After Ye Chen finalized the war plan, the entire empire entered an era of martial advancement.
Everyone revered martial arts, and everyone yearned to take up arms.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, the empire's various military departments began massive recruitment drives.
At the same time, they trained large numbers of militias and gradually shifted toward a state in which every citizen was a soldier, preparing for the war thirty years later.
It was easy to predict that once the Yanhuang Empire launched a global war thirty years later, it would inevitably need a massive force. The empire's current military strength would simply be unable to support the occupation of such a vast territory.
As news of the empire's war preparations spread throughout the nation, the people erupted in an uproar, which was immediately followed by fanaticism.
Ever since establishing the empire, Ye Chen had spent nearly two hundred years indoctrinating its people. His efforts had certainly not been in vain.
After all these years, it could be said that ninety-nine percent of the empire's citizens were his fanatical believers.
They regarded him as the only god.
Now, the fervor of the people's response under the direction of his sword was clear to see.
Chuanyan Province, the provincial capital, Ming City.
"Latest issue of the Imperial Weekly! His Imperial Majesty convened the Grand Court Assembly yesterday and finalized the empire's development plan for the next thirty years. The military departments of every province will devote themselves fully to war preparations!"
On the broad streets, a newsboy rode a bicycle with a thick stack of Imperial Weeklies strapped to the back, shouting loudly as he traveled through the city's streets and alleys.
Sun Yun had been lying dead in his courtyard, basking in the sun, when he suddenly heard the newsboy outside. He sprang to his feet. "Thirty years of war preparations? Is the empire planning to go to war?"
At that thought, Sun Yun rushed to the entrance and yanked open the door. Looking at the newsboy who had just passed, he shouted, "Xiao Hongzi, bring me a weekly!"
Hearing this, the newsboy who had just gone past stopped at once. When he saw Sun Yun, he said in surprise, "Brother Yun, when did you get back?"
Sun Yun walked up to the newsboy and smiled. "I just got back from outside two days ago. Right, give me a newspaper first. I heard you shouting something about war just now. What's going on?"
The newsboy swiftly pulled out a newspaper from the bicycle and handed it to Sun Yun. "I only found out about this myself this morning. According to the weekly, His Imperial Majesty suddenly convened the Grand Court Assembly yesterday."
"He ordered the formation of an air force and a navy, which would join the army to form the Three Armed Forces. Thirty years from now, they'll point their swords at the entire world and launch a war to unify it."
"So, for the next thirty years, the whole nation has to cooperate with this effort and do everything possible to build up our war potential."
The newsboy's few brief words sent enormous waves crashing through Sun Yun's heart.
At the same time, he quickly unfolded the newspaper in his hands. Reading its contents, he found that they were exactly as the newsboy had said: the empire was actually going to send its armies across the globe and begin a war to unify the world.
"Damn it! I'm joining the army. No one can stop me this time."
After reading the newspaper, this was the only thought in Sun Yun's mind.
As long as one wasn't an idiot, anyone could tell that the war announcement was a tremendous opportunity—a chance to establish a distinguished career.
Starting in elementary school, they had learned from the empire's textbooks that there were many countries beyond the empire. They also had a general understanding of those countries' circumstances.
Compared to the other nations, they felt immensely proud, because in this era, the Yanhuang Empire was the strongest.
Once war began, given the Yanhuang Empire's strength, not a single country would be able to stop it.
In such a sure-win situation, anyone who wasn't an idiot knew they should get on board.
Low danger, high returns—was there anything better than this?
At the same time, young people like Sun Yun could be found everywhere across the nation.
Imperial Capital, Xuanhuang City, the imperial palace.
Ye Chen looked at the two weapons he had exchanged from the system. The corner of his mouth twitched, because these two little items had cost him quite a bit.
One of them was used to seal the surrounding space and prevent the scum Su Ma Li from escaping.
The other was meant to forcibly seize the Dark Sacred Silver weapon in his opponent's possession.
Ye Chen's greatest impression of the scum Su Ma Li was that he looked neither male nor female. Aside from that, it was the Dark Sacred Silver throwing knife in his hand.
It could be said that eighty percent of that man's strength lay in that Dark Sacred Silver weapon.
This time, to deal with the threat posed by Su Ma Li, Ye Chen had gone all out. He had made up his mind that if he encountered the man, he absolutely could not let him escape.
Otherwise, if he got away, the threat would be enormous.
Although he now had the angels' assistance, having a gun himself and having other people with guns were two entirely different concepts.
In the unification war thirty years later, all Ye Chen needed was for A-Zhui to intimidate the remaining forces of Denuo and the scum Su Ma Li. Everything else would be his responsibility.
That was also the greatest extent of what A-Zhui could do.
After all, the unification war he had initiated was a natural dynastic change within the realm of mortals. A-Zhui simply could not intervene to help him, because that would conflict with the Justice Order.
Time passed, and ten years vanished in the blink of an eye.
Yanhuang Calendar, Year 210.
Ye Chen was handling affairs that day when he suddenly heard Yuan Long's report.
"Your Majesty, the Brocade-Clad Guard has just sent word that General Long Yu passed away of old age."
Hearing this, Ye Chen's hands suddenly stilled. He set down the document in his hands and sighed inwardly.
"Long Yu is gone? Ah, time is the most merciless thing in this world."
"Yuan Long, draft an edict. Posthumously enfeoff Long Yu as the Loyal Courage Marquis..."
"Yes."
Upon hearing this, Yuan Long immediately drafted the edict.
Yet her heart was deeply unsettled, because this was the empire's first marquis. It showed how highly Ye Chen regarded his old companion Long Yu.
Long Yu had served first as the leader of his personal guards and then as the leader of the Brocade-Clad Guard for over a hundred years. It could be said that he had made enormous contributions to the empire's development and had worked tirelessly.
The following day.
The empire held a grand ceremony and posthumously enfeoffed Long Yu of the Long Family as the Loyal Courage Marquis.
At the same time, it held a lavish funeral.
As a result, the Imperial Capital was packed with people that day. Everyone discussed the matter, because this was the first marquis since the empire had been founded. Although he had been posthumously enfeoffed, a marquis was still a marquis.
Long Yu's name was destined to be recorded in the annals of history and passed down through the ages.
After the ceremony ended, the Imperial Capital once again fell silent. Yet one could sense that officials throughout the empire were working with thirty percent more enthusiasm.
To be made a marquis! After Long Yu had been enfeoffed, who wouldn't want to become the next marquis, even if it was a posthumous title?
Yanhuang Calendar, Year 211. Yuan Long passed away of old age.
When he heard the news, Ye Chen froze completely. He had not expected two old companions to pass away in succession in less than two years.
Ye Chen walked out of Qiankun Hall and gazed at the profound starry sky outside in silence.
In the end, everything became nothing more than a sigh.
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