You get Lu Bu as your starting character.

Chapter 153 Ji Wusheng's Speculation
Luoyang, the capital of China.

In the past few days, with the emperor issuing an edict to execute Fan Yongdou, the Minister of Revenue, and his entire clan, a thorough investigation of the Ministry of Revenue has begun.

The atmosphere in the imperial court became tense and turbulent.

Every day, officials in the imperial court were brought down and their families were exterminated by the Eastern Depot.

Whether they were officials from the Ministry of Revenue or other ministries such as the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Works, anyone found to be involved in corruption within the Ministry of Revenue would have their family and clan exterminated by the Eastern Depot.

For a time, the Ministry of Justice's prison was overflowing with people.

The officials whose homes were raided were, on the surface, all involved in corruption within the Ministry of Revenue.

However, if someone were to analyze this carefully, they would find that most of these officials shared a common characteristic: they had intricate connections with the three powerful and influential families.

Prime Minister's House.

Prime Minister Yuan Bo and the Minister of Justice sat respectfully below.

A young figure sat in the main seat.

In the Prime Minister's residence, only members of the royal family could persuade Prime Minister Yuan Bo, the host, to relinquish his position as the head of the household.

Indeed, the young figure sitting in the main seat was none other than King Zhou Zhi of Shu.

Zhou Zhi glanced at Prime Minister Yuan Bo and the Minister of Justice, and said, "As far as I know, the Minister of Revenue only reported some matters concerning the Ministry of Revenue's embezzlement to the Eastern Depot."

"The Minister of Revenue hasn't said a word about our matter so far."

"But I still feel somewhat uneasy. What do you think, Prime Minister and Minister Zheng?"

Zhou Zhi looked at Prime Minister Yuan Bo and the Minister of Justice.

Under torture by the Eastern Depot, Fan Yongdou, the Minister of Revenue, could not withstand it and confessed to the Eastern Depot about the embezzlement within the Ministry of Revenue.

Zhou Zhi already knew about this.

While Zhou Zhi felt relieved, he was also somewhat worried.

Although Minister of Revenue Fan Yongdou has not uttered a single word about their conspiracy to the Eastern Depot so far, no one can guarantee that he will remain so vigilant in the future.

Therefore, Zhou Zhi had the opportunity to come to the Prime Minister's residence today to meet with Prime Minister Yuan Bo and the Minister of Justice to discuss this matter.

"Your Highness, Fan Yongdou shouldn't mention our affairs."

“If he really told the Eastern Depot about our affairs, then the Fan family of Jiexiu will have no chance to turn things around.”

"He knows what's important."

"However, the Fan family has already sent people to Luoyang."

"At that time, the Fan family will handle Fan Yongdou's matter personally."

Prime Minister Yuan Bo pondered for a moment before speaking.

The Minister of Justice nodded in agreement; "Yes, Your Highness, there shouldn't be any unexpected problems with Fan Yongdou's matter."

"The most important thing now is for His Majesty to investigate the Ministry of Revenue. Many of our officials in the court have already been arrested."

"If this continues, our influence in the court will be completely wiped out in just a few days."

The Minister of Justice looked grave.

The officials arrested during the recent investigation of the Ministry of Revenue were mostly their associates in the imperial court.

Although the Minister of Justice was also the chief official in charge of investigating the Ministry of Revenue, with Liu Ye, a confidant of the Emperor, around, there was absolutely no possibility for him to manipulate things in secret.

They could only watch helplessly as these officials had their homes ransacked and their families exterminated by the Eastern Depot.

If this continues, their power in the court will gradually be eroded.

When that time comes, they will have changed the world, and it won't be so easy for them to control the court.

Upon hearing the Minister of Justice's words, both Zhou Zhi and Prime Minister Yuan Bo frowned.

Zhou Zhi and the Prime Minister naturally understood the meaning behind the Minister of Justice's words.

However, the investigation of the Ministry of Revenue was ordered by His Majesty in the palace, and there was no way to stop it.

Unless they act quickly.

Thinking of this, Zhou Zhi, sitting in the main seat, glanced at Prime Minister Yuan Bo and asked, "Prime Minister, how is the Fan family doing?"

Prime Minister Yuan Bo spoke up, "Your Highness, the Fan family has already broken up into smaller groups and scattered to make a commotion."

"This was a lucky accident. I never expected His Majesty to send Cao Zhengchun to wipe out the Fan family."

"With the Fan family involved, Cao Zhengchun and Lü Bu probably won't be able to return to Luoyang anytime soon."

They were originally thinking about how to lure Cao Zhengchun, the half-step Celestial, head of the Eastern Depot, out of Luoyang.

Unexpectedly, because of the Fan family's affairs, Emperor Zhou Chen actually sent Cao Zhengchun to exterminate the Fan family.

This was exactly what Prime Minister Yuan Bo and his associates wanted.

After all, Cao Zhengchun, the almost superhuman supervisor of the Eastern Depot, had a huge influence on their plans.

