Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

The entire venue erupted in thunderous applause that lasted for a long time.

Although they had long known about faucets, and had seen waterscapes built with steam engines,

the large-scale, widespread installation of a brand-new automatic water supply system being officially put into use was unprecedented.

Today's grand spectacle had been anticipated for a long time.

Li Yuanzhao, overjoyed, summoned a eunuch to bring a white porcelain bowl.

He caught the water from the faucet.

Just as he was about to drink it all in one gulp, Fang Zheng Yi stopped him, saying, "Your Majesty, drinking this raw water can easily cause diarrhea."

"It doesn't matter! I want to taste it," Li Yuanzhao said, and directly drank it all.

He revealed a wide smile.

"Good water! The underground water in the palace is especially sweet! Come, my beloved ministers, step forward, take some if you want to taste it."

Fang Zheng Yi was the first to step forward, taking a bowl of tap water and drinking it all.

This water... really was freshly drawn well water.

However, after all, it was water used in the palace, involving so many government offices and so many important matters of the country.

Once someone fell ill, it would greatly affect the efficiency of the court.

Therefore, at the very beginning of the system's construction, there had already been some coarse filtration settings.

There was a dedicated room filled with a large amount of washed sand and charcoal as a barrier.

Of course, it certainly couldn't compare with modern facilities, but with two stages of coarse filtration, it was enough to ensure a significant reduction in impurities.

Seeing the Emperor and the Grand Secretary take the lead in demonstrating, the other officials also stepped forward one by one, taking a bowl each and drinking the plain water with great interest.

"What questions do you have? What are your thoughts? You can all speak your mind," Fang Zheng Yi said, facing the crowd. "This water can be called tap water. His Majesty is the first person in the world to have tasted tap water, and you can all be considered the earliest officials to have drunk this water."

"If you have any thoughts, you can write articles and publish them in the newspaper, or you can raise any shortcomings."

As soon as Fang Zheng Yi finished speaking, someone quickly spoke up: "Grand Secretary, this humble official has a question."

"Please speak."

"This tap water is laid with copper pipes. It is only natural to use it in the palace, and the expenses can be afforded. But if it is laid in all the major provinces, prefectures, and counties of the country, the cost would be incalculable. Is it necessary to use copper?"

"A good question," Fang Zheng Yi said. "Of course, it is not necessary to use copper, but copper has good overall performance, is durable, and easy to bend. In the East Suburb University's laboratory, ceramic pipes and cast iron pipes can also achieve good results, and the cost is relatively low. For this plan to be implemented among the people, the initial plan is to use cast iron pipes."

After Fang Zheng Yi finished speaking, another person asked: "If these water pipes are buried underground, and the iron pipes corrode over time, with scale and other impurities accumulating and causing blockages, how should this be resolved?"

Fang Zheng Yi turned his head to look at an official beside him.

The official took the initiative to stand out: "Let me explain to everyone. We have also considered this issue for a long time. East Suburb University already has a plan to clean the pipes with high-pressure water, or to use special tools for mechanical cleaning. If it is more serious, we can only dig up the ground for cleaning..."

"I also have a question!" Another official raised his hand.

The scene had become a technical Q\u0026A session.

The officials asked questions one after another, all of which were technical questions.

Fang Zheng Yi turned his head to look at Li Yuanzhao, and the two seemed to recall something at the same time, smiling at each other.

The atmosphere in the court today has really changed greatly. The scene of arguing about metaphysics in the past is long gone.

Few people are willing to argue using the ancestral texts.

However, thinking of arguing with the ministers back then, he still missed it a bit.

Li Yuanzhao shrugged his shoulders, bumped Fang Zheng Yi, and said in a low voice: "It's rare to be happy today, and you're here too, call your family over... Let's eat together tonight."

"I'm afraid it won't work today, how about tomorrow?"

"What's wrong again?"

"I have an appointment with the big merchants and factory owners in the capital for a meeting and dinner. I want to go to the factory area to take a look. There are things about the workers..."

"Then okay, don't change it tomorrow! You, with your old arms and legs, are even more energetic than when you were young. That factory area is so dangerous, and the air is bad. Find a young man to watch it for you, let Chen Yu go!"

"Seeing is believing. Others watching, I always feel it's not quite right. Don't worry, Your Majesty, I will definitely come tomorrow night."

.....

"It's truly an honor for Grand Secretary to grace the industrial park with your presence today... I wonder if you can give us some pointers after seeing it today."

