Chapter 150: Knowing Is Easy, Acting Is Hard

In Wang Yangming's philosophy of the mind, there is a very important concept, namely: knowing is easy, acting is hard.

That is to say, it is easy to talk eloquently and know how things should be done; but to do them well, do them beautifully, and carry them forward smoothly is far from easy.

Fang Chongyong knew that actually getting things done was harder than his own grand talk of "persuading" Zheng Shuqing, yet he never imagined it would be this hard!

Fang Chongyong discovered with dismay that at the critical moment, Zheng Shuqing's old problem had flared up again.

After getting pumped up, Old Zheng was itching to charge to the front lines, but at the final moment he discovered the biggest problem of all:

Not only was the Jingzhao Prefecture short on personnel, but confidentiality had also become a major issue.

Not to mention, the combat effectiveness of these bureaucrats was not very strong either—after all, most of them were civil officials who could not compare to soldiers, and they might not even be able to beat the Xing family's servants and retainers.

Zheng Shuqing did a quick tally: the number of people he could deploy as "enforcers" to raid a house came to no more than a dozen or so! Perhaps not even as many as the servants of the wealthy and powerful Xing family.

Moreover, some among them did not want to "work overtime"! Did not want to participate in this matter!

Without an imperial edict, not all officials of the Jingzhao Prefecture yamen were willing to follow Zheng Shuqing to raid someone's house!

The reason this situation arose was actually tied to the Tang Dynasty's governmental structure.

The Jingzhao Prefecture yamen in Chang'an had always been accustomed to laziness; it only perked up a tiny bit during the Wu Zhou period, and ever since then had been continuously reducing its headcount. Those with official establishment numbered no more than twenty or thirty—and that was counting generously.

And the Tang Dynasty's formal officials had in fact always been in a severe state of understaffing, ever since the founding of the dynasty.

So whenever the yamen needed to accomplish something major and was urgently short on manpower, what was to be done?

The answer was: every time, they would mobilize "corvée labor," making the common people of Chang'an work unpaid labor service.

They would throw on a "work uniform" and, according to each person's abilities, carry out grassroots yamen work; once the task was done, they would be dismissed.

Because the Jingzhao Prefecture's authority had been continuously cut back, these "temporary workers" had not had the opportunity to report for duty for a long time either.

Over time, the Jingzhao Prefecture yamen simply stopped conscripting corvée labor. It relied on that meager official establishment to maintain the yamen's basic framework.

Zheng Shuqing had spent four years as a do-nothing useless official, but in truth it was not entirely that he was deliberately lying flat. Rather, within the Tang Dynasty's existing governmental framework, the Jingzhao Prefecture yamen had so few people that he simply could not accomplish anything! Any central yamen could come and hammer Zheng Shuqing at will.

It was the Jingzhao Prefecture yamen's own strength that did not allow Zheng Shuqing to change the status quo!

"What should we do? What should we do?

The news hasn't leaked, but half the yamen's officials have already left. What can a dozen or so people accomplish?"

Zheng Shuqing paced back and forth inside the main hall of the prefectural yamen. Time was passing bit by bit, but the Jingzhao Prefecture yamen was completely unable to organize the corresponding force to carry out this earth-shattering task.

But if they went to find the Jinwu Guard, the news would leak, setting the whole city abuzz before the matter was even accomplished.

Given the Xing clan's "standing in the world," their household servants, while not exceeding four hundred (the unofficial maximum for officials), would normally number one or two hundred.

If Zheng Shuqing led a dozen-plus men to raid their house, who would end up taking down whom was anyone's guess!

There were far, far too many examples of failing to kill a snake and suffering the consequences—one had to bring all the Xing clan's people under control, then raid their house and turn it upside down!

No matter how you played it, without at least five hundred men as a foundation, it simply could not be done!

"I recall that the Jingzhao Prefecture can apparently mobilize corvée labor."

Fang Chongyong said in a low voice. His mind was in a tangled mess, but he could still keep his composure.

"At a time like this, at a time like this—the ward gates are already closed, how can we mobilize corvée labor…"

Zheng Shuqing was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan.

"Prefect Zheng! Calm down, there is still a way!"

Fang Chongyong roared at Zheng Shuqing!

