You get Lu Bu as your starting character.

Chapter 301 Establishing a Cabinet
royal palace.

Three days have passed since those worldly people raided the palace, and the entire palace has been restored to its original state.

The Hall of Nourishing Heart.

Zhou Chen had just returned from Cining Palace.

Every month, Zhou Chen would take time to visit the Empress Dowager at Cining Palace.

This is something Zhou Chen does every month without fail.

Regardless of whether the Empress Dowager was Zhou Chen's biological mother, Zhou Chen could not ignore this kind of filial piety.

Just as Zhou Chen sat down on the dragon throne, the eunuchs and guards entered and reported: "Your Majesty, Lord Jia requests an audience outside the palace."

"Oh!"

"Has Jia Xu returned?"

Zhou Chen's spirits lifted.

"Summon Jia Xu in."

"According to the order."

The eunuchs and guards bowed and withdrew.

moment.

Jia Xu then entered the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

"Your subject Jia Xu greets Your Majesty."

After Jia Xu entered the Hall of Mental Cultivation, he bowed respectfully to Zhou Chen on the dragon throne.

"No gift."

Zhou Chen looked at Jia Xu and asked, "How are things going with the four major clans and those other aristocratic families?"

Jia Xu left Luoyang on imperial orders to handle the aftermath of the actions taken by the four major clan leaders and their patriarchs against Cao Zhengchun and his group, as well as other aristocratic families visited by worldly people.

"Your Majesty, I have thoroughly investigated the four major clans, and all those from the four major clans who committed heinous crimes have been arrested in accordance with the law."

"I have also taken the opportunity, as Your Majesty instructed, to thoroughly investigate the Langya Wang family and other aristocratic families that have been visited by those who have entered the world."

"These are the benefits handed over by those aristocratic families. Please take a look, Your Majesty."

Jia Xu took out a memorial from his sleeve, held it in his hands, and said...

Cao Zhengchun, who was standing nearby, immediately stepped forward, took the memorial from Jia Xu's hand, and presented it to Zhou Chen.

Zhou Chen opened it and started reading.

It must be said that Jia Xu did a very good job.

Zhou Chen sent Jia Xu to handle this matter concerning the aristocratic families in order to weaken their power as much as possible and take the opportunity to force them to relinquish some of their interests.

Judging from the contents of the memorial, Jia Xu basically achieved the goal requested by Zhou Chen.

After Zhou Chen finished reading the memorial, he looked up at Jia Xu and said, "Wenhe, tell me the details!"

The memorial only contained the general results.

To get more detailed information, we need Jia Xu's report.

"According to the order."

Jia Xu then began to recount his experiences on this trip.

……

Half an hour later.

Jia Xu withdrew from the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

After Jia Xu left, Zhou Chen's gaze drifted away, deep and unfocused.

Through this opportunity to enter the world, Zhou Chen weakened the power of some aristocratic families.

After that, the influence of aristocratic families on the Great Zhou Dynasty was not as profound.

Furthermore, this deterrent action prompted Xun Yu and his Ministry of Revenue to expedite their land inventory.

Those powerful and influential families no longer dared to outwardly comply but inwardly defy them.

Thinking of this, Zhou Chen looked up at Cao Zhengchun; "How is Xun Yu and the others making progress?"

Cao Zhengchun bowed and said, "Your Majesty, the land survey conducted by Lord Xun and his team is nearing completion, and they will be able to return to Luoyang soon."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Chen nodded and said nothing more.

……

the next day.

The morning court begins.

Civil and military officials walked along both sides of the imperial road, entering the Golden Palace in order of their official rank.

After all the civil and military officials had taken their places, Zhou Chen stepped onto the golden imperial road and ascended to the court.

"Long live your majesty."

All the civil and military officials knelt down and shouted.

Zhou Chen sat upright on the dragon throne, his right hand resting on the armrest, looking down at the civil and military officials; "All of you, rise."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

All the civil and military officials stood up.

Cao Zhengchun, who was standing beside the dragon throne, stepped forward and said, "If you have something to report, speak now; otherwise, the court may adjourn."

A sharp sound rang out inside the Golden Palace.

As soon as Cao Zhengchun finished speaking, the Eighth Prince Zhou Xian stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Your Majesty, I have something to report."

"Oh!"

"What does Eighth Imperial Uncle have to report?"

Zhou Chen looked at the Eighth Prince, Zhou Xian.

"Your Majesty, the heavens cannot be without a ruler for a day, nor can the harem be without an empress for a day."

"Now Your Majesty has unified the world, swept away the six directions, and possesses the wealth of the four seas. However, since the Wu clan's rebellion, Your Majesty's harem has been empty, with no concubines and no sons born. This is not conducive to the stability of the court and the state."

"For the sake of the Great Zhou Dynasty and the stability of the court, I humbly request Your Majesty to issue an edict as soon as possible to select candidates for the imperial harem..."

"The Eighth Prince, Zhou Xian, spoke loudly."

