Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

This is not quite what I imagined!

Are you not even going to pretend to be modest?

You were all for saying you were a newcomer and didn't want to be the president, but now that I've said I'm willing, what's the deal? Damn!

Zhou Maoxue's expression gradually stiffened.

Finally, he sat back in his seat dejectedly, his mind a complete blank.

This move really confused him....

Fang Zheng glanced at him sideways, sneering inwardly.

You fool, you can't even see the timing. I've already declined twice.

Don't you know the rule of three?

Li Yuanzhao seized the opportunity to build up the atmosphere: "In that case, the position of president is settled. Let's welcome President Tang!"

"Greetings, President!"

With Li Yuanzhao taking the lead, a chorus of agreement rang out.

Fang Zheng pressed down with both hands, humbly saying: "Everyone is a friend. This is just a title put forward to facilitate everyone's actions, so there's no need to be so formal."

"However, since you all think highly of me, as the president, I should naturally shoulder more responsibility. If you have any matters or opinions, you can actively raise them with me, and this president will do his utmost to resolve them for you!"

"President Tang speaks well."

Watching Fang Zheng's spirited speech and listening to the voices of support around him, Zhou Maoxue felt a wave of discomfort in his heart.

Damn it! I should be the one saying those things.... After all this effort and building relationships for so long, the results were stolen by a stranger who appeared out of nowhere.

Forget it. What's done is done and cannot be undone. Let him be the president. There will inevitably be room for my activities in the future, and I can also make a name for myself among the crowd.

Besides, with so many people gathering to cause trouble, the imperial court will definitely take action.

If the thunder strikes, he can withdraw at any time, without having to be at the forefront, riding a tiger that's hard to dismount....

Zhou Maoxue kept comforting himself.

The scholar beside him was happily drinking wine. When he glanced sideways and saw that Zhou Maoxue was a little off, he asked doubtfully: "Brother Zhou, why are you shaking?"

"The wine... is a little strong." Zhou Maoxue forced a smile.

Seeing that the general situation was settled, Fang Zheng raised his hand and said: "Now that this matter has been decided, I will talk to you about my initial thoughts."

"Right now, everyone can be considered a founding member of the Xingsheng Society, the most core backbone of the organization, and Tang is naturally incredibly trusting. However, considering that we will be constantly active in the outside world in the future, absorbing talent, in order to prevent people with ulterior motives from infiltrating the society, I think we should first set up a code, only for mutual communication between the core members."

As soon as he finished speaking, someone shouted: "President, does that mean that we should use secret language or gestures to recognize each other's identities, just like the Jianghu gangs?"

"That's right!" Fang Zheng said, "Everyone here is a scholar, so using secret language is naturally inappropriate. Therefore, we should choose a simple gesture to confirm each other's identities."

"The gesture used for communication needs to be simple yet meaningful, but I've already thought of one, just for everyone's reference."

After Fang Zheng finished speaking, he raised his hand and extended his index finger, first making a nine, and then a one.

He repeated it several times until everyone in the audience saw it clearly.

"Nine-One? President, what does this mean? And isn't the action a bit too simple?"

Faced with a doubtful gaze, Fang Zheng raised his hand to explain: "Not so."

"Everyone here is one of us, quite reliable, and everyone is a scholar, not a Jianghu gangster, so we only need a simple and easy-to-understand gesture that doesn't need to be too complicated."

"In addition, this gesture also has a special meaning, taking the meaning of sweeping away the universe, rectifying the source, and returning to oneness. Of course, if you have other ideas, you can also put them forward. We can all discuss them, and you don't have to listen to my opinion alone."

The scholars in the audience faced each other in pairs, using their fingers to make the gesture of nine-one, hooking their fingers back and forth, and smiling mysteriously at each other.

Hmm! It's a bit interesting. There's no need to make this thing too complicated.

Moreover, the meaning of nine-one is very good!

