After chatting with Ma Tongyuan and the others for a while, Fang Er returned home.
The weather cleared, and it was finally time for some relief.
So, for the next few days, Fang Er once again entered teaching mode.
He fixed his schedule to go to the schoolhouse and give the children one lesson a day.
He also took the time to use the world mineral map from the mining books to guide the carpenters in creating a globe.
When Niu Liang and his men placed the two-meter diameter globe in the center of the schoolhouse courtyard, every child, no matter how old, was incredibly excited.
They constantly gathered around the globe, looking at it.
Fang Er seized the opportunity and began teaching geography right there in the courtyard.
There were over five hundred students in the schoolhouse, so Fang Er lectured for a whole day, one class after another.
As he returned to the Fang residence, his throat dry, Li Chengyan and the other two, accompanied by guards, also returned to the Imperial Palace.
The first thing the three brothers did upon returning to the palace was not to go their separate ways, but to gather together at the Two Poles Hall.
This puzzled Li Shimin greatly.
You three are not going back to review your studies, but have something for me?
Li Chengyan was very excited.
"Father Emperor, today the Headmaster Fang made a large ball for the schoolhouse! It's called a globe.
And he said that the ground beneath our feet is just like the globe!"
Li Shimin's interest was piqued. He put down the memorials he was holding and beckoned to the three.
"Come, tell your Father Emperor properly what the globe looks like and what's on it."
Fang Er had previously mentioned he would make him a map, but there was no follow-up.
Hmph! I'll have to properly deal with that young man later.
Li Chengyan and the other two walked to the imperial desk and stood there.
Li Shimin glared at Lai Yifa, "What are you standing there for? Go get chairs quickly!"
Lai Yifa quickly led people to fetch three chairs.
The three imperial scions sat upright on the chairs.
Li Chengyan began to describe the contents of the globe.
"Father Emperor, it turns out this world has seven continents! And they are all incredibly vast.
There are countless kinds of mineral treasures!
There are many places where only primitive people who eat raw meat and drink blood exist to this day."
After he finished, Li Tai took over the conversation and spoke about what he had noticed on the globe.
"Father Emperor, it turns out this world has ice mountains that never melt, located in the extreme south and extreme north.
Headmaster Fang also said that there, the day and night only change once a year!"
"Also, Headmaster Fang said that in the sea, there are whales tens of meters long, and on other continents, there are giant beasts two to three zhang tall."
A glint flashed in Li Shimin's eyes, and he then looked at Li Ke, "Tell Father Emperor, what did you see?"
Li Ke thought for a moment, then said.
"Father Emperor, Headmaster Fang said that all of this is to become the property of the Great Tang!"
Li Shimin no longer had the mind to review any memorials.
He sent the three brothers back to their studies.
He himself sat alone in the Two Poles Hall, contemplating what his three sons had described about the globe.
The next morning, when the students arrived at school with their satchels, they were surprised to find three unfamiliar people surrounding the globe, looking at it.
The expressions on their faces were even more astonished than when they first saw the globe.
Especially the one who looked like a younger elderly man, why did his expression look so excited, like a starving dog seeing a piece of dried meat?
As they didn't recognize these three people, the students politely greeted them and then entered their respective classrooms to take out their books and study.
Li Chengyan and the other two, however, were stunned.
The older man was Li Shimin, and the other two older individuals were Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui.
Just as they were about to speak, Li Shimin stopped them with a look.
The three brothers had no choice but to pretend not to know them and entered the classroom.
Li Shimin had not slept all night.
His mind was a mess, and as soon as dawn broke, he summoned Fang and Du to come to the schoolhouse with him.
After opening the door and sending away the guard on duty, Ma Tongyuan, the three of them began to study the globe.
Fang Er had marked it very clearly on the globe.
After all, it was made based on the world mineral map, with gold, silver, gems, and other minerals, as well as spices and ivory, which were as valuable as gold in the Great Tang.
Looking at these made Li Shimin's mouth water.
This item held more appeal for Li Shimin than firearms and cannons!
Therefore, Li Shimin said a few words to Fang Xuanling.
Fang Xuanling left and returned shortly after, bringing a large group of people into the courtyard.
"Your Majesty, everyone has been summoned."
Du Ruhui looked at the people entering and already knew what Li Shimin intended to do.
He advised, "Your Majesty, isn't it not quite right not to inform Liaodong about this?"
Li Shimin said proudly, "That kid still owes me a map, so there's no need to inform him."
Then, he waved his hand at the Imperial Guards who had entered.
"Carry it back! Be careful, don't bump or scratch it!"
The Imperial Guards crowded around and, with great effort, lifted the globe.
Li Shimin put his hands behind his back and walked towards the schoolhouse gate.
"Duke Fang, Duke Du, come back to the palace with me to study this thoroughly."
Not long after they left, Fang Er, who had slept until he woke up naturally, arrived for class on his newly repaired "Warrior" brand motorcycle.
As soon as he entered the courtyard, he was shocked by the pit on the ground.
He thought he had gone to the wrong place, looked around, and confirmed it was indeed the schoolhouse!
"Where's my globe? Why is there only a pit where its base was buried?"
He instantly became furious and, with his hands on his hips, roared in the courtyard.
"Who the hell is this unfilial son with a hole in his backside, so vicious, to dare steal my ball?"
"Ma Tongyuan! Zhang Zhimin! Come out! Give me a perfect explanation!"