The Imperial Palace.
Brawny eunuch guards, each exuding a powerful aura, stood tall in full armor.
Each guard carried a long spear, and on their backs were twenty long arrows and a hard iron bow.
A broad short sword and a refined iron dagger hung from their waists, a cowhide shield was held in front of them, and their expressions were serious and solemn.
From a distance, one could feel a sharp, powerful, and iron-blooded aura emanating from them.
Occasionally, eunuch guards patrolled back and forth.
The security was extremely tight.
From afar, Zhang Shihao, who had separated from the Empress in the palace, walked over.
Gao Chao, who was on duty outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, clad in armor, holding a large axe, and with a resolute expression, saw Zhang Shihao and quickly came to greet him, pulling Zhang Shihao aside and whispering:
"My Lord, I just received news that Consort Zou's physical examination is complete. She meets the standards for entering the Imperial Harem and has been arranged by Zuo Feng to stay in Ningxiang Hall."
"Oh? Consort Zou meets the standards for entering the palace?"
Listening to Gao Chao's words, Zhang Shihao nodded.
"Alright, I understand. Make sure to replace the guards around Zou with our people and ensure her safety."
Zhang Shihao patted his shoulder.
"Understood! Chao will go arrange it!"
Gao Chao was clearly very excited to be patted on the shoulder by Zhang Shihao. He cupped his hands, turned, and went to arrange the deployment around Ningxiang Hall, where Zou was located.
Gao Chao left in a rush to make the arrangements.
Watching Gao Chao's broad back, Zhang Shihao's eyes narrowed slightly.
That's right, this Gao Chao was the same fellow from Hedong who, outside the south gate of Luoyang, could lift a 600-jin giant roller with both arms.
Several months had passed, and the training of the three hundred Imperial Harem guards, who had integrated the Iron Eagle Elite Soldiers' Battle Souls, was showing initial results and they had begun to deploy within the Imperial Harem.
And Gao Chao, who had integrated an Iron Eagle Elite Soldiers Commander-level Battle Soul, had undergone earth-shattering changes in his own strength.
Name: Gao Chao
Identity/Position: Iron Eagle Elite Soldiers Commander Battle Soul/Deputy Commander of the Palace Guards
Age: 17 years old
Martial Prowess: 88 (Weak four-star potential, extraordinarily strong, extremely high overall physical quality, rudimentary axe skills, peak first-rate fierce general, not yet at peak, can continue to grow...)
Leadership: 75 (Three-star potential, not yet at peak, can continue to grow...)
Strategy: 60 (Two-star potential, not yet at peak, can continue to grow...)
Politics: 61 (Two-star potential, not yet at peak, can continue to grow...)
【Loyalty】 (to Host): 100 (Integrated Iron Eagle Elite Soldiers Commander Battle Soul, absolutely loyal to Host, will never betray!)
【Character】: Resolute, foolishly filial
Talents, Potentials, Characteristics:
【Peerless Archer】 (Awakened): Naturally sensitive to arrows, with a bow in hand, invincible against a hundred armies, can shoot down enemy generals' heads in a myriad of troops as if taking something from a bag.
【Bloodsoaked Charge】: As a vanguard general, when charging into battle, his potential is stimulated, and his Martial Prowess continuously +1!
The three hundred Iron Eagle Elite Soldiers' Battle Souls were not just common soldier Battle Souls.
There were also Corporal, Squad Leader, and Commander-level Battle Souls.
Zhang Shihao placed the only Commander-level Battle Soul on Gao Chao.
Gao Chao's potential was already considerable, and after training, his Martial Prowess surged to an astonishing 88 points.
He also gained the 【Bloodsoaked Charge】 characteristic.
Furthermore, due to the Iron Eagle Elite Soldiers' training, which included archery training, Gao Chao's 【Peerless Archer】 potential directly awakened.
With training, his archery skills increased at a terrifying rate.
Gao Chao had already become Zhang Shihao's great general in the palace.
Currently, the security forces in the Imperial Harem were divided into two parts.
One part consisted of the former Imperial Harem guards, numbering over 1,200 people.
The other part consisted of the guards who had integrated the Iron Eagle Elite Soldiers' Battle Souls and were fiercely loyal to Zhang Shihao, numbering only three hundred.
Clearly, the Imperial Harem was too large, with numerous palaces.
The guards with Iron Eagle Elite Soldiers' Battle Souls could not possibly cover all areas of the Imperial Harem.
Therefore, many areas in the Imperial Harem were still guarded by the former Imperial Harem guards.
However, it was clear that these former guards were very mixed.
Nevertheless, even though the number of guards with Iron Eagle Elite Soldiers' Battle Souls was not large, Zhang Shihao was not overly concerned.
Because he, Zhang Shihao, was the Commander of the Palace Guards.
All guards within the palace were nominally under his command.
In necessary and important places, he would simply arrange his own people.
For example, as soon as the guards with Iron Eagle Elite Soldiers' Battle Souls were deployed to the Imperial Harem, Zhang Shihao first mobilized fifty guards to protect Changle Palace, replacing all of them with his own people.
Another example is the Hall of Mental Cultivation, where eighty guards with Iron Eagle Elite Soldiers' Battle Souls provided seamless security, all of whom were his people.
Even if Zhang Rang and Zhao Zhong were furious to the point of spitting blood, there was nothing they could do.
Who made Zhang Shihao the Commander of the Palace Guards?
Just like now, Consort Zou was arranged by Zuo Feng to stay in Ningxiang Hall, and the guards around the palace would certainly all be Zhang Rang's people.
Then he would simply replace them.
All would be replaced by guards with Iron Eagle Elite Soldiers' Battle Souls.