Chapter 2184 - 2169: Three Secrets

Chapter 2184: Chapter 2169: Three Secrets

After the battlefield was cleared, Ye Zhen’s Heavenly Wave Army of the North Sea set up camp by the Blood River. With the Blood River at their back and twenty thousand elite Water Clan troops led by the Great Saint of Jinghai capable of both attacking and defending, even if the Seventh Crown Prince of the Demon Emperor, Congyun, wanted revenge, he wouldn’t dare come without doubling his forces.

Moreover, now Ye Zhen feared that Seventh Crown Prince Congyun would not come.

If he did, it would be the perfect opportunity for Ye Zhen to eliminate future threats.

Of course, after a great victory, it is necessary to reward the army.

Rewarding merit is the only secret technique to maintain high morale in an army.

However, during wartime, there is enough meat, but alcohol is limited.

After the feast, Ye Zhen summoned Niu Er over.

"Niu Er, have you released the information?"

"Reporting to the Grand Marshal, it has already been released. I believe it won’t be long before we receive requests for transactions." Niu Er appeared very respectful in front of Ye Zhen, with his head lowered and back bent, even more than before.

The continuous series of seemingly impossible victories, combined with deft command and strategy, and a concern for the soldiers during battles, has made Ye Zhen’s personal reputation and charisma reach a peak in the hearts of subordinates like Niu Er.

Each facing Ye Zhen now, they respect him from the bottom of their hearts.

"Was my additional requirement included?" Ye Zhen asked.

"Reporting to the Grand Marshal, it has been marked as the primary additional condition, and if there is any, it will be prioritized for transaction."

After Ye Zhen nodded, Niu Er quietly retreated.

What Ye Zhen was referring to just now was the military merit of this time.

This time’s military merit, especially the complete annihilation of the eighty thousand elite under Seventh Crown Prince Congyun, is all solid headcount merit.

Except for a few who turned to ashes, over eighty percent had heads that could count towards military merit.

Including the demons slain in front of Cairo Fortress, there were quite a few heads, yielding a rich harvest.

With such a massive amount of military merit, Ye Zhen still won’t report all but won’t trade away the majority as last time.

This time, Ye Zhen has his considerations in disposing of the military merit.

First, due to reasons such as not exposing the Divine Guards of the Yidongqing Divine Tree Guardian Corps, this battle of completely annihilating the elite under Seventh Prince Congyun cannot allow the Military Judge to leave a Military Merit Jade Slip.

Perhaps many demon elites turned into ashes and could not be calculated for military merit, only heads could be used to calculate merit.

Secondly, having once thoroughly read the Military Law of Great Zhou, Ye Zhen is very clear about what kind of military merit is involved in killing the Prophet Demon Master Qi Hong.

If the court’s rewards were to come down with only generous rewards for him as a Marshal, subordinates might not say it, but they might feel a bit disheartened.

Therefore, Ye Zhen decided to take the time to carefully report the military merits and hold a military meeting involving lower-ranking officers.

Just to convey one message.

This time’s military merit would be divided into five-tenths, the other five-tenths would be used for transactions to enhance military strength and purchase armaments.

Of course, it won’t be stated as such bluntly, but that’s the message being conveyed.

Military merit can secure rewards, confer ranks or even titles, but the premise is to survive to return, then the military merit is useful.

Of course, this military merit can also benefit future generations, securing peace of mind for the military.

This is why Ye Zhen led a roughly twenty-thousand-strong army, ensuring unity from top to bottom for stability in morale, to be invincible.

If commanding an army of over a million, then the management method would differ, Ye Zhen could directly decide, top-down, only requiring obedience.

Upon confirming these in the shortest period, Ye Zhen reported the battle results to the Northern War Zone Governor’s Mansion, the Human Demon Battlefield Grand Commander’s Mansion, the Military Department, the Heavenly Patrol Chief, and Chief Eunuch Yu Chao’en.

This is also Ye Zhen’s unique privilege, allowing him to quickly fix the military merits to his name, avoiding deductions from superior officers.

However, reporting military merits requires discretion.

What should be reported and what should not be reported must be reasonably explained!

Otherwise, it would only incur unjustified suspicions from above, especially arousing the Emperor’s suspicion, which would be a big trouble for Ye Zhen now.

After careful consideration.

Ye Zhen then revealed three secrets to Ren Venerate Emperor Ji Long.

The first secret is the Water Demon of North Sea.

Ye Zhen’s territory borders the North Sea, previously plagued by water disasters day and night. After Ye Zhen took over, suddenly the waters were calm, and the channels were clear.

