Because the situation was serious, with illegal structures greatly impeding traffic, he found it necessary to take forceful action, razing buildings and making people move. As in Taiwan today, Zhou Shizong's moves to tear down buildings and rebuild the city drew protest. Though possessing total authority, a virtuous emperor was wise to tread carefully when rebuilding a city.
由於城裡居民侵街為舍已很嚴重，街道狹窄，必須強制拆遷，就和今天政府拆違建一樣，周世宗的都市更新也招致抗爭，即使大權在握，改造都市，明君仍須步步為營。