You get Lu Bu as your starting character.

Chapter 329 Imperial Decree Issued to the Four Capitals, Accepting the Settlement of Deserters

royal palace.

The Hall of Nourishing Heart.

Just as Zhou Chen returned to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, an urgent report from the Eastern Depot was delivered to Cao Zhengchun.

"Your Majesty, this is an urgent report just sent back by the Western Capital's Imperial Guards."

Cao Zhengchun bowed and presented the memorial in his hand to Zhou Chen.

"Oh!"

Zhou Chen raised an eyebrow, took the report from Cao Zhengchun's hand, and began to read it.

After Zhou Chen finished reading the report, his brows furrowed slightly.

Seeing this, Cao Zhengchun, who was standing nearby, tentatively asked, "Your Majesty, has something happened in Xidu City?"

The emperor was in a good mood when he left the palace incognito for a private visit, but after reading the report sent by the Western Capital, his brows furrowed.

This made Cao Zhengchun suspect that something had happened in the Western Capital.

Zhou Chen nodded; "Something happened in Xidu City, but it's a good thing."

"Let's see!"

Zhou Chen casually handed the report to Cao Zhengchun.

Cao Zhengchun took the report, glanced at it, and a glint of light immediately flashed in his eyes.

The report stated that in the past two days, a large number of people who had escaped from the Wild Beast Court had flocked to the Western Capital, hoping to settle there and seek refuge.

In addition, the imperial guards also gathered a lot of useful information from these deserters.

For example, the current location of the Great Zhou Dynasty is on the edge of the Great Wilderness, and the edge of the Great Wilderness is dotted with hundreds of cities, each of which is a powerful force...

"Since the establishment of the Western Capital, although the imperial court has ordered the relocation of some people there, the Western Capital is still a backward place with a large area but a small population."

"Now that a large number of people who have escaped from the Wild Beast Dynasty are flocking in and want to settle in Xidu City, it will be a good opportunity to replenish the population of Xidu City and make it prosperous."

Zhou Chen spoke up.

"Cao Zhengchun, issue an edict to the officials of the Western Capital and the other three capitals: any people from the Great Wilderness who wish to settle in our Great Zhou and become citizens of our Great Zhou shall be accepted and their settlement shall be processed. No one shall be negligent or refuse them."

Zhou Chen glanced at Cao Zhengchun and immediately issued an imperial decree.

No dynasty ever complains about having too many people under its rule, and Zhou Chen was no exception.

In Zhou Chen's view, the more people under the rule of his Great Zhou, the better.

Because population is the foundation of everything.

Zhou Chen knew this better than anyone else.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Cao Zhengchun bowed and said.

……

The Northern Capital.

Gao Shun stood on the city wall, looking at the tens of thousands of deserters who had gathered outside the city, his brows furrowed slightly.

In just two short days, a steady stream of refugees poured into the outskirts of Beidu City.

These people, men, women, and children, were all fleeing from all directions after being attacked by wild beasts.

Seeing these impoverished people scattered around the city, Gao Shun's face showed a trace of sympathy.

However, without an imperial order, Gao Shun dared not easily let these desolate people into the city.

In particular, these people from the wilderness are numerous, and most of them still possess martial arts skills.

If these people are allowed into the city and something goes wrong, it could cause serious trouble.

"General, these deserters are gathering in increasing numbers, and more are constantly fleeing from behind. If we don't deal with this quickly, it could cause serious problems."

One of the generals from the Trapped Camp beside Gao Shun looked at the desolate people outside the city and said to Gao Shun in a deep voice.

"I know."

"The prefect has already reported to the imperial court, and I believe the imperial decree will arrive soon," Gao Shun said, nodding as he looked at the desolate people outside the city.

As soon as these deserters appeared, they reported it to the imperial court.

How should these refugees be accommodated?

Now, we're just waiting for news from the imperial court.

……

The Great Stone City.

City Lord's Mansion.

Inside the council chamber.

A dozen or so figures sat in a row, each exuding a faint yet terrifying aura.

It is clear.

The dozen or so figures present were all extraordinary experts.

In the main seat, Shi Yan, the city lord of Giant Stone City, surveyed the crowd: "Everyone, this time the beast horde came suddenly and its impact was widespread. Dozens of cities were destroyed by the beast horde, and countless villages were also destroyed."

"And even now, the Beast Dynasty continues its advance and is already heading towards our Giant Stone City. If we cannot stop the Beast Dynasty, you all should know what the consequences will be!"

Shi Yan looked at everyone and said.

"Rest assured, City Lord, we understand the importance of this matter. We will do our best to cooperate with whatever you require."

One of them spoke.

The others nodded in agreement.

They all knew how terrifying the Wild Beast Dynasty was. If they didn't work together to resist it, and the Wild Beast Dynasty wreaked havoc and destroyed Giant Stone City, they would all suffer the consequences.

"However, this outbreak of the Wild Beasts really came too suddenly, without any prior warning. Has the city lord found out the reason?"

The person who spoke first looked at the city lord in the main seat and asked.

Everyone else's gaze also turned to Shi Yan, who was in the main seat.

The sudden outbreak of the Wild Beast Dynasty caught everyone off guard.

No one could understand why such a large-scale outbreak of the Wild Beast Dynasty had suddenly occurred.

The city lord of the Great Stone City, seated at the head of the table, glanced at the crowd and said, "According to the news, another secret realm has merged into our Wilderness, which suddenly triggered this Wild Beast Dynasty."

what?
Another secret realm has been incorporated into my wilderness?

As soon as the Lord of Giant Stone City finished speaking, the expressions of the dozen or so figures present all changed.

None of them expected that this sudden outbreak of the Wild Beast Dynasty was caused by the fusion of a secret realm with the Wilderness.

"Lord, is this news confirmed?"

The dozen or so figures present all stared intently at the City Lord of Giant Stone City, who sat in the main seat.

They all knew that if this news was true, then all the various forces would probably be restless.

Who wouldn't want to eat such a big piece of cake?

Even those of them present were no exception.

The lord of Boulder City shook his head; "I don't know."

“However, I have already sent people to verify the authenticity of this news,” said the Lord of Giant Stone City.

Upon hearing the words of the city lord of Giant Stone City, the eyes of the dozen or so people present all flickered.

Now, they no longer have the mind to think about the Wild Beast Dynasty.

For them, the Wild Beast Dynasty was terrifying, but Giant Stone City was no ordinary city. It was one of the major cities in the Great Wilderness, with many experts within its walls. While the Wild Beast Dynasty posed a great threat to ordinary cities, it did not pose such a significant threat to Giant Stone City.

They don't need to worry at all.

Their minds were focused on the news that "another secret realm has merged into the Wilderness." If this news was true, they couldn't miss it and had to find a way to get a share of the profits.

(End of this chapter)