"Divine Artifact Space!"
Lu Qianfu was inwardly shocked, his expression astonished, "Has Your Majesty acquired some extraordinary historical treasure?"
You should know, not a single Divine Artifact could be found throughout the whole of Dawu.
After all, Dawu had only been established for thirty years, which was far too short. Moreover, thinking of his injury that had troubled him for thirty years and was cured by a small bottle of potion, it was even more unimaginable.
However, he wouldn't pry any further, as it was the Emperor's secret.
He had long been prepared to sacrifice his life for the nation, radiating splendidly like a firework at the Empire's most critical moment. But now it seemed that even if the former emperor had passed away, Dawu would certainly not perish.
"This is the Divine Artifact - the War Army Chessboard." Chu Yuan explained some of its extraordinary uses to Lu Qianfu.
This War Army Chessboard was like Go, enabling the deployment of troops. Each chess piece could be designated as a commander, with him as the hidden puppet master controlling the chess pieces.
"Truly a heaven-defying Divine Artifact!"
It took Lu Qianfu a long while to fully absorb this information. He exhaled deeply, "It can actually bind a hundred thousand-strong army, gathering all of them into the chessboard. Their minds unite as one during warfare, as if a heavenly army of a hundred thousand descends from the sky, and it can also accommodate the provisions necessary for a hundred thousand soldiers. If the former emperor had had this treasure back then, he would have unified the five nations and become the invincible emperor."
Warfare was not child's play. Lu Qianfu, who had fought for a lifetime, knew that the benefit of the War Army Chessboard to an individual was minimal, but it was a priceless treasure for the empire.
A hundred thousand men, the daily food and drink, as well as the various tools of war they needed, were considerable.
"With the War Army Chessboard, I can launch a series of blitzkriegs."
Chu Yuan sneered, "Duke Zhongyong, currently the Divine Martial Army Corps has only you as its member. I plan to first recruit ten thousand brave warriors to serve me."
"Ha-ha, Your Majesty, please rest assured."
Lu Qianfu laughed heartily, "Several decades ago, when the world was in chaos, with people living in misery, and the sight was too dreadful to bear, I, leading a hundred brave warriors, followed the former emperor and fought our way throughout the world under the worst of circumstances. Now, with the empire's support behind me, recruiting ten thousand brave warriors is as easy as pie."
"Each brave warrior must have substantial strength. What I need are the elites!" Chu Yuan said, "Let's go, Duke Zhongyong, accompany me back to the Royal Palace. Also, your granddaughter Nan-Nan will go back with me. The time of turbulent winds and billowing clouds, the time to conquer the world, has arrived."
...
The Royal Palace...
In the Imperial Study...
"Eunuch Wei, issue these two imperial edicts and summon the Grand General and the Prime Minister to the palace for an audience." Chu Yuan said, "I want to take back some things from their hands."
"Could it be... has Duke Zhongyong returned!"
Eunuch Wei was shocked but did not say more, "Your Majesty's commands will be obeyed."
Afterwards, Chu Yuan closed his eyes to meditate. He knew that this matter was not yet completely finished. Otherwise, there would be a system prompt. Therefore, he quietly waited for half an hour, then heard Eunuch Wei's sharp, duck-like voice.
"Announcing the Grand General and the Prime Minister to enter the hall!"
"Long live, long live, long live the Emperor!"
After Shangguan Qingyun and Li Yun entered the Imperial Study and saw Chu Yuan, in a relaxed pose on his dragon throne, seemingly meditating, they were puzzled. Why were they both summoned to the Imperial Study by the young emperor today? What could be the matter?
Ever since the day they executed the envoy team in the main hall, they found Chu Yuan's imperial intentions increasingly mysterious.
"My beloved ministers, arise." Chu Yuan said, "Today, I summoned the two of you here not for any other matter. However, there is one thing, our Dawu is now facing both internal and external threats. I will reinstate the Divine Martial Army Corps."
