Even emperors have it tough, so don't be too picky about the entries.

After leaving Yuwen's residence, Chen Shao immediately returned to the palace to prepare for the court assembly.

"Draw it, the Yongle Encyclopedia!"

[Ding! You've drawn a message journal. Open it now?]

"Why is it so difficult? Open it."

During Zheng He's voyages to the Western Ocean, he once passed by a fairy island, shrouded in fog year-round, which prevented him from entering. Legend has it that the island was inhabited only by women, all of whom were completely naked, covered only by leaves—a great pity!

"???"

Chen Shaodu already doubted the authenticity of the Yongle Encyclopedia?

Are there really islands like this?

Just talking about it makes me a little itchy to try it myself.

...I'll definitely go take a look when I have the chance in the future. He relaxed and turned to ask Dian Wei beside him.

"Dian Wei, have you ever studied?"

Dian Wei's body visibly stiffened, and he immediately looked somewhat embarrassed.

"Your Majesty, please don't make me study. My family has been poor since I was a child, and we never had enough to eat. How could we afford to study? I'm not cut out for it."

"Can you read?"

"It recognizes me, but I don't recognize it."

"That's good."

Chen Shao nodded and quietly sent the entry for "Illiterate War God" over.

"Dian Wei, how are you feeling right now?"

Dian Wei thought about it carefully:

"It's good that you can't read. There aren't too many complicated things. You can just use all your strength."

"No, is there something you're feeling in your body?"

"Illiteracy is related to physical health? Well..."

Dian Wei was speaking when he suddenly froze in place.

He stretched out his fist, which was as big as a clay pot, opened it, and then clenched it again.

His face was filled with disbelief.

"Why...why do I feel like I've gotten stronger again..."

"Now I can also lift a cauldron and smash the city gate like His Majesty."

That's right, Chen Shao said with a smile:

"Try hitting me, wait, not me!!!"

Chen Shao hurriedly dodged; if that punch had landed on him, he would have been paralyzed for life, if not paralyzed.

Dian Wei smiled awkwardly; he now regarded Chen Shao with the utmost reverence.

After all, the scene of His Majesty lifting the tripod and seizing the gate was too shocking.

He had always wanted to test the difference between himself and His Majesty.

He retracted his fist and then punched the air.

This punch created a sonic boom, boom! It was powerful and swift!

"This punch must have taken decades of practice."

In his excitement, Dian Wei threw several more punches.

It truly felt like a profound understanding, like the saying "practice makes perfect."

He looked at his fist with excitement and couldn't help but shout:

"Your Majesty, I've succeeded!"

"I did it! Hahaha!"

Chen Shao was happy for him, patted Dian Wei on the shoulder, and the two headed towards the palace.

"Since you've got some free time, how about telling me about yourself?"

It turns out that Dian Wei's parents died early, and he grew up doing odd jobs for the village butchers.

Later, a local bully tried to seize the neighbor's daughter, driving everyone to jump into a well.

In a fit of rage, Dian Wei stabbed the man to death with a butcher's knife.

The murderer spent half a year in prison, but later escaped when bandits breached the city walls.

Then I started wandering around...

Chen Shao smiled after hearing this.

"Once the world is at peace, I will ensure that everyone can study."

"I want to learn from the Ming Dynasty's founding emperor and properly deal with those corrupt officials!"

......

At the court assembly, Chen Shao didn't waste any words and immediately issued several swift and decisive policies.

First, taxes were reduced for a year in newly established areas such as Weibo and Hedong, allowing them to recuperate and rebuild.

Second, is his real killer move.

All regional military governors were stripped of their real power. The title of Jiedushi was retained, but only as an honorary title.

Local government officials were appointed directly by the imperial court as prefects.

They are to be rotated regularly and are not allowed to serve in local positions.

Each regional military governorship had a separate transport commissioner who was in charge of the finances of his route, and taxes and grain were directly submitted to the national treasury.

Then the funds will be allocated by the national treasury.

All local elite troops were incorporated into the Imperial Guard and placed under the unified command of the imperial court.

This means gradually seizing their power, controlling their finances, and taking away their elite troops.

The policy is extremely tough.

After speaking, Chen Shao scanned the entire room.

"This decree applies to all regional military governors. Who supports it, and who opposes it?"

