You get Lu Bu as your starting character.

Chapter 288: My Will
The next day.

Early morning of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

The palace door is wide open.

The civil and military officials entered the palace and arrived outside the Golden Palace.

Following the imperial road, civil and military officials entered the Golden Palace in order of their rank.

During this period, all civil and military officials kept their heads slightly bowed, and were not allowed to talk, whisper, or make any noise.

There were special officials to record the demeanor of civil and military officials.

The entire process of entering the court was exceptionally solemn.

In the Jinluan Palace.

Civil and military officials lined both sides of the imperial road, heads bowed.

Zhou Chen, dressed in a dragon robe, stepped onto the special imperial road and ascended to the court.

Zhou Chen sat upright on the dragon throne, looking down at the assembled officials.

"Long live your majesty."

After Zhou Chen sat on the dragon throne, all the civil and military officials knelt down to pay their respects and shouted in unison.

"Flat body."

Zhou Chen's simple words, "Rise," sent a shiver down the spines of all the civil and military officials.

These ministers, who were able to stand in this court, naturally knew how to read the emperor's intentions. In the past, the emperor would say the four words "All ministers, rise," but today the emperor only said the two words "Rise."

This is very wrong.

The emperor's tone today, in particular, seemed calm, but it was icy cold.

Obviously.

The emperor is in a bad mood today.

I don't know what it was that angered the emperor again.

In an instant, the civil and military officials had already figured out the emperor's feelings.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

All the civil and military officials carefully rose to their feet.

They didn't know what they had done to anger His Majesty again, but they knew they had to be extremely careful for the time being.

When the emperor is enraged, millions will die!

The civil and military officials were already keenly aware of the consequences of the emperor's anger.

Now, realizing the coldness in the emperor's tone, not one of the court officials was not trembling, for they all feared that if the city gates caught fire, they, the fish in the pond, would be caught in the crossfire.

Zhou Chen looked down at the civil and military officials and slowly said, "This morning at court, let's set aside other matters for now. I want to talk to you all about the affairs of those who enter the world."

"I'm sure all of you ministers have already heard of those who have entered the world!"

Zhou Chen surveyed the civil and military officials.

Upon hearing this, the officials reacted with varying expressions.

For ordinary people, few of those involved in worldly affairs may know about them.

But for these officials in the imperial court, those who were involved in worldly affairs were no secret.

Basically, most officials already knew about those who had entered the world, and they knew that outside of the Great Zhou, there existed a 'Tianshan' that transcended worldly affairs.

Those who have entered the world are now rushing to visit various powerful families; this is no secret among the upper echelons of the powerful families in the Great Zhou Dynasty.

Therefore, whether it was high-ranking officials in the imperial court or local official families, everyone knew about the person who had entered the world.

"Could it be that those worldly people have offended His Majesty?"

All the officials were secretly speculating.

Zhou Chen looked at the assembled officials and continued, "You all know that the Chen family of Yingchuan and the other thirteen powerful families hired assassins to kill officials of the Ministry of Revenue and intercept Prince Kao Shan."

"I never imagined that powerful and influential families would be so audacious as to hire assassins to kill court officials and ambush my Great Zhou princes."

Zhou Chen's icy voice echoed in the hall.

"What I didn't expect was that behind this matter were not only the aristocratic families like the Chen family of Yingchuan, but also the shadows of those who were involved in worldly affairs."

"The reason why the Chen family of Yingchuan and other aristocratic families dared to hire assassins to kill our court officials is because they have worldly people behind them. It is those worldly people who gave the Chen family of Yingchuan and other aristocratic families the confidence and courage to be enemies of our court."

"The Eastern Depot has already interrogated those worldly people behind the Chen family of Yingchuan. My esteemed ministers, you may first take a look at the testimonies of those worldly people."

Zhou Chen glanced at Cao Zhengchun, who was standing beside him; "Cao Zhengchun, show the testimonies of those worldly people to the ministers."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Cao Zhengchun presented the records of last night's interrogation to the officials.

None of the civil and military officials understood what Zhou Chen was up to.

However, from Zhou Chen's words, the officials realized that Zhou Chen's words seemed to be aimed not only at the few worldly people behind the Yingchuan Chen family, but at all worldly people.

The courtiers were all puzzled as to what those worldly people had done to anger Emperor Zhou Chen.

They couldn't help but think that just because the Chen family's assassination attempt involved a few worldly people, the emperor had become hostile towards all worldly people.

The civil and military officials took turns reading the testimonies of those who had entered the world.

Each minister's expression changed slightly after reading the confession.

After all the civil and military officials had taken turns reading the confession, the atmosphere among them immediately became tense.

