Three Kingdoms: Start by buying a governor.

The registrar was stunned and said, "Your Excellency? You... why did you even bring your official seal? We're going to report on our work, not to resign!"

Su Gu laughed heartily, patted him on the shoulder, and said:

"Silly boy, what do you know? Once I go to Luoyang, I'll most likely lose my position as the Prefect of Hanzhong. Prepare in advance so we don't have to scramble later. Don't worry, His Highness the Prince of Yan is a wise ruler and won't mistreat us."

Without the slightest hesitation, Su Gu packed everything up in three days, and with a few close attendants and his chief clerk, he drove a carriage straight to Luoyang.

...

It took a whole week to travel from Hanzhong to Luoyang.

After walking this far, Su Gu's initial apprehension completely vanished.

Before, in Hanzhong, I only heard rumors and gossip.

What about the Prince of Yan being a vicious and ruthless killer? What about the Youzhou army causing chaos wherever they went? What about the people of the north living worse than slaves...?

But when he actually walked down the street, he realized that it wasn't like that at all.

Once outside Hanzhong and into the Sili region, the official road was so smooth and well-maintained that two carriages could travel side by side without feeling cramped.

Along the roadside, the fields were full of people busy with winter plowing, all with smiles on their faces, showing no signs of being displaced.

The town was bustling with activity, with shops lining the streets and people coming and going.

The shouts of vendors selling cloth, grain, meat, and groceries rose and fell in a continuous stream.

Forget about bandits, even petty theft is rare.

At the post stations along the way, the officers and soldiers were strictly disciplined. When they met him, the governor of Hanzhong, they were very polite and did not make things difficult for him in the slightest.

The courier took the initiative to arrange food and lodging for him, providing hot water, hot meals, a heated kang (a traditional heated bed), and even feeding the horses well, ensuring they had everything they needed.

They even helped load the car when they left, without saying a single unnecessary word.

"My God, how long has it been? The north has become like this?"

Sitting in the carriage, Su Gu looked out the window and couldn't help but sigh to the registrar beside him:

"When Dong Zhuo was in power, this whole area was filled with barren fields and displaced people. Starving corpses littered the land, nine out of ten houses were empty, and you could walk for half a day without seeing a single living person. Now, it's all so peaceful—no one picks up lost items, and doors are left unlocked at night. Your Highness, the Prince of Yan, your abilities are truly remarkable!"

The registrar nodded repeatedly, saying, "Indeed, Your Highness! Everyone says that His Highness the Prince of Yan is a wise ruler who will restore the Han Dynasty, and seeing him today, it's clear that his reputation is well-deserved! Our trip to Luoyang was definitely worthwhile!"

The further you go into Luoyang, the more prosperous the scenery becomes.

Upon entering Luoyang, Su Gu was utterly stunned.

The streets were neatly maintained, and the bluestone-paved roads were so clean that you could see your reflection in them.

The shops on both sides are lined up one after another, with flags fluttering in the wind, selling all kinds of things.

The streets were bustling with people and vehicles, even more prosperous and lively than before Dong Zhuo entered the capital.

The patrolling Youzhou army was disciplined and did not commit any offenses.

The people were not afraid of the soldiers at all when they saw them; they would even greet them with smiles.

An old man selling candied hawthorns offered two skewers to the patrolling soldiers. The soldiers smiled and declined, but the old man insisted. In the end, the soldiers accepted them and even saluted.

Sitting in the carriage, Su Gu became more and more convinced as he looked at the carriage.

With his ability to govern the country, let alone the position of Prefect of Hanzhong, he would accept being forced to resign and go home to farm.

Following such a wise ruler is much better than being stuck in the middle of Hanzhong, living in constant fear and anxiety.

As soon as he entered the gates of Luoyang, he saw Old Wang, the steward of the Prince of Yan's mansion, waiting at the city gate with several personal guards.

Old Wang was dressed in a neat robe, his back ramrod straight, and a perfectly appropriate smile on his face.

Upon seeing Su Gu's carriage, he quickly went to greet him, cupping his hands in a respectful greeting to Su Gu inside the carriage.

"Lord Su, you must be tired from your journey! My master specifically instructed this old servant to wait here for you and invite you directly to the Prince of Yan's residence to rest. My master is already waiting for you there!"

"Thank you for your trouble, Butler Wang!"

Su Gu quickly got out of the carriage, cupped his hands in greeting to Old Wang, and thought to himself: The Prince of Yan is really courteous, not neglecting him at all just because he is a minor governor of Hanzhong.

And so, Su Gu didn't go to the post station, but followed Old Wang directly to the Prince of Yan's residence.

Hot tea and snacks had already been prepared in the main hall of the Prince of Yan's mansion.

Su Gu followed Lao Wang into the main hall and immediately saw Liu Ce sitting in the main seat.

He was dressed in casual clothes and looked very approachable, without any airs of someone who held the reins of power. However, the imposing aura emanating from him was impossible to hide.

He sits there like a mountain, making people dare not underestimate him.

Su Gu quickly stepped forward, bowed deeply to Liu Ce, and said loudly, "Su Gu, Prefect of Hanzhong, pays respects to His Highness the Prince of Yan!"

"Lord Su, you must be tired from your journey. Please don't stand on ceremony and have a seat."

Liu Ce smiled and waved his hand, signaling the servants to serve tea to Su Gu. His tone was very amiable. "The journey from Hanzhong to Luoyang is long. You must have had a tough time along the way?"

"Thanks to Your Highness, the journey was very smooth, and I didn't suffer any fatigue at all."

Su Gu sat down respectfully, barely touching the edge of the chair, and said with a little nervousness:

"As I traveled, I witnessed the people of the North living in peace and prosperity, and Luoyang remaining as prosperous as ever. This is all thanks to Your Highness. I am filled with admiration and utterly prostrate myself in respect."

Liu Ce laughed heartily, and without beating around the bush, went straight to the point:

"Lord Su, you are too kind. The reason I summoned you here is not just to have you report on the affairs of Hanzhong. The main reason is to inform you that you should step down from your position as Prefect of Hanzhong for now. The court has other arrangements for you."

Upon hearing this, the registrar standing nearby felt his heart leap into his throat...

But to everyone's surprise, Su Gu, upon hearing this, not only didn't hesitate at all, but instead stood up, bowed deeply to Liu Ce, and answered loudly without a second thought:

"Your Majesty, I obey! I have already prepared everything. I have brought all the documents concerning Hanzhong's household registration, treasury, and troop deployment, and they are ready for handover at any time! If Your Highness has any other arrangements, please give the order, and I will have no complaints whatsoever!"

This time, Liu Ce was stunned for a moment, then couldn't help but burst into laughter.

He had prepared a whole host of arguments to explain the pros and cons to Su Gu and to soothe his emotions.

As it turned out, they didn't need it at all and readily agreed without any hesitation.

"Excellent! Lord Su is indeed a straightforward and righteous man!"

Liu Ce stood up with a smile, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "I thought I'd have to have a serious talk with you, but I didn't expect you to agree so readily."

Su Gu also smiled and said with a sincere expression:

"Your Highness, I will not speak empty words. I am a subject of the Han Dynasty, and my loyalty lies with the Han Dynasty and the world, not with this position of governor. If Your Highness can bring peace to the world and enable the people to live a good life, it is only right and proper for me to obey you."