Due to the monsoon climate, the Roman mission remained in the Han Dynasty for the time being.

During the Roman mission's stay in the Han Dynasty, young officials such as Tian Feng, Ju Shou, and Zhang Zhao, along with some Confucian disciples, frequently visited Commodus and the members of the Roman mission. While discussing cultural classics with them, they also often invited him to entertainment venues such as opera houses, chess clubs, and tea houses.

Faced with the dazzling world of the Han Dynasty, Commodus and the members of the Roman delegation quickly became addicted to it, spending their days in various entertainment venues.

Of course, what Commodus and the Romans loved most was Cuju, the sport that was most popular in the Han Dynasty.

In their view, Cuju, a sport that combines hard work and teamwork, is better at developing a person's physique and fighting spirit than the Colosseum in Rome. It is also highly entertaining and worth watching, making it a perfect sport.

Commodus also selected a dozen of the most courageous and strong followers from among the Roman warriors who accompanied him, and they began to learn the sport from the Royal Football Team.

During this period, Liu Hong also instructed various Cuju teams around Luoyang to engage in friendly exchanges with the Roman Cuju team, and thoroughly humiliated them.

Even after the Roman football team was officially established, they had never won a single match, which made Liu Hong very happy for a long time.

...

On February 20th, Liu Bei, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Huang Zhong and other generals, who had received orders from Liu Hong, finally arrived in Luoyang.

Inside the Deyang Palace, Liu Hong inquired about the lives of the generals over the past two years and then asked them to sit down.

After glancing at his generals, Liu Hong said in a deep voice, "I have summoned you all back today because I have an important task for you to complete."

Seeing the emperor's solemn expression, Liu Bei, Huang Zhong, and other generals also became serious.

Liu Bei respectfully replied, "Your Majesty, please rest assured, whatever the mission may be, I will certainly live up to Your Majesty's expectations!"

"Your Majesty, we will certainly live up to your high expectations!"

The other generals echoed in unison, looking at Liu Hong with determined expressions.

"good!"

Liu Hong smiled and nodded: "You are all my trusted advisors, therefore, in my opinion, only you can accomplish this task..."

After you arrive in Rome and Parthia, the Han Dynasty can only provide you with some economic and commercial assistance; everything else will depend on yourselves.

Whether you choose to cooperate with someone or develop your own power, it's up to you. Neither I nor the court will interfere excessively. How things develop and how much you achieve in the future depends entirely on yourselves…!

Afterwards, Liu Hong told everyone about his plan to send people to Parthia and Rome to raise an army.

Of course, besides building an army, Liu Hong's words also implied that the generals were building up their power in Rome and Parthia.

After hearing the emperor's words, everyone's expression changed.

In their view, the emperor was clearly telling them to go to Parthia or Rome to build their own power and become kings and hegemons.

If you do well, you can carve out a niche for yourself in Parthia and Rome, and rise to high positions; if you do poorly, you'll just fade into obscurity.

For a moment, a hint of interest appeared on the faces of all the generals.

These military generals present have followed the emperor in his campaigns since the beginning of his reign.

Now, the Zhou Dynasty of the Han Dynasty has few rivals, and they have almost nothing to do every day except train their troops.

Especially Huang Zhong, the oldest among them, was only in his thirties, and they were all in the prime of their lives.

To be forced to live a retirement-like life at such a young age must be hard for the military officers present.

Now that they see the Emperor has outlined a path for them to conquer overseas, everyone is naturally very excited.

This is like a game where a group of famous ministers and generals, before they even have a chance to show their skills, follow Liu Hong, who is like a cheat code, and sweep through the Han Dynasty and the surrounding areas. It might be fun at first, but after you finish the game, it all becomes boring.

Now, the Emperor has opened two new instances for everyone, requiring them to start from scratch and build their own power step by step, which naturally makes everyone eager to participate.

Seeing the excited expressions on the faces of all the generals present, Liu Hong also smiled.

These guys, though loyal to themselves and the Han Dynasty, were also restless and unwilling to be alone.

Since my arrival has deprived them of the opportunity to compete for supremacy in this chaotic world, I have no choice but to find them a new place to roam freely.

As for whether these people will eventually be blinded by power and lose their original intentions, they don't care at all.

If Liu Bei and his ilk were truly capable, Liu Hong wouldn't have bothered even if they carved out their own territories overseas and declared themselves kings.

After all, even with the advanced technology of later generations, no single country could rule the entire world, let alone the Han Dynasty of today.

It would be better for the Han people to conquer those vast overseas territories, rather than let others occupy them, thereby achieving cultural unification and making the Han Dynasty truly the supreme power among all nations. That would be a good thing.

Then, Liu Hong ordered someone to bring him a map, on which the locations of the various provinces of Rome and the cities in northern Parthia were clearly marked.

Liu Hong pointed to the map, looked at everyone, and said in a solemn voice, "Gentlemen, you may choose a place on this map and then go there to establish your forces!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei and the others stepped forward and began to carefully select items from the map.

After much deliberation, Liu Bei pointed to the province of Egypt within Roman territory: "Your Majesty, I wish to go there!"

"Can!"

Liu Hong smiled and nodded, then looked at the others.

Sun Jian stepped forward and pointed to the Arab province west of Rome: "Your Majesty, I wish to go there!"

Liu Hong: "No problem!"

Subsequently, Gongsun Zan and Ma Teng each chose a region in northern Parthia as the place where they would build their own power.

In the end, only Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Huang Zhong, and Gao Shun remained, and they still hadn't made a choice.

Zhang Fei hesitated and said, "Your Majesty, I know I am not capable enough, and I am afraid I cannot handle this alone. Do you think I could accompany Xuande to a certain place?"

Liu Hong smiled and said, "Of course!"

"Your Majesty, I also wish to join Xuande!" Guan Yu stepped forward and said.

Liu Hong nodded, then looked at Huang Zhong and Gao Shun. Just as he was about to ask, Sun Jian stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, I would like to request that General Gao Shun accompany me!"

Ma Teng seized the opportunity and said, "Your Majesty, I would like to request that General Hansheng accompany me!"

Seeing this, Huang Zhong and Gao Shun immediately agreed.

Gongsun Zan stepped forward last and said, "Your Majesty, I beg Your Majesty's permission to lead a thousand White Horse Cavalry!"