Only after unifying the world did I realize that immortals existed in this world.

Morning meeting.

Xie Cangrong, dressed in a crimson-gold dragon-patterned imperial robe, sat upright on the dragon throne, facing south, overlooking the assembled civil and military officials below. His face was gentle, and he did not need to deliberately put on a stern expression; an invisible pressure naturally emanated from him, his imperial might overwhelming and intimidating to all.

This dignified demeanor was completely different from when he privately played chess with Liu Bingxuan.

He smiled and said calmly, "Go to court."

Below, civil and military officials are lined up on both sides, civil officials on the left and military officials on the right. They are arranged in order of rank, from front to back.

All the officials lowered their heads, their faces respectful, held their tablets in both hands, and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, are you well?"

"Rise."

Xie Cangrong attended court once every ten days.

The Great Xia Dynasty has a vast territory, spanning thousands of miles. As the central hub of the world, the affairs accumulated in just ten days are already numerous enough.

One by one, the ministers presented their reports and advice to the important officials.

"Your Majesty, Shengzhou is suffering from a severe drought. Three months have passed without rain, rivers have dried up, and fields are cracked. This year's harvest is feared to be nonexistent. Prefect Zhang Yonghe has submitted a memorial imploring the court to provide relief..."

"Your Majesty, a sudden earthquake has struck Chengzhou in the southeast, a hurricane has raged, seawater has flooded the city, and houses are collapsing..."

"His Majesty……"

……

In the imperial court, the ministers pooled their wisdom, offered suggestions and solutions to various problems, and allocated resources. Xie Cangrong then made the final decisions.

They were a newly established and successful company, and the group of strong individuals were elites who had followed Xie Cangrong all the way out of the chaos. The court was full of vitality and had not yet shown any signs of the dynasty's decay and stagnation. They were also extremely efficient in their work.

Before long, seven or eight out of ten matters had been settled.

Just then, a solemn-faced old man stepped forward, his back ramrod straight, and looked up at the throne: "Your Majesty, I heard that half a month ago a strange man came across the sea in a floating boat, and has now been escorted to the capital by General Ning to await an audience."

Xie Cangrong glanced at him with interest: "That's true."

The old minister knelt on the ground, looking at Xie Cangrong with a devout face, and earnestly pleaded, "Your Majesty! The Endless Sea is known for its mirages and illusions; tales of gods and ghosts are not to be believed. I humbly beg Your Majesty not to forget your original intentions, and not to be misled by petty villains, lest you repeat the mistakes of the previous dynasty!"

Are there truly immortals beyond the endless sea?

Nobody knows!

Many people in the imperial court did not understand why Xie Cangrong was so determined to go to sea.

However, they knew that many monarchs throughout history had fallen victim to their obsession with immortality, and even the most virtuous rulers could not resist the temptation of eternal life.

The last emperor of the previous dynasty was a man who blindly believed in alchemists and sought immortality, ultimately ruining his own kingdom.

The sight of the floating boat was indeed wondrous, but it couldn't be ruled out that it was a trick performed by someone with ulterior motives, intended to mislead the emperor. The new dynasty had finally stabilized and was flourishing. Seeing Xie Cangrong's interest in this, and with the lessons of the previous dynasty still fresh in their minds, many people were genuinely afraid that Xie Cangrong would go astray.

only……

Not everyone had the courage to bring this up with Xie Cangrong.

The hall was somewhat silent. The old man had broken the ice, and everyone was focused on their own thoughts, waiting for the emperor's response.

The clash of different cultures, the progress of the times, and the evolution of technology... will always give rise to many challenges. This includes not only the cultivators we will soon face externally, but also our subjects who cannot readily accept the unknown.

How to make decisions and resolve issues on a major strategic level are questions that leaders need to consider.

Xie Cangrong had anticipated this.

Faced with the old minister's advice, Xie Cangrong was not angry. Instead, he smiled warmly and said, "Yunqing, why are you kneeling? Get up!"

Yun Zhao trembled slightly and lowered his head even further: "This old minister is terrified and begs Your Majesty's forgiveness."

