You get Lu Bu as your starting character.

Chapter 88 We urge Your Majesty to speak plainly?

Upon hearing these words from the Minister of Justice, the Minister of Works gave the Minister of Justice a disapproving look; "You make it sound so easy."

"You saw the attitude of the person on the dragon throne at the court meeting just now."

"Anyone who has any connection with the Yellow Heaven Sect will be executed along with their entire family without needing to ask for permission."

"Do you think that, given the attitude of the person on the dragon throne, they would care about your direct or indirect relationship?"

The Minister of Works looked at the Minister of Justice and said.

Upon hearing this, the Minister of Justice retorted to the Minister of Works with equal annoyance, "What good does it do to worry?"

Instead of worrying about this and that, we should quickly think of a way to resolve these issues completely.

"If all else fails, we can always find a few scapegoats."

The Minister of Justice's eyes flickered as he spoke.

As the Minister of Justice, in charge of criminal law and prisons, he was more than capable of such underhanded operations and acquittals.

If that person in the palace keeps pressing the issue, then we'll have to find some scapegoats.

Prime Minister Yuan Bo, seated in the main seat, pondered for a moment before looking at the Minister of Works: "The Prince of Xiaoyao and the Prince of Kang were rescued from the hands of the Yellow Heaven Sect by your Cui family."

"Given the intelligence of the two princes, they should have already guessed something."

"According to the original plan, these two princes could have been used as Komako."

"But now, it has become the biggest oversight."

"If these two princes say something they shouldn't, or if they have any tricks up their sleeves, then we'll be in big trouble."

Prime Minister Yuan Bo looked at the Minister of Works and said.

The Minister of Works nodded; "I have the same concern."

“Prince Xiaoyao, Zhou Qian, is relatively easy to deal with and should not cause any problems. However, Prince Kang, Zhou Qi, is definitely a hidden danger,” the Minister of Works said with a solemn expression.

Upon hearing this, the Minister of Revenue's eyes flashed with ruthlessness; "Since it is a hidden danger, then there is no need to keep it."

"And the Carefree Prince, let him contribute his last bit of energy!"

"Their assignment to the four northwestern prefectures was not part of our original plan, and their use was a last-minute decision."

"We want to use them to disrupt the plans of that person in the palace and the general's relatives."

"But who would have thought that the general would be so useless, and he was uprooted in less than a day."

"Given such a major change, there's no need to continue using them as we did on a whim before."

Upon hearing this, the Minister of Justice nodded in agreement; "That makes sense. Plans can't keep up with changes. We should quickly identify and address any omissions or deficiencies to prevent any mishaps."

After listening to the words of the Minister of Revenue and the Minister of Justice, Prime Minister Yuan Bo and the Minister of Works said nothing.

Clearly, the four of them had reached a consensus.

……

The Hall of Nourishing Heart.

After the court session, Zhou Chen returned to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Accompanying Zhou Chen back to the Hall of Mental Cultivation were Fang Xuanling and the Eighth Prince Zhou Xian.

After the court session ended, Zhou Chen did not allow Fang Xuanling and the Eighth Prince Zhou Xian to leave, but instead summoned them to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

"Do you know the real reason I appointed you as imperial envoys?" Zhou Chen asked Fang Xuanling and the Eighth Prince Zhou Xian directly after sitting down.

"Please speak plainly, Your Majesty?" Both Fang Xuanling and Zhou Xian, the Eighth Prince, shook their heads.

To be honest, the two of them didn't quite understand Zhou Chen's meaning.

Zhou Chen sent the two of them to the four northern states as imperial envoys, wasn't it for the purpose of disaster relief and helping the people?
Could Zhou Chen have other intentions?
Even Fang Xuanling was somewhat confused for a while and couldn't quite figure out Zhou Chen's intentions.

"Do you think that I mobilized 200,000 of the most elite Divine Martial Guards of the Great Zhou Dynasty, and sent Lu Bu and Zhou Rushan, two half-step Celestial beings, to the four northern continents just to suppress some rebels?"

