Chapter 38: The Year of the Harvest

"I hope all officials will diligently instruct the common folk, and that the people will work hard, standing in unity with His Majesty to face the national crisis together!"

The crowd was stunned into silence, then fell to their knees, bowing their heads in reverence.

Magistrate Cao responded as he usually did: "Why don't we compare our respective plans and see whose is the best? I admit I know little of the conditions in your districts. Since you have all managed to draft plans suited to your own regions, let us compete to see whose district prospers most! Who can turn around the dire state of law and order? Well? Do you dare to challenge me?"

"You—do not be so arrogant! There is always someone better, and heaven beyond heaven. Do you think you possess the greatest talent in the Chu Prefecture? We all rose to our positions through the imperial examinations; high office naturally belongs to the capable!"

"Hahaha! Splendid! Splendid! Since you are all so enthusiastic, I, as the Prefect, shall bear witness to your wager! However, since we are betting, shall we add some stakes? How about it?"

"Prefect, if we in Zeng District fail to capture the evildoers plaguing our lands by next year, I, Cao Wenzhao, shall resign from office and retire to seclusion!"

"Oh—those are your own words, Magistrate Cao!"

"What say you? Do you dare to compete with me?"

Upon hearing Cao Wenzhao’s resolve, the others were somewhat taken aback. His determination was so absolute that it shook them. They hesitated, unwilling to accept. Magistrate Wang, however, would never miss a chance to topple Cao Wenzhao. Seeing the others wavering, he gave them a push.

"Magistrate Cao is truly determined! We will not be left behind; it is a deal! Is it settled?"

Half the group immediately regretted their decision. They could not match Cao Wenzhao’s talent and feared him, which was why they had always huddled together to ostracize him.

"We are no fools; we are willing to take Magistrate Cao’s bet!"

Having said this, he turned to look at the other magistrates, whose eyes were darting about, his gaze filled with a silent threat. The magistrates realized that the Prefect’s tenure would only last a few more years anyway. A confrontation with Cao Wenzhao was inevitable, so they might as well declare war today! At the very least, by standing together, their odds of winning were much higher.

"We feel the same! If we cannot do something for the Great Zhou, we fail the people and are unworthy of our positions!"

"You are too modest! The Great Zhou does not support idlers! Everyone present is a grassroots official of this empire. Over the years, you have all achieved some measure of success; you are all men of intent. I will not accept your resignations! I will promote you based on your performance. There is no need for such bitter rivalry; we all serve the people of the Great Zhou!"

"The Prefect is absolutely right! We were too reckless, too impulsive!"

The man who had set the trap for Cao Wenzhao—the one who had been coerced by Magistrate Wang—stepped forward to apologize to the Prefect. Seeing this, the other wavering magistrates followed suit. Magistrate Wang, watching these cowards retreat, was livid, his nose twisted in rage. He lifted his foot, wanting to kick them, but they were in the Prefect’s residence, so he dared not act and suppressed his anger. The magistrates knew better than to clash head-on with Cao Wenzhao, as it would yield no good result, so they took the opportunity to climb down from their high horses. Cao Wenzhao, seeing them concede, felt his own standing was secure and remained silent.

"Then let us exchange our plans in detail and see where we might cooperate."

"Very well! Our district's plan is as follows—"

They spent the entire morning discussing their plans. After sharing a meal hosted by the Prefect, they were dismissed to the post house.

Magistrate Cao did not seek out the Prefect but instead remained in the guest room arranged for him, reading. He was studying the Prefect's personal notes on official life, meticulously kept over the years, detailing every political struggle and the lessons learned. It was clear the Prefect intended to groom Cao as his successor. Such a book could not be shown to others, as those the Prefect had toppled might use it against him. It was a document reserved for those he trusted implicitly. Assistant Magistrate Fang was reading the same notes alongside him.

Secretary Sun crouched at the Prefect’s feet, massaging his legs. "Grandfather, why did you not speak regarding Cao Wenzhao? Is he becoming too conceited? Daring to clash with them head-on? That is a recipe for disaster. Did he not take your teachings to heart? He is so unrestrained! It is truly worrying!"

"You underestimate him. They have long viewed him as a thorn in their side. If he did not stand his ground, their arrogance would only grow. By doing this, he has made them wary of him and sown discord among them. Besides, I must clear out the rot eventually; his actions pave the way for me to act against them later. Since I have entrusted him with my own experiences, I believe he will succeed. They need time to be tempered—how else can they grow without bumping into walls?"

"Grandfather is quite right! You are so clever!"

"My granddaughter, do you have anyone you admire? You are over twenty; if you do not marry soon, you will become a spinster. Whoever you like, Grandfather can help you secure! I am quite capable, you know!"

"I know, Grandfather! If you aren't capable, who is? I simply haven't met anyone who has captured my heart yet!"

"That is true! Given our status, no man is truly worthy of our girl! But do not be too picky; if you find a man of upright character, marry him. Do not marry an old man; even if he is of humble origin, I can make him worthy of you. In this day and age, a man of integrity is a rare treasure! Though we are members of the imperial clan, finding a stable man to entrust your life to is a good path."

"I know, Grandfather! I will not let you worry! I just want to stay by your side for a few more years."

"I am old, and I cannot keep you here forever; it would only delay your life."

"Grandfather is best to me; I am willing to stay by your side always!"

"Silly girl! As you wish, as you wish." The Prefect patted Sun Lixi’s head, closing his eyes to ponder his future arrangements.

Meanwhile, Chen Fan was in Xia Village, organizing affairs. The villagers listened to him closely. Because of the wager, they worked desperately to win, none willing to concede. In just two or three days, they had harvested the early-maturing crops of the village. Chen Fan, unable to wait for the day the wine was ready, led them to mobilize other villages for the autumn harvest. Within three days, every village had begun the work. Secretary Du meticulously counted the grain as it arrived, making the necessary arrangements. With over eight hundred people mobilized, all of Zeng District was busy, yet everyone was joyful, for this was a year of abundance. Before, they had only hoped to scrape by, but as they watched cart after cart of grain arrive, their hearts blossomed with happiness. They had once thought a few thousand piculs of grain was nothing special, but now, it felt like everything.