As Fang Er arrived at the entrance of his home, he saw Du Yiyang standing by the Fang residence, looking around anxiously.
Fang Er got out of the car and first opened the door for Chai Yue.
Then he went to the back and carried down the bicycle.
He said to Huang Sheng at the door.
"Take the young madam inside and carry this bicycle in as well."
Chai Yue smiled and nodded at Fang Er, then followed Huang Sheng into the courtyard.
After they had all gone, Du Yiyang took out a piece of paper from his sleeve and walked up to Fang Er.
"Marquis, I visited once before, but I heard you were studying blueprints and didn't dare to disturb you, so I left.
This is a list of informants from the various aristocratic families in the Ministry of Works.
Everything now depends on the Marquis's methods."
Fang Er opened the list and glanced at it.
"Damn!
These densely packed names.
Minister Du, how many people are there in total in the Ministry of Works?"
Du Yiyang's expression was grim.
"Including the various foremen and supervisors, there are over seven hundred people."
Fang Er shook the list in his hand and said with some emotion.
"There are nearly three hundred people on here. The Emperor is truly making things difficult for Minister Du."
"Alright!
I will handle this matter. Get in the car, we're going to the palace together!"
The pickup truck stopped outside Chengtian Gate again.
Fang Er walked ahead.
Du Yiyang followed him with mixed emotions.
They walked step by step towards Liangji Hall.
Inside the hall, Fang Xuanling was speaking to Li Shimin.
Seeing Fang Er and Du Yiyang arrive together, Li Shimin asked curiously.
"You boy, why have you brought the Minister of Works along again?
I've already issued an edict for the blueprints of the Wuya Grand Ship, haven't I?"
Fang Er shook his head.
He stepped forward and handed the list to the eunuch.
As Li Shimin looked at the list handed up by the eunuch, his brows furrowed into a knot.
The names on it were all from the Five Great Clans!
Li Shimin's heart suddenly sank.
"What is this?
What do you want to do, you boy?"
He couldn't help but worry.
He knew all too well what these names represented!
Fang Er wanted to move against the aristocratic families!
He, Li Shimin, also wanted to, but he couldn't do it now!
The roots of the aristocratic families were too deep, so deep that in every province, every prefecture, and even some places, people only knew of the aristocratic families and not of the Great Tang!
Did he really think his Hundred Riders Division was just for show?
But if he were to move against the aristocratic families now, the Great Tang would inevitably fall into great chaos!
Fang Er was very impolite. He directly looked around, picked up a brocade stool, and placed it next to a pillar to sit down.
He crossed his legs, leaned against the pillar, put his hands behind his head, and looked at Li Shimin.
"Your Majesty, the Ministry of Works has become a sieve. Haven't you ever thought of rectifying it?"
Li Shimin wanted to get angry.
Firstly, it was because Fang Er's actions at this moment showed him no respect.
Secondly, it was because Fang Er wanted to move against the aristocratic families, which would cause great upheaval.
He could disregard the matter of face, as this was a helper his sister Pingyang had found for him.
But moving against the aristocratic families was not that easy!
However, seeing Fang Er's playful expression, Li Shimin suddenly felt that this boy seemed to have a plan.
"Tell me your thoughts. "
Fang Er didn't speak immediately. Instead, he scanned the faces of everyone in the hall.
He deliberately lingered on a few eunuchs.
"All of you, withdraw!"
Li Shimin was not a fool.
When only Fang Er, Fang Xuanling, Du Yiyang, and Li Shimin remained in the hall.
Fang Er cleared his throat.
"Your Majesty, I have three plans. Please listen, Your Majesty and Lord Fang."
"The first is to bring out everyone on the list.
Without investigation, without punishment, establish a new institution and place these people there to retire."
"The second is to transfer everyone out of the Ministry of Works except those on the list.
Send them to Fang Family Village, leaving an empty shell of the Ministry of Works for the aristocratic families!
Without anyone noticing, replace the skilled craftsmen in the Ministry of Works with irrelevant people.
At that time, whatever work needs to be done, I will take it on directly.
The Ministry of Revenue will pay, and I will put in the effort. We will do whatever needs to be done."
"The third plan is to have the Hundred Riders Division thoroughly investigate the people on the list. As long as they dare to embezzle even a single copper coin!
Heh, I imagine I don't need to explain what happens next."
After Fang Er finished speaking, he remained silent.
He crossed his legs.
He quietly watched the changing expressions on Li Shimin's face.
Fang Xuanling thought for a moment and said.
"Your Majesty, I believe the second method is feasible.
What the court needs is practical results, not the shell of the Ministry of Works.
It's just supporting some idle people, and the Ministry of Revenue can afford this money."
Du Yiyang also heard Fang Er's plan for the first time.
After analyzing the pros and cons, he agreed.
"Your Majesty, I also believe it is feasible.
I am willing to give up the position of Minister of Works to appease the aristocratic families!"
Li Shimin did not speak.
With a heavy expression, he walked to the door and opened the doors of Liangji Hall.
He said a few words to the guards outside.
Before long.
Du Ruhui and Li Jing were summoned by the imperial guards.
Fang Xuanling explained Fang Er's idea to them.
Li Jing simply said.
"Any method is acceptable. The Ministry of War only requires that the weapons and armor be provided on time."
Du Ruhui thought for a moment.
"Your Majesty, the second plan is indeed feasible.
At the same time, an empty Ministry of Works controlled by the aristocratic families certainly cannot do that work well!
At that time, we can use this excuse to deal with them one by one.
As Lord Liaodong suggested, have the Hundred Riders Division keep an eye on them, and anyone who dares to embezzle a single copper coin will be investigated and dealt with immediately!
Whether they are killed or not is not important, they just need to be kicked out!
At that time, those trivial matters related to people's livelihood will be handled by a clean Ministry of Works.
The crucial matters will all be handed over to Lord Liaodong.
This is also an opportunity to separate civilian and military use."
Li Shimin pondered for a while and looked at Du Yiyang.
"In this case, the Ministry of Works will be wronged."
Du Yiyang knelt on the ground with a thud.
Tears streamed down his face.
He had served in the Ministry of Works for so many years, who understood his grievances!
"Your Majesty, as long as the Ministry of Works is clean again, I will not feel wronged by anything!"
Li Shimin also felt some guilt.
"Get up, you go back first and transfer the people out, sending them to Fang Family Village.
After that, you will stay there first, and when the Ministry of Works is cleaned up, you can return to be my Minister of Works!"
Du Yiyang left.
He left with great joy.
Finally, he could get rid of the aristocratic families whose faces made him sick.
Fang Er did not leave.
He continued to tell Li Shimin his other request.