynasty! We, the small Xianbei tribe, are willing to submit to the Great Han Dynasty, pay tribute, and come to court every year, never to rebel again! We only beg Your Majesty the Emperor of the Great Han Dynasty to spare our lives!"

Looking at the severed heads and the trembling Xianbei representatives, Liu Hong felt an immense sense of satisfaction.

He pointed at the assembled ministers and said triumphantly, "You all see this, don't you! This is my imperial brother! This is the iron cavalry of our great Han! Anyone who dares to invade will suffer this fate!"

The ministers bowed deeply, saying, "Your Majesty is wise! Marquis of Champion is mighty!"

Although some people felt bad about it, they had to put on a show of support.

Liu Hong waved his hand and issued an imperial decree on the spot:

"I hereby order General of the Cavalry, Governor of Youzhou, and Marquis of Champion Liu Ce to immediately proceed to the capital to receive his investiture! I wish to personally celebrate his victory!"

"Your Majesty is wise!" the ministers echoed in unison.

The sounds were clear and there was no more noise.

At this moment, all fears, all schemes, and all petty thoughts vanished in the face of tangible military achievements.

Liu Ce, with the annihilation of 80,000 Xianbei cavalry and the entire Goguryeo kingdom, told everyone:

This spear is not only sharp, but also extremely hot to the touch.

Anyone who dares to touch it will die.

As Zhao Yun listened from below the throne, he chuckled to himself: "Brother, this time, you're going to get promoted and make a fortune again."

I wonder what His Majesty will reward me with?

Conferring a title of king? No...possibly. Increasing his fief? Probably...

Regardless of the reward, Youzhou has now firmly established itself.

He defeated the Xianbei in the north and destroyed Goguryeo in the east, his power shaking the border regions.

From now on, the North will be free from worry for decades to come.

Zhao Yun received the imperial decree and withdrew from Deyang Palace.

The sunlight outside the palace was perfect, shining brightly on the golden tiles of the Luoyang Imperial Palace, making them sparkle.

He mounted his horse, glanced at the majestic palace, and thought to himself: If my elder brother comes to Luoyang, I wonder what kind of storm he will stir up.

It doesn't matter.

Anyway, if you follow the eldest brother, you'll have meat to eat, wine to drink, battles to fight, and achievements to make.

This is enough.

...

The council hall of the governor's office in Zhuo County, Youzhou.

Liu Ce, lounging in the main seat like Ge You, didn't need to pretend to be serious since there were no outsiders around.

Below sat strategists such as Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, Xun Yu, Xun You, Guo Jia, and Xi Zhicai, their eyes gleaming as they awaited their lord's command.

"Tell me, did we gain or lose in this war?" Liu Ce tapped the table.

Fang Xuanling took out an account book—no, a report—cleared his throat, and said, "My lord, this war against the Xianbei and Goguryeo lasted about three months, and our army suffered a total of more than four thousand casualties."

He paused, glancing at Liu Ce's expression: "Of these, over 3,300 were wounded, most with minor injuries, and have been sent to hospitals for treatment; 643 were killed in action, their remains have been transported back, and arrangements are being made for their funerals."

Liu Ce nodded and said, "The brothers who died in battle will be compensated according to the highest standards. Those with elderly parents will be cared for in Youzhou until their death; those with children will receive free schooling until adulthood; those with wives will receive a monthly pension, and those who wish to remarry will not be stopped, while those who do not will be supported for life. Those who are wounded will be treated, and those who wish to continue serving will be promoted one rank, while those who do not will be assigned a job. We cannot let people shed blood in vain."

"Yes!" Fang Xuanling noted it down and continued, "Regarding the spoils: 135,000 Xianbei warhorses; 370,000 head of cattle and sheep; and a number of hides, bone tools, and crude gold and silver artifacts, valued at approximately 50 million coins."

Du Ruhui continued, "On the Goguryeo side, we seized 800,000 shi of grain and about 80 million coins in gold and silver. In addition, the Goguryeo territory has been brought under our control; the land is fertile and suitable for cultivation."

Liu Ce beamed with joy upon hearing this.

They made a fortune this time.

"My lord," Xun Yu began, "according to custom, a portion of the spoils captured from Goguryeo must be handed over to the imperial court..."

"Hand it all over." Liu Ce waved his hand and said, "Goguryeo is a country destroyed, so all the spoils of war should go to the court. We in Youzhou are not short of such things. As for the Xianbei spoils... keep 70%, and hand over the remaining 30%. Remember, this time we must be proactive and enthusiastic, showing that we are loyal and devoted. That way, the rewards will be substantial."

Everyone smiled knowingly.

My lord is trying to shut the court up—look, I've made such a great contribution, and I'm so sensible, voluntarily handing over the spoils of war, how dare you still find fault with me?