You get Lu Bu as your starting character.

Chapter 141 Your Highness, This is a Good Thing

Zhou Chen was in a good mood after two outstanding individuals appeared in the sign-in session.

Whether it's Liu Ye or Dian Wei, these are the talents Zhou Chen needs most right now.

Liu Ye, needless to say, is an outstanding person with the talent to assist the world.

Although Dian Wei was not a military talent, unable to guard a region or lead troops into battle, he was the best bodyguard.

What the imperial guards in the palace are currently lacking is a master who can subdue any invading enemy.

Although Jin He was not bad, his strength at the late stage of Grandmaster was still somewhat insufficient, and he could only deal with ordinary petty villains.

If a true master were to attack, even with the strength of a late-stage Grandmaster like Jinhe, he would still be somewhat outmatched.

The appearance of Dian Wei, a near-celestial being, perfectly filled this weakness in the Imperial Guards.

After Zhou Chen issued an imperial edict bestowing titles upon Liu Ye and Dian Wei, the two left the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Liu Ye went directly to the Ministry of Works to take up his post.

Dian Wei, on the other hand, went to the Western Garden Imperial Guard.

……

The Imperial Guards of the Western Garden.

After several bloody purges, the overall strength of the Imperial Guard has declined considerably.

Currently, there is only one commander in the Imperial Guard, Jin He. Although other generals have been promoted to fill the vacancies, they are still somewhat inferior to the previous Imperial Guard generals.

But the benefits are also obvious.

That means the loyalty of the Imperial Guards has risen by more than one level.

Now, apart from an imperial decree, no one can easily mobilize the Imperial Guards.

Inside the main tent of the military camp.

Jin He looked at the burly man in front of him and said politely, "Commander Dian, I am the only commander in the Imperial Guards right now, so I am under a lot of pressure."

"Now that Commander Dian has joined us, I can relax a bit."

"Commander Dian, please wait a moment. I will summon all the generals of the Imperial Guards to pay their respects to you."

As Jin He spoke, he was somewhat shocked by the imposing aura emanating from Dian Wei.

Jin He sensed the same terrifying aura emanating from Dian Wei as from Lü Bu.

It seems this is yet another unexpectedly strong individual.

I really don't know where His Majesty found these experts.

Jin He immediately ordered someone to summon the generals of the Imperial Guard.

Dian Wei didn't say much and simply found a seat and sat down.

……

The Hall of Nourishing Heart.

After Dian Wei and Liu Ye left, Zhou Chen sat quietly on the dragon throne.

After a while.

Zhou Chen glanced at Cao Zhengchun, who was standing beside him; "Cao Zhengchun, you looked so solemn just now. What do you think of the Imperial Guard Commander whom I have appointed?"

Cao Zhengchun's expression hardened, and he said in a deep voice, "Very strong."

Aside from Lü Bu, Dian Wei is the first person Cao Zhengchun has felt threatened so far.

He deserves the assessment that Cao Zhengchun is "very strong".

"Oh!"

"If you and Dian Wei were to fight, who would be stronger?"

Zhou Chen abruptly changed the subject and asked a question.

Zhou Chen was curious: who was stronger, E Lai from the Three Kingdoms or the head of the Eastern Depot from the game "The World's Number One"?
Cao Zhengchun pondered for a moment, then said in a sinister tone, "Your Majesty, it's hard to say. Only after actually fighting can we know."

"However, this old servant and Commander Dian have different focuses."

"Commander Dian is more inclined towards battlefield combat, while this old servant is more inclined towards江湖 (jianghu) methods."

It's hard to say which is stronger or weaker.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Chen nodded, agreeing with Cao Zhengchun's assessment.

However, Zhou Chen predicted that if Dian Wei and Cao Zhengchun were to fight to the death, Dian Wei would most likely be the one to die, not Cao Zhengchun.

Because Cao Zhengchun was never a respectable person.

He's like a venomous snake lurking in the shadows; if you show even the slightest weakness, he'll bite you hard.

Given Dian Wei's simple-mindedness, he couldn't escape the treacherous schemes of Cao Zhengchun, the venomous snake.

Of course, Cao Zhengchun, this venomous snake, is currently being used by Zhou Chen.

The more insidious and ruthless Cao Zhengchun was, the more satisfied Zhou Chen became.

If Cao Zhengchun wasn't cunning and ruthless, how could he have controlled an intelligence agency like the Eastern Depot?
How could one become a sharp knife in the hands of the emperor?

"Have there been any unusual developments among the civil and military officials in the imperial court lately?"

Zhou Chen stopped dwelling on the topic and instead asked Cao Zhengchun about the news of the officials in the court.

"Your Majesty, all the civil and military officials in the court are currently behaving themselves."

"Previously, officials would often gather at the Prime Minister's residence, but ever since Cui Yongyuan and more than twenty other officials had their homes ransacked by the Eastern Depot, no officials have visited or gathered at the Prime Minister's residence."

