Royal Gold Magistrate

Li Yansong was choked up, feeling indescribably uncomfortable.

This Fang Zheng really doesn’t know how to talk like a normal person!

But he wanted to try one more time: “You really won’t listen to my advice? You’re going to continue with this?”

Fang Zheng walked up to him, looking down as he said, “Minister Li, at this point, can we still stop?”

“This is who I am. I won’t rest until I achieve my goal.”

Li Yansong spread his hands, exclaiming, “Why are you doing this? Why so radical? If you stop now, I can help smooth things over.”

Fang Zheng sighed, “Has Minister Li ever been hungry?”

“Of course I’ve been hungry! Which scholar coming to the capital for exams hasn’t been hungry?”

Several days of exams, with dry and hard rations, and the thin gruel in the examination halls – that was truly uncomfortable hunger.

“No, Minister Li hasn’t been hungry. I mean the kind of hunger where you don’t know if you’ll survive to see tomorrow, where you barely manage to live today but don’t know how you’ll survive tomorrow.”

“True hunger, where you can’t think of anything else, where if there’s someone next to you, you only hope they die so you can eat them to survive.”

Li Yansong’s throat tightened, and he didn’t dare speak.

Fang Zheng’s expression grew heavy, “Then has Minister Li ever personally seen a disaster area?”

“I haven’t.”

“Well, let me tell you what a disaster area looks like… Where famine strikes, there’s nothing but ruins and endless new graves.”

“In the homes of the common people, every household has broken pots and cold stoves, filled with the sound of weeping.”

“Unfortunately, I’ve seen it. Not only have I seen it, but I owe my life today to those starving people on the brink of death.”

“A group of dying people squeezed out what little grain they had to keep me alive until today.”

“Originally, I didn’t want to get too involved in this matter, but the Crown Prince’s compassion has truly shamed me.”

“As the Grand Tutor of the Imperial Clan Court, how can I shrink back? So what if I make enemies of all the officials?”

“Minister Li, you may be far-sighted, but sometimes actions don’t require too much wisdom.”

“Perhaps all that’s needed is a little courage.”

Li Yansong was speechless, just staring into Fang Zheng’s eyes.

Seeing his determined attitude, he could only smile bitterly: “Fine, do as you please. I see you have some prospects, don’t ruin your future.”

“I’m leaving.”

With that, Li Yansong turned and left, his back full of desolation.

The surrounding reporters looked at Fang Zheng with shining eyes.

Who knew Lord Fang was so noble! It’s worth it to follow him for a lifetime!

Not long after, Li Yansong, who had just left, hurriedly ran back.

“I only have less than two thousand dan of grain stored at home! Remember to publish a clarification!”

Then he hurriedly left again.

Fang Zheng smiled slightly and patted Shen Yi, who was working beside him: “Write this down! Current Cabinet Elder Li Yansong, tears shed in the editorial department! Lamenting the hardships of the people, he’s willing to keep only 1,500 dan of grain at home and donate the rest to the disaster areas!”

Li Yuanzhao heard this and was dumbfounded, falling into confusion.

Shen Yi’s heart trembled, his hand shook.

A drop of ink fell onto the paper and spread.

Li Yansong? He’s actually Lord Fang’s uncle-in-law!

Is there anyone else who would set up their own relatives like this?

Shen Yi hesitated, “Lord Fang… Minister Li didn’t say those things, did he? Besides, he’s your own relative… Isn’t this too harsh?”

Fang Zheng’s face turned serious, “It’s his inner voice, I heard it! Besides, what does being relatives matter when it comes to disaster relief! Even if he is a relative, so what? I’ve always been impartial!”

“The greater the ability, the greater the responsibility! My family donating more grain is our bounden duty! Publish it tomorrow, write it down!”

“Yes! Lord Fang is truly noble!” Shen Yi stood up excitedly and bowed.

Everyone in the room, all the reporters, stood up excitedly.

This is what you call the integrity of a scholar! This is it!

Lord Fang is frantically sending his own family’s grain to the disaster areas, no different from cutting one’s own flesh to feed the eagles!

