Ding Ling rode the Ferghana Horse and galloped into Xiangyang City, surrounded by a crowd of people.
Everywhere he looked.
A sea of people.
"Ding Ling!"
"Hero Ding!"
...
The moment he appeared, an earth-shattering cheer erupted throughout the entire venue.
Guo Jing, Huang Rong, and others followed closely behind, and upon seeing this, they couldnât help but reveal bright smiles.
The great victory they had longed for was easily achieved in Ding Lingâs hands.
Thinking back now.
It all felt like a dream.
Upon entering the Guo Family residence.
Ding Ling rested for just one day before taking action against LĂŒ Wende, and as expected, LĂŒ Wende and LĂŒ Wenhuan surrendered.
As they put it.
Ding Ling was so strong.
The glorious Mongol Kingdom was single-handedly defeated by Ding Ling!
How could Xiangyang possibly resist?
Why would the Great Song Court think Ding Ling would obediently follow orders from the high and mighty emperor?!
Now that the time has come.
The commendation order from the Great Song Court arrived, but it only awarded Ding Ling a position as a military general and hoped Ding Ling would guard the frontier while handing over the vast territories he captured.
As for Huang Rong, Guo Jing, and others, they werenât even mentioned.
Itâs obvious.
The people in the court didnât think much of these martial artists from Jianghu.
In their eyes, these people were all savages.
Huang Rong, Huang the Herbalist, and others clearly saw through this and had already taken action.
But Ding Ling couldnât be bothered with all that.
Sitting high in the imperial hall, the emperor probably didnât even know the details of how Ding Ling had crushed the Mongol Kingdom, because the court was dominated by a group of traitorous officials who would never allow Ding Ling to have so much power.
If Ding Ling werenât so incredibly powerful!
There would certainly be no talk of titles or guarding the frontier.
The fate of the cunning rabbitâs death and the houndâs cooking would be Ding Lingâs only outcome!
Even the loyal and eternally famous Yue Fei was killed by traitorous officials.
If it werenât for Ding Lingâs unparalleled martial power, how could he withstand the backlash from these traitorous officials?
Ding Ling directly had LĂŒ Wende lead the way, stormed into the capital city single-handedly, toppled the Imperial Guard, and pressured the emperor to abdicate the throne to Guo Jing, threatening to execute him if he didnât comply.
At the same time.
Zhangg Han, Long Qie, and other generals led a massive army past Xiangyang and other places, cutting through mountains and bridging waters, unstoppable and invincible wherever they went.
Southern Song.
War broke out!
Faced with the massive army led by Long Qie, Zhangg Han, and other generals, how could the already decayed Southern Song resist?
Consistent defeats.
Guo Jing was persuaded by Huang Rong, Huang the Herbalist, and Hong Qigong for half a month; after receiving letters from various states and regions of the Southern Song reporting major defeats, especially the news that the traitorous officials of the court had been bloodily purged by Ding Ling, and the emperor was about to abdicate to him.
He was completely befuddled.
"This, this, this..."
He felt it was too childish!
Like a dream.
Is he really going to become the emperor?!
Is the emperor of the Great Song really going to abdicate to him?!
Isnât this just a fairy tale?!
"Brother Jing, itâs true."
Huang Rongâs mind was in turmoil; he truly didnât expect the army led by Zhangg Han, Long Qie, and Yuwen Chengdu, after crossing the Xiangyang territory, would be so overwhelmingly destructive.
Truly unstoppable.
Indeed. Yuwen Chengdu went with the flow, responded to the âcallâ, and also joined Ding Lingâs great army, becoming a commander and following the army in their southern and northern conquests.
There were indeed quite a few who were as sensible and pragmatic as he was.
"I still find it hard to believe."
Guo Jing looked bewildered, panicked, and uneasy:
"You want me to become this emperor?! Is it appropriate?! Iâm just an ordinary person, I should serve the country and the people, how can I..."
"JingâEr!"
Ke Zhenâe scolded Guo Jing:
"Serving the country and the people requires understanding the situation. If this continues, do you think your wife and children will be safe?! Would you only be happy if your wife and children died with you?"
"Master, I..."
"Stop the hesitations. Be decisive if youâre a man; listening to you dawdling like this annoys me."
Ke Zhenâe said angrily:
"Hero Ding has done everything for you. The path is laid out. Just waiting for you to step up and truly serve the country and the people. Yet youâre here dithering, dithering for what?! Hurry up and go to the capital city!"
Huang Rong, Huang the Herbalist, Hong Qigong chimed in occasionally.
Moreover.
The decision was made.
If he didnât become emperor, once Ding Ling ascended and left, the emperor would likely execute his entire family; thinking of how Huang Rong was already nearly ten months pregnant.
Guo Jing let out a long sigh and had no choice but to accept the assignment.
Just as RongâEr and others said, to serve the country and the people? Even if he became emperor, he could still serve the country and the people, and if he were fair and incorruptible, he could serve them even better!
...
Half a month later.
Guo Jing ascended the throne.
Becoming emperor.
The country was renamed âMingâ!
With a vow to serve the country and the people, wholeheartedly wishing for peace and prosperity under the heavens! Only wanting national peace and security!
Hoping that all Jiuzhou would be covered in the brilliance of Ming, with the peopleâs hearts filled with the sun, moon, and hope!
After Guo Jingâs ascension.
He diligently, wisely appointed capable people, being benevolent and magnanimous, modest and frugal, and loving the people!
With Huang Rong, Huang the Herbalist, Zhu Ziliu, and others assisting in internal affairs;
With Yuwen Chengdu, Zhangg Han, Long Qie managing the army.
There was no great turmoil.
He governed with diligence and wisdom, remained cautious and humble, treating the people with leniency internally and demonstrating might externally, leading the Ming Dynasty under his rule to flourish, with national strength rising and the people living in peace and happiness.
In just ten short years.
He once again led Jiuzhou into a golden age!
Known in history as the âGreat Ming Kaiyuan Prosperity!â
And as the founder of all this, Ding Ling.
Was vividly and heavily chronicled by historians in history books!
With various Chapters, overflowing with praise and embellishment.
Depicting Ding Ling as an unparalleled pioneer of an era, a true Martial Dao God!
And the name of Ding Ling spread worldwide, celebrated for thousands and millions of years, becoming a sage revered by countless future figures in this world!
Even because Ding Lingâs story was too legendary.
Many historians known for their rigor raised numerous questions about it.
Such as:
"Why could one personâs martial power be so formidable! It defies common sense!"
"To change heaven and earth single-handedly is too absurd! I highly suspect this is the ancientsâ embellishment of this sage Ding Ling!"
...
Just like modern people questioning whether there was a Divine Dragon in ancient times.
If modern people were told there was a dragon in ancient times, many would have their doubts.
And the existence of Ding Ling was like the legend of the Divine Dragon, baffling and shocking countless people into disbelief.
Of course.
These things happened in the future.
At present, Ding Ling decisively didnât know about these things.
After Guo Jing ascended.
He began to utilize the power of the nation.
To collect the secret manuals of Jiuzhou.
While ordering Long Qie, Yuwen Chengdu, and others to conquer Japan, the West, and various other realms.
Ding Ling wanted to unite the entire world!
Wherever the Great Sun shines!
Shall be the territory of the Great Ming!