Cao Zhengchun truthfully reported the news of his surveillance of the officials over the past few days to Zhou Chen, who was on the dragon throne.

After listening to Cao Zhengchun's report, Zhou Chen nodded. "It's good that you're behaving yourself. It seems that my extermination of the entire Cui family of Boling has made the civil and military officials in the court sense the danger, and they dare not make any rash moves."

"Your Eastern Depot needs to hurry up too."

"Now that we have Dian Wei, the safety of the palace will not be a problem. You can focus your attention on the Eastern Depot."

"Your Eastern Depot is still far from meeting my expectations."

Zhou Chen glanced at Cao Zhengchun.

In Zhou Chen's view, only the Eastern Depot, which was all-pervasive and could not hide anything from its eyes, and whose presence could change the world, was what Zhou Chen wanted most.

But right now, the Eastern Depot seems to be far from meeting Zhou Chen's requirements.

Cao Zhengchun immediately bowed and said, "Yes, Your Majesty."

Cao Zhengchun understood Zhou Chen's meaning.

However, it would take the Eastern Depot enough time to reach the level Zhou Chen desired.

Especially for those aristocratic and wealthy families, it wasn't so easy to keep their secrets from the Eastern Depot's eyes and ears.

It seems we'll have to resort to some drastic measures next.

Cao Zhengchun thought to himself.

……

Shu land.

The Palace of the King of Shu.

King Zhou Zhi of Shu sat in the main seat, looking at the imperial edict in his hand, his brows furrowed slightly.

Sitting below were Zhou Zhi's right-hand men, the middle-aged scholar Ji Wusheng.

Seeing Zhou Zhi's slightly furrowed brows, Ji Wusheng couldn't help but ask, "Your Highness, what is the matter with the imperial decree?"

"Your Highness, why are you frowning so much? Has something happened?"

Ji Wusheng looked at Zhou Zhi with some curiosity.

Zhou Zhi had been frowning ever since he received the imperial decree.

This inevitably puzzled Ji Wusheng. What was the content of this imperial edict that the court suddenly issued to Zhou Zhi?
"Look at it!"

“My elder brother asked me to return to Luoyang, saying that my mother misses me.”

Zhou Zhi handed the imperial edict to Ji Wusheng.

Ji Wusheng accepted the imperial decree, glanced at it, and then smiled at Zhou Zhi, who was seated in the main seat, saying, "Your Highness, this is a good thing!"

"Without imperial decree, the princes are not allowed to leave their fiefdoms, much less return to the capital at will."

"Now that His Majesty has issued an edict summoning the Prince back to Luoyang, the Prince can return to Luoyang legitimately."

"Isn't this exactly what Your Highness wants right now?"

Zhou Zhi is now planning how to leave his fiefdom and return to Luoyang, the capital.

After all, without an imperial decree, a vassal king cannot easily leave his fiefdom and return to Luoyang, the capital.

Otherwise, they would be punished.

Unexpectedly, the one in the Sleepy Palace sent over a pillow (a metaphor for a convenient gift). With this decree, Zhou Zhi, the King of Shu, could return to Luoyang with dignity. In Ji Wusheng's view, this was a good thing.

This saves them the trouble of figuring out how to legitimately return to Luoyang.

This unexpected imperial decree solved a problem they were facing.

Zhou Zhi shook his head and said, "What I'm worried about is that things aren't that simple."

"Yuan Ziming and his family had just arrived in Shu to request an audience with me when the imperial decree arrived just a few days later."

"Tell me, is this a coincidence, or did the court find out that Yuan Ziming and his family had met with me, which is why they want to summon me back to Luoyang?"

Zhou Zhi frowned and said with a flicker in his eyes.

Zhou Zhi understood Ji Wusheng's meaning, but the imperial edict came suddenly, following closely behind Yuan Ziming and the others, arriving just a few days later.

This forced Zhou Zhi to consider other options.

In such a sensitive matter, it is never too much to think things through.

As the saying goes, caution prevents major mistakes; that's the principle at play.

Ji Wusheng paused for a moment after hearing Zhou Zhi's words, then shook his head; "Your Highness is overthinking it."

“If it is what Your Highness is worried about, then what has come is not just this imperial decree.”

"Besides, what does it prove that Yuan Ziming and his family came to see the Prince?"

"The imperial court did not stipulate that princes could not associate with the sons of powerful families."

"Besides, very few people know that Yuan Ziming and his group came to see the prince, so how could the imperial court possibly know?"

Ji Wusheng knew what Zhou Zhi was worried about.

But in Ji Wusheng's view, this was simply impossible.

Zhou Zhi was a little too nervous.

Even if the imperial court found out, what does it prove that Yuan Ziming and his group met with Zhou Zhi?

After hearing Ji Wusheng's words, Zhou Zhi's brows relaxed, and he smiled helplessly; "Perhaps I've been overthinking things these past two days."

