You get Lu Bu as your starting character.

Chapter 127 What is there that a miscellaneous person wouldn't dare to do?
Luoyang, the capital of China.

The location of the Eastern Depot.

Thousands of guards stood in the courtyard, their hands on the crescent-shaped swords at their waists, silently waiting for something.

Each of them had a cold expression on their face and exuded a chilling aura.

Coupled with his eagle-patterned uniform, the entire East Depot compound exuded a chilling and desolate aura.

On the high platform of the steps in front, Cao Zhengchun, the Grand Supervisor of the Eastern Depot, sat steadily in a wide-backed chair.

"Is everyone here?"

Cao Zhengchun glanced expressionlessly at the thousands of guards below, picked up the teacup beside him, and asked.

"Reporting to the Master Eunuch, everyone has arrived."

A guard standing nearby immediately bowed and replied.

"How's it going with the Four Gates and Nine Cities?"

"Have you informed everyone yet?"

Cao Zhengchun took a sip of tea and asked again.

The steward standing beside him bowed again and said, "Rest assured, Master, everything has already been communicated."

"Without the order of the Grand Eunuch, they will not let a single person leave the city."

Now the Eastern Depot's power is evident; wherever its orders go, no one dares to disobey.

Moreover, this time it was an imperial decree personally issued by the Emperor himself; who would dare disobey it?

Upon hearing this, Cao Zhengchun nodded and put down his teacup. "That's good. Here's the list."

"Those above are the targets of our Eastern Depot today."

"Send this to all the leaders so they can see it clearly and not let a single one escape."

"If anyone lets me escape, or messes things up, I'll kill them with one blow."

Cao Zhengchun said coldly, and handed a list to the shopkeeper next to him.

Upon hearing this, the foreman quickly took the list, walked down the steps, and handed the list to the ten people standing at the very front of the thousands of guards below.

"This is the target that our Eastern Depot will take action against today."

"You all heard what the eunuch just said. None of the people above can escape."

"Anyone who lets anyone escape should personally go and explain to the eunuch!"

After handing the list to the ten leaders, the foreman returned to Cao Zhengchun's side.

A few minutes later, the foreman bent down and whispered in Cao Zhengchun's ear, "Master, it's time."

Is it time?
Cao Zhengchun's eyes flashed, and he stood up abruptly.

"Set off."

Thousands of guards followed Cao Zhengchun out of the Eastern Depot, then split into several groups and disappeared at the end of the street.

……

Ministry of Industry Shangshu Mansion.

Minister of Works Cui Yongyuan sat in his study looking uneasy, his brow furrowed. He was not paying attention to the official documents in his hands and was slightly distracted.

These past few days, Cui Yongyuan has been feeling uneasy and restless, as if something bad is about to happen.

Cui Yongyuan wondered if this feeling was because he was too tired lately.

"what happened?"

"I've been feeling restless lately."

"Could it be that I've been too stressed lately?"

Cui Yongyuan frowned, thinking to himself.

In the past few days, because Fang Xuanling seized control of most of the local officials in the four northern prefectures and wiped out most of the powerful and wealthy families in the four northern prefectures, none of the officials like Cui Yongyuan, who came from powerful and wealthy families, have had an easy time.

Everyone was secretly thinking of ways to deal with this situation and prevent the person in the palace from making any further moves like this.

Therefore, Cui Yongyuan and his colleagues have been on edge these past few days.

"The letter should have already been sent back to the clan."

"I wonder if the clan chief and the others have reached a conclusion, and whether they will agree with my opinion."

Cui Yongyuan thought of the letter he had sent back to his clan, and his eyes flickered.

If the clan reaches a consensus and agrees with his opinion, then they will be dancing on the edge of a knife.

One wrong move and you could be shattered to pieces, ending up with your family's property confiscated and your clan wiped out.

However, Cui Yongyuan felt that only by taking such risks could the problem be solved once and for all and at its root.

Otherwise, it would be like drinking blood to quench thirst.

Even if a solution is found, it will only be a temporary fix.

"Sir, something seems amiss."

At this moment, the butler walked in and said to Cui Yongyuan with a frown on his face.

Something's wrong?
Cui Yongyuan was taken aback.

"What's wrong?"

"What happened?"

Cui Yongyuan asked, somewhat puzzled, about what the housekeeper was saying.

"Master, there are a few more people from the Eastern Depot monitoring our residence today than before."

"Furthermore, they are different from before; they are keeping a close watch, which is a bit strange."

The butler said with a solemn expression.

What did the Eastern Depot do?

Now everyone in Luoyang knows about it, and the steward of the Minister of Works knows it even better.

The Eastern Depot's agents, who are currently monitoring the Ministry of Works' residence, have shown some unusual behavior, which has forced the steward of the Ministry of Works' residence to be cautious.

After all, the Eastern Depot was a royal hound.

