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Chapter 80 Urgent Message from Yanzhou

the next day.

Before the morning court
Outside the Golden Palace, officials waited in silence.

"Yesterday, an urgent message arrived at the palace. Do you know what happened?"

"I don't know, but something that can be sent by the 800-li express courier service must be extraordinary."

"Yes! The urgent message arrived at the palace yesterday, and the Emperor summoned Minister Fang, the Eighth Prince, and the Marquis of Weiwu. Something serious must have happened."

"I heard that the urgent messenger yesterday was from the Divine Martial Guard. The Grand Tutor has been leading the Divine Martial Guard to the four northwestern prefectures to provide disaster relief and quell civil unrest for some days now, hasn't he? Could something have happened in the four northwestern prefectures?"

……

Outside the Golden Palace, officials gathered in small groups of two or three, whispering amongst themselves.

Yesterday, the news arrived at the palace by express courier, and all the officials received it.

They originally thought that with the urgent message arriving at the palace, Emperor Zhou Chen would urgently summon all civil and military officials to court.

After all, something that warrants the use of the 800-li express courier service must be no small matter.

Throughout history, whenever there was such an urgent dispatch requiring travel of 800 li, the emperor would summon all civil and military officials to discuss it.

Unexpectedly, after the urgent message arrived at the palace yesterday, Emperor Zhou Chen did not summon the civil and military officials to court.

Instead, he only summoned Fang Xuanling, the Eighth Prince, and the Marquis of Weiwu, among a handful of others, to the palace.

This made the civil and military officials secretly wonder what had happened with this urgent message? Why did the emperor only summon Fang Xuanling and a few others, instead of summoning all the officials to court to discuss it?

At the very front of the Golden Palace, Fang Xuanling, the Eighth Prince, the Marquis of Weiwu, Prime Minister Yuan Bo, the Minister of Revenue, and several others stood silently.

Compared to the hushed discussions of the other civil and military officials, these people were much quieter.

It wasn't that they weren't curious about what had happened with the urgent message, but rather that they already knew the answer.

I won't go into detail about Fang Xuanling, the Eighth Prince, and the Marquis of Weiwu; Zhou Chen already summoned them yesterday.

Prime Minister Yuan Bo and the Minister of Revenue had already guessed it.

Because they were all leaders of powerful families in the imperial court, there was really nothing they didn't know.

"Minister Fang, what happened with the urgent message sent to the palace yesterday?" An official promoted by Fang Xuanling couldn't help but step forward and ask Fang Xuanling in a low voice.

Some officials nearby also pricked up their ears to listen.

Fang Xuanling glanced at the official slightly and said expressionlessly, "The Emperor will probably say something at the morning court session later, and then you will know."

No sooner had Fang Xuanling finished speaking than the doors of the Golden Palace were opened.

The morning court begins.

The civil and military officials immediately stopped their discussions and, according to their rank, proceeded in order along both sides of the imperial road to enter the Golden Palace.

After the officials entered the court.

Zhou Chencai, dressed in a five-clawed dragon robe, walked onto the dragon platform, sat on the dragon throne, and looked down at the officials below.

"Long live the Emperor, long live the Emperor."

All the officials knelt down to pay their respects.

Zhou Chen placed one hand on the armrest of the dragon throne and addressed the officials, saying, "All of you, rise."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

The officials stood up one by one.

Previously, due to the rebellion of General Wu Jin, the positions of the more than twenty officials who were arrested were basically filled with officials.

Only the position of Minister of Rites among the six ministries is still vacant.

The Minister of Rites was one of the six ministers, holding a high position and wielding great power.

Before obtaining Emperor Zhou Chen's approval, Fang Xuanling dared not easily let anyone take over the position.

After the officials stood up, some of them secretly glanced at Zhou Chen's expression on the dragon throne.

They wanted to discern from Emperor Zhou Chen's expression whether the matter that had been reported yesterday was of great importance or minor.

