How come I'm invincible?

Chapter 134 Conferring of a Kingship! The Only King of a Different Surname!

In the past, he really wouldn't have cared about what Princess Ding'an said.

But now... he took those words to heart.

"What I see with my own eyes... it seems the princess possesses abilities that ordinary people cannot." Lin Fan asked with a half-smile.

Princess Ding'an said with a serious expression, "General, to be honest, I am not an ordinary person."

"Oh?" Lin Fan's tone suddenly rose, slightly shocked. "Princess, what do you mean by that? What do you mean by 'not an ordinary person'? Could it be that the princess is a fairy reincarnated from heaven?"

Princess Ding'an seemed to be playing the role of a deity for the first time, and her expression management was somewhat immature. "General, you are right. I am indeed a fairy reincarnated, descending to the mortal world to find a savior. And you are the one I am looking for. However, you are on the wrong path right now."

At this point, Princess Ding'an shook her head, revealing a look of regret.

"I see..." Lin Fan pursed his lips, forcibly suppressing his laughter, not wanting to burst out laughing. He hadn't expected that when people are driven to despair, the only solution they can think of is to play tricks.

"Yes, General." Princess Ding'an said earnestly, as if to say, I am absolutely not lying to you, everything I said is true.

Lin Fan looked around and said with a smile, "Princess, do you know?"

"what?"

"To be honest, I am not an ordinary person either. I am the reincarnation of the Great Celestial Venerable of the Nine Heavens. The current emperor of the Central Plains Dynasty was the flute-playing boy under my command in my previous life. His long-cherished wish was to become the emperor of the mortal world and unify the world. As the Great Celestial Venerable, I must fulfill his wish."

After Lin Fan said these words.

The courtyard was very peaceful.

There was silence.

Eyes facing each other.

Princess Ding'an said softly, "General, why are you teasing me?"

"Hey, don't talk nonsense, you were the one who teased me first," Lin Fan said.

There was another moment of silence.

No one spoke.

Lin Fan said, "Princess, I know there are talented people in this world who possess all sorts of unique abilities. You said you could see corpses strewn all over my body and rivers of blood, which means I have killed too many people. I once encountered someone with special abilities."

"I wonder if the princess's ability appeared naturally, or was it acquired later in life?"

He was 100% certain that there were secrets hidden in this world, but he hadn't uncovered them yet. However, he believed that as long as he persisted in his search, he would definitely find them.

Princess Ding'an sighed softly to herself.

They couldn't fool the other party.

Princess Ding'an shook her head and said, "It didn't appear naturally, but rather a long time ago, a wise person gave me guidance."

Hear this.

Lin Fan raised an eyebrow slightly. "Who is this expert you're talking about?"

Princess Ding'an seemed to know that the Divine Martial General in front of her attached great importance to this matter, so she did not speak up immediately, as if she wanted to use this as a condition to reach an agreement with Lin Fan.

Lin Fan noticed Princess Ding'an's expression.

How could I not understand his thoughts?

“Princess, the Central Plains Dynasty is too close to Ding’an. Even if I don’t lead troops to attack Ding’an, in decades or even centuries, when your Ding’an is rich and powerful, and your army is strong, it will inevitably take the initiative to invade the Central Plains Dynasty. Don’t you think so?” Lin Fan asked.

Princess Ding'an nodded, "Yes."

Lin Fan said, "Therefore, the fact that the Central Plains Dynasty has taken over Ding'an will absolutely not change. But what I can guarantee is that I will not harm your father, or even your royal brothers and sisters, and the people of Ding'an will not be killed. From now on, Ding'an will be a part of the Central Plains Dynasty."

Princess Ding'an looked at Lin Fan, knowing that this might be the best outcome.

Think of this.

Princess Ding'an slowly said, "I only remember that the master was an ascetic monk from Mengye Kingdom, on Tianxue Mountain. However, more than ten years have passed, and I don't know if he is still on Tianxue Mountain."

“I once sent people to look for him, but to no avail; we did not find him.”

Lin Fan remembered Tianxue Mountain.

Ascetic?
Well... normally, these kinds of guys all have some kind of skill.

Lin Fan stood up, his mind now filled with thoughts of finding that ascetic monk, and even thinking about leaving now to hand over the current affairs of Ding'an Kingdom to Qin Xiang.

There's no point in him staying here now.

Everything that needed to be done has been done.

