At 100 years old, he joined the army in place of his granddaughter, and became a national war god.

Inside the Jade Palace, in the king's bedroom.

The air was warm and inviting, filled with the pleasant sounds of traditional Chinese music.

King Yu Linyuan of Liuyu leaned back on a brocade couch, with a table in front of him laden with fine wines and delicacies. Dozens of beautiful singers in light gauze dresses danced gracefully, their melodious songs echoing throughout the palace.

Yu Linyuan has always enjoyed refined pleasures. When there is no war or border crisis and the country is peaceful and prosperous, he often holds banquets and enjoys music in the palace to pass the time.

At this moment, he held a luminous jade cup in his hand, slowly sipping fine wine, his gaze lazily falling on the dancers in the palace, his expression relaxed and content, displaying the leisurely and serene demeanor of a monarch.

Everyone in Liuyu Kingdom, both civil and military, knew that although their king preferred pleasure and disliked mundane affairs, he was by no means a foolish or incompetent ruler.

While he may enjoy ordinary pleasures, Yu Linyuan is always clear-headed and decisive when it comes to matters of national importance, such as the safety of the country and its people.

Just as the singing and dancing were in full swing inside the palace, creating a tranquil atmosphere, the respectful announcement of a palace attendant came from outside the bedchamber, breaking the peaceful silence within the palace:

"Your Majesty, Chancellor Yun Lanzhi and General Hemingway have jointly requested an audience outside the palace, claiming they have an extremely urgent matter to report to Your Majesty immediately!"

Upon hearing the sound, Yu Linyuan, who had been leisurely enjoying himself while leaning against the soft couch, suddenly froze, and all the laziness and comfort in his eyes disappeared.

Yun Lanzhi is the head of the civil officials of Liuyu Kingdom. He is calm, wise, and unparalleled in his decision-making, and he is in charge of all government affairs.

Hemingway was a pillar of the Liuyu military, a veteran of many battles, and held command of the nation's military.

It is extremely rare for two high-ranking officials, one civil and one military, to visit each other's palaces together. Unless it is an extremely urgent matter or a crisis for the country, they would never be so hasty and urgent.

A sense of vigilance instantly rose in Yu Linyuan's heart, and he immediately raised his hand and gave a deep order:

"Cease the music and dancing, everyone, leave!"

The singers and musicians dared not hesitate, immediately stopped, bowed, and quietly left the palace. The sounds of string and wind instruments in the hall ceased abruptly, and it instantly became quiet and solemn.

A moment later, two hurried and steady footsteps approached.

The Prime Minister, Yun Lanzhi, dressed in a scholar's robe, had a solemn expression and walked hurriedly.

General Hemingway, clad in silver armor, stood solemnly, his eyes revealing an undisguised shock and gravity.

The two quickly entered the main hall and bowed in unison.

Yu Linyuan straightened his posture, sat upright on the dragon bed, straightened his robes, sat properly, and looked at the two of them with a deep and serious gaze.

"The Prime Minister and the General entered the palace together late at night, their expressions grave. Something must have happened in the country. Tell me quickly."

Yun Lanzhi raised his head and stepped forward, cupped his hands and bowed his head. His tone was heavy and urgent as he spoke slowly and deliberately, revealing a shocking piece of news that had stunned him.

"Your Majesty, a tremendous change has occurred!"

"The Eastern Barbarians...were destroyed by the Great Qian!"

These few words resounded like a thunderclap in the palace!

Yu Linyuan shuddered, his eyes widened in disbelief, and he abruptly sat up from the soft couch.

He stared intently at Yun Lanzhi, his voice filled with barely suppressed shock and astonishment: "What? The Eastern Barbarians have fallen?"

"The Eastern Barbarians, who commanded hundreds of thousands of troops, had occupied the East China Sea for many years, and were known for their ferocity and warlike nature, were wiped out in such a short time? How could it be so fast!"

Hemingway, standing to the side, nodded heavily, took a deep breath, suppressed the shock surging in his heart, and added his report in a deep voice.

"Your Majesty, this is absolutely true!"

"A border spies have sent back an urgent battle report, confirming its accuracy!"

"The Great Qian Dynasty's 300,000 elite troops, advancing across the sea, swept through the Eastern Barbarian coastal defenses and leveled the imperial capital, Qingchao Capital, in just five days!"

