Fearing being killed for his overwhelming merits, the empress decided to marry him.

"Hey~"

"Ha~"

Inside Wanfulou, after receiving birthday greetings from officials and foreign envoys, it was already past 11 PM.

After the elaborate rituals were completed, Li Hong's birthday banquet officially began.

Inside Wanfulou, there were at least a hundred tables laid out, filled with delicacies from land and sea, and even exquisite fruits and vegetables imbued with spiritual energy.

After three toasts, the courtiers watched two warriors perform at the banquet.

At this moment, Li Hong was sitting upright in front of the golden dragon throne inlaid with purple gemstones, watching two warriors from the outer vassal states wrestling on a round platform in the center that was at least two hundred square meters in size.

Li Hong was in high spirits. Seeing the two men arguing heatedly on the stage, he couldn't help but say to He Yong, who was sitting to the side, "Look at these two lackeys, they're really using all their strength. They're really strong."

He Yong hurriedly smiled and said, "Of course, it's His Majesty's birthday, so we servants naturally have to be respectful and diligent. How can we not be worthy of His Majesty's kindness if we don't take it seriously?"

Li Hong smiled slightly: "You really know how to talk a good game."

At this moment, the two on the stage were already in a double rear naked choke position, their faces turning blue from the effort.

Upon seeing this, Li Hong quickly picked up the golden pestle placed on the table and struck the golden bowl hanging beside it.

"Om~"

A crisp, melodious sound, carrying a touch of ethereal beauty, resonated within Wanfulou.

The two who were fighting tooth and nail on stage immediately released each other and knelt down facing Li Hong with their hands clasped in front of them.

Li Hong smiled and said to the two men, "You two lackeys, that's enough. Today is my birthday, don't cause any deaths."

He was in a good mood today, and there wasn't a trace of blame in his words.

The two said in unison, "Your Majesty, we wish you boundless blessings and a long and prosperous life."

"Hahaha."

Li Hong laughed heartily upon hearing this, and then said to Feng Chun, "Quickly give them the lucky money to bring them good fortune."

"The slave obeys the order."

Feng Chun immediately took two ingots from each of the gold and silver plates on the side, walked to the round platform and shouted loudly: "His Majesty is giving you lucky money, please accept it carefully."

After shouting, he threw the gold and silver in his hand onto the stage.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

The two warriors immediately accepted the gold and silver, thanked their lord with joy, and then left the platform.

As soon as they left, the official opera troupe immediately went on stage to continue the performance.

Compared to the intense enthusiasm just now, the opera performance now is more gentle, which is very popular with the officials and foreign envoys who are trying to appear cultured.

Li Hong slapped his thigh rhythmically, hummed a few lines, and then suddenly said to Fu Lin'an, who was sitting on the other side, "Fu Lin'an."

Fu Lin'an hurriedly replied, "Your Majesty, what are your orders?"

Li Hong's eyes remained fixed on the stage. He gently shook his head and said slowly, "I plan to make a southern tour after the birthday banquet. What do you think?"

Upon hearing this, Fu Lin'an was greatly alarmed. He immediately suppressed his panic and cautiously asked, "Your Majesty, why do you want to make a southern tour?"

Li Hong chuckled lightly: "What, do I need to tell you why I want to go somewhere?"

Fu Lin'an hurriedly waved his hands: "No, this servant wouldn't dare, this servant only, only..."

"Just what?"

Li Hong abruptly stopped patting his thigh, and his gaze toward Fu Chang'an gradually became obscure.

Fu Chang'an was at a loss for what to do, and cold sweat streamed down his forehead and cheeks.

Seeing this, Zhang Gui, who was sitting to the side, frowned and said, "Hey Xiao Anzi, what's wrong with you? Why are you sweating in this cold weather? The Emperor is asking you a question, so hurry up and answer."

Fu Chang'an took a deep breath and replied, "His Majesty is going on a southern tour, so this servant naturally has to make all the necessary preparations..."

"what to prepare?"

