Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

Inside the Imperial Garden.

Emperor Jing, dressed in plain clothes with his hands behind his back, strolled leisurely, while Guo Tianyang followed closely behind with small, quick steps.

Li Yuanzhao and Fang Zheng were also trailing closely to the side.

After walking for about ten minutes, Emperor Jing finally spoke, saying slowly, "After resting for such a long time, are you willing or unwilling to return to take charge of the Embroidered Uniform Guard?"

Fang Zheng chuckled dryly twice: "Willing! At first, this subject found it incredibly comfortable at home, but after a long time, the thought of not being able to shed blood and sweat for my Great Jing made this subject feel itchy all over, scratching his ears and cheeks!"

"Oh, itchy? If it were really so itchy, you wouldn't have come to the palace to see me even once," Emperor Jing said.

Who gets married and runs to his father-in-law's house every day!?

Fang Zheng cursed inwardly, then pursed his lips and said, "This subject knows that Your Majesty is wise and must have already made arrangements. If this subject proactively begged to return, I'm afraid my colleagues wouldn't agree, and it would be even more difficult to bring it up later."

"This time, this subject is able to be reinstated, thanks to Your Majesty's strategic planning."

Emperor Jing said, "There's no need to say more about this matter. You are back in the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and Tao Hui will stay to assist you as your deputy. No one else will dare to move you lightly."

"Zheng'er, you must also strive to improve yourself. Get along well with those below you, and don't engage in petty squabbles all day long."

Fang Zheng nodded: "Then, Your Majesty... the previous arrangements of the Embroidered Uniform Guard..."

"You decide for yourself," Emperor Jing said, then sighed, "However, the previous methods seemed to be quite good... Some people's lives have truly opened my eyes."

Although Emperor Jing had already hinted, Fang Zheng still said bluntly: "Then this subject will remove all the previous arrangements."

Hmm?

Emperor Jing turned around and looked at Fang Zheng with a half-smile.

"This subject does not recommend that Your Majesty retain them. Although such close monitoring of officials ensures that everyone is exposed before Your Majesty, what about later? Everyone will be acting all the time, and everyone will feel insecure, which will be extremely harmful. If that day really comes, I'm afraid there will be no gentlemen left in the court, and over time, the court will become corrupt. I hope Your Majesty will see this clearly," Fang Zheng said sincerely.

"Do you really think so?" Emperor Jing asked.

Fang Zheng said: "Of course. This time, this subject has been reinstated, and I've heard that there is unprecedented tacit understanding in the court, which Your Majesty should have already witnessed with this hidden worry."

"Moreover, what worries this subject even more is that the Embroidered Uniform Guard itself will probably be the first to become corrupt. The Embroidered Uniform Guard has a large and complex staff. If things continue like this, incidents of extorting officials will emerge endlessly, making it difficult to manage."

"In short, the disadvantages outweigh the advantages."

Hearing this, Emperor Jing smiled: "What you said makes sense! You are still as honest as before."

"Then do as you wish. You can also privately inform those officials. It's a rare opportunity to repair relationships, don't waste it."

Fang Zheng's lips twitched secretly.

Repair relationships?

It's impossible to repair them. My modern moral values, universal values, are hundreds of years ahead of this era. How can I get along with a group of old zombies?

Of course, he also has traditional cultural concepts, and he has learned the essence of them, all from Douyin, where nine out of ten masters of Sinology are frauds.

If they came from Xiaodaozi, then all ten masters of Sinology are frauds.

Looking at it this way, there will be conflicts in concepts with the officials sooner or later, so why not take the opportunity to extort them!

The Ministry of Revenue has the most to gain, what else is useful....

While thinking, Fang Zheng said, "Thank you, Father Emperor! Father Emperor is able to consider things so carefully, this son's heart is truly warm!"

Emperor Jing smiled: "Alright, there's no need to be so polite. I heard that you started a Yucai Elementary School outside, right? How many people in the court have signed up?"

"Only fifty people were recruited."

Li Yuanzhao's eyes suddenly lit up, and he immediately interjected, "Father Emperor, this son wants Li Yu to also enter Yucai Elementary School."

"You don't know that it is indeed extraordinary there, and now even Grand Secretaries are willing to take the time to teach. Moreover, it's not far from the palace, so how about not going to the Zhan Shi Fu and instead educating him within Yucai Elementary School?"

Grand Secretaries?

Emperor Jing glanced at Fang Zheng, his expression strange, "How did you persuade them?"

Fang Zheng smiled honestly: "Everything is for the children, everyone is willing."

"However, this son also suggests that the Imperial Grandson can enroll in Yucai Elementary School. There are absolutely no safety issues. Most importantly, there can be many playmates there. Children are naturally lively, which is more beneficial to the child's growth."

"Yes, Father Emperor," Li Yuanzhao waited hopefully for Emperor Jing to speak.

Emperor Jing pondered: "Let's put this matter aside for now. There has never been such a precedent. It's better to wait and see after Yucai Elementary School has been open for a while, to observe the results."

Li Yuanzhao was immediately disappointed.

Fang Zheng also felt some regret in his heart. The benefits of his own son being classmates with the Imperial Grandson were not small.

"Matters concerning the Imperial Grandson are never too cautious, everything will be according to Your Majesty's words."

......

The group walked to a pavilion.

Emperor Jing entered to rest, took the towel handed over by Guo Tianyang, wiped the slight sweat, and said, "Actually, there is another matter that I have called you here for today."

"My Great Jing's fleet has been at sea for a long time, and there has been no news of them to this day. Many officials in the court have repeatedly petitioned me about this matter."

"The Ministry of Revenue wants to allocate the money for the shipyard and sailors elsewhere. Although I have stopped them, I really have no confidence in my heart..."

"Having been out for so long, could they have been completely wiped out?"

Fang Zheng looked troubled: "This son believes that it shouldn't be possible. The fleet that went to sea is the largest fleet in the history of my Great Jing, how could it be so easily wiped out?"

"It must be that there are many different customs abroad, and they have to stay for a long time in each place, so they are returning later."

"Perhaps they are already on their way back now. Everything requires persistence, and I hope Your Majesty will not be disturbed by others. Exploring the vast sea requires significant costs to be incurred in order to gain something."

Emperor Jing sighed and looked into the distance.

At this moment, a small eunuch ran over from afar in a panic, crawling and rolling to Emperor Jing.

Kneeling on the ground, holding a letter high in his hand, he shouted: "Your Majesty, urgent report! An urgent report from Jiangling Port, my Great Jing's fleet exploring the West has returned, and is waiting for the court to respond at the port!"

Fang Zheng was dumbfounded, his brain went blank, and the next second was filled with ecstasy!

Speak of the devil! It came at the right time!

Emperor Jing stood up abruptly, snatched the urgent report, glanced at it a few times, and his excitement was beyond words.

He immediately turned his head and said to Guo Tianyang: "Immediately, have everyone come to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to see me!"