Royal Gold Magistrate

Sweet potatoes, fragrant and delicious, eat them and then you’ll be… flatulent.

What about the scholars’ dignity and refinement? If I, Fang Zheng, don’t tear off your hypocritical masks, do you really think you’re perfect beings who don’t defecate?

You all look so proper, but it won’t be long before I strip away your dignity!

It would be best to cordon them off and sell tickets for people to view them. Maybe we could even make some money by advertising it in Banshan District…

While Fang Zheng was busy with his mental calculations, Emperor Jing had already started discussing serious matters.

Zheng Qiao said, “Your Majesty, yesterday the Ministry of Revenue reported that the grain crisis in the south continues to worsen. I wonder if Your Majesty has reviewed the report?”

Emperor Jing replied seriously, “I have seen it. What are your thoughts on this matter?”

Zheng Qiao said, “Your Majesty, I believe we should immediately order the orderly opening of granaries and distribution of grain. If we delay until news spreads throughout the south, I fear it may lead to civil unrest. We only need to sustain until this year’s autumn harvest to ease the situation.”

Emperor Jing pondered for a moment. “The flooding in Jianjiang is severe, and most granaries are submerged. I wonder if we can hold out until the autumn harvest.”

Zhang Shi stepped forward. “In response to Your Majesty, there certainly won’t be enough grain. Even with the autumn harvest… I fear this year’s yield will be greatly reduced. We need to quickly order all regions to lower grain prices to prevent the common people from being unable to afford food.”

“Moreover, local gentry and wealthy households must have large grain reserves. We can requisition or borrow grain from them.”

Fang Zheng listened and sighed continuously.

It had been some time since the people from Taoyuan County left. They had sent back word that grain prices in the south, far from being impacted by news of the sweet potatoes, had instead risen sharply.

And the prices were climbing higher each day.

Something had gone wrong somewhere, but this situation was well within Fang Zheng’s expectations.

There must be someone at court who could see through his scheme, but he hadn’t expected them to act even faster than him.

He didn’t know who had leaked the information.

Now, as these officials offered their suggestions, Fang Zheng listened and thought most of it was nonsense.

Opening the granaries was certain, but there definitely wouldn’t be enough grain.

So the only recourse was to rely on the gentry and wealthy families. But whether through requisition or borrowing, they definitely wouldn’t be able to get much grain, if any at all.

After all, who would willingly cut their own flesh?

If you come to my door asking, I’ll just say I don’t have any. What can the government do, forcibly seize my grain?

Fang Zheng had fantasized about foolish methods like engraving stones to record merits, but such approaches would be useless at the local level.

In times of famine, tangible benefits were more important than anything else.

Moreover, if the gentry and wealthy families cared about face, they wouldn’t have become gentry and wealthy families in the first place.

These people could essentially be seen as a combination of primitive capital and power, inherently greedy and selfish.

All in all, it was a very difficult situation.

He wondered how the people sent from Taoyuan County were doing. It took over twenty days for news to travel back and forth…

Emperor Jing noticed Fang Zheng’s unusual demeanor and asked, “Minister Fang, what are your thoughts?”

Fang Zheng bowed and said loudly, “Your Majesty, I believe we should not suppress grain prices. We should let them rise freely. When grain prices reach their peak, grain merchants from all over the empire will flock to the disaster areas.”

“If we can endure for a short period, grain prices may ease on their own.”

However, this approach would inevitably lead to some people starving to death. Fang Zheng didn’t say this part out loud.

Let the market solve market problems. Compared to modern times, the government’s response speed in ancient times was extremely slow. The efficiency of the market was undeniable.

Even in modern times, market forces are prioritized when adjusting economic issues. After all, going against the natural laws rarely yields good results.

With grain prices soaring in the disaster areas, countless wealthy families would bring their excess grain reserves to sell. When they arrive to find numerous families crowded together, supply would exceed demand, and grain prices should fall.

However, this method went against common sense for most people. Fang Zheng didn’t think Emperor Jing would agree.

Sure enough, before Emperor Jing could speak, Zhang Shi expressed his dissatisfaction.

“If we truly followed Minister Fang’s suggestion, people across the empire would criticize us endlessly. If the government does nothing, wouldn’t that damage the imperial family’s prestige?”

Fang Zheng replied, “Lord Zhang, governing by non-action is still a form of governance. Local officials only need to do their duty – maintaining peace and order in their areas and protecting the common people from bullying. The people have their own ways of survival; they don’t need others to teach them.”

“Moreover, if we choose the wrong path, the more effort we put in, the more tragic the results will be.”

“Your Majesty, I believe this method is feasible. We should give it a try.”

Zhang Shi immediately retorted sternly, “Impossible! If we truly let things run their course, wouldn’t that allow people to profit greatly from the nation’s misfortune?”

Fang Zheng responded bluntly, “For the disaster victims, this is a matter of life and death!”

“For a person on the brink of death, with no hope in sight, those whom Lord Zhang calls profiteers actually provide an additional choice. Even if the standard of that choice is unattainably high, at least it gives people hope to survive. What’s wrong with that?”

Zhang Shi scoffed, “According to your logic, where is the moral standard? If this continues, won’t everyone in the empire think only of taking shortcuts and exploiting loopholes?”

“Moreover, wouldn’t those with ill intentions deliberately create national crises?”

Fang Zheng snorted coldly, “Lord Zhang, you’re off-topic. We’re talking about disaster victims now. What’s more important, face or life?”

“You keep talking about the empire and morality! What use is it to speak in such grand, vague terms? Can people eat those words?”

“Your Majesty, I wish to impeach Minister of Revenue Zhang Shi! He’s a do-nothing official, failing to fulfill his duties!”

“You!!!” Zhang Shi was dumbfounded. You’re impeaching me just because we disagree? On what grounds?

The faces of everyone present darkened.

This Fang Zheng kid usually doesn’t say much, but whenever someone speaks to him, he’s likely to impeach them… He has no regard for rules! Impeaching recklessly!

How many times has Zhang Shi been impeached now?

Emperor Jing glanced at Fang Zheng and said irritably, “Enough! Fang Zheng, you’re getting more and more out of line!”

“Master Li, what’s your opinion?”

Li Yansong hesitated, “I think there’s some merit to what Grand Tutor Fang says.”

Fang Zheng smiled.

Indeed, the ancients were extremely intelligent, especially these shrewd individuals in the imperial court.

They might not understand what economics is, but they certainly understand economic principles. After all, economics is just a summary of observed patterns.

They couldn’t possibly fail to understand such a simple logical relationship of supply and demand.

Li Yansong changed his tone, “However, the risk is too great. The empire will certainly be filled with criticism. I still agree with Lord Zhang’s suggestion.”

“I concur.”

“We all concur.”

Emperor Jing nodded, “Very well, we’ll proceed according to this plan. Zhang Shi, after returning to the palace, draft a detailed memorial and submit it to me.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Fang Zheng smacked his lips in disdain.

As expected! Speaking up was useless, a waste of effort!

What power fears most is risk. No one dares to bear the consequences of being cursed by the entire empire.

Everyone understands the principle, but no one can break through this barrier in people’s hearts.

I, Fang Zheng… have a difficult road ahead…