Traveling through time and space to become a child, supporting the family by catching fish and shrim

Fan Cheng frowned: "Why?"

Chen Lang said: "Sir, let me tell you a story."

"There were two counties built along the Yangtze River that suffered from floods every year. Eventually, word of the disaster reached the emperor, who was very unhappy and sent two officials from the capital to serve as county magistrates in these two counties."

"One of the county magistrates, after arriving in the area, built water conservancy projects and reinforced riverbanks. The other, on the other hand, did nothing and instead indulged himself in eating, drinking, and having fun."

"The following year, the flood arrived as expected. The county that reinforced the riverbank saw its losses significantly reduced, while the other county's losses were even greater than the previous year."

"However, after the flood receded, the magistrate of the first county only received a verbal commendation, while the magistrate of the second county was directly promoted."

"Does your Excellency know why this is so?"

Fan Cheng shook his head.

Chen Lang said, "Because the magistrate of the second county personally went to the front line after the flood arrived and directed the disaster relief efforts, he was praised by the people."

"The first county magistrate offended many of his colleagues by building water conservancy projects and reinforcing riverbanks. He also imposed higher taxes and corvée labor on the local people. As a result, even though the county was spared from flooding, the people denounced the magistrate as a corrupt official, preventing him from getting promoted."

"Sir, if it were you, which disaster relief method would you choose?"

Fan Cheng's expression was a little complicated. From the perspective of being an official, the first way was obviously the best, because building water conservancy projects and reinforcing river embankments would benefit the present and future generations. However, officials who did this often did not have a good ending, because most of the people only cared about their immediate survival and seldom thought about what would happen a few years or even more than ten years later.

As for the second method, it obviously violates the original intention of being an official, but the effect is extremely good. The officials live and die with the people, which is a beautiful story that can be passed down through the ages. But in reality, it is not the case at all. The reason why the people live and die is because of the laziness of the officials.

Simply put, the second official can save the people from danger. As for how the people got into danger, don't ask...

After a long moment, Fan Cheng smiled bitterly and said, "Chen Tongsheng, I have no way of answering your question."

Chen Lang said: "Don't worry about it, sir. This is just a story."

"I just want to tell you, sir, that Nanhe County is facing the second situation now. Since the flood cannot be controlled, you must go to the front lines and stand with the people."

"The worse the flood, the better your reputation."

"Word of mouth is the people's heart. With the people's heart as your backing, why should you be afraid of the county magistrate?"

Fan Cheng suddenly understood, stood up, bowed and said, "Thank you for your guidance."

Chen Lang returned the greeting with a bow: "Sir, I don't deserve it."

After Fan Cheng left, Sheng Chuliang called Chen Lang to the study and asked him about his conversation with Fan Cheng.

After listening to Chen Lang's story, Sheng Chuliang was also quite emotional.

Because Chen Lang's story is actually a true portrayal of the officialdom.

Officials who work hard often find it difficult to get promoted.

On the contrary, those officials who are cunning and do things for the sake of appearance will have a very smooth career.

"Erlang, if you become an official in the future, which path will you choose?"

Chen Lang said mischievously, "I don't choose either."

Sheng Chuliang said: "Oh? Then what do you do?"

Chen Lang said, "I will first make the people suffer, great losses, so that they feel the pain firsthand. Then I will start building the water conservancy project, but I won't finish it all at once. I'll build it slowly. After three or four years, when the people have fully realized the importance of water conservancy, even if I want to slack off, they will urge me to speed up the project."

"At the same time, during the next few years of water conservancy construction, I will always fight on the front lines and demonstrate my brilliance, so that no one, whether it is the common people, colleagues, or even the higher-ups, can find fault with me."

Sheng Chuliang didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He pointed at Chen Lang and said, "You kid, you really have the material to be an official."

……

After a few days, Fan Cheng returned to the county government office to work again.

He first summoned the head of the workshop and asked him to dispatch personnel to the Fuyang River embankment to patrol day and night, and report immediately if there were any signs of a dam breach.

Then he asked the two heads of the Household Department and the Personnel Department to take their respective teams to the countryside and villages to observe the conditions in each village. If necessary, they could make decisions without asking for permission. Their only purpose was to protect the safety of the people.

After making all these arrangements, Fan Cheng picked up his pen, wrote a detailed letter, and ordered someone to deliver it to Guangling Prefecture.

However, what Fan Cheng did not expect was that as soon as his detailed article left the territory of Nanhe County, Shi Liguo, who was enjoying a good life in Hewei Village, learned about this situation.

Shi Liguo climbed up from the bed. The woman sleeping next to him was the daughter-in-law of the squire's son. Her shoulders were half exposed and her skin was flushed. It was obvious that she had just experienced a "battle".

Shi Liguo walked barefoot to the door and shouted angrily, "Didn't I tell you not to disturb my good time? Are you deaf or are you just too brave?"

Standing outside the door was Chen Lang's old acquaintance, Zhao Xiongwei.

Since Shi Liguo became the county magistrate, he was promoted to the position of legal advisor, doing similar work to that of the chief clerk, but he did not enjoy the official title of the chief clerk.

Shi Liguo promised that once the situation stabilized, he would promote him to the position of chief clerk and enjoy the treatment of an eighth-rank official.

Zhao Xiongwei has been busy collecting money for Shi Liguo these days and has not been serving him. Today, when he learned that Fan Cheng had reported the matter to a higher level, he hurried over.

After hearing what Zhao Xiongwei said, Shi Liguo became even more furious and roared, "Fan Cheng, you are so good! I didn't bother you, but you bothered me instead!"

"In that case, don't blame me for being rude."

"Pass my order to put Fan Cheng in jail!"

Zhao Xiongwei was startled and asked, "Sir, is this possible?"

Shi Liguo glared at him and said, "I'm the county magistrate. All matters in Nanhe County, including officials, must obey me!"

"If I put him in jail, he has to go to jail!"

"Tell the messenger that if Fan Cheng dares to resist arrest, he can be tortured!"

Zhao Xiongwei had a vague feeling that something big would happen if he did this, but he and Shi Liguo were now in the same boat. If Shi Liguo's boat capsized, he would surely die.

So all he could do was to resolutely carry out Shi Liguo's orders!

An hour later, a captain of the police led several detectives into Fan Cheng's office.

Fan Cheng was furious. These constables had intruded without his permission and showed no regard for him, the county magistrate.

"Captain Bai, what do you want to do?"

Captain Bai swallowed and said cautiously, "Sir, there's nothing we can do."

"The county magistrate has issued a death order to have you thrown into prison."

Fan Cheng immediately realized that Shi Liguo had learned about his writing a detailed letter to Guangling Prefecture.

This county government office has his spies everywhere.

I was indeed a bit hasty in handling this matter.