Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

"Young master, wake up. The miners who went out have returned and are waiting to see you now," Xiao Tao said, standing beside Fang Zheng's bed with a helpless expression.

Fang Zheng rubbed his sleepy eyes and muttered, "Got it! Give them the silver, I'll sleep a little longer...."

After speaking, he turned over and went back to sleep.

Xiao Tao pushed him hard a couple of times: "Wake up! It's the miners who went to Jianjiang for disaster relief!!"

"Huh! Miners?" Only then did Fang Zheng groggily remember that he had sent twenty people to Jianjiang for disaster relief. He didn't know if it was successful or not.

However, it was always a good thing for people to return.

Remembering this, Fang Zheng immediately perked up and quickly jumped out of bed: "Let's go! Let's go take a look!"

"Young master! You haven't washed your face yet!"

......

As soon as the miners saw Fang Zheng appear, they became excited and began to salute and greet him one by one.

Fang Zheng waved his hand at them and said with a smile, "Good, it seems like it was a success? Did everything go smoothly? Did anyone get hurt?"

Ding Kai quickly stepped forward excitedly and said, "Master! We succeeded! Everything went smoothly and no one was injured."

"Hahaha, good!! Then take your silver and go home to rest. You've worked hard!" Fang Zheng was overjoyed. As expected, this deal made money. He not only sold the gunpowder but also earned tens of thousands of taels of silver.

Old Li is really lucky. I'm afraid he will soar to the sky with this deal!

Ding Kai hesitated and said, "But... we picked up a person on the road..."

"What? Picked up a person? Where is he?"

The miners stepped aside, and a mud monkey was lying on the ground.

"What is this? This is a person!??" Fang Zheng was dumbfounded. This thing was covered in mud, curled up in a dark ball, but he could roughly tell that it was a primate.

Ding Kai said with a simple and honest smile: "Yes! Everyone saw him on the way back. They thought he was pitiful, so they brought him back. He's still breathing."

"He's been unconscious for several days. We give him a little broth to drink every day, so fortunately he's still alive."

"That... Master, we'll leave him to you. We're leaving first!"

After speaking, a group of miners left the person and ran away in a puff of smoke.

Fang Zheng was so angry that he jumped up and down. These unruly people! They are becoming more and more undisciplined!

They actually threw a half-dead person directly into the yamen!

"Xiao Tao, quickly find someone to wash him, then send him to the clinic. Deal with it as it should be!"

"Oh dear, things are done now, isn't Old Li making a big profit? Tell Zhang Biao to keep a close eye on him. As soon as Old Li enters the city, call him over to me immediately. I'm still waiting to collect the debt!"

......

In the imperial court, the officials were already in a heated argument.

Emperor Jing covered his forehead, looking at the anxious officials below, their faces red as they clamored for him to send people and money to support Jianjiang.

News from Jianjiang Prefecture was reported daily, and the flood was getting worse.

The Southern faction, especially officials from Jianjiang Prefecture, were particularly emotional, and even fought with colleagues who disagreed.

This kind of situation has happened several times.

Emperor Jing, bearing the pressure for more than ten days in a row, also felt a little overwhelmed.

Emperor Jing often wondered whether the people of Taoyuan County had succeeded or not. Why was there no news for so long? If Fang Zheng's side failed, and the court had not taken any action, how would the historians record朕 (zhèn, the imperial 'I')?

Wouldn't朕 (zhèn) become a foolish ruler!?

Chen Shu, a supervising secretary of the Ministry of Revenue, reacted the most strongly. Although the official rank of supervising secretary was low, his power and responsibility were extremely great. He had the function of inspecting the various departments of the Ministry of Revenue, and could even go so far as to reject imperial edicts.

It can be said that he was a fighter among the pure stream censors.

More importantly, Chen Shu's hometown was in Jianjiang... Letters from home kept urging him to submit memorials. There was almost a civil uprising in his hometown, and they were afraid that they would not be able to catch up with planting this year's land.

Chen Shu was also anxious, and frantically submitted memorials to Emperor Jing, but these memorials were like stones sinking into the sea and received no response.

Today, seeing Emperor Jing's indifferent attitude in court, Chen Shu finally couldn't hold back.

He said loudly: "Your Majesty! Now the people's grievances are boiling, and the news of Jianjiang has spread to the capital!"

"It has been more than ten days since receiving the news of Jianjiang's request for assistance, and a decision still cannot be made! I dare to ask, what is Your Majesty thinking in your heart!??"

"The people are in the sea of suffering, but the court does nothing. How will future generations view today's events!"

"Please Your Majesty think twice!!"

After speaking, Chen Shu knelt on the ground and kowtowed heavily!

Many pure stream colleagues saw that Chen Shu was so brave, and quickly followed suit and knelt down.

"Please Your Majesty think twice!"

Emperor Jing was instantly enraged upon hearing this, and immediately stood up and said angrily: "Chen Shu! Are you teaching朕 (zhèn) a lesson!??"

Emperor Jing was an emperor who came to power on horseback, and his majesty was extremely heavy. Even the censors rarely disobeyed him.

Even Chen Shu, as a member of the pure stream, couldn't help but feel a little regretful after speaking.

But since things had come to this, Chen Shu hardened his heart and continued: "I dare not! But the people of Jianjiang are in dire straits! If the court does nothing, I am afraid it will cause criticism from the people of the world!"

Emperor Jing laughed in anger: "Good! Good! Since you are so anxious,朕 (zhèn) might as well confiscate your family property and send it to Jianjiang Prefecture, which can be regarded as fulfilling your love for the people."

Confiscate his family property?! This is a foolish ruler....

Chen Shu's face suddenly turned pale: "I am offering loyal advice!"

Emperor Jing was currently in a fit of anger, and hearing Chen Shu still being stubborn, he said coldly: "Good, a loyal minister of my Great Jing.朕 (zhèn) will fulfill your loyalty and bestow朕 (zhèn)'s imperial horse to you. Go to Jianjiang immediately to provide disaster relief!"

Chen Shu lowered his head, sweating profusely, and didn't dare to say a word at this moment.

He said the wrong thing.....

Your Majesty is determined to kill me... What to do! What to do!

Li Yansong came out to smooth things over at the right time. He slowly said: "Your Majesty, please think twice. Chen Shu's crime does not deserve this. But this old minister also wants to know... Why is Your Majesty unwilling to support Jianjiang?"

Seeing him speak, Emperor Jing gradually calmed down: "Master Li? Do even you want to question朕 (zhèn)'s decision?"

Li Yansong smiled bitterly: "I am not questioning Your Majesty, but I just don't understand why....."

Emperor Jing was immediately choked up.... Yes, it was normal not to understand. The internal guards who were sent out had not sent any news for a long time, and even the Grand Secretariat could not hold on any longer. Did he have to continue?

Emperor Jing suddenly fell into confusion and didn't know what to do for a moment.

Looking at the many gazes below the steps, Emperor Jing suddenly wavered... Perhaps, the people of Taoyuan County had already failed. He could be considered to have done his best to hold on until today.

Forget it, it seems that朕 (zhèn) ultimately misplaced my trust in Fang Zheng.

Just as he was about to speak, a small eunuch suddenly stumbled and ran into the hall from outside, shouting: "Urgent report!! Urgent report from Jianjiang!!"