Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

In a little over twenty days, Fang Zheng Yi hadn't been idle; he had earnestly started building a hot air balloon.

He wasn't skilled at inventions and creations; Fang Ye's dream was to become the Edison of Da Jing.

Doing it himself just wouldn't feel right.

However, circumstances were stronger than him; if he didn't build it now, he would lose his life first.

Fortunately, the progress was quite encouraging. Over a thousand artisans followed his instructions, directly divided into dozens of groups working day and night to rush the project.

If the first group failed, the second group would immediately take over after summarizing the experience. If the third group didn't work, then the fourth group.

It had the spirit of Elon Musk blowing up rockets.

When encountering detailed problems, he would directly throw them to the artisans.

At the same time, as a foreign capitalist, he naturally had to make the enemy employees feel the warmth of spring.

He took out funds in large amounts, using various reasons to ask Paba for them. The other side gritted their teeth and squeezed them out for him.

This caused the artisans' wages to rise several times, and everyone gained weight.

Every few days, he would also hold bonfire parties and team-building activities at night.

In less than a month, the Jin artisans all looked at Fang Zheng Yi with gratitude, their faces showing flattering, grateful smiles.

Then, using broken foreign language, they would bow and scrape, saying, "Hello, President Fang."

Whenever this happened, President Fang would squeeze out the most enthusiastic smile and reply in broken Jin language, "Don't work too hard, everyone. If you are not satisfied with the food, be sure to tell me, and we'll change it!"

The two guards who followed him were treated even better. Fang Zheng Yi would take time out at night to visit brothels.

He also had to arrange for the two of them, but the guards politely declined.

Even so, the constant snacks, tips, and encouraging words warmed the hearts of the two guards.

Now their attitude towards Fang Zheng Yi could be said to be quite gentle... and they translated with extra effort.

On this day, Fang Zheng Yi patrolled the camp as usual, occasionally raising his hand to respond to the greetings of the passing artisans.

Yesterday's experiment had failed again. After all, he was an amateur.

The principle of a hot air balloon sounded simple, but there were still many troubles in the details. In addition, Fang Zheng Yi deliberately delayed the construction period, so it was still in an unfinished state.

In the center of the camp, ten hot air balloons had been made again, ready to be ignited and launched.

Fang Zheng Yi sat not far away, holding a teacup in his hand and watching intently.

The guard on the left was holding a teapot, and the guard on the right was holding a tray of snacks, also staring at the hot air balloon with great interest.

Although this thing had not yet succeeded, it had already flown into the air several times, but the controllability was too poor and it was easy to leak air.

But it still looked very interesting.

Seeing the top of the hot air balloon constantly expanding, Paba suddenly arrived with a large group of people in a hurry.

He stood in front of Fang Zheng Yi with an unkind expression: "Brother Fang is having a good time. Should there be a result today?"

Fang Zheng Yi slowly handed the teacup to the guard beside him and said softly, "Grand Preceptor, what are you in a hurry for? You ask me about the progress every day. Aren't I working hard too?"

"Look, the hot air balloon over there is rising again. According to this progress... I think it can be completed in three days."

What! It will be completed in three days!?

The guard beside Fang Zheng Yi was shocked and his hand trembled, almost dropping the snacks on the ground.

Then, a sense of inexplicable loss surged into his heart, and he couldn't help but wipe the corner of his eye.

Fang Zheng Yi glanced at him sideways and said, "Brother, what's wrong with you?"

The guard sniffed, took two deep breaths, and said in a slightly trembling voice, "It's nothing."

Paba suspiciously looked at the guard twice, then turned around to see the hot air balloon rising, and his face softened slightly: "Three days, I will give you a maximum of three more days, otherwise I can't say what His Majesty's attitude will be."

"I say, Grand Preceptor, can you be nicer to me? You slandered my handwriting as ugly before, and I still cooperated with you. Now you are threatening me!" Fang Zheng Yi raised his hand and stretched out three fingers, saying, "Okay, then three days. I dare to make a military pledge! After three days, you bring His Majesty to inspect. If the Grand Preceptor has nothing to do, go back and get busy. I still have to supervise and adjust, don't delay the progress of the project."

