Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

Zhang Dong immediately retorted, "That's not right! Time is money. This vehicle is fast and can save time. Besides, I don't see anything difficult about it. Just step on it with both feet and pedal."

Jiang Liang chuckled, "Lord Zhang, it's true that time is money, but the people's time isn't worth much. Why spend extra money on this? Look at the vehicle the Crown Prince is riding. In terms of structure and materials, I'm afraid it costs no less than the Ministry of Works' precious swords."

"Furthermore, is this bicycle really that easy to ride? Why don't you go up and try it later?"

"Try it, I will!" Zhang Dongxiang has always had a bad temper. Seeing him stir up trouble, he agreed without hesitation.

The Jing Emperor looked into the distance at the figures of Li Yuanzhao and Fang Zheng one.

No one knew what he was thinking.

On the plaza, Li Yuanzhao was still pedaling, with a person riding behind him. He probably felt it wasn't exciting enough, lacking that feeling of speeding like the wind.

So he stuck out his butt, preparing to exert force.

Fang Zheng was flustered: "Your Highness, what are you going to do? It's about time we went back."

"No, if we embarrass ourselves today, what will happen to our reputation? Lao Fang, I'm going to accelerate. Hold on to the seat, but don't grab my butt, okay?"

"No! Your Highness, I beg you, don't ride it..." A sudden ominous feeling surged in Fang Zheng's heart.

Sure enough, Li Yuanzhao stomped down hard the next second, shouting loudly, "Let me show you the limits of my physical strength!!"

The bicycle suddenly shot forward a large distance, and Fang Zheng was frightened.

He repeatedly patted Li Yuanzhao's butt, and said in a trembling voice: "That's enough! That's enough!"

The more he patted, the more energetic he became, virtually riding on the seat, his legs pedaling rapidly.

"Is it fast! Am I fast?"

"Fast! Too fast, we should go back."

Fang Zheng wanted to cry but had no tears, and could only hold on to the seat tightly.

Before their eyes was the small palace gate that led out of the plaza. Seeing that they were about to go out, Fang Zheng hurriedly shouted: "Turn! Turn! Turn! Brake!"

"I'll be damned!"

"I'll be damned!"

The group of people in the distance fell into petrification...

The Jing Emperor couldn't help but cover his face. Embarrassing... It was too embarrassing to have such a son.

Just now, the two of them were riding towards the outside of the plaza, and everyone thought they were going to turn out, but they tripped on the threshold. They saw the two people, along with the vehicle, fly out of everyone's sight.

.....

"Lao Fang, are you okay?"

"Your Highness, are you okay?"

The two slowly helped each other up from the ground. The two guards next to the palace gate wanted to help, but they instinctively covered their mouths at the first moment.

They almost laughed out loud...

Seeing that the two were unharmed at this time, the guards quickly looked straight ahead, not daring to look any further.

Fang Zheng looked at his torn official uniform, and then looked at Li Yuanzhao's dusty face, complaining: "It's all your fault! I told you to turn, but you didn't turn?"

Li Yuanzhao giggled foolishly: "It was too late to turn. The broken brakes, they don't work well. They have to be modified!"

"You two were laughing just now, weren't you!" Fang Zheng and Li Yuanzhao regained their senses and stared at the guards with ill intentions.

The guard swallowed and knelt on the ground: "Your Highness, this humble servant would not laugh!"

"Enough nonsense, just you two, I'm giving you three days to tear down all the thresholds in the palace for me!" Li Yuanzhao said angrily.

After speaking, he helped up the bicycle on the ground and said: "Lao Fang, let's go back. This time, it's my fault."

"What does it matter whose fault it is? Anyway, I've already lost all face..." Fang Zheng said blankly.

"Get on the car! Get on the car!" Li Yuanzhao patted the seat heartlessly, trying to pull Fang Zheng again.

Fang Zheng said with a bitter face: "Look at that wheel, you bent it when you fell. Let them carry it back."

"Luckily, I prepared two vehicles, let's go!"

Li Yuanzhao chuckled twice, becoming more and more embarrassed.

The guards carried the bicycles, and the two walked back to the front of the main hall.

The group of officials strained to maintain their expressions, afraid of laughing.

The Jing Emperor had a gloomy expression, but wore a smile, and said: "Didn't fall to your deaths, you two?"

Fang Zheng coughed twice and said: "Thanks to your Majesty's blessing, this humble servant is fine."

"Your son is also fine!"

The Jing Emperor snorted coldly and said nothing more.

Fang Zheng hurriedly dragged out the intact wooden bicycle and said loudly: "This humble servant has finished the demonstration, please your Majesty judge!"

The Jing Emperor glanced at it twice, but was not in the mood to judge at the moment.

If you say this thing is good, it is indeed good. It is very fast to ride, and it even makes people feel a little magical.

But do you say it's useful? It doesn't feel very useful. Riding a horse or a donkey is much easier than this thing. The common people don't travel long distances, so they don't need these. Going on a long trip is even more unnecessary. Spend some money and rent a carriage, wouldn't that be better?

"Alright, I've seen it, so let all of you, my lords, reveal the results. I've already said that I will not make a judgment."

Seeing that the Jing Emperor and the others were somewhat indifferent, Fang Zheng secretly thought something was wrong.

This seems to be different from what I imagined!

It was indeed a mistake just now, but there was no problem with the entire demonstration process.

"Your Majesty, please wait, before all my colleagues make a judgment, this humble servant has something to say," Fang Zheng said.

"Then say it."

"The original intention of inventing the bicycle was not as a toy, but to save manpower for the people of the capital and even the world to travel. This wooden bicycle can be sold on the market for only five qian of silver, which the people can afford by gritting their teeth."

"I have to remind you that you all have precious horses and sedan chairs to escort you on weekdays, but the people have no money to buy horses, let alone ride in sedan chairs. Bicycles are the best alternative!"

"I'm done, everyone can judge."

The Jing Emperor nodded: "That's right, then you can start. Those who support the Ministry of Works raise your right hand, and those who support Fang Zheng raise your left hand."

The officials raised their hands one after another.

Fang Zheng took a look and felt a chill in his heart!

Basically, about 70% of the people were raising their right hands, obviously supporting the Ministry of Works!

Li Yuanzhao shouted loudly: "That's not right! It's not fair. It was my mistake just now, not the bicycle's fault! You are biased!"

"Shut up!" The Jing Emperor said angrily: "Not embarrassing enough yet?"

Li Yuanzhao immediately acted like a quail.

The Jing Emperor glanced around and said: "Well, it seems the result is already out, then the Royal Academy of Sciences also..."

"Your Majesty, this humble servant is not convinced!" Fang Zheng shouted, "There's a black whistle! It's well known that I don't have good relationships with people. It's completely unfair to judge like this!"

"I asked you earlier, why didn't you object to the other court officials judging? Now objecting is going back on your word, you must be willing to accept defeat," the Jing Emperor said.

Jiang Liang also walked out with a smile: "Master Fang, do you know where you lost?"

"What did I lose?" Fang Zheng frowned.

Jiang Liang shook his head and smiled: "Bicycles are indeed novel, but according to you, they are not practical."

"Ordinary people only move around their residences. Are you really sure that the people of the capital can use it, or even spend money to buy something that they don't use often? Moreover, it seems that you need to learn how to ride it. I'm afraid you haven't considered these things."

......