Chapter 148: Is Chang'an Safe?

"Lord, this is Chang'an!"

Outside the Chunming Gate of Chang'an, Zhang Guangsheng, with his carriage hitched, tightened the reins, leapt down, and, his face full of envy, exclaimed.

After traveling eighteen hundred li, we finally, dust‑caked, arrived at the eastern post station of Chang'an, and before us lay the bustling Chunming Gate.

The city stretched beyond the eye's reach!

It was natural for Zhang Guangsheng, who had never seen such a grand scene, to feel a ripple in his heart.

Before the magnificent Chang'an, Zhang Guangsheng was indeed a true native of Western River.

"Chang'an, Chang'an, long‑lasting peace. Under the Son of Heaven, the foremost capital, this place is safe."

Our habit of drawing swords and shooting arrows at a moment's notice in Shazhou must be changed.

When trouble arises, we must restrain ourselves, think first, and not rashly resort to force.

Constant fighting and killing makes it hard to go far.

Fang Chongyong lifted the carriage curtain, and, with a solemn expression, warned Zhang Guangsheng.

Like those Doulu army Qiu Ba, Zhang Guangsheng's hands were stained with blood, and he had killed many; his reflexes were swift, and his strikes especially ruthless.

Even after Fang Chongyong grew tall, he shot down many so‑called "bandits" with crossbow bolts, showing no mercy to anyone.

The two of them were truly the kind who lick blood off the blade.

How could there be any honest people in Shazhou of Western River?

"Oh, I see, my lord, we must restrain a bit."

The masterful killer Zhang Guangsheng nodded like a chick pecking grain, his heart full of awe.

This time, aside from Yang Yan who set out with them, Fang Chongyong took Anaye with him; the others remained behind.

The Western River caravan business could not be delayed and needed immediate handling; Fang Chongyong had no time for idle talk on the road!

"Ah, Chang'an is really that far; my waist feels like it's falling apart,"

Anaye, wearing a veil hat, hopped down lightly, rubbed her barely graspable slender waist, and complained.

The famed Huji water‑snake waist lived up to its reputation; Anaye showed no sign as a child, yet within two years she had developed such a devilish figure, clearly inherited from her mother.

If that person lacked an incomparable beauty, how could she have dazzled the well‑read Prince Xin'an Li Yi?

"We're in Chang'an on business; stay low‑key and avoid trouble! When you go out, never take off your veil hat! Don't wear revealing clothes! Understand?"

Fang Chongyong made a fierce face and threatened Anaye.

"Got it, got it, I'm the number one beauty of Western River; showing my face would be snatched by bad people,"

Anaye lazily retorted, clearly not taking it seriously.

After all, she was already accustomed to Western River's sense of security; everyone in Shazhou knew she was a protected treasure that even Lord Fang was reluctant to bully. Who would dare harm her?

While the group talked and packed, four or five riders burst out of Chunming Gate; the civilians blocking their way stepped aside, causing a chaotic scramble.

Riding were young men in bright brocade robes, each carrying a slingshot that resembled a bow, with a leather pouch at the center of the "string" for loading stone projectiles.

The leader among them, captivated by Anaye's graceful figure, couldn't look away; he raised his slingshot and, aiming at her veil hat, launched a stone projectile!

Bang!

The veil hat was blown off.

Saffron hair cascaded like a waterfall, and her delicate face flickered in and out among the strands.

The young riders, stunned by Anaye's beauty, circled on horseback, clearly hostile.

Fang Chongyong's earlier "low‑profile strategy" was instantly slapped down. Even after four years training in a border town, having met many sly veterans, his composure now wavered.

What kind of bird‑riding fool hits a face like that!

Before he could speak, the rider pointed a whip at Anaye and said, "She's my runaway slave; give me a hundred strings, and I'll take her away, and the matter will be settled. Otherwise…"

Before he finished, Zhang Guangsheng leapt up, delivering a crushing punch to the white horse's most vulnerable ear beneath the speaker, using all his strength!

