Royal Gold Magistrate

Fang Zheng lifted his head and immediately noticed the three men staring at him intently. He quickly let out a chuckle.

“Eat up! Why are you all looking at me?”

“Heavenly thunder! Heavenly thunder!” Li Yuanzhao excitedly exclaimed.

“There’s no such thing as heavenly thunder! How can you believe in gods, ghosts, and monsters? Let’s all enjoy our meal! After we finish eating, this official will personally take Young Master Li to tour the Taoyuan scenery!”

Although Fang Zheng’s expression was relaxed, his mood was somewhat heavy.

That damn Old Li! If he hadn’t brought this up, Young Master Fang wouldn’t have so many troubles on his mind!

Ever since he transmigrated, he had been constantly dealing with disaster relief! Just when he finally had two peaceful years, could it be that he still had to engage in disaster relief?!

Emperor Jing’s gaze carried a hint of scrutiny as he looked intently at Fang Zheng, then continued eating with his head lowered.

For a moment, the dining table fell into silence, with no one speaking.

After the meal, the four men walked out of Qingchang Tower, tacitly avoiding mentioning the Jianjiang flood disaster.

Seeing the awkward atmosphere, Fang Zheng laughed, “Your visit last time was just a brief tour.”

“Today, this official happens to be free and, coincidentally, the esteemed young master is also here. This official will personally take you three to thoroughly explore Taoyuan County.”

“If there’s anything you’d like to purchase, feel free to do so. Who knows, you might discover some new business opportunities!”

Emperor Jing also put aside his worries and curiously asked, “Magistrate Fang, there are two matters that Li has always been puzzled about. May Magistrate Fang enlighten me?”

“Please go ahead.”

“Firstly, why does Taoyuan County, with such a profitable opportunity, not keep it for themselves but instead hand it over to Li?”

“Secondly, Li has traveled throughout the country and has never encountered an official who treats merchants as courteously as Magistrate Fang. Why is that?”

In fact, Emperor Jing had wanted to ask these two questions during his previous visit, but due to the rushed nature of the trip, he didn’t have the chance.

In this day and age, merchants were considered a lowly profession, and no one looked up to them. Fang Zheng’s attitude was truly rare, and he didn’t put on airs.

“Haha! Old Li has keen insight! It’s simply because this official is such a warmhearted person!”

Emperor Jing: “…………….”

Self-praise is no recommendation! Guo Tianyang snorted disdainfully.

Fang Zheng continued, “The reason for handing it over to you is simply that Taoyuan County has too few educated and sensible people. Within Taoyuan County, this official can still take care of them to some extent, but if they venture outside, I’m afraid they’ll be eaten alive, leaving not even bones behind!”

“As for the second point, the importance of merchants is not inferior to that of scholars, farmers, and artisans. Old Li, you should also understand this principle!”

“It’s just like how rice in the hands of farmers is only worth a few copper coins, but if it’s brought to our county and brewed into Peach Blossom Fan wine, its value increases a hundredfold!”

“It’s also like how the value of your porcelain multiplies when southern porcelain is transported to the north!”

“This all relies on the circulation driven by merchants. It’s called resource allocation! Only when resources are properly allocated can everything reach its maximum value. So, do you think merchants are important or not?”

“Of course, this is just a small part of the reason. Although the outside world looks down on merchants, my Taoyuan County absolutely does not have this attitude!”

“On the southern side of Taoyuan County, new buildings are being constructed. Are you interested in getting one? If you’re short on silver, the county can even provide loans!”

“I can’t guarantee anything else, but Taoyuan County is definitely the best choice for living and retiring!”

Young Master Fang’s mind was spinning, trying to get Old Li to buy a house in Taoyuan County and tie him down there.

Talking about selling things at every turn, what kind of official are you? Guo Tianyang couldn’t help but retort, “Merchants don’t engage in production. If merchants are encouraged, won’t it be chaos if everyone in the world goes into business?”

“Huh?” Fang Zheng was stunned.

Damn it, aren’t you a merchant yourself? Whose side are you on?

Seeing Fang Zheng’s expression become a bit awkward, Guo Tianyang realized he had misspoken and quickly tried to remedy the situation, “Since ancient times, this has been the principle!”

Fang Zheng coldly laughed, “Since ancient times, people used silk, cloth, and tortoise shells to write. Why are you using paper then?”

“Since ancient times, people used slash-and-burn cultivation. Why are plows and oxen used now?”

“Is everything from ancient times correct? Is blindly following tradition correct? If everyone in the world becomes a merchant, will it be chaos? Then if everyone in the world is a scholar, will it not be chaotic?”

“Not everyone has the ability to be a scholar, and not everyone has the ability to be a merchant.”

“A person can be a farmer, a merchant, a scholar, and a farmer at the same time. Is there any contradiction in that?”

“Old Guo! You’re a businessman, yet your thinking is too rigid!”

“Why has my Taoyuan County become so prosperous? It’s precisely because while the world looks down on merchants, only our county values them. That’s why Taoyuan County has achieved its present state!”

Guo Tianyang’s face flushed red, “But if there are more merchants, there will be fewer farmers and less time for farming. The world’s food supply is already insufficient. If it’s really as you say, won’t there be corpses everywhere from starvation?”

“Old Li! Your accountant is quite rebellious! He looks down on you!”

Fang Zheng couldn’t be bothered to pay attention to him and directly complained to Emperor Jing.

“Ah! This… I’m not, I didn’t, don’t make things up!” Guo Tianyang’s face was flushed with blood as he quickly waved his hands in denial.

Emperor Jing hurriedly smoothed things over and solemnly said, “My accountant is being disrespectful. I will properly discipline him when we return!”

