Li Shimin sat behind the imperial desk, stroking his beard and nodding slightly.
This dictionary is indeed a good book.
Marquis of Liaodong, what do you plan to sell this thick dictionary for?
Fang Er snatched the dictionary back from Fang Xuanling's hand.
He flipped to the first page and returned it to the imperial desk.
Pointing to the line: Study for the rise of the Great Tang.
Your Majesty, the cost of creating this dictionary is not cheap.
However, this subject asks for no payment!
As long as Your Majesty agrees to three matters!
Li Shimin looked at Fang Er with a hint of doubt.
What matters?
Fang Er's expression was solemn.
The first matter, on behalf of Ma Tongyuan, Zhang Zimin, Xue Zhiqian, and others who compiled the dictionary, I ask for official positions for them.
The second matter, I request Your Majesty to issue an edict to establish schools in the towns and villages in the counties and prefectures around Chang'an first.
This will make it convenient for the teachers and students from Fang Family School to be assigned to various places to teach pronunciation.
Starting from a single point and spreading outwards, from these counties and prefectures, then the pronunciation and dictionary can be disseminated throughout the country. Only then can the people's intellect be opened and their hearts enlightened!
The third matter is that these schools shall not charge any tuition fees from the common people!
Du Ruhui's eyes lit up upon hearing this, and he couldn't help but look at Fang Er with even greater admiration.
He would provide the money and personnel, and the court only needed to cooperate.
In this way, in ten or eight years, the literacy rate of the Great Tang would increase to an unprecedented extent.
Reading makes people wise, reading makes people understand reason.
Why do those aristocratic families like to monopolize culture?
This is a channel for upward mobility.
By monopolizing this channel, they can control the court's decisions and feed back to the aristocratic families behind them.
This is also the reason for the existence of dynasties lasting hundreds of years and aristocratic families lasting thousands of years.
Adjusting his attire, Du Ruhui bowed deeply to Fang Er.
Marquis of Liaodong, your righteousness is admirable! Du admires you.
After speaking, he cupped his hands towards Li Shimin.
Your Majesty, I agree with the Marquis of Liaodong's proposal. I implore Your Majesty to make a decision!
Fang Xuanling also voiced his agreement.
Your Majesty, I believe this matter is feasible.
Li Shimin stroked his beard.
Looking at the sentence on the dictionary.
Study for the rise of the Great Tang.
Then he thought of the words reported back from the Hundred Riders Guard from the Fang Family Village School.
To establish the mind for heaven and earth.
To settle the destiny for the people.
To continue the lost learning for the past sages.
To bring peace for all generations.
It seemed that at this moment, everything was connected.
He closed the dictionary heavily, stood up, and looked at Fang Er, Fang Xuanling, and Du Ruhui.
This matter will be discussed again at the morning court tomorrow.
It was not that Li Shimin disagreed, but rather that the matter was of great importance, involving manpower and resources that required the cooperation of various departments.
Fang Er was unconcerned, as it was only a matter of one day sooner or later.
After leaving the Liangji Hall, he went straight to the Ministry of Justice.
After throwing a piece of silver to the guards outside the door, he swaggered in.
This lord is now a popular figure, a favorite in the Emperor's eyes.
With Cheng Yaojin and Yuchi Jingde, his two elder brothers, supporting him, and his protective father-in-law Chai Shao, he could basically walk unhindered through all six ministries.
Although Fang Er rarely frequented the six ministries.
However, with his unique skills, once the motorcycle appeared, even a fool would know it was him!
Fang Er, unimpeded, went straight to the hall of the Ministry of Justice.
The Minister of Justice was out and not present. Currently handling official business in the hall were the Left and Right Vice Ministers, Fan Tong and Fan Ren, uncle and nephew.
Seeing Fang Er's arrogant demeanor, Fan Ren was filled with anger.
Two hundred members of the Fan family died tragically in the Fang family workshop. This person still hasn't sought justice for them.
Marquis of Liaodong, when did the Ministry of Justice become your backyard?
Fang Er ignored him and casually pulled over a chair to sit down.
He crossed his legs and took out a Havana from his pocket, lighting it.
After exhaling a puff of smoke, he looked at Fan Ren with disdain and said.
The Emperor's oral decree orders the Ministry of Justice prison to provide several educated prisoners to this Marquis. The matter is of great importance, and I request Vice Minister Fan Ren to handle it quickly.
If you delay this Marquis's important affairs, I fear you will not be able to bear the consequences!
Although he was displeased, upon hearing that it was Li Shimin's order, Fan Ren had no choice but to comply.
He ordered ten death row inmates to be selected from the Ministry of Justice prison and brought out.
Fang Er looked at the prisoners brought by the clerks and laughed!
What a coincidence!
The leader was Zheng Lao Er!
He looked at Fan Ren with some confusion.
Wasn't this guy's entire clan (three generations) supposed to be exterminated? Why is he still imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice?
Fan Ren seemed to have heard something amusing.
Even if his clan was to be exterminated, it would be after the autumn execution. Does the Marquis of Liaodong not even know this?
Uh, Fang Er really didn't know about this saying.
But he couldn't appear to be at a disadvantage in front of this guy.
So he said stubbornly.
Well, this question gets full marks. It seems Vice Minister Fan is quite competent in the Ministry of Justice.
Have these people sent to the Fang family workshop by Vice Minister Fan.
This Marquis will take his leave first, no need to see me out!
With that, he left the hall of the Ministry of Justice with his hands behind his back.
His arrogant demeanor made Fan Ren want to explode on the spot.
The motorcycle roared all the way to the Fang family workshop.
He asked Xue Zhiqian for another copy of the dictionary, then hid in the studio, annotating the traditional Chinese characters.
Behind each traditional character, he added the corresponding simplified character. This was not a large task, only a few thousand characters in total.
This was prepared for Zheng Lao Er and the others.
The people from the Ministry of Justice did not keep Fang Er waiting for long.
Before he had finished annotating a thousand characters, Qi Sui knocked on the studio door.
Come in!
Fang Er replied without looking up.
After Qi Sui entered, he cupped his fists in greeting and then said.
Marquis, the people from the Ministry of Justice have arrived.
Fang Er continued to annotate the dictionary and said.
Clear out a room in the Guard's camp to house the people sent by the Ministry of Justice.
Provide them with good food and drink, but do not allow them to leave the room.
If they dare to cause trouble, chop them down directly.
Qi Sui received the instructions and went out to handle it.
The entire dictionary contained nearly 5,500 characters.
Fang Er spent a full three hours, writing until it was dark.
Carrying the dictionary, he came to the Guard's camp.
Qi Sui was already waiting. Seeing Fang Er, he quickly stepped forward, leading the way and saying.
Marquis, I have arranged for them in the middle of the camp, ensuring that there will be no accidents.
Fang Er nodded and followed Qi Sui to a barrack.
The two sentries saw them and opened the door.
Fang Er walked in, with Qi Sui closely behind him.