Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

"Does Your Highness know about this?" Fang Zheng's brow furrowed.

Could it be that you, kid, are lining your pockets behind my back? Impossible!

"Since Your Highness knows, why not stop it?"

"Well, I knew about these things from the start." Li Yuanzhao said with certainty, "Lao Fang, you don't really believe the nonsense written on this, do you?"

"The so-called order to rectify the restaurants was approved by me personally, and the so-called extortion of silver from the people is completely fabricated!"

"It was this palace that ordered those who disobeyed to pay fines, and every sum is traceable!"

"The people don't understand what microorganisms are, and this palace has no way to explain it to them one by one, and even if I did, not everyone would believe it."

"Moreover, it will take some time for the rectification to take effect, so I can only choose a tougher approach."

"Lao Fang, you don't misunderstand, do you?"

So that's how it is...

Fang Zheng tapped his fingers on the table, feeling a little regretful.

Perhaps the microscope shouldn't have been brought out before mass production capabilities were available.

All this mess is ultimately his fault.

"What Your Highness says makes sense, but has Your Highness personally seen how the sanitation team works?"

Li Yuanzhao replied without hesitation, "Of course I have! This palace has always been hands-on, and I try to see every detail of the sanitation team's work."

"However... there are too many things, and it's impossible for me to follow them to every single place, right?"

"Lao Fang, what's the problem? Just say it!"

Fang Zheng nodded, "What Your Highness says is correct, but it would be best if we take a look together tomorrow."

"Then we can discuss any problems that arise."

"Alright! We'll go take a look together tomorrow! I want to see what flaws you can find!" Li Yuanzhao chuckled, looking quite pleased with himself.

Fang Zheng was speechless.

This young man, who hasn't been beaten by society, really has a good sense of self.

"Your Highness, I'm tired, I'm going home to sleep! I have to go back and check on Zhang Biao later, and I might have to go see His Majesty tonight."

There was no way to persuade Li Yuanzhao at this moment.

At the age of seventeen or eighteen, what they need most is respect from others, and blind preaching can only have the opposite effect.

Fang Zheng didn't plan to dwell on it, tomorrow using reality to teach him a lesson would be more effective than anything!

.......

After saying goodbye to Li Yuanzhao, he returned home.

Zhang Biao also happened to have just returned, but his face was much more tired.

It seemed that he was annoyed by the reporters' constant harassment.

Fortunately, Xiao Tao had already prepared hot water in advance, so he could take a hot bath as soon as he got home.

Fang Zheng asked a few caring questions and went straight to the study.

The study contained many letters, as well as special matters from Taoyuan County waiting for his approval.

There were also important matters in the neighborhood that needed to be arranged.

With the Imperial Examination approaching, Xie Xian was in charge of scheduling and dispatching the reporters, so he didn't need to worry about it.

Currently, the only important thing was the textile factory.

Three or four months after the Imperial Examination, the weather would start to turn cold.

From the completion of the textile factory to the placement of female workers and the arrangement of equipment, it would take two or three months to start production.

This didn't even include the break-in period, and production had to be completed before winter, and a large number of winter clothes had to be produced in advance.

Emperor Jing had already noticed that he was running to the Mingluan Hall, and it would be difficult to go again in the future, so he had to get the factory up and running quickly.

Finding a wife is a major matter!

After working at his desk for an hour, Fang Zheng stretched lazily, and someone came to report outside the door.

It was an eunuch delivering Emperor Jing's oral decree.

Fang Zheng didn't think much and went straight to the Imperial Study.

.......

Inside the Imperial Study, Emperor Jing looked at him with a smile and said, "Fang Qing, how is Zhang Biao?"

"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. Zhang Biao is doing very well. He only suffered some superficial injuries and will be fine after a few days of rest."

Emperor Jing sighed, "A true warrior! I only thought he was an ordinary expert, just with a bit more strength."

"I didn't expect his kung fu to be so remarkable, a rare sight even in the palace! If he wants to enter the palace, it would be fine to grant him an official position."

Hearing this, Fang Zheng's eyes darted around.

What does this mean? Does His Majesty want Brother Biao to enter the palace as a security guard...?

"Your Majesty, he doesn't want to enter the palace! Zhang Biao likes to grab a needle and thread and sew people up when he gets riled up, and I can't even stop him!" Fang Zheng exclaimed. "I'm afraid he'll do something in the palace that would damage the imperial family's reputation...."

Hearing about the needle and thread, Emperor Jing's expression turned strange, and then he said angrily, "What do you mean? Do you think I'm trying to snatch someone from you? I don't care about a mere Zhang Biao. There are plenty of people in the palace who are better at kung fu than him!"

Fang Zheng nodded vigorously.

Right, right, right! You're right, but it didn't sound like that's what you were saying just now...

Emperor Jing's expression softened slightly, and he said lightly, "Since you think he's not suitable to enter the palace, then I'll bestow a hundred taels of silver, and you can accept it on his behalf."

"I called you here this time because there are other things I need you to do."

Fang Zheng was still wondering what a hundred taels was enough for, and when he heard this, he looked up at Emperor Jing.

Emperor Jing continued, "You don't need to worry about the Northern Rong envoys anymore. Someone will be responsible for the trade."

"I called you here about the newspaper."

"The Six Ministries are running newspapers, but there are still many shortages today, and the lack of manpower has always been a problem."

"Publishing the newspaper every day puts too much pressure on the Six Ministries, but there is no one suitable to use."

"So, during the Talent Selection Ceremony, I want you to be an examiner to help the Six Ministries select some suitable people to run the newspaper."

"No one is better at this than you."

Fang Zheng was stunned for a moment, and hesitated, "Does Your Majesty mean... even those who fail the exam should be used?"

Emperor Jing was silent for a while, and took a deep breath, "That's right, that's what I mean."

"Those who are on the list have their own arrangements... it's impossible to draw out manpower to run the newspaper."

"So I want to recruit those who fail the exam, what do you think?"

Fang Zheng thought for a moment and quickly understood.

Although Emperor Jing said that he was running the newspaper for the Six Ministries, he was actually recruiting some low-level errand reporters who could read and write and had a strong foundation in writing.

In other words, it would be more appropriate to call them temporary workers... because these people are nominally serving the court, but in fact, they have no formal positions at all.

This matter may not have been led by Emperor Jing, but most likely instigated by the Six Ministries.

It seems that they have been suffering from a lack of manpower, after all, everyone is sitting in the office, and no one wants to run around every day.

However, it is indeed a good thing for many scholars who fail the exam. The difficulty of the provincial examination is definitely like thousands of troops crossing a single-plank bridge.

Many people are obviously not cut out for it, and waste a lot of time on the exam for nothing.

The job of a reporter will be infinitely glorious in the future, and even if you fail the exam, it's worth it!

There will be no problem in living a carefree life in the future.

But... it's too damn misleading to have me as an examiner, I don't know anything!

I use colloquial language in Taoyuan County, and I guess I can't even pass the talent exam!

I didn't inherit any of the predecessor's skills!

What should I do?