154: The Western Ocean was opened to the world, and all nations came to pay tribute.

Chapter Seventeen: Connecting the Western Seas, Ten Thousand Nations Pay Homage

As dawn broke through the thick fog of the Strait of Gibraltar, the aircraft carrier battle group slowly sailed into the Atlantic Ocean.

The vast expanse of blue waves stretched as far as the eye could see, the sea breeze was mighty, and the world felt boundless. Lin Zhou stood at the highest point of the island superstructure, where a holographic sand table had already illuminated the entire North Atlantic, the coast of Western Europe, and the coast of West Africa. red alert reconnaissance drones had spread out along the flight paths days in advance, clearly marking the ports, military forces, royal residences, and trade networks of Castile, Portugal, France, and England.

By this point, the Huaxia forces had crossed the three continents of Asia, Africa, and Europe, taking control of four major maritime regions: the West Pacific, the Indian Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, and the East Atlantic. With over half of the global maritime power in his hands, all the great powers of the Old World bowed their heads in terror.

Lin Zhou still strictly adhered to his iron rules: no occupying cities, no colonization, and no indiscriminate killing. He used deterrence to secure shipping lanes and trade to exchange goods, seeking mutual benefit and coexistence for those who complied, and precision destruction for those who resisted. What he wanted was not a conquest of widespread flames of war, but the reshaping of world order through absolute strength, making Huaxia the center respected by all nations, ensuring the world would know no more war or bullying.

[Ding—Fleet has entered the Atlantic Ocean. Unlocked: Global Ocean Deep Navigation Mode, Atlantic-wide Radar Network.]

[Directive: Main fleet head north and anchor off the coast of Lisbon to sign trade treaties with the Portuguese and Castilian royalties; sub-fleets head south to explore the Gold and Ivory Coasts of West Africa and establish Atlantic supply stations.]

[Constraint: Forbidden to attack cities, churches, or civilians. Only implement destructive strikes against pirates, looters, and hostile armies blocking the way.]

The news reached Western Europe before the fleet did.

King Dinis I of Portugal and King Ferdinand III of Castile had already received shocking reports from the Mediterranean—the Eastern Heavenly Emperor had arrived with mountain-like giant ships and iron birds soaring through the sky, annihilating the Ottoman in the blink of an eye and suppressing Venice like driving away chickens and dogs. All the Mediterranean nations had already submitted and were paying tribute.

The two monarchs dared not show even the slightest negligence. They immediately ordered the lifting of all maritime bans, disbanded their privateer fleets, cleared the port of Lisbon, and personally led nobles, clerics, and guards to kneel on the shore to welcome the Huaxia fleet.

When the mountain-like hull of the aircraft carrier appeared on the horizon, the Western European nobles and clerics trembled all over, prostrating themselves on the ground and not daring to look up. The massive flight deck, the silently operating island, the stealth fighters lined up for takeoff, and the silently cruising frigates were, in their eyes, the power of a god, unmatched by any mortal.

Lin Zhou did not go ashore. He merely sent the shipborne AI with trade decrees, silk, porcelain, grain seeds, and iron tools to announce the Huaxia stance:

"I have pacified Huaxia and extended my prestige to the four seas. My ships sail the oceans only for peaceful trade. I do not occupy an inch of land, nor do I harm the people. If you guard the shipping lanes, respect Huaxia, and engage in trade, you shall have peace year after year and mutual prosperity. If you dare block the way, harm merchants, or cause trouble, my divine soldiers shall arrive, and your national altars shall cease to exist."

The Kings of Portugal and Castile kowtowed in tears and swore an oath on the spot: to submit to Huaxia forever, open all ports, take responsibility for protecting Huaxia merchant convoys, and pay annual tribute in curios, gold, silver, wool, and wine, seeking only the protection of Huaxia to preserve their dynasties forever.

The common people along the coast burned incense and prayed, viewing the Eastern fleet as descending angels. Countless people prostrated themselves on the shore, hoping for just one glimpse of the 'Heavenly Emperor's Giant Ship.'

Meanwhile, the southbound red alert sub-fleet arrived at the Gulf of Guinea in West Africa.

This area was rich in gold, ivory, and spices, with numerous tribes and rampant piracy. Several black tribal forces entrenched on the coast saw the strange fleet and, thinking they were merchant ships to be looted, gathered their canoes and spearmen to swarm forward.

The sub-fleet did not start a massacre. They merely used electromagnetic pulse cannons to sweep the area, instantly paralyzing all canoes. The intense light and thunderous roar terrified all tribal members into kneeling, not daring to move again. The AI announced the Huaxia rules via language translation, then built an Atlantic supply station in a safe bay and engaged in fair trade with the tribes: iron tools, seeds, and cloth in exchange for gold, ivory, and spices.

