Royal Gold Magistrate

The Emperor glanced at the thick stack of banknotes. A little eunuch then presented the banknotes on the table.

He then said indifferently, “The annual revenue of Taoyuan County for seven years is merely this paltry sum of over eighty thousand taels? Fang Zheng, you still dare to play your little tricks in front of me… Guards!”

Fang Zheng nervously said, “Your Majesty, it’s truly the case. The funds this humble official has invested in transforming Taoyuan County are innumerable… Leaving a surplus of over eighty thousand taels is already not easy!”

“Really? I don’t believe it.”

“…………………”

If you’re going to talk like this, we can’t continue the conversation!

Beads of sweat began to ooze out on Fang Zheng’s forehead. If he stayed any longer, he feared he would be dehydrated today…

Fortunately, the Emperor spoke again, “The things you did before, I can let bygones be bygones.”

“But now that you’ve entered the court, you must wholeheartedly and honestly serve me!”

“I’m very pleased that you have the ability to handle matters, but I’m very dissatisfied with your attitude as an official!”

Fang Zheng felt greatly relieved and hurriedly said, “Your Majesty’s teachings are correct! This subject will henceforth spare no effort, even if it means grinding my bones and painting the ground with my brain!”

The Emperor raised his hand. “Come, bestow a seat.”

The attending eunuch immediately brought a chair for Fang Zheng. Fang Zheng cautiously sat down.

At the same time, he inwardly thought how lucky he was. It seems this eighty thousand taels of silver wasn’t spent in vain. At the very least, it got him a seat.

Seeing Fang Zheng sit on the edge of the chair like a timid bride, the Emperor couldn’t help finding it amusing.

It appears that no matter how arrogant you are, Fang Zheng, you still know how to assess the situation.

“Alright, no need to be so restrained. I still have many things to ask you.”

Seeing the Emperor’s attitude soften, Fang Zheng also couldn’t help relaxing a bit. “Your Majesty, please ask. This subject will hide nothing.”

The Emperor pondered, various memories about Taoyuan County flashing through his mind.

Toilet paper… pipes… greenhouses… mirrors… voice recorders… For a moment, he didn’t even know where to start asking.

After thinking a bit more, he finally spoke, “Boundless Merit… Just what is this thing?”

Fang Zheng instantly showed an expression of “as expected”. The function of this thing was obvious to the discerning eye. It was only natural for the Emperor to be concerned. He had already prepared his spiel.

“In response to Your Majesty, the true name of this item is gunpowder. It ignites upon contact with fire. If the quantity is large and in an enclosed space, it will cause a violent explosion.”

“Gunpowder? Is this a natural substance or man-made?”

“Man-made!”

Joy immediately welled up in the Emperor’s heart. He hurriedly continued asking, “Then how much of this item can be produced? How much will it cost?”

Fang Zheng’s expression turned serious. “Your Majesty, this item was accidentally obtained by an alchemist. Back then, this subject had the alchemist stay behind to manufacture gunpowder for Taoyuan County, but later this person was also blown up. The production of gunpowder lost its lead there.”

“Fortunately, there was still some leftover. Taoyuan County has kept this item for several years, but gunpowder is extremely unstable and dangerous! So the remaining stock was completely used up when opening the mountain.”

“If we talk about production, it’s even more difficult! This subject had also ordered people to research it. If the research had been successful a few years ago, it would have definitely been presented to the court… It’s just a pity it failed.”

“Because the huge expenses cost over ten thousand taels of silver without success, the county later stopped allocating silver to support the research of this item…”

After saying this, Fang Zheng even shook his head in regret, revealing an expression of seeming inability to serve the country and being ashamed to death.

Just kidding! This thing could be mass-produced long ago. I, Fang Zheng, am not some rookie who just entered the workforce.

Of course good things are only taken out at critical moments. If I show off my achievements to the boss right from the start, won’t I just force myself into becoming a workaholic?

If you want to live a cushy life, you still need to slowly squeeze out the toothpaste…

However, the high cost of producing gunpowder was indeed true. Not to mention the cost of materials, when Fang Zheng first arrived, he didn’t even know what things like sulfur and potassium nitrate looked like.

He could only order people to gather all the materials that could be found on the market, and then have craftsmen compare them one by one. It took a lot of effort to finally successfully develop gunpowder.

After all, with no system and no memories, life was a bit too tough…

Hearing this, the Emperor angrily pointed at Fang Zheng. “Foolishness beyond belief! To think the research on such a divine tool was stopped. I will immediately order Taoyuan County to continue developing this item!”

Fang Zheng smiled bitterly and shook his head. “Your Majesty… The county has no money. This subject brought all the silver this time.”

“How much do you need?”

“Forty… maybe thirty thousand… should be about right.” As he spoke, Fang Zheng couldn’t help glancing at the table.

The Emperor looked at Fang Zheng with a cold smile. “What? Could it be that you want to take this money back?”

“This subject wouldn’t dare! But if we are to support the research and development of this item, silver is still needed after all… This humble official can’t possibly impose heavier taxes on the people and exploit their fat and grease, right…”

Fang Zheng’s courage had also grown. Honestly, which emperor wouldn’t be tempted by this thing?

Since he had some bargaining chips, if he could retrieve even a little of the silver he gave out, it would still be his coffin money!

The Emperor’s gaze fixed on Fang Zheng, observing for a long time. It didn’t seem fake.

But given Fang Zheng’s slippery performance, the Emperor was still very vigilant.

“Twenty thousand taels… I’ll give you one year. In one year, I want to see gunpowder being produced and used.”

Fang Zheng hurriedly shook his head. “Your Majesty, the silver can be a bit less. This subject can always find a way. But the time… is really too tight. The original research went on for two years with little effect. Now the people involved back then have long gone to do other jobs.”

“If the old people are summoned back to relearn… This subject feels it will take at least two years. Within two years, this subject still has some confidence!”

“Fine… Two years it is. I will send people to Taoyuan County to assist in the research. If it’s not successful after two years, the consequences… you need to consider carefully.”

For such a divine tool, it was worth waiting two years. Moreover, the country currently had no wars. The Emperor wasn’t very concerned about time.

Fang Zheng revealed a trace of an imperceptible smile. The twenty thousand taels came back! Swindling some research funds was really quite a hassle, and it was still his own money!

Send people over if you want! Gunpowder was Taoyuan County’s most important secret. The personnel who participated in the research back then were all shrewd and worked in the county yamen.

Once the imperial decree arrived, everyone would naturally know what to do… Fang Zheng had this bit of assurance.

“Please rest assured, Your Majesty! This subject will definitely not disgrace the mission and live up to the trust!”

The Emperor nodded in satisfaction, then said sinisterly, “Good… Next, I want to know, is the poisoned oath I issued back then still in your hands…?”

Fang Zheng chuckled dryly a couple of times. “When signing the contract back then, Your Majesty used a false name, so it can’t be taken seriously. I’ll write a letter as soon as I return, telling them to burn it all!”

The Emperor looked at him without speaking.

“Oh… and that device, which I call a phonograph, I’ll also present it to Your Majesty. The phonograph… can already be manufactured, but it’s a secret of Taoyuan County, so there’s only one. If Your Majesty needs more, this subject can order people to make them. May Your Majesty show wise judgment!”

This time, Fang Zheng honestly confessed everything, thinking that it must be that dog Wu Sheng who sold him out!

The Emperor had naturally been to Taoyuan County and naturally had to ask about the mysteries within. It would be strange if he didn’t know the function of the phonograph.

Besides, this trip of his had to produce some results for the big boss, right? Otherwise, could he still have a future?

“Very good… Continue…”