Chapter 145: Earth-Shattering Corruption Case (3)

During the Tang dynasty, the Zhongyuan Festival was at once the folk autumn sacrifice to ancestors, the Daoist Zhongyuan Festival, and the Buddhist Yulanpen Festival — truly a convergence of commoner, Daoist, and Buddhist traditions.

It was said that on the day of Zhongyuan, the underworld palace opened the gates of hell, making it the day the gates of hell were thrown open. All ghosts had to leave the realm of the dead to undergo examination; those who had masters went home, while those without masters wandered the human world, lingering here and there searching for things to eat.

For this reason the Zhongyuan Festival was also called the Ghost Festival, and across the Tang realm people generally carried out activities to sacrifice to ghosts, lighting lotus lanterns to illuminate the way home for wandering spirits.

At this moment, not long after the city gates had just been opened, Li Chang, Prince of Shou — a descendant of dragon and phoenix — left the Ten Princes' Residence and passed through Yanping Gate to the west.

With only a single personal eunuch attending him, he came alone to the aristocrats' private cemetery outside Chang'an. This place was ordinarily cold and deserted, but today was different — before many tombstones, offerings had been laid out.

Yet the graveyard, perhaps because it too belonged to the human realm, possessed the same inequalities found in the world of the living, no less here than there.

The condition of different tombstones varied enormously from new to old, and the scale of different graves likewise differed vastly.

Before some tombstones the offerings were abundant — not only wreaths, incense and candles, and incense tables, but also traces of burned paper money.

Clearly the family was prosperous, the kin devoted, having just performed their worship.

Yet before other tombstones, weeds had already grown thick, looking as though no one had swept them clean in a long time, let alone offered worship.

These desolate graves might at any time be leveled by someone with an eye on the land, freeing up the spot for another.

Prince of Shou Li Chang came before an ordinary tombstone — clean and tidy, free of weeds, yet bearing no offerings of any kind — and rested his right hand on the stone tablet, his expression gentle yet complicated.

The tombstone bore in prominent inscription: "Tomb of the Cultivator Taizhen." Plain and ordinary, without even clearly stating the tomb occupant's surname or given name — clearly deliberate.

Prince of Shou Li Chang sighed softly, had his personal eunuch present the carried fruits as offerings, then lit incense and candles and set up the incense table.

After dismissing the eunuch, Li Chang began burning paper money on his own.

Four years — Huanhuan had been gone from this world for four whole years!

Those past events, to Li Chang, felt as though they had happened only yesterday.

"Huanhuan, I come to see you every year, but that beast has not come even once. He has forgotten you completely, running around with your three cousins.

He took you from my side back then, yet now he doesn't remember you at all!

Huanhuan, can you see? If you have awareness beneath the springs, do you regret it?

He wouldn't even put your name on the tombstone — does that not bother you?"

Li Chang asked calmly.

But the silent tombstone said nothing; only the birds all around were singing, their meaning unknown.

A drop of rain fell on Prince of Shou Li Chang's face. He looked up at the sky and saw raindrops the size of beans falling — fierce and swift — dousing the flames still burning on the paper money!

"Hahahahaha! Huanhuan, you regret it too, don't you? It's you weeping now, isn't it?

Why didn't I refuse that beast back then? Why was I so cowardly!

If only I had refused him then, how wonderful that would have been! It was I who brought this upon you!"

The Prince of Shou howled and wept in a lowered voice while pounding the ground with his fists!

The pouring rain soaked his brocade robe. At this moment, he was little different from a stray dog stumbling through wind and rain. He had entirely lost the dignity proper to a Tang prince, his handsome and mature face becoming unreadable.

Just then, Prince of Shou Li Chang felt the rain on his head lessen considerably, until there was almost none!

He raised his head — a red bamboo umbrella was shielding him from the heavy rain falling from the sky. Through tear-blurred eyes, he faintly saw a young and graceful girl whose silhouette seemed to slowly merge with that of Yang Yuhuan from long ago.

