You get Lu Bu as your starting character.

Chapter 270 Let the Emperor Come Out to Greet Us

With Cao Zhengchun's order, the entire Eastern Depot sprang into action, all focused on hunting down the 'Assassin's Tower'.

After obtaining the confessions of the three black-clad masked men, the Eastern Depot launched a raid on several of the 'Assassin's Tower' strongholds in various locations.

Furthermore, the Eastern Depot obtained a lot of confessions and information from these strongholds of the "Assassin's Tower" and uncovered many hidden assassins within the "Assassin's Tower".

It's like pulling out a radish and bringing out the mud along with it.

……

The Hall of Nourishing Heart.

Just as Zhou Chen finished his meal, the eunuch from the Imperial Guard came in to report: "Your Majesty, Prince Kao Shan is requesting an audience outside the palace."

"Oh!"

Zhou Chen raised an eyebrow.

Prince Zhou Zhan of Kao Shan was attacked by the Assassin Tower and was seriously injured. How come he has entered the palace in just two days?

"Summon the King of Kao Shan."

Zhou Chen spoke to the eunuchs and guards.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The eunuchs and guards bowed and withdrew from the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

moment.

Prince Zhou Zhan then entered the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

"I have met your Majesty."

After entering the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Prince Zhou Zhan, looking pale, bowed to Zhou Chen on the dragon throne.

"Uncle, there's no need for such formalities."

Zhou Chen waved his hand, and seeing the pale face of King Zhou Zhan, he immediately called out, "Someone, bring a seat."

The eunuchs and guards standing in the hall immediately moved a stool for Prince Zhou Zhan and placed it in front of him.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

After expressing his gratitude, King Zhou Zhan sat down.

Looking at Zhou Zhan's pale face, Zhou Chen asked with concern, "Uncle, are you alright?"

Prince Zhou Zhan shook his head; "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. My injuries are fine and I'm much better now."

"That's good."

Zhou Chen nodded; "These assassins from the 'Assassin's Tower' are incredibly audacious, daring to openly attack the Imperial Uncle and challenge the majesty of my court. I will definitely wipe them out."

Zhou Chen had already learned from the Eastern Depot that the black-clad, masked men who attacked and killed Prince Zhou Zhan were assassins from the 'Assassin's Tower'.

It was also the target of the imperial court's all-out suppression more than 20 years ago.

"Your Majesty, this 'Assassin's Tower' is very good at hiding. More than twenty years ago, the imperial court tried its best to suppress them, but it failed to completely wipe them out."

"Your Majesty should be more cautious."

"It's King Zhou Zhan who's on the back," Zhou Zhan said, offering a reminder.

After all, Zhou Zhan, the Prince of Kao Shan, was familiar with the 'Assassin's Tower'.

This "killer's tower" is like a venomous snake lurking in the shadows, cunning and ruthless.

Otherwise, the imperial court wouldn't have failed to eradicate the 'Assassin's Tower' more than twenty years ago, allowing some of its members to escape.

"I know."

Zhou Chen looked at Prince Zhou Zhan and asked, "Is there anything I can do for you, Imperial Uncle?"

Prince Zhou Zhan immediately replied, "Your Majesty, this old minister has come to the palace today to deliver a decree to Your Majesty."

"Your Majesty previously decreed that this old minister should take back the private armies of the powerful and wealthy families throughout the land, and this old minister has already fulfilled Your Majesty's decree."

"This is a summary compiled by your old minister and the Ministry of War of the specific details of the private armies surrendered by powerful families and noble clans throughout the land. Please take a look, Your Majesty."

Prince Zhou Zhan took out a memorial from his sleeve and held it in his hands.

The eunuch standing nearby immediately stepped forward, took the memorial from Prince Zhou Zhan, and presented it to Zhou Chen.

Zhou Chen opened the memorial and glanced at it.

The memorials all described the private armies surrendered by powerful and influential families across the land.

Records exist for everyone from the four major clans to the three great families, and even ordinary landlords and powerful figures.

Zhou Chen glanced at it briefly, not paying much attention to the fact that these powerful families had handed over their private soldiers.

Zhou Chen knew that these powerful families must have something to hide and would not hand over all their private soldiers.

But none of this matters.

What Zhou Chen cared about was the power of the private soldiers of powerful and wealthy families.

As long as the power of private soldiers of powerful families is openly revoked, then even if those families have hidden some private soldiers, over time those soldiers will gradually fade away and become useless.

These powerful and influential families would no longer be able to openly possess private armies or manufacture their own armor.

Unless, of course, they want their entire family to be executed.

After closing the memorial, Zhou Chen looked up at Prince Zhou Zhan and said, "Thank you for your hard work, Imperial Uncle."

Prince Zhou Zhan, with a solemn expression, said, "This is all within the duties of this old minister, so there is no need to talk about hardship."

In fact, even without the memorial submitted by King Zhou Zhan today, Zhou Chen was already well aware of the situation regarding the repossession of the private armies of powerful families and wealthy clans across the land.