Like a raging tiger descending a mountain, swift as lightning!

This is the true might of the Western River border troops!

The horses they rode were all mere showpieces, not even close to the fine steeds of Western River, and they couldn't react in time!

The white horse that took the punch collapsed, foaming at the mouth, limbs convulsing, clearly on the brink of death!

The arrogant young man who had been speaking also tumbled to the ground in a mess, rolling several times before the force left him. His dog‑like, mud‑covered appearance drew applause from the surrounding onlookers.

That flash of a strike froze the other young riders still on their horses!

A single punch that kills a horse! What kind of monster is this!

Zhang Guangsheng massaged his sore wrist, approached Fang Chongyong, and bowed, saying,

"My lord, I did not draw a sword, nor fire an arrow, nor strike anyone, and I have not violated your command!"

He adopted a Qiu Ba‑like demeanor, revealing nothing of Fang Chongyong's identity, and caused the nearby young men in brocade robes to cower in fear.

"Filthy scum! How dare you kill my horse?

Do you know who my grandfather is?"

The mud‑covered wretch stepped over Zhang Guangsheng, marched straight to the towering Fang Chongyong, glared, and shouted,

"So, after all that nonsense, who is your grandfather?"

Fang Chongyong crossed his arms, his face excited, and asked,

At last he stumbled upon it! The childhood memory he lacked in this life! Serving as an official in Western River, he grew so mature that he even thought himself still a corporate drone!

As the son of the Southern Ridge Military Governor and son‑in‑law of the Hedong Military Governor, and holding three or four pending posts—including the Inspector of Shazhou—if he didn't seize a chance to show off before the many officials in Chang'an, to act out a domineering male‑over‑female scene, it would be a disgrace to his status!

All his buffs are stacked; not showing off would betray the very purpose of his transmigration!

Fang Chongyong's heart boiled with excitement; not only was he unafraid, he was eager to try, lest the group opposite fled.

"Hmph! Who in Chang'an doesn't know that my father Xing Zhan is the Minister of Ceremonies? Just wait to die!"

Seeming to think the title Minister of Ceremonies wasn't impressive enough, Xing Zhan pointed to a young rider behind him and said, "He is Zhang Shi, whose father serves as Deputy Chief Censor! The imperial favor is soaring; a single finger could crush you!"

Xing Zi again pointed at another person and said, "He is called Wang Chan; his elder brother is a Ministry of Revenue physician and also a household color official. A single transfer order can make you do forced labor until death!"

"You oppose us; go buy a coffin now! Hand over that Western‑region huji behind you, and we might spare you, only breaking one of your legs?"

Hearing his arrogant words, the onlookers quietly dispersed, unwilling to keep watching the muddied water.

The people do not fight officials; if watching is risky, it's better to withdraw.

"Which leg are you going to break?"

Fang Chongyong blurted out the retort.

Xing Zi was stunned. Is this a question? Is this something that should be paid attention to?

He had not expected the other side to ask that, and was momentarily at a loss, not knowing how to continue the threat.

"Chang'an's ruffians oppress out‑of‑town merchants. Under this bright sky, how can you get away with evil! Do you truly think there is no justice in the world?"

"Today I will come to set things right!"

At that moment, from behind Fang Chongyong, from the east of Chang'an, a booming shout rang out!

What is this now? Could it be a new trick emerging here in Chang'an?

Fang Chongyong, who always harbored the "troublesome subjects harm the throne" mindset, first thought that Xing Zi and his companions before him were the backer's dogs, trying to boost his own favor.

He turned his head and saw two middle‑aged men dressed as scholars, their attire a bit shabby, looking about thirty‑something.

One was tall and broad, the other slender; both strode forward as if to shoulder the burden for Fang Chongyong's party.

Fang Chongyong swallowed the pretentious words he had prepared, remained silent, and watched.

