Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

Emperor Jing glanced at the thick stack of silver notes, and the little eunuch presented them to the table.

Then he said blandly, "The annual income of Taoyuan County for seven years is only a mere eighty thousand taels of silver? Fang Zheng Yi, you dare to play your little tricks in front of me... Guards!"

Fang Zheng Yi said anxiously, "Your Majesty, it is indeed true. The funds I invested in the reconstruction of Taoyuan County are countless... It is not easy to have more than eighty thousand taels left!"

"Really? I don't believe it."

"....."

If you talk like that, we can't talk anymore!

Fine beads of sweat began to appear on Fang Zheng Yi's forehead. Today, he had to find a way to fool the emperor. In a new environment, he had to be a little submissive. At worst, he would reveal a little bit of his skills first.

Fortunately, Emperor Jing spoke again: "I can forgive what you have done in the past."

"But once you enter the court, you must honestly serve me with peace of mind!"

"I am very happy that you have the ability to handle affairs, but I am very dissatisfied with your attitude as an official!"

Fang Zheng Yi immediately flattered him and said quickly, "Your Majesty is right! I will definitely do my best in the future!"

Emperor Jing raised his hand and said, "Come, grant him a seat."

The eunuch on duty immediately moved a chair for Fang Zheng Yi, and Fang Zheng Yi sat down cautiously.

At the same time, he secretly rejoiced in his heart. It seemed that his eighty thousand taels of silver were not spent in vain, and he had at least earned a seat.

Looking at Fang Zheng Yi sitting on the chair with half his buttocks, like a little daughter-in-law, Emperor Jing couldn't help but find it amusing.

It seems that no matter how crazy you, Fang Zheng Yi, are, you still know how to assess the situation.

"Alright, no need to be restrained. I still have a lot of questions to ask you."

Seeing that Emperor Jing's attitude had eased, Fang Zheng Yi couldn't help but relax a little: "Please ask, Your Majesty. I will answer everything I know."

Emperor Jing pondered, and various memories about Taoyuan County flashed through his mind.

Toilet paper... pipes... greenhouses... mirrors... phonograph... For a moment, he didn't know where to start asking.

After thinking for a while, he finally said: "Merit without measure... This thing, what exactly is it?"

Fang Zheng Yi immediately showed an expression of 'I knew it'. Anyone with eyes could see the function of this thing, and it was only natural that the emperor would care about it. He had already prepared his explanation.

"Your Majesty, the real name of this thing is gunpowder... It ignites when it encounters fire. If there is a large quantity in a confined space, it will cause a violent explosion."

"Gunpowder? Is this a natural thing or a man-made thing?"

"Man-made!"

Emperor Jing immediately felt a surge of joy in his heart and quickly continued to ask: "How much can this thing be produced? How much does it cost?"

Fang Zheng Yi's expression became serious: "Your Majesty, this thing was accidentally obtained by an alchemist. At first, I left the alchemist in Taoyuan County to manufacture gunpowder, but later this person was also blown to death, and the manufacturing of gunpowder was cut off."

"Fortunately, there are still some leftovers. Taoyuan County has stored this thing for several years, but gunpowder is extremely unstable and very dangerous! Therefore, all the remaining inventory was used up when the mountain was opened."

"It is even more difficult to talk about production! I also ordered people to study it. If this thing had been successfully developed in the past few years, it would have been presented to the court... It is a pity that it failed."

"Because it was extremely expensive, it cost tens of thousands of taels of silver and was not successful. Later, the county did not continue to spend silver to support the research of this thing..."

After speaking, Fang Zheng Yi also shook his head regretfully, revealing an expression of shame to death for not being able to serve the country loyally.

Just kidding! This thing can already be mass-produced. I, Fang Zheng Yi, am not a newbie just entering the workplace.

Of course, good things are only taken out at critical moments. If you praise the boss as soon as you come up, won't you be forced into a workaholic in the future?

If you want to live a comfortable life, you have to squeeze the toothpaste slowly....

However, the cost of making gunpowder is indeed high. Apart from the cost of materials, Fang Zheng Yi didn't know what sulfur and saltpeter looked like when he first arrived.

He could only order people to search all the materials that could be found on the market, and then find craftsmen to compare them one by one. It took a lot of effort to finally make the gunpowder successfully.

After all, without a system and without memory, life is too bitter....

Emperor Jing heard this and pointed at Fang Zheng Yi angrily: "Foolish! You actually stopped researching such a magical weapon. I will immediately order Taoyuan County to continue researching this thing!"

Fang Zheng Yi shook his head with a wry smile: "Your Majesty... the county has no money. I have brought all the silver here this time."

"How much do you need! ?"

"Forty thousand... thirty thousand... about the same." Fang Zheng Yi said, his eyes unconsciously glancing at the table.

Emperor Jing looked at Fang Zheng Yi and sneered: "What? Could it be that you still want to take this money back?"

"I dare not! But if you want to support the research of this thing, you always need silver... I can't increase taxes on the people and exploit them...."

Fang Zheng Yi's courage also grew stronger. Which emperor wouldn't be tempted by this thing?

Since he had some bargaining chips, he would try to get back some of the silver he sent out. These were his retirement savings!

Emperor Jing stared at Fang Zheng Yi, observing him for a long time, and he didn't seem to be faking it.

However, given Fang Zheng Yi's slippery performance, Emperor Jing was still very vigilant.

"Twenty thousand taels... I will give you one year. After one year, I want to see the production and use of gunpowder."

Fang Zheng Yi quickly shook his head: "Your Majesty, the silver can be less, and I can always find a way, but the time... is too tight. I originally studied it for two years with little success, and now the people who participated at the beginning have already gone to do other things."

"If we recall the old people and relearn... I think it will take at least two years. Within two years, I still have some confidence!"

"Okay... two years it is. I will send people to Taoyuan County to assist in the research. If it is not successful after two years, the consequences... you must consider carefully."

Such a magical weapon is worth waiting for two years, and the country is not at war, so Emperor Jing is not very concerned about the time.

Fang Zheng Yi revealed a slight smile that was almost imperceptible. Twenty thousand taels are back! It's really hard to swindle some research funding. It's still my money!

Send people to go if you want to! Gunpowder is the most important secret of Taoyuan County. The people who participated in the research at the beginning were all clever people and worked in the county government.

Once the imperial decree arrives, everyone will naturally know what to do... Fang Zheng Yi still has this confidence.

"Please rest assured, Your Majesty! I will definitely live up to my mission and live up to your trust!"

Emperor Jing nodded in satisfaction, then smiled: "Good, I want to know, is the poisonous oath I made back then still in your hands?"

Fang Zheng Yi laughed awkwardly: "When signing the contract, Your Majesty used a fake name, so it's not real. I'll write a letter when I get back and have them all burned!"

Emperor Jing looked at him without saying a word.

"Oh... and the phonograph, I will present it to Your Majesty as well. The phonograph... can already be produced, but it is a secret of Taoyuan County, so there is only one. If Your Majesty needs more, I can order people to make more. Please understand, Your Majesty!"

Fang Zheng Yi confessed everything honestly this time, thinking that it must be Wu Sheng, that dog thing, who sold him out!

Emperor Jing had naturally been to Taoyuan County and would naturally ask about the mysteries of it. It would be strange if he didn't know the function of the phonograph.

Moreover, he had to bring some goods to the big boss on this trip, otherwise, would he still be able to get along in the future?

There are still many things in the county, so let's reveal a little bit, it doesn't matter...

"Good, continue talking."