Li Yuanzhao was pondering when he suddenly saw Fang Zheng constantly hinting at him with his eyes. Understanding his intention, he said: "President Tang, I think this item can be considered passed. The gesture of nine-one is also extremely good. There's no need to waste more time. Why not continue to discuss the next item? After all, how to do things is the most important thing."

Fang Zheng looked around and, seeing that no one objected, said: "Okay, then we'll tentatively set this communication gesture, specifically used to distinguish outsiders. Now, let's talk about how to act."

"But before I speak, I still want to respect everyone's opinions. I wonder if you have any thoughts, you can speak freely."

Zhou Maoxue didn't hesitate and stood up immediately.

In terms of ideas, he had been brewing in his mind for a long time.

Now that the position of president has fallen to others, he can only lead the crowd by showing his ability.

Zhou Maoxue faced the back and said loudly: "I have an idea. Before, when we sat quietly in front of the Marquis's mansion, not only did Fang Zheng refuse to see us, but even the imperial court didn't react in any way."

"Obviously, they know they are in the wrong and want to delay time, turning big things into small things. Since the court dares not face it, then we must force the court to face our demands."

"Therefore, I believe that the most important thing right now is... to publish a newspaper!"

Hearing that he wanted to publish a newspaper, Fang Zheng and Li Yuanzhao immediately exchanged glances.

"Publish a newspaper?" Many people's eyes flashed with excitement.

Everyone knew the influence of the newspaper. If the Xingsheng Society's newspaper could stand firm, then its influence in the capital and even the world would undoubtedly be significant.

"But publishing a newspaper is not that simple. It requires a lot of silver. Although we can't be said to have poor families, we don't have much money left in the capital. Distant water can't quench immediate thirst, and even if we publish it, who will read it?" Some people obviously realized the problem.

Zhou Maoxue was not flustered: "The expenses for publishing the newspaper might as well be temporarily paid by President Tang, and we can slowly repay them in the future. As for the problem of no one reading it... it's actually not difficult to solve."

"There are only six ministries and the Banshan newspaper office in the capital that issue newspapers, each distributing them on weekdays. The newspaper offices under the six ministries are managed by one place and are outside the yamen. We can completely go to the newspaper office to buy off informants, and insert our newspaper into the capital's newspapers. It can be delivered to the court, even to His Majesty, within a day."

"In addition, regarding the Banshan Daily, we can also send people to contact people from all walks of life in the political and business circles in the capital, as well as many celebrities in the capital, and deliver it for free without taking a penny. With such a trend, even the imperial court will never be able to treat our demands as trivial matters."

After saying this method, it immediately won the support of the vast majority of people, and everyone's eyes were filled with fanaticism.

Those who came here, although shouting that it was for the good of the country, and that the court's path was crooked and they were going to correct it.

But in the final analysis, it's all about private interests.

Obviously, people who can be on the newspaper now are all famous people or officials in society.

If the Xingsheng Society's newspaper is successful, then everyone will theoretically have the opportunity to publish articles in the newspaper and gain a great reputation in the circle.

If the imperial court compromises and is willing to supplement the title of Jinshi, then it will be double happiness!

Zhou Maoxue was also very proud and looked at Fang Zheng with some arrogance.

It doesn't matter if you are the president, people's hearts are the most important thing.

Fang Zheng had a faint smile on his face: "Good idea! Brother Zhou is talented, Tang is willing to bear the cost of publishing the newspaper...."

"This matter must not be done!" Li Yuanzhao immediately stood up and scolded, "Do you know that if you want to publish a newspaper in the capital, you must go through the Internal Affairs Office, and then get the Emperor's imperial approval before you can agree. The influence of the newspaper is so great that privately publishing a newspaper is tantamount to rebellion!"

"Once it starts, the Embroidered Uniform Guard will have absolutely legitimate reasons to wipe us all out! Therefore, we cannot publish a newspaper!"

The joyful atmosphere in the courtyard disappeared in an instant, and Li Yuanzhao's words were like a basin of cold water pouring over everyone's heads....