Chapter 1645 — The Firmament Emperor Lord
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 3 of 5
Taichu personally placed the crown upon his head and put the imperial robe upon him, then stepped back, step by step. The assembled ministers knelt and bowed, crying out, "Heaven Emperor Hao!
" Taichu knelt and bowed along with them, crying out, "Heaven Emperor Hao! " Heaven Emperor Hao sighed and said, "We are shallow in talent and virtue; it is wholly owing to the support of you all that the realm is prosperous and the people at peace, the world tranquil, the heavens flourishing, and no banditry arising. My lords, the days ahead are long; We hope you will lend Us much support.
Beloved ministers, rise, and take your seats.
" The crowd rose and took their seats; goddess attendants filed in and served up all manner of rare delicacies in an unending stream.
Just then, a divine general suddenly came to report, "Someone is kneeling outside the Southern Heavenly Gate, bearing thorns to beg punishment for his crime!
" The court was thrown into an uproar; the ministers whispered into one another's ears, talking all at once. "Can it be that Heavenly Master Mu has truly come to submit to Us? " Heaven Emperor Hao was stirred inwardly and said with a smile, "Bring the man who begs punishment before Us. " Before long, a man was indeed brought into the court hall — bare-backed, his hands bound fast behind him, with thorn branches thrust into his back.
Heaven Emperor Hao gazed at him intently and was somewhat disappointed; the eyes of the ministers fell upon the man, and each of them was both startled and delighted. "On the very day of Your Majesty's enthronement, the Eastern Emperor Azure Dragon has come to submit at the news — this is a most auspicious omen!
" The crowd offered congratulations one after another.
The Eastern Emperor Azure Dragon knelt prostrate on the ground and declared in a ringing voice, "Your Majesty follows Heaven and answers the people; your servant is convinced in heart and mouth.
Knowing well that he cannot withstand the celestial majesty, he has come of his own accord to submit.
He earnestly begs Your Majesty to punish him!
" Heaven Emperor Hao rose, strode to the side of the Eastern Emperor Azure Dragon, drew a thorn switch from his back, and lashed him several times with sharp cracks; then he threw down the switch and reached out both hands to raise him up. "Attendants, bring a robe and put it on Azure Dragon.
" Heaven Emperor Hao said with a smile, "Do not take it amiss, Azure Dragon. The reason We still had to whip you is that you were once Our enemy and set yourself up as Emperor, and so you had to be flogged.
But you know how to repent and mend your ways, and We admire your talents; therefore We are willing to take you in and let bygones be bygones.
" The Eastern Emperor Azure Dragon said, choking with emotion, "For Your Majesty's grace in recognizing and employing me, for your grace in not putting me to death, Azure Dragon could dash out his brains and smear the ground with them and still not repay it! " Heaven Emperor Hao laughed heartily, draped the robe over him, and said, "Beloved minister, take your seat. " The Eastern Emperor Azure Dragon sat down.
Taichu frowned slightly. The submission of the Eastern Emperor Azure Dragon was beyond his expectations. The Azure Emperor of the Eastern Heaven was his man; once Heavenly Master Hao unified the world, sooner or later he would send troops against the Eastern Pole Heaven, and by then both the Eastern Heaven and the Eastern Pole Heaven would be Taichu's territory.
And now the Eastern Emperor Azure Dragon had come to submit, and this territory would pass directly under Heaven Emperor Hao's name!