Age: My Small World

a phone call.

"Powerful ministers, factional strife, and the suppression of dissidents—it's all endless! How can this country be governed?" Xiong Luo couldn't help but clench his fist and wave it, his heart filled with rage.

The main problem is that not all the ministers respect him, the new emperor. Many matters of state have gradually been taken over by Lord Chunshen's Left Chancellor Huang Xie and Right Chancellor Li Yuan. These two old guys have seized power, making it difficult for Xiong Luo to even accurately issue government orders, let alone command the army.

"Gaining more luck points is truly a long and arduous task!"

Fortunately, he still had some capable people in his memory, such as General Zhenguo Wuxin Marquis Xiang Yan, Marquis Wucheng Wu Qi, Pillar General Zhao Yang, Minister of Works Sun Shu'ao, Minister of Rites Qu Yuan, Minister of War Jing Yang, and others.

Currently, most of the hundred kingdoms in China implement the Three Departments and Six Ministries system. However, under the wise leadership of Emperor Hui, Xiong Luo's father, the useless Three Departments were directly abolished, and the Zhongshu Pavilion was appointed as the key to governance. The Zhongshu Pavilion's Zhongshu Ling was none other than the famous Wu Zixu. In this world, he had not made an enemy of the King of Chu. On the contrary, he was highly valued by Emperor Hui of Chu. After Xiong Luo ascended the throne, he did not dismiss him but continued to rely on him.

However, the two prime ministers, whose power was greatly limited after Emperor Hui established the Secretariat, became much more transparent. If Emperor Hui had not entrusted them with the role of regents before his death, their power would probably not have recovered to this extent.

When Xiong Luo thought of the former Emperor Hui, an image of a dignified middle-aged man flashed through his mind.

Emperor Hui's original name was Xiong Zhang. Unlike Emperor Hui of Ming, who was a figure who was rebelled against, he was actually extremely intelligent.

After ascending the throne at the age of twenty-eight, he began his political ambitions, transforming the originally weak Chu state, which ranked sixth among the hegemons, into the fourth hegemon. He once launched a northern expedition against the Zhao and Wu states, forcing them to repeatedly sue for peace. The Yue state even took the initiative to become a vassal state and sent a princess to marry him.

Even King Zhao Yong and King Wu Helü suffered great losses at his hands, so his methods were naturally no less than those of any great emperor.

The current Empress Dowager Li Li was the Yue princess who came to the country for a marriage alliance. Such marriage alliances between different countries are quite common and not surprising.

However, given Xiong Luo's current situation, Emperor Hui's ultimate achievements have all become the fruits of those nobles, swallowed up by them, without any benefit to the common people. It can truly be said that he has done someone else's bidding.

However, it was precisely because of these nobles that the Great Chu Dynasty remained stable for a hundred years. Moreover, these four families produced a great many talented individuals: Qu, Jing, Zhao, and Xiang. Just by hearing these four surnames, one could tell which people in the court were from these families.

In the eyes of scholars, the four great families were naturally destined to remain prosperous and powerful, while the emperor's power was diminishing.

Fortunately, Emperor Hui left behind the Secretariat, otherwise the two prime ministers would have already wielded immense power and become powerful ministers like the "Nine Thousand Years Old" (a reference to a powerful emperor).

"How can I take power back from these people?" As an emperor who idolized figures like Ying Zheng and Zhu Yuanzhang, Xiong Luo naturally did not want his power to be lost to outsiders, and his desire for centralized power was inevitable.

"By the way, Ying Zheng in this world hasn't even grown up yet." Thinking that the Qin emperor Ying Zheng was only ten years old, Xiong Luo really wanted to see what the First Emperor was like when he was a child. Unfortunately, it was just wishful thinking. There were more than a few countries between the Qin and Chu.
"Then I'll just conquer Qin from now on," Xiong Luo thought to himself. For the sake of more luck points, conquering other countries through military force had become an essential part of his plan.
However, we need to capture the people within the Great Chu Kingdom first.

"Let's try summoning some talent. Yang Youji is fairly loyal, but what if I pull out Chen Qingzhi?"

These were all just his fantasies. Chen Qingzhi was one of Xiong Luo's favorite generals, so naturally he couldn't wait to draw him. But what Xiong Luo wanted now was a strategist to plan with him.

[Would the host choose to summon a talent once?]

"Yes!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Xiong Luo saw the result appear instantly in the system. There wasn't even a summoning process. This was too casual and too random.

[Ding~] [Congratulations, host, you have summoned Lu Bu, a top-tier general from the Three Kingdoms era. Do you wish to recruit him immediately?]

"Lu Bu?" Xiong Luo's eye twitched. He really didn't know whether he was lucky or unlucky. He actually managed to summon this number one player who was a man of great achievements and did not care about trivial matters on his first try.

However, considering the system's claim of 100% loyalty, he felt he was lucky.

"Yes."

After he finished speaking, nothing happened in the empty hall; only the silence made the atmosphere even more tense.

"System, I thought you would create a person out of thin air."

The system didn't respond, so it seems it doesn't possess any advanced intelligence; another piece of boring knowledge has been added to my knowledge.

Somewhat bored, Xiong Luo decided to get up. He was already full of energy after waking up, and with the system and so many memories in his mind, he was extremely energetic.

"Somebody come!"

A slight creaking sound rang out.

Immediately, a group of young eunuchs dressed in blue robes entered Yangju Hall, led by an older eunuch dressed in purple robes with graying hair.

"Your Majesty, you've finally gotten up. If you don't get up soon, the morning court session will be delayed." The old eunuch's face showed a chrysanthemum-like smile. His name was Li Zhong, and he was a veteran of three reigns. He had served the emperor since the time of Emperor Zhao, Xiong Luo's grandfather. Xiong Luo was someone he had watched grow up.

Although he was a veteran of three reigns, Li Zhong was truly as loyal as his name suggested, and he never overstepped the bounds of propriety. Both Emperor Hui and Xiong Luo were very satisfied with him.

"Let someone else do the dressing..." Xiong Luo was a little uncomfortable with an old man dressing him.

But Li Zhong immediately knelt down, his face filled with fear, and said, "This old servant deserves to die a thousand deaths. Has this old servant done anything that displeases Your Majesty?"

The other eunuchs were also kneeling on the ground.

Xiong Luo's expression shifted slightly before he sighed, "Get up. There's nothing else. Continue dressing, or you'll be late for the morning court session."

Li Zhong then regained his composure, wiped away imaginary sweat with his sleeve, and quickly helped Xiong Luo get dressed.

Xiong Luo smiled helplessly. This was the emperor; supreme and all-powerful, yet also a lonely figure.

Ancient clothing was complicated, let alone the emperor's dragon robe. If Xiong Luo were to put it on himself, he might not be able to find a suitable place for a long time. It was only because these palace maids were the most familiar with it that he could do it. If they were not familiar with it, they would be helpless. If they didn't even know how to help the emperor put on his clothes, they would be doomed.

The dragon robe was gold, and the five-clawed golden dragon on the chest was clearly woven with gold thread. (End of Chapter)