Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

The next day, early morning.

Fang Zheng Yi and Li Yansong walked side by side on a mountain path. The mountain was lush with vegetation, and a small stream flowed gurgling beside the road.

The sky was not yet bright, and the surroundings were filled with mist.

Fang Zheng Yi was a little confused.

Yesterday, he had just finished interrogating the prisoners and had not had time to report back when Li Yansong called him to this strange place in the suburbs early in the morning.

When they arrived, he didn't say anything, just led him forward.

Halfway there, taking advantage of Li Yansong's panting rest.

Fang Zheng Yi finally couldn't help but ask: "Lord Li, what exactly did you call me here for today? Although His Majesty does not attend the early court, shouldn't we still be on duty? I personally interrogated the prisoner yesterday and already have some results to report to His Majesty."

Li Yansong glanced sideways, did not answer directly, but asked: "What results did you get from interrogating the prisoner yesterday?"

Fang Zheng Yi said: "I generally asked about the other party's situation. The Church's divine punishment weapon came from the hand of the Prince of Wu. When I escaped from his ship, I used gunpowder to blow up one of his ships. I didn't expect him to organize people to study gunpowder based on the remnants after the gunpowder burned. He is indeed remarkable."

Li Yansong nodded: "Amazing, the Prince of Wu is indeed talented. When he was young, he was not liked by the late Emperor, and his curiosity about ingenious skills was also criticized by the court officials. If he were in this era, he would definitely be a genius, but it's a pity he was born in the wrong era... Did you find out any other important information?"

Fang Zheng Yi shook his head: "Also, the Prince of Wu's body seems to be very good. I think he can live for another twenty years. But I mainly asked about the firearms problem in a roundabout way. I now have a clear understanding of the level of firearms on both sides. Knowing this is enough."

"How is His Majesty's health now?"

Li Yansong said: "His Majesty's health is still good. Today, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is taking care of him personally... We're here."

【Mingxi Temple】

Fang Zheng Yi looked up, and what came into view was a quiet temple. From the outside, it already looked very dilapidated.

The location here is remote, sparsely populated, so the incense is unlikely to be abundant.

Fang Zheng Yi was about to ask why they had come to the temple when Li Yansong had already walked into the temple.

Passing through the temple gate, behind it was a courtyard of considerable size, with stone tables, stone benches, flower and tree arrangements, and the ethereal chirping of birds from time to time, faintly exuding a sense of detachment.

Two novice monks saw Li Yansong and hurried to salute, looking like they were regular visitors.

Li Yansong waved his hand and walked straight to a stone bench, signaling Fang Zheng Yi to sit down.

The two sat facing each other, and Fang Zheng Yi admired the scenery: "What did you bring me to this temple for?"

Li Yansong said: "I heard you don't like monks, is that true?"

Fang Zheng Yi frankly said: "It's all rumors. I did tease monks when I was young, but in fact, I admire Buddhism very much. The teachings are gentle, allowing people to hit and scold, mainly advocating forgiveness, just like honest people. If it were any other religion, I wouldn't dare to provoke them. If I really provoked them, I'm afraid they would have led their followers to shout and kill, even more troublesome than dog skin plaster."

Li Yansong smiled, then looked around, seemingly with some emotion: "This temple is where the old man cultivates his mind and nourishes his nature. State affairs are busy, and thoughts are chaotic, so the old man has to take a few days each month to be alone here."

"In fact, many people in the court are willing to take time to go to temples and Taoist temples to cultivate their minds and nourish their nature. I wonder if Marquis has such a habit?"

"I... have always been alone."

The answer was a little unexpected, and Li Yansong was slightly stunned.

Just then, the little novice brought tea and placed it between the two.

Li Yansong picked up the teacup and raised an eyebrow at Fang Zheng Yi: "Solitude is the instinct of the strong. Marquis is indeed an extraordinary genius."

Fang Zheng Yi vaguely felt that something was wrong, and asked: "Lord Li didn't come here today specifically to praise me, did you? Is it that a junior wants to work in the Embroidered Uniform Guard, or has someone committed a crime?"

"Do I need you to arrange people?" Li Yansong smiled and said: "This time, I'm not specifically praising you. What I said is all from the bottom of my heart. Yesterday, when I went to see His Majesty, I also mentioned you to His Majesty."

"His Majesty once said to me that you are the God of Literature that Heaven has bestowed upon him. In terms of talent and ingenuity, there is no one else in the world."

"In fact, the old man also thinks so. How smart can a person be to achieve such achievements as you?" Li Yansong leaned forward, "No one can match you in poetry, no one can compare with you in creation, and you are also extremely smart in your conduct."

"Sometimes, when the old man is in this temple, I think... Do you have pre-birth knowledge? If not for being born with knowledge, how could a person accomplish so many shocking things at your age? The unconstrained imagination, the unrestrained speech, the unusual behavior, the old man is terrified when I think about it."

Fang Zheng Yi shrugged.

He is really an old fox, thinking so much.

However, pre-birth knowledge is crossing from the future to the past, and my crossing from the past to the future doesn't count as pre-birth knowledge!

Fang Zheng Yi calmly picked up the teacup and took a sip: "Lord Li thinks too much. My achievements today are definitely not due to my efforts alone. There are too many smart people in this world, and it just so happens that some of them are willing to believe in me, help me, plus a little bit of luck, and that's it."

"Lord Li, please get straight to the point if you have something to say, don't test me anymore."

Li Yansong twitched the corner of his mouth: "You really are as straightforward as ever, then the old man will be blunt."

"You should also have some understanding of the situation in the court, especially the Grand Secretariat. Including the old man, Lord Zheng, and Lord Zhang, we are all a group of old men. Logically speaking, everyone should have retired long ago, but do you know why no one is willing to resign?"

"Maybe they are senile."

Li Yansong almost couldn't catch his breath: "Can you change your cheap mouth? Can you respect the elderly!"

"You say, you say..."

Li Yansong took a long breath, tried to adjust his emotions, and continued: "The efforts you have made in the court these years, the achievements you have created, everyone has seen them."

"This prosperous age has even far exceeded the imagination of our predecessors. In this unprecedented change in a thousand years, every ambitious official wants to see a more distant future born during their tenure. No one is willing to stand aside as a spectator."

"But everything ultimately cannot defeat time." Li Yansong sighed heavily, slowly opened his arms, "Look at the old man, in another two years, I may not even be able to walk. What can a senile old man do besides create disasters? If I don't retire bravely, I can only leave a bad name in history."

"Lord Li, what do you mean?" Fang Zheng Yi looked at the other party with suspicion.

Li Yansong said softly: "It's what you think it is. Now that the old man is in the position of the Three Dukes, in charge of the Grand Secretariat, I have already reached the pinnacle of officialdom. It is time to retire. Lord Zheng and Lord Zhang will not be too long after me."

"The Grand Secretariat needs an exceptionally capable Grand Secretary to be the pillar, and no one is more qualified than you!"

Fang Zheng Yi stood up suddenly: "No! Absolutely not! Don't you have a successor? Why let me go up?"

"Hey, if there was someone who could catch up to half of your ability, it wouldn't be your turn, so it's decided to be you!"

"No, no, this does not comply with the procedure at all, nor does it comply with the rules."

"If you think something doesn't comply, the old man will find someone to change it for you."

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