Xia Weiyang's Ambition!

"What?"

"The new Army Lord?!"

Ding Hao's heart jolted.

From a condemned prisoner, he was being directly promoted to the new Army Lord of the Divine Phoenix Army!

Clearly, if he agreed, he would soar to the heavens in a single step!

But Ding Hao did not answer at once, because Luo Shenhuang's words sounded less like a promotion and more like... final arrangements.

The reason was simple!

Just as the dead King of Northern Barbarians, Man Poshen, had said, since ancient times, no emperor had been willing to tolerate a general beyond imperial command—especially when that emperor was that bitch Xia Weiyang!

Now that the northern campaign was over, Xia Weiyang would certainly move against Luo Shenhuang. Perhaps these towering military merits could spare Luo Shenhuang from death.

But Xia Weiyang would absolutely never allow Luo Shenhuang to command an army again!

Unless Luo Shenhuang—led her troops in rebellion!!

But if Luo Shenhuang truly harbored thoughts of rebellion, she would not be promoting him. Clearly, she was making preparations in advance in case something happened to her!

"Army Lord!"

"Even if I am no longer a condemned prisoner, I am merely an ordinary soldier. How could I possibly be promoted in one leap to Army Lord?"

Thus, Ding Hao shook his head and suggested, "Army Lord, you can promote General Ding Yishan. He is far more suitable than I am!"

To his surprise, Luo Shenhuang shook her head. "I naturally considered Yishan, but it will not work. Though Yishan is a commanding general, neither his strength nor prestige can suppress Zhang Dalong!"

"If I am here, it is fine. But if I am not, Zhang Dalong will surely seize power. For all we know, he may already be the Empress's man. I do not want the Divine Phoenix Army to fall into Zhang Dalong's hands—or even the Empress's—in the future!"

"When that time comes, forget about me. Perhaps the entire Divine Phoenix Army will meet no good end!"

At this point, Luo Shenhuang fixed her eyes on Ding Hao. "Only you—only you—have the ability to contend with Zhang Dalong and even suppress him!"

"Though your cultivation and seniority are still somewhat lacking, I believe that before long, you will surely surpass Zhang Dalong!"

"And before that, I will have Yishan assist you with all his strength. You must hold the Divine Phoenix Army steady for me. They pacified the Northern Barbarians and are meritorious subjects; they must never be slaughtered once the hare is dead and the hounds are cooked!"

Ding Hao was silent for a long while before he could not help urging again, "Army Lord Luo, actually, you could..."

"Ding Hao!"

But before he could finish, Luo Shenhuang cut him off, her expression heavy. "I know. I know what you want to say, but say no more!"

"I, Luo Shenhuang, joined the army at thirteen. In life, I am a citizen of Great Zhou; in death, I am a ghost of Great Zhou. I will never let others point at my spine and condemn me!"

Ding Hao fell completely silent!

Whether Luo Shenhuang was blindly loyal or simply stubborn and old-fashioned!

That was only what he, a transmigrator, would say. But for Luo Shenhuang, who had been born and raised in a feudal dynasty like Great Zhou—

Her beliefs had long since taken root. And this was her country. Asking her to lead troops and overthrow her own nation—how difficult was that!

"I have already drafted your Appointment Letter and placed it in my campaign chest. I have also stamped it with the Divine Phoenix Army's seal!"

"With this army seal, even if the imperial court refuses this exceptional promotion, at least most of the Divine Phoenix Army's soldiers will acknowledge it!"

As she spoke, Luo Shenhuang filled their two cups again. "Ding Hao, the fate of the Divine Phoenix Army will be entrusted to you from now on. For this cup, I drink to you on behalf of the entire Divine Phoenix Army!"

"Alright. I will do my utmost!"

Ding Hao had never been one to make absolute promises, but his words were firm.

After clinking their cups heavily, the two raised their heads and drained the wine in one gulp!

But who would have thought that the next moment, Luo Shenhuang suddenly covered her mouth, rose, and ran to the side, vomiting up the wine she had just drunk!

"Bleurgh—"

Afterward, she kept dry-heaving. Ding Hao hurried over to pat her back, concern filling his eyes. "Army Lord, what is wrong?"

