Urban God-level Youth

Qin Hao waved his hand: "The rear army formation turns to the front formation, begin retreat."

The two hundred thousand strong army of the Skyfire Dynasty departed with grandeur.

The people inside Wuping City and Liang Shu breathed a sigh of relief at this sight, the invisible sense of oppression disappeared as well.

By noon the next day, Qin Hao returned to the military town on the border of the Skyfire Dynasty with his army.

It was also that afternoon when Qin Hao received news from Ye Lingyi that Ye Jingtian had passed away, along with another report that the Xuanqing Dynasty was mobilizing a large army, seemingly preparing for another invasion.

The western war situation had been resolved, and the Daliang Dynasty would not attack again in the short term.

Qin Hao led the army back to the capital city, leaving only tens of thousands of soldiers in the military town, as having too many would be unnecessary.

Exiting the Transmission Array from the capital, the surrounding soldiers respectfully called out upon seeing him: "Greetings to the State Preceptor."

Qin Hao nodded slightly and led his men towards the palace. By now, the streets of the capital had some semblance of normalcy restored; after all, the citizens needed to live, and various shops began to operate again, though some goods had risen in price, the impact was not significant.

People on the street turned their heads to look upon seeing Qin Hao leading a group of generals.

Someone whispered, "That's our State Preceptor Qin."

"Is that really State Preceptor Qin? He looks so young."

"Don't be fooled by his youth; State Preceptor Qin's combat power is unparalleled. The last time the Xuanqing Dynasty's army attacked the capital, Qin Hao single-handedly almost wiped out the Xuanqing Dynasty's million-strong army; just one shout killed tens of thousands."

"I also heard that a few days ago, State Preceptor Qin led a two hundred thousand strong army into the Daliang Dynasty, capturing several cities consecutively. Eventually, the Daliang Dynasty's King paid three hundred billion Spirit Stones, and only then did the Preceptor spare them."

"With State Preceptor Qin in the Skyfire Dynasty, we will surely grow stronger, especially with the military merit reward system he established, which has won the hearts of many people."

"Exactly, my child has also joined the army, just for the sake of a promising future."

"In the past, there was no hope in joining the army, but now it's different. Only by enlisting can there be a way out, and all levels of Cultivation Techniques are available, which we ordinary people could never afford. They were all monopolized by those big families."

...

Qin Hao quickly arrived at the palace with his generals.

The guards at the palace gate did not stop him upon seeing Qin Hao, and the palace was draped in white cloth both inside and out.

Qin Hao and a few others also had white cloth tied around their waists and foreheads.

The palace was heavily guarded, with posts every five steps and sentries every ten, patrolling guards were numerous, making the defense very tight. Due to the special time, the palace's defenses had been strengthened dozens of times over.

When Qin Hao reached the entrance of the main hall, a voice announced: "State Preceptor Qin has arrived."

Immediately, Qin Hao and his generals walked into the main hall, which was filled with civil and military officials, effectively gathering all the state governors and above of the Skyfire Dynasty. However, due to intense conflicts in the north, those officials from that area had not arrived.

Qin Hao led the generals to the front to pay respects at Ye Jingtian's memorial tablet with several bows.

Ye Lingyi, with reddened eyes, was looked upon by Qin Hao who said, "Princess Lingyi, please accept my condolences and restrain your grief."

Ye Lingyi nodded slightly: "State Preceptor Qin, my father left words for you, come find me after the funeral."

Qin Hao nodded slightly and then stood in front of the officials.

About three days later, Ye Jingtian was laid to rest in the imperial tomb, concluding the matter completely.

Afterward, Ye Lingyi ascended to the throne, becoming the new King of the Skyfire Dynasty, with the title Queen Lingyi.

Ye Lingyi's coronation ceremony was personally presided over by Qin Hao, given his high status and prestige in the Skyfire Dynasty.

After the coronation ceremony ended, Ye Lingyi sat on the phoenix throne, with Qin Hao standing by her side, and below were the civil and military officials as well as the lords of the states and counties.

She spoke: "Now, with the Skyfire Dynasty beset on all sides, it is a time of calamity. All officials must heed the State Preceptor's commands; anyone daring to defy orders will face execution without prior report, and the lords of all regions and counties must fully cooperate."

The crowd was shocked. Previously, Qin Hao only held military power, but now all authority was to be given to him? Wasn't she afraid of being marginalized?

The people bowed their heads: "We dutifully comply with the King's orders."

Qin Hao, looking down at the people, said calmly: "Who is the Commandery Princess of Pinghua County? Step forward."

The crowd looked at each other in confusion, wondering what he intended.

A middle-aged man stepped forward from the crowd: "Pinghua County's Commandery Princess Liu Haigen greets State Preceptor Qin."

Qin Hao looked at him, expressionless: "Other counties have recruited fifty to sixty thousand new soldiers each, why does your county have only a few thousand?"

Liu Haigen's heart sank, his face calm as he replied: "Reporting to the State Preceptor, this matter of enlisting naturally requires the consent of the people involved; we cannot force them to join the army, can we?"

Qin Hao snorted coldly: "Is it their unwillingness, or are you deliberately limiting their ability to enlist under the guise of limited quotas? What are your intentions? The army is the fundamental guarantee of national security and stability; is your obstruction an act of treason?"

Liu Haigen's face changed dramatically upon hearing this and he hurriedly knelt: "May the State Preceptor see clearly, the Liu Family has no intention of treason, it truly is that those miscreants do not wish to enlist."

A flash of severity passed in Qin Hao's eyes: "I have already investigated the affairs of Pinghua County. Bring forth the evidence."

Quickly, someone was escorted up, and Liu Haigen's face changed drastically, filled with embarrassment upon seeing this.

Qin Hao spoke: "Surely you recognize this person? One of your Pinghua County's officials in charge of this recruitment affair, he has already confessed that, under the guise of limited quotas, you prevented ordinary citizens from enlisting. The soldiers recruited in Pinghua County were all children or servants of the major families. Liu Haigen, what are your intentions?"

Liu Haigen was speechless, and many others present also had poor expressions.

Qin Hao's military merit reward system had undoubtedly touched the bottom line of many large and small families.

His method of rewarding could allow many ordinary people to obtain Cultivation Techniques and resources, thereby spawning new small families, or even medium and large-sized ones.

This was not what the gathered people wished to see. More families meant their interests would be harmed.

Currently, nearly ninety percent of the major officials in the dynasty, whether civil or military, came from these families.

It could be said these families controlled ninety percent of the dynasty's official positions, wielding significant invisible power.

Fortunately, these families are not united, however, Qin Hao's newly issued systems had already impinged on some people's interests.

Qin Hao surveyed the crowd: "My promulgated military merit mechanism is fair, offering even greater opportunities for you major families, as you have the background and techniques, with strength superior to ordinary people, giving you a better chance of receiving rewards, so you should be content."