"They're just sour scholars from out of town taking the imperial exam in Chang'an; I advise you not to meddle! If you keep causing trouble, I'll deal with you all together!"

Xing Zi, with a fierce yet cowardly tone, said, clearly having ridden the tiger and unable to get off; the fox‑and‑dog friends behind him, who usually fight roosters and walk dogs, now seemed ready to step aside and watch the spectacle.

However, losing face is not as bad as losing the formation; if he retreats now, Xing Zi will never survive in this circle, so he cannot step back a single step and must grit his teeth and hold on.

Fang Chongyong carefully examined the attire of the two newcomers, then his own, and suddenly had an epiphany!

In the border town, everyone knew he was Magistrate Fang, everyone knew his eyes could see the heavens, a single spit could kill. So Fang Chongyong rarely wore official robes, didn't need such means to prove his status, and paid little attention to his dress.

Including Ana Ye, they wore plain clothes, indistinguishable from ordinary folk.

But this is Chang'an, with at least a million permanent residents, a mix of all sorts, from emperor to beggar, with huge status gaps.

One's attire is a symbol of status. Xing Zi was wary of the two shabby scholar‑clad men, fearing they were exam candidates capable of causing trouble.

Fang Chongyong's current clothing indicated a status roughly that of a small merchant, proving only that he had a little money; at any rate, he was certainly not an official nor a gentry aspiring to office.

Ana Ye, as a huji, is also the standard accompaniment of Western‑region merchants; at most her striking looks set her apart, but she is not worth doubting. Zhang Guangsheng could see without saying that the typical Western‑region sword‑wielding guards are common; in Chang'an one can recruit hundreds with ease.

Thus these officials thought Fang Chongyong's party were just small Western merchants; bullying them was no big deal. As for huji, even if Chang'an lacked a hundred thousand, there were still fifty or sixty thousand, not a rarity. These officials didn't regard Ana Ye as a person at all.

"Sir, I am Du Fu Du Zimei, and this one is Yuan Jie Yuan Cishan. We are scholars coming to Chang'an for the Jinshi imperial exam."

"You need not worry; we witnessed those events with our own eyes, the right and wrong are clear. We are willing to be witnesses and go with you to Jingzhao Prefecture to report!"

"I don't believe these young men from Wuling can cover Chang'an with one hand!"

Du Fu looked at Xing Zi and the others, his voice filled with righteous anger as he rebuked.

Yuan Jie beside him said, "I also agree with Du Zimei's words; you all, saying more is useless, let's go to Jingzhao Prefecture."

Normally, hearing this, Xing Zi and the others would back off, tossing a line: "If you have the guts, wait, I'll go back and bring people to kill you."

Or simply slip away, just losing face; these officials aren't unable to afford a horse!

Later, in Chang'an city, they could stir trouble covertly and take revenge.

At least that's what Fang Chongyong thought.

Unexpectedly, Jingzhao Prefecture turned into a bizarre joke; not only Xing Zi burst out laughing, but the other officials on horseback, like Zhang Shi and Wang Chan, also dismounted, laughing loudly, standing by Xing Zi to boost his presence.

This left Fang Chongyong, Du Fu, Yuan Jie and the others a bit confused.

The renowned Chang'an law‑enforcement unit, the third‑rank official of Jingzhao Prefecture, how did it become a joke?

"Hehe, you two out‑of‑town sour scholars don't know, the phrase locals in Chang'an often say is: paper‑thin Wan Nian County, mud‑sculpted Jingzhao Prefecture."

"This Jingzhao Prefecture, no one can govern it, it's only a penny better than the even more useless Wan Nian County office, hahahaha!"

"Now the Jingzhao Prefecture magistrate has resigned four times in four years without approval; know why? Because no one wants this broken office, you are courting death!"

Covered in mud, Xing Zi laughed until tears came out.

Fang Chongyong, Du Fu, Yuan Jie and the others exchanged looks, feeling a big pit seemed ahead.

"You two, why not go yourselves? I can handle it here."

