The Motivational Master Takes Action

"Ahem! That was a great scientific experiment, an effort made for humanity's welfare. Remember to tell the historians that," Fang Zheng corrected.

Li Yuanzhao gave him a sidelong glance and curled his lip contemptuously.

"Your Highness, have you considered what would happen if you really killed them?"

"Of course, the people would applaud," Li Yuanzhao said expressionlessly.

"Wrong! Only a tiny portion of the people would applaud!"

"Only a small number of merchants and peddlers were extorted by them. Most commoners still have a very good impression of the Sanitation Team. If you rashly kill them, the people will complain, and it will bring you a bad reputation! That's something no one wants to see."

"Moreover, these people aren't deserving of death. At most, they should be punished and dismissed from the Sanitation Team. Killing is the last resort when there's no alternative. Rash killing won't convince the people!"

Li Yuanzhao sighed again: "I understand, Old Fang. I was just venting. You're starting to sound like those tutors from the Imperial Clan Court."

Fang Zheng licked his lips and couldn't help stroking his chin.

Really? Am I giving off dad vibes?

"Ahem! Your Highness should handle the Sanitation Team properly. I won't interfere further. What about your other plans?"

Li Yuanzhao thought for a moment: "I plan to abolish the previous management methods and restore everything to how it was."

"For the affected merchants, I'm willing to compensate them and issue a public apology in the newspaper... what do you think?"

Fang Zheng immediately shook his head: "You can restore things to how they were, but absolutely no apologies or compensation!"

"Your Highness represents the court. How could the court make mistakes? The court is always wise, mistakes are impossible, and apologies are even more impossible!"

Li Yuanzhao immediately retorted: "Old Fang, what nonsense is this! Hasn't the court made plenty of mistakes? Haven't there been many emperors in history who issued self-blame edicts?"

"Of course there have been many, but has Your Highness ever seen the court admit mistakes? Historically, there have indeed been emperors who issued self-blame edicts, but those were just tactics!"

"Commoners are the most forgetful. One must wait until the matter is properly resolved and the people have forgotten before issuing a self-blame edict. By then, the people will be grateful to the emperor. That's the purpose of self-blame edicts."

"If Your Highness admits fault before the matter is resolved, how will others view you? Everyone will say you're a confused Crown Prince who torments the people! If this reaches His Majesty, he'll lose face too!"

Li Yuanzhao's eyes widened in anger: "Let them curse! If I've made a mistake, I'll admit it! What does this have to do with Imperial Father? Old Fang, you're just too cunning. I'm not as shameless as you!"

Fang Zheng nearly blew smoke from his nostrils in anger.

I'm shameless? I'm doing this for whom?! Ungrateful brat!

Li Yuanzhao continued ranting: "Oh! You were just worried the people would complain if I killed someone. Won't they complain if I refuse to admit my mistake now?!"

"Of course not!" Fang Zheng asserted confidently: "As I told Your Highness earlier, commoners are the most forgetful. Take away what they already have, then return it to them after some time, and they'll think Your Highness is wise! They'll see it all as your benevolence and not only won't they resent you, they'll be grateful!"

Hearing this, Li Yuanzhao's features scrunched together, his face conflicted: "Old Fang, you're truly shameless. I could never do such a thing."

"But that's what the court has always done! Have you ever spent a penny less of the court's earnings?!" Fang Zheng's face showed obvious displeasure.

"Means! Methods! It's not about being shameless or not, it's about using them for good or evil! We seek the best results."

"Being straightforward might seem easier, but if you apologize, you'll make the people and court officials lose trust in you. Future actions, good or bad, will face increased resistance!"

"For this matter, you only need to punish the Sanitation Team members openly, fairly, and justly. Nothing more!"

Li Yuanzhao lowered his head in thought, and Fang Zheng didn't interrupt.

After a while, he raised his head: "You... make sense, but can't I compensate those affected commoners?"

"Certainly not!"

"If Your Highness sets this precedent, there'll be no end to it. As long as the people want to, they can always blame failures on the court. Would Your Highness compensate everyone? How much money would be enough?"

"If you don't compensate, Your Highness's reputation will suffer! So, absolutely no compensation!"

Li Yuanzhao visibly deflated: "So... everything happened because of me, all losses occurred because of me, yet I can't make any amends?"

"Correct! A mistake is a mistake! Some errors cannot be remedied." Fang Zheng gradually became serious: "Your Highness is the Crown Prince. One mistake from you could cost many lives! Every order you approve might change countless people's fates, and there's no remedy afterward."

Li Yuanzhao hung his head, swallowing repeatedly, looking extremely uncomfortable.

Fang Zheng's tone inevitably softened: "But everyone grows through mistakes. I'm like this, all people in the world are like this... Your Highness shouldn't be discouraged. Learning a lesson is a good thing. After all, none of us have a golden finger. We'll all make mistakes."

Li Yuanzhao looked up, tears already in his eyes, and asked in a muffled voice: "What's a golden finger?"

"Uh... just think of it as something that makes people feel good! It's just a metaphor!"

Seeing his sorrowful appearance, Fang Zheng magically produced a list from his sleeve and handed it over.

He said softly: "When facing setbacks, never lose heart. Sometimes there are ways to remedy things!"

"This is a list of affected merchants. If they could withstand the Sanitation Team's extortion, it means they have some assets and can recover in time."

"We may not be able to compensate them directly, but we can find excuses to exempt them from taxes or help them attract business. That's also a form of compensation. What does Your Highness think?"

Li Yuanzhao took the list, wiped his tears, and smiled: "That works well!"

"Yes, let's do it that way. However... not everything can be remedied." Fang Zheng said earnestly.

"I understand!"

"Is Your Highness hungry? I brought pork knuckle, milk-fragrance pig!" Fang Zheng opened the food container and arranged several dishes on the table.

By now, Li Yuanzhao had vented most of his emotions. Looking at the table full of dishes, his stomach growled.

He glanced awkwardly at Fang Zheng.

"I'm hungry. Let's eat!"