The Eastern Sage King agreed to cooperate and issued an imperial edict ordering the generals of some cities to open their gates and accept surrender, thus avoiding any confrontation.

Everything went smoothly.

Ultimately, the main reason is that Lin Fan's own strength is truly extraordinary, making it difficult for even a single country to contend with him.

……

a few days later.

The Central Plains Dynasty, the imperial court.

"Ha ha ha ha……"

Facing the assembled officials, the emperor stood on the imperial platform and laughed heartily. In decades, he had never been so overjoyed. Even when the Mengye Kingdom's delegation came to the Central Plains Dynasty to provoke the Grand Competition, and the Divine Martial General overwhelmed the entire audience, he had never been so ecstatic.

Holding the battle report, the emperor addressed his officials, “Look and listen to what’s in this report! My beloved minister, my mighty general, has captured the capital of Ding’an. Ding’an has surrendered, and from now on, Ding’an will be part of the territory of my Central Plains dynasty.”

The officials were overjoyed. As the saying goes, "one prospers, all prosper; one suffers, all suffer." Now that the country is so strong, they must be very proud.

"Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations, Your Majesty! May your ancestors have blessed you!"

The officials flattered and fawned over him.

The emperor frowned and said, "What ancestral blessing? This empire was painstakingly built for me by my divine and mighty general. Without you, my dear minister, how could I have expanded my territory?"

The officials shrank back, never expecting that His Majesty would be so serious.

Ok.

It's not the blessing of our ancestors.

It's true that the Divine Martial General is awesome, is that alright now?

However, for the officials, their awe of the Divine Martial General had reached its peak, even to the point of being terrifying.

The speed at which they captured Ding'an was too fast.

In their initial understanding, they thought it would take at least a year to take over Ding'an, but so far, it has only taken a little over a month.

There's also time allotted for travel.

According to the battle report, it would take at most half a day to capture a city, and the enemy would be completely defeated and routed, with no will to resist.

In the imperial court, some elderly veterans, who had spent their lives on the battlefield, were completely disillusioned when they encountered the Divine Martial General. They found it all unbelievable.

This is something no human could do.

The emperor spoke in a loud and clear voice, full of vigor: "My beloved ministers, I have a question for you. What do you think I should do to reward the Grand General?"

"Some time ago, I wanted to confer the title of Grand General, but I thought that my beloved ministers would disagree. Now that you have captured Ding'an for me and the court, your merits are unparalleled and you must be rewarded."

The officials lowered their heads, turned their heads away, and exchanged glances.

Finally came.

How could they not see His Majesty's determination to bestow the title of Divine Martial General? This was clearly intended to make the General wield absolute power, unmatched by any other official in the court.

But if they were to bestow another title now, it would be to confer a kingship.

How can a king grant titles arbitrarily?

An ancestral precept states that one should not enfeoff kings who are not of the same surname.

Even if someone has truly achieved unparalleled merit, they would only be posthumously granted the title of king, which is considered the highest honor and reward.

"Hmm?" The emperor's voice rose. "Why are you all silent, my dear ministers?"

"Father, I have something to say." The second prince stepped forward.

"What do you have to say?" the emperor asked.

The second prince coughed a few times to clear his throat and said, "General Shenwu has served the country and made tremendous contributions. No matter when, his contribution to expanding the country's territory is unparalleled. Your son begs Your Majesty to confer upon General Shenwu the title of King, making him the first non-royal king in our dynasty."

As soon as these words came out.

The officials looked at the Second Prince in astonishment.

They never expected that the Second Prince would say anything to curry favor with the Divine Martial General.

The Grand Tutor and the Grand Protector nodded in satisfaction.

Ok.

The Second Prince's request is well made.

This also reflects what His Majesty was thinking.

Look...

The emperor looked at the second prince with admiration in his eyes. "Hmm, that's right, but bestowing a title of king is no small matter. Even I cannot make a decision on it with just a word."

The second prince said, “Father, which of the civil and military officials can disagree? The contributions of the Divine Martial General to the country are obvious to all. If anyone disagrees, I will be the first to talk to him properly. The Divine Martial General’s title of king is well-deserved.”

"Well said. Although ancestral precepts state that one should not enfeoff kings of different surnames, your merits are enough to overshadow these. What kind of king do you think the Grand General should be enfeoffed?" the emperor asked.

