The Forr Chief Military Commander, Chen Yang.
At eighteen, he led his troops into battle. He spent the next ten years on a war-horse, his life defined by blood-stained sands and the grim resolve of carrying a coffin to the battlefield. He made his na in the battle of Night Quiet Valley, and at Hundred Flowers Valley, he forcefully pushed the nation's border forward by eighty miles.
In his life, he fought dozens of battles yet never tasted defeat.
Supre Martial Commander, War God of the State—he had truly earned his titles.
And now…
The events this Forr Chief Military Commander had experienced over the past year unfolded one by one in everyone's minds. He defied the powerful and battled the Combat Emperor Clan.
He…
This vast nation had no shortage of talent, it was true, but there were always those few who were irreplaceable.
"Chen Jian, take your own life."
"Chen Jian must kill himself! Chen Yang must take his place!"
"Chen Yang to take his place!"
"..."
The demands of the people swept through every corner of the vast land in an instant.
「At the sa ti.」
In the Elders' Court.
"That fellow is truly fierce. He's irreplaceable," Great Elder Luo Yunhai said softly.
Sitting opposite him was an old man dressed in luxurious black robes. His crew-cut hair stood on end, and his gaunt fra exuded a powerful aura that one dared not underestimate. Even Luo Yunhai didn't dare to et the man's gaze, appearing sowhat subservient.
"He brought down the Four Great Royal Clans; how could he not be fierce?"
The old man, nad Zuo Chang, habitually tapped his fingers, a smile playing on his lips. "Without him, this war would be unwinnable. However… Heiqi is no ordinary man, either. I wonder if Chen Yang can triumph over him?"
With that, Zuo Chang made his final decision. "Send the word. Strip Chen Jian of his position as Supre Martial Commander. Let Chen Yang take his place, and bestow upon him the title of 'National Scholar.'"
"But… but if Chen Yang wins this war, his prestige and influence will be unmatched. That could be..." Luo Yunhai said, his worry showing.
"We must win this war." Zuo Chang's eyes narrowed as he glanced at Luo Yunhai. "Do you understand what I an?"
For the common people, without a country, there could be no ho. The sa logic applied to the aristocracy. For the noble clans, especially those in power, without this vast and magnificent world, where would they find a stage for their ambitions?
"Understood!" Luo Yunhai nodded quickly.
"Go handle it." Zuo Chang stood, patting his robes, and slowly walked away. "Peace is forged by generals, but generals are never allowed to see it."
"Your subordinate understands!"
His previous understanding had been superficial. Only now did he truly comprehend. Luo Yunhai rose and bowed respectfully. "Farewell, Pri Minister."
"Add 'Forr' to that title," Zuo Chang said without turning back.
"Yes! Your subordinate will be sure to rember."
...
The relentless questioning from Chen Yang and Yang Hu left Chen Jian speechless. In his stead, a deputy general stepped forward, pointing an accusing finger at Chen Yang. "Yes, you have so ability, and your influence isn't small, but don't forget your current status! To put it nicely, you are the Forr Chief Military Commander. To be blunt, you are nothing but a commoner. What right do you have to stand here? By what right do you criticize the current Supre Martial Commander?"
This speech brought Chen Jian to his senses. He was right. What was his opponent's status, and what was my own?
"Guards!" Chen Jian roared. "Arrest these two ruffians! After the battle, they will be handed over to the Elders' Court for judgnt."
However, no one responded.
Chen Jian: "..."
His gaze swept across the room. Not only the ordinary Martial Guards but even Yuan Zhi kept their heads bowed low.
Arrest him? Did they not just see him cut down over a hundred thousand Barbarians with a swing of his sword to the left and to the right? Besides, this was the Forr Chief Military Commander, the one and only War God of the State since the nation's founding! Did they not hear his na echoing across the lands? Who would dare arrest him? And who even could?
