You get Lu Bu as your starting character.

Chapter 242 Imperial Brother?

The Great Zhou army marched out of the pass and successively annihilated the foreign tribes in all directions.

This news shocked the entire Great Zhou Dynasty.

From powerful aristocratic families to gentry and landowners, everyone was shocked.

Many people are aware that the Great Zhou Dynasty has been declining in recent years.

But no one expected that in less than half a year, Emperor Zhou Chen first quelled the internal strife and dismantled some of the powerful factions in the court.

Now, they have annihilated the foreign tribes from all directions outside the pass, forcefully reversing the decline of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

This gave the Great Zhou Dynasty hope for a revival.

Originally, when the imperial court issued an order to measure and survey the land throughout the country, some powerful landowners were still thinking about how to use some means to deceive the court in this matter.

However, now that the news of the Great Zhou's extermination of the foreign tribes has spread, many powerful families and landlords have abandoned such thoughts and have no choice but to obediently cooperate with the court to measure and count their land.

Because they knew that the imperial court was no longer the same as before.

Anyone who dares to defy the court now is essentially courting death.

The seven great families that have become relics of the past, such as the Yuan family of Runan and the Zheng family of Rongyang, serve as the best cautionary tales.

royal palace.

After finishing his meal, Zhou Chen left the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

A gentle breeze caressed my face, carrying a slight coolness that spread throughout my body.

But Zhou Chen didn't care at all.

As the Emperor's Conferring God Technique was activated, Zhou Chen could ignore not only a slight chill, but even icy and snowy conditions.

Zhou Chen walked through the palace, with Cao Zhengchun silently following behind the emperor.

Several eunuchs and guards stood nearby, each carrying a tray with dried fruit for the emperor to enjoy at any time.

More than a month has passed since the good news came from the southern border and the eastern barbarians.

During this period, the imperial court, in accordance with the previously agreed arrangements, relocated people to the areas outside the four passes, and foreign captives were also escorted to the interior in batches to dig canals and build roads for the Great Zhou, replacing the labor of the common people.

After more than a month, the arrangements for the four prefectures outside the pass have been completed.

Everything is back on track.

Zhou Chen admired the scenery inside the palace, his expression unusually relaxed and at ease.

To be honest, since Zhou Chen fully recovered, he hasn't had a chance to properly enjoy the scenery of the imperial palace.

Now that the aftermath of the war to exterminate the four alien races has been dealt with and everything is back on track, Zhou Chen finally has some rare time to stroll around the palace.

"Cao Zhengchun, how is Xun Yu and the others progressing in measuring and surveying the land?"

"Xun Yu has been away from Luoyang for quite some time now!"

As Zhou Chen looked around, he casually asked a question.

"Your Majesty, Minister Xun's work with the Ministry of Revenue officials to measure and survey the land is nearing completion."

"Minister Xun will be able to return to Luoyang soon."

Cao Zhengchun bowed and said.

"Oh!"

"This is much faster than I expected."

A hint of surprise flashed across Zhou Chen's face.

It should be noted that Zhou Chen asked Xun Yu to measure the land of the entire country, not just a prefecture or state.

In Zhou Chen's estimation, it would take at least half a year to survey all the land under heaven!
But now, in just a few months, Xun Yu has already completed this matter, which is indeed much faster than Zhou Chen had expected.

"Your Majesty, this is all because Your Majesty's power has shaken the world and annihilated the foreign tribes, which has made those with ulterior motives much more obedient."

"That's why Minister Xun and his team faced much less resistance, which allowed them to complete His Majesty's decree so quickly."

Cao Zhengchun flattered him, saying...

"However, there were still some people who were unwilling to cooperate with the court and even sent assassins to kill Minister Xun and some officials of the Ministry of Revenue."

"Cao Shaoqin has already taken down these audacious and rebellious people who defied the court."

Cao Zhengchun then changed the subject.

"Heh, it seems there are still people who aren't afraid of death."

Zhou Chen sneered.

Although Cao Zhengchun spoke calmly, Zhou Chen could hear the underlying tension and danger.

Also.

Not everyone can see the situation clearly and obediently cooperate with the imperial court.
It's not surprising that there were a few aristocratic landlords who didn't take the imperial court seriously and wanted to use underhanded methods to deal with Xun Yu and his ilk.

Before he knew it, Zhou Chen had arrived at the Imperial Garden.

Just as Zhou Chen was admiring the scenery of the Imperial Garden, a series of faint sounds came from afar.

Zhou Chen looked in the direction of the sound.

There was a girl of thirteen or fourteen dressed in palace attire, holding a tree branch in her hand and waving it around in a very professional manner.

It looks like they're practicing martial arts.

Zhou Chen walked along the bluestone path beneath his feet toward the palace-dressed girl in the distance.

The palace-dressed girl, who was waving a branch in her hand, heard footsteps and immediately turned around to look.

Upon seeing Zhou Chen approaching, the girl in palace attire's expression changed. She quickly dropped the branch in her hand and bowed to Zhou Chen, saying, "Greetings, Your Majesty."

