The poorest member of the Imperial Guard, the Empress begged me to embezzle.

"Quickly, make way for the messenger..."

The city guard captain quickly realized what was happening and shouted to the people of the Great Zhou Dynasty who were entering the city.

The city guards quickly separated the civilians, allowing the Dragon Blood Horse to enter the capital as quickly as possible.

In reality, there was no need for the city guards to separate the people or make them make way.

At the command of the city guard captain, the people of the Great Zhou Dynasty reacted quickly and made way for him.

The Imperial Guards advanced smoothly and disappeared from the capital in an instant.

Upon entering the capital, the Imperial Guards rode their dragon-blooded horses toward the palace, shouting loudly all the way, causing the entire capital to tremble.

After a while.

Jinluan Palace.

"If you have something to report, speak now; otherwise, the court is dismissed..."

Jiang Wan'er stood to the left of Empress Murong Si and addressed the assembled civil and military officials.

Pei Guanyin stood to the right of Empress Murong Si.

Upon hearing Jiang Wan'er's words, the entire Golden Palace fell silent, and no officials stepped forward.

"Since there is nothing else, let's adjourn the court."

Murong Si slowly rose, said something to the civil and military officials, and then prepared to step down from the high platform and leave the Golden Palace.

however!

at this time!

A soldier from the Imperial Guard strode in.

Upon seeing the Imperial Guard soldier enter, Murong Si's heart stirred, and she guessed that Chu Xiu must have sent word that he had recaptured Yangzhou.

The eyes of all the civil and military officials turned to this Imperial Guard soldier. Had something happened again?

"Your Majesty, a great victory has been achieved in Yangzhou! Yesterday, the Marquis led the elite Imperial Guards into the city of Yangzhou and killed the Great Wheel King of the Maitreya Sect at the Yangzhou Prefectural Governor's Mansion. This caused the Maitreya Sect leader, Xiao Yu, to flee in disarray with the direct descendants of the Xiao family and the Maitreya Sect. The entire territory of Yangzhou has been reclaimed!"

The Imperial Guards knelt before Murong Si and spoke with great passion and fervor.

"What?! The Maitreya Cult's leader, Xiao Yu, fled in disarray with the direct descendants of the Yangzhou Xiao family and the Maitreya Cult after killing the Great Wheel King?"

"As expected of the Marquis of Champion, he actually suppressed the Maitreya Sect and reclaimed the entire Yangzhou!"

"That's right, this isn't just about the Maitreya Sect. Xiao Yu is also the head of the Xiao family of Yangzhou, a member of the former imperial family. Even with the combined strength of the Maitreya Sect and the Xiao family of Yangzhou, they still couldn't withstand the Marquis of Champion..."

"Impressive! The Marquis of Champion is truly remarkable!"

"..."

The words of the Imperial Guards caused a great stir, and the entire Golden Palace was in an uproar. All the civil and military officials couldn't help but start discussing it.

These civil and military officials, especially those from powerful and influential families, became even more wary of Chu Xiu.

"Minister Chu truly deserves to be called a pillar of our Great Zhou Dynasty!"

"Okay! Okay! That's great!"

"I will certainly reward him handsomely!"

Murong Si spoke with great excitement, her words ringing true.

"Your Majesty, Holy Might!"

The officials knelt down and shouted with utmost respect.

"I have inherited the mandate of Heaven, rule over the eight directions, and reign supreme over the world."

"In this chaotic world, with monstrous evils and rampant traitors, we are fortunate to have loyal and courageous pillars who have cleansed the world, protected the nation from imminent collapse, and saved the people from suffering."

"Champion Marquis Chu Xiu, Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, wields thunderous fury and a blade of killing power; his achievements shine as bright as the sun and moon, and his merits cover the mountains and rivers."

“With the Embroidered Spring, we swept away the evil atmosphere in Yangzhou, and beheaded the traitorous Maitreya King at the governor’s mansion in Yangzhou; we drove the Xiao traitor like a stray dog, and chased away the Maitreya followers like withered grass in a wasteland, and recovered Yangzhou, and restored the royal land to the thousand miles of Jiangling.”

