Xia Weiyang's Ambition!

"What?"

"New Army Lord!!"

Ding Hao's heart trembled.

From a death row inmate, he was directly promoted to the new Army Lord of the Divine Phoenix Army!

Obviously, if he agreed, it would be a step to heaven!

But Ding Hao didn't respond directly, because Luo Shenhuang's words didn't sound like a promotion, but more like... a final arrangement!

The reason was simple!

Just as the deceased King of Northern Barbarians, Man Poshen, had said, throughout history, no emperor wanted a general who did not obey imperial orders, especially if that emperor was that bitch Xia Weiyang!

Now that the Northern Expedition was over, Xia Weiyang would definitely target Luo Shenhuang. Perhaps this immense military achievement could save Luo Shenhuang's life.

But Xia Weiyang would absolutely not allow Luo Shenhuang to lead the army again!

Unless Luo Shenhuang... led the troops to rebel!!

But if Luo Shenhuang truly had such rebellious thoughts, she wouldn't be promoting him. She was clearly preparing for a contingency should something happen to her!

"Army Lord!"

"Even if I'm freed from my death row status, I'm just a common soldier. How could I be directly promoted to Army Lord?"

So, Ding Hao shook his head and suggested, "Army Lord can promote General Ding Yishan. He is much more suitable than me!"

Unexpectedly, Luo Shenhuang shook her head and said, "Of course I considered Yishan, but it won't work. Although Yishan is the main general, his strength and prestige are not enough to suppress Zhang Dalong!"

"If I were still here, it would be fine, but if I'm not, Zhang Dalong will definitely seize power, and he might already be the Empress's man. I don't want the future Divine Phoenix Army to fall into Zhang Dalong's or even the Empress's hands!"

"At that time, let alone me, perhaps the entire Divine Phoenix Army will not fare well!"

Speaking of this, Luo Shenhuang stared intently at Ding Hao, "Only you, and only you, have the ability to contend with and even suppress Zhang Dalong!"

"Although your cultivation and qualifications are still a bit weaker now, I believe you will definitely surpass Zhang Dalong in the near future!"

"And before that, I will also have Yishan fully assist you. You must hold the Divine Phoenix Army for me. They have pacified the Northern Barbarians and are meritorious officials. They must not be killed after their usefulness is over!"

Ding Hao was silent for a long time, and couldn't help but persuade again, "Army Lord Luo, you can actually..."

"Ding Hao!"

But as soon as he spoke, Luo Shenhuang interrupted him, her expression solemn. "I know, I know what you're going to say, but don't say it!"

"I, Luo Shenhuang, have been in the army since I was thirteen. I was born a person of Great Zhou, and I will die a ghost of Great Zhou. I will never allow anyone to point fingers at my back!"

Ding Hao fell completely silent!

In fact, whether one called Luo Shenhuang foolishly loyal or pedantic!

It was all based on his perspective as a transmigrator. But for Luo Shenhuang, she was born and raised in a feudal dynasty like Great Zhou.

Her thoughts were already solidified. And this was her country. To ask her to lead troops to overthrow her own country, how difficult was that!

"I have already written your appointment letter in advance and placed it in my campaign chest, along with the Divine Phoenix Army's seal!"

"With this seal, even if the imperial court rejects this exceptional promotion, at least most of the Divine Phoenix Army soldiers will recognize it!"

As Luo Shenhuang spoke, she refilled their wine glasses. "Ding Hao, the fate of the Divine Phoenix Army will be entrusted to you from now on. With this cup, I toast you on behalf of the entire Divine Phoenix Army!"

"Alright, I'll do my best!"

Although Ding Hao wasn't one for flowery words, his tone was firm.

After clinking their glasses heavily, they both tilted their heads back and drank the wine.

But unexpectedly, the next moment, Luo Shenhuang suddenly clutched her mouth, stood up, and ran to the side, spitting out the wine she had just drunk!

"Gag~"

She continued to gag, and Ding Hao quickly went to comfort her, his eyes full of concern. "Army Lord, what's wrong?"

After a while, Luo Shenhuang felt better and shook her head with a wry smile. "Perhaps I'm not in a very good mood, and I drank too much today, so I feel a bit nauseous!"

