Royal Gold Magistrate

The next day, during the morning court session, Fang Zheng struggled to stay awake, his eyelids heavy with drowsiness.

Last night, in order to press his advantage and continue his conquest of Luo Ningxin, he specially made another trip to Hidden Fragrance Pavilion.

Who would have thought Luo Ningxin had fallen ill! She refused to see visitors.

Fang Zheng was secretly delighted. Judging from this, he was already halfway successful after just one meeting with her.

Now she was too embarrassed to even see him.

So he stayed up all night writing a love letter filled with a collection of romantic phrases to pour out his heart. He entrusted someone to deliver it to Luo Ningxin.

That night, after reading the letter, Luo Ningxin had nightmares the entire night.

In her dreams, a slimy octopus spraying oil from its suckers rolled her around and around… In the end, the octopus transformed into Fang Zheng’s face…

The perpetrator was still feeling very pleased with himself that night.

Seated on the other side of Emperor Jing, Li Yuanzhao also fought to keep his eyes open, equally drowsy.

These past two days, in order to solve the employment problem of his brothers, he had racked his brains but still hadn’t come up with a good plan.

He was torn over both laying off people and increasing their workload.

They usually drank together. How could he bear to do this?!

Both of them were in a distracted state of mind.

But the court was in a heated debate over some issue.

Emperor Jing suddenly spoke, “Minister Fang, what do you think?”

Fang Zheng was startled awake. He seemed to have vaguely heard Yan Guoan speaking just now.

So he nodded. “Your Majesty is wise! This minister thinks Lord Yan is quite right.”

Except for Li Yuanzhao, everyone looked at Fang Zheng with strange gazes.

Fang Zheng felt uncomfortable being stared at. Realizing he had said the wrong thing, he hurriedly added loudly, “But not entirely right! There are some details this minister hasn’t figured out yet!”

Emperor Jing turned his head and continued looking at Yan Guoan. “Minister Yan, please continue.”

Yan Guoan said, “Yes, Your Majesty. This time, this minister has chosen Dengjin District in the eastern city. The conditions of this district are similar to those of Banshan District. Firstly, it can improve the people’s livelihood within the district. Secondly, it can also demonstrate fairness.”

“If the governance results are inferior to Lord Fang’s, this minister is willing to present his head! I wonder if Lord Fang has any objections? If you feel the conditions of Dengjin District are better, Lord Fang can choose the location.”

Emperor Jing waved his hand helplessly. “Minister Yan, your words are too heavy. Minister Fang, do you have any opinions?”

Fang Zheng blinked and thought for a moment before realizing the meaning.

This probably meant Yan Guoan wanted to pick a district and compare governance with him?

Is he sick? Where does he get such confidence?

“This minister! Has no objections!”

Yan Guoan gave Fang Zheng a surprised look. He didn’t expect this brat to not express any opinions at all. Could there be some trick?

“Does anyone else have something to say?”

A group of Hanlin scholars stood out. “We concur. If Lord Yan achieves merit in governance, please have the crown prince return to the Imperial Clan Court to study!”

Li Yuanzhao instantly perked up.

What! This involves me too?

He stared at the group of people below with wide eyes. These dog officials, why are they making me return to the Imperial Clan Court out of the blue?

Emperor Jing said sternly, “Good! Then I approve of this matter!”

“The time limit will be three months! Minister Fang and the crown prince will govern Banshan District, while Minister Yan will be responsible for Dengjin District. When the time comes, I will send people to inspect. If Minister Fang loses, the crown prince will return to the Imperial Clan Court and study diligently for me.”

Suddenly, Li Yuanzhao shouted from above, “Imperial Father! This is unfair. What if Yan Guoan loses?!”

Yan Guoan replied, “If this minister loses, this minister is willing to become an editor.”

Fang Zheng snorted disdainfully. Just now he said he would present his head.

