An unexpected encounter with the sleeping Little Dragon Girl leads to the annihilation of the Quanzh

When Zhao Yun returned to the Zichen Palace, he exuded an unusual excitement.

He felt twenty years younger, not only physically but also mentally. That bowl of miraculous medicine not only cured his chronic physical ailment but also opened up the Ren and Du meridians of his mind.

He sat on the dragon throne, looking down at the trembling core ministers below, and for the first time felt that he was truly in control of the situation.

In the past, being emperor was a very tiring job. He had to balance the various factions in the court, appease the jealousy and rivalry in the harem, guard against the Mongol cavalry on the frontier, and worry about the increasingly empty treasury. He was like a tightrope walker, living each day cautiously and on thin ice.

But now, he's not afraid of anything.

Because he managed to latch onto the world's most powerful patron.

"Minister Jia," Zhao Yun said, his voice loud and clear.

"Your subject is here." Jia Sidao bowed and stepped forward, but his heart was pounding. He felt that something was off about the Emperor today; the light in his eyes was too intense, so intense that it made him uneasy.

"What do you think of the Imperial Guards of my Great Song Dynasty?" Zhao Yun asked.

Jia Sidao was taken aback, not understanding why the emperor suddenly asked this. He carefully chose his words and cautiously replied, "Your Majesty, the Imperial Guards of our Great Song Dynasty are well-trained and well-equipped, and are the pillars of the nation..."

"Enough!" Zhao Yun interrupted him impatiently. "Don't give me these polite words! I want to hear the truth!"

Jia Sidao's heart skipped a beat; he knew this day would be difficult. He gritted his teeth and decided to go all out.

"Your Majesty, to tell the truth... the discipline of our Great Song Imperial Guard is lax, and the generals are corrupt, exploiting their soldiers and drawing salaries without working—this has long been the norm. They may be able to oppress the common people on ordinary days, but if they were to encounter the elite Mongol forces, I'm afraid... they would be utterly helpless."

These words were utterly treasonous. In the past, they would have been enough to cause Jia Sidao to lose his official position and be dismissed from his post.

However, Zhao Yun was not angry at all after hearing this; instead, he burst into laughter.

"Well said! Well said! Minister Jia, you've finally told me the truth!"

Zhao Yun stood up and paced in front of the dragon throne, looking very spirited.

"A bunch of useless trash! A bunch of useless trash who dare to trespass on the abode of immortals! I'm keeping them around, and they're not just weaklings, they're a huge scourge!"

He slammed his hand on the table, startling all the ministers in the hall.

"Think about it, if they dare to barge into the Immortal's courtyard today, will they dare to storm into the Immortal's kitchen tomorrow? What if, what if they disturb the Immortal's enjoyment of cooking and displease him? If he were to strike with a single finger, not only would my dragon throne be worthless, but the entire city of Lin'an, the entire Song Dynasty, wouldn't it be enough to fill his teeth?"

Zhao Yun's words turned all the ministers pale.

They recalled the fate of the 300,000-strong Mongol army that had been captured at Diaoyu Fortress.

Yes, compared to that lord, the entire Song Dynasty court is indeed nothing.

"Therefore, I have made my decision!" Zhao Yun's eyes gleamed with fanaticism. "This army, rotten to the core, cannot be allowed to remain! I will completely dismantle it and start afresh!"

"What?"

"Your Majesty, please reconsider!"

"Starting over from scratch? This...this is absolutely unacceptable! If morale is low, the very foundation of the nation will crumble!"

The ministers were instantly in an uproar, kneeling down one by one and pleading with him.

The army is the foundation of a nation. Such a large-scale reorganization of the army could easily lead to a mutiny if not handled carefully, which could result in the downfall of the country!

"Shut up, all of you!" Zhao Yun roared, and the hall fell silent instantly.

He looked at the group of people kneeling below, his eyes filled with contempt.

"A bunch of idiots! Don't you understand yet? What is the foundation of my Great Song Dynasty? Is it you? Is it those useless imperial guards? Wrong!"

He pointed deep into the palace, towards the imperial kitchen, and said, word by word, "The true foundation of my Great Song Dynasty is the Celestial Immortal! As long as the Celestial Immortal is here, as long as the Celestial Immortal is happy, the Great Song Dynasty will be as stable as Mount Tai! When the Mongols come, he wipes them out with a wave of his hand! When the Jin Dynasty restores its kingdom, he destroys it with a breath! Do you understand?"

The ministers looked at each other, speechless. They thought the emperor had gone mad, but they couldn't refute him.

Because what the emperor said was true.

