Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

Li Yuanzhao, mimicking the gesture, picked up a silver ingot and tossed it twice in his hand.

He scoffed, "Only fifty taels! Are you looking down on us?"

"This little bit of silver isn't enough for anyone! Bring another packet, one packet for each person!"

"Brothers, come on in!"

At Li Yuanzhao's command, the clerks waiting outside swarmed in before long.

The corners of Fang Zheng's mouth twitched violently.

The Crown Prince's transformation into a bandit leader was becoming increasingly obvious...

He had to find a way to arrange some other work for him to do. If this continued, he might turn to the dark side and take him out one day.

Master Ji was dumbfounded as he watched the crowd surge in.

These two gentlemen were very famous in the neighborhood, but everyone minded their own business.

Now they were barging in, yelling and threatening to kill... it was clear they wanted to wipe him out completely!

But he wasn't a pushover. He was a gangster, living a life of licking blood from the knife's edge.

Even if he didn't know the exact official background of these two, he'd fight them first. If he couldn't win, they'd scatter and come back after a while.

Otherwise, how could he face his brothers after this? They were all watching!

Master Ji immediately roared, "Men!"

A bunch of small-time thugs poured out from the second floor.

Fang Zheng looked up and counted about twenty people. There was even a little kid in there... a slight fire ignited in his heart.

Li Yuanzhao looked at Master Ji and couldn't help but feel a little sad.

You're standing in front of Brother Biao, what's the use of calling so many people?

Master Ji composed himself, putting on an imposing air, and slowly said, "What brings you two here? My Fiery Beacon Gang..."

"Thump!"

Master Ji didn't finish his sentence before Zhang Biao slammed his head onto the table.

He felt a splitting headache, as if his head was about to explode.

He completely lost his composure, and said in a panic, "Are you two really going to make an enemy of me? I have dozens of brothers here! You'd better consider the consequences!"

Fang Zheng crossed his arms and looked at Li Yuanzhao.

Li Yuanzhao understood and stepped forward, patting Master Ji's face and smiling, "So... you're very brave?"

Master Ji gritted his teeth, "I, Ji, am not afraid to fight you to the death! What do you want?!"

"This lord wants to throw some dirt in your eyes!"

With that, Li Yuanzhao scooped up a handful of dust from under the table and threw it into Master Ji's eyes.

Master Ji clutched his eyes and wailed on the spot.

The thugs on the second floor were restless, but they didn't dare to act rashly with their boss held hostage.

Master Ji felt a burning sensation in his eyes, and his vision was blurred. He felt wronged.

When he went out to collect protection money, he at least had to come up with a plausible excuse.

Were the officials so unruly? They just barged in and started hitting!

"What do you want! What do you want?!" Master Ji cried out helplessly, completely confused.

"I see you don't understand at all!" Li Yuanzhao said with a smile.

"Whose territory is Banshan Ward? Who allowed you to collect money from the people?!"

Master Ji suddenly understood. The officials were here to collect money again! But why wasn't he notified? He had already given the silver for this month!!

But in this emergency, he could only beg for mercy, "Yes! It's Young Master Li's territory. I was blind, I won't dare to do it again... I won't dare to do it..."

"Then how do we settle the previous accounts?"

"The previous... the previous, I've already given silver to the yamen!!"

Zhang Biao's strength was too great. At this moment, Master Ji felt the pain in his temples becoming more and more unbearable, and he began to blurt out whatever came to mind.

Li Yuanzhao looked at Fang Zheng in surprise upon hearing this.

Fang Zheng shrugged. He didn't expect an unexpected gain.

"Tell me, how is the money divided?"

"Two gentlemen, can you let me go first?"

"No!"

Li Yuanzhao scooped up another handful of dust and threw it into Master Ji's eyes.

Fang Zheng's eyes were stinging just watching. The Crown Prince had really learned from him!

Tears streamed down Master Ji's face as he said, "Every month, I give three-tenths of the money I collect to the yamen... and two-tenths to the people below."

"Who exactly gets that three-tenths?"

"Ding Quan... Lord Ding..."

Li Yuanzhao looked at Fang Zheng again, and said angrily, "This ingrate actually colludes with these hooligans to exploit the people!"

Fang Zheng leaned in close to him and whispered, "Don't worry, Your Highness, I'll talk to him later."

After speaking, he said to Master Ji, "Besides this, do you have any other interactions with Ding Quan?"

"We... we've had a few meals together... that's all..."

"Do you want to get rich?"

"Huh?"

The change in style was too sudden, and the severe pain in his head caused Master Ji's brain to crash temporarily.

They were shouting and threatening to kill him just now, what did they mean by mentioning getting rich now?

"This official has a chance to get rich to give you. Whether you can seize it or not depends on whether you know how to appreciate it."

"Yes! I'm willing... I'm willing. Can you let me go first..."

"Zhang Biao, let him go."

