"No one is more trustworthy and reliable than our army!"

Outside the Southern Palace, watching the approaching Northern Army and listening to the cheers of the students and civilians, Liu Hong, standing on the high platform, was filled with emotion.

Liu Hong couldn't help but recall the scene of the people lining the streets to welcome our army when it entered the city in later years. The soldiers risked their lives to protect and rescue the people, and the people genuinely loved and trusted the soldiers.

When such an army and people unite, their combined power is terrifying and invincible; no one, no force, can destroy or defeat them.

Thinking of this, Liu Hong looked at the approaching troops, his eyes filled with fervor. He wanted to build the Han army into a sacred army, an army that gave people hope and light, an army that forged ahead and was loved by everyone.

Then Liu Hong looked at a guard beside him and said loudly, "Pass on my decree that the victorious soldiers ride their horses to me!"

"promise!!"

The guard responded loudly, then quickly ran down the platform and towards the slowly approaching procession.

The guard ran up to Huang Zhong and the others, saluted them, and then shouted:

"His Majesty has decreed that all soldiers need not dismount; they may ride forth and face His Majesty directly!"

"We will obey Your Majesty's command!"

The four men, including Huang Zhong, were so excited that they could not express their feelings. It was already an enormous honor for the emperor to come out of the palace to greet them, but now they were even being allowed to ride horses to meet the emperor. They had never even heard of such a thing before.

You treat me as a national hero, and I will repay you with my life.

"Long live the Emperor!!"

Upon hearing this news, the soldiers were thrilled, and cheers erupted from the ranks to express their loyalty and support for the emperor.

"Long live the Emperor!!"

The surrounding people couldn't help but join the soldiers in shouting, and the scene that was originally welcoming the victorious soldiers suddenly turned into a scene of praising the emperor.

"These lovely people!!"

Hearing the sudden change in the shouts from the high platform, Liu Hong couldn't help but shake his head and chuckle.

Before long, under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Huang Zhong and his entourage slowly entered the square of Nangong.

"Line up!!"

With a shout from Huang Zhong, Huang Zhong and his three companions rode side by side on their horses and went straight to the front of the high platform. Behind them, rows of soldiers began to line up from left to right, changing from four men to sixty men per row.

Until the last row of soldiers entered the square, more than 3,600 soldiers also formed a neat square formation and lined up in the square outside the South Palace. Everyone stood tall and looked with reverence at the emperor in military uniform on the high platform in front of them.

Facing the gazes of the soldiers, Liu Hong, dressed in military uniform with the Emperor's sword at his waist, stepped forward to the front of the stage, his gentle gaze slowly sweeping over the faces of each soldier in front of him.

The soldiers, sensing the emperor's gaze, straightened their posture and their hearts began to race.

"My soldiers, welcome back in triumph!!"

"I will die for His Majesty and be loyal to the Han Dynasty!"

Upon hearing the emperor's personal congratulations, Ma Teng, standing at the front, immediately blushed and shouted loudly!

"I will die for His Majesty, and be loyal to the Han Dynasty!!"

Huang Zhong, Gongsun Zan, Gongsun Du, and a group of soldiers behind them followed closely behind, letting out their roars.

Immediately afterwards, the young soldiers of the Imperial Guards, Tiger Guards, and Imperial Battalion on the scene also shouted in unison.

The roars of the soldiers were like thunder, echoing in all directions. At this moment, the young students, imperial students, wandering knights, and common people who had followed and gathered around the square were also infected by the soldiers' passion and couldn't help but shout along with them.

Even the guards behind Liu Hong, as well as Xi Zhicai, Tian Feng, and others, felt their blood boiling with excitement.

Amid cheers, Liu Hong raised his hands, signaling everyone to be quiet. In a moment, the entire scene fell silent, and everyone stared intently at the emperor on the stage.

Liu Hong looked at the soldiers below the stage and said loudly:

"Soldiers, from the moment they appear, they bear a sacred responsibility!"

That is protection!

Protect your race, your country, your wife and children, and your people!

Protect them from being bullied by outsiders, protect their peace and happiness, and protect their upright posture!

Because of the protection of soldiers, we, the descendants of Yan and Huang, have been able to continue our lineage to this day.

Because of the protection of the soldiers, we are able to enjoy peace and tranquility here.

It is thanks to the protection of soldiers that we, the descendants of Yan and Huang, are able to show our pride and honor to others!

Without the protection of soldiers, we would perish and our race would be wiped out.

Without the protection of soldiers, our descendants will be slaughtered and oppressed by outsiders, living in darkness forever!

Soldiers are flesh and blood just like everyone else; they are also someone's sons, and they too face birth, aging, illness, and death! They are no different from us.

But whenever the nation and the race faced peril, they stepped forward, turning their own flesh and blood into hard iron and stone, forging the Great Wall to protect us!

They used their own lives to keep all dangers and disasters out!

All for the sake of protecting us from being bullied by outsiders, and so that our descendants can stand tall and proud!

Liu Hong's speech was also clearly heard by everyone present through the unison shouts of the dozens of guards beside him.

It must be said that Liu Hong's speech was very straightforward and inspiring.

He directly explained to everyone the importance of soldiers, saying that a nation and a country cannot be without soldiers, and soldiers should not be mistreated.

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