The Khitan King hosted another banquet at noon.
The Khitan King introduced the hospital matter to the great chieftain of the Xi tribe.
After listening, Xi Gua Ting Tian was stunned. After a long pause, he slapped his thigh and looked at Fang Er, asking, "County Duke Fang, this is a good thing! We must support it! Since we have already surrendered, can we purchase houses in Shenyang? Xi plans to send the pregnant women from the tribe there. You can build the hospital slowly, as long as you can send some physicians to take care of them!"
"Hahaha, yes, County Duke Fang, this young king also has this idea," the Khitan King chimed in.
Fang Er was taken aback. It seemed like real estate development could be an accompanying benefit. "This is absolutely possible! If you two have such ideas, then Fang will certainly support them! Since there is nothing else to do, Fang will return to Shenyang today. Within a month, after Fang has prepared the matters regarding the trading post, you can bring your cattle and sheep for trading. How about it?"
Thus, with the unanimous agreement of the Khitan King and Xi Gua Ting Tian, the matter was happily decided.
Fang Er stood up and left the tent, with the two following behind him. "Since that's the case, Fang will be taking his leave now."
The Khitan King waved his hand, pointing to the herds of snow-white sheep dotting the grassland outside the royal tent, and said, "Hahaha, no rush. This young king said he wanted to give County Duke Fang three thousand ewes, and we will take them with us today. This young king will have people catch the sheep. Rest assured, it's only three thousand, and it will be quick." Without waiting for Fang Er's agreement, he directly said to Yelü Tianying, "Go, take the warriors of the tribe and bring three thousand ewes. Remember, they must be adult ewes who have given birth only once!"
"Yes, Father!" Yelü Tianying, with a cloth strip wrapped around his head and an arm in a sling, walked away limping.
Less than an hour later, Yelü Tianying ran back. "County Duke Fang, the sheep are all caught and are outside."
"Thank you, Brother Gou Dan. Then Fang will be leaving now," Fang Er cupped his hands towards the Khitan King.
"Hahaha, this young king must personally see County Duke Fang off. Let's go!"
The Khitan King and Xi Gua Ting Tian escorted Fang Er to the edge of the royal tent's perimeter. The First and Third Regiments of the Tianhuo Army were already waiting there. However, Fang Er was taken aback when he saw them. "Damn it! These fellows are carrying the sheep on their shoulders!"
"Uh, County Duke Fang, could it be that none of the people you brought know how to herd sheep?" The Khitan King was also surprised. The Tianhuo Army's formation was too impressive. Instead of herding them together, they were prepared to carry them all the way back to Shenyang? "Hahaha, in that case, this young king will send some shepherds to County Duke Fang. Yingying, go back and select a few families to go with County Duke Fang!"
Fang Er inwardly gave the Khitan King a thumbs-up. This fellow was too considerate. "Good, then thank you, Brother Gou Dan. When I get to Shenyang, Fang will treat you to sheep testicles!"
"Hahaha, good, then this young king will wait for that day. Then, you must eat your fill!"
In essence, men always liked this sort of thing, but there was no concept of castration yet. Therefore, even if the Khitan King wanted to eat such a thing, he would have to specially slaughter a sheep.
After Yelü Tianying returned with a group of herders, Fang Er had Zhuzi and the others put the sheep down. Carrying them all the way back to Shenyang would exhaust everyone. The convoy set off, with the herders driving the sheep in the middle. Yelü Tianying and Xi Gua Bu Tian each bid farewell to their fathers and embarked on the southward journey with Fang Er. The return journey took one extra day because it was impossible to travel fast while herding such a large flock of sheep.
As the convoy was about to enter the city, to prevent the sheep from scattering, Fang Er had to order the Tianhuo Army to carry the sheep on their shoulders again. Thus, the people of Shenyang City witnessed a spectacular scene. The three thousand Tianhuo Army soldiers in the front, each carrying a fat sheep, marched in neat formation through the east-west main street of Shenyang City. Since being carried on shoulders was not comfortable, the bleating of the three thousand sheep echoed through Shenyang City from time to time, which even summoned Liu Dacheng.
"Oh my! My County Duke Fang, where did you get so many fat sheep from? Did you perhaps rob the Khitans?"
"Hahaha, Governor Liu, what are you saying? There's no need for Fang to rob them. These are gifts from the Khitan King to Fang." Fang Er instructed Zhuzi, "You guys go back first, find a piece of land outside the manor, and corral the sheep." After giving his instructions to Zhuzi, Fang Er, along with the Su Feng and Su Mu brothers, entered the Governor's manor with Liu Dacheng.
"Governor Liu, Fang has brought you immense benefits this time. Do you want to know?" In Liu Dacheng's study, Fang Er, with his legs crossed and a lollipop in his mouth, said mysteriously.
"Oh? Something that even County Duke Fang considers immense benefits, I truly cannot imagine. Please enlighten me, County Duke Fang?" Liu Dacheng looked at Fang Er with shining eyes, like a qualified supporting comedian.
"Hahaha, regarding the trading post, Governor Liu must have received the imperial decree, right?"
"Yes, this subordinate has indeed received the decree saying that a trading post will be established in Shenyang, with County Duke Fang overseeing it. However, this cannot be considered immense benefits, can it?"
"Don't rush, don't rush. Let Fang explain it to you in detail." Fang Er then explained his ideas about the hospital, kindergarten, and even real estate development to Liu Dacheng. "Attracting the prairie people to Shenyang with the hospital, promoting consumption with real estate, and finally assimilating these foreign peoples with kindergarten."
The vision Fang Er painted shocked Liu Dacheng. He thought that if this operation were successful, it would bring immense benefits to his own achievements, even if only on a small scale. From the perspective of the entire Great Tang, it was an excellent strategy for assimilating foreign peoples! "County Duke Fang, tell me what to do, and this subordinate will obey your every command!" Liu Dacheng was now completely impressed with Fang Er and only wished for this vision to become a reality as soon as possible.
"Then please trouble Governor Liu to get the maps of the areas around Shenyang City, so Fang can see where it would be suitable to build the hospital, trading post, and new houses."
"Maps? Good, this subordinate has them here. Please look, County Duke Fang." Liu Dacheng casually opened a drawer beside his desk, took out a sheepskin scroll, spread it on the table, and gestured to Fang Er. Although paper was not difficult to obtain now, most officials still preferred to use sheepskin for important documents like maps. It was easy to preserve, could be folded as desired, and importantly, was waterproof.