Following such a person, one can hold their head high, even their ancestors’ graves would emit green smoke!

Overtime! If we don’t work overtime, we won’t have the face to work in the newspaper office!

…………..

As Fang Zheng had anticipated, at the next day’s court session, yesterday’s newspaper was again presented to Emperor Jing.

Emperor Jing didn’t even look at it, directly throwing the newspaper onto the imperial desk, looking at Fang Zheng with a complex expression.

You little rascal, you do things well, but why don’t you consider the consequences?

This time you’ve even dragged the Crown Prince into it. Do you expect me to help you clean up this mess?

Seeing Emperor Jing looking at him, Fang Zheng started winking and making faces.

His eyes were screaming four words! Your Majesty, save me!

The court officials were all glaring angrily at Fang Zheng.

Zhang Shi couldn’t wait and jumped out!

He angrily said, “Your Majesty! I must report Fang Zheng for using the newspaper to spread rumors among the people! This has damaged the court’s reputation!”

Fang Zheng said nothing, just kept winking at Li Yuanzhao.

Then his little brother took the stage!

Li Yuanzhao stood up and said, “Minister Zhang! The Crown Prince Daily is entirely my undertaking. What does it have to do with Master Fang? Tell me, how has it damaged the court’s reputation?”

Zhang Shi looked at Fang Zheng hatefully.

How shameless! Always using the Crown Prince as a shield.

Then he looked at Emperor Jing and saw no reaction from him.

Zhang Shi reluctantly spoke, “The newspaper ranks officials based on the grain stored in their homes, and the amounts are inaccurate! When the common people see this, it might cause resentment!”

“The Crown Prince is kind and virtuous, it must be Fang Zheng’s instigation!”

“*Pfft* Bootlicker.” A discordant voice came from the crowd.

Zhang Shi immediately glared angrily, looking towards Fang Zheng.

“Enough, stop arguing. Fang Zheng, let me ask you, where did you get the information about the grain stored in the officials’ homes that’s recorded in the newspaper?” Emperor Jing spoke slowly.

Fang Zheng replied calmly, “In response to Your Majesty, I ordered my subordinates to estimate it.”

“There might be some discrepancies, it’s not entirely accurate!”

“If any of the ministers feel that what’s written in the newspaper is incorrect, they can tell me, and we’ll publish a clarification tomorrow.”

Zhang Shi immediately refuted, “Your Majesty! This is nonsense. The grain amounts in the newspaper are completely fabricated!”

“How could my family have fifty thousand dan of grain! This is clearly something Fang Zheng made up on the spot!”

“Now, in just a few days, such a big mistake has appeared in the newspaper! I request that the newspaper be managed by the Hanlin Academy. After thorough review by the Hanlin scholars, only then can it be published!”

“If we let it continue like this, I’m afraid it will lead to disaster!”

“I beg Your Majesty to approve!”

“We support this proposal!”

A large group of Hanlin scholars and other officials immediately knelt down.

Fang Zheng narrowed his eyes as he watched. This was clearly premeditated.

These people reacted quickly… they united in just one day.

Emperor Jing looked on, feeling a bit of a headache. He couldn’t help but glare at Fang Zheng.

Everyone knows the Zhang family doesn’t own grain shops, how could they possibly have so much stored grain? Couldn’t you have investigated a bit before making things up? At least make up something plausible!

Randomly ranking like this, why didn’t you just ask me? I could have given you all the information!

How dare you not consult me on such a big matter? In two more years, won’t you be flying to the heavens?

“All of you, rise. We’ll discuss this matter later. There are more important things now.”

“After this newspaper is published, it will be discussed throughout the land. We can’t stop it now, and how much grain each of you has at home isn’t important.”

“Now, you should all eagerly donate grain to quell the people’s resentment. Otherwise, where is the court’s authority? Tell me, how much will each family donate?”

Fang Zheng couldn’t help but give a thumbs up.

This is what you call tacit understanding. Your Majesty is awesome!