Chapter 41 Post-War Rewards

With Changdong's departure, the main hall seemed a little emptier, but the tense atmosphere eased considerably, and began to shift towards a busy order.

Jiuya's gaze swept over the still-shaken officials and elders below the stage once more.

"Today's events are a disaster caused by internal strife, a great misfortune for the Demon Realm." Her voice echoed in the hall. "The rebel leaders You Chi and Ao Li, among others, formed cliques for personal gain, plotted rebellion and chaos. Their crimes deserve to be punished, and their actions deserve to be condemned. However, the Demon Realm has suffered this calamity and is in dire need of rebuilding. It is not something that can be accomplished by one person alone."

She paused slightly, "From this day forward, the vacant positions of the First Elder, Third Elder, Sixth Elder, and Eighth Elder, and the affairs under their jurisdiction, shall be temporarily handled by me personally. The followers, territories, and responsibilities originally belonging to Ao Li and Guan Shanyue shall all be placed under my direct jurisdiction."

These words sent a chill down the spines of the crowd. The Demon Lord's decision not to immediately redistribute power, but to take direct control, demonstrated both absolute confidence and served as a warning—until a new order was established, she would have absolute authority.

"Elder Xing Yuan."

Xing Yuan, whose name was called, immediately stepped forward and bowed: "Your subject is here."

"You shall immediately take the lead, in conjunction with Elder Moro, to draft a proclamation. This proclamation shall be made public to all races, cities, and tribes of the Demon Realm, detailing today's rebellion, the crimes of the traitors, and their execution! It is imperative that all beings of the Demon Realm know that the chaos has been quelled and order has been restored. The Demon Realm is hereby unified once more, and anyone who dares to harbor rebellious intentions or incite conflict will suffer the same fate as these people!"

"Your Majesty, we obey!" Xing Yuan and Moro accepted the order simultaneously. This was an extremely important task, not only to report the results but also to control public opinion, promote the Demon Lord's authority, and stabilize the people's hearts. It was most appropriate for the relatively young Xing Yuan, who had a clear stance in this battle, and Moro, who was in charge of education, to jointly take charge.

“Elder Lianbo.” Jiuya’s gaze turned to the Second Elder, who had remained neutral until the very end.

Lian Bo's body trembled slightly. He stepped forward and bowed deeply: "This old minister is here."

"Elder, you are of high moral character and broad knowledge. The Demon Realm has just been established, and many things need to be done. Many old rules and regulations may need to be adjusted or re-established. I hope that Elder can devote his efforts to assisting me in stabilizing the situation and restoring order." Jiu Ya's words showed Lian Bo sufficient respect, but also made his "assistance" status clear. This was to appease the old noble forces, and also to make limited use of their abilities.

Lian Bo sighed inwardly, knowing this was the best outcome, and immediately replied, "This old minister is terrified and will do his utmost to assist Your Majesty."

A series of clear, concise, and well-organized orders swiftly and effectively addressed the chaos following the rebellion. The officials present, watching the young yet increasingly imposing figure on the throne, completely dispelled any lingering doubts or hesitations in their hearts.

After issuing the orders, Jiu Ya waved her hand: "All departments, carry out the orders and withdraw."

"We take our leave!"

The crowd bowed respectfully in a wave of respect, then withdrew from the Great Celebration Hall in an orderly fashion. Everyone knew that the heavens of the Demon Realm had changed completely from this day forward. They needed time to digest all of this, and even more so, to consider how to establish themselves in the new order.

Inside the main hall, soon only the soldiers who were busy cleaning up the battlefield, Li Yue and his personal guards, and Jiu Ya on the throne remained.

The noise subsided, leaving only the faint sounds of sweeping.

Jiuya watched the bustling scene below, seeing soldiers carrying away corpses, wiping away blood, and repairing damage. She walked step by step back to the throne. She slowly sat down, her body sinking slightly into the wide chair. A wave of immense exhaustion washed over her; she leaned back, closed her eyes, and let out a long sigh.

The journey has been fraught with peril, a constant struggle against the odds. From an ordinary office worker in modern society to a trembling puppet in the demon realm, and now... with the corpses of rebels beneath his feet, holding supreme power in his hands, and accepting the submission of all.

