If Heaven hadn't given birth to me, I would be arrogant.

However, there were some setbacks along the way. According to Grandma, her family completely disapproved of the marriage and even placed her under house arrest while she was already deeply in love. They didn't want to get involved in the affairs of other countries.

Later, Grandpa actually brought his personal guards to propose marriage, only to be turned away again. Zong arrogantly declared that to show his respect for the Yu family and his beloved, he would kneel before the Yu family's gate for fifteen days. If the Yu family still didn't release his beloved after fifteen days, he would lead his army to raze the Yu Kingdom to the ground.

It's unclear whether the threat worked or the Yu family was moved by Zong Xiaozhang's arrogance. In the end, on the thirteenth day of Zong Xiaozhang's kneeling, the Yu family removed Zong Ze's grandmother from the family register, expelled her, and married her off to Zong Xiaozhang.

With the help of his incredibly wise lover, the Ruen Empire ultimately came out on top in the negotiations. Back in the capital, again through his grandmother's arrangements, Zong arrogantly ascended to the position of Grand Marshal of the Empire. He went from a commoner to a Grand Duke, second only to the emperor.

Later, their son, Zong Kuang, also rose through the ranks in the army, eventually becoming a general and a first-class marquis, all thanks to his mastery of the game "Slaughtering the World." He married Yu Rou, a talented woman from his mother's family. Although Yu Rou left the Duchy of Yu, she was not expelled from the family.

Normally, nobles should be allowed to own their own territories and private armies. A ducal domain should have at least a province and a private army of five thousand. A first-rank marquis should have a private army of two thousand. The two women of the Yu family, through some unknown method, managed to persuade the old emperor to exchange their territories for private armies. Ultimately, the two nobles' territories became these thirty thousand Tiger Warriors—a Tiger Warrior army completely loyal to the main family.

Sitting in the carriage prepared for him by his father's personal guards, Zong Ze looked at the orderly ranks of the Zong family army marching alongside. He shook his head again. He always felt this army, touted as the strongest in the empire, was far too weak, especially after he had given his father that inexplicable method of marching that had appeared in his mind. Before, he wondered how weak they would have been!

"Young Master, we're almost at our destination. The General wants you to get out of the carriage now, as we can't pass this last stretch!" Zong Ze was deep in thought when a bald, burly man walking alongside the carriage suddenly spoke up. This bald man was named Sun Hua, the captain of his father's personal guards.

Zongze originally intended not to ride in the carriage, but his father said he was still young and this trip was just to broaden his horizons. With his weak physique, he was simply not suited to the long journey with the army, and besides, it was also his mother's wish.

Now that he could finally get out of the carriage and walk on his own, Zong Ze was naturally overjoyed. Upon hearing Sun Hua, who was specifically responsible for his safety, speak, Zong Ze rushed out of the carriage before it had even come to a complete stop. If Sun Hua hadn't caught him in time, the kid would probably have fallen flat on his face!

"You brat, now you know, right? No matter how smart you are, you still need a good physique on the battlefield!"

Before Zong Ze could even regain his footing, Zong Kuang's voice came from behind. Turning around, he saw his father sitting majestically atop a warhorse clad in white armor, a hint of worry hidden in his seemingly playful gaze. Zong Ze knew this was his father's concern for his health.

"Report..." After being lifted onto the warhorse by his father, they hadn't gone far when the scouts on the front line came running up shouting, "Reporting to the general, the bandit stronghold on the Lanyin Plain is just ahead. They seem to know we're coming. About 20,000 bandits have gathered on a small hill not far ahead, and it looks like they're planning to fight to the death!"