As Fang Er emerged from the Ministry of Revenue, his face was beaming with joy, resembling blooming chrysanthemums.
Heh heh!
Three hundred thousand guan!
Ten years of mining concession!
He had struck a goldmine!
He wondered if Zhangsun Wuji would choke on his own blood upon hearing this news.
This was akin to encroaching upon his family's territory.
As soon as he departed, Li Shimin received the news.
"Guanyinbi, it seems Fuji might harbor resentment towards me now!"
Empress Zhangsun looked perplexed. "Your Majesty, has something happened?"
"I have granted Fang Anzhi the exclusive mining rights in Goguryeo."
Empress Zhangsun was stunned. "You, the Emperor of Great Tang, are granting something belonging to Goguryeo to someone else?"
"It is like this. With the might of firearms and cannons, conquering Goguryeo is within reach. Fang Anzhi has devised a method to alleviate the court's current predicament."
Having said that, he explained the matter of national debt to Empress Zhangsun.
"Your Majesty, you worry too much. My elder brother has indeed been too overindulgent. As the Imperial Uncle, his power has grown excessively. If he were to further control commercial affairs, I fear..."
"Never mind, I shall summon him to the palace another day. Your Majesty need not concern yourself with this matter."
Upon hearing this, Empress Zhangsun actually expressed her approval of Li Shimin granting the mining concession to Fang Er.
This was the mark of a wise empress of an empire.
A wise empress whose legacy would endure for millennia.
"Hahaha, with Guanyinbi by my side, I have no fear for the prosperity of Great Tang!"
Li Shimin, deeply moved by Empress Zhangsun's magnanimity and understanding, embraced her tenderly.
Upon returning to the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, Fang Er immediately instructed Zhuzi to load all the silver into carts.
Two hundred and seventy thousand guan was delivered to the Ministry of Revenue in its entirety.
Emerging from the Ministry of Revenue once more, he held a concession document for iron ore mining.
Of course, the scope was limited to a radius of five hundred li around Shenyang.
Benxi and Anshan were within this designated area.
Fang Er wrote an IOU to Fang Xuanling for the remaining thirty thousand guan deficit.
Upon arriving back at Fang Family Village, the entire estate was already bustling with activity.
Pigs, sheep, and chickens were being slaughtered.
The New Year was just a few days away.
The villagers had, of their own accord, cleaned up the estate once more.
Standing at the entrance of the village, gazing at the transformed estate, so different from when he first arrived, Fang Er felt a profound sense of accomplishment.
All of this had changed because of him!
Returning to the Fang residence, Xiao Qing had, at some point, let out all six puppies.
They scampered playfully all over the courtyard.
The three huskies, upon seeing Fang Er enter, put on a show of barking.
Wangcai directly knocked them over and, stepping on a small husky, charged towards Fang Er.
Fang Er patted Wangcai's head. "Young Master, you're back."
Xiao Qing was hanging a string of red chilies on the wall.
"Mm, how many chilies did you harvest from the fields?"
"Several dozen pounds! However, many were frostbitten before they could ripen." Xiao Qing said with some regret.
Chilies are typically planted in April and harvested before the frost.
Fang Er planted them too late, so he was content with the few dozen pounds he harvested. "Remember to extract the seeds when you cook with them. They can be planted again next year."
"Alright, understood."
Fang Er pondered for a moment, then returned to his room and wrote several pages of notes.
He called for Zhuzi and instructed him to purchase the items in Chang'an.
The next day.
As dawn was just breaking,
ox carts, lined up from Chang'an, arrived at Fang Family Village.
Zhuzi was already waiting at the entrance of the schoolhouse.
There was an empty space here, designated as a small playground for the children.
It was not large, but it spanned two mu of land.
He directed the unloading of all the goods onto the playground.
It took over an hour to unload everything.
Fang Er, with a twist of fried dough held in his mouth, sauntered over.
"Have all the items been purchased?"
"Yes, Young Master," replied Zhuzi.
"Go and summon everyone from the estate, one per household, and also the craftsmen from the workshop."
Fang Er pulled a chair from the schoolhouse and sat at the entrance, basking in the sun.
Following Zhuzi's announcement,
the villagers began to converge towards the playground.
Among them were the original residents of Fang Family Village and those who had moved there later.
Fang Er had previously reviewed the ledgers compiled by Old Man Ma and the others.
Including everyone, there were now over a thousand households.
The population of the Fang family had increased tenfold compared to its original size!
Especially between Fang Family Village and the workshop, many new houses had been built.
The village and the workshop were now almost connected!
The early arriving villagers, upon seeing Fang Er, immediately came forward to greet him.
Fang Er chatted with them casually about the changes in the village.
Another hour passed.
It was nearly noon when the representatives from over a thousand households had gradually arrived.
Fang Er rolled up a piece of thick cardboard into a megaphone.
He stood on the chair.
"Quiet down! Everyone, quiet down."
The previously noisy crowd immediately fell silent.
"The New Year is approaching! Everyone present has been working with me, Fang Er, for several months, so I wish to offer you some benefits.
Look at this mountain of goods; they are all prepared for you.
Later, please register with Mr. Zhang and Mr. Ma to collect your items.
Let me explain first! Each household will receive ten jin of refined white flour, five jin of mutton, and five jin of eggs!
Households with elders over fifty years old or children under ten will receive an additional jin of meat and a jin of eggs!
Households with pregnant women will receive an additional five jin each of meat and eggs!
That is all I have to say. Lastly, I wish you all a Happy New Year in advance!"
With that, Fang Er bowed deeply to the crowd.
Whether these people were following him for whatever reason,
they were his foundation, and thus, his responsibility.
Money was secondary; he had to ensure that those who trusted him lived good lives!
Since the auction proceeds had all gone to the Ministry of Revenue, otherwise, he would have presented ten times the amount of goods to reciprocate their efforts!
"Thank you, Young Master! We also wish you a Happy New Year in advance!"
Old Man Ma pushed through the crowd, stepped forward, and bowed deeply to Fang Er.
"Thank you, Young Master! Happy New Year to you!"
"Thank you, Young Master! Happy New Year!"
The others quickly echoed his sentiment.
Then, over a thousand people bowed simultaneously to Fang Er.
"Alright, our New Year's greetings have been exchanged. Everyone, please come forward to collect your provisions."
"Mr. Zhang, Mr. Ma, please help with the registration. Oh, and the two gentlemen will receive double portions. Does anyone have any objections?"
Fang Er asked the crowd with a smile.
"It is only right, it is only right! The two gentlemen have taught the children exceptionally well!"
Old Man Ma quickly waved his hands.
The others also looked happily at their children.
Although it was stated that one person per household, many had brought their children along, and no one voiced any complaints.
Fang Er patted the dust off the chair and sat down again.