Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

The two looked at each other, the atmosphere a little delicate.

Bai Yi lowered her head shyly, and Fang Zheng Yi vigorously rubbed her head a few times.

He created a bird's nest, cleverly breaking the awkwardness.

Then he turned to Zhang Biao and said, "Where have Xiao Tao and the others gone? Find her and we'll call it a day, first send Li Yuan home."

Afterwards, Li Yuan was reluctantly sent back, and Fang Zheng Yi and his party returned home.

Back home, the few of them sat around the table again.

However, everyone's eyes were fixed on the pile of messy silver notes and a cloth bag on the table.

Fang Zheng Yi's eyes turned green, and he quickly said, "Hurry up! How much money is there in total?"

Everyone began to count in a flurry, and before long, the numbers were tallied.

Adding up all the odds and ends, there was a total of forty thousand four hundred and fifty-five taels!

Hearing this number, everyone except Fang Zheng Yi was shocked. They didn't expect there to be so many rich young masters in the capital. The rings and necklaces had probably sold more than three hundred pieces.

To earn more than forty thousand taels of silver in one night just from retail sales was something they never dared to imagine.

Fang Zheng Yi smiled as he stroked his chin. The consumption power of the capital was indeed strong. He probably couldn't sell those extra glass rings he had ordered openly on the market for now.

He turned to Xiao Tao and said, "Go out tomorrow and spread the news, find a few more brokers, and say you're looking to buy diamond rings and diamond necklaces at a high price!"

Xiao Tao said sullenly, "Young Master, isn't this bad... I heard when I was out shopping that you're selling this stuff under the banner of the Crown Prince. Won't it cause trouble if people find out?"

Fang Zheng Yi glared: "Just go if I tell you to, I know what I'm doing."

The diamond ring commotion was so big that Emperor Jing couldn't possibly not know.

Fang Zheng Yi had long expected this and was waiting to take the initiative tomorrow. Who wouldn't be confused by tens of thousands of taels of silver?

Lu Fa said in shock, "Master, what exactly are we selling that's so expensive?"

He had run the fastest that day, finding a brothel far away. Zhang Biao couldn't find him either. After finishing, he returned to Cangxiang Pavilion and went back to the Fang residence on his own when he saw that everyone had dispersed.

Fang Zheng Yi smiled: "What else could it be but our specialty from Taoyuan County."

Lu Fa wondered, "Does our Taoyuan County have such expensive specialties?"

Fang Zheng Yi picked up the cloth bag on the table and shook it. A large pile of diamond rings and necklaces suddenly poured out, covering the entire table.

Bai Yi's face instantly fell...

"Isn't this glass! Young Master is awesome!" Lu Fa looked admiring, then said cautiously, "Young Master, can you give me some? I also want to go out and sell it for some money...."

"No! I have important uses for these things. You brat, you don't do anything serious all day, you only think about taking shortcuts. Have you forgotten how I taught you! Don't you know how to be down-to-earth?"

"Zhang Biao, go educate him!"

Lu Fa was led away by Zhang Biao with a mournful face.

Then Fang Zheng Yi turned to Xiao Tao and said, "Remember to find more people and hype up the price of the diamond rings, reap a wave, earn as much as you can!"

Xiao Tao hesitated: "Young Master, is it really okay to do this?"

"Of course it's okay! Even if the sky falls, the Crown Prince will hold it up. We're robbing the rich to help the poor, go ahead and do it..."

................

The next day, the Imperial Study.

Emperor Jing had twenty thousand taels of silver notes on his table, and Fang Zheng Yi sat in front of Emperor Jing with a smile.

Emperor Jing asked knowingly: "Fang Qing, what is the meaning of this? Could it be the money for Taoyuan County to make up for taxes?"

"Your Majesty, this money was earned by this subject and the Crown Prince doing business yesterday. This subject felt uneasy handing it over to the Crown Prince, so it's more reliable to hand it over to Your Majesty."

