"Hmph!"
This time, Li Shimin's expression of being robbed of his quilt was genuine!
Fang Er tucked the personally signed letter bearing the imperial seal into his怀里.
He slung the large shaking machine over his shoulder.
With a swagger that acknowledged no one, he ambled out of Chengtianmen.
He tossed the car keys to Lü Shuang, who was waiting outside.
"Go back and get people. Drive all the cars to the Ministry of Works entrance! I'll be waiting for you at the Ministry of Works."
Then, he mounted Bai Xue and rode back to the Ministry of Works.
Upon seeing the imperial seal, Du Yiyang was overjoyed.
He immediately instructed the junior clerks to retrieve the blueprints from the storeroom.
After the clerks left, Du Yiyang looked expectantly at Fang Er.
"Um, Marquis, the blueprints will be here shortly. Could you perhaps offer some guidance to the craftsmen regarding the issues with the cannons?"
Several craftsmen looked at Fang Er with eagerness.
Fang Er understood this kind of expression well.
Before meeting his master in his previous life, he too had looked at skilled artisans with such eyes,
hoping they would offer him some pointers.
It was a pure desire,
devoid of any ulterior motives,
solely aimed at improving his own skills.
However, Fang Er spoke cautiously,
"You all go out first."
The craftsmen looked disappointed, their bodies slumping slightly.
They walked out with heavy steps, closing the door behind them.
Du Yiyang looked at Fang Er, puzzled.
Fang Er walked to the door, opened it a crack, and after seeing the craftsmen had walked away,
he turned back to Du Yiyang.
"You should be aware that there are influential families within the Ministry of Works. If these cannons, like the gunpowder before, are stolen, you understand the consequences."
"So, it's not that Fang doesn't want to teach, but rather, I'm afraid of causing you trouble!"
Du Yiyang looked somewhat crestfallen.
He knew this all too well.
Fang Er sat back in his chair, looking at Du Yiyang with a hint of sympathy.
"Can you identify all the people from the influential families in the Ministry of Works?"
Du Yiyang was surprised.
"What does the Marquis of Liaodong mean?"
A smile, a rather cunning one, appeared on Fang Er's face.
"Fang is willing to teach, but you must find out everyone from the influential families in the Ministry of Works for me!"
"Make the Ministry of Works cleaner. This can be considered Fang's small token of appreciation to Minister Du."
"Once you find them, give me the list. You don't need to worry about anything else."
Du Yiyang nodded repeatedly.
"Marquis of Liaodong, rest assured! Since you are willing to take action, three days! Within three days, Du will personally deliver the list to Fang Family Manor."
He had this much confidence.
As a high-ranking official in a ministry, yet constantly scrutinized by influential families.
That awkwardness was almost unbearable!
He had previously spoken to Li Shimin, requesting a demotion.
Even being a county magistrate would suffice.
Unfortunately, Li Shimin refused outright.
Frankly, this was a position where one was caught between a rock and a hard place.
It would be the same for anyone else.
Therefore, there was no need to change.
An hour later.
A convoy of vehicles parked neatly in front of the Ministry of Works.
Fang Er sat in the pickup truck, watching the Yan Yun riders load boxes of blueprints onto the vehicles.
One had to admit,
Du Yiyang was quite reliable.
The blueprints for the Wuyan Great Ships, in boxes three feet square, filled five or six boxes!
Although some of it was due to the paper,
the detailed dimensions for every mast and every compartment,
all indicated Du Yiyang's dedication to his work!
Fang Er patted Du Yiyang on the shoulder.
He whispered in his ear,
"Fang awaits your list."
Du Yiyang's official rank was higher than Fang Er's.
Yet, he felt no dissatisfaction with Fang Er's current actions!
He even felt like prostrating himself before Fang Er to express his gratitude.
Therefore, his face flushed red.
"Marquis, rest assured! Du will begin preparations immediately."
Fang Er patted his shoulder again.
Turning to Lü Shuang, he said, "Drive!"
The pickup truck started moving, heading towards Fang Family Manor.
Bai Xue stretched her long, white legs and followed behind the convoy.
Upon arriving at the Fang residence,
the blueprints were moved into a warehouse.
Fang Er directly sent for Li Shun.
Pointing at the blueprints, he said,
"The blueprints for the Wuyan Great Ships are all here."
"I'm giving you one month to find all the shipbuilding artisans you can locate!"
"If anyone refuses to release their workers, have the Yan Yun riders simply take them by force!"
"If there are any problems, tell them to find this Marquis!"
Li Shun looked at the large boxes before him, too excited to do anything but nod.
Trembling, he was unable to speak coherently.
Fang Er looked at Lü Shuang.
"For this month, take six men, drive the armored vehicles, and accompany Li Shun to bring back the artisans."
"No matter what method you use!"
"Use money to bribe them! Bring back the entire family, young and old!"
Lü Shuang nodded.
"Marquis, rest assured, we will not disgrace your name!"
After sending them off,
Fang Er casually opened a box.
He began to go through the blueprints.
He flipped through them one by one.
He needed to understand the detailed specifications of the Wuyan Great Ships himself,
before he could make any modifications.
For five full days,
he went through the several large boxes of blueprints.
The Ministry of Works had recorded them in meticulous detail.
Those that did not require changes were merely glanced at and set aside.
He only selected blueprints that needed modification and redrew them in detail.
Exhausted, he emerged from the room.
Chai Yue, who was in the courtyard, saw Fang Er's door open and quickly went to greet him.
Upon seeing his tired state,
Chai Yue immediately became furious!
Like a little lioness in a rage,
"My lord! Why are you pushing yourself so hard? If you don't, I'll go find Uncle!"
"If he doesn't rescind the decree, I, I, I will go find Grandfather!"
Fang Er smiled. Chai Yue's current demeanor seemed to carry a hint of Princess Pingyang.
Although Fang Er had never met Pingyang,
he imagined a heroic woman must surely have her temper.
He rubbed Chai Yue's head with his hand.
"Alright, Yue'er, it's nothing. I'll be fine after a good sleep."
Chai Yue looked up at Fang Er.
"My lord, is Uncle giving you too heavy a burden?"
Fang Er shook his head.
"No burden is light. Compared to the burden on the Emperor's shoulders, this Marquis is already very relaxed."
"It is all for the people of this land, and for our Great Tang."
Chai Yue was still displeased.
She grumbled softly,
"But he is the Emperor, and my lord is just a minor Marquis."
Fang Er took Chai Yue's hand and they sat down in the courtyard.
"Yue'er, you probably don't know, but in a thousand years, your uncle will surely be recorded in history."
"Zhenguan will also witness a prosperous era!"
"Your father, your mother, and Elder Brother Cheng, Elder Brother Yuchi, the Duke of Weiguo, the Duke of Huguo, they will all appear in the history books."
"They will all be renowned figures! Meritorious officials and loyal generals, gods of war and guardian deities!"
"It is because of them that all this exists! Bookworm.com"
"Because of them, this Great Tang has the opportunity for a prosperous era!"
Chai Yue was a bit bewildered.
"My lord, Yue believes these things, but how can you be so certain it will turn out this way?"
Fang Er stood up, placed his hands on Chai Yue's shoulders, and smiled, saying,
"Because!"
"This is what your mother-in-law told this Marquis in a dream!"
"Therefore!"
"This Marquis must also work hard! For this Great Tang, for this prosperous era, for the people of this land!"
"Even death would not be regretted!"
"So, merely looking at a few blueprints is nothing!"
"Alright, you go play with Qing'er and the others. This Marquis is going to have a good sleep!"
"And then I'll continue to grind away for another 731789264 days!"