"You're right. What does it prove that Yuan Ziming and the others are requesting an audience with me?"

Upon hearing Ji Wusheng's words, Zhou Zhi felt that he was being somewhat amusing and perhaps a little too sensitive.

It seems that he still lacks composure.

Zhou Zhi looked at Ji Wusheng and said gently, "Now that the problem that has been troubling us has been solved, with this decree, it is only natural for me to return to Luoyang."

"I really don't know if this is fate or just a coincidence."

Zhou Zhi sighed with admiration.

He needed a legitimate excuse to return to Luoyang, and unexpectedly, the imperial decree arrived.

It really does have a sense of destiny.

"Your Highness, now that we have the imperial decree to return to Luoyang, shouldn't we start making preparations as soon as possible?"

Ji Wusheng asked Zhou Zhi, who was in the main seat.

Zhou Zhi nodded; "It's time to make preparations as soon as possible."

"Go and invite Yuan Ziming, Zheng Wangzhi, and Fan Shaohe over. I'll have another talk with them."

Zhou Zhi looked at Ji Wusheng and said.

Ji Wusheng immediately stood up, bowed, and said, "Yes, Your Highness."

"Your Highness, it would be best to have someone keep an eye on the imperial guard who delivered the imperial decree."

"The Eastern Depot has quite a reputation; they are not ordinary people."

"It wouldn't be good if news of the situation in Sichuan got back to Luoyang."

Ji Wusheng gave Zhou Zhi a reminder, then turned and left.

After Ji Wusheng left, Zhou Zhi pondered.

After a while.

"Three Virtues".

Zhou Zhi called out softly.

"The old slave is here."

San De's figure appeared instantly beside Zhou Zhi.

"You heard what Ji Wusheng just said, didn't you!"

"Send someone to keep an eye on that messenger from the Imperial Guard who is delivering the imperial edict."

"I have heard of the reputation of the Eastern Depot and its guards. Don't assume they are just messengers delivering imperial decrees and overlook what they do."

After Ji Wusheng's reminder, Zhou Zhi also felt that Ji Wusheng's reminder was correct.

The messengers who delivered imperial edicts were the secret police, but no one could guarantee that the secret police were not simply there to deliver edicts.

It's best to be careful.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

San De's figure disappeared from Zhou Zhi's side in the blink of an eye.

……

Inside a mansion.

Yuan Ziming, Zheng Wangzhi, and Fan Shaohe sat facing each other.

"Ziming, it's been several days already. What does that King of Shu mean by this? Is he going to keep us hanging like this forever?" Zheng Wangzhi asked, glancing at Yuan Ziming.

Since their previous audience with King Zhou Zhi of Shu, King Zhou Zhi had ignored them and left them hanging.

This doesn't seem like a conversation that can be continued with them.

Yuan Ziming glanced at Zheng Wangzhi noncommittally; "Such a big matter, we should give our King of Shu some time!"

"Besides, you can't rush things."

"Our King of Shu understands this principle very well!"

As Yuan Ziming spoke, he picked up the teacup beside him and took a small sip.

Fan Shao, standing to the side, tapped his fingers on the wooden table and said calmly, "Haste makes waste, but our King of Shu is deliberately keeping us waiting."

"It seems we underestimated the depth of this King of Shu."

No sooner had Fan Shaohe finished speaking than a figure walked in.

"Young Master, someone from the Shu Prince's Mansion has arrived. They say the Shu Prince wishes to invite you, Young Master Zheng, and Young Master Fan to the Shu Prince's Mansion as guests."

The figure walked in and reported to Yuan Ziming.

Upon hearing the words of this figure, Yuan Ziming, Zheng Wangzhi, and Fan Shaohe exchanged glances.

Yuan Ziming stood up abruptly, glanced at Zheng Wangzhi and Fan Shaohe, and said, "Let's go! It seems our King of Shu has remembered us."

"There should be an explanation by now."

After saying that, Yuan Ziming, Zheng Wangzhi, and Fan Shaohe walked straight outside.

……

Inside an inn.

Four figures sat in a corner.

The four figures were dressed very plainly, looking like four ordinary people.

But if you look closely, you'll find that these four people are not as ordinary and simple as they seem on the surface.

The four looked outside at the sky, and one of them whispered, "We've been waiting for a long time. It seems we won't be able to meet the leader."

"We can't wait any longer. The Grand Eunuch's orders are very clear: if we don't see our leader, we'll each do our own thing."

"Remember, be careful."

The other three nodded.

Then, the four of them got up and left the inn, disappearing into the crowd.

That's right, all four of them are imperial guards.

While sending messengers to convey his decree to King Zhou Zhi of Shu, Cao Zhengchun also dispatched the Imperial Guards into Shu.

As the supervisor of the Eastern Depot, Cao Zhengchun naturally knew what the Eastern Depot's duties were.

……

(End of this chapter)