With the Eastern Depot acting as an informant, major events like reclaiming the private armies of powerful families across the land would be reported to Zhou Chen by the Eastern Depot.

This wasn't because Zhou Chen distrusted King Zhou Zhan, but rather because this was the proper way for an emperor to behave.

Afterwards, Prince Zhou Zhan reported to Zhou Chen about the events that had occurred during the recapture of the powerful and influential families of the land, and then left the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Not long after Prince Zhou Zhan left, the eunuch from the Imperial Guard came in again to report: "Your Majesty, Eunuch Cao is requesting an audience outside the palace."

"Let him in."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The eunuchs and guards bowed and withdrew.

soon.

Cao Zhengchun then entered the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

"This old servant greets Your Majesty," Cao Zhengchun said respectfully to Zhou Chen on the dragon throne.

Zhou Chen looked up at Cao Zhengchun; "How's the 'Assassin's Tower' matter going?"

"Have you found out their motive for attacking Prince Kao Shan? Is there anyone behind it?"

As an assassin organization, Zhou Chen did not believe that the Assassin's Tower's attack on the Prince of Kao Shan was merely revenge for the imperial court's siege of the Assassin's Tower more than twenty years ago.

Cao Zhengchun immediately bowed and said, "Your Majesty, this old servant has wiped out most of the 'Assassin's Tower's' hidden strongholds, but the 'Assassin's Tower's' lair has not yet been found."

"However, this old servant has already sent people to investigate with all their might."

"These are the confessions that this old servant obtained from some survivors of the 'Assassin's Tower.' Please take a look, Your Majesty."

Cao Zhengchun took out a memorial from his sleeve and presented it to Zhou Chen.

Zhou Chen opened the memorial and glanced at it.

"So, the Assassin's Guild's attack on King Kao Shan was orchestrated by someone who offered a bounty?"

When Zhou Chen saw the confession in the memorial, he frowned slightly and looked at Cao Zhengchun, asking a question.

Cao Zhengchun nodded; "Yes, Your Majesty."

"Judging from the testimonies of these people from the Assassin's Guild, someone approached the Assassin's Guild and asked them to assassinate the Mountain King."

Cao Zhengchun said.

In the past two days, relying on the confessions of the three masked men in black, Cao Zhengchun gradually uncovered many of the 'Assassin's Tower's' secrets and captured many of its assassins.

Judging from the confessions of these assassins, the reason why the 'Assassin's Tower' attacked King Kao Shan was because someone approached the 'Assassin's Tower' and asked them to intercept and kill King Kao Shan, Zhou Zhan.

"who is it?"

"Have you found out who's behind this?"

Zhou Chen put down the memorial and looked at Cao Zhengchun.

Cao Zhengchun pleaded guilty, saying, "I beg Your Majesty to forgive me, for this old servant has not yet found out who is behind this."

If they couldn't even find the headquarters of the assassins, how could they possibly find out who was behind it?
"Investigate with all your might. I want to see who is so bold as to hire the 'Assassin's Den' to intercept and kill Prince Kao Shan."

A cold glint flashed in Zhou Chen's eyes.

Zhou Chen knew there must be someone behind this.

The most likely culprits are those powerful and influential families. However, determining exactly who they are will require investigation by the Eastern Depot.

"Old slave obeys the order."

Cao Zhengchun bowed and said.

Zhou Chen closed the memorial and returned it to Cao Zhengchun; "Is there anything else?"

Cao Zhengchun put away the memorial and reported again: "Your Majesty, Lord Xun Yu was also attacked and killed by the 'Assassin's Tower' in Langya."

"what?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Chen's face immediately darkened.

"Is Xun Yu alright?"

Zhou Chen asked.

"Your Majesty, Lord Xun is unharmed. The assassins have all been dealt with by Cao Shaoqin."

Cao Zhengchun bowed and said.

"However, the officials sent by the Ministry of Revenue to various places have also been targeted by the 'Assassin's Tower' and three have already been killed."

Cao Zhengchun changed the subject and said cautiously.

"Asshole."

"This Assassin's Guild is courting death. They have no respect for me at all and are openly provoking me."

Zhou Chen slammed his palm on the dragon table, his face ashen.

If Zhou Zhan, the Prince of Kao Shan, was attacked and killed by the 'Assassin's Tower,' Zhou Chen was shocked and furious.

So, the fact that Xun Yu and the Ministry of Revenue officials were assassinated by the "Assassin's Tower" enraged Zhou Chen.

This "Assassin's Tower" is no longer simply challenging the authority of the imperial court; it completely disregards the court and ignores the Great Zhou Dynasty.

……

Just as Zhou Chen was enraged.

At this moment, the four young men rode their horses to the palace gate.

These four young men were all distinguished by their imposing presence and their fine clothes; they were clearly not ordinary people.

