Chapter 608: Governor Wang at Sizhou

The Great Han's Huainan East Circuit, Sizhou, Xuyi, Huan Estuary.

Huan Estuary is where the Huan River converges with the Huai River, a riverine hub. It was high autumn, the weather crisp and pleasant; cool breezes brushed the vegetation along the banks, carrying the river's dampness, slightly chill and moist.

Flat boats sat on the water, and laborers packed both banks—a rough count put them at over a thousand—engaged in dredging and clearing the channel. Great quantities of silt and sunken debris were being hauled up, bagged, and carted away, accompanied by rustic work songs—a scene of bustling vigor.

At the bank's head, constables had taken position as guards. A host of government officials had gathered here, led by none other than Huainan's Administration Commissioner, Wang Pu. This was his several-times personal inspection of the front lines.

When the drought had struck, Hao, Si, Chu, and other prefectures had suffered the most severely. Now, attending at his side, essentially all of Sizhou's chief officials had come.

Sizhou's Prefectural Administrator was Wang Zhu, newly arrived in office not long ago. As someone sent down from the Son of Heaven's side, his promotion could not help but be swift, and Huainan was a place of active affairs, full of opportunity. Having served less than two years as a County Magistrate, he had been plucked up to be Sizhou's Prefectural Administrator.

Unluckily for him, he had just assumed his post, not yet familiar with his superiors or subordinates, when the great Huainan drought struck. In the time since, following the court's and the circuit's decrees, he had been providing disaster relief and comforting the people, while Wang Pu rushed about in all directions, personally handling matters, so busy his feet never touched the ground.

This time, Wang Pu had again come north to inspect affairs. Upon hearing the summons, Wang Zhu had set down his rice bowl in the prefectural office and hurried out of the city, crossing the river to rush over. Toward Wang Pu, he dared not show the slightest negligence.

In less than two years, Wang Pu had established immense authority in Huainan East; none among the officials above or below did not fear him. This was solely because he applied the law strictly and fairly, never lenient or lax, and issued decrees frequently—any who were negligent were punished by him. As a result, the officials of all the prefectures had a taut string in their minds, terrified that Wang Pu would find some flaw in them and issue a reprimand or penalty.

Wang Zhu, because of his origins before the imperial presence, and being at an important stage of his official career, dared even less to be negligent.

"Lord Wang, for the river section near Xuyi, your subordinate has summoned over three thousand men to dredge the silt, carried out in three segments. We have already cleared over forty li!" At this moment, seeing Wang Pu staring expressionlessly at the dredging laborers, he took the initiative to report, very cautiously.

"Good progress!" Wang Pu nodded and asked, "The Huai River runs through Sizhou; the people within our borders rely heavily on its bounty. Only if the Huai is navigable can they receive its benefit!"

"What Lord Wang says is most true! The government has issued proclamations, and the fishermen, river workers, and common folk within our borders have all actively answered the call to serve!" Wang Zhu said. "The people make their living through the Huai River, so they naturally understand the reasoning!"

"At present, within the Great Han's borders, flooding is rampant; the Yellow River and the Yangtze have seen many mountain torrents. The court has also issued edicts—though the drought has eased, we must still attach importance to flood damage and maintain vigilance!" Wang Pu said.

Wang Zhu clasped his hands: "After receiving the order, I dared not be negligent. I have additionally transferred corvée laborers, funds, and grain, and am seeking out places where the riverbank is prone to breaching to cast and reinforce them!

Turning his head to look at Wang Zhu, the two years of experience governing prefectures and counties had clearly made him grow considerably. Wang Pu still kept a stern face, but he rarely nodded, saying, "Let the people have places to dwell, clothing and food to rely on, land not left waste, relieve the people's worries, judge affairs with fairness, and prepare against disasters—that is enough for great governance!"

This was Wang Pu offering guidance to Wang Zhu. Wang Zhu understood, a slight smile on his face: "Many thanks for Lord Wang's instruction! I will surely keep it in my heart at all times!"

Giving a slight nod, Wang Pu did not put on airs about this matter and said nothing more.

Two subordinate clerks and several constables came ashore and hurried forward. Wang Pu immediately asked, "How deep is the water?"

The one in front reported, "Governor, your subordinates selected several spots to test the depth. At present, in the river, the shallowest area is already nearly six chi—enough for boats to pass!"

As he spoke, he even brought out the measuring pole and pointed at the marked place for Wang Pu to verify. Wang Pu looked at it carefully before giving the order: "You may notify that Huainan salt can be shipped north by boat!"

"Yes!"

"All of you needn't stand here with me either. In such an urgent situation, the prefecture should have much to do." Glancing over the respectfully waiting Sizhou subordinates, Wang Pu waved his hand and said flatly.

The officials were all taken aback. It was Wang Zhu who, seeing this, lightly chided, "Did you not hear the Governor's words? Return to your posts, each to his own duties—why haven't you gone!"

"Yes! Your subordinates take their leave!" Only then did they snap to attention.