Royal brother?

Zhou Chen glanced at the girl in palace attire, his brows furrowing slightly.

In Zhou Chen's memory, he didn't seem to have much of an impression of the palace-dressed girl in front of him who called him "Royal Brother".

Seeing this, Cao Zhengchun, being very perceptive, stepped forward and whispered in Zhou Chen's ear, "Your Majesty, this is the Fifteenth Princess."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Chen's slightly furrowed brows finally relaxed.

The late emperor was a womanizer and had many children.

Zhou Chen only remembered a few people from good backgrounds; as for those from bad backgrounds, he basically had no recollection of them.

Because of these princesses from humble backgrounds, Zhou Chen could only encounter them at the royal ceremonies at the end of the year; otherwise, he would never see them.

I don't remember much about it.

Clearly, the mother of this fifteenth princess must have been an ordinary palace maid of modest origin.

Otherwise, Zhou Chen wouldn't have had no impression of this fifteenth princess.

"Are you practicing martial arts?"

Zhou Chen looked at the Fifteenth Princess and asked.

"Yes, my royal brother."

The girl in palace attire nodded timidly, looking somewhat nervous.

Princesses like them, whose mothers were palace maids, basically had very little status in the palace.

To put it nicely, she was called a princess; to put it bluntly, her status was only slightly higher than that of an ordinary palace maid.

Sometimes, these princesses were even less powerful than the palace maids who held real power within the palace.

Especially since the Fifteenth Princess lost her mother at a young age and grew up under the care of palace maids, she had even less of a status in the palace.

"Practicing martial arts on your own without a teacher can lead to mistakes."

"Doesn't the royal family have teachers who specialize in instructing the royal children in martial arts?"

"Why didn't you have a teacher to guide you?"

Zhou Chen looked at the girl in palace attire with a puzzled expression.

According to Zhou Chen, the royal family has teachers who specialize in instructing royal children in martial arts.

Whether they were princes or princesses, once they reached a certain age, the royal family would send special teachers to instruct them in martial arts.

However, judging from the way the Fifteenth Princess was practicing martial arts, it was clear that she had no teacher to instruct her.

"Brother, I..."

The fifteenth princess looked nervous and didn't know how to explain.

She couldn't very well say that princesses like them, whose mothers were of humble origins, had no status and that they had to find their own ways to practice martial arts, as the royal family simply wouldn't care.

Cao Zhengchun stepped forward and whispered a few more words in Zhou Chen's ear.

Upon hearing this, a shadow crossed Zhou Chen's face.

"If you wish to learn martial arts, I will arrange for teachers to instruct you."

"From now on, you don't need to practice on your own anymore."

Zhou Chen looked at the Fifteenth Princess and said.

"Thank you, Brother Huang."

Upon hearing this, a hint of joy immediately flashed across the face of the girl in palace attire.

Afterwards, Zhou Chen said a few more words to the Fifteenth Princess before turning and leaving. Watching Zhou Chen's departing figure, the Fifteenth Princess's tense expression finally relaxed, her face beaming with excitement.

She never expected to run into her elder brother, Emperor Zhou Chen, here today; she was both nervous and surprised.

……

Zhou Chen returned to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

After sitting on the dragon throne, Zhou Chen glanced at Cao Zhengchun and said, "Go and investigate whether it was a coincidence that the Fifteenth Princess was practicing martial arts there today, or whether someone was guiding her behind the scenes?"

"Also, compile a list of information about the Fifteenth Princess and other members of the royal family and bring it to me. I want to see it."

Zhou Chen wanted to see how many princesses in the palace were in a similar situation to the Fifteenth Princess.

As for whether it was a coincidence that Cao Zhengchun was asked to investigate whether the Fifteenth Princess was there practicing martial arts today, it wasn't because Zhou Chen thought there was something wrong with the Fifteenth Princess.

However, as an emperor, Zhou Chen always maintained a skeptical attitude towards such matters.

This may be the result of emperors being suspicious.

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

"besides."

"Summon the Eighth Prince to the palace to see me."

Zhou Chen continued.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Cao Zhengchun bowed again to accept the order, then turned and left the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

soon.

An imperial eunuch presented Zhou Chen with information about the other members of the royal family.

These things were already on record when the Eastern Depot investigated the palace.

Now that Zhou Chen wanted to see it, Cao Zhengchun didn't need to have anyone investigate. He simply compiled the information on these royal family members from the Eastern Depot and sent it to Zhou Chen.

Zhou Chen looked at the information about the royal family members and sighed.

It is said that once you enter the palace, it is like entering a deep sea, and that is absolutely true.

Many people envy the royals who are born into royalty, have a noble status, and wield great power.

But who could know that the royal family members are not as good as they seem on the surface?

How many hidden battles and conspiracies are taking place behind the scenes?

How many people can wield such power simply because they are members of the royal family, unless they have sufficient resources and powerful backers?

otherwise.

Being born into royalty is both a misfortune and a tragedy.

