“Right now the sanitation team has taken over the day and night cleaning work of more than a dozen nearby districts, incurring huge losses every month.”

“We only have two paths before us. One is to lay off some people, the other is to dock their silver. Your Highness, you choose.”

Fang Zheng rested his hands behind his head, smiling as he looked at Li Yuanzhao.

This kid was out fooling around every day, who knows if he ever did anything proper.

But he did have the bearing of a gang boss to some extent.

He always got along well with his subordinates, but Fang Zheng wasn’t sure how capable Li Yuanzhao was at actually getting things done.

Li Yuanzhao furrowed his brows and thought for a moment, then said irritably, “I won’t choose! They’re all brothers, what’s there to fear about spending some silver?”

“Old Fang, you’re the one with all the solutions. Help me think of a way.”

“Those people are all poor folks… If they’re not in the sanitation team, where else would they make a living?!”

Fang Zheng picked up a brush and started writing and drawing again. When he finished, he handed the paper to Li Yuanzhao to look at.

“Solutions, well, it’s not like there aren’t any… Look, the sanitation team is now responsible for over a dozen districts. If we double their scale, we can keep going.”

“Have them sleep two hours a day and work a bit more. It won’t interfere with either… Isn’t this a good plan?”

Li Yuanzhao looked at the contents on the paper, his eyes gradually turning red.

He slammed the table and stood up angrily. “Bullshit! Could people even survive like that? If you do this, all my brothers will die out!”

“Old Fang, have a conscience! Your heart is too black!”

“If you dare do this, I’ll have the brothers hang you from a lamp post!”

Fang Zheng spread his hands and shrugged his shoulders. “Then there’s no other way. This is my solution… Your Highness, think of another way. It’s not necessarily unsolvable, right?”

Seeing his careless demeanor, Li Yuanzhao ran off in a huff.

Fang Zheng grinned.

Silly fool, doing things without using your brain, just knowing how to mess around all day. Go figure it out yourself.

Fang Zheng had studied this last night.

Based on the current situation of the sanitation team, as long as they handled five more districts, they could break even.

However, in the Jing Dynasty, there was no concept of human rights. The workers had no notion of weekends or rest days.

Anyway, as long as they didn’t work themselves to death, they just kept at it.

If the workload of five more districts was added, the sanitation team members definitely wouldn’t be able to take it.

The only option was to find ways to optimize the work methods.

The sanitation team’s work in Banshan District was the most hassle-free because the people would gather the waste buckets at the public toilets. They just needed to uniformly deal with transport at the public toilets.

Other districts weren’t like this. There were very few public toilets, so most of the waste had to be collected door-to-door, wasting quite a bit of time.

As long as Li Yuanzhao figured this out and came to Fang Zheng for money, he would definitely give it. Then with the assistance of the North City Garrison, it wouldn’t be difficult to increase the number of public toilets in the northern districts and promote the Banshan District model. After all, building a few toilets didn’t cost much.

It just depended on whether he could think it through.

Fang Zheng wouldn’t lay people off, but he couldn’t watch the crown prince mess around aimlessly every day either.

Besides, what sanitation team? Those men were clearly just walking advertisements for the Young Master!

…

Imperial Clan Court.

Yan Guoan looked at the few Hanlin officials before him and said indifferently, “Well, have you all made up your minds?”

“How long has it been since the crown prince last read in the Imperial Clan Court? He spends all day with that Fang Zheng causing trouble. Are you all really content with being idle every day?”

“Those willing to join me, please step forward.”

Someone questioned, “Lord Yan… but Fang Zheng is highly favored by the Emperor. It’s not that we haven’t told His Majesty, but the Emperor doesn’t seem to have any reaction.”

“This situation has persisted for a long time now. What’s the use of impeaching him again?”

Yan Guoan waved his sleeve. “Impeach? I suppose so, but this official has another idea. Fang Zheng and the crown prince are now managing Banshan District. This official can request His Majesty to also let us manage a district.”

“Then, by comparison, Fang Zheng’s true colors will be exposed, and the crown prince can also return to the Imperial Clan Court to study with peace of mind.”

Another person stepped out. “But we’ve already been to Taoyuan County and seen it. Fang Zheng’s achievements in Taoyuan County have left many people far behind. Does Lord Yan really believe we can surpass him?”

Yan Guoan said confidently, “Everyone… do you truly believe Fang Zheng has real ability?”

“This person is glib-tongued, and his conduct is even more unscrupulous, stopping at nothing to cheat and deceive. Is the prosperity of Taoyuan County really as you all saw it? I think not!”

“You all also watched the play at the theater that day. It was simply shameless and debased, a complete loss of human relations! Although the common folk of Taoyuan County are still common folk, being exposed to this kind of thing day after day, how are they any different from beasts?”

“Let me also mention some details you may not have noticed. Although the streets of Taoyuan County appear prosperous, many inns and restaurants have broken windows, some without even window paper!”

“I also had people investigate in the capital. The thing Fang Zheng has done the most in Banshan District for such a long time is actually having people sweep the streets and clean up night soil. It’s clear this person has put all his effort into superficial things!”

“Who knows what the inside is truly like? It’s really gold on the outside, rotten on the inside!”

“You all should have also heard about the toilet lucky draw causing an uproar in the city. It’s simply a travesty! This is all Fang Zheng has done in governing Banshan District. Do you really believe such a person has governing ability? Don’t you feel ashamed to be an official alongside someone like this?”

The crowd began to lower their heads in thought.

Lord Yan made sense. Fang Zheng was in his twenties, there was no reason he could govern a county city to that extent. He most likely inherited the achievements of his predecessor.

Moreover, they were only in Taoyuan County for a brief day. With that scoundrel’s character, he even made use of children. It was entirely possible he faked it.

The so-called “donkey dung is shiny on the surface” must refer to this.

Otherwise, how could we, at our age, not compare to a man in his twenties? It doesn’t make sense!

However, the brothels in Taoyuan County were truly top-notch!

Many people thought of that night when they wore monk’s robes and vanquished the white snake cosplayer, involuntarily drooling.

And that eye-opening iron spear dance.

That serpentine waist, those long legs, that novel dance… slurp!

Thinking about it, they couldn’t help turning red in the face…

Yan Guoan looked at the “angry” expressions on everyone’s faces, feeling a bit smug inwardly.

A petty man like Fang Zheng, his actions ultimately went against human sentiment… Although His Majesty was temporarily fooled by him…

But the hearts of the people are with me! The eyes of my colleagues in court are discerning. No matter how good Fang Zheng is at flattery, what use is it?

“Everyone, have you considered it? Those willing to go with me tomorrow, please step forward!”

“We are willing to go together with Lord Yan!”