Royal Gold Magistrate

“Well then, if no one has any issues, let’s get to work. Time is of the essence. If you need more silver, come to me,” Xie Xian concluded.

Lian Gui immediately questioned, “We all have tasks now. What are you going to do?”

Xie Xian smiled smugly, “Me? Of course, I’m going to mingle with the wealthy in the city, establish good relationships. I’ll take on the burden of working a bit harder.”

“Also, it’s not safe here. To prevent eavesdropping, I’ll buy a pleasure boat. We’ll meet on the boat from now on.”

“Damn it! Why you? That’s too much! Just because your head is big?”

Everyone suddenly got excited. They let him lead, not lead in luxury!

They would be doing hard work while he enjoys himself in brothels and feasts?

Xie Xian shouted, “Yes! Because my head is big! I’m a scholar! You bunch of illiterates, can you compose poetry? ‘Converse with the learned, associate not with the lowly!'”

“It’d be pointless for you to go. I’ll pack some leftovers for you if you want to eat something.”

Everyone looked at Xie Xian, speechless.

Indeed… although they could read, they were essentially illiterate. This time, they were truly at a disadvantage due to their lack of education.

Lian Gui stammered, “Old Xie… you… you’re actually a scholar? Then how did you end up in Taoyuan County?”

“Heh, how else? Of course, the Master appreciated my talent and invited me to Taoyuan County.”

Xie Xian was full of pride.

“Back then, I accidentally met the Master while going to the capital for the imperial examination. We hit it off immediately. Later, I promised the Master that if I couldn’t achieve a high rank, I would definitely go to Taoyuan County to serve him!”

Lian Gui grinned, “So you indeed failed the exam. Seems you didn’t have much ability, and the Master misjudged you.”

“Nonsense!” Xie Xian looked indignant. “I didn’t even get to take the exam that year! Near the capital, I encountered bandits on the road. All my travel money and writing materials were robbed!”

“To think that I, Xie Xian, after more than ten years of hard study, could easily have passed the imperial examination… Who would have thought…”

Xie Xian wore an expression of extreme heartache, never imagining that his ultimate pursuit as a scholar would be shattered on that day.

Suddenly, a weak voice came from the crowd: “Old Xie… I was the one who robbed you back then. I’m sorry…”

Xie Xian froze for a moment, then lunged forward like a madman.

“You bastard! I’ll kill you!!”

“Old Xie, Old Xie, calm down, calm down…”

“Stop! Stop fighting, all of you!”

“……………”

…………………….

In Banshan District.

Fang Zheng and Li Yuanzhao were leisurely sitting in the courtyard, drinking tea.

Li Yuanzhao looked at the sky, sighing from time to time.

Fang Zheng found it annoying and glanced at him sideways, “Your Highness, can you stop sighing? Negative energy is contagious.”

“What’s negative energy?”

“How should I put it… when His Majesty beats you, you’re invaded by negative energy.”

“Uh…..”

Li Yuanzhao put down his teacup, grabbed a pastry and took a big bite, mumbling, “Why don’t my words have any effect in front of Imperial Father? I’m sure the grain prices can’t be suppressed.”

Fang Zheng shrugged.

I’ve been flattering for so long and it hasn’t worked either.

“They’re the majority. Your Highness, don’t think about the grain disaster anymore. Wear pants that fit your… oh, I mean trousers.”

“This matter can’t be completely solved by one person or one idea. Just do your best.”

Li Yuanzhao looked troubled, “I have a bad feeling about this. You know, last night when I went to greet Imperial Father, I saw a memorial in the imperial study.”

“It said that a place called Tonggu in the south is suffering from a grain disaster. The starving people are fighting over ‘Guanyin soil’ to eat.”

“What’s Guanyin soil? Can soil be eaten?”

Fang Zheng had just picked up his teacup. His hand trembled, and he put it back down.

He slowly reclined in his chair.

“It’s just a kind of soil. It can be eaten.”

Li Yuanzhao looked at Fang Zheng curiously, “Old Fang, have you eaten it? Is it tasty?”

Fang Zheng stared blankly at the sky and said softly, “I’ve eaten a little.”

“It’s tasty… like flour, but it sticks to your mouth. Once you start, you can’t stop.”

Li Yuanzhao was intrigued, “Where can I find some? I want to try it…”

Fang Zheng smiled, “The ‘Jing Tang’ in Taoyuan County is made of Guanyin soil. If Your Highness wants to eat it, I can send you a piece.”

Li Yuanzhao also smiled, “Old Fang, do you really think this prince is a fool? It must taste awful!”

“If it tasted good, would people wait until they’re starving to eat it?”

“Your Highness is wise. I am humbled.”

Li Yuanzhao thought for a moment, then picked up a pinch of soil from the ground and put it in his mouth. His face immediately contorted.

“Ptui! Ptui! Ptui!”

“Ptui! It’s all soil, this must be what it tastes like! Won’t eating this kill people?”

“I wonder what the south is like now. Are they starving to the point of cannibalism?”

Fang Zheng couldn’t help but sigh as he watched. He really had encountered a good Crown Prince.

“Does Your Highness want to provide disaster relief?”

Li Yuanzhao retorted, “What else? Don’t you want to help?”

“Help if we can, give up if we can’t. That’s what I think. I’m just an ordinary person, some things are beyond human will.”

“And now?”

“If Your Highness wants to help, then I want to help too.”

Li Yuanzhao clapped his hands and jumped up from his chair, “Ha, I knew it! You usually just sleep or flatter Imperial Father at court. The fact that you’ve spoken up twice about important matters means you must be itching to do something!”

“Old Fang, you’re full of tricks. What ideas do you have?”

Fang Zheng immediately said loudly, “What flattery! I just speak from my heart. Our Emperor is wise and brilliant, as everyone knows. To think that I could enter the court…”

Passersby outside the wall stopped to listen to the flattery coming from the courtyard.

Li Yuanzhao frowned, “That’s enough, Old Fang. It’s just the two of us here.”

Fang Zheng’s expression became serious, “I have an idea! Carve their contributions in stone!”

Li Yuanzhao’s eyes lit up, “Tell me more.”

“The officials in the capital come from all over the country. Those who can serve in the court are all local wealthy families. It would be much easier to requisition grain directly from them!”

“But if we just ask to borrow, these people will surely make all kinds of excuses. So we can record the amount of grain donated by each family, then rank them and publicize it to the people.”

“This way, won’t all the officials eagerly donate?”

Li Yuanzhao was stunned, “What a terrible idea! Won’t they just unite against us? I don’t believe it’s that simple to solve the problem.”

Fang Zheng smiled slightly, “Well said!”

“Of course it’s not that simple. I’m going to implement an advanced version. Does Your Highness know? I have two martial arts skills that have allowed me to survive and thrive until today! Once these two skills are unleashed, all will submit!”

Li Yuanzhao was thoroughly excited!

He exclaimed eagerly, “You have supreme martial arts skills! Quick, demonstrate them for me! Could they be even more powerful than Zhang Biao’s?”

Fang Zheng shook his head, “No, Zhang Biao attacks the body, I attack the mind.”