Li Hong interrupted him directly.

"Are you planning to continue deceiving me? Fortresses along the southern coast have been destroyed by foreign barbarians."

All 2,500 officers and soldiers of the military camp and the outer vassal troops stationed in Hui, Hai, and Bo prefectures were killed in action.

Governor-General Suo Yin, Prefect of Huizhou Zhao Qingshan were killed in battle, and Prefect of Haizhou Nie Shitu's whereabouts are unknown.

Do you think I don't know any of this?

Fu Chang'an hurriedly knelt down, looking utterly dejected: "Your Majesty, please calm your anger. This servant has disappointed you. This servant only wanted Your Majesty to have a happy birthday celebration."

"Not wanting these trivial matters to spoil His Majesty's birthday celebration, I suppressed those local memorials. This servant is guilty."

After saying that, he immediately kowtowed and prostrated himself on the ground.

Li Hong: "Get up."

"The servant dare not."

"You've already done it, what else are you afraid of? I tell you to get up, so get up."

Fu Chang'an then stood up hesitantly.

Li Hong glanced at the stage and casually remarked, "It seems I've been too lenient with you all this time."

You actually dared to cover up such a big thing? You must have a death wish!

However, considering your loyalty and the circumstances that warranted it, I will refrain from punishing you for now.

Fu Chang'an hurriedly replied, "This servant thanks Your Majesty for your great kindness."

Li Hong looked at He Yong: "He Yong, do you know where these foreign barbarians come from?"

He Yong immediately replied, "Your Majesty, this servant dares not be certain, but yesterday I received a secret letter from a friend of Qian Feng, saying that the foreign barbarians are from the State of Chu."

"Chu?"

Li Hong was slightly taken aback, then adopted an imperial posture.

Why does the State of Chu dare to invade the borders of my Wuzhao Kingdom?

He Yong: "This servant does not know, but this servant believes that the conflict must have been caused by the failure of local officials in Haizhou to negotiate with the State of Chu."

Li Hong sneered: "You wiped out my naval forces in one fell swoop, and you call that a conflict? And isn't Haizhou now occupied by the Chu Kingdom?"

He Yong lowered his head and replied, "Nothing can be hidden from His Majesty."

Li Hong: "Do you know who the commander-in-chief of the Chu state is?"

He Yong calmly replied, "It is the Empress of Great Chu."

Upon hearing this, Li Hong clenched his fist.

After a long silence, he couldn't help but laugh and said, "Excellent! We've finally welcomed the Empress of Great Chu! I will order someone to invite her to Shengjing as a guest."

He Yong, I'm giving you one month to build a separate villa within the palace. Consider it my gift to the Empress.

I very much want to have a good talk with her.

He Yong: "Your Majesty, I'm afraid the Empress of Great Chu won't want to come."

"Last time, I refused the Chu envoy's request to trade, and only a few months later, the Empress of Great Chu has traveled thousands of miles to my Wu Zhao Kingdom."

This clearly demonstrates that the State of Chu is eager to establish trade relations with me, Wu Zhao.

Since she has this purpose, she must do as I say.

"But a fleet of Chu troops has already approached the waters off Weizhou. In my humble opinion, this must be under the Empress's orders."

Upon hearing this, Li Hong calmed down.

After a short while, Li Hong's attitude became extremely firm: "In short, I must see the Empress of Great Chu, the sooner the better. There is no one in this world I cannot see if I want to see them."

Immediately issue an order to Seng Qinlin, the military commander of Huizhou, to mobilize all garrison troops from the four prefectures of Hui, Hai, Bo, and Quan to besiege Haizhou City.

"I want the Empress, who has traveled from afar, to personally experience just how powerful the armies of Wu Zhao truly are."

He Yong couldn't help but ask, "What about the Chu army's fleet?"

Li Hong: "Order all garrison troops in Zhenzhou to spare no effort to drive the Chu fleet out of the Jiankang waters! They will naturally retreat after I meet with the Chu Empress."