The fact that the four of them looked at the palace with such indifference further demonstrated that they were no ordinary people.

"This must be the imperial palace in the mortal world! It looks quite nice, but it's a pity that the spiritual energy is so thin, it can't even compare to the most ordinary place in our area."

"This is, after all, the secular world, how can it compare to our place! However, things may change in the future."

"Yes! The world is about to change. This mortal world, which was originally a place to be abandoned, has unexpectedly become a hot commodity."

Three of the young men were talking amongst themselves, while one of them remained silent, looking at the palace with a somewhat puzzling expression.

Seeing the silent young man gazing in the direction of the palace, one of the three youths spoke up, "Zhou Wudao, everyone says, were you born into the secular world, or into this palace?"

"Now that you've returned to this mortal world and are looking at this mortal palace, what are your thoughts?"

The silent young man named Zhou Wudao glanced coldly at the other party; "Zhou Qian, shut your stinking mouth. If you dare to spout nonsense again, I'll kill you."

The young man named Zhou Wudao's voice was extremely cold.

The three young men couldn't help but shiver.

Upon hearing this, the young man named Zhou Qian's expression changed. Although he was angry, he did not speak again.

Clearly, this young man named Zhou Qian was very wary of Zhou Wudao.

He had no doubt about what the young man Zhou Wudao said. If he dared to talk nonsense again, would the other party really kill him?

"Who are you?"

"The imperial palace is a place of great importance; unauthorized personnel should stay away."

"You must leave immediately."

"Otherwise, we will arrest you as assassins and throw you into a death row cell."

The imperial guards stationed at the palace gates saw four young men riding up on horseback and immediately rode forward to shout at them.

Although these four young men were dressed in extraordinary clothes and had an imposing presence, they were clearly not ordinary people.

But this is the imperial palace, and no matter how extraordinary someone's status is, they won't be polite.

Because they were the imperial guards, responsible for guarding the palace gates, and thus held a heavy responsibility.

If anything goes wrong, they will all be executed.

"Humph."

"A mere worldly watchdog dares to reprimand us like that? He's asking for death."

The young man named Zhou Qian was already seething with anger because of Zhou Wudao's threat.

Now, seeing that the palace gate guards, these mortal trash, actually dare to openly rebuke them.

Immediately, Zhou Qian's young man snorted coldly and casually struck the palace guard who had spoken.

"puff."

The palace guard who had spoken spat out a mouthful of blood and was sent flying.

"Bold."

This scene enraged all the guards at the palace gate.

They never expected that someone would dare to attack their palace gate guards.

This is a rebellion!
All the guards at the palace gate drew their weapons and pointed them at the four young men on horseback.

At the same time, the guards on the palace walls all nocked their arrows and aimed them at the riders on horseback.

"You dare to attack the palace gates? You have some serious audacity!"

"This captain advises you to dismount immediately and surrender."

"Otherwise, kill without mercy."

The palace guard looked coldly at the four young men on horseback and said.

These four people actually dared to attack the palace gate; they have some serious audacity.

Anyone who dared to attack the palace gates was considered to be plotting a rebellion.

However, when the palace gate captain saw the face of the man named Zhou Wudao, his pupils contracted and he froze on the spot.

"Hmph, you dare to brandish weapons at us and force us to dismount and surrender? You're courting death."

"Even the emperor in your palace wouldn't dare treat us like this."

"Go, summon your emperor to greet us."

"Just say that the people from the 'Tianshan' family have arrived."

Zhou Qian snorted coldly, glancing disdainfully at the palace gate guards.

They didn't take the palace guards who had brandished their weapons seriously at all.

Even with bows and arrows, these scoundrels wouldn't be able to harm a single one of them.

If they wanted to, killing these palace guards would be a piece of cake, easier than crushing a few ants.

"presumptuous."

"Who are you?"

"You dare to attack the palace gates and even have His Majesty come out to greet you? You have some serious audacity."

at this time.

A figure rushed out of the palace.

In an instant, they arrived at the palace gate.

The newcomer was none other than Jin He, the commander of the Imperial Guards.

Jinhe was patrolling the four palace gates when he suddenly saw the commotion at the palace gate and immediately rushed over.

Upon hearing Zhou Qian's audacious claim that the emperor should come out to greet them, Jin He's face immediately filled with rage.

It should be noted that even when the Great Zhou Dynasty was in decline, no one dared to be so arrogant as to have the emperor of the Great Zhou come out to greet them.

Not to mention now, Zhou Chen, the emperor of the Great Zhou, has eliminated powerful ministers, quelled internal strife, and exterminated foreign tribes from all directions outside the pass. His prestige is no longer comparable to what it used to be.

Even if the patriarchs of the four great clans came, they wouldn't be qualified for the emperor to come out and greet them.

Not to mention other people.

Jin He didn't know what gave these people the audacity to attack the palace gates and even dare to brazenly ask the emperor to come out and greet them; they were truly courting death.

(End of this chapter)