"Huanhuan! You've come back, Huanhuan!

I was wrong! It was my fault! I shouldn't have let him take you away — I will never be weak again!

Please don't leave me again! I beg you! I beg you!"

Li Chang held the young girl and wailed loudly.

The soft body in his arms stiffened slightly, then reached back and held Prince of Shou Li Chang tightly. The red bamboo umbrella fell to the ground, and the two embraced closely in the rain.

"I was only worried about my lord, so I followed you out to have a look. I am not Huanhuan, you know."

The soft and warm voice of Lady Wei, who had only recently entered the household, reached Prince of Shou Li Chang's ears, carrying a trace of girlish playfulness. He immediately showed a look of helplessness.

Li Chang was most unwilling to let his new wife see his weak side, but he had already lost his fighting spirit and had no energy left to build a new life.

To this day the two had not shared a bed — they could only be said to treat each other with mutual respect, like honored guests.

Though Li Chang felt that Lady Wei was indeed a good girl, he was truly exhausted.

"Thank you, Sanniang.

I'm sorry — I still can't forget her."

Li Chang murmured in Wei Sanniang's ear. The rain concealed the bitter smile on his face, making his true expression impossible to read.

"If my lord truly forgot her, then I would be the one who's afraid. The prince before me now is the husband in my heart."

The days ahead will gradually get better. I will stay by Your Highness's side always."

The young Wei Sanniang, heedless of the rain pouring over her, held Li Chang tightly. Her chin rubbed playfully against the stubble on his face, the picture of a young girl's endearing charm.

"Let's go back to the residence. I'll carry you on my back."

"All right!"

Wei Sanniang, light as a swallow, hopped onto Li Chang's back. With a servant holding the umbrella, the two returned together to the Ten Princes' Residence. Along the way they talked and laughed, as if the pitter-patter of the rain around them were musical notes providing accompaniment.

That night, the Prince of Shou and Wei Sanniang finally joined as one, accepting each other completely in both body and heart, and tasted the beauty and hope of a new life.

The wholehearted devotion of his new wife Wei Sanniang was like a clear spring, bringing renewed vitality to the parched soul of Prince of Shou Li Chang.

Huanhuan had already gone far away, yet the living still had to live well. Prince of Shou Li Chang resolved to forget Yang Yuhuan; next year's Zhongyuan Festival, he would no longer come to sweep the tomb of the Cultivator Taizhen.

He had already found his own rightful home.

……

In Shazhou, Dunhuang, inside a study in the Zhang family estate of the small city, Fang Chongyong was meeting face-to-face with Zhang Quan, the leader of the local prominent families.

He straightforwardly handed Li Linfu's personal letter to Zhang Quan for inspection, then waited for the other party to speak first.

"Lord Fang, are you returning to the capital to report on your duties?"

Zhang Quan sighed and asked.

The current time was around the Zhongyuan Festival, and Fang Chongyong certainly would not choose to depart at this juncture. But in two more months it would be Brother Ji's birthday — and his sixtieth at that. He definitely had to return before then and present his treasures.

In fact, Zhang Quan had long known that, with Fang Chongyong's talent, he would certainly not be trapped in Shazhou, let alone Hexi. His stage will inevitably become the Great Tang's central hub!

From general to prime minister!

"Yes, after all I am an official appointed by the court; returning to the capital to report is only proper."

Fang Chongyong nodded slightly and said.

"Indeed, Your Excellency's affairs are vast and handled splendidly. It makes us forget that, in fact, you are also a wandering official of the court and will not stay in Shazhou for a lifetime."

Zhang Quan's wrinkled face broke into a wry smile.

The saying that no banquet in the world lasts forever applies here, I suppose. No matter how capable Fang Chongyong is, he cannot hope that the other side will serve the caravan for a lifetime.

"After I leave, the court will inevitably have someone who wants to take over the Western Regions' trade entirely. In these past years, I have taken not a single coin, so each family within the caravan has been able to share the water evenly, without cheating the young or the old. Everyone is convinced.

