You get Lu Bu as your starting character.

Chapter 63 You Know It

The three ministers all looked rather grim.

If we accept the Prime Minister's assessment, then they have truly underestimated the woman in the palace.

It should be noted that, apart from the twenty-odd officials whose families were raided and whose clans were exterminated yesterday, the emperor in the palace did not touch anyone else during the morning court session today.

Even some officials who were originally part of the Grand General's maternal relatives' faction were not touched.

This shows how deep the forbearance and shrewdness of the person in the palace were, which even these seasoned veterans who had spent most of their lives in officialdom had to admire.

"Now you know why I submitted a memorial to the Emperor during the morning court session, ordering all the six ministries and departments to thoroughly investigate the Grand General's relatives and cronies!"

Prime Minister Yuan Bo glanced at the three of them.

All three ministers nodded.

They were initially puzzled during the morning court session as to why the Prime Minister would suddenly step forward and submit a memorial to the Emperor, ordering the Six Ministries and all government offices to conduct a thorough investigation of the Grand General's relatives and associates.

This doesn't seem to benefit their powerful family's interests.

But now they understood that the prime minister was testing the one on the dragon throne.

If the one on the dragon throne really grants the prime minister's request, then that's fine.

If not, then the one on the dragon throne probably wants to stabilize the situation first and has other plans.

After all, the fact that even a powerful general, a member of the imperial family's faction, could launch a military coup without escalating the rebellion was not a sign of an emperor's soft heart.

They must have ulterior motives.

“Prime Minister, if that’s the case, then we must not allow Fang Xuanling to gain a foothold in the court and control those positions.”

"If Fang Xuanling gains a firm foothold and controls those positions, then the person in the palace will be able to continue making moves without any worries."

The three ministers were quick-witted and immediately grasped the key to these matters.

There was a deeper meaning behind Fang Xuanling's promotion to Minister of Personnel upon entering the court.

Then we absolutely cannot let that person in the palace succeed in their scheme.

Otherwise, they'll be in trouble.

Prime Minister Yuan Bo shook his head; "The one in the palace is currently very powerful, so it's not advisable to deal with Fang Xuanling. However, we can use some methods to test Fang Xuanling's strength."

"However, this incident involving Fang Xuanling and the General has served as a wake-up call for us."

"That ruler in the palace is no mediocre one. From now on, we must immediately deal with all those who could be caught red-handed in the past, and we must not allow anyone to find even the slightest fault."

"Especially since the severe drought in the four northern prefectures and the situation in the four northwestern prefectures are related, we must be prepared to deal with them."

"If my estimation is correct, the one in the palace is very likely to start with this matter."

"After all, the person in the palace had previously sent people to investigate this matter."

"Furthermore, the reason why the person in the palace didn't deal with the Grand Tutor before was because he was waiting for Grand Tutor Wen Zhong to quell the affairs of the four prefectures in the northwest, and wanted to use the Grand Tutor as a breakthrough."

"But later the Grand Tutor was poisoned to death, which disrupted the plans of the woman in the palace."

"So, let's inform everyone about this and make them take it seriously."

"Don't end up like the Great General and his ilk."

Prime Minister Yuan Bo looked at the three ministers and spoke solemnly.

As long as these are cleaned up and no evidence is left, even if the person in the palace wants to take action against them, they won't be able to find a breakthrough for a while.

After saying all this, Prime Minister Yuan Bo gave a special look at the Minister of Revenue.

Because the Minister of Revenue was in charge of the national treasury, he was the most likely target for exploitation and the most likely source of problems.

Furthermore, if a problem arises, it could be a major one.

It will have far-reaching consequences.

Seeing the Prime Minister's unusual look, the Minister of Revenue understood what Prime Minister Yuan Bo meant and immediately said, "Prime Minister, rest assured, I will handle the matter of the Ministry of Revenue well and leave no trace."

The Minister of Revenue also knew the importance of the Ministry of Revenue.

If problems are found in the Ministry of Revenue, it won't just implicate a few or a dozen people. It will implicate a large portion of the court officials.

However, the Minister of Revenue was adept at handling such matters.

Having served as Minister of Revenue for so many years, he was adept at this matter and could ensure that he could handle things without leaving a trace.

Upon hearing this, Prime Minister Yuan Bo glanced expressionlessly at the Minister of Revenue and said, "It's good that you know."

"If it really is your Ministry of Revenue that has a problem then."

"That true nature should begin with you and end with you, and not expand."

The Minister of Revenue nodded; "I understand."

Once this happens, they will become the ones who are abandoned. This is the rule of the game, and also the rule of the aristocratic families.

No one can disregard these rules of the game.

"Prime Minister, is there no other way?"

"This puts us in a very passive position."

"This can't go on forever!"

The Minister of Justice, standing nearby, couldn't help but say something to Prime Minister Yuan Bo.

This kind of coping strategy can only be used temporarily, and it is not a long-term solution.

Prime Minister Yuan Bo remained silent for a moment, then said, "The only solution is to wait for now."

"Who would have thought that the one in the palace was hiding so well?"

"The Eastern Depot's supervisor, Cao Zhengchun, and Lü Bu are both half-step Celestial Realm experts. The General and his men did not lose unjustly."

"I originally wanted to use the Grand General and his relatives to fight against the royal family, but it ended before it even started."

"Man proposes, God disposes; I underestimated the one in the palace."

"I said quietly," said Prime Minister Yuan Bo.

All three ministers understood what the prime minister meant by "waiting".

The Minister of Works hesitated for a moment before saying, "There are now two half-step Celestials in the palace, Cao Zhengchun and Lü Bu, plus the one from the Imperial Clan Court, so the royal family has three half-step Celestials."

"Should we reveal what's going on in the Northwest? If we stick to the original plan, it might anger that person in the palace."

"If we attract the attention of a half-step Celestial, then we'll be in trouble."

The Minister of Works looked very serious.

Everyone already knows about the power of Cao Zhengchun, the supervisor of the Eastern Depot, who was there yesterday.

That's someone who can kill another half-step Celestial Being within a few moves.

In addition, the person from the Imperial Clan Court was originally a dominant figure at the half-step Celestial Realm level.

This doesn't even include the last one, Lü Bu, who was unaware of his own limitations.

The existence of these three is something to be wary of; if they were to actually make a move, ordinary people would find it difficult to stop them.

Upon hearing the Minister of Works' words, Chancellor Yuan Bo remained noncommittal, saying, "This has nothing to do with us directly."

"When the time comes to settle scores, we won't be held responsible."

"Once news of the Northwest situation reaches the capital, the one in the palace will have no interest in anything else."

"The affairs in the Northwest and the North will drag that person in the palace into a quagmire, and it won't be easy to extricate themselves from it in a short time."

"Prime Minister Yuan Bo said with a profound expression."

This is what he just said: 'The solution is to wait for now.'

Once news arrives from the Northwest, the one in the palace will temporarily lose interest in focusing on the court.

(End of this chapter)