115: Ascend the throne! Emperor Shenwu! New policies...

With the Holy Martial Emperor's death, the scene immediately fell silent.

The princes were also ashen-faced, as if they had lost their parents.

They knew that with the Holy Martial Emperor dead, they had no hope left.

As for rebellion or seizing the throne?

They wouldn't dare!

Nor did they have the ability!

Why not?

It was because of the jade token the Holy Martial Emperor had given to King Wu.

Why didn't King Wu rebel back then?

It was also because of that jade token.

If the Holy Martial Emperor hadn't relented just now and had chosen one of the princes to succeed him, then with that jade token, King Wu would have had to watch helplessly, unable to do anything.

The throne was passed to King Wu!

This was something no one had expected.

This would mean a major reshuffle of power throughout the entire Shenwu Empire.

Since things had come to this, there was no point in doing anything else.

It was better to return early and prepare quickly.

At this moment, all the forces behind these princes severed ties with them.

These princes no longer held any sway, so no one would invest in them anymore.

Furthermore, since ancient times, the fates of the former emperor's children after a new emperor ascended the throne were mostly not good.

Those who fared well, if they encountered a benevolent one, might still have a chance to become a prince or something.

But if they met a cruel one, they would be killed without exception.

This had happened more than once in the history of the Shenwu Empire.

What's more, King Wu's succession was from brother to brother, and his position was not stable enough.

So these princes…

Everyone's gaze was fixed on King Wu.

King Wu strode forward with large steps, standing at the highest position in the center of the hall.

Everyone inside and outside the hall had already come out, standing below the steps where King Wu stood.

King Wu stood there, looking down at the crowd in the hall.

The power of his Eternal Realm and Heavenly Imperial Realm was displayed without reservation.

"Today, the former Emperor has passed away, and the whole nation mourns; it is not suitable to hold an enthronement ceremony.

You may return first, and prepare yourselves well.

The enthronement ceremony, I, will hold in three months.

Go!"

"Yes!"

The ministers in the hall had long wanted to leave.

Such a major event had happened today; they had to go back and prepare thoroughly.

Ignoring the pleading gazes of the princes, they left without hesitation or delay.

After everyone had left, King Wu turned his gaze to the trembling princes.

The First Prince managed to force out a strained smile, "Second, Second Uncle…"

King Wu waved his hand, "You don't need to say anymore!"

With that, he ordered.

"Within the Imperial Palace, all former Emperor's concubines who have no offspring do not need to be buried with him!"

He pondered for a moment, "As for their whereabouts…"

"Those without offspring can freely choose to leave the palace; after leaving, they will all receive a sum of resources.

Whether they remarry, return to their own families, or remain in the palace, it will all be granted."

His tone then shifted as he looked at the hopeful princes,

"As for the concubines with offspring, according to custom, they are to go to their fiefdoms with their children.

As I have just ascended the throne, I do not wish to break this rule.

How about this, the former Emperor's passing was sudden, and your fiefdoms have not yet been decided.

During these days, you will all reside in the Imperial Palace, accompanying your mothers.

Once your fiefdoms are determined, you will then leave with your mothers."

Hearing that King Wu did not plan to eliminate them and would even grant them fiefdoms, they immediately knelt to express their gratitude, "Thank you, Second Uncle, ah no, thank you, Emperor!"

King Wu nodded, "Good, you may go!"

After saying this, the princes wisely departed.

Three days later.

The Imperial Palace was suddenly attacked by assassins, who attempted to take advantage of the vulnerability to shake the foundation of the imperial family.

All the princes, their mothers, and the empress in the palace unfortunately died violently.

King Wu was deeply saddened and ordered that the culprits must be caught and severely punished.

On that day, evidence of the assassination was found among the maternal families of those princes.

According to King Wu's investigation, it turned out that those maternal family members, worried that they had previously supported those princes, would incur King Wu's displeasure, and so they personally took action to curry favor with King Wu.

King Wu was furious; someone had dared to kill princes to please him, and it was done by their maternal relatives.

Such an act would surely trap him, Ji Hao, in a state of unkindness.

Those who didn't know would think that he, Ji Hao, had done it to cut off the roots.

At the very least, some people with ulterior motives would spread rumors that he, Ji Hao, had orchestrated it.

How could this be allowed?

This was the first case after his ascension!

It must be severely punished!

Immediately, a group of princes and ministers stepped forward to denounce them.

They turned black into white, and white into black.

Under the countless people's piling on, the crimes of those princes' maternal families were thoroughly confirmed.

Thus, Ji Hao could only reluctantly order the extermination of their entire clans as a warning to others!

With that, the 'Princes' Case' came to an end.

On that day, all concubines in the harem without offspring announced their departure.

Even those who had wanted to stay in the palace no longer wished to.

...

Three months later.

At the enthronement ceremony, ten thousand sects came to offer congratulations, and King Wu ascended the throne.

He was named the Divine Martial Emperor!

Using the nation's name as his imperial title!

That's how domineering he was!

What did he mean by this?

Did he intend to rival the founding emperor?

Hearing this, everyone couldn't help but wonder in their hearts.

Of course, it was impossible to say it aloud.

After ascending the throne, the Divine Martial Emperor immediately issued his first command:

"All people within the territory of my Shenwu Empire shall become like dragons.

This Emperor will establish the Shenwu Academy, with the Imperial City as the highest-level academy.

Below that, it will be divided into Imperial-level, State-level, Dao-level, Prefecture-level, and City-level.

These will all be progressively implemented.

All people of my Shenwu Empire, under the age of twelve, may join the academy from the lowest City-level and receive cultivation resources from the Empire.

At the same time, all children of officials in my dynasty, regardless of rank, are no longer permitted to join sects; they may only enter the academy to seek martial arts!

Those who have joined sects are ordered to withdraw immediately!

Furthermore, I will dispatch the Empire's elite—the Shenwu Guard—to personally supervise this matter.

Everyone must fully cooperate to ensure this matter is carried out without error!

Should any obstruction be encountered, it may be reported directly to the heavens!"

As soon as these words were uttered, everyone was utterly astonished.

At this moment, they finally understood why the former Emperor's philosophy had clashed with the Divine Martial Emperor's.

This was simply outrageous!

This action was practically a challenge to the entire sect system of the world!

Now, they could already see how dark the faces of the sect envoys who had come to offer congratulations were.

Some envoys from powerful sects even flicked their sleeves and left on the spot.

As for those from slightly weaker sects, fearing to directly enrage the Divine Martial Emperor, they didn't dare to make any major moves.

It was just that their expressions were equally displeased.

Some ministers offered their opinions, requesting the Divine Martial Emperor to reconsider.

The Divine Martial Emperor immediately refuted them, his attitude incredibly firm and unyielding.

Seeing this, the ministers knew that the Divine Martial Emperor was determined.

Being old officials from the previous dynasty, they were worried about getting into trouble, so they no longer tried to persuade him.

However, to make his resolve known to everyone, after the enthronement ceremony concluded, he immediately singled out those ministers who had raised objections.

A new official has three fires to burn when taking office, let alone a new Emperor.

Besides the 'Princes' Case,' he needed to find some other matters to establish his authority.

These people had conveniently stepped forward, so they would serve as a sacrifice for the new policies.

Anyone who could reach this position had some dirt on their hands.

Finding any evidence from their past would be enough to wipe out their entire families.