Only then did Zheng Shuqing slowly and feebly sink down onto a cushion in the hall, feeling as though all the strength in his body had been drained away.

Why! Why was he short by just that little bit!

Zheng Shuqing felt that this time he was just that tiny bit away from success—truly just a tiny bit.

As long as he could successfully raid the Xing clan's house, he would win the favor of the Sage Li Longji and the Right Chancellor Li Linfu.

Then he could leave the post of Jingzhao Prefect, which was both a trap and miserable, step out of his official career trough that had already lasted four or five years, and finally become a Minister of one of the Six Ministries—at the very least starting as a Vice Minister.

Damn it! Why was he short by just this much! Why did the Jingzhao Prefecture yamen simply not have a corps of menial workers—even a hundred would do!

"Let's go, we need to find people."

Fang Chongyong stood up, rubbed his somewhat stiff shoulders, and looked at Zheng Shuqing with a resolute expression as he spoke.

"Where are we going to find people?"

Zheng Shuqing blurted out.

"Chang'an has one hundred and eight wards and a million people—where could we not find anyone?

The Jingzhao Prefecture yamen has never lacked people; what it lacks is a way to organize them!"

Fang Chongyong dropped this remark, went out, and ran into Zhang Guangsheng, who was standing guard nearby, and called him over to come along.

"My lord, where are we heading now?"

Zhang Guangsheng rested his hand on his sword hilt and asked in a low voice.

"We're going to do some heavy work in a bit, but it won't be more tiring than dealing with those Sogdian barbarians in Hexi.

If it really comes down to it, then we'll just have to kill people."

Fang Chongyong's tone carried a hint of helplessness. Zheng Shuqing had the bad habit common among Tang civil officials: his eyes were bigger than his abilities, and his execution was poor.

If the other party's execution was lacking, then he would just have to make up for it himself—he couldn't just watch things fall apart.

When Fang Chongyong handled matters, he always followed one principle: unless pushed to the very end with no way out, he would never entrust the decisive move to someone else!

"Heh heh, that's just fine. Those of us who serve as soldiers and eat government grain are most familiar with this sort of thing."

Zhang Guangsheng grinned from the side, looking friendly and guileless, and the hand gripping his sword seemed even steadier.

……

"The Xing clan's residence is in Chongye Ward.

The ward gates are already closed, and the Xing clan is a prominent household there—the ward warden is very likely one of their people, so we can't count on that. We'll have to think of another way.

Chongye Ward borders Vermilion Bird Avenue, on the west side of the street. The location is excellent.

So this street would have many Golden Guard imperial soldiers on patrol. We should try not to alert them. Therefore, right now we can only try our luck at Huaizhen Ward to the west of Chongye Ward, Anye Ward to the north, and Yongda Ward to the south.

If we take care of any one of them, this matter is half done.

Let's go to Huaizhen Ward first, then try house by house."

Fang Chongyong said as he walked, making Zheng Shuqing click his tongue in amazement.

"Why do I feel like you know the layout of Chang'an even better than I do?"

Zheng Shuqing asked curiously.

"Preparation leads to success; lack of preparation leads to failure. Nothing more to say."

Fang Chongyong replied casually.

As they talked, the group quickened their pace across Zhuque Avenue. In the distance, soldiers on Golden Guard patrol walked toward them, but there was no other activity.

It was true that Chang'an had a curfew, but the main thoroughfares were wide—Zhuque Avenue, the widest, was over a hundred and fifty meters across, and other main roads between wards were over a hundred and twenty meters wide. At such distances, it was perfectly normal for a few people to hide in the shadows.

So when the Golden Guard patrolled the streets, as long as there weren't crowds of people loitering about, they wouldn't go out of their way to investigate. Only when they drew close and encountered someone would they send a man forward to make inquiries.

Fang Chongyong's party arrived at the east gate of Huaizhen Ward, which was already shut. Fang Chongyong frowned slightly—despite hurrying all the way, they were still a step late. It seemed they had no choice but to shout and pound on the gate.

"Open up! Rebels have gotten into Huaizhen Ward! The Jingzhao Prefecture is hunting down rebels!"

Fang Chongyong hollered at the top of his lungs toward the inside.

