"Have the five thousand soldiers that I asked Wang Yue to select been chosen?"

"Your Majesty, the selection has been made, and as you instructed, they have all been dressed in the robes of wandering monks!"

Liu Hong immediately stood up and said, "Let's go take a look!"

"Here you go!"

Zhang Rang respectfully agreed, and then led Liu Hong toward the Yulin Army's encampment.

Before long, Liu Hong and his party arrived at the Yulin Army's garrison.

Five thousand soldiers dressed as ascetics stood upright and in perfect formation on the open ground.

After receiving Liu Hong's order, Wang Yue, together with the Military and Political Affairs Department and the General Staff, selected five thousand loyal and reliable soldiers from the Imperial Guard based on their background, military skills, and political ideology.

Although these soldiers were all dressed as monks, each of them had a dagger hanging from their waist, and they also wore a set of fine armor under their monk robes.

Everyone stared resolutely ahead, waiting quietly.

The entire scene was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

"His Majesty has arrived!!"

Zhang Rang's shout broke the silence, and all the soldiers turned to look, their eyes following Liu Hong's footsteps.

Wang Yue, who was at the front of the group, quickly stepped forward and gave a military salute: "Greetings, Your Majesty!"

"Greetings, Your Majesty!!"

Five thousand soldiers also shouted in unison.

Liu Hong announced loudly, "All soldiers, you may rise!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!!"

Liu Hong then looked at Wang Yue beside him: "Did the royal army inform the soldiers about their journey to Kushan?"

"In response to Your Majesty, as I have said, the soldiers feel extremely honored to be able to go to Kushan to open up a new battlefield for Your Majesty and for the Han Dynasty!"

Wang Yue also looked longingly at the monk's robes and said that if it weren't for his duty, he would have wanted to put them on immediately.

"That's good!"

Seeing Wang Yue's longing expression, Liu Hong smiled with satisfaction.

As he spoke, Liu Hong arrived in front of the five thousand soldiers.

As soon as Liu Hong stood still, he saw Shi A and more than a dozen of Wang Yue's personal disciples at the front of the group.

Shi A and his dozen or so fellow disciples, like the soldiers, had resolute eyes and faces filled with excitement and longing.

"Your Majesty, all of my disciples went voluntarily, and they only agreed after I had to persuade them repeatedly!"

Seeing Liu Hong staring at Shi A and the others, Wang Yue stepped forward to explain.

Liu Hong smiled and waved his hand: "That's good. I'm considered to be from the same sect as them. With them around, I feel more at ease!"

Upon hearing the emperor's words, Shi A and the others became even more excited.

Liu Hong nodded slightly to Shi A and the others, then looked at the group of soldiers behind him.

"Soldiers, from this day forward, you will set aside your honor as members of the Imperial Guard, bid farewell to your families and hometowns, and travel to distant lands, with no return date in sight."

I deeply regret this, but the Han Dynasty needs you to do this, and needs you to make sacrifices.

Please rest assured, I will take care of and raise your families, wives, and children, and will not mistreat them in the slightest. No matter how long you are gone, I will be waiting for you to return in Luoyang!

Liu Hong shouted these words with almost all his might.

As soon as Liu Hong finished speaking, Shi Adang, standing in front, shouted loudly, "To be loyal to the Han Dynasty, to die for His Majesty!"

"To be loyal to the Han Dynasty, to die for His Majesty!!"

The five thousand soldiers behind them also shouted in unison, their eyes fixed on their emperor with unwavering resolve.

The cheers lasted for nearly half an incense stick's time before gradually subsiding.

After giving the soldiers a deep look, Liu Hong turned to Zhang Rang and said, "Take them to Hachi and let them set off together!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Zhang Rang respectfully agreed, and then stepped forward to exchange a few words with Wang Yue.

Then, under Liu Hong's watchful eye, five thousand soldiers followed Zhang Rang toward the residence of Hachi and his two companions.

...

"Attendant Zhang, what... what is this?"

Seeing the group of soldiers standing in front of the residence, Hatch asked with a blank expression.

Zhang Rang said with a smile, "These are the disciples His Majesty arranged for you!"

"disciple?"

Hachi and the others exchanged bewildered glances, their faces still showing a hint of confusion.

These guys were all burly and had murderous eyes; they didn't look like Buddhist disciples at all.

Looking at those soldiers, their formation was so neat and orderly, their eyes fixed straight ahead. Anyone who didn't know better would think they were going to war. They didn't look like they were spreading Buddhism at all.

"His Majesty said that your journey to Kushan is long and you are alone, so you will need some help."

Unfortunately, the Han Dynasty did not have many Buddhist disciples, so they could only select some people from the army.

Rest assured, these are all men of utmost loyalty to His Majesty. No matter what happens, they will do everything in their power to ensure your safety!

Seeing the state of Hachi and the others, Zhang Rang immediately stepped forward to explain.

On the surface, Zhang Rang was telling Hachi and the others how highly the emperor valued them, but no matter how you listened to it, there was a hint of threat in his words.

Hachi, Sigah, and Samo exchanged a glance, then bowed deeply towards the palace, saying, "Thank you for your protection, my Lord!!"

After the group bowed, Zhang Rang stepped forward and said, "Alright, it's getting late. You should set off as soon as possible. I've made all the arrangements. Once you leave the city, you can take a boat along the canal straight to Chang'an!"

"yes!"

Hachi and the other two agreed, and then, with Shia and the others seeing them off, they headed towards the canal dock outside the city.

Halfway through the march, hearing the sound of neat marching from the back of the group, Hachi frowned.

"General Shi'a, the troops you lead are so well-organized; it's obvious at a glance that they are an elite army..."

"Everyone, move freely!!"

Before Hachi could finish speaking, Shia shouted at the back of the group.

After the shouts, the previously synchronized and orderly procession collapsed instantly.

Hachi was taken aback by the rapid changes in the team.

Just as Hachi was stunned, Shia said from the side, "Master, from now on, I am your eldest disciple Shia, please do not call me General anymore!"

"Oh, okay, no problem!"

Hearing Shia's words, Hachi nodded in agreement.

Although this trip is to spread Buddhism, it is indeed fraught with danger. It's always good to be extra careful.

After walking for about an hour, the group arrived at the canal wharf located northwest of Luoyang.

At this moment, all the cargo ships on the dock temporarily stopped, and fifty passenger ships were quietly moored there.