To be honest, the Second Prince is very excited right now.

He could sense that his father was speaking to him in a much gentler tone, even with a hint of approval, clearly indicating that his opinion of him had changed.

This made the second prince very happy.

I feel that I have taken another big step steadily away from the dragon throne.

Who is the most satisfied right now?
Those must be the Grand Tutor and the Grand Protector.

What they feared most was that the second prince would suddenly lose his mind like the first prince and make a stupid mistake, but now it seems that they had worried too much.

The second prince is quite clever.

The Second Prince said, “Father, I have learned about the people’s opinion of the General in his hometown. The local people used to call the Divine Martial General the Silver Cudgel King. The meaning of the Silver Cudgel King is that Lord Lin is skilled in using a cudgel and is the best in the world.”

If Lin Fan were in the imperial court now.

Hearing what the Second Prince said...

They'll definitely be counting on the Second Prince. If I'm really made the Silver Cudgel King, you can forget about becoming emperor in your lifetime. Even if you manage to touch the dragon throne, it'll be because I, Lin Fan, am incompetent.

Of course, who is the most afraid?

That must be Qin Si.

The nickname "Silver Stick King" was first uttered by that bastard.

Although not many people call it anymore, it is still quite well-known, especially in Yong'an.

"Silver Cudgel King?" the emperor muttered to himself, then denied it, saying, "No, that's not a good title. Let me suggest one: Divine Martial King."

The officials were speechless.

When Lin Fan was first appointed as the Divine Martial General, they felt that the title of "Divine Martial" was far too grand.

But now His Majesty is going to bestow upon Lin Fan the title of Divine Martial King, with the title still Divine Martial, which has an even more astonishing meaning.

Throughout history, which king's title could compare to 'Divine Warrior'?
No.

Absolutely not.

But they knew that things had come to this point, and saying anything more would be useless.

When His Majesty uttered these words, it appeared to be a question, but in reality, it was a decision that would not allow any dissenting voices.

The second prince said, "Father, the title of Divine Martial King is good. Your subject thinks it is good."

"Haha...Very well, then I will bestow upon my Divine Martial General the title of Divine Martial King. Minister of Rites, you shall now begin the investiture ceremony. Once my beloved minister returns, the investiture ceremony will be held," the emperor said.

"Yes, Your Majesty." The Minister of Rites was quite dissatisfied with Lin Fan.

The Song family was wiped out. As a civil official, he had strong opinions about this, but there was nothing he could do. He had already been warned and dared not have any wild thoughts.

The second prince asked, "Father, where is the Grand General's fiefdom going to be?"

The emperor said, "My beloved ministers, I wish to make Anzhou Prefecture the fiefdom of the Divine Martial King. What do you think?"

The officials were speechless.

Is it meaningful for you to ask us?

These matters have already been settled. His Majesty clearly already had his own ideas, so why ask us these questions?
If I absolutely have to say...

They would absolutely not agree, as Anzhou Prefecture is far too close to the capital.

Once Anzhou Prefecture is granted as the fiefdom of King Shenwu.

So if in the future, the Divine Martial King has ulterior motives, he can directly mobilize troops and march straight into the capital, the kind of force that cannot be stopped.

Throughout history, every king who was granted a title of king would drive his rivals far away.

However, it's useless to say all this now.

"Your Majesty is holy."

This was the answer given by the officials.

……

at this time.

Over in Mengye Kingdom.

King Meng looked at Tudan. Tudan had been completely crippled by Lin Fan, but as the Great General of Mengye Kingdom, his existence was still a pillar of stability.

Therefore, even after being deposed, the Mongol king still highly valued Tudan.

"General, the envoy from Ding'an Kingdom has come, hoping that our Mengye Kingdom will send troops to the Central Plains Dynasty. Now look at this intelligence, Ding'an Kingdom is finished." King Meng sighed deeply.

It's all a bit hard to accept.

They lost too quickly.

He even considered letting Ding'an and the Central Plains Dynasty wear each other down first, and then seeing how the intelligence was after a few months. If the Central Plains Dynasty was restricted and unable to break free, he would be able to do so.

He felt that sending troops at that time was the wisest decision.

But who could have imagined... that intelligence from Ding'an Kingdom would come one after another, and before long, news came that an important place had been breached, which terrified him.

