Continue the Northern Expedition!

To be aware, Luo Shenhuang not only possessed superior martial prowess but also a mind full of wisdom, naturally understanding the meaning conveyed in Ding Hao's poem.

Her mind even conjured an image of herself in old age, frail and with white hair, regretting and grieving as she lit a lamp to read a silver knife in the night!

If she failed to seize this opportunity to completely crush the Northern Barbarians this time, such a scene would surely appear in her twilight years!

"Ding Hao, are you suggesting I should refuse the imperial decree to turn south and pick lychees, and instead insist on pushing north to annihilate the barbarians?"

Suddenly, Luo Shenhuang, her face full of hope, sought Ding Hao's opinion. Clearly conflicted, she wanted the younger man to give her a definitive piece of advice!

Ding Hao, however, shook his head. "Army Lord Luo, I am merely a rank-one death row inmate. My opinion is irrelevant. You must decide for yourself!"

Luo Shenhuang's beautiful eyes clearly showed her struggle. "Naturally, I feel we should press on with the northern expedition. But as a soldier of Great Zhou, obeying the decree is my duty. Furthermore, if I defy the imperial order, the soldiers of the Divine Phoenix Army might all be implicated because of me. I…"

Seeing Luo Shenhuang's conflicted expression, Ding Hao sighed inwardly.

He then said, "Army Lord, although I cannot give you a definitive recommendation, would you be willing to listen to a story I tell?"

"A story?"

Luo Shenhuang's expression faltered, and the next moment, Ding Hao began. "The protagonist of this story is named Yue Fei, courtesy name Pengju…"

Following that.

Ding Hao recounted the story of Yue Fei from his previous life, who resisted the Jurchens but was ultimately framed and met a tragic end.

After listening, Luo Shenhuang's inner thoughts were clearly profoundly impacted!

Her face flushed with anger. "This General Yue Fei had the chance to completely expel the Jurchens and prevent the Great Song from suffering further harm from them, yet in the end, he was framed and met such an end. It's too tragic!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Luo Shenhuang's expression turned completely stunned. She finally understood why Ding Hao had told her this story!

It was because her current predicament was strikingly similar to Yue Fei's in the story.

She was even more unfortunate than Yue Fei, because Yue Fei was targeted only by treacherous officials, whereas Luo Shenhuang was targeted by the Empress of Great Zhou herself!

At this moment, she finally grasped the meaning Ding Hao wanted to convey.

She could obey the decree, she could be foolishly loyal, she could go south to pick lychees, but from then on, she and the Divine Phoenix Army would have no good outcome!

Conversely, by seizing the current opportunity and power, she could go all out to annihilate the Northern Barbarians. With overwhelming military achievements, she might even be able to protect herself!

"Ding Hao, thank you!"

Finally, Luo Shenhuang softly thanked Ding Hao. Her beautiful eyes no longer showed any conflict, only determination!

"You don't need to thank me. You've simply followed your own heart!"

Ding Hao shook his head, secretly letting out a sigh of relief!

After all, Luo Shenhuang's insistence on the northern expedition was most aligned with his own interests!

This was precisely why he had composed the poem and told the story of serving the country with utmost loyalty.

However, he would never give Luo Shenhuang explicit advice on such matters. Otherwise, if anything went wrong, he would be the first to die!

The next day, in the early morning.

Luo Shenhuang summoned all the soldiers, including the death row camp.

She stood on the reviewing stand, clad in golden armor, a silver saber at her waist, her red cloak fluttering in the wind behind her, exuding an exceptionally heroic and valiant aura.

Below, chaos had already erupted due to the imperial decree that had been read out.

"All soldiers, the northern expedition is on the verge of success, but the Empress in the imperial court has ordered us to cease hostilities and head south to pick lychees!"

"Tell me, are you willing to cease hostilities? Are you willing to go pick lychees?"

At this moment, after Luo Shenhuang's stern question to the entire army, a uniform roar instantly echoed through the ten-mile military camp.

"Not willing!"

"Not willing!"

"Not willing!"

Among them, the death row camp where Ding Hao was located shouted the loudest!

As if!

If they stopped the northern expedition to go south and pick lychees, the death row camp would instantly gain over ten thousand more heads. None of them were willing!

"Very well!"

Luo Shenhuang raised her arm, and the entire army immediately fell silent. She continued, "Yesterday, someone said a sentence to me that I find very fitting: 'When a general is in the field, he may not obey the emperor's command.'"

"Our Divine Phoenix Army came to the northern border to eliminate the barbarians, to ensure that the eight million people in the northern region would no longer suffer from barbarian aggression!"

"To hell with picking lychees, to hell with the imperial decree! Those willing to defy the decree and continue the northern expedition with me, step forward. Those unwilling, I will not force you; you may leave now!"

Stomp!

As soon as Luo Shenhuang finished speaking.

Ninety percent of the soldiers present stepped forward in unison.

Only Zhang Dalong and some of the soldiers under him did not move.

Clearly unwilling, but in the next moment, everyone's gaze fell upon Zhang Dalong and those who had not moved!

For a moment, even Zhang Dalong felt immense pressure!

Clearly, he was unwilling to defy the imperial decree. After all, his family wasn't in the northern territories, so even if the barbarians returned, it wouldn't concern him.

But he knew.

If he left today, he would never have another chance to return to the Divine Phoenix Army, and his status would plummet from that moment on!

After hesitating for a moment, Zhang Dalong finally took a step forward, and the soldiers behind him quickly followed suit!

Luo Shenhuang merely glanced at Zhang Dalong expressionlessly.

Finally, she drew the silver saber at her waist, raised her arms, and shouted, "Soldiers, from now on, follow this Army Lord and continue the northern expedition!"

"Kill!!"

"Kill!!"

"Kill!!"

Instantly, all the soldiers of the Divine Phoenix Army erupted in deafening battle cries!

That day, the Divine Phoenix Army broke camp and, like a surging torrent, charged towards the Northern Barbarian Royal Court, two thousand miles away!

Along the way, there were naturally many barbarian cities and strongholds, such as Tulu City, Man Niu Pass, Beisha Ancient Town, and so on.

Some regions had even integrated a significant portion of the previously defeated main Northern Barbarian forces!

In response.

The Divine Phoenix Army showed no mercy, attacking cities on sight and breaking through passes!

They adopted an attitude of not ceasing their efforts until the Northern Barbarians were completely annihilated!

And since even the Northern Barbarians' 300,000-strong army couldn't stop the Divine Phoenix Army, these cities and passes naturally couldn't halt their progress!

However, very quickly.

News of the Divine Phoenix Army ignoring the imperial court's decree and continuing their northern expedition against the barbarians spread back into Great Zhou, especially to the imperial palace.

Even more ironically.

This news was actually transmitted back by scouts sent by the Northern Barbarians.

Their report sternly accused the Great Zhou Divine Phoenix Army of violating wartime ethics, claiming that although the Great Zhou imperial court had ceased hostilities, they were still attacking!

They also uttered a damning statement:

"In this vast Great Zhou Dynasty, does Empress Weiyang have the final say, or does the Army Lord of the Divine Phoenix Army, Luo Shenhuang?"

Finally.

When all this news and secret reports reached Xia Weiyang's ears.

Xia Weiyang, in her fury, smashed the dragon desk in the Golden Palace Hall to pieces, her angry shouts causing all the civil and military officials to tremble!

"Insolent!"

"Does Luo Shenhuang intend to... rebel?!"