Royal Gold Magistrate

While everyone was still ecstatic, Fang Zheng turned to Xie Xian and said in a low voice, “You’ll also arrange the bonus matter.”

“The silver will come from the county.”

Xie Xian replied in a hushed tone, “Master, it doesn’t make sense. Are we just feeding this group of people for nothing?”

“Don’t worry, we’ll start making money soon!”

The reporters’ treatment must be improved.

Their future responsibilities will be heavier than they are now.

His Majesty intends to establish the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and Fang Zheng would probably not be able to escape it.

However, Fang Zheng thought about it and felt it was quite nice. After all, which man doesn’t want to be in the Embroidered Uniform Guard?

Wearing a dashing fish-scale armor, carrying an embroidered spring sword, strolling down the street with his nose in the air.

At that time, when I’m in the capital, it’ll be just like being back in the county! Whoever dares to mess with me will be taken away directly!

The only downside was the cost. Becoming part of the Embroidered Uniform Guard meant having no friends, with everyone in the court fearing you.

Now, although his reputation in the court was slightly tarnished, that was nothing.

The fundamental interests of the court officials didn’t conflict with his own.

He and the Crown Prince were as close as one person, and everyone could see his limitless future.

As long as they could save face, there would always be a day to build good relationships!

After all, they were all adults. There was no need to fall out over trivial matters.

Originally, he had thought about improving relationships with the court officials after returning from disaster relief in Jianjiang.

Thinking about possibly becoming part of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, he decided to forget about it! Continue to slack off!

To avoid being unable to act after building good relationships.

As for the reporters… were they still just reporters? They were his intelligence network in the capital! They would be useful sooner or later!

Bombarded with a series of good news, the reporters were overjoyed and couldn’t contain their excitement.

Shen Yi remained relatively calm. After the initial excitement, he had to consider a practical issue.

He sighed, faced Fang Zheng, cupped his hands, and said, “Lord Fang… there’s one thing Shen Yi finds hard to bring up.”

Everyone quieted down and looked at Shen Yi.

“It’s alright, please speak.”

Shen Yi hesitated for a moment: “The autumn imperial examinations are approaching. I… want to participate in the exam and need time to prepare. I’m afraid I won’t be able to fulfill my responsibilities as a reporter.”

Fang Zheng nodded.

He had anticipated this, but he wasn’t sure how many of the dozens of people in the newspaper office wanted to participate.

Fang Zheng scanned the room and asked, “How many people want to participate in the autumn imperial examinations?”

More than ten people quietly stood up.

These were all key members of the newspaper office. If they were all to leave, it would likely have a significant impact on the newspaper.

Originally, he had thought that increasing bonuses and wages would reduce some people’s willingness to participate in the autumn imperial examinations.

He didn’t expect that those who were determined to go couldn’t be stopped.

After all, this was the dream of all scholars after ten years of hard study. Fang Zheng could understand.

After a moment of silence, Fang Zheng smiled: “Good! Very good! You can go ahead and study. Your positions as reporters will always be reserved for you.”

“Besides, you can study at the newspaper office!”

“I’ve decided! I’ll spend more money to build a library next to the newspaper office! It will be for you to study or consult materials.”

“The library will have a comprehensive collection of books, and all writing materials will be free!”

“When you’re tired of studying, you can still come to the newspaper office to help out!”

“This official wishes you all success in the examinations in advance!”

How touching!

At this moment, what reaction could there be other than tears?

Shen Yi and the other reporters’ visions had blurred, their eyes filled with tears.

As reporters, they had been to disaster areas and had seen the suffering of the world and the treachery of human hearts.

But now Lord Fang had appeared, treating them no less than parents would.

He built dormitories for their convenience, ensured they had meat with every meal and could serve themselves to eat well.

Now, to help them study well, he even specially built a library.

There is… still true emotion in this world!

At this moment, Fang Zheng radiated endless light in the reporters’ eyes.

Warm and dazzling.

To this, Fang Zheng just smiled faintly: “Alright, everyone can work with peace of mind now.”

“Those who want to participate in the autumn imperial examinations can go home to study directly. If you succeed, this official will be happy too. If you don’t, there will always be a place for you back at the newspaper office. At worst, you can try again!”

“In short, the newspaper office is your home. Work hard!”

“Thank you, Lord Fang!!” All the reporters shouted in unison, their blood boiling, throwing themselves into frenzied work.

Fang Zheng pulled Xie Xian to a corner.

Xie Xian immediately asked, “Master, are we really building a library? The library is easy, but good book collections aren’t cheap…”

“Build it! The books in the library must be complete. Also, build an archive room.”

“Collect all the rare copies, manuscripts, and classic interpretations from famous authors. Give them the best conditions.”

At this point, Fang Zheng looked around furtively, like a thief.

Seeing no one except Li Yuanzhao sitting eagerly not far away, he leaned close to Xie Xian’s ear and whispered, “Print more of our county’s books and put them in the most prominent places. Make sure they can see them at first glance.”

“Oh, right, also slip a few books under the categories of classics and interpretations…”

“What books?” Xie Xian didn’t quite understand.

“You know, those ‘Young Widow’… ‘Attic Spring’… ‘Long-legged Sister’… Get them all in there! For the books without illustrations, quickly arrange to have illustrations added and print them out! Let them see!”

Xie Xian’s face immediately fell.

As a scholar himself, he understood all too well what was on scholars’ minds.

What the master was doing was extremely unethical, no different from digging up someone’s ancestral grave!

Xie Xian held back for a while but finally couldn’t resist: “Master, what we’re doing is too underhanded. Heaven rewards the diligent. They’ve worked hard for more than ten years just for this day.”

Fang Zheng was unconcerned and sneered: “Heaven rewards the diligent? Heaven rewards my ass.”

“Heaven never rewards diligence, Heaven only draws lots!”

Sometimes you work hard all your life, study diligently, and work conscientiously.

Yet you might still not compare to a pretty face, a pair of pure eyes. What’s the point of talking about heaven rewarding the diligent?

If these reporters are lucky enough to become officials, who knows how many years it would take them to reach the position of county magistrate.

A county magistrate’s annual salary is only forty-five taels.

An honest official can only live a hard life, while being a corrupt official means harming the people.

As reporters, their future wealth, reputation, and status are all guaranteed!

Moreover, they have me, Fang Zheng, and the Crown Prince as their safety net!

How desperate would they have to be to tread that thorny path?

Seeing Xie Xian still looking confused, Fang Zheng explained: “I’m doing this for their own good. They are lost sheep, and I, young master, am the guiding light.”

“If I hadn’t robbed you back then, would you be where you are today? Without me, you would have become an official long ago! Think about it, if that day really came, would you be happy?”

Xie Xian counted on his fingers and thought carefully, then said in a muffled voice: “I wouldn’t be happy. Thank you, master.”

Fang Zheng smiled with satisfaction.

I rob you for your own good!

For ordinary people, the future is shrouded in mist.

But for him, there was no mist, only a bright, wide road!

Now the reporters insist on turning into the mist, he has to find a way to pull some of them back!

It’s for his own good and theirs.

Slipping some erotic literature into the library would undoubtedly increase the chances of those with strong self-control, good study attitudes, and diligence to go astray.

However, this is fate.

Heaven rewards the diligent? I, Fang Zheng, have casually slapped Heaven across the face!