Tudan said, "King Meng, with him in the Central Plains dynasty, things are not what they used to be. His abilities are beyond the imagination of ordinary people. Now that Ding'an has been destroyed, I'm afraid Mengye Kingdom will not escape the same fate."

King Meng frowned and said, "General, does the Central Plains dynasty really want to rule the world?"

Tudan shook his head and said, "It's not that the Central Plains Dynasty wants to rule the world, but rather that it has no choice. Ding'an Kingdom has developed rapidly in recent years and has a strong army. If it is allowed to continue to develop, Ding'an Kingdom will inevitably have the idea of ​​annexing the Central Plains Dynasty."

"My dear minister, what do you think of my decision to negotiate peace with the emperor of the Central Plains Dynasty and sign a treaty of non-aggression?" The King of Meng thought of Lin Fan the moment he closed his eyes.

A thousand troops, none could stop them, and they arrived directly in front of him.

That was the first time he had ever felt death so close.

Tudan said, “King Meng, we understand the emperors of the Central Plains dynasties, but we do not understand the Divine Martial General Lin Fan. His existence has already influenced the political power of the Central Plains dynasties. Whether to fight or not is not something the emperor can decide. In my opinion, this man is ambitious. After taking Ding’an and recuperating for a period of time, he will inevitably continue his expedition. And our Mengye Kingdom is probably his next first choice.”

Upon hearing this, the King of Meng said with a solemn expression, "My dear minister, the warriors of my Mengye Kingdom are not easy to deal with. Does the Central Plains Dynasty really want to suffer a great defeat?"

Tudan said helplessly, "King Meng, Lin Fan is no longer human. He is an army all by himself. Capturing the king is as easy as drinking water and eating for him."

"There is only one solution for now."

King Meng pressed on impatiently, "My dear minister, tell me quickly, what's the plan?"

Tudan said, "The only way is to mobilize the entire nation to launch a westward expedition, far away from the Central Plains dynasty."

"Huh?" King Meng opened his mouth, looking astonished, as if he had misheard.

Tudan advised, "King Mongol, this is the only way, and it's what we can do now. If we wait until the Central Plains dynasty attacks us before thinking about going west, it will be much more difficult."

For a moment, King Meng found it difficult to accept this method.

"My dear minister, allow me to think about it," said King Meng.

Tudan understood that this was indeed something difficult to accept at the moment; after all, no one would be willing to give up such a vast territory.

But he knew how terrifying General Lin Fan was; no one could stop him.

……

Half a month later.

The teacher returned to the court.

News of their triumphant return reached the capital.

The people put down everything they were doing and all went out of the city to welcome them. For the common people, the war was a distant thing, but for families with children and husbands serving in the army, all they wanted to see was whether their loved ones had returned safely.

"General Shenwu is amazing! I've heard that we've taken over Ding'an Kingdom."

"I've also heard that the territory of our Central Plains Dynasty will expand in the future."

"I've decided to go to Ding'an Prefecture to do some business in a while and see if I can make some money."

"I have the same thought."

"Ever since we had the Divine Martial General, we have been invincible. Not to mention anything else, even the Mengye Kingdom has become obedient."

The people were talking a lot.

Ten miles outside the capital, the emperor himself was waiting to greet them, accompanied by hundreds of officials, and the people from the Divine Martial Bureau were also there. Ning Yu looked into the distance.

She hadn't seen her master for almost two months.

I miss you very much.

I don’t know how long.

The sound of rapid hoofbeats came from afar.

"It's here! It's here!" the people shouted.

The emperor was excited, raising his head and gazing into the distance. A smile appeared on his face the moment the flag appeared.

After a long time.

The army is approaching.

Upon seeing His Majesty personally welcoming him, Lin Fan dismounted and approached the emperor, clasping his hands in greeting, saying, "Your Majesty, I have fortunately fulfilled my mission and captured Ding'an Kingdom. The Eastern Saint King of Ding'an and the royal family members have all been brought back by me."

The emperor quickly stepped forward, grasped Lin Fan's hand, and said with deep emotion, "My dear minister, you have worked hard these past few days. I have been thinking of you day and night in the palace, and I have been unable to eat or sleep. Now that you have returned safely, I can finally breathe a sigh of relief."

Lin Fan smiled and said, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty looks quite well. It seems you've been in good health these past few days."

The emperor said, "The imperial physician said that my blood and energy are surging and I am full of energy. The series of good news has kept me excited, and over time, my health has improved a lot."