Ding Hao didn't suspect anything and immediately stood up. "Then drink less and go back to rest."

"Okay!"

Luo Shenhuang nodded, and then left with Ding Hao accompanying her.

After that, this celebration banquet continued for three days and three nights.

And during these three days and three nights, war reports from the Northern Barbarians and a secret letter from Zhang Dalong were simultaneously presented to Xia Weiyang.

First, the war report. Xia Weiyang's expression turned ugly; there was no need to look further.

Because her spies...

had already sent back news of the Divine Phoenix Army's march on the royal court and the annihilation of the Northern Barbarians.

What angered her the most was that due to the urgent eight-hundred-mile dispatch, this news must have spread throughout the land along the way!

She could imagine how many people in the Great Zhou Dynasty were fiercely praising Luo Shenhuang's feat of destroying the Northern Barbarians!

"Zhang Dalong's secret letter? I hope that guy can give me some good news!"

Upon seeing Zhang Dalong's letter, Xia Weiyang finally showed a hint of anticipation.

However, after opening and reading it, she completely exploded in fury.

"You scoundrel! This is impossible, how can this be!"

"Ding Hao, who achieved four major military merits on the battlefield, is actually the trash who couldn't even do it fourteen times in a day!"

"He was clearly powerless before me, and I was always the one on top. He's actually a martial arts prodigy?"

"Good, good! All these tricks! You rascals! You've all been deceiving me!!"

Xia Weiyang fell into a rage and directly overturned the imperial desk!

She smashed numerous desks, chairs, and vases in the imperial study to pieces, and even had several innocent palace maids dragged out and chopped up to feed the dogs!

After venting her madness for a while, her anger finally subsided slightly!

"Wei Tong!"

"Your servant is here!"

Finally, Xia Weiyang tidied her disheveled clothes and summoned Wei Tong!

"Draft three imperial edicts for me, two overt and one covert."

"The first overt edict: Luo Shenhuang, the Army Lord of the Divine Phoenix Army, disobeyed the imperial decree and annihilated the barbarians without authorization. She is ordered to disarm and return to the capital to face her crimes. If she dares to defy the imperial decree again, she will be considered a rebel and executed without mercy!"

Executed without mercy!

The last three words were filled with chilling killing intent, which was a testament to Xia Weiyang's fury.

If not for the immense contribution in annihilating the barbarians, Xia Weiyang wouldn't even have issued this edict; she would have directly sent someone to kill Luo Shenhuang!

"The second overt edict: The death row inmate Ding Hao, although he accumulated four military merits, previously trespassed into the imperial palace and attempted to plot against me. For such a grave offense, his merits cannot offset his crimes. He will not be released from death row, nor will he be given an extraordinary promotion!"

"And the final covert edict, for Zhang Dalong, a general of the Divine Phoenix Army... You will personally deliver these three edicts. As for the covert edict, you only need to hand it over to Zhang Dalong in secret. Do you understand?"

"Understood!"

Looking at Xia Weiyang's three edicts, Wei Tong nodded heavily!

Just as he was about to leave with the edicts, Xia Weiyang called him back.

"Wait!"

When Wei Tong turned back, Xia Weiyang said with a solemn expression, "That important matter I asked you to handle when I first ascended the throne, how is it progressing?"

Wei Tong quickly replied, "Your Majesty, rest assured. Your servant has already used seventy percent of the national treasury's wealth to purchase a position as a true disciple in the Ask Immortal Sect, as per Your Majesty's wishes. Soon, the Ask Immortal Sect will send someone to bestow the token of a true disciple upon Your Majesty!"

"Mm!"

"You may go!"

Xia Weiyang nodded with satisfaction and waved her hand, dismissing Wei Tong.

She walked to the window and gazed at the vast sky outside!

Her mood gradually improved.

The world believed that she, Xia Weiyang, had ascended the throne through her beauty and greed for imperial power!

Little did they know that imperial power was merely a stepping stone for her climb. After all, in the vast Kyushu, only the strong were respected!

The sects that stood above the secular dynasties were her next target.

In the future, she aimed to become a high and mighty Celestial Being, to step into the realm of Land Immortals. That was the ultimate goal in Xia Weiyang's heart!!