The power of the word "rebel"—anyone who understood even a little politics would grasp it.

Soon, the ward gate, only about four meters wide, was opened. A middle-aged man in a hemp robe yawned and, eyes still heavy with sleep, reached out a hand toward Fang Chongyong, saying, "I'm the ward warden. Have you brought your official seal? Without a seal, you can't enter the ward gate."

Clearly, searches like this were commonplace for a ward warden—to the point that they were nothing unusual at all.

"I am the Prefect of Jingzhao. Take me inside!"

Zheng Shuqing scolded the man in a low voice, his face stern.

"Oh, oh, yes, yes, yes, understood!"

The ward warden nodded hastily in agreement and led the group into the ward.

This was how Chang'an was structured: each ward was a module, and together they formed the great Sui-Tang Chang'an that dominated the Guanzhong region and was renowned far and wide. It was very different from the cities of Shazhou—each ward was an independent unit, self-contained, much like the residential compounds of Fang Chongyong's previous life.

The wards varied in size—not all were the same—but their administrative structures were largely similar. The Jingzhao Prefecture would appoint someone as ward warden to manage daily affairs within the ward, with records kept on file at the prefecture office so that the warden could be held accountable at any time.

This was the Jingzhao Prefecture office's true domain! Fang Chongyong could be said to have eyes like torches—he had found the one area where the Jingzhao Prefecture held an advantage.

Arriving at the ward warden's main hall, Fang Chongyong pulled out the bronze waist token hanging at his belt and said:

"I am a Grand General of the Thousand Ox Guard, the imperial guards of the court, carrying out a secret edict from the Sage.

This matter is highly classified and of the utmost importance. If it is carelessly leaked, you and your families will face the calamity of having your homes confiscated and your clans exterminated.

Therefore, none of you are qualified to see the secret edict! This is also for your own good!

The only thing I can tell you is this: the powerful Xing family in the neighboring Chongye Ward is plotting rebellion!

They have connections within the imperial guards of the court. The stakes are enormous, so I had no choice but to seek your help nearby, so as not to alert them!

I now require you to muster five hundred able-bodied men from this ward to surround the Xing residence, then enter and search for rebels.

Do you have any problem organizing the manpower now?"

Fang Chongyong bluffed with a mix of coaxing and deception, leaving Zheng Shuqing dumbfounded.

Thinking that his own words were far less persuasive than Fang Chongyong's, Zheng Shuqing sensibly kept his mouth shut, only nodding solemnly when the ward warden looked his way.

Even though this ward warden had dealt with many officials and could be considered a well-informed man among common folk, he too was frightened by Fang Chongyong's words at this moment.

He knew the Xing family—they were usually very arrogant in their dealings, and members of their family held high office, more than one of them in fact, so they certainly had the capital to be overbearing.

But to say they were plotting rebellion—wasn't that making a mountain out of a molehill?

Still, being asked to gather five hundred men from this ward was not a big problem.

The ward warden simply felt that Fang Chongyong's party was acting too abruptly, and he was afraid of bearing responsibility.

"Actually, I don't think things are quite that serious. Perhaps we should notify the Golden Guard, after all..."

The ward warden was about to say more, but Fang Chongyong patted the scabbard of the Gale Phantom Blade at his waist and said:

"The Xing family has many accomplices in the various surrounding wards. I advise the ward warden to think clearly before speaking.

Otherwise, the Xing family will certainly be wiped out and won't live past tonight.

But afterward, if the Sage blames us for mishandling the matter, or suspects that you, the ward warden, didn't cooperate with us—perhaps even thinking you're one of the Xing family's accomplices—that would be quite troublesome indeed."

Fang Chongyong's words were soft yet firm—not so easy to respond to.

The ward warden quickly dropped the laziness from his face and patted his chest, guaranteeing, "Just five hundred men—trivial matter! Within half a shichen, I'll have the able-bodied men assembled and ready to set out!"

"That would be best, then."

Fang Chongyong said expressionlessly, in a strictly businesslike tone.

The number five hundred wasn't called out at random—it was the result of his repeated calculations.

In Tang-era Chang'an, each ward had a different number of residents. The densely populated wards near the East Market and West Market could have forty to fifty thousand people living in a single ward.

