As the morning light broke, the bloodlust of Chang'an dissipated, replaced by a sky full of red silk and the resounding beat of drums. Today marked not only the end for the Huo family, but also the most legendary moment since the Han Dynasty was founded: the poor girl Xu Pingjun was officially crowned Empress.
Xu Pingjun stood before a bronze mirror as tall as she was. Dozens of palace maids carefully draped her in a black robe trimmed with gold, the attire of an empress. Looking at the woman in the mirror, adorned with jewels and exuding a solemn aura, Xu Pingjun seemed somewhat dazed. 'Your Majesty, this hair ornament is slightly off,' a maid said in a trembling voice.
"No need, it's fine like this." Xu Pingjun reached out and touched her temples; her fingertips were still rough with the marks left by years of hard work in the marketplace.
[Ding! Side quest 'Returning the Sword' has reached maximum completion.]
[Quest evaluation: The host upheld a promise made in times of hardship and danger; full marks for loyalty and righteousness.' [System Settlement: Congratulations, Host, on completing your first major system side quest! Rewards are being calculated...] Liu Bingyi was sitting in the Xuan Shi Hall when the system panel in front of him suddenly burst forth with a dazzling golden light.
'Reward Distribution: Top-Tier Commander Aura (Permanent)!'
Aura effects: All army attributes +50%; army morale will never be low when the host is leading them; attack and defence values doubled; Famous General Attraction: the host naturally attracts historical generals and overlooked talents; Dimensional Reduction Command: the host can see all friendly units within a 100-mile radius, enabling zero-latency micromanagement.
Liu Bingyi closed his eyes. He could feel his consciousness transforming into countless golden threads that connected him to the hearts of every Jinyiwei and Northern Army soldier, both within and outside Chang'an City. This absolute control over the army made him the empire's war god incarnate.The south gate of Weiyang Palace opened and Xu Pingjun ascended the long white jade steps, led by Liu Bingyi. The senior officials on either side, who had prepared countless elaborate rituals, dared not utter a sound in the face of Liu Bingyi's oppressive "top commander" aura.
The common people were permitted to observe from a distance on Zhuque Street. Seeing the 'Miss Xu', who had once sewn clothes in the marketplace and worried about her daily meals like them, now wearing a phoenix crown and ruling the world, brought thunderous cheers from the entire city of Chang'an.
'That's my neighbour Pingjun!'
'The Emperor does not abandon his wife; this is a blessing for the Han dynasty!'
After the grand ceremony, several veteran generals from the border regions submitted their pledges of allegiance due to the passive effect of the 'commander's aura', especially Zhao Chongguo, who was stationed far away in the Western Regions. Known for his composure, the veteran general felt a profound tremor upon receiving the imperial investiture edict, as if he were being inspired by Liu Bingyi's domineering yet wise will across mountains and rivers.
Chang Hui stood behind Liu Bingyi, kneeling on one knee, his eyes filled with fervour. 'Your Majesty's actions have not only established an empress, but also won the hearts of all the soldiers under heaven. This humble general is willing to serve Your Majesty at the forefront, sweeping across the Western Regions!" As night fell, the festivities came to an end.
Liu Bingyi dismissed all the palace servants and removed Xu Pingjun's heavy phoenix crown himself. 'Bingyi, I feel like this is all a dream.' Leaning against him, she still tightly clutched the broken sword in her hand.
"This is not a dream." Liu Bingyi hugged her tighter, his gaze piercing the windowpane and looking out at the dark night sky to the west. 'The system gave me power, and you gave me a reason. Pingjun, the Huo family is just the beginning. Next, I will take on that 'temple' that emperors of all ages have revered, carrying this 'commander's halo'."
[Ding] Current status: Domestic affairs are stable; Xu Pingjun has been crowned Empress; the people's support rate is 100%; military strength is at its peak; the "Top Commander's Halo" has been obtained; and the "Great Han War God" mode has been activated.
The commotion surrounding Xu Pingjun's coronation as empress had barely died down when Liu Bingyi appeared at the Northern Army camp outside Chang'an, radiating his newly acquired 'Top Commander Aura'. He knew that the stability of imperial power lay not in the weight of the imperial crown, but in the sharpness of the sword he held.
At the Baling camp, 30,000 elite Northern soldiers stood in neat formation. Some had followed Chang Hui in the breakout at Cheshi, while others had harboured illusions about the Huo family. When Liu Bingyi, clad in light black armour and accompanied by no one, stepped onto the command platform alone, his "Top Commander Aura" activated at full power. [System Notification]: Aura range: five li radius.
[Real-time feedback] Morale soars from 75 to 120 (breaking the limit)!
In that instant, the 30,000 soldiers felt as if the overhead sun had become scorching hot, with an indescribable fervour shooting from their feet to their heads. To them, Liu Bingyi was no longer the emperor's frail grandson, but an ancient war god come down from the heavens, every breath carrying the scent of clashing swords and galloping horses.
'Chang Hui, step forward,' said Liu Bingyi calmly. Chang Hui stepped forward and saw Liu Bingyi lightly tapping the air with his fingertips.
[Skill activated: Dimensional Command – Consciousness Connection]
Chang Hui shuddered. He was horrified to find an incredibly vast, dynamic map appearing in his mind — a three-dimensional image of the entire military camp. He could even see every cook in the logistics camp chopping vegetables, and could predict the impact of wind speed on arrow trajectories.
