14 Recruitment

State of Central Wu's Inner Palace,

Main Hall

2 days ago

In the Central planes of the Wu State stood a large fortress situated on the top of the mountains. The walls are high enough to hover in the sky and strong enough to last for centuries. If the neighboring states had to define Wu State's capital, it would be the word "impregnable."

Each state has its own capital as a pillar. A capital signifies the Emperor's strength and abilities. If a state's capital is conquered, it indicates the end of a dynasty and the collapse of the state.

Therefore, rulers continue their expansion of borders, upholding the Capital, and guaranteeing that all of their exigencies are met. As a result, Wu State lasted for centuries and oversaw the rise and fall of countless dynasties.

All of this is made possible by one man, the Wu Emperor, who is at the heart of it all and one of the most important figures in this turbulent and chaotic era.

In the main hall stood a lonely figure. The man who fought his way to the throne. Killing all the other candidates with his cunning mind, demonstrating his ferociousness. His dominance and intellect were apparent from an early age and continued to intensify over time. The man who conquered the North with a single sweep of his fingers. With his leadership, the Wu State stood high in great Glory in the past decades; the Emperor, Wu Zhifei.

The main hall was eerily silent, silent enough to hear the cold wind blowing up through the windows, making this scene cool and serene. A black-armed guard was then found walking his way toward the Emperor, kneeling one foot on the ground, not even attempting to take a look at their majesty, and said, "Your Highness, General Ye is here to report." The guard continued to lower his head.

The Emperor, who was standing near the window, hummed in response. His eyes fixated on the breathtaking view of the kingdom. His magnificent golden garments were seen, providing an exquisite appearance. His white hair became noticeable as his skin creased in age.

The guard stood up, his head still bowed as he turned around and walked briskly. A few seconds later, a loud voice was heard, "General Ye now enters!"

*THOMP *THOMP*

The big metal door then slowly opens, revealing a tall, good-looking man in his 30s, giving a sense of power and dignity. Walking towards the Emperor's direction, he bowed as a sign of respect. "General Ye is here to report his mission." looking at the back of the Emperor, he lowered his head and continued, "A little village from far South was attacked by a newly promoted Zhuo State General named Tang Guo. Sadly, they killed thousands of our people, including the soldiers from my lead."

Hearing that, the temperature inside the hall decreased, building up a terrifying tension. The guards who were standing couldn't help but feel suffocated, their breathing becoming unstable as droplets of cold sweat could be seen.

The general paid no mind and continued, "We arrived too late, but we were able to catch and kill most of his troops, but they still got away." General Ye Qi gritted his teeth, and rage and guilt filled his heart. Seeing all those corpses with missing body parts. The disgusting smell spread throughout the village, their rotten flesh covered with dirt and flies. It was so horrible that he vomited all his food. Blaming himself, he then suggested.

"Please punish this servant for failing his duty. This servant will gladly accept." Hitting his head hard on the cold floor, his forehead began to bleed. The Emperor, who was gazing at the window, then turned to see the General, who was now asking for his judgment.

The Emperor frowned, eyeing the General with a stern expression. "You should have been more alert; this one mistake of yours led thousands of people to die and endangered the interest of this State." The Emperor recalled the reason why he sent General Ye from the most Southern part of the State. Such a piece of land is important in the fortification of the Southern border.

Staring intently at the kneeling man, the Emperor then ordered.

"General Ye of the Ye Household will now be punished for his mistakes by committing two years on the Wu South border with no communication from his family. In these two years, I will order you to take the head of the Zhuo's State General, Tang Guo, to take revenge, and if not, a greater punishment will be headed." The Emperor's gaze fell as he turned his back.

"Don't disappoint me," the Emperor said coldly. Hearing that, General Ye Qi shut his eyes in guilt and nodded in response. "This servant will comply and prepare." With that, General Ye Qi left.

The Emperor stood lost in thought. Many things had happened recently, and he couldn't help but frown. "We need to be wary and prepare for war. The State of Zhuo is becoming more aggressive, courageous enough to enter the lands of Wu and cause trouble," the monarch messages his brow, his stern look visible.

"I agree, your Highness."

Nangong Chen, the Royal Advisor, appeared unexpectedly and nodded in accord. "Don't worry, your Highness; they'll regret causing us trouble." His brow furrowed briefly. Changing the subject, Advisor Chen smiled. "We have plenty of new capable seedlings this year; those young lads sure are strong, joining ranks and making names for themselves." Royal Advisor Nangong Chen smiled, his eyes overflowing with interest.

"Now that you mentioned, I want you to issue a recruitment for those who are willing to become a soldier. We need to add more manpower. Give them tests. I will give you 7 days to complete all of these. You can now go!" saying this in all one breath, the Emperor sighed.

Nangong Chen, who had expressed his interests before, nodded in answer, "Well then, this advisor shall comply." With a small bow, Nangong Chen left. The Emperor grimaced as his knees ached. "This body of mine is now old. Maybe I should visit my son's for a while," he thought as he sat down on the throne.