But you cannot expect the people the court sends to take over to be as selfless as I am.

The saying 'no desire, then firmness'—if desire arises, one cannot command the masses nor earn trust.

In view of this, the collapse of this trade is only a matter of time.

Do not harbor too many expectations; let things follow nature. Reduce greed, and your own life will be comfortable. When a break is needed, be decisive—do not linger.

After I leave Shazhou, the caravan's trade on the Sogdian side will surely cause trouble; I will not discuss it with them. Even if I did, after my departure they would no longer care.

Fang Chongyong took a letter from his chest, handed it to Zhang Quan and continued: "I hereby resign from the position of the caravan's chief executive today, and entrust you to act in its stead. When the court sends someone, you can smoothly transfer the role to them, and also secure a place for the local magnates of Shazhou. This is all I can do."

"Your Excellency... sigh!"

Zhang Quan stepped forward, grasped Fang Chongyong's hand excitedly, then clutched his own wrist and sighed!

"Your Excellency often says: it's easy to go from frugality to extravagance, but hard to return. We have enjoyed three or four years of your benevolence, and now it's gone in an instant; what are we to do!"

Zhang Quan's old tears streamed, and he clutched Fang Chongyong's hand tightly, unwilling to let go.

"Only can say we shall meet again."

Fang Chongyong crossed his hands and saluted Zhang Quan, smiling as he spoke.

"Your Excellency, hold on, hold on, I have noted your share of the dividends."

Zhang Quan seemed to recall something, turned to the bookshelf, rummaged, and soon produced a thick ledger bound together with a hemp rope.

"Your Excellency, over these years you have cared for families who lost their men to war; each loan was ten to twenty strings of cash, and the total adds up to a considerable amount."

I have had people tally it; the money recorded in this ledger totals about five hundred thousand strings. The ledger remains with you; the people of Shazhou have received your care, so there is no reason for unpaid debts, especially since there is no interest. In the future the caravan will send someone to deliver the money to Chang'an for you.

Even if Your Excellency, with empty sleeves, does not wish to take the money, serving as an official in Chang'an still requires spending everywhere, does it not? Keep it; this is the portion you rightfully deserve—only it may decrease, never increase.

Zhang Quan sighed, handing the ledger with both hands to Fang Chongyong.

These years, Governor Fang's reputation across Hexi stems not only from managing the caravan's affairs, but also from using his rightful dividends to do many deeds beneficial to the local needy. With him leading, other magnates feel embarrassed to be overly stingy to the people.

In view of this, the caravan's reputation in Hexi could surpass that of the original Hu merchants, gaining the widest support and participation.

It can be said that without Fang Chongyong's 'interest‑free loan' scheme aiding many, the caravan's trade could not have taken off, nor formed a monopoly.

If the locals of Hexi do not support smuggling, how could the smuggling trade ever thrive? The informants have shattered the court's thresholds!

This is actually a simple principle to grasp, but many itinerant merchants are blinded by profit, either unable or pretended not to see it.

While reflecting, Zhang Quan saw Fang Chongyong walk to the wall, pick up the torch hanging there, and immediately set the ledger ablaze.

"Your Excellency! Wait, wait, this cannot be done! It truly cannot be done!"

Zhang Quan turned pale with shock, rushed forward to extinguish the flames of the ledger. Fang Chongyong, however, drew a Swift Wind Illusion Blade, pointed it at him, preventing Zhang Quan from approaching.

With his other hand he held the burning ledger, saying not a single word throughout the whole process.

The flames neared his hand, so Fang Chongyong tossed it onto the ground, stamped it out with his foot, then sheathed the Swift Wind Illusion Blade and saluted Zhang Quan.

"Sigh!"

Zhang Quan weakly sat back on the high stool, unable to suppress a sigh.

"After I leave Hexi, I will have the magistrate allocate funds to build a charity granary; you will post notices everywhere."

