As Zheng Lao Er stepped into the Two Extremes Hall, he felt a sense of foreboding.
Li Shimin's expression was grim, staring at him as if he were already dead.
Fang Er, Li Xiaogong, Cheng Yaojin, and Chai Shao watched him like he was an idiot.
Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, and Wei Zheng remained placid, their gazes fixed on their noses, their noses on their hearts.
There were also the commander of the imperial guards guarding the grain seeds and Qin Qiong.
These two had rushed over the previous night after hearing the commotion and had encountered Fang Er on his way back.
After inquiring about the situation from Fang Er, Qin Qiong had instantly exploded. Damn it, he was still recuperating here.
Seeing his body growing more robust each day after losing blood twice.
How dare they come to Fang Family Village to stir up trouble? It was practically ignoring him.
The commander of the imperial guards had the same thought.
Therefore, when Fang Er entered the palace, the two of them followed.
As for why Fang Er singled out the Zheng family when six families were involved, it was easy to understand.
It was better to break one finger than to injure ten.
The short distance of a dozen steps from the main entrance of the Two Extremes Hall to the center of the hall.
On this scorching hot day, Zheng Lao Er broke out in a cold sweat, feeling chilled.
"Your subject, Zheng Tianhe, pays his respects to Your Majesty."
Li Shimin's voice was filled with murderous intent as he looked at him.
"Last night, outside Fang Family Village, over a thousand people, were they sent by your Zheng family?"
"Do you truly believe that your Zheng family cannot be touched by me?"
After speaking, he leaned back in his chair, slowly closed his eyes, and continued.
"Duke Fang, draft an imperial edict to exterminate the three clans! Consider it showing some respect to his deceased elder brother!"
Zheng Tianhe was stunned. What was this about exterminating three clans!
"Your Majesty, your subject disagrees!"
"The Zheng family only sent—!"
Before he could finish his sentence, Qin Qiong struck him across the mouth with his mace.
"Did Your Majesty ask you to speak? Why are you blabbering?"
Then he looked at the commander of the imperial guards and said,
"Stop gawking. Take him away and throw him in prison!"
The commander of the imperial guards lifted Zheng Tianhe with one hand, turned, and exited the Two Extremes Hall.
Fang Er gave Qin Qiong a thumbs-up.
"Duke of Hu, truly quick with your hands and eyes! Heh heh, this kid admires you!"
Looking at Zheng Tianhe being carried away, Li Shimin said sternly to Fang Er.
"I believe that after this, the other five families will be quiet for a while, but you must not let your guard down! Do you understand?"
Hearing Li Shimin's words, Fang Er chuckled.
"Heh heh, it's not that I look down on them, but as long as they don't dare to come openly, like last night, no matter how many come, I'll keep them all!"
How do they say it?
"The most frightening thing is sudden silence!"
As soon as Fang Er finished speaking, the entire hall was as quiet as a needle drop.
Li Shimin's expression suddenly changed, a hint of wariness appearing.
Qin Qiong quickly tried to smooth things over.
"It was just a sneak attack, not worthy of the table, so Your Majesty can rest assured. I will be staying at Fang Family Village from now on."
Chai Shao also chimed in.
"Your Majesty, rest assured, with me here, Fang Family Village will surely not encounter any trouble."
Fang Er seemed to understand something from the change in Li Shimin's expression and the seemingly meaningful words of Qin Qiong and Chai Shao.
He looked at Li Shimin with disbelief.
"Your Majesty, you don't mean to say...?"
At this moment, Li Shimin was jolted awake by the words of Qin Qiong and Chai Shao.
He coughed twice, and a smile returned to his face.
"Heh heh, well, An Zhi, have you been dreaming of the Grand Princess recently?"
Fang Er frowned, looking displeased.
"The Grand Princess said that if you bully me, she will go and tell Grandpa!"
"I shall take my leave then!"
With that, he turned and left the Two Extremes Hall.
Damn it!
To actually dare to suspect him, if there's a next time, he'll just part ways completely!
With the Skyfire Army, where in this vast world can he not go!
Why not conquer a country casually and become a local emperor?
After Fang Er left, in the Two Extremes Hall, Li Shimin and the few ministers looked at each other.
It was Fang Xuanling who spoke first.
"Your Majesty, in my humble opinion, it would be best to let the Marquis of Liaodong get married as soon as possible."
Du Ruhui: "Your Majesty, Old Fang is correct!"
Fang Xuanling continued, "Furthermore, although the noble families did not succeed this time, they still caused a fright to Fang Family Village, so I suggest bestowing some rewards to appease them."
Chai Shao added his support: "Your Majesty, there is also another matter. Last time during the northern campaign, the Skyfire Army suffered casualties. I suggest issuing an edict to allow the Marquis of Liaodong to replenish his troops."
Du Ruhui: "Your Majesty, Old Fang and Old Chai are correct!"
Fang Xuanling: "Your Majesty, I propose that in addition to replenishing troops, we can also allow the Marquis of Liaodong to expand his army to five thousand men!"
Cheng Yaojin: "Yes, Your Majesty. After all, the Skyfire Army fights for the imperial court. Three thousand or five thousand, it makes no difference!"
Chai Shao: "Your Majesty, I agree. This way, it will better demonstrate Your Majesty's trust in the Marquis of Liaodong!"
Du Ruhui, like a nodding puppet: "Your Majesty, all three of them are correct!"
Li Shimin also knew that he had been too vigilant just now.
It had even shown on his face. Not only had these old comrades noticed,
But even that young kid had sensed it.
He nodded with some regret.
"It shall be as you say. Go and draft the imperial edict."
With that, he turned and left.
He wished to confide his inner turmoil to Empress Zhangsun.
Fang Er had no idea about the conversation in the Two Extremes Hall after he left.
Even if he knew, he wouldn't care.
Upon returning to the workshop, he was informed by the craftsmen that the equipment on the sand pumping ship was completed and had been personally sent to the shipyard for testing by Zhao Gang.
He drove the pickup truck towards the Ba River.
The distance from the workshop to the Ba River shipyard was only a little over ten li.
By the time Fang Er arrived, he could see three ships, each over ten meters long, working together from a distance.
The muddy silt from the riverbed, along with the river water, was being pumped out and transported to another mud-carrying ship.
Hundreds of people had gathered on both banks of the Ba River to watch.
As soon as the vehicle stopped, he heard people discussing.
"It's not simple, truly not simple. This riverbed silt used to take a whole day to clear a boatload like this, but now it only takes the time it takes for an incense stick to burn!"
"The Marquis of Liaodong is truly a living Lu Ban! Only he could have created something like this!"
Hearing this, Fang Er felt a headache.
"Hey, old man, you look like you're at least fifty!"
Seeing the sand pumping ships working efficiently and as he had envisioned, Fang Er was quite satisfied.
However, when his gaze fell upon the stirring sand ship.
He suddenly slapped his forehead.
"Am I being an idiot!"
Using external propellers instead of building paddle wheels, wasn't that just creating trouble for himself?
He quickly jumped back into the car and returned to the workshop.
The pickup truck stopped steadily outside the carpentry workshop.
Fang Er jumped out of the car and walked in. Yan Shuangying was preparing lumber with his men.
Seeing Fang Er approach, Yan Shuangying quickly bowed.
"My Lord, in two more days, we can start constructing the keel."
Fang Er nodded.
"Go and get the design for the Wuya Grand Ship. Some parts need to be modified."
Yan Shuangying scurried into the workshop and brought out the design.