Zhao Yun took a deep breath to calm his excited emotions, and then slowly said, "I am not disbanding the army; I am building a completely new army! An army truly worthy of serving the Immortal!"

"I will bring all the troops in the country under central control, eliminate the old and weak, eradicate corruption, and reorganize them! I will build a brand new Imperial Guard of 800,000 men!"

Eight hundred thousand!

This number sent a chill down everyone's spine. It represented almost the entire military strength of the Song Dynasty.

"This army doesn't need to conquer new territories, nor does it need to charge into battle," Zhao Yun's tone became extremely solemn. "They have only one mission: to protect!"

"To protect the immortal's tranquility! They will be the strongest shield of our Great Song Dynasty, the most silent wall surrounding the immortal's residence! Their existence is to ensure that, from this day forward, not a single fly will be able to fly into the imperial kitchen and disturb the immortal!"

Jia Sidao was dumbfounded.

He finally understood.

The emperor wasn't crazy; he had found a brilliant method for governing the country that was unprecedented and unparalleled.

Turn the nation's greatest threat into its greatest protector. Then, dedicate the entire nation's resources to "serving" this protector well.

This idea is simply genius!

"But...Your Majesty," Jia Sidao still had some concerns, "who will command such a large army? If the wrong person is entrusted with command, it may become too powerful to control..."

This is the most crucial issue. The commander of an army of 800,000 has too much power; he could even threaten the imperial authority.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yun revealed a mysterious smile.

"I have already made up my mind about who will be the commander-in-chief."

He looked at the assembled officials and slowly uttered the name that made everyone's soul tremble.

"Who else, besides the Grand Marshal Lin Ye, who personally annihilated the 300,000-strong Mongol army, is qualified to command this divine army built for immortals?"

Zhao Yun's words were like a thunderclap from the heavens, resounding throughout the Zichen Palace.

Why should Lin Ye, that immortal who lives in the imperial kitchen and disregards imperial power, be the supreme commander of this new army of 800,000?

The ministers gaped, feeling completely overwhelmed.

He's gone mad, the Emperor has truly gone completely insane this time.

Handing the handle of a knife to someone you have no control over is not just asking for a tiger's skin; it's sticking your head right into the tiger's mouth!

"Your Majesty! You mustn't!" A vice minister of the Ministry of War scrambled to his knees, tears streaming down his face. "Since ancient times, military power has been a vital instrument of the state. How can it be lightly entrusted to others! Moreover... Moreover, Marshal Lin... His temperament is unpredictable. If he uses his troops to his advantage, our Great Song Dynasty will be in grave danger!"

"Yes, Your Majesty! Please reconsider!"

"Your Majesty, I second that opinion! This matter concerns the fate of the nation; I earnestly request that Your Majesty rescind your decree!"

For a time, cries of remonstrance rose and fell in the palace, the ministers were indignant, as if the sky were about to collapse.

Zhao Yun coldly looked at the group of "loyal" ministers at his feet, feeling only contempt and disdain.

A group of ordinary people, short-sighted.

"Shut up, all of you!" Zhao Yun roared again, his voice filled with such authority that it silenced the entire hall.

He descended the imperial steps and stood before the Vice Minister of War, looking down at him.

"Minister Wang, I ask you, do you think the Immortal Emperor would need an army of 800,000 if he wanted my dragon throne?"

Wang Shilang was stunned. He opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a single word.

Yes, is it necessary?

He alone could make the Mongol Empire bow down in submission. If he wanted to be emperor, he could probably do it with just a thought, and the emperor would obediently take off his dragon robe and hand it over. What difference would 800,000 troops be between him and 800,000 ants?

Seeing that he couldn't answer, Zhao Yun sneered and asked, "I'll ask you again: When I bestowed the title of Commander-in-Chief upon the Immortal, did I intend for him to lead troops into battle? Did I intend for him to handle military affairs?"

"No!" Zhao Yun answered himself, his voice suddenly rising, "I will use the name of the immortal to execute thunderous measures and forge the invincible military spirit of my Great Song!"

"You bunch of fools only think about amassing an army and becoming powerful, but don't you consider that in this world, whose reputation can compare to that of Immortal Lin? Whose authority can keep those million arrogant and fierce soldiers in check?"

"As long as the immortal bears this title, this army will never rebel! Because their faith, their god, resides within this palace! Their sole purpose is to protect their god! Anyone who dares to harbor other thoughts is an enemy of the god, and will be condemned by the entire world!"

Zhao Yun's words were a wake-up call.

