Golden Ranking Appears, My Empress Turns Out to Be Wu Zhao

When Wu Qi turned to look at Zhu Houzhao, he was stunned to find that Zhu Houzhao's entire appearance had changed.

The blue robe he had worn was now completely replaced by a golden suit of armor, majestic and imposing, exuding a powerful aura.

In his hand was a magnificent halberd, engraved with the image of a mighty divine dragon, radiating a sharp and piercing energy.

Even Wu Qi felt a stabbing pain in his eyes upon seeing it.

The Coiling Dragon Armor and the Coiling Dragon Halberd!

This was the Heaven Dao Reward.

The Ming Emperor, Zhu Houzhao, was actually the Rank 1 on the Renowned Marshal Ranking, Long Xiao!?

Wu Qi was utterly dumbfounded.

How could he be the Rank 1 marshal?

Wasn't he just the Ming Emperor?

Wu Qi's eyes widened, and for the first time, he began to truly regard the mysterious Zhu Houzhao seriously.

So even in the art of warfare, which he prided himself on most, he was no match for this enigmatic Emperor.

"You... you... you..."

"What's wrong? Surprised?"

Zhu Houzhao gave Wu Qi a deep look.

Even Wu Qi aside, Zhu Houzhao himself was surprised.

Long Xiao was, of course, one of his pseudonymous identities used outside the palace.

Under this identity, Zhu Houzhao had established a formidable army on the northern plains.

He had wiped out countless barbarian tribes.

Starting with small victories achieved through outmatched odds, his army grew larger and continued its conquests.

Their campaigns extended to many nations across the Nine Provinces.

Even some dynasties were affected.

At the height of his command, his forces never suffered a single defeat.

The enemies destroyed under his leadership numbered in the hundreds of thousands.

And these were no rabble.

They were elite troops from various dynasties, kingdoms, and powerful forces.

Yet in front of his Dragon Cavalry Army, they were utterly crushed.

Back then, he had deliberately used this Dragon Cavalry Army to target the Yuan Dynasty and Qing Dynasty, both of which bordered the Ming Dynasty.

He inflicted catastrophic losses upon them.

The most threatening armies along the Ming Dynasty's borders were completely annihilated.

Only some regular forces were left behind to serve as whetstones for the Ming Dynasty's border troops.

Later, feeling unsatisfied, he even led his army to conquer nations beyond the Nine Provinces.

Many nations were utterly destroyed.

His military achievements were far beyond what the people of the Nine Provinces could imagine.

Unfortunately, Zhu Houzhao had more important matters to attend to and couldn't remain at the helm of just one army.

So he handed the position of main marshal to his deputy, Xue Rengui.

He tasked him with continuing the campaigns in the north and beyond the Nine Provinces.

To wage war, to sustain war, and to plunder more resources for the dynasty.

He had always considered this entire operation a game.

He never expected that the Heaven Dao Golden Ranking had recorded all of it.

And even awarded him the ridiculous title of the Rank 1 marshal, which was beyond anything he had imagined.

The current main marshal of the Dragon Cavalry Army, Xue Rengui, was a highly promising talent whom Zhu Houzhao had deliberately recruited from a foreign nation.

Of course, many of the other generals under him had also been famous figures in past lives.

Now, all of them had been thrown into the Dragon Cavalry Army.

After years of brutal combat and constant warfare, they had likely grown rapidly.

He hoped that when they met again, they would bring him some pleasant surprises.

Over the years, Zhu Houzhao had maintained contact with the Dragon Cavalry Army through another secret force under his command, his Inner Guard.

Remotely, he controlled the army, leading it in battle for the future of the Ming Dynasty.

Naturally, very few people knew about this.

The secret had not spread to the Nine Provinces.

Fortunately, his "One Leaf to Obscure the Heavens" ability was mystical enough to completely obscure his identity as the Ming Emperor.

Otherwise, it would have stirred up the nerves of certain people again.

Buzz!

With a thought, Zhu Houzhao's golden armor shimmered and vanished.

He was once again clad in a blue robe.

The Coiling Dragon Halberd in his hand also transformed into a folding fan.

The Saint-Tier Coiling Dragon Set was truly extraordinary.

It was well beyond the level of any ordinary divine weapon.

In addition, the three sets of Saint-Tier Military Formations needed to be carefully studied, they might prove invaluable in the future.

What pleased Zhu Houzhao most was the doubled national fortune.

When the power of national fortune descended, Zhu Houzhao, as the Emperor, could feel it clearly.

It was a profound and mysterious sensation.

Extremely wondrous.

==========

"What? Are you surprised?"

"You're wondering how I can be the Ming Emperor and also the Rank 1 marshal in the Nine Provinces, aren't you?"

Zhu Houzhao asked Wu Qi, which was rare for him.

"Indeed. I tried to estimate Your Majesty's strength as highly as I could, and yet I still severely underestimated you."

"You are more terrifying than anyone could imagine!"

"Not just because you are the Ming Emperor, not just because you are the Rank 1 marshal, but simply because of who you are!"

Wu Qi didn't hide his thoughts and spoke them plainly.

"Wu Qi, with your mastery of military strategy, there's no way you shouldn't have been on the Renowned Marshal Ranking."

"At the very least, you should have ranked in the top five. Yet the Nine Provinces Golden Ranking seems to have completely forgotten you."

"Do you know why?"

"I ask that Your Majesty enlighten me!"

In response to Wu Qi's humble question, Zhu Houzhao merely smiled faintly.

He had no intention of answering.

Let him stew a little longer. There was no rush.

Did Wu Qi really think that just because he had lived for hundreds of years and possessed Mythical Realm cultivation, he could do as he pleased?