Emperor Jing showed a happy expression: "Oh, is that so? Then I will accept it on behalf of the Crown Prince. What kind of business did Fang Qing do?"

Fang Zheng Yi stood up and took a step forward, placing a ring on Emperor Jing's desk: "Please take a look, Your Majesty, it is this thing. Yesterday, the selling price of one was around a hundred taels."

Emperor Jing picked up the ring and examined it carefully, praising in his mouth: "Radiant and dazzling, rich and extraordinary, it is indeed not an ordinary product! It is worth this price!"

As soon as Emperor Jing finished speaking, Fang Zheng Yi took out a cloth bag from his waist, grabbed a large handful of rings from the bag, and placed them on the desk.

Emperor Jing looked at the dense glass rings on the table, the corners of his eyes twitching fiercely, and then fell silent.

After a while, he slowly opened his mouth: "Fang Qing, what is the true value of this thing?"

"Excluding labor costs, one tael of silver can make a dozen or twenty rings. As for the gemstone on top, it is called glass and is made in Taoyuan County... To put it bluntly, it's not worth a penny."

"This subject is recently planning to replace all the window paper in Taoyuan County with this glass."

".............."

Emperor Jing was shocked, looking at Fang Zheng Yi with suspicion.

Yesterday, he received a secret report that the Crown Prince and Fang Zheng Yi were selling diamond rings in the city, and he also heard that the diamonds were accidentally obtained by the Crown Prince and were extremely rare.

Emperor Jing was puzzled at the time. If the Crown Prince had such a treasure, he should have flaunted it all over the world. How could he not know?

But thinking about it, he knew it was Fang Zheng Yi's doing.

But he couldn't have imagined that this thing was so deceptive! It looked extremely expensive, but in reality, it wasn't worth a penny!?

In that case... wasn't Fang Zheng Yi making money out of nothing?

Looking at the dense diamond rings on the table, as well as the twenty thousand taels of silver notes, Emperor Jing's mood was a little complicated for a while, and he opened his mouth after a long time: "Fang Qing, isn't this deceiving people..."

Fang Zheng Yi waved his hand: "Your Majesty, what are you saying? How can this be called deceiving people?"

"The initial investment in research and development of glass was not small, and now is the time to realize its value. This technology can be said to be found only in Taoyuan County, it's the only one, there is no other branch!"

Emperor Jing gave in: "What you said makes sense!"

"But... you're making money, why did you take the initiative to come to me?"

Fang Zheng Yi complimented: "My Emperor is wise and discerning, how can such a small trick be hidden from Your Majesty?"

"This subject, I have an unrequested request this time!"

"Speak freely!" Emperor Jing was in a good mood after receiving twenty thousand taels of silver.

"Your Majesty has also seen that in just one night, this subject relied on glass rings to earn tens of thousands of taels of silver from the wealthy households in the capital. It can be seen... that there is no shortage of silver in the capital."

"But why are the people's lives so difficult? This subject thinks that it is probably because the wealthy families hoard the silver in their homes, and coupled with the fact that noble families have many industries and advocate thrift, the more money accumulates, the less it circulates to the people, which leads to the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer."

"Through the previous tea and last night's diamond rings, Your Majesty should also know that the goods from Taoyuan County are very popular in the capital."

"This subject has ordered Taoyuan County to start large-scale construction, connecting the roads to the capital. At that time, various goods from Taoyuan County will be popular in the capital."

"Therefore, this subject would like to ask Your Majesty to allow the Crown Prince to govern an area as a pilot project to help the goods from Taoyuan County circulate better among the people. Firstly, it can allow the silver to flow, and the people will benefit from it."

"Secondly, if the pilot project is successful, and the silver flows, the court can also easily collect taxes, alleviating the urgent needs of the national treasury."

"Thirdly, the Crown Prince can also learn and exercise in this process. This is a win-win-win situation."

"In addition, this subject is willing to offer 20% of the dry shares of all industries in Taoyuan County to thank Your Majesty for your kindness. Please fulfill my request!"

