Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

"The situation is as I've described. I've already taken care of all the follow-up matters. There are still some examination candidates unwilling to give up, but the tide has turned. After lingering in the capital for a few days, they dispersed on their own."

Inside the Imperial Garden, Fang Zheng Yi was strolling with Emperor Jing.

The garden was lush with greenery, and the clear sound of birdsong could be heard from time to time.

As in the past, Fang Zheng Yi explained the entire matter in great detail.

After listening, Emperor Jing paused, a smile in his eyes, and said, "You handled this matter beautifully. I didn't expect you to have such a solution."

Fang Zheng Yi said, "This is nothing. Few things start well and continue to the end, and those scholars all had their own agendas. With impure motives, they naturally couldn't persist for long."

Emperor Jing nodded, "Zhou Hong followed me and worked hard his entire life. Since his son is eager to improve and is working under you, remember to treat him well."

Fang Zheng Yi grinned, "Rest assured on that point. To speak of Lord Zhou, he is truly insightful, and his son is also excellent."

"Working under me, I guarantee he will grow quickly and become a cornerstone of the nation."

Emperor Jing raised an eyebrow, noncommittal.

Fang Zheng Yi asked, "I wonder what Your Majesty thinks of the Black Factories' situation?"

Emperor Jing slowed his pace, looked up, and thought for a moment, "I think it's a bit of an overreaction. Scholars don't understand the hardships of the common people. According to what you said, life in the factories seems good. I've seen worse.

If we forcefully improve the people's treatment, and the factories are related to the lifeline of the railways, I'm worried it will delay the progress."

Good heavens, he's even more radical than me!

It seems that even the most benevolent and people-loving emperor can't resist the temptation of building wonders and leaving a name for eternity.

Fang Zheng Yi nodded, "Your Majesty is wise. If we forcefully improve the people's treatment, it will indeed delay the progress of construction, but if we blindly favor the factories, they will eventually become more and more exploitative. The court still needs to find a balance in between."

"There are already signs of this. The people are shortsighted, often only seeking immediate benefits. Some send their children, only a few years old, to work as child laborers in exchange for meager income. For children, factory work is fraught with danger, not only wasting their precious years but possibly leaving them disabled in the future."

"In the future, more factories will be built. If the situation spreads and expands, it will be detrimental to the nation's dignity. I suggest the court consider this early and establish laws to restrict it."

Emperor Jing frowned, "This is indeed a problem. What can children do at such a young age? This is nothing short of sucking the marrow from their bones. Draft a set of regulations and submit them to me. We will discuss this matter as soon as possible."

"I've already written it and brought it with me." Fang Zheng Yi directly took out a memorial from his sleeve.

The issue of child labor was taught extensively in history class. Although it's not a major problem for the country or him, it's best to resolve it as soon as possible.

Capitalists, in order to save a little profit, even exploit children. It's really unnecessary.

The people's lives are indeed hard, and Fang Zheng Yi can understand wanting to earn a little more money.

However, from a global perspective, most people won't get rich with that little extra, and they won't starve to death without it.

Restricting it with laws can filter out a portion of people. As for the remaining extremely poor group, there will always be loopholes for them to exploit.

"You came prepared today." Emperor Jing smiled, signaling Guo Tianyang to collect the memorial, "What about the Crown Prince? You told me he has a deep understanding of the factory situation. He hasn't been in the palace recently. Where is he?"

Fang Zheng Yi said, "I just said that we need to find a balance between the factory owners and the workers. His Highness already has some ideas. He is exploring the management methods involved."

Emperor Jing was expressionless, as if pondering something.

Fang Zheng Yi looked at him and added,

"It is now urgent for His Highness to learn more about factories and management methods. The current situation has changed, and countless factories will rise from the ground in Da Jing's territory in the future."

"Dongjiao University is still working to improve the steam engine. If the improved steam engine is widely deployed in factories in the future, the entire production process of Da Jing will be vastly different from the traditional methods. The coordination and cooperation of manpower will also take on a completely new look. This is something the court has never experienced before, and there is not even a precedent to learn from history."

"Now is the right time to start, to deeply understand and master the rules from the beginning. Therefore, His Highness asked me to ask Your Majesty for leave on his behalf. He may often be away from the palace, and he will report to Your Majesty when things are clear."

Emperor Jing thought for a long time before saying, "This is like the emergence of firearms, and the strategy of war also needs to be adjusted urgently, right?"

"That's right, exactly this principle."

"Very well, then let him go. When the late emperor was young, I and several other brothers also had experience outside. Going out for activities is nothing, and I can't control him now anyway. But tell him to return to the palace regularly. Many reports in the palace have been copied for him, and political affairs cannot be delayed."

Hearing this, Fang Zheng Yi breathed a sigh of relief.

It went smoothly enough.

The two stopped in front of the pavilion, and Emperor Jing said, "I'm tired. Sit with me."

The two entered the pavilion, and Emperor Jing was about to open his mouth to continue asking some questions.

Fang Zheng Yi reached into his arms twice, took out a small box made of gold silk satin embroidered with cloud patterns, and presented it to Emperor Jing, "Your son has brought a gift for Father Emperor today."

Emperor Jing looked at the small box and couldn't help but laugh, "It's not a festival, what gift are you giving? Open it and let me see."

Fang Zheng Yi opened the box, revealing the golden trinket inside.

Emperor Jing's eyes narrowed, "A pocket watch? Didn't you give me a pocket watch already? No, why does this have a strap?"

Fang Zheng Yi shook his head and smiled, "Not so, this is not a pocket watch, it's a wristwatch, worn on the hand. Let me help you put it on."

Emperor Jing curiously stretched out his hand, and Fang Zheng Yi put the watch on his wrist in a few moments, the buckle snapping shut.

He raised his hand and shook his wrist, looked at the watch twice, and was overjoyed.

A large gold watch, the chain and case are pure gold, covered with a glass cover, inlaid with a circle of broken glass inside, and the crown is also made of glass....

It shone brightly in the sun, extremely exquisite.

"This is really a good thing, it's more convenient to tell the time." Emperor Jing said in surprise, "Is this also a product of Peach Blossom County?"

Fang Zheng Yi took out another watch from his arms and put it on his own hand.

This watch was plain and unadorned, entirely made of pure silver.

A large silver watch, covered with diamonds.

It's not that Director Fang is stingy, it's just that the processing of these diamonds is not easy, and it's not as perfect as the glass processing.

After trying to make two watches, it felt that the glass looked better, so he simply used all the broken diamonds for himself. They were all scraps, and frugality is a virtue.

Besides, his father-in-law is the emperor, there's no need to use good ones, frugality is a virtue.

"Your Majesty, this is indeed a product of Peach Blossom County. Pocket watches have always been popular in the market. There are many more watchmakers these years, and some people in Peach Blossom County specialize in refining wristwatches, which have greatly reduced the size of pocket watches. Now it's just right to wear on the hand, and it's also a good decoration."

Emperor Jing raised his wrist to admire it, his love for it overflowing.

Beautiful, this thing is indeed beautiful. Although the original pocket watch was also extremely beautiful, it was obviously much worse than this wristwatch in terms of convenience.

Emperor Jing put down his hand, looked at Fang Zheng Yi, and smiled, "Not bad, I really like this thing. Do you have something to say to me?"