The ministers, who had been so passionate just moments before, suddenly fell silent.

They stared blankly at Zhao Yun, as if they were meeting the emperor for the first time.

Jia Sidao stood aside, his heart already filled with turbulent emotions.

Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!

He originally thought the emperor only wanted to please the immortal, but he never expected that the emperor's scheme was so grand!

In the name of God, we forge an invincible army. With the might of God, we establish the foundation for eternity!

This is no longer the art of emperors, this is... the art of the gods!

"As for the Yan family..." Zhao Yun's gaze suddenly turned icy. He glanced at several officials in the hall who had close ties with the Yan family, and those people immediately trembled with fear.

"Prefect Yan Shicheng of Lin'an has formed cliques for personal gain, framed loyal officials, and offended the immortals—his crimes are heinous! He is hereby ordered to be immediately taken to the execution ground and executed by slow slicing! The entire Yan clan, regardless of age or gender, shall be beheaded, and all three generations of his family shall be exiled three thousand li away, never to return to the capital!"

"Consort Yan, being inherently jealous and interfering in court affairs, is equally guilty! She is hereby given a white silk ribbon and ordered to commit suicide in the Cold Palace, leaving no trace of her body!"

Ruthless! Absolutely ruthless!

This is not punishing a disgraced official; it's clearly making an example of someone!

The once powerful Yan family is about to be destroyed and reduced to ashes in a single day, all because they offended that person they shouldn't have!

Zhao Yun's icy gaze swept across the entire room: "From this day forward, 'Shangxianju' is the most sacred and inviolable forbidden ground in this imperial palace, in this Great Song Dynasty! Half of the palace wall is the insurmountable chasm between man and god! Anyone who dares to cross this line again will face the same fate as the Yan family today!"

"I'm making this clear: whoever displeases the Immortal, I'll make their entire family, and their ancestors for eighteen generations, unhappy!"

The entire Zichen Palace was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Everyone was stunned by the emperor's unprecedented ruthlessness and decisiveness.

They finally realized that times had truly changed.

From this day forward, the greatest rule in the Song Dynasty court will not be the laws of our ancestors, nor the decrees of the emperor, but rather the... mood of that man in the imperial kitchen.

……

That day, the market area in Lin'an was packed with people.

Yan Shicheng, the once arrogant prefect of Lin'an, was tied to the rack like a dead dog. He had long been terrified and kept muttering, "Don't kill me...don't kill me..." while defecating and urinating.

When the executioner brought down the first blade, the onlookers were not afraid; instead, they erupted in deafening cheers.

Deep within the imperial palace lies the former site of Chang Le Palace, now known as "Shang Xian Ju".

Lin Ye was looking at the pile of ingredients with some distress.

"Long'er, do you want something sour or sweet today?"

"Hmm..." Little Dragon Girl rested her chin on her hand, thinking seriously, "I want to eat them all."

"Okay, then let's make squirrel-shaped mandarin fish."

Lin Ye picked up a lively mandarin fish and began to process it.

Zhang Junbao was diligently peeling potatoes on the side. Under Lin Ye's "guidance," his potato-peeling skills had become better and better. Each potato was peeled smoothly, roundly, and evenly.

Liu San was carefully washing vegetables in a corner. He had already heard the news of the Yan family's execution, and his legs were still weak with fear. He looked at the back of the young man who was diligently cooking in the yard, and his heart was filled with indescribable awe.

He knew that his fate, and even the fate of the entire world, depended on this man's single thought.

At this moment, the only thing this man seemed to care about was how to make the fish in his hand taste better.

Half of the palace was a scene of bloodshed, power shifts, and upheaval in the court.

On the other half, however, lies a peaceful and serene world, filled with the warmth of everyday life and the aroma of delicious food.

An invisible wall completely separates the two worlds.

The news of the Yan family's complete execution swept through the entire city of Lin'an like a Category 12 hurricane.

From the high-ranking nobles to the common people, everyone was stunned by the emperor's thunderous actions.

Yesterday he was the emperor's brother-in-law, today he's a victim of the sword, and his entire family has been wiped out.

What is the purpose of this?

The official charge was "forming cliques for personal gain and offending the emperor," but anyone with a discerning eye knew this was merely a pretext. The real reason gradually surfaced as rumors circulated from within the palace.

"Have you heard? The Yan family has offended that living deity who resides in the palace!"

"Which living deity?"

"That's Marshal Lin, the one who single-handedly repelled the Mongols! I heard he's living in the palace now, and the Emperor allocated half of it to him!"

"My God! The Yan family is incredibly audacious to dare offend this man?"

