Gasp! She's a Time Traveler Using Modern Tech to Improve Ancient Life-Chapter 408 - 405: The County Magistrate Has Gone Mad
In early September, all of Mao County was caught up in a flurry of activity, with some rushing to harvest crops and others reinforcing their homes.
To deal with the impending typhoon, the County Government was busy from top to bottom, the elders and village chiefs in every township were so busy they didn’t have a moment to rest.
This is the classic case of the higher-ups saying a word, and the people below running themselves ragged.
Xiao Chong predicted the typhoon, and then he issued one directive after another to minimize the losses.
Orders like relocating people from low-lying areas, moving residents from dangerous slums, relocating vagrants and beggars, opening all temples in Mao County, demolishing illegal structures likely to be wind-borne, correctly arranging all port ships into various harbors, prohibiting sailing in the coming days, etc., flooded out.
It’s not only the workers in the County Government complaining incessantly—ordinary folks who were being tormented were also claiming it was unbearable.
No place is as good as one’s own home, so why should I be dragged away from my dwelling? I’m not leaving!
Not leaving? You have no choice!
Disreputable people were dispatched en masse, government officials were not idle either, being unreasonable and fierce like demons, sticks and whips flying, driving people like sheep; temples and Daoist Temples in Mao County were suddenly crammed with people.
These recluses were furious as the County Government brought the typhoon refugees: had the government not distributed rice and grain along with the people, these recluses would surely revolt and trouble the County Government.
The most miserable were the beggars and vagrants because they were directly dragged to the construction site at Ta Mountain Dam!
Isn’t this just forcing them into labor service?
Suddenly the atmosphere in each small town changed, beggars holding broken bowls wearing tattered clothes vanished from the streets. Those with places to hide found their own shelters, while those without cried out as they were taken away by the government.
Even idle loungers suddenly became quiet, realizing the County Magistrate had gone mad; stay honest for a while until this passes, otherwise getting dragged into labor would be terrible.
Initially, the gentry of Mao County thought it had nothing to do with them and were just watching the show. They hoped Xiao Chong would be more outrageous, become despotic, and provoke a rebellion so they could topple the mighty statue over their heads.
But developments were unexpected, and the spectacle quickly involved them!
The County Government posted an announcement requiring all village gentry to vacate rooms to help neighbors living in thatched cottages and dangerous houses nearby. If there were any deaths due to the typhoon, only the gentry, elders, and village chiefs would be held accountable.
With this move, Xiao Chong made clear how household responsibility and collective punishment worked!
Everyone found it laughably ridiculous, intending to ignore the absurd dictates of the County Government.
But soon, Xiao Chong targeted the Zhang and Shi families, who had acquired the white feather chicken stall. After inviting the heads of both families to the County Government for a confidential discussion, the families turned and compromised.
Though they refused to house nearby poor people, believing such filthy and rude individuals would sully their thresholds, they chose to contribute money instead, ultimately surrendering six carts of millet per household!
To honor the two families’ generosity, County Magistrate Xiao Chong personally ordered a plaque to be erected beside the gatehouse in Xiao Creek Town, engraved with the details of Zhang and Shi families’ donations.
Every winter, noble gentry would set up porridge shops for show, it’s just a matter of thinness.
Now with official plaques advertised, there’s no reason not to participate.
With Zhang and Shi families leading, remaining gentry knew what to do; rather than wait for the evil County Magistrate to come knocking (which could cost them more), they generously donated three to six carts of grain to the County Government.
The Yu Family, who had minor grudges against Xiao Chong, unexpectedly claimed they would tighten their belts to fully support the County Government, boldly delivering ten carts of millet to take the top spot on the plaque.
The typhoon’s shadow was yet unseen, but if the County Magistrate said it would happen, then it must be happening.
In ancient times, Zhao Gao called a deer a horse; now, Xiao Chong points at the sky to prevent disaster, amassing citizens’ resources!
Cart after cart of millet was sent into the County Government under everyone’s eyes.
People believed once the millet entered the County Government, it belonged to the County Magistrate, even the Zhang and Shi families thought so.
Meanwhile, from the first day the millet was stored in the County Government, accusation letters of bribery were held by various families, waiting for Xiao Chong to finish his madness and lift the blockades on Mao County’s roads to send them out!
This year’s performance assessment would ruin him!
Everyone had schemes, gift receivers were happy, gift givers were happy, all were content.
Lin Wanwan said she’d just watch the spectacle.
Being a Secondary Fifth Rank Village Lady, she didn’t need to heed the County Government.
Hence Lin Wanwan firmly refused to send grain to Xiao Chong, uninterested in appearing on the plaque; how could a modern person be manipulated by ancient people with such trivial tactics?!
Isn’t it all about fame?! Nowadays, her legend spreads far and wide!
Once sweet potatoes, corn, potatoes, and other crops spread across Wanghai Town, Mao County, Yuezhou, and even the Great Tang, she’ll surely be known worldwide, much stronger than being engraved on Xiao Creek Town’s gate plaque.
Though Lin Wanwan could ignore County Government orders, she had to assist the Lin Clan Leader.
Thus the newly constructed workshop at Lin Family Manor became a haven for nearby residents living in dangerous homes.
The Great Tang had a hundred households as a lie, five lies as a village.
The Lin Clan Leader got along well with other village chiefs in the same village, two of them being his former comrades, with Elder He as their superior, huddling together to brave adversity was normal.
Everybody brought two days of supplies, traveled with family to Lin Family Manor, and laid mattresses inside the workshop.
Now all of Mao County was prepared for the typhoon; it would be inappropriate if it didn’t arrive.
Honestly, Xiao Chong’s method resembled future typhoon countermeasures. But in the future, everyone is a ’public servant’, urging people in dangerous homes with kind words to relocate, rather than resorting to violence.
Lin Wanwan now had a bit of understanding of Xiao Chong’s mindset, he disliked explaining to ordinary folks under his supervision.
Essentially treating all citizens under his rule as ignorant people, they should listen to him regardless of good or bad.
Decisions made by him and his staff were considered the best possible, smart choices, and the ignorant should follow.
Lin Wanwan admired Xiao Chong’s courage, even though a thousand years later, the weather bureau couldn’t predict typhoon landings seven days in advance.
Regarding typhoons, even forecasts made 24 hours in advance can have a 110 km error, and 48-hour forecasts could have a 160 km error. In six to seven days? Ha, the error could encompass a province.
How could Xiao Chong dare to mobilize the public on such a large scale? Although it was precautionary, preparations are certainly better than none. But what if it was all for nothing, wouldn’t it ruin his reputation as a master strategist?
