You get Lu Bu as your starting character.

Chapter 96 The Great Victory at Yanzhou
"Urgent dispatch."

"A great victory at Yanzhou."

"General Lü quelled the rebels and pacified Yanzhou in three days."

A messenger rode a fast horse into Luoyang, galloping through the streets and heading towards the imperial palace.

……

what?
A great victory at Yanzhou?

General Lü quelled the rebels and pacified Yanzhou in three days.

The people in Luoyang, hearing the messenger shouting all the way, began to whisper among themselves.

"Is the great victory in Yanzhou true? Didn't they say that the fate of the Great Zhou Dynasty was sealed? How could the imperial army still achieve such a great victory and pacify Yanzhou in just three days?"

"Yes! I've heard that the current emperor is a reincarnation of a demon star. The severe drought in the four northern states is Heaven's punishment of the Great Zhou. Heaven is warning that the Great Zhou's fate is sealed. Otherwise, so many major events wouldn't have happened in the court recently."

"Didn't you hear? The imperial army's great victory only pacified Yanzhou. Yanzhou was just a rebellion of some ordinary people. There are still three other prefectures. The imperial army may not be able to pacify them."

"Keep your voices down. Talking about the Emperor will get you punished. Be careful that the Imperial Guards don't hear you."

"What's there to be afraid of? These things have been circulating all over Luoyang lately. Even if the Imperial Guards can arrest one or two, do they think they can shut everyone up?"

As the victory at Yanzhou led into Luoyang, such discussions among the people of Luoyang continued unabated.

……

The Hall of Nourishing Heart.

Zhou Chen had just finished practicing the 'Emperor's Conferring of Gods Technique', and his imperial aura had become much stronger. Just then, Cao Zhengchun hurriedly walked in.

"Your Majesty, a great victory!"

"A great victory at Yanzhou."

"General Lü quelled the rebels in Yanzhou and quelled the rebellion in Yanzhou in three days."

"This is a 'fast-track' letter from Yanzhou announcing a great victory."

Cao Zhengchun entered the Hall of Mental Cultivation with a joyful expression and quickly handed Zhou Chen the urgent letter from Yanzhou announcing the great victory.

Oh!
A great victory at Yanzhou?

Zhou Chen was taken aback, then immediately took the letter from Cao Zhengchun's hand, opened it, and began to read.

These past two days, Zhou Chen has been thinking that Lü Bu and his men should have already arrived in the four northern provinces, and he wonders when news of them will arrive.

Unexpectedly, just three or four days later, the news arrived.

As Zhou Chen read the contents of the letter, the smile on his lips grew wider and wider.

After Zhou Chen finished reading all the contents of the letter, he couldn't help but praise, "What a fine Lü Bu!"

"He actually led only three thousand Bingzhou wolf cavalry and wiped out all the rebels in Yanzhou in just three days, thus pacifying Yanzhou."

"Truly worthy of the courage of a fierce tiger."

"As expected, you did not disappoint me."

A smile flashed across Zhou Chen's face.

It is said that an emperor should not show his emotions.

However, faced with this great victory in quelling the rebellion, Zhou Chen couldn't help but reveal the joy that comes with being a normal person.

To be honest, Zhou Chen never doubted that Lü Bu was capable of suppressing rebels and quelling rebellions.

With Lü Bu's strength, plus three thousand Bingzhou wolf cavalry and one hundred thousand Shenwu Guards, it was a sure thing that he would wipe out the rebels and quell the rebellion in Dai and Yan provinces.

It's just a matter of time.

However, Zhou Chen was genuinely surprised that Lü Bu could deliver the news of victory so quickly and quell the rebellion in Yan Province.

This was completely unexpected by Zhou Chen.

In Zhou Chen's view, even if Lü Bu was powerful, leading three thousand Bingzhou wolf cavalry and one hundred thousand Shenwu guards, it would still take at least five or six days to wipe out the rebels in Yanzhou and quell the rebellion there.

Unexpectedly, Lü Bu only took three days.

It was half as fast as Zhou Chen had anticipated.

This made Zhou Chen think to himself that it seemed Lu Bu was indeed better able to utilize his advantages on the battlefield.

Zhou Chen put down the letter in his hand, his smile fading, and glanced at Cao Zhengchun, asking, "Has there been any news from Marquis Weiwu?"

Compared to the certainty that Lü Bu could quell the rebels and pacify the two provinces of Dai and Yan, Zhou Chen was most worried about whether Marquis Weiwu could pacify the two provinces of Yong and You and eradicate the Yellow Heaven Sect.

Even with Zhou Rushan, a half-step Celestial Realm expert, accompanying him, Zhou Chen still felt somewhat uneasy.

"Your Majesty, not yet." Cao Zhengchun shook his head.

There's none?
Zhou Chen pondered for a moment, then looked at Cao Zhengchun and asked, "How's the matter that I asked your Eastern Depot to investigate going? How many people have you found to be connected with the Yellow Heaven Cult?"

Zhou Chen had not forgotten this matter.

