Chapter 3: Chapter 3 Morning Meeting_1

The Great Wu Dynasty was founded on martial virtue. The founding emperor waged war for over a decade against suring states, annihilating countless forces before finally establishing the nation. Hce, the emblem of Dawu is not the dragon or phoix, but a single character: Wu, doting martial prowess that breaks and kills everything.

Chu Yuan's imperial robe was black, as dark as blood, adorned with embroidery resembling swords and blades, symbolizing the color of slaughter.

There was also an extremely sharp and dominating symbol of Wu on the robe.

"Your Majesty."

Behind Chu Yuan was an old eunuch, -haired, yet with a complexion as smooth as a baby's.

This was Eunuch Wei, who had served two gerations of emperors since the establishmt of the nation, proving himself a loyal official.

At this momt, Eunuch Wei suddly noticed that Chu Yuan appeared differt than before, exuding an unparalleled majesty. His eyes seemed electrifying, as if able to petrate any clandestine conspiracies. He seemed more regal than his predecessor; indeed, he prested such a powerful image that one dared not meet his gaze directly.

"Let us depart," Chu Yuan nodded slightly.

"Set off for the Divine Martial Hall!"

Eunuch Wei's sharp voice commanded, and Chu Yuan took his seat on a carriage drawn by nine flood dragons.

The Divine Martial Hall, a creation of the founding Emperor, looked like the character Wu from a distance. It suppressed everything, rising like a towering blade, embodying the martial will of the former Emperor. It is where the emperors of the Great Wu Dynasty ascded to the throne.

The interior of the Divine Martial Hall was very spacious. Pearls of light adorned the place, resembling stars. Hundreds of ministers were already waiting there.

On the left stood a middle-aged man with slightly grey hair. Despite his age, he exuded a fierce aura; his eyes sharp as a hawk's. He was the Supreme Geral of the Great Wu Dynasty, holding immse military power. His name was Shangguan Qingyun.

Shangguan Qingyun, the foremost military geral, had reached the final level in Divine Abilities.

On the right stood an old man with hair. Dressed in grand attire, he exuded a somewhat gloomy aura. He was the head of the six ministries, represting the civil officials. His name was Li Yun, and he, too, had reached the final level in Divine Abilities.

Shangguan Qingyun and Li Yun were considered the bedrock of the Great Wu Dynasty.

"Our Great Wu Dynasty used to be the leading power among the Five States. Under the rule of the founding Emperor, we flourished and were on the brink of uniting the Five States," someone commted.

"Yet who would have thought? The Emperor faced an unexpected death, his cause of death remains unknown. And as if that wer't disastrous ough, the empire's most elite force of 300,000 Divine Martial Troops also perished along with him. Our national strgth has be halved overnight," another lamted.

"What's ev worse is that there are rumors that the Emperor's death was a divine punishmt. The people fear that the gods intd to extinguish Great Wu. Some believe that it is fated to be wiped out!"

"Such rumors have caused unrest among the people. Our empire is on the brink of chaos!"

"The other four nations covet our territory, and we are located in the midst of them all. Our land borders each of the other nations. Both the royal court and the frontier are on the edge of chaos, especially with the ambitious Emperor of Dian in power."

"Now that the second Emperor of Dawu ascds to the throne, we don't know if he will be able to stabilize the situation. As long as our nation survives this crisis, we may not be able to emerge as the leader of the Five States, but at least we will have secured our foundation and will not be gulfed."

"The Second Emperor does have an imperial demeanor, but he is merely fifte, far too young. The sudd death of the founding Emperor left behind a mess. I fear it is beyond salvageable. We've run out of luck."

"It appears that we need to plan ahead and prepare for all possibilities. I wonder what the Supreme Geral and the Prime Minister think?"

"They are the leaders of the civil and military officials. We must observe their actions and follow their lead. Only th can we protect ourselves and our families."

"Hush! The Emperor is here!"

.....