Zhou Chen looked at the civil and military officials and said, "Have all of you read this confession? What are your thoughts?"

The civil and military officials exchanged glances discreetly, but no one uttered a sound.

This statement is truly shocking.

No one expected that those worldly people would actually try to seize the secular world and divide up the Great Zhou.

If this confession is true, then the Great Zhou Dynasty may indeed face an unprecedented period of turmoil.

Representatives from various powerful families and influential clans visited the area, including the four major clans, whose leaders also had representatives involved in worldly affairs.

If we calculate it this way, how many powerful families will be involved in this matter?

None of the civil and military officials dared to imagine it.

"how?"

"Don't you gentlemen have any opinions?"

Zhou Chen's gaze was calm, but his voice turned cold.

Although the court had undergone several purges, more than half of the officials still came from powerful and influential families, or had intricate connections with them.

Zhou Chen didn't believe that these officials were completely unaware of the motives of those who had entered the world.

"Your Majesty, these worldly people are plotting against our Great Zhou and want to divide it up."

"In my humble opinion, we should immediately send troops to encircle and suppress these worldly people, investigate the powerful families they have visited, and execute anyone who shows any unusual behavior."

Huo Qubing stepped forward and spoke loudly.

After the war with the Western Rong ended, Huo Qubing returned to Luoyang and took command of the Shenwu Guard.

No sooner had Huo Qubing finished speaking than Li Yuan, the Minister of War, immediately stood up and objected, saying, "Your Majesty, this is absolutely not allowed."

"Currently, the powerful and wealthy families have not made any moves. If His Majesty sends troops, it will directly force those powerful and wealthy families to rebel."

"When the war breaks out, it will be uncontrollable."

The Minister of War knew that this matter might not necessarily involve many powerful and influential families.

Once the imperial court issues an order to send troops, it will force these powerful and wealthy families to take desperate measures.

Originally, the court's previous actions against powerful families had already caused these families to harbor great resentment towards the court.

If, now, those worldly people were to investigate and punish the powerful and wealthy families, it would ignite the flames of resentment within these families, pushing them to the opposite side completely.

Wang Yangming, the Minister of Justice, also stepped forward; "Your Majesty, I also oppose sending troops."

“Those who are involved in worldly affairs are not ordinary people. Once they send troops, it will cause a series of backlashes.”

"The most important thing is the power behind those worldly people, which we in the secular world simply cannot contend with."

"Therefore, I think it would be best to ask those members of the royal family who are involved in worldly affairs to step forward and mediate." The Minister of Justice was somewhat worried. If the court sent troops, the Langya Wang family would definitely be a key target of the court's attention.

Zhou Chen listened to the ministers' opinions without expressing his own, but instead looked at Xiao He, who was standing at the left head; "Left Prime Minister, how do you think we should deal with this matter?"

Xiao He stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, the territory of the Great Zhou shall not be coveted."

"Your Majesty should issue an edict ordering all people engaged in worldly affairs to come to the Eastern Depot in Luoyang to register their identities. Anyone who refuses to comply should be identified as a traitor and troops should be dispatched to suppress them."

"At the same time, an imperial edict was issued to all the noble families and powerful clans in the land, forbidding them from having any dealings with those who were involved in worldly affairs."

"Otherwise, they will be treated as traitors."

Xiao He said in a firm and powerful voice.

"Your Majesty, I object."

The Eighth Prince, Zhou Xian, couldn't help but step forward.

"Your Majesty, those who have entered the world all come from Tianshan. There are powerful beings in Tianshan who transcend worldly affairs."

"If His Majesty issues an order to suppress those worldly people, the forces behind them will certainly not let it go."

"When that time comes, the Tianshan Sect will send powerful experts into the world, and our Great Zhou will probably have a hard time resisting them."

"Your Majesty, please think again."

"Eighth Prince Zhou Xian said urgently."

If Zhou Chen were to issue an order to annihilate all those who had entered the mortal world, it would be tantamount to indirectly waging war against the entire 'Tianshan'.

The few worldly figures behind the main family and the Chen family of Yingchuan are already enough to give the Great Zhou a hard time.

If they were to attack all those involved in worldly affairs, would the Great Zhou Dynasty have any chance of survival against the entire Tianshan Mountains?
Zhou Chen coldly looked at the Eighth Prince Zhou Xian; "Then what does the Eighth Imperial Uncle think we should do?"

"Should I watch helplessly as the entire Great Zhou is divided up, or should I personally hand over the entire Great Zhou to those worldly people to divide up?"

Zhou Chen's voice was extremely cold.

The Eighth Prince Zhou Xian's expression changed, and he knelt down on the ground with a thud.

