Chapter 122: If You Can't Handle It, Run Off with Your Sister-in-Law!

On both sides of the not-so-wide street were shops of every description, and the air was thick with the pungent stench of camel dung — sharp and sour.

Spices from Western Asia and the Western Regions, livestock native to the Hexi region, and brushes, ink, paper, inkstones, silk, tea, and so forth from the Central Plains — all had their corresponding crude shops on the street. However, the single best-selling item, silk, was not put on display.

This was actually quite easy to understand: precisely because it was so popular and served as an incomparably hard currency, there was no need to show it off at all. After a transaction was completed, one naturally went to the corresponding pickup point to collect the goods.

This was the same principle as the mobile phone experience stores in Fang Chongyong's previous life, which often displayed phone models as exterior showcases.

Anaye wore a cloak and covered her face with a silk scarf, following closely behind Fang Chongyong. She could not show her face in public, because here, a Hu woman was not a "person" but a kind of merchandise. They had just passed a shop run by a "human trafficker."

All the slaves were treated like livestock, selected by potential customers. But clearly, there were few lookers and even fewer buyers.

In the Ministry of Revenue's registers, Shazhou had over thirty thousand Han Chinese, nearly seven thousand households — and in reality, even more.

If one also counted the vast number of people hidden by prominent local families, the Hu people of the tribes near the city, and the itinerant Hu merchants, Dunhuang had a total population of at least two hundred thousand.

So many people inevitably placed enormous pressure on the local natural environment, and also drove the locals' rules for resource usage to a level so harsh, meticulous, and detail-obsessed as to border on compulsive.

As a result, every kind of daily necessity on the market was in short supply and expensive.

Short of water, short of grain, short of silk, short of cotton and linen — they were even short of white thorn and tamarisk for firewood — but they were not short of people!

In Dunhuang, human life was the cheapest thing of all!

"Kid, is the Hu girl behind you for sale? I'll offer twenty bolts of linked-pearl paired-peacock-patterned brocade. If you're willing to sell, I'll send someone to fetch it right now."

On the other side of the street, a young man who looked no more than thirteen or fourteen pointed at Anaye behind Fang Chongyong and spoke to him.

"No charge — she's yours!"

Fang Chongyong pulled Anaye to his front, but did not push her over.

The man clearly had not expected Fang Chongyong to say that. He then cupped his hands and bowed respectfully:

"I am Yan Chao. Greetings, Lord Fang. My father and the prominent families of Shazhou wish to host a welcome banquet for the descendant of the world-renowned Jiedushi Fang. Please do not decline, Lord Fang. The banquet will be in three days' time."

He produced a calling card from his robe and presented it with both hands to Fang Chongyong.

"In three days' time, I shall certainly go to the Small City for a talk."

After reading the calling card, Fang Chongyong nodded slightly and spoke, his face revealing neither pleasure nor anger.

The great surnames of Dunhuang were primarily the Zhang, Suo, Song, and Yin clans, along with some less prominent ones, such as the Yan clan. These great clans were somewhat easier to deal with than the local strongmen of the Central Plains, because the wartime environment they faced was far harsher than in the Central Plains, so they kept a relatively low profile locally.

Moving specifically to reside in the "Small City" was also to avoid unnecessary conflicts with ordinary commoners and Hu merchants.

The fact that Fang Chongyong could be found by these prominent local families even while strolling through the "commercial street" of the outer city was enough to show that local conditions in Dunhuang were far more complex than in Ganzhou.

"My lord, you really were about to give me away just now!"

Anaye removed her veil and looked at Fang Chongyong with a face full of grievance, asking the question.

"One bolt of linked-pearl paired-peacock-patterned brocade can be exchanged for roughly thirty to fifty bolts of ordinary cloth. Converted to copper coins, it starts at twenty strings — it is the finest brocade to come from the Central Plains.

For someone to offer twenty bolts of linked-pearl paired-peacock-patterned brocade for you, a Hexi country girl — they were either trying to rob me or wanted to talk to me. How could they possibly have actually paid that sum?

He was testing me, and was I not also testing him?"

Fang Chongyong sighed. Anaye was probably truly the illegitimate daughter of Prince Xin'an, Li Yi — she had absolutely no concept of money.

For someone to spend several hundred strings to buy you, a Hexi country girl, they might as well keep the money and find ten buxom Hu women locally.

Would that not be more satisfying, more pleasurable?

How rare indeed!

"Oh, you scared me to death."

Anaye said with lingering fear, quickly putting her veil back on, afraid that someone else would come demanding her from Fang Chongyong.

"I've seen about enough. Let's go back."

Fang Chongyong said, his interest waning.

The group rode back to Medicine Spring, less than ten li from the outer city. Fang Chongyong gave himself a proper bath, then sat in the cramped study, pondering the problem of the Doulu Army.

