Chapter 154

For two consecutive days, he personally went to the fields and workshops, applying the "Heaven-Endowed Power" to the fundamentals of agriculture and labor.

Chen Wen's attention turned to the nerve center that kept everything running—the administrative system.

On the third day, he appeared beside the Luochuan County office, inside the newly unveiled "Defense Commissioner's Headquarters" administrative hall.

Here, the bustling heat of the artisan workshop and the earthy scent of the fields were starkly different.

The air was filled with the distinctive smell of ink and old paper, and a tranquil, solemn atmosphere arose.

Inside the hall, tall document shelves stood against the walls on both sides, stacked with case files and ledgers sorted by category.

Several dozen clerks were bent over the long desks.

Some were writing furiously, some were whispering while checking documents, and others were hurrying back and forth clutching thick case files.

Zhang Cheng and Wang Ru sat at two individual small desks beside the main seat at the head.

One was intently reviewing a pile of documents as high as a small hill, while the other carefully checked another stack of papers, occasionally picking up a pen to mark or write notes.

Upon seeing Chen Wen enter, everyone in the hall rose to salute, the movement creating a rustling of paper.

"No need for excessive courtesy; return to your posts."

Chen Wen waved his hand, walked to the main seat and sat down, his gaze sweeping over the busy yet orderly scene.

"Wen Ruo, Qing Yu, how's the situation?"

Zhang Cheng set down his pen, rubbed his slightly furrowed brow, and reported.

"Sir, the administrative affairs of the three counties are myriad, and now they have all been gathered here."

"Daily incoming and outgoing documents number no less than a hundred, covering criminal justice, taxes, household registration, projects, military supply allocation, and so on."

"Although Qing Yu and I have been doing our utmost, the sheer drudgery of paperwork is nothing like battlefield combat; many matters can only be handled step by step, for fear of omission or delay."

Wang Ru also spoke softly.

"The same goes for supervisory duties. Whether clerks are diligent, whether there is corruption or malfeasance, whether civil lawsuits are backlogged—all require meticulous verification, consuming time and effort."

Chen Wen gave a slight nod.

He knew well that, aside from absolute power, an efficient and clean administrative system is likewise an indispensable part of "deep roots and firm foundation".

If orders fail to circulate and administration corrupts, even abundant grain and armaments will have their foundations hollowed out from within.

"In extraordinary times, one must employ extraordinary measures."

Chen Wen looked at Zhang Cheng and Wang Ru, as well as the core clerks in the hall responsible for document classification and execution transmission—about a dozen or so people.

"The key to administration lies in upward communication and downward delivery, clear judgment and swift decision."

"I will lend you a hand, making your thoughts more agile and your reasoning clearer."

"Amidst this sea of documents and cases, you will be able to grasp the essentials more quickly and handle them appropriately."

Having spoken, he stirred his mind and activated once again the "Broad Endowment: 8x Efficiency".

An intangible wave enveloped these dozen or so administrative core personnel centered on Zhang Cheng and Wang Ru.

The familiar sensation of detachment surged again, and the drain on his mental energy prompted Chen Wen to subtly adjust his breathing.

He noticed that using the ability continuously for three days, especially yesterday's "Focused Endowment", had consumed a great deal.

When deploying the "Broad Endowment" today, fatigue accumulated somewhat faster.

It seems this ability, while strong, cannot be abused without limits.

And those who were given the effect instantly felt an earth-shaking change.

Zhang Cheng only felt that his mind was filled with thoughts that had become somewhat chaotic from the influx of massive information.

As if washed by a clear spring, his thoughts instantly became orderly and clear.

He could quickly grasp the core demands and key contradictions of the pile of documents awaiting his final approval with just a glance.

He could almost instantly judge whether the handling opinions drafted by his subordinates were thorough and whether they hid any risks.

And he could immediately propose a more optimized correction plan.

Previously, complex matters that required repeated deliberation for the time it takes to burn an incense stick.

Now perhaps he could make a decision within a few dozen breaths, and with full confidence.

He immediately picked up a document concerning the water dispute at the border between Luo River County and Thus entries: Thus entries: Anping County.

Previously, each side held its own opinion, the evidence was chaotic, and this had given him quite a headache.

Now, however, he could quickly draw from both parties' statements and the attached crude map.

