Zhang Dalong Seizes Power!

"Was it some country bumpkin encountered on the march? Or one of your Divine Phoenix Army's soldiers? It couldn't possibly be from the Barbarian tribes, could it?"

"Hahaha!" Xia Weiyang was laughing triumphantly, but in the next moment, Luo Shenhuang suddenly said, "It's Ding Hao's!"

"What did you say?" Xia Weiyang's smile froze on her face!

Luo Shenhuang explained, "Back on the battlefield, Ding Hao, as Breaker of Formations, carried me out of the barbarian army's encirclement. I had been poisoned by Man Potian's aphrodisiac, and Ding Hao helped me detoxify. But what I didn't expect was that after just one night, I became pregnant!"

Hearing this.

Xia Weiyang's smile had already vanished, and her expression began to turn grim!

Luo Shenhuang continued as if unaware, "But I heard Ding Hao say that you kept him confined in the deep palace for over three months, almost demanding him every day, yet your belly showed no signs of life!"

"So you accused Ding Hao of having problems, called him useless for failing to impregnate you, and in a fit of anger, demoted him to a death row inmate..."

"Stop talking!" Suddenly, the grim-faced Xia Weiyang roared!

Luo Shenhuang ignored her and continued, "Now it seems the problem isn't with Ding Hao, but with you, Xia Weiyang!"

"Could it be that you, Xia Weiyang, have committed so many evil deeds that Heaven has long since cursed you to be barren!"

As soon as Luo Shenhuang finished speaking, Xia Weiyang's expression had already turned completely dark, and an unprecedented killing intent appeared on her face.

She almost growled, "Luo Shenhuang! You are courting death!!"

"Courting death?"

Luo Shenhuang stroked her belly, a resolute expression appearing on her face!

If it were before she knew she was pregnant, then courting death would be courting death!

She had already defeated the Northern Barbarians and fulfilled her ideal of protecting her home and country. Apart from her fated connection with Ding Hao, she had no regrets!

But now!!

She was carrying Ding Hao's child, and not just one, but twins!

These two new lives gave her new meaning at this moment!

She could die for her lord, but what about the two children in her womb?

They hadn't even arrived in this world, and were they going to perish with her?

She could not die!

For the sake of her two children, she had to live, and live well!

Thus, she completely suppressed what Ding Hao would call blind loyalty to the throne, her expression becoming unprecedentedly strong and firm!

"Xia Weiyang, I'm telling you!"

"Before I returned to the court, I had already made all the arrangements!"

"If I suffer even the slightest harm upon my return to the court, Ding Hao will immediately lead the Divine Phoenix Army to counter-attack Great Zhou. The Divine Phoenix Army I built can defeat the Northern Barbarians, and it can also defeat Great Zhou!"

Listening to these words, which were no longer disguised as rebellion, Xia Weiyang became even more furious, "Scoundrel, you truly intend to rebel!"

"Hmph! When the ruler forces the minister to rebel, the minister naturally has no choice but to—rebel!"

Luo Shenhuang snorted coldly, her battle-hardened aura permeating the imperial study, subtly suppressing Xia Weiyang's imperial might!

It truly embodied the idiom—"merit overshadowing the sovereign"!

Xia Weiyang's face had already turned ashen, but in a moment, she let out a cold laugh.

"Heh heh, Luo Shenhuang, do you think you're the only one who's laid out contingency plans!"

"Let me tell you, I've also planted my pawns within your Divine Phoenix Army long ago!"

Unexpectedly, Luo Shenhuang said directly, "It's Zhang Dalong, isn't it?"

"Oh? You knew?" Luo Shenhuang was surprised and uncertain, but then she shook her head, "Even if you knew, it's useless. You ultimately didn't make a move against this foremost general of the Divine Phoenix Army, did you!"

"Before escorting you back, I issued a secret decree for him to open it three days after your departure and receive the imperial order!"