This isn't just the emperor talking nonsense.

That is the truth.

Being happy every day naturally makes you look good.

"My dear minister, come, ride with me back to the palace," the emperor said.

Lin Fan said, "Your Majesty, why don't you meet with the Eastern Sage King first?"

The emperor pondered for a moment, then said, "Very well, let's meet them first." Led by Qin Xiang, the Eastern Sage King walked over with a complicated expression. He had never imagined that things would turn out this way; a perfectly good country had been taken over so easily.

When he approached the emperor, the Eastern Sage King pondered for a long time before finally speaking: "Emperor of the Central Plains, you have a fine general."

"Haha..." The emperor was overjoyed and said, "Of course, the Divine Martial General is a general bestowed upon me by Heaven."

The Eastern Sage King said, "Now that I have surrendered, I only hope that the Emperor will keep his promise and not make things difficult for my people."

"No...not your subjects, but my subjects. I will not question the conditions promised by my beloved minister; everything will be based on my beloved minister's word," the emperor said.

He didn't even want to know what his beloved minister had promised the Eastern Saint King; he would just do as his beloved minister wished.

The Eastern Saint King's mouth was slightly open.

Simple communication.

He understood just how high the Divine Martial General's position was in the heart of the Central Plains emperor; it was far beyond what could be described as a favored minister.

The Eastern Saint King wondered why he couldn't find a helper like the Divine Martial General.

If he had possessed that quality, none of this would have happened.

What a pity... what a pity.

……

In the imperial carriage.

"My dear minister, I have some good news to tell you." The emperor said with a smile.

Lin Fan asked, "Your Majesty, what joyous occasion is it?"

The emperor did not hide anything, saying, "I hereby bestow upon you the title of king and grant you Anzhou Prefecture as your fief."

Lin Fan was startled. "Your Majesty, the ancestral precepts state that one cannot enfeoff kings of different surnames. Isn't this somewhat inappropriate?"

He wasn't really interested in whether or not he was granted the title of king.

He wasn't even very interested in power. In the past, he wanted to climb the ladder step by step and strive for progress, hoping to stand tall, see far, and know the truth of the world.

But now that I'm in this position and have a clear enough view, the truth is still ambiguous.

The emperor waved his hand and said, "My dear minister, ancestral precepts are ancestral precepts, they are the thoughts of our ancestors, they are not important. My dear minister has made great contributions, how can I let my dear minister feel disheartened? This kingship must be conferred."

Lin Fan remained silent.

Being granted the title of king was nothing unusual, but he never expected that His Majesty would bestow Anzhou Prefecture upon him as his fief.

Anzhou Prefecture is very close to the capital.

In other words, His Majesty's trust in him reached its peak.

I never imagined he would rebel.

Thinking of this, Lin Fan sighed slightly. It seems he still has to keep working hard. He must expand his territory as much as possible while this old man is still alive to make him happy.

When I finally go to the underworld and meet my ancestors, I can stand tall and proud, proclaiming, "When I was alive, I conquered and expanded the territory far more than you all!"

While he was chatting with His Majesty.

Outside, the cheers of the people never stopped.

Lin Fan lifted the curtain and waved to the people, while countless young ladies from prominent families in the capital gazed affectionately at the triumphant General Shenwu.

Lin Fan's prestige in the capital is now unimaginably high.

In the past, people would ask who held absolute power in the court.

Many people would say it was the Grand Tutor.

But nowadays, they only refer to him as the Divine Martial General.

Even the Grand General of Divine Might held a higher position than the Grand Tutor.

……

Court.

The officials offered their congratulations, and Lin Fan responded with a smile. The Second Prince took the initiative to come to Lin Fan's side and said, "General, this expedition has helped the Central Plains Dynasty take Ding'an Kingdom, which has truly shocked the world. There is probably no one in this world who can compare with you, General."

Lin Fan said, "Your Highness is too kind."

The Second Prince said, "General, why be modest? This expedition, if it were any other general, would have taken at least three years to see any results, or even succeeded. But in your hands, General, you captured Ding'an in just two months. Who can compare?"

Lin Fan kept smiling at the Second Prince, so he knew exactly what the Second Prince was thinking.

Eh!
After the eldest prince brought about his own demise.

The one most likely to become emperor is the second prince right now.

