Golden Ranking Appears, My Empress Turns Out to Be Wu Zhao

Southern Song Dynasty Territory.

Yuan Dynasty Military Tent.

Temujin stared at the intelligence in his hand, his gaze turning toward National Master Phagpa.

"Have you found out who Long Xiao, Rank 1 of Renowned Marshal Ranking, actually is?"

"And where is that army now?"

"Hiding for so many years... that brat Zhu Houzhao is truly cunning."

"It seems he had already used that Dragon Cavalry Army years ago to slaughter hundreds of thousands of my Yuan Dynasty troops, weakening our national strength. Truly despicable!"

Back then, their repeated and disastrous defeats had all been caused by this mysterious and eerie army.

Although it had long been suspected that this force acted on orders from the Ming Dynasty, it remained just a theory.

But now, even with confirmation, they could not remain calm.

"Khan, this army is terrifying. It has never appeared within the borders of the Ming Dynasty and is likely still wreaking havoc on the grasslands."

"Unfortunately, it is far too dreadful. The moment my elite operatives approach, they cannot hide themselves, and the only outcome is death."

"This is also why we've had no real leads over the years."

"The Ming Emperor has clearly positioned this force as a fatal nail, embedded deep into one of our Yuan Dynasty's vulnerabilities."

"No matter the cost, we must uncover and eliminate them."

"National Master, you don't need to worry about this for now. I will assign it to the Shaman Cult."

"On the grasslands, nothing proves more useful than them."

When Temujin mentioned the Shaman Cult, a flash of deep disgust crossed Phagpa's eyes.

"Khan, there is something even more concerning than the mysterious Dragon Cavalry Army."

"The Qing Dynasty, under relentless attacks by the Ming Armies, has lost nearly half its territory in just a few months."

"And within the Qing Dynasty itself, internal strife still persists."

"The three armies dispatched by the Ming Emperor are all terrifying."

"Qi Jiguang and Hua Mulan have been trained by the Ming Emperor for many years and are battle-tested. Nearly 80% of the victories have been secured by them."

"Their names on the Renowned Marshal Ranking are fully deserved."

"We need to pay close attention to those two."

"But most crucially, the main marshal of the Third Army, Wu Qi."

"Somehow, the Ming Emperor managed to bring the Martial Saint Wu Qi under his command."

"Though he is not ranked on the Renowned Marshal Ranking, we cannot afford to underestimate him in the slightest. Otherwise, we'll suffer dearly."

When Wu Qi was mentioned, Phagpa's expression turned gravely serious.

Not only due to his terrifying command skills, but also because of his Mythical Realm cultivation.

He was an enemy even more troublesome than Qi Jiguang and Hua Mulan.

"That fool Hongli... I overestimated him!"

"I thought he could be a decent ally, someone to hold back that brat Zhu Houzhao, but at the critical moment, he fell apart."

"Zhu Houzhao hasn't even gone all in yet, and Hongli's already finished."

"National Master, how likely is the fall of the Qing Dynasty now?"

"Khan, the Ming Dynasty has clearly set the total destruction of the Qing Dynasty as its ultimate objective. Unless outside forces intervene, there is over an 80% chance that the Qing Dynasty will be wiped out."

"Forget about the Qing Dynasty. We must move quickly to destroy the Southern Song Dynasty."

"Once we annihilate them, we'll then deal with the Vast Sea Dynasty's forces in the south."

"We absolutely must not get bogged down in the Southern Song Dynasty quagmire. We have even greater enemies to face!"

If the Ming Dynasty destroyed the Qing Dynasty and consolidated their victory, their national strength would explode exponentially.

At that point, the Ming Dynasty would become an even more formidable threat.

And the Yuan Dynasty would be the first to face their overwhelming pressure.

Phagpa seemed to think of something but hesitated to speak.

"National Master, if you have something to say, speak freely."

"Khan, are you truly going to allow the Shaman Grand Priest of the Shaman Cult to release a plague in the Southern Song Dynasty Territory?"

"Countless people will die. There will be panic. If the other Nine Provinces witness this, our Yuan Dynasty may become the target of all!"

"Hmph, Southerners are nothing more than lowly ants. Their deaths are of no consequence."

"Besides, the Shaman Grand Priest's target is the Vast Sea Dynasty's region. That plague will slow down their advance."

"It'll give us a perfect opportunity to swiftly conquer the Southern Song Dynasty."

"If the plague kills Yue Fei and Han Xin, that would also avenge the deaths of Muqali and Boroqul."

"Remember this, National Master, the plague is one of the Yuan Dynasty's most powerful weapons."

"If used wisely, its effects are tremendous."

"Under normal circumstances, I might refrain from using it. But now, with the fate of the Yuan Dynasty hanging in the balance, we can no longer afford to hesitate."

