Langjuxu Mountain is located east of the present-day capital of Mongolia.
Since the emergence of nomadic tribes on the grasslands, it has been imbued with various legendary colors and was even revered as a sacred mountain by the Xiongnu people as a place for worshipping heaven. It can be said to be the most politically significant place on the grasslands.
Back then, Huo Qubing led his army in pursuit of the Xiongnu, fighting all the way to the foot of the mountain. He then climbed to the top of the mountain, set up an altar to offer sacrifices to Heaven, and left a stone tablet to commemorate the occasion.
From then on, the phrase "Fenglangjuxu" became the highest honor for the military achievements of generals throughout history.
After resting for a day at the foot of the mountain, Liu Hong led his army and then ordered a ceremony to be held to seal the mountain.
On the morning of that day, a five-mile-long passage had been cleared at the foot of Langjuxu Mountain, with banners and countless large "Han" character flags fluttering in the wind on both sides.
Two thousand Imperial Guard soldiers, their armor gleaming, stood guard on both sides of the passage. Further back, a square formation composed of soldiers from four legions was also lined up in a neat row at the foot of the mountain.
The soldiers in charge of ceremonial music also changed into their dress uniforms and stood quietly on both sides of the mountain steps, waiting.
Liu Hong also changed into a set of gilded armor and walked down the mountain under the protection of generals such as Lü Bu, Huang Zhong, Cao Cao, and Gao Shun.
"Welcome, Your Majesty! May Your Majesty live ten thousand years!!"
The moment Liu Hong appeared, the tens of thousands of soldiers lined up on both sides of the passage erupted in a huge cheer.
The booming voice, like rolling thunder, soared into the sky, seemingly announcing the arrival of the Han army to the world.
Amidst deafening cheers, Liu Hong slowly made his way up the steps of the mountain, following the path covered with yellow earth.
The soldiers stopped cheering and silently watched him until Liu Hong reached the steps at the foot of the mountain and stopped.
Looking up at the winding path leading to the mountaintop, Liu Hong's expression turned serious, and then he stepped onto the first step.
"play music!!"
As Liu Hong stepped onto the first step, the drummers who had been standing guard on both sides immediately began to move.
The resounding drumbeats echoed in everyone's ears.
As the drums sounded, Liu Hong, standing on the steps, felt a surge of patriotic fervor in his chest, and then climbed upwards step by step.
Cao Song, Xun Shuang, Lü Bu, Huang Zhong, and other generals, officers, and officials followed Liu Hong excitedly up the steps.
Since Huo Qubing, this is the first time that people from the Han Dynasty have climbed this sacred mountain on the grassland.
This was an absolute honor for everyone.
In particular, generals such as Lü Bu, Cao Cao, and Sun Jian were extremely excited when they saw the path that the Marquis of Champion had once walked. With each step they took, their hearts beat faster.
After everyone followed the emperor to the top of the mountain, his face was already flushed with excitement.
On the southern side of the mountaintop, facing the Central Plains, a tall altar has been set up, and a tall stone tablet stands in front of the altar.
The original stone tablet erected by Huo Qubing has disappeared; this new stone tablet is a replacement.
The stone tablet not only bears the inscription written by Huo Qubing, but also records the story of the Han emperor leading his army up the mountain.
An official presiding over the ceremony bowed and presented a scroll of sacrificial text to Liu Hong.
"Your Majesty, please ascend the altar and offer sacrifices to Heaven and Earth!!"
Liu Hong nodded, turned to look at the altar, and then walked forward solemnly, with the sacrificial official following behind him holding the sacrificial text.
The civil and military officials who followed Liu Hong to the top of the mountain also lined up neatly and stood on both sides of the altar.
Upon ascending the altar, one sees a bronze square cauldron, about half a person's height, situated in the center of the altar. In front of the cauldron is an incense table with two ever-burning lamps on it. The flames of the ever-burning lamps flicker constantly in the mountain breeze, yet they never go out.
"Emperor Hong of the Great Han Dynasty pays homage to the land of China!!"
As the master of ceremonies called out, Liu Hong slowly walked to the incense table, raised his hands, and bowed in the direction of the Central Plains.
The civil and military officials on both sides of the altar also bowed to the south along with Liu Hong.
"Your Majesty, please read the sacrificial text to Heaven and Earth and to our ancestors!"
After the ceremony, the official holding the eulogy came to Liu Hong's side.
Liu Hong took the eulogy, then slowly unfolded it and loudly proclaimed:
"Your subject Liu Hong respectfully informs you, the Supreme God Taiyi and all your ancestors."
Since its founding, the Han Dynasty has enjoyed peace and prosperity for its people and subjugation by foreign powers, and its prestige has extended throughout the land under the name of China.
"Now that I have led my army to this Langjuxu Mountain, I shall, in accordance with the will of Heaven and the hearts of the people, incorporate it into the territory of the Han Dynasty, so that future generations may live and thrive here..."
After reading the long sacrificial text, Liu Hong stepped forward, lit it on the eternal lamp, and then threw it into the square cauldron.
Perhaps it was Heaven's way of creating momentum for Liu Hong, for just as the sacrificial text thrown into the cauldron burned out, a gentle breeze blew by, swirling up the ashes and sending them drifting into the sky.
Upon seeing this, the official in charge of the sacrificial ceremony immediately exclaimed excitedly, "Heaven has granted our request! This land will forever be part of the Han Dynasty's territory!"
"Congratulations, Your Majesty!! May the Han Dynasty live ten thousand years!!"
The civil and military officials on both sides of the altar also shouted excitedly in unison.
Thus, Liu Hong became the first emperor to achieve the great feat of "sealing the wolf's lair and residing in the Xu capital".
Of course, for Liu Hong, this was just the beginning.
After the sealing ceremony was completed, a team of messengers, carrying the news of the emperor's sealing ceremony at Langjuxu Mountain, rushed towards the Han Dynasty with the fastest courier service.
After resting for three days, the army continued its journey, heading further north towards the vast desert.
...
At the end of July, during the autumn harvest season in the Han Dynasty, a group of messengers traveling from north to south arrived at the foot of the Great Wall in Bingzhou.
Upon learning of the emperor's heroic feat at Langjuxu Mountain, the soldiers guarding the Great Wall erupted in enthusiastic cheers.
Subsequently, the officers in charge of guarding the Great Wall also selected several of the best warhorses from the army so that the messenger could send the message back to Luoyang as soon as possible.
"Your Majesty the Emperor ascends Mount Langjuxu and proclaims to Heaven and Earth that the northern grasslands are now part of the territory of our Great Han Dynasty!!"
As the messenger rode towards Luoyang, he also continuously proclaimed the emperor's "Fenglangjuxu" (a military feat) to those passing by on the official road.
Everyone who heard this news was overjoyed.
When the news reached Luoyang, the city's residents were once again in an uproar.
Before the excitement of celebrating the Han army's great victory had even subsided, the people gathered once again to prepare for an even grander celebration.
The Roman envoys who were staying in Luoyang looked at the people who were once again decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations with great curiosity.
The young Perence approached an official from the Ministry of Rites and asked, "May I ask, what does this 'Fenglangjuxu' mean, and why are your people so excited?"
"Oh, it's like His Majesty the Emperor of our Great Han Dynasty offering sacrifices in your Rome and then annexing Rome as part of the Great Han's territory!!"
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