With Jiaozhi returning to Jiao Province, Lan Tian needed a great number of officials to thoroughly transform the Shi Clan's old way of governance. But training them through the academies and selecting them through Rites Bureau examinations would take time.
Lan Tian summoned Jiang Wan for discussion and decided to transfer existing officials from the two commanderies of Cangwu and Yulin, pairing veterans with newcomers to fill the temporary shortage of talent.
"Gongyan, you seem troubled?" Lan Tian caught sight of Jiang Wan's tightly furrowed brow.
Jiang Wan's face was full of bitterness. "Your method of reassigning officials can indeed solve the urgent crisis, Prefect, but it also plants quite a few hidden dangers. Officials transferred from remote little counties in Yulin to serve in prosperous Jiaozhi will naturally be delighted. But if those from already wealthy cities such as Guangxin are sent to impoverished places like Hepu or Jiuzhen, they may very well develop resentment. After all, uprooting an entire family and moving them far away does seem somewhat heartless when one thinks about it. The Personnel Bureau will likely have a hard few months ahead."
Lan Tian answered with a stern expression, "To hold office is to bring prosperity to one's people. They are going there to govern, not to enjoy themselves. Only those who can bring good order to poor mountains and harsh waters possess true ability. The mentality of picking the fat and avoiding the lean will not do. In the future, the rotation of officials must also become the norm—especially for positions with real authority, such as county magistrates, county deputy magistrates, and county commandants. Staying in one place for too long easily breeds corruption, and they will gradually become local landlords and powerful clans. That benefits neither the state nor the region. You do