Inside the reception room, a luxuriously dressed wealthy merchant carefully stood beside Xu Shan, holding a teacup in his hand.

The surrounding people also stood up and held up their cups.

According to the usual banquet standards, there was no way not to drink alcohol.

But today, the Grand Secretary was present, and everyone knew that he abstained from alcohol, so no one dared to prepare any wine.

Even the dishes on the table were by no means extravagant.

Seeing everyone holding up their teacups, Fang Zheng smiled and also raised his teacup, taking a light sip: "Everyone, sit down, there's no need to be so restrained."

"Actually, the main reason I came this time was to see how the heads of the various factories and major merchant houses in the capital are doing. I also toured the factory area just now, and it's not bad. Of course, you also know that I came in advance, so acting is inevitable."

"Oh, we really wouldn't dare, Grand Secretary! We wouldn't act with anyone, let alone with the Grand Secretary. We are most unafraid of you seeing the problems... Over the years, we have been able to make a fortune, and we absolutely couldn't do without your care and guidance, as well as that of your subordinates!"

"Yes, yes!" Everyone echoed.

Fang Zheng raised his eyes, his gentle gaze sweeping over everyone, and chuckled: "What's so great about being an official? If anyone doesn't want to do it, there are plenty of people who are willing to do it. Even an incompetent waste can laze around and get by in this life, and maybe even do well... Of course, I'm talking about foreign countries."

"But it's hard for you, you can't eat if you laze around, and you can't eat if you don't do things well, haha."

As soon as these words came out, the scene instantly turned cold.

The wealthy merchants at the table looked at each other, not daring to say a word.

What did the Grand Secretary mean by belittling himself first?

Finally, someone couldn't help but speak first.

"Cough... Hey! You're too serious, Grand Secretary! You're really making us feel ashamed. I'll toast you a cup."

"No need," Fang Zheng raised a finger to stop the other party, and said, "Boss Li, I heard that your business is often harassed and extorted by some petty officials, is that right?"

"Factory Owner Zhang, you also have this kind of situation, right? And Boss Zhao, your family's..."

Fang Zheng recited them like a treasure, stating each family's difficulties one by one.

The eyes of the wealthy merchants lit up, waiting for Fang Zheng to continue speaking.

After a moment of silence, Fang Zheng smiled slightly: "I know your problems, so I came this time not only to inspect the factory area, but also to gather everyone together and tell you in person that those lawless officials will be dealt with one by one in the future."

"As long as you operate reasonably and legally, I can't say that you will be completely free from harassment, but in the future, this situation will definitely decrease year by year. And you shouldn't be afraid at all, the law is right there, as long as you speak according to the law... I can guarantee that no one will dare to touch you at all."

"Grand Secretary!" The wealthy merchants excitedly stood up, all looking at Fang Zheng.

Fang Zheng gently pressed his right hand, and said indifferently: "Sit down, don't be so alarmed. After talking about the court's problems, it's time to talk about your problems."

"Two major incidents occurred in the capital last year. One was that three workers in a factory were accidentally crushed to death, and the other was that the workers under your command collectively demanded fairness, which you later divided and suppressed."

"I know you already have suitable excuses, but I want to tell you that the court has a clear understanding of the situation of the workers and employees of each factory and merchant. You have eaten so much meat, only giving people soup... That's too much."

"Don't test the bottom line of those workers and employees again and again. If they really unite and cause an even bigger incident, it's hard to say... which side the court will stand on. If your factories are smashed and your shops are overturned, don't come to the government office to cry, and don't come to me to complain, you have to bear everything yourself."

After hearing these words, the wealthy merchants fell silent again.

Fang Zheng smiled: "You are all seasoned veterans, and you are the most sensitive to the market. You should have seen the changes in the world in recent years."

"What does the court value most? Is it education, technology, or the economy? None of them. What the court values most... is promoting the law."

"His Majesty is determined to lay down a framework, to have a law that is far more strict, just, and fair than those of previous dynasties, and enough law enforcement agencies to support the country. This matter is related to you, to the poor people, and even more to the court officials."

"But you also know that the officials are the most affected by this, so the resistance to promoting change is also very great, even if I personally stand at the front."

Fang Zheng paused, scanning the faces of the people with different expressions.

"If you have big problems, others will make a fuss and attack me. If you are well-behaved and do more good deeds, my progress here will be smooth."

