Six Hundred Thousand Troops Set Out; Wang Hao Kills a General Before the Battle to Establish Military Prestige

Before dawn, the outskirts of the Great Zhou capital were already filled with iron, blood, and a chilling aura of death.

The military camp, stretching for hundreds of miles, was like a black behemoth slumbering in the morning mist.

When the first ray of morning light tore through the clouds, the war drums boomed.

"Boom—!"

"Boom—!"

"Boom—!"

Each beat was deeper and heavier than the last, as if striking the hearts of everyone present.

In front of the general-appointing platform on the outskirts of the capital, an army of six hundred thousand stood in formation.

The fifty guards of the capital's elite garrison, with black armor surging like a tide, spears standing like a forest, and banners obscuring the sun.

The "Guest Elder Legion," cobbled together by the major sects and aristocratic families of the Demon Suppression Alliance, was forcibly integrated into the various military formations. Those sect elders, who were usually aloof and high above, were now wearing the standard battle armor issued by the Great Zhou, their faces looking worse than if their own fathers had died.

They were once the pillars of their sects.

Now, they were high-level consumables of the Great Zhou Western Expedition Army, with clear identification numbers, transparent military pay, and death compensation settled according to contribution points.

The most miserable were those geniuses.

Xiao Chen, Ye Guyun, Wanyan Gu, Qin Hongye, and others were organized into the "Demon Suppression Youth Department Vanguard Battalion," standing at the very front, with a glaring crimson battle flag planted behind them.

Four large words were written on the flag—

Vanguard Will Win.

Xiao Chen glanced at it, the corner of his mouth twitching.

"This flag is unlucky."

Ye Guyun was expressionless: "Why?"

Xiao Chen was silent for a moment, then said: "Because usually, those who write this kind of thing are preparing to let others die."

Next to him, Wanyan Gu, carrying a large axe, sneered: "You say it as if you just found out now. In the eyes of that dog emperor, our group probably isn't even considered human."

Qin Hongye glanced at him: "Watch your words."

Wanyan Gu was taken aback: "Are you scared?"

Qin Hongye said indifferently: "Not scared, but he'll deduct performance points."

Wanyan Gu immediately shut his mouth.

A sense of absurd sorrow rose simultaneously in everyone's hearts.

Once upon a time, they were the geniuses of the Eastern Wasteland, praised wherever they went.

Now, their greatest fear had shifted from "dying on the battlefield" to "having performance points deducted by Wang Hao."

This world was truly damn magical.

The general-appointing platform was thirty zhang high, cast from profound iron, with dragon patterns and demon-suppressing talisman arrays carved on all four sides.

Below the platform, thirty thousand imperial guards lined up on both sides, their armor bright and their killing intent chilling.

On the platform, Wei Zhongxian, Yuhuatian, Cao Zhengchun, and other trusted eunuchs stood on both sides of the throne, their expressions solemn.

The three women who had just been forcibly canonized as "Temporary Regent Empresses," Shen Xue, Yun Meng, and Ren Mingyue, sat beneath the canopy behind them.

Shen Xue, in white clothes whiter than snow, was expressionless, the chill around her making the nearby palace maids shiver.

Yun Meng's face clearly said, "I want to kill someone but I don't dare."

Ren Mingyue, on the other hand, had her head lowered, flipping through a thick military supplies ledger, growing more silent the more she read.

The daily consumption of spirit stones, pills, provisions, talisman arrows, and talisman cannon ammunition by the six hundred thousand-strong army was an astronomical figure.

And now, all these accounts were under her management.

She finally understood why Wang Hao had given her the title of "Regent Empress."

It wasn't for honor and favor.

It was to make her work overtime legally.

"The Emperor has arrived—!"

A shrill voice that pierced the clouds rang out.

The next moment, all the drumbeats stopped simultaneously.

The world went silent.

Wang Hao appeared.

He wore black dragon-patterned battle armor, a New Son of Heaven Sword hanging from his waist, and a black cape billowing in the morning wind behind him, like a curtain of night pressing toward the west.

His aura didn't seem exaggerated.

In fact, overtly, he was only at the peak of the Qi Gathering Realm.