By seizing a few overlooked details and contradictions in the witnesses' testimonies, he had already sketched out most of the facts in his mind.

"Issue the order: have the magistrate of Thus entries: Thus entries: Anping County immediately bring the local elders and the mentioned witnesses Jia and Yi to the headquarters by noon tomorrow, for I wish to question them personally."

"As for Luo River County, have them supplement the records of last year's dredging work."

He issued the orders clearly; the clerk beside him hurriedly recorded them and swiftly went out to deliver the commands.

Wang Ru's feelings, however, were more subtle.

She was responsible for supervision and needed to maintain a high sensitivity to all kinds of information.

With eightfold efficiency enhancing her, her observational and analytical abilities reached an astonishing level.

She was reviewing the performance documents of officials sent from various places, her gaze like a torch.

Some comments that previously seemed ordinary now allowed her to connect scattered feedback from other channels.

Instantly piecing together possible negligence or minor misconduct by a certain official.

When handling a civil land dispute case, the statements and copies of land deeds provided by both parties,

After she glanced over them, she could almost immediately construct a timeline and logical chain in her mind.

Quickly identifying the inconsistencies that defied common sense and required focused verification.

"The intermediary mentioned in this testimony is related to another loan case from last year; go immediately to verify his whereabouts at that time."

Wang Ru pointed to an inconspicuous name in the file and instructed the supervising clerk beside her, her tone resolute.

The clerk was first stunned, then suddenly realized, received the order and left, feeling even more admiration for this young female official in his heart.

But need to be concise, not add extra. Let's translate precisely.

We'll need to keep the meaning exactly.

Let's do each.

That clerk was first stunned, then suddenly realized, took the order and left, and in his heart he admired this young female official even more.

Translation: That clerk was first stunned, then suddenly realized, received the order and left, feeling even more admiration for this young female official in his heart.

in his heart, he admired this young female official even more.

The other clerks downstairs also doubled their efficiency; those responsible for document classification were sharp-eyed and quick-handed.

Translation: The other clerks in the hall also saw their efficiency double. Those responsible for document classification were quick-eyed and quick-handed.

They could almost instantly judge the urgency and category of documents, and accurately assign them to different processing teams.

Translation: They could almost instantly judge the urgency and category of documents, and accurately assign them to different processing teams.

Those responsible for drafting initial opinions wrote with divine inspiration, though their citations of the classics might be lacking.

Translation: Those responsible for drafting opinions wrote with divine ease, though their citations of classics might be lacking.

But their ability to think clearly and hit the key points greatly improved.

Translation: But their ability to think clearly and hit the point greatly improved.

Those in charge of copying and delivery had steady hands, neat handwriting, and moved like the wind.

Translation: Those in charge of copying and delivery had steady hands, neat handwriting, and moved like the wind.

The entire office's operating rhythm seemed to have been put on fast-forward.

Translation: The entire government hall's operational rhythm seemed to have been put on fast-forward.

The speed of document processing visibly increased, and the backlog of cases dwindled at an astonishing rate.

Translation: The speed of document processing visibly increased, and the backlog of case files dwindled at an astonishing rate.

What's more rare is, while being efficient,

Translation: What's more rare is that, while being efficient,

Because the decision-makers and executors were in a state of high clarity, the error rate actually dropped significantly.

Translation: because the thinkers and executors were in a state of high clarity, the error rate actually dropped significantly.

Chen Wen sat in the chief seat, quietly watching all of this.

Translation: Chen Wen sat in the chief seat, quietly watching all of this.

He did not intervene in specific affairs, but his presence and the intangible force he brought,

Translation: He did not intervene in specific affairs, but his presence, and the intangible force he brought,

were precisely the core engine driving the efficient operation of this administrative machine.

Translation: was precisely the core engine driving the efficient operation of this administrative machine.

Taking advantage of this momentum, Zhang Cheng and Wang Ru discussed.

Translation: Taking advantage of this momentum, Zhang Cheng and Wang Ru discussed and then

They sought Chen Wen's approval and decided to formally implement the long-pondered Achievement Evaluation Method.

Translation: reported to Chen Wen for approval, and decided to formally implement the long-considered "Achievement Evaluation Method."

Achievement Evaluation Method

Under the effect of the ability bestowal, a relatively concise yet highly targeted assessment method was quickly refined and announced.

