Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

On the way back, Zhang Biao carried several hundred taels of silver.

A group of minor officials followed behind him with long faces, originally fantasizing about getting a share of the silver, but they didn't expect to get nothing.

Fang Zheng was all smiles; things were progressing smoothly, and everything was within expectations.

However, Li Yuanzhao was unhappy, his face sullen and gloomy.

He was clearly dissatisfied with Fang Zheng's actions.

He originally thought it would be about helping the weak and fighting the strong, clashing with a group of hooligans, but he didn't expect to collude with them.

Back at the Si Yamen, Li Yuanzhao finally couldn't help but ask.

"Lao Fang! Why did you do that? What those people are doing is clearly not a good thing."

Fang Zheng smiled and pushed a package of silver on the table to Li Yuanzhao.

He explained, "Your Highness, don't be anxious... things have to be done step by step."

"Those people can't be eliminated completely for the time being. If we eliminate one group, another group will appear soon, endlessly, generation after generation."

"Your Highness can't waste all your time playing guerrilla warfare with this group of people, right?"

"There is a reason for me to do this. Look, we gather them together, and after they have incorporated all the other small fry, we can wipe them out in one fell swoop."

Li Yuanzhao's brow relaxed, but he was still a little unwilling.

"Then how can you let them give our people silver? Wouldn't that be turning officials into bandits? I don't agree!"

Fang Zheng earnestly said, "Your Highness, that's the current situation."

"Long-standing problems are difficult to change, and everything must be done step by step. After all, I don't have a system!"

"What is a system?"

"Uh... never mind that. We're just saying that if the water is too clear, there will be no fish. If we really want to investigate strictly, who above and below, besides me, is clean?"

"If the situation really becomes serious, I'm afraid no one will be able to work with peace of mind."

"Look, your sanitation team is the same. It's unrealistic to strictly require every member to work seriously. You always have to give people room to slack off. Even if you don't let them slack off, those people will find opportunities to rest. If you push too hard, people will rebel!"

Li Yuanzhao stroked his chin, lost in thought.

"Not bad, what you said makes some sense..."

"Also, this is a problem with the entire system. We don't have the time or ability to rectify it for the time being. Right now, Yan Guoan's side is doing very well. We have to hurry up and make money!"

After speaking, he handed a piece of paper to Li Yuanzhao.

"Your Highness, please take a look. This is the news I sent people to inquire about from Yan Guoan's side. I heard that the people there are praising Yan Guoan's governance."

Li Yuanzhao snatched the paper.

He stared wide-eyed and looked carefully: "Wow! There's actually something to it! I thought he only knew how to talk big! His reputation is actually better than ours?"

Fang Zheng was also puzzled.

Could this dog thing be trying to fight a war of public opinion with me? The investigation report that was sent back was full of praise from the people for Yan Guoan's governance.

There were also many scholars rushing to offer rainbow farts.

The people on Banshan Fang also heard about it, and many people envied the people of Dengjin Fang, saying that it was an honor to have such a Zhuangyuan personally governing the Fang City.

Moreover, life has improved a lot, and they have become more resentful of Banshan Fang.

Why is it that no scholars are praising us? The street sanitation is so good, can't this group of dog things see it!?

No! If this continues, I'm afraid I will lose in terms of public opinion!

"Your Highness! Look at how well this dog thing is doing in publicity, we can't lose either! We have to think of a way!"

Li Yuanzhao looked a little depressed after reading the report: "What else is there to think about? Aren't you having the Banshan stage perform those plays praising the Emperor every day? What's the use of that, the Emperor won't come to our place."

"If you ask me, it's better to change the main character to me!"

"And those plays that are both rustic and vulgar! They should have been changed a long time ago!"

Fang Zheng smiled awkwardly. That was from the bottom of my heart, how did it become praising the Emperor?

Besides, the plays that are both rustic and vulgar are just right for the people to watch. Who would watch something so complicated?

After a day of farm work, shouldn't we have some racy jokes to relax everyone?

Didn't you also enjoy watching Fahai beat Bai Suzhen? Shallow!

"This... I have some ideas! A new play will be on tomorrow! Fan Jin's Success! Let the opera troupe perform it vigorously, and watch me tear apart the hypocritical masks of those scholars!"

"What is Fan Jin's Success?"

"Oh, this is a play I've seen. I've already arranged for it, and it will be performed tomorrow! It will be performed for a few days!"

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

There is no doubt that turning Fan Jin's Success into a play has tremendous social value, with its spicy satirical meaning.

The most important thing is that Fang Zheng remembers the text fairly clearly, and after some magical changes, it can be staged quickly.

But compared to the usual racy jokes... the appeal is too different...

So Fang Zheng personally took action again and displayed his design skills nurtured by modern education.

A brand-new poster was born just like that.

The main body of the poster depicts a young and handsome Fan Jin, surrounded by a group of beautiful women holding various gifts.

Next to it is written... Useless Son-in-Law... Sudden Wealth... Mother-in-Law and Daughter-in-Law... Chicken, so enjoyable that you faint, and other exciting words to attract onlookers.

Anyway, there are no messy regulations, so just stick it on the street!

If Wu Jingzi knew about it, he would probably crawl out of the coffin and be taken away by Fang Zheng on the spot.

Of course, the vast majority of the people are illiterate, but the problem should not be too big after word of mouth.

