You get Lu Bu as your starting character.

Chapter 74 The Junior General Requests to Fight
The atmosphere inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation was solemn.

The news that Zhou Chen revealed was truly astonishing.

Amazing.

Even the Minister of War and the Marquis of Weiwu, pillars of the court who usually remained unfazed even under immense pressure, were momentarily stunned.

"Your Majesty, where is the messenger!"

"This matter is too sudden and too significant; we, your humble servants, can hardly believe it."

Marquis Weiwu took a deep breath, stepped forward, and spoke.

indeed.

The entire 30,000-strong Divine Martial Guard was wiped out, and the Grand Tutor, a veteran of three dynasties, died in battle.

Such an important matter would be hard to believe without personally consulting the urgent messenger.

Zhou Chen understood what Marquis Weiwu meant when he heard his words.

Anyone in this situation would need to see the messenger first.

Unfortunately, the messenger could no longer speak.

Zhou Chen glanced at Marquis Weiwu, then at the Minister of War and the other three, and said in a deep voice, "This is a message personally brought back by the Divine Martial Guards who were sent to the four prefectures in the Northwest."

"There was another letter, stained with blood, the writing on it was no longer legible."

"The Shenwu Guardian soldier entered the Yangxin Hall, said two sentences, and then died."

Zhou Chen's face was ashen.

The loyal Shenwu Guard, with sheer willpower, insisted on returning to Luoyang to deliver the message. The message was delivered, but unfortunately, the man died.

Furthermore, before his death, he only mentioned two pieces of news: the complete annihilation of the 30,000 Divine Martial Guards and the death of the Grand Tutor in battle.

There was no time to say anything else.

This made Zhou Chen feel both heartbroken and regretful.

It is heartbreaking that such a loyal and devoted person died like this.

Unfortunately, this Shenwu Guard risked his life to return and deliver the message, but in the end, he still didn't have time to tell the story of the four northwestern prefectures.

Cao Zhengchun, who was standing nearby, was very perceptive and immediately presented the blood-stained letter to the Marquis of Weiwu and the five Ministers of War.

When the Marquis of Weiwu and the five Ministers of War saw the blood-stained letter, their faces turned grave.

In fact, they all knew in their hearts that such an "urgent dispatch" could not possibly be wrong.

But deep down they still had a sliver of disbelief and wanted to meet the messenger and ask him personally.

But now, the messenger is dead.

The messenger was from the Divine Martial Guard, who had accompanied the Grand Tutor to quell the rebellion in the four northwestern prefectures. Even if Marquis Weiwu and his men were unwilling to believe it, they had to accept this undeniable fact.

The Marquis of Weiwu, the Minister of War, and the Eighth Prince all wore solemn expressions.

They were not only grieving for the 30,000 Divine Martial Guards, but also for Grand Tutor Wen Zhong.

Grand Tutor Wen Zhong served as a minister in the same palace as them, and was a representative of their loyal and veteran faction. He was also a veteran of three reigns and a pillar of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

Privately, they have a pretty good relationship.

Now, Grand Tutor Wen Zhong is dead, having died in battle in the four northwestern prefectures.

Such devastating news, whether from a personal perspective or for the sake of the Great Zhou Dynasty, caused the Marquis of Weiwu, the Minister of War, and the Eighth Prince an indescribable grief.

They could imagine it.

What serious consequences will the death of Grand Tutor Wen Zhong bring to the Great Zhou Dynasty and the imperial court?

"emperor."

"This humble general requests permission to fight."

"This humble general is willing to lead the remaining Divine Martial Guards of the Northern Camp to the four prefectures in the Northwest to complete the unfinished business of the Grand Tutor and welcome him back."

"Please grant my request, Your Majesty."

Marquis Weiwu knelt down with a thud and kowtowed heavily. Grand Tutor Wen Zhong was the spiritual symbol of their Northern Camp's Six Divine Martial Guards, and also their commander-in-chief.

Now that their commander of the Six Guards of the Northern Camp has died in battle in the four prefectures of the Northwest, how could the Six Guards of the Divine Martial Northern Camp possibly remain indifferent?

