Huang Zhong walked out with the stride of a tiger, heading towards the hundred Imperial Guards in the plaza.
Soon, under the astonished gazes of Civil and Military Officials and Eunuchs like Yuan Feng, Yuan Kui, Zhang Rang, and Zhao Zhong, Huang Zhong arrived before the hundred Imperial Guards.
Huang Zhong held a golden saber that gleamed with a cold light, facing off against the hundred heavily armed Imperial Guards. His expression was stern, and a powerful, surging aura emanated from him.
It was as if he didn't put the hundred Imperial Guards in his eyes at all.
"This... Could this Huang Zhong really defeat a hundred Imperial Guards? How is that possible?"
Watching Huang Zhong's aura, the astonishment in the eyes of Yuan Feng, Yuan Kui, Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong, and others grew even deeper, and a thought that was hard for them to accept suddenly surfaced in their minds.
"Impossible, impossible. Zhang Shihao's power is already great enough, his martial arts are already strong enough. How could he so easily find an even more formidable helper?"
"And those are a hundred Imperial Guards!"
As that unbelievable thought appeared in their minds, Yuan Feng, Zhang Rang, and the others immediately shook their heads, refusing to believe it.
Perhaps Huang Zhong had some courage, but those were a hundred well-equipped Imperial Guards.
The Imperial Guards were already elite soldiers, selected through rigorous trials. An ordinary general, even if fighting ten, would likely be beaten like a grandson, let alone a hundred.
Yuan Feng, Yuan Kui, Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong, and the others instantly suppressed that thought, but they nervously stared at the scene below.
In the plaza, the hundred well-equipped Imperial Guards looked at Huang Zhong, all with cold smiles. Was this the person who wanted to challenge them all alone?
He was somewhat strong and tall, but was that the basis of his arrogance?
"I am Liu Chong, the Commander of the Imperial Guards' Vanguard. Your Excellency should go and beg forgiveness from His Majesty. Otherwise, swords and spears have no eyes, and it would not be good to implicate the Marquis who recommended you."
Standing in front of the Imperial Guards, a young general of about twenty, tall and straight, holding a long saber, spoke coldly to Huang Zhong.
Hearing the other party's cold sneer, Huang Zhong didn't care. He glanced at the other party and then smiled, saying:
"Liu Chong? Surname Liu, Commander of the Imperial Guards' Vanguard? You must be from the Han Imperial Clan, right?"
Hearing Huang Zhong's evasive question, Liu Chong, the Commander of the Imperial Guards' Vanguard, frowned slightly, not understanding why Huang Zhong asked this, but still replied proudly:
"Indeed, I am a descendant of King Gong of Donghai!"
"A descendant of King Gong of Donghai?" Hearing the other party's words, Huang Zhong's body trembled slightly.
He was actually a true member of the Han Imperial Clan.
King Gong of Donghai was Liu Jiang, the son of Emperor Guangwu of Han, Liu Xiu.
He was also Liu Xiu's first Crown Prince.
Liu Chong's imperial bloodline was absolutely pure.
It could be said that he shared the same bloodline as Liu Hong.
Because Liu Hong was also a descendant of Emperor Guangwu, Liu Xiu.
However, facing the proud Liu Chong, Huang Zhong's expression remained unchanged. He looked at him and said indifferently:
"As expected. Unstable lower body, weak and floating limbs. Merely a third-rate martial general."
"You're looking for death! Brothers, attack!"
Liu Chong was furious, his face flushed, as if he had suffered immense humiliation. He swung his standard-issue long saber and was the first to strike at Huang Zhong's head.
The Imperial Guards, seeing their commander make a move, all swiftly charged at Huang Zhong with their sabers.
All the Imperial Guards were elite soldiers, absolutely formidable.
However, as formidable as the Imperial Guards were, Huang Zhong was even more formidable.
The sixty-year-old Huang Zhong could still fight Guan Yu at his peak for three hundred rounds. The current Huang Zhong was even younger, only in his thirties, in his true prime. One could imagine how fierce he was.
Not to mention, Zhang Shihao had guaranteed him an opportunity to distinguish himself with his own official position and title.
Who was Zhang Shihao?
