Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

Two days later, outside the Meridian Gate.

In just a day or two, the court officials had quickly developed the habit of checking their watches on time.

However, this watch-checking also had its nuances, as it wasn't based on the correct time for most people, but rather on their official rank.

The watches of senior officials were naturally the most accurate, and the rest of the lower officials had to follow their time.

Of course, although the pocket watches of the time were not as accurate as those of later generations, the difference wasn't exaggerated.

After checking their watches, they naturally entered the palace for a meeting.

Thanks to the appearance of pocket watches, the dismissal time was significantly more punctual, and people tacitly began to shorten their speeches, unlike in the past when they would only stop after speaking their minds.

Because Emperor Jing was also glancing at the pocket watch on his desk from time to time, adjusting the pace of each person's speech according to the time.

Adjusting to a more efficient plan customization based on precise timing tools was the instinct of high-quality males in the court.

The impact of pocket watches on everyone had already begun to unfold rapidly and imperceptibly.

After the morning court session, the imperial kitchen would also provide some food and snacks for the officials to fill their stomachs.

Of course, ordinary officials didn't have this treatment, only some high-ranking officials could eat something.

However, those who didn't get to eat weren't hungry either, because they had already eaten at home or at the stalls outside the imperial city gate before entering the palace.

After that, it was time for official business, but before that, according to the regulations, they could still go home for a nap.

After all, the morning court session was too early, and the emperor was considerate of this.

But regulations are regulations, they are just written on paper, just for show.

In reality, except for unexpected circumstances, no idiot would choose to go back to sleep.

The emperor took the initiative to demand daily court sessions, and his diligence was self-evident.

The superiors were all old men who needed little sleep.

If the leader didn't sleep, how dare a lowly subordinate run back to sleep? That would be a lack of etiquette!

How would they get along in the officialdom in the future, how would they get promoted?

How could a leader entrust important tasks to a social animal who only thinks about lying down every day?

Attending court was a very tiring thing, but now with the pocket watch, the situation had changed.

Officials who originally leisurely went back to work were now hurrying, staring at their pocket watches and heading straight to their offices.

They were afraid of being one step behind others, or walking behind their superiors.

The reason for starting such a bad trend was said to be that Feng Jie, the Minister of War, unconsciously began timing his subordinates after getting a pocket watch... to track who arrived later.

With just a small tool, people were being pressured!

Fang Zheng Yi saw all of these situations and laughed in his heart.

One of his greatest guilty pleasures in this life was probably watching working dogs get anxious!

Now the effect of the pocket watch was beginning to show, but it still needed some time to develop dependence.

Li Yuan Zhao leaned against the door frame of the main hall and shook his head as he saw many people hurrying away, "Recently, I feel strange, these people keep looking at their pocket watches all day long, aren't they tired? Lao Fang, the Embroidered Uniform Guard should have started screening people today, right?"

Fang Zheng Yi looked down at his watch, "Yes, the competition starts at eight o'clock, it should be past nine o'clock now, so a wave should have already finished."

"Let's go, let's go take a look."

The examination time for the Embroidered Uniform Guard was arranged extremely tightly.

There was only half an hour in total, fifty minutes for the written test, and ten minutes for the interview.

Those who finished answering first could leave first, and the results were announced directly on the spot.

The reason it was so fast was that the people who came to apply were not very skilled, and most of the questions were multiple choice.

As for the interview, it was just a simple chat, to take a look at their appearance.

This was one of the most important indicators given by Fang Zheng Yi.

Good looks were needed to get things done, just like the standards for reporters!

When they arrived outside the Southern Suppression Office, there was already a sea of people.

The number of literate people in the capital was gradually increasing, thanks to the publication of newspapers.

In addition to the daily news, there were also the prices of vegetables and goods in various parts of the capital, and advertising activities.

Wherever there were discounts, the people would naturally be willing to go.

If they waited for the newspaper reader to announce the price of vegetables, it would probably be too late to grab them.

Young people with ambition and ideals had already begun to study, and there were places in the folk to learn literacy, at least Banshan Workshop, as the birthplace of lottery tickets, had quite a few places teaching people to read and write to buy lottery tickets.

The interviewees outside the Northern Suppression Office had now clearly divided into two groups.

One group was overjoyed, and the other group was dejected, even shouting and cursing that the exam was unfair.

Before them, one person was saying to the people around him with a face full of grief and indignation, "Why does a crocodile shed tears when it sees food! Why!"

"Brother, choose C for this question, because eating raw chicken will make you sick, it wants to eat cooked chicken."

"Stop talking nonsense, you didn't pass the exam, what are you making up here? Choose A for this question, the crocodile was moved to tears after seeing the food given by the court."

"The interviewer said that I have a scar on my hand and I'm not qualified... Damn! Is this reasonable? There's a conspiracy!"

Li Yuan Zhao glanced sideways at Fang Zheng Yi and teased, "Look at the broken questions from your Peach Blossom County, how many people have been driven crazy?"

Fang Zheng Yi didn't care, and walked straight in, saying as he walked, "Your Highness, this exam is all about the big picture, how can you serve the court without a grand vision? But this is only part of it, if you perform well in the interview, you can also enter the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

"Look at this group of people, they're all ugly and deformed, they deserve not to be selected!"

"Damn! Lao Fang, are you choosing catamites for yourself, or choosing strongmen!" Li Yuan Zhao shrank his head and moved a little further away.

Fang Zheng Yi turned his head and said helplessly, "I want both face and substance! Let's go in first."

The first batch of Embroidered Uniform Guards must make a name for themselves!

The Embroidered Uniform Guards in the palace were screened from the army, and those from the folk were naturally responsible for walking outside.

Although it was a military department, it also had the responsibility of maintaining public order and investigation in the city.

Those who were in constant contact with the people naturally had to choose those with good images.

Could the Embroidered Uniform Guard in his hands still be as infamous as in history? Absolutely impossible!

First of all, he had to make them approachable, amiable and respectable, and it was best to achieve a relationship like fish and water with the people, which would make it easier to carry out work in the future.

Of course, it was also more beneficial to create an internal culture for the Embroidered Uniform Guard... these were all things for later.

Several offices were separated in the Southern Suppression Office to conduct interviews.

Fang Zheng Yi and the two casually chose one and pushed the door in.

In the room, the examiner from Peach Blossom County was seriously examining the interviewee in front of him.

The examiner was a lecturer from Peach Blossom County, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, with his elbows propped on the table, his hands folded and supporting his chin in a pensive manner, and he didn't even notice Fang Zheng Yi's entry.

The interviewee in front of him had sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, and a handsome appearance, but his eyes revealed unease.

Two minutes had passed, and the examiner still hadn't asked a question, and he was getting more and more flustered.

Fang Zheng Yi and the two were silently watching behind the examiner.

After a long time, the examiner opened his mouth and said, "What is your dream?"

"Pfft... Lao Fang, what nonsense is he asking, it doesn't make any sense at all!" Li Yuan Zhao couldn't hold back and laughed softly.

"Your Highness, watch first," Fang Zheng Yi said.

The interviewee was stunned for a moment, and stuttered, "Dream? I... I want to join the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

The interviewer glanced at him lightly, "If you have money, would you rather eat, drink, gamble, and whore, or would you rather help the people of the world? Please answer truthfully."

"Help the people of the world."

"You've been eliminated, next one."

Without even asking the third question, the interviewer picked up the stamp on his hand and stamped it on the test paper.

The interviewee's face immediately turned gray, and he quickly changed his words, "I... I would rather eat, drink, gamble, and whore!"

"Next one."

......