But it was precisely this young emperor at the "peak of the Qi Gathering Realm" who, as he stepped onto the general-appointing platform step by step, made the entire six hundred thousand-strong army not dare to make the slightest sound.

Because everyone knew.

This guy's cultivation realm couldn't be judged by normal standards.

He appeared to be at the peak of Qi Gathering, but behind their backs, he could crush a blood pupil formed by a Martial God's aura.

Who would dare to believe this?

But they had seen it with their own eyes.

Wang Hao stood on the general-appointing platform, his gaze sweeping over the audience.

That gaze wasn't sharp, but it made everyone tense up.

It was like an invisible knife was pressed against their throats.

[Ding!]

[Detected that the host has arrived at the special sign-in location: Great Zhou Capital Outskirts General-Appointing Platform.]

[Sign in?]

A hint of a smile flashed imperceptibly in the depths of Wang Hao's eyes.

"Sign in."

[Sign in successful. Reward: 30 million shi of polished rice.]

[Obtained: Initial stage battlefield intelligence for the Western Regions border.]

[Intelligence 1: Three days later, in the Blood Centipede Gorge area of the Western Regions, the evil demons of the Western Regions will set up an ambush near the Earth Vein Evil Eye. The ambush force consists of about three thousand, including twenty-four seventh-tier anomalies and over one thousand seven hundred evil demon cultivators.]

[Intelligence 2: The Commander of the Thirty-Second Guard of the Great Zhou, Chen Chenglie, has been secretly bought off by the Heavenly Secret Pavilion. During the oath-taking ceremony, he will use "an empty rear" as an excuse to shake the military's morale. His family's secret vault contains three Heavenly Secret Pavilion Mithril Talisman Tokens.]

[Intelligence 3: After the New Son of Heaven Sword devoured the remains of the Nightmares in the Yanshan Secret Realm, the activity level of its artifact spirit personality has increased and is about to enter an unstable shape-shifting stage. It is recommended that the host use it with caution.]

Wang Hao raised his eyebrows slightly.

Caution?

Heh.

In his dictionary of life, those two words had never existed.

He raised his hand.

Wei Zhongxian immediately stepped forward and handed over an oath-taking edict that had been prepared in advance.

Wang Hao didn't look at it.

He just stood in the center of the general-appointing platform, looking down at the six hundred thousand-strong army. His voice, amplified by the sound amplification array, instantly spread throughout the world.

"Soldiers of the various armies!"

"My western expedition today is not to seize land, nor to plunder wealth."

"My western expedition today is to collect a debt from the evil demons of the Western Regions for the billions of humans in the Eastern Wasteland!"

"The anomaly tide in the Northern Territory piled up mountains of flesh and blood. The Heavenly Secret Pavilion colluded with evil entities, and the Heavenly Dao Alliance betrayed the human race. If I don't settle this account, who will?"

"If the Western Regions hide demons, I will flatten the Western Regions."

"If the Heavenly Secret Pavilion claims to be the heavens, I will sever the heavens!"

Boom!

The vital energy and blood of the six hundred thousand-strong army surged, and above the military formations, streaks of blood-red smoke shot into the sky.

"Sever the heavens!"

"Sever the heavens!"

"Sever the heavens!"

The roars were like an ocean, shaking the outskirts of the capital.

Although those forcibly conscripted sect cultivators were reluctant in their hearts, at this moment, they were also swept up by this overwhelming momentum, their hot blood rushing to their heads.

They had to admit.

Although Wang Hao was black-hearted, ruthless, thick-skinned, and had a moral bottom line as low as a gutter, when he stood on the general-appointing platform, he truly looked like an emperor who could drag the whole world onto his war chariot.

However, just as the atmosphere of the oath-taking ceremony was pushed to its climax—

A figure suddenly stepped out from the military formation.

It was a middle-aged general wearing crimson-gold battle armor, with a resolute face and a majestic aura, clearly at the peak of the True Intent Realm.

The Commander of the Thirty-Second Guard, Marquis Suiyuan Chen Chenglie.

The Chen family had been a family of generals for generations. Their ancestors had followed the Great Zhou's founding emperor to establish the nation, achieving illustrious military exploits.