Only she knows how much fear, struggle, scheming, and killing she went through.

But an old era has indeed come to an end.

A new era, spearheaded by her—Shang Jiuya—has truly begun on this ruin of blood and fire.

She slowly opened her eyes, her gaze passing through the open palace doors to the eternal, deep sky of the Demon Realm. Her eyes were weary, yet unusually bright.

More than a month had passed since the bloody rebellion that swept through the Daqing Palace. It was the first time that Demon Lord Jiuya had met with his ministers in a grand ceremony after quelling the internal strife, to reward those who had contributed to the reorganization of the court.

When the appointed time arrived, the heavy palace doors were slowly pushed open.

Led by the five elders, newly appointed officials, meritorious generals, and tribal representatives from all corners of the Demon Realm, dressed in solemn ceremonial robes or official robes, entered in single file according to the newly established order. Their steps were steady and respectful; no one dared to look around or whisper. The spacious hall quickly filled with people, yet it was so quiet that one could hear their suppressed breathing and the rustling of fabrics.

All eyes were involuntarily drawn to the supreme throne.

Jiuya sat upright on it.

She changed into the solemn crown robes symbolizing the Demon Lord's supreme power. The robes were black with crimson skirts, embroidered with the sun, moon, stars, mountains, and demonic dragons. Her long black hair was carefully styled, the flowing tassels swaying slightly, partially obscuring her deep eyes.

She simply sat there quietly, not deliberately exuding any aura, but the invisible majesty forged in blood and fire, wielding the power of life and death, enveloped the entire hall as if it were a tangible force, weighing heavily on everyone's hearts and inspiring boundless awe. She thought of how Rong Jiang in "The Glory of the Underworld" balanced various factions with both kindness and severity after ascending to the throne of the Underworld Emperor, and her mind began to have a clearer plan for this bestowal of titles.

"All of you, rise." The clear and authoritative voice emanated from behind the flowing tassels, echoing distinctly in everyone's ears.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" the ministers responded in unison, then carefully straightened their bodies, still keeping their eyelids slightly lowered.

Jiuya's gaze slowly swept across the area below: "In the chaos a month ago, the rebel leader was executed, but the Demon Realm also suffered damage, and many loyal and brave soldiers perished in this battle. Today's peace is not only due to my efforts, but also to the blood and flesh of countless soldiers."

She mentioned the achievements of those who sacrificed their lives, mourning their loyalty and bravery. Though her words were concise, they were sincere and moving, evoking deep emotion and resonance in many of the generals and officials in the audience who had experienced that bloody battle. This was not only a consolation to the deceased but also a comfort to the living, demonstrating the new ruler's commitment to his roots.

After the memorial service, the atmosphere in the hall grew even more solemn. Everyone knew that the main event was about to begin.

Jiu Ya's voice suddenly rose in pitch:

"In times of chaos, severe punishments are necessary; in times of peace, merits should be rewarded. Today, in this Great Celebration Hall, I will reward those who have rendered meritorious service, thus establishing a new order in the Demon Realm!"

"Li Yue, Chang Dong, Chao Qing, Yu Lang, Jiang Cheng, step forward to receive your titles!"

The five men whose names were called stepped forward and knelt on one knee beneath the throne. Li Yue remained as composed as a mountain; Chang Dong's iron-blooded aura was even stronger; Chao Qing and Yu Lang, two extremely young generals, had been brave and decisive in suppressing the rebellion and had made outstanding contributions, and could not hide their excitement at this moment; Jiang Cheng came from the original Eighth Elder Jiang Zheng's clan, but one of his branches had long been dissatisfied with Jiang Zheng's reliance on You Chi, and had switched sides at a crucial moment, providing important intelligence and protecting the family.

"You five, in the suppression of the rebellion, have distinguished yourselves in protecting the Emperor, fighting bravely, or seizing opportunities. Your loyalty and courage are commendable, and your achievements are outstanding! Today, I hereby bestow upon you the title of 'Marshal of the Demon Realm,' commanding the armies of the Demon Realm to defend our territory and protect our people!"

"Li Yue, command the Demon Lord's direct Imperial Guard Legion and Shadow Guard system, responsible for the security of the central command and special missions, and report directly to me!"