'Is this His Majesty's level of power?' Chang Hui knelt on the ground, cold sweat pouring down his back. This omniscient and omnipotent sense of control caused him to transcend the distinction between ruler and subject in his worship of Liu Bingyi, transforming it into an almost religious devotion to a 'god'.'Today, I will teach you a battle formation called "The Formation Breaker".' Liu Bingyi casually waved his hand and the 'Commander's Aura' infused the complex military logic directly into the consciousness of three thousand vanguard officers. A formation that would normally require years of joint training was formed in half an hour under the system's synchronised logic. The thirty thousand troops resembled a precise war machine, with every step and raised shield perfectly synchronised to inspire awe.
'With this army, who in the world can stand against us?' The accompanying veteran general, Zhao Chongguo, was mesmerised. He had led troops his entire life and had never seen such an efficient command system.
As the training continued, a crisp sound suddenly emitted from the system in Liu Bingyi's consciousness:
'Ding! 'Blood of the War God' passive skill triggered by the gathering of killing intent from ten thousand soldiers!"
[Discovered: During the host's command, the 'extraordinary power' latent within his bloodline nourishes the lower-ranking soldiers through the aura. 'Soldiers under the constant shadow of glory will undergo a physical transformation, with their average lifespan and strength increasing by 30%.' Liu Bingyi clenched his fists. He finally understood that the 'monster' Huo Guang feared was actually a force capable of leading the entire human race into a new era.
Just as the Northern Army's momentum seemed unstoppable, a messenger from the Imperial Guard rushed into the camp.
'Report! Your Majesty! The Xiongnu Chanyu, Huyandi, is leading 100,000 cavalry and has passed the surrender city under the pretext of demanding compensation for losses at Cheshi. The border is in dire need of help!'
The drill ground fell silent, but the expected panic did not materialise. All 30,000 Northern Army soldiers turned to look at the godlike figure on the command platform. A burning desire for war blazed in every eye.
Liu Bingyi slowly drew his newly forged iron sword and pointed it diagonally north. He revealed a cruel smile. 'My newly forged sword just needs 100,000 Xiongnu heads to offer as a sacrifice to my banner.' Chang Hui! The entire army is to break camp. I am going to lead the army into battle personally!
News of the 100,000 Xiongnu cavalry sweeping south struck Chang'an like a boulder, shattering the city's fragile peace, before the fervour of the Northern Army camp had even subsided. However, this time, Liu Bingyi had no intention of waiting for the victory report in the Xuan Shi Hall.
In the centre of the camp, a massive bronze cauldron blazed brightly. No longer wearing his heavy dragon robe, Liu Bingyi wore an inner garment sewn by Xu Pingjun over black scale armour. In front of the entire army, he held aloft the 'Old Sword', which had accompanied him during his exile and had now been reforged from meteorite iron.
'The backbone of the Han dynasty is not forged through begging for peace, but through the blood and sweat of our hands!' His "top commander aura" amplified his voice, causing the battle flags along the drill ground to flutter loudly as it resonated powerfully.
[System 3.0 notification] The host has triggered a hidden storyline — [The Return of the Han Soul]! Current bonus: army carrying capacity +20%, marching speed +30%.
Side effect: host's spiritual energy consumption increases rapidly; first-kill resupply must be completed within 48 hours.
Upon learning that Liu Bingyi was about to lead the army personally, the court officials knelt on the ground.
'Your Majesty's health is invaluable; you mustn't act rashly!' Liu Bingyi ignored them and mounted his black horse. However, he then saw Xu Pingjun, dressed in the empress's finery and carrying a jug of strong liquor, walking onto the command platform step by step.
She didn't cry or plead with him, nor did she try to dissuade him. Instead, she poured a bowl of wine and offered it to him with both hands. Her eyes were more resolute than ever. "Bingyi," she said, "if you don't return, I will stand atop Changle Palace and defend Chang'an until it falls. My man, Xu Pingjun's man, is a mighty war god, not a coward hiding behind a woman.'
'Metal, wood, water, fire, earth,' murmured Liu Bingyi from horseback. Five afterimages instantly appeared beneath the horse's hooves, each kneeling on one knee. "I will lead the main force in a frontal assault. You five will proceed north first." A ruthless glint flashed in Liu Bingyi's eyes. 'I want the Left Wise King of the Xiongnu Chanyu to see his personal guard reduced to ruins before he even sees my banner. Can you do that?'
'Rest assured, Master. Wherever the Shadow Guards pass, not a blade of grass will grow.' Jin's voice was hoarse; then he vanished into the void.
Through 'System 3.0', these five men had gained the ability to perform an 'Instant Jump'. They would be the first to pierce the heart of the Xiongnu for the Han Dynasty.
Liu Bingyi spurred his horse out of the camp gate. The map in his mind had completely changed.
Thanks to the activation of the 'Top Commander Aura', the Shuofang border, thousands of miles away, was clearly visible to him. He could see the Xiongnu cavalry in their 'goose-shaped formation', the dust trails left behind as they plundered villages and even calculate the exact time that the Chanyu's main force would arrive at the Great Wall using system simulation.
'One hundred thousand men...' Liu Bingyi sneered. "From my perspective, you're nothing more than one hundred thousand walking 'reputation points'."
Under the setting sun, thirty thousand elite Northern troops churned up clouds of dust as they hurtled northward, like a black dragon. Xu Pingjun stood on top of the city wall, watching the black figure gradually blurring into the distance. She clutched a jade pendant tightly in her hand — a gift from Liu Bingyi before his departure containing a system-level defensive shield.
Meanwhile, in the Xiongnu's main tent, the ominous star looming in the sky made Huyandi Chanyu feel uneasy. He didn't know that this time he would be facing not just Han generals seeking self-preservation, but an emperor with a system and maxed-out combat power who had just been thoroughly enraged.