He was the savior of Huang Zhong's son, Huang Xu, and he was helping him with such great effort.
A true man knows what to do and what not to do.
Huang Zhong had a surge of energy in his heart.
He could not disappoint Zhang Shihao. Huang Zhong wanted to defeat everyone.
Not only would he prevent Zhang Shihao from being punished, but he would also ensure that Zhang Shihao's recommendation was meritorious!
In an instant, facing Liu Chong, the charging Commander of the Imperial Guards' Vanguard, Huang Zhong immediately made a powerful response.
Buzz~
Under the gazes of Zhang Shihao, Liu Hong, He Jin, Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong, Yuan Feng, and others, a golden light streaked across the sky.
Fast, extremely fast!
The ninety-nine-pound Nine Phoenixes Facing the Sun Golden Saber shot fiercely towards Liu Chong.
Liu Chong, who was charging, was startled. Instinctively, he pulled back his long saber to block in front of him.
Clang~
A dull clang of metal rang out.
Liu Chong's eyes suddenly widened. He felt a terrifying, tearing force sweep over him.
His arm instantly ached violently, his internal energy surged, and the next moment, the long saber in his hand broke. He was sent flying two meters through the air, crashing heavily to the ground, spitting blood, and then his head slumped as he fainted.
"This..."
The charging Imperial Guards suddenly froze. Liu Hong, He Jin, Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong, Yuan Feng, and the others in the stands widened their eyes, full of disbelief.
Liu Chong, the Commander of the Imperial Guards' Vanguard, who was quite brave among the imperial clan and could not be approached by even three or four Imperial Guards, was struck by Huang Zhong with a single saber blow, his weapon broken, his body sent flying, and he fainted after spitting blood?
Liu Hong, Zhang Rang, and the others were shocked, but Zhang Shihao's face showed no change. Huang Zhong had used his full strength in that strike, but he hadn't gone all the way.
He saw clearly that Huang Zhong had pulled back his hand at the critical moment.
If he hadn't pulled back, what flew wouldn't have been Liu Chong,
but Liu Chong's head.
"Brothers, His Majesty is watching! Attack together and avenge our commander!"
The Imperial Guards were both surprised and enraged, sensing Huang Zhong's power. However, thinking that Liu Hong and the Civil and Military Officials were watching from above, they became utterly furious. Gritting their teeth, with a shout, the dense mass of Imperial Guards collectively surrounded Huang Zhong.
"Good!"
Huang Zhong laughed loudly and met them.
Soon, the Imperial Guards realized they were wrong, very wrong.
Huang Zhong was not only unharmed by the barrage of weapons.
Instead, he darted left and right, displaying powerful reactions, swift agility, and terrifying strength. This, combined with a saber technique that was impenetrable, and his occasional creation of distance on the wide plaza, was truly formidable.
Golden saber light flashed, the clang of metal rang out, accompanied by a series of shrill screams.
Under the dumbfounded and disbelieving gazes of Liu Hong, He Jin, Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong, Yuan Feng, and others in the stands, one Imperial Guard after another was sent flying by Huang Zhong.
After an unknown amount of time.
In the plaza, eighty or ninety Imperial Guards lay sprawled on the ground, struggling in pain, their combat ability lost.
The remaining dozen or so Imperial Guards held their weapons, their legs trembling, looking at Huang Zhong with terror.
"Kill!"
Someone shouted, and although the dozen Imperial Guards knew they were going to their deaths, they all charged at Huang Zhong again.
Soon, another dozen Imperial Guards lay on the ground, groaning in pain.
"Haha, worthy of the Imperial Guards of the Imperial Palace! Today, Huang truly had a satisfying battle. Bring the warhorse, bow, and archery targets!"
Huang Zhong, drenched in sweat, with multiple injuries and blood covering his body, laughed heartily, his voice echoing.
He was like a God of War, shaking everyone.
In the stands, Zhang Shihao, looking at the heroic and immensely powerful Huang Zhong, stepped forward.
He waved his hand downwards.
Immediately, Eunuchs and guards rushed to set up archery targets in the plaza.
