"This battle was finally... about to begin!"
"Send word to Xu Yi."
Xu Yi, who had been away for a long time, had now returned to his family.
Because of the family's special status, he was the only one in the entire family to hold an official post.
Now that they knew he had accomplished so much—and such great feats—alongside Xu Nian'an,
the Xu Family members were holding a victory banquet to celebrate Xu Yi's return.
In a vast courtyard, more than a dozen large tables had been set out, with Xu Family members eating at them.
The Xu Family was quite unusual. The royal line had also originated from this family, but the late emperor had feared that powerful in-laws might grow too influential, so he had restricted them from holding office.
They only took over outsourced businesses from the kingdom... now the empire.
In other words, they helped the royal family sell various goods and controlled most of the empire's lucrative businesses. Although nearly 99.99 percent of the profits had to be handed over to the royal family, just the family name alone was enough to guarantee them a lifetime of wealth and prosperity.
Clip-clop, clip-clop~!!!
Half an hour after Xu Nian'an gave the order, the Imperial Guard appeared at the Xu Family residence.
"Commander, His Majesty wishes to see you!"
The lively banquet came to an abrupt halt, and everyone looked in unison toward the figure beside the seat of honor.
Whoosh~!
The man didn't hesitate for a moment. He straightened his clothes and raised his right index finger to his lips.
Shrill~!!!
The next instant, a piercing whistle rang out.
Clip-clop, clip-clop~!!!
Before long, a tall, sleek black steed emerged from the stable.
It reared its forelegs high, easily leapt over the fence, and swiftly came to a stop before Xu Yi.
Without the slightest hesitation, Xu Yi swung himself onto the horse.
He glanced around at everyone in the courtyard.
"Everyone, the military situation is urgent. I'm afraid Xu Yi can't stay and dine with you."
At last, Xu Yi turned his gaze to the seat of honor and the woman beside it.
"Father, Mother, take care."
"Hyah!!!"
After galloping for dozens of minutes, Xu Yi noticed many people in Flying Fish Robes carrying Xiuchun Sabers near the imperial palace.
At the palace gates.
"Routine inspection. Dismount!"
Just as Xu Yi was about to enter the palace, a person in a Flying Fish Robe, holding a Xiuchun Saber, stopped him.
Xu Yi was taken aback and was about to exchange pleasantries, but seeing the other man's cold expression and righteous bearing—and remembering that this was the palace entrance—he decided against it.
He showed the other man his Imperial Guard commander's token.
Then he looked at him curiously.
"Hey, brother, are you new recruits hired by His Majesty?"
"What's your position? What exactly do you do?"
The Brocade Guard member returned Xu Yi's token.
"As fellow personal guards of His Majesty, the Brocade Guard oversees a rather wide range of duties: prisons, capturing criminals, investigations, interrogations, and monitoring officials."
At those words, Xu Yi shuddered.
Everyone knew that His Majesty loathed officials who secretly formed cliques for personal gain.
The scene of the previous administration's officials being executed was still fresh in his mind.
If his political views hadn't been correct, and if he hadn't been unwaveringly loyal to the royal family, wouldn't he have ended up among those officials?
Xu Yi hurriedly cupped his hands, then quickly left.
Not long after entering the palace, Xu Yi noticed something else unusual: there were many eunuchs in the palace whom he'd never seen before.
These eunuchs were unlike the ones he'd seen in the past; each had a long saber at his waist.
"Stop!"
As Xu Yi tried to continue deeper into the palace, a group of eunuchs surrounded him.
Xu Yi frowned.
"If you wish to see His Majesty, please hand over your saber, sir."
Xu Yi said nothing and simply removed the long saber from his waist.
Though Martial Souls in this world were countless times more powerful than these blades, spears, swords, and halberds, this was simply their duty.
If they saw a weapon, they had to confiscate it.
Ming Emperor Hall.
When Xu Yi arrived, he wasn't the only one there with Xu Nian'an. There were also Brocade Guard members in Flying Fish Robes carrying Xiuchun Sabers, as well as armed eunuchs.
Of course, there was also a black-robed elder whom even Xu Yi had only met a few times: a Holy Spirit Cult elder with the title of Titled Douluo.
"Your Majesty, everyone is here."
The next instant, a soft, feminine voice rang out.
On the throne, Xu Nian'an slowly opened his eyes.
"Xu Yi, hear my decree!"
Thud!
Xu Yi dropped to both knees without hesitation, his forehead touching the ground. His whole body trembled with excitement.
Commander of the Imperial Guard: it was a high-ranking post among military officers, but one without much real power. Yet, being at His Majesty's side made it a prestigious position.
It was a post people both loved and hated.
Now Xu Nian'an was about to promote him. How could he not be thrilled?
"For suppressing Gu Lei, bringing Xingyao under our control, and campaigning south against Benlang, I hereby appoint you Nation-Suppressing General of the Great Ming Empire!"
As soon as the words fell, Xu Nian'an flipped his right hand, and a Golden Dragon Phantom Imperial Seal appeared in it.
He slammed it down in midair onto the imperial edict before him.
Thud~!
Rumble!!!!
Crack~!!!
Xu Yi's expression changed as he knelt on the ground. The Soul Power within his body surged wildly.
As though spurred by something, a golden light descended upon him.
Xu Yi's Soul Power, which had been above level sixty, suddenly surged to level seventy!
"???"
"Words become law once stamped?"
"Holy crap!"
Xu Nian'an seemed to have discovered a bug, but this wasn't the time to test it.
"I command you to lead 150,000 Dragon Guards, 100,000 Imperial Guards, and 100,000 militia (recruited in Great Ming earlier), for a total force of 350,000, to suppress the unrest at the border!"
Whoosh~
Xu Yi bowed his head sharply and accepted the imperial edict, his face flushed with excitement.
"Your subject guarantees he will suppress the border unrest and drive them all out of Great Ming's territory!"
Drive them out of Great Ming's territory?
A cruel smile curled Xu Nian'an's lips. They dared to cross the 38th Parallel without permission.
And they still expected to retreat unharmed?
Would the 300,000 Great Snow Dragon Cavalry let them?
Xu Nian'an intended to make the Heaven Dou Empire hurt this time and grind their pride into the dirt!
"I hereby designate the Holy Spirit Cult as the Nation-Protecting Divine Sect, and order them to follow the Nation-Suppressing General in quelling this unrest!"
Hearing this, the Holy Spirit Cult elder made no move, merely nodding slightly.
"You may withdraw."
After the calm voice fell, the others quickly left.
Once they had all departed, Xu Nian'an turned and went to the desk, where he swiftly wrote out the words Lord of Creation.
He pressed the Great Ming Imperial Seal down hard.
Once, twice, three times... he stamped it dozens of times. Xu Nian'an closed his eyes, ready to feel his Soul Power surge.
But the palace remained silent.
Holy crap!!!!
Damn it!
As Xu Yi led the Dragon Guards, 100,000 militia, and the Imperial Guard away, the north was suddenly struck by a cold wave.
Snow began to fall from the June sky, and it soon became a blizzard.
Amid the blizzard, an endless column of troops appeared at the border of Great Ming, slowly advancing beneath the Sun and Moon Flag.