Then let me speak. The characters for Yihu Fuwei, I feel, have too many strokes. If written on an imperial decree, they might smudge into a mess. So, let's directly promote him to Zhi Guo Xiaowei. After all, everyone is used to calling him Officer Fang, so there's no need to change how they address him.
Li Er stood up from the dragon throne and said with a smile.
Wei Zheng listened, somewhat bewildered.
What was going on? To write fewer strokes, he went from a triple promotion to a sixfold promotion?
From the eighth rank to the upper seventh rank directly?
Also, to avoid changing how people address him—wasn't that the excuse Cheng Yaojin used last time?
Your Majesty, your reasoning is a bit…
Why are you so chatty? Where are all these reasons coming from? Look at this!
Before Wei Zheng could finish, Cheng Yaojin, like a startled hedgehog, raised his sandbag-sized fist at him.
Wei Zheng flinched his head.
Hmph! I won't stoop to the level of this brute.
A bunch of brutes!
Then it's settled. Tonight, I will host a banquet in the palace to celebrate Jingde!
Li Er concluded the morning court with a single sentence.
Fang Family Village.
After Fang Er confirmed that the iron ore inside had melted, he opened the slag discharge port, and a stream of black impurities flowed out.
Once the impurities were cleared.
He opened the material outlet, and glowing red molten iron was continuously discharged from the furnace.
The material outlet was connected to the puddle steel furnace.
Several artisans who had been waiting for a long time inserted iron rods into the molten iron, quickly agitating it to accelerate the oxidation and discharge of impurities, reduce bubbles, and simultaneously serve to cool and recarburize it.
This was the puddle steel process.
Then, before the molten iron solidified, it was cast into ingots and repeatedly hammered on a water-powered trip hammer. Thus, the first assembly-line steel ingot of the Tang Dynasty was born.
Fang Er, holding the still-warm steel ingot, looked at it as if it were a lover, a satisfied smile spreading across his face.
For an eighth-grade fitter, steel ingots possessed a unique charm.
The blast furnace was working continuously.
Fang Er began to modify the waterwheel.
Previously, it was all wooden structure, with limited load-bearing capacity, which prevented the trip hammer from exerting its full power.
Fang Er replaced all the structures except the waterwheel with steel.
This was sufficient to lift a trip hammer weighing three thousand jin.
He worked in the workshop for three consecutive days.
Just as he finished reinstalling the new water-powered trip hammer.
Eunuch Deng from the palace arrived.
He produced an imperial decree and praised Fang Er profusely.
Then, just like last time, without reading it, he handed it directly to Fang Er.
Fang Er looked utterly confused.
For just gunpowder, he had received three imperial decrees?
This time, he had jumped directly to the upper seventh rank?
Wasn't this promotion a bit too fast?
Eunuch Deng glanced at Fang Er's expression and knew what he was thinking.
When I came, His Majesty instructed me to tell you to accept it with peace of mind. In the future, just continue to create more good things.
Ah, so that's what they were planning!
After taking the silver, he sent Eunuch Deng away.
In the workshop, the crowd erupted.
In just over a month, from a commoner to a twelfth-rank promotion!
This was something unprecedented.
Fang Er waved his hand.
Holiday!
Serve chicken, duck, fish, and meat!
A grand feast for three days!
When Fang Er returned home.
Xiao Qing, Huan'er, and Xiao Mi, along with the other servants, stood at the entrance with expectant faces.
Congratulations on your promotion, young master!
Everyone congratulated Fang Er in unison.
Haha, the joy is mutual! Qing'er, give everyone one tael of silver, let's all celebrate together!
Thank you for your generosity, young master!
The faces of the servants lit up with joy.
Cartloads of chicken, fish, meat, and eggs were sent from Chang'an to Fang Family Village.
Cartloads of wine were also transported from Zuixian Tower and neatly stacked.
Hua Niang, with her booming voice, directed the assistants in preparing the ingredients.
As the academy let out, over a hundred children rushed over.
Upon seeing Fang Er, they all bowed and respectfully called out, "Greetings, Headmaster!"
Find a place to sit, no drinking allowed, understood?
Fang Er smiled gently at them.
Understood, thank you, Headmaster.
The children rushed to a corner, occupying more than ten tables.
The banquet began.
The scene was filled with laughter and joy.
For the villagers of Fang Family Village, such a scene was more lively than even during New Year's in the past.
But since Fang Er arrived here, this was the third time in a month.
Old Man Ma, Old Man Sun, and others raised their cups and toasted Fang Er.
Young Master Fang, come, we old men offer you a toast, wishing you ever-increasing success!
Yes, Young Master Fang, as your official position grows, our entire village will also benefit!
Good, thank you all, come, let's drink this together!
All the young and strong men at the banquet raised their cups together.
A toast to Young Master Fang!
The banquet lasted for an entire day.
The stray dogs in the village were also drawn by the aroma, running under the tables to pick up scraps.
Eventually, all of them had full bellies and hid in the corners to enjoy the cool shade.
Fang Er lay in the courtyard on a newly made lounge chair.
Young master, the autumn harvest is approaching. How much rent should we collect this year?
The manor was newly acquired, and according to custom, the rent was set at the beginning of the year and paid to the owner during the autumn harvest.
Fang Er had arrived midway and hadn't set any regulations.
The villagers dared not ask.
Collect rent? No need, this year's rent is waived!
Fang Er waved his hand, directly waiving all rent for the manor.
Xiao Qing was quite surprised.
She reached out her small hand and touched Fang Er's forehead.
Young master! Are you really not collecting any at all?
What good is that little bit of rent? Tell the villagers that due to a poor harvest this year, rent is waived.
The young master is truly kind-hearted. I'll have Hua Niang go tell them. The villagers will surely be overjoyed.
After speaking, Xiao Qing headed towards the back courtyard.
Miss Qing, does the young master have any instructions?
In the kitchen, Hua Niang was leading people in washing dishes. Seeing Xiao Qing approach, she stood up and asked.
No, I'm just here to tell you some good news. The young master just said that due to a poor harvest this year, Fang Family Village will not collect any rent.
Xiao Qing said to them with a smile.
Everyone in the kitchen looked at each other, afraid they had misheard.
In previous years, they had to pay at least fifty percent in rent!
This year, with a new owner, not only have their lives become easier, but they are also getting rent waived?
What are you all standing around for? You heard correctly. Hurry up and finish your work, then go back and inform your families!
Xiao Qing understood what they were thinking from the expressions on their faces and left after saying this.
The next day, the news of the rent waiver in the village once again ignited the villagers' enthusiasm.
The grain in the fields had also ripened.
The artisans in the workshops, seeing the harmony and peace in Fang Family Village, all started to have ideas and went to Fang Er to request permission.
After receiving Fang Er's approval, they all left with smiles on their faces.
Subsequently, they brought their families and belongings to move into Fang Family Village.
The population of Fang Family Village increased once again.
Along with this came another piece of good news.
Uncle Zhang and Hu Zi, who had gone south to purchase grain, had finally returned, bringing back a large quantity of grain.
Just as Fang Er had expected, they had traveled from Yangzhou via the Grand Canal to Luoyang, and then transferred to ox carts to reach Chang'an.