"With the Ming Dynasty watching us like a tiger stalking its prey, and the Vast Sea Dynasty closing in fast, time is not on our side."

Phagpa tried again to persuade him, but was immediately interrupted by Temujin.

Phagpa had personally witnessed the horrifying consequences of plague outbreaks on the grasslands.

The Shaman Cult had done such things more than once or twice.

Once unleashed, the plague would not only devastate the Southern Song Dynasty, but it could spread to other nations as well.

What the Khan was doing now was essentially cutting ties with heaven and earth.

To Phagpa, the Shaman Cult and their Shaman Grand Priest were nothing but a poisonous tumor.

They had no bottom line.

They had already brought catastrophe to countless tribes on the grasslands, and now they wanted to inflict disaster on the people of the Nine Provinces.

What was most unbelievable was that the brilliant and ambitious Temujin was not only not stopping it, but actively encouraging it.

There was no way he didn't know the consequences of such actions.

And yet he still chose to proceed.

Phagpa almost thought the man standing before him had been replaced.

"National Master, the kind of disaster you fear will never happen."

"Rest assured. I will control the situation."

"I only hope you won't regret this, Khan."

==========

In the south.

Marshal Yue Fei Military Tent.

"Lord Li, I've just received news. The Shaman Shaman Grand Priest, whom we once spared, is now orchestrating a massive conspiracy."

"Do you know anything about it?"

Yue Fei looked gravely at Li Chunfeng.

"I certainly do. He is preparing to launch a large-scale plague in the region currently controlled by our Vast Sea Dynasty."

"And that's not all. We're merely his first test."

"Their next target is the Ming Dynasty."

Li Chunfeng smiled faintly and replied calmly.

"Lord Li, how can you still smile? This is a catastrophe."

"If they succeed, do you know how many people will die?"

"Why did you stop me from killing him back then? You let a tiger return to the mountains!"

Yue Fei spoke angrily.

"Marshal Yue, do you think this problem could've been solved just by killing a single Shaman Grand Priest?"

"He was nothing more than a slightly larger chess piece."

"The true decision-makers are Temujin and the Shaman Cult Master."

"If we had killed the Shaman Grand Priest then, they would've retaliated immediately. Many of our captured cities would have already been infected with plague."

"We need to uproot this poisonous weed from the source."

As he spoke, a cold glint flashed in Li Chunfeng's eyes.

The Shaman Cult's actions had crossed his bottom line.

He didn't care about deaths on the battlefield.

But unleashing plague to kill indiscriminately was mass slaughter.

This could not be allowed under any circumstances.

"So, how do you plan to handle this?"

"Marshal Yue, your task is to handle the military front. I have long since started dismantling their scheme."

"Letting the Shaman Grand Priest go back then was part of the plan."

"I see. Then I'll trust you this time."

"By the way, since their next target is Ming Dynasty, why not cooperate with them just this once?"

"To completely eliminate the Shaman Cult?"

"Not just that. We should also uproot their headquarters on the grasslands."

"Don't worry. I've already arranged for that."

"Ming Dynasty's National Master, Zhang Yuchu, is personally overseeing this matter."

Upon hearing the name Zhang Yuchu, Yue Fei's heart skipped a beat.

Another God Demon Realm cultivator.

It seemed the Ming Dynasty was taking this matter very seriously if even a God Demon Realm had been deployed.

But if Zhang Yuchu secretly sabotaged the Vast Sea Dynasty, it would spell disaster.

Sensing Yue Fei's hesitation, Li Chunfeng quickly added.

"Don't worry, Marshal Yue. Wars between nations are contests of national strength and military power. Petty tricks and schemes won't make the difference."

"Zhang Yuchu may be a National Master of the Ming Dynasty, but he is also a Daoist, with noble character."

"If that's so, then I'm relieved."

Though he said that, Yue Fei remained on high alert deep down.

Illusions and realities are always intertwined.

The truth can be hidden behind layers of deception. Who knew what the final outcome would be?

He would make sure to prepare accordingly.

"Alright, Marshal. Stay vigilant. I must now close the net."

Li Chunfeng gave a cold chuckle, and in a flash, disappeared.

==========

Northern Song Capital.

The largest pleasure house.

Inside an elegant private chamber.

The famous courtesan of the Northern Song Dynasty, Li Shishi, was playing a renowned melody. Not far away, a man dressed in luxurious robes was listening intently, fully immersed in the music.

After a long while, the piece came to an end.

Only then did the man in lavish attire regain his senses.

"Hall Master Li's command of musical art has become even more remarkable."

"You must be close to breaking through to the Heavenly Human Realm, yes?"

"Enough, Vice-Hall Master Zhao. Let's not waste time with idle talk. Just tell me, what's the reason you suddenly sought me out?"

"You should know the taboos within the Azure Dragon Association. Do not violate them, or even I won't be able to protect you."

