“`
“However, Your Majesty, this plan requires someone absolutely trustworthy to implement it and make contact with the Northern Yan envoy.”
“And this person must not be well-known, even among the courtiers.”
“When the time comes, if the plan is exposed, we can shift the blame to the aristocratic families, claiming it’s a civilian act, thus silencing the common people and Da Li, Da Chu.”
“Oliver, I didn’t expect you to have such a strategy. I almost want to keep you in the Capital City to advise me,” Hazel Han said to Oliver Sheng with a smile.
“Please, Your Majesty, I prefer leading troops into battle,” Oliver Sheng quickly waved his hand.
The court’s political struggles, the scheming and plotting, he really didn’t like it.
“Alright, I was just saying,” Hazel Han waved her hand dismissively.
A peerless warrior like Oliver Sheng should be fighting, conquering the Foreign Tribes, and defending the nation’s peace.
“I’ve already discussed with the court officials. Tomorrow, you and the River West Army will be rewarded. Remember to bring your subordinates to the court.”
“Also, I plan to establish the River West Protectorate. Do you have any recommendations for the position of Governor?” Hazel Han continued.
“Yes, I recommend Magistrate Finn Chen of River West County,” Oliver Sheng replied without hesitation.
Hazel Han nodded, indicating she had noted it down. Many were vying for the position of Governor of the River West Protectorate.
Many members of the aristocratic families in the court knew the importance of this position, as it connected to the trade routes of the Western Regions, holding the position could bring immense profits.
“Is there anything else, Your Majesty? If not, I’ll take my leave,” Oliver Sheng said.
“You may leave, Oliver.”
Oliver Sheng then bid farewell and left the palace, returning to Honglu Temple.
After Oliver Sheng left, Hazel Han headed to the Royal Armory.
Upon arriving at the armory, Hazel Han greeted Han Shan, “Hazel greets Uncle Ancestor.”
Han Shan, dressed in gray, opened his eyes, “Little Hazel, here to see the Ancestor?”
“Here to see both you and the Ancestor,” Hazel Han smiled, showing no imperial demeanor.
“You’re always so sweet. Go on, the Ancestor knows you’re here,” Han Shan smiled faintly.
“Yes, Uncle Ancestor!”
Hazel Han ascended to the ninth floor of the Royal Armory, a place only accessible to the emperor and royal family members.
The royal ancestor was in seclusion here.
“Ancestor, Hazel seeks an audience!” Hazel Han called out from outside the ninth floor.
“Come in!”
An aged voice responded, and the door to the ninth floor opened.
Hazel Han walked in, and the door closed automatically. The ninth floor was illuminated by Night Pearls.
The entire ninth floor was sealed off.
“Hazel greets the Ancestor,” Hazel Han bowed deeply.
“What brings you here?” Han Wu, with white hair and beard, looked kindly at Hazel Han.
“I met Oliver Sheng, Ancestor. What do you think of him?” Hazel Han inquired.
“His vitality is vast, his future boundless. If this world were not sealed, he would surely become a Martial Emperor. It’s a pity,” Han Wu sighed.
In this world, cultivating the Dao was difficult. Whether Martial Saint or Yang Spirit, progress was slow, and the path to ascension was cut off.
“I plan to confer him the title of Marquis and have him guard the Northern Border for Great Wei,” Hazel Han said.
“That’s your decision to make. This young man is exceptional; he could be a suitable husband for you,” Han Wu suggested.
“Ancestor, what are you saying!” Hazel Han’s face flushed.
“Little Hazel, I’ve been cultivating martial arts for over four hundred years. Now I’m only at the late stage of Martial Saint, with not many years left.
When I’m gone, the Great Wei royal family will have no Martial Saint to hold the fort, and the world will likely fall into chaos,” Han Wu said helplessly.
For centuries, the Great Wei royal family had been in decline, with no new Martial Saints emerging. Han Wu had been holding the fort alone.
Now, Hazel Han had emerged, but she was still far from breaking through to Martial Saint.
“Ancestor, I can do it. I’ll break through to Martial Saint soon,” Hazel Han said.
