In the Divine-Demon Battlefield and the Eternal Night Battlefield, Liu Bowen had continuously offered counsel and strategies, handling governance with ease. His talents had been fully displayed on the battlefield—so much so that others never needed to worry about trivial matters. In this, he stood as an equal to Zhuge Liang, and in terms of grand strategy, perhaps even surpassed him.
His name was already recorded in the annals of history. That alone proved his ability and qualifications. No one in the court dared offer a word of opposition.
"This minister, Liu Ji, thanks the Emperor."He accepted the appointment without hesitation.Those with talent should never shy from responsibility. He had the confidence: Who else but me is fit to be Prime Minister?
"No need for formalities," said Yi Tianxing calmly."Twenty years of war. You've earned this."
The military promotions had already been handled during the campaign in the Divine-Demon Battlefield. Afterward, Yi Tianxing took the time to review all aspects of Great Yi, understanding the changes over the past twenty years, making sure nothing was outside his grasp.
"Beloved ministers," Yi Tianxing declared,"since the decision to expand is already made, let us fix the date. This war must come swiftly. I suggest—three days from now, Great Yi will officially launch its expansion."
All preparations—logistics, resources, and city stockpiles—had long been in place. No delays were expected at any stage.
Just then, Tong Huang stepped forward with a surprised expression.
"Your Majesty, this subject has a report."
"Speak!" Yi Tianxing nodded.
Tong Huang, head of the Heavenly Calamity Hall, oversaw intelligence across the realm and beyond. His reputation was formidable. People feared the reach of his spies—but no one could deny his Hall's effectiveness and value.
"I have just received a secret report from beyond Great Yi's borders.From Sakura Province, the Great Serpent Dynasty. A place Your Majesty once ordered us to monitor closely."
"Sakura Province, Great Serpent Dynasty? That would be those Eastern Dwarves (倭寇).They were merely a kingdom then. They've already become a dynasty now?"Yi Tianxing's eyes flashed."Very well—what has happened there?"
He had never forgotten those foreign savages. If not for logistical and strategic constraints at the time, he would've already wiped them out. Such a vile, lowly race had no place in the world.
"According to the report," Tong Huang said,"the Great Serpent Dynasty is secretly preparing for war. Intelligence suggests their military harbors deep hostility toward Great Yi.Furthermore, they appear to possess terrifying trump cards, far exceeding what a dynasty should hold."
As he spoke, Tong Huang tapped his wrist device. A beam of divine light burst forth, forming a projection in the hall—a recorded video feed.
The images weren't fully continuous—clearly stitched from multiple pieces. But what they showed was clear:
— Emaciated Han humans, dressed in rags, faces gaunt with hunger, driven like animals into mines and fields to labor.— Beatings and curses filled their days—a brutal oppression.— Women fared even worse. Some of the images filled the court with deep rage. The ministers' eyes grew sharp, but they held their composure, knowing they had to see it all.
What came next was nightmarish.
In the footage, Great Serpent officials were seen signing contracts with demonic beasts. These demons then possessed humans, leading to grotesque transformations:
— One possessed by a tiger demon looked normal by day, but at night—his head turned into a tiger's, with savage eyes and bloodlust.— These creatures hunted humans, specifically those of Han descent.— Worse still, they fed on the bodies.
The footage was gruesome.
Hell on Earth—no better words could describe it.
"How bold," Yi Tianxing said with a cold laugh.
"Unforgivable!" bellowed General Qi Jiguang, stepping forward."Your Majesty, I beg you to allow an expedition to Sakura Province. These half-human monsters must die! They are no longer human—they are abominations. To not slay them is to let justice rot."
"Correct!" cried Cheng Yaojin,"The Great Serpent Dynasty is no longer a human dynasty. They are cannibalistic demons. They must be eradicated—completely."
"How far is Sakura Province from us?" Yi Tianxing asked after a moment.
"It lies in the Han Sea Domain, around 300,000 li from our borders," reported Tong Huang.
"Three hundred thousand li? Then it is within our expansion range," Yi Tianxing declared."This is destiny. The Great SerpentDynasty shall fall.
All Great Yi armies—prepare for war!
All departments—coordinate with the military to achieve maximum gain at minimal cost."
"All Immortal Cities, upon return, must issue edicts to their people—prepare to migrate to new cities.Those willing to settle new lands will receive the same rewards as before.Declare across the realm: Great Yi calls on its people to support its expansion.Those with only temporary residency in the cities must relocate to new ones—by imperial decree."
"The Celestial Monitoring Bureau must be ready to relocate Immortal Cities to designated areas.Wherever our armies march—cities must follow to establish control.All efforts must go toward ensuring smooth operation of these new cities."
"The Ministry of Appointments must produce a list of all civil service exam graduates who've shown governing potential.Once a city is established, a city governor must be assigned immediately.If the appointee cannot stabilize the city quickly—they will be dismissed or punished. No exceptions."
"As for logistics—supply lines must be impeccable.Not a single item must be missing.Great Yi will not allow its soldiers to bleed and suffer both.Any failure in supply will be severely punished."
Each order came swift and sharp from Yi Tianxing's lips—This was war, and war allowed no carelessness.
"Your Majesty, rest assured—we will not falter."The ministers bowed.
"The Great Yi Army is invincible! Attack without fail! Victory is certain!"The generals roared in unison.
At that moment, the horn of war had sounded.The beast called Great Yi had awakened—fangs bared, claws unsheathed.
When court adjourned, Immortal City lords returned via teleportation arrays, each carrying a stack of imperial decrees.
Immediately, excitement swept the cities:
"The Emperor has returned—Great Yi is expanding again! New Immortal Cities! New opportunities!"
"Each city holds a million, but they'll start with just 500,000 residents. Anyone who goes gains permanent residency—no more temporary permits. We can finally take root!"
"We're going! Don't wait—we'll miss the chance!"
"This is our moment! Our elders always said, if Great Yi expands, you MUST sign up. Many who moved last time became wealthy or powerful. I want in!"
The people were ecstatic.There was no resistance, only anticipation.
This reaction was no accident—it was the result of years of effective governance and messaging, and the unshakable prestige of Yi Tianxing.
When he spoke, the people followed.