Chapter 16: Chapter 16 Taking Initiative_1

"Divine Artifact Space!" Lu Qianfu was inwardly shocked, his expression astonished, "Has Your Majesty acquired some extraordinary historical treasure?" You should know, not a single Divine Artifact could be found throughout the whole of Dawu. After all, Dawu had only be established for thirty years, which was far too short. Moreover, thinking of his injury that had troubled him for thirty years and was cured by a small bottle of potion, it was ev more unimaginable. However, he wouldn't pry any further, as it was the Emperor's secret. He had long be prepared to sacrifice his life for the nation, radiating spldidly like a firework at the Empire's most critical momt. But now it seemed that ev if the former emperor had passed away, Dawu would certainly not perish. "This is the Divine Artifact - the War Army Chessboard." Chu Yuan explained some of its extraordinary uses to Lu Qianfu. This War Army Chessboard was like Go, abling the deploymt of troops. Each chess piece could be designated as a commander, with him as the hidd puppet master controlling the chess pieces. "Truly a heav-defying Divine Artifact!" It took Lu Qianfu a long while to fully absorb this information. He exhaled deeply, "It can actually bind a hundred thousand-strong army, gathering all of them into the chessboard. Their minds unite as one during warfare, as if a heavly army of a hundred thousand descds from the sky, and it can also accommodate the provisions necessary for a hundred thousand soldiers. If the former emperor had had this treasure back th, he would have unified the five nations and become the invincible emperor." Warfare was not child's play. Lu Qianfu, who had fought for a lifetime, knew that the befit of the War Army Chessboard to an individual was minimal, but it was a priceless treasure for the empire. A hundred thousand m, the daily food and drink, as well as the various tools of war they needed, were considerable. "With the War Army Chessboard, I can launch a series of blitzkriegs." Chu Yuan sneered, "Duke Zhongyong, currtly the Divine Martial Army Corps has only you as its member. I plan to first recruit t thousand brave warriors to serve me." "Ha-ha, Your Majesty, please rest assured." Lu Qianfu laughed heartily, "Several decades ago, wh the world was in chaos, with people living in misery, and the sight was too dreadful to bear, I, leading a hundred brave warriors, followed the former emperor and fought our way throughout the world under the worst of circumstances. Now, with the empire's support behind me, recruiting t thousand brave warriors is as easy as pie." "Each brave warrior must have substantial strgth. What I need are the elites!" Chu Yuan said, "Let's go, Duke Zhongyong, accompany me back to the Royal Palace. Also, your granddaughter Nan-Nan will go back with me. The time of turbult winds and billowing clouds, the time to conquer the world, has arrived." ... The smile on Chu Yuan's face made both Shangguan Qingyun and Li Yun feel a sudd jolt in their hearts. It seemed they had fall into some kind of trap. Th they heard, "But about the Commander's position, I already have a candidate." "Who?" The two asked simultaneously, "Could it be... the Deputy Minister of War, Huang Yong?" "Duke Zhongyong." As soon as Chu Yuan's voice fell, a tall, robust man with eyes as sharp as knives stepped out from behind the Imperial Study, facing them and said, "Ha-ha! We hav't se each other for a long time, my colleagues." "Duke Zhongyong, it's you!" Both of them had expressions of disbelief and extreme shock on their faces. How could they not know Lu Qianfu, who had fought alongside the former emperor back in the day? However, he suffered a devastating injury on the eve of the establishmt of Dawu and was confined to his home, waiting for his death. He was truly a tragic hero. But now, the once dying Lu Qianfu was nowhere to be se. "It seems you two are quite surprised by my appearance." Though Lu Qianfu was a military commander, he was undoubtedly not a headless brute. He smiled lightly and said, "Thanks to His Majesty's kindness, my injury has completely healed. Now that the empire is in crisis, I, as a Duke of the Empire, have to ld my strgth to His Majesty." "My beloved ministers, Duke Zhongyong is the Commander appointed by me," said Chu Yuan. "If Duke Zhongyong is indeed the Commander, th it is the most appropriate choice." Shangguan Qingyun's eyelid twitched. He couldn't have imagined that ev the former emperor was unable to do anything about the injury that had be cured shortly after this young emperor's ascsion. They now understood some of Chu Yuan's plans. The appearance of Lu Qianfu had disrupted their schemes, but Chu Yuan was telling them that he still had control of the situation. "Heav has eyes. If Duke Zhongyong has indeed healed, it is great news for Dawu. I just worry that Duke Zhongyong still suffers from some underlying issues and is unable to undertake the role of Commander, giv the currt situation is completely differt from the past." Shangguan Qingyun was still not willing to give up. "[Option One: Smile and say nothing, let Lu Qianfu maintain his mystery and not expose any of his strgth. Let Grand Geral Shangguan Qingyun and Prime Minister Li Yun guess, and gain one hundred Destiny Points.]" "[Option Two: Actively reveal Lu Qianfu's strgth, let Grand Geral Shangguan Qingyun and Prime Minister Li Yun know that Lu Qianfu is not to be underestimated, and gain one hundred Destiny Points.]" "You both overthink." Chu Yuan said, "Duke Zhongyong, although the Grand Geral is a loyal subject of the Empire, he still worries about your strgth. To reassure him, why don't you spar a few s with the Grand Geral? You hav't fought in a long time, and there are already many people in the Empire who have forgott about you."