If they could lure Cao Zhengchun out of Luoyang, their plans would have the greatest chance of success.

Zhou Zhi nodded upon hearing this.

Now that Lu Bu and Cao Zhengchun, both near-celestial beings, are gone, Emperor Zhou Chen has lost his two biggest trump cards.

This makes planning much easier.

"In that case, let's get started as soon as possible!"

"Prime Minister and Minister Zheng, what do you two think?"

Zhou Zhi looked at Prime Minister Yuan Bo and the Minister of Justice and asked.

Prime Minister Yuan Bo and the Minister of Justice exchanged a glance and said in unison, "We will leave it to Your Highness's arrangements."

Not to be missed.

With both Cao Zhengchun and Lü Bu, two near-celestial beings, absent, this is the best opportunity.

This is also the easiest opportunity to deal with Emperor Zhou Chen.

The Prime Minister Yuan Bo and the Minister of Justice naturally understood.

This is exactly the time they've been waiting for.

Naturally not to be missed.

Little did they know that besides Cao Zhengchun and Lü Bu, there was another person in the palace, E Lai, who was no less formidable than Cao Zhengchun and Lü Bu, waiting for them.

If they knew that there was another terrifying figure no less powerful than Cao Zhengchun and Lü Bu, I wonder what they would think.

……

royal palace.

The Hall of Nourishing Heart.

Zhou Chen sat on the dragon throne, looking at a document in his hand.

It records all the specific details about the four northern states during this period.

Standing below was Cao Shaoqin, who looked travel-worn.

Cao Shaoqin's mission to assist Fang Xuanling in reforming officialdom in the four northern prefectures has been completed.

Therefore, Cao Shaoqin returned to Luoyang to report back to the emperor.

After reading the message in his hand, Zhou Chen looked up at Cao Shaoqin, who looked travel-worn, and said, "Although some of the information on this is no longer important, you, Cao Shaoqin, did a good job."

"I hope that your Eastern Depot will be able to infiltrate every nook and cranny in the future, and that nothing will be able to escape your notice."

"Instead of things being like this now, where the Huangtian Sect's affairs are already in the past, and only now has your Eastern Depot fully investigated the matter."

"This is not the Eastern Depot I want."

"Understand?"

Zhou Chen looked at Cao Shaoqin and said calmly.

The report that Cao Shaoqin presented contained all the news about the four northern states during this period, including all the information about the Yellow Heaven Sect, as well as the news that the four major aristocratic families, including the Yuan family, were using the Yellow Heaven Sect to plot against Grand Tutor Wen Zhong.

Although this information is no longer important to Zhou Chen now, it at least allowed him to understand all the details of the four northern states.

We just arrived a little late.

"Your Majesty, rest assured, I understand."

Cao Shaoqing immediately bowed and said.

Cao Shaoqin only discovered this information later.

"What is the layout of the Eastern Depot in the four northern provinces?"

Zhou Chen asked again.

Cao Shaoqin immediately replied, "Your Majesty, there are people from the Eastern Depot in every prefecture and city of the four northern states."

"The entire four northern states are under the surveillance of the Eastern Depot, and no matter what happens, it will not escape the Eastern Depot's notice."

Zhou Chen nodded upon hearing this.

His dispatch of Cao Shaoqin to the four northern prefectures was not merely to assist Fang Xuanling in reforming the bureaucracy, but also to bring the entire region under the surveillance of the Eastern Depot. From then on, whatever happened in the four northern prefectures...

Even the emperor, Zhou Chen, needed to know immediately.

"That's good."

"Recently, there have been signs of a resurgence of rebellions in the four northern states. What's going on?"

Zhou Chen had just seen from those messages that there had been riots in some parts of the four northern states.

This made Zhou Chen look at Cao Shaoqin with a puzzled expression.

Corrupt officials in the four northern prefectures have been brought down.

Even powerful and wealthy families were purged.

The disaster relief funds have been fully delivered.
How could there possibly be any riots?

"Your Majesty, according to the investigation by the Imperial Guard, these places of unrest are all caused by the Fan family of Jiexiu."

"General Lü and General Zhang have already led their troops to pursue and suppress the troublemakers from the Fan family in Jiexiu."

Cao Shaoqin recounted the events that had occurred in the four northern prefectures over the past two days.

After listening, Zhou Chen couldn't help but sneer; "The Fan family of Jiexiu actually sent people to cause trouble in the four northern states. They really don't know what they're getting themselves into."

The four northern provinces are supported by the imperial army of over 100,000 men from the Northern and Southern Divine Martial Guards, as well as Lü Bu, Zhang Liao, and Fang Xuanling. Sending people there from the Fan family would be tantamount to suicide.

As for the purpose of the Fan family's actions, Zhou Chen could guess without even thinking.

It was simply to tie down Lü Bu and the Shenwu Guard's pacification army in the north and south, preventing them from returning to the capital.

"Heh, they thought they could hold back Lü Bu and the Divine Martial Guard's army from returning to the capital."

