You get Lu Bu as your starting character.

Chapter 179 Heads Rolling By

The Hall of Nourishing Heart.

Zhou Chen sat on the dragon throne, deep in thought.

Xun Yu has already left.

After this exchange with Xun Yu, Zhou Chen had a clearer understanding of his upcoming plans and strategies.

Zhou Chen was even more satisfied with Xun Yu.

Regarding Xun Yu's appointment, Zhou Chen directly issued an imperial edict appointing Xun Yu as Minister of Revenue.

Xun Yu is a rare talent in domestic affairs, and it is most appropriate to let Xun Yu take charge of the Ministry of Revenue, the purse of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

With Xun Yu, a trusted confidant, Zhou Chen no longer needs to worry about the Ministry of Revenue repeating the mistake of raising a bunch of big rats.

Zhou Chen had been considering the selection of the Minister of Revenue.

After all, the Ministry of Revenue was the purse bag of the Great Zhou Dynasty, and the entire operation of the Great Zhou Dynasty was inseparable from this purse bag.

If the position of Minister of Revenue is entrusted to the wrong person, the impact will not be minor, but will affect the entire operation of the court.

Now, with the appearance of Xun Yu, this problem has been solved.

As for the position of Minister of Justice, let's leave it to the aristocratic families!

We can't just punish the powerful families and then not give them anything in return.

That's how politics is sometimes; even Zhou Chen, as the supreme emperor, cannot escape the constraints of politics.

"Cao Shaoqin".

"The imperial carriage is prepared for the Cining Palace."

"I am going to visit my mother."

After a moment of contemplation, Zhou Chen stood up.

Since the Empress Dowager woke up, Zhou Chen knew that she probably didn't want to see him right now.

Therefore, Zhou Chen has not yet visited the Empress Dowager at Cining Palace.

But as a subject, Zhou Chen couldn't keep avoiding this forever.

Today, Zhou Chen plans to visit the Empress Dowager at Cining Palace.

……

Cining Palace.

When Zhou Chen arrived at Cining Palace, he saw the old palace maid who served the Empress Dowager already waiting at the entrance of Cining Palace.

"I have met His Majesty."

Upon seeing Emperor Zhou Chen arrive, the old palace maid quickly stepped forward and bowed.

"Where is the Empress Dowager?" Zhou Chen asked.

"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager is unwell and has gone to bed."

The old palace maid bowed and said.

"is it?"

Zhou Chen looked at the Cining Palace but didn't go in. Instead, he sighed inwardly.

The Empress Dowager clearly doesn't want to see him!
"Then I will come another day. You must serve the Empress Dowager well."

"If the Empress Dowager needs anything, you may procure it. If you have any questions, you may come to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to find me."

Zhou Chen said a few words and then turned and left.

Since the Empress Dowager was unwilling to see him, Zhou Chen had no choice but to leave.

Zhou Chen had originally planned to meet with the Empress Dowager to indirectly confirm the things that Zhang Guojiu had told him.

However, it seems that this matter can only be postponed for the time being.

……

Luoyang City.

Prison vans were escorted by squads of soldiers through the streets toward the execution ground.

These prison carts held the powerful figures from the three great families in the imperial court, as well as the captured traitors from those families.

These people were all sentenced to death.

After Zhou Chen reviewed the memorials from the Six Ministries regarding the handling of these individuals, the Six Ministries began issuing orders to deal with them.

The people around on the street pointed and whispered about the prisoner transport procession.

"So many people were beheaded, it's terrifying to even think about it. What crimes did these people commit?"

Someone asked, puzzled.

"I heard it was a rebellion. These people colluded with the King of Shu to rebel, which is why they were beheaded."

"Yes, it seems that many officials in the court have had their families raided and their families wiped out because of this incident, including the Prime Minister's residence."

"Look, aren't those prison carts in front holding the Prime Minister, Minister of Justice Cui, and Minister of Revenue Fan?"
……

The people looked at the endless convoy of prison carts and whispered among themselves.

Someone shouted, and many people looked at the prison vans at the front.

Sure enough, the three prison carts leading to the front contained Prime Minister Yuan Bo, former Minister of Revenue Fan Yongdou, and the Minister of Justice.

These three high-ranking officials of the court had long lost their former glory, and each of them was covered in filth.

He was wearing a prison uniform and was covered in wounds.

After being subjected to brutal torture by the Eastern Depot, their spirit and morale had long been destroyed.

In particular, their failed plot to collude with the King of Shu completely shattered their last bit of resolve.

He basically became a walking corpse.