Guo Tianyang instantly felt as wronged as a little wife.

Damn it! This guy doesn’t play by the rules! He actually managed to shift the blame onto me!

Li Yuanzhao’s heart was bursting with excitement, and he almost couldn’t resist clapping his hands.

Interesting! So interesting! This Fang Zheng is indeed a fascinating person!

Not only does he see eye to eye with me, but he also knows how to retort.

If only there was such an interesting person in the palace!

Those tutors in the palace always lecture me with a straight face!

The group continued strolling along the street. People kept greeting Fang Zheng along the way, while Guo Tianyang walked with a stiff face, not uttering a word. He had already made up his mind not to say another word in Fang Zheng’s presence!

Li Yuanzhao suddenly noticed a book stall while looking around.

Thinking about how his father would burn his books upon their return, he couldn’t help but have an idea.

Why not take this opportunity to buy a couple of books? Those miscellaneous books of his were not easy for Liu Jin to purchase from among the people.

If they were all burned, wouldn’t he have nothing to read?

So, he quickly ran towards the book stall, while Fang Zheng and the others didn’t pay attention to him and continued chatting among themselves.

When Li Yuanzhao reached the book stall, he casually picked up a book and was stunned.

The book title was written: “Magistrate Fang’s Great Battle Against Thanos”

“Boss! What is this book about?”

The stall owner saw him and laughed, “You must be from out of town! You don’t even know about this. It’s perfect, buy a copy and take it back to read!”

“This book tells the story of how the foreign demon Thanos invaded the Jing Dynasty, and Magistrate Fang collected the seven Infinity Stones to present to the Emperor, who then dispatched troops to eliminate the demon.”

“It’s incredibly exciting! Fifty copper coins per copy!”

“Huh? Thanos? What are Infinity Stones?” Li Yuanzhao was dumbfounded. I didn’t know about this!

Father also eliminated a foreign demon?

Just then, the others caught up to him.

Fang Zheng peeked over his shoulder, his old face turning red. He couldn’t help but rub his nose.

He thought to himself, who was the bastard that turned the story he made up for children into a book?

It seems that he needed to manage the cultural industry in Taoyuan County.

Emperor Jing also couldn’t help but chuckle when he saw the book title.

Li Yuanzhao flipped through the book and snorted disdainfully, “There are actually books like this! They’re all written in plain language, wasting so much paper!”

He then randomly pulled out a few more books from the stall, such as “The Young Ah Qiu,” “The Chronicles of the Martial Arts Knight,” “The Gold Medal Magistrate,” and so on.

After looking through several books, Li Yuanzhao was puzzled, “Why are they all in plain language? How strange!”

Emperor Jing couldn’t help but take a glance, and indeed, it was as he said, “Magistrate Fang! Can everyone in Taoyuan County write books? Moreover, these books are entirely in plain language.”

In this era, books were basically all written in classical Chinese. Writing in plain language was considered vulgar in the eyes of scholars and was definitely subject to criticism. Therefore, Fang Zheng didn’t find their questions strange.

Fang Zheng explained, “Indeed! As long as one pays, the printing houses in Taoyuan County can publish books for anyone! As for the plain language, there aren’t many scholars in Taoyuan County. It’s already remarkable for people to be able to recognize characters!”

“Having books to read and learning more characters is excellent. Those convoluted and obscure writings have no meaning!”

Li Yuanzhao retorted, “How shallow! It’s simply a waste of paper!”

Fang Zheng smiled without getting angry. This was the limitation of thinking, similar to how old-fashioned people looked down on trendy youngsters.

However, time would provide the answer.

“How is plain language vulgar? What makes a good book? If the common people can understand it and find it useful, then it’s a good book.”

“If this official were to print the Four Books and Five Classics for them, it would only add to their troubles. If someone has the ambition to learn, they will naturally seek out more profound books.”

“A few years ago, the people of Taoyuan were all refugees. In the entire county, those who could read could be counted on one’s fingers. Now, most people are willing to read these leisure books in their spare time. Do you think it’s good or not?”

Li Yuanzhao stubbornly said, “Of course it’s not good! Isn’t such vulgar writing polluting people’s eyes? Moreover, what can be said clearly in a few characters in classical Chinese takes up so much space in plain language!”

Fang Zheng smiled slightly, “In addition to being simple and easy to understand, the length of plain language is also one of its advantages!”

“‘Inclined by nature to fair lines, my soul, whose speech, if not astounding, shan’t find rest till death doth toll.’ If this poem were to be written in plain language, it would become, ‘All my life, I’ve enjoyed carefully refining and tirelessly searching for good poetry. I won’t stop until my verses reach a level of astonishing impact.'”

“You see! The original fourteen characters, when changed to plain language, became thirty-nine characters. That’s an additional twenty-five characters!”

“With one sentence able to accommodate an extra twenty-five characters, if a book written in classical Chinese is converted to plain language, it could likely double in length!”

“In other words, for this official to print a book, twice the amount of ink and paper would be needed, which means the scale of the printing houses would also double!”

“As a result, the number of workers hired would also double! Consequently, the number of craftsmen making ink and paper would also need to double! And the people providing raw materials would also increase accordingly!”

“Ultimately, not only do the common people who buy books obtain easy-to-understand books, but they also gain more employment opportunities to earn money!”

“Do you think it’s good or not?”

Li Yuanzhao was speechless, his mouth agape, but he still felt that something wasn’t right!

Emperor Jing also looked at Fang Zheng with a strange expression. He felt his mind was a bit chaotic now!

The most puzzled one was Guo Tianyang. Damn Fang Zheng! How many twisted ways does he have? The Crown Prince and His Majesty were actually fooled by him! Damn it!