"Of course. I came to discuss something very important with you."

"Then get to the point."

"Do you know that our colleagues in the Qing Dynasty and Southern Song Dynasty branches of the Azure Dragon Association have all made great achievements and gained immense rewards, while we in the Northern Song Dynasty branch have fallen behind?"

"There's nothing we can do about that. The Northern Song Dynasty is too far from the Ming Dynasty. Even if we perform well, it doesn't benefit the Ming Dynasty enough."

"As a result, the rewards always end up going to others."

"But don't worry. Once His Majesty destroys both the Qing Dynasty and the Yuan Dynasty, it will be our time to shine."

"And how long do we have to wait for that?"

"I just found out that the Vice-Hall Master from the November Hall recently made huge contributions in the Qing Dynasty and was handsomely rewarded with both wealth and cultivation resources."

"He has already broken through the bottleneck that plagued him for years and has successfully advanced to the Heavenly Human Realm."

"From now on, he's in a completely different realm from us."

"Half-Step Land Immortal, yet the gap between that and a true Land Immortal is like heaven and earth."

"Don't you feel even a little tempted?"

"Fine, just tell me what you're planning. But if it involves breaking any taboos, don't forget the consequences. You know what they are."

"Of course. My plan is to perform a great deed and earn a major merit."

"With His Majesty's support, the Azure Dragon Association's leadership is always generous. As long as you contribute, the rewards and cultivation resources will be abundant."

"A great deed? What do you mean?" Li Shishi was deeply curious.

"Hehe, what the Northern Song Dynasty needs is a true internal rebellion."

"An internal rebellion? The Northern Song Dynasty is already chaotic enough. Liao Kingdom and Jin Kingdom are invading from outside, and the smaller kingdoms like Tibet Kingdom, Western Xia Kingdom, and Great Li Kingdom are causing trouble too. Internally, rebel forces are springing up everywhere."

"Isn't that chaos enough for you?"

"Not nearly enough. The Northern Song Imperial Court is still too quiet. It needs to be thrown into complete disarray."

"You mean... Cai Jing?!"

Hearing this, Li Shishi instantly understood her colleague's intention.

He was trying to push Cai Jing into rebellion?

That was impossible. Cai Jing was a seasoned schemer, his power network deeply entrenched. He would never dig his own grave unless absolutely forced to.

"Hehe, I haven't been idle these past years. I have quite a bit of evidence of his misdeeds in my hands."

"If that evidence were to be accidentally leaked, someone like Huang Shang of the Imperial City Division would definitely be able to trace it back to Cai Jing."

"At that point, he would have no choice but to rebel."

"Most crucially, I've discovered that Cai Jing isn't as simple as he appears."

"He's very powerful and keeps it extremely well hidden."

"If he chooses to act, the entire Northern Song Imperial Court will be thrown into chaos. That's when we can seize our opportunity."

"This... Huang Shang is not someone to be trifled with. Aren't you afraid of being found out by him?"

"If you ruin years of the Azure Dragon Association's planning, don't blame me for being ruthless."

Li Shishi shook her head. She was very wary of Huang Shang.

Over the years, she had nearly been discovered by him on several occasions.

"Don't worry. I'm not using people from the Azure Dragon Association. These are agents I've cultivated myself over the years."

"Even if Huang Shang traces it back, it'll end with me. It won't implicate the Association."

"Very well. I'll agree to this, and I'll provide you with some relevant intelligence. But that's all I can offer. Nothing more."

"That's enough. With Hall Master Li's support, once the great deed is done, the credit will be yours as well."

"Just make sure you stay alive first, then we'll talk."

As the man in fine clothing left, Li Shishi's eyes gleamed.

She immediately picked up her brush and wrote a secret report, which she delivered through special means at high speed.

This matter was of great importance, and she had decided to report it.

As for the man's promise, she would secretly assist him to some extent.

If it succeeded, then everyone would be pleased.

If it failed, then unfortunately, the man would simply become a sacrificial pawn.

However, based on her understanding of the higher-ups, they likely wouldn't pay much attention to this matter for now.

Everyone's eyes were currently focused on the Ming-Qing War.

At best, also the Southern Song Dynasty battlefield.

The Northern Song Dynasty was still far away, and not yet a primary target.

Let them play their little games.

As long as the bottom line wasn't crossed, it was fine to turn a blind eye.

Only when the Ming Dynasty and Song Dynasty borders met would it truly be their time to shine.

==========

Tang Imperial Palace, Taiji Hall.

The Bad Marshal Yuan Tiangang had once again been summoned by Li Shimin.

Not long ago, due to one of Yuan Tiangang's manipulative maneuvers, the Tang Dynasty had lost two more vassal kings of different surnames.

