Shengle City had four gates, each managed by a Gate Colonel—an official position that was, one might say, exceedingly common.
Zheng Fan used to complain repeatedly about Yan State's military system, especially in Beifeng Prefecture, where captaincies were as common as stray dogs. It was just like the Qing Dynasty practice of purchasing official posts; it reached a point where even overseas Chinese with a modicum of connections, by simply digging into their family coffers, could produce the trappings of so-called "beasts in robes" and "plumed official hats."
However, one's perspective often changes with one's position. When Zheng Fan was just a Gate Colonel, he naturally lambasted the devaluation of the rank. Yet the moment he became the City Commander, responsible for a city and the region it represented, his tune changed completely.
