Luo Chong and his party once again spurred their horses toward the Weishan Commandery docks. The journey was over a hundred kilometers, and they did not finally arrive until nightfall. Everyone was frozen stiff, so they had no choice but to spend the night at the local Government Office.
Although it was already winter, the Morning Star Lighthouse standing at the Weishan Commandery docks was still lit on schedule every night. Its enormous white beam kept rotating under the power of the windmill, sweeping across the land and lakes within a hundred-li radius.
Luo Chong sat with a group of Personal Guards and officials from Weishan Commandery in the Government Office building, eating Hot Pot. Outside the transparent glass windows, the cold wind howled, while inside the room it was as warm as spring.
A three-legged iron coal stove stood in the middle of the room. A long Sheet Metal chimney led through a hole in the wooden wall to the outside, and the large kettle atop the stove kept steaming.
Before long, the steam inside the kettle began blowing a whistling tune through the lid. Lu Guangzhu, who had just been transferred from Sitong County to serve as Prefect of Weishan Commandery for half a year, picked up the kettle and brewed several large pots of tea. Then he added some water to the Hot Pot on Luo Chong's table before sitting down to accompany Luo Chong in his meal.
Luo Chong picked up two pieces of frozen tofu riddled with holes and tossed them into the pot. While waiting, he asked Lu Guangzhu about the administration of Weishan Commandery.
"Guangzhu, how have things been during your half-year in Weishan Commandery? Has the work gone smoothly?"
At once, Lu Guangzhu started to rise and salute, but Luo Chong hurriedly