36: Chapter 36 The Corrupted Guard Battalion

Over the next two days, the actions of Prime Minister Zhuge Dali and General Chu Batian were nothing short of wild.

After leaving Wang Chen, they immediately sought out Ji Gang of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and obtained the detailed files of all officials from him!

Following that, the two began their purge.

Starting with the imperial court, every single official in important departments was replaced by Prime Minister Zhuge Dali with his own people.

There was no other way.

He had nine talents capable of assisting a king and one hundred first-class talents under his command; it would be a waste to send them to the provinces, as their abilities could only be fully utilized in the imperial court.

Of course.

The transfer of power could never be smooth sailing; bloodshed was inevitable.

Being dismissed or demoted was already the best outcome for many of the court officials!

One must know.

Among these court officials, many had their homes raided and were executed by the Embroidered Uniform Guard!

Do not think that this was cruel.

Those who were executed did not hate Wang Chen; on the contrary, each of them was extremely grateful to him!

Because those executed were individuals who had committed unforgivable crimes. Their offenses had long been investigated by the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and according to the law, they should have had their entire clans executed.

Now, only they themselves were put to death, sparing the members of their Family, so how could they not be grateful?

This was only because they had been obedient during this final period; otherwise, they certainly would not have been let off so lightly!

As for the other cities within the Imperial Dynasty.

Except for the thirty or so that had always remained loyal to the Imperial Dynasty, all others had their City Lords and garrison commanders replaced.

Especially those City Lords.

Not one dared to resist. Those with grave sins had their homes raided and their clans exterminated on the spot by the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Compared to Prime Minister Zhuge Dali's relatively gentle approach, General Chu Batian's methods were far more brutal!

After obtaining the files from the Embroidered Uniform Guard, he did not bother them again.

Instead.

He personally took action, leading the military generals Wang Chen had assigned to him.

There were three hundred of them, including ten commanders at the Celestial Realm alone. Who could withstand such a force?

Their first stop was the Guard Battalion of the imperial capital, which housed the million-strong army guarding the city!

In truth.

This million-strong army was the foundation of the Imperial Dynasty. The reason the Imperial Dynasty could still persist despite its decline, aside from the three Old Ancestor figures at the Celestial Realm, was this million-strong army, which was the most critical factor!

The imperial capital's Guard Battalion was located in the northwest corner of the imperial capital, with a camp stretching for a hundred miles, banners like a forest, and was known as the "Imperial Iron Wall."

The million-strong army stationed here was the last and strongest force defending the capital region.

Its commander had always been a trusted confidant of the royal Family or a veteran general with distinguished service, holding a transcendent position.

However.

Inside this "Imperial Iron Wall," it had long since rotted away.

When General Chu Batian led a group of generals into the Guard Battalion, they were not met with a fierce military Aura, but rather a scene of unbridled laxity.

The guards at the camp gate were disheveled and yawning incessantly.

It was only after General Chu Batian and his group approached that they hurriedly picked up their somewhat rusty halberds.

"Halt... halt! Who are you people? How dare you trespass into the military camp?"

General Chu Batian did not even glance at them.

One of the commanders at the Celestial Realm behind him merely lifted his eyes slightly, and an invisible Aura instantly permeated the area.

Under this Aura.

The guard who had spoken, along with the dozen or so guards around him, instantly exploded into mists of blood.

"Beat the drums and assemble the generals!"

General Chu Batian's voice was not loud, yet it clearly reached every corner nearby.

Among the generals behind him, a man with a figure as burly as a bear stepped out.

He walked straight toward the massive cowhide war drum in the center of the camp.

He did not even use a drumstick; his palm, as large as a cattail fan, struck the drumhead directly!

"Boom!!!"

"Boom!!!"

...

A series of dull, deafening sounds that made hearts stop instantly exploded!

The sound waves rolled across the entire massive military camp like thunder!

This drumbeat.

It did not sound like a call to assemble generals.

It sounded more like a funeral knell!

The dull drumbeats echoed over the camp, and countless startled soldiers walked out of their tents one after another.

Some had relatively neat armor, but most were bleary-eyed and even reeking of alcohol.

In the main command tent.

The current commander of the Guard Battalion, Commander Xu Meng, was drinking and making merry with a group of generals.

As the son of the Duke of the State of the Tianxuan Dynasty and the commander of the Guard Battalion protecting the imperial capital, his status was second to none in the entire Imperial Dynasty.

As the final barrier protecting the Imperial Dynasty, the Guard Battalion's strength was naturally very powerful.

However.

Ever since Commander Xu Meng took over the position of his father, the Duke of the State, five years ago and became the commander of the Guard Battalion, the Guard Battalion had completely degenerated.

Because Commander Xu Meng was a person without learning or skill, and by middle age, his strength had only just barely managed to Breakthrough to the Grandmaster Realm.

If it were an ordinary person.

Being able to Breakthrough to the Grandmaster Realm would definitely count as a Genius.

But as the only son of the Duke of the State.

A mere Grandmaster Realm was somewhat too mediocre. Normally, he would not have been qualified to serve as the commander of the Guard Battalion!

But he had strong backing.

His father was the Duke of the State, the former commander of the Guard Battalion, and his younger sister was Emperor Xuande's Empress, the biological mother of the then-First Prince.

With these two backing him firmly, Emperor Xuande had no choice!

Even knowing he was a good-for-nothing, he ultimately let him take over his father's position and become the commander of the Guard Battalion.

Just like that.

The once-powerful Guard Battalion had degenerated to this state in just five years.

It truly lived up to the saying.

"A cowardly soldier demoralizes one person, but a cowardly general demoralizes the whole group..."

As for the current Guard Battalion, let alone how powerful it was, whether it could even form an effective fighting force was still an unknown!

Upon hearing the assembly drums.

Commander Xu Meng walked out, surrounded by a group of personal guards, his face furious.

His face was flushed, and his eyes were filled with rage and impatience at having his pleasure interrupted.

His golden armor was worn crookedly, and there were even wine stains on his collar. The generals following behind him were all the same, completely lacking the appearance a soldier should have.

"Which bastard is tired of living, daring to beat drums and run wild in my Guard Battalion? Are you tired of living?"

He certainly did not recognize General Chu Batian!

In the past few days, he had been drunk in the lap of luxury and hadn't even returned home, let alone cared about personnel changes in the imperial court.

As for that notice sent to the Guard Battalion announcing the appointment of the new Great General?

Sorry.

It had probably long been thrown into some corner, keeping company with wine jar dregs.

Although the group of people before him did indeed have a somewhat terrifying Aura, especially the ten people standing at the very front—just looking at them made him instinctively shiver.

However, it was only for a moment before he reacted.

Where was this?

This was Commander Xu Meng's territory!

This was the Guard Battalion of the imperial capital!

Under his command, there was a million-strong army!

Even if these people were mighty dragons crossing the river, once they reached his "deep water," they had to coil up for him!

It didn't matter who they were!!

Thinking of this.

The bit of trepidation Commander Xu Meng had felt due to their Aura instantly vanished without a trace...