bookrebus Chapter 875 A Gentle Breeze Brings Up Righteousness—Lin Ping's Record of Governing the Prefectu
Chapter 875 A Gentle Breeze Brings Up Righteousness—Lin Ping's Record of Governing the Prefectu
The verdict was announced, and jubilation erupted both inside and outside the courtroom. The people spread the news, clapping and cheering with delight. They had finally waited for this day; the gloom that had weighed on their hearts for years had vanished. The Wang family—former Prefect Wang Keyong and his son Wang Yanei—two tyrants who had dominated the city for over a decade, embezzling public funds, perverting justice, and oppressing the people, had finally received their due punishment. The presiding judge was none other than Lin Ping, who, by special decree of the imperial court, had concurrently served as the Prefect of this prefecture in recognition of his meritorious service in suppressing rebellions.
Standing at the entrance of the government office, Lin Ping gazed at the jubilant crowds in the street, her heart filled with mixed emotions. Having spent half her life in the military, accustomed to the clash of swords and decisive battles, she had never imagined that she would face such complex and subtle hardships of the people as a local official. The genuine joy on the faces of the people was her greatest affirmation, and it also made her deeply aware of the heavy responsibility on her shoulders. She knew that the downfall of the Wang family had only removed the biggest cancer in the prefecture; the road to cleansing the bureaucracy, pacifying the people, restoring production, and revitalizing the prefecture was still long. But she firmly believed that as long as she upheld justice and adhered to principles, she could surely restore order to this land and give the people a bright and clear world. The sunlight shone on her resolute face, illuminating the prefecture that had once been shrouded in gloom. The downfall of the Wang family was like a refreshing breeze, dispelling the accumulated problems and bringing new hope.
I. Rectify official conduct and reshape official style
Lin Ping knew all too well that the Wang father and son's absolute power in the prefecture was not solely due to their authority, but also to the intricate network of corruption they had built. Many officials throughout the government had already been bribed or coerced, creating a situation of "collusion between superiors and subordinates, working in concert." If this corruption wasn't thoroughly eradicated, even if the ringleaders were brought to justice, the fertile ground for corruption would remain, and it could easily resurface.
Upon assuming office as governor, Lin Ping's first act was not to immediately implement any sweeping reforms, but rather to conduct an incognito investigation. She removed her official robes, donned the clothes of an ordinary citizen, and, accompanied by one or two trusted guards, traversed the streets and alleys of the prefecture, its markets and shops, even venturing into surrounding villages to speak with peddlers, gentry, elders, and the poor, sick, and widowed. She ignored reports and documents, focusing solely on the facts and the truth. Over several days, the various ills of the prefecture's officialdom and the acute suffering of the people unfolded before her like a vivid painting: heavy taxes, numerous and varied, with officials exploiting the people at every turn; arduous corvée labor, much of which was used for the construction of royal residences and private assignments; unjust legal proceedings, where the wealthy and powerful could escape punishment while the poor were frequently caught in the crossfire; neglected irrigation systems, making farmland irrigation difficult, leading to crop failures in the event of natural disasters; rampant counterfeit goods in the market, soaring prices, and merchants suffering immensely…
Having obtained firsthand information, Lin Ping returned to the government office and immediately summoned all her subordinates. In the main hall, she did not speak harshly, but instead recounted what she had seen and heard in recent days, one by one, in detail. Her sincerity and incisiveness made many officials with guilty consciences break out in a cold sweat.
"Wang and his son have been brought to justice, and their accomplices will also be dealt with." Lin Ping's voice was not loud, but it carried an undeniable authority. "This governor hereby swears that anyone who has previously been spared punishment must, within three days, hand over all the ill-gotten gains and embezzled funds from the people, and voluntarily come to the police station to explain the situation. In such cases, leniency may be granted or they may be exempted from prosecution. After three days, if anyone conceals their wrongdoing or continues to commit evil, once verified, they will be severely punished without exception, their property confiscated, and there will be absolutely no leniency!"
This order sent shockwaves throughout the government office. Initially, many harbored a glimmer of hope, believing Lin Ping's actions were merely a show of force by a newly appointed official. However, when Lin Ping decisively ordered the public arrest of several of Wang's most hated and unrepentant henchmen, imprisoning them and swiftly confiscating their property to fund the relief efforts for the people, everyone realized that this governor, a woman of generalship, was no pushover; she was serious!