"You... you all..." Chen Jian's face turned ashen, as if he had swallowed a fly.
"Ruffians? Are you referring to us?" Yang Hu sneered. "Then pray tell, what exactly does that make you?"
Chen Jian: "..."
"Tell us, what glorious military achievents has our current Supre Martial Commander accomplished? Do enlighten us."
Chen Jian: "..."
At this mont, advisors from the Elders' Court arrived. They had been on their way to consult on battle strategy when they received the Court's new orders of appointnt and dismissal, which they were to deliver imdiately. The leader was a middle-aged man with a handlebar mustache that made him look rather distinguished.
As soon as the words of dismissal were spoken, a dead silence fell over the vast command tent. But on second thought, it wasn't surprising. From the mont the fighting began until now, the new Supre Martial Commander's performance could be described with a single word: Pathetic.
The nation's millions of National Defense Guards had been defeated ti and again, utterly powerless against the Barbarians' onslaught.
How humiliating! When had this nation ever suffered such a disgrace?
THUD.
Chen Jian slumped into his chair, his face the color of ash.
"Commander, congratulations on your reinstatent," Zhou Qing, the middle-aged man, said, saluting Chen Yang respectfully.
BOOM!
Yang Hu's brows furrowed in anger. He lunged forward and stomped the deputy general who had spoken earlier to the ground. "What was that you were saying? Co on, repeat it for !"
Dust flew into the air. With his bones shattered, the deputy general was completely immobilized, able to do nothing but lie on the ground and groan in agony. The others watched with varying expressions.
"Reinstated?" Chen Yang slowly rose. He took the commander's seal Zhou Qing offered, toyed with it for a mont, and then tossed it back to him. "I don't accept. Since I've already stepped down, there's no need to take up the position again."
Zhou Qing: "..."
Everyone: "..."
This… this fellow has such a strong personality. And this was the Supre Martial Commander, leader of the five armies! How could he dismiss it with such disdain?
CLANG.
Chen Yang drew his sword and rested the flat of the blade on Chen Jian's shoulder. "But I will see this war through to the end."
Many people instantly breathed a sigh of relief. With the war in its current state, what would the outco have been if the Forr Chief Military Commander had simply washed his hands of the matter?
But Chen Jian felt the hair on his body stand on end. He took several deep breaths to feign composure. "What... what do you want? I, Chen Jian, do not believe I have made any mistakes in this battle."
SLAP.
With a flick of his wrist, Chen Yang slapped the blade across Chen Jian's face, drawing a line of blood and sending him tumbling to the ground.
Many present felt the corners of their mouths twitch. That was too damn ruthless.
Chen Yang strode forward, his gaze falling upon the sprawling Map of Mountains and Rivers on the wall. "If I rember correctly, a hundred years ago, the Barbarians' land was part of our territory, was it not?"
"That's correct," Yang Hu said with a grin.
"It's ti we took it back." Chen Yang nodded, slowly placing the commander's cap on his head. He spoke lightly, "This Map of Mountains and Rivers needs to be redrawn."
Zhou Qing: "..."
Everyone: "..."
Such audacity was world-shaking!
"Issue the order."
WHOOSH.
All the Martial Guards in the tent took a sharp step forward in perfect, crisp synchronization, their gazes intense and their expressions solemn.
"All troops, assemble. We launch a general offensive at nightfall," Chen Yang commanded.
"By your command!"
The response thundered, soaring straight into the heavens.
"Open your dog eyes and watch how a real battle is fought!" Yang Hu shot a glance at Chen Jian, his voice dripping with cold mockery.
Chen Jian: "..."
"Excuse , but... how confident are you?" Zhou Qing couldn't help but ask.
Chen Yang walked toward the camp entrance, a faint smile on his lips. A mont later, his words echoed in everyone's ears, "I, Chen Yang, do not fight losing battles."
Everyone: "..."
Those words were so incredibly satisfying!
...
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