Royal Gold Magistrate

Li Yuanzhao followed suit, picking up the silver and weighing it in his hand.

He said disdainfully, “Only fifty taels! Are you looking down on us?”

“This little bit of silver, who’s it enough for? Bring another package, one for each person!”

“Brothers, come in!”

At Li Yuanzhao’s command, the petty officials waiting outside swarmed in before long.

The corners of Fang Zheng’s mouth twitched violently.

The signs of the crown prince turning into a bandit leader were becoming more and more obvious…

He had to think of a way to arrange some other tasks for him. If this continued, he might turn to the dark side one day and take out Fang Zheng himself.

Lord Ji Er was stunned seeing the crowd pouring in.

These two lords were quite famous in the district, but everyone clearly stayed out of each other’s way.

Yet as soon as they entered, they started shouting about beating and killing him… Judging from the situation, they obviously wanted to take him down in one fell swoop!

But he wasn’t a pushover. He had mixed in the underworld after all, living a life of licking the blade’s edge.

Even if he didn’t know the specific official background of these two, he would fight them first and talk later. If he couldn’t win, he would scatter. He could come out again after a while.

Otherwise, how could he keep mixing with so many brothers watching?

Lord Ji Er immediately let out an angry roar. “Men!”

A bunch of small-time thugs poured out from the second floor.

Fang Zheng lifted his head and counted about twenty or so people. There was even a little kid among them… He started to feel a bit angry.

Li Yuanzhao looked at Lord Ji Er and couldn’t help but feel a bit sad.

You’ve already come face to face with Brother Biao, what’s the use of calling so many people?

Lord Ji Er was at ease, putting on an air of importance. He spoke slowly, “What exactly brings you two gentlemen here? My Inferno Gang…”

*Bam!*

Before Lord Ji Er could finish speaking, his head was pressed onto the table by Zhang Biao.

He only felt a splitting headache, as if his head was about to be crushed.

His composure was completely gone. He said in a panic, “Do you two really want to make an enemy of Lord Ji? I have dozens of brothers here! You’d better consider the consequences!”

Fang Zheng crossed his arms and looked at Li Yuanzhao.

Li Yuanzhao understood and stepped forward, patting Lord Ji Er’s face. He laughed, “So… you’re very brave, huh?”

Lord Ji Er gritted his teeth. “This Lord Ji may only have one lousy life, but he’s not afraid to fight you two to the death! What the hell do you want to do?!”

“This lord wants to sprinkle some dirt in your eyes!”

With that, Li Yuanzhao scooped up a handful of dust from the corner of the table and sprinkled it into Lord Ji Er’s eyes.

Lord Ji Er immediately howled in pain, covering his eyes.

The underlings on the second floor were getting restless, but seeing their boss held in their hands, they didn’t dare act rashly.

Lord Ji Er felt his eyes burning. His vision was blurry, and his heart was filled with grievance.

When he went out to collect money, he at least had to come up with a pretext.

Were these government officials so unruly? Hitting him as soon as they entered!

“What do you want to do?! What the hell do you want to do?!” Lord Ji Er let out a helpless wail, completely baffled.

“I see you don’t understand at all!” Li Yuanzhao said with a grin.

“Whose turf is Banshan District? Who allowed you to collect money from the commoners?!”

Lord Ji Er suddenly realized that the government had come knocking again for money! But why wasn’t there any notice? He had clearly given the silver for this month!!

But with the urgent situation, he could only beg for mercy. “Yes! It’s Young Master Li’s turf. This humble one was short-sighted. I won’t dare do it again… won’t dare…”

“Then how do we settle the previous accounts?”

“The previous… This humble one has already given silver to the yamen for the previous ones!!”

Zhang Biao’s force was too great. At this moment, Lord Ji Er felt the pain in his temples becoming more and more unbearable. He started speaking without thinking.

Li Yuanzhao looked at Fang Zheng in surprise upon hearing this.

Fang Zheng shrugged. He didn’t expect there would be an unexpected gain.

“Talk. How was the money divided?”

“Lords, can you let go of this humble one first?”

“No!”

Li Yuanzhao scooped up another handful of dirt and sprinkled it into Lord Ji Er’s eyes.

Fang Zheng watched with stinging eyes. The crown prince had really learned from him!

Lord Ji Er said tearfully, “Each month, after collecting the money, this humble one would give thirty percent to the yamen… The people below would get twenty percent.”

“Who specifically did you give that thirty percent to?”

“Ding Quan… Lord Ding…”

Li Yuanzhao looked at Fang Zheng again, angrily saying, “This traitorous dog actually colluded with these rogues to extort the commoners!”

Fang Zheng leaned close to his ear and whispered, “Your Highness, don’t be hasty. I’ll talk to him later.”

Then he said to Lord Ji Er, “Apart from this, do you have any other dealings with Ding Quan?”

“We… we’ve had a few meals together… nothing else…”

“Do you want to get rich?”

“Huh?”

The sudden change in tone, coupled with the intense pain in his head, caused Lord Ji Er’s brain to momentarily freeze.