On the execution platform.

Prime Minister Yuan Bo, former Minister of Revenue Fan Yongdou, and Minister of Justice were all led to the execution platform and knelt on it.

Facing their impending fate, Prime Minister Yuan Bo and the other two showed no change in expression.

Still taciturn.

Perhaps they never imagined that they, born into a prestigious family and holding high positions in the imperial court, would one day fall to this state.

They never imagined that the three behemoths among the seven great families of the Great Zhou Dynasty, whose lineage had endured for countless years, would one day crumble and collapse.

It's really hard to accept.

Fortunately, they had made preparations in advance and secretly sent away some of the younger members of the clan.

Otherwise, three of the seven great families of the Great Zhou Dynasty would have been wiped out and their bloodlines severed.

But they don't regret it.

They understand the principle of "the victor is king, the loser is villain."

If they succeed, the rewards they receive will be proportional to the consequences of their current failure.

They no longer desire anything else, only a swift death.

For them, this might be a relief.

With the executioner's order, a plaque bearing the word "execution order" was thrown out.

The heads of Chancellor Yuan Bo, former Minister of Revenue Fan Yongdou, and Minister of Justice were chopped off one by one and rolled to the ground.

It's hard to imagine that the head of all officials in the Great Zhou Dynasty, such an important minister as the Minister of the Two Ministries, was beheaded in this way.

This is just the beginning.

One by one, the prisoners were led to the executioner's block, and heads rolled down.

This day was the most unforgettable day for the people of Luoyang.

Many ordinary people had never seen so many people executed at once.

The heads rolled all around the execution platform.

The blood almost stained the entire execution platform red.

It's chilling to watch.

From that day onward, the central court was transformed, no longer shrouded in darkness, but bathed in clear skies and sunshine.

……

Shu land.

Lu Bu stood on his horse, looking at Jia Xu beside the carriage, and said with a smile, "Mr. Jia, you are truly amazing, your strategies are simply flawless."

"If it weren't for Mr. Jia's arrival in Sichuan, I really wouldn't have been able to handle the situation here."

Lu Bu looked at Jia Xu with admiration.

After all, Shu was the fiefdom of the King of Shu, and he had managed it for many years.

It can be said that King Zhou Zhi of Shu had already established a strong and established reputation in the Shu region. If it weren't for the arrival of Jia Xu, a cunning and ruthless strategist, the Shu region might have descended into chaos.

"General Lü, you flatter me."

"If it weren't for General Lü leading the Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry to suppress and deter, I wouldn't have been able to resolve the situation in Shu, no matter how brilliant my plans were."

"Now that the Shu region has just been stabilized, General Lü will need to stay and oversee things for a few more days, so I will not keep you company."

Jia Xu smiled and said.

Upon hearing this, Lü Bu looked surprised. "Mr. Jia, won't you wait a few days and return to Luoyang with me?"

Jia Xu shook his head; "I have other matters to attend to, and I'm afraid I can't wait a few more days to return to Luoyang with General Lü."

"I'll be going now."

After saying this, Jia Xu got into the carriage.

The carriage slowly drove away and gradually disappeared at the end of the official road.

Other things to take care of?

"The King of Shu and the three great families have all been wiped out. What else could His Majesty possibly entrust to Mr. Jia?"

Lu Bu watched Jia Xu's carriage disappear at the end of the official road, his brows furrowed.

Sudden.

A flash of inspiration.

Lu Bu seemed to have thought of something, and a glint of light flashed in his eyes.

"It seems I should lead the army to suppress the rebellion back to Luoyang as soon as possible."

Lu Bu muttered something to himself, flicked his whip, and rode away.

……

Northern Xinjiang.

Zhenbeihou Mansion.

Marquis Xue Shaowen of Zhenbei looked at the message in his hand with a solemn expression.

Marquis Zhenbei never expected that the prime minister, a veteran of two dynasties and the head of all officials, would fall from power, have his family exterminated, and beheaded.

Marquis Zhenbei never expected that the Yuan family of Runan, the Zheng family of Rongyang, and the Fan family of Jiexiu, all of the seven great families of the Great Zhou, would also collapse and be wiped out in an instant.

It should be noted that the Yuan family of Runan and the Zheng family of Rongyang are both powerful and influential families that have stood the test of time for many years.

It is deeply rooted in the Great Zhou Dynasty.

It's not some small, insignificant family.

The Yuan family, in particular, was almost comparable to the four great clans.

Even such a behemoth was swiftly and decisively destroyed by the imperial court.

This utterly shocked Marquis Xue Shaowen of Zhenbei.

