Fang Er had walked dozens of steps away from the Liangji Hall when he suddenly remembered he had forgotten something after returning from Shenyang.
He stopped and thought about what he had forgotten.
Suddenly, Fang Er slapped his forehead.
Damn it! I forgot to calculate the military expenses!
We agreed on four hundred guan a day! I haven't touched the silver from Goguryeo and Silla.
It's all been confiscated!
Fang Er hurried back.
Just as he reached the gate of Liangji Hall, he heard Li Shimin arguing inside like a madman.
It's all yours, all yours.
What do you mean it's all yours?
Goguryeo, Silla, Tuyuhun, Nanhan, are these the only places in your eyes?
Fang Er stepped forward and knocked a few times on the door of Liangji Hall.
Li Shimin's voice inside abruptly stopped.
He managed to calm himself down, then asked from outside.
Didn't I say that no one should disturb me without reason?
Fang Er pushed the door open and went inside.
Li Er was somewhat stunned. Hadn't this guy left, why did he come back?
Did he overhear my words just now?
Should I silence him?
Or should I silence him?
If this were to reach the ears of the surrounding countries, the Great Tang would be in trouble.
Fang Er had no idea that he was already halfway to the underworld.
He merely looked at Li Shimin with disdain.
Yes!
Pure disdain!
Well, I am the Crown Prince's teacher now.
Giving Li Shimin a lesson is like getting one free with one.
Your Majesty, your goals are a bit too small!
Goguryeo, Silla, Tuyuhun, Nanhan, Turkestan, what are these places?
There are so many territories in this world!
The entire mountains are silver mines!
There are places where you can pick up gold just by bending over.
There are also places where the fruits on the trees can feed people.
There are also places where agate and spices are everywhere.
And there are places where you can dig out fire oil by simply digging a well.
By the way, armored vehicles and pickup trucks run on fire oil.
Don't you want to conquer these treasure troves?
These words were like a bolt from the blue to Li Shimin!
Are there really so many good places in the world? Why have I never heard of them?
He immediately looked at Fang Er nervously and asked.
Are you playing a trick on me?
There are no such places in the world as you described.
As the ruler of a nation, I haven't heard of them. Where did you get this information?
Hmm. This ignorant look.
It's so delightful to see.
Fang Er cleared his throat.
Your Majesty, may I trouble you for paper and brush?
Li Shimin pointed to the imperial desk.
Come! Write it on my imperial desk!
If you can't write it, I'll take the lives of all seven dogs in your Fang family!
Fang Er's lips twitched.
That thing that crawls into bed early in the morning, if you want it, take it!
He walked to the imperial desk, picked up Li Shimin's vermilion brush.
Then I won't be polite, will I?
Li Shimin waved his hand.
Why be polite! Hurry up and draw, hurry up and write.
Fang Er casually took a memorial from the imperial desk, without looking at its contents.
He immediately dipped it in cinnabar and began to draw with great flourish.
Li Er's lips twitched twice.
Drawing a map on a Duke's memorial, your courage is extraordinary!
That was clearly Hou Junji's memorial.
However, as he saw the patterns slowly emerging from Fang Er's brush, Li Shimin lost interest in the original content of the memorial.
Soon, a miniature world map was drawn on the memorial.
Fang Er threw down his brush.
Your Majesty, this is the true face of the world!
Although it's not very precise, it conveys the general idea.
Li Shimin held the world map, which Fang Er had drawn into something unidentifiable.
He looked at it carefully.
Here, the Great Tang only occupied such a small area?
He looked at Fang Er in disbelief.
My Great Tang is so small?
Fang Er nodded.
Yes, just this small.
Even if you conquer Goguryeo, Silla, Tuyuhun, Nanhan, and Turkestan, they will only account for one-tenth of the world's land.
Li Shimin grabbed Fang Er's clothes.
According to your drawing, how did you know about the places beyond the vast ocean?
Fang Er had forgotten this question.
After thinking for a while, he finally came up with an answer.
Well, Your Majesty, it was my mother-in-law who told me in a dream.
Li Shimin was even more bewildered!
Who is Fang Er's mother-in-law?
Princess Pingyang!
The daughter of Li Yuan, the sister of Li Shimin!
You mean, Princess Pingyang appeared to you in a dream?
Why didn't this dream appear to me, or to the Supreme Emperor? Why only to you?
Fang Er pulled away Li Shimin's hand.
He straightened his clothes.
Then he smiled and said something that left Li Shimin speechless.
Your Majesty, have you ever heard of this saying?
That a mother-in-law finds her son-in-law more and more satisfactory the more she looks at him?
Now Li Shimin had nothing to say.
A married daughter is like spilled water.
If she appeared in her son-in-law's dream, I really have nothing to say.
He looked at the vaguely drawn map.
Then tell me, where are the places you just mentioned on the map?
Fang Er raised his hand, made a fist, and rubbed his thumb and index finger back and forth.
He performed a classic gesture from later generations.
Well, Your Majesty, shouldn't the military expenses for the expedition to Goguryeo be settled now?
Five months, four hundred guan per day, twelve thousand guan per month, five months, that's sixty thousand guan!
How would you like to settle it?
Li Shimin was speechless.
Is this a threat?
If I don't pay, you won't give me intelligence?
But why am I so willing to fall into this kid's trap?
So, he shouted to the outside.
Someone! Go and invite the Duke of Liang to discuss matters!
The guards outside responded through the door and then went to fetch him.
Not long after.
Fang Xuanling entered Liangji Hall.
Your Majesty.
Li Shimin pointed at Fang Er.
This kid is here to collect money from me. Five months of campaigning in Goguryeo, military expenses of sixty thousand guan, you settle it for him.
When Fang Xuanling heard this.
How could he be happy?
Want to take money from my pocket? Absolutely not.
His eyes rolled.
Marquis of Liaodong, you still owe three thousand guan for the national bonds you subscribed to before the year.
At the民间 interest rate of two percent per month, compounded.
In six months, principal and interest combined.
It amounts to eighty-nine thousand five hundred seventy-nine guan and fifty-two wen.
This method of collecting money and lending with interest for national bonds was taught by you.
Therefore, now, you still owe me twenty-nine thousand five hundred seventy-nine guan and fifty-two wen.
Tell me, will you pay in copper coins, or in gold and silver?
Holy crap!
Fang Er's face turned green when he heard this calculation!
Is this compound interest so vicious?
In six months, it tripled?
Looking at Fang Er's expression.
Fang Xuanling was greatly satisfied.
Then he said generously, as if.
Considering the Marquis of Liaodong's meritorious service and contributions to the nation.
Your Majesty, shall we waive this debt?