If you traveled back to ancient times, while others ate Guanyin clay, you would actually have giant

"Benboer, how many people are there in Dor City?"

"Your Excellency, there are 362 permanent residents in Dor City."

Benbo'er's immediate answer surprised Zhou Wu.

"Just so many people?"

"My lord, this city of Dor has no industry. In fact, because of the perennial water shortage, it is impossible to even grow crops. Anyone with any connections has already left."

What Benboer said was exactly what Zhou Wu had observed during this period. Not far from Dazi, the opposite side was covered with lush grass, while on Dalong's side, nothing grew. This was rather strange.

"Why is it that vegetation can grow over there in Dazi, while Dor City is completely barren?"

"My lord, I don't know either."

Benbo'er has been the county magistrate here for several years and has tried to find the reason, but looking at the current result, it is clear that he has failed.

"How long have you been the magistrate here?"

"I have been here for three years."

"Oh, congratulations! You'll be able to transfer away from here next year."

The imperial court system required officials to be rotated every three years to prevent them from embezzling, breaking the law, and oppressing the people. Of course, there were occasional exceptions.

"hehe,"

When this sensitive topic came up, Benbo just smiled self-deprecatingly.

"What? Do you have some other grievance to complain about?"

"I wouldn't dare. I simply no longer have any desire for quick success or instant benefits. In this remote corner of the world, taking good care of these few hundred people is not bad at all."

"Speak your mind if you have any grievances, don't beat around the bush. If there is any injustice, I don't mind helping you out."

Zhou Wu's words made Benbo'er's eyes light up, but then dimmed again, as if he had lost all hope for fairness.

"Forget it, sir."

"I gave you a chance, but you chose to give it up. Don't let fate be unfair."

Zhou Wu didn't try to persuade him further. He didn't mind helping out, but if the person involved didn't take the initiative, he didn't need to do something thankless.

Benbo'er began to struggle internally, seemingly considering whether or not to speak out.

“Sir, you are right. Opportunities are something you have to seize yourself. You have given me this opportunity, and if I don’t take it, my life might just end up like this.”

Benboer finally decided to tell Zhou Wu his story.

"Then you say it and I listen."

Zhou Wu sat in the house. It was springtime, but the city of Dor, which was close to the grassland, was still a bit cold. A wood-burning stove was lit in the house.

With nothing else to do, Zhou Wu prepared some roasted horse meat. Having lived two lives, he had never tasted horse meat before.

"My lord, I was originally the top scholar in the imperial examination."

"Wait, what did you say you are?"

Zhou Wu rudely interrupted Benbo'er, unsure whether he had misheard or the other man had misunderstood.

A top scholar? A top scholar who sells stinky tofu? Or perhaps a top scholar who is also a pork prince?

"My lord, I am a genuine top scholar, personally selected by the Emperor Emeritus. If you don't believe me, the Ministry of Personnel has verifiable evidence."

"The Great Emperor?"

Zhou Wu seemed to vaguely remember that the Great Dragon also had an emperor emeritus.

Speaking of this retired emperor, he was the true founding emperor of the Great Dragon Dynasty. However, he abdicated not long after ascending the throne for unknown reasons. Li Tiancheng's achievements were too outstanding, or perhaps the retired emperor's deeds were intentionally downplayed, and people gradually forgot about him.

"Yes, the Emperor Emeritus once praised me as having eight dou of talent and eloquence without hindrance."

Although he knew it was impossible for him to lie, Zhou Wu still looked Benbo up and down with a suspicious gaze for a long time.

"If you don't believe me, sir, I won't say anything more."

Benbo'er was also angry; it was too insulting.

"Haha, go ahead, go ahead."

Zhou Wu knew he had gone a bit too far. Although appearances can be deceiving, Benbo'er's appearance was really nothing like that of a top scholar.

"I was born into a poor family. Back then, when the Great Dragon was first established, the powerful families didn't yet have the power to influence the court, which is why I had the opportunity."

It seems that Benbo'er does have some brains. Wealthy families monopolize the upper echelons of society. If it weren't for the fact that the Great Dragon was just being established and the wealthy families were still in a wait-and-see state, how could it have been a chance for Benbo'er, a poor boy?

Nowadays, powerful and influential families have monopolized the entire intellectual circle, and the imperial court is full of their people. This is why Li Tiancheng has always wanted to suppress these powerful families. If this continues, the Great Long Dynasty may have to change its name.

"And then what happened? Logically speaking, since you were born into a poor family, the imperial court should have given you more important positions."

Zhou Wu also knew best that Li Tiancheng liked poor students the most because they had no foundation or background, making them easier to brainwash and always follow his ideas.

"Hehe, that's what I thought too. Before receiving the appointment letter from the Ministry of Personnel, I even encouraged myself with lofty ambitions. But when the appointment letter came down, I was dumbfounded. Muge City, another border town fifty miles away from Dor City, has a population of no more than five hundred."

He thought that becoming the top scholar would bring him great favor, and he was prepared to serve the court. But to his surprise, the top scholar was banished to this godforsaken place, which was said to be a city but had a population of only five hundred, less than a small town.

"When I arrived in Muge City, I did not give up. I believed that as long as I could achieve something, His Majesty and the court would definitely see it. I am naturally prone to gaining weight, but when I arrived in Muge City, I ate and lived with the people and lost weight from 180 jin when I first arrived to 110 jin."

Zhou Wu has always believed that people who can successfully lose weight have a willpower that surpasses that of ordinary people.

“Three years. I spent three whole years there. Do you know how I spent them? My term was supposed to be up, and the court and His Majesty would be able to see it, but after the appointment was made, I was transferred to Dor City.”

So you gave up.

Zhou Wu roughly understood that Benbo'er had repeatedly placed his hopes on the court and the emperor, only to be disappointed time and time again, so now he was starting to give up.

"That sounds pretty bad, but if you want to leave here, you'd better perform well during this time and show me your talent. I don't keep useless people here."

Although Zhou Wu doesn't know whether this Benboer is capable or not, he is still the top scholar who passed the exam with real ability. Zhou Wu decided to give him a chance, since his island in the South China Sea is still lacking an internal affairs manager.

Although Deng Yuanliang is temporarily filling in, to be honest, he is not from a formal class and still lacks many things. If this Benboer is really capable, Zhou Wu is willing to give him a chance.

"Thank you, sir."

During this time, Benboer had already found out Zhou Wu's identity. He seemed to be an insignificant logistics manager, but in reality, he was a nobleman with a large estate.

"It's too early to thank me now; my requirements are very high."