Chapter 33: The Report

Once the wager was settled, the villagers did not wait for Chen Fan to bring up the autumn harvest; they were eager to discuss it with him themselves. Chen Fan quickly finalized the plans, and the villagers even agreed to assist in other villages once their own harvest was complete. To see the results of their wager as soon as possible, they pooled together two hundred catties of rice, with each person contributing one hundred catties for the brewing of fine wine. By the end of the harvest, the wine would be fully fermented.

Meanwhile, Magistrate Cao, the county assistant, and Chief Constable Sun were at the Prefecture capital to report on their duties. As they sat in the great hall of the Prefecture, partaking in a welcome banquet hosted by the Governor, the magistrates from various counties were busy flattering the Governor with sophisticated, high-level praise.

Cheng Ying, the Governor of Chu Prefecture, looked down at the magistrates and said, "The year is drawing to a close. Ordinarily, I would wait a few more months until after the autumn harvest to assess the development of each county before calling you all here to report. However, there is no time to wait. Young women are disappearing in large numbers across the region. If this issue is not addressed, it will surely lead to a catastrophe. I have reviewed the dossiers you submitted; now, share your thoughts."

"Governor! I believe the issue of human trafficking has persisted for years. There is no need to be overly anxious! This time, it may simply have escalated by coincidence," one magistrate replied.

"Indeed! Governor, look across the nation—where is trafficking not a problem? Our prefecture has fared better than most; the proportion of people trafficked here is much smaller than elsewhere!" another chimed in.

"That is true! In the years since you took office, Governor, you have fought for funds to improve our people's livelihoods. Every magistrate here has received your full support whenever we requested grants or grain. It is our fault, Governor—we have failed to govern our counties well. Please do not blame yourself! We will certainly instruct our constables to strictly enforce law and order!"

"Yes, Governor! We will definitely strengthen security!" the others echoed.

Magistrate Cao sat alone, staring at the chicken soup, roast suckling pig, and fine wine on the table. From start to finish, he did not touch his chopsticks, nor did he join in the sycophancy of his peers. It was not that he had lost his appetite after dining at the Kaixing Tavern back in Zeng County. The food at the tavern was exceptional because of the chef’s technical skill and innovative methods. The food here, while also high-quality, relied on the sheer luxury of the ingredients—suckling pig, hen, and vintage wine. Cao simply refused to be a sycophant. He believed that if one performed their duties well, there was no need to grovel or curry favor with superiors. As long as one was competent, no one could truly bring them down.

Although Magistrate Cao was not adept at flattery and detested formalism, he had been an official for many years and was accustomed to the ways of his colleagues. He listened quietly, observing the situation.

"You need not blame yourselves so harshly! Your efforts this year have been evident to all," the Governor continued. "Qi County is developing steadily and remains a major tax contributor; half of the prefecture's revenue comes from you. Ling County is also doing well, with a rapid population growth—over five thousand boys born this year! Liu County is flourishing, raising large amounts of livestock and providing meat for the entire prefecture! As for Cao County, agriculture is revitalized; it seems the grain shortage will be completely resolved this year! Magistrate Cao, your administrative achievements are remarkable; you are as capable as ever!

"However, you must realize that whether in animal husbandry, planting, or commerce, all require manpower! Currently, women perform the majority of labor in our prefecture. How can we not be concerned when the number of missing young women is rising daily? Do you think a mere promise to 'strengthen security' will solve this? Human trafficking has a long history. The imperial court, constrained by circumstances, has repeatedly tolerated these traffickers. But now, they have not only failed to restrain themselves, they have become even more brazen! If we do not crack down, where is the dignity of the Imperial Court? Where is the dignity of the Prefecture? Where is the dignity of the County Office? Where is the sanctity of the Great Zhou laws? Where is the diligence of our officials? And where is the heart of the people?"

The magistrates, all seasoned veterans of the bureaucracy, realized the Governor was truly angry and dared not shift the blame onto the constables any longer. They knelt in silence, fearing that one wrong word would cost them their official hats.

Unexpectedly, the Governor did not reprimand their hypocrisy further but shifted his tone: "Do not disregard this! This matter is of great consequence. Disaster often stems from negligence in minor matters. If ignored, the situation will only worsen. This sudden surge in trafficking is a grave omen. According to my knowledge, the shortage of women is already causing labor shortages in various industries across the counties. Zeng County is the most severely affected; even harvesting their thousand acres of fertile land has become a struggle."

"You must stop burying your heads in livelihood projects and pay attention to security! Security! Security! I am not asking you to just pass orders to your constables—I want you to be fully committed. Lead your constables effectively! I want the solutions you have devised in your own minds."

The others dared not play tricks anymore, as the Governor had already offered them a way out by not holding them accountable for their previous excuses, but demanding their focus. Having risen to the position of Governor, his mastery over his subordinates was naturally formidable. Chu Prefecture was the central hub of the Great Zhou, with the largest population and territory. It encompassed twenty-five counties, covering sixty thousand square kilometers. Emperor Wu of the Great Zhou intended to make Chu Prefecture the granary and source of military reinforcements for the empire. It was the vital rear guard, responsible for supplying all the border regions. Thus, the Emperor granted almost every request for funding. The Governor held immense responsibility; he had to produce results, or he would incur the Emperor's wrath—a consequence he could not bear alone. He had to fulfill the Emperor’s plans, for success meant glory, but failure meant total destruction.

The magistrates had no solutions. They were not incompetent, and they had each tried to turn the tide to earn a good reputation, but every method they employed had failed. Resigned, they remained silent, knowing that speaking too much often led to trouble. When in doubt, it is best to remain quiet.

The Governor’s anger flared, a look of irritation appearing on his face. The magistrates still dared not speak, fearing they would provoke him further. Their methods of governance were all learned from books. If they could invent solutions without relying on texts, they would have written their own treatises long ago. For scholars, having one's thoughts and writings passed down to posterity was the ultimate pursuit. Rule by man? Rule by law? The magistrates scoured their minds for the theories they had studied, but they were all too stale and outdated—the Governor had heard them all a thousand times.

Just then, Magistrate Cao, who had been sitting quietly, stood up and said, "Governor, I have a method!"