You get Lu Bu as your starting character.

Chapter 35: Immediately issue the order and take action.

The Hall of Nourishing Heart.

Upon hearing Cao Zhengchun's report, Zhou Chen frowned deeply.

The fact that Wan'er, one of Empress Wu Ying's palace maids, escaped from the palace at this critical juncture is not a good thing.

This made Zhou Chen suspect that Empress Wu Ying might already know something.

If the Queen really does know something.

Therefore, Zhou Chen had no choice but to take action ahead of schedule.

"Cao Zhengchun, how are the arrangements outside the palace? Are the Eighth Prince and the other two all ready?" Zhou Chen asked Cao Zhengchun.

"Your Majesty, everything is ready outside the palace. The Eighth Prince, the Minister of War, and the Marquis of Weiwu are all preparing according to Your Majesty's instructions," Cao Zhengchun immediately bowed and said.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Chen remained silent for a moment; "We can't wait any longer. Send the word down immediately and take action right away."

"Cao Zhengchun, convey my decree: Jin He shall lead the Imperial Guards out of the palace to assist the Minister of War in sealing off the four gates and nine city walls of Luoyang. Without my order, no one shall enter or leave Luoyang. Anyone who disobeys shall be punished for treason."

"Issue the order to Marquis Weiwu: I have entrusted the Southern Camp of the Six Divine Guards outside the city to him. I bestow upon him the Imperial Sword and grant him permission to execute first and report later."

"Close the four gates of the palace. No one is allowed to enter or leave except for you, Cao Zhengchun."

Zhou Chen gave the order with a serious expression.

Success or failure depends on this.

Regardless of whether the Eighth Prince, the Minister of War, and the other two were ready, Zhou Chen could not wait any longer.

Since Wan'er, who was by Empress Wu Ying's side, had escaped from the palace, Zhou Chen had to prepare for the worst, regardless of whether Empress Wu Ying really knew something or not.

Taking action prematurely may carry some risks.

But it's still much less risky than gambling on Wan'er's purpose of leaving the palace.

If Wan'er really did go to the General's Mansion to report the news, as Zhou Chen guessed, then General Wu Jin would definitely go to the South Camp outside the city immediately after learning of this news.

When the Southern Camp's Six Guards of Divine Martial Might are in turmoil, it won't be so easy for Zhou Chen to take down this general.

Unless the Six Divine Guards of the Southern Camp are all suppressed, who knows how many people will die.

Therefore, compared to that situation, Zhou Chen taking some risks now is nothing at all.

"The old slave accepts the order."

A glint of light flashed in Cao Zhengchun's eyes.

Zhou Chen waved his hand.

"Go!"

"I await your good news."

Zhou Chen originally planned to do it at night, as it would be easier to carry out the operation at night and less likely to cause sleep disturbances.

Unexpectedly, plans often go awry, and Wan'er, who was by Empress Wu Ying's side, escaped from the palace.

Therefore, Zhou Chen had no choice but to act ahead of schedule.

"Old slave, please retire."

Zhou Chen watched Cao Zhengchun leave, his expression shifting.

He, the emperor of the Great Zhou, is finally about to take the first step.

Once the powerful relatives of the Grand General and the Empress are eliminated, half of the power in the court will return to the Emperor's control.

By then, Zhou Chen, the emperor of the Great Zhou, will be considered to be truly deserving of the title.

……

West Garden.

Thirty thousand imperial guards stood ready, their swords never leaving their hands, their armor never leaving their bodies.

A guard, holding a gold medal, rushed into the West Garden, panting heavily.

"By imperial decree, Commander Jinhe is to immediately lead 20,000 Imperial Guards out of the palace to assist the Minister of War in sealing off the four gates and nine cities of Luoyang. Commander Jinhe is hereby granted a gold medal and is permitted to act as he sees fit."

This gold medal was the one Zhou Chen had given to Zhao Gao, and later it was given to Lü Bu to clean up the Imperial Guards.

