Ma Zhou's interest was instantly piqued when he heard that the new school here could accommodate thousands of children.
"My Lord, I shall stay!"
This was a merit of educating the masses, and he had also heard that the students recruited by the school came from various tribes on the grasslands and the indigenous people of Shenyang City.
Fang Er nodded with satisfaction.
The school and hospital were nearing completion and would be ready for use in at most a month.
Houses in this era did not require such meticulousness, nor elaborate decoration; they simply needed to provide shelter from the wind and rain.
He then turned to two older youths, who appeared to be around twenty years old, slightly older than himself.
"Are you two students from Xin Dong Fang?"
The two stepped forward and introduced themselves.
"Reporting to my Lord, I am student Qi Miao, seventeen this year, residing in Qijiagou, Wannian County. At Xin Dong Fang, I study forging design."
"Reporting to my Lord, I am student Wang Baiyi, twenty years old, residing in Wangjialou, Luoyang. At Xin Dong Fang, I study civil engineering and construction."
Fang Er nodded slightly and then looked at Wang Baiyi with confusion.
"You live in Luoyang, why did you decide to study at Fangjiazhuang?"
Wang Baiyi smiled slightly and replied with humility and politeness.
"I traveled to Chang'an and heard that Xin Dong Fang Vocational School taught arts that benefit the world and bring peace to the people, so I specifically came to seek knowledge."
"Judging by your demeanor and what you just said, were you a scholar before?"
"Reporting to my Lord, yes."
"Do you have a courtesy name?"
A twenty-year-old scholar should have a courtesy name, but this Wang Baiyi reported his given name, which was strange.
"My teacher bestowed upon me the courtesy name Xuan Ce. However, I believe my current knowledge is not yet worthy, hence I did not report it."
Fang Er was stunned.
It took him a good while to process this.
Wang Baiyi, Wang Xuance.
Damn it, this was the big shot who single-handedly destroyed a country!
And he had come to Fangjiazhuang to study civil engineering?
It was unbelievable!
Thinking this, he abruptly stood up and shouted towards the door.
"Da Ying!"
Yan Shuangying entered upon hearing the call and saluted Fang Er, "My Lord."
Fang Er pointed at Wang Xuance, "Take him out and get him a military uniform!"
Wang Xuance was bewildered. He had come to learn about benefiting the world and bringing peace, but after coming to Shenyang, he was being asked to wear a military uniform?
Before he could react, Yan Shuangying had already pulled him out of the hall.
"My Lord, what is this?" Zhao Neng, who was beside him, was also confused.
After Zhao Gang arrived in Shenyang, the Xin Dong Fang Vocational School had been under his charge. A good student had arrived, and they were supposed to be celebrating, so why was he suddenly being taken to put on a military uniform?
"Hahahaha, allow me to keep you in suspense. In the future, you will understand my methods."
"Perhaps, what a person is destined to do is already determined by heaven."
Wang Xuance was soon sent back by Yan Shuangying. He was in his prime, and the crisp military uniform accentuated his scholarly general demeanor.
Fang Er smiled with satisfaction. "This is more like it! Being a fine scholarly general is good. Why learn civil engineering? There are plenty of people who can build houses. But how many can single-handedly destroy a country in the Great Tang?"
"From today onwards, you will remain at my residence. Your future is far beyond civil engineering and construction. Work hard!"
Wang Xuance still hadn't figured out why he had come here smoothly but was now unable to leave! Faced with Fang Er's arrangement, he finally began to resist.
"My Lord, I only wish to learn the arts that benefit the world and bring peace, and I do not wish to join the army."
As soon as he said this, the entire hall fell into a deathly silence.
No one expected that a mere student would dare to question the arrangements of a serving county duke. Moreover, this arrangement was clearly a promotion for him.
Fang Er, however, did not feel offended at all. This was a true talent, and talents should have their temperaments.
"To wish for the betterment of the world and peace is a great ambition."
"But there is more than one way to achieve it. I do not wish to guess your original intention for learning civil engineering."
"'May I build a mansion with millions of rooms, to shelter all the scholars in the world and make them happy.' Your aspiration is no different from this."
"But have you ever considered why, despite countless skilled craftsmen throughout the land since the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, so many people still have no roof over their heads?"
"Since the era of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, regardless of dynastic changes, the people living on this land have been as diligent and down-to-earth as ever."
"They have supported numerous strong armies with the grains they cultivated and ushered in many prosperous eras."
"But why is it that this land has never afforded them a peaceful life?"
Wang Xuance was stunned.
"'May I build a mansion with millions of rooms, to shelter all the scholars in the world and make them happy.' This sentence perfectly captured his ambition when he studied civil engineering and construction."
"But, what is the answer to my Lord's question?"
Seeing him lost in thought, Fang Er stopped speaking and sat quietly, watching him. The others also remained silent, afraid of disturbing his train of thought.
After a long while, Wang Xuance looked up and said, "Because of natural disasters and man-made calamities!"
"Natural disasters, such as droughts and floods, destroy the people's savings."
"Man-made calamities include war, foreign invaders, and the exploitation by corrupt officials."
"And education!" Ma Zhou added from behind.
"The common people are ignorant, unfamiliar with the law, and allow themselves to be bullied without knowing how to protect themselves."
"Officials are greedy, treat the law as nothing, and exploit without limit. When the people can no longer survive, they rebel. Rebellion leads to war, implicating more innocent people, and dynastic changes."
Hua Niang, Wang Er Niang, Old Ma Tou, Zhao Neng, Liu Si, and others listened with astonishment.
"This sounds like a discussion of state affairs!"
"So, the reason I was poor before was due to these reasons?"
"It sounds so reasonable!"
*Clap clap clap clap clap clap*
Fang Er, seated in the main seat, applauded the two with satisfaction.
"You have spoken well!"
"Natural disasters and man-made calamities are indeed the biggest problems preventing the common people from living stably."
"For natural disasters, human effort is limited."
"But man-made calamities can be avoided."
"Exterminate all foreign enemies and ensure border stability, then there will be no external threats."
"Enforce strict laws and ensure clear governance, then there will be no internal worries."
"Only then can the common people live stable lives."
"With internal and external threats eliminated, the economy can take off, and the people's lives will get better and better."
"At that time, everyone will have a home, everyone will have food, everyone will be able to study, and everyone will have a job."
"Therefore, civil engineering and construction is but a minor path. With your knowledge, you are capable of leading a force and protecting the stability of the Great Tang."
"Do you think building houses is more important, or protecting the country and ensuring peace is more important?"
After speaking, Fang Er gazed at Wang Xuance, awaiting his answer.
Scholars of the Han and Tang dynasties were pure.
Their minds were filled with vast knowledge, capable of discussing heaven and earth with their words.
With a three-foot sword at their waist, they could kill with it.
This purity produced countless scholarly generals.
Examples include Ran Qiu of the Spring and Autumn period, Ji Zun of the Eastern Han, Zhang Huan of the Eastern Han, Kong Ming of the Three Kingdoms, Du Yu of the Western Jin, Wei Rui of the Southern Dynasties, and so on.
Of course, there was also Li Jing of the early Tang, and the present Wang Xuance.
His words struck Wang Xuance's heart, each one resonating deeply.
Wang Xuance's face turned red, and he bowed deeply to Fang Er.
"Your student is willing to join the army!"
"My Lord, your student also wishes to join the army!"
Ma Zhou also stood up and bowed to him.
Fang Er: ??????