He had no way to conjure money out of thin air. The situation here in Shazhou was very special — brute force alone was useless, and he certainly could not just talk big and appeal to sentiments.

This "stroll" could be said to bring both gladness and worry.

The gladness was that the local economy was vibrant, and there was great potential for making money.

The worry was that there was no way to make quick money — unless the entire Doulu Army mobilized to raid Hu merchant caravans of a thousand or more. But doing so would mean thoroughly offending every faction in Dunhuang beyond any hope of reconciliation.

Fang Chongyong's shoes were caked with camel dung and he reeked of a strange odor — he could not skip a bath after coming back, and bathing here was by no means cheap!

Such was the commercial environment of the outer city — a thousand-li round trip through the desert, human lives as thin as paper, with not much room for niceties.

There were no businesses lasting over ten years; merchants came and went in wave after wave, and everywhere was a burial ground for bones.

Since this was the environment, why make things too complicated? Whatever was most convenient would do!

Although Fang Chongyong was the Inspector, he was in no hurry to order a cleanup of the filthy streets of the outer city.

What exists is reasonable. Since the people here had always done things this way, there must be a profound reason for it. Just as Buddhism here was far more flourishing than in Ganzhou.

Many things did not appear out of thin air.

The situation of the Doulu Army followed the same logic.

Fang Chongyong called Anaye over — this Hexi country girl had just been washing clothes by Medicine Spring!

"If I mess things up this time, I'll elope with you to the Western Regions. We won't go back to Great Tang."

Fang Chongyong suddenly spoke up and asked.

"Is it really that serious?"

Anaye asked in puzzlement. She rarely saw Fang Chongyong this cautious — he had even thought of a retreat route.

"Mm, it's just that Brother Ji has been getting on my nerves. What kind of dog emperor is he!"

Fang Chongyong sighed and cursed, resting his elbow on Anaye's shoulder. He only dared say this to Anaye, because their fates were intertwined as one.

Damn it! If all else failed, he would set a fire here in Dunhuang and run off with his sister-in-law.

Fang Chongyong already had a plan that was not quite a plan in his mind.

He was not a man of ancient times, nor was he Li Longji's dog — what did he not dare to do?

If you don't treat me as a person, I'll stop being a person right away!

Fang Chongyong instantly made up his mind!

……

The day before the local Dunhuang clan's banquet for Fang Chongyong, ever since Luocheng opened its gates, the atmosphere has become explosively tense!

The Doulu Army, which had a very low presence in Luocheng and rarely handled affairs, almost all units that could be mobilized were dispatched to carry out a "clear‑the‑area operation" on Luocheng's main commercial street!

All merchants, travelers, and pedestrians are forbidden to appear within ten steps of the street area! Violators will be killed without mercy!

Effectively martial law!

At the city gate, Wang Sili led a contingent of elite Doulu soldiers, forming a solemn and orderly line to welcome.

Fang Chongyong, however, marched at the front of the entry procession, with carriage after carriage of silk‑laden wagons behind him. Also escorted by elite Doulu troops, this grandeur could only be compared to Ji Ge's arrival in Dunhuang.

"Wang's troops, I keep my word: last year's winter garments and this year's spring garments will be supplied to the Doulu Army in one go!"

Fang Chongyong clasped his fists and saluted Wang Sili!

At this moment, his somewhat short stature appeared immensely tall in the eyes of the Doulu soldiers and commanders!

"Doulu soldiers, obey my command!

Now we head to the main camp; I will distribute the troops' pay!

Not a single coin will be owed; all will follow me!"

Fang Chongyong shouted toward the nearby Doulu soldiers!

Dong! Dong! Dong! Dong! Dong! Dong!

No one knows who started, but the Doulu troops excitedly hammered the other ends of their weapons on the ground, like drumming, warmly welcoming Fang Chongyong and his supplies into the city.

No wonder he's the son of the world‑famous Jiedushi Fang; what a splendid horseman! He's ten‑thousand‑plus li better than those court dogs!

In the past, when Luocheng staged such a grand display, it only happened when oversized Hu merchant caravans entered the city; back then, the commotion was caused not by the Doulu Army but by local merchants scrambling for goods.

The scene was often chaotic.

The Hu merchants' money was such that the Doulu Army couldn't even lay a hand on a single bolt of cloth; they didn't care whether robberies or stampedes occurred on site.

But this time is different; this time, the wagons entering the city are loaded with the Doulu Army's pay!

Every piece of cloth belongs to our people.

If any thief dares to steal, the angry Doulu Qiu Ba will crush the gang themselves, without needing the Shazhou government office to send captors.

No trial needed; they'll be killed as easily as slashing a chicken!

Wang Sili walked to stand beside Fang Chongyong, leaned in and whispered, "Lord Fang, no problems, right?"

"Rest assured, as the Doulu Army's provisioning officer, I must do something, right."

Fang Chongyong said nonchalantly.