The host of Sizhou officials, bodies tense, withdrew respectfully. Only after they had walked far away did they relax. One of them, glancing toward the riverbank, could not help complaining, "This Governor Wang truly is not easy to get along with—far too severe, and unfeeling to boot. We humored him with all our hearts, yet were shooed away. With such a superior, there's no good life to be had!"

"Ha!" Hearing this, a clerk beside him could not help sneering, "Governor Wang being hard to get along with—that's the Prefectural Administrator's problem to fret over. For lowly clerks like us, how could we even reach the Governor's ears? If not for this drought, could you have seen his august face? And even if you saw his face, would he know your name? So there's truly no need for you to worry!"

"However!" The clerk then revealed a mocking grin: "If you, brother, were to do something lawless, outrageous, or heinous enough to shock the heavens, perhaps your name would reach the Governor's ears..."

"You scoundrel, why is your mouth so venomous—are you slandering me!" The complaining official immediately grew angry.

"How dare I! How dare I! I just feel that you overestimate yourself far too much..."

The clerks' discussions had no bearing whatsoever on Wang Pu. He and Wang Zhu walked to the makeshift sheds that the dredging laborers had set up for rest. Though not exactly filthy or chaotic, they were especially crude—wooden planks tightly linked to block the wind, and bamboo beds spread with a thick layer of dried grass against the cold.

Sitting down directly, Wang Pu looked at Wang Zhu and said, "Winter is approaching and the weather is turning cold. For all the laborers summoned, you must prepare straw, firewood, and charcoal to ward off the chill, and stock plenty of ginger soup. Additionally, I still see common folk who, for convenience, drink raw river water—this must be prohibited, to avoid insect-borne illness. All water taken must be boiled before drinking. You accompanied His Majesty on the southern campaign—how could you be negligent in this matter?"

Facing Wang Pu's rebuke, Wang Zhu felt a sense of injustice. In the past, he would have offered some defense, but at this moment, he merely clasped his hands and replied, "It is your subordinate's lax oversight. I will certainly strengthen it!"

Wang Pu was still satisfied with Wang Zhu's attitude. Of course, on this matter, Wang Zhu was in fact somewhat helpless—he had issued the prohibition, and the original intent was for the people's own good. But ordinary ignorant folk, how could they listen? They lacked that awareness; of course they did whatever was most convenient, whatever was most habitual.

As for Wang Zhu, he could hardly whip a laborer or fine him just for drinking raw river water. Thus, even to this day, within the Great Han, the only ones who could truly achieve the prohibition of drinking raw water and boiling before drinking were within the military—and even then, only the imperial army...

Wang Pu seemed to understand this somewhat, and so did not press the matter further. He ordered a laborer summoned to inquire about the people's condition. Before the officials, the awe-inspiring, fearsome Governor Wang, when facing a simple country fellow, finally put on a kind countenance.

"Are you, old man, a native of Xuyi? How many in your family? What do you do for a living?"

"Yes, that's right. My household has a wife, two sons, one daughter, and one daughter-in-law—six mouths in all! I and my eldest son farm at home; the government allotted our family twenty mu of land last year. My second son doesn't like farming—he works as a boatman on the Huai, running boats north and south. This time the government called for labor, so I brought my eldest son to dredge the silt together..."

"A family of six—can you eat your fill?" After listening, Wang Pu asked softly.

The old man was startled, somewhat puzzled by the meaning. Seeing this, Wang Pu realized he hadn't understood, so he changed the question: "This autumn's drought—was the damage to the fields severe?"

At the mention of this, the somewhat restrained old man immediately opened up, his emotions somewhat stirred, his local accent thickening as he said, "Most of the wheat died—a full seven or eight tenths less. This drought demon, even if it had come just a month later, we could have rushed the harvest..."

"With five or six mouths in the family, do you have surplus grain to get through the winter?"

The old man replied, "These past two years, the court reduced the autumn tax, and this time with the disaster, taxes were waived—enough to get through the winter!"

Hearing the lightness in the old man's tone, Wang Pu also revealed a slight smile, and posed a question he had asked many people: "Old man, do you think the current Great Han government is better, or was the former false Tang government better?"

Even the most ignorant commoner knew how to answer that. Though Wang Pu was not in formal dress, Wang Zhu was wearing his full official robe.

But this old man's answer was simple and carried a measure of sincerity: "Of course it's the Great Han government!"

"Why? Is it because of land distribution? Because of the abolition of miscellaneous levies? Because of tax reduction?" Wang Pu asked three questions in a row.

"All of it!" The old man nodded, then added a point: "Over two years ago, Huainan also suffered a drought; the fields yielded nothing. The court provided relief, but only those who had paid their taxes in full could receive relief grain. I remember clearly—many people were forced to sell their land to buy grain. It was the Great Han court at the time that permitted Huainan's people to cross the river to northern Huainan to purchase rations, saving many lives.

This year the drought came again, and not only did the court waive the autumn tax, but those in difficulty at home also received aid..."

After hearing the old man's answer, Wang Pu smiled again, his smile growing ever warmer.