Feeling the awe and fervor in the eyes of the soldiers below the stage, Liu Hong moved, took two steps forward, and looked intently at the crowd below the stage.

Liu Hong gathered his strength in his dantian and said loudly, "You are the Emperor, the most loyal and brave guardians of the Han Dynasty. I am proud to have you protecting me!"

At the same time, you are the backbone of the Han Dynasty. Because of you, I have nothing to fear, and the Han Dynasty has nothing to fear!

As Liu Hong finished speaking, all the generals and soldiers present raised their heads and looked at the emperor on the platform with excited expressions.

The emperor's words were like a shot of adrenaline, causing their blood to surge and a spirit of courage and determination to face death to rise within them.

Immediately, Liu Hong reached out and drew the Emperor's Sword from his waist, its tip pointing towards the sky.

"My soldiers, are you willing to join me in safeguarding the glory of the Han Dynasty?"

"We swear to follow Your Majesty to the death!"

"We swear to follow His Majesty to the death!!"

With a loud shout from the general at the front, the soldiers and the group of boys behind them shouted with all their might, their shouts like rolling thunder, reaching straight to the sky.

Then Liu Hong raised the Emperor's Sword again and shouted loudly:

"We swear to protect the glory of the Han Dynasty to the death!"

"We swear to protect the glory of the Han Dynasty to the death!!"

The soldiers below the stage, like Liu Hong, raised their weapons high.

Zhu Jun, Xu Rong, and others beside Liu Hong seemed to be infected by the passionate atmosphere and shouted loudly. Even Huangfu Gui, a veteran who was over sixty years old, felt his long-dormant passion being reignited.

At this moment, Huangfu Gui's gaze towards the emperor was filled with awe.

These soldiers had become the emperor's loyal followers. Huangfu Gui had no doubt that if the emperor gave the order at this moment, these soldiers below the platform would immediately pick up their weapons and tear the enemy blocking the emperor's way to shreds.

Liu Hong looked at the Imperial Guards and Northern Army soldiers below the stage and said loudly, "Now the Northern Wuhuan people are disregarding the might of our Great Han and wantonly attacking the Southern Wuhuan people who have surrendered to our Great Han. What do you say we should do, soldiers?"

They must be executed.

"They must be executed!!"

"They must be executed!!!"

The soldiers shouted in unison, "Three shouts and we will surely kill them!" This showed their determination to defend the glory of the Han Dynasty to the death.

"good!"

Then Liu Hong shouted loudly, "All soldiers, listen to my command!"

"Please give your orders, Your Majesty!!"

The four thousand soldiers below the stage all stood at attention, looking up at Liu Hong on the stage.

"Huang Zhong, Ma Teng, Gongsun Zan, Gongsun Du!"

"Your subordinate is here!!"

Upon hearing the emperor call their names, Huang Zhong and the other three immediately stepped forward and responded in unison.

"I hereby order each of you to lead a thousand men and depart immediately to Huangfu Song's camp in Yuyang to receive further orders!"

"Your subordinate obeys!!"

Huang Zhong and the other three looked delighted and responded loudly.

Liu Hong stood on the platform and nodded to the four men. Then, looking at the four thousand soldiers behind them, he said loudly, "All soldiers should obey the general's orders, fight bravely against the enemy, and let those Northern Wuhuan people experience the might of the Han army!"

"We will obey Your Majesty's command!"

The four thousand soldiers responded in unison, each with a resolute expression, and the entire army was in high spirits.

"Set off!"

"promise!"

With a loud shout from Liu Hong, two thousand Imperial Guards and two thousand Northern Army soldiers, led by Huang Zhong and his three companions, left the Imperial Guard's training ground in neat formation.

After the four thousand soldiers left, Xu Rong, the instructor of the Imperial Guard, stepped forward and looked at the boys who were still standing on the training ground.

"Imperial Guard, all troops, please!"

"exist!!"

"Forward march!" Xu Rong shouted, enunciating each word clearly.

"Thump! Thump! Thump!"

As Xu Rong finished speaking, the boys raised their heads and moved forward in unison. Although their bodies moved, their eyes were fixed on the emperor on the stage, who was still radiating golden light, and they did not look away even slightly.

"Halt!"

"Thump~"

At Xu Rong's command, the boys paused, stopping ten meters away from the reviewing stand, and then stood in perfect formation, without the slightest deviation or disorder.

Looking at the entire team's progress, although there was still a considerable gap compared to the Iron Army of later generations, Liu Hong was quite satisfied that a group of teenagers could achieve such a feat after less than a year of training.

Liu Hong smiled as he looked around at the young people below the stage. When he saw Cao Cao, Yuan Shao, Liu Bei, Sun Jian, Dian Wei and others in the crowd, a glint of light flashed in his eyes.

These young people in front of me are my greatest reliance and confidence in the future, and also my most steadfast supporters.

Hello!

"Your Majesty! Greetings!"

The boys in the audience shouted in unison, each word distinct and deliberate.

Liu Hong laughed and said, "Hehe~ Not bad! You've gotten darker and stronger!"

Listening to the emperor's casual words, the young men couldn't help but smile. Although the weather was cold, the emperor's smile and kind words warmed their hearts.

In particular, Dian Wei, Yan Liang, Wen Chou, and others in the team, although they did not do well in academic and tactical subjects, were among the best in political subjects. It can be said that they are now the emperor's most loyal supporters.

"How long have you been here?"

Yuan Shao, standing at the front of the column, announced loudly, "Your Majesty, we have been in the camp for over seven months!"

Liu Hong nodded, then looked at Yuan Shao, "Hmm! Seven months! Seven months have passed in the blink of an eye. Tell me, what have you learned in these seven months?"

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!