Chapter 371: Of Noble Roots and Upright Heritage (Part 2)

When Luo Hai was helped to sit down, he felt his knee still somewhat stiff. The cold touch of the wooden chair seeped through the official robe, but couldn’t suppress the surging heat in his heart.

“This is the appointment letter for the Zhizhou of Canzhou.” Zhao Zun took out a scroll stamped with a bright red seal from his bosom and handed it to Luo Hai.

“Tomorrow, I and the girl will set out for Fufeng County. From now on, Canzhou’s governance will require Mr. Luo to pay more attention. Regarding the properties confiscated from the Sun and Wei families… Mr. Luo, you can arrange them yourself and use everything for the development of Canzhou!”

“Good! Prince, rest assured!” Luo Hai, who had already sat down, suddenly stood up again, his hands trembling slightly as he received the document, “This official will certainly do his utmost.”

“Puhh!” Han Lei suddenly burst into laughter beside him, her charming almond-shaped eyes filled with cunning light, “Mr. Luo, just after saying there’s no outsider, you called him Zun-er, why did you become this formal again?”

Luo Hai was taken aback, then a smile spread across his wrinkled face, causing even the beard on his chin to tremble slightly.

“Haha. Yes, yes, it’s Zun-er.” He stroked his beard and sat down, suddenly feeling that the chair wasn’t so cold anymore.

“Let’s dine first.” Zhao Zun placed a piece of braised pork into Luo Hai’s bowl, “I heard this dish is Mr. Luo’s favorite.”

The three sat around and began to eat, Zhao Zun talked about the mansion’s construction, stating it must be completed before September in the golden autumn, as he was eager to get married.

Han Lei was sipping the soup, and upon hearing this, she almost choked, her ears turning as red as the braised pork on the table.

Luo Hai had a knowing look, stroked his beard and smiled, “I understand, I understand. Autumn is indeed a good time for harvest and marriage!”

“Mr. Luo!” Han Lei put down her spoon, quickly changed the subject.

“I want to turn the Wei family’s big mansion into a medical clinic. After you take office, can you first recruit some folk doctors? The silver coins confiscated from the Wei family can be used to purchase medicinal herbs and pots in large quantities, and get the Chinese medicine started first. The rest can wait until I come over next time…”

After the lunch, Zhao Zun and Han Lei bid farewell and went to check on the situation of the disaster victims.

Luo Hai returned alone to the County Magistrate’s residence, and while walking through the familiar corridors, he felt like he was walking on air.

Only when the study door closed with a squeak, he finally burst into laughter, his laughter making his shoulders tremble slightly.

“Zhizhou… Now, I am Lord Zhizhou. Hahaha…”

He opened the appointment document given by Zhao Zun, looking at the bright red seal of the King of Cangzhou, feeling that all of this was like a dream.

In a short half-day, he leaped from a seventh-ranked County Magistrate to a fifth-ranked Zhizhou; Zhao Zun’s recognition of his talent made his eyes warm.

He felt grateful for the choices he made back then, having witnessed the determination and strategy of Zhao Zun and Han Lei these days. He believed they would achieve great things in the future.

After joyfully savoring the moment, he spread out the rice paper, dipped his brush in ink, hesitating for a moment with his wrist suspended in the air, suddenly bursting into laughter like a child.

This brush, ink, paper, and inkstone will soon have to be replaced with Zhizhou’s specifications.

Thinking about it, Luo Hai officially began to shoulder the responsibilities of Zhizhou. He wrote a few appointment notice documents, picked up the walkie-talkie on the desk, and walked out of the study joyfully.

“Come!” He shouted towards the door.

In a moment, the aide-de-camp came trotting in.

Luo Hai gave several orders in a row: “Immediately send someone to check the progress of the wasteland project, recruit more manpower, and have them speed up the progress.”

“Yes! Sir.”

As the aide-de-camp was about to leave with the orders, Luo Hai stopped him.

“Wait, send people to supervise the mansion’s construction, with daily progress reports, and be sure to complete it before September.” Luo Hai said, handing the appointment document to the aide-de-camp.

“Also, this is the appointment letter promoting me to Zhizhou of Canzhou, dispatch it quickly to be delivered to each county government of Canzhou.”

“Sir, you’ve been promoted to Zhizhou?” The aide-de-camp looked surprised and delighted.

Luo Hai proudly puffed out his chest, “Yes! Hurry and get it done!”

“Ah, that’s wonderful. Congratulations, Sir. I’ll take care of it right away.” The aide-de-camp congratulated with clasping hands, then turned and walked away happily.

Luo Hai felt that today’s sunshine was particularly bright. He took a deep breath and then went off to gather government officials and soldiers, preparing to visit Fufeng County for inspections…

…This is the dividing line for ticket snatching…

The Capital City, Imperial Palace.

Inside Jinluan Hall, the coiling dragons on the nine dragon pillars shimmered with a cold gleam in the morning light.

The morning wind outside swept up fallen leaves, slapping them against the red palace gate with a rustling sound, as if mocking the farcical drama inside the hall that had lasted for several days.

Several vassal kings summoned to the Capital were quarreling fiercely in the grand hall.