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

"Master Zhang!"

Today, Zhou Wu was there to ask for a favor, so he adopted a humble attitude, greeted everyone with a smile, and bowed first.

"Oh, Lord Zhou, what a rare guest! Please have a seat, and have some tea."

Minister Zhang had more or less guessed Zhou Wu's purpose, so he smiled and invited Zhou Wu to take a seat.

After the official served tea to the two men, they remained silent for the time being, each drinking from their teacups.

"Sweet aftertaste, lingering fragrance on the lips and teeth, a fine tea."

"Lord Zhou, you're so young, yet you understand tea?"

Upon hearing Zhou Wu's evaluation, Minister Zhang became interested. After all, these civil officials who called themselves scholars and gentlemen naturally had their own hobbies.

For example, military generals like wine, while civil officials naturally prefer tea.

"Haha, Lord Zhang, this method of frying tea was invented by my Niujia Village."

Zhou Wu laughed and put down his teacup.

"Oh dear, I forgot about that. Lord Zhou is the true originator of tea-frying. I'm making a fool of myself."

Among the literati, Minister Zhang's greatest hobby was drinking tea. Since he came into contact with tea frying a few years ago, the tea brewing method that he had previously regarded as divine was immediately thrown to the back of his mind. The tea brewing utensils that he had painstakingly collected were left in the warehouse covered with a thick layer of dust.

The two began to talk about tea, and after a few words, Minister Zhang's impression of Zhou Wu had changed significantly.

"It seems that everything before was just hearsay."

He sighed inwardly. Zhou Wu wasn't as bad as his colleagues had said; in fact, he felt a bit like they had met too late.

. . . . . . . .

"Haha, Lord Zhou, I never expected you to have such insight at such a young age. I truly regret believing the rumors and wish to drink and chat with you soon."

"Rumor? What rumor?"

"Ah, let's not talk about it, let's not talk about it. They're just a few gossipy parasites. I wonder what brings Lord Zhou here today."

In his excitement, Minister Zhang blurted out something unintentional. Faced with Zhou Wu's questioning, he quickly changed the subject. The court was full of people with many opinions and complex relationships, and it was not easy to offend anyone.

"Oh, I almost forgot about the important matter."

Zhou Wu felt he was having a very pleasant conversation with Minister Zhang, and for a moment he forgot his real purpose.

"Well, I've come today to ask you something."

"Please speak freely, Lord Zhou."

If Zhang Shangshu had some reservations at the beginning, it can now be said that he has no more grudges against Zhou Wu.

"Minister Zhang, as you know, I am now in charge of the easternmost region, which is a barren and desolate place with nothing. Other things are manageable, and I can find ways to solve them myself. But such a large territory has no capable administrators. Even if I had three heads and six arms, I would be helpless."

"Indeed, although the imperial court does not have a high opinion of the Eastern Pole, it is still the land of our Great Dragon. Only Lord Zhou is carrying this burden, and we admire him. If Lord Zhou has any needs, please just say so, and I will do my best."

"I heard that the Ministry of Personnel still has many reserve officials waiting to be appointed?"

"Yes."

"In the early period of the imperial court, due to land expansion, there was an urgent need for a large number of grassroots management talents, so many special examinations were opened up, as well as recommendation quotas. Who would have thought that after finally releasing the previously backlogged officials, there are now many more backlogged."

As expected, Zhou Wu came for the appointment of officials, but the arrangement of these officials had always been a worry for Minister Zhang, and now it seemed that Zhou Wu would have to solve the problem again.

"Then why not assign me Ruguo to help me manage the Eastern Pole?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Wu immediately perked up. He had the resources and the means to develop the business, but he couldn't find the right grassroots management talent in the short term.

"Lord Zhou, the issue of officials awaiting appointment is currently a headache for the Ministry of Personnel. I would be happy to give them all to you, but it depends on whether these people are willing to accept them."

"Ah~"

Zhou Wu had thought that getting the Ministry of Personnel on his side would be enough, but he hadn't expected that the principle of voluntariness would also apply. The conditions in this remote eastern region were harsh, and he figured most people wouldn't want to go. Zhou Wu was quite disappointed.

"What? You think none of them want to go?"

Minister Zhang saw through Zhou Wu's thoughts at a glance and said jokingly.

"Describing East Pole as a remote and impoverished area is an overestimation. Do you think these people would be willing to give up the conditions of the inland to go to East Pole?"

People naturally prefer places with better conditions, especially officials in feudal society, who naturally preferred inland areas where conditions were far superior.

"Well, I have a different opinion from you. I think most of them would prefer to go to the East Pole."

Minister Zhang smiled slightly and said with a profound and inscrutable expression.

"why?"

"Because if they stay inland, they might have to wait another ten or eight years, or even a lifetime, and they might not be able to make up for the shortfall."

"Why?"

"Because most of the current grassroots officials in Dalong are newly appointed in the last two years. These people are young, strong, and energetic. Do you think they will retire and return to their hometowns soon?"

"That's right. Most of the grassroots officials in Dalong now are newcomers who have only been promoted in the last two years."

Minister Zhang's words immediately enlightened Zhou Wu. The goal of these officials awaiting appointment was to be promoted, but there was absolutely no chance in the inland areas. Although the conditions in the easternmost part of the country were a bit harsh, as long as they persisted for a few years and achieved good results, they might have a chance to be transferred back if they made some efforts.

The two sides hit it off immediately and submitted a memorial to the emperor for instructions. However, they both knew that the emperor would not possibly disagree.

. . . . . . .

The emperor's decree came down quickly. Minister Zhang sent a notice to all officials awaiting appointment: those who agreed to be transferred to Dongji should immediately come to the Ministry of Personnel to register; those who did not agree should continue to wait.

But nobody's stupid; this "wait" might just be a long, drawn-out process.

All the officials awaiting appointment were registered with the Ministry of Personnel and all agreed to go to the Eastern Pole.

The issue of management officials has been completely resolved.

Zhou Wu led these officials directly from the capital, first taking a boat back to the South China Sea, and then preparing some supplies in the South China Sea before heading to the East Pole.

South China Sea.

"This is the South China Sea? It's so prosperous!"

"It seems different from what I've heard."

"Yeah, isn't the South China Sea supposed to be a wild and untamed place?"

The ship returning from the capital docked smoothly at the South China Sea Wharf, and the officials awaiting appointment began to disembark one after another. These officials were mostly without any background, otherwise they would not have become officials awaiting appointment.

So this was the first time in their lives that they had seen the legendary South China Sea. Unexpectedly, its prosperity was no less than that of the capital.

"Hmph, you are all frogs in a well. The South China Sea was indeed a barren land before, but that was before Lord Zhou came to the South China Sea. In the past few years, Lord Zhou has worked hard to govern the South China Sea, and the South China Sea has developed rapidly. Although its economic development is still somewhat behind that of the capital, it has already firmly ranked second in the Great Dragon."

A discordant voice rang out from behind them, and a young man looked at them with disdain.