My hotel is full of emperors throughout history.

The truck slowly came to a stop, and Wei Qing took a deep breath.

Cool!

That was fucking awesome!

He pushed open the car door, still wanting more, and was about to turn around to discuss things with the assembled officials.

Huo Qubing, standing behind him, became unhappy and started clenching his fist on the carriage door, shouting.

"Uncle, you've already burned almost half an incense stick, it's my turn to burn one now!"

"Drive! Drive! All you ever do is drive!"

Wei Qing glared at him feigning anger, then reached out and patted his shoulder.

"Now that you're a General of the Cavalry, every move you make must be methodical. You need to be more composed, understand?"

Huo Qubing pursed his lips and muttered under his breath.

"It's as if you were the one holding the steering wheel just now, grinning from ear to ear."

The words were spoken softly, but Sang Hongyang, who was standing nearby, overheard them. The old man stroked his beard and couldn't help but chuckle softly.

Wei Qing blushed, glared at Huo Qubing, and finally stepped aside to give up his seat.

"Alright, alright, be careful when you open it, don't be reckless!"

"I know!"

Huo Qubing's eyes lit up, and he quickly climbed into the driver's seat and closed the door behind him.

Wei Qing had just gotten out of the car and hadn't even stood up properly when the truck started moving.

At first, she was a little reserved, but she moved slowly and steadily, like a docile lamb.

But after only a few steps, the wildness in the young man's bones could no longer be suppressed.

He imitated Wei Qing's movements, shifting gears and stepping on the gas, becoming more and more skilled.

"Buzz—!"

The engine roared up suddenly, and the truck lurched forward, its speed increasing dramatically compared to when Wei Qing was driving.

Huo Qubing gripped the steering wheel, watching the palace walls and pillars rushing past, and couldn't help but burst into laughter, pressing the accelerator down even further.

The carriage rolled over a small hill and lurched violently, startling the officials outside who gasped in surprise.

"Watch out, Champion Marquis!"

Cheng Bushi instinctively gripped his sword tighter, fearing that the "divine beast" would go berserk again.

Huo Qubing, however, was completely unaware of the jolt. Instead, he took advantage of the bumps and turned the steering wheel even more sharply. The truck drew a dangerous arc across the open ground, kicking up clouds of dust.

But it hasn't tipped over yet!!!

"That kid!"

Wei Qing's eyes twitched as he watched, cursing under his breath, but a hint of amusement lurked in his eyes.

He turned around, his gaze sweeping over the assembled officials, and straightened his expression.

"As you all can see, this is no ordinary object."

Sang Hongyang stepped forward first and cupped his hands in greeting.

"The General is absolutely right! If this can be used for grain transport, the grain from the north can be transported to the border day and night, with losses reduced by at least 30%! If it is used for trade routes, the turnover rate of rare treasures from the Western Regions and silks from the south can be increased several times, and the national treasury's tax revenue..."

He became more and more excited as he spoke, as if he could already see mountains of wealth.

Cheng Bushi frowned and interrupted him in a deep voice.

"While Lord Sang's words make sense, this object is terrifyingly powerful and causes a tremendous disturbance. In my humble opinion, it should be prioritized for military use, and a dedicated department should be established to select loyal and brave elites to learn how to operate it. It must be strictly controlled and must never fall into the hands of civilians, much less be captured by the enemy!"

"General Cheng is right!"

Gongsun He nodded repeatedly, his face still showing lingering fear.

"This object is a divine omen, a blessing upon our great Han Dynasty! His Majesty should decree its regulations, record it in the national history, and pass it down through generations!"

Wei Qing nodded, his gaze sweeping over Huo Qubing, who was frolicking in the distance, and the massive steel behemoth that was speeding across the road.

He paused, his eyes sharp as knives.

"This item represents both an opportunity and a challenge. Used well, it will be a powerful tool for our Han Dynasty to expand its territory and deter the surrounding barbarians; used poorly, it may bring disaster upon ourselves. Gentlemen, the task ahead is arduous and the road is long!"

