Chương 737: You all strive to live in harmony with me.

They missed the hardships of raising an army, but were born in the most glorious era of the Han Dynasty. To be able to stand in this Taiji Hall and witness an unprecedented golden age is a blessing earned over many lifetimes.

Liu Ce changed the subject, his tone suddenly softening:

"How could this be the achievement of me alone? Some of you have devised strategies and won battles from afar; some have donned armor and fought bravely on the battlefield; some have pacified the regions and supplied the army; some have managed the yin and yang and brought peace and prosperity to the people. For more than a decade, you have braved wind and rain, and achieved victory in hundreds of battles. All of this is due to the efforts of you. I dare not claim all the credit for myself.

Today, I will reward you according to your merits. Ranks, stipends, land, and gold and silk will be awarded according to your merits. I will ensure that those who have made contributions are rewarded and those who have worked hard are compensated."

The moment those words were spoken, everyone felt a warm glow in their hearts.

The most valuable quality of emperors throughout history has been their refusal to claim credit for the work of Heaven.

Don't take all the credit for yourself; remember everyone's contribution.

Following such a monarch, even if it means shedding blood and sweat, it's worth it.

"I hereby make this pact with you all: From this day forward, may there be peace for generations to come, and may there be no war; may the territory of the Han dynasty be passed down for ten thousand generations, and may not an inch of land be ceded to others. I and you all shall jointly safeguard this legacy and bring peace to this people, so that future generations may record: 'Of all the dynasties in history, none has achieved such a revival; none has surpassed the military prowess of this emperor.'"

"You all should strive to live in harmony with me!"

As the last word fell, its lingering sound circled the beam and pillar several times before slowly dissipating.

The Taiji Hall was deathly silent.

No one spoke; even their breathing was extremely soft.

Countless eyes stared at the emperor in his black crown robes on the throne, their minds buzzing.

Every word in those words carried immense weight, striking the heart with a resounding thud.

From the chaos at the end of the Han Dynasty to the unification of the Central Plains, from the northern grasslands to the westernmost Roman Empire, more than twenty years of war and conquest, one bloody battle after another, one narrow escape from death after another, unfolded before one's eyes like a revolving lantern, making one's blood surge and one's chest swell.

Three breaths later.

Xu Da, standing at the very front of the martial arts troupe, took a deep breath, pressed his knees together, bowed forward, raised his ivory tablet high above his head, and uttered a resounding "Long live Your Majesty!" that broke the silence of the entire hall.

"Long live Your Majesty!"

Like a drop of water falling into boiling oil, it explodes instantly.

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Han Dynasty!"

The deafening roar of congratulations nearly blew the roof off the Taiji Hall.

All the officials in the hall prostrated themselves on the ground, their crimson court robes forming waves, and their official tablets scattered like a forest.

The shouts grew louder and louder, making the bronze bells at the corners of the palace hum, and even the Imperial Guards holding halberds bowed their heads in agreement.

The sound waves traveled through the palace and alleys, spreading along Zhuque Avenue and reaching the entire city of Luojing.

The people on the street stopped in their tracks, bowed in the direction of the palace, their faces full of pride.

Most of the generals in the military corps were Yuan Xun, who had followed Liu Ce in his campaigns since they were still in humble positions.

Zhang Fei, this fearless and rough man, was now lying on the gold bricks, tears streaming down his face, leaving wet marks.

He didn't wipe it, he just shouted at the top of his lungs until his voice was hoarse.

Guan Yu stroked his long beard, his phoenix eyes glistening with tears.

He was proud and arrogant his whole life, and he respected no one but Liu Ce.

Now, seeing Liu Ce establish such an unprecedented foundation, he felt a surge of pride.

Zhao Yun remained composed, only bowing even deeper.

The young man in silver armor who followed Liu Ce in raising an army is now a seasoned general with graying temples. A lifetime of military service has brought about such a prosperous era; it was all worth it.

Dian Wei shouted in a deep, booming voice, louder than anyone else's.

He was Liu Ce's personal bodyguard, and having witnessed His Majesty's progress to this point, he felt more at ease than anyone else.

Cheng Yaojin shouted the loudest, secretly wiping away tears as he muttered, "Your grandfather's grandfather, back in Zhuo County, who would have thought I'd be where I am today... It's all worth it, this life has truly been worth it!"

