Royal Gold Magistrate

Hearing the laughter around him, Tang Shou let out a long sigh and continued, “Later, seeing this situation, there was nothing I could do. So I drove out all the people from Taoyuan County.”

“But not long after, that Fang Zheng sent back the elderly, weak, women and children he had originally taken.”

“Those people had been fed until they were fair and plump. After returning, they would sit by the streets every day, lamenting how wonderful life in Taoyuan County was.”

“So more of the villagers left…Those elderly, weak, women and children were originally Jihua people, so I couldn’t chase them away even if I wanted to. How bitter!”

The laughter from the crowd grew louder.

Tang Shou finally broke down, with huge teardrops falling. “Another year after that, Jihua Village was demoted to…Jihua…Outpost…”

*Pfft*! Even the usually expressionless Guo Tianyang couldn’t hold it in.

He thought to himself, this damn Fang Zheng is too sinister…If he really took in such a godson, wouldn’t he be raising a tiger that will bring future calamity?

Tang Shou was still talking, but his heart seemed to have returned to the past, once again shattered to pieces.

“Later…in the county, oh no…in the outpost, there were only a few dozen people left. I thought it would end there…”

“But I never expected it! That Fang Zheng set up a pipe that led into the river of Jihua Outpost. At first, I didn’t pay it any mind, thinking that since things had come to this, what else could he do?”

“But unexpectedly, before long, sewage started endlessly flowing out from that pipe! The river water became undrinkable!”

“The people from their Taoyuan County even came to sell water they carried over from Taoyuan County! He’s not human, Your Majesty!”

The laughing crowd fell silent, their gazes towards Tang Shou filled with sympathy.

Having such a neighbor…they could understand how hard life must be…

“Later on…Jihua Outpost was no more. When I reported to Hengjiang Prefecture, I was transferred to be a deputy in another county…”

Having vented his grievances from the past few years, Tang Shou slumped on the ground and began sobbing non-stop, making people feel like crying upon seeing him…

Fang Zheng couldn’t help scoffing, “Shouldn’t you be thanking me then? Going from outpost chief to county deputy, isn’t that great?”

“You!…” Tang Shou immediately glared at him furiously.

Fang Zheng quickly declared loudly, “Reporting to Your Majesty! This man’s words are as absurd as a eunuch holding a meeting!”

“Everyone also heard, I didn’t force anyone to come to my Taoyuan County, right? They all came voluntarily! How can you say I deceived them?”

Guo Tianyang’s face started turning all sorts of colors…

Zhang Shi said with a gloomy face, “How is it not deception? The young people who went to Jihua County didn’t work but had meat to eat, and those elderly and women sent back promoted Taoyuan County. Aren’t these your schemes, Fang Zheng?”

Fang Zheng shrugged. “So what if life in my Taoyuan County is good? What’s wrong with families sending some food to the young people who left home? I sent those elderly and women from Jihua County back when they were homesick, so what?”

Zhang Shi was already completely impatient. He angrily rebuked, “Then how do you explain dumping sewage into Jihua County?”

“What sewage? That’s fertilizer. Lord Zhang, watch your words. Those are all good stuff that others fight to get.”

Hearing this, Tang Shou immediately jumped up from the ground and said furiously, “You dumped it all into the river, how are we supposed to use it?”

“Fang Zheng! Don’t think I don’t know, those few crappy fields in your county can’t grow much grain at all. It’s all bought from elsewhere!”

“What do you mean how to use it? Your outpost only has a few dozen people, just scoop up some of the diluted stuff. How much land can you plant? Blame yourself for grumbling and refusing to come to Taoyuan County!”

Fang Zheng raised an eyebrow. Back then, facing a severe shortage of manpower in Taoyuan County, Fang Zheng had set his sights on the nearby Jihua County. It could be said he had treated them with the utmost benevolence and righteousness.

He spent quite a bit of silver to lure people over. Later, seeing the remaining people, softhearted Young Master Fang couldn’t bear to watch them await death, so he directly shoved the sewage pipes over.

Tang Shou was hopping mad with anger. You Fang Zheng got promoted three ranks in one go, while because of you, I directly damn well became an outpost chief and lost my official position. If not for the help of the Hengjiang Prefecture inspector, who knows what situation I would have fallen to?

Yet today, he still dared to argue shamelessly in front of His Majesty!

Tang Shou immediately turned to the emperor to tattle. “Your Majesty! Fang Zheng privately expanded Taoyuan County to an immeasurable area, at least several times its previous size, far exceeding the regulated scope! His heart is vicious!”

Hearing this issue, the emperor’s curiosity was piqued. “Fang, explain.”

Fang Zheng lowered his head in thought and began pacing in the hall, considering countermeasures.

Then he raised his head and calmly said, “The past two years, right after the war ended, the common people had it a bit rough. But life in Taoyuan County was still quite good.”

“Later, I happened to learn about the situations in Jihua County and surrounding small counties. The people lacked even basic clothing and couldn’t get a hot meal. I couldn’t bear to see this, so I thought I would take in as many as I could.”

“As this went on, more and more people gathered in Taoyuan County…leading to how it is today.”

“Taoyuan County was originally a lower county, but the population could no longer be supported with lower county regulations. We could only continue expanding.”

“I ask everyone to imagine, if you were in my position, what decision would you make? Would you just wait for those commoners to starve to death for no reason?”

Zhang Shi scoffed. “Sophistry! If you wanted to lend aid, you could directly give them money and grain. Why did you have to take people into Taoyuan County? What were your true intentions?”

Fang Zheng suddenly pointed at Tang Shou. “Everyone, look! This man has a chubby face and is fat! Yet the commoners under his governance are all skin and bones. How could I feel at ease?”

Tang Shou: “…”

“I was born fat! How can you slander people out of nowhere? Is being fat a crime? Did I eat your rice?”

“Oh? Is that so? There’s actually such a strange thing? Your Majesty, please throw this man into prison. Cut off his food and water for a month. If he’s still fat by then, I’m willing to admit my guilt!”

Tang Shou was in despair…He never should have made this trip. Fang Zheng…He never imagined he would still dare to be so arrogant in the imperial court.

The emperor tapped the imperial desk and said mildly, “No nonsense. Continue.”

Seeing this, the court officials shook their heads. His Majesty wasn’t like this before. Now he’s practically writing the words “favoritism” on his face…

Hearing this, Fang Zheng continued, “Thank you, Your Majesty. The situation is like this.”

“At that time, I surveyed all the surrounding counties. None compared to Taoyuan.”

“Compared to those county magistrates, it’s not me bragging. I am superior in appearance, young and strong, and exceptional in ability. Despite Taoyuan County’s terrible geographical location, I can still guarantee the livelihood of the commoners under my governance. This already explains everything.”

“If I sent out money and grain, who knows how much of it would be embezzled by those muddleheaded officials!”

As he spoke, Fang Zheng lowered his eyelids, his tone starting to become a bit impassioned.

“I never thought that after doing so much, I would still be impeached. Is the world’s malice towards me really so great?”

“As a scholar, I possess nothing but a sincere heart. All I think of is to establish my heart for the world, dedicate my life to the people, continue the learning of past sages, and bring about an era of great peace!”

“I have another dream, and that is common prosperity!”