The County Chief thought it through and actually agreed to it. He was just a County Chief, so how could he maintain enough force to catch the bandits?
It was difficult enough to pay the guards for the County Chief's place.
He sighed and said in shame, "You don't know my situation. Even though I have the same title as you, there is no comparison between you and I. I don't actually have solid power in my hands, nor do I have any grain or military force. I'm really incapable of suppressing the bandits in my jurisdiction, not to mention help my citizens have a safe and peaceful place to live in. I have all the intentions, but none of the power. I'm literally out of solutions for these bandits. If I had the force and the grain, I wouldn't watch the bandits expand and harass my own citizens."