Being an emperor is not something he can do, so he can only rely on his connections.

The city gate of Gaoyang County.

Two days later, before the morning mist had completely dissipated, an ornately decorated carriage with a green canopy, pulled by two sturdy horses, rolled across the smooth stone pavement outside Gaoyang City and slowly arrived at the city gate. While not lavish, the carriage was crafted from fine materials and craftsmanship, exuding a uniquely calm and composed atmosphere of the capital, a stark contrast to the more rugged landscape of the surrounding border towns.

A city guard in neat uniform stepped forward, raised his hand, and signaled to stop the car. His voice was loud but polite: "Stop and check the pass!"

The driver reined in the reins, pulled out a travel permit from his bosom, and handed it over. The clerk took it, but was in no hurry to let the passengers go. Instead, he carefully checked the official seal, the number of passengers, the purpose of the ride, and other information in the morning light. Only after confirming that everything was correct did he return the travel permit.

Then, to the surprise of the people in the car, the official did not wave him off. Instead, he smiled warmly but not too flatteringly, and took the initiative to introduce the passengers, just as he would to any newcomer to Gaoyang: "Dear passengers, thank you for your hard work on the journey! I see your travel permit is from the capital? You have come to the right place! Our Gaoyang County, although located in the border area, has changed a lot now! The market is bustling, with a constant flow of merchants and travelers, and all kinds of goods from the south and the north are available. The roasted lamb at the 'Yuehua Tower' in the city and the turbid wine at 'Three Bowls of Wine Without Passing the Gang' are both excellent! If you want to buy some novel and practical items, you may want to visit the shop at 'Junxing' in the south of the city. It is guaranteed to open your eyes..."

A slightly bony hand lifted a corner of the carriage curtain, and an old man with a gaunt face and sharp eyes poked half of his face out. He listened to the clerk's endless introduction, his brows slightly frowned, as if he was annoyed by the noise. He winked at the servants waiting outside the carriage.

The servant immediately understood and swiftly fished out a few pieces of silver, weighing about two or three taels, and deftly put them into the guard's hand, whispering, "Thank you for your hard work, young man. Just a little money for tea. Please help me."

Unexpectedly, the guard's face suddenly changed, as if he'd been burned by a pair of tongs. He jerked his hand back, as if the silver were a venomous snake or a ferocious beast! He hastily refused and glanced around nervously, fearing his colleagues or passersby might see him. He lowered his voice and repeatedly said, "No! Absolutely not! Old sir, put it away! If County Magistrate Zhang finds out about this, I'll never wear this uniform again! Please enter the city!"

After this sudden rejection, the city guard obviously didn't dare to say anything more to cause trouble. He quickly stepped aside to make way and waved his hand to let them pass. His movements were much more agile than before.

The carriage restarted and slowly drove into the city gate. Inside, the two old men looked at each other, their faces filled with surprise and amusement.

The gaunt old man who had just offered to pay stroked his beard, shook his head, and sighed, "How bizarre! On this journey from the capital, through checkpoints and counties, I've met more than a dozen gatekeepers, both large and small. This is the first one who not only refused to take the money, but also scared me so much! It's like the sun is rising from the west."

Across from him, an elderly man in a dark blue brocade robe, with a calmer and more graceful demeanor, smiled meaningfully upon hearing this. He slowly said, "A single glimpse reveals the whole picture. The city gate officer, though a minor official, is the first person to reveal the local administration and customs. This officer is so fearful of his superiors' orders, which shows that government orders are flowing smoothly and laws are strictly enforced. It seems that this young man has some skills in governing Gaoyang, and it's not just because of the protection of Mount Tai or luck."

"Hmm," the gaunt old man nodded in agreement, his gaze surveying the city's clean, though not luxurious, streets through the car window. "From the moment we entered the city to the officials' reactions, there hasn't been a single sign of bribery or corruption. With such clean governance and swift decrees, I'm sure this small county of Gaoyang is quite popular among merchants these days, and that's no exaggeration."

The old man in the brocade robe nodded slightly, his eyes scrutinizing. "Didn't Prime Minister Zhao make that assertion before? Gaoyang is no longer the small, border county it once was. With its prosperous population, stable governance, and harmonious people, it truly deserves to be called a 'premium county'! It's the only place in our dynasty currently located on the border that can be called a 'premium county'. It's truly a frontier miracle."

The gaunt old man seemed to recall something and looked at his companion with a hint of sarcasm. "However, I still find it strange. From here to the capital, even if we ride at full speed, it would only take three days. Why did you insist on slowing down the carriage, dragging it out to four days? Could it be that you are old and your bones can't stand the bumpy ride?"

The old man in brocade robes glanced at him, his eyes deep and unyielding, and he said calmly, "Don't ask. If you ask, it's the will of the Lord."

The gaunt old man was amused by his pretentiousness and couldn't help but curse with a laugh, his voice tinged with authentic Beijing dialect: "Bah! You old fellow, you're even speaking to me in an official tone? What a coward!" (Meaning: Why are you pretending to be so high and mighty?)

The two looked at each other and couldn't help but burst out laughing at the same time.

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