Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

"Isn't this absurd, Lord Li? People don't want to do it, you can't force them like this." Fang Zheng Yi cried out in his heart, feeling a headache, "As a veteran of two dynasties, is there any law in how you do things? Is there any justice!"

He was fine when he arrived, but now he's being given such a great gift.

Li Yansong's face showed displeasure.

So many talented heroes in the world strive for a lifetime for such an opportunity, yet he avoids it like a venomous snake.

It really turned out as His Majesty said, he truly understands Fang Zheng Yi.

The only regret was that after he pressed for details, His Majesty didn't explain why, only giving him two words.

A feeling.

Now it seems, it really has become a troublesome matter.

"Is it so difficult to let you enter the cabinet? This is an opportunity so many people dream of, you must seize it!" Li Yansong advised.

"What am I seizing?" Fang Zheng Yi said helplessly, "Have you forgotten that I am a驸马 (imperial son-in-law), already appointed in an exceptional manner? If I enter the cabinet now, what will the world think, what will the court officials say?"

"Now, as Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, my power is already great enough. It's not an exaggeration to say that I've reached the pinnacle of a subject's honor."

"If I rise any further, I fear that some people will see my power and become suspicious, doubting that I have ulterior motives. If they say that I, Fang Zheng Yi, am an imperial relative interfering in politics, what should I do then?"

Li Yansong flatly denied: "That will never happen! His Majesty treats you as his own. Over the years, you have held the power of supervision, without forming cliques or seeking personal revenge. All officials know this."

"The power in your hands is only His Majesty's power. I know you have money, but what's to fear from having money? Who would be suspicious just because you're rich?"

"As for what the people discuss, isn't it just what the newspapers say they believe?"

Fang Zheng Yi sighed and touched his forehead with his hand.

He was determined to push him up!

But once he went up, it was inevitable that he would be suspected and doubted by others, and it might even damage the relationship between Emperor Jing, the Crown Prince, and him.

Even without a promotion, he was already sitting on a powder keg. Li Yansong simply didn't understand how deep his foundation was.

As the head of the Great Jing's premier military intelligence agency, the second largest shareholder of Jingxing Bank, the mastermind behind the Jingcheng Exchange, a major shareholder in the Great Jing's largest shipbuilding family, the founder of the Great Jing's most influential newspaper, the leader of the Great Jing's most advanced research institution, the national monopoly diamond producer, the dominant player in the strong liquor market, the Great Jing's number one arms dealer, the Great Jing's modern medicine...

So many titles were concentrated on one person, and none of them were honorary!

These industries, combined, were already radiating from the capital to the entire country, affecting the lives of all the people of Great Jing.

Most importantly, these industries under his control were expanding wildly with the pace of the industrial revolution.

Fortunately, no one had yet dug deep enough to connect all these disparate things, but these gold mines were already beginning to turn into hot potatoes.

Fang always felt pain in his heart, but this kind of pain was different from the pain of the lower-level people who were trapped in the mud and unable to escape... He could cut them off at any time.

However, he hadn't figured out how to dispose of these industries yet. It was a complex project.

"Lord Li, I think you don't understand me at all. You say His Majesty treats me as his own, and that's precisely why I can't take another half step forward." Fang Zheng Yi pleaded earnestly, "This precious affection needs to be maintained at all times. To that end, even if I were stripped of my power and exhausted my family fortune, I would never allow it to be affected in the slightest. I want to..."

"Lord Marquis, that's enough, His Majesty isn't here." Li Yansong covered his eyes, unable to bear to look, "Even if you were His Majesty's own son, you wouldn't need to go this far, would you?"

This was truly a god-level flatterer... He had never seen anything like it.

Fang Zheng Yi was silent, not knowing how to respond.

He was telling the truth, but what could he say if others didn't believe him? It wasn't easy to explain.

This unconditional trust concerned the future and could not be allowed to suffer any mishap.

"In short, I can't do this job, and you don't need to persuade me anymore," Fang Zheng Yi said decisively.

Li Yansong frowned: "What if His Majesty wants you to do it?"

"Then I will resign from my official position, and I won't do this job either."

"You... what are you after! I really can't figure it out," Li Yansong said in astonishment.

When he came today, he thought this would be an extremely normal and friendly conversation.

But now he seemed unable to keep up with Fang Zheng Yi's thinking.

"I'm after my own peace of mind. I'm already so rich, now I just want to live happily."

He was impervious to reason!

Li Yansong slammed the stone table: "Let me tell you the truth, His Majesty has decided to personally lead the expedition, to pacify the church and subdue the rebels. Once his injuries have healed, he will prepare to mobilize his army and set off. Before he leaves, he will abdicate to the Crown Prince, and I have already drafted the edict of abdication."

"I asked His Majesty to resign, but His Majesty retained me, and I couldn't refuse, so I will wait until the Crown Prince ascends the throne before begging for retirement. This is not because I am virtuous and noble, but because I am old and cannot bear the heavy responsibility. You see, the world changes every year, and everything was started by you, so it should be you who supports it."

"What, His Majesty has decided to abdicate?" Fang Zheng Yi suddenly widened his eyes, "And he has decided to go on a western expedition?"

This was too sudden and too shocking.

Li Yansong said bitterly: "Yes, it happened suddenly, and I didn't expect it either. I guess he knew that Prince Wu had too much power overseas, so he made up his mind. No one else knows about this yet. It is estimated that when His Majesty's injuries have healed, he will formally announce it."

"No! He must not go on a western expedition. Lord Li, why didn't you stop him?" Fang Zheng Yi questioned, his expression serious.

"Could I stop him? His Majesty is determined... No one can persuade him."

"No, no, no, we should go together and stop him." Fang Zheng Yi said, "Although Great Jing is currently strong, I think the gap in weapons and equipment is far from being insurmountable. We can completely wait until we are absolutely sure before taking action."

"Furthermore, only one ironclad ship has been built, which is not enough at all. We need at least three or five before we can send troops too hastily."

Li Yansong said: "Is it hasty? Now that Prince Wu's spies have been captured by our Great Jing, I'm afraid he will strike first when he reacts."

Fang Zheng Yi shook his head: "I don't think so. He is too cautious... The fact that his spies have been captured by us will make him even more afraid to act rashly."

"Lord Li, let's not mention the matter of me entering the cabinet for now. The most important thing is to find a way to persuade His Majesty not to act rashly. Moreover, even if we fight, it should definitely not be him who fights."

"His Majesty's personal expedition is uncertain, and no one is at ease. I also don't want His Majesty to go in person." Li Yansong paused for a moment, "But you said it shouldn't be His Majesty who fights, then who should fight?"

"Of course, it's the Crown Prince."

.......

(Sorry, only one chapter today. The update time has always been inaccurate these two days. The layout is adjusting the subsequent plot, and repeated revisions are causing a headache. The day and night have been completely reversed, and I can't bear it. I will restore the normal update for everyone tomorrow. I hope to update it from six to seven in the evening. There will definitely be no knives. This kind of sunny and positive energy article has no knives.)