Time is Ruthless, Years Fly By

Once Ye Chen finalized the war plan, the entire empire entered an era of martial devotion.

Everyone revered martial arts; everyone aspired to martial arts.

Seizing this opportunity, the major military departments of the empire began large-scale conscription.

At the same time, they trained vast numbers of militias, gradually transitioning toward a state of total militarization to prepare for the war thirty years later.

It was foreseeable that once the Yanhuang Empire launched its global war thirty years from now, it would inevitably require massive troop numbers—the current forces would be utterly insufficient to hold such a vast territory.

As news of war preparations spread across the nation, the people erupted in uproar, followed swiftly by fervor.

Ever since Ye Chen established the empire, he had been indoctrinating the Imperial Citizens for nearly two hundred years—this was no wasted effort.

After all these years, it could be said that 99% of the empire's populace were his fanatical followers.

They regarded him as their sole deity.

Now, with his sword pointed, the fervent response of the people made this abundantly clear.

Chuanyan Province, provincial capital, Mingdu.

"Latest Imperial Weekly: The Emperor convened the Grand Court yesterday, finalizing the empire's thirty-year development plan. Provincial military departments are to fully prepare for war."

"Latest Imperial Weekly: The Emperor convened the Grand Court yesterday, finalizing the empire's thirty-year development plan. Provincial military departments are to fully prepare for war."

On the wide street, a newsboy rode a bicycle, a thick stack of Imperial Weekly strapped to the back, shouting loudly through the city's alleys and avenues.

Sun Yun, who had been lying in his yard like a corpse soaking up the sun, suddenly jolted upright at the newsboy's shouts. "Thirty years of war preparations—is the empire about to start a war?"

Thinking this, Sun Yun dashed to the door and yanked it open, calling out to the passing newsboy, "Little Hongzi, give me a copy of the Weekly!"

Hearing this, the newsboy stopped and, spotting Sun Yun, asked in surprise, "Brother Yun, when did you get back?"

Sun Yun walked up to the newsboy with a grin. "I just got back two days ago. Anyway, give me a paper first. I heard you shouting about war—what's going on?"

The newsboy deftly pulled a paper from his stack and handed it to Sun Yun. "I only found out this morning myself. According to the Weekly, the Emperor suddenly convened the Grand Court yesterday.

He ordered the formation of the Air Force and Navy, combining them with the Army into three major branches—land, sea, and air. Thirty years from now, the empire will set its sights on the entire globe, launching a war for world unification.

So, for the next thirty years, the whole nation will coordinate for this, fully building up war potential."

Those few words from the newsboy sent waves crashing through Sun Yun's heart.

He quickly unfolded the paper in his hands, scanning its contents. Sure enough, it was just as the newsboy had said—the empire was going to wage war across the globe, a war for world unification.

"Damn it, I'm enlisting this time. No one's stopping me."

After reading the paper, only this one thought remained in Sun Yun's mind.

This war news—anyone who wasn't an idiot could see it as a massive opportunity, a chance to make a name and build achievements.

From elementary school onward, they had learned from imperial textbooks that there were many countries beyond the empire, and they had a general understanding of those nations' conditions.

Comparing themselves to other countries, they felt a swell of pride, because in this era, the Yanhuang Empire was the strongest.

Once war began, with the Yanhuang Empire's strength, no country could stand in its way.

So, with such a favorable situation, only a fool wouldn't get on board.

Low risk, high reward—was there anything better than this?

At the same time, young people like Sun Yun were everywhere across the nation.

Imperial capital, Xuanhuang City, Imperial Palace.

Ye Chen looked at the two weapons he had exchanged from the system, the corners of his mouth twitching slightly—these little gadgets were a bit pricey.

One of them was used to seal off the surrounding space, preventing that scum Su Mali from escaping.

The other was for forcibly seizing that bastard's Dark Silver weapon.

If there was one thing that stood out most about that scum Su Mali, it was his androgynous appearance—and besides that, the Dark Silver throwing knife in his hand.

It could be said that 80% of that guy's strength relied on that Dark Silver weapon.

This time, Ye Chen had gone all out to deal with the threat posed by Su Mali, determined that if he encountered him, he wouldn't let him escape.

Otherwise, if that bastard got away, the threat would be enormous.

Although he now had the help of the Angel, having a gun yourself and someone else having a gun were two entirely different concepts.

For the unification war thirty years from now, he only needed A Zhui to help him suppress the Denuo Remnants and that scum Su Mali—the rest was his own business.

And that was the maximum extent of what A Zhui could do.

After all, the unification war he was launching was a natural dynastic transition among mortal nations; A Zhui simply couldn't intervene to help him, as it conflicted with the Righteous Order.

Time passed, and in the blink of an eye, ten years went by.

Yanhuang Calendar, year 210.

On this day, while handling affairs, Ye Chen suddenly heard Yuan Lan's report.

"Your Majesty, the Imperial Guard has just reported that General Long Yu has passed away peacefully of old age."

Hearing this, Ye Chen's movements came to an abrupt halt. He set down the documents in his hands and let out a silent sigh in his heart.

"Long Yu is gone, huh. Sigh, time is the most merciless thing in this world."

"Yuan Lan, draft an edict. Posthumously confer Long Yu the title of Loyal and Brave Marquis..."

"As you command."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Lan immediately drafted the edict.

Yet her heart was far from calm, for this was the empire's first marquis. From this, one could see how much Ye Chen valued this old comrade, Long Yu.

From serving as his personal bodyguard captain to leading the Imperial Guard for over a hundred years, Long Yu had contributed greatly to the empire's development, with arduous efforts and outstanding merits.

The next day.

The empire held a grand ceremony, posthumously conferring Long Yu of the Long Family the title of Loyal and Brave Marquis.

At the same time, a magnificent funeral was conducted.

For this reason, the Imperial Capital was packed with people that day, everyone discussing this matter. After all, this was the first marquis since the empire's founding. Even though the title was granted posthumously, a marquis was still a marquis.

The name Long Yu was destined to be recorded in history and remembered for a thousand years.

As the ceremony concluded, the Imperial Capital fell silent once more, but one could sense that the spirit and drive of officials across the land had increased by a full thirty percent.

A marquisdom. With Long Yu enfeoffed as marquis, who among those who came after wouldn't want to be the next marquis, even if it was a posthumous title?

In the 211th year of the Yanhuang Calendar, Yuan Long passed away peacefully of old age.

Upon hearing this news, Ye Chen was completely stunned. He hadn't expected that in less than two years, two old comrades would leave one after another.

Stepping out of Qiankun Hall, Ye Chen gazed at the deep, starry sky outside, remaining silent for a long time.

In the end, it all dissolved into a single sigh.