June 15th.

The long-awaited Great Han Games have finally begun.

As dawn broke, countless people who had purchased tickets arrived at the sports field located in the west of the city.

Unlike the simple sports field in Xiyuan last year, this sports field was carefully built over several months by the Royal Engineering Team, which led 30,000 laborers.

Its specifications were modeled after later football fields, but the open space in the middle was as large as five football fields, with rows of seats arranged in a staggered fashion.

This huge stadium is large enough to accommodate 100,000 people.

On the west side of the sports field, there are eleven entrance passages, with two teams of fully armed Tiger Guards standing upright on either side of one of the passages in the middle.

Those who came with tickets consciously lined up in the other ten channels, looking at the Tiger Guards and the channel they were guarding with awe and excitement.

People know that it was prepared for the emperor, and the emperor will personally attend today's sports meet.

Upon entering the venue and stepping onto the hard concrete floor, everyone stared in astonishment at the rows of seats. Many had never seen such a massive building in their entire lives.

It wasn't until impatient urging came from behind that the still-shocked people began to look for their seats according to the seating arrangements on their tickets.

Those elegantly dressed young noblemen walked arrogantly to the front row, under the envious gazes of the common people.

In the first row, Huang Chengyan from Nanjun looked around the sports field with a shocked expression.

In his previous understanding, even if 100,000 laborers were mobilized, it would take three to five years to complete such a massive building.

But what he saw completely shattered his understanding of architecture, especially the smooth, hard concrete under his feet, which aroused his great interest.

Huang Chengyan then looked at a middle-aged scholar beside him and said in a deep voice, "Brother Decao, I never imagined that such a miraculous thing as concrete existed in the world. How exactly did Yuan Zhouyang manage to do it?"

Upon hearing this, Sima Hui looked down at the ground and laughed, "Everything has its own principle. Sometimes it takes ten thousand years to understand it, while other times it only takes a moment to comprehend it!"

"Brother Decao, you are mistaken. The principles of all things require constant exploration, not mere comprehension!"

For the first time, Huang Chengyan offered a different opinion on his friend's words, but his mind was filled with thoughts of the three academies that the people of Luoyang had always talked about.

Sima Hui simply smiled and said, "Enlightenment can reveal the principles, and seeking can lead to the way; the two are not contradictory!"

Huang Chengyan nodded: "People like us, who have lived in Jingxiang for a long time and consider ourselves knowledgeable about the past and present, only realize tonight that we are like caged birds, unaware of the vastness of the world. It is truly pitiful and lamentable!"

Sima Hui shook his head: "Now that we have recognized the height of the heavens, it is not too late for us to strive to catch up!"

“Brother Decao is right. How can we, the men of Jingzhou and Xiangyang, lag behind others?”

Huang Chengyan agreed with Sima Hui's words. What he saw and heard in Luoyang made him feel ashamed, but it also stirred up his pride.

Listening to the conversation between Huang Chengyan and Sima Hui, the other people from Jiangnan around them nodded in agreement.

Which intellectual of this era doesn't have a shred of pride? I can admit I'm not as good as you, but I will never admit defeat. If you're ahead today, I'll catch up tomorrow, won't I?

An hour later, all the people who had bought tickets entered the venue, and all 100,000 seats were filled.

Despite the large number of people gathered there, there was no noise. Everyone quietly looked at an empty spot in the western stands and the central passageway behind it.

"His Majesty has arrived!!"

Before long, with a loud shout, and under the expectant gaze of nearly 100,000 people, the two teams of elite guards marched into the stadium in perfect unison.

Immediately afterwards, Liu Hong, dressed in the emperor's robes, appeared in everyone's sight.

The moment Liu Hong appeared, everyone held their breath and looked over.

Those who were far away strained to open their eyes wide, trying to see the emperor's face clearly.

Those who were closer turned red in the face, stared intently, and even forgot to breathe.

"Long live the Emperor!"

In the silent crowd, someone suddenly couldn't help but shout out.

"Long live the Emperor!!"

That shout was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, instantly triggering a chain reaction, and everyone started shouting.

In an instant, a thunderous cheer erupted in the sports field.

At this time, although people from all over the Han Dynasty were sitting in the stadium, people from Luoyang and the surrounding areas still made up the majority.

It is important to understand that people tend to follow the crowd. With the encouragement of people from Luoyang and the surrounding areas, people from other counties and states also joined in the shouting.

The sports meet hadn't even started yet, but Liu Hong's arrival had already caused a stir.

Those standing beside Liu Hong, including Lü Bu, Huang Zhong, Dong Zhuo, Cao Cao, and Sun Jian, also looked at the emperor, who was enjoying the cheers of thousands, with reverence.

And so, amidst the cheers of the crowd, Liu Hong slowly walked step by step toward his seat.

From the moment Liu Hong entered until he took his seat, the entire process lasted about five minutes, and the cheers from the audience also lasted for five minutes.

The room quieted down after Liu Hong took his seat.

Soon, with the athletes entering the stadium, the intense and exciting competition officially began.

The cheers from the audience grew louder and louder as the competition intensified.

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