Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

After ten days of carefree living, I had no choice but to return to work.

Fang Zheng Yi felt a great headache coming on.

His habit of sleeping six shichen a day had been restored, and now he had to wake up early again.

Logically, attending court once every ten days or half a month would be normal.

However, Emperor Jing was clearly a diligent emperor, sleeping less than three shichen each day and attending court daily.

If the boss is at the company, how can the employees sleep?

No matter how unwilling he was, he had to come.

As before, the new maid, Luo Ningxin, woke him up early in the morning.

She helped him wash, dress, and was very skilled in her movements. Fang Zheng Yi was also extremely satisfied.

It's just that this Miss Luo didn't seem to like talking much after arriving at the Fang residence.

She just focused on doing her work silently.

Excellent! This woman is beautiful, works efficiently, and even pretends to be mute. There's nothing to criticize!

Satisfied, Fang Zheng Yi sat in the sedan, half-asleep as he was carried to the Meridian Gate.

Outside the Meridian Gate, a group of ministers was already waiting.

Fang Zheng Yi got out of the sedan and, upon seeing many old acquaintances, immediately revealed a smiling face, greeting them one by one.

Fortunately, although everyone was annoyed by him, they still had to maintain appearances.

Moreover, this guy's future was beyond question, so they couldn't afford to be on bad terms with him!

Except for Yang Yingcai, who had been coldly watching Fang Zheng Yi from the crowd.

Seeing Fang Zheng Yi shamelessly come up to greet him, he politely returned the gesture.

"Greetings, Lord Yang! Long time no see!"

Yang Yingcai smiled insincerely: "Congratulations, Lord Fang, for your skillful handling of affairs and your daring and meticulousness, actually daring to execute the Prefect of Jianjiang in your position as a Vice Prefect."

"Truly admirable."

Seeing this old geezer being sarcastic with him, Fang Zheng Yi was equally impolite, smiling: "Lord Yang, you're too kind!"

"What about being a Vice Prefect? Some corrupt officials should be killed! If we were to report layer by layer, with officials protecting each other, wouldn't those corrupt officials get away with impunity?"

"Could it be... Lord Yang has a private relationship with Liu Xun?"

Yang Yingcai quickly waved his hand: "Hey! Don't talk nonsense!"

Fang Zheng Yi said with a smile: "Just kidding! Lord Yang, don't take it seriously!"

Yang Yingcai's face turned red, and with a flick of his sleeves, he angrily said: "Kidding! Can such things be joked about? Does Lord Fang think that executing the Prefect of Jianjiang without reporting it is also a joke?"

Fang Zheng Yi stared at his expression, suddenly realizing.

So that's why this old geezer is acting like he's swallowed gunpowder.

This old fossil! Because I didn't follow the procedures, he's picking bones in my egg?

Fang Zheng Yi was impolite, looking directly at Yang Yingcai and saying: "Prefect? A prefect is nothing! In the capital, a brick thrown down can hit a bunch of people with higher ranks than a prefect."

"Whether the power is great or small, it's all to be the master for the common people and to do things for the imperial court. Liu Xun knowingly violated the law, and his crime deserved to be punished, so he should be killed."

"I'm not talking about you, but you, old senior, your ideological awareness still needs to be improved!"

"You!!"

Yang Yingcai was speechless, even though he himself used to be a master of rhetoric!

He could find a crack in public or private morals and spray you to death.

This guy has no morals... can't attack his weaknesses.

While Yang Yingcai was still thinking of countermeasures, Fang Zheng Yi, feeling bored, had already turned and left.

A group of officials was still watching the fun from a distance with smiles on their faces.

Being able to see people arguing early in the morning is just too wonderful! It invigorates the whole person!

Yang Fengfan, who was nearby, saw that the two had finished talking and hurriedly approached Fang Zheng Yi.

With a flattering face, he said: "Congratulations, Lord Fang, on being reinstated!"

Fang Zheng Yi glanced at him: "Oh, thank you, thank you, Little Yang. Is there something you need?"

