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Chapter 8 (008) My mind is made up

Zhou Chen's gaze swept over the assembled officials before settling on Grand Tutor Wen Zhong.

He believed that since Grand Tutor Wen Zhong had brought up this matter first, he must already have a plan in mind.

As expected, after hearing Zhou Chen's words, Grand Tutor Wen Zhong composed himself and immediately said, "Your Majesty, the four prefectures in the northwest are now in a critical situation. It is estimated that the local military forces will find it difficult to quell the rebellion in a short time. In order to prevent the civil unrest from expanding further, this old minister believes that we should first immediately dispatch the Divine Martial Guard to the four prefectures in the northwest to quell the civil unrest..."

"Then we should open the national treasury and have the court appoint important officials to personally supervise the disaster relief efforts in the four northern states. This way, we can not only prevent a repeat of the previous mistakes, but also let the people see the court's attention to them, thus appeasing their hearts," Grand Tutor Wen Zhong said quickly.

This was a plan he had prepared long ago, and as long as it was approved by Emperor Zhou Chen, he could immediately issue an order to implement it.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Chen did not immediately express his opinion, but instead looked at General Wu Jin and Prime Minister Yuan Bo; "Prime Minister, General, what do you two think?"

"Your Majesty, this old minister agrees with the Grand Tutor's opinion. The first thing to do now is to quell the peasant uprising in the four northwestern prefectures and prevent the situation from escalating." The Prime Minister nodded in agreement.

"This humble general has no objection either." The general followed suit without objection.

After hearing this, Zhou Chen nodded; "Since neither of the two regents has any objections, then I grant it."

Zhou Chen also felt that Grand Tutor Wen Zhong's proposed plan was the best available at the moment.

Only by taking a two-pronged approach can we further prevent the escalation of popular uprisings.

"but."

"That's not enough."

Zhou Chen changed the subject.

"If this hadn't happened before the popular uprising, this would have been enough."

"But now, with popular uprisings breaking out everywhere and the two prefectures falling, it is clear how much public resentment has accumulated. A high-ranking official in the court can no longer quell the public grievances, nor can he represent our Great Zhou."

Zhou Chen's voice echoed in the main hall.

The drought has lasted for more than a month.

Popular uprisings broke out everywhere, and public resentment boiled over.

The imperial court's ineffective disaster relief efforts resulted in widespread starvation and death, a truly tragic situation.

This situation can no longer be resolved simply by providing relief and resorting to forceful suppression.

The imperial court needs to give an explanation to the people of the four northwestern prefectures.

Emperor Zhou Chen understood this, as did his ministers.

Since the court officials dared not speak, then only the emperor himself could speak.

"I remember I have two brothers who haven't been enfeoffed yet! Send them to the four northwestern prefectures."

"They have the blood of the Great Zhou royal family flowing in their veins and enjoy the support of the people of Great Zhou."

"It's time to do our part for our Great Zhou."

Zhou Chen said indifferently.

As soon as these words came out.

The ministers were all taken aback.

It should be understood that the four prefectures in the northwest are now a disaster area, with popular uprisings breaking out everywhere, two prefectures falling to the enemy, and the danger level rising sharply.

If things go wrong, you might never come back.

Not to mention the noble princes, even the ministers in the court avoided it like the plague; not a single one of them was willing to go.

Not to mention a noble prince.

How could they go to such a dangerous place?

"Your Majesty, you must not!"

"The four prefectures in the northwest are too dangerous. The two princes are of extremely high health."

Several ministers couldn't help but stand up.

"My mind is made up." Zhou Chen waved his hand in an unquestionable manner.

"The Grand Tutor is in full charge of this matter."

Upon hearing this, Grand Tutor Wen Zhong immediately kowtowed and said, "Your subject obeys."

"If you have something to say, continue. If not, the court may adjourn!" Zhou Chen glanced at the assembled officials.

The ministers were silent.

.........

After the court session ended, the expressions of the civil and military officials varied.

What happened in the court today had a huge impact on them.

Who is Grand Tutor Yan Hua? He is one of the four regents left by the late emperor, and one of the four most powerful ministers in the Zhou Dynasty, second only to the emperor.

Even during the reign of the late emperor, they relied heavily on him.

Yet this very person was imprisoned in the imperial prison today by the emperor on charges of failing to provide adequate disaster relief.

There was also the case of two emperors ruling simultaneously, where the once all-powerful empress was stripped of all her power with a single sentence from the current emperor.

Such an impact left the civil and military officials somewhat unsettled for a time.

Since the current emperor ascended the throne, they have never seen him so domineering and ruthless.

They felt that the current emperor had changed.

He was no longer the indecisive and incompetent emperor he once was.

This is not good news for most of the officials in the court.

The maternal relatives, especially those led by Grand Tutor Yan Hua and General Wu Jin, were all shrouded in gloom.

The emperor's actions in court today were clearly aimed at their maternal relatives' faction. The empress's power was abolished, and the Grand Tutor was imprisoned.

The power of their maternal relatives' faction has been greatly weakened.

This is not a good sign.

……

The Hall of Nourishing Heart.

After the court session, Zhou Chen did not return to the emperor's palace, but went directly to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

This is where the emperors of the Great Zhou Dynasty used to rest and handle state affairs.

Previously, due to his serious illness, he had been staying in his palace and rarely came to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

But from now on, he will reside in the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

As for Empress Wu Ying, the inner palace is where she should be.

"This old servant greets Your Majesty."

When Zhou Chen returned to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Zhao Gao was already waiting there.

Upon seeing Zhou Chen, he immediately stepped forward and bowed.

"How about it?"

"Have you found out yet?"

After Zhou Chen sat down, he asked directly.

"Your Majesty, this old servant is incompetent and has not found anything. I beg Your Majesty to forgive me."

Zhao Gao immediately knelt on the ground and said.

He arrested everyone he was supposed to arrest and investigated everyone he was supposed to investigate, but he just couldn't find a single clue.

It's as if Zhang De has no one behind him at all.

It was purely his personal desire to poison the emperor.

"Useless! You're in charge of the Imperial Guard, yet you can't even investigate this small area of ​​the palace that rightfully belongs to you. What use are you to me?"

Zhou Chen looked down at Zhao Gao with a grim expression.

It should be noted that Zhao Gao was in charge of the Imperial Guard of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

What does the Great Zhou Inner Guard do? It's a special department that specializes in this.

Yet even this special department couldn't find a single clue within its own small territory.

This is no longer just a simple case of dereliction of duty.

"Your Majesty, please forgive me. The Imperial Guard has long been a mere shell of its former self. Even so, this old servant can only command half of them; I cannot even command the other half."

Zhao Gao, his face ashen, immediately offered an explanation.

He was truly afraid that the emperor would be so angry that he would have the imperial guards drag him out and execute him.

Upon hearing Zhao Gao's words, Zhou Chen's face darkened even more.

The Imperial Guards were the emperor's eyes and ears.

Without the imperial guards, the emperor is like a blind man in a cage, without eyes and ears.

Someone even dared to put their hand inside the inner guardhouse.

Really desperate.

(End of this chapter)