The remaining few were also no longer threats. Soon, all power within the Tang Dynasty would be firmly in Li Shimin's grasp.

As for the aristocratic clans within the Tang Dynasty.

Yuan Tiangang had ruthlessly eradicated them all in one clean sweep.

His actions had struck fear into everyone.

Ruthless, far too ruthless.

When Li Shimin truly set his mind to something.

Anyone who stood in his way met a miserable end.

And with a madman like Yuan Tiangang by his side, who wouldn't be afraid?

Li Shimin's authority was now absolute.

It could be said that Yuan Tiangang lived up to his name. His capabilities were beyond what most could ever hope to match.

Even after doing so many outrageous things, he always managed to stay above suspicion.

Leaving his enemies with not a single piece of evidence.

Naturally, Li Shimin appreciated this greatly.

The chronic internal ailments of the Tang Dynasty had finally been purged. All that remained was the external threat from the Turkic Kingdom.

With a renowned marshal like Li Ji taking charge, ultimate victory should be within reach.

Now that all issues had been resolved, Li Shimin was finally qualified to join the grand competition for supremacy over the Nine Provinces.

From now on, his only goal would be to grow stronger and unite against foreign threats.

Unfortunately, compared to the Ming Dynasty and Vast Sea Dynasty, the Tang Dynasty was still far behind.

Even the Qin Dynasty seemed more formidable.

The challenges ahead would be even more daunting.

"Greetings, Your Majesty."

"Master Yuan, you may rise."

"This time, I summoned you to discuss the matter of the Ming-Qing War."

"What are your thoughts on this, Master Yuan?"

"Will the Qing Dynasty truly be destroyed?"

Li Shimin's expression was complex.

He never expected the first dynasty to fall would not be the Southern Song Dynasty, but the Qing Dynasty.

It was completely unexpected.

Likewise, the Ming Dynasty's preparations were far too thorough.

And their assault, far too fierce.

Before the other dynasties could even react, half of the Qing Dynasty had already fallen.

Even more absurdly, in such a critical moment, the Qing Dynasty had descended into internal strife.

It was laughable.

It was hard not to suspect that this rebellion had been orchestrated by the Ming Dynasty from behind the scenes.

One trap after another, impossible to guard against.

By the time one realized it, it was already too late.

There was no escape.

Li Shimin grew more cautious, his wariness of the Ming Dynasty intensifying a hundredfold.

Who knew whether one day, these same tactics would be used against him?

"Your Majesty, given the Ming Dynasty's strength and preparation, the destruction of the Qing Dynasty is almost certain."

"It's only a matter of time."

"It depends on how deep the Qing Dynasty's foundations run, and how long they can hold out."

"But compared to the Ming Dynasty, it's still not enough. At most, they can cause some trouble for the Ming Dynasty."

"Nothing more."

"No one expected the Ming Dynasty to strike so suddenly, and with such ferocity."

"The Ming Emperor must have laid this trap for years."

"The Qing Dynasty didn't lose unjustly."

"Your Majesty, should we secretly assist the Qing Dynasty, to create some trouble for the Ming Dynasty?"

"To slow their conquest?"

Yuan Tiangang's gaze turned sharp as he made the suggestion.

Li Shimin was tempted, but after some thought, he shook his head.

"It won't make a decisive difference. The benefits aren't worth it."

"On the contrary, it might draw Ming Dynasty's hatred and focus their attention on us."

"Our Tang Dynasty needs to develop right now. We can't afford to make such an enemy just yet."

The Ming Dynasty would undoubtedly be Tang Dynasty's enemy in the future, that much was true.

But now was not the time.

"Master Yuan, keep a close watch on the Ming Dynasty. All we need to do for now is stay alert."

"Of course, if necessary, you may also make some plans in secret. Just in case."

Li Shimin's meaning was instantly clear to Yuan Tiangang.

A secret strike, done in the shadows without drawing Ming Dynasty's notice, might just be worth trying.

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

List of Characters:

Great Tang Twin Dragons Legend ( 大唐双龙传 )

・Li Shimin ( 李世民 ) — Emperor of Tang Dynasty

Painting Jianghu ( 画江湖 )

・Yuan Tiangang ( 袁天罡 ) — Master of Bad People

・Li Chunfeng ( 李淳风 ) — Imperial Observatory of Vast Sea Dynasty

Legend of the Condor Heroes ( 射雕英雄传 )

・Temujin ( 铁木真 ) — Emperor of Yuan Dynasty

Broken Void ( 破碎虚空 )

・Phagpa ( 八思巴 ) — National Master of Yuan Dynasty

Yue Fei Complete Legend ( 说岳全传 )

・Yue Fei ( 说岳 ) — General of Vast Sea Dynasty

Water Margin ( 水浒传 )

・Li Shishi ( 李师师 ) — February 15th Branch Master of Azure Dragon Association