Not long after the bus drove off, they saw an extremely noisy scene at the street corner ahead, with a large crowd of people gathered.
Li Shimin frowned and asked Ma Zhou, "What's going on over there?"
Ma Zhou replied truthfully, "Reporting to the Taishang Huang, that is the scene of new house sales, and those gathered here are all servants of wealthy families."
This answer made Li Shimin's eyes light up.
The houses in the new capital were a blend of ancient and modern, roughly comparable to imitation ancient buildings in some scenic spots of the main world.
Although they still used reinforced concrete as the skeleton, they retained a large amount of wooden structure.
The two-story small buildings, with white walls and black tiles, and doors and windows painted with vermilion, looked simple and elegant.
Coupled with the supporting water and electricity facilities inside, this completely overturned the perception of houses for the people of the Tang Dynasty.
Li Shimin laughed, "Hahahaha, I like their unworldly appearance!"
"Let's go, let's go, keep moving forward!"
If it were a few years ago, he would have gone to join the excitement at such a scene, but now, he no longer cared how much these houses could sell for.
Even if they could sell for ten thousand taels of silver per unit, so what?
Could it compare to a spore-class spaceship?
All garbage!
The Golden Water Gate and Golden Water Road were an east-west thoroughfare that ran through the new capital. The north-south main road that intersected with it was named Zhongzhou Avenue.
Turning onto Zhongzhou Avenue, the large carriage headed north. In the distance, they saw the majestic imperial city, and the towering Mingtang within the imperial city.
"Minister of Works Du Yiyang!"
"Minister of Personnel Liu Dacheng!"
"We respectfully welcome the Taishang Huang and His Majesty!"
Outside the south gate of the imperial city, a group of officials were already waiting. As the bus approached, everyone quickly bowed in greeting.
Li Shimin got off the bus and extended his hand to support them, "Everyone, rise!"
"Follow me inside and take a look at this new imperial city!"
"Yes!"
Thus, the visiting party expanded considerably.
The south gate of the imperial city was named Zhuque Gate. At this time, the six gates were wide open. After entering and proceeding for more than a thousand meters, they reached the magnificent Mingtang.
The Mingtang was ninety-nine meters high and had thirty-three floors, signifying the thirty-three heavens.
From the outside, the entire Mingtang adopted an octagonal tower design, gradually shrinking from bottom to top.
Standing under the Mingtang, Li Shimin looked up for a moment and suddenly said.
"Damn it! I didn't think there was anything wrong when I saw the blueprints before."
"Why does it look like a big corn cob now!"
The Minister of Works, Du Yiyang, clasped his hands and smiled, "Taishang Huang truly has discerning eyes!"
"The Mingtang was just completed, and the common people have already given it the nickname 'Corn Tower'."
"In recent years, corn has gradually become one of the main grains, saving countless lives, so this nickname can be considered auspicious."
Fang Er was instantly stunned upon hearing this and quickly had someone bring him the drawings to examine carefully.
And indeed, this thing did look a bit like corn!
Damn, is this a bit too coincidental?
Or is there a destiny in the unseen?
However, this question would obviously not be answered.
Amidst everyone's flattery, Li Shimin was the first to step into the Mingtang.
Inside the Mingtang, the first floor was reserved for the grand court assemblies. The vast hall occupied nearly two thousand square meters. Apart from the thick pillars and a dragon chair, there was nothing else.
Upwards, there were a total of 19 elevators, three for each of the six ministries, and another one for the emperor's exclusive use.
In addition, the floors of the entire Mingtang had already been allocated specific functions. Floors two to thirty-one were also five floors for each of the six ministries, for office use.
The thirty-second floor was the place for the emperor's daily political consultations.
After viewing this, Du Yiyang clasped his hands and asked.
"Reporting to Taishang Huang, the thirty-third floor is still vacant. I wonder what it will be used for, so I can have people prepare accordingly."
Li Shimin merely smiled and did not answer. He turned and looked around at the accompanying personnel.
"If you want to know what the thirty-third floor is used for, follow me and you will know!"
Seeing his mysterious demeanor, everyone's curiosity was piqued.
Taking the elevator to the thirty-third floor.
The moment they walked out, everyone was stunned!
The thirty-third floor was empty, with only a set of screen-like objects arranged in a circle.
The screens were also covered with red silk.
"When did these get brought in?"
Du Yiyang was somewhat astonished. As the Minister of Works, all matters, big and small, in the new capital required his approval, but he had no impression of these things before him.
Li Shimin pointed to the screens covered with red silk and laughed, "These were made by my eunuchs at my command, to give all my esteemed officials a surprise!"
"If you want to know what is covered under the red silk, step forward and reveal it!"
Cheng Yaojin, being impatient, was the first to step forward and casually pulled off the red silk covering the screens.
Under the red silk, it was indeed a screen.
However, the patterns on the screen made him freeze!
"Old man Changsun, quickly come and see if this is you!"
Li Xiaogong, standing nearby, also saw the patterns on the screen and pulled Changsun Wuji closer.
Looking at the patterns, Changsun Wuji was also stunned!
The screen clearly displayed his portrait, embroidered with needlework to the full height of a person, with a few lines of small text beside it.
"Wuji is intelligent and perceptive, possessing martial strategy. In the past, the Yellow Emperor relied on Limu to become the first of the Five Emperors, Xia Yu relied on Jiuyiao to become the ancestor of the Three Kings, and Duke Huan of Qi relied on Guan Zhong to become the leader of the Five Hegemons. Since I resided in the princely domain, you were my confidant, and thus I was able to pacify the realm and ascend to the throne!"
After reading the small text, Changsun Wuji's face flushed with excitement, but he still asked with some doubt.
"May I ask Taishang Huang to enlighten me, what is this?"
Li Shimin smiled and looked at everyone, saying.
"You all wanted to know what this floor is used for?"
"Now, I will tell you!"
"The thirty-third floor is the Lingyan Pavilion!"
"Anyone who has made immortal contributions to our Great Tang can be ranked among them!"
"As long as the Great Tang exists, our legacy will endure forever!"
"We will be honored alongside the nation, worshipped for generations!"
Boom!
This statement was no less than a thunderclap in everyone's ears.
Especially Cheng Yaojin, Li Xiaogong, Yuchi Jingde, and others.
Over the years, they had often traveled between parallel worlds and the main world with Fang Er.
During the Zhenguan era, they had all heard of the Lingyan Pavilion, and they had all been wondering when Li Shimin would establish it.
They were also anticipating whether they would be listed among them as recorded in other worlds.
But they never imagined that Li Shimin would use the thirty-third floor of the Mingtang as the Lingyan Pavilion!
Since the suppression of Buddhism, Taoism had enjoyed singular prominence in the Tang Dynasty. Coupled with the influence of figures like Sun Simiao and Yuan Tiangang, although it did not have the title of state religion, it possessed the reality of one!
Thirty-three, what an extremely revered number!
Everyone immediately sprang into action and removed all the red silk.
"Hahahaha, Old Cheng is here too!"
"Look quickly, Ninth Master, isn't Ninth Master's pose handsome enough?!"
"Duke of Wei, come quickly and look, you are here!"
"Anzhi, Anzhi is also hanging here!"
"............."