Riding their bicycles, the two of them toured the market after a brief stop, then ambled towards the hospital and the school for inspection.
The final finishing touches were being made here.
The hospital and the school were vast, arguably the largest in this era.
Measuring three hundred meters in length and width, covering an area of ninety thousand square meters, nearly one hundred thirty mu, and all of it was three-story construction!
Good heavens!
Pushing their bicycles with one hand, the two walked through the hospital's activity area, and Li Shimin couldn't help but sigh with emotion.
"Kid, if I recall correctly, this new district of yours has only been developed for about two years?
Such a large hospital and school, and it's ready for use now?
Fang Er nodded and replied, "It will be ready the day after tomorrow. The expectant mothers from home are packing their things and will be able to move into the new wards tomorrow.
The entire hospital has two thousand wards, in addition to consultation areas, medical staff residences, delivery rooms, pharmacies, and so on.
This area we are in now is designated for patients' recreational activities. Whether they are mothers-to-be or regular patients, it's not good for them to be confined to their rooms all the time. They need to get out and stretch their limbs.
Passing through the hospital, across a cement road, was the school.
The school, covering an area of one hundred thirty mu, the same as the hospital.
Before Li Shimin could ask, Fang Er took the initiative to explain, "I have divided this place into four zones.
The archive zone, which records the performance of all enrolled students.
The living quarters, which are the places where teachers eat and sleep.
The playground zone, which is where students exercise. Horseback archery, driving, and marching formations will all be incorporated into the curriculum.
The teaching zone is further divided into four areas based on age groups: the kindergarten level, the elementary level, and the advanced level.
Students who pass the selection process will be enrolled in the final zone, the specialized research zone, which is intended for learning and research focused on their particular strengths.
Upon graduation, all students can enter various industries based on their specialties.
Whether as merchants, craftsmen, or pursuing the path of imperial examinations, there will always be something suitable for them.
Li Shimin handed his bicycle to a waiting guard, walked around the training ground with his hands behind his back, and stopped in the center.
"I always felt something was missing here, and now I finally understand!
This is a place to cultivate the next generation of the Great Tang, a place that can be said to determine the future destiny of the Great Tang. They should know why they are learning and what they are striving for!
Enrollment begins the day after tomorrow. I have a task for you. By sunset tomorrow, design a flag for me to review.
The Great Tang has many flags currently. While they are organized in a way, having too many is not good.
I want a flag that can represent the Great Tang, represent the people, and represent all walks of life!
The day after tomorrow, I want to see this flag erected in this very spot where I stand!
This flag will be the totem for the students of the Great Tang in the future! It will also be the totem of the Great Tang!
I will personally serve as the principal of this academy. In the future, I will set aside some time each year to lecture them on court affairs and national policies!
Fang Er and Liu Dacheng exchanged a glance, then bowed deeply to Li Shimin.
"Your Majesty is wise!"
Li Shimin stood with his hands behind his back, gazing up at the white clouds in the sky, maintaining the same posture for a long time.
Suddenly, he turned to Fang Er and said, "Continue the praise. I don't like listening to others' flattery, but I enjoy yours.
Quickly, continue, don't stop!
Liu Dacheng silently retreated behind the guards, feeling that it was better not to get involved in such matters.
Fang Er was speechless. He had only flattered the Emperor once, and now the Emperor was obsessed with it.
"Your Majesty, while occasional flattery is beneficial for physical and mental health, too much is not good.
Therefore, let's conclude for today. Looking at the sky, it's time to return for a meal.
Li Shimin was feeling dejected. Fang Xiao Er had stopped flattering him.
Taking his bicycle back from the guard, he swung his leg over and started riding. The guards, upon seeing his action, involuntarily closed their eyes.
What shouldn't be seen must not be seen!
Upon returning to the Duke's mansion, the helicopter sent to pick up Empress Changsun from Chang'an had not yet returned, but another group of women had unexpectedly arrived at the house.
In the backyard, sixteen young women were lined up neatly.
Chai Lingwu sat to the side with his head down, like a defeated rooster.
Chai Yue sat beside him, occasionally scolding him.
The four maids, Bing Shuan, Yu Lu, and the other two, were explaining the rules that these sixteen women needed to remember.
They were all beneficiaries of that night. It was their first time working, and they hadn't expected it to be an opportunity that could change the rest of their lives.
Li Shimin and Fang Er entered the courtyard one after another. Upon seeing the line of young women standing there, Fang Er was only momentarily stunned, thinking that they had bought more maids for the household.
However, Li Shimin immediately recognized the three most beautiful among the sixteen women and was instantly enraged.
"Chai Lingwu! You little scoundrel! Get out here!"
After uttering this sentence, he turned and left the courtyard.
Chai Lingwu, who was being lectured by Chai Yue, shivered upon hearing this and quickly ran over.
Seeing Li Shimin's anger, Fang Er confusedly pulled Chai Lingwu aside.
"What's going on?"
Chai Lingwu was feeling extremely apprehensive at the moment, "Do you remember that night when we got drunk in Shenyang?"
"Yes, why?"
"After we left, we went to the Ten Thousand Flower Pavilion. These girls are all from that night..."
"Alright, stop talking. Let me figure this out..."
Fang Er didn't need him to finish to understand what happened next.
He looked at the girls in the courtyard and then at Li Shimin in the distance, before sighing helplessly.
"Brother, what are you doing?"
"Couldn't you have bought a house in Shenyang and settled them there? Don't you know that Aunt will be here tomorrow?"
"How would I know these things? I haven't been back for the past two days!
Besides, where would I get the money to buy a house in Shenyang? With so many people, it would require at least a three-courtyard mansion."
Chai Lingwu also felt wronged. The money to redeem the women was left by Chai Shao and the others when they left that morning. He was purely taking advantage of the situation.
Due to the market, the housing prices in Shenyang had also risen. Now, a three-courtyard mansion would cost at least several hundred strings of cash.
"What about the King of Hejian and the Duke of England?"
Fang Er was puzzled that these girls had been brought over, but Li Xiaogong and Li Ji were nowhere to be seen in the courtyard.
"Those two old fellows left with my father early this morning and haven't returned yet. Perhaps they heard that people were brought to the house and are too scared to come back?"
Chai Lingwu didn't spare even his own father while complaining.
It was clear that five people had gone together, yet the mess had fallen entirely on him in the end.