Take the Fifteenth Princess for example. Born into the royal family, she should have a high status as a princess and a member of the royal family.

However, the Fifteenth Princess's status in the palace was only slightly better than that of ordinary palace maids, and not as high as that of some powerful eunuchs and palace maids.

The reason is that the fifteenth princess's mother was of ordinary birth and died young, so she had almost no maternal family power to rely on.

If it weren't for the fact that the Fifteenth Princess happened to meet Emperor Zhou Chen today...

So, it was just wishful thinking for the Fifteenth Princess to want to properly practice martial arts.

Not to mention anything else.

Zhou Chen put down the information about the royal family members in his hand and sighed again.

Besides the Fifteenth Princess, there were more than ten other members of the royal family in the same situation.

It has to be said that this is truly ironic for the royal family.

"Your Majesty, the Eighth Prince has arrived."

At this moment, Cao Zhengchun entered the Hall of Mental Cultivation to report.

"Let him in."

Zhou Chen collected his thoughts, glanced at Cao Zhengchun, and said.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Cao Zhengchun turned and left.

It didn't take a moment.

Cao Zhengchun then led the Eighth Prince into the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

"I have met His Majesty."

After entering the Hall of Mental Cultivation, the Eighth Prince Zhou Xian bowed respectfully to Zhou Chen on the dragon throne.

"Eighth Imperial Uncle, no need for such formalities."

Zhou Chen waved his hand and said, "Someone, bring a seat."

An imperial eunuch brought over a squatting chair.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Zhou Xian, the Eighth Prince, sat down, wondering why Zhou Chen had summoned him to the palace.

"Eighth Imperial Uncle, I just ran into my Fifteenth Imperial Sister outside the Imperial Garden."

"I see that my fifteenth sister is already of age to practice martial arts. Why hasn't the Imperial Clan Court sent any teachers to instruct them in cultivation?"

Zhou Chen looked at the Eighth Prince Zhou Xian and asked.

Except for a few princes and princesses of the late emperor who were highly regarded and were taught cultivation by experts appointed by the late emperor, these princes and princesses were all treated differently.

Other princes and princesses were usually taught and trained by the Imperial Clan Court.

Therefore, Zhou Chen had Cao Zhengchun summon the Eighth Prince Zhou Xian to the palace.

Upon hearing this, the Eighth Prince Zhou Xian was visibly taken aback.

Prince Zhou Xian never expected that Zhou Chen would summon him to the palace for such a reason.

"Your Majesty, although the cultivation of princes and princesses is generally arranged by the Imperial Clan Court, it was also decided by the late Emperor."

“Previously, the fifteenth princess was still young, and the royal family was short of resources. There were too many royal children cultivating, so the resources could not be supplied.”

“Cultivation cannot be done without resources.”

"Therefore, the Fifteenth Princess and the others were not arranged to cultivate."

"This is what the Eighth Prince Zhou Xian explained."

Although the Eighth Prince Zhou Xian offered an explanation, Zhou Chen understood the intricacies of the situation better than anyone else.

The Fifteenth Princess and her companions were born into a poor family and had no one to rely on; that was a mistake.

There has never been any fairness in the royal family; they are also the most ruthless and cold-blooded.

Zhou Chen knew this better than anyone else.

"Eighth Imperial Uncle, from now on, the Imperial Clan Court will arrange the cultivation of all royal children."

"Whether they are princes, princesses, or other members of the royal family, the Imperial Clan Court cannot leave any of them out; they must all be arranged to cultivate."

"The resources we plundered from those aristocratic families and sects after we destroyed them are all in the royal treasury. Eighth Prince can go to the royal treasury to take some later."

Zhou Chen spoke to the Eighth Prince, Zhou Xian.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The Eighth Prince, Zhou Xian, responded.

After finishing this matter, Zhou Chen looked at the Eighth Prince Zhou Xian and said, "Eighth Imperial Uncle, the cultivation of the royal family members has suddenly given me an idea."

"What do you think, Eighth Imperial Uncle, if I were to establish a royal academy, offering both civil and military courses, recruiting the best talents from across the land, and teaching them martial arts and literature?"

Zhou Chen looked at the Eighth Prince, Zhou Xian.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Xian, the Eighth Prince, immediately had a glint of light in his eyes.

"Your Majesty, this matter will likely face significant resistance."

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

They established schools to teach both literature and martial arts.

Isn't this going to shatter the established families' assertion about the inheritance of both literary and martial arts?
Nowadays, most students come from wealthy and influential families.

Once the imperial court establishes academies to recruit the best talents from across the land, the number of students from humble backgrounds will gradually increase, eventually rivaling the children of aristocratic families.

In that case, powerful and wealthy families would absolutely not remain indifferent.

"Is the resistance very high?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Chen couldn't help but smile slightly.

“In the past, there would have been a lot of resistance.”

"But now, even the greatest resistance is no longer an obstacle."

Zhou Chen said calmly.

Now that he, the emperor, has gained sufficient power, what obstacle can stop the slaughter of his army?
(End of this chapter)