Chapter Sixty-Nine: Governing Youzhou

“From this day forward, you are the Governor of Youzhou. Do your best—the future is bright for one so young!” With these words, Liu Yan personally opened the cabinet with secret compartments, carefully removed the official seal, and, with a look of reluctant respect, handed it to Zifan. He sighed deeply, his face full of emotion, and patted Zifan’s shoulder. Yet as soon as Zifan regained his senses, Liu Yan had already slipped away through the back door, vanishing without a trace. It was as if the official seal were a burning hot potato, and all Liu Yan’s reluctance had instantly evaporated.

Looking around, Zifan could not help but rejoice inwardly. “Who would have thought? I’ve become the Governor of Youzhou! I used to work twelve hours a day, always bowing and scraping before my superiors, doing whatever the boss demanded, harboring nothing but the secret wish to one day give him a sound beating. In the end, I was the one who got fired. It seemed the world was always against me. Who could have guessed that after being transported here, my fortunes would turn, and I would become the Governor of Youzhou?”

“Hail, Governor!” Guo Jia offered a respectful bow.

“Hail, Governor!” The other officials followed suit, bowing one after another.

The officials came forward to greet the newly appointed governor. As the saying goes, a new official makes three fires—none wished to be the struggling lamb at the sacrificial altar. They lined up respectfully on either side, watching in silence. Zifan sat in the chair, saying nothing, his thoughts drifting. The officials glanced at one another, but none dared speak first, fearing to displease the new governor, so they stood motionless, waiting aimlessly.

“My lord, the hour grows late, and there are important matters to discuss.” At last, Guo Jia could no longer restrain himself. He had long heard of Zifan’s self-admiring ways, and today’s display lived up to the reputation.

“Ahem… I was merely lost in thought, pondering pressing matters. Please, do not take offense.” Zifan did not blush nor falter—he merely shifted his position on the bench, his composure as thick as the city walls.

The former Grand Tutor of Youzhou, Xiao Xian, stepped forward, bowed, and offered flattery: “Congratulations, my lord, on your appointment as governor. With you in charge, Youzhou will prosper and enjoy favorable seasons. The local merchants have already prepared a grand banquet in your honor, and hope you will grace them with your presence.”

“That’s unnecessary. I’ve only just arrived and must first acquaint myself with local matters. I’ll need your guidance in days to come. But let me make this clear: flattery and sycophancy have no place in my administration. If anyone tries such tricks again, they’ll be punished with thirty strokes. Remember this well.” Zifan waved his hand sternly.

“Of course, my lord, you’re quite right. It is we who must rely on your leadership from now on, and we shall obey your every command.” The officials instantly changed their tune.

Suddenly, a commotion erupted outside, the angry shouts of commoners mingling with the scolding of minor officials wielding sticks. The noise rose into a cacophony.

“What is happening out there? Why such a racket? Is there some festival or event I’m supposed to attend?” The clamor outside had already aroused Zifan’s suspicions. No wonder Liu Yan had hurriedly fled town; he’d left a mess for Zifan to handle.

The officials below turned pale and stiff, exchanging nervous glances before lapsing into a tense silence. The whole hall fell deathly still.

“What’s wrong? Is there something you can’t tell me? Why am I confronted with such a disaster on my very first day?” Zifan slammed his desk, his voice ringing out.

At last, one man broke the silence. “It’s… it’s just that the people may have urgent matters to plead.”

“Then open the gates and let them in! Or do you expect me to do it myself?” Zifan demanded.

At his order, a stern official instructed two minor clerks to open the doors. The clerks, trembling with fear, did as commanded.

A sudden rush—the people surged in, filling the hall to bursting. Zifan’s face darkened. Surrounded by the crowd, he was momentarily stunned; things had already spiraled far beyond his expectations.

“Will someone explain what is going on here?” Zifan demanded, frowning at the ragged, shabbily dressed commoners.

To break the awkward tension, Guo Jia stepped forward and bowed. “Allow me, my lord. The previous governor, Liu Yan, in order to quickly amass grain and ensure the people’s survival, enacted a policy: as long as everyone went out to farm, they would each receive a tael of silver per day. Over time, however, some began shirking their duties while still claiming their pay. More and more followed suit, until the treasury could no longer support the expense, and the people received nothing, thus leading to this unrest.”

Zifan’s mouth twitched. Could anyone with a brain come up with such a scheme? It was doomed from the start! Yet, to maintain his dignity, he kept his face stern and declared, “Everyone, please return home for today. Tomorrow, I promise you a satisfactory answer—I will ensure peace and prosperity for the people.”

“Since Sima Zifan has now been promoted to governor and can uphold justice for us, we shall abide by the law,” said one of the ringleaders respectfully. When Zifan had served as Sima of Youzhou, he had led troops in defense of the people, earning their admiration.

The crowd slowly dispersed. Once they were gone, Guo Jia stepped forward. “My lord, what shall we do? We can neither arrest nor punish the people, and the sum owed is enormous. Even the treasures we have confiscated can barely keep the city running.”

“No matter… These are minor problems. I will settle this—it is a governor’s duty to serve the people’s welfare.” After a moment’s thought, Zifan smiled.

He strode to the desk, picked up the brush, and, in a crooked hand, wrote out a proclamation, instructing Guo Jia to post it throughout the city.

Guo Jia, full of curiosity, looked at the crooked announcement and asked, “What is this ‘Household Contract Responsibility System’? I have never heard of it!”

“The Household Contract Responsibility System is an agricultural system in which farming households, as units, contract land and other production resources and tasks from collective organizations. Each household manages production and operations autonomously, as specified by contract. After remitting a small portion to the collective and paying state taxes, all income belongs to the household. The collective, as the contracting party, mainly provides coordination and services, except for necessary management or running certain sideline businesses.”

Land is humanity’s most essential resource for survival and development. It offers both security and opportunity. For the vast majority of peasants, land is their lifeline. Now that they can call a piece their own, how could they not be thrilled?

This way, the government could still collect taxes, the people could live in peace and plenty, and each household could even have surplus grain.

“What a brilliant idea! This not only solves the current dilemma, but also inspires the people to work harder. Why didn’t I think of it? Brother, you are truly wise—Guo Jia is humbled.” Even before finishing the proclamation, Guo Jia understood the system perfectly and had already calculated the government’s annual profits.

“Not at all… It’s just something I dreamed up,” Zifan said sheepishly, scratching his head. Inwardly, he thought, “I really should thank communism, thank the Communist Party.”

The next day, as soon as the proclamation was posted, the entire city erupted in excitement. As long as they handed over a set amount of grain, the rest was theirs—a stroke of fortune! No one would go hungry again.

It must be said, the Chinese people are diligent and hardworking. For the sake of better days ahead, they devoted themselves wholly to the fields.

The peasants, as if injected with new vigor, threw themselves into farming with renewed enthusiasm. They plowed and planted, replenishing the granaries, and the economy steadily improved. Soon, the people even had spare coins in their pockets, enough to buy fine silk for new clothes.