GBP Chapter 352 Taking Office
Chapter 352 Taking Office
Chapter 352 Taking Office
Upon hearing the news, Chen Xuan's friend Wang Sai was the first to express his dissatisfaction and anger. His face flushed red with rage, he shouted, "Why? I can stay in Xianyang, why are you being sent to that godforsaken, remote area? There's definitely something fishy going on here. Is someone deliberately sabotaging you?"
Faced with the agitated Wang Sai, Chen Xuan remained remarkably calm and composed. He smiled slightly and gently comforted his furious friend, "Don't get so worked up, brother. No matter where we are, we're all serving the Great Qin. Besides, although I'm only going to be a minor county magistrate, I'm still an official in charge of the local area. Although the rank isn't high, there's a vast space for me to develop there, and I'm actually quite satisfied with this arrangement."
Despite Chen Xuan's eloquent explanation, Wang Sai's anger remained unabated. He frowned and continued worriedly, "That's true, but you're going to that remote and impoverished place all by yourself. You'll be unfamiliar with the area. What if the locals gang up on you and leave you helpless? What will you do then?"
Chen Xuan said with a firm gaze, "If I cannot even handle such a small matter properly, then it is enough to prove my incompetence and that I am not worthy of being an official! I went through countless hardships to obtain the qualification to participate in the imperial examination, and after countless days and nights of hard study, I was able to pass the imperial examination with flying colors and become a Jinshi. No matter where I am assigned to a post in the future, I only want to be down-to-earth and sincerely do some practical and good things for the common people."
Seeing that things had developed to this point, Wang Sai knew that further persuasion would be futile, so he stopped trying to reason with him. Instead, he silently took out many personal belongings from his pocket and stuffed them into Chen Xuan's bag. These items were not expensive, but each one was filled with his deep concern and blessings for his friend.
Seeing this, Chen Xuan was deeply moved, but he didn't refuse. He understood that this was a kind offer from a friend, and if he insisted on declining, it would seem distant and awkward. So, he smiled and thanked Wang Sai, then carefully packed away the items.
Chen Xuan nimbly flipped over and landed steadily on the horse's back. Four guards followed closely behind him, each one spirited and imposing. The clatter of hooves kicked up a cloud of dust as the group sped off towards the Northern Prefecture.
Chen Xuan's destination was Lepan County in Beidi Prefecture. This place was quite unique, as a towering mountain, like a giant dragon, cleaved the county in two, dividing it into two distinct areas, east and west. Furthermore, Lepan County was crisscrossed by numerous winding rivers, causing great difficulty for the daily travel of the local people. To cross these rivers, they either had to spend a great deal of time and energy finding bridges or ferries, or risk wading across, where a slight misstep could lead to disaster.
For the officials responsible for managing this land, the challenges were even greater. When Chen Xuan first arrived, his head was spinning and throbbing. Leaving aside other issues, the vast cultural differences between the eastern and western parts were a major headache. The people in the eastern region were deeply influenced by traditional agrarian civilization and had a relatively conservative lifestyle; the western region, being closer to the mountains, had more interaction with the outside world and had a more open mindset. This difference resulted in vastly different customs, habits, and values among the residents of the two regions, making unified and effective governance extremely difficult.
Just like Chen Xuan, Su Jin was also assigned to a remote and impoverished place. However, Su Jin did not show the slightest resentment towards this arrangement. In fact, even before accepting the appointment, Su Jin had already foreseen that all thirty-odd students from humble backgrounds, including herself, would be sent to remote and harsh places; conversely, the descendants of princes and nobles would all be sent to wealthy and prosperous areas.
Su Jin was fully aware of the stark difference in treatment they received: those of ordinary backgrounds were ultimately separated from the children of wealthy and powerful families by an insurmountable gap. But it was precisely because of this that Su Jin became even more determined to strive for success. Even in a remote area, he firmly believed that through his relentless efforts, he could create a brilliant future for himself.
With a heavy heart, Su Jin returned home and bid a reluctant farewell to her parents. Tears welled in her eyes, but she forced them back. Under the concerned gaze of her parents, Su Jin turned and picked up her pre-prepared luggage, accompanied by four loyal guards, embarking on her journey to her new post.
After several long and tiring days of travel, the group finally arrived at their destination—Yinmi County in Liangzhou. Although the distance between this small county and the bustling city of Xianyang seemed short on the map, they found that reality was far from what they had imagined when they were actually there.
This place is remote and difficult to access, surrounded by rolling mountains and barren plains. As far as the eye can see, only scattered villages dot the landscape, with a pitifully small population. The land is extremely barren due to a lack of nutrients, and the cracked clods of earth look like abandoned children, devoid of any vitality.
The local residents' homes are scattered, some hidden deep in the mountains and valleys, isolated from the world. Many have never left these mountains in their entire lives, knowing very little about the outside world, as if living in a peaceful paradise. They are completely unaware of the rapid changes happening outside and continue to follow their ancient and traditional way of life.
Moreover, right next to Yinmi County lies Chungu County! These two counties are adjacent to each other, very close in distance. However, it is precisely because of this close geographical relationship that various conflicts and disputes frequently arise between the people of the two counties.
These conflicts are varied and constantly emerging. Sometimes, they can escalate into heated arguments or even physical altercations over trivial matters, such as unclear land boundaries or minor disputes at the market. In more serious cases, long-standing feuds between families can lead to violent fights, posing a significant threat to local public order.
As tensions between the residents of the two counties escalated, the local security situation deteriorated significantly. Theft and robbery became frequent crimes, with innocent civilians often becoming victims. Even repeated government interventions only addressed the symptoms, not the root cause, failing to resolve the problem at its source. Over time, people developed a fear of the area, and travelers avoided it to prevent any mishaps.
An even more pressing problem was the extremely feudal and conservative social atmosphere here. When someone unfortunately fell ill, most people wouldn't think of seeking treatment from a proper doctor, but instead would place their hopes on shamans. These shamans often relied on superstitious methods and dubious incantations to "cure" people. Because of this, it was incredibly difficult to find even a slightly respectable doctor in the entire county, which truly frustrated Su Jin, a newcomer. Looking at the unfamiliar and backward scene before her, a deep sense of worry welled up within her: how could this situation be changed?
Perhaps due to the fatigue of travel and the change of environment, Su Jin quickly developed symptoms of acclimatization problems. She began to vomit and have diarrhea frequently, and her body became extremely weak. However, faced with this predicament, there were no doctors around who could provide effective treatment. But Su Jin, with her tenacious willpower, gritted her teeth and persevered. She silently endured the torment of illness, trying her best to adjust her condition, hoping to adapt to this unfamiliar and harsh land as soon as possible.