After a long while.
Several old men were led into the great hall by the imperial guards.
Upon seeing the Emperor, they quickly bowed.
Your humble servant greets Your Majesty.
Li Shimin raised his hand.
Rise.
Do any of your descendants hold positions in the Yangwei Army?
One old man, bent over, dared not look up as he replied.
Replying to Your Majesty, my third son at home serves as a squad leader in the Yangwei Army.
The others nodded in agreement.
Fang Er walked over to them.
The children in your homes are now suffering from a serious illness, requiring their hair to be cut for topical medication.
However, some in the court have stated that cutting hair is a great act of filial impiety. Therefore, His Majesty has summoned you to hear your opinions.
An old man suddenly erupted in anger.
Your Majesty, which unfilial wretch wishes to see the elderly suffer in their homes?
Li Shimin glanced at Wei Zheng and Kong Yingda, saying nothing.
Wei and Kong's faces turned bright red.
Kong Yingda said, You old man, how unreasonable! I am also thinking of your well-being!
Have you not considered that in all of Datang, besides the monks who have left home, how many people cut their hair?
Are you not afraid that your son will be slandered after cutting his hair?
The old man did not care if he was an official or not; no one was more important than his son!
Stiffening his neck, he stared at Kong Yingda.
So it was you, you black-hearted scoundrel, who is harming my child?
My third son being a squad leader brings honor to this old man's face!
Moreover, my third son is famously filial! Ask anyone in the surrounding ten villages!
It's just cutting hair, this old man doesn't know any grand principles, he only knows that life is most important!
This old man heard from my third son that you should sweat more in times of peace and bleed less in times of war.
He's not afraid of bleeding and getting injured on the battlefield, so why fear cutting hair?
Fang Er watched from the side, inwardly delighted.
Indeed, every child is a parent's cherished treasure!
Even a mother hen protecting her chicks dares to fight an eagle!
After the old man finished speaking, the others also berated Kong Yingda.
This fellow was so cornered that he had no room to retort.
He merely muttered incessantly about filial impiety, his beard trembling.
Seeing this, Li Shimin was greatly reassured and then spoke.
Duke Fang, draft an imperial decree allowing the Yangwei Army to cut their hair to treat the serious illness.
Furthermore, for any officers and soldiers in the army, if such a matter arises again, it shall be handled according to this precedent, and no one shall criticize it!
Those who violate this order shall be exiled for three years!
Hah! Well done!
If anyone dares to cause trouble, they will be sent to experience it firsthand. Fang Er couldn't help but give Li Shimin a thumbs-up in his heart.
The matter of cutting hair was thus settled.
As Kong Yingda left, he even forgot to follow up on Li Chengqian's affairs.
Returning home, Fang Er immediately placed the production order for military caps for the Yangwei Army.
Since their hair was cut, military caps were indispensable.
Corresponding to the military uniforms, the caps.
Together, they would form the classic military uniforms of our army during the War of Resistance.
Fang Er had long been displeased with his own lush hair, having to style it every day.
If he couldn't attend to it when campaigning, his hair would become like wild grass.
As the saying goes?
Blood can be shed, heads can be severed, but a man's hairstyle cannot be ruined!
Heads can be severed, blood can flow, but a buzz cut is still the king of hairstyles!
He immediately went to the sewing room and had Hua Niang take large scissors and chop it off.
Hua Niang was hesitant to cut it, so Fang Er forced her to pick up the scissors.
Her trembling hands almost turned Fang Er into a one-eared man.
Wearing a custom-tailored military uniform identical to the Yangwei Army's, with a new military cap, he felt an indescribable comfort!
The uniforms were all completed, and with only over ten thousand caps to make, they were produced quickly.
In just two days, all of them were finished.
Hauling the uniforms and caps,
Fang Er led his men to the Yangwei Army camp.
The Yangwei Army camp was located south of Chang'an City, outside the Qixia Gate, near Qujiang Pond.
The guard at the camp entrance was Xuan Yue, who had previously visited Fang Family Village. Upon learning that Fang Er was there to deliver military uniforms, he quickly led the way.
As soon as he entered the camp, he saw countless bald heads with medicinal paste applied, undergoing training.
Cheng Yaojin sat under the shade of a tree, stroking his head, a look of relief on his face.
Hearing the rumbling of vehicles, he turned his head.
Upon seeing Fang Er, he quickly got up from his chair to greet him.
Hahaha, brother, it's so cool without hair!
Are you here to deliver clothes for me?
Fang Er got out of the pickup truck and casually picked up a cap from the seat behind him, tossing it over.
Hurry and put it on, lest your scalp get sunburned.
Then he pointed to the six armored vehicles.
The twenty-five thousand summer uniforms are all ready, and there's a team of ox carts behind.
Looking at the cap on Fang Er's head, Cheng Yaojin took it and put it on, imitating him.
Mmm.
Looks great!
He pulled the brim of the cap with his hand, walked to the ox carts, and looked at the uniforms on them, smiling as he instructed Xuan Yue.
Assemble! Distribute the military uniforms!
The large drum in the camp was struck.
Soldiers training in various areas quickly gathered at the training ground.
Looking at the soldiers below, Cheng Yaojin proudly showed off to Fang Er.
Brother, what do you think? This is the result of three training sessions a day, according to your method.
Fang Er nodded.
Cheng Chumo and Yu Chi Baolin knew his training methods, and he hadn't kept them secret.
Looking at the soldiers who had gathered and formed straight lines, Fang Er said.
Big brother, the Yangwei Army's regulations should also be changed.
Cheng Yaojin was somewhat taken aback.
Change the military regulations?
Fang Er pointed to a corner of the training ground where a few soldiers were running slowly and were immediately whipped on their backs by their squad leaders.
Cheng Yaojin chuckled dismissively.
They're all scoundrels who will cause trouble if not disciplined for three days.
Fang Er, however, shook his head.
They are brothers who will face death together. This is not appropriate.
I plan to revise the military regulations of the Heavenly Armaments, and you should join me, big brother.
Seeing Fang Er's expression, Cheng Yaojin understood he was serious.
His smile faded as he asked.
Brother, tell me, how shall we change them!
Your elder brother's Yangwei Army will learn from you and change together!
As for His Majesty, your elder brother will persuade him.
Fang Er nodded, then began counting on his fingers.
First, all actions are to obey command.
Second, do not take a single needle or a piece of thread from the populace.
Third, all captured goods shall be turned over to the public treasury.
Fourth, speak with kindness.
Fifth, conduct business with fairness.
~~~~~~~~~~
Fang Er listed all eleven points from the three disciplines and eight points of attention from his previous life.
After speaking, he pointed to the soldier who had been beaten.
Such corporal punishment should be abolished from now on.
Build a few rooms at the edge of the training ground, without windows, so dark that one cannot see their hand when the door is closed.
Whoever makes a mistake will be thrown in there.
Brother, I guarantee that after three days, they will come out as obedient as a grandson, doing whatever you ask.