He was the pillar of the Great Zhou Dynasty, the Grand Tutor who had served three dynasties; he could not die in vain.

His 30,000 brave warriors could not have died in vain.

Someone has to pay the price for this.

Cao Zhengchun immediately said, "We only found out that a few merchants were involved with the Yellow Heaven Sect. We didn't find any officials. This old servant has already executed the entire families of those merchants according to the imperial decree."

"However, this old servant is still instructing the Imperial Guards to continue their investigation. They will not let any clue slip by."

In the past few days, Cao Zhengchun has ordered the Imperial Guard to conduct thorough investigations and search for anyone implicated in the Yellow Heaven Sect.

Unfortunately, after all the investigation, they only found some insignificant small fry; they didn't catch a single big fish.

Only a few merchants were investigated?

Not a single official?

Upon hearing this, Zhou Chen's lips curled into a cold smile.

Zhou Chen didn't believe that none of these officials had any connection with the Yellow Heaven Cult.

Otherwise, who would have covered up all the traces of the Yellow Heaven Sect?

It seems someone sensed danger and cleaned up all the traces.

"Your Majesty, this old servant has something to report," Cao Zhengchun said after a moment's hesitation.

"Oh?"

"Just say what's on your mind!"

Zhou Chen noticed a hint of hesitation on Cao Zhengchun's face and couldn't help but feel curious.

What could possibly make someone like Cao Zhengchun hesitate?

"Your Majesty, there are rumors circulating in Luoyang recently, saying that Your Majesty..." Cao Zhengchun stammered, unsure of what to say.

Zhou Chen raised an eyebrow upon seeing this; "What are you talking about me for?"

"As the head of the Eastern Depot, why are you so hesitant?"

"Speak boldly, and I will redeem you from your guilt."

Zhou Chen looked at Cao Zhengchun and said.

Judging from Cao Zhengchun's hesitant expression and stammering actions, Zhou Chen already understood that these rumors were definitely not good news for him as the emperor.

Otherwise, Cao Zhengchun wouldn't be so hesitant and afraid to speak.

Cao Zhengchun gritted his teeth and said, "Your Majesty, there have been rumors in Luoyang recently that Your Majesty is a reincarnation of a demon star, causing chaos in the world, which has angered Heaven and led to your punishment."

"It caused a severe drought in the four northern states, with corpses and bones floating for thousands of miles, and war broke out everywhere."

"It is said that the four ministers who served as regents were successively ordered to commit suicide by the emperor, and even the Grand Tutor eventually died in battle in the four northwestern prefectures, all because the emperor was a jinx who brought disaster to the world."

"And you also said..."

Seeing that Zhou Chen's face had darkened, Cao Zhengchun hesitated to continue.

"What else can you say?"

Zhou Chen, his face grim, looked at Cao Zhengchun and asked. Cao Zhengchun gritted his teeth again; "He also said that the fate of the Great Zhou Dynasty has run out, the heavens are dead, the Yellow Heaven shall rise, Xiaoyao shall become emperor, and the Zhou family shall be reborn."

"Bang……."

As soon as Cao Zhengchun finished speaking, Zhou Chen slammed his palm on the dragon table, startling Cao Zhengchun and the eunuchs and guards serving in the palace, who all knelt on the ground.

"Your Majesty, rest your anger."

Zhou Chen, his face grim, looked at Cao Zhengchun kneeling on the ground and asked, "When did this news start spreading? Who spread it? Where did it come from?"

"Has your Eastern Depot investigated everything thoroughly?"

Zhou Chen looked at Cao Zhengchun with a gloomy expression and asked.

Zhou Chen had no idea that the power of these rumors was extraordinary.

And it's a form of murder that doesn't draw blood.

Don't underestimate these little rumors; sometimes they can be just as effective as a war.

Upon hearing Zhou Chen's question, Cao Zhengchun immediately replied, "Your Majesty, this news has been circulating in Luoyang for two or three days now. At first, this old servant ordered the Imperial Guards to arrest those who spread these rumors."

"But later, more and more people spread the word, and now the people throughout Luoyang are talking about it."

"This old servant had no choice but to order the Eastern Depot to stop making any rash moves and to investigate the originator of these rumors."

"We discovered that this news originated from the four northern states, and it has probably spread to other states by now."

"This old servant has already sent orders to the Imperial Guards in the four northern prefectures to investigate."

Cao Zhengchun said.

The four northern states?

"The four northern states again?"

"Asshole."

"Someone is trying to use rumors to kill me, the emperor!"

"What a vicious method."

Zhou Chen said with a gloomy expression.

A demon star reincarnated?

As punishment from heaven, a severe drought struck the northern regions.

With these rumors spreading, Zhou Chen could imagine that his reputation as emperor among the people would plummet.

Especially in the hearts of the people in the four northern states, they might really be branded as the reincarnation of a demon star.

That's a brilliant way to kill without shedding blood.

Furthermore, the Great Zhou Dynasty's fate has run its course, the Azure Heaven is dead, the Yellow Heaven shall rise, and the Zhou family shall be reborn as emperors.

