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墨書 Inktalez
Lu Chen's words were very obscure; he had never expressed them directly. The reason he acted this way was that he did not want Sun Zizhao to feel upset. However, at this moment, Sun Zizhao was not in a good state; he felt a bit sad due to the impending conflict.
The conflict meant that Sun Zizhao's descendants would inevitably fight among themselves for the throne, each wanting to be emperor, leading to fratricide and bloodshed. This was why Sun Zizhao felt distressed. His feelings were understandable; despite Lu Chen's cautious approach, Sun Zizhao still felt this way. Lu Chen felt helpless and did not know how to persuade or comfort Sun Zizhao, hoping to alleviate his distress even slightly.
However, all of this was futile because such events were bound to happen. Fratricide within the palace was a common occurrence; the struggle for power and ascension to the throne could not be avoided. The nature of emperors was indeed ruthless.
Although Sun Zizhao could not accept this now, it was simply that the events were unfolding too quickly. Given time, he would come to understand.
Afterward, Lu Chen escorted Sun Zizhao back to his chamber to rest before returning to his own residence to meditate.
Under Lu Chen's guidance, Sun Zizhao had already drafted an edict announcing to the officials and citizens of Boyang Province and even farther regions that the Eastern Seven States would establish a nation.
Once the news was sent out, Lu Chen returned home to meditate. He had just used Spirit Travel to probe into the national fortune of the Daiwa Dynasty, which had been quite taxing. After all, such probing could diminish both one's lifespan and vitality, making it very unfavorable for a person; most people would avoid it.
Lu Chen spent an entire night adjusting himself and finally returned to his normal state.
As usual, he went to meet Sun Zizhao, received visiting officials from various regions, and handled affairs. Now he was a general with both military and civil responsibilities; he had to manage matters within the army as well as those in court, attending every morning assembly. Originally, Sun Zizhao had stipulated that Lu Chen could skip these assemblies, but Lu Chen refused and continued to attend.
Days passed one by one, and before long, it was New Year’s Day. After the New Year came spring—a season full of vitality when the earth awakens, grass sprouts, and trees grow new branches and leaves, symbolizing the arrival of a new year.
Sun Zizhao chose an Auspicious Day for the establishment of the nation: the first fifteen days of the first month during the Lantern Festival when lanterns are lit.
In the blink of an eye, it was the eve of the Lantern Festival; a new year had begun, and soon it would be time for celebration as well as for formally establishing the nation and declaring himself emperor. The entire Eastern Seven States became bustling with activity as officials from various regions hurried to Boyang for the grand ceremony.
As early as last year, news of Sun Zizhao's intention to establish a nation and become emperor had spread throughout the land—not only in the Great Zhou Dynasty but also among other feudal states like Prairie King, Southern Seven States, and even neighboring realms such as Yushan Kingdom, Giant Yi Nation, Gaochang Kingdom, Huo Luo Kingdom in the western regions, and the Demon King Dynasty occupying half of Southeast Asia. All major sects were aware of this development.
When the people and forces learned that Sun Zizhao of the Eastern Seven States was about to declare himself emperor with the assistance of Lu Chen, they were all greatly shocked and surprised, as many believed that declaring oneself emperor at this time was not a wise choice.
They thought that Sun Zizhao could no longer suppress his desire to become emperor, which forced him to establish a nation at this moment.
Most people still held a mindset of watching a joke, thinking that Sun Zizhao's declaration of himself as emperor would surely lead to self-inflicted suffering, resulting in inevitable disaster, and it would just be a matter of how the court would deal with him.
In reality, after the Great Zhou Court received this news, they found themselves powerless, as the Defender of the Realm was currently lacking troops and had entered a bottleneck state; he was no longer the Defender of the Realm he once was. The court itself could hardly manage its own affairs.
Thus, how could the Great Zhou Court concern itself with the matters of the Eastern Seven States? They were simply filled with anger; the military generals were indignant and complained, while the civil officials wrote articles condemning Sun Zizhao and Lu Chen as traitors.
As time reached the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the first month, in Baiyang City of the Eastern Seven States, the city was already bustling with activity. Sun Zizhao, under Lu Chen's personal service, donned a Dragon Robe and wore a Crown.
At this moment, Sun Zizhao had clearly stepped out from the shadow of conflict predicted by Lu Chen; he appeared completely different from who he was before. After all, Sun Zizhao aimed to achieve great things and would not be constrained by trivial matters.
In central Baiyang City, a newly constructed Palace stood with city gates and palaces, resembling a royal palace.
Behind the palace, a large Mausoleum had been built to house the ancestors of the Sun Family. Near the Mausoleum was an altar for offerings. All these constructions had been hastily built after Sun Zizhao and Lu Chen confirmed their intention to establish a nation last year.
