After Ye Chen settled on a definite war plan, the entire empire entered an era of martial ambition.
Everyone revered martial prowess and aspired to become a warrior.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, the empire's various military departments began large-scale recruitment.
At the same time, they trained vast numbers of militia, gradually shifting toward a state where every citizen was a soldier, all in preparation for the war thirty years later.
It was easy to foresee that when the Yanhuang Empire launched a global war thirty years later, it would need a massive army. The forces it currently had would be nowhere near enough to occupy such a vast territory.
As news of the preparations for war spread across the country, the public was thrown into an uproar, which soon gave way to fervor.
Ever since founding the empire, Ye Chen had spent nearly two hundred years indoctrinating its citizens. It certainly hadn't been a waste of effort.
After all these years, it could be said that 99 percent of the empire's citizens were his fanatical followers.
They regarded him as their one and only god.
The fervent response of the people when he pointed his sword in a direction made that clear.
Mingdu, the provincial capital of Chuanyan Province.
"Get the latest issue of Imperial Weekly! His Majesty held a Grand Court yesterday and finalized the empire's development plan for the next thirty years. The military departments in every province are to prepare for war with all their might!"
On a wide street, a newspaper boy rode his bicycle through the city's streets and alleys, a thick stack of Imperial Weekly on the back, shouting at the top of his lungs.
Sun Yun was lounging in his courtyard, soaking up the sun, when he suddenly heard the newspaper boy outside. He jolted upright. "Thirty years of preparations for war? Is the empire about to start a war?"
At the thought, Sun Yun hurried to the entrance and flung open the door. Seeing the newspaper boy riding away, he quickly called out, "Little Hongzi, save me a copy of the weekly!"
Hearing him, the boy stopped at once. When he saw Sun Yun, he looked surprised. "Brother Yun, when did you get back?"
Sun Yun walked over to him with a smile. "I just got back from outside two days ago. Anyway, give me a copy first. I heard you shouting something about war. What's going on?"
The boy swiftly pulled a newspaper from his bicycle and handed it to Sun Yun. "I only found out this morning, too. According to the weekly, His Majesty suddenly convened a Grand Court yesterday."
"He ordered the formation of an Air Force and a Navy, which will join the Army to form the three branches of the military: land, sea, and air. In thirty years, they'll set their sights on the entire globe and launch a war to unify the world."
"So, for the next thirty years, the whole country will have to support this effort and build up its military strength."
The boy's few short sentences sent a tidal wave crashing through Sun Yun's heart.
At the same time, he quickly unfolded the newspaper and scanned its contents. It was just as the boy had said: the empire was going to send its troops across the globe and launch a war to unify the world.
"Damn it, I'm enlisting! No one's stopping me this time."
After reading the paper, that was the only thought in Sun Yun's mind.
Anyone who wasn't a fool could tell this news of war presented an enormous opportunity—a chance to distinguish himself and make a name for himself.
From elementary school onward, they had learned from the empire's textbooks that many other countries existed beyond its borders. They also knew a little about what those countries were like.
Compared with the other countries, they had every reason to feel proud, because in this era, the Yanhuang Empire was the strongest.
Once war began, not a single country would be able to stand against the Yanhuang Empire's strength.
In such a one-sided fight, anyone who wasn't a fool knew they should join in.
Was there anything better than low risk and high reward?
At the same time, young people like Sun Yun could be found all across the country.
Imperial Palace, Xuanhuang City, the Imperial Capital.
Ye Chen looked at the two weapons he had exchanged for through the system, the corner of his mouth twitching. These two little things had cost him a pretty penny.
One was meant to seal off the surrounding space and prevent Sky Scum Su Mali from escaping.
The other was meant to forcibly seize the Dark Silver weapon in his possession.
The thing Ye Chen remembered most about Sky Scum Su Mali was his androgynous appearance. Beyond that, there was the Dark Silver flying knife he carried.
It could be said that 80 percent of that guy's strength came from that Dark Silver weapon.
This time, Ye Chen had spared no expense to deal with Su Mali's threat. He was determined not to let him escape if they crossed paths.
Otherwise, if Su Mali got away, he would pose a serious threat.
Though Ye Chen now had the Angels' help, having a gun himself was one thing; having other people with guns was another.
For the war of unification thirty years from now, all he needed was A Zhui to keep the Denuo Remnants and Sky Scum Su Mali in check. The rest was his responsibility.
And that was the most A Zhui could do for him.
After all, the war of unification he was launching was a change of dynasty in the mortal realm. A Zhui simply couldn't intervene on his behalf, because that would conflict with the Righteous Order.
Time passed, and ten years slipped by in an instant.
Yanhuang Calendar, Year 210.
One day, as Ye Chen was handling affairs, he suddenly heard a report from Yuan Lan.
"Your Majesty, the Imperial Guard just sent word that General Long Yu passed away of old age."
Hearing this, Ye Chen's hand stilled. He set down the document and couldn't help letting out a sigh.
"Long Yu is gone? Ah, time is the most ruthless thing in the world."
"Yuan Lan, draft an edict conferring the title of Loyal and Brave Marquis on Long Yu..."
"Yes."
Yuan Lan immediately drafted the edict.
Yet her heart was far from calm. Long Yu was the empire's first marquis, which showed just how highly Ye Chen valued his old comrade.
Long Yu had served first as the head of Ye Chen's personal guard, then as head of the Imperial Guard for over a hundred years. He had made enormous contributions to the empire's development and worked tirelessly in its service.
The next day.
The empire held a grand ceremony to posthumously confer the title of Loyal and Brave Marquis on Long Yu of the Long Family.
A magnificent funeral was held as well.
That day, the Imperial Capital was packed with people. Everyone was talking about the event. After all, this was the first marquis in the empire's history, even if the title had been bestowed posthumously. A marquis was still a marquis.
Long Yu's name was destined to go down in history and be remembered for generations.
Once the ceremony ended, the Imperial Capital returned to quiet. Yet one could sense that officials across the empire had become thirty percent more energetic in their work.
A marquisate! After Long Yu was made a marquis, who wouldn't want to be the next one, even if it meant receiving the title posthumously?
Yanhuang Calendar, Year 211. Yuan Long passed away of old age.
When he heard the news, Ye Chen froze. He hadn't expected two old comrades to pass away in less than two years.
He walked out of Qiankun Hall and gazed at the vast starry sky in silence.
In the end, all he could do was sigh.
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