Fang Zheng's eyes were deep, "I know that some of you have backers whose ideas are different from mine, but I don't care."

"In this matter, helping me is helping yourselves. Compared with the future, the backers behind you are not worth mentioning. No matter how big the backers are, can they compare to your own descendants for generations to come?"

The wealthy merchants once again stood up collectively.

"Grand Secretary, I have long heard that the South has been experiencing continuous floods in the past two years. My Hongsheng Company is willing to express our position here and donate..."

Halfway through his words, Fang Zheng pressed his hand down, smiled lightly, and said: "No need to say any more, I think you have not understood my meaning. Let you donate money and silver. And if you only donate because I said so, then it has no meaning at all."

"I have no intention of forcing others to be saints. A society that forces people to be saints is destroying human desires and going against the laws of nature. If the laws of nature do not exist, how can the country exist?"

"I only hope that you will take a long-term view. National affairs are not the affairs of one person. To establish extraordinary laws requires the people of the world."

"You are the people on the front lines, the ones who understand the world best. Now that the realm is in good order, seize this opportunity to plan not just for the present, but for generations, for all time. If you act justly and walk steadily, and do not associate with treacherous individuals, you are already planning for eternity."

"When the laws are perfected, and everyone uses the law as their weapon, you will no longer need to worry about your property being taken away for no reason, or your businesses failing for reasons other than normal competition. Your businesses will be passed down to your descendants, accumulating generation after generation, a steady and continuous flow."

"Besides the law, you also don't need to submit to anyone. I also hope that everyone in the world can stand tall and live with dignity, not kneeling whenever they see an official."

As Fang Zheng said this, his cloudy eyes moved, scanning over the thoughtful crowd before him.

"When I said these things when I was young, many people would say I was rebellious. But I'm old now... I don't have many years left to live. This world, this country, should respect common sense, respect people... If you don't want scheming and power plays to overwhelm the truth again, then be a model for all the merchants in the world,守好 keep to your own duty, and spare some thought to take care of your employees. This is also a wish I have for you."

"Although I am old, my eyes are not blind, and my mind is not muddled... If you can share both the joys and the hardships, you will have great gains in the future, and your descendants will also be able to enjoy this blessing."

Fang Zheng supported himself with his arms. Sitting for a long time made his back ache, and he couldn't help but let out a soft groan.

"I've said what I needed to say. I hope that the next time I see you all... you will all still be here, and it would be even better if you could bring some young people."

"Your Excellency!" The merchants crowded around him, their eyes filled with emotion, and escorted Fang Zheng out.

Stepping out of the luxurious and clean reception room, they were met with a large, black and gray iron shed.

The air was polluted, and stepping on the muddy ground, Fang Zheng walked towards the high train platform, surrounded by the crowd.

Reaching the platform, Fang Zheng turned back and gazed.

In the factory area, one dirty face after another poked out, looking towards him with a mixture of fear and joy.

Fang Zheng reached out and waved.

A burst of shouts and greetings immediately rang out in the distance, and a large group of people jumped up and waved at him incessantly.

Fang Zheng chuckled, but his smile quickly faded as he looked at a large factory owner in front of him.

"Why are you all so thin? Is your food not good enough? Are you getting enough to eat?"

The factory owner smiled awkwardly, but didn't panic: "Your Excellency, it's alright. They weren't fat when we recruited them, and they do physical labor every day. As for eating enough... three meals a day, they can definitely eat their fill. No one is starving now."

"Yes, that's right. Nowadays, which factory owner would dare to starve their workers? It would be a joke, a sign of weakness!"

"Your Excellency, I can vouch for that. No matter how stingy Boss Zhang is, he wouldn't skimp on the money for food. Who starves these days? We're not foreigners."

"Can you even talk? If you can't, then don't. Do I need you to vouch for me?"

The corners of Fang Zheng's mouth curved into a smile again.

In the distance, the train whistled, emitting black smoke as it pulled into the platform.

He opened his pocket watch, the time ticking forward.

He looked back at the whole scene, sighed softly with a smile, and boarded the train as everyone watched him off.

The whistle sounded again, and the train headed into the distance...

It was the worst of times, it was the best of times.

It was the age of foolishness, it was the age of wisdom.

It was the season of incredulity, it was the season of belief.

It was the winter of despair, it was the spring of hope.

We had nothing before us, we had everything before us.

We were all going direct to heaven, we were all going direct the other way.

(End of the book.)