But he had no feelings for the Second Prince. If the Second Prince were to succeed to the throne, he would have to do his own thing.

The Emperor said, “My dear ministers, now that the Grand General has captured Ding’an, the Six Ministries must quickly come up with a plan on how to properly handle the situation in Ding’an.”

The six ministers nodded, knowing the importance of this matter.

But the key issue is that things might not be easy to handle in Ding'an.

After all, Ding'an had just been captured, and the local people were certainly very resistant to the Central Plains dynasty. However, it didn't really matter; resistance was one thing, but it wasn't a big deal.

We should start with culture, education, and systems.

Subtly and gradually.

This would allow them to assimilate the people of Ding'an.

After briefly discussing these matters, the emperor looked at the Minister of Rites and asked, "When is the auspicious day for the conferment of the title of prince, as determined by the Imperial Astronomical Bureau?"

The Minister of Rites said, "Your Majesty, it will be in three days."

The Emperor nodded. "Very well, then the ceremony will be held in three days. Your Ministry of Rites will be in charge. I only hope that it will be grand and solemn, and that there will be no problems."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The Minister of Rites knew that if anything went wrong during the investiture ceremony, his term as Minister of Rites would be over. Despite his dissatisfaction, he dared not make any mistakes in certain matters.

……

Nighttime, the Lin residence.

"Master, please tell me about what happened during the expedition to Ding'an." Ning Yu couldn't wait to know.

Yang Ming, Qian Tao, and others also gathered around the table.

They already knew some inside information: after the lord's return, His Majesty would bestow upon him the title of king.

This is equivalent to being granted the title of king.

This was something they found hard to imagine.

Lin Fan sipped his tea and ate some snacks, smiling as he said, "Nothing much happened. Besides, what could have happened? It was just breaching cities, occupying cities, and taking in prisoners. There are still 30,000 troops left in Ding'an. Once things stabilize there, your burden will be much heavier. The Divine Martial Division will have to establish a branch there, and you'll have to be especially diligent. After all, the country has just been destroyed, and the people are filled with fear and resistance."

"We need to show them the extent to which the Central Plains dynasty protects its people, so they can feel at ease."

Ning Yu nodded, "Master, don't worry, I know that. But Master, from now on I will have to call you Divine Martial King, a king of a different surname. This is something I never dared to dream of before. My grandfather told me that His Majesty had wanted to make Master a king for a long time, but he just hadn't found the opportunity."

Lin Fan said calmly, "Whether I'm a king or not doesn't matter. My master doesn't care about these things. If I had to say when I was most relaxed, it would be when I was a small fry in the Yong'an Gang."

Upon hearing this, Qian Tao and the others couldn't help but laugh.

"What you say is true, sir. Back in the day at the gang's docks, life was quite easy. It's nothing like how busy I am now."

Their gratitude towards Lin Fan was beyond words.

Because of the adults.

That's how they achieved their current status and success.

Lin Fan said, "You guys should hurry up and start families. What are you working so hard for? Isn't it all for a better future and for your children and grandchildren to have a better life?"

Qian Tao scratched his head and said, "Sir, it's not that no one comes to arrange marriages, but I always feel that they all have ulterior motives, and I don't really like them."

Lin Fan looked at Xu Ming, Wu Yong, and the others.

"You all encountered this situation?"

They nodded.

"Yes, some people have come to arrange marriages. They are all from wealthy families in the capital, and also daughters of court officials."

Lin Fan was also very worried about the brothers who followed him. "Don't have such a big burden. If you meet someone you like, just agree. The purpose is not important. The important thing is that you like it."

"I'm still here, sir. What are you afraid of that might happen?"

Lin Fan looked at them and knew what they were thinking. They simply felt that the matchmakers were too ulterior motives and wanted to prevent them from causing him unnecessary trouble.

Those who wanted to marry their daughters to his brothers were all hoping to curry favor with him.

It doesn't matter who climbs it.

He just wanted his brothers to marry the women they liked.

……

Three days later.

As the sun rises in the east, its golden rays pierce through the clouds.

On this day, the people flocked to the palace. This was a special permission granted by the emperor, allowing the people to witness the moment when the Divine Martial General was conferred the title of king.

During this period, the Ministry of Rites was extremely busy, focusing all its attention on the investiture ceremony.

After the emperor's approval, the Ministry of Rites will announce the conferment of the title of "Grand General of Divine Martial Might" to the entire country, so that every prefecture, county, town, and village must see it.

