No one stepped forward to object, and the matter of national debt was settled.
It only remained to finalize the details after the grand court assembly.
Li Er took a sip of tea, moistened his throat, and spoke again.
"My lords, you have all witnessed the might of firearms in the three great battles of last year. Therefore!"
"I intend to establish a new army, primarily equipped with firearms!"
"Furthermore, the Ministry of Revenue shall establish a Cultivation Directorate to oversee the matter of utilizing captives for land reclamation, with assistance drawn from various garrisons!"
"This matter will be coordinated and supervised by the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue."
"Your subject obeys!"
Fang Xuanling and Li Jing responded in unison.
Then, they discussed some trivial matters that Fang Er did not understand.
The grand court assembly continued until noon.
Fang Er felt his stomach protesting incessantly.
"Next, I wish to specially bestow rewards upon one individual!"
"Fang Anzhi, step forward to receive your decree!"
Li Er's sudden summons surprised Fang Er.
He quickly moved to the front of the crowd.
"Your subject is present."
"How I wish the Great Tang had more outstanding individuals like Fang Anzhi! At merely fifteen years old, he dared to lead a thousand soldiers deep into Goguryeo! Not only did he eliminate the threat of artillery, but before departing, he bombarded the gates of Shenyang in full view of its citizens! He possesses courage! And strategy!"
"Such talent must be promoted beyond the usual ranks!"
"You are hereby promoted from your former post as Captain of the Forging to General of the Flying Cavalry!"
"Granted the title of Grand Councilor!"
"And enfeoffed as Baron of Kaifeng County!"
"I also grant you the authority to command troops, with the power to form an army of no more than three thousand men!"
"Damn!"
"Holy hell!"
"Holy mother of damnation!"
Li Er's pronouncement left the officials below collectively stunned!
This reward was far too excessive!
Especially since General was a martial sinecure, Grand Councilor a civilian sinecure, coupled with a county barony and the authority to command troops!
Damn it!
Anyone would believe he was a bastard son!
Fang Er was also bewildered.
He knew he would be promoted.
But he never expected it to be this high!
He had jumped directly from the rank of seventh-grade upper-tier to fifth-grade lower-tier!
A leap of five ranks, and with extra perks!
Could Li Er have some ulterior motive?
However, after a moment's thought, it was better to accept.
Fang Family Village was growing, and the scale of the workshops was expanding.
If for no other reason, then for the command of three thousand troops, he had to accept!
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for the bestowal. Your subject expresses gratitude!"
Fang Er bowed respectfully and retreated back among the officials.
Cheng Yaojin clapped him hard on the shoulder.
"Well done, brother! Even I didn't expect His Majesty to be so generous this time."
The court was silent!
The other officials were shocked by Li Er's reward.
Therefore, Li Er directly heard Cheng Yaojin's remark.
"Zhijie? Are you implying that I have been stingy until now?"
Li Er glared at him and asked.
"Ah! No, no, no, Your subject means that Your Majesty has always been very generous."
Cheng Yaojin quickly shook his head like a rattle drum.
The military officials had no objections to this.
Entering enemy territory alone was truly not something ordinary people dared to do!
However, some among the civil officials were displeased.
"Your Majesty, such a reward is far too generous, with no precedent!"
The speaker was an official from the Ministry of Personnel.
Li Er ignored him and turned his gaze to the Minister of Personnel, Du Ruhui.
Du Ruhui's face immediately darkened.
"Zheng Qian, why don't you take a trip to Goguryeo? As long as you return alive, I will give you my position as Minister, how about it?"
This fellow was a descendant of a branch family of the Xingyang Zheng clan.
Several branches of the Zheng clan had wanted to cause trouble for Fang Er for a long time, but they had lacked the opportunity.
Seeing Fang Er's continuous rapid promotions, he had spoken out without thinking.
But he had forgotten that he himself was now merely a stray dog.
If the main Zheng clan were still in power, Du Ruhui might have shown him some respect, but with his roots severed, who would care about him?
Scolded by his superior, Zheng Qian no longer dared to utter a sound.
He sheepishly returned to his seat.
The matter of Fang Er's reward was thus settled.
The grand court assembly concluded.
Fang Er, carrying three sets of clothes, emerged from the Taiji Palace.
Cheng Yaojin slung an arm around his shoulder.
"Brother, come, let's go to my mansion to celebrate!"
Just as Fang Er was about to agree, he saw Chai Shao chasing after him from behind.
Startled, he quickly shook off Cheng Yaojin.
"Brother, the pigs at home are about to give birth. I have to go back and deliver them. I'll take my leave first!"
Cheng Yaojin was flustered.
"What the hell!
When did your family start raising pigs?
And delivering them!
Why don't you fly to the sky!
Do you even know how to do that?"
Chai Shao, panting, chased after him.
Seeing that he was about to catch Fang Er, he didn't expect the fellow to run off!
"Cheng the Black! You must help your elder brother with this matter. Such a fine young man cannot be easily given away to others!"
Seeing that he couldn't catch up, Chai Shao set his sights on Cheng Yaojin.
Cheng Yaojin finally understood why Fang Er had run away so quickly!
"Hahahaha, Duke Chai, do I look like someone who would sell out my brother for personal gain?"
Duke Chai gave him a sidelong glance.
"Sell what? You've seen my niece, haven't you? How is she not good enough for him? Don't forget, she is the daughter of myself and the Eldest Princess! Who in the Great Tang is not good enough for him?"
"Then why are you so intent on taking my brother as your son-in-law?"
Cheng Yaojin asked with a smile.
As for Hua Mulan, her existence is debatable; whether she was a real person or a historical fabrication is hard to say.
But when it came to Princess Pingyang of the Great Tang, she was a true heroine!
Li Yuan's ability to firmly establish himself in Guanzhong was all thanks to the foundation laid by Princess Pingyang!
Even the famous Niangzi Pass of later generations was named after the "Niangzi Army" under her command!
"Cheng the Black! Are you helping or not?"
Chai Shao feigned an aggressive stance.
"I'm not helping! If you have the ability, go find my brother! What's the point of hitting me?"
Cheng Yaojin was not willing to play matchmaker. He still hoped that this young brother would call him father-in-law one day.
Chai Shao was helpless, and he couldn't really make a move.
If he really fought, it would seem as if his own daughter couldn't get married.
Forget it!
I'll find another opportunity later!
No one is going to snatch this son-in-law from me!
Fang Er, completely unaware of what had happened after he fled.
Outside the palace gate, he got into the carriage and urged Zhuzi, "Hurry, hurry!"
Zhuzi, not understanding why, quickly flicked the horsewhip and left the imperial palace.
Chai Shao returned home, where Chai Zhewei was practicing martial arts.
"Where is your sister?"
"Yue'er is reading in the study."
Chai Zhewei paused his movements and replied to Chai Shao.
"Alright, you continue practicing."
Chai Shao waved his hand and walked towards his daughter's study in the backyard.
Chai Yue was in the study, staring blankly at a piece of paper.
On the paper was the poem written by Fang Er.
"Grape wine in a glass, a pipa urges me to drink.
Lying drunk on the battlefield, do not laugh; since ancient times, how many have returned from war?"
How heroic this was!
She had loved reading since childhood, especially the period after Li Yuan ascended the throne.
During that time, her mother no longer fought but accompanied her in reading, telling her stories and principles from books.
Since her mother passed away four years ago.
Whenever she calmed herself to read, it was as if her mother was behind her, watching her with a smile.
When Fang Er's poem reached her,
She felt as if she saw her mother's heroic demeanor on the battlefield, fighting fiercely on all sides and expanding the territory for the Great Tang!