Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

The inner court of Yangxin Hall was filled with ministers.

The ministers were all somewhat baffled, having only just left court not long ago before being summoned back by the emperor.

Many wore solemn expressions, secretly guessing what bad thing had happened.

However, some people were smiling as they observed the reactions of the others, like Feng Jie.

The Ministry of War had already received the news and presented it to the palace.

After waiting for a while, Emperor Jing finally arrived, having changed his clothes.

Seeing the curious expressions on the faces of the ministers below, Emperor Jing waved his hand and said with joy, "I have summoned you, my esteemed ministers, because a major event has occurred."

"The fleet that our Great Jing sent to explore the West has officially returned and is now in Jiangling Port. Moreover, Zheng Hui, the commander of the fleet, has also returned safely."

As soon as these words were spoken, the ministers were overjoyed.

"What? The fleet has actually returned? If I remember correctly, it has been gone for more than three years..."

"Three years! To return alive from the vast sea is truly unexpected."

"I wonder if they found the legendary Caesar the Great."

"......"

The ministers discussed excitedly, while Emperor Jing smiled and remained silent, letting everyone speak their minds.

When the fleet was first sent out to sea, it was mostly because everyone had listened to Fang Zheng's tales of legendary Western history. They were filled with enthusiasm and a fear of the unknown, which led them to make the decision.

However, after the ships had been gone for so many years and so many things had happened in the court, the enthusiasm for exploring the unknown had long been extinguished by time.

After all, this one matter had consumed a large amount of silver.

The initial allocation alone amounted to two million taels, and that money was almost all spent.

Two million... there were very few allocation projects of this scale that could be found throughout the country.

Not only was the Ministry of Revenue under great pressure, but the Ministry of War was also under great pressure!

The naval appropriations squeezed the budget of other military branches, especially with the subsequent introduction of muskets and cannons, which made the navy seem even more insignificant.

As a result, many people repeatedly submitted memorials requesting that funding for this be stopped.

But now, the fleet had actually lived up to expectations and returned on its own!

In that moment, the initial intention to explore the West began to return!

Listening to the heated discussion around him, Fang Zheng's face turned red.

A group of old men still clearly remembered the nonsense he had made up earlier, excitedly talking about Nephalem, Sauron, Arthas, Stormwind City....

Yangxin Hall seemed to have temporarily become a large-scale elderly internet addiction site, making it unbearable to watch.

He wondered if these people would tear him apart when they found out he had been making it all up.

Hopefully, the fleet had a bountiful harvest....

After a long discussion, the voices gradually died down.

Feng Jie said with a refreshed expression, "Your Majesty, why not issue an edict immediately to summon the fleet in Jiangling Port to the palace for an audience? Three years! Three years of floating on the sea, our Great Jing's soldiers living in small cabins, it is truly unimaginable. They should be urgently summoned back to the capital, given rewards, and allowed to rest and recuperate."

Someone followed closely, saying, "That's right, and the situation of the Western countries and the sea charts are of utmost importance! Your Majesty, time is of the essence."

Emperor Jing nodded slightly and was about to speak when he heard Fang Zheng say, "Your Majesty, please allow me to personally go to Jiangling Port to meet the fleet. Although the fleet has arrived at the port, it is not advisable to return to the capital immediately."

Everyone looked at Fang Zheng with puzzled eyes.

Weren't you the most enthusiastic about going to sea? Why aren't you in a hurry now that they're back?

Emperor Jing asked in confusion, "Why?"

"I think our fleet has passed through many countries and should have brought back many specialties. Perhaps there are many foreigners on board. People from many barbarian countries are probably dirty and carry some diseases, which would not be good. I plan to personally screen them and clean them up before bringing them in, otherwise it would be easy to make mistakes," Fang Zheng said. "Now that they are already home, there is no rush for these two days. We should seek stability in everything."

Fang Zheng had to be cautious. As a modern person with some scientific literacy, he had to guard against some of the troublesome diseases from abroad.

He didn't know if there were any foreigners on board. He had heard that ancient foreigners were very perverted and liked to cross-species, If it were poikilothermic aquatic vertebrates, they would be cleaner, but who knows what strange diseases mammals might have?

Even if there were no foreigners, it would not be good if the crew themselves contracted any germs.

In addition, he had instructed the fleet to collect as many foreign plant seeds as possible.

These things had to be handled by specialists, and it would be a sin against future generations if a biological invasion were to occur.

Moreover, now that Zheng Hui had returned, Lai Gou'er should also be safe and sound. Since it was not mentioned in this urgent report, he would go and see for himself.

Emperor Jing raised an eyebrow: "Hmm! That makes sense. Fang Qing is very thoughtful. Then you will lead the Embroidered Uniform Guard to meet them."

"Your subject will certainly not fail his mission!"

......

Two days later, Jiangling Port.

Fang Zheng led Zhang Biao and a group of Embroidered Uniform Guards non-stop and arrived at Jiangling Port at noon.

In order to witness this historic moment, Emperor Jing also specially sent a historian to accompany them.

At this moment, the port was calm.

The midday sun shone on the sea, creating a sparkling effect.

More than a dozen giant ships were scattered around the port, making for a spectacular scene.

Standing in the distance, Fang Zheng looked at the successfully returned fleet. Instead of joy, he felt a sense of heaviness in his heart, and he sighed softly as he looked into the distance.

When the fleet set sail, the scene was so magnificent, but only a third of them were able to return.

The hardships and dangers they faced can be imagined, and how many soldiers were buried in the belly of fish, yet they could not stir up a trace of waves in history.

After sighing for a while, Fang Zheng led his men forward.

Inside the port, dozens of tables were filled with delicacies and fine wine.

Hundreds of sailors were eating and drinking around the tables, and Zheng Hui was among them, with local officials constantly trying to please him with wine cups.

Zheng Hui said with a displeased expression, "How long do we have to wait? Our homes are right in front of us, why aren't we being allowed to leave?"

Seeing that he was at the doorstep of his home, he was eager to return, but the dog officials of Jiangling Port just wouldn't let him go!

The official comforted him, "Sir Zheng, there is no problem with you going back, but you have brought so much gold and silver, and there are foreigners. Our troops are insufficient, so I can only release you after the superiors give instructions."

Zheng Hui glanced at him sideways and slammed the table hard: "Insufficient troops? I haven't seen you when I was on duty in Jiangling Port! Where did this insufficient troop come from? Are you afraid of taking responsibility?"

The official trembled and was a little scared.

The fleet that had been at sea for three years, these people's temperament was really extraordinary, they all looked like fierce bandits, especially this Sir Zheng and the black man beside him, who were even more like bandit leaders.

Because the pressure was too strong, the official had no choice but to laugh dryly:

"Hehe... please bear with me, whatever the brothers want to eat or drink, just say the word, I will definitely let you eat and drink well before going home!"

Zheng Hui waved his hand and drove the official away.

Lai Gou'er asked: "Brother Zheng, it's useless to make things difficult for him. Such a large sum of money really needs someone from the court to escort it. We can't trust anyone to be responsible for it."

"What level of official do you think the court will send to receive us? Or a eunuch?"

"Eunuch! That's too disrespectful. It should be at least a fourth-rank official!"

......