Chapter 107: Purifying the Source, Consolidating the Foundation·A New Chapter in Official Governance

By the banks of the Lin Shui River, the sound of work songs shook heaven and earth.

The dikes rose and were reinforced day by day at a visibly rapid pace.

The floodwaters that once raged were now confined within the riverbed, flowing gently eastward.

The muddy bare land on both banks lay under the warm spring sun.

Water vapor rose, as if heralding the hope of a bountiful harvest next year.

Using labor for relief was like a shot of adrenaline!

It let this dying body of Linhe County regain vitality, the people's hearts gradually turned toward it, and order was initially established.

However, Chen Wen knew well that the project would eventually come to an end.

If a clean and effective administrative system cannot be established.

And power cannot be rooted in the pure stream.

Then, once the external force is withdrawn, Linhe County is likely to swiftly slide back onto its old track.

Even a brief prosperity could provoke a more violent backlash.

Suppressing bandits is like removing a malignant tumor; repairing dikes is like unblocking the blood vessels.

While rectifying officialdom and rebuilding the government's authority.

Is the key to strengthening the sinews and bones, to purifying the source and consolidating the foundation.

The county yamen hall is no longer the murky, miasmic place it was during Zhou Tao's time.

But it also appears empty and cold.

The original clerks and bailiffs, aside from a few who were detained awaiting trial for grave crimes.

The majority, meanwhile, were panic-stricken all day long due to Zhou Tao's downfall.

Either they feigned illness and stayed home, or they loafed at work; the entire county-level administrative apparatus was almost paralyzed.

"Sir, the most pressing problem at present is that there is no one usable."

Zhang Cheng placed a list before Chen Wen, which recorded the names of the clerks left behind in each department of the former county yamen.

Most of them were marked with notes such as "waiting and seeing," "feigning illness," or "ability in question."

"Collecting taxes, adjudicating lawsuits, managing household registers, transmitting official documents… and all manner of affairs."

"Now almost all of these tasks fall on the people we brought from Chan Prefecture and a few veteran clerks; continuing like this is certainly not a good plan."

Chen Wen looked at the list, his fingers lightly tapping the desk.

He understood that relying entirely on parachuted personnel was unrealistic.

Moreover, it was difficult to truly grasp local sentiments;

but if the old staff were retained, it would inevitably mix the good with the bad, even planting hidden dangers.

"In extraordinary times, one must resort to extraordinary measures."

Chen Wen pondered for a moment, then lifted his gaze to Zhang Cheng and Wang Ru.

"We cannot be bound by origin or seniority."

"The primary task is to select a group of people who are willing and able to work, and relatively clean, to temporarily fill various posts."

"First, set up the framework of the office, so that orders can flow smoothly."

He rose to his feet and paced to the window.

Gazing at the street outside gradually regaining vitality, he spoke slowly:

"The selection criteria are three."

"First, one's intentions must be upright, with no prior record of exploiting the populace or colluding with bandits."

"This point can be verified covertly by Qian Gui's Inspection Bureau."

"Second, one must be versed in practical affairs—whether accounting, documentation, or legal matters—having at least one specialized skill."

"Third, and most importantly, one must have a heart for the people, willing to rebuild order amidst this ruined, chaotic age."

"Your Excellency means… not bound by convention?"

Wang Ru's eyes lit up.

"Not bad."

Chen Wen turned, his gaze sharp.

"We can start from three aspects:"

"First, among the lower-level clerks of the former county yamen, there may be those who are frustrated and unappreciated, or who were sidelined by Zhou Tao yet still retain a conscience; they can come forward, and after verification be provisionally employed as appropriate."

"Second, local scholars from humble families, whether aspiring to official rank or fallen on hard times, as long as their conduct is acceptable and they are willing to contribute to their hometown, may also be recruited."

"Third, from this labor‑for‑relief effort, select those who performed outstandingly, were quick‑witted, and enjoyed prestige among the laborers, to serve as village chiefs and baojia heads, taking charge of concrete civil affairs."

This was a bold yet pragmatic plan that broke the shackles of aristocratic lineage and birth.

It expanded the selection pool to all usable talent in Linhe County.

When the order was issued, the whole of Linhe County trembled anew.

Especially for those low‑level clerks and impoverished scholars.

This was nothing less than a ray of light piercing the darkness.

After the notice was posted, initially only a few responded, while most people remained in a state of watchful waiting.

They worried whether this might be another purge or a scam.

Until the first former household office clerk

who, due to poverty and honesty, had previously been continually sidelined

came forward with a tentative mindset to petition, after undergoing detailed questioning by Zhang Cheng and Wang Ru

and after Qian Gui verified his innocence, he was actually appointed on the spot as acting head of the household office.