Those indebted in the ledger shall repay their debts with grain stored in the granary. Local magnates must be generous, not meticulously pursue the needy; repayment is voluntary.

In the future the rule remains: taking without recording a name, depositing without recording a name. Use is based on conscience; the magistrate cannot control it, but I hope local magnates will not interfere.

The people understand this as a safety net for themselves, so they will naturally return grain; when unforeseen trouble arises, they will have a lifeline.

If they are not self‑aware, taking without depositing, thinking this is a heavenly gift, then famine will surely follow.

This is self‑inflicted; one cannot live after such sin, and no one will pity them.

The locals supervise and urge each other; borrowing and repaying, then borrowing again, is not difficult. This is for others and for themselves.

In this way, isn't it more satisfying than I returning to Chang'an with a pile of vouchers and ledgers?

Also, sages are averse to such matters, so please do not name this granary after me. Shazhou has the Doulu army; Doulu carries the meaning of returning righteousness, so let us call this granary the Doulu Granary.

Thus, this matter is concluded.

After hearing this, Zhang Quan's emotions surged, hard to control. He looked at Fang Chongyong with a complicated gaze, shook his head and sighed: "When you become prime minister, you will surely benefit the people of the Great Tang."

Prime minister?

Hearing Zhang Quan's heartfelt words, Fang Chongyong almost laughed out loud.

With Emperor Ji Ge like this, the past is unmentionable, and whoever becomes prime minister in the future will not meet a good end!

Fang Chongyong vaguely recalled that historical records of his previous life noted that after Emperor Ji Ge, several Great Tang emperors were cold‑blooded, which is one thing, but those people also engaged in many shady dealings!

Even the veteran troops from Jingyuan, originally from the Northern Frontier Protectorate, were forced into rebellion.

Is this horse‑riding something the emperor can accomplish?

"Just kidding, as for becoming prime minister, I am nowhere near that material.

Enough idle talk, I shall take my leave now."

Fang Chongyong gave Zhang Quan a deep bow, then turned elegantly and left.

When he left Zhang's residence, the outside was already lit by ten thousand households' lights!

These years Shazhou has become considerably more prosperous and affluent, but all of this rests on a vampiric exploitation of other parts of the Great Tang, creating a false prosperity.

Even the most beautiful bubble will burst with a single poke. When the caravan business can no longer continue, Shazhou will revert to its original state.

Relying on the method of tearing down the east wall to patch the west, there is no way to save this dynasty that is gradually sinking.

Yet the great trend of the world, where the road leads, is a fog before Fang Chongyong's eyes.

"Sorry for planting a big bomb for Ji Ge; I hope the one who takes over isn't a good‑for‑nothing.

Otherwise the fun will be huge."

Fang Chongyong's face broke into a mischievous grin as he muttered to himself.

After the incident in Hexi erupts, a violent storm and even a blood‑soaked gale will surely follow; then we'll see who gets unlucky.

In short, those ridiculous messes are no longer the concern of this clerk. As they say, desirelessness makes one firm; taking over was so casual, and leaving is just as easy.

I don't take it, so I don't have to be responsible for you; everything is perfectly justified.

Right away, this clerk will return to Chang'an to become a quiet, low‑key man, Fang Chongyong thought with satisfaction.

Dining locally in Shazhou, wanting to pay but unable to, is a terrible experience. Only someone as naive as Fang Laique, who's never seen the world, would consider it an honor.

And Chang'an is so vast—who even knows who Fang Chongyong is? Returning to ordinary life is the truly proper way to live!

"To finish the king's worldly affairs, to win fame both in life and after death—pity the white‑haired one!"

Fang Chongyong placed his hands behind his back, walked with a step that disowned even his kin, and headed toward the government office.

He realized that this life seemed to lack a childhood. These years in Shazhou, constantly restraining himself and pretending to be a high official, were exhausting!

When he returns to Chang'an, he won't have to constantly monitor his words and deeds to fit the persona of a senior Tang official.

(End of chapter)