"Will you have a chance?"

Zhou Chen sneered inwardly, glanced at Cao Shaoqin, and said, "Now that Cao Zhengchun is not here, your return is perfect for taking charge of the Eastern Depot."

"Keep a close watch on the entire city of Luoyang for me."

"Especially the Prime Minister and the Minister of Justice, they can't let the slightest movement go unnoticed."

Cao Zhengchun left Luoyang, and Zhou Chen was having a headache because the Eastern Depot had no one who could keep things in check.

Now that Cao Shaoqin is back, he can take charge of the Eastern Depot.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Cao Shaoqin bowed and said.

"Go."

Zhou Chen waved his hand.

Then, Cao Shaoqin left the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

……

Shu land.

The Palace of the King of Shu.

After King Zhou Zhi of Shu left Shu and returned to Luoyang, Ji Wusheng took charge of everything in the Shu King's Palace.

At this moment, Ji Wusheng looked at a letter in his hand, his brows furrowed.

This letter was sent by King Zhou Zhi of Shu from Luoyang via express courier.

The above content concerns Emperor Zhou Chen's investigation of the Ministry of Revenue and his decree to exterminate the Fan family of Jiexiu.

After reading the contents of the letter, Ji Wusheng felt an inexplicable sense of unease.

The prince had just finished plotting with the three powerful families and returned to Luoyang when His Majesty arrested Fan Yongdou, the Minister of Revenue, launched an investigation into the Ministry of Revenue, and issued an edict to exterminate the Fan family of Jiexiu.

This is too much of a coincidence.

Ji Wusheng's eyes flickered.

Although the letter clearly stated that it was because Minister of Revenue Fan Yongdou suddenly attacked and attempted to assassinate His Majesty in the Golden Palace that the Fan family of Jiexiu was exterminated by order of His Majesty.

Keji Wusheng always felt that this matter was not as simple as it seemed on the surface.

"wrong."

Suddenly, Ji Wusheng thought of something, his expression changed, and he stood up abruptly.

"Someone is coming."

As soon as he finished speaking, a figure appeared silently beside Ji Wusheng.

"Immediately send someone to investigate whether any strangers have been inquiring about the situation in Sichuan recently."

"In particular, are there any strangers asking about everything concerning the prince?"

"I need to know the news immediately."

Ji Wusheng said seriously.

"Yes."

The figure vanished from the spot in the blink of an eye.

Ji Wusheng's expression was indescribably solemn as he paced back and forth.

"I hope it's not what I'm thinking, otherwise it'll be troublesome."

Ji Wusheng felt somewhat anxious and uneasy.

Ji Wusheng had already considered one possibility: that His Majesty in the palace already knew about the secret collusion between King Zhou Zhi of Shu and the three great families.

The emperor in the palace then removed Fan Yongdou, the Minister of Revenue, and under the pretext of investigating the Ministry of Revenue, gradually purged the officials of the three great families in the court.

Then, they dealt with and wiped out the three major families one by one.

If this speculation is confirmed, then there will be serious trouble.

Ji Wusheng couldn't even imagine that if that were really the case, wouldn't it be like a lamb entering a tiger's den when King Zhou Zhi of Shu returned to Luoyang?
……

Half an hour later.

That figure reappeared silently beside Ji Wusheng once again.

"Lord Ji, we've found out."

"Ever since the prince received the imperial decree, strangers have been inquiring about the situation in Shu."

“In the last few days, many strangers have been inquiring about the prince.”

“These people all have accents from other places.”

The figure spoke immediately upon appearing.

Upon hearing the figure's words, Ji Wusheng's face immediately turned extremely ugly.

Sure enough, what are you afraid of?

These were people who inquired about the situation in Shu and investigated King Zhou Zhi of Shu.

Needless to say, he could be anyone else's man but the one in the palace.

These people are probably all imperial guards.

Ji Wusheng paced back and forth with a sullen face.

Now that his guess has been confirmed, what should be done next?
Ji Wusheng frowned, paced back and forth a few times, then turned to the figure and immediately said, "Immediately seal off all the roads in Shu, and do not let a single person leave Shu."

“Mobilize all our manpower to investigate these strangers who are spying on Shu and investigating the prince.”

"Anyone whose whereabouts were traced was dealt with immediately."

"No matter who it is, we cannot let any of them go."

Ji Wusheng said with a cold expression.

At this moment, Ji Wusheng knew that he had to use this method to eliminate these strangers who were scouting Shu and investigating King Zhou Zhi of Shu.

Whether these people found out about King Zhou Zhi of Shu or the situation in Shu was not important.

The important thing is that only the dead can bring the most peace of mind.

"Yes, Lord Ji."

The figure accepted the order and left in the blink of an eye.

After the figure left, Ji Wusheng paced back and forth anxiously.

"No, we must inform the Prince immediately."

"Otherwise it will be too late."

Ji Wusheng stopped walking back and forth, then immediately turned around and hurriedly left.

……

(End of this chapter)