Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

Fang Zheng Yi gradually approached.

Upon reaching the harbor and seeing the scene of a grand banquet, he couldn't help but be taken aback, then led his men into it.

As soon as he stepped into the harbor area, hundreds of sharp gazes focused on Fang Zheng Yi.

Zhang Biao's hand immediately reached inside his coat.

Fang Zheng Yi raised his hand, signaling Zhang Biao not to act rashly, inwardly clicking his tongue.

These should all be sailors. Initially, everyone wore standard military uniforms to sea, but over the years, the clothes had long become unwearable due to the erosion of time and sea winds.

Therefore, everyone wore strange and varied attire, appearing quite colorful.

Although their clothes were tattered, the fierce aura they exuded was truly astonishing.

As both sides observed each other, suddenly a deep and powerful voice rang out: "Brothers, the imperial court has sent someone to pick us up!"

The sailors slowly lowered their guard, their bodies relaxed, and many began to tear up.

The imperial court has come to take us home? How long have we waited for this day, how long have we yearned for it in our dreams? Now, our dream has come true!

However, it seems the uniforms of the imperial soldiers have changed to this now... truly bright and splendid.

Fang Zheng Yi first glanced at Zheng Hui, then saw Lai Gou'er, who was stunned in place.

Then, he turned his gaze to the sailors and said loudly: "Brothers, you have worked hard! I, your official, have been ordered by His Majesty to specially come and bring you brave warriors home!"

A deafening cheer erupted, greatly shocking the historian, who began to record it with his pen.

Fang Zheng Yi walked straight towards Zheng Hui. He had only met Zheng Hui twice, but looking at this resolute-faced man, he still felt a sense of respect in his heart.

"Lord Zheng, you've worked hard on this trip."

Zheng Hui's tiger eyes were filled with tears, and he pursed his lips: "Lord Fang has come in person; Zheng Hui is greatly honored."

"Big brother..." Lai Gou'er stared at Fang Zheng Yi with his mouth agape, finally squeezing out these words from his throat.

Looking at Lai Gou'er's dark complexion and rough skin, Fang Zheng Yi's eyes couldn't help but moisten.

He stepped forward and gave him a big hug.

"Gou'er, you've worked hard. Over these years, your big brother hasn't stopped thinking about you for a single day. Now, it's good to see you return home safely."

Exposed to the wind and sun, the child now looks older than himself... but it's enough that he can come back!

After the hug, Lai Gou'er wiped his eyes: "Big brother, how have you been these years?"

"How else could big brother's life be? Judging by the looks of it, the things on the ship haven't been unloaded yet, right? Let's sit down and chat slowly." Fang Zheng Yi said, pulling Lai Gou'er's arm to sit down. "After we finish dealing with the matters here, big brother will take you back to the capital to see Xin Zhu."

"Who is Xin Zhu?" Lai Gou'er scratched his head and asked.

He felt like the name was exceptionally familiar, but he couldn't remember it for a moment.

Fang Zheng Yi's smile froze on his face.

Forgotten?!

His first love, he's forgotten her just like that. Three years at sea and he's forgotten completely! Damn, he's really grown up in one step.

"It's the little maid from the Chu family that you liked back then."

"Oh... I remember now, big brother, but after floating at sea these years, I don't have any feelings for her anymore."

After hearing this, Zheng Hui swallowed his saliva and scooted his stool away from Lai Gou'er a little.

Fang Zheng Yi said with emotion: "Good, why should a great man worry about not having a wife? If you've forgotten, then forget it. We'll find someone even better. Let's talk business first; we can talk about other things when we get home. What have you gained on this trip? Besides the sailor brothers, what else is on the ships?"