Translation: Under the effect of Ability Granting, a relatively concise yet highly targeted assessment scheme was quickly refined and announced.

Its main core is: 'complete within deadline, record on file, monthly inspection, clear merits and demerits.'

Translation: Its main core was: "complete within a set time, record on file, inspect monthly, clearly distinguish merits from demerits."

All government affairs, according to their difficulty and importance, are set clear processing deadlines.

Translation: For all governmental affairs, clear processing deadlines were set according to difficulty and importance;

Completion status is recorded and checked by Wang Ru's supervision system; monthly summaries are compiled to evaluate excellence and deficiency.

Translation: completion status was recorded and verified by Wang Ru's supervision system; each month summarized, merits and demerits evaluated;

The good are rewarded, the bad are punished, and those seriously neglectful or corrupt are immediately dismissed without leniency.

Translation: the good were rewarded, the bad punished, and those seriously neglectful of duty or corrupt were immediately dismissed, with no leniency.

Once this law was issued, under the drive of the efficient bureaucracy's backbone, it was swiftly rolled out to all officials of the three counties.

Translation: Once this method was issued, under the drive of the efficient government hall's backbone, it was swiftly rolled out to officials at all levels in the three counties.

The atmosphere of the entire administrative system became stern; the previous phenomena of procrastination, buck-passing, and perfunctoriness sharply decreased.

Translation: The atmosphere of the entire administrative system thereby became stern. The previous phenomena of procrastination, buck-passing, and perfunctoriness sharply decreased.

In their place arose a sense of urgency, with everyone rushing to handle affairs for fear of falling behind.

Translation: In their place arose a sense of urgency, as everyone vied to handle affairs, fearing to fall behind.

At sunset, Chen Wen concluded his presiding over the office.

Translation: At sunset, Chen Wen ended his presiding over the government hall.

The mental fatigue from continuously using his abilities made him feel somewhat heavy-headed.

Translation: The mental fatigue from continuously using the ability made him feel a bit heavy-headed.

But seeing that although everyone in the office wore weary expressions, their eyes remained bright.

Translation: But seeing that although everyone in the hall showed weariness on their faces, their eyes remained bright.

And seeing the noticeably dwindling pile of documents, his heart filled with a sense of accomplishment.

Translation: and seeing the conspicuous dwindling of the document pile, his heart filled with a sense of accomplishment.

The clean wind of governance has already begun to sweep over this land; perhaps it cannot eradicate all entrenched ills overnight.

Translation: A refreshing breeze of good governance had begun to blow over this land. Perhaps it could not eradicate all entrenched ills in one fell swoop.

But a good start is undoubtedly crucial.

Translation: But a good beginning is undoubtedly crucial.

Zhang Cheng and Wang Ru saw him out; both of their faces also showed fatigue.

Translation: Zhang Cheng and Wang Ru saw him out; although their faces also showed fatigue,

But more than that, there was an exhilaration of being able to display their ambitions and stretch their talents.

Translation: but more so was a feeling of exhilaration at being able to display their ambitions and stretch their talents.

"Sir, today's official duties are comparable to three or four days' work in the past! Moreover, they are clear in order and rarely contain errors."

Translation: "\"Sir, today's official duties are comparable to three or four days' work in the past! Moreover, the proceedings are clear, with few errors. \""

Zhang Cheng exclaimed.

Translation: Zhang Cheng said with feeling.

"If this continues, the orders of the three counties will certainly be as obedient as fingers to the arm."

Translation: "\"If this continues, the orders of the three counties will surely be as obedient as an arm to a finger. \""

Wang Ru also said softly.

Translation: Wang Ru also said softly.

"Supervision can also detect corrupt elements more quickly, restoring clarity to governance."

Translation: "\"Supervision can also detect corrupt elements more swiftly, restoring clarity to governance. \""

Chen Wen nodded, lifted his gaze to the darkening sky, and the stars began to twinkle.

Translation: Chen Wen nodded, lifted his gaze to the darkening sky, and the stars began to twinkle.

"The foundation lies not only in the fields and workshops, but also among these documents and paperwork."

Translation: "\"The foundation lies not only in the fields and workshops, but also among these official documents. \""

He said softly.

Translation: He said softly.

"Everyone, you've worked hard; please rest early."

Translation: "\"Everyone, you've worked hard; rest early. \""

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After all lines, output