You get Lu Bu as your starting character.

Chapter 10 Grand Tutor Wen Zhong
the next day.

Zhou Chen was flipping through memorials concerning the severe drought in the four northern continents when a young eunuch bowed and entered.

"Your Majesty, the Grand Tutor requests an audience," the young eunuch reported.

"Please invite the Grand Tutor in."

The young eunuch withdrew, and a few minutes later Grand Tutor Wen Zhong entered.

"This old minister greets Your Majesty," said Grand Tutor Wen Zhong respectfully.

"Grand Tutor, no need for formalities, please take a seat."

Zhou Chen closed the memorial and looked up at Grand Tutor Wen Zhong; "Grand Tutor, what brings you to see me? I wonder how the preparations for disaster relief and suppressing the rebellion are going?"

"Your Majesty, this old minister has come today precisely for this matter."

Grand Tutor Wen Zhong produced a memorial: "This is the specific amount of silver I need for disaster relief. The Ministry of Revenue told me they have no money, so I have no choice but to come to Your Majesty."

The Ministry of Revenue is out of money?

Zhou Chen frowned, took the memorial handed to him by the eunuch beside him, and glanced at it.

Five million taels?

The first batch of disaster relief funds needed.

That's not much!

Zhou Chen raised an eyebrow and looked at Grand Tutor Wen Zhong; "The Ministry of Revenue can't possibly be unable to come up with a mere five million taels!"

It should be known that the annual tax revenue of the Great Zhou Dynasty is tens of millions of taels.

Five million taels is a lot, but it shouldn't be a problem for the Ministry of Revenue.

"Your Majesty, the Ministry of Revenue told me that the Grand Tutor had already taken three million taels of silver for disaster relief, leaving the Ministry with less than three million taels of silver, which is reserved for emergencies," said Grand Tutor Wen Zhong.

what?
Less than three million taels of silver?

Zhou Chen was startled.

For ordinary people, less than three million taels of silver might be an astronomical sum of wealth that they could never imagine in their lifetime.

But this is the national treasury of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

What's the difference between less than three million taels of silver and an ordinary family having a few hundred copper coins?

Even adding the three million taels that the Grand Tutor took earlier, it's still a pitifully small amount.

After all, the Ministry of Revenue's treasury held all the wealth of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

Zhou Chen's face was extremely ugly.

He never imagined that the treasury of the Great Zhou Dynasty was so empty.

It seems they've fattened up a bunch of rats.

"Your Majesty, the most important thing right now is disaster relief and quelling the rebellion. Other matters can be dealt with later," Grand Tutor Wen Zhong said quietly, noticing Zhou Chen's unpleasant expression.

He feared that the emperor might act impulsively and launch a reckless investigation of the Ministry of Revenue without considering anything else.

This is a matter that can have far-reaching consequences.

This is not a good time, given the severe drought and widespread unrest.

One wrong move could cause internal and external turmoil.

"I understand."

Zhou Chen nodded, suppressing his anger.

Perhaps only a veteran of three reigns like the Grand Tutor would dare to speak so frankly to the emperor.

"Grand Tutor, take three million taels from my private treasury for disaster relief, and the remaining two million taels from the Ministry of Revenue. I will approve it for you immediately."

Zhou Chen thought for a moment and then said.

Disaster relief is like putting out a fire; this matter cannot be delayed.

Even a second's delay could have immeasurable consequences.

Zhou Chen immediately approved the Grand Tutor's memorial regarding disaster relief funds and even affixed his official seal to it.

With this official seal, Grand Tutor Wen Zhong could directly withdraw money from the Imperial Treasury and the Ministry of Revenue.

"Any other questions?" Zhou Chen returned the approved disaster relief memorial to Grand Tutor Wen Zhong and asked another question.

Grand Tutor Wen Zhong hesitated for a moment and said, "Your Majesty, as soon as the disaster relief funds arrive, we will immediately set off for the four prefectures in the Northwest, but the two princes seem unwilling to go."

"Unwilling to go?" Zhou Chen smiled coldly. "Grand Tutor, rest assured, leave this matter to me. They will come to see you shortly."

These two princes are only so unscrupulous because they are afraid that the emperor won't dare to do anything to them.

But when they realized that the emperor's attitude was no longer the same as before, they knew what to do.

"The Grand Tutor is going to the four northwestern prefectures in person?"

Then, Zhou Chen frowned. He had originally thought that Grand Tutor Wen Zhong would send another minister, but he didn't expect that he would go in person.

This surprised Zhou Chen somewhat.

"I don't trust anyone else to go; it would be better if I went myself."

Grand Tutor Wen Zhong spoke frankly.

The previous disaster relief efforts were ineffective because the people sent by the central government were incompetent.

He won't make the same mistake this time.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Chen nodded; "That's good. With the Grand Tutor going in person, I can rest assured."

It should be noted that Grand Tutor Wen Zhong was a veteran of three reigns, the most prestigious and senior among the four ministers assisting the state, and in charge of the six guards of the Northern Camp of the Twelve Divine Martial Guards of the Great Zhou Dynasty. He was one of only two pillars of the Great Zhou Dynasty who respected Heaven.

It can be said that the fact that the Great Zhou Dynasty is still able to remain standing despite its decline is partly due to this Grand Tutor, a veteran of three dynasties.

With this Grand Tutor personally going to the four prefectures in the Northwest, Zhou Chen felt completely at ease.

Subsequently, Zhou Chen gave Grand Tutor Wen Zhong a secret decree to act expediently.

After all, although Grand Tutor Wen Zhong was a veteran of three reigns and wielded great power, he still needed the imperial decree to have full control over the local areas.

After Grand Tutor Wen Zhong left, Zhou Chen fell into deep thought.

The treasury of the mighty Zhou Dynasty had less than six million taels of silver.

Where did all the money go?
This probably doesn't even compare to the wealth of a high-ranking official in the imperial court!
It is utterly ridiculous that the national treasury is not as wealthy as the personal fortune of a single high-ranking official.

A cold glint flashed in Zhou Chen's eyes.

First, the internal security force became a mere shell of its former self, and then someone else even tried to take over its territory.

Now the national treasury is so empty that it can't even compare to the wealth of a high-ranking official.

It seems that the situation he faces is worse than he imagined.

"Fengxian".

Zhou Chen called out.

"The end will be here."

Lu Bu walked in silently.

"Take men and deliver an imperial decree to the two princes, instructing them to prepare to assist the Grand Tutor in disaster relief."

"If they dare to disobey my orders, I don't need to teach them what to do!"

Zhou Chen looked at Lü Bu with a cold glint in his eyes.

Perhaps others will be wary of the two princes' status.

But Lü Bu would never do that.

As a powerful expert who was halfway to the Celestial Realm, Lu Bu only cared about Zhou Chen's orders. He did whatever Zhou Chen said.

This is why Zhou Chen sent Lü Bu to deliver the imperial edict.

"You will finally understand."

Lu Bu nodded expressionlessly.

"Go!"

Zhou Chen waved his hand.

"I will retire at the end."

After Lü Bu left, Zhou Chen realized that he hadn't checked in for the day.

I wonder what I'll get for signing in today?
"system."

"Start signing in."

Zhou Chen immediately recited it silently in his mind.

【bite…….】

[Check-in successful.]

[Congratulations, host, for gaining the allegiance of twenty Bingzhou Wolf Riders.]

Twenty Bingzhou wolf riders?
Zhou Chen shook his head in disappointment.

The Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry is good, but their numbers are too small.

The first time we could get 100 people to sign in, this time we could only get 20.

It seems that it's unlikely that you'll get the character you want by just checking in every day.

(End of this chapter)