Unfortunately, Zhou Chen on the dragon throne remained expressionless, leaving the civil and military officials who were secretly observing him somewhat disappointed.

"When there is something going on, we will start, and when there is nothing going on, we will retreat."

Cao Zhengchun's voice rang out as usual during the morning court session.

"Your Majesty, I have something to report."

A minister stepped forward and shouted.

……

Half an hour later, the morning court session came to an end.

Zhou Chen glanced at the civil and military officials; "My esteemed ministers, is there anything else you wish to report?"

The civil and military officials exchanged glances and bowed in unison, saying, "Your Majesty, we have nothing more to say."

"Since none of you ministers have anything to report, then I will speak with you about the urgent dispatch from yesterday!" Zhou Chen said in a low voice.

Upon hearing this, all the officials were shocked.

To be honest, the officials all thought that Zhou Chen wouldn't mention the urgent matter of the 800-li express delivery during today's morning court session!

Unexpectedly, it was left until the very end.

"You all must have heard about yesterday's urgent dispatch to the palace!"

Zhou Chen surveyed the officials with a solemn expression; "This is an urgent dispatch from the four prefectures of the Northwest."

"The Grand Tutor led the Divine Martial Guard to the four prefectures in the northwest to provide disaster relief and quell a peasant uprising, but he was defeated and killed in battle."

"The entire army of 30,000 Divine Martial Guards was wiped out."

"Grand Tutor also died in battle in Xi'an Prefecture."

Zhou Chen said with a heavy expression.

The news caused an uproar throughout the imperial court.

No one expected that yesterday's urgent message would be such a bolt from the blue: Grand Tutor Wen Zhong had died in battle in Xi'an Prefecture, and the entire 30,000-strong Divine Martial Guard had been wiped out.

How can this be?

Who was Grand Tutor Wen Zhong?

That was a veteran of three dynasties, wielding the Golden Whip of Kings, capable of striking down tyrannical rulers and rebellious ministers—a pillar of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

He was a man of great military achievements throughout his life, and his power was awe-inspiring.

I don't know how many battles, big or small, I've been through.

Grand Tutor Wen Zhong led 30,000 Divine Martial Guards to quell a group of rebels in the four northwestern prefectures. How could he possibly have been defeated and killed in Xi'an Prefecture?

What kind of international joke is this?
And those 30,000 Divine Martial Guards, those are the most elite troops in the Great Zhou Dynasty to suppress the world, how could they not even deal with a group of rioters who have just put down their farm tools?
How could they have been completely wiped out?
Most of the civil and military officials were shocked, some even finding it hard to believe that it was true.

To be honest, they were all quite shocked by this sudden news.

They simply couldn't understand why the Grand Tutor, a veteran of three dynasties and the pillar of the Great Zhou, who led 30,000 elite Divine Martial Guards to quell a group of rioters who had just put down their hoes, would be completely wiped out.

The Prime Minister Yuan Bo, who was standing at the forefront of the officials, also changed his expression for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure and did not remain stunned like the other officials.

Besides high-ranking officials such as the Minister of Revenue and the Minister of Justice, a small number of officials were as calm as Prime Minister Yuan Bo.

They had all guessed something beforehand. Although they were somewhat shocked to hear that Grand Tutor Wen Zhong had died in battle and that the entire 30,000 Divine Martial Guards had been wiped out, it was only for a moment, and they quickly regained their composure.

Despite having already experienced such a scene in the Hall of Mental Cultivation yesterday, the Eighth Prince, the Marquis of Might, and the Minister of War still couldn't help but feel a pang of grief on their faces.

"Your Majesty, is this news confirmed?"

"Grand Tutor's military strategies are second nature to him. He has fought countless battles throughout his life with few defeats. The troops he leads are the most elite Divine Martial Guards of our Great Zhou. How could he possibly be defeated when he goes to the four northwestern prefectures to quell a group of rioters who have just discovered farming tools?"

"Moreover, the entire army was wiped out, and even the Grand Tutor was killed in battle."