Responsible for assisting in land survey and household registration.

And only when they received their first meager but genuine salary did the frozen situation begin to loosen.

Subsequently.

A poor scholar who repeatedly failed the examinations and ran an elementary school in the city to teach students.

Because he was familiar with the laws, he was summoned to help handle the backlog of litigation documents.

Several labor foremen who demonstrated outstanding organizational ability in the work-for-relief program.

Appointed as the village chief of the temporary li, responsible for coordinating the li's public order, sanitation, and material distribution……

Chen Wen did not completely let go.

All those who were selected had to undergo short-term training and assessment by Zhang Cheng, Wang Ru, and others.

Clarifying duties and familiarizing themselves with the new regulations.

At the same time, he established a strict supervision mechanism:

With Wang Ru overseeing supervision and Qian Gui's Inspection Bureau conducting covert visits, to ensure these newly appointed officials dare not engage in corruption.

Chen Wen himself would also often suddenly appear in various offices, reviewing documents and inquiring about affairs, so that no one dared to be the slightest bit lax.

That day, Chen Wen was reviewing the new officials' evaluation comments sent by Wang Ru in the rear hall.

Zhao Lao Nian strode in excitedly, holding a rolled leather tape measure and several sheets of coarse paper covered in markings.

"Sir, the land survey matter has some leads!"

Zhao Lao Nian's face bore an excited flush.

"Following your orders, we used the newly repaired embankment as the boundary to re-determine the flooded and cultivable areas."

"Thanks to the guidance of the newly selected village chiefs and experienced local farmers, progress has sped up considerably."

"This is a preliminary land map; although rough, it is basically correct!"

Chen Wen took the map and examined it carefully.

On it, charcoal clearly marked the land quality of different areas, the original owners' information, and the estimated fertility grades.

"Good!"

Chen Wen nodded in approval.

"With this foundation, we can target tax reductions and the redistribution of ownerless wasteland."

"Tell those below: the land survey must be fair, and must not harass the people."

"Moreover, one must not use this occasion to corrupt public resources for private gain; violators will be severely punished without exception."

"Sir, rest assured, we understand the rules."

Zhao Lao Nian patted his chest to guarantee.

"Now everyone is full of vigor, all know to follow you, sir, and have prospects."

As they were speaking, Wang Ru entered holding a document, her brows slightly furrowed:

"Sir, this is a secret report just sent by the Inspection Bureau."

"When clearing out the documents left in the hidden compartment of Zhou Tao's study,"

"we discovered several letters of his private correspondence with the outside world; the content…… is somewhat suspicious."

"Oh?"

Chen Wen took the document and unfolded it to examine closely.

The letters' signatures are vague, the language obscure.

But several times they mention phrases like "goods coming from the north," "periodic delivery," and "the old place."

And they vaguely point to a remote mountainous area in the county's northeast where few people tread.

The timing happens to be just before and after last autumn's floods.

"Goods coming from the north……"

Chen Wen's fingers lightly tapped the paper, his eyes growing deep.

Zhou Tao's embezzled wealth mostly leaves traces, but the "goods" mentioned in these letters seem not to be ordinary gold and silver.

Combined with Qian Gui's earlier clue that the Iron Crow Army might be using this place as a secret passage,

a vague speculation formed in his mind.

"It seems the waters of Riverside County are deeper than we thought."

Chen Wen put the document away and said to Wang Ru and Zhao Lao Nian:

"For now keep this confidential, continue covert investigations, especially that mountainous area in the northeast, and have Qian Gui put in extra effort."

"For the time being, our primary task is still to stabilize the county's framework."

He walked to the front of the hall and watched the busy new and old officials bustling in the courtyard.

Although their attire is plain, even somewhat shabby, each person's face bears a long-lost focus and vigor.

The promulgated simple laws were copied and posted; the tax reduction policy began to be implemented on specific fields and households.

The backlog of lawsuits has been preliminarily sorted, and household registration is proceeding in an orderly fashion……

A new order, like spring shoots breaking through the soil, is emerging on this war‑scarred land.

Although tender, it is full of vitality.

Chen Wen knows that the rectification of administration is not a one‑day job, and cultivating talent requires even more time.

But at least he has already swung the hoe, broken the compacted soil, and sown the seeds of hope.

And this first step of clearing the source and consolidating the foundation has gone more smoothly than he anticipated.

The Fortune Momentum vortex in his sea of consciousness also seems to have become more solid and stable due to the initial establishment and effective operation of this administrative system.