Some wards in the far south had very few residents—even at their peak, no more than several hundred.

On average, a ward in Chang'an during the High Tang housed roughly ten thousand to twenty thousand people—and this referred only to the permanent population, not including foreign merchants, foreign students, and other transient residents.

Selecting one man out of twenty was quite easy, not to mention that Huaizhen Ward's population was not merely ten thousand.

Not only that, but the number five hundred was neither large enough to trigger a large-scale mobilization of the imperial guards in Chang'an, nor was it insufficient to deal with the large and powerful Xing clan.

After the ward warden left, Fang Chongyong sat down imposingly and laid the Gale Phantom Blade across his thigh. Zheng Shuqing leaned in cautiously and whispered in his ear, "Will this work?"

"We'll have to gamble on it. It should be close enough."

Fang Chongyong shook his head helplessly and added, "It's not like this is the first time you and I have gambled."

Recalling the risks the two of them had weathered together in Kuizhou, Zheng Shuqing couldn't help but sigh and say, "Yes indeed, damn it all!"

……

Night had already fallen. In a certain study of Li Linfu's residence in Pingkang Ward, the Right Chancellor of the Great Tang still had not gone to sleep.

He was reading a letter that was extremely important to himself.

"Zheng Shuqing has grown capable indeed."

Setting down the letter that someone had sent on the desk, Li Linfu had already read between the lines.

To sum it up: such an opportunity must not be missed, and will not come again!

Using Xing Shu as a pawn, he could pry over the Vice Censor-in-Chief Zhang Yi, and at the same time win himself even more of the Sage's favor.

Right now Zhang Shougui was already overwhelmed with the troubles on the Hexi front; now to knock out his partisan Xing Shu as well.

This move was simply brilliant!

However, the matter had to be done, yet it could not be done too crudely. Zheng Shuqing's plan was still far too wishful; certain details within it needed to be filled in by him, the Right Minister of the Great Tang.

The loopholes that ought to be patched must be patched; when setting a trap, one must set a perfect trap.

Li Linfu took up his brush and wrote a letter. After finishing it, he felt quite satisfied. He felt that after Li Longji read the letter, there was no reason he would not be tempted.

Li Linfu summoned a servant and said, "Prepare the carriage. This minister is going to Xingqing Palace now."

In truth, he ought to have waited until the dust settled before making his move, but the current court situation was not entirely favorable to him.

Li Longji seemed to intend to restore the former arrangement of "three chancellors," letting the various chancellors check and balance one another so as to spare himself the bother.

So Li Linfu felt a powerful sense of crisis.

Now that the opportunity was right before his eyes, he could only make a risky move; before the matter was fully handled, he would go to Xingqing Palace to explain the stakes to Li Longji.

And to request from the other party a unit of the palace guard, to participate in the raid and reckoning against Xing Shu.

Weighing things repeatedly along the way, by the time he reached Xingqing Palace, Li Linfu already had a decision in his heart.

After handing the letter he had personally written to the soldier standing guard outside Xingqing Palace, he then waited quietly outside the gate for Li Longji to summon him.

However, he waited for nearly more than a full shichen, and Li Longji still did not come out.

In the end it was Gao Lishi who hurried out, bowing deeply to Li Linfu and saying, "Right Minister, I shall go together with you to raid Xing Shu's home. You do not mind, do you?"

"With General Gao going along, this matter will be properly handled." Li Linfu clasped his hands and returned the courtesy to Gao Lishi.

"Mm, the Sage was furious over this, but he also could hardly believe that the usually gentle and refined Xing Shu would actually do something so beastly."

Gao Lishi said with deep significance, subtly implying that Li Linfu was using an excuse to strike at a political enemy.

"Whether it is so or not, one investigation will reveal. Please rest assured, General Gao, this minister will only watch from the sidelines."

Both men's gazes were deep; after a brief meeting of eyes, they parted and no longer looked at each other.

Gao Lishi directly called up two hundred Dragon Martial Guard soldiers on duty at Xingqing Palace, and in grand procession set out for Chongye Ward.

You didn't guess what would follow, did you? There is no such easy thing in this world.

(End of this chapter)