"Emperor Ito Jimmu of the Eastern Barbarian Empire died on the battlefield, his commander-in-chief Minamoto no Yoshikiyo and all his generals perished, and all the civil and military officials and pro-war ministers were purged and slaughtered. The foundation of the court was completely destroyed, and the Eastern Barbarian Empire, which had lasted for hundreds of years, vanished completely!"

A country destroyed in five days!

A cross-sea expedition, and a century-old dynasty was overthrown in five days!

Such an astonishing achievement is unprecedented and unheard of in the entire history of the East China Sea over the past century!

Inside the palace, the atmosphere instantly became deathly silent.

Yu Linyuan stood frozen in place, his body stiff. Cold sweat instantly soaked through his brocade robes, and a bone-chilling coldness rushed up his spine to the top of his head, making him feel cold all over. A huge wave of emotions surged in his heart.

He knew that the Great Qian was powerful and its army was elite. He had also witnessed the overwhelming power of the Great Qian's Youlong warships during their naval exercises. He knew that Su Mu was a master strategist and had unparalleled combat prowess.

But he never expected that the Great Qian's revenge would be so swift, decisive and thorough!

Not only did they kill the enemy emperor and destroy the imperial lineage, but they also purged and slaughtered the entire Eastern Yi court and all the pro-war ministers, leaving no trace of trouble!

What kind of monstrous blood feud must this be, and what kind of ruthless and decisive methods must have been employed!

Yu Linyuan's Adam's apple bobbed, his voice slightly deep, filled with lingering fear: "The hatred that the Great Qian Dynasty harbors towards the invading enemy is so profound..."

"The country was defeated and destroyed, the royal family was wiped out, and all the court officials were executed; not one escaped unscathed."

"Such ruthless methods are enough to intimidate all nations across the land; who would dare to provoke the Great Qian Dynasty even slightly again!"

Yun Lanzhi sighed softly, her expression solemn: "It is precisely because of this that the spirit of the Great Qian Dynasty is truly revealed."

"The Great Qian Dynasty never kills without cause. Those who are killed are all the culprits who crossed the sea to invade, slaughtered the people of the East China Sea, and plundered the border territories of the Great Qian Dynasty."

Those who violate our territory will be thoroughly punished.

Those who harm their people will surely pay with their blood!

"This is the foundation of the Great Qian Dynasty, and the overwhelming power of a great nation!"

Upon hearing this, Hemingway was filled with relief and sighed deeply, "Looking back now, just a few months ago, the Eastern Barbarians sent Takenaka Ryosuke to persuade and incite our Ryukyu to form an alliance against the Qianlong Emperor. It was truly extremely dangerous!"

"Fortunately, Your Majesty is wise and your ministers are clear-headed. They witnessed the mighty military exercises of the Great Qian Navy and saw through the wolfish ambitions of the Eastern Barbarians. They merely wanted to drag our Liuyu down with them and bind other countries to oppose the Great Qian!"

"If we hadn't acted decisively, resolutely rejecting the alliance, severing bilateral trade, and remaining neutral to avoid war, Liuyu would surely have been dragged into the flames of war long ago, suffering the same catastrophic and utterly destroyed fate as Dongyi!"

A word to wake up the dreamer!

Yu Linyuan frowned deeply as he slowly paced through the hall, his heart filled with mixed emotions and lingering fear.

The Dongyi and Liuyu are connected by mountains and rivers, and are as close as lips and teeth. They are neighboring countries, and if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold.

In the past, the Dongyi were powerful and could still keep the situation in the East China Sea in check and protect the surrounding small countries; now the Dongyi were destroyed in five days and completely disappeared, and there is no longer any power in the East China Sea that can keep the Daqian in check.

Currently, Daqian is the dominant power.

Yu Linyuan's expression was solemn as he spoke in a deep voice, revealing his deepest concern: "With the destruction of the Eastern Barbarians, the landscape of the East Sea has been completely transformed."

"The Great Qian Dynasty's thunderous methods and overwhelming military might have swept across the four seas, and no one can rival them."

"Our Liuyu nation is weak and its military strength is meager. We lack powerful ships and cannons, and we have no peerless generals. If the Great Qian Dynasty pacifies the Eastern Barbarians and then marches south to conquer Liuyu, our nation will be utterly powerless to resist, and our fate will be no different from that of the Eastern Barbarians!"