For a time, everyone in the government office was on edge, and people voluntarily returned their ill-gotten gains and surrendered themselves. Lin Ping arranged for special personnel to register and verify these cases, and to deal with them according to the severity of their offenses. For those who had committed misdeeds but were willing to repent and whose families were genuinely in need, she offered them a way out; for those who were heinous and unrepentant, she resolutely punished them severely according to the law. In just one month, the atmosphere in the prefectural government was cleansed up. Many long-time "old hands" and "connections" were purged from the ranks, and a group of upright and capable but marginalized minor officials, discovered during undercover investigations, were promoted and given important positions.
To prevent corruption from taking root, Lin Ping also established a series of new regulations:
1. Government transparency: Important matters such as the state government's financial revenue and expenditure, taxes and corvée labor, and case handling will be regularly posted publicly for public oversight.
2. Whistleblowing system: “Grievance drums” and “whistleblowing boxes” were set up in various parts of the city to encourage the people to expose the illegal acts of officials and to strictly protect whistleblowers.
3. Regular inspections: Every month, Lin Ping personally leads a team or assigns trusted confidants to conduct surprise inspections of various counties and departments to check the implementation of government orders.
4. Performance evaluation of officials: Change the previous evaluation method based solely on "seniority" and "connections", and use "political achievements" and "popularity" as the main criteria to promote the best and eliminate the worst.
The implementation of these measures acted like a powerful remedy, completely eradicating the deep-seated problems within the state bureaucracy. Officials dared not slack off anymore, nor did they dare to seek personal gain. Efficiency improved dramatically, and the phenomenon of shirking responsibility disappeared, replaced by a new ethos of proactive action and service to the people. When ordinary citizens went to the government offices, they no longer needed to pull strings or offer bribes; they received fair treatment, and smiles gradually returned to their faces.
II. Reduce taxes and levies to revive the economy.
A clean and honest administration is only the first step; the fundamental goal is to truly improve the lives of the people. When the Wang family was in power, they levied exorbitant taxes under various pretexts to satisfy their extravagant lifestyles, placing a heavy burden on the people. Many families sold their children and became homeless. After taking office, Lin Ping's primary economic measure was to "reduce taxes and corvée labor."
She organized a team to thoroughly investigate the tax accounts of the prefecture over the years, abolished all the exorbitant taxes and levies concocted by the Wang family, reassessed the land area, and levied taxes according to the standards promulgated by the imperial court. She also clearly announced that no additional taxes should be levied in addition to the regular taxes for three years. When this news spread, the people were overjoyed and spread the word, calling it "Lord Lin's benevolent rule."
Meanwhile, in response to the rampant corvée labor and widespread public resentment during the Wang family's reign, Lin Ping issued the following orders: strictly control the conscription of corvée labor; no labor should be arbitrarily conscripted for non-major public works projects (such as dike repair and road construction); when conscription is necessary, reasonable wages and food subsidies must be provided, and officials are strictly prohibited from deducting from these subsidies; and those with seriously ill, pregnant, or elderly people living alone in their families should be exempted from corvée labor.
The reduction in taxes and corvée labor was like a timely rain to parched land, greatly stimulating the people's enthusiasm for production. Many people who had fled elsewhere returned home upon hearing of the changes in their hometown and began to cultivate the abandoned land anew.
To promote commerce, Lin Ping also rectified market order. She ordered a crackdown on hoarding and price gouging, standardized weights and measures, and severely punished vendors selling counterfeit and substandard goods. At the same time, she reduced market transaction taxes, simplified customs procedures, and attracted merchants from surrounding areas to trade. The once desolate market in the prefecture gradually regained its former prosperity, bustling with activity and lively conversation.
Lin Ping also paid special attention to the development of handicrafts. The area near the prefecture capital was rich in forest resources, so she encouraged the locals to develop industries such as sericulture, weaving, porcelain making, and logging. She also allocated special funds from the prefecture treasury to hire experienced craftsmen from other regions to teach their skills. Soon, a batch of handicrafts with local characteristics began to emerge, not only meeting local demand but also being sold to other places through merchants, bringing considerable income to the prefecture capital.
To address the difficulties and high interest rates faced by ordinary people in obtaining loans, Lin Ping drew inspiration from the military's "mutual aid camps" and established a "People's Welfare Treasury" in the prefectural capital. A portion of the treasury's funds was used to provide low-interest loans to farmers in need to purchase seeds and farming tools, or to small merchants for working capital. This measure effectively curbed usury, helped many people overcome difficulties, and promoted the recovery and development of small-scale production.