After all, such an explosive promotional painting is the first time it has appeared in Jing Country!

Fang Zheng thought that he could attract those shameless scholars to come and take a look, and after seeing it, would they dare to praise Yan Guoan's stinky feet endlessly?

If the play is a hit, you still dare to shoot rainbow farts randomly, just watch everyone spray you!

The most important thing is to demystify the people. The average people respect scholars, especially those above Juren, as if they were gods.

If you kick him, he will still shout that the kick is good, and he would never dare to have any other thoughts in his heart.

If they are bullied for no reason, they are unwilling to rise up and resist unless it is a matter of life and death.

Now, listening to those Xiucai and Juren talking nonsense about how good Dengjin Fang is, naturally the people believe whatever they say!

Fang Zheng doesn't believe it. No matter how powerful Yan Guoan is, can he make earth-shattering changes in just a few days?

Then wouldn't my knowledge in my previous life and the suffering I have suffered in this life have been fed to the dogs?

.......

Sure enough, the poster caused an uproar within a day of being posted on the street.

Countless people spread the word and pointed at the poster, forming their own plots in their minds based on the words they were interested in.

"Oh my, an ethical drama! It must be an ethical drama! Can this be performed publicly?"

"You're thinking crookedly! It's about a son-in-law getting rich suddenly. I love to watch it!"

"What you said is wrong. This is called family affection going bad!"

"......Alas! Fellow villager, what is written on this?"

The scholars were also red-faced and scolded it as indecent on the spot! However, some were interested.

The one who scolded the most fiercely in the crowd was a scholar surnamed Wu, but his friend had a different opinion.

"Brother Wu, I am a little interested in this play. Anyway, it doesn't cost money, why don't we go and take a look?"

"Go! We must go! I want to criticize it severely! This Banshan Fang is really a place of demons dancing wildly. There is everything messy. A few days ago, I also saw paintings similar to this on the backs of those people in the sanitation team."

"The atmosphere is so indecent that we scholars must criticize it on the spot!"

The surrounding people couldn't help but look at the two scholars with disdain.

Brother Wu and his friend blushed and couldn't help but run away in a hurry.

.......

Later in the evening, the bonfire in Banshan Square had already been lit.

The square was crowded with people, and many small vendors were yelling vigorously, trying to attract the attention of tourists.

At this time, the daily bonfire party in Banshan Square has become a great place for the whole Fang, and even the surrounding Fang Cities, to relax and entertain themselves.

On weekdays, the nightlife of the people is basically zero when the sun goes down.

Besides sleeping, it is planting trees and making forests.

It's unbearable to catch one person every day, after all, everyone has no money to play with...

So Banshan Square has naturally become the best choice for people's nightlife.

There are cheap snacks, it is crowded and lively, and there are free plays to watch, who doesn't love it?

However, Banshan Square is even more lively tonight. After a day of warming up, Fan Jin's Success is about to begin!

As the host took the stage, the audience had habitually learned to hold their breath.

If there are many people and it is noisy, the people behind can't hear what is being said on the stage, so they have to scold.

With this scolding, the people in front also have to scold, and finally, when it turns into a scolding match, no one can hear anything.

The host had a habitual false smile on his face and said straight to the point: "Okay! Everyone has been looking forward to the new play Fan Jin's Success for a long time, now it begins!"

After speaking, he immediately jumped off the stage.

After this period of hosting work and generous medical subsidies, the host has successfully developed the skills of Iron Shirt and not talking nonsense.

Go straight to the point!

The perspective starts from Butcher Hu carrying a large intestine and a bottle of wine, and walks into Fan Jin's house.

As soon as he sees Fan Jin, he says: "I am unlucky, marrying my daughter to you, this present world treasure...."

As the actors took the stage to perform one by one, the expectant expressions of the audience gradually changed.

This... this is not what we wanted? Where is the exciting plot we wanted?

And also, why is this Fan Jin so ugly and old! How could someone like that become a Master Scholar?

Although it wasn't quite what they expected, no one was willing to move their feet.

Not to mention this was a rare new play, but also based on the principle of 'since we're already here,' no one wanted to leave.

As they watched, many of the common people began to show expressions of realization.

So, it was a domestic drama, and the play was called 'Fan Jin Achieves the Rank of Scholar,' which meant Fan Jin was a Master Scholar.

They never imagined that the esteemed Master Scholar, before passing the exam, was also like this, looking no different from ordinary folks, with his life in a complete mess!

Even if he passed the exam at this age, how many years would he have to enjoy it?

The scholars below the stage looked somewhat uncomfortable, but they didn't want to leave either, clearly waiting for the moment when the plot reached the part where he passes the exam.

Soon, as the plot on the stage gradually progressed, the climax finally arrived after Fan Jin passed the exam.

The 'Fan Jin' on the stage shouted: "Aha! I've passed!" Then, he slipped and fell straight onto the stage.

The faces of the scholars below the stage suddenly changed...

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Ps: Today is three chapters combined into two, the word count remains the same. Sorry everyone, the updates have been very late every day. My glasses were crushed on one side last night, making it a little difficult to see things.

I feel like my condition hasn't been great lately, but seeing some familiar faces in the comments section makes me feel a lot better. Once I've adjusted, I'll try to update more and earlier every day so everyone can enjoy it... Please give me more paragraph comments and click the 'Update' button, thank you!