At this time, beneath the altar in the northern part of Boyang City’s palace, it was already crowded with people from all walks of life—common folk, merchants, officials—and importantly, guards.
On both sides of the main road stood two neat rows of soldiers clad in high-quality Black Iron armor, holding long spears like fierce guardians. Their expressions were stern as they stood guard along the road, responsible for maintaining security during the national founding ceremony.
From above, one could see that around the altar were rows upon rows of soldiers standing in formation.
If you take a closer look, you will notice that the standing positions of these soldiers, their angles, formations, and even the shapes of the buildings are all meticulously arranged, not just casually set up.
These architectural styles, their locations, and the arrangement of the soldiers subtly form a formation that can bring good fortune and ward off evil, suppressing the Demon God’s malevolence. Any unclean entities dare not approach easily, as they would be harmed by the Imperial Gold Energy.
Additionally, it is important to note that this place is the source of the Dragon Vein. The Eastern Seven States has a Dragon Vein; although it is not as massive as the one in the capital of the Great Zhou Dynasty, it is still significant. Indeed, the capital also has a Dragon Vein, and it is very large.
This was specifically arranged by Lu Chen, who personally supervised the entire construction process to avoid any oversights. He reviewed everyone involved in the building process, commonly referred to as overseeing construction; otherwise, Lu Chen would not have been so busy during this time.
The Civil and Military Officials under Sun Zizhao observed Lu Chen's tireless efforts and various labors; they noted everything in their hearts.
They were also very clear about Lu Chen's status with Sun Zizhao. They all knew that Lu Chen was an extraordinary figure, a trusted aide of Sun Zizhao and a prominent person. When Lu Chen spoke, everyone listened; sometimes even Sun Zizhao had to adopt Lu Chen's suggestions. This illustrates how renowned Lu Chen's reputation has become in the Eastern Seven States.
At this moment, Lu Chen was dressed in a long-sleeved scholar's robe, his hands clasped together about a foot away from his chest, parallel to it, following closely behind Sun Zizhao. Sun Zizhao led the way at the front, wearing a Dragon Robe and a Crown, exuding an imperial demeanor.
Behind Sun Zizhao and Lu Chen were the Civil and Military Officials, each with serious expressions, stepping forward rhythmically.
Before them lay nine hundred ninety-nine steps leading up to the altar. The number nine hundred ninety-nine symbolizes longevity and also carries connotations of supremacy; nine is considered the largest number and typically represents emperors.
The term Sovereign represents an emperor; however, there exists a concept of nine-nine. Two individuals represented as nine-nine would signify sages—no one can be referred to as nine-nine, including Lu Chen, Sun Zizhao, or even the Great Zhou Emperor or previous Han emperors.
An emperor is not a sage; thus, they can only use nine-five as a substitute. The Sovereign already denotes an emperor among men—the highest existence among humanity.
Sun Zizhao ascended the altar with Lu Chen and the Civil and Military Officials following him. He began to pray to Heaven and recite the sacrificial text, announcing that the Daiwa Dynasty had been established.
"Riding six dragons and returning on the wind, uniting all lords to bring peace."
The grand and resonant tone recited the sacrificial text, praying to the heavens, and within the celestial ranks, the Daiwa Dynasty was granted imperial status. From this point on, the Daiwa Dynasty was officially established as a nation, with Sun Zizhao and the Sun Family becoming the Human Emperors, thus elevating the Sun Family to royal status.
Afterward, Sun Zizhao prayed to the earth in the presence of everyone, which was also a necessary process for founding a nation. He prayed to the earth and various Demon Gods.
Once the prayers to the earth were completed, there was also a ritual for honoring the Demon Gods and paying respects to ancestors. These rituals were essential and held immense significance.
Following this, Sun Zizhao conferred titles upon his ministers, bestowing honors on those in court who had capabilities or had made contributions.
All high-ranking officials received their titles. With the official seal and ceremonial robes, they were now truly officials—respected and formally recognized with salaries.
Lu Chen was the last to be conferred. He had contributed significantly to the establishment of the nation and assisted the emperor, making him indispensable. He was simultaneously appointed to two important positions in both civil and military affairs.
Under everyone's watchful gaze, Sun Zizhao personally read out the imperial decree. Lu Chen's sleeves billowed as he knelt on both knees to receive it.
"Lu Chen has rendered great service in assisting me to establish this nation. His contributions are undeniable, having risked his life and being talented in both civil and military matters. I hereby appoint him as Loyalty Duke and concurrently as General of Military Affairs, overseeing the three armies. This is my decree."
Upon hearing this, everyone present was stunned, feeling breathless. Lu Chen had been granted a noble title as Loyalty Duke, exempting him from court attendance while simultaneously holding the position of General of Military Affairs, overseeing all military forces. This dual appointment in both civil and military roles was an unprecedented occurrence in history, leaving even Lu Chen himself somewhat dazed.
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