Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

It was a day off.

Inside the Minister of Revenue's residence, Xu Wenshu was at his desk, engrossed in reading the newspaper.

Beside him were several other newspapers from different publishers.

Although the imperial court published its own newspaper, Xu Wenshu personally favored the Banshan Daily more.

The Banshan Daily contained a wide variety of content, but the one constant was the daily price list for each district in the capital.

These price fluctuations were extremely accurate and comprehensive, far exceeding the investigations of the Ministry of Revenue.

Even ordinary people used it to plan their shopping, which was why Xu Wenshu paid such close attention to it.

Another aspect was that the Banshan Daily's news headlines were always particularly sensational.

[Shocking! The Story of This Man Has Made Everyone in the Capital Cry!]

[Astonishing! A Woman Actually Did Such a Thing in Broad Daylight!]

[A Huge Scam! You Can't Eat These Things, But Are You Still Eating Them?]

[Too Horrifying! The Latest Discovery by Scientists at Dongjiao University...]

Such news headlines appeared repeatedly every day, and every time Xu Wenshu finished reading them, he felt like he had been force-fed a mouthful of excrement.

The whole city cried because a man was cutting scallions and garlic, shedding tears while teaching everyone small life hacks.

The woman was reading in broad daylight, encouraging women to learn to read and write.

Bird's nest was not as nutritious as eggs, and bird's nest was covered in droppings, making you sick after eating it.

Dongjiao University discovered that alcoholism leads to impotence...

Although he was disgusted enough, he always couldn't help but pick it up and take another look.

However, in the past two days, the newspaper had published news that he found refreshing.

The section that was originally full of shocking news had been partially replaced by studies of food, goods, merchants, and trade.

Things like the division of labor and cooperation, the stock and increase of private wealth, and supply and demand relationships.

Although it was written in an easy-to-understand manner, the angle of thought was completely different, and it also gave a few simple examples.

Xu Wenshu read with relish, but whenever he reached the end, he couldn't help but feel curious.

The authors of these articles were all anonymous, and he didn't know if it was an oversight by the newspaper or some other reason, strange indeed...

Just as he was engrossed in reading, Xu Hongcai suddenly rushed in to report, with anxiety on his face: "Father, Fang Zheng has arrived, and he brought gifts."

Xu Wenshu stood up abruptly, a bad feeling rising in his heart.

Sure enough... there really was a problem, this fellow actually came to visit today.

"Hongcai, go and invite him in... No, you come with me."

After speaking, Xu Wenshu hurried out, instructing as he walked: "When Father speaks with him, you must listen carefully and remember well, don't interrupt."

"Understood, Father."

Outside the gate, Fang Zheng was waiting with gifts in hand, a cloth bag tucked under his arm.

Seeing Xu Wenshu come out, he smiled and cupped his fist in greeting: "Minister Xu, I've come to bother you again."

"A rare guest! A rare guest! I couldn't ask for more, please come in, Master Fang."

Xu Wenshu was extremely enthusiastic, pulling Fang Zheng inside.

He also introduced him, saying: "This is my youngest son, named Xu Hongcai. Hongcai, why don't you greet Master Fang?"

Xu Hongcai secretly sized up Fang Zheng, saying: "Greetings, Master Fang."

Fang Zheng saw that he was just a sixteen or seventeen-year-old boy, and didn't pay much attention, nodding in response.

After the two were seated, Xu Hongcai went to prepare tea, and Xu Wenshu said: "What brings Master Fang here today?"

"Oh... it's nothing really, just passing by Minister Xu's residence.

I remembered our previous conversation..."

Before Fang Zheng could finish speaking, Xu Wenshu raised his hand: "Master Fang, let's skip the pleasantries, I'm not new to the court.

Multiple visits must mean important business."

"You might as well speak more plainly."

Fang Zheng was taken aback, smiled, and took a memorial from his sleeve, handing it over: "Since you are straightforward, then I won't hide anything.

This is a memorial I plan to submit, please take a look, Minister Xu."

Xu Wenshu took the memorial and read it carefully, his expression changing as he read.

Every point inside directly pointed to one thing: relaxing restrictions on merchants.

Abolishing intercity tariffs, allowing merchants to wear silk and ride in carriages, relaxing restrictions on merchant permits... there were as many as ten points.

Xu Wenshu was silent, glancing at Fang Zheng suspiciously, and asked: "I don't understand, what do these things have to do with you, Master Fang?

Why are you speaking up for the merchants?"

Could it be that this kid was addicted to snatching work? He just had a falling out with the Ministry of Works, and now he's reaching his hand into the Ministry of Revenue?

"Hey, Minister Xu, what are you saying?

You and I are both court officials, what's wrong with pleading for the people?

I heard you say before that tax revenue has increased, isn't that so the national treasury can have more income?

Minister Xu, what do you think of my writing?"

"Father, Master Fang, please have some tea."

Xu Hongcai had already prepared the tea and brought it up at this time.

Xu Wenshu gave him a look, and Xu Hongcai obediently stood aside to listen.

Then Xu Wenshu silently pushed the memorial back, saying: "Master Fang's writing is naturally excellent, but it is not realistic."

"Indulging merchants will lead to many problems, and merchants do not engage in production, they can only act as intermediaries, earning exorbitant profits from the people, which is no different from competing with the people for profit, this matter is absolutely not feasible."

The current situation was within expectations, and Fang Zheng was not in a hurry to take back the memorial.

He immediately said: "I cannot agree with this statement, the world would be in chaos without intermediaries.

Merchants are like the gears in a waterwheel, connecting producers and buyers, without them to mediate resources, it would be extremely difficult for both buyers and sellers to establish a transaction, and the profit is just the reward they deserve."

"The more business merchants facilitate, the more the world's wealth increases.

If merchants harm the interests of others for profit, how could our Great Jing get better year by year, and the national treasury's income be higher year by year?

Minister Xu, wouldn't you agree?"

After Fang Zheng finished speaking, the content of the newspaper he had read a few days ago jumped into Xu Wenshu's mind as if by divine intervention.

He couldn't help but nod: "There's some truth to that, but what are you telling me this for, Master Fang?

If you just want to ask my opinion, to be honest, it's best not to submit it, submitting it would at most be shelved and ignored."

"Moreover, to put it bluntly, this should be the responsibility of my Ministry of Revenue, not for you, Master Fang, to bring up."

Fang Zheng nodded in agreement.

"That's right, this is indeed the responsibility of the Ministry of Revenue.

But if I don't bring it up, I'm afraid no one will."

After speaking, Fang Zheng lowered his head and rummaged through the cloth bag he was carrying.

A stack of letters was taken out of the bag and handed to Xu Wenshu.

Xu Wenshu took the letters, and after only one glance, his expression changed drastically!

There was a hint of unconcealable fear in his eyes.

"Master Fang... what is this...?"