Chapter 400: In Chapter 212, A Real Man Should Be Like This
Translator: 549690339
Hongdao, the seventh year, on the twentieth of the sixth month.
Outside Changsha City, in the northern suburbs, at the Altar for Worshipping Heaven.
Banners fluttering, long spears standing like a forest.
A sea of red, divided into several groups, neatly spread across the plains.
“Screech!”
A magnificent eagle circled in the sky, occasionally casting its sharp gaze below as it flapped its wings.
In the mind of this airborne ruler, confusion abounded: What were these human beings below gathered for?
Suddenly.
Waves of sound rolled through the crowd below.
“Long live the victory! Long live the victory!”
The soaring waves of sound startled the dancing eagle in the air.
With fluttering wings, it swiftly headed towards a distant place, seeming to flee from this spot.
On the plain.
Lu Yuan, mounted on a red steed, wore bright yellow armor and slowly advanced through the open area between the large armies.
Behind him followed a group of robust knights, clad in yellow armor and wielding long spears.
Wherever the team passed, the soldiers on both sides would cheer, slamming their long spears on the ground, creating a rhythmic rumbling sound.
In a sea of cheers, he walked through the long lines of soldiers and arrived at the Heavenly Altar in the forefront.
Below the Heavenly Altar at this time, over a thousand invited scholars and local elites bowed their heads in reverence towards the approaching Lu Yuan.
In this chaotic world, martial might reigns supreme.
Even when founding a country, without an overwhelming display of martial force, it would not suffice to maintain the nation.
The one about to ascend the throne, standing above all others, undoubtedly possessed the strongest martial power.
Only a king of this caliber could protect the territories and ensure the safety of the people.
In Dongting District, ravaged by war for several years, such a king was needed to appease the region.
Lu Yuan’s gaze swept over these local gentry, with none daring to meet his eyes.
On this day, during this king’s coronation, he became the protagonist for all, the sole radiance under the Heavenly Vault.
A sense of indescribable accomplishment and pride surged from within Lu Yuan’s heart.
At this moment, he understood Liu Bang’s remark after seeing Emperor Qin’s processions: “A great man should be like this.” He knew the grandiosity of sweeping the world and defining Heaven in the future.
This supreme power, where every person bows low, and all heed the king’s commands, is indeed intoxicating.
Dismounting from his horse, Lu Yuan handed the reins to an attendant behind him.
Pressing his hand on the sword at his waist, he climbed the red-carpeted steps before him.
On both sides of the red carpet, civil and military officials—already clad in their New Dynasty official uniforms—bowed and pledged their allegiance as he passed.
Step by step, he walked with unwavering strength and determination.
Soon, the 135 steps of the three-tiered stairway erected as per protocol were traversed.
Upon reaching the highest level, Heavenly Envoy Yang Jing, contemplating the newly-crowned king before him, took the imperial edict and read aloud: “By orders of Heaven…
…General Lu Yuan of the Southern Expedition, who has conquered rebellion and stabilized Dongting… For such merit and virtue, there is no greater reward than the establishment of a nation…
The imperial edict is clear and grants thee in Heaven’s name.
Today, bestow upon thee the land of Dongting, in recognition of Lu Yuan’s contributions, to found the nation of Changsha, and ascend as king, establishing the foundation of the vassal state under the imperial court’s jurisdiction. May you maintain secure governance…”
After a brief moment, Yang Jing completed the reading of the several hundred characters of the imperial edict, then folded it and handed it to Lu Yuan, saying, “King of Changsha, receive the edict.”
“I, King of Changsha, Lu Yuan, receive the edict.”
Lu Yuan stared at the proffered edict, took a deep breath, and then firmly took it.
An attendant quickly took it from him, then helped him remove his armor and replace it with a king’s robe, donned the crown, and handed over the royal seal, thus completing his transformation in status.
After these preparations, an attendant handed him a document containing prayers for worshipping Heaven.
Seeing this, Yang Jing silently sighed, then retreated to the side with Shangguan Ming and others who had come to watch the ceremony, their emotions mixed.
The two court-appointed noblemen were understandably saddened and concerned, lamenting the decline of the Altars of Soil and Grain.
However, both the monk Jihui and Qiao Kangquan felt a sense of joy and envy.
These two had also been promised by the imperial court the privilege of founding their own nations and ruling over their territories.
And now, Lu Yuan and Yan Wangqiu had successively established their nations and fulfilled their ambitions.
Especially today, with the enthronement of Lu Yuan presiding over thousands of troops, numerous officials, and his subjects, he was at the height of prestige and power.
Witnessing this scene, both of the aspiring lords felt inspired to follow suit.
They secretly pledged to surpass the grandeur of this event when they ascended to the throne.
At that time, they would invite fifty thousand, no, one hundred thousand people to celebrate and request the imperial court’s presence for the ceremony.
They must not let Lu Yuan’s splendor overshadow their own.
As these thoughts swirled in their minds.
Lu Yuan before them had already begun reading the prayer for worshipping Heaven: “I, King of Changsha, Lu Yuan, in a message to the Heavenly Emperor… Today, at this place, I establish the nation of Changsha and become its king. May Heaven witness and Earth support me, blessing my dynasty.”
Having finished reading the last line of the prayer, Lu Yuan flung the document towards the bronze cauldron representing the Altars of Soil and Grain, located in the center of the Heavenly Altar.
In an instant, the document was thrown into the cauldron and consumed by the flames within, offering the prayer to Heaven and Earth.
As the document was consumed by the fire, Lu Yuan turned around, his tiger-like eyes fixed upon the countless officials and soldiers below. Then, summoning his true pneuma, he shouted, “I hereby announce, as of today, the nation of Changsha is established, and I am its king!”