Now, Zhou Chen has bestowed upon Jin He the power to make decisions on special occasions.

"Golden Crane obeys the decree."

Jin He took the gold medal from the Imperial Guards, his expression turned serious, and he immediately ordered 20,000 Imperial Guards to set off.

After being closed for half a day, the West Garden finally stirred. Twenty thousand imperial guards emerged in formation, ready for battle, startling everyone inside the palace.

No matter how big the commotion was, anyone who wasn't deaf or blind could see the movements of the Western Garden Imperial Guards.

Everyone in the palace paled, their faces filled with fear.

In the past two weeks, the Eastern Depot and its guards have stirred up quite a storm of bloodshed in the palace, leaving them with considerable psychological trauma.

Now, the Imperial Guards have mobilized so many men again.

Many people are worried that the emperor in the Hall of Mental Cultivation might order the Imperial Guards to go on a killing spree!

However, after the Imperial Guards left the West Garden, they left the palace directly, which relieved those who were worried and afraid.

As long as it's not a massacre in the palace, that's fine.

As for the Imperial Guards going there to wreak havoc, that has nothing to do with these insignificant people.

Jin He put the gold medal into his pocket and said to a young general beside him, "Vice Commander Zhou, I'm entrusting the affairs of the palace to you."

Since Jin He was going to leave the palace with 20,000 imperial guards, someone naturally had to be responsible for the safety of the palace.

Therefore, Jinhe chose to put this Deputy Commander Zhou in charge.

Jin He doesn't trust others, but he trusts this Deputy Commander Zhou completely.

Because this Deputy Commander Zhou is a member of the royal family, and despite his young age, he is quite capable and talented.

The deputy commander nodded without saying much, but a strange look flashed in his eyes.

However, Jinhe did not notice.

Jin He patted Vice Commander Zhou on the shoulder and then left the palace.

……

"The Emperor has a decree."

"Close the gates. No one may enter or leave the palace without an imperial edict."

Just after Jin He led 20,000 imperial guards out of the palace, four imperial decrees were issued at the four gates of the palace.

"Click."

All four palace gates were closed.

……

At the same time, a guard from the imperial guards, wielding a precious sword, rode a fast horse and rushed out of Luoyang City.

"By imperial decree, the Marquis of Weiwu is granted the Imperial Sword and full authority to handle the affairs of the Southern Camp's Six Divine Guards."

Inside the main tent of the Six Divine Guards of the Northern Camp, Marquis Weiwu received the imperial sword with a solemn expression.

Imperial sword.

Cut first and then play.

This was indeed a right, but what the Marquis of Weiwu saw was heavy pressure.

The matter of the Six Guards of Shenwu in the Southern Camp is no small matter. If it is not handled properly and something goes wrong, it could lead to war and turmoil.

Marquis Weiwu immediately felt that the imperial sword was as heavy as a thousand pounds.

"Men, kill all those we arrested earlier, leave no one alive."

"Gather all troops and deploy them in the southern camp area to guard against any unforeseen circumstances."

Marquis Weiwu was previously ordered to purge all the generals related to the imperial relatives' faction within the Northern Camp, and he took down more than a dozen people in one fell swoop.

At this point, there's no need to keep these people around.

Marquis Weiwu should prepare for the worst. If the situation in the Southern Camp goes beyond the plan and cannot be resolved peacefully, he will have no choice but to suppress it by force first.

……

"By imperial decree, the commander hereby assumes full control of the four gates and nine city walls of Luoyang. Anyone who disobeys will be punished for disobeying orders."

With the cooperation of the Minister of War, Jin He, holding a gold medal, led 10,000 imperial guards to take over the four gates and nine city walls of Luoyang.

Then, the four gates and nine city walls of Luoyang were closed, and the imperial guards stood ready for battle.

Meanwhile, the streets of Luoyang were filled with squads of imperial guards.

For a time, the entire city of Luoyang was in turmoil.

(End of this chapter)