"This old minister cannot believe it."

"Could it be that the rebels in the four northwestern prefectures have become so powerful that they can defeat the most elite Divine Martial Guard of our Great Zhou and kill the Grand Tutor?" An old minister stepped forward and said with an incredulous expression.

"Your Majesty, I dare not disbelieve it either. How could the Grand Tutor, leading 30,000 elite Divine Martial Army soldiers, have failed to suppress a group of rioters who had just put down their farming tools? How could they have been completely wiped out? And even the Grand Tutor himself was killed in battle?"

Another minister stepped forward and said with a doubtful expression.

Indeed, such news is hard to believe.

A veteran who had fought for three dynasties throughout his life led 30,000 elite troops to quell a small civil uprising, but his entire army was wiped out, and even the commander-in-chief was killed in battle!

If Zhou Chen hadn't already figured out the key to this, he probably wouldn't have believed it himself.

Hearing the ministers' words and seeing the various expressions on the faces of the officials in the court, Zhou Chen said in a low voice, "Even I can't believe this is true."

"I also want to know the reason."

"How could the pillar of our Great Zhou, the Grand Tutor who has served three dynasties, lead 30,000 of the most elite Divine Martial Guards of the Great Zhou to quell a minor peasant uprising in the four northwestern prefectures, possibly suffer a crushing defeat?"

"The entire army of 30,000 Divine Martial Guards was wiped out."

"My Grand Tutor died in battle in Xi'an Prefecture."

"Even the urgent messengers from the Divine Martial Guard returned barely alive."

"My beloved ministers are all pillars of my Great Zhou Dynasty. Tell me, why is that?"

Zhou Chen scanned the civil and military officials in the court, his eyes as cold as knives.

None of the officials in the palace were fools; after hearing Zhou Chen's words on the dragon throne, they all fell into deep thought.

Yes!

Grand Tutor Wen Zhong led 30,000 elite troops to the four northwestern prefectures to quell the peasant uprising. It's impossible that he couldn't even quell a group of rioters who had just put down their farming tools.

Otherwise, would he still be the renowned Grand Tutor Wen Zhong?

But why did the entire 30,000 Divine Martial Guards perish in the end, and even Grand Tutor Wen Zhong die in battle in Xi'an Prefecture?

Why is that?
The officials frowned, deep in thought.

Sudden.

The officials' expressions changed, as if they had thought of something terrible, and a look of horror flashed in their eyes.

There's probably more to the story in these four northwestern prefectures than meets the eye.

The officials dared not think any further and immediately stopped themselves from doing so, lowering their heads.

Because they knew that if things were really as they thought, then this matter would be no less serious than the incident involving General Wu Jin that they had just experienced.

Seeing that none of the officials spoke, Zhou Chen's expression turned cold.

"As important officials of the Great Zhou court, residing high in the imperial court and wielding central power, are you unaware of any changes occurring in the local areas?"

"Those prefectures near the four northwestern prefectures, did they only send me memorials asking for money for disaster relief, without any other information?"

Zhou Chen coldly stared at the civil and military officials.

Zhou Chen knew that wiping out 30,000 Divine Martial Guards in the four northwestern prefectures was simply not something a mob could do.

There must be a rebel army in the four northwestern prefectures that can rival the Divine Martial Guard, and there must be quite a few of them.

Such a force is bound to cause quite a stir.

Whether it's the four prefectures in the northwest or the several prefectures near the four prefectures in the northwest, it's impossible that no trace of them was found before!
But before that, there had been no news at all.

Forget it.

Now that the Grand Tutor has died in battle in the four northwestern prefectures and all 30,000 Divine Martial Guards have been wiped out, are the prefectures near the four northwestern prefectures all deaf and blind?
Where are their urgent appeals?

Even if they were a step behind the Divine Martial Guard messenger, they should have arrived by now!
Zhou Chen's gaze grew increasingly cold.

