Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

After finishing his boxed lunch, Emperor Jing picked up the teacup on the table and took a sip, casually saying, "I've already sent people to be stationed at the Banshan Newspaper Office. I didn't expect the Jianjiang disaster victims to eat better than your newspaper's reporters."

"I heard that the newspaper reporters are drinking salt water and eating馒头. No oil in the stir-fries, and they can only get half a portion when serving food. What's going on?"

"Ah, this...? That's not right, Your Majesty! I told them to drink egg drop soup? How did it become salt water again?" Fang Zheng was completely dumbfounded.

Emperor Jing glanced at him: "Even if they're drinking egg drop soup, the rest can't be wrong, right? What exactly is the situation? I see that you're quite generous to the disaster victims, so why are you so stingy with the reporters?"

That's because it's my money! The newspaper office isn't profitable yet, and the reporters don't have Taoyuan residency! What are they dreaming of?

He didn't expect to be discovered by His Majesty. Fang Zheng was on the verge of tears, arguing, "Your Majesty! The reporters bear the great responsibility of promoting social justice!"

"They face constant temptations from the outside world every day! Just imagine, if the reporters' will is not firm and they accept bribes, wouldn't the foundation of the newspaper office be destroyed?"

"As the saying goes, 'Heaven will entrust great responsibilities to those who are about to shoulder great burdens, they must first suffer their minds, strain their bones, starve their bodies, and empty their beings!' I am training their willpower!"

"When they grow up, I will give them a raise! And they can eat good food!"

Guo Tianyang secretly spat. What a scoundrel! The treatment is almost on par with the eunuchs in the Laundry Bureau, and he still has the nerve to argue!

After listening, Emperor Jing nodded: "Not bad, that makes some sense, but doing so is a bit too much. I heard that the reporters are extremely tired every day, so they need to eat better in the future!"

Fang Zheng quickly said: "Yes! The newspaper office still has benefits! Your Majesty may not know."

"I know, you give those worthless stones as rewards!"

"..........."

Fang Zheng was indignant in his heart, how are they worthless! They'll be worth a fortune if sold!

Emperor Jing gave him a contemptuous look: "No need to say more, the reporters' meals must be at least the same as the disaster victims' in the future!"

Reporters = Disaster Victims?

Fang Zheng's eyes darted around, and he grinned: "Okay! I'll rectify it when I get back."

Emperor Jing continued, "Alright, tell me, how do you plan to resettle those disaster victims?"

Fang Zheng sorted out his thoughts and said leisurely: "Your Majesty, regarding the various projects in the city, I estimate that most of them will be completed within a year."

"About a year later, a considerable portion of these people will start returning to their hometowns one after another."

"During the great disaster, many landlords also suffered huge blows and were displaced, so there should be a lot of vacant land."

"In addition, there may be deviations in previous measurements, so I suggest that more manpower be sent to re-measure the fields at this time."

"Then, distribute the ownerless land to the disaster victims and exempt them from rent for three years. However, twenty mu of land can only support a family of four, and the land may not be enough."

"This matter can only be resolved by requesting the Ministry of Revenue to allocate funds to help the disaster victims overcome their difficulties."

"Once sweet potatoes are planted on a large scale, everything will be worry-free."

After listening, a faint smile appeared on Emperor Jing's face: "Good, that coincides with my thoughts."

"You don't have to worry about this matter, I will arrange for someone to do it."

Then he sighed again: "I see that you are impulsive and act recklessly. I'm really afraid that you will corrupt the太子."

"Now that you've gone through this, it has made me recognize you anew. I don't have to worry too much about the太子 being by your side."

Fang Zheng smiled shyly.

The way he said that, didn't everything I do have a reason? What do you mean by acting recklessly!

Emperor Jing continued: "As soon as I stepped into Jianjiang, Nie Zheng reported the太子's news to me."

"I have kept all the things the太子 has done in my heart."

"At first, I was always worried about him. The太子's temperament is quite similar to that of the late Emperor when he was young. He is lively, martial, and believes in Taoism."

"I found him the best teacher and the best environment, just hoping that he could change his temperament and be a守成之君, so as not to follow the old path of the late Emperor."

"I didn't expect that meeting you would turn him into what he is today."

As he spoke, Emperor Jing smiled again.

"Fang Qing, the太子 suddenly had such a big change after meeting you. Could it be that you have other methods besides hitting people that you haven't told me about?"

Fang Zheng was embarrassed.

What did I teach? This is laissez-faire education. The太子 wasn't taught by me. This is simply the explosion of his nature!

Thinking of this, Fang Zheng could only bite the bullet and say: "Your Majesty, some birds are born to be unconfined."

"His Highness is such a person, a person who yearns for freedom. Confining him in the deep palace every day will naturally prevent him from growing up healthily."

"He can't lead troops to fight, and the classics he has learned are useless, so he can only indulge in play."

"Martial arts is the nature of young people. I also liked martial arts when I was young. This is also the natural way."

When I was the太子's age, I was going crazy with Yasuo! Who doesn't like martial arts?

Fang Zheng paused and reorganized his thoughts, saying: "The太子's heart is pure and kind, and he has compassion."

"Not only that, but he is also brave enough to take responsibility. I can't say that I taught the太子 anything, but the太子 has benefited me a lot."

"Your Majesty asks why the太子 has changed so much, perhaps because the太子 has been suffocating in the palace for too long and has no opportunity to display his talents."

"Now the太子 is revealing his true nature."

"So I want to say that it's not that I have any magical methods, it's just that the太子 is a born benevolent ruler!"

After listening to these words, Emperor Jing originally wanted to maintain his usual serious expression, but he couldn't help but raise the corners of his mouth crazily.

Yes! Isn't my son a born benevolent ruler?

Fang Zheng grinned directly!

See if you're happy that I'm praising your child?

I'm putting a high hat on your son's head, aren't you confused?

Of course, what I said is from the heart. The太子's evolution ability is indeed maxed out.

Guo Tianyang had already given up learning and continued to rot.

He chewed on the melon seeds that the waiter had just brought up expressionlessly, without even spitting out the skins.

Fang Zheng raised his head to look at Emperor Jing, curiously asking: "Your Majesty just said that the太子 is like the late Emperor and believes in Taoism? Then why have I never seen a Taoist priest in the palace?"

Emperor Jing was silent for a while, his tone filled with emotion: "Yes, the late Emperor was extremely warlike when he was young, and he could be said to have used all means to increase his military strength."

"In his later years, he began to indulge in immortality and the art of cultivation, searching the country for Taoist experts to refine elixirs for him."

Emperor Jing closed his eyes, full of helplessness:

"At that time, I kept advising the late Emperor to give up refining elixirs, but instead, I angered the late Emperor."

"Later, Prince Wu found many Taoist priests for the late Emperor, and the elixirs they refined were quite effective. After eating them, he was refreshed and sweating profusely."

"Seeing this miraculous effect, I didn't stop him too much, but it's a pity that the way of heaven is ruthless, and the late Emperor eventually passed away!"