Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

Although Zhang Shi's face was unsightly, he remained stubborn.

He didn't answer directly, saying, "Fang Zheng Yi, this old man is doomed, but do you think you're any better off?"

"A civil official like you willingly degraded yourself to become some kind of Embroidered Uniform Guard. Everyone will fear you, and in the future, all officials will stand against you."

"They're all watching how this old man dies. If you have the guts, then torture me. But I'm telling you, you'll never have a good end standing where you are today!"

"This old man has been in the officialdom for so many years, I won't be wrong."

Fang Zheng Yi slowly squatted down, his eyes calm as water, and softly said, "Do you hate me?"

"Hate! This old man wishes he could cut you into a thousand pieces! Isn't this old man's situation today all thanks to you? This old man should have sent someone to kill you before His Majesty became wary!" Zhang Shi said resentfully.

Fang Zheng Yi smiled slightly, "I don't hate you. No one in this world is worth my hatred. That's the difference between you and me."

"You're trapped in a fog, only able to guess at the future, while I see further and clearer than you. The Embroidered Uniform Guard in my hands will be something you can't imagine."

"You're right, all the officials are watching how I deal with you. His Majesty has newly established the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and everyone is worried about what the future situation will be like."

"Especially with me in charge, they're even more worried. But they're wrong. I've never thought about making things difficult for anyone, and may even step forward to protect them at crucial moments."

"That goes for you too. If you cooperate with me, not only will I not torture you this time, but I might even be able to save your family's lives, as long as you obediently reveal the location of the silver vault and the news about the Prince of Wu."

Zhang Shi's face was full of disdain, and he sneered, "You speak beautifully, but do you think this old man will believe you?"

"His Majesty trusts you and appointed you as the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. You have the power to handle all the cases in the world. With your ability to smear people, wouldn't you be able to kill whoever you want?"

"The Crown Prince is surrounding you. When he ascends the throne in the future, wouldn't you be even more lawless? Congratulations, Lord Fang, you're already above ten thousand people at such a young age!"

"But don't be too complacent, you'll be like this old man, the higher you stand, the harder you'll fall!"

Fang Zheng Yi sighed leisurely, "I'm not the same as you. I don't value power or wealth. I only pursue happiness in this life. Do you understand happiness? You don't understand, your realm is too low."

The old man Yan next door suddenly laughed loudly, "You hypocritical villain!! You even have the face to say you don't value wealth. It's rumored outside that your newspaper makes a lot of money every day, but the reporters are as poor as dogs. Isn't it all being embezzled by you, Fang Zheng Yi?!"

Fang Zheng Yi picked up a stick from the ground and gave him a few blows!

Old man Yan immediately curled up on the ground, not daring to make a sound.

Fang Zheng Yi was a little puzzled.

Has the newspaper's reputation really become like this outside? When he left, being a reporter was still an enviable job, how could such words be spread now? Could it be that there are too many new recruits and some people are complaining everywhere?

It seems that the problem should be resolved as soon as possible, otherwise, wouldn't I become Fang the Skinflint?

"How is it, Lord Zhang? I've wasted so much breath, what are your thoughts?"

Zhang Shi shook his head: "I won't believe a single word you say!"

Since he wouldn't budge, Fang Zheng Yi still remained patient, calmed down, and continued to say: "I don't want to make things difficult for you. You're right, if my methods are too ruthless, all the officials will be wary."

"So, I'm thinking of a way to give you a good outcome. In principle, the Prince of Wu actually has merit to the country. As an accomplice, you can be considered to have atoned for your sins to some extent."

"I like fairness the most. Killing everyone with one blow isn't my style. I hate implicating families and killing entire clans at every turn."

Honestly, Fang Zheng Yi really didn't want to make him too miserable.

Of course, the main thing was for his own consideration.

The power of the Embroidered Uniform Guard was too great, and the officials would really be afraid of him smearing them. No one in the court was clean, and it was always possible to find fault.

The sword of Damocles hung over everyone's heads and could fall at any time.

He was now the sword-holder, and all the officials might have to act according to his expression.

If things went wrong and everyone became insecure, that wasn't the scene Fang Zheng Yi wanted to see.

Perhaps, if the normal situation continued to develop, it wouldn't be surprising if the successor created some kind of literary inquisition.

Evolving to the point where ghosts couldn't be called ghosts among the people, but "A Piao", money couldn't be called money, but "Mi" or "Da Bu Liu", and death couldn't be called death, but "Kou".

If the Emperor wants the subject to 'Kou', the subject has no choice but to 'Kou'... Slaughtering people like hemp...

From the time of Old Zhu in the Ming Dynasty until the Tianqi Emperor, literary inquisitions were carried out, and the main force was naturally the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Was the literary inquisition a bad thing? For the upper class, it wasn't necessarily so. It was an excellent weapon to strike at dissidents.

But for the whole, the side effects were also huge, destroying trust, corrupting the atmosphere of the officialdom, imprisoning thought, distorting culture, and restricting creativity...

Now that the Prince of Wu had already fled overseas, and the capitalistic sprouts and private employment system had begun to develop, the consequences would be very serious if the road went astray.

The system had inertia. As long as the Embroidered Uniform Guard was twisted from the beginning, it might embark on a different path.

Zhang Shi's face still wore the expression of 'I've seen through you': "Don't talk anymore, I don't want to listen."

Fang Zheng Yi forcibly endured the urge to beat him, leaned forward, and whispered: "How about I send you a bottle of poison?"

"Dying in prison will save you from the pain of flesh and blood. Your crime of exterminating three clans is already a certainty. If you directly confess the location of the silver vault, I'll go to His Majesty and plead for mercy. Maybe there's still a glimmer of hope."

Zhang Shi's eyes changed: "Would you really be so kind?"

"Otherwise, what? Do you want me to torture you to death, make everyone afraid of me, push myself to the opposite side of all the officials, and end up with a bad end?" Fang Zheng Yi smiled, "I want to be a good person and make friends with everyone. I don't know if you'll give me this opportunity?"

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

The atmosphere became silent, and Zhang Shi was thinking.

Fang Zheng Yi wasn't in a hurry either, quietly waiting for him.

The only panicked person was Old Man Yan. Although he was old, his ears were still good.

He had heard the words spoken earlier. Fang Zheng Yi was talking about a deal and said he could save Zhang Shi's family.

Zhang Shi wasn't a fool either, and he was considering it at this moment. It was obvious that there was really a chance!

Old Man Yan excitedly crawled over,趴on the wooden railing, staring nervously at Zhang Shi.

The Yan family also had money, and now it was a certain death ending. As long as he could exchange it for the life of a younger generation of the family, he was willing!

After thinking for a long time, Zhang Shi staggered to his feet, stared at Fang Zheng Yi and slowly bowed, saying solemnly: "Lord Fang, I don't know if you're deceiving me, but there's no other hope. I have three silver vaults, and I can give you one of them now. Tomorrow, I want to see the imperial decree and the poison, and I hope you can keep your promise."

"Deal." Fang Zheng Yi lightly spat out two words.

Old Man Yan jumped up abruptly and shouted loudly: "Lord Fang! Lord Fang! My family also has money, I can too!"

Fang Zheng Yi glanced at him indifferently: "You die!"

....

There's more, later, everyone can read it tomorrow morning.