"minister……"

King Zhou Xian, the Eighth Prince, couldn't utter a single word.

Faced with Zhou Chen's icy gaze, the Eighth Prince Zhou Xian felt a chill run through his body, as if he had fallen into an ice cave.

"Preach my will."

Zhou Chen ignored the Eighth Prince Zhou Xian and stood up.

"Issue an imperial decree that all aristocratic families and powerful clans are forbidden from contacting worldly people, from allowing worldly people to stay in their homes, and from assisting worldly people in any way."

"Those who violate this rule will have their property confiscated and be punished."

Zhou Chen's majestic voice echoed throughout the hall, reaching the ears of every minister.

In fact, Zhou Chen had already secretly issued an order to the Eastern Depot last night to begin making arrangements.

Today's morning court session was merely a formality, a formal decree issued by the court to powerful families and those involved in worldly affairs.

……

Northern Xinjiang.

Zhenbeicheng.

The General's Residence in Zhenbei.

Lu Bu glanced at the urgent secret edict just delivered by the Eastern Depot in his hand, a glint of light flashing in his eyes.

"Someone is coming."

"Immediately notify all generals to come to the General's Mansion for a meeting."

After reading the secret edict, Lü Bu immediately shouted outside.

More than ten minutes later.

Inside the council chamber.

Cao Xing, Wei Xu, Hao Meng, and the other generals all sat down in order.

Cao Xing and the others glanced at Lü Bu in the main seat, wondering what had happened that the general had summoned them to the general's mansion so urgently.

Seeing that everyone had arrived, Lü Bu stood up, looked at Cao Xing and the others, and said directly, "His Majesty has decreed that the entire Zhenbei Army should immediately prepare for battle and investigate all those involved in worldly affairs throughout the northern frontier."

"General, what has happened?"

Cao Xing and the others all looked at Lü Bu with suspicion.

Is the entire Zhenbei Army being put on standby for battle?

Lu Bu shook his head; "I am not clear about the specifics either."

"Just follow His Majesty's orders."

Lu Bu didn't know what had happened either.

However, Lü Bu guessed that this was probably related to those who were involved in worldly affairs.

"Follow the order."

Cao Xing and the others all clasped their hands in greeting.

"I will be leaving the northern frontier shortly. After I leave, you must all be careful."

"Especially matters concerning the military, there can be no mistakes, understand?"

Lu Bu gave Cao Xing and the others a stern look and gave them instructions.

"General, rest assured, we understand."

Cao Xing and the others said in unison.

……

Outside Dongyan Pass.

The Eastern Capital.

The main hall of the government office.

Zhao Yun also received an urgent secret order from the Imperial Guard.

Looking at the secret edict in his hand, Zhao Yun couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

The prefect of Dongdu, seated in the main seat, couldn't help but ask upon seeing Zhao Yun's expression, "General Zhao, has the imperial court issued any instructions?"

Zhao Yun put away the secret decree and looked up at the Lord of the Prefecture; "Lord of the Prefecture, I need to leave the Eastern Capital for a few days."

"Oh?"

The lord's expression turned serious; "General Zhao, what has happened?"

Zhao Yun shook his head; "I don't know the specifics either. His Majesty has sent an order that I must return to the pass for a few days."

Zhao Yun didn't say much; the contents of the secret edict could not be revealed to anyone.

"After I leave, the stability of this Eastern Capital will depend on you alone, Lord. I will stay behind as the White Horse Cavalry."

"If the Lord of the Prefecture encounters any difficult situation, he can mobilize the White Horse Cavalry."

Zhao Yun addressed the Lord of Dongdu Prefecture.

"General Zhao, rest assured, with me here, there won't be any problems in the Eastern Capital."

The prefect of Dongdu Prefecture knew the secret decree, but Zhao Yun couldn't elaborate, so he didn't ask any further questions.

However, the prefect was not worried about the stability of Dongdu City. With the prefectural guards and the White Horse Cavalry, they were more than capable of protecting Dongdu City.

"Alright, then I'll go and make arrangements for the guards first."

Zhao Yun said no more and got up to leave the government office.

Not only did Lü Bu and Zhao Yun receive secret edicts from the Imperial Guard, but Taishi Ci, who was stationed in the southern capital, and Hua Xiong, who was stationed in the western capital, also received secret edicts from the Imperial Guard at the same time.

After making some arrangements, Taishi Ci and Hua Xiong left their post.

At the same time, the armies on all four borders were also in a state of readiness for battle.

With a single command, the armies on the four borders will instantly march south and north, aiming for the heartland of the various states of the Great Zhou.

(End of this chapter)