After settling the pregnant women, Fang Er led his men to Shenyang City.
It had been half a month since the bank opened its doors, and it was time to check on its progress.
In Shenyang City, the citizens, under the command of officials from the Prefectural Office, were clearing the snow from the streets.
Ox carts were used to transport the shoveled snow outside the city to be dumped.
This snowfall had made the market quiet, with most shops having little to no business.
The snow in front of the bank had been completely cleared. Zhang Bo, with his hands tucked into his sleeves, was idling by the entrance. Upon seeing Fang Er, he quickly stood up and said, "My lord has arrived."
Fang Er smiled and walked into the bank. "How is it, Uncle Zhang? Is the winter here very cold?"
"Heh heh, it's alright. With this padded jacket, it doesn't feel much different from the winter in Chang'an," Zhang Bo said, pulling at his new padded jacket.
"Greetings, Lord Duke!"
Li Yongfei and others from the bank also stood up from behind the counter and bowed.
"How have things been these past few days?"
Fang Er asked them, looking at them.
"Reporting to Lord Duke, we are all fully familiar with the operations now."
Li Yongfei flipped through the ledger and reported the performance of the past half-month: "In the past half-month, we have collected a total of over forty-eight thousand guan in deposits and issued over three thousand guan in loans."
"And you? Are you all proficient in your tasks?"
Fang Er asked Ma Hongyun, Zheng Yijian, and the other two.
"Reporting to Lord Duke, we are all proficient," the four replied in unison.
Fang Er then looked at Zhang Bo, who nodded and said, "My lord, these four young men handle matters cleanly and efficiently. There have been no hiccups these days."
Fang Er smiled with satisfaction and then addressed the four:
"Very well, since you are all familiar with the operations, it is time for you four to take on greater responsibilities."
"I will now announce your appointments!"
"Ma Hongyun, appointed as the Director of the Chang'an Head Office."
"Zheng Yijian, appointed as the Director of the Bianzhou Branch."
"Gu Hai, appointed as the Director of the Dengzhou Branch."
"Gao Tong, appointed as the Director of the Yangzhou Branch."
"You may each select four assistants from your fellow classmates who came to Shenyang with you to take up your posts."
Upon hearing their appointments, the four were overjoyed. For Ma Hongyun, in particular, this was akin to returning home in glory.
"We thank Lord Duke for the promotion!"
The four stood at attention and saluted, their faces unable to hide their joy.
"Don't celebrate too soon. Your work allows for no slackening."
"Tomorrow, I will have Commander Zhang send you to your posts via helicopter."
"There will also be people from the Eastern Depot accompanying you. Work hard and do not let down my trust in you."
After giving them their instructions, Fang Er left the bank, bringing Zhang Bo back to his residence with him.
He handed Zhang Bo over to Xiao Qing to settle him in, and then summoned Lai Yifa to the study, asking him to select capable subordinates from the Eastern Depot to accompany Ma Hongyun and the others to their respective posts.
In addition to this, the protective excavation of the tomb of the Mohist Grand Master was also handed over.
Then there was the matter of Zhang Tian using a helicopter to send the branch directors to their posts.
The reserve funds for each branch would be drawn from Fangjiazhuang in Chang'an, with each branch to receive two hundred thousand guan, to be transported by helicopter.
After arranging these matters, Fang Er found himself with little to do.
The following days were spent either reading at home, visiting the newly born lambs in the sheep pens, or peeking into the workshops.
Half a month later, Fang Er was in his study reading documents when the walkie-talkie on his desk crackled to life.
It was Zhang Tian, and the content of his call made Fang Er freeze.
Li Shimin had actually come!
In such cold weather, why had this fellow come all the way from Chang'an to Shenyang?
With no time to ponder, he immediately sent for Chai Shao and Li Xiaogong, and the three of them went to the construction shed to greet him.
The construction shed was quite spacious, as the planned side courtyards had not yet begun construction, and this area had already become the designated landing and takeoff point for helicopters.
Not long after the three arrived at the construction shed, the buzzing sound of a helicopter could be heard.
After the helicopter landed steadily and the rotors stopped spinning, the cabin door opened, and two Xuanjia Army soldiers jumped out first.
Then came Li Shimin.
"Your subjects salute Your Majesty!" the three bowed to him.
"Rise,"
Li Shimin extended his hands to support them.
People were still disembarking from the helicopter.
First Cheng Yaojin and Yuchi Jingde, then the two old Taoists, Sun Simiao and Yuan Tiangang.
After they had all disembarked, Li Shimin looked at Fang Er and smiled, "What, Anzhi? Do you intend to leave His Majesty standing out here in the freezing snow?"
"Not at all, Your Majesty, please,"
Fang Er smiled, then turned and led the way, bringing them to the front hall.
Upon entering and feeling the rush of warm air, Li Shimin walked contentedly to the main seat and sat down.
"Damn it, this journey has frozen this brother stiff! Brother, do you have any wine? Bring some over to warm me up,"
Cheng Yaojin entered the room, still rubbing his hands, his lips tinged purple.
The helicopter cabin was not completely sealed, so one could imagine the hardship of flying all this way.
Fang Er quickly sent someone to inform Li Baoju to prepare wine and food, then looked at Li Shimin and asked curiously, "In such cold weather, why has Your Majesty come to Shenyang? Is there something important?"
Li Shimin's expression was very serious. "Half a month ago, did a celestial object fall in Liaodong?"
"What the—!"
So he had been drawn here by that thing?
Fang Er hadn't expected that, even in Chang'an, thousands of miles away, they had seen that sphere fall from the sky.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, that is indeed true. However, that was not a celestial object, but a transparent sphere. I still haven't figured out what that thing is," Fang Er replied truthfully, as Li Shimin had asked.
He was confident that there were definitely spies from the Hundred Guard Department in Shenyang City, and this matter could not be hidden.
"Young friend, did you truly find that thing? Where is it now? May this humble Taoist have a look?"
Upon hearing Fang Er's affirmative answer, Yuan Tiangang became visibly excited.