Han Wu shook his head. Although Hazel Han was at the Great Grandmaster Perfection, her third Dao Flower had not yet solidified. Even when it did, breaking through to Martial Saint wouldn’t be immediate.
“If breaking through to Martial Saint were so easy, your second uncle wouldn’t have failed a hundred years ago, and Great Wei wouldn’t have been attacked by Da Li and Da Chu.”
A hundred years ago, a prodigy emerged in the royal family, no less talented than Hazel Han. By the age of thirty, he had reached the Great Grandmaster Perfection, with three flowers atop his head and five energies converging.
To prevent his breakthrough, Da Li and Da Chu sent strong warriors to attack, and the grassland tribes and southern Miao people also rose in rebellion, plunging Great Wei into turmoil.
The royal disciple couldn’t break through peacefully and ultimately failed, dying in the process.
Han Wu fought against the Martial Saints of Da Li and Da Chu, repelling the invaders but suffering severe injuries.
For a century, his cultivation hadn’t advanced an inch.
Now, the Great Wei royal ancestor’s vitality was waning, with only a few years left to live.
Hazel Han fell silent. The current situation of Great Wei was not as good as it appeared.
Martial Saint Xiao was tied down by the demon tribe at the Demon Suppression Pass, unable to move. If the ancestor fell, Da Li and Da Chu wouldn’t miss the opportunity to attack Great Wei.
“The Taoist Sect Grandmasters don’t care about who rules this land, whether it’s Great Wei, Da Li, or Da Chu. The aristocratic families won’t live and die with Great Wei either.”
“Ancestor, I won’t last many more years,” Han Wu felt a deep sense of powerlessness in his twilight years.
He recalled his youth, when his iron fists had made countless heroes bow.
Having taken over Great Wei from the previous Martial Saint ancestor, he had shielded Great Wei for over three hundred years, now stepping into old age.
Hazel Han remained silent. She couldn’t be sure she would break through to Martial Saint within the next few years.
If she couldn’t break through before the ancestor’s death, she wouldn’t be able to fend off the wolves.
“That Oliver Sheng, according to the collected information, has a good character and is loyal to Great Wei. He’s currently suppressing his realm, and breaking through to Martial Saint would be easy for him.”
“As for Sword Dust’s grandson from Dao Sword Mountain, I don’t trust him with you.”
Originally, Han Wu had planned to form an alliance with Dao Sword Mountain, seeking the protection of Sword Saint Sword Dust for Hazel Han and Great Wei.
But now, he thought Oliver Sheng was a better choice.
Young, handsome, powerful, a general of Great Wei, with no aristocratic family behind him, he posed little threat to Great Wei and could protect it.
“Ancestor, I…”
Hazel Han didn’t want to become a vassal. She wanted to prove she could become a Martial Saint and lead Great Wei to glory.
“Forget it, little Hazel. Don’t overthink it. As long as I’m here, I’ll protect Great Wei for another year,” Han Wu comforted.
He wasn’t sure if placing the burden of Great Wei on this young girl was the right choice.
“Yes, Ancestor,” Hazel Han nodded, feeling a heavy weight in her heart.
“Do you have any doubts about your cultivation? Ask while I’m still here,” Han Wu said.
“Ancestor…”
Hazel Han began to voice her cultivation doubts, seeking the ancestor’s guidance.
……
Back at Honglu Temple, Sawyer Shangguan and Zane Wang approached Oliver Sheng.
“General, you were gone for so long, we were worried,” Zane Wang said.
“What’s there to worry about?” Oliver Sheng looked at Zane Wang, who seemed to hope for his misfortune.
“Well, General, you were gone for three days without a word. Of course, we were worried,” Zane Wang scratched his head.
“You’re worrying for nothing. With my strength, who can harm me? I was at the royal armory for three days,” Oliver Sheng explained.
Sawyer Shangguan and Zane Wang understood. So, he had been at the royal armory.
The Great Wei royal armory wasn’t accessible to just anyone. Only those who had made significant contributions to Great Wei could enter.
“Has Xiao Batian returned?” Oliver Sheng asked.
“No!” Zane Wang shook his head.
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