Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

The Jing Emperor also suddenly understood, reaching out and smiling as he pointed at Fang Zheng Yi.

"It really is thanks to you!"

After the paper firecrackers were finished, the yamen runners who had been setting them off ran into the academy.

Soon after, they came out in a line again, but this time they held a long roll of red silk in their hands.

A large red flower was tied in the center of the silk, making it look particularly festive.

The two people in the front row each held a tray.

The Jing Emperor asked, "What is this?"

Yang Fan explained, "Your Majesty, this is called ribbon-cutting. It's a new form of celebration that has appeared in this county. We have prepared scissors for you, and you can simply cut it in the middle."

The Jing Emperor understood and then stepped forward.

Fang Zheng Yi smiled.

This ribbon-cutting ceremony didn't exist in this world yet. He vaguely remembered that this practice originated in Europe.

He wondered if it would become popular in the Great Jing Dynasty.

The ministers accompanied the Jing Emperor up the steps. The Jing Emperor took the scissors from the tray.

Without any ceremony, he cut the red silk with a "snip."

Immediately afterward, Yang Fan shouted, "Please, Your Majesty, unveil the red!"

At this moment, a yamen runner had already used a pole to remove the red cloth covering the plaque.

He handed the red cloth to the Jing Emperor, who casually pulled it off.

The red cloth fluttered down, revealing the four large characters for 'Benevolence and Affection Academy' behind it.

With this, the ceremony concluded.

"Clap, clap, clap!" Fang Zheng Yi grinned and started to lead the applause. With his lead, the ministers also began to applaud.

Too bad they had chased away the common people. The atmosphere was really lacking.

Fang Zheng Yi clicked his tongue inwardly.

However, the Jing Emperor was very happy. After the ribbon-cutting and unveiling were finished, there was still a servant holding writing brush and ink by his side.

"This brush and ink are for...?"

"Your Majesty, look, the plaque at the entrance of the academy hasn't been inscribed yet. Please, Your Majesty, bestow your imperial inscription! If the students in the academy know that this plaque was left by Your Majesty's own hand, they will surely strive to become stronger in the future!" Yang Fan said joyfully.

"Very well." The Jing Emperor smiled, picked up the writing brush, dipped it in ink, and was about to start writing when he suddenly stopped.

He turned his head and looked at Fang Zheng Yi, saying, "Zheng Yi, you have always been talented in writing. Since Ping Wan County's prosperity today is inseparable from your Peach Spring County, then you decide what to write."

"Ah?" Fang Zheng Yi was dumbfounded.

Why did this have to happen again! I'm not trying to sell myself as a scholarly genius anymore!

The ministers all looked at Fang Zheng Yi expectantly.

Although this guy's words were often nonsensical... when it came to poetry, he was truly awesome.

Everyone was secretly happy, and some were even secretly pondering at home.

Especially since he had many incomplete poems and lyrics... Completing Fang Zheng Yi's incomplete lyrics was a unique hobby in certain upper-class circles.

Although everyone didn't say it openly.

Fang Zheng Yi closed his eyes and thought wildly.

"The flying waterfall plunges straight down three thousand feet... In the desert, the smoke rises straight... The silkworm spins silk until its death..."

Hiss, with only two lines, he could handle it with his reserves!

He definitely couldn't use what he had used before, or else he would expose his lack of talent, wouldn't he?

What should he write?

The Jing Emperor and others didn't urge him.

They knew that excellent verses required inspiration and time to brew, and Fang Zheng Yi would definitely have an amazing work in a moment.

After waiting for five minutes, Fang Zheng Yi opened his eyes and clapped his hands, saying, "I have it!"

"Tell me quickly!" The Jing Emperor said with interest.

"I would sacrifice my life for the benefit of the country... Passing on the family legacy is our responsibility."

Everyone carefully savored the words.

The first half was good, but the second half was somewhat lacking...

Young Master Fang shook his head and said, "Your Majesty, these two sentences of mine encompass both the greater good and the smaller family, which is perfect for encouraging the students."

"To be honest, I repeat these words in my heart every day, and I think it's most appropriate to use them here. I wonder what Your Majesty thinks?"

"Very well."

The Jing Emperor nodded, didn't say much, and directly wrote the words on the plaques on the left and right.

After he finished writing, another round of applause rang out.

Yang Fan reached out and bowed, "Please, Your Majesty, enter and inspect."

The Jing Emperor stepped into the academy, and the ministers followed closely behind.

Although it was called an academy, its area was already comparable to many large academies.

The facilities inside the academy were extremely complete, after all, they were prepared for some young teenagers.

Many parents had no time to take care of them, and they would stay here for a whole day.

Therefore, it included gardens, playgrounds, cafeterias, libraries, and schoolhouses.

There were even merchants setting up stalls to do business within the school.

Every building and piece of furniture was brand new. Although no precious materials were used, no detail was overlooked.

This tour lasted for an hour.

The Jing Emperor kept asking questions, and Yang Fan kept answering.

Until finally, after walking out of the academy, the Jing Emperor said with emotion, "It's truly painstaking. I wonder how much silver it cost to build this academy?"

Yang Fan said, "This land belongs to the county, but the materials used are absolutely solid and durable, so the total cost of building the academy was more than 17,000 taels."

Xu Wenshu asked, "If it costs so much to build just one academy, then how much was Ping Wan County's annual revenue last year? Why was it not reported in time?"

Yang Fan pondered and said, "Your official had his own reasons for not reporting in time."

"Everyone may not know, but since a massive number of merchants poured into Ping Wan County, the focus of tax collection has shifted from land tax to commercial tax. Land tax is easy to collect, but commercial tax is ultimately a bit troublesome. There are many merchants and they are complex, and each household has different accounting periods."

"If your official rushes to collect taxes before they settle their accounts, it may cause panic. On the other hand, many people are actually financially weak and can only pay taxes after receiving payments."

"According to the current situation, the commercial tax collected in the county, plus land tax and some other tax items, is roughly around 560,000 taels, but according to your official's estimation, the total annual revenue last year will not be less than 700,000 taels."

No less than 700,000 taels!

Just a small Ping Wan County?

The ministers were once again shocked. Xu Wenshu's teeth were chattering as he listened... This was too terrifying.

Compared to the past, it had probably increased several times... It was even more crushing than Xin Zhang County!

Most importantly, he was saying these words in front of His Majesty, so it was absolutely impossible for him to be lying, let alone fabricating!

The Jing Emperor's breathing also quickened a bit, and he asked Yang Fan in detail again.

Sun Sheng's face was pale and lifeless, as if he had lost his parents.

Things were already bad enough, but now that Yang Fan's achievements were so outstanding, he didn't know what kind of misfortune awaited him later.

After another ten minutes or so, the Jing Emperor finished his questioning with lingering interest, and then said with a flushed face:

"You, We, are We's backbone. To have such achievements, We are very pleased... Come, issue an edict, Ping Wan County Magistrate Yang Fan, with meritorious service and outstanding achievements, is hereby promoted to Vice Prefect of Heng Jiang Prefecture. As for the selection of the Ping Wan County Magistrate, the Ministry of Personnel will deliberate on its own."

Promoted two ranks in a row!

Yang Fan raised his head in disbelief, with unparalleled joy on his face...

Although he was demoted from the Hanlin Academy to serve as a county magistrate, this promotion to the head of a prefecture was also a position of real power.

More importantly, judging from His Majesty's attitude, there would definitely be arrangements later!

Thinking of this, Yang Fan couldn't help but look at Fang Zheng Yi with gratitude.

He had licked for so many years... It really wasn't for nothing.

Where there's a will, there's a way!

......