"Divine Martial Army Corps!"
The expressions of Shangguan Qingyun and Li Yun slightly changed, but this was within their expectations. This young emperor indeed intended to reestablish the Divine Martial. He wanted to have a force under his absolute control.
However, they both sneered in their hearts. This young emperor was still naive. He wanted to reestablish the Divine Martial Army Corps, and he wished to rely on their power.
Li Yun didn't say anything, but after exchanging glances with Shangguan Qingyun, he said. "Your Majesty, as the supervisor of the military, I agree. The Divine Martial Army Corps indeed needs to be reestablished, but we must be cautious. I have a suggestion. Let the current Minister of War, Pang Yuan be the commander. His strength is at the ninth stage of Divine Abilities and his loyalty to the empire is irrefutable. No one is more suitable than him."
Li Yun nodded in agreement, Pang Yuan was indeed a good choice, a person from their faction.
He also timely chimed in, "Although the empire's finance is currently tight, I fully support. Elite soldiers can be selected from the Forbidden Army."
"Your support for my decision to reestablish the Divine Martial Army Corps warms my heart," said Chu Yuan.
The smile on Chu Yuan's face made both Shangguan Qingyun and Li Yun feel a sudden jolt in their hearts. It seemed they had fallen into some kind of trap. Then they heard, "But about the Commander's position, I already have a candidate."
"Who?" The two asked simultaneously, "Could it be... the Deputy Minister of War, Huang Yong?"
"Duke Zhongyong."
As soon as Chu Yuan's voice fell, a tall, robust man with eyes as sharp as knives stepped out from behind the Imperial Study, facing them and said, "Ha-ha! We haven't seen each other for a long time, my colleagues."
"Duke Zhongyong, it's you!"
Both of them had expressions of disbelief and extreme shock on their faces.
How could they not know Lu Qianfu, who had fought alongside the former emperor back in the day? However, he suffered a devastating injury on the eve of the establishment of Dawu and was confined to his home, waiting for his death. He was truly a tragic hero.
But now, the once dying Lu Qianfu was nowhere to be seen.
"It seems you two are quite surprised by my appearance."
Though Lu Qianfu was a military commander, he was undoubtedly not a headless brute. He smiled lightly and said, "Thanks to His Majesty's kindness, my injury has completely healed. Now that the empire is in crisis, I, as a Duke of the Empire, have to lend my strength to His Majesty."
"My beloved ministers, Duke Zhongyong is the Commander appointed by me," said Chu Yuan.
"If Duke Zhongyong is indeed the Commander, then it is the most appropriate choice."
Shangguan Qingyun's eyelid twitched. He couldn't have imagined that even the former emperor was unable to do anything about the injury that had been cured shortly after this young emperor's ascension.
They now understood some of Chu Yuan's plans. The appearance of Lu Qianfu had disrupted their schemes, but Chu Yuan was telling them that he still had control of the situation.
"Heaven has eyes. If Duke Zhongyong has indeed healed, it is great news for Dawu. I just worry that Duke Zhongyong still suffers from some underlying issues and is unable to undertake the role of Commander, given the current situation is completely different from the past."
Shangguan Qingyun was still not willing to give up.
"[Option One: Smile and say nothing, let Lu Qianfu maintain his mystery and not expose any of his strength. Let Grand General Shangguan Qingyun and Prime Minister Li Yun guess, and gain one hundred Destiny Points.]"
"[Option Two: Actively reveal Lu Qianfu's strength, let Grand General Shangguan Qingyun and Prime Minister Li Yun know that Lu Qianfu is not to be underestimated, and gain one hundred Destiny Points.]"
"You both overthink."
Chu Yuan said, "Duke Zhongyong, although the Grand General is a loyal subject of the Empire, he still worries about your strength. To reassure him, why don't you spar a few rounds with the Grand General? You haven't fought in a long time, and there are already many people in the Empire who have forgotten about you."