The Eighth Prince, Zhou Xian, had already planned to submit a memorial on this matter in conjunction with the court officials.

However, the court had too many matters to attend to before, including exterminating foreign tribes, purging internal rebellions, and suppressing powerful families. Therefore, the Eighth Prince Zhou Xian could only postpone this matter for the time being.

But now, the Eighth Prince Zhou Xian knows that he can't delay any longer.

Faced with the Tianshan Mountains, which transcend worldly concerns, no one knew what the future held for the Great Zhou Dynasty.

Therefore, Prince Zhou Xian believed that it was imperative to have His Majesty take a concubine and select an empress as soon as possible to produce a son in order to stabilize the court and the state, in case of any unforeseen circumstances.

The Eighth Prince Zhou Xian said this.

All the civil and military officials nodded in agreement.

indeed.

Now that the Great Zhou has eliminated the foreign tribes beyond the Great Wall, its internal problems are also being gradually eradicated.

It can be said that the entire Great Zhou Dynasty is now thriving and prosperous.

The only drawback is that the emperor on the dragon throne has no heir to this day.

Not only does Your Majesty have no heir, but Your Majesty's harem has also been vacant ever since that Wu clan member rebelled; there has not been a single concubine.

This caused great anxiety among many officials.

In the eyes of most officials, only when the emperor appointed an empress and gave birth to a son could the Zhou dynasty be considered truly stable...

"Your Majesty, I believe the Eighth Prince's words are reasonable."

"Now, His Majesty has eliminated the foreign tribes and reformed the internal malpractices, making him a wise ruler for all ages."

"However, His Majesty's harem is empty. Not only is the position of Empress vacant, but there is not even a single concubine. This is not conducive to the stability of the court and the country."

"Your Majesty, I request that you issue an edict to select concubines to replenish the imperial harem."

Xiao He also stepped forward and spoke loudly.

As the Left Chancellor, in charge of all civil and military officials, Xiao He understood better than anyone how much impact a vacant imperial harem and the absence of a son would have on the court and the Great Zhou Dynasty.

To put it dramatically, if the emperor's harem remained vacant and there were no sons, then the Great Zhou Dynasty would never be stable.

This may be a bit of an exaggeration, but it's the truth.

The emperor's harem and the continuation of his lineage both had implications for the stability of the nation. This is the main reason why it is said that the imperial family has no private affairs.

For emperors, family affairs were state affairs.

"Your Majesty, we humbly request that you issue an edict to select concubines to replenish the harem, so as to ensure the stability of the nation."

Following Xiao He, Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, and other ministers also stood up and spoke.

Not only that, all the civil and military officials in the court unanimously submitted a memorial to the throne, requesting Zhou Chen to take a concubine and select an empress.

Zhou Chen leaned back slightly on the dragon throne, looking down at the civil and military officials, and calmly said, "I understand. We'll discuss this matter later."

"I have something to announce now."

As soon as Zhou Chen finished speaking, the expressions of the civil and military officials were clearly stunned for a moment.

What does it mean that His Majesty said he understood?
Will His Majesty issue an edict to select candidates for the imperial concubine selection?

Also, what does Your Majesty wish to announce?
All the civil and military officials pricked up their ears to listen.

"I have decided to establish a cabinet."

"The cabinet is responsible for handling some government affairs for me."

Although Zhou Chen's voice was not loud, it caused a great uproar in the imperial court.

Could you assist me with some official business?
The emperor spoke these words with utmost calmness and casualness, but the ministers present all understood their meaning.

This is tantamount to exercising imperial power on behalf of the emperor!
Since ancient times, only the emperor has been qualified to handle state affairs and government matters.

At most, the civil and military officials could only offer suggestions.

Even the prime minister, who is second only to the emperor and commands all civil and military officials, is no exception.

But now, the cabinet is actually qualified to help the emperor handle state affairs?

This power seems to have surpassed the existing power of the prime minister.

For a time, the hearts of people in the imperial court were unsettled.

All the civil and military officials felt a sense of anticipation.

Since the emperor is preparing to establish a cabinet, he will certainly select some candidates to join the cabinet.

If anyone can enter the cabinet, it will be a meteoric rise, granting them power comparable to the prime minister.

As for the matter of submitting a memorial to select concubines and an empress, most of the officials had already put it out of their minds.

however.

Zhou Chen's next words extinguished the fervor in the hearts of most of the officials.

"I intend to have the Left Chancellor Xiao He join the cabinet as the chief cabinet secretary, with Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui serving as cabinet members to assist Xiao He."

"What do you all think, my esteemed ministers?"

Zhou Chen looked at the civil and military officials.

Forming a cabinet was something Zhou Chen had planned for a long time; he was just waiting for the right opportunity to implement it.

Now, Zhou Chen felt the opportunity had arrived. With the momentum he had just gained from suppressing those who had entered the world and weakening the power of aristocratic families, forming a cabinet would be a natural progression, and no one would object to it.

Upon hearing Zhou Chen's words, all the civil and military officials secretly glanced at Xiao He, Fang Xuanling, and Du Ruhui.

