"Your Majesty.." A general at the right side of the table first answered, "After the rebellion, our Qin Army only has 100,000 men left." He said nervously.
Matthias' eyebrows scrunched. He didn't expect that it was this few.
Gongsun Yi seconded, "Your Majesty, our Gongsun Faction's personal army, which amounts to 1.9 million, can assist in the battlefield. Their cultivation is also above average reaching to the Soul Strengthening Realm."
"Soul Strengthening Realm?" Matthias asked with confusion.
Cane went and cleared it for him, "Your Majesty, the basic cultivation realm here is divided into 5 realms, namely the Body Tempering, Energy Refining, Golden Core, Soul Strengthening, and Soul Palace Realm. An army that has an average cultivation of Soul Strengthening Realm isn't really that strong compared to the old Sun Devouring Army, considering that they had an average of Soul Knight Realm, two realms past the Soul Palace Realm, but a Soul Strengthening Realm army is still strong. An average Soul Strengthening Realm expert could be equal to the Early Pseudo-Ascension Realm of Alphan."
"Oh. Then I guess they're powerful. Then I humbly ask for your personal army to be involved in the training and war." Matthias asked.
"Your Majesty." Gongsun Yi suddenly went solemn. "What's wrong?" Matthias raised his eyebrow.
"The Emperor is the ruler of the dynasty. You now represent all of your subjects and are one with them. An Emperor must never be weak and let himself be controlled by his underlings. As one of the oldest, I think I must tutor you on how to truly become the Emperor that we truly need." Gongsun Yi said.
Matthias sighed, "General Gongsun, this isn't the time to–" Matthias wanted to excuse himself but..
"Bam!" Gongsun Yi stood up abruptly and lectured Matthias, "Your Majesty! You are the forefront of our dynasty! You need to learn how to act like a true Emperor! Even if we are facing defeat, Your Majesty, as the emperor, needs to be the moral support of our people. Your Majesty represents the entirety of the dynasty, and Your Majesty needs to treat the dynasty as one with you!"
Matthias went silent.
He suddenly realized that after all this time, he was unbecoming of a god, a ruler of his domain. He was only a powerful being, a man with strength that is unparalleled. When he spent his time inside the Mysterious Abyss, his only goal when he led his kingdom was to avenge his Master Aelius and not to truly lead his kingdom as a king.
He also realized that he forgot the teachings of his master. "Lad, monarchs are a step beyond all. Monarchs are the heart of their domains. As a ruler, you must act like it."
"A General leads the army to protect the land. A Politician leads the citizens to do tasks for the betterment of the land. A monarch must do all of it. A monarch must be the morale of the soldiers to conquer and defend lands, and a monarch must pass laws for the politicians to comply for the betterment of the people and the territory. The monarch is also the face of the territory."
"If the monarch is weak, physically and mentally, then the territory is but a territory that is up for grabs. If the monarch is strong and bulky, then the territory will be seen as a warring territory. If the monarch is wise but physically weak, then the territory will be seen as a sleeping dragon, but, if the monarch is physically and mentally strong, with him being the wisest of his kin, then the territory will be seen as a rising empire, glorious over the years and a threat to nearby powers."
"Balance yourself for your territory. For its betterment, you need to adjust. Being a monarch, you aren't just yourself anymore. You are your territory, you represent it. I failed at it when I was alive. I want you to improve from my mistakes, and form a kingdom that is bound to be known by everyone."
Everything that he learned from the past rushed in his mind, showing him everything. He slowly realized that all he was doing was being selfish, only minding himself and not the entirety of his domain. He was pleasing himself for becoming strong and thought that he was protecting his domain by experiencing all of their hardships but he was only doing it to fulfill his dreams when he was just a mortal.
Matthias chuckled helplessly, "I thought I knew it all but I was just being naive. I was being childish. I know the knowledge but I don't know how to make it."
He then looked at Gongsun Yi, "Thank you for enlightening me– We mean Us, General Gongsun." He bowed slightly.
Gongsun Yi smiled and sighed with relief, "Our Emperor has truly awakened. I am now at ease, Your Majesty. We, your subjects, shall guide Your Majesty towards greatness." He then cupped his hands and bowed. The generals also cupped their hands and bowed towards their emperor.
"Now.." Matthias now assumed his new personality of being a true ruler and straightened his posture, exuding more of his majesty, "Shall we continue?"
"As Your Majesty wishes!" The generals answered simultaneously.
He nodded. "The provisions for the army have been solved already. The frontlines also have 1.5 million men, a third of them untrained. The only thing we need now is an effective strategy to defend the borders. What are your thoughts, generals?"
Answering the question, a teenage man of about 23 years old spoke with a confident voice, "Your Majesty, this general has a suggestion."
"Speak, General?" Matthias looked at him.
"General Gongsun Pei, Your Majesty. Grandson of General Gongsun Yi." Gongsun Pei cupped his hands towards him.
Matthias nodded, "Then, speak, General Gongsun Pei. What suggestions do you have?" He asked.
"Yes, Your Majesty." Gongsun Pei stood up and looked at the table and sighed. Matthias, knowing what he wants, smiled. He waved his hand and, lo and behold, a 3D map rose from the table, shocking the generals.
The map was extremely detailed, showing accurate terrains inside the territory and the territories surrounding it.
Then, figurines representing the forces were created from leftover wood found on the corner and floated.
"You're a Creation Master, Your Majesty?!" Gongsun Yi exclaimed.
"Creation Master?" Matthias tilted his head in confusion.
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