Therefore, Marquis Weiwu requested permission to fight.

He volunteered for the hundreds of thousands of soldiers of the Six Guards of the Northern Camp.

He also volunteered to fight for his own glory.

Grand Tutor Wen Zhong, the commander of their Northern Camp Six Guards is dead, but their Northern Camp Divine Martial Six Guards are still alive.

Looking at the majestic Marquis kneeling on the ground, whose hair was almost half white, Zhou Chen felt a lot of emotions.

Who says the Great Zhou Dynasty didn't have a family full of loyal and righteous ministers?

Isn't this the Marquis of Might?

Marquis Weiwu followed the Grand Tutor in countless battles throughout his life, and all five of his sons died fighting for the Great Zhou.

It is evident that his entire family was loyal and righteous.

"Your Majesty, no one knows exactly what has happened in the four northwestern prefectures."

"The entire army of 30,000 Divine Martial Guards was wiped out, and the Grand Tutor died in battle. I understand the feelings of the Marquis of Might."

"However, as the saying goes, 'Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated.' To raise an army out of anger is truly unwise."

"Therefore, I believe that the most important thing now is to find out exactly what happened in the four northwestern prefectures, why the 30,000 Divine Martial Guards were wiped out, and why the Grand Tutor died in battle?"

"As for sending troops, it's not too late to send them after we've figured all this out."

Compared to the Marquis of Weiwu, the Eighth Prince, and the Minister of War, Fang Xuanling was much calmer.

Fang Xuanling knew that for the four prefectures in the northwest to be able to wipe out the entire army of 30,000 Shenwu Guards and for Grand Tutor Wen Zhong to die in battle, something major must have happened.

If we don't figure these things out and directly send Marquis Weiwu with his troops, we might end up like Grand Tutor Wen Zhong.

Therefore, Fang Xuanling immediately stepped forward and offered his advice.

Upon hearing Fang Xuanling's words, the Marquis of Weiwu, who was kneeling on the ground, glared at Fang Xuanling with displeasure.

Although Marquis Weiwu knew that Fang Xuanling's words made sense, the one who had died now was Grand Tutor Wen Zhong, the commander of his Northern Camp's Six Divine Martial Guards, a veteran of three dynasties of the Great Zhou, and also the 30,000 Divine Martial Guards.

He, the Marquis of Weiwu, couldn't wait to investigate thoroughly before sending troops.

The Six Divine Guards of the Northern Camp couldn't wait any longer.

Marquis Weiwu wanted to ask for permission to fight again, but when he saw Zhou Chen on the dragon throne speak, he swallowed back the request that was about to come out of his mouth.

After listening to Fang Xuanling's words, Zhou Chen nodded; "I have already ordered the Imperial Guard to investigate this matter in the four northwestern prefectures."

"I believe news will come back soon."

After Zhou Chen finished speaking, he glanced at Marquis Weiwu and said, "Marquis Weiwu, please get up! I summoned you here to discuss the affairs of the four prefectures in the Northwest."

Marquis Weiwu originally wanted to kneel down to request battle, but after hearing Zhou Chen's words, he had no choice but to stand up first.

Zhou Chen glanced at Fang Xuanling and the other five men, including the Marquis of Weiwu; "I don't care what changes have occurred in the four prefectures of the Northwest."

"All I know is that my 30,000 brave soldiers died in the four northwestern prefectures."

"My Grand Tutor, a veteran of three reigns, and the pillar of the Great Zhou, also died in battle in the four northwestern prefectures."

"The deployment of troops is now beyond doubt."

"I summoned you here to discuss the matter of sending troops to the four northwestern prefectures."

Zhou Chen said in a deep voice.

Zhou Chen is not the kind of person who wouldn't fight back if he was hit.

No matter what changes occurred in the four northwestern prefectures, no one dared to let his 30,000 Divine Martial Guards be completely wiped out and the Grand Tutor die in battle.

Then Zhou Chen wouldn't hold back.

We must send a large army to wipe out the four prefectures in the northwest.

(End of this chapter)