At the same time, they led a warhorse for Huang Zhong and handed him Huang Zhong's Eight Treasures Qilin Bow.
Despite being covered in blood and having multiple saber wounds, Huang Zhong seemed unfazed. He dropped his great saber, mounted the horse, and under the shocked and exclaiming gazes of Zhang Shihao, Liu Hong, He Jin, Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong, Yuan Feng, and others, he galloped out, drawing his bow and notching an arrow.
Swish, swish, swish~
Sharp, swift arrows pierced through the air, heading straight for the targets a hundred paces away.
The warhorse galloped, arrows cut through the air, and under the astonished gazes of everyone, one arrow after another hit the bullseye, with such immense force that they even knocked over the targets.
"Hiss..."
The Civil and Military Officials gasped, looking in awe at the figure on the warhorse, covered in blood, yet still galloping and drawing his bow.
Even Xiang Yu in his prime would probably be no more than this, right?
"Giddy up, giddy up..."
After a round of mounted archery, Huang Zhong galloped back.
However, as soon as Huang Zhong reached the foot of the stands, the Civil and Military Officials, seeing Huang Zhong holding his bow and arrows, immediately became alarmed and nervous.
The surrounding Imperial Guards, Eunuchs, and guards all reacted as if facing a formidable enemy, surging forward, blocking in front of Huang Zhong, and all drawing their bows and notching arrows, aiming at Huang Zhong.
They would likely shoot Huang Zhong into a hornet's nest without hesitation if he dared to make the slightest move.
Looking at the hundred fallen Imperial Guards and the knocked-over archery targets.
At this moment, everyone was shocked by Huang Zhong's combat power.
Huang Zhong, however, looked at the Imperial Guards, Eunuchs, and guards blocking his way without a care. He dropped the bow and arrows in his hand, dismounted, and kneeling on one knee from a distance to Liu Hong, he smiled and said:
"Haha, Huang Zhong has not failed His Majesty's will!"
Huang Zhong's strong voice echoed, instantly waking Liu Hong.
Looking at the rather heroic Huang Zhong on one knee, Liu Hong's face was filled with surprise and excitement. He loudly declared:
"Good, good! Truly an unparalleled fierce general! Quick, invite Huang Zhong to come forward."
Liu Hong's surprised voice fell.
The Imperial Guards, Eunuchs, and guards all moved to the sides.
Huang Zhong, covered in blood, walked step by step onto the stands, and once again knelt on one knee before Liu Hong, solemnly saying:
"Greetings, Your Majesty. Huang Zhong has not failed your grace, nor the grace of my benefactor's strong recommendation."
"Good, Huang Zhong's bravery is unmatched under heaven. This bravery is no less than that of the ancient Hegemon King. I hereby appoint you Colonel of the Imperial Guards, to command the Imperial Guards and guard the Imperial Palace for me. Do you accept?"
"Additionally, the Marquis of Yiyang has the merit of recommendation. He is awarded a mansion in Luoyang, one hundred gold, and ten maidservants!"
Liu Hong, with his hands and legs wrapped in dazzling white cloth, looked at the utterly disheveled Huang Zhong and loudly bestowed the rewards with a smiling face.
Hearing this, Zhang Shihao and Huang Zhong both trembled.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Zhang Shihao and Huang Zhong received their appointments and expressed their gratitude, smiles on their faces. Meanwhile, Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong, Yuan Feng, and the others looked displeased and gloomy.
General He Jin, however, smiled faintly, looking at Huang Zhong with admiration.
...Soon, the news spread throughout the Imperial Palace that Zhang Shihao had strongly recommended Huang Zhong. Huang Zhong alone suppressed a hundred Imperial Guards, demonstrated divine archery by hitting targets a hundred paces away, was appointed Colonel of the Imperial Guards, commanded the Imperial Guards, and was comparable to the ancient Hegemon King.
The entire Luoyang was shaken.
Huang Zhong's name spread throughout Luoyang, and even began to spread across the entire Han Dynasty.
...Days passed. Huang Zhong first took up his post as Colonel of the Imperial Guards. With the formidable skills he displayed that day, Huang Zhong took over the Imperial Guards with almost no resistance.
After all, in the military, the strong are respected.
