Royal Gold Magistrate

Fang Zheng hurriedly grabbed Li Yuanzhao: “Your Highness, this definitely won’t work!”

“The wooden boards are thick and hard. His Majesty will notice immediately if they hit your body.”

“Listen to me, you don’t need to prepare anything.”

“His Majesty already knows what you’ve been doing in the city, and he’s delighted!”

“He’s just annoyed about your fake edict, but because of that fake edict, you see, you’ve even earned His Majesty some face.”

“Come back to the Fenghua Tower with me and just behave yourself! If His Majesty can’t find you, he might get even angrier.”

“Don’t worry, at most he’ll scold you lightly. When His Majesty comes to find you, just be obedient. Trust me, it won’t go wrong!”

Li Yuanzhao’s eyes lit up with excitement, “Really! You’re not lying to me?”

“Your subject never lies!”

……….

That night, Emperor Jing slept for an afternoon and woke up in the evening feeling energetic.

After drinking a cup of tea, he immediately summoned Fang Zheng and said, “Where is that rebellious son? Take me to him.”

Fang Zheng obediently led Emperor Jing to Li Yuanzhao’s door.

At the door, Emperor Jing didn’t rush to push it open.

Instead, he asked Fang Zheng, “Minister Fang, do you think I should reward him or beat him?”

“This… it’s entirely up to Your Majesty.”

Fang Zheng couldn’t help but think to himself.

He’s your son, do whatever you want. Why are you asking me about this?

“Eunuch Guo, bring the lance.”

F*ck!

Fang Zheng was instantly shocked into a cold sweat and hurriedly stopped Emperor Jing.

This is his own son! Using a big spear to beat his son… This is aiming for his life!

Fortunately, I was prepared!

“Your Majesty! Don’t be rash! This room is too small, there’s not enough space to use a lance.”

“Your subject has prepared something for you!”

Saying this, like performing a magic trick, he pulled out a long, thick rattan cane from his clothes.

It was more like a stick than a cane.

Emperor Jing took the cane and smiled: “If that rebellious son were half as sensible as you, I wouldn’t have to worry so much.”

Saying this, he took the cane and swung it a couple of times, looking satisfied, then pushed open the door and entered the room.

Soon, screams began to come from the room.

Fang Zheng and Guo Tianyang pressed their ears to the door, listening carefully.

Guo Tianyang couldn’t help but say, “Little brother, you’re really something. Aren’t you afraid the Crown Prince will find out?”

Fang Zheng smiled mischievously.

You don’t understand a thing! That’s a specially customized stick I had Old Qi make in advance, with some shock-absorbing design.

It just looks thick, but it shouldn’t hurt much when hitting someone.

The Crown Prince is screaming quite pitifully, tsk tsk, his acting skills are really on point!

Early the next morning, a group of ministers accompanied Emperor Jing as he sat in the great hall for breakfast.

On the table were only ordinary foods, rice porridge and small dishes. The better items were some steamed mutton buns that people had been ordered to make.

Those luxurious protected animals had naturally disappeared.

After all, with the emperor present, they couldn’t serve him the best food.

Li Yuanzhao came limping down from upstairs.

The officials bowed, then Li Yuanzhao moved close to Fang Zheng and whispered, “Didn’t you say he wouldn’t beat me?”

“But it’s okay… I just got a beating, Imperial Father should have vented his anger.”

Fang Zheng shrugged.

You got off lightly, isn’t that because of me?

“Your Highness, please sit down and eat something.”

“No, I can’t sit yet.”

“???”

Fang Zheng looked at Li Yuanzhao in confusion.

Li Yuanzhao’s face turned slightly red, and he smiled sheepishly, “My buttocks hurt, he hit them all over.”

Hiss… Is that necessary? Could the specially made stick hit that hard?

Fang Zheng was full of doubts, then picked two large meat buns and passed them to Li Yuanzhao.

Emperor Jing watched the two of them talking quietly, then suddenly said, “Minister Fang, there shouldn’t be any other matters here, right?”

“In response to Your Majesty, only some details remain to be dealt with, there are no major issues left.”

Emperor Jing nodded: “Very well, I’ve already brought people to take over your position this time.”

“However… I thought about it last night, since you’re so capable, it wouldn’t be a problem for you to stay here.”

“No!”

“Your subject cannot!”

Two voices rang out simultaneously, and Emperor Jing glared fiercely at Li Yuanzhao. He said, “Fine, since you’re unwilling, then come back to the capital with me.”

Hearing this, Fang Zheng smiled happily.

Emperor Jing continued: “Originally, you should have stayed in the local area for a few more years.”

“You used the newspaper to throw my court into chaos, causing dissatisfaction among the officials.”

“But considering your merits in disaster relief, let’s call it even, and you’ll be restored to your original position.”

Emperor Jing paused: “What I didn’t expect was that you didn’t ask the court for a single coin.”

“The method of advertising indeed opened my eyes. Is the effect of advertising really that significant?”

“In response to Your Majesty, for merchants, nothing is more important than reputation.”

“Advertisement, advertisement, it’s all about widespread announcement!”

“For the same product that everyone is selling, naturally, whoever has the reputation will sell better!”

“If the streets and alleys are filled with advertisements from one particular merchant, then that merchant will naturally be able to seize the market opportunity.”

Fang Zheng got more and more excited as he spoke.

With animated gestures, he said: “Advertisements come in many forms and have a wide range of applications.”

“If used well, they can greatly mobilize the people’s efforts! Your Majesty, think about it, besides conventional promotional methods like signboards and banners, they can also be printed on products.”

“Not only can they be printed on products, they can be placed almost anywhere you can think of, and can even be printed in books!”

“Think about it, how many books need to be printed in the world?”

“Those scholars, when they get tired of reading, can look at the advertisements to relieve fatigue. Isn’t that killing two birds with one stone?”

The ministers at the table immediately glared at him angrily!

Are you even human? Those are books! You’re inserting merchant advertisements in them?

How can the words of the sages be mixed with the stench of merchants’ copper?

If you’re tired of reading, isn’t it better to go to a brothel to relieve fatigue? Why do you still need to look at books!?

Emperor Jing also looked disdainful and said lightly, “Forget it, this matter needs to be considered carefully.”

“If merchants really do as you say and put advertisements everywhere, what kind of decorum would that be?”

“The streets of Jianjiang are full of advertisements today, which is just a temporary measure. I won’t mention it for now.”

“In the future, I don’t want to see advertisements in books!”

Fang Zheng pouted and said nothing.

Advertisements are the best thing in the world, how many great companies and ideas are born from advertisements?

Besides, how can we make money without accepting advertisements?

It’s just that printing technology isn’t advanced enough now.

When we have the technology, I’ll publish magazines! Hundreds of pages in one volume, filled with advertisements, with some indescribable pictures added in.

Won’t the sales be huge?

“Your Majesty, your subject is quite tired from being in Jianjiang. After returning to the capital, I’d like to take some time off. I wonder if Your Majesty…”

“Granted.”

Emperor Jing promptly gave Fang Zheng a vacation, then added: “I will stay here for some time.”

“Hand over your duties as soon as possible, then return to the capital with me!”

“Your subject obeys the imperial edict!”