Chen Chenglie himself had also guarded the Northern Territory for twenty years, holding extremely high prestige in the army.

As soon as he stepped out, the expressions of many old generals changed slightly.

Chen Chenglie arrived below the general-appointing platform, knelt on one knee, and spoke in a deep voice:

"Your Majesty!"

"This subordinate has something to say!"

The air instantly went quiet.

Wei Zhongxian's eyes narrowed slightly.

Yuhuatian's hand was already pressing on his embroidered spring saber.

However, a gentle smile appeared on Wang Hao's face.

"Beloved Minister Chen is a veteran general of the nation. If you have something to say, feel free to speak."

Chen Chenglie kept his head lowered, his voice steady and loud, clearly intending for the entire army to hear.

"Your Majesty, this subordinate believes that while the expedition of a six hundred thousand-strong army to the Western Regions is certainly for the great cause of the human race,"

"But right now, the eerie tides in the Northern Territory have not ceased, and the Tianji Pavilion is secretly spying on us. Although the Great Zhou capital is overseen by three regency empresses, the rear is vulnerable after all."

"If the eerie tides rise again in the North at this time, or if scoundrels take the opportunity to cause chaos, Great Zhou will be attacked from both the front and the back. I fear the consequences would be unimaginable."

"I implore Your Majesty to reconsider!"

As his words fell, a slight commotion indeed rippled through the military formation.

"What Marquis Chen said is not unreasonable."

"All six hundred thousand troops are leaving; what will happen to the capital?"

"If something happens in the North again..."

"Shh! Do you have a death wish?"

Rumors spread like the wind at the edge of the army formation.

The sect cultivators of the Demon Subduing Alliance had flickering eyes.

They didn't want to go to the Western Regions to die in the first place.

Now that a veteran general of the army had stepped forward, they were naturally happy to sit back and watch the show.

On the command platform, Shen Xue frowned slightly.

Yun Meng sneered, "Jumping out at a time like this, he's got quite the nerve."

Ren Mingyue said in a low voice, "It's not that he has nerve; it's that someone gave him what he thought was a big enough bargaining chip."

Wang Hao did not speak immediately.

He slowly walked down from the command platform.

One step.

Two steps.

Three steps.

His black combat boots stepped on the iron stairs, making crisp, echoing sounds.

The eyes of six hundred thousand people all converged on him.

Wang Hao came to a stop in front of Chen Chenglie, looking down at him from above.

"My beloved subject's loyalty is commendable."

Chen Chenglie lowered his head. "This general's heart is full of absolute sincerity, the heavens and earth can bear witness."

Wang Hao smiled.

"What a fine 'the heavens and earth can bear witness'."

He leaned forward slightly, his voice still gentle.

"I want to ask you a question."

Chen Chenglie's heart suddenly skipped a beat.

For some reason, even though Wang Hao was clearly smiling, he felt a bone-piercing chill.

"Please ask, Your Majesty."

Wang Hao said lightly, "You said the rear is vulnerable. Do you mean my three regency empresses are not qualified?"

In the distance under the canopy, Shen Xue's eyes suddenly turned cold.

Yun Meng's smile became dangerous.

Ren Mingyue closed her ledger and looked up.

Cold sweat instantly broke out on Chen Chenglie's back.

"I absolutely do not mean that!"

Wang Hao asked again, "Then do you mean the twenty guards of the imperial army I left in the capital are just for show?"

"I would not dare!"

"Then do you think my personal expedition is foolish and tyrannical, disregarding the safety of the state?"

"I deserve ten thousand deaths, I would not dare!"

"Then why did you say such things exactly when a six hundred thousand strong army is swearing their oaths?"

Wang Hao's smile gradually faded.

"Chen Chenglie."

"You don't want to persuade me to reconsider."

"You want to make the six hundred thousand strong army reconsider for you."

Chen Chenglie's face turned completely pale.

"Your Majesty, I just—"

"Just what?"

Wang Hao raised his hand.

Wei Zhongxian immediately presented a black wooden box.

The wooden box was opened.

Inside lay three mithril talismans.