Inside the Divine Martial Hall, all the officials were whispering, expressing their concerns about the future of Great Wu.

This was a sign of an unstable regime, a state of unrest. It was a precursor to the fall of a dynasty; not only were officials considering alternative plans, but the common people were as well.

Liu Yong was no good character either, being a man of the Prime Minister. Wh the Prime Minister rebelled, he brought all the resources of the Ministry with him and pledged allegiance to Dalian Imperial Dynasty.

He had tak note of this wrongdoing.

"I did not say that. What I meant was, if the previous Emperor were still alive, the four nations led by Dalian would never harbor thoughts of rebellion. Your Majesty, you are valiant but still young, and in such a crucial time, I fear."

Chu Yuan rebuked him sharply, which left Liu Yong in awe of the Supreme Man's prestige. He hurriedly tried to explain but only ded up digging himself into a deeper hole.

"So you believe that if the previous Emperor were here, you would all be unfalteredly loyal, vowing to protect the King until death. But now that I've ascded the throne, the Empire is in turmoil, people's hearts have changed and the 30,000 elite Divine Martial soldiers have passed away with the previous Emperor.

There is no absolute power left in my hands, and you all believe that Dawu's d is in sight. The final outcome will lead to national annihilation. Therefore, you, the Chief of Staff, are already looking for an exit?"

Chu Yuan's words were harsh, challging him at every stce.

With the memories of the past three years, he already knew who was loyal and who was deceitful.

"I...I...I!" Liu Yong was frighted, he hadn't expected Chu Yuan to voice out his thoughts so oply. Sweating profusely, he hastily knelt and insisted, "I absolutely did not mean that, Your Majesty's inspection is divine!"

Although Liu Yong was at the Divine Realm level of cultivation, Chu Yuan was the Emperor. His regal dignity was overwhelmingly authoritative, and he also controlled a force absolutely loyal to the royal family.

As of now, the Dawu dynasty had not fall. A lean camel is still bigger than a horse. If he dared to reveal his inttions to betray the country at this momt, not ev the Prime Minister would be able to save him.

"So you believe that I lack the divine discernmt and am unworthy of being an Emperor?" Chu Yuan pressed him tirelessly.

"Your Majesty, Liu Yong has no such inttions. He is absolutely loyal to the Dawu Dynasty and also to Your Majesty."

Li Yun stepped forward wh he saw that Chu Yuan's presce at the court was overpowering.

"The six departmts are under the control of the Prime Minister. If Liu Yong is loyal to his lord, so is the Prime Minister loyal to his king."

A look of undefined meaning manifested on Chu Yuan's face.

"I followed the former Emperor to build this nation and have be serving as the Prime Minister for thirty years. Of course, I am loyal."

Li Yun, a crafty man, naturally understood the underlying meaning. His face also darked. He hadn't expected that today's Chu Yuan would be so difficult to handle. They had originally thought that he was just a little Emperor and after inheriting such a huge mess, he would be in panic.

A little intimidation should have made controlling this young Emperor easy.

But they hadn't expected this young Emperor to be so sharp-witted. If it hadn't be for his cunning plans, he would have really thought that he had exposed some secret or made a blunder.

Moreover, today's Chu Yuan was completely differt from before.

In the past, although Chu Yuan was assertive, there was still a bit of youthfulness about him. Today, however, he exuded an air of unease, as if he was a differt person.

Unfortunately, for them, the Emperor they were facing was one who had traveled back in time.

Moreover, he traveled back in time from three years into the future.

A time traveler and a reincarnator.

Pretd!

Keep pretding!

Chu Yuan's heart was cold and firm. Ever since he expericed the evts of the past eighte years, he was not as merciful as before.

"Choice One: Continue the court meeting, list to what the ministers have to say, and be granted a hundred Destiny Points."

"Choice Two: Act cool and dismiss the court immediately, leaving a carefree image behind, and be granted a hundred Destiny Points."