"Who says otherwise! I heard that Prefect Yan sent men to arrest a cook serving a deity, but a fairy maiden serving the deity smashed his head off with a golden mace in one 'bang'!"

"A golden mace? What golden mace?"

"It's the 'Golden Mace for Monitoring Heaven' that the Emperor just sent over a few days ago! The one used to strike down tyrannical rulers and execute treacherous officials! And they used it to...crack walnuts!"

Teahouses and restaurants alike were buzzing with talk of this earth-shattering event. The story was embellished with incredible detail and fantastical tales.

Lin Ye's image became increasingly mysterious and terrifying in the hearts of the people. He became a "superior immortal" who was capricious, ruthless, and possessed boundless magical power, even the emperor had to show him awe.

"Shangxianju," an expansion of the imperial kitchen, became the most mysterious forbidden place in the hearts of the people of Lin'an. When people passed by the foot of the imperial city, they would subconsciously walk around it, not daring to even speak loudly, for fear of disturbing the gods inside.

The imperial court was deathly silent.

Zhao Yun's iron-fisted approach completely silenced all dissenting voices. No one dared to object to his decision anymore.

Thus, an unprecedented military reform was launched in this strange atmosphere.

In the name of the emperor, Zhao Yun issued more than a dozen imperial edicts, recalling all the major generals stationed in various war zones such as Sichuan, Xiangyang, and Lianghuai back to Lin'an.

These people were all powerful warlords who held considerable military power. They were so arrogant and disobedient that they even dared to disobey the emperor's orders.

But this time, they all ran faster than the last.

It's a joke. Even the Mongol Khan was forced to write a letter of surrender by that guy. The powerful Yan family was wiped out just like that. If these military generals dared to say no, they would probably lose their heads the next day.

Inside the Zichen Palace, dozens of top generals from all over the country, their armor gleaming and exuding a murderous aura, filled the entire hall. They were all fierce warriors who had crawled out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood, each carrying the weight of thousands upon thousands of lives on their shoulders.

In the past, when they came to the capital to report on their duties, they were all arrogant and looked down on even the prime minister.

But today, they all looked like quails, heads bowed, not daring to breathe.

Sitting on the dragon throne, Zhao Yun looked down at the group of unruly generals and commanders below, and a surge of unprecedented pride welled up in his heart.

He knew that the reason they were so submissive was not because of him, the emperor, but because of the deity behind him who was studying recipes in the kitchen.

"Generals, you must be tired from your journey," Zhao Yun said, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable authority. "I have summoned you here today for only one matter."

He stood up and his gaze swept across the entire room.

"I have decided to disband all local and prefectural armies nationwide, and to centralize all military power! Based on the existing Imperial Guards, I will integrate all military personnel nationwide to form a new army of 800,000 men! This army will be named the 'Shence Guard'!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a collective gasp filled the hall.

Although they had heard rumors before they arrived, hearing it from the emperor himself was still a huge shock to them.

This is an attempt to strip them of their military power and take away their livelihood!

Several hot-tempered generals clenched their fists, their eyes blazing with fury, but ultimately dared not utter a sound. They had all witnessed Yan Shicheng's fate at Caishikou.

Zhao Yun was very satisfied with their reaction.

"I know some of you are dissatisfied, some harbor resentment," he said coldly, "but I tell you, this is an order! Anyone who dares to disobey will be punished according to military law!"

He paused, then his tone suddenly softened.

"Of course, I will not treat my meritorious officials unfairly. All the generals who have been dismissed will be promoted one rank and appointed to the Privy Council in the capital to enjoy a comfortable retirement. Those who wish to continue serving the country will find their place in the Shence Guard."

"However..." A meaningful smile appeared on Zhao Yun's lips, "This Divine Strategy Guard was built to protect the immortals, and its significance is extraordinary. Its commander is definitely not an ordinary person."

"I have petitioned Immortal Lin, and with his gracious permission, he will personally assume the position of the first and only Supreme Commander of the Divine Strategy Guard of our Great Song Dynasty!"

boom!

This news shocked these veteran generals even more than the recent troop reduction.

Lin Ye!

That legendary man!

Among them, some, such as Meng Gong from Sichuan, had personally witnessed how Lin Ye single-handedly defeated an army of 300,000 at Diaoyu City.

Some people, even if they have never met him, have heard countless legends about him.

At this moment, their resentment and discontent vanished instantly, replaced by an uncontrollable excitement and fervor!

To serve under such a divine being, even as a lowly soldier waving a flag and shouting slogans, would be a lifelong honor!

