November 10th, Luoyang.
According to the rules set by Liu Hong last year, today is the day of national memorial.
Early in the morning, countless ordinary people, students, wandering knights, and workers all put on new clothes and went out of their homes.
The square outside the South Palace was already packed with people, and the noise was deafening. As far as the eye could see, all the roads leading to the South Palace were also filled with onlookers, numbering as many as 50,000.
Among these people were locals from Sili, including Luoyang, Henan, Hongnong, and Hanoi, as well as many people from other prefectures and counties who came to watch the spectacle.
At the entrance of the Southern Palace, civil and military officials, led by Grand Tutor Chen Fan, were dressed in ceremonial robes and waited respectfully for the emperor's departure.
Before long, as the palace gates slowly opened, two fully armed Imperial Guards rushed out of the palace and lined both sides of the road. Then, the emperor's carriage appeared in everyone's sight.
Young military officers such as Lü Bu, Dong Zhuo, and Gao Shun, as well as elite trainees from the Imperial Guard such as Cao Cao, Yuan Shao, Liu Bei, and Sun Jian, were summoned to the palace by Liu Hong early in the morning, changed into formal attire, and followed behind the emperor's carriage.
Chen Fan also led his civil and military officials forward quickly to pay their respects.
After the emperor and his subjects exchanged greetings, Liu Hong's carriage continued forward and soon arrived at the center of the square, where it was stopped by Liu Hong.
Then Liu Hong stood up, stepped out from behind the gauze curtain, and appeared in the sight of everyone around him.
"Long live the Emperor!!"
The moment Liu Hong stepped out of the car, a thunderous cheer erupted from all around the square.
Nearly 50,000 onlookers, including locals, students, adventurers, and workers, roared and shouted with all their might.
Merchants and scholars from other prefectures who came to watch the spectacle were shocked to see the emperor so adored by the people of Luoyang. They were also infected by the high spirits and couldn't help but cheer along with the crowd.
The cheers of the people lasted for the time it takes to burn half an incense stick before finally quieting down at Liu Hong's signal.
Subsequently, Liu Hong, accompanied by his civil and military officials and escorted by two squads of Imperial Guards, slowly made his way toward the Shrine of Loyal Martyrs and the Shrine of Heroes. Tens of thousands of people on the scene followed closely behind.
Following the established procedure, after paying homage to the sages of past generations in the Martyrs' Shrine, Liu Hong led his officials toward the Martyrs' Shrine across the street.
Unlike the peaceful and solemn atmosphere of the Martyrs' Shrine, the moment everyone stepped into the square of the Martyrs' Shrine, they felt a chilling and murderous aura.
Looking around, dozens of huge statues are now placed in the square of the Martyrs' Shrine.
The owners of these statues were famous generals throughout history who fought against foreign invaders.
These generals, all clad in armor and riding tall steeds, gazed sharply northward. Beneath each sculpture stood a stone tablet, recording their glorious deeds in battles against foreign tribes!
Subsequently, under Liu Hong's leadership, civil and military officials, along with the young military commanders, paid their sincerest respects to these renowned generals from various dynasties.
The young people following behind Liu Hong looked up at the statues in the Martyrs' Shrine, their eyes filled with longing.
"With the Xiongnu not yet defeated, how can I think of a home?"
"To live, we shall slay all the enemy; to die, we shall be wrapped in horsehide!"
"A true man's ambition lies in all corners of the world; only by dying on the battlefield can one be considered a great man!"
One classic quote after another echoed in the minds of the young people.
"One day, I too will be able to achieve the legendary feat of sealing the wolf's lair and residing in the Xiongnu territory!"
Looking at the majestic statue of Huo Qubing, Lü Bu felt a sense of reverence and secretly made a vow in his heart.
"His lifelong hope was to become the General Who Conquers the West of the Han Dynasty!!"
Looking at one statue after another, Cao Cao's heart was filled with emotion.
Like Lü Bu and Cao Cao, others, faced with these statues, were unable to contain themselves and made vows to fight for them for their entire lives.
After Liu Hong and his officials completed the sacrificial ceremony and left, the Martyrs' Shrine officially opened to the public, attracting countless passionate young people to pay their respects to these ancient generals.
For a time, the solemn and dignified Martyrs' Shrine became a place for young people to pledge their will and determination.
"Urgent report from Gaoling!!"
Just as Liu Hong and the others stepped out of the Martyrs' Shrine, a hurried shout reached their ears.
A messenger rushed up to Liu Hong, knelt on one knee, and took out a letter.
Liu Hong took the secret letter and glanced at it. His expression immediately changed drastically, and he turned to look at the attendant beside him.
"Immediately summon all civil and military officials back to the Chongde Hall for a meeting!!"
After saying this, Liu Hong left in the emperor's carriage, looking extremely anxious.
The officials who received Liu Hong's summons dared not delay and rushed to the palace without even changing out of their court robes.
The surrounding people couldn't help but gossip about it.
"What has happened now? Why are His Majesty and his ministers so anxious?"
"I don't know, but it must be something important. Otherwise, why would His Majesty and the officials be so distraught?"
"Could it be related to the past two days? Has someone rebelled?"
For a moment, the originally grand and lively national festival became somewhat somber because of the arrival of this messenger.
However, these people did not disperse; instead, they gathered outside the palace, wanting to find out what had happened.
Chongde Hall.
Liu Hong sat on the imperial throne with a gloomy expression. All the officials below him had solemn faces. This was the first time in many years that such an impromptu meeting had been held.
After glancing around at the officials, Liu Hong handed the urgent report sent back by Song Feng to a junior eunuch beside him.
"Thinking of you all!!"
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