"If that's the case, I only need to let Lü Bu lead the Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry and 100,000 Divine Martial Guards to wipe out these rebels in the four northern states. There's no need to use 200,000 troops at all."

Zhou Chen looked at Fang Xuanling and the Eighth Prince Zhou Xian and said.

Upon hearing this, both Fang Xuanling and Zhou Xian, the Eighth Prince, exchanged glances, as if they had guessed something, but were not entirely sure.

"After you arrive in the four northern prefectures, in addition to being responsible for disaster relief and helping the people, you are also to clean up the corrupt officials in the four northern prefectures for me."

"Whether they are officials or local powerful families, as long as they harm the people, commit dereliction of duty, or have any problems, arrest them all." "Especially those officials who cause civil unrest, abandon the city and flee, or are corrupt, none of them shall be let off the hook."

"Can it be done?"

Zhou Chen looked at Fang Xuanling and the Eighth Prince Zhou Xian.

Zhou Chen stopped playing games with Fang Xuanling and the Eighth Prince and directly revealed his intentions.

This was Zhou Chen's true purpose in sending Fang Xuanling and the Eighth Prince Zhou Xian to the four northern prefectures as imperial envoys.

He wanted to kill two birds with one stone.

He wanted to take this opportunity to reform the administration of officials in the four northern prefectures.

He wanted to take this opportunity to seize the interests of the four northern states and eliminate the control that powerful families had over the land.

Upon hearing Zhou Chen's words, both Fang Xuanling and the Eighth Prince Zhou Xian's expressions changed.

None of them expected that Zhou Chen would want to take this opportunity to consolidate all power in the four northern states and eliminate the influence and control of powerful families.

This was both a brilliant move and a risky one!

Fang Xuanling was alright.

After all, they are characters created through system check-ins, so they have a strong capacity to accept and cope with challenges.

However, the Eighth Prince Zhou Xian was different. After hearing Zhou Chen's words, his expression changed repeatedly.

"Your Majesty, this matter is of utmost importance."

"Should we wait until we have wiped out the rebels in the four northern prefectures before making further plans?"

"The Eighth Prince, Zhou Xian, said with a solemn expression."

As the head of the Imperial Clan Court and the wise prince of the Great Zhou Dynasty, Zhou Xian, the Eighth Prince, knew how deep the control and influence of powerful families over the Great Zhou Dynasty was.

Don't be fooled by the fact that rebels are rising up in the four northern continents and attacking cities and seizing territories.

However, in the four northern states, the real power and the calls to action still belong to the powerful and influential families.

Zhou Chen wanted to use this opportunity to consolidate power in the four northern states, but he was dancing on the edge of a knife.

If things go wrong, it could lead to powerful and wealthy families uniting in rebellion.

At that time, the situation in the four northern states will be far more complex than just a peasant rebellion and a Yellow Heaven Sect rebellion.

Should we take a long-term view?

Zhou Chen shook his head.

"What do you think I did by sending 200,000 Divine Martial Guards and two half-step Celestial Realm experts to the four northern states?"

"Besides suppressing those rebels, that's what we do."

"Go ahead and do it. I have only one requirement for you: the four northern states must belong to the Great Zhou Dynasty, not to the powerful and wealthy families."

Anyone who dares to make a move will be killed.

"If you can't handle it, then leave it to the army."

A cold glint flashed in Zhou Chen's eyes as he spoke in a cold voice.

This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and he wanted to seize it to consolidate power over the four northern states.

Whether it's dancing on the edge of a knife or not, that's not important.

High risk comes with high reward.

Besides, in Zhou Chen's view, this was not a high risk.

He only wanted to consolidate power, not to slaughter all the powerful families in the four northern states.

The Eighth Prince Zhou Xian wanted to say something to persuade Zhou Chen, but seeing Zhou Chen's unquestionable expression, he swallowed back the words he was about to say.

Clearly, he had realized that Zhou Chen was determined and would not change his mind.

No matter how much he tries to persuade him, it's no use.

All he can do is try his best to complete it.

(End of this chapter)