"Eh? Where did Li Gong go? Why haven't I seen him?"

Seeing that Fang Zheng Yi remembered him, Yang Fengfan smiled even more brilliantly.

He leaned in a little closer and whispered: "I just saw him a moment ago, I don't know where he went."

"Could it be that he's afraid of seeing you?"

"Afraid of me? Why would he be afraid of me?" Fang Zheng Yi was at a loss.

Yang Fengfan chuckled slyly and said: "Of course, he's afraid!"

"He's your uncle, and you're now at the height of your power."

"It's not good to be together, avoiding suspicion! Avoiding suspicion!"

"Oh~, so it's avoiding suspicion!"

Fang Zheng Yi curled his lips and said loudly: "Tsk tsk, tell me! Why are we doing this when we're all family?! There's no need for this!"

"Exactly! Exactly!" Yang Fengfan echoed repeatedly.

Li Yansong, who was hiding in a corner not far away, suddenly widened his eyes.

He couldn't help but beat his chest and stomp his feet.

He originally thought that this matter would be over after Fang Zheng Yi explained it.

Unexpectedly, it intensified in the capital.

Some people even said that the grain in his house was donated by Fang Zheng Yi!!

Even people in his hometown had written letters to inquire about this matter.

He had been in the court for decades and had never encountered such a strange thing.

Three men make a tiger, and rumors are frightening!

He couldn't explain himself no matter how hard he tried, so he could only hide as far away as possible!

Now this damned Fang Zheng Yi is getting more and more audacious, saying such things in front of so many people!

"I... I..." Li Yansong kept panting heavily.

The family servant beside him quickly patted his chest, helping him to catch his breath.

Fortunately, before long, the bells of the Bell and Drum Office rang, and the palace gates opened wide.

The courtiers began to pour in.

The ministers took their places, and Emperor Jing sat high above, glancing at Fang Zheng Yi.

"卿, I thought that if I didn't send someone to call you, you wouldn't come again."

Fang Zheng Yi smiled awkwardly and remained silent.

Dragging it out for ten days was already good enough!

Seeing that he didn't speak, Emperor Jing turned his head and said directly: "Recently, a major event has occurred."

"The border has sent several secret reports to me in succession."

"The twenty-six tribes of the Northern Rong have been swept away one by one by the Wuliangha tribe, and their chieftain, Wutu, has been elected as the common leader."

"According to the secret reports, this man has distinguished himself in battle, taking the lead in every engagement."

"He is now a threat to my Great Jing,"

"However, now the Court of State Ceremonial has received the credentials from the Northern Rong, and a delegation will arrive in a month..."

Emperor Jing was saying above.

Fang Zheng Yi was pondering in his heart below.

Could it be that there's going to be a war!

Years ago, in Taoyuan County, he always heard about fighting here and there.

He always felt that ancient wars were like eating and drinking, and he had only had two days of peace.

Now this Northern Rong has emerged again.

He had heard of the Northern Rong, but he didn't know much about them.

One was that they were too far away, and the other was that he had no interest in their wars, he just wanted to huddle up and live his own little life.

Now that foreign enemies are rising, shouldn't gunpowder be taken out in advance?

It's better to be prepared than sorry. If a new war breaks out within the next year or two, we can have some advance preparation.

Emperor Jing continued to say: "The Northern Rong has been at war for years, and their national strength is already exhausted."

"Therefore, I believe that this delegation is coming to seek peace. What do you think, gentlemen?"

"卿... 卿! What do you think?"

Fang Zheng Yi was dumbfounded. He was just thinking about making gunpowder weapons to defend against the enemy.

The emperor actually asked him.

He really doesn't understand this! War, he can't pretend to understand if he doesn't....

But he can't say he doesn't know when the emperor asks, so he can only bite the bullet and answer: "Your Majesty, I believe that it is too early to discuss this matter. It is better to wait for the delegation to arrive and then discuss it."