Royal Gold Magistrate

Hearing Li Yansong’s words, which made sense in every aspect, Emperor Jing’s mood improved considerably.

He couldn’t help but praise, “Prime Minister Li’s words are indeed reasonable!”

Yang Yingcai, however, frowned as he looked at Li Yansong, feeling somewhat perplexed.

Logically speaking, you, Minister Li, should be in tacit agreement with the other officials.

Providing work instead of relief isn’t impossible, but implementing it on such a large scale – don’t you understand how great the risks are?

Minister Li, at your age, do you no longer care about your reputation?

Yang Yingcai gritted his teeth and kowtowed with a loud thud, raising his head to say, “Your Majesty! This subject believes that Minister Li’s words are too presumptuous!”

“The local areas already have no money and no food. Now with one imperial edict, local officials will surely stop at nothing to achieve the goal.”

“But there’s simply no food! Are we forcing local wealthy households to hand over their money and grain?”

“This is forcing the people to rebel! And it’s the local gentry who will rebel! This will shake the foundations of the country!”

“Does Your Majesty really believe that local gentry will obediently hand over their silver for the court to build projects?”

“This is simply a fantasy!”

“Therefore! This subject requests Your Majesty to rescind the order! Issuing another edict to stabilize grain prices would be the best strategy!”

“We implore Your Majesty to rescind the order!!” A large group of officials knelt on the ground and shouted again.

The slight good mood that had just arisen was now completely dispersed.

Heh, you want to change my imperial edict just like that?

If we change it today, tomorrow will you ask me to issue an edict of self-reproach?

Changing policies from dawn to dusk, how will the people of the world view me, where is the face of the royal family!

The great hall fell into silence for a moment.

Suddenly, a small eunuch ran to Guo Tianyang’s side and whispered a few words.

Guo Tianyang’s whole body jolted! He hurriedly bowed to Emperor Jing’s side.

After listening, Emperor Jing also showed surprise on his face and waved his hand. Guo Tianyang then quietly left from the side.

Running to the outside of the hall, he immediately saw the disheveled Liu Jin.

He angrily said, “You little brat! You still know how to come back! Why didn’t you die out there!”

Seeing him come, Liu Jin hurriedly took out a letter from his sleeve, pitifully saying, “Godfather… this is a letter from Lord Fang for you. He said it’s a major matter, you’ll understand as soon as you see it.”

Guo Tianyang hastily snatched the letter, opened it, and saw a piece of paper inside.

He unfolded it and began to read carefully.

As he read, cold sweat began to form… the content inside was more shocking with each page!

That damned Fang Zheng, he really can’t stay idle wherever he goes.

Must hurry… hurry to present it to His Majesty!

Guo Tianyang looked up at Liu Jin, his eyes already bloodshot, and said urgently, “You go back, I’m still busy. Don’t say anything if anyone asks you!”

With that, he hurriedly ran back into the hall.

Walking to Emperor Jing’s side, he placed the letter on the imperial desk, whispering, “Your Majesty, a letter from Fang Zheng, there’s a big matter!”

Emperor Jing’s whole body shook. He picked up the letter and began to read.

After looking at the first page, his brows suddenly relaxed, then he quickly turned to the second page.

As soon as he read it, Emperor Jing’s heart began to beat rapidly, and anger began to brew in his chest.

After reading it twice, he turned to the third page.

Just a quick glance, and he leaned back on the dragon throne as if drained of strength.

He sighed and said, “Guo Tianyang, read the contents of this letter to my group of trusted ministers!”

“Let them see how capable the officials of our great Jing Dynasty have become!!”

“This is a letter sent by Fang Zheng from Jianjiang. You all… listen carefully! Listen closely!”

The assembled officials changed color, all looking towards Emperor Jing.

Everyone had only one thought in their minds.

Something big had happened in Jianjiang!

Guo Tianyang was also in a daze, his heart full of worry.

Liu Jin had returned, would his cooperation with the Crown Prince be exposed? If His Majesty knew, wouldn’t he be finished?

Hearing Emperor Jing speak, he absentmindedly took the letter, arranged it, and then began to read.

“Dear Your Majesty, it’s been a long time, how is your appetite recently? I’m not doing well, unable to see you, I can’t eat or drink every day…. Once there was a sincere relationship between monarch and subject before me, but I didn’t cherish it. Now in Jianjiang, I regret it deeply. If I could have another chance to serve loyally by Your Majesty’s side, I would be willing to give my all. If I had to put a time limit on this responsibility, I hope it would be ten thousand years…..”

What nonsense are you spouting!!?

The officials below were stunned for a moment, then all turned black-faced!

That damned Fang Zheng! Really, he’s gone so far and can still disgust people? Why doesn’t he just die!

Moreover, you, Guo Tianyang, have you gone senile? Is it appropriate to say this in the great hall!?

Emperor Jing closed his eyes and leaned back on the dragon throne, his mind repeatedly pondering the case of Liu Xun’s corruption, with a splitting headache.

When he came to his senses, he realized that Guo Tianyang was actually reading the first page!

He immediately flew into a rage, “Shut up! Guo Tianyang! What did I tell you to read!”

Guo Tianyang also came to his senses with a boom in his head, looking at the letter in his eyes, tears almost flowing down.

Damn! How could he make such a low-level mistake? It’s all because of that damned Fang Zheng.

It’s over, it’s over, who knows how His Majesty will punish him later.

Guo Tianyang endured the pain, bit his tongue, sharpened his focus, and hurriedly turned to the next page.

“Since this subject arrived in Jianjiang, what I’ve seen is shocking. Jianjiang Prefect Liu Xun is corrupt and unjust, using the disaster to amass wealth, his thoughts are crooked, his methods are biased, he has failed in his duties and cannot escape responsibility, his judgment is flawed, his handling is misguided, his response is inappropriate, he shirks responsibility, incites confrontation, loots supplies, puts on airs, incurs the wrath of gods and men, is bewitched, spreads rumors and smears, blows out the candle with a crooked mouth, a force of evil!….. The evidence is conclusive!”

The assembled ministers drew in a sharp breath. You little guy, flattering is one thing!

But why so many weird phrases?

“Such evil deeds have caused overwhelming resentment among the people. This subject has already publicly executed these two villains to appease the people’s anger!”

Many people who heard this were dumbfounded… You, Fang Zheng, directly beheaded the Jianjiang Prefect?

Even skipped the process! Didn’t even report to the court?

You dare to be so brazen in the local area! Even if your uncle is Minister Li, that’s not how things are done!

Fang Zheng, you are a ruthless one!!

“Regarding the grain disaster in Jianjiang, the court has repeatedly ordered that grain prices in the private sector must not rise.”

“But the soaring grain prices have become an indisputable fact, with countermeasures to every policy.”

“Although rice shops still sell at fixed prices, most shops deliver rice to homes, and then use the opportunity of delivery to claim shoe wear and tear, charging an additional wear and tear fee. The people call it ‘shoe money’ to compensate for the loss in rice prices.”

“There are even rice shops selling grain under the guise of washing rice, charging an additional ‘rice washing fee’. If not washed, there’s no grain to sell!”

“There are many such examples! The private sector’s response to the court’s price stabilization policy is diverse and difficult to prevent.”

“This subject believes that grain prices rise and fall according to their own rules, and these rules cannot be violated!”

“The court’s edicts have already become waste paper. I hope the ministers in the court will seek other methods!”