"Changdong, command the Demon Realm's border troops and major field armies, responsible for border defense and foreign conquest!"

"Chao Qing, Yu Lang, and Jiang Cheng will each lead one of the three main legions, stationed at key points in the Demon Realm, assisting in the defense of the border, under the command of Chang Dong, and also subject to my orders!"

"I hope that you five will cooperate sincerely, encourage each other, and live up to my high expectations!"

The five men responded in unison, their voices resounding: "We swear to serve Your Majesty to the death! We would gladly die for you!"

This appointment divided military power into five parts: Li Yue guarded the central government, Chang Dong led external affairs, and the three new elites, Chao, Yu, and Jiang, each took charge of a powerful army. They cooperated with each other while also checking and balancing one another, ensuring that military power was firmly in the hands of the Demon Lord, eliminating any potential for him to become too powerful.

Next came the rewards in terms of civil administration and resources.

"Qingcheng, Xingyuan, Lianbo, Moluo, step forward to receive your titles!"

The four elders stepped forward and bowed.

"Elder Qingcheng, you provided timely assistance and resources during this critical time, for which you have made invaluable contributions. You are hereby granted the title of Duke of Li, and are officially in charge of the manufacture of magical machinery, the forging of magical artifacts, and all matters related to resource development in the Demon Realm! We hope that the Duke will do his utmost to help the Demon Realm become stronger!"

"Elder Xing Yuan possesses exceptional insight, upholding justice at crucial moments, and is also young and promising. He is hereby granted the title of Duke of Fengguo, to assist me in handling daily affairs, and to be responsible for communicating with and guiding the younger generation of the Demon Realm, and to promoting new talents!"

"Elder Lianbo is highly respected for his virtue and for his consideration of the overall situation. He has made great contributions to stabilizing the situation. Now he is granted the title of Duke of Wei. It is hoped that he can use his experience to assist the government and reassure the people."

"Elder Moro, who is in charge of education and etiquette, upholds the spirit of literature, and has made meritorious contributions to guiding public opinion, is now granted the title of Duke of Ting, and will continue to be in charge of education, etiquette, and document compilation in the Demon Realm."

The four men accepted the imperial decree and expressed their gratitude. The hereditary privileges of the elder system were completely abolished, replaced by titles and substantive positions based on merit and ability, effectively centralizing power. Qingcheng gained real control over resource production, Xingyuan acquired the power to participate in politics and cultivate new talent, while Lianbo and Moro received more honorary and transitional placements.

"Bai Yu, step forward."

Wearing a brand-new female official's uniform, Bai Yu, whose temperament had changed completely, stepped forward steadily and knelt down to pay her respects.

"Bai Yu, you are utterly loyal, remaining steadfast even in your humble beginnings. Moreover, you are meticulous and adept at management. Today, you are officially appointed as the Grand Steward of the Demon Lord's Palace Inner Court, in charge of all palace affairs. The allocation of personnel, the use of resources, and all regulations within the palace will be decided by you! You will be directly responsible to me!"

"This servant... Your Majesty, I obey! I will certainly not fail Your Majesty's trust!" Bai Yu's voice was filled with excitement. The Grand Eunuch of the Inner Court held a position equivalent to the Vice Chancellor, wielding immense power—this was an immense sign of trust.

Subsequently, Jiuya personally read out a long list of promotions. A large number of young nobles, officers, and even ordinary demon clan members who had performed outstandingly in suppressing the rebellion or had special skills were promoted and placed in important positions in various departments, greatly enriching the bureaucratic system and bringing vigorous vitality.

The entire process of bestowing titles and honors lasted a long time. When the last imperial edict was read out, Jiu Ya slowly stood up.

"The rewards and honors have been bestowed, and responsibilities have been clearly defined. I urge all of you to diligently perform your duties, work together with one heart and one mind, and jointly build a new chapter for the Demon Realm! Anyone who outwardly complies but inwardly defies, neglects their duties, or even harbors disloyal intentions—"

Her voice suddenly turned cold, "Just like this case!"

A small table made of hard, magical ironwood beside the throne silently turned into dust and vanished.

All the ministers felt a chill run down their spines and bowed deeply: "Your Majesty's teachings will be obeyed! We will unite as one to build the Demon Realm!"