Our family has been rebelling for generations, and you've become the top scholar in the imperia

Outside the public toilet.

Zhou Zhengde and his group went inside for a look around, and came out with complicated expressions.

Very clean!

To be precise, it was almost excessively clean.

There wasn't a trace of odor, and there was even some kind of incense burning inside to repel mosquitoes. To be honest, the latrines in the residences of many court officials were not as clean as this public toilet.

Several officials, who were feeling the pinch, stood inside the public toilet, looking at the clean and tidy environment, and were reluctant to loosen their belts.

"Are you coming in or not? Are you waiting for your meal? Hurry up and get in, so I can clean up!"

The old man, holding a broom, saw the group of people standing in front of the pit but didn't even bother to loosen his belt.

He couldn't help but curse from behind.

When the public beta was first launched, everyone was like this when they came in: touching this and that, no one wanted to take off their belts.

孽 孽!

Aren't you afraid of divine retribution for defecating in such a clean house?

Later, the magistrate ordered the enforcement team to keep an eye on things. Anyone who went in and didn't show up would have made a wasted trip and would have to wipe the street twenty steps when they came out.

Everyone gradually got used to it.

"Public toilets are completely free? They need to be cleaned, and construction costs money. How will they be maintained in the future?"

Zhou Zhengde was very satisfied. If there hadn't been so many people inside, he would have wanted to squat down and experience it for himself.

However, construction requires money, and cleaning staff need to be paid monthly.

It can be maintained in the short term, but what about later?

Even he, as emperor, understood this: without income, nothing can last.

"Your Majesty, the cost of building such a public toilet would be between twenty and fifty taels of silver. Charging a fee is impossible. Even if it's free, people would think twice before going in to relieve themselves, let alone charging a fee."

The surrounding officials couldn't help but gather around.

They all felt a sense of novelty.

It seems that Xifang is being managed very well. Whether it's the planning of stalls, the street environment, or the construction of public toilets, it has brought great benefits to people's livelihoods. This is truly for the good of the people.

Even many of the officials of the Nanlin Party were bowing their heads in shame at this moment.

Thinking back to the governance methods proposed by Ding Yun, they were simply not worthy of carrying Qin Feng's shoes.

"If that's the case, then if I wanted to build these public toilets in every ward of the capital, it would cost a lot of money? And the subsequent construction costs would also be a problem?"

Zhou Zhengde sighed and shook his head.

If all the wards in the capital could build such public toilets, so that people wouldn't have to find a place to relieve themselves on the street, it would greatly improve the environment of the capital.

Moreover, once this law is implemented, the people will remember its goodness.

Too much silver could be spent.

Continued investment of silver is required.

"Your Majesty, I am willing to share your burdens. In fact, the public toilets can barely maintain a balance between income and expenditure."

"Oh, how can you break even if everything is free?"

Zhou Zhengde became interested and asked in a low voice.

"Your Majesty, I will have the excrement taken outside the city and buried in a deep pit. I will add wood ash, withered leaves and other things to compost the excrement and then sell it to farms near the capital to earn a meager income to pay for cleaning and daily maintenance."

"good!!!"

Upon hearing this...

Zhou Zhengde lowered his head and thought for a moment, his expression deeply moved.

What is a subject?

Qin Feng is a good minister, a capable minister.

He figured out how to solve the problem himself. If it were any other official, they would have kept submitting memorials asking for money and making excuses. How could they be like Qin Feng?

"Listen to this, look at this. You are all officials of the court, claiming to share my burdens, but what is the reality? Whenever you encounter difficulties, the first thing you do is come to me for a solution."

Zhou Zhengde glanced at the other ministers with annoyance.

He said it in a rather irritable tone.

He pointed ahead, indicating that Qin Feng should continue leading the way.

Xifang brought him many surprises today; I wonder if there will be more to come?

Everyone sighed slightly as they watched Qin Feng, who was half a step behind the Emperor and introduced himself with a smile throughout.

"Qin Feng's official position will likely be announced today. As for what position, are there any vacant positions in the Six Ministries recently?"

Grand Tutor Wang rubbed his chest as he followed behind.

He took the initiative to walk with several officials from the Nanlin Party and asked in a low voice.

Lost!

Dongfang suffered a crushing defeat.

Moreover, Qin Feng's talent for governance will soon spread throughout the entire Great Zhou.

However, no matter what, Grand Tutor Wang of the Hanlin Academy still refused to let Qin Feng in, because the other party was unscrupulous and would use any underhanded methods.

Such a person entering the Hanlin Academy would be a huge problem.

As for the imperial guards, that's even more impossible.

What are the Imperial Guards? They're the henchmen!

If Qin Feng were to join the Imperial Guard, Grand Tutor Wang had a premonition that a large number of Nanlin Party officials would be arrested in the future, as the other side was capable of such a thing.

The only solution is to arrange for him to work in one of the Six Ministries. The position wouldn't be low, and he would be able to stay in the capital, which would satisfy the Emperor.

"There is a vacancy in the Ministry of Justice. Grand Tutor, what do you think about arranging for Qin Feng to join the Ministry of Justice?"

"No!"

Grand Tutor Wang shook his head.

The Ministry of Justice, which was in charge of punishments, wielded immense power.

"What about the other ministries? Isn't there a suitable candidate? The position of Ren Qianyuan in the Ministry of Rites will become vacant. Why not let Qin Feng join the Ministry of Rites?"

"Vice Minister of Rites? You mean, you're going to appoint Qin Feng to such a high-ranking position as Vice Minister of Rites right from the start?"

At this time.

An official behind him blinked and cautiously approached.

"I think that Scholar Qin is suited to go to a certain place."

"Where?"

"Serving as a secretary in the Ministry of Works' Agricultural Development Division is not a low-ranking position. The key point is that the Agricultural Development Division is responsible for some miscellaneous matters in the capital, such as farming and charcoal production in the vicinity of the capital."

Grand Tutor Wang's eyes lit up.

Ministry of Works!

This is a good department.

Of the six ministries, the Ministry of Works had the fewest staff. Many officials would feign illness to avoid taking the position if they heard that they were to be promoted to the Ministry of Works.

Moreover, to achieve political success in the Ministry of Works, one had to be mindful of the Ministry of Revenue's attitude.

Whether it's repairing roads, building bridges, or managing irrigation canals, all require funds from the Ministry of Revenue.

Without money, nothing can be done. Moreover, the Tuntian Division is responsible for the most arduous and tiring work in the Ministry of Works, including farming and supplying charcoal and firewood.

Ahead.

Led by Qin Feng, Zhou Zhengde walked through all the streets of Xifang, and he was particularly interested in the shops that were not yet built.

Many of the words were words I had never even heard of before.

What is a foot bath?

Can't I wash my feet inside the house? Do I have to go to a shop to wash them?

He knew a lot about massage; the old eunuch would sometimes massage his body for him.

"Once it's completed, I'll come and experience it myself. It'll be quite a novel experience. The Western Ward is well-managed. When the envoy arrives in the capital in a few days, you, as the chief official, will receive him!"

Qin Feng was overjoyed.

This means he's about to be promoted to an official position.

We can't exactly have him receive envoys as the head of the ward, can we?

It wouldn't be right to say that.

"Before that, which department would you like to serve in? I'd like to hear your own thoughts."

These words were spoken.

Qin Feng frowned and fell into deep thought.

Which department should I go to?

He definitely wouldn't go to Hanlin Academy; he'd be dealing with books all day long, so it's better to kill him.

Other departments?

"Your Majesty, this old minister believes..."

suddenly.

Grand Tutor Wang stepped forward from the group, bowing respectfully.