Even the slightest change can symbolize a different, deeper meaning.

Upon hearing the steward's words, Cui Yongyuan's face immediately darkened. "What do these damned dogs take my Ministry of Works for? Do they think they're just some lowly, insignificant officials?"

"Sending two henchmen to keep an eye on things wasn't enough; now they've added a few more."

"Do they really think the Ministry of Works is easy to bully?"

Cui Yongyuan said with a grim expression.

The fact that the Eastern Depot sent people to monitor the Ministry of Works' residence could not be kept from Cui Yongyuan.

In any case, Cui Yongyuan was the Minister of Works, one of the six ministers of the imperial court, and he had countless people under his command, both openly and secretly.

Furthermore, given that Cui Yongyuan is a member of the Cui family of Boling, and with the Cui family's influence, it would be very difficult for the Eastern Depot to monitor Cui Yongyuan's residence undetected.

Cui Yongyuan looked at the butler and said, "Don't worry about them for now."

"Do they really dare to barge into my Ministry of Works' residence and act so presumptuously?"

"I will submit a memorial to them at tomorrow's morning court session, and then we'll see how the one on the dragon throne explains this matter to the officials."

Previously, Cui Yongyuan pretended to be deaf and dumb, allowing the Eastern Depot to monitor the Ministry of Works' residence, because the Eastern Depot's people had not crossed Cui Yongyuan's bottom line.

Cui Yongyuan temporarily ignored the surveillance of the Eastern Depot.

But now, these henchmen of the Eastern Depot have become increasingly audacious, adding several more to the surveillance team instead of just two.

They were so blatantly and without any scruples monitoring his residence, which belonged to the Minister of Works.

Do you really think his Ministry of Works is a pushover?
This is simply intolerable!

Cui Yongyuan believes that the Eastern Depot not only monitored his residence as Minister of Works, but also probably sent people to monitor other civil and military officials in the court.

Thus.

Tomorrow morning at the imperial court, Cui Yongyuan will report this matter to the emperor.

Then we'll see how the one on the dragon throne faces his ministers and officials.

Unjustified surveillance of civil and military officials is no small matter.

No sooner had Cui Yongyuan finished speaking than a commotion arose outside.

"bump."

Immediately afterwards, the gates of the mansion were blasted open, and the sounds of fighting broke out.

"what happened?"

"what happened?"

Cui Yongyuan's expression changed, and he stood up abruptly.

at this time.

A guard captain rushed in, flustered. "Sir, something terrible has happened!"

"The men from the Eastern Depot stormed into the mansion and, without saying a word, immediately attacked the guards inside."

The guard commander rushed into the study and said hurriedly.

what?
The Eastern Depot's men stormed into the mansion and even attacked the guards inside.
"Asshole."

Upon hearing this, Cui Yongyuan's face immediately turned furious, and he slammed his hand on the desk.

"Walk."

"I'd like to see what the Eastern Depot is up to."

Cui Yongyuan, accompanied by his butler and the guard captain, stormed out of the study in a huff.

After leaving the study, Cui Yongyuan walked towards the front yard.

Having walked only halfway, Cui Yongyuan encountered people from the Eastern Depot.

The men from the Eastern Depot attacked the guards inside his residence as they charged into the mansion.

Meanwhile, the guards inside his residence were retreating while fending off the attacks from the Eastern Depot's guards.

Cui Yongyuan saw this and his face immediately darkened.

"stop."

Cui Yongyuan, with a gloomy expression, shouted loudly and stepped forward.

The sounds of fighting between the two sides immediately ceased.

The guards in the Cui residence immediately retreated to Cui Yongyuan's side, and the guards from the Eastern Depot also retreated behind the person in charge on the opposite side.

Cui Yongyuan glanced at the corpses of many of the guards lying on the ground, then looked at the leader of the Eastern Depot opposite him with a grim expression; "Cao Zhengchun, do you dare to lead men to storm my residence?"

"And you even killed the guards of this official's residence?"

"Do you know what you're doing?"

"If you don't give me a reasonable explanation today, I will definitely report your Eastern Depot to the Emperor at the morning court tomorrow."

Cui Yongyuan looked at Cao Zhengchun and said angrily with an unfriendly expression.

Indeed, the leader of the Eastern Depot was none other than Cao Zhengchun, the Grand Supervisor of the Eastern Depot.

Cui Yongyuan never expected that Cao Zhengchun would actually dare to lead the Eastern Depot to storm his residence as Minister of Works.

Just now in the study, Cui Yongyuan thought the Eastern Depot wouldn't dare to do such a thing!
But now it seems that Cui Yongyuan underestimated the lawlessness of the Eastern Depot.

Upon hearing Cui Yongyuan's words, Cao Zhengchun scoffed; "Impose a document against our Eastern Depot?"

"I'm afraid you won't have that chance," Cao Zhengchun said, shaking his head.

