Royal Gold Magistrate

With Fang Zheng’s full efforts, the reporters began to roam the streets the next day.

Fang Zheng sat in the newspaper office, deep in thought.

The newspaper was divided into several sections: Approaching Science, Sunshine Politics, People’s Lives, Celebrity Interviews, and so on…

Fang Zheng naturally focused on Sunshine Politics. In a few days, once the newspaper was established, he could use public opinion to influence the officials.

This approach was obviously a bit rushed, but he had no time to waste.

Even if the officials donated grain, how much they could donate, when they would donate, and how long it would take to transport to the south were all uncontrollable factors.

Fang Zheng could only reduce the time in the areas where he could make a difference.

However, he wasn’t thinking about the politics section now; that part wasn’t urgent.

He wanted to write about Approaching Science.

Since the blood of the Fuyun Temple’s high monk became famous, things seemed to have developed in a strange direction.

Bottle after bottle of “monk’s blood” appeared in the market.

Obviously, those monks didn’t have that much blood to spare, but the market had already been hyped up.

So currently, various fake blood of unknown origin was popular in the market.

A group of ignorant commoners bought and drank it at high prices, not knowing what diseases they might contract.

Blood was dirtier than anything.

Fang Zheng pondered for a long time before solemnly putting pen to paper.

【Approaching Science, First Issue: The Cursed Fuyun Temple!】

…………….

The next day, in all districts of the city, paperboys who had been arranged in advance took to the streets with their bags.

They called out along the streets.

“Newspapers for sale! The Crown Prince Daily’s first issue! The latest news from across the city is in the paper, only five coins each!”

Many scholars curiously surrounded the paperboys.

But the surrounding commoners were also clearly curious, though they stood watching. The paper was obviously full of characters they couldn’t understand, so buying it would be a waste.

Soon, someone approached and asked curiously, “Child! What are you selling? It’s related to the Crown Prince?”

“This is called a newspaper! Big and small events from across the city are written in the newspaper every day. This newspaper is personally managed by His Highness the Crown Prince! Only five coins each, limited quantity, first come first served!”

“The Crown Prince’s thing? Really just five coins? Give me one, let me see!”

For just five coins, the price of a bowl of plain noodles, getting a paper full of writing was clearly a bargain.

Those who came to buy didn’t hesitate much, directly paying for a copy.

A scholar took the newspaper from the paperboy, unfolded it, and started reading carefully. His friend also leaned in to look.

Soon, the scholar laughed and said to his companion, “Brother Liu, this newspaper is quite interesting. Look, it even records events from the court.”

Brother Liu’s eyes were fixed on the Approaching Science section, but hearing this, he shifted his gaze.

He started reading softly.

“These heartwarming words from the court?… His Majesty affectionately called Fang Zheng ‘Minister Fang’… His Majesty, concerned for the people, couldn’t sleep at night, and the officials are also worried about the grain disaster…”

“Uh, it looks fresh, but there doesn’t seem to be much substantial content. What exactly did the officials do? I don’t understand.”

“And the wording is too simple, isn’t it? Is this really made by the Crown Prince?”

The two looked at each other, suddenly feeling they had been tricked.

“Let’s look at something else!”

“Oh, what’s this ‘Chicken Soup for the Soul: Dedicated to Students Across the Land’? What’s that?”

“If you’re not brave, no one will be strong for you.”

“Who doesn’t learn to be strong while getting hurt?”

“…………..”

“Fear hardship, suffer a lifetime; don’t fear hardship, suffer half a lifetime.”

The two looked at each other again, their eyes somewhat excited, then lowered their heads to continue reading.

Similar scenes, big and small, began to appear throughout the capital.

Many people felt like they had experienced a year’s worth of news in one day, grinning from ear to ear.

After all, talking about poetry every day was quite boring. Who would have thought that one day they could have so much gossip to consume at once?

There were no less than seven or eight stories like “Night Visit to Widow’s Door” and “Butcher Bravely Rescues Drowning Person”.

However, what the common people cared about most was clearly the suspenseful drama, “The Cursed Fuyun Temple”.

Countless commoners gathered around the pre-arranged newspaper readers, listening to the sensational stories about the high monk’s blood.

Although Fang Zheng had only written the first half, the shocking words in the report still made people’s blood run cold.

Things like severe illness, birth of deformed children, scholars who came into contact with the high monk’s blood suffering from reduced intelligence, and the court never employing them again, and so on.

Why all this happened was still unknown to everyone, but the angry masses had already set their sights on Fuyun Temple…

As for those scholars, they were definitely more interested in the chicken soup.

Especially Fang Zheng’s modified version of “Preface to Seeing Off Mister Ma of Dongyang”, the original was too long for Fang Zheng to remember clearly.

He wrote about half of it haltingly, then sent the rest to Taoyuan County for a cloze test, roughly completing the meaning before printing it.

Many people’s impression of Fang Zheng greatly changed after reading it!

The image of a great treacherous official in many scholars’ eyes turned into one of a person from an extremely poor background in his youth, who endured hardships for the sake of study, diligently working even with hands and feet frozen stiff.

Who could not understand such a person even if he became a treacherous official?

After all, how could one be harsh on someone whose life had been so bitter? Moreover, those concise, heart-touching short sentences at the beginning were clearly Fang Zheng’s genuine insights!

Was such a person really a treacherous official? Even if he was, being able to be so candid was truly touching!

………………

In the newspaper office, Li Yuanzhao was still complaining while holding the newspaper.

He pointed at the Chicken Soup for the Soul section.

“Old Fang, I’m not criticizing you, but what’s the use of writing this Chicken Soup for the Soul? Isn’t it a waste of space?”

Fang Zheng glanced at him. “Hehe, Your Highness doesn’t understand. Are there more successful or unsuccessful students in the world?”

“Of course there are more unsuccessful ones. Why?”

“That’s right, this is written for those unsuccessful students to read. We need to strive for the love of the majority to have credibility.”

“Think about those scholars who repeatedly fail the exams. Usually, they’re either looked down upon or mocked. We’re just giving them some chicken soup to nourish their souls…”

In fact, the main purpose was to improve his own reputation, which was too tarnished.

Those well-connected scholars would always follow their patrons in criticizing him, so he could only strive for the majority who had no connections.

He’d feed them chicken soup to death, and it would surely have an effect!

Of course, the Jing Dynasty’s literary world also had some chicken soup, but in Fang Zheng’s view, those were too restrained and subtle, the concentration was too low! Too bland!

Compared to Fang Zheng’s 21st-century selected chicken soup, that was like stuffing concentrated soup stock in your mouth.

You have to admit, it packs quite a punch!