Zhang Shihao was also not idle. He recruited Eunuchs and guards for the Imperial Harem, castrated them, sent them into the Imperial Palace, and once their wounds healed, they were integrated into the ranks.
They officially became members of the Imperial Harem guards and began training.
Zhang Shihao also implanted the Iron Eagle Elite Soldiers' battle souls into them.
These recruited guards all had initial loyalty to him.
Therefore, the implantation of the Iron Eagle Elite Soldiers' battle souls proceeded smoothly.
The three hundred guards were soon at full strength.
Three hundred Eunuchs and guards, implanted with the Iron Eagle Elite Soldiers' battle souls, began a vigorous training regimen in the Imperial Palace.
Watching the Eunuchs and guards trained by Zhang Shihao change day by day, Liu Hong was overjoyed.
Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong, and the other Ten Attendants, however, grew increasingly alarmed and enraged.
...One day, a piece of news spread throughout the Imperial Harem, shaking the entire Imperial Harem.
Empress He Lian, while admiring flowers in the Imperial Garden, inexplicably fainted.
...Imperial Palace, Changle Palace.
"Xiao Haozi, quick, see what's wrong with the Empress!"
Inside the Empress's bedchamber, Liu Hong, Chun Ying, the five-year-old Liu Bian, Zhang Shihao, and others were gathered. Looking at the slightly pale, weak Empress He Lian on the phoenix bed, Liu Hong urgently said to Zhang Shihao.
"Understood!"
Zhang Shihao immediately stepped forward, sat on the phoenix bed, and felt the pulse of Empress He Lian, who offered her wrist.
At this moment, with Zhang Shihao by her side, she felt exceptionally at ease.
Suddenly, Zhang Shihao, who was taking Empress He Lian's pulse, trembled slightly, and a flicker of surprise passed through his eyes.
Under Liu Hong's watchful gaze, he slowly lowered Empress He Lian's hand and gently asked Empress He Lian:
"Xiao Haozi wants to ask, did the Empress feel any unusual symptoms in her body while in the Imperial Garden?"
"Hmm?" Empress He Lian paused slightly, thought for a moment, and then softly said:
"No, not really. I just suddenly felt my vision go black, and I fainted. When I woke up, I was in the bedchamber."
"Then did you experience any symptoms like nausea, vomiting, fatigue, or excessive sleepiness?" Zhang Shihao took a deep breath and asked softly.
"Hmm?" Hearing Zhang Shihao's question, Empress He Lian and Liu Hong both froze instantly.
What did Zhang Shihao mean by that?
However, the next moment, Empress He Lian and Liu Hong's hearts both skipped a beat.
A shocking and joyful thought emerged.
Empress He Lian and Liu Hong simultaneously looked at Zhang Shihao.
"Now that Xiao Haozi mentions it, I... I do seem to have had slight fatigue, nausea, and sleepiness. I originally thought it was just because the weather was a bit warm and I was lazy. Could I be...?..."
Empress He Lian's voice even trembled.
Liu Hong's eyes, on the other hand, brightened considerably. He widened his eyes, looking at Zhang Shihao with joyful anticipation, as if waiting for Zhang Shihao's precise answer.
Under Liu Hong's joyful gaze, Zhang Shihao took a deep breath and said to Empress He Lian:
"Congratulations, Empress, you are pregnant, you are with child!"
"What? The Empress is with child?"
As Zhang Shihao's voice fell, the panic in Empress He Lian's eyes intensified, while Liu Hong, on the other hand, was overjoyed, laughing loudly and saying:
"Haha, good, good! This is truly wonderful news! The Empress is pregnant, which will add another heir to the Imperial Clan. If it's an Imperial Prince, I will reward him handsomely!"
At this moment, Liu Hong was ecstatic.
Wang Yue and Wang Bao's conspiracy to assassinate him had, in a way, dashed his hopes for his beloved and favored Crown Prince Liu Xie, leaving only the First Imperial Prince Liu Bian. However, Liu Hong truly did not like the First Imperial Prince Liu Bian.
Now, with the Empress pregnant again, if she gave birth to a son, wouldn't that bring great joy to Liu Hong?