Chapter 209: The Unexpected Jingzhou Chief Administrator and Prefect

"Finally, it's here....."

"Quickly, invite them!"

Chen Yan heard the words, instantly looked up, showed a hint of joy, and said with a smile.

Saying so, he stood up and went to greet them outside the gate.

Chen Yan didn't understand the Court, or rather the Grand Chancellor, why the selection of Jingzhou's top official took so long.....

But after longing like for stars and moon, it finally arrived; with the new Prefect's arrival, he can set out for Chang'an!

Liu Yuanjing followed closely, murmuring to himself, "I wonder which official the Grand Chancellor sent to take up the post....."

However, Liu Yuanjing could be certain of one thing: Jingzhou is a strategic location, so the envoy must be the Grand Chancellor's trusted aide without doubt.

"Hahaha!"

Outside the gate.

The laughter arrived before the people.

A moment later, several people appeared before them; the one at the front continued, "A Yan, you've done very well these days!"

"You've managed Jingzhou in perfect order!"

Between the lines, it was all praise.

On the way into the city, their party saw that stability and Jingzhou's prosperity remained, even surpassing before, untouched by the ravages of war.....

A testament to the ruler's capability.

"Supervisor... Supervisor?!"

When Chen Yan saw the face of the person at the front, he was first stunned, greatly surprised, then broke into a delighted smile, bowed and clasped his fists in salute: "Shuyi has seen the Supervisor!"

It was none other than Yuchi Min, the Supervisor of the Mirror Department, Chen Yan's direct superior.

"We're all family, A Yan, no need for formalities!"

Yuchi Min reached out, lifted Chen Yan, his face full of warm smile, and said.

Chen Yan blinked, as if recalling something, and asked for confirmation: "Supervisor, could you be the new Prefect of Jingzhou?"

"Our Supervisor is not just a Prefect...."

"But a Chief Administrator!"

"Governor of Jingzhou and the military affairs of the Seven Prefectures of the Northwest!"

From the crowd behind came a hearty voice answering Chen Yan's question.

Chen Yan looked up, instantly recognized who it was, and laughed: "Luo Jiang Ting, the Azure Dragon Mirror Master?"

"Why did you also come along with the Supervisor?"

The voice belonged to his colleague, the Azure Dragon Guard Mirror Master, Luo Jiang Ting.

At that moment, Chen Yan sensed an unusual aura.....

The Supervisor of the Mirror Department and the Azure Dragon Mirror Master arrived together, and the signal they emitted was far from simple!

Yuchi Min pursed his lips in a light laugh, raised a finger, and said: "Luo Jiang Ting, that kid, was appointed by the Grand Chancellor as Prefect of Yuanzhou....."

"He just happened to be traveling the same route with me!"

"After resting in An Ding for a day, he'll head to Yuanzhou for his appointment tomorrow!"

Yuanzhou borders Jingzhou to the northwest, so this superior‑subordinate pair chose to travel together.

"Congratulations, Supervisor!"

"Congratulations to Luo, the Mirror Master!"

Chen Yan clasped his fists toward the two, smiling and congratulating them.

Serving in the Mirror Department isn't bad, but being posted out of town offers broader horizons.....

As a frontier official with great authority, one wields the highest power on behalf of the Court in the region.

"Hahaha!"

Yuchi Min laughed heartily, raised his hand to pat Chen Yan's shoulder, "Shared joy, shared joy!"

"Shared joy?"

Chen Yan raised an eyebrow, "Supervisor, what do you mean?"

He vaguely already guessed.....

Yuchi Min's external post, the Supervisor's position, has become vacant.....

But Chen somehow feels this "shared joy" should be more than that.

"As for this joy, you'll know once you return to Chang'an!" Yuchi Min gave a cryptic grin, saying with a smile and deep meaning.

He paused, shifted his gaze to the few greeting them behind, and continued: "A Yan, shall I introduce these few?"

Liu Yuanjing heard this, immediately stepped forward, clasped his fists again in salute: "Liu Yuanjing has seen the Supervisor...."

"Oh no, should call you Chief Administrator first!"

Yuchi Min looked him up and down, nodded, "You're the Liu kid who came with A Yan to Jingzhou to suppress bandits?"

"Truly an Outstanding Talent!"

His words were full of praise.

"Supervisor, you overpraise me; I am unworthy!" Liu Yuanjing bowed his head, humbly saying.

"You are worthy of...."

Yuchi Min tapped his hand, a slight curve at his mouth, and said: "Luo Jiang Ting, fetch his appointment letter!"

"Appointment letter?" Liu Yuanjing was slightly startled, as if realizing something.

Luo Jiang Ting took the appointment letter handed over by the Personal Guard, gave it to Liu Yuanjing, and said: "The Grand Chancellor appoints you as Chief Historian of Yuanzhou; upon receipt, assume office immediately!"

Yuanzhou Chief Historian........ Liu Yuanjing held the appointment letter, unable to hide his excitement and surprise, immediately bowed toward Chang'an and said: "Thank you, Grand Chancellor!"