"He is promoted to Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Central Military Commission, while still in charge of the Embroidered Uniform Guard!"

"He may wear a sword and shoes when entering the palace, and may not hasten his bow or be named when praising or paying homage!"

Murong Si took a deep breath to calm her excited emotions, and spoke with an air of authority and power.

Upon hearing this, the officials were shocked, their faces showing disbelief.

It's not surprising that Murong Si promoted Chu Xiu to the position of Deputy Commander of the Central Military Commission, after all, Chu Xiu had suppressed the Maitreya Sect rebellion and reclaimed the entire Yangzhou region.

but!

He was allowed to enter the palace with a sword and shoes, and was not required to bow when entering the court; he was also allowed to praise and pay homage without using his name!

What do these twelve characters represent?

Wearing a sword and shoes in the palace symbolizes holding weapons before the emperor and the trust placed in him for life and death!

Entering the court without bowing signifies unparalleled achievements, and waiving formalities demonstrates unparalleled prestige!

Visiting temples without revealing one's name signifies the prohibition of using one's name, and for a subject, this is the highest honor, bringing them close to the majesty of Heaven!

To put it bluntly, even the Grand Secretary of the Great Zhou Dynasty doesn't have that kind of qualification!

In the entire history of the Great Zhou Dynasty, only Chu Xiu has enjoyed this honor!

From this point alone, one can see just how much Murong Si values ​​and favors Chu Xiu!

At this rate, even the civil and military officials began to wonder if Chu Xiu would eventually become the Grand Commander of the Five Armies Commandery, taking charge of the entire Five Armies Commandery, and even the entire army of the Great Zhou Dynasty!

Although the position of Grand Commander of the Five Armies Commandery had long been abolished by Emperor Wu, the founding emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

However, given Murong Si's favor towards Chu Xiu, if Chu Xiu were to achieve extraordinary feats in the future, it wouldn't be impossible for her to directly appoint him as the Grand Commander of the Five Armies Commandery.

Not only were all the civil and military officials in the court frightened by Murong Si's words, but even Jiang Wan'er and Pei Guanyin were stunned.

At this moment, in a courtyard in Yangzhou.

Chu Xiu pushed open the door and walked out of the room.

"Reporting to the Marquis, your subordinates have completely crushed the three major sects and arranged for our Embroidered Uniform Guard to confiscate their property."

"It won't be long before all the spoils of these three major sects are transported to the state capital."

Fang Heng stood outside Chu Xiu's room. When he saw Chu Xiu come out, he bowed respectfully.

"well done!"

"These valuables, along with the harvests from the Xiao family and the governor's mansion, except for grain, were all exchanged for gold and silver and sent to the river management headquarters for flood control."

"If there is any surplus at the end, it will be transported back to our Embroidered Uniform Guard headquarters."

Chu Xiu nodded slightly, looking at Fang Heng with admiration.

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Fang Heng spoke respectfully and forcefully.

"Have all the counties of Yangzhou been recaptured?"

Chu Xiu nodded and said calmly.

"Reporting to the Marquis, all the counties in Yangzhou have been recaptured."

"Furthermore, after receiving the Marquis's message, Lord Gu immediately dispatched General Qin Mohan, the Commandant of Jingzhou, to Yangzhou to take over the various counties of Yangzhou."

Fang Heng said respectfully, "General Qin is waiting outside the courtyard. Would you like to see him, Lord Marquis?"

"Since General Qin is waiting outside the courtyard, let's meet him."

Chu Xiu smiled slightly and said.

"My lord, I will go and call General Qin in right now."

Upon hearing this, Fang Heng replied respectfully.

"No need, I will go out and see him myself."

Chu Xiu waved his sleeve and walked out of the courtyard.

"Yes."

Fang Heng responded and followed Chu Xiu a step behind.

Not long after.

Chu Xiu then walked out of the courtyard.

Outside the courtyard, a middle-aged general, as imposing as an iron tower, exuding a fierce aura, with the brows etched with the marks of time and the gaze of a wolf and eagle that could intimidate the entire army, stood alone.

Although he was only one person, he was like a thousand troops, exuding a murderous aura!