Ten minutes later, the capital was shaken.
"King Dingping has been killed!"
"Hiss, that's so ruthless, King Dingping, one of the Western Kings, was simply beheaded! Who the hell is this almighty being who took action? It wasn't just King Dingping, but all his deputy generals were also killed. My God!"
This news spread to various front lines. Upon hearing of King Dingping's beheading, apart from the eastern and northern battlefields, the faces of the commanders on the southern battlefield turned as black as charcoal, though they couldn't be seen.
On the contrary, in the battles along the Hetu and Heidao rivers, after hearing the news, countless Dragon Pavilion soldiers secured two medium-scale victories in a single day, with the Dark Hall suffering losses of sixty thousand soldiers.
"Seriously, General, wasn't that a bit much? Although it felt great, it will make the General offend many people."
"Yes, the biggest worry right now is this issue. This isn't a good thing for the General."
Many soldiers were worried about Ye Longlin's situation.
This action had thoroughly alienated the West, leaving no room for reconciliation.
While it was exhilarating, they had to face reality.
However, in the capital at this moment, the matter of King Dingping had no impact. Instead, another wave of excitement was building.
The set of general's uniforms, announced a month ago, was finally about to have its owner!
This news swept through like a hurricane, drawing the gaze of countless people towards the Hall of Glory.
However, for some, this news was not new. After all, they had known Ye Longlin was the commander of the three armies from the start, so there was nothing surprising about it.
Instead, they were more interested in the matter of King Dingping, perhaps even hoping for a collaboration with the West.
In the inner court, according to regulations, a grand investiture ceremony was to be held, formally bringing Ye Longlin to the forefront.
But Ye Longlin directly refused. However, under the strong insistence of many, Ye Longlin eventually agreed to a small-scale investiture, not a public one.
At the entrance of the inner court.
A red carpet stretched out.
Six elders were seated in their respective positions, remaining silent.
Outside the Hall of Glory, within the inner court, layers of defense were established.
Ning Qi stood at his post, with two hundred Imperial Guards stationed on either side of the red carpet, silent and still.
The Dragon Pavilion military flag stood tall at the scene.
Fluttering in the wind, it made a rustling sound.
The Imperial Guards maintained solemn expressions, gazing forward. As Ye Longlin stepped onto the red carpet, Ning Qi loudly proclaimed:
"Draw swords!"
*Shing, shing, shing*
Swords clashed against the air. As Ye Longlin approached, the swords were immediately sheathed.
"Welcome, Commander!"
"Welcome, Commander!"
"Welcome, Commander!"
"I told you, he would be very handsome,"
Li Chenghao looked at Ye Longlin and spoke softly to Mu Hanqi beside him, his tone filled with gentleness.
Mu Hanqi looked at the figure on the field, tears streaming down her face.
Ultimately, he had ascended to this position.
Ultimately, she had handed him over to the country.
Ye Longlin walked step by step, finally reaching the forefront. He raised his head, looked at the national flag, and relived his oath from years ago.
"Loyal souls immortal, military spirit eternal. I, Ye Longlin, swear that with blood flowing, I will not retreat until victory. Where the people are, the home is; where the people are, the country is. My body may perish, but not an inch of the ten thousand miles of rivers and mountains shall be yielded!"
His fist was raised to his temple, his voice full of vigor.
The wind howled, and the flag rustled.
The second elder wiped his eyes, then quickly took out a handkerchief and coughed, his face turning from red to pale.
"Grandpa Li..."
Mu Hanqi sat beside him and saw the blood Li Chenghao coughed up. She cried out in alarm, but before she could finish, Li Chenghao interrupted her.
"Don't tell Longlin. Besides, they are just minor ailments."
Li Chenghao smiled dismissively, paying no mind to the matter.
Mu Hanqi covered her mouth, two lines of tears falling.
At this moment, she finally understood why these people were so steadfast, and why the contributions of these elders were no less than Ye Longlin's.
Serving the people wholeheartedly.
These few words had permeated their entire lives; they had strived for these words their whole lives.
They were unknown, their names unremembered. Perhaps only after their deaths would their achievements be publicized, and their records appear before everyone's eyes.
The second elder picked up the Gaiwan tea beside him, his gaze not meeting Ye Longlin's.
The first elder picked up the set of general's uniforms and approached him, his expression solemn.
The atmosphere instantly became tense.
"Ye Longlin, the position of Commander of the Three Armies is now yours. We hope you can quell the ongoing conflicts!"
Ye Longlin nodded and took the set of uniforms.
"Yes!"
...
The Commander of the Three Armies had officially taken his seat. From this moment on, the Commander of the Three Armies would dispatch the entire army and command the three fronts.
As this news broke, countless people in Great Xia were shaken!
The only six-star existence in history, a figure with the true power to command the entire army. It could be said that this authority completely devolved the military power from the Supreme Being!
This...
However, the public had no idea who the Commander of the Three Armies was, nor did they know who he was. The Hall of Glory had not announced it, but it had caused quite a stir among the populace.
In the inner court at this moment, after the military personnel had informed them of the situations on the three fronts, they awaited Ye Longlin's orders.
"Push the Hetu and Heidao rivers forward by a hundred li, incorporating them into our territory."
After a long pause, Ye Longlin uttered this sentence, stunning everyone present, their eyes wide with disbelief.
Qin Hanlie, despite having witnessed great storms, had never seen such boastful words.
Incorporating a hundred li of territory!
This was not something that could be achieved by mere boasting!
Qin Hanlie took a deep breath, stood before the national map, and asked with a grave voice, "Do you have confidence?"
Ye Longlin grinned, patted Qin Hanlie's shoulder, "When has Ye Longlin ever lost a battle?"
That afternoon, news spread that the newly appointed Commander of the Three Armies had proceeded to the eastern battlefield, arriving by dusk and formulating plans that same night.
At five in the morning, a great victory was achieved on the eastern frontier. Before the Commander of the Three Armies arrived, thirty thousand soldiers were lost. By the time of the great victory, a total of thirty-six thousand soldiers had been lost.
After a night of rest, he proceeded to the northern front the following day.
Concurrently, an order was issued to withdraw fifty thousand Dragon Pavilion soldiers from the southern front. This left only thirty thousand Dragon Pavilion soldiers to support the southern front, with twenty thousand having already perished.
The south and the west seemed to be targeting the Dragon Pavilion, assigning all the suicidal missions to them.
Those who had previously mocked the Dragon Pavilion's reliance on the King of Support had their patron fall, and now the former leader of the Dragon Pavilion, a human who became a marshal, had returned.
The eastern battlefield was conquered overnight, with the military flag planted a hundred li outside the easternmost city!
"Could it be... that this almighty being is targeting the West and the South?"