He wasn't as important as he thought.

Unless he met Zhu Houzhao's standards, he would never be allowed to leave.

And if he failed to prove himself before a certain time passed, he might not even keep his life.

Everything depended on Wu Qi's own comprehension.

Zhu Houzhao gently flicked the folding fan transformed from the Coiling Dragon Halberd.

In the next moment, dozens of powerful strikes erupted in all directions.

"Aaaahhh!!"

A series of agonized screams rang out.

Under Zhu Houzhao's terrifying assault, the surrounding people were slaughtered instantly.

Even someone at the Land Immortal Realm could not withstand it, let alone these insignificant pests.

He was certain that his earlier transformation had been witnessed by many with ulterior motives.

Naturally, he couldn't allow them to live.

Besides, these people were enemies, not allies.

There was no reason not to kill them.

With another wave of his fan, countless fireballs rained down upon the survivors.

One by one, they burst into flames, burning to ash.

Not even bones remained.

It was a task he was clearly all too familiar with.

==========

"Long Xiao? Who is that?"

"Another name no one's heard of."

"And he's actually a general of the Ming Dynasty!"

"The Vast Sea Dynasty was already incredibly well hidden."

"But now, the Ming Dynasty is even more outrageous."

"Among the top ten generals, the Tang Dynasty has one, Qin Dynasty has two, Ming Dynasty has three, and the Vast Sea Dynasty has four."

"Indeed. The top ten have been completely monopolized by these four dynasties."

"The Yuan Dynasty, Southern Song Dynasty, Han Dynasty, and Sui Dynasty got nothing at all."

"Too powerful!"

"I agree. Some dynasties are growing stronger and stronger, while others are clearly in decline."

"The Qing Dynasty is about to be wiped out by the Ming Dynasty, and the Southern Song Dynasty is about to be replaced by the Yuan Dynasty and Vast Sea Dynasty."

"I wonder how much longer those two dynasties can hold on?"

"By the way, Wu Qi, with his ability, should've made the top ten."

"Yet he didn't appear at all."

"There must be some reason we haven't considered."

"Where exactly did the Ming Emperor hide this Rank 1 marshal?"

==========

Qin Imperial Palace.

"Sir, have you ever heard of this Long Xiao, the Rank 1 marshal of the Ming Dynasty?"

"Is he truly as great as the Golden Ranking claims, surpassing even Monarch Wu'an?"

"Monarch Wu'an's strategies are so formidable that even I was shocked. Surpassing him shouldn't be so easy, right?"

Ying Zheng spoke with disbelief.

The Ming Dynasty.

The Vast Sea Dynasty.

Sooner or later, the Qin Dynasty would defeat them both.

Once the lingering rebel forces of the Six Kingdoms within Qin Dynasty Territory were dealt with, he would begin his campaign against the other dynasties.

If he delayed any longer, the Qin Dynasty might lose its chance to unify the Nine Provinces.

"Summon Black Shadow!"

"Subject Black Shadow of the Black Ice Platform greets Your Majesty!"

"Rise. I have an important task for you."

"Go to the Ming Dynasty and find out everything there is to know about this Rank 1 marshal of the Nine Provinces."

"Investigate all of his background thoroughly."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Black Shadow finished his words and disappeared on the spot.

It seemed he would have to personally travel to the Ming Dynasty this time.

As for whether it would be dangerous, he didn't care.

"Your Majesty, I believe this Long Xiao is likely the Ming Emperor's trump card."

"Just like Li Jing is to the Vast Sea Dynasty. Probably with the same purpose."

"Interesting. Then issue a decree to Bai Qi and tell him to pick up the pace."

"If he slows down any further, he might fall even lower on the Renowned Marshal Ranking."

==========

Dynasty Territory.

Bai Qi Military Tent.

"Li Jing, Long Xiao. I didn't expect people like you to exist."

"In the past, I underestimated the people of the world."

"But that only makes things more exciting, doesn't it?"

"The stronger my opponents, the more thrilled I become."

"If I can defeat or even kill you, my sense of achievement will be even greater."

"The Qin Dynasty's ambition to unify the Nine Provinces will become unstoppable."

"Not even the Vast Sea Dynasty or the Ming Dynasty will be able to stop it."

A rare battle-hunger flashed in Bai Qi's eyes.

Mixed within it was a spark of excitement and anticipation at facing true rivals.

"Report!"

"Reporting to Monarch Wu'an, the Agricultural School has discovered our presence."

"All members of the Agricultural School have gathered at the Tomb of the Six Sages and are preparing full-scale defenses."

"They intend to engage us head-on in a total war!"

"In that case, have the entire army ready for battle. We launch the attack at any moment."

"This time, I will wipe out all one hundred thousand of the Agricultural School."

"Let's see if they still dare to rebel against the Qin Dynasty!"

Compared to top generals like Long Xiao, Li Jing, Han Xin, and Yue Fei, the people of the Agricultural School weren't worth mentioning.

Their final fate, total annihilation, was already sealed.

Bai Qi had never considered them worthy opponents.

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

List of Characters:

Number One Under Heaven ( 天下第一 )

・Zhu Houzhao ( 朱厚照 ) — Emperor of Ming Dynasty

Qin's Moon ( 秦时明月 )

・Ying Zheng ( 嬴政 ) — Emperor of Qin Dynasty

・Bai Qi ( 白起 ) — Commander of Qin Dynasty

A Step Into The Past ( 寻秦记 )

・Shang Yang ( 商鞅 ) – Prime Minister of Qin Dynasty

Chronicle of Eastern Zhou ( 东周列国志 )

・Wu Qi ( 吴起 ) — Prime Minister of Chu Kingdom