Although there is a treaty signed with the Blue-scaled Dragon King, the Water Clan does not have strong constraints like the Imperial Court of Great Zhou.

The Great Zhou Empire is so strong in discipline, yet still has disturbances from time to time, let alone the more extensive Water Clan.

Disobedient Water Demons are normal.

But holding the Command Talisman of North Sea allows for free passage without any Water Demon harassment, which is questionable.

Over the years, Ye Zhen has been receiving reports of mysterious figures probing the situation, including the presence of the Secret Overseer.

Thus, Ye Zhen’s close relationship with the Water Demons of the North Sea was not a secret.

Participation of Water Demons in the Blood River battle, this secret would not last long.

In which case, it is better to directly report to Ren Venerate Emperor Ji Long.

Reclaiming Water Demons for personal use, in Great Zhou, is not much of a taboo.

Some nobles making money via sea routes even have large numbers of elite Water Demons protecting their routes.

This secret exposure also reasonably explained how Ye Zhen’s sixty thousand Heavenly Wave Army of the North Sea could completely annihilate the eighty thousand elites of Congyun.

The second secret Ye Zhen exposed to Ren Venerate Emperor is the Little Demon’s Creation Spiritual Power.

Ye Zhen confessed to Ren Venerate Emperor Ji Long that when accompanying Princess Changle to accept the Barbarian Saintess’s legacy, the Little Demon serendipitously gained a wisp of Creation Spiritual Power.

Relying on this wisp of Creation Spiritual Power, Ye Zhen occasionally has the ability to kill enemies across levels.

Today’s slaying of the Prophet Demon Master Qi Hong was also achieved by using the Creation Spiritual Power.

This confession perfectly explained Ye Zhen’s capability to kill the Prophet Demon Master Qi Hong and clarified the origins of the Creation Spiritual Power, presumably dispelling Ren Venerate Emperor Ji Long’s doubts.

The third secret Ye Zhen confessed to Ren Venerate Emperor Ji Long was the trading of military merits.

The origin of the four hundred Sky-Breaking Dragon-Slaying Crossbows carried by the sixty thousand elites of Ye Zhen’s Heavenly Wave Army of the North Sea wasn’t easily explained, not to mention other armaments.

Moreover, Ren Venerate Emperor Ji Long isn’t a fool.

Ye Zhen can’t expect him to believe whatever he reports blindly.

The casualties in the battle against Congyun’s army would eventually be verified by spies.

Ye Zhen only reporting half the military merits would eventually lead to discovery.

Thus, Ye Zhen decided to candidly disclose the trading of military merits.

Of course, in explaining this, Ye Zhen depicted himself as pitiful.

"My North Sea Heavenly Wave Army, being formed for less than ten years, lacks training and equipment. Now co-defending the Human Demon Battlefield, and during the millennium campaign, I wish to defend the Blood River Fortress, not betraying Your Majesty’s trust, and I wish to achieve merits for Your Majesty.

Having pondered bitterly, I can only resort to this desperate measure, to enhance military strength. I implore Your Majesty to allow me to serve despite my sinful body, continuing to achieve merits for Your Majesty!"

This was the original text in Ye Zhen’s memorial, of course, submitted in the form of a secret memorial through Grand Celestial Official Wu Yu and Chief Eunuch Yu Chao’en, unknown to others.

How Ren Venerate Emperor Ji Long reacted, Ye Zhen doesn’t know.

But Chief Eunuch Yu Chao’en sent a letter back to Ye Zhen, containing only seven words, "Monkey brat, you sure are clever!"

The outcome seems favorable.

Soon after, Ye Zhen received a Shadow Capture Jade Slip transmitted from Chief Eunuch Yu Chao’en, containing an image of Ren Venerate Emperor Ji Long.

In the image, Ren Venerate Emperor Ji Long laughed heartily, visibly pleased, praising Ye Zhen.

"I know your loyal heart, beloved subject; your dedication to royal affairs, I also know. Since the millennium campaign began, the merits achieved by your division are almost equivalent to those achieved by millions of other troops.

The difficulties involved, I believe, you know yourself.

The matter of trading merits this time, I won’t pursue. However, merits are a national treasure, and trading merits cannot be done repeatedly!

Soon, the Imperial Court will have its rewards; hope for your diligence and valor, to achieve new merits!"

This rather personal Jade Slip was filled with encouragement but also carried a hint of warning.

However, the Emperor’s promise was still extremely effective.

Not long after, Ye Zhen received a report, a heavenly envoy is arriving!