Luo Shenhuang rested for a while before finally feeling better. She shook her head with a bitter smile. "Perhaps my mood is not very good. And I drank too much today, so my stomach is a little upset!"

Ding Hao did not suspect anything else and immediately stood. "Then drink less. Go back and rest first!"

"Alright!"

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

Afterward, the victory banquet continued for three days and three nights.

And during those three days and nights, the battle report from the Northern Barbarians and Zhang Dalong's secret letter were delivered to Xia Weiyang at the same time.

First came the battle report. Xia Weiyang's expression darkened, and there was no longer any need for her to read it.

Because her spies—

Had already sent back news that the Divine Phoenix Army had trampled the royal court and destroyed the Northern Barbarians.

What enraged her most was that, because it was an Urgent Dispatch, the news would certainly have spread throughout the land along the way!

She could already imagine how many people across Great Zhou were now fervently praising Luo Shenhuang's feat of annihilating the Northern Barbarians!

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

Only upon seeing Zhang Dalong's letter did Xia Weiyang reveal a trace of anticipation.

Yet after opening and reading it, she flew into a complete rage.

"Bastard! Impossible! How could this be possible!"

"That Ding Hao, who repeatedly won the Four Great Military Merits on the battlefield, is actually that useless piece of trash who could not even manage fourteen times in a single day!"

"Before me, he clearly did not even have the strength to truss a chicken! Every time, I was even the one on top! He is actually a martial arts prodigy?"

"Good, very good! Those rebel generals! Those vile commoners! They were all deceiving me!!"

Xia Weiyang was consumed by fury and directly overturned the dragon desk with one sweep!

The many tables, chairs, and vases in the imperial study were smashed to pieces. She even dragged out several innocent palace maids, chopped them into pieces, and fed them to the dogs!

Only after venting madly for half the day did her anger subside somewhat!

"Wei Tong!"

"This servant is here!"

At last, Xia Weiyang straightened her disheveled robes and summoned Wei Tong!

"Draft three decrees for me—two public, one secret!"

"The first public decree: Luo Shenhuang, Army Lord of the Divine Phoenix Army, disregarded the imperial order and exterminated the barbarians without authorization. Order her to remove her armor, cast aside her blade, and return to the capital to answer for her crimes. If she dares defy the imperial order again, treat her as a rebel and execute without mercy!"

Execute without mercy!

The final three words brimmed with chilling killing intent, showing just how furious Xia Weiyang was.

If not for the immense merit of destroying the barbarians, Xia Weiyang would not even have issued this decree. She would have directly sent people to kill Luo Shenhuang!

"The second public decree: Condemned prisoner Ding Hao, though he has amassed the Four Great Military Merits, once broke into the imperial palace at night with intent to act improperly toward me. Such a grave criminal's merits cannot outweigh his crimes. He is not to be released from condemned-prisoner status, nor is he to receive an exceptional promotion!"

"The final secret decree is for Divine Phoenix Army general Zhang Dalong... You will personally lead men to deliver these three decrees. As for the secret decree, you need only secretly hand it to Zhang Dalong. Do you understand?"

"I understand!"

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

He was just about to leave with them when Xia Weiyang called him back!

"Wait!"

When Wei Tong turned around, Xia Weiyang's expression became solemn. "How is that important matter I had you handle as soon as I took the throne progressing?"

Wei Tong quickly replied, "Rest assured, Your Majesty. Following Your Majesty's wishes, this servant has long used seventy percent of the national treasury's treasures to purchase the position of a true disciple of the Ask Immortal Sect. Before long, the Ask Immortal Sect will send someone to bestow upon Your Majesty the token of a true disciple!"

"Mm!"

"Go!"

Only then did Xia Weiyang nod in satisfaction and wave Wei Tong away.

She walked to the window and gazed into the boundless sky beyond!

Her mood gradually improved.

The world thought that Xia Weiyang had risen to power through her beauty and craved imperial authority!

Little did they know that imperial authority was merely one link in her climb upward. After all, in the vast world of the Nine Provinces, only the strong could be revered!

The sects that stood above mortal dynasties were her next target!

In the future, she would rise to become a lofty Celestial Being and set foot in the realm of Land Immortals. That was Xia Weiyang's ultimate goal!!