Chen Shao's desire to weaken the power of the regional military governors had long been something he wished the whole world would know.

Everyone was already mentally prepared.

With the river now newly pacified and the sword still dripping blood, no one dares to provoke him.

A moment of silence.

The entire hall was filled with cries of, "Your Majesty is wise!"

After discussing a series of matters, both major and minor, Chen Shao waved and left the court.

At this moment, a young official who had just joined the Censorate suddenly stepped forward.

"Your Majesty, I have a memorial to present."

The censors and officials who reported on the matter were all personally promoted by Chen Shao and were his absolute confidants.

The matter they presented required Chen Shao's utmost care.

"speak."

"Your Majesty, a large number of rumors have suddenly appeared in the capital, and some people are even spreading malicious rumors with the intention of plotting something sinister."

"This matter has caused a great uproar and has even affected the imperial court. Your Majesty, I request that you thoroughly investigate this matter."

Upon hearing this, most of the officials in the hall adopted strange expressions.

It wasn't that they were the instigators, but without exception, strange things happened in their homes.

"What rumors are so sensational that they deserve to be discussed at court?"

Chen Shao asked, but no one dared to speak.

After all, these rumors were all directed at Chen Shao; who would dare to utter such accusations of patricide?

After Chen Shao rebuked him sternly for a few moments, the official finally mustered the courage to speak:

"Your subject requests that Minister Shen report on my behalf."

Shen Qingci's face darkened. Did she really dare to say such a thing?

Of course, she dares.

She was a pure person, with only national interests in mind and no regard for personal honor or disgrace.

Shen Qingci stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, there are rumors that the Emperor Emeritus is not recuperating in Yongshou Palace, but was killed by Your Majesty long ago."

"They also say that His Majesty murdered his father to seize the throne, which angered Heaven. That's why strange things happened frequently in the palace and the city last night. It's the work of vengeful spirits."

The entire hall fell into a deathly silence.

No one dared to breathe loudly, for fear of being targeted as a scapegoat.

No emperor could tolerate such rumors.

As expected, Chen Shao remained silent for a moment.

He suddenly chuckled:

"That's not a new idea. I remember hearing the same thing when I went to Weibo."

After saying that, he turned to look at Han Cao.

"Damn, does this look familiar?"

Han Cao was immediately terrified, his face turning ashen. He quickly bowed and clasped his hands in greeting.

"Your Majesty, this must be the work of someone with malicious intent. Please investigate this matter thoroughly!"

"Tell me, what absurd thing happened?"

A junior official from the Ministry of Rites stepped forward and said:

"Your Majesty...a strange thing did happen in my house last night. The old locust tree in the backyard moved on its own in the middle of the night without any wind, and its leaves fell to the ground, forming the character '冤' (meaning 'injustice'). I dare not lie, but only report the truth."

Chen Shao nodded, showing no blame.

"Your Majesty, last night in my study, the candle went out as soon as it was lit, even though there was no wind or water. It was very strange."

"Last night, someone in my household cried all night, but I couldn't find the source."

"Your Majesty, last night many horses knelt down and neighed mournfully towards the palace..."

The officials became increasingly agitated as they spoke, creating an eerie atmosphere throughout the court.

But just then, someone suddenly shouted:

"Look! It's snowing!"

All the officials looked outside, and sure enough, it was snowing in September.

The snowfall wasn't heavy, but it was real snow!

Chen Shao slowly rose from the dragon throne and walked out of the hall step by step.

Standing in the square, I reached out to receive it.

Snow in September?

A major injustice?

Chen Shao naturally didn't believe it. He thought it was just a cold front from Siberia that happened to meet the warm, humid air and crystallize.

That's not his focus.

Instead... someone actually managed to predict this cold front and bet on snowfall today.

That's why we went to such great lengths last night.

Haunting is the foreplay, rumors are the intermission, and snowfall is the climax.

When the people of the capital put these three things together, it further confirmed the rumors of patricide and usurpation of the throne.

"This man's weather predictions are no less impressive than Zhang Jiao's; he's quite a character."

The officials also came out, gazing at the gray snow.

His expression was one of horror.

Snow in September speaks volumes.

Han Cao stood at the head of the officials, his face calm as still water, but a very faint sneer appeared in his eyes.

"This person's Taoist skills are truly remarkable; he actually knows the art of summoning wind and rain."