Ning Chen shook his head and laughed. So Huai'an had gone and poached one of his people on the quiet.

Little did he know, it had been the Xuan Emperor's idea.

Years ago, the Xuan Emperor had been forced to dismiss Shen Min, but he knew full well what the man was capable of and had always been looking for a chance to bring him back.

Then Zhang Tianlun seized control of the government, and the matter was dropped.

So this time, when the Xuan Emperor left the capital, he had suggested to the An Emperor that if Ning Chen retook Xiangzhou, Shen Min should be transferred back.

Ning Chen laughed. "Old Shen, this prince isn't really angry. Just joking... You look full of energy. You seem pretty happy with your current post."

Most men dropped from a great officer of the Second Rank to the Fourth would have been bitter, but Shen Min didn't mind in the slightest.

Shen Min smiled. "To be given real responsibility again is happiness enough for this official... The post itself does not matter. It may only be the Fourth Rank now, but it is still a great office over a whole region.

Rest assured, my lord prince. For the eastern frontier you worked so hard to retake, this official will give everything to see that all its people live well.

Before coming here, this official gave Her Majesty a guarantee: within five years, every household across the eastern frontier, even the ordinary commoners, will have two or three years' grain in store... Failing that, the official cap comes off, and it is back to the capital to stand trial."

Ning Chen was startled. "Stakes that high?"

Shen Min smiled. "On barren land, this official would never dare make such a guarantee. But the eastern frontier has fertile soil and plenty of resources. As long as there is no war, five years is ample time."

Ning Chen nodded slightly and looked at the officials. "All of you should take Lord Shen as your model. If the Great Xuan's officials were all like Lord Shen,…