He then bowed again to Yuchi Min: "Thank you, Zongguan!"

Liu Yuanjing did not expect the appointment letter to arrive so suddenly, and that his entry into officialdom was as Chief Historian, the third‑in‑command of Yuanzhou.

His starting point is the very end that many people dream of…

"You kid are thanking the wrong person; the one you should thank isn't me!" Yuchi Min, seeing this, shook his finger and reminded him meaningfully.

Hearing this, Liu Yuanjing's mind raced, suddenly he was enlightened, and he turned to bow deeply to Chen Yan: "Thank you, Brother Chen!"

"That's right then…"

Yuchi Min nodded approvingly and laughed: "A Yan's report sent to Chang'an has praised you a lot!"

Others may not know, but could Yuchi Min still be unaware?

If Chen Yan had not handed over the "praise" in Da Zhongzai's Mifeng, no matter how capable Liu Yuanjing is or how noble his background, it would be hard for him to be directly granted a local high office such as Provincial Chief Historian…

At most, he would start as a County Magistrate.

"I merely recorded the facts; there's no need for such flattery!"

Chen Yan smiled calmly, waved his hand, and said seriously: "Da Zhongzai's appointment is because he values your ability!"

Liu Yuanjing's gaze hardened, he bowed heavily, and silently engraved this gratitude in his heart.

"A Yan, who is this…?" Yuchi Min shifted his gaze to the mature‑looking person behind him and asked.

"Liu Mu Zhi…" Chen Yan leaned sideways and introduced.

"Oh?"

Yuchi Min, hearing this, recalled briefly and said: "The great talent of Jingzhou who kept his integrity and never yielded?"

In that Mifeng, not only were a series of Jingzhou events recorded faithfully and the deeds of Liu Yuanjing, Wang Xiong and others described, but Liu Mu Zhi was also mentioned.

No matter how Ming Shaoxia tried to coerce or tempt him, he kept his integrity, showing great backbone.

"Honored to meet the Zongguan!" Liu Mu Zhi, neither servile nor arrogant, performed a salute.

"Indeed, not bad!"

After sizing him up, Yuchi Min praised.

With integrity and ability, having him under his command will be a great asset…

"You Xian." Chen Yan called.

"Here." You Xian stepped forward in response.

"Order the banquet preparations; I will welcome the Chief Overseer and the Lu Mirror‑Handling Officer!" Chen Yan instructed.

"Yes."

Night.

At the banquet.

In the gilt bronze pot, pots of meat gurgled, selected bone‑on lamb simmered in a secret broth with Sichuan pepper, tsaoko, and fennel, stewed until tender so that even the bone joints soaked in bright red soup; a light chop lifted the meat cleanly, the fatty aroma mingling with spices pierced the nose.

On the carved‑flower porcelain plate, golden‑crisp Jingchuan buns were dusted with sesame; when broken, their honeycomb pores released wheat fragrance, and dipping them in the lamb broth's chili oil gave a sharp, tangy burst that awakened the palate.

Another plate of Jingzhou stuffed skin glistened milky‑white, drizzled with garlicky vinegar and secret sesame sauce, paired with emerald cucumber strips; it was smooth, chewy, and richly sour‑fragrant.

When the ceramic steamer was lifted, white steam rose, revealing the true face of the Jingchuan warm pot: the bottom layer held white radish and fried tofu soaked in broth, the middle stacked alternating fatty and lean crispy meat with handmade vermicelli.

The top was covered with golden egg dumplings and tender spinach, drizzled with broth made from chicken bones and beef shank bones, the mingled meat‑and‑vegetable aroma filling the hall.

Chen Yan lifted his cup, looked at Yuchi Min seated at the head seat, and said: "Whether you are the Chief Overseer or not, you will always remain my superior…".

"I respect you!"

When Chen Yan was in Chang'an, he received plenty of patronage.

Without Yuchi Min's covert support, many matters earlier would have been hard to advance…

He has kept this gratitude in his heart.

"When did we become so distant between us?"

Yuchi Min raised his cup, clinked it, and laughed: "Drink together, drink together!"

Immediately, the two drank it down in one gulp.

After three rounds of wine.

Slightly tipsy, Yuchi Min placed his hand on Chen Yan's shoulder and meaningfully instructed: "A Yan, in the future you must faithfully assist Da Zhongzai!"

——

PS: Zongguan system.

The Inspector of the affiliated prefecture holds strict military command authority and can summon the Inspectors of the Zongguan district to partake in military actions.

At the same time, it is responsible for the military defense within the Zongguan district, pacifying the region, training the local garrison troops, managing armories, and overseeing the area's military training, deployment, and defense affairs.

The Zongguan usually also serves as the Inspector of the stationed prefecture, overseeing both civil and military affairs.

The Zongguan Office is a political institution above the prefectural level; the Zongguan holds central‑granted appointment and dismissal authority over prefectural and county officials and can manage civil affairs within the jurisdiction, including household registration, taxation, public security, and more.

It strengthens the central government's vertical management over the regions, concentrating local power in the center and reducing the possibility of regional separatism.