Let the people of the Central Plains know that today a king of a different surname will appear, and he will be the most powerful king of a different surname in the Central Plains dynasty.

The palace gates were wide open, and armored soldiers lined both sides of the imperial road, their banners obscuring the sun, stretching all the way to the far end of the road.

Civil and military officials, dressed in court attire, stood silently on both sides of the square according to their rank.

The investiture ceremony was solemn and dignified; no official dared to make a mistake at this time.

"The auspicious hour has arrived; all officials kneel in welcome."

The sharp, drawn-out voice of the Grand Eunuch carried through the air, and the officials knelt on the ground like a tidal wave.

The emperor, dressed in a ceremonial robe with twelve imperial symbols, slowly ascended the steps and sat on the dragon throne.

Today, the emperor is also wearing the highest-ranking ceremonial robes.

"Summon! General Lin Fan, the Divine Martial General, to the palace."

The sound was transmitted layer by layer.

Lin Fan appeared under the spotlight of countless eyes.

He was dressed in a black royal robe, with a four-clawed dragon embroidered in gold thread. Under the light, the dragon seemed to come alive as he walked step by step on the imperial road, his gaze fixed ahead.

Ning Yu, Yang Ming, Xu Ming, and other trusted confidants in the queue clenched their fists in excitement.

The brothers who had followed Lin Fan all the way from Yong'an to where they were today were especially excited, their faces flushed, and some even had tears in their eyes.

Lin Fan walked up to His Majesty and said, "Your subject, Lin Fan, pays his respects to Your Majesty."

The emperor nodded to Lin Fan, slowly rose, took the prepared imperial edict from the eunuch, unfolded it himself, took a deep breath, and loudly proclaimed:

"General Lin Fan, the Divine Martial General, is invincible and the best in the world... Today, I, by the mandate of Heaven and in accordance with the will of the people, hereby bestow upon him the title of—King of Divine Martial!"

"Bestowed with the Nine Bestowments, establishing a royal palace, to forever guard the Central Plains, I hope you will hold the imperial staff and wield the axe, to forever secure our land, this is my decree!"

The reading is complete.

Officials and ordinary citizens alike all turned to look at Lin Fan.

The true king has been made.

At this moment, they were also witnesses; a king of a different surname had appeared.

Two eunuchs carried the golden axe on its back.

The emperor said, “My dear minister, this axe is as if I were personally present. All matters, both internal and external, are decided by you. I trust you, and I will always trust you. In the future, if any of my descendants or emperors are disrespectful to you, you may decide for yourself.”

The emperor's expression was very serious when he said these words.

The officials and princes who were closer by.

When I heard His Majesty say these words to the Grand General.

Their hearts pounded.

No one expected that His Majesty's trust in the Divine Martial King had reached this level. In other words, if the Divine Martial King were to become dissatisfied with any emperor in the future, he could even decide whether that emperor had the right to become emperor.
For anyone else, this would be an act of rebellion.

However, since Lin Fan had the late emperor's permission, it was not considered a rebellion.

Immediately afterwards, another eunuch carried a wooden tray containing a nine-tasseled crown and a gold seal with the inscription "Divine Warrior".

The emperor personally placed the nine-tassel crown on Lin Fan's head. The nine jade tassels hung down in front of his eyes, swaying slightly and obscuring part of his vision. At this moment, Lin Fan had a strange feeling.

As for what it felt like, he couldn't quite put his finger on it for a moment.

Lin Fan accepted the golden seal.

"Your subject, Lin Fan, accepts the imperial decree and expresses his gratitude."

The emperor fought his way to Lin Fan's side, leading him to face the civil and military officials and the people of the world outside the palace.

The eunuch announced loudly, "All officials pay their respects to the Divine Martial King."

"Your subjects pay homage to the Divine Martial King."

A deafening roar echoed outside the palace, sweeping across the sky, and all the officials and imperial guards knelt down in unison.

At this moment, the ceremony is complete.

Lin Fan rose from a lowly gang member, to a constable, a squad leader, a chief squad leader, and a Divine Martial General to the now awe-inspiring Divine Martial King.

Lin Fan looked at the emperor, and the emperor looked at Lin Fan with eyes full of favor and trust, and even more so, encouragement.

"Your Majesty, I will certainly not fail Your Majesty's high expectations."

