Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

Inside the government office.

Jiang Liang was pacing back and forth, looking extremely anxious.

As expected, the influence of the Banshan Daily was unfolding rapidly!

By afternoon, people were already returning goods to the pawnshop, and the number wasn't small.

Most of the people who could afford the goods were of considerable status, making it difficult to decide whether to accept the returns or not.

If this continued, defeat would be inevitable.

What if the name of Yu Guang porcelain was changed? That wouldn't work either; the next day's newspaper would likely continue to publish negative news.

Just as he was racking his brains for a solution, a loud announcement came from the gatekeeper outside.

Li Yuanzhao and Fang Zheng strode in.

Fang Zheng smiled and said, "Master Jiang, what do you need from this official?"

"Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince." Jiang Liang first performed a salute, then looked at Fang Zheng with an unfriendly expression: "Master Fang, a fine trick you've played."

"You sell your bicycles, why slander the Yu Guang porcelain of my Ministry of Works?"

"Oh?" Fang Zheng raised his head, a hint of disdain on his lips: "Master Jiang went to all the trouble of finding me, just to question me?"

"When have I ever slandered the Yu Guang porcelain of your Ministry of Works?"

Seeing his fearless appearance, Jiang Liang angrily took out a newspaper and slapped it on the table, saying: "Master Fang! Let's not hide anything from each other! Isn't this the work of your newspaper? You're slandering Yu Guang porcelain out of thin air, that's creating rumors and causing trouble. Do you still have the Great Jing Law in your eyes?"

"The Great Jing Law?" Fang Zheng sneered: "You're using the Great Jing Law to suppress me? May I ask, which crime have I committed?"

You say....

Jiang Liang gritted his teeth and said: "Fabricating details, using hatred to slander!"

Fang Zheng glanced at the newspaper, clasped his hands: "Meng Weimin doesn't accept gifts, Yu Guang porcelain's reputation is damaged, what does that have to do with me, Fang Zheng? Besides, we don't have any grudges, do we?"

"Master Fang, dare you say that this wasn't at your instigation?"

"I dare say, His Highness the Crown Prince can vouch for me."

Li Yuanzhao stepped forward: "That's right! This prince can vouch for him."

Jiang Liang swallowed, his eyes darting back and forth between the two.

These damn snakes and rats are in the same den... With the Crown Prince here today, it's not good to lose his temper.

"Master Fang, no matter what, the Banshan Daily is under your management. With such a thing happening, Yu Guang porcelain's reputation is damaged, you also have a responsibility, right! This matter is of great importance; we should at least talk about fair competition, being open and aboveboard."

"Otherwise, even if you win with such methods, it will be difficult to convince the public when the Academy of Sciences is established in the future!"

Fang Zheng shook his head and said: "If you want to think that way, I can't help it. If there's nothing else, I'll leave first."

Having said that, Li Yuanzhao and Fang Zheng turned around at the same time, preparing to leave.

Jiang Liang hurriedly said: "Wait! I haven't finished speaking yet."

"If the Banshan Daily continues to publicize like this, Yu Guang porcelain will probably be hated by everyone on the market."

"Master Fang, this is unfair competition! I'm going to confront you before His Majesty, do you dare to go with me?"

"I dare not! Your Highness, let's go." Fang Zheng shouted loudly and walked away.

Jiang Liang only felt his heart suddenly clench.

He quickly ran in front of Fang Zheng, spread his arms, and said gloomily: "Master Fang, even if you win with such despicable means, it won't count before His Majesty. At that time, this official will definitely contact others to jointly impeach you. This is malicious selling!"

Malicious selling?

Fang Zheng laughed.

It was truly classic to hear these words from an old fogey!

"Master Jiang, what exactly do you mean? I see that you don't want me to leave?" Fang Zheng asked.

"This old man invited you here for nothing else but to have the Banshan Daily issue a clarification to clear Yu Guang porcelain's name. From today onwards, similar news is not allowed to appear again. All this old man asks for is fair competition, is there a problem?" Jiang Liang stared directly at Fang Zheng, his eyes unblinking.

Fang Zheng showed no weakness, returning the stare: "Master Jiang, it seems that you don't understand the affairs of merchants. The marketplace is like a battlefield, unpredictable, there is no such thing as fairness."

"Since you're convinced that I did it, I have nothing to say. Doesn't the Ministry of Works also have a newspaper? You can also use the newspaper for publicity."

"Besides, even if the Ministry of Works loses, what losses will you suffer? I've already sent people from Taoyuan County to assist you in researching and manufacturing weapons and gunpowder, right? Are you so unwilling for the Academy of Sciences to be established?"

"The establishment of the Academy of Sciences is a good thing, it can complement the Ministry of Works in the future."

"If you ask me, this contest of ours is unnecessary; you should support me."

Jiang Liang was stunned for a moment, then sneered: "There's no need to say these words. The Ministry of Works can do everything that the Academy of Sciences can do, there's no need for unnecessary actions."

In short, your Academy of Sciences still wants to divide the power of the Ministry of Works.

The words sound nice, 'complement each other.'

Before, you, Fang Zheng, also said that you would widely recruit craftsmen, encompassing everything. Adding the technology of Taoyuan County, I'm afraid that in the future, even military equipment will be made by your Academy of Sciences.

If this continues, in time, wouldn't that be equivalent to establishing a new Ministry of Works? Then what will the Ministry of Works do in the future?!

Fang Zheng was annoyed and didn't bother to talk nonsense, continuing to walk out.

Jiang Liang stepped forward and grabbed his sleeve, saying: "Go, come with this old man! Since I can't reason with you, then let His Majesty preside over justice!"

Seeing him entangled endlessly, Fang Zheng sighed a long sigh.

"How about this, Master Jiang, don't bother me anymore. Let's think of a way to solve the problem, how about that?"

Jiang Liang's hand remained unreleased, guarding against him: "Think of what way?"

Fang Zheng thought for a moment and said: "The Ministry of Works... give me a hundred craftsmen, I'll choose them myself. I'll have the newspaper clear Yu Guang porcelain's name, how about that?"

"No way!" Jiang Liang frowned: "Why should I give you a hundred craftsmen?"

Fang Zheng brushed off his hand and smiled: "It's the Academy of Sciences. If it is established, after that I will ask the Ministry of Works for a hundred craftsmen."

"I can promise you that the Banshan Daily will re-promote Yu Guang porcelain tomorrow, you can even decide the content. And I guarantee that during our contest period, there will be no negative news about Yu Guang porcelain, how's that?"

Jiang Liang frowned and pondered.

A hundred craftsmen are nothing to the Ministry of Works. If Yu Guang porcelain's name is cleared, with his connections, the total income is estimated to be tens of thousands of taels of silver.

At that time, he will definitely win, but will Fang Zheng really be so kind?

After thinking for a long time, Jiang Liang hesitated: "The conditions you mentioned, this old man will temporarily accept, but for the hundred craftsmen, you can't have those who make military equipment, and you can't take away some designated personnel."

Old thing, you're quite guarded.

However, the craftsmen are still the Ministry of Works' craftsmen. Even skilled ones are valuable!

As long as they're under his command, he's not afraid they won't be creative!

He might as well take advantage of the opportunity to steal a wave from the Ministry of Works. This will all be his foundation in the future!

Fang Zheng smiled slightly: "Then it's a deal!"

......