Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

Xie Xian chuckled twice: "So, what's the follow-up arrangement for the old reporters? Are we really not giving them a raise? It's not a good idea to keep stringing them along like this."

"Yes, but honestly, one or two taels of silver is quite a lot. Our newspaper is responsible for its own profits and losses. We can't just use the people's money to fill the gaps, can we?" Fang Zheng spread his hands: "Market competition. If you can survive, you survive. If you can't, you die. I won't agree to waste the people's hard-earned money."

"But we can't just fire everyone. After all, they were all people His Highness found. We'll have to think of a way to reassign them later. These people aren't really serious about their work anyway, so there's not much point in keeping them here."

"As for the newspaper's profits, we won't take a single cent of it for now. It's not much anyway. Leave it to the reporters as a bonus. As for the Crown Prince's share, go ask him. I think he'll agree directly."

"Arrange the rest as you see fit."

After speaking, Fang Zheng walked away with his hands behind his back, swaying leisurely. After taking a few steps, he seemed to remember something and turned around: "Oh, right, I don't know when Shen Yi will be going to Yuding City. I probably won't have time to see him off, so you go in my place."

"Prepare enough food, clothing, and travel expenses for him on the road."

"Also, write a letter to Yu Niang of the Red Flower Society for me, telling her that there will be no more Young Master Fang, the Wine Demon, only Shen Tan Hua, the Wine Demon. Tell her to keep her people's mouths shut!"

Xie Xian asked in confusion: "Master... what does this mean?"

Fang Zheng turned his back and continued home, waving his hand: "What what does it mean? It doesn't mean anything!"

"I fear not being crushed to pieces, I want to leave ~ my innocence in the world ~!"

Xie Xian looked at Fang Zheng's back, and countless black lines slowly drooped down his forehead. Good heavens, Master's innocence is preserved, but Shen Yi's innocence is about to be lost?!

......

The next day, the morning court convened as usual.

However, Fang Zheng could clearly feel that the way the court officials looked at him was somewhat different.

Presumably, many people knew that he had already been to the Northern Garrison Office and interrogated Zhang Shi in the imperial prison.

Many people were paying attention to this matter, after all, His Majesty suddenly took the opportunity to establish the Embroidered Uniform Guard, catching everyone off guard.

This meant that the emperor's reach was getting longer, and where it would extend to was still unknown.

They understood Emperor Jing's personality, but Fang Zheng was a variable that others weren't sure about.

Fang Zheng was well aware of this, so he pretended to be nonchalant and stood in place with an experienced air.

Until the court adjourned, Li Yuanzhao once again gathered with Fang Zheng. The two of them, with nothing to do, played chess in the East Palace, waiting for an opportunity to meet Emperor Jing.

Speaking of the matter of seizing the ill-gotten silver yesterday, Li Yuanzhao's face still wore a strong expression of excitement. He gesticulated wildly and said: "Lao Fang, you definitely can't imagine how much silver we seized yesterday!"

"More than three million taels! They've already sent people to seal it off, and they can't finish moving it all at once. It really was a mountain of silver, blinding my eyes. You must regret not going..."

"I went to Haiyuan City to seize the assets of salt merchants and saw even more. Three million taels is nothing," Fang Zheng said.

Li Yuanzhao hadn't even had a chance to show off before a bucket of cold water was poured over him...

"Tsk tsk, if only I had known, I would have gone to Haiyuan City with you to broaden my horizons! Father probably doesn't know there's so much silver yet. I'll tell him about it later. Lao Fang, I heard Father say last night that your county has produced gunpowder."

"Yes, yes, yes, it's been produced, and now we're making weapons! Your Highness will definitely like it when you see it. I've custom-made two for you, hehe."

"Two..." Li Yuanzhao raised an eyebrow: "So mysterious. What exactly are they? Just tell me directly."

Fang Zheng shook his head: "I can't say, I can't say! I'm brewing a big plan, preparing to make it a hit. You'll definitely like it. Just wait and see, it wouldn't be fun if I told you."

"And I'm going to use it to convince His Majesty to build ships."

Li Yuanzhao was extremely bored, and threw down his chess piece: "Tch! Impossible, I don't think Father will let you build ships. I told him that the earth is round and asked him to send two ships out to see, and he hit me."

"Heh, of course it won't work if you say it like that. You have to use the right method. I have a secret weapon!"

"What is it? There's something new? Lao Fang, you're still hiding things from me?" Li Yuanzhao's heart was itching, and he jumped up to ask.

"Oh, sit down, Your Highness. Those good things haven't been made yet. I'll send them to you as soon as they're made. Play chess!" Fang Zheng quietly moved a chess piece.

Now Li Yuanzhao's five-in-a-row chess skills have improved, and he's already no match for him. He can only use this despicable method!

Li Yuanzhao glanced at him with disdain and swept the chess pieces away.

"What's the point of this? The first move always wins! Tell me in detail, what exactly is overseas that's worth your concern? I always feel like you know a lot."

Fang Zheng pretended to be mysterious and said: "I know a little. Does Your Highness want to hear it?"

"Yes!"

"I heard that there's a place called Tianzhu, where people are born into different classes, and they can't change it for their whole lives. The higher classes take the armpits of the lower classes, dry them, and turn them into spices to sell. The thing they make is called curry."

"Damn! Curry?" Li Yuanzhao gasped: "So disgusting? Armpits can be made into spices?"

Fang Zheng waved his hand: "It's just hearsay, hearsay. There are also completely black people overseas who specialize in growing cotton, and there are blonde, blue-eyed, tall and strong foreign girls in the west!"

"Really?" Li Yuanzhao raised his voice sharply: "There are people who are completely black? Blonde, blue-eyed women, what would they be like? Get me a few to take a look at in the future."

"Forget it, Your Highness. You don't even have a child yet, and you want to find a foreign girl? You can't handle them, they're so tall and strong."

"What... what do you mean?" Li Yuanzhao's face flushed red. He was indeed no longer as carefree as before. It was a shameful thing to not have children at his age in Da Jing.

Especially in the royal family, all the officials were watching him.

"You have children?! And you're laughing at me!" Li Yuanzhao stood up abruptly and pounced on Fang Zheng fiercely.

Caught off guard, Fang Zheng was choked by the neck and repeatedly begged for mercy.

"Your Highness, there's serious business to attend to later! There'll be marks! There'll be marks...."

......

The morning passed in playful bickering, and finally, the opportunity to ask the emperor about government affairs arrived.

Emperor Jing was extremely diligent in his administration. Most of the important issues in the memorials would be discussed with the Grand Secretariat.

This time was no exception. When Liu Jin came to report, the two immediately put down what they were doing and went to see him.

When they entered the room, about five or six people turned their heads to look at Fang Zheng.

Fang Zheng smiled as he scanned the room.

His maternal uncle was also there, which would make the effect even better with the head of all officials present!

"Your subject Fang Zheng, greets Your Majesty."

Emperor Jing held the memorial in his hand and said without raising his head: "Mm, sit down, no need to be so formal. What important matter have you come to see me about today?"

"Your subject has already been to the Northern Garrison Office's prison to interrogate Zhang Shi yesterday, and I have come today specifically to ask for Your Majesty's opinion!" Fang Zheng shouted, afraid that others wouldn't be able to hear him.

Emperor Jing sighed, picked at his ear, and said helplessly: "Why are you shouting so loudly? I can hear you."