Qin Qiong kicked him from the side to tell him not to embarrass himself, but her own eyes were also wet with tears.

Lü Bu kept his head down, and no one could see his expression. Over the years, he had fought countless battles, risking his life to earn merit, all in an effort to prove himself.

Now, standing in the Taiji Hall, among the court officials, he was filled with mixed emotions, which finally turned into a deep "Long live the Emperor!"

Everyone in the class was deeply moved.

Xun Yu stood at the head of the civil service examination, his body trembling slightly. He had thought that if he could assist His Majesty in reviving the Han Dynasty, his life would have been worthwhile. Who could have imagined that His Majesty would directly expand the territory of the Han Dynasty several times over, making it the first dynasty in history?

Recalling the tragic scene of refugees everywhere and starving corpses all over the land back then, and looking at the peaceful and prosperous world today, tears finally rolled down my cheeks.

Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui exchanged a glance, both seeing excitement and relief in each other's eyes. For a strategist, serving such a monarch was the greatest fortune.

Jia Xu lowered his head, his face expressionless, but inwardly he felt a complete sense of relief. To be able to live a peaceful and stable life as a duke—his life was now complete.

Guo Jia's lips curled into a wide smile. He knew that following His Majesty was the right thing to do; from now on, there would be plenty of wine and a comfortable life.

Later on, technical officials like Song Yingxing and Jia Sixie were even more excited.

They never fought on the battlefield; they relied solely on inventions and farming, yet they are now standing in this Taiji Hall, witnessing this eternally prosperous era. In the past, they wouldn't have dared to even dream of it.

Zhang Zhongjing and Hua Tuo stood together, smiling at each other. Peace would prevail, war wounds would decrease, and people would live in stability—this was the greatest wish of any physician.

After shouting for quite some time, the officials finally stopped when the Attendant-in-Ordinary signaled them to rise. As they stood up, each of them had an excited blush on their face.

Xun Yu stepped forward and, on behalf of all the officials, announced in a loud voice:

"Your Majesty, though a mere descendant of the Han dynasty, has saved the nation from collapse and expanded its territory to the ends of the earth. Your achievements surpass those of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, creating an unprecedented era! We, your humble servants, are fortunate to receive Your Majesty's grace and dare not fail to exert our utmost efforts to protect this vast land and safeguard the Han dynasty's legacy for ten thousand generations!"

Before the words were finished, all the officials in the hall bowed deeply once more and said in unison:

"We, your humble servants, are willing to serve you to the utmost, to protect the eternal foundation of the Han dynasty! Long live Your Majesty! Long live the Han dynasty!"

The calls lingered for a long time.

Sunlight streamed in from outside the hall, falling on the patterns on the court robes and making the entire hall shine brightly, creating an unprecedentedly prosperous atmosphere.

Looking at his old comrades below, Liu Ce finally smiled.

He tilted his head slightly, looked at Prince Liu Chong of Chen standing to the side, and nodded gently.

Liu Chong understood, straightened his court robes, and walked to the incense table.

Neatly stacked on the table were rolled-up edicts, written in cinnabar and stamped with the imperial seal, each one heavy with the weight of imperial grace.

Liu Chong took a deep breath, picked up the thickest scroll at the top, and slowly unrolled it.

The hall fell silent instantly, so quiet you could hear your own heartbeat.

Everyone pricked up their ears and stared intently at the scroll.

Here we come, the most crucial part!

Liu Chong's voice was as loud as a bell, and every word was clearly heard throughout every corner of the Taiji Hall:

"On the first day of the sixth month of the twenty-first year of Emperor Shenwu's reign, the Emperor sent Prince Liu Chong of Chen with imperial credentials to bestow titles upon his ministers, saying:"

"Guan Yu, formerly Duke of Jin, is still enfeoffed as Duke of Jin, with an additional fief... and is granted the Three Bestowments!"

Guan Yu stepped forward, bowed deeply, and said in a steady voice, "Your Majesty, I thank you for your great favor!"

He remained the Duke of Jin, but this was the pinnacle of power for a non-royal subject. He was granted an additional fief and bestowed with the Three Bestowments, the highest honor a subject could attain.

Guan Yu remained calm, as if he had expected this. He was the head of the military officials, and it was a rule that people of different surnames could not become kings. He understood this and was content.