"Okay, I hope you keep your word!"

Paba snorted lightly, turned around and left with his people.

Seeing that everyone had left, Fang Zheng Yi continued to observe the hot air balloon, and after waiting for a while, he saw the hot air balloon rising into the air and then slowly descending again.

He sighed, shook his head, walked to the center of the camp, raised his hands and said, "Brothers, come here and gather, I have something to announce."

The guard translated loudly, and soon countless artisans gathered around Fang Zheng Yi.

"Brothers, I have already made a military pledge to the Grand Preceptor that the hot air balloon will be delivered on time within three days."

"I think the air leakage problem should be solved in less than three days. I hope everyone speeds up the progress, lest His Majesty's personal visit cause trouble."

"Ah..." There was a huge sound of disappointment below.

Several artisans whispered to each other, their faces full of anxiety: "What should we do? It will be completed in three days. I don't want it to be completed."

"Who wants it to be completed... We don't do much work here and still get a lot of money."

"Alas, don't say it, these twenty days have been good. We have earned more than we used to earn in a year. Let's sew two more circles of leather in a few days and hand it in quickly."

Looking at the whispering below, everyone looked reluctant, and Fang Zheng Yi couldn't help but feel moved.

The artisans were really united. He didn't want to disband such a loving family either.

But... fate doesn't go as people wish, and public funds can only be used here.

Fang Zheng Yi clapped his palms hard twice, and the crowd stopped talking immediately. Then he said: "Everyone, although I am not from the same country as you, people's hearts are made of flesh."

"We are not the same country, but our hearts are always connected. After this less than a month of sincere cooperation, you have taught me a lot, and let me, Fang, see what is called the spirit of craftsmanship, what is called unwavering."

"You are united and loving, and love labor. No force can make people great and intelligent like the power of labor, that is, the power of collective, friendly, and free labor."

"There are less than three days left, and we are about to say goodbye. Although Fang is reluctant in his heart, there is no feast in the world that does not end."

Fang Zheng Yi paused here, habitually observing the reaction below.

The guards on the left and right had long been accustomed to Fang Zheng Yi's speaking style, and conveyed his emotions vividly.

Hearing about the parting, they couldn't help but sigh in their hearts.

Many emotional artisans looked at Fang Zheng Yi with red eyes.

These bottom-level artisans had never been treated as human beings, and were basically equivalent to cattle and horses.

They had never seen such a gentle and generous figure as Fang Zheng Yi, who treated artisans so kindly, and they were already grateful in their hearts.

In addition, Fang Zheng Yi kept praising them, and they couldn't help but beautify themselves in their hearts.

Although I didn't do much work, but if I did a little, it counts as doing it. Everyone is like this, and there are people lazier than me. Isn't that loving labor talking about me?

Emotions spread like a virus, and Fang Zheng Yi continued: "Although the banquet is over, Fang also hopes to have a good start and a good end in doing things like you, so I decided to hold another bonfire party tonight and sing the song 'Artisans Have Power' again. Those who have other programs should sign up with me."

"In addition, tomorrow, I will give you a carefully prepared gift to thank you for your support of Fang's work during this time."

"The mountains don't turn, the water turns. I believe that sooner or later I will cooperate with you again!"

"Finally, I hope that before the people above come, you will take a bath, change your clothes, and welcome the inspection from above with the best mental outlook. Dismissed!"

After the word "dismissed" was said, someone below actually started crying.

Then someone shouted: "Goodbye, Lord Fang, thank you, Lord Fang..." There were various words, one after another.

The two guards on the left and right translated diligently, but the emotions below were too strong.

The guards were also moved to tears, looking at Fang Zheng Yi emotionally, and said with a nasal voice: "Lord Fang, after the war is over, I will still work with you."

How bad was your treatment before? Paba, this old guy, must be used to using servants for free. This is the result of not paying enough wages.

Fang Zheng Yi tried hard to suppress his smile, patted the guard on the shoulder, and finally just sighed dejectedly, leaving the center of the camp with his hands behind his back.

......