They were just shouting about beating and killing. What did mentioning getting rich mean now?

“This official has an opportunity to get rich that he wants to give you. Whether you can seize it depends on if you know what’s good for you.”

“Good! This humble one is willing… willing. Can you let go of this humble one first…”

“Zhang Biao, let him go.”

After being released, Lord Ji Er quickly jumped back a step, staring at Zhang Biao with bloodshot eyes, panting nonstop.

After catching his breath, he tried to calm himself and squeezed out a smile at Fang Zheng. “Please speak, my lord.”

These two people in front of him were truly not to be provoked. Most importantly, that guy who looked a bit dumb was too vicious.

He had thought about it for a long time but couldn’t figure out how that guy had pressed his head onto the table with one move.

“It’s very simple. From today onwards, you work for Young Master Li.”

“Collect protection fees according to the zones this official divides for you.”

“I hope that in the future, apart from the people collecting money and the government collecting taxes, no one else can collect protection fees.”

“Also, the same types of establishments should have uniform fees. This official will tell you the specific fee rules later.”

“As for all the commoners’ scattered stalls, mobile stalls, and family-run shops, no fees are to be collected!”

“As for the distribution ratio of those protection fees, thirty percent goes to Young Master Li, twenty percent to all the petty officials below, ten percent to Ding Quan, and ten percent to the gang assisting in collecting the money.”

“As for the remaining thirty percent, you can keep it for yourself.”

After Fang Zheng finished speaking, many of the petty officials behind him breathed a sigh of relief.

In their daily patrols, it was inevitable to have dealings with such people. It was impossible not to skim some oil.

Originally, they were uneasy hearing Lord Ji Er let it slip, but they didn’t expect this Mr. Fang to also want a share. And they had a portion too, so no problem!

But Li Yuanzhao was anxious.

Doing this, wouldn’t he be colluding with tigers? What’s the difference from those rogues?

Didn’t they say they came to clear the people’s grievances?

He was about to speak when Fang Zheng stopped him.

As for Lord Ji Er, his mind was even more confused now. He looked at Fang Zheng with suspicion and unease.

This lord… seemed even more professional than him… What’s going on?

Fang Zheng continued speaking eloquently:

“With my method, everyone’s interests can be guaranteed. The most important thing you need to do is to try to occupy more territory within the scope of the northern city with your men.”

“If you don’t have enough manpower, this official can send people to help you. As for those with backing, you don’t need to bother. At least before, you didn’t have the ability to collect from them anyway.”

“This official gives you three months. After three months, apart from you, Lord Ji Er, this official doesn’t want to see any more big or small trash in the northern city district. Understand?”

Lord Ji Er swallowed his saliva.

Indeed, today he had encountered a real rogue… and one with official backing.

“This humble one understands! It’s just that Lord Ding…”

“You don’t need to worry about Ding Quan. He doesn’t have the ability to order this official around! From today onwards, you can go all out! This official will send people to help you manage. Every one of your subordinates must have a strict file for reference, and every tael of silver collected must be clearly recorded!”

“If this official finds out about any disturbance to the people or you embezzling silver… you know the consequences.”

Lord Ji Er wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and nodded repeatedly.

The way he looked at Fang Zheng was already as if he was an underworld tycoon… So professional! This was the realm he had always dreamed of!

“This humble one understands! Willing to serve my lord!”

Fang Zheng nodded with satisfaction, then casually pointed at the kid upstairs. “That kid, come down!”

Hearing this, the kid seemed a bit excited. His own boss was scolded like a grandson, and he felt a bit disdainful.

He didn’t expect the new boss to take a liking to him so quickly?

He happily ran downstairs to Fang Zheng’s side and raised his head solemnly. “Greetings, big brother!”

Fang Zheng kindly patted his head. “What’s your name? How old are you this year?”

“Lu Batian! Twelve years old!”

“Good name! Did your parents give it to you?”

Lu Batian said proudly, “I came up with it myself.”

“Then what was your name before?”

“Lu… Lu Ergou.”

Fang Zheng laughed and patted his head again. “Ergou, your uncle absolutely despises rogues like you the most!”

With that, he slapped Lu Ergou’s face, immediately making his little face red and swollen.

“Go back home to farm! If this old man sees you again, I’ll skin you alive!”

Lu Ergou covered his face and looked at Fang Zheng in shock, then ran away crying. A group of petty officials held back their laughter and made way for him.

Fang Zheng said loudly, “From today onwards! If there are any more children among your people, don’t blame this official for being rude! Disperse!”

Lord Ji Er breathed a sigh of relief. After bowing, he turned to leave as well.

Fang Zheng’s voice rang out behind him.

“Wait a minute!”

Lord Ji Er turned his head and looked at Fang Zheng in confusion. He was in a hurry to wash his eyes. With two handfuls of dirt thrown in, his vision was blurry.

He vaguely saw Fang Zheng weighing a package of silver.

“Our Young Master Li said, this little bit of silver, who’s it enough for? If outsiders see it, they’ll think our Inferno Gang has no silver!”

“Bring a few more packages, one for each person!”

“…….”