Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

“This is absolutely sabotage!”

Jiang Liang slammed the newspaper down, his face full of anger.

Originally, he had woken up happy in the morning because the sales of Yu Guang porcelain had been great recently.

But after returning to his office after the morning meeting, he habitually picked up the newspaper, and the headline on the front page was about the Ministry of Works' Yu Guang porcelain.

【Meng Junzi sternly rebukes vulgarity, and the people smash Yu Guang porcelain in shame.】

The content above completely vilified Yu Guang porcelain.

It was as if buying Yu Guang porcelain would make one a petty person who was greedy for money and treasures.

Everyone knew the sales situation of Banshan Daily in the capital, even if they didn't say it out loud.

Although the six ministries now also have newspapers, they pay great attention to wording and allusions in order to maintain the court's dignity.

The degree of publicity among the people is far less than that of Banshan Daily, which only uses plain language.

If this continues, I'm afraid no one will dare to buy Yu Guang porcelain.

What will the people think when they find out? Do we still want our reputation?

Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works, Zeng Ping, put down the newspaper with a worried look: "Lord Jiang, if this continues... I'm afraid Fang Zheng Yi will win."

"Banshan Daily is fully promoting bicycles on one hand, and belittling our things on the other."

"How should we respond?"

Taking advantage of this moment, Jiang Liang calmed down and arranged: "Immediately arrange for the Ministry of Works to issue a clarification in tomorrow's newspaper."

"Also, send someone to the pawnshops in the capital to see if the sales of Yu Guang porcelain have been affected."

The Ministry of Works naturally does not do business. If they want to compete in sales, they entrust famous pawnshops in the capital to sell the porcelain.

There are many dignitaries in those places.

Zeng Ping nodded and said: "Lord Jiang, what about Fang Zheng Yi's side...."

"You go and invite Fang Zheng Yi on my behalf. I want to talk to him personally. How can he still have the Da Jing law in his eyes with such despicable means! This is slander! As the commander of the Imperial Guards, he is knowingly breaking the law. If it doesn't work, I will impeach him before His Majesty, even if I have to confront him face to face!"

"Even if the Ministry of Works' Firearms Department is established later, we must not let him establish any dog-shit academy of sciences. Otherwise, where will the face of our Ministry of Works be in the future? Is Fang Zheng Yi going to extend his hand into the Ministry of Works too?"

Zeng Ping sighed: "Lord Jiang, if we had known this would happen, we shouldn't have agreed to compete with him again. We won last time."

Speaking of this, Jiang Liang also looked regretful: "Who knew his methods would be so despicable? But... it's not all bad. At least the craftsmen sent by Taoyuan County are really doing their jobs."

"It doesn't matter! There's no reason why Yu Guang porcelain can't beat bicycles. Go and invite him."

.......

The bicycle experience point on the street was surrounded by a sea of people.

Fang Zheng Yi and Li Yuan Zhao were hiding in the crowd, observing the situation.

The experience point had already started selling bicycles, and it seemed that quite a few people were interested.

After all, with multi-pronged and overwhelming publicity, it would be a miracle if there were no sales.

Basically, eight or nine out of ten people who tried riding ordered one.

Most people were more concerned about the purchase qualification for tricycles.

At this moment, the experience point was extremely popular. In addition to ordinary people, there were also a group of children surrounding it, looking at the twist cars with envy.

One child reluctantly got off, and another child seized the opportunity and jumped on the car.

He happily twisted and turned.

The child who had just finished playing said to his parents beside him: "Mom, I want to buy a twist car!"

"How much does a twist car sell for!?"

"Fifty taels of silver, no bargaining."

"What! Are you crazy? Such a broken wooden thing costs fifty taels!?"

"Mom, I want to buy a twist car."

"Be good, we won't buy it."

"I want to buy it! I want to buy it!"

"Pa! Pa!" "Wuwu wuwu~"

The parents led the crying child away, and Fang Zheng Yi was laughing foolishly there.