In Xue Shaowen's view, the three great families joining forces, along with King Zhou Zhi of Shu, would constitute a considerable power.

Even if they fail to seize power, surely they should have at least had time to struggle!

But now, not only have the three great aristocratic families been wiped out by the imperial court in an instant, but they haven't even stirred up any trouble.

The power unleashed by the imperial court far exceeded Xue Shaowen's expectations.

"Neither Lü Bu nor Cao Zhengchun are in Luoyang."

"The Yuan family still failed."

"It seems that the royal family still has some unknown secrets."

Xue Shaowen put down the news in his hand, frowned, and thought about it with a heavy expression.

The three letters that Fan Shaohe brought earlier were originally written by the heads of the Fan, Yuan, and Zheng families to Xue Shaowen, the Marquis of Zhenbei.

Their purpose and intentions are self-evident.

Xue Shaowen also replied to the three clan leaders.

All the deeper meaning is left unsaid.

Unfortunately, everything has now vanished into thin air.

Xue Shaowen's biggest worry now is that the three great families and the Prince of Shu have been completely suppressed and exterminated, and the one in the palace has also freed up his hands.

Next, will that person in the palace turn their attention to them, the marquises of the frontier?

If the person in the palace turns their attention to them, they'll be in big trouble.

Thinking of this, Xue Shaowen's heart grew even heavier.

Xue Shaowen looked up at a general beside him and asked, "What have those three generals the court transferred here been doing lately?"

"Have they made any unusual moves?" Xue Shaowen asked.

The general next to him shook his head; "They haven't made any unusual moves."

"Ever since they came to our Zhenbei Army, they've been spending their days eating and drinking with mid-level officers, acting nothing like military commanders."

"No wonder the imperial court is declining more and more. With such incompetent officials, it's hard for it not to decline."

The general said with a disdainful look.

The general of the Zhenbei Army looked down on the generals sent by the imperial court.

Every day he does nothing but eat and drink, and sometimes he goes to brothels and doesn't return home.

They had initially thought that the imperial court had sent some important figures!

This made them all cautious for a few days.

But who would have thought that the only ones they dealt with were a few good-for-nothings who only knew how to eat, drink, and have fun?

It was fortunate that the general of the Zhenbei Army took into account the fact that these generals were sent by the imperial court.

Otherwise, given the actions of these generals, this commander of the Zhenbei Army would have been court-martialed long ago.

Upon hearing the words of the general beside him, Xue Shaowen raised an eyebrow and said, "Don't let your guard down."

"You should all know why the imperial court sent them here."

"Don't judge them by appearances; their practice of inviting mid-level generals to eat and drink is clearly motivated by ulterior motives."

"You need to send someone to keep a close eye on them; don't let their every move slip by."

"In particular, they must know which military generals they have been in contact with."

"I don't want a few bad apples to spoil my good soup."

Xue Shaowen looked at the general beside him and gave him a serious reminder.

The general beside him nodded; "Don't worry, my lord, I saw through their scheme long ago and have already made arrangements."

"Their every move is under our surveillance."

"It won't cause any waves."

"That's what the general said."

How could this general of the Zhenbei Army not see through such an obvious purpose as inviting mid-level generals to eat and drink?
Unfortunately, the generals sent by the imperial court who hoped to use this to break the deadlock in the Zhenbei Army were likely to be disappointed.

If the mid-level generals of the Zhenbei Army were so easily corrupted, they would have been replaced long ago.

It's impossible that they would still entrust him with the important task of commanding troops.

……

Meanwhile, the Marquis of Xiliang's residence.

The Marquis of Xiliang looked at the news that the three great families had been exterminated by the imperial court, his expression shifting constantly.

Like the Marquis of Zhenbei, the Marquis of Xiliang also received letters from the three great families and replied to them.

But unexpectedly, it all came to nothing now.

Like the Marquis of Zhenbei, the Marquis of Xiliang also began to worry whether the emperor in the palace would turn his attention to them, the marquises of the frontier.

If that person in the palace really sets their sights on them, then they will be in more than just trouble.

They might end up like the Yuan family and other powerful and influential families, suffering the fate of having their property confiscated and their clan exterminated.

Thinking of this, the Marquis of Xiliang said to his generals below, "Send men to keep a close eye on those two generals sent by the court."

"You must keep a close eye on their every move."

"If there is even the slightest disturbance, arrest him first."

The Marquis of Xiliang looked at the general below with a stern expression.

"Yes, Lord Marquis."

The generals below bowed and accepted the order.

(End of this chapter)