In ancient Chinese history, whenever local officials did things for the people in a down-to-earth manner, served for the sake of officials and benefited one party, the common people would affectionately call them "parent officials". The so-called "parent official", understood literally, means that the local officials love the people like sons, treat ordinary people as if they were their own children, and only then will they be loved by the people. In fact, "parent official" is not as simple as it is taken literally, it first referred to two officials of the Han Dynasty.
During the reign of Emperor Yuan of the Western Han Dynasty, Nanyang Commandery produced a taishou who was as incorruptible as water. This person's name was Zhao Xinchen (召信臣), the character Weng Qing (翁卿), a native of Jiujiang Shouchun ( Jiujiang Shouchun ) . During his tenure as the Taishou of Nanyang, he often went to the countryside to investigate and persuade Nongsang to either appear in the fields or live in the countryside pavilions, and rarely saw him idle at home. Through field investigations, Zhao Xinchen presided over the opening of ditches, the construction of dozens of sluices and weirs, the local irrigation area increased year by year, and grain production also doubled. The people have benefited, and the whole social atmosphere has also shown a peaceful atmosphere.
After helping the people to drum up the "money bags", the summoners began to carry out moral indoctrination. He first formulated water rules to prevent the people from being beaten to the ground by fighting for water. Then he forbade the people to waste extravagantly in the process of marriage and funeral, and finally reprimanded and punished those who were idle and petty thieves, and under his administration, Nanyang County almost reached the point of "the road is not left behind, and the night is not closed". Many people in other counties heard about the deeds of the summoning ministers and went to defect one after another, so Nanyang County's household registration was multiplied, and the counties became rich. The common people affectionately called him "Summoning Father", and when the emperor heard of his deeds, he also rewarded him with forty catties of gold. After Zhao Xinchen was later transferred to Henan Taishou, his political achievements repeatedly ranked first in the country.
Coincidentally, during the Eastern Han Dynasty, the people of Nanyang County met a good Taishou who loved the people like a son, that is, Du Shi, a hydraulic scientist and inventor of the Eastern Han Dynasty. Du Shi served as an attendant in the early years of emperor Guangwu, when the general Xiao Guang indulged his soldiers to commit crimes in Luoyang. Du Shi advised several times, but Xiao Guang did not listen, so Du Shi killed Xiao Guang according to the decree. Afterwards, he made a report upwards and was praised by his superiors.
During his tenure as the Taishou of Nanyang, Du Shi was known for his tyranny and power, and was good at strategizing, not wasting people's strength, coupled with political clarity, so he was very loved and loved by the local people. In addition to that, he did two big things. The first is the invention of "water drainage", which is used to cast agricultural tools. The second is to build water conservancy and expand the earth fields so that the people can live a prosperous life. Therefore, people compared him to the summoning minister of the Western Han Dynasty, and the people of Nanyang said: "Before there is the summoning father, and then there is Du Mu." Since then, people have collectively referred to local officials who love the people like sons and do things for the people as "parent officials." Have you ever encountered such a magistrate in your life? Welcome to leave a message in the comment area!