Xie Cangrong waved his hand: "What crime have you committed? Is loyalty a crime? This is how an advisor should act!"

Only then did Yun Zhao truly realize that Xie Cangrong meant no blame. Overjoyed, he stood up shakily, repeatedly chanting, "Your Majesty is wise! Your Majesty is wise!"

Xie Cangrong's attitude towards Yun Zhao was undoubtedly a clear signal. As Yun Zhao stood up, the tense expressions of the court officials eased somewhat.

A ruler often needs to engage in power struggles with his subjects.

But sometimes that's not necessary.

Xie Cangrong abruptly stood up, his gaze sharp and unwavering as he surveyed the assembled officials in the hall. He declared frankly, "Gentlemen, I know what you are thinking, what you are worried about. I am not that fool Xiao Cheng of the Great Qi!"

"We have pacified this land step by step! Many of you followed me in starting from humble beginnings. We have witnessed firsthand the widespread famine and the collapse of our land... Now that a new dynasty has been established, I bear the weight of the nation and the hopes of the people."

"I can tell you clearly that I do not seek to be remembered in history, nor do I seek immortality... All I seek is the prosperity and eternal glory of the Great Xia Dynasty."

"If you don't believe me, you are welcome to come and see for yourselves!"

Xie Cangrong had clear eyes, a clear voice, and was confident and high-spirited.

The ministers were taken aback. The spirited words reached their ears, yet they also carried a hint of the roar of a dragon and a tiger, making them feel their blood boil and their hearts surge.

I wish I could give everything to follow him and help him accomplish anything he wants to do.

The founding monarch should always possess great magnanimity.

"thump!"

Ning Boxing immediately knelt on one knee. The imposing, ruthless general, now filled with sincere fervor, roared repeatedly, "This humble general is willing to die for Your Majesty!"

Their emperor has never changed!

Even after donning the dragon robe, sitting high on the throne, and surveying the land, one can still see the shadow of that peerless youth who once swore an oath before the mighty river to pacify the world.

Ning Boxin seemed to have set a precedent, and all the valiant generals in the ranks bowed down, saying, "We are willing to die for Your Majesty!"

When Yun Zhao offered his advice, he was prepared to be punished by His Majesty.

Unexpectedly, instead of being punished, he received such a sincere reply and a weighty, heartfelt oath.

He swayed, his old eyes blurry, and in a daze, he saw the figure before him rise tens of thousands of feet tall, towering and unattainable. He was suddenly overcome with tears: "This old minister, with his base and selfish desires, presumptuously interpreted His Majesty's will, and truly deserves to die!"

Several civil officials, their eyes also brimming with fervor, exclaimed: "Your Majesty is wise!"

In this era, the promises made by the emperor were still quite effective.

Sometimes, simply expressing an attitude or shouting slogans can inspire a group of people.

Xie Cangrong lowered his eyes and smiled: "What are you doing? Get up, everyone!"

"Gentlemen, a united nation can never be defeated. Throughout history, how much of our strength has been wasted on internal strife? Only when everyone is of one mind can a nation be invincible. I only hope that you will join me in uniting as one, eliminating internal and external troubles, and together building an unprecedented golden age. What do you say?"

"Your subject obeys the decree!"

The roar was like a tidal wave, passionate and enthusiastic.

It's impossible for everyone in the imperial court to be loyal and incorruptible; people always have selfish desires.

People change. Perhaps they were sincere at the beginning, but after enjoying wealth and glory, they gradually forget their original intentions.

Xie Cangrong didn't expect his dynasty to be particularly clean; he just wanted it to get things done.

His gaze swept over the assembled officials, taking in the myriad aspects of life below, and he casually added "internal troubles" to his grand pronouncements.

He knew that not all of these people were on his side. As he moved forward, he would not hesitate to eliminate those who were in his way.

A monarch who only knows how to laugh cannot deter people's greed and lust.

Xie Cangrong said frankly, "Since you have this concern, I intend to hold a banquet tonight to entertain these extraordinary people who have traveled across the sea by boat, so as to ascertain their true situation. You may all attend as well."

"Let's see what my heart is like!"