Li Yuan Zhao glanced at him with disdain and said: "Lao Fang ah, you are really not a good person!"

Fang Zheng Yi shrugged his shoulders: "Your Highness, these are all good childhood memories. Those children will have to thank me in the future."

Li Yuan Zhao curled his lips and said: "Putting aside other things, I see that although this place is lively, people are only willing to buy after trying it out. At this rate, can we really win against the Ministry of Works?"

"You have to know that a porcelain vase of Yu Guang porcelain can sell for hundreds of taels, and many high-ranking officials and nobles don't lack this little money."

"If each family buys one or two bottles, that would be a lot of money. Selling bicycles for five qian and five qian, the chances of winning are still not great."

Fang Zheng Yi smiled: "Your Highness, don't worry. At the moment, the people still have concerns, fearing that buying them back will be a waste. But as long as the first batch of goods is sold, everyone will know that this thing is simple and easy to use, and they won't have so many worries. In another ten days or so, they will be willing to buy it without trying it out."

"What's more, I haven't finished playing my cards yet!"

"What other cards are there?" Li Yuan Zhao became energetic.

"The patriotism card!"

"? ? ?"

Seeing his confused look, Fang Zheng Yi explained with a smile: "A portion of the income from selling bicycles will be donated to poor people in other remote areas. Buying a bicycle is doing charity, and it's even equivalent to winning glory for the country. This is equivalent to the people accumulating good karma for themselves."

This matter is still feasible in the capital area.

Under the feet of the emperor, income and education levels are relatively high.

During the Jiangliang famine in the past, many people in the capital donated money. Logically speaking, this should also be feasible this time.

But Da Jing... has no foreign goods, which is a problem.

Generally, to provoke opposition, this card can be played.

However, Fang Zheng Yi had a plan long ago. Copying it as it is will not work. It needs to be localized.

So, a unique karma model was added to the publicity...

Using superstitious psychology, tell people that buying a bicycle and donating money to the poor is indirectly equivalent to buying a bicycle to accumulate good karma for themselves!

Even temples and Taoist temples are preparing to send a group of people to be stationed there to guide publicity.

Li Yuan Zhao stroked his chin and wondered: "Will this work?"

"It will work. Maybe some people will even run to the sales point to bow and salute our bicycles!" Fang Zheng Yi said with a smile, "The subsequent publicity has been taught to the newspaper office. Just wait and see their publicity."

"Where will the money from selling bicycles be donated to?"

"Taoyuan County."

"......"

Li Yuan Zhao looked at Fang Zheng Yi speechlessly and said: "Taoyuan County is considered a remote area, and there are still poor people?"

Fang Zheng Yi coughed twice and said in a low voice: "Your Highness, publicity... can it still be called publicity if you tell the truth? Besides, these bicycles are already being sold at cost, and I don't plan to make any money from the subsequent tricycles either."

"Before long, someone will definitely imitate bicycles and other things on the market. I will develop the market and then stop doing it, and leave the rest to the private sector to develop."

Li Yuan Zhao looked at the lively experience point and nodded thoughtfully: "Then you have really worked hard. You are the one with the most tricks, but I also thought of a way just now."

"What way?"

"Why not hold a bicycle race from the capital to Taoyuan County to see who is the fastest, and the first place will be rewarded with one hundred taels of silver! I'll pay for this money. What do you think?"

A look of surprise flashed in Fang Zheng Yi's eyes, and he gave a thumbs up and praised: "High! Your Highness is really high! Let's do it this way. When the first few batches are sold out, let the people hold a competition and issue bonuses for the first, second, and third prizes. I think we should also hold a modification competition to encourage skilled craftsmen from all over the world to improve bicycles, and give silver to those who contribute."

Li Yuan Zhao rolled his eyes and smiled: "This is a good idea!"

The two began to discuss constantly.

Before long, an Imperial Guard suddenly appeared and approached the two.

He panted and clasped his fists and said: "Your Highness, Lord Fang! People from the Ministry of Works have come to invite Lord Fang to come and talk."