Fang Chongyong said to Du Fu with a troubled expression.

Many things he could normally handle at will, but with outsiders present, it became difficult.

Clashing openly with Xing Zi and the others wasn't his intention, nor was befriending Du Fu and the others.

"Sir, rest assured! Traveling the world, it's all about reason. I don't believe Jingzhao Prefecture can be unreasonable."

"You all, dare you go to Jingzhao Prefecture!"

Du Fu pointed at Xing Zi and the others and asked.

"Go, why not."

"If you don't go to Jingzhao Prefecture, I'll just break one leg. If you go, I'll break both legs."

Xing Zi pointed at Fang Chongyong viciously; his men behind him shouted nonsense, seemingly unafraid of trouble.

"I originally wanted to get along peacefully, but ended up being abused. No more pretense, I lay my cards down. Let's go to Jingzhao Prefecture."

Fang Chongyong said helplessly.

The governor of Sha Prefecture, a fourth‑rank official, and to deal with a fourth‑rank official one must go to the Great Justice Temple; it's not something Jingzhao Prefecture can handle.

Fang also wanted to see what game these officials were playing.

……

The Jingzhao Prefecture office was built with heavy funds; the renovation alone cost twenty thousand strings of cash, and inside there was even a dedicated cuju field for officials to play in their leisure.

However, the splendor of the Jingzhao Prefecture is confined to its yamen; beyond that it's all talk, no one can overpower anyone, no one can govern, just a spineless whiner.

It is rare for a Jingzhao Prefecture Prefect to serve more than a year; as for a four‑year term, only the current Prefect Zheng Shuqing has it.

He single‑handedly made a huge name for himself in Chang'an, becoming a notorious figure known on every street and alley.

In short, he shows up for work but does nothing; he cannot uphold fairness nor enforce justice, yet he is slick enough to offend no one—whether he's present or not, he's just a useless official.

That day, like any other, the Jingzhao Prefecture yamen was idle enough for birds to drift in. Prefect Zheng Shuqing set up a stick supporting a dustpan in the courtyard before the yamen, sprinkled a few grains beneath it, and tied one end of a rope to the stick.

With a tug, he could trap the greedy birds.

While Zheng Shuqing was engrossed in his game, an assistant officer leaned over and whispered in his ear, "Prefect Zheng, a few young men from Wuling have come to lodge a complaint; they claim they were bullied by out‑of‑town merchants, tried to swindle money but got nothing, and even a horse was beaten to death."

"Come to the Jingzhao Prefecture to lodge a complaint? Why not go to the Dali Temple?"

Zheng Shuqing asked with a helpless expression.

The assistant officer was speechless, thinking to himself: of course, because he sees you as easier to bully.

But he could not say that aloud; he merely crossed his arms, bowed, and stepped aside, waiting for the widely regarded incompetent and useless Prefect of Jingzhao to make a decision.

"Alright, after we finish the case I'll get off duty, then we can find a place to have a little drink."

Zheng Shuqing sighed.

The administration of the Jingzhao Prefecture could be described as deserted; officials work only half a day and then go home to rest, and they have grown accustomed to this tranquil, uneventful work environment.

"Here you go, Prefect Zheng, this way."

The assistant officer hurried ahead to lead the way, already thinking about after‑work matters.

His family had arranged a marriage proposal; the other family is of higher status, and with the Jingzhao Prefecture's poor reputation, the match looks unlikely to succeed.

He wondered whether to drop the proposal altogether, lest he ends up marrying a father‑figure to serve, making life far from pleasant.

The two arrived at the main hall, and Zheng Shuqing, weakly, asked the line of people standing inside, "What business do you have to lodge a complaint? Under the emperor's feet in Chang'an—if there's nothing, just disperse; making a scene isn't worth it."

Zheng Shuqing yawned, then suddenly noticed someone in front of him who looked very familiar and friendly, though the person was tall and didn't match the image he had in mind.

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(End of chapter)