These words immediately added to the somber atmosphere in the hall.

This is also the biggest hidden danger and worry for the entire nation of Liuyu at this moment.

Seeing this, Yunlan quickly stepped forward to comfort her, calmly and clearly explaining:

"Your Majesty need not worry excessively. In my opinion, the Great Qian will never wage war against Liuyu."

"According to reports from scouts at the front, after the Daqian army breached the city, they maintained strict discipline and committed no offenses against the people."

"The entire army only purged the royal family of the Eastern Yi, the powerful ministers who advocated war, and the remaining rebels. They did not harm ordinary people in the slightest, did not massacre cities, did not disturb the people, and did not plunder their property. The city was peaceful and people's livelihoods remained the same."

"It is clear from this that what the Great Qian hates is the enemy court that wreaks havoc on the borders and invades and causes chaos, not the people of the world."

"It is a true celestial empire, a land of propriety, where gratitude and resentment are clearly distinguished and killing is measured."

"Furthermore, I was previously sent on a mission to the East China Sea, where I personally met with General Su Mu of the Great Qian Dynasty and Prince Xiao Jingyu."

"Both men were broad-minded, wise, and compassionate, and were not tyrannical or bloodthirsty."

"Our Liuyu has always adhered to its duty, remained neutral and respectful, never infringed upon an inch of the Great Qian territory, and never colluded with the Eastern Yi. On the contrary, we severed ties early on, maintained a sense of awe, and took the initiative to show goodwill and make peace."

"As long as we remain respectful, obedient, and law-abiding, and do not cross the bottom line of the Great Qian Dynasty, we will certainly not bring trouble upon ourselves."

His thorough analysis, every sentence reasonable, instantly soothed most of Yu Linyuan's fear.

Yu Linyuan nodded slightly, his tense brows relaxed a little, the chill on his back slowly dissipated, and a relieved smile appeared on his face.

"What the Prime Minister says is absolutely right. If the Great Qian is truly bloodthirsty and tyrannical, the people of the Eastern Yi will certainly find it difficult to save their lives."

He paused for a moment, his gaze resolute, and said in a deep voice, "Now that the Great Qian has achieved a great victory and its prestige shakes the world, this is the best time for Liuyu to express its goodwill and solidify diplomatic relations. What does the Prime Minister think our dynasty should do next?"

Knowing that Yunlan already had a plan, he immediately clasped his hands in a respectful bow and solemnly offered his advice.

"I believe that we should immediately dispatch an envoy to the capital of the Great Qian Dynasty!"

"Firstly, to congratulate the Great Qian on its great victory, the annihilation of the Eastern Barbarians, and the pacification of the East Sea, thus demonstrating our respectful heart towards Ryukyu."

"Secondly, I formally presented my credentials, earnestly requesting the resumption of trade and commerce between the two countries, relying on the strength of the Great Qian Dynasty to enrich the people and strengthen the nation, and to stabilize diplomatic relations."

"To demonstrate our sincerity, Your Majesty must personally lead the delegation to show our respect and our desire for good relations!"

A glint flashed in Yu Linyuan's eyes, and he wholeheartedly agreed: "What the Prime Minister says is exactly what I intend to say!"

He immediately and decisively issued an edict:

"Immediately issue an edict to the court, ordering all departments and offices to prepare the ceremonial regalia, official documents, and tribute for the envoy's journey. Three days later, I will personally lead a delegation to the capital of the Great Qian Dynasty!"

"All matters concerning gifts, tributes, and the entourage for this mission will be personally overseen by Prime Minister Yun Lanzhi. Everything must be handled meticulously and flawlessly, without the slightest oversight!"

"My lord, I obey your order!"

……

Meanwhile, in the capital of Qingchao, Dongyi, Su Mu and Xiao Jingyu were discussing the contents of a letter to be submitted to the imperial court.

And they plan to return to the capital in three days!

As Xiao Jingyu read the contents of the letter, a smile crept onto his lips, a secret sense of satisfaction spreading through him.

This time, who in the imperial court would dare to question Elder Su's abilities?

Old Master Su is the God of War who protects the nation in the Great Qian Dynasty.

He believed that the emperor would reward him handsomely this time!