This likely means that the Heavenly Emperor Zhou Chen's Heaven is dead, the Heavenly Emperor of the Yellow Heaven Sect should rise, the Carefree King ascends the throne, and only then can the Zhou royal family be reborn.

Zhou Chen's eyes flickered as he thought about these rumors.

Clearly, the purpose of these rumors is to create momentum for the Yellow Heaven Sect and the Carefree King.

Could these rumors have been spread by the Yellow Heaven Sect and the Carefree King?

Thinking of this, Zhou Chen sneered inwardly.

Whether or not these rumors originated from the Yellow Heaven Sect and the Carefree King, it doesn't matter.

The important thing is that these rumors might have some effect on other emperors, but they had no effect on Zhou Chen at all.

Because Zhou Chen was not afraid of such rumors at all.

Faced with absolute power, any conspiracy or trickery is nothing but a paper tiger.

Not to mention these rumors and gossip.

Once Lü Bu and Marquis Weiwu led their army to completely wipe out the Carefree King and the Yellow Heaven Sect, and quelled the chaos in the surrounding areas, these rumors and gossips would naturally fall apart.

However, Zhou Chen still wanted the Eastern Depot to investigate whether these rumors were actually spread by the Yellow Heaven Sect and the Carefree King.

Zhou Chen looked at Cao Zhengchun and said, "Cao Shaoqin is currently in the four northern states. Have him investigate who spread these rumors and see if it was spread by the Yellow Heaven Sect or the Carefree King."

"besides."

"Inform Fang Xuanling that although these rumors are harmless, they are still quite troublesome. Let Fang Xuanling find a way to deal with them!"

Zhou Chen believed that with Fang Xuanling's abilities, there were ways to deal with these rumors.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Cao Zhengchun immediately bowed.

……

At the same time that Zhou Chen received the good news from Yanzhou, the Prime Minister's Office also received the news from Yanzhou immediately.

It was no slower than the imperial court using the "800-li express courier" to transmit messages.

in the hall.

Prime Minister Yuan Bo sat in the main seat, looking at the letter in his hand with a serious expression.

Seated on either side of Prime Minister Yuan Bo were the Minister of Revenue, the Minister of Justice, and the Minister of Works.

After reading the contents of the letter, Prime Minister Yuan Bo looked up and glanced at the group of people. "You have all read the contents of this letter. What are your thoughts?"

This was the third time Prime Minister Yuan Bo had read the contents of the letter, and each time he read it, he felt a sense of unease.

Lü Bu actually wiped out all the rebels in Yan Province and pacified Yan Province with only three thousand Bingzhou wolf cavalry, and all of this was done in just three days.

This record is truly astonishing.

The Minister of Revenue pondered for a moment and said, "The situation in the four northern prefectures will probably end sooner than we expect. Yan Prefecture was pacified in three days, and the Prince of Dai Prefecture probably won't last more than a few days."

In just three days, Lü Bu quelled all the rebels in Yan Province with only three thousand cavalrymen, thus ending the rebellion in Yan Province.

The Minister of Revenue knew that the carefree prince of Daizhou was no match for Lü Bu's army.

Even with the secret support of his powerful family and an army of 200,000 under his command, Zhou Qian, the carefree king, could not stop Lü Bu.

Unless their powerful and influential families turn their backs on the law and openly break ties with the person in the palace, and fully support the carefree Prince Zhou Qian.

But is this possible?
The Minister of Justice nodded in agreement; "That's right. With the downfall of Prince Zhou Qian, only the Yellow Heaven Cult remains, and it probably won't be able to cause trouble for long."

"Sigh, I never expected that after all my scheming, I would be so easily dealt with by that person in the palace, without even making a ripple."

"I'm really not happy about it."

The Minister of Justice sighed and said.

The Minister of Works remained silent, his expression shifting slightly, and it was unclear what he was thinking.

Prime Minister Yuan Bo glanced at the three of them; "It seems that the situation in the four northern provinces has been settled, and it certainly won't be long before we have cleaned up the mess."

"So, as long as everyone behaves themselves, there shouldn't be any problems."

At this point, Prime Minister Yuan Bo looked at the Minister of Works: "What about the Prince of Xiaoyao? Because of the Prince of Xiaoyao's relationship with your Cui family, it has always been your Cui family who have been the ones to handle things."

"Judging from the current situation, the Carefree Prince won't be able to hold out for more than a few days."

"Tell your Cui family to make preparations for the aftermath in advance, so that nothing goes wrong."

"At that time, something that shouldn't be involved might be brought up."

The Minister of Works nodded upon hearing Prime Minister Yuan Bo's words; "Don't worry! He has already been informed, there won't be any oversights."

"That's good."

Prime Minister Yuan Bo then looked at the Minister of Revenue; “You know your own Ministry of Revenue affairs. You’d better not try to get your hands on the silver that’s recently been deposited into the national treasury in the palace.”

"Be careful, something bad might happen."

Prime Minister Yuan Bo offered a reminder.

Upon hearing this, the Minister of Revenue's eyes flickered, and he nodded in understanding.

(End of this chapter)