Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

"Alright, Li Yuan, give me the invitation. Let me see where this poetry debate is being held."

Li Yuan obediently handed over the invitation. Fang Zheng Yi unfolded it and took a look, immediately amused.

Isn't this just perfect!? The Qu Zuo Lake Poetry Debate. It seems this Hongmen Banquet is one I can't avoid!

Zhang Biao also leaned over and asked, "Young Master, where are we going?"

"To a Hongmen Banquet!"

Hearing this, Zhang Biao immediately exclaimed with joy, "Alright! I'll go get a sack!"

Li Yuan Zhao asked, puzzled, "What do you need a sack for?"

"You wouldn't understand. A Hongmen Banquet is all about eating raw meat. We'll bring the meat back to eat!" Zhang Biao replied with a seasoned look, as if he had attended many times before.

Then, he happily ran off to find a sack.

Li Yuan Zhao stared wide-eyed at Zhang Biao's retreating figure, then leaned closer to Fang Zheng Yi and whispered, "Is he... not quite right in the head...?"

Fang Zheng Yi was displeased. How dare he talk about his Biao-ge like that!? Was the number one fighter of Tao Yuan County joking around?

So, he said seriously, "Your Highness, you don't understand. When one's ability in a certain area reaches its peak, other aspects become unimportant...."

"Take me, for example. What do you think of my looks?"

"Pretty... pretty good. What about it?" Li Yuan Zhao hesitated.

"That's why His Majesty insisted on having me come to the capital to become an official. Do you understand now? Do you think I can read books well? I can't! Can I fight wars? I can't either. So why does His Majesty value me so much?"

Fang Zheng Yi's face was serious.

Li Yuan Zhao stammered, "Isn't it... because you were successful in controlling the floods...?"

"Wrong! Your Highness, as the Crown Prince, you must learn to see the essence through the phenomena. Why would being successful in controlling the floods lead to me being appointed to the Zhan Shi Fu? Is there a necessary connection? No!"

"Ultimately, it's because I'm good-looking! That's why His Majesty had me come to the Zhan Shi Fu and even gave me a golden pass to enter and exit the Forbidden City at will."

Li Yuan Zhao's face showed horror, and he took two steps back: "You... you're saying that Father has... homosexual inclinations!?!"

"Too narrow-minded! Too narrow-minded! The appreciation of beauty transcends gender and race! Beauty can also infect a person! That's why His Majesty put me by your side."

"As the saying goes, 'If you stay in a room of orchids, you will not notice their fragrance.' Your Highness has unknowingly changed quite a bit! Just look at your fashionable hairstyle now!"

"Is that so?" Li Yuan Zhao touched his hair and grinned foolishly.

Then, he suddenly became dejected: "No wonder I'm not well-liked in front of Father. It turns out that I haven't specialized in one area."

"It's not my fault that I learn whatever I study! Could it be that it's wrong for me to be a polymath? This cursed talent!"

Fang Zheng Yi: "........"

Very good, unknowingly, everyone has become birds of a feather.

While speaking, Zhang Biao had already prepared, tying three sacks around his waist with a belt, making him look like he was wearing a skirt.

Fang Zheng Yi twitched the corner of his mouth, too lazy to say anything more.

Biao-ge being like this... he was already used to it.

Having prepared the carriage, the three immediately set off towards their destination.

Qu Zuo Lake, located in the northwest of Jingcheng's western district, is lined with bustling shops on both sides of the lake, usually teeming with people.

As the three were about to arrive, Fang Zheng Yi called for the carriage to stop.

It was still relatively early, and the sky was not yet dark. Fang Zheng Yi thought that since there was still some time, he might as well let Li Yuan Zhao get out of the carriage and walk around to see the surrounding environment.

If they went directly onto the boat, it would be like going from one room to another, missing out on a lot of scenery, which would greatly reduce the meaning of this trip.

The three of them strolled along the riverside path. Li Yuan Zhao walked side by side with Fang Zheng Yi, while Zhang Biao kept guard behind them, following closely.

A gentle breeze blew through the willows on both sides of the river, causing the branches to sway constantly.

People were constantly entering and exiting the shops along the river. The sounds of chatting, bargaining, and reciting poetry entered their ears.

Li Yuan Zhao, like a small bird released into nature, opened his arms and took a deep breath, then said, "This place is really nice! It's not inferior to Tao Yuan County at all. I walked around the outskirts of the capital last time, and I thought the entire capital was like that!"

Fang Zheng Yi smiled and said, "You're joking. This is the capital after all. No matter how good Tao Yuan County is, there's still a gap."

"No! In my opinion, the management of the capital is far inferior to that of Tao Yuan County. Look there! And there! Those are all beggars, but I've never seen a single beggar in Tao Yuan County. Why is that?" Li Yuan Zhao pointed to the begging children near the shops and then looked at Fang Zheng Yi with a puzzled expression.

He had had this question ever since he first arrived in Tao Yuan County, and he only suddenly remembered it today when he saw the beggars.

Fang Zheng Yi smiled slightly: "How could there be no beggars in Tao Yuan County? It's just that I've all had them go to work. Those who are able-bodied and capable are allowed to recuperate for a few days, and then assigned work to earn money to support their families. This is called 'work relief.'"

"As for those who are disabled, we try our best to have them do some work within their capabilities."

"And for those who have no ability at all, or the elderly, weak, women, and children, the county government will verify them one by one and then distribute some silver taels each month to ensure their basic living needs."

"That's why you can't see beggars in Tao Yuan County!"

"This capital is so much larger than Tao Yuan County. Do you know how many beggars there are, how many jobs there are, and how the money should be distributed?"

"This is a big problem, far more complicated than managing a small county like mine. Moreover, the relationships within the capital are intricate and difficult to sort out. I think even if I were to manage it, it would be difficult to make progress!"

Li Yuan Zhao nodded and asked, puzzled, "Do those beggars really willingly work peacefully? I heard my teachers say that some people are born lazybones and can't be taught no matter how hard you try!"

Fang Zheng Yi's face darkened, feeling like he was being subtly mocked...

Then he smiled and said, "What your teachers said may not necessarily be wrong!"

"Some of those beggars who are capable of working and supporting their families still cause trouble even after earning money, swindling, deceiving, and committing all sorts of evil deeds! If the circumstances are serious, this official usually breaks both of their legs and then has them do some work within their capabilities."

"If they are unrepentant, then I break both of their hands and distribute some silver taels each month to ensure their basic living needs."

"In this way... after a long time, no one will cause trouble anymore."

Fang Zheng Yi was still smiling, but this smile looked somewhat chilling in Li Yuan Zhao's eyes!

Old Fang, who is usually always smiling, actually has such a ruthless side....

Fang Zheng Yi glanced at him and said slowly, "A ruler who is blindly soft-hearted is planting the seeds of future disasters."

"It's of course good to be able to educate, but there are inherently evil people in this world. They are unrepentant, do all kinds of bad things, and have no compassion or humanity, as if they were born to do evil."

"In the seven years that I was in power in Tao Yuan County, there were a total of one hundred and seven people beheaded for rape, plunder, robbery, gathering crowds to cause trouble, and doing evil."

"Do you think I did something wrong?"

Li Yuan Zhao still felt a bit numb in his hands and gritted his teeth and said, "That's right, strict military law is necessary to manage an army well. I understand this principle!"

Fang Zheng Yi smiled with satisfaction: "Not bad, but governing the people is not the same as managing an army. These evil people are, after all, only a small minority. The evil of the vast majority of people can still be corrected through education. Use benevolent policies for benevolent people and harsh laws for evil people! Never let the people who love you and support you feel disheartened."

......