The subject, Liu Eryang, greets the Emperor!
Standing in the hall, Liu Eryang's legs trembled.
He didn't know why he had been summoned. In the afternoon, the Minister of Works and his left and right attendants had been staring at him while he worked.
Could it be that they thought the official position he was given yesterday was too high and they were now retracting it?
Liu Eryang, I ask you, are you willing to take a position in the Ministry of Works?
As he was lost in thought, he suddenly heard Li Shimin's question.
Take a position in the Ministry of Works?
Liu Eryang was stunned. After a moment, he slowly replied, "Reporting to Your Majesty, your subject still wishes to remain in Shenyang, by the Duke's side, to learn his craft."
Li Shimin could hardly believe his ears. He stared at Liu Eryang and said, "Enter the Ministry of Works, and assume the position of Left Attendant."
"If so, do you still wish to remain here?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, yes. Only by staying by the Duke's side does your subject have hope of becoming a Master Craftsman."
Liu Eryang uttered this without a second thought.
Li Shimin was taken aback, and Du Yiyang was also taken aback.
Master Craftsman?
What is that?
What is a Master Craftsman? Li Shimin asked Fang Er, puzzled.
Fang Er first organized his thoughts, then smiled and said.
"Your Majesty, your subject believes that a Master Craftsman is a craftsman whose skills have reached the pinnacle."
"Blacksmiths, carpenters, embroiderers, physicians, martial artists, and various other crafts should all have a peak realm.
"Just like Confucius in Confucianism, who founded a school of thought and left a legacy for all time.
"If there are enough Master Craftsmen, it will change this world!"
"At that time, we can ascend to the moon, dive into the deep sea, travel thousands of miles in an instant. There will be nothing we cannot imagine, nothing we cannot do!"
"Everything will be possible."
Before Fang Er finished speaking, everyone in the hall was so shocked by his words that they were speechless.
After a long silence, Li Shimin suddenly stood up and walked quickly to Fang Er, staring at him intently.
"Are what you say true?"
"Your subject has not spoken a single falsehood!" Fang Er nodded affirmatively.
"Minister Du of Works!" Li Shimin suddenly turned and shouted at Du Yiyang.
"Your subject is here!"
"Have you heard what Duke Fang said?"
"Every word is etched in your subject's heart!"
"Issue my decree: From this day forward, the craftsman registry is abolished!"
"Issue my decree: From this day forward, craftsmen shall be ranked above commoners!"
"All craftsmen, if they make any innovations, or believe their skills have reached their peak, may proceed to the Ministry of Works for assessment. Once verified, they shall be heavily rewarded!"
"Your subject... obeys the decree!"
Du Yiyang's voice trembled with excitement.
Li Shimin's words had shocked him no less than Fang Er's explanation of the "Master Craftsman" concept.
Abolishing the craftsman registry and elevating the status of craftsmen above commoners was a completely revolutionary decision!
As the Minister of Works, Du Yiyang knew very well how excited the craftsmen would be upon hearing this news!
Of course, it was not impossible that some craftsmen would abandon their ancestral skills, but it had to be admitted that many more craftsmen would focus more intently on improving their skills.
In any case, the benefits would certainly outweigh the drawbacks.
As for Fang Er's words about reaching the moon, entering the sea, and traveling thousands of miles in an instant, he didn't doubt them at all!
Although he didn't know how it could be achieved, he himself had flown from Chang'an to Shenyang this time.
Before meeting Fang Er, he had never imagined that humans could fly in the sky like birds.
Now, it had been achieved!
Just as Fang Er said, everything was possible!
The next morning, Du Yiyang requested to observe in the workshops from Fang Er.
While it was called observation, it was essentially this fellow wanting to openly steal techniques.
Fang Er did not object to this, but he did charge a symbolic fee.
Yes, one thousand liang per person per day. Not expensive at all, a very fair price.
Seeing Du Yiyang getting serious, Li Shimin also found something to do for himself.
He pulled Fang Er along, along with his four heavenly kings, and began to roam about.
Strolling through Shenyang city, hunting in the old forest.
Fishing in the river, causing avalanches in the mountains.
The few of them wreaked havoc on the mountains and rivers around Shenyang!
Just looking at the snow avalanches three times a day, and the continuous explosions on the river surface, one could see their destructive power.
After frolicking for half a month, Li Shimin ended his unrestrained indulgence and, taking Cheng Yaojin, Yuchi Jingde, and Du Yiyang with him, returned to Chang'an contentedly.
Yuan Tiangang also returned with them.
As for Sun Simiao, he was kept by Fang Er because Chai Yue's body was becoming more cumbersome with each passing day. With Old Sun present, he felt more at ease.
After all, given Old Sun's current medical skills, in terms of prenatal care and childbirth, it was unlikely that anyone in the entire Tang Dynasty could be more reliable than him. This was honed through the care of thousands of pregnant women in the Heavenly Elite Division!
Those who were supposed to leave had left, and those who were supposed to stay had stayed.
Fang Er also began to make his own plans.
The round sphere that had fallen from the sky was constantly on his mind, and he wanted to understand what was going on.
After communicating with the system previously, the method given was to find another traveler.
But the world was so vast. It had taken a year just to pursue Hou Junji. Now that Hou Junji was dead, it was unknown whether he was killed by the Yan Yun Cavalry or if he had died of bad luck at the hands of someone else.
Therefore, Fang Er had to choose another method to understand what that sphere was about.
The sphere came from the sky, so let's go to the sky to see!
As an engineer who worked on aerospace engines, making something go up and then come down was difficult, and making something go up and still be controllable was also not possible.
However, making a one-time flying vehicle that only went up to a certain height had difficulties, but they could be overcome.
Yes, Fang Er was preparing to make a rocket!
He would make a rocket to go up and see what the situation in the sky was like.
As for how to see, it was enough to take a few people up there. With Huawei, who could photograph the moon while standing on the ground, what couldn't be photographed?
How to get down? Jump down!
If the rocket had problems, jump!
After completing the mission, jump!
Therefore, after Zhang Tian brought people back from Chang'an, he was assigned a new task.
Train paratroopers!
The selection criteria this time were very strict. The people had to be thin, short, quick-witted, strong, and possess good psychological resilience.
It was necessary, as the immense pressure when the rocket ascended could not be withstood by ordinary people.
After arranging these matters, Fang Er confined himself to his room and began designing the blueprints.
When Fang Er entered his work state, he was frenzied. He only spent one day with Chai Yue and the others during the New Year, and then he confined himself to his room again.
It wasn't until the thirteenth day of the first lunar month that he emerged from his study.
It was not that the blueprints were finished, but the grand court assembly was to be held in two days, and he, Chai Shao, and Li Xiaogong were all required to return and attend.
So, after a good night's rest, the next day, the three of them flew back to Chang'an by helicopter.