The emperor said softly, "My dear minister, don't put such a heavy burden on yourself. I still hope that you can lead the Central Plains dynasty to a more prosperous future."

at this time.

The onlookers shouted.

"Divine Martial King!"

"Divine Martial King!"

Looking at the scene, the emperor felt a pang of regret. He so wished Lin Fan were his son, but alas, his son was not even a hair on his beloved minister's head.

Perhaps this is fate.

With an emperor as discerning as him, his descendants were unlikely to be outstanding. It was probably the limit if one outstanding person emerged from three generations.

Fortunately, fate was kind to him, and he met Lin Aiqing.

Think of this.

The emperor's lips curled up, and he couldn't help but smile.

The second prince stared intently at the scene before him, seemingly lost in his own fantasy.

He understood that when he finally sat on the dragon throne, the biggest obstacle in his life would be the Divine Martial King. He still held the same belief: how could the emperor of millions be limited by others?

All people under heaven are his subjects. He may correct his mistakes, but he will not admit them, much less relinquish power to others.

of course.

He's been pretending all along.

You must never show it until you have what you truly want.

……

Yong'an.

The entire city was in an uproar.

The moment the announcement was posted in the capital, the news of the conferment of the title of prince spread far and wide.

Peng Chang scrambled and stumbled his way to the teahouse. Fourth Master's habit of drinking tea had never changed, not even after he started following Wang Changhai. Instead, he stayed in the teahouse, listening to the reports from his subordinates.

"Fourth Master, Fourth Master..."

Peng Chang ran over, covered in sweat.

Qin Si said unhappily, "Why are you in such a panic? How many times have I told you, we are not the same people we used to be. We are proper people now. So, what is it?"

Peng Chang said, "Fourth Master, Lin...Master Lin has been granted the title of King of a Different Surname. From now on, Master Lin will be the only King of a Different Surname in the Central Plains Dynasty, the Divine Martial King."

Bang!

The teacup I was holding slipped from my hand and fell to the ground.

Qin Si's eyes widened. "You mean Master Lin has been named the Divine Martial King?"

"Yes."

"Grass!!!"

Qin Si instantly transformed into a monkey, climbed onto the table, clenched his fists, and jumped up excitedly, "Divine Martial King, Master Lin has been crowned a king! Ahhh... From now on, I, Qin Si, belong to the Divine Martial King!"

In fact, he knew that some people were secretly jealous of him, calling him the lackey of the Divine Martial General.

He didn't want to say anything more.

All I want to say is, do you think you can just become a lackey like that?

Now that Master Lin has been bestowed the title of Divine Martial King, he wants to proudly let everyone in the world know that he, Qin Si, is the lackey of the Divine Martial King.

Aren't you envious? Aren't you jealous?
at this time.

Magistrate Zhou hurriedly headed towards the Wang family. He was now truly envious of that bastard Li Zhengdao, since they had all started on the same footing before.

Why?
The announcement stated that Anzhou Prefecture would henceforth be the fiefdom of the Divine Martial King.

When the news spread among the people, everyone was extremely excited. In Anzhou Prefecture and its eight counties, who didn't know how good Lin Fan was?

When Magistrate Zhou arrived at the Wang family home, Wang Changhai was still there. When Magistrate Zhou saw Madam Wang, he quickly stepped forward and said, "This humble official greets Madam Wang."

As for Wang Changhai, that's perfectly normal.

After all, Lady Wang was a Lady of Imperial Decree, whose rank was higher than his.

Wang asked in confusion, "Is there something wrong with Magistrate Zhou?"

Magistrate Zhou said, "Congratulations, Madam! Your sworn brother has been enfeoffed by His Majesty as a king of a different surname, the Divine Martial King. From now on, Anzhou will be the fiefdom of the Divine Martial King."

"Ah!!!" Wang was stunned and frozen in shock.

Sitting there, Wang Changhai blinked in shock, "He's been... he's been made a king?"

"Yes, it's absolutely true. The announcement has even been sent here from the capital. Who in the world doesn't know that Yong'an has produced a king of a different surname? He is also the only king of his kind at present."

Magistrate Zhou was very excited.

He seemed to have realized that his good days were coming.

Anyway.

He had a close relationship with the Divine Martial King, and they were even able to talk and meet, which puts him far ahead of many others.

(End of this chapter)