In just two years, the economic situation in the prefecture improved significantly. Farmland yields increased, market trade flourished, people's incomes rose, and their living standards improved markedly. People who were once emaciated due to poverty gradually regained their color and their eyes rekindled their hope for life. The prefecture's fiscal revenue not only did not decrease due to tax cuts, but also steadily increased due to the expansion of the overall economy, providing a solid material foundation for subsequent construction projects.
III. Construct water conservancy projects to protect agriculture and sericulture.
"Food is the first necessity of the people," and agriculture is the foundation of the nation. Lin Ping knew that to ensure the people's well-being, stable grain production was essential. However, the city was located on a plain, and although rivers flowed through it, years of neglect in water conservancy had led to siltation, damaged dikes, frequent floods during the rainy season, and lack of irrigation water during the dry season, severely impacting agricultural production.
The Wang family ignored this, caring only about how to extract more money from the people, and had no regard for the survival of the farmland. During her incognito visit, Lin Ping witnessed firsthand the parched land caused by water shortage and the helplessness and despair of the people facing the drought. She resolved to completely solve the water problem.
She first organized a comprehensive survey of the major rivers and canals within the prefecture, drew up water conservancy maps, and formulated a detailed repair plan. Subsequently, she personally submitted a memorial to the imperial court, outlining the severity of the prefecture's water conservancy deterioration and the urgent need for its restoration, requesting government funding. At the same time, she also contributed a portion of the prefecture's savings as start-up capital.
After the project started, Lin Ping devoted almost all her energy to water conservancy construction. She personally visited the construction site, worked alongside the laborers, and checked the progress and quality of the project. She demanded that all officials involved in the project be honest and upright, and strictly prohibited them from withholding materials or embezzling funds. She was even more demanding in terms of project quality, believing that "quality comes first for a project that will last for centuries," and any act of cutting corners would be severely punished.
The people were deeply moved by the governor's emphasis on water conservancy and his compassion for their plight. Many spontaneously joined the effort to repair the river and build dikes, some donating their family's grain, some contributing their savings, and others volunteering their labor. A wave of enthusiasm swept through the entire prefecture, with everyone feeling a responsibility to improve water conservancy.
After two years of arduous efforts, the main rivers within the prefecture's territory were dredged, the dilapidated dikes were reinforced and raised, and several new irrigation canals and reservoirs were built. The completion of these water conservancy facilities greatly improved farmland irrigation conditions and enhanced the ability to resist drought and flood disasters.
In the following years, although the region suffered several major floods and droughts, the agricultural production in the prefecture remained largely stable thanks to the effective water conservancy facilities, and no large-scale famines occurred again. The bumper harvests not only solved the problem of food and clothing for the people but also laid a solid foundation for the stability and development of the prefecture. The people, grateful for Lin Ping's contributions, named the canal she oversaw the construction of "Lin Gong Canal" and the reinforced river embankment "Lin Gong Embankment."
IV. Promote education and enlighten the people
Lin Ping, though born into a military family, was not merely a warrior. She deeply understood that the long-term stability of a region required not only clean governance and a prosperous economy, but also widespread education and the enlightenment of its people. During the reign of the Wang family, they not only levied exorbitant taxes but also suppressed thought and misled the people. Apart from a few private schools for the children of wealthy families, there were almost no government-run schools in the city, and ordinary people's children had no opportunity to learn to read and write.
"When the granaries are full, people know etiquette; when they are well-fed and clothed, they know honor and shame." With the economic recovery, Lin Ping began to focus on education. She believed that only by making people knowledgeable and reasonable could the social atmosphere be fundamentally changed and useful talents for building their hometown be cultivated.
She first confiscated some of the properties and lands seized by the Wang family and their cronies, converting some of them into state and county schools, and selling the rest to purchase teaching materials and hire teachers. She personally selected virtuous and learned scholars to serve as school officials and teachers, and formulated detailed teaching plans.
State and county schools were open to all school-age children, regardless of wealth or social status. Anyone willing to study could enroll, and tuition was reduced or waived. For students from particularly impoverished families, subsidies for writing materials were provided. This initiative gave many children from poor families the opportunity to attend school for the first time.