Office at the center of ancient power

It's a place you wouldn't put someone you didn't trust.

A lot. With your life.

The Zhili provincial governor's office in today's Bao-ding, Hebei province, is the best-preserved Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) provincial compound because it was run by the most powerful official of the most powerful province, zongdu - who also controlled the most powerful military to guard "Beijing's South Gate".