After speaking, Fang Zheng Yi felt relieved. This plan had been brewing in his heart for a long time.

The relationships in the capital are intricate and complicated. Although the things from Taoyuan County are good, it is likely to encounter a lot of trouble in the initial market development in the capital.

If there is a territory that he can completely control, then everything will be easy to say. He even has the confidence to build this place into an important center in the capital, and then radiate to the whole city.

As for the 20% dry shares, it is considered his surrender. This is an imperial society. His so much money may be targeted by someone with ulterior motives one day. It is better to hand it over early to have a backer to be more secure. What's more, can 20% dry shares be exchanged for the biggest backer in the world? Is there a more cost-effective deal?

Fang Zheng Yi's words were sincere, and Emperor Jing's eyes were straightened.

20% of the dry shares of Taoyuan County... How much money would that be? Wouldn't the inner treasury no longer have to worry about money?

Also.........

Emperor Jing carefully weighed the matter. The Crown Prince had done too many extraordinary things, so it wouldn't hurt to do business with Fang Zheng Yi.

Then he hesitated: "It's okay to promise you, but I'm worried that you won't be able to handle it!"

"Leaving aside other things, just this diamond ring alone, have you ever thought about what the consequences would be if people knew the truth?"

"Also, the things in Taoyuan County are certainly good, but it's impossible to maintain such high prices all the time, right!"

Fang Zheng Yi smiled slightly: "Does Your Majesty know that there are two hands in this world, one that can be seen and one that cannot be seen..."

Emperor Jing frowned: "Explain in detail, what are these two hands?"

"The hand that can be seen is Your Majesty, which represents the power in the world."

"But the hand that cannot be seen... is the way of economics, the way of the market, which represents the hearts of the people."

"This subject is far inferior to Your Majesty in matters of the court, but this subject is good at using the invisible hand to help this subject do things."

"Take the diamond ring as an example. Although this thing is cheap to manufacture, the problem can be solved by setting different positions."

"The same ordinary diamond ring, if you spend more effort on the packaging, engrave exquisite carvings, and add overwhelming publicity to give it a special meaning, you can still sell it to the richest people at a high price."

"The next level can be made with simple carvings, plus the next level of packaging and price, and can be sold to middle-class families."

"And the lowest quality, as long as it's factory-made, we can sell it to the common people at a price slightly above cost."

"In this way, the same item can be sold to everyone, and no one will complain. This is called price discrimination."

"Although the diamond rings sold earliest are unremarkable, I have already had people make special appraisal certificates to increase their collectibility, so there are not too many worries."

Luxury goods can sell snake-skin bags for thousands, I, Fang Zheng, am selling glass rings and giving away certificates, which can be regarded as a conscience of the industry!

Emperor Jing blinked, seemingly not quite understanding.

Fang Zheng's words come in sets, how come they all sound like he's trying to fool people....

After a long while, Emperor Jing squeezed out a few words: "Fang Qing is truly talented."

Fang Zheng sighed upon hearing this: "Your Majesty must think that I am all about money, and everything I do is just to make money, but as a scholar, how much can I really like money?"

"I am not good at matters of the court, but I am always thinking about sharing Your Majesty's worries. Fortunately, I still have some skills in doing business."

"Whenever I hear Your Majesty talk about the empty treasury, my heart aches. After much deliberation, I came up with this idea. Although success or failure is still unknown, I am willing to give it a try!"

Hearing this, Emperor Jing was both moved and somewhat emotional, and said: "Fang Qing has this heart, and I am deeply gratified."

"However, be sure to keep an eye on the Crown Prince. If there is an accident, I will call a stop at any time."

"I! Thank you, Your Majesty!"

A faint smile appeared on the corner of Fang Zheng's mouth.

Now that I've come out of Taoyuan County, how can I, young master Fang, be idle... I'm going to transform the capital into Taoyuan County!

........