Just then, a loud shout suddenly broke the oppressive atmosphere inside the Golden Palace.

"Eight hundred li urgent delivery"

what?
Eight hundred miles urgent?
All the officials in the Golden Palace heard the shout clearly and were taken aback.

Yesterday, an urgent message arrived in Luoyang, and now another urgent message has arrived.

What major event has occurred this time?
As the shouts rang out, less than a minute later, an imperial guard carrying a letter with the urgent message "800 li urgent" rushed directly into the Golden Palace.

"emperor."

"A letter sent urgently from Yanzhou in the north, eight hundred li away."

After the imperial guard rushed into the Golden Palace, he immediately knelt down and held up the letter, saying...

An urgent dispatch from Yanzhou, traveling 800 li?
Zhou Chen was taken aback.

Yanzhou is one of the four northern states and one of the places that suffered from this severe drought.

Now, urgent dispatches are being sent from Yanzhou, a distance of 800 li.

Could something major have happened in Yanzhou as well?
Thinking of this, Zhou Chen looked at the imperial guard holding up the letter and asked in a deep voice, "Where is the messenger?"

"Your Majesty, the messenger fainted upon reaching the palace gate," the imperial guard immediately replied.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Chen didn't hesitate and immediately said, "Bring it here."

Upon hearing this, Cao Zhengchun, who was standing nearby, quickly took the urgent letter from the imperial guard and handed it to Zhou Chen.

Zhou Chen took the urgent letter, opened it, and glanced at it.

In an instant, Zhou Chen's face darkened.

Upon witnessing this scene, all the civil and military officials in the court immediately realized that something major had probably happened in Yanzhou.

Otherwise, the person on the dragon throne wouldn't have had such a gloomy expression after reading the letter.

After reading the urgent letter, Zhou Chen slammed it down on the desk. "Damn it."

Zhou Chen's face was extremely gloomy, and his eyes were filled with murderous intent.

Zhou Chen looked at the civil and military officials and asked, "Do you want to know what this urgent message says?"

"Cao Zhengchun, read it aloud to the officials," Zhou Chen said grimly.

"Old slave obeys the order."

Upon hearing this, Cao Zhengchun picked up the urgent letter and read aloud: "Urgent report from Yanzhou: A mob has rebelled, raised its flags and gathered hundreds of thousands of people. They have already captured the three prefectures of Yanzhou. We urgently request the court to send reinforcements."

what?
Is there a mob causing trouble?
They have already gathered hundreds of thousands of people and even conquered the three prefectures of Yanzhou?

Upon reading the contents of this urgent letter aloud by Cao Zhengchun, the expressions of all the officials subtly changed.

The problems in the four northwestern prefectures haven't been resolved yet, and now rebels have emerged in Yanzhou.

"You all heard it. The situation in the four northwestern prefectures is still unclear, and now hundreds of thousands of rebels have gathered in Yanzhou and have even breached three of the prefectures in Yanzhou."

"How should this matter be resolved? Do any of you ministers have any suggestions?"

Zhou Chen looked at the assembled officials and asked.

After exchanging glances, the civil and military officials all lowered their heads.

They didn't dare to speak easily.

Even when Grand Tutor Wen Zhong led 30,000 Divine Martial Guards to quell a peasant uprising in the four northwestern prefectures, his entire army was wiped out.

The riots in Yanzhou have risen again. If you make a bad suggestion, you'll suffer the consequences.

"how?"

"Doesn't any of you have any good suggestions?"

Zhou Chen's voice had turned several degrees colder.

"Your Majesty, the situation in Yanzhou is unclear. We should first ascertain the situation in Yanzhou before making any plans."

"Moreover, the 30,000 Divine Martial Guards have been wiped out in the four northwestern prefectures, and the Grand Tutor died in Xi'an Prefecture. The situation in the four northwestern prefectures has not yet been resolved. We should prioritize defense in Yanzhou."

Prime Minister Yuan Bo stepped forward and spoke.

(End of this chapter)