When Gaileo and his entourage had arrived they immediately arranged a meeting at the Governor's palace. The Governor of Shuangfeng was not overly excited about a meeting with Gaileo.
The reason being that Gaileo had formerly made Shuangfeng his army's headquarters. During that time the people of the city and the surrounding regions in general, showed more respect to Gaileo's authority than his own.
"So, to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?" He asked with feigned politeness.
"We have some business to discuss." Gaileo said as he took a seat and threw his feet up on the table in front of him.
"Yes, please make yourself comfortable in MY office." The governor said while restraining his frustrations.
"I don't know if you've heard, but I've just received Carriha City as a reward for my conquest of Carriha." Gaileo said.
"I actually hadn't heard. Congratulations your majesty." The governor said. "Did this brat really come all this way just to brag?" He thought.
"Now the business I wanted to discuss is actually related to this. I was hoping that you would trade your fief for mine."
The governor was a bit taken aback by Gaileo's offer. "You wish to trade fiefs with me?" He asked.
"Yes, I think it is quite a good deal for you. Carriha City will offer you far more in income and it is in a much warmer climate that I think would be more to your liking. What's more, the fief comes with a marriage pact with the Carrihan princess. I'm sure your son would be interested in that."
"Yes, I admit that this would be quite a good deal for me. Which begs the question, why would you offer me a deal that that is so heavily in my favor?" The governor asked as his suspicions were growing.
"It's nothing so complicated, I simply want to remain in my home. Even Imperial princes can be nostalgic about their hometown." Gaileo replied. "Also, if you consider this to be a favorable outcome for you, then I believe it would be beneficial for you to remember who it was that made that outcome possible for you. Do you understand what I mean?"
"Yes, yes, I understand. I'll remember this. I'll remember it when it comes time to give my support to a candidate for the next Emperor. I'll remember which one has done favors for me in the past." The governor said as he shook Gaileo's hand.
"Good, it seems that we understand each other." Gaileo said before he left the room.
"That went about the way I expected it to." Shion said as Gaileo exited the meeting. "With an eagerly ambitious man like that it's simpler to deal with him with a carrot rather than a stick."
"I don't know. I'm pretty sure I could have dealt with him a lot simpler by bashing him with a stick." Gaileo responded.
"Certainly, but it wouldn't have given us as potent results as we got using this method."
Back to the present in Zhenqi, the Imperial Court was murmuring over the news that Gaileo had traded his fief. "He can't do that!" One of them shouted.
"Silence!" The Emperor shouted. "There is an established precedent for such a thing. However, it's been such a long time since anyone has had the guts to actually do it."
"If that's all I'd like to return to my city as soon as possible. I have a lot of work to do." Gaileo said as he left without actually waiting for permission to leave.
"Hahahaha! That cheeky brat. He got me good this time. Maybe he has what it takes after all." The Emperor said. "I think I might throw him a few more curveballs."
Gaileo returned to his new fief in Shuangfeng, and the citizens there decided to throw a celebration for Gaileo's appointment as Governor.
"Sir, we are all so happy to see you as the Governor here in this city. I can still remember when you were just a rowdy boy running around these streets. We're all so proud of how far you've come." An old man said to Gaileo.
"Give it a rest gramps it's not that big a deal." Gaileo responded.
"He's still just a rowdy boy if you ask me." Shion said with a chuckle. The rest of the group all had a laugh at Gaileo's expense.
Gaileo then went on to spend some time doing all the necessary administrative tasks and duties that he had now. Though mostly he just pawned his duties off on Shion and Ma Ten.
After only a short time, the city's prosperity had skyrocketed. In addition, there was another boom of recruitment to the city from across the northern mountains. Gaileo had around 70,000 men in his army as well as tens of thousands more in the city garrison. His power had increased greatly from his new position and people were starting to take him more seriously as a leader. Though it didn't take him long to recieve another test from the Emperor.