Damn scholars and their convoluted thinking. It’s not as straightforward as betting money.

…………

After the court session, Li Yuanzhao as usual gathered with Fang Zheng again.

The two of them rubbed their sleepy eyes and yawned.

Li Yuanzhao looked resentful. “Why? We inexplicably accepted a bet. If we lose, I have to go back. Old Fang!”

“You should have refused him just now!”

“Refuse? Wouldn’t that be equivalent to directly admitting defeat! In less than two days, Your Highness can return directly to the Eastern Palace. In my opinion, Your Highness should memorize more books on a daily basis. When His Majesty asks, you can recite for him. His Majesty will be greatly pleased, and we won’t have so much trouble!”

“I’m too lazy to memorize!”

Fang Zheng patted his back. “You still have to read the books you should read. They’re useful. This minister doesn’t dare say his talent reaches the sky, but he has at least the learning of fifty cartloads. Read while working, it won’t interfere!”

From elementary school to university, the amount of vernacular Chinese texts he had read was probably not just five cartloads, but five hundred if you include the online novels he read… He wasn’t bragging.

Li Yuanzhao sighed gloomily, “Ah yes yes yes! I’ll go back and read. But it’s too late now, what do we do?!”

“So many people are backing Yan Guoan. They have the advantage in numbers. It’s just the two of us. I’m afraid we’re in trouble.”

Fang Zheng said viciously, “Don’t be afraid! This minister has a plan! I still have several tens of thousands of taels of silver on hand. I’ll distribute it all as soon as I return to Banshan District. I’ll announce common prosperity that very day. In the evening, we’ll have His Majesty execute Yan Guoan!”

Li Yuanzhao had a smug look. “If you put it that way, I understand too. I’ll take the sanitation team brothers back and demolish Dengjin District into ruins. In the evening, I’ll have Father execute him!”

“Wonderful, Your Highness.”

“Likewise.”

………

After returning to Banshan District, Fang Zheng and Li Yuanzhao immediately devoted themselves to planning for the future.

Yan Guoan was a native of the capital to begin with, and as the top scholar, he had deep roots.

If he started working, he would definitely coordinate on multiple fronts. The resources of those aristocratic clans were absolutely above Fang Zheng’s own.

Although Fang Zheng spoke lightly, he didn’t have much confidence in his heart.

But fortunately, the worst result was just sending Li Yuanzhao back to the Eastern Palace…

Banshan District currently appeared lively, but only simple foundations had been laid for the time being. The people’s substantial income and living standards hadn’t improved much.

The next step was to find ways to alleviate poverty and increase the people’s income.

After all, this wasn’t Taoyuan County. Although Fang Zheng had some ideas, he hadn’t figured out a clear direction yet.

If he engaged in some illegal operations and invited gossip, that would be troublesome.

On Li Yuanzhao’s side, it was even simpler. Everything revolved around finding solutions for the sanitation team, looking like he was giving his all for the sake of the underworld brothers.

Everyone else was not within his consideration…

Li Yuanzhao scratched his head. “Old Fang, I’ve thought about it for a long time, but it seems I don’t know how to do anything besides sweeping the streets and scooping manure!”

“That’s right, it’s like this.”

Fang Zheng was also caught in the same dilemma as Li Yuanzhao.

To make people rich, you had to find ways to give them jobs. Not to mention Banshan District, even in the entire capital, over 90% of the people were farmers who made a living by farming.

In this environment of the Jing Dynasty, the sprouts of capitalism hadn’t even been born yet. The conditions for large-scale recruitment simply didn’t exist. The common people finding jobs was out of the question.

The small workshops in the market were all family-style workshops. It was very rare for them to hire from society.

Taoyuan County was sucking the blood of the outside world to develop its own industries, and the scale was very small.

But in the capital, he couldn’t keep transfusing blood into Banshan District. Where would he get the money?!

Who knows what Yan Guoan is thinking on his side…