After being released, Master Ji quickly jumped back a step, staring at Zhang Biao with bloodshot eyes, panting incessantly.

When he caught his breath, he tried his best to calm down and squeezed out a smile at Fang Zheng, "Please speak, sir."

He really couldn't afford to offend these two people. Most importantly, the seemingly dull-witted guy in front of him was too ruthless.

He had been thinking for a long time just now, but he couldn't figure out how this guy had managed to press him onto the table in one fell swoop.

"It's very simple. From today onwards, you will follow Young Master Li."

"The people collecting protection money will collect it according to the area divided by this official."

"I hope that in the future, apart from the people collecting protection money and the officials collecting taxes, no one else can collect protection money."

"At the same time, similar types of establishments will have a uniform fee. This official will tell you the specific fee rules later."

"Also, no fees are allowed for all the people's scattered stalls, mobile stalls, and husband-and-wife shops!"

"As for the distribution ratio of those protection fees, three-tenths will be given to Young Master Li, two-tenths to all the clerks below, one-tenth to Ding Quan, and one-tenth to the clerks who help collect the money."

"As for the remaining three-tenths, you can keep it for yourself."

After Fang Zheng finished speaking, many of the clerks behind him breathed a sigh of relief.

They inevitably had to deal with these people in their daily patrols, and it was impossible not to get some kickbacks.

Originally, they were very uneasy after hearing Master Ji let the cat out of the bag. They didn't expect this Master Sai to also be here to get a share of the pie, and they even had a share themselves, so there was no problem!

But Li Yuanzhao was anxious.

If you do this, wouldn't I be conspiring with a tiger! What's the difference between this and those hooligans?

Weren't we supposed to be speaking up for the people!

He was about to speak when Fang Zheng stopped him.

As for Master Ji, his mind was even more confused now, and he looked at Fang Zheng with suspicion.

This gentleman... seems to be much more professional than me... What's going on?

Fang Zheng continued to talk eloquently:

"According to my method, the interests of all people can be guaranteed. The most important thing for you to do is to lead people to occupy as much territory as possible in the northern city area."

"If you don't have enough manpower, this official can send people to help you. As for those with backgrounds, you don't need to pay attention to them. At least you didn't have the ability to collect from them before."

"This official will give you three months. After three months, I don't want to see those big and small fry in the northern district except for you, Master Ji. Do you understand?"

Master Ji swallowed his saliva.

Sure enough, he had met a real hooligan today... one with an official background.

"I understand! It's just that Lord Ding's side..."

"You don't have to worry about Ding Quan. He doesn't have the ability to tell this official what to do! From today onwards, you can do it boldly! This official will send people to help you manage it. Everyone under your command must have strict records that can be checked, and every silver tael collected must be clearly recorded in the register!"

"If this official finds out that there is a situation of disturbing the people, or that you have embezzled the silver... you know the consequences."

Master Ji wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and nodded repeatedly.

The way he looked at Fang Zheng was already as if he were a black market tycoon... Professional! This was the realm he had dreamed of!

"I understand! I am willing to serve you, sir!"

Fang Zheng nodded in satisfaction, then casually pointed to the child upstairs: "That child, come down!"

The child seemed pleasantly surprised when he heard this. His boss was being scolded like a grandson, and he was a little disdainful in his heart.

He didn't expect the new boss to take a fancy to him so quickly?

He trotted downstairs happily, looked up at Fang Zheng and said seriously, "Hello, big brother!"

Fang Zheng kindly touched his head: "What's your name? How old are you this year?"

"Lu Batian! Twelve years old!"

"Good name! Did your parents give it to you?"

Lu Batian said proudly: "I gave it to myself."

"Then what was your name before?"

"Lu... Lu Ergou."

Fang Zheng smiled and touched his head again: "Ergou, uncle, I hate gangsters the most!"

After speaking, he slapped Lu Ergou in the face, and his little face immediately became red and swollen.

"Go home and farm! If I see you again, I'll skin you alive!"

Lu Ergou covered his face and looked at Fang Zheng in shock, then wiped his tears and ran away crying, and a group of clerks suppressed their laughter and made way for him.

Fang Zheng said loudly: "From today onwards! If there are any more children in your ranks, don't blame this official for being rude! Disperse!"

Master Ji breathed a sigh of relief, bowed, and turned to leave.

Fang Zheng's voice sounded from behind.

"Wait a moment!"

Master Ji turned around and looked at Fang Zheng in confusion. He was in a hurry to wash his eyes. His eyes had been sprinkled with two handfuls of dust, and his vision was very blurred now.

Faintly, he saw Fang Zheng hefting a bag of silver.

"Our Young Master Li said, who could possibly spend this little bit of silver? If outsiders see it, they'll think our烽火帮 (Fenghuo Gang) has no money!"

"Bring a few more bags, one for each person!"

"......."