Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

Wutu raised his eyes, a hint of doubt within: “How to invite him? According to your consistent claims, while Fang Zheng-yi is a talented individual, he has no connection to diplomacy. Would Jing Ting really send him here?”

Paba smiled slightly: “Your Majesty, do not be impatient, listen to my explanation.”

“Although Fang Zheng-yi is a prodigy, he is also an oddity. Although he has repeatedly rendered meritorious service in Da Jing, he is fundamentally at odds with the other court officials.”

“The culture of Da Jing can be summarized in two words: Dao and Shu. The Jing people value Dao and look down upon Shu, emphasizing morality and ethics, and engaging in virtuous conduct.”

“Fang Zheng-yi is different. This man devalues Dao and emphasizes Shu, focusing solely on practical benefits and seeking quick results, employing drastic measures in all his actions. This is a style that others find difficult to accept.”

“Moreover, I have been collecting every edition of the Banshan Daily from the capital. This newspaper is his brainchild, and I have noticed that whenever he takes action, the Banshan Daily invariably cooperates with him in a blitz of publicity, displaying a relentless determination to achieve his goals. Others find this too ostentatious, hogging the limelight and causing displeasure. This is the first reason!”

Wutu nodded, pondering: “That sounds somewhat reasonable, but the merits are tangible. How can others ignore them?”

“It is common for those involved to be oblivious; few can see clearly.” Paba composed himself and continued: “The second reason is that after he took office as Commander of the Jinyi Wei, he used his position to suppress and exploit officials who preyed on small merchants and commoners. Each time, he would boast about his achievements in the newspaper. Many of the punished minor officials have powerful backers, and this alone would offend many people.”

Wutu laughed upon hearing this: “Interesting. From what you say, this man has a straightforward and frank nature. He is a genuine person.”

Paba's old face flushed red, and he couldn't help but clench his fists.

A genuine person my ass! It's all an act! Back when I went to Da Jing to discuss trade, I was fooled by this grandson! Chi Lie even lost an ear because of it.

After that dog left, he wrote a bunch of stories in the newspaper making fun of me.

What Three Teases of the Northern Rong State Preceptor, Ants Passing Through the Nine-Curved Pearl, Grains of Wheat on a Chessboard, Dividing Mares and Foals... This matter cannot even be explained in Da Jin. Everyone knows that I brought back a Nine-Curved Pearl from Jing. It makes me so angry just thinking about it!

“Your Majesty, this man is not a genuine person. He seems honest, but he is full of bad ideas! If not for that, given his style of doing things, he would have been driven out of the court long ago.”

“Now, he is only relying on the Emperor's favor and the Jinyi Wei in his hands to inspire fear.”

“Although the officials of Jing engage in virtuous conduct on the surface, how can they not have their own businesses in private? After all, with that little salary, they can't even afford a house in the capital. Now that Fang Zheng-yi has intervened and affected the interests of many, they probably wish he could leave the capital.”

“Thus, as long as we go with the flow and invite Fang Zheng-yi to attend the trade celebration ceremony, our great plan can succeed.”

Wutu asked: “What is the certainty of success?”

Paba said confidently: “Ninety percent. Jing Ting does not know our intentions. In their view, it is merely a friendly diplomatic event, with no possibility of refusal.”

“Once Fang Zheng-yi arrives, we will first investigate the Heavenly Defense Object, and then seize the opportunity to act.”

“If we can recruit Fang Zheng-yi for our own use, that would be best. This man has outstanding ideas and has created many strange and wondrous things.”

“This man is greedy and has no bottom line. We will first coerce him and then offer him great wealth. It should not be difficult to subdue him.”

Wutu asked again: “Indeed, who should we send on this trip?”

Paba thought for a moment and said: “I believe that sending the Second Prince, Ari Bai, would be most appropriate.”

Wutu smiled reluctantly after hearing this and shook his head: “He is the least like me. He is slow in his actions and not brave enough. Why choose him?”

“Although the Second Prince is not as brave as the other princes, he is kind and honest, which makes him more suitable than the others. Your Majesty, you think, that Fang Zheng-yi is a cunning person, but the more cunning a person is, the more fond they are of honest people.”

“Secondly, his status is noble enough to demonstrate our country's importance to this invitation. Are these two points not enough?”

“I also consider myself to have some friendship with him. If the Second Prince takes my handwritten note with him, it will seem more appropriate.”

“Hmm... What do you think of Shui An-ge?” Wutu asked, changing the subject.

Paba said: “Your Majesty, this person is also quite scheming. My spies have been trying to find something wrong with him for so long, but they haven't found anything unusual about his identity. Moreover, he is quite capable and can even obtain iron ore in Da Jing.”

“We don't lack ironware now, so why not detain him first? He might be useful in the future.”

“Very well, then make the arrangements.”

......

Inside the principal's office at Dongjiao University.

Fang Zheng-yi was happily looking at the reports submitted below.

He was now running between the Jinyi Wei and Dongjiao University. Documents were also forwarded to him, so he wasn't worried about trouble.

The school's development speed exceeded expectations. There were still many talented people selected, so the focus naturally shifted to this.

Although they were learning some very basic things, such progress was a happy event in this era of severe conceptual constraints.

The second round of enrollment had already begun, and the application frenzy even exceeded the first time... For this reason, a Department of Arts was specially established to absorb more students.

In these two days, he also pulled those two foreigners over to be teaching assistants. Although the two foreigners didn't have any special skills, they had seen some Western art, which could be considered as helping the students broaden their horizons and absorb some foreign nourishment.

Moreover, the talents cultivated here would also be quite practical in the future. The Jinyi Wei would need excellent painters to assist them in their work, so it could be considered as cultivating reserves in advance.

What's more, he still had so many world-famous paintings hidden in his mind. How could he not take them out and use them in the future?

Although the university was developing quickly and well, there was a huge regret.

There was too much male energy, all men.

The Department of Arts should be full of youthful and beautiful girls...

Just as he was thinking about how to recruit female students in the future, the principal's office was suddenly broken into. Three students were seen holding two foreigners, walking angrily to Fang Zheng-yi.

“Principal, I want to report!”

Fang Zheng-yi said in surprise: “What's wrong?”

“These two foreigners don't abide by the rules! They asked us to draw erotic pictures, and male erotic pictures at that. It's simply shameless, lewd, and corrupting the school spirit!”

“Uh... Did you draw them?”

“We drew them, we drew a little bit, but they only said halfway through that they wanted them without pants!”

Fobo Le and Dazhuang shouted: “Sir! That's how we draw them! The flesh is pure!”

“Shut up! Then why are you wearing clothes?”

Fang Zheng-yi waved his hand helplessly: “Alright, let them go. Those are the customs of foreigners. What's wrong with drawing a person without clothes?”

“You have to draw everything in the future. Other majors rely on you to draw for research. Go back to class.”

The three students were unrelenting: “Principal, if we only draw erotic pictures in the future, who will draw proper paintings... This is the invasion of vulgar culture.”

The foreigners began to complain again: “That's really not an erotic picture, sir!”

Sigh...

Fang Zheng-yi rubbed his eyebrows and said: “That's enough. What cultural invasion? Is our culture so trash? Two foreigners come and invade? No confidence at all.”

“All of you, go back and continue drawing! Bring them over when you're done and let me see!”

Seeing Fang Zheng-yi's displeasure, the three students could only escort the foreigners away sheepishly.

As soon as the people left, the door to the principal's office was knocked again.

Fang Zheng-yi responded, and the door was pushed open. A small head peeked in.

Then, she walked timidly to Fang Zheng-yi, who said in surprise: “Youyi, what are you doing here?”