"We are willing to die for the immortal!"

"Please give the order, Your Majesty! I will die a thousand deaths for you!"

The generals, who had been harboring resentment just moments before, were now as energetic as if they had been injected with adrenaline, kneeling on the ground and shouting "Long live the Emperor!" Their voices shook the heavens.

Zhao Yun looked at the group of warriors who had been stirred up by his words and felt extremely smug.

He knew he had made the right move.

He seemed to see an invincible army, undefeated and worshipping God, slowly taking shape in his hands.

And he will become the creator of this divine army, and the true restorer of the Song Dynasty!

When the news that "Immortal Lin Ye will serve as the supreme commander of the 800,000 Divine Strategy Guards" spread from the Zichen Palace throughout the entire court, everyone fell silent.

Those civil officials who had initially clung to a sliver of hope, believing the emperor was merely acting on a whim, were now utterly devastated.

They realized that the emperor was not joking; he was determined to place the fate of the entire Song Dynasty on that mysterious "cook."

Oppose?

Who dares to object?

The blood of the Yan family had not yet dried, and the stench of blood from the execution ground seemed to still linger in the air above Lin'an City.

Wang, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of War, was the first to submit a memorial, praising His Majesty the Emperor for his foresight and calling the move "a great blessing to the nation, a harmony between heaven and man." His lengthy memorial, several thousand words long, lauded Zhao Yun and Lin Ye to the skies.

With him taking the lead, the other officials followed suit, and one by one they began to sing his praises.

For a time, the entire court was filled with flattery, and the atmosphere was so peaceful that it seemed as if we had entered a golden age of peace and prosperity where all nations paid tribute.

Zhao Yun watched all of this with a cold eye, his heart completely unmoved.

He knew what these opportunists were thinking, but he didn't care. What he needed now wasn't honest advice, but absolute obedience.

He wanted to establish this "Shence Guard" as quickly as possible.

This army will be the cornerstone of his rule and his greatest asset in currying favor with the immortals.

However, building an army of 800,000 men is no easy task. It involves a myriad of complex and multifaceted issues, including the selection of soldiers, the appointment of generals, logistics, and training regulations. It is far beyond what an emperor could accomplish on a whim.

He needs someone who can do all the dirty and hard work for him, and who is absolutely loyal and reliable.

His gaze fell upon a burly, resolute-faced middle-aged general among the prince's group of military officers.

Meng Gong, the Military Commissioner of Sichuan.

This person was the first to recommend Lin Ye to him, and also the one who had personally witnessed Lin Ye's miracles. Among all the military generals, his reverence for Lin Ye was undoubtedly the deepest.

More importantly, Meng Gong was strict in his military discipline, loyal and brave, and enjoyed extremely high prestige in the army.

He is the best candidate to be in charge of establishing the Shence Guard.

"Meng Gong," Zhao Yun said.

"Your subordinate is here!" Meng Gong strode forward, his voice booming.

"I hereby appoint you as the Chief Instructor of the Shence Guard, and concurrently as the Deputy Privy Councilor. I am giving you three months to set up the framework for these 800,000 Shence Guards! You may choose any personnel you wish! The funds are yours to use from the national treasury! I have only one request!"

Zhao Yun's eyes sharpened.

"This army must be absolutely loyal and absolutely obedient! I do not wish to see any more foolish acts of offending the immortals happen! Do you understand?"

Meng Gong felt a chill run down his spine. He knew, of course, that the emperor was referring to the incident where Yan Shicheng sent troops to storm the imperial kitchen.

He knelt on one knee and clasped his hands in a deep fist salute: "Please rest assured, Your Majesty! If I fail to handle this matter properly, I will offer my head as a reward!"

"Good!" Zhao Yun nodded in satisfaction. "I trust you."

Thus, a massive project concerning the fate of the Song Dynasty officially began.

Meng Gong's power reached its zenith at this moment. Holding the imperial sword, he controlled the entire nation's military forces, effectively becoming the Grand Marshal of the Song Dynasty.

But he was not arrogant in the slightest. On the contrary, he was more cautious than ever before.

Because he knew very well that there were two huge mountains weighing on his head.

One of them is Emperor Zhao Yun, who has been completely "deified".

The other was the true god, whom he could tremble with fear just by thinking about him.

The first thing he did was to select dozens of the most elite and reliable key personnel from all the generals who had been recalled to the capital.

These people were either like him, who had personally witnessed Lin Ye's actions, or they were die-hard loyalists to the imperial court.

Meng Gong summoned them to a large camp on the outskirts of the capital for a secret meeting.