Hearing this, Guo Poyun replied respectfully, "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. Your humble servant is in good health. I can still eat eight bowls of rice in a sitting and draw a hundred-dan bow. Marching and fighting are certainly no trouble."
Every word betrayed Guo Poyun's eagerness for this Northern Expedition.
Li Chen heard it, but paid him no mind.
The atmosphere at today's court assembly was unusually solemn. Apparently, many had received the news and refrained from stepping forward to steal the limelight.
Just then, a middle-aged man in official robes, his face resolute, strode into the hall. He was Peng Zhao, the Heavenly Strategy Dynasty's envoy who had been serving abroad.
Even in his youth, Peng Zhao had possessed exceptional strength and a profound knowledge of geology.
The officials in the hall cast respectful glances his way. They all knew that this young envoy must have brought extraordinary news on his return.
Several people followed behind Peng Zhao, carrying an enormous scroll.
He first knelt to pay his respects to Li Chen, then declared in a ringing voice, "Your humble servant Peng Zhao has spent twelve years on missions abroad, traveling through every country surrounding the Heavenly Strategy Dynasty and thoroughly exploring their terrain. Now, I have completed a new map and wish to present it to Your Majesty."
His words stunned every official present.
Twelve years-that was twelve whole years of his life!
Peng Zhao had endured hardships beyond an ordinary person's imagination to create this map. With perseverance like his, who in the hall could fail to admire him?
This was also why Guo Poyun had repeatedly sounded out Zhao Wenyuan during court.
In fact, both of them knew the news, but neither had said anything.
Even though Guo Poyun was attending court for