Inscription of Lu County City
Xie Jiang, True Confucian of Luoyang
In the year of Wushen during the Jiajing era, I traveled to Nanyang and passed through Lu Mountain, where I saw the city in a state of great disrepair. Now, after more than three years, it has been restored. This was done by Lord Yao. It is said that when Lord Yao first arrived in the county, he walked around the city and observed it. The walls were crumbling, the ditches were filled with debris, the paths were blocked, and the filth was soaking and damp, with weeds growing rampant. He looked up and sighed, saying, “With a city like this, it is still a cause for concern to repair it.” He then gathered the elders and scholars and said, “The people rely on the city for protection; without a city, there is no county, and without a county, there are no people. The magistrate is responsible for protection, and if there is no city, it is abandoning the county and the people. Who should be blamed for this?” He intended to rebuild the city. They all said, “The labor is too much, and the higher officials are suspicious, so we dare not propose it.” Lord Yao said, “This is to neglect the public for personal reasons, and to harm the people for one’s own benefit. If I can ensure that the higher-ups do not suspect me, I will proceed. Even if the labor is great, what harm is there? Moreover, at this time, the beacons of the Central Plains are lit, and although it is a famous city, it is urgent to restore it, let alone a small city like this? How can we dare to avoid suspicion and abandon it?” Therefore, he reported to the provincial government, measured the labor and costs, gathered materials, scheduled the work, and the people responded joyfully. There was no delay or waste, and the benefits did not infringe upon the farmers, and the overseers praised the work. This project began in March of the Jiajing era and was completed by October. Xie said, “Lord Yao is indeed capable! He restored the city and clarified its purpose, diligently built the walls, and recorded its significance. Therefore, in the Spring and Autumn Annals, every city must be recorded, and it is enough to commend Lord Yao for acting in accordance with the times, allowing the people to live in peace. This is indeed a beautiful achievement. How can one not commend and record it?”