My hotel is full of emperors throughout history.

The night breeze was cool, carrying the lingering smell of gunpowder and alcohol.

Liu Che and his son Liu Ju stood side by side at the entrance of the inn, watching Empress Zhangsun help Li Shimin leave.

"Father," Liu Ju said softly, "I'm going to say goodbye to my brother Chengqian."

Liu Che nodded.

A moment later, Liu Ju returned.

The two returned to the Han Dynasty together.

No sooner had they returned to the Han Dynasty than a guard came to report.

"Report—!"

"Your Majesty, Your Highness the Crown Prince! The Xiongnu Chanyu, Yizhixie, has personally led 50,000 cavalry across the southern Gobi Desert and is advancing directly towards Yunzhong! The border is in dire need of reinforcements! The Prefect of Yunzhong requests the court to send reinforcements immediately!"

What?

Liu Ju's expression changed.

Yizhixie?

With 50,000 people?

Weren't you scared enough after being beaten last time?

So many people have died, yet they still dare to come up and provoke us?

They're really asking for trouble!

Liu Ju looked at Liu Che.

I thought Liu Che would look solemn, but he gave me a strange expression instead.

"Izhixie?"

Liu Che's voice trembled slightly as he confirmed it again and again.

"You mean, Izhixie came in person?"

The guard was somewhat bewildered by the emperor's expression, but he still nodded with a forced smile.

"Yes...yes, Your Majesty. The Chanyu personally led the main force, coming with great force, vowing to avenge the Left Wise King..."

"This...this is really..."

Liu Che's body trembled even more violently.

"Very good!!!!"

Liu Ju: ? ? ?

Guard: ? ? ?

What's wrong with Your Majesty's brain?

"Good! Good! Good!"

Liu Che laughed loudly, his laughter echoing in the night sky.

"I was just worried about not being able to find him! And here he is, delivering himself right to my doorstep! It's like a pillow being delivered when you're about to fall asleep!"

Looking at his father's appearance, Liu Ju suddenly understood something.

"Father, this..."

Liu Che did not answer directly, but turned to the guard who was still kneeling on the ground.

"By imperial decree: Prefect of Yunzhong, hold out for three days. Reinforcements will arrive within three days. If anything goes wrong, bring your head upon yourself!"

"yes!"

The guard accepted the order.

Liu Che then turned to Liu Ju, his eyes blazing with intense light.

"If Yi Zhixie hides and doesn't come, I'll really have to worry about how to find him."

"But now... he's come by himself, so I don't need to worry anymore."

Liu Che chuckled.

"What I brought back from the future is a true weapon of mass destruction. The mere Xiongnu can be pacified by mere strokes of my hand!"

Liu Ju took a deep breath and remained silent for a while.

"Does Father intend to personally lead the army?"

Liu Che turned to look at him and smiled.

"What? You can fight, but I can't?"

Liu Ju quickly replied.

"That's not what I meant..."

Liu Che waved his hand, interrupting him.

"I know that's not what you meant."

His gaze deepened.

"Ju'er, do you know what I hate most in this life?"

Liu remained silent.

Liu Che answered himself.

"The people I hate most are the Xiongnu!"

"I know the history that followed. Our Han Dynasty fought for so many years, emptying the national treasury and impoverishing the people, although it greatly weakened the strength of the Xiongnu!"

"But in the end, the Xiongnu were still not completely wiped out."

Even a centipede, though dead, does not fall down and will still cause trouble for future generations!

Liu Che walked to the front of the palace and looked at the scenery outside.

"I dream of one day personally leading my army to raze the royal court, capture the Chanyu alive, and chop off the heads of those wolf cubs one by one, piling them into a mound of skulls!"

"I thought I'd never have the chance in this lifetime."

"But who would have thought—"

He suddenly laughed, a laugh like a child.

"Heavens have sent me a future life, a bunch of divine artifacts, and even personally delivered that old bastard Yizhixie to my death!"

"Tell me, if I don't go, who will I be letting down?"

Liu Ju remained silent.

He knew that his father was right.

A warrior yearning to avenge himself.

He suddenly understood why Li Chengqian had envied him so much back then.

Having such a father is both a blessing and a curse.

Fortunately, he has the strongest backing.

Unfortunately, this support was too powerful, so powerful that it was impossible to catch up with or surpass it.

But Liu Ju didn't say any of that at the moment.

He simply knelt on one knee and clasped his hands in a fist salute.

"Your subject is willing to follow Your Majesty into battle, even if it means dying on the battlefield!"

Liu Che looked at him and shook his head.

"No! You can't go..."

"Father?"

Liu Che waved his hand, his gaze calm as still water.

"I said, just in case."

"On the battlefield, swords and blades have no eyes; even if a divine weapon falls from the sky, it is difficult to guarantee safety."

"As the Son of Heaven, I should personally brave arrows and stones, but the country and its people cannot be without a ruler for even a day."

He turned to Liu Ju, his gaze deep.

"If I truly cannot return..."

Liu Che spoke slowly and deliberately, pointing at Liu Ju with his finger.

"You are the new Emperor of the Han Dynasty!"

Liu Ju's pupils contracted, and his fists clenched involuntarily.

"Father, you mustn't!"

Liu Che smiled and said earnestly.

"If something were to happen to me, the first thing you would do after you ascend the throne is to avenge me."

"Cut off that Yizhixie's head and offer it as a sacrifice at the ancestral temple. Understood?"

Liu Che looked at Liu Ju again.

Liu Ju felt a tightness in his throat, knelt down, and kowtowed heavily.

"Your subject...will heed Your Majesty's teachings. But Your Majesty is in good health and will surely return in triumph. Your subject will await news of victory in Chang'an!"

Liu Che nodded and bent down to help him up.

"Alright, stop looking like you're about to cry. I'm not dead yet."

He patted Liu Ju on the shoulder with a heavy pat.

"I will address these matters at the court assembly tomorrow. This time..."

A sharp glint flashed in Liu Che's eyes.

"I will utterly annihilate the Xiongnu!"