The tribes had never seen such exquisite iron tools and seeds. They were overjoyed and henceforth viewed the Huaxia as 'visitors from heaven,' voluntarily guarding the shipping lanes, with not a single person daring to offend them again.

[Ding—Western Europe treaty successful. Portugal and Castile have submitted and paid tribute. Trade routes opened.]

[Ding—West Africa supply station established. Gold, ivory, and spice trade lines opened. Resource acquisition significantly increased.]

[Ding—Atlantic pirate suppression completed. Deterrence established across the region; none dare cause trouble.]

[Global Maritime Power Coverage: 62%. The situation of Ten Thousand Nations Paying Homage has been achieved.]

When the news reached the Central Plains, Dadu erupted in nationwide celebration.

Lu Xiufu stood on the high platform of the Confucian Temple holding the victory report from the Western Seas, reading to the Scholars and commoners about the grand event of Huaxia's prestige subduing the Western Seas and the homage of ten thousand nations. The people's cheers were like thunder, their eyes filled with tears. Since the Battle of Yamen, Huaxia had been submerged for a hundred years; now, they had not only recovered the Central Plains but also spread their might ten thousand miles away, surpassing the Han and Tang dynasties—an unprecedented feat since ancient times.

The controlled subjects were emotionally stirred yet remained strictly loyal, operating the internal administration at full capacity: granaries were full, riverways were clear, schools were widespread, and workshops were numerous. Resources from the Southern Seas and the Central Plains flowed continuously to the Western Seas fleet, serving as the most stable rear area. They would weep for the glory of Huaxia, rejoice for the submission of all nations, and be gratified by the peace of the world, yet they always took Lin Zhou's will as their sole criterion, never overstepping in the slightest.

Students of the Imperial Academy submitted petitions one after another, imploring Lin Zhou to ascend the throne and officially establish the country, changing the era name to fulfill the Mandate of Heaven and pacify all nations. Scholars from the Central Plains, border tribes, han chinese people of the Southern Seas, and vassals from the Western Seas sent a continuous stream of envoys. Petitions piled up like mountains, all urging him to declare himself Emperor.

Lin Zhou received the petitions for his ascension on the aircraft carrier. Looking at the interconnected Huaxia sphere of influence on the holographic sand table and the prosperous scene of ten thousand nations paying homage, he finally nodded slowly.

"Pass my decree: The fleet shall return east to Dadu. I shall ascend the throne as Emperor, establish the state title as Huaxia, and change the era name to 'eternal unity,' meaning the world is forever one and all under heaven is in Great Harmony."

[Ding—host's ascension command confirmed. The Huaxia Empire is officially established. Era begins: Year One of eternal unity.]

[Unlocked: Global Governance Authority, Imperial General Outline, Transoceanic Direct Decree System.]

[The entire army, all territories, and all vassals: Automatically submit to the Huaxia Empire, honoring Lin Zhou as the sole Emperor, the Heavenly Emperor of eternal unity, and Sovereign of the Four Seas.]

With one command, the whole world shook.

In the Atlantic, the Mediterranean, the Indian Ocean, and the West Pacific, all red alert fleets sounded their horns simultaneously. In the Central Plains, the Southern Seas, the grasslands, the Western Regions, and the Western vassals, all the people knelt at once, shouting "Long live the Emperor!" The sound waves crossed mountains and seas, resonating globally into a single phrase:

"Long live my Emperor! May Huaxia prosper forever!"

Lin Zhou stood on the deck of the aircraft carrier, facing the long winds of the Atlantic, looking toward his eastern homeland.

The carrier formation slowly turned, embarking on the journey back east. The carrier-based aircraft formations patrolled the skies, blotting out the sun; the supply convoys stretched for a hundred miles, with resources piled like mountains; and the ships of the Western vassals escorted them along the way, their flags covering the sea.

This was not a conqueror returning from conquest, but the triumph of the Sovereign of the World.

No slaughtering of cities, no indiscriminate killing, no colonization, no tyranny—establishing prestige through technology, pacifying the people through benevolence, stabilizing the world through maritime power, and unifying all nations under Huaxia.

Lu Xiufu had already prepared the ascension ceremony in Dadu. The Confucian Temple was renovated, the palace was refurbished, and tens of thousands of people waited as ten thousand nations came to pay homage.

The Central Plains were at peace, the Southern Seas were secure, the Western Seas were submissive, the four seas were clear, and the hearts of the world were won.

Lin Zhou spoke softly to himself, his voice calm yet firm enough to settle the world:

"The world is forever one, and all under heaven is in Great Harmony.

From now on, wherever the sun and moon shine and wherever the rivers reach, all shall be the land of Huaxia and all shall be my subjects."

The sea breeze was mighty as the ships sailed ten thousand miles.

The Era of eternal unity had officially begun.

The age of the Huaxia Empire reigned over the globe.