"If nothing goes wrong, he should be opening the imperial decree today. Once he receives it, he will take control of the Divine Phoenix Army that you personally built, with the position of Army Lord of the Divine Phoenix Army. Of course, there might be some who refuse, but if they refuse, I command him to execute them all!"

Saying this, Xia Weiyang regained her smug expression, "Hmph, once Zhang Dalong controls the Divine Phoenix Army, I'll see what capital you have left as a mere nominal Army Lord to threaten me!"

"Is that so? It is indeed a good plan, but I bet Zhang Dalong will fail!"

Luo Shenhuang said with conviction, but Xia Weiyang was disdainful!

Fail?

Zhang Dalong was known as the foremost general of the Divine Phoenix Army. In terms of strength and prestige within the Divine Phoenix Army, besides Luo Shenhuang herself, he was the one!

If he stepped forward to lead the army, he would surely be met with a hundred responses. How could he possibly fail!

But Xia Weiyang was too lazy to argue with Luo Shenhuang any further, "Very well, very well!"

"Then let us wait and see if Zhang Dalong will fail!"

With that.

Xia Weiyang ordered someone to escort Luo Shenhuang into the deep palace and place her under house arrest for the time being!

Meanwhile, at Duan Yun Pass in the northern territory, the Divine Phoenix Army's camp.

Ever since Luo Shenhuang was taken away, the entire Divine Phoenix Army had been restless for the past three days. Countless soldiers sharpened their blades, creating a heavy atmosphere, like the calm before a storm!

However, compared to this overt tension, even more turbulent undercurrents were surging in the hidden depths!

Within the main tent of the Mad Dragon Camp.

Before dawn that day, the moment the rooster crowed, Zhang Dalong, who had been awake all night and pacing, suddenly stopped!

He decisively unfurled the imperial edict he had received from Wei Tong three days prior!

"By the Mandate of Heaven, from the Empress, it is decreed: General Zhang Dalong of the Divine Phoenix Army is hereby appointed as the Army Lord of the Divine Phoenix Army, to control the Divine Phoenix Army. Any who disobey shall be considered rebels and purged on the spot!"

Whoosh!

After reading the imperial edict, Zhang Dalong's spirit surged, his breathing quickening!

Army Lord!

He had become the Army Lord!

And he was officially appointed by the court, with its seal of approval!

"Hahahaha, I, Zhang Dalong, have finally... made it!"

Finally, Zhang Dalong couldn't help but let out a burst of wild laughter!

After laughing for an unknown duration, he finally restrained his smile and ordered, "All soldiers of the Mad Dragon Camp, to this General... no, to this Army Lord, assemble!!"

In a short moment, the twenty thousand soldiers of the Mad Dragon Camp assembled in the camp's training grounds!

Zhang Dalong immediately produced the imperial edict and had it read aloud. Instantly, the twenty thousand soldiers of the Mad Dragon Camp erupted in fervent cheers!

"My esteemed soldiers, I, Zhang Dalong, have been ordered by the Empress to become the new Army Lord of the Divine Phoenix Army. As my old subordinates, as long as you support me, this Army Lord will absolutely not treat you unfairly!"

"However, there will undoubtedly be some short-sighted rebels within the Divine Phoenix Army who are unwilling to recognize me, Zhang Dalong, as their Army Lord!"

"Therefore, this Army Lord now needs you to clear the obstacles and eliminate the rebels for me!!"

Zhang Dalong spoke righteously, appearing loyal!

Not to mention that the Mad Dragon Camp was cultivated by Zhang Dalong himself, even if they weren't, with the imperial edict above them, they could only follow!

Thus.

The Mad Dragon Camp unanimously declared, "We swear to follow Army Lord Zhang to the death!"

"Good!"

Zhang Dalong's expression brightened, and he immediately issued his first military order.

"The entire army will advance immediately and follow this Army Lord to the Death Row Camp to execute the first rebel – Ding Hao!!"

If you find this book good, remember to add it to your bookshelf to avoid losing it next time.