Zheng Hui turned his head and pointed to the ships one by one: "This time, our harvest is extremely rich. That ship contains the ashes of our deceased brothers, that ship contains the seeds of overseas plants that you requested, and those five ships are loaded with gold, silver, treasures, rare stones, and other products. Also, on that ship we were sailing back, twenty-three countries sent delegations to establish diplomatic relations with our Great Jing. And that ship contains missionaries from the Fika country, etc..."

Zheng Hui spoke as if listing his family treasures. When he mentioned the Fika country, his expression was somewhat ashamed: "It's embarrassing to say, Lord, but we had an irreconcilable conflict with Fika. Back then..."

After Zheng Hui explained in detail what happened in Fika, Fang Zheng Yi waved his hand casually: "This matter is nothing. We'll talk about it later. However, this batch of missionaries and craftsmen are very valuable. You did very well in this regard. Bring me the nautical chart, and also bring the missionaries for me to meet."

"Big brother, I'll go." Lai Gou'er said, walking towards the big ship.

Before long, he brought back a foreigner wearing what looked like a clerical uniform, holding a scripture and looking around warily.

The foreigner had a full beard that looked like it hadn't been trimmed in a long time. He looked to be in his forties, but his clothes were clean and tidy.

Lai Gou'er introduced: "Big brother, this person is the leader of the missionaries, the highest in status. His name is Father Solger."

Fang Zheng Yi leaned back in his chair, a lazy smile on his lips, and waved his right hand lightly at the priest: "Hello, Father."

Father Solger stared at Fang Zheng Yi and said: "Hello, how should I address you?"

Lai Gou'er quickly explained: "Father Solger is very clever. He has already mastered the language of Great Jing in half a year."

Hearing this, Fang Zheng Yi's gaze towards the priest contained a bit more disdain.

Damn! Is everyone a language genius?!

Fang Zheng Yi stood up, opened his arms, and introduced: "Well, I am Fang Zheng Yi. You can call me Lord Fang. I represent the imperial court today to welcome you to the strongest country in the Far East, the birthplace of science, the ancient civilization, the Great Jing Dynasty!"

The historian was a little excited and wrote with his pen like the wind.

Lord Fang's little phrases were quite impressive, to say the least!

Unexpectedly, as soon as Fang Zheng Yi finished speaking, Father Solger frowned: "Since Lord Fang can represent the imperial court, then do you know that your Great Jing's fleet openly insulted the church in Fika? I've heard it from your people. Moreover, many of Great Jing's crew members did not give us the respect we deserved, mocking our faith! This is an open declaration of war against Fika, against the Pope!"

Unexpectedly, the foreign monk is really brave!

Fang Zheng Yi shrugged and said with a smile: "Oh dear, I am truly sorry for what happened, but we are all people who reason. I wonder what kind of compensation Father wants?"

Seeing Fang Zheng Yi being so amenable, Solger's expression softened slightly: "Lord Fang is indeed reasonable. I have thought about it on the ship. Two completely different civilizations will inevitably clash when they are together, and some things are excusable. God will forgive you, but we were treated badly on the ship. I hope that as compensation, Lord Fang can help us when we preach in Great Jing."

"If we cannot preach smoothly, I hope Lord Fang can send us home by ship."

Heh? The foreign devils are thinking quite beautifully. A hint of disdain appeared on the corner of Fang Zheng Yi's mouth.

"Then... what if I neither let you preach nor let you go home?"

Father Solger was very displeased and said sternly: "Then justice will surely judge you!"

Give him an inch, and he'll take a mile!

The smile on Fang Zheng Yi's face suddenly disappeared. He stepped forward and grabbed the priest's collar, saying in a cold voice: "Since you can understand what I'm saying, how can you be so tactless? And justice will judge me."

The historian looked solemn and carefully recorded the first confrontation between the imperial court and the church in the history of Great Jing!

Fang Zheng Yi grabbed Solger's collar, pointed at his nose, and said sternly: "I'm telling you! Justice will not only be late, but it will also be absent! You remember this, this is Great Jing! ... Hey, don't record that sentence!"

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