This time he's playing big; if it fails, he'll flee with Ana Ye to the Western Regions, capture a huge harem, and sire thousands of children!

Fang Chongyong has already thrown caution to the wind; he knows that without risking his life, this hurdle can't be cleared.

When the silk‑caravan entered the camp, Fang Chongyong saw the Doulu soldiers who had just been keeping order on the street already lined up on the training ground, awaiting distribution of last year's winter garments and this year's spring garments!

If they show such enthusiasm for everything, Fang Chongyong believes they could sweep across Hexi invincibly!

"Lord Fang, say a few words to the troops."

Wang Sili respectfully placed his hand in salute to Fang Chongyong and said.

Today is Fang Chongyong's stage; no matter how he obtained so much silk, the Qiu Ba only care about the result.

Fang Chongyong brought them the pay; this ten‑year‑old boy is a grandfather—though uncouth and foul‑mouthed, the Qiu Ba see him as "righteous and generous, unconcerned with trifles".

If there's no money, even the Hexi Jiedushi would have to be a grandson and honestly go cool on one side!

"Before, whatever the reason for delayed pay, I wasn't in Shazhou then, so I couldn't intervene.

But now I am the Shazhou Inspector; the spring and winter garments, battle‑reward bonuses—none can be omitted. Whatever the amount, we will issue it, not a single coin owed!

As long as I serve as Shazhou Inspector for a day, this holds! If I break my promise, you can tear my bones apart!

No more words; let's start the distribution now!"

Fang Chongyong waved his hand, ordering Yan Zhuang to lead a group of clerks from the government office to hand out last year's winter garments and this year's spring garments to the Doulu soldiers!

Either don't do it, or do it flawlessly!

Fang Chongyong worries that if the Doulu Army doesn't receive pay and mutinies, the Tubo will exploit the weakness, and the situation could collapse beyond repair.

So at this moment, even drinking poison to quench thirst, we must still top up the pay; even if we have to smash pots and sell iron, we cannot shortchange these front‑line Qiu Ba fighting the Tubo.

"Lord, completing last year's winter garments will satisfy the soldiers; after all it's customary. Even the spring garments must be issued on time; the government office side only fears…"

Wang Sili lowered his voice and whispered to Fang Chongyong.

"The soldiers harbor resentment. Doing what should be done only prevents them from mutiny. Now Great Tang and Tubo are locked in fierce clashes; the soldiers need not just to avoid mutiny but to earn merit by killing the enemy!

Providing this year's spring garments completes the court and government's duty."

Fang Chongyong sighed to Wang Sili.

Since the situation is set, the Doulu Army's military affairs will naturally be taken to the extreme.

Anyway, giving half and keeping half is useless; why not go all‑in?

The Qiu Ba want surprise! Double the joy will get them excited!

Only issuing winter garments proves that Fang's office is like the rotating Shazhou Inspectors of the past?

Fang Chongyong has already figured it out.

"Thank you, Lord Fang, the household is saved."

A Doulu soldier who received his pay suddenly stepped forward, tearfully bowing and saying.

"Go ahead, no fuss."

Fang Chongyong, with one hand on his hip in a heroic pose, waved the other casually.

He looks a bit comical, but to the soldiers of the Doulu Army, he's a down‑to‑earth, righteous man!

To the local hillfolk, Lord Fang may be young, yet he's a hundred or a thousand times better than some idle court officials.

……

The matter of disbursing the troops' pay kept him busy until evening. Earlier the Doulu Army, which had been reluctant to send anyone to Yaoquan to guard Fang Chongyong's party, carefully selected a hundred elite soldiers who were both most capable and most combat‑ready, escorted Fang Chongyong all the way to Yaoquan, and then set up camp there, not returning to the garrison.

Back at the court‑designated guesthouse, the exhausted Fang Chongyong collapsed onto a grand chair, receiving a massage from Ana Ye, utterly fatigued in body and mind.

"Lord, was everything today going smoothly?"

Ana Ye asked softly.

"What's not smooth? It's just the troop pay, after all."

Fang Chongyong replied irritably.

All day today was pure show‑off, and he actually had the means to do it.

Of course, the glorious good days last only today.

The bragging feels good for a moment, but the ensuing trouble has only just begun.

"The pay has been issued; the Doulu Army soldiers should be grateful to you, Lord. What are you still worrying about?"

Ana Ye asked in confusion; she couldn't understand why Fang Chongyong seemed even more despondent today than in previous days.

"Sigh, those are all useless. Come, come, here, here—give my face a squeeze; I've forced so many fake smiles today my facial muscles are cramping."

Fang Chongyong said impatiently.

Doesn't this Hexi local girl ask where this troop pay is coming from?

That's a load of nonsense; actually packing up to run away is the truth.

Fang Chongyong has already made his plans.

If it truly can't be covered, then he'll pack lightly and head for the Western Regions, never giving Ji any 'trouble'.

(End of chapter)