These three men—the Left Chancellor, the Minister of Personnel, and the Minister of Rites—were all close confidants of the emperor, important officials, and wield considerable power.

Once these three people join the cabinet, their power will increase further.

Most of the courtiers were somewhat envious; these three had truly risen to prominence overnight.

What they envied was not only the power these three men gained after entering the cabinet, but also the rare trust His Majesty had placed in them.

Many officials were wondering, "Isn't His Majesty afraid of nurturing a tiger and creating another powerful minister like General Wu Jin, by granting these three such great powers?"

"We have no objections."

All the civil and military officials spoke in unison.

Now, who in the court dares to object to Emperor Zhou Chen's decision?

Although Emperor Zhou Chen appeared to be questioning his ministers, in reality, all the officials knew that Emperor Zhou Chen had already made his decision.

Even if some ministers had objections, it wouldn't change anything; it would only increase the emperor's resentment.

"Then it's settled."

Zhou Chen looked at Xiao He, Fang Xuanling, and Du Ruhui; "Xiao He, Fang Xuanling, and Du Ruhui, you three all heard that, right?"

"All matters concerning the cabinet are now in your hands."

Zhou Chen looked at Xiao He and the other two and said.

The cabinet established by Zhou Chen is different from the cabinet of the Ming Dynasty, and it is not intended to abolish the position of prime minister and replace it with the cabinet.

Instead, Zhou Chen expanded the power of the prime minister, establishing an institution headed by the left and right prime ministers to assist him, the emperor, in handling government affairs.

"The ministers obey the order."

Xiao He, Fang Xuanling, and Du Ruhui bowed and accepted the imperial decree.

Emperor Zhou Chen had previously summoned the three of them to discuss this matter.

Therefore, Xiao He, Fang Xuanling, and the other two were not surprised by the formation of the cabinet.

"Retreat."

Zhou Chen said nothing more and got up to leave the Golden Palace.

It took the ministers a moment to realize what was happening.

The ministers looked at Xiao He, Fang Xuanling, and the other two, feeling both enlightened and envious.

cabinet?

This is probably the place where the imperial court's power is most concentrated in the future.

The expression on Zhou Xian's face changed several times.

Originally, the Eighth Prince Zhou Xian was supposed to present a memorial to the emperor in this court, on behalf of all the civil and military officials, to propose the selection of concubines.

But in the blink of an eye, it vanished without a trace and was forgotten.

The Eighth Prince, Zhou Xian, stepped forward and bowed to Xiao He, Fang Xuanling, and the other two, saying, "Congratulations, my lords."

"His Majesty's trust and high regard for the three of you in entering the cabinet is truly evident!"

"Congratulations, Eighth Prince Zhou Xian," he said.

The trust His Majesty has in Xiao He and the others is something that even he, the Eighth Prince of the Imperial Family, probably never possessed!
"Your Highness is too kind. His Majesty values ​​us ministers highly; otherwise, we wouldn't all be able to squeeze into the court and hold high positions."

Xiao He and Fang Xuanling also bowed to Zhou Xian, the Eighth Prince, in response.

"Prime Minister Xiao, His Majesty's harem is vacant, and His Majesty has not yet issued an edict to select candidates. If this matter is delayed any longer, it will have a significant impact on the court and the country."

The Eighth Prince, Zhou Xian, looked at Xiao He and said.

Xiao He nodded, naturally understanding the importance of this matter.

However, judging from His Majesty's attitude, he does not seem willing to immediately take concubines or hold a selection of consorts.

……

Zhou Chen did not return to the Hall of Mental Cultivation immediately after leaving the Golden Palace.

As Zhou Chen walked through the palace, looking at the magnificent palaces, he let out a soft sigh.

The wishes of the officials are hard to disobey, and even Emperor Zhou Chen cannot directly go against their good intentions.

Just now during the morning court session, if Emperor Zhou Chen hadn't announced the establishment of the cabinet, diverting the attention of the officials, he probably would have actually issued an edict to select concubines.

It's not that Zhou Chen is indifferent to women or rejects the imperial concubine selection.

Zhou Chen felt that with the threat from Tianshan looming at any moment, it would be unwise to hold a selection of concubines at this time.

Let's talk about these things after we've resolved the Tianshan issue!
Zhou Chen walked slowly through the palace.

Zhou Chen didn't take the threat of Tianshan Mountain's imminent arrival too seriously.

Within the territory of the Great Zhou Dynasty, thanks to the unique nature of the Emperor's Conferring of Gods Technique, Zhou Chen was not afraid even if the Tianshan Sect sent people.

Moreover, Zhou Chen also has a cheat code.

After noticing the upgrade progress of the check-in system, Zhou Chen's lips curled into a faint smile.

"almost."

Zhou Chen thought to himself.

Once the check-in system is upgraded, Zhou Chen will be able to check in again.

At that time, the people who sign in will probably be beings above the half-step Celestial level.

(End of this chapter)