On the back of the talismans, the unique star patterns of the Tianji Pavilion were engraved.

Boom!

Chen Chenglie trembled all over, his pupils shrinking sharply.

The surrounding generals' expressions also changed drastically.

Wang Hao picked up a mithril talisman and waved it in front of his eyes.

"My beloved subject Chen, do you recognize this?"

Chen Chenglie's lips trembled.

"I... I do not know..."

"Of course you don't know."

Wang Hao nodded and said very seriously, "After all, these things were searched out from the secret vault of your Chen family, not spat out of your mouth."

Wei Zhongxian immediately announced in a shrill voice:

"By Your Majesty's secret decree, the Eastern Depot raided the secret vault of the Marquis Suiyuan's Mansion last night, finding three Tianji Pavilion mithril talismans, three hundred thousand spirit stones, and twelve secret letters from the Western Regions. Marquis Suiyuan Chen Chenglie, colluding with the Tianji Pavilion and shaking the military morale before the battle, the evidence of your crimes is conclusive!"

The whole army was in an uproar.

Chen Chenglie suddenly looked up, his eyes full of terror.

"Your Majesty! I am wronged! I am a veteran official of Great Zhou, my ancestors bled for Great Zhou—"

"I know."

Wang Hao nodded.

"So I will give your ancestors a lavish burial."

Chen Chenglie was stunned.

The next moment, Wang Hao's right hand gripped the new Son of Heaven's sword at his waist.

Clang—!

A flash of cold light.

No trial.

No nonsense.

No joint trial by the Three Judicial Offices.

Only one sword strike.

Pfft!

Chen Chenglie's head flew up into the sky.

Blood splattered three feet, spilling on the dark iron ground in front of the command platform.

That head rolled a few times, eyes still wide open, as if even in death he couldn't believe Wang Hao would really kill him in front of a six hundred thousand strong army.

The entire capital suburb was dead silent.

Everyone's hearts felt like they were being viciously squeezed.

That was a hereditary marquis.

A veteran general of the army.

An old general with illustrious military merits!

Wang Hao killed him just like that.

Wang Hao flicked the blood off his sword and said lightly:

"Pass down my decree."

"Chen Chenglie colluded with the Tianji Pavilion and shook the military morale; he is to be punished for the crime of treason. The male members of the Chen family for three generations are to be conscripted to the army, the female family members sent to the rear armory to work, and all family property confiscated into the Western expedition military funds."

"As for Chen Chenglie himself..."

Wang Hao glanced at the head on the ground.

"In consideration of his ancestors' merits, leave him an intact corpse."

Wei Zhongxian immediately bowed. "Your Majesty is merciful!"

Everyone: "..."

Merciful?

His head is chopped off and you call it merciful?

But no one dared to refute.

Wang Hao turned around and ascended the command platform again.

His voice once again echoed through the heavens and the earth.

"My sword only slays enemies."

"And the trash that shakes the military's morale."

"After today, there can be different opinions in the army."

Everyone just breathed a sigh of relief.

Wang Hao continued, "But you must first think clearly whether your opinion is harder than your head."

The six hundred thousand strong army lowered their heads in unison.

"We respectfully obey the holy decree!"

Wang Hao drew the Son of Heaven's sword, the blade pointing west.

"Beat the drums!"

"March!"

Boom!

The war drums sounded again.

The six hundred thousand strong army rolled toward the Western Regions like a black torrent.

Xiao Chen stood in the vanguard camp, looking at the still-wet blood on the ground, and said in a low voice:

"This tyrant never looks for excuses when killing people."

Ye Guyun smiled bitterly. "He looks for reasons."

Wanyan Gu gritted his teeth. "The problem is..."

Qin Hongye followed up, "His reasons make it impossible for anyone to refute every time."

Xiao Chen was silent for a moment, looking up at Wang Hao on the command platform.

That black-clad figure stood facing the wind, like a banner suppressing the world.

He suddenly had a premonition.

This Western expedition would not just be a war.

It would be a meat grinder that completely crushed the entire old order of the Eastern Wasteland.

And they, these so-called chosen geniuses...

Had already been pushed into it.