Upon hearing this, Cui Yongyuan's expression changed; "Cao Zhengchun, what do you mean?"

"I am the Minister of Works, one of the six ministers of the Great Zhou Dynasty, a high-ranking official. My residence is not a place where just anyone can run wild."

"Could it be that you dare to kill me without cause and destroy my mansion?"

Cui Yongyuan looked at Cao Zhengchun and said sternly.

Cao Zhengchun responded coldly to Cui Yongyuan's words, "What is there that I wouldn't dare to do?"

“I dared to destroy the General’s Mansion and the Minister of Personnel’s Mansion, let alone the mansion of a mere Minister of Works like you.”

Cao Zhengchun looked at Cui Yongyuan with a half-smile, causing Cui Yongyuan's pupils to contract repeatedly.

Cui Yongyuan did not believe that Cao Zhengchun would dare to take action against him, the Minister of Works, without any reason.

Seeing Cao Zhengchun's indifferent expression, Cui Yongyuan immediately felt a bad premonition.

indeed.

The Grand General's Mansion, the Ministry of Personnel's Mansion, and the Ministry of Rites' Mansion were all destroyed by Cao Zhengchun.

This head of the Eastern Depot really had nothing he wouldn't dare to do.

"The Emperor has a decree."

"The Cui family of Boling colluded with the Yellow Heaven Sect to murder the Grand Tutor and incited the carefree King Zhou Qian to raise the flag of rebellion. Their crimes are heinous and they should be exterminated along with their entire clan."

"Minister Cui, you're also from the Cui family of Boling, aren't you!"

"I don't need to say anything more, do I?"

"You're still somewhat useful, so obediently come with me!"

Cao Zhengchun stopped wasting words and directly read out the imperial edict to exterminate the entire Cui family, looking coldly at Cui Yongyuan.

what?
Exterminate the entire Cui family, including nine generations.

Cui Yongyuan's expression changed immediately upon hearing Cao Zhengchun's words.

A tremendous wave of emotion surged within me.

Cui Yongyuan never expected that such a secret plot by a powerful family would be discovered by that person in the palace. How could this be?

That's absolutely impossible.

They handled everything very cleanly, leaving no trace of evidence.

How could that person in the palace possibly find out?

"Cao Zhengchun, don't you dare to falsely convey the imperial edict and slander this official."

"How could I and the Cui family possibly collude with the Yellow Heaven Sect to murder the Grand Tutor, or incite the carefree Prince Zhou Qian to raise the flag of rebellion?"

"What evidence do you have?"

Cui Yongyuan glared at Cao Zhengchun and said.

evidence?

Cao Zhengchun gave a cold laugh.

"Under the whole world, is it not the king's land."

"Within the whole land, all are subjects of the king."

"Does your Cui family of Boling think you can get away with this without leaving any evidence?"

"But you've forgotten that imperial power doesn't need evidence at all."

"We, the Eastern Depot, don't need evidence."

At this point, Cao Zhengchun waved his hand.

"kill."

"Except for Cui Yongyuan, no one else will be spared."

At a command, the imperial guards swarmed forward again and charged.

"Damn it."

"All of you, get up here and block these Eastern Depot lackeys!"

Cui Yongyuan knew that it was pointless to say anything now.

Judging from the Eastern Depot's actions, it's clear that the person in the palace wants to deal with the Cui family of Boling and take down this Minister of Works.

Since that's the case, Cui Yongyuan no longer has any reservations.

After saying that, Cui Yongyuan quickly retreated and fled into the mansion.

"Humph."

"Trying to escape in front of a polymath."

Before Cui Yongyuan had gotten very far, he heard a soft, cold snort.

Cui Yongyuan felt a chill run down his spine. He looked up and saw that Cao Zhengchun had appeared in front of him at some point, looking at him with a effeminate expression.

"Master, you go first."

At this moment, the butler suddenly appeared and struck Cao Zhengchun with a palm.

At the same time, dozens of figures rushed out from all directions, attacking Cao Zhengchun simultaneously.

These are Cui Yongyuan's personal bodyguards, also known as assassins, all highly skilled individuals.

"Insignificant ants."

"You still want to stop me? You're courting death."

With a casual wave of his hand, Cao Zhengchun sent the steward and dozens of other figures flying. They crashed to the ground several feet away, cracking the floorboards. After spitting out several mouthfuls of blood, they collapsed to the ground, unresponsive.

At the same time, Cao Zhengchun did not hesitate, and with a claw-like motion, he directly grabbed Cui Yongyuan, the Minister of Works, by the neck.

Cui Yongyuan had no chance to react at all. He only realized what was happening after Cao Zhengchun grabbed him by the neck.

It's a pity it's too late.

"puff."

A mouthful of blood spurted out.

Cao Zhengchun released his grip, and Cui Yongyuan collapsed limply to the ground, powerless to resist.

(End of this chapter)