Before he finished speaking, a scout, disheveled and with blood-stained armor, staggered into the garden and knelt on one knee.

"General! Urgent report from the north! After acquiring the statues, the Xiongnu have amassed a large number of elite cavalry and launched a surprise attack on our three passes at Dingxiang! The defending troops hastily responded and, although they fought desperately to repel the enemy, they suffered hundreds of casualties, three granaries were burned, nearly a thousand herders were captured, and tens of thousands of cattle and sheep were stolen!"

With a clang, Cheng Bushi tightened his grip on his sword, causing the scabbard to collide with the waist buckle, producing a sharp, jarring sound.

"These wolf cubs! They think they're invincible just because they got the sacred artifact, and they've become so arrogant!"

Wei Qing's face was equally gloomy.

In the distance, perhaps sensing something amiss with the atmosphere on Wei Qing's side, or perhaps spotting the scout, the roar of the truck abruptly ceased.

Then, Huo Qubing and Liu Ju pushed open the car door and jumped out. After asking around and learning about the situation, they found out what was going on.

Huo Qubing was furious.

"Those mere Xiongnu? We just taught them a lesson not long ago! And now they dare to run wild on the border of our Great Han!"

He turned to look at Wei Qing and knelt on one knee.

"Uncle, this humble general is willing to lead a light cavalry expedition. Within three days, I will surely behead the enemy general and reclaim the captured herdsmen and livestock!"

"Shut up!"

Wei Qing shouted to stop him, and he quickly walked up to the scout.

"What are the next moves of the Xiongnu cavalry? Are there any reinforcements? Where should our army retreat to?"

The scout answered, panting heavily.

"The Xiongnu looted and left without lingering, seemingly testing our strength! The defending troops have retreated to Yangqu City and are urgently awaiting supplies and reinforcements!"

At this point, the scout's eyes turned bloodshot.

"The Xiongnu people exhausted their wealth in purchasing sacred artifacts, leaving their tribe's reserves depleted. Now, with autumn in full bloom and their horses fat, they lack sufficient food and supplies for the winter. Unwilling to suffer from scarcity, they... plunder our border regions and slaughter our people to fill their deficit!"

"You bastard!!!"

This time, roars erupted almost simultaneously from Wei Qing, Huo Qubing, Cheng Bushi, and even the usually composed Sang Hongyang.

The civil officials' composure and the military generals' calmness were completely overwhelmed by extreme anger and humiliation at this moment.

Wei Qing's face turned ashen.

"The Xiongnu are going too far! Do they treat our Han people as if they don't exist?!"

Huo Qubing's eyes were bloodshot, and the veins on his forehead bulged.

"Kill! They must be killed! Slaughter these treacherous, greedy wolves! Let their blood be a sacrifice for my unjustly killed border people! Let their heads pave the way for the northern frontier of my great Han!"

Cheng Bushi, his beard and hair bristling, clasped his hands and said sternly.

"General! Your Highness! This humble general begs to be the vanguard! I will surely lead my northern army to crush the Xiongnu royal court, twist off Yizhixie's head, and hang it at the northern gate of Chang'an!"

Sang Hongyang squeezed out the sound through his teeth.

"This action by the Xiongnu is no ordinary border dispute; it is a complete contempt and trampling of our dynasty's dignity and order! If we do not strike them with thunderous force, what will the surrounding barbarians think? What will the world's trade routes think? We must fight! And we must win a war that will bring thirty years of peace, a war that will terrify the Xiongnu at the mere mention of the Han banner!"

The crowd was filled with righteous indignation and their fighting spirit was boiling.

Amidst the shouts of battle, some seasoned and prudent individuals looked worried and whispered among themselves.

"But His Majesty has not yet returned from his northern tour... Such a large-scale troop mobilization to wage war against the Xiongnu, is it... should we wait for His Majesty to return to court to make a decision? The Crown Prince is overseeing the state, and it is not entirely safe to provoke conflict on the border..."

Liu Ju, who had been silent all along, raised his head after hearing this.

He walked up to everyone and suddenly waved his hand.

"No need to wait any longer!"