Chapter 157: The Splendor of Power

"Come back early after the banquet. There's something I need to discuss with my lord."

After Fang Chongyong saw Zheng Shuqing off, he was just about to head out when Wang Yunxiu, her face full of conflicted distress, grabbed hold of him.

"The lady is already with child so soon? Then the wedding will have to be moved up."

Fang Chongyong teased, not expecting Lady Wang to slap his arm hard and scold indignantly, "What kind of nonsense are you spouting! Haven't you only been back a few days? How could a child possibly appear in my belly? Or are you saying you take me for the kind of loose woman who doesn't observe propriety?"

"Oh, oh, right, that's indeed impossible. So what exactly is it that the lady wishes to discuss?"

Fang Chongyong asked with a look of suspicion.

It was unlikely to be some trivial household matter, either. Though Wang Yunxiu and Ana Ye both had sharp tongues, they were both reasonable women and had accepted each other's presence; at most they would trade verbal jabs on ordinary days.

They would not actively undermine the stability of the household, and both understood the circumstances Fang Chongyong faced—challenges upon challenges—with absolutely no external conditions that would lead to conflict.

Officials in the court who had been ruined and had their entire families wiped out over some petty domestic matter were no longer isolated cases; one could even say you'd grab a whole handful of them.

Wang Yunxiu, who came from an official's household, naturally knew what was at stake.

Fang Chongyong felt that Wang Yunxiu would not go picking fights with that "fox spirit" or treat Ana Ye as a thorn in her side.

"While I was helping my lord gather information, I got tangled up in a matter of life and death. It concerns the Ten Princes' Residence."

Wang Yunxiu said in a low voice.

"The Ten Princes' Residence? Those people have set their crooked schemes on you?"

The moment he heard this, Fang Chongyong was furious! Someone dared to snatch his wife—how could he possibly tolerate that?

Yet he saw Wang Yunxiu calmly wave her hand and say with a sigh:

"When it comes to attracting bees and butterflies, I truly cannot compare to that fox spirit in our household. Even if they were to make a move on me, it would be because of my father's power as the Hedong Military Commissioner, not because of my beauty.

That is quite different from what my lord is thinking.

My lord underestimates the beauties surrounding those princes and imperial grandsons in the Ten Princes' Residence. What kind of beauty do they not have? Why would they offend the Hedong Military Commissioner just to make a move on me?"

"So what exactly is the matter, then?"

Fang Chongyong asked in confusion; the more he listened, the more bewildered he became!

Wang Yunxiu leaned close and murmured in his ear for a long while. Fang Chongyong's expression grew increasingly grave, his fists clenched tight, then slowly released.

"In short, that is the situation. Do we help with this or not?

If we help, there will certainly be risks.

If we do not help, I will have broken my word to someone, and will surely be ostracized by certain people in the future, making it very difficult to gather information for my lord again."

Wang Yunxiu asked, her face full of worry.

"Of course we must help. There is still a basic sense of justice in this world. You are wholeheartedly looking out for me, and I of course understand that. Leave this matter to me."

Fang Chongyong said, clasping Wang Yunxiu's hands tightly. His virtuous wife was truly doing her utmost to help him build a "network of noble ladies," secretly gathering all kinds of information through these women.

This time, because of a small misstep, she was somewhat stuck atop a tiger with no way down. Naturally, Fang Chongyong had to help her wrap things up and deal with the potential negative consequences that the ensuing trouble might bring.

"But you mustn't call me 'lady'—only the Chancellor may be addressed that way."

Wang Yunxiu said bashfully; she had already understood what Fang Chongyong meant to convey.

"There's no one else at home, so what does it matter if I say it casually? It's only the Chancellor—if I were made one, I'd even find it too tiresome."

Fang Chongyong said nonchalantly.

"Alright, alright, hurry to the banquet. Go early and come back early."

Wang Yunxiu, delighted to her core, leaned in and kissed Fang Chongyong on the cheek, then pushed him out the courtyard gate.

However, when Fang Chongyong, his mind full of concerns, arrived at Li Linfu's residence in Pingkan Ward, he found... their household today was extremely quiet, so quiet it was as if they had already retired for the night—nothing at all like a household hosting a family banquet!

Had someone not come to receive him and the courtyard not been lit with many torches, Fang Chongyong would have simply turned around and headed home.

The state banquets of the Tang dynasty naturally need no mention; they could be compared to the state banquets of Fang Chongyong's previous life, except in luxury they far surpassed them.

And a Tang dynasty family banquet was not simply a matter of eating a meal and calling it that.

A so-called "family banquet" of an official's household had to include all family members, as well as invite close friends with longstanding ties to the family, and even invite good colleagues from the yamen to participate.

This kind of banquet was an important social ritual occasion for feudal aristocrats and official households, bearing the vital responsibility of maintaining the family's network of relationships. For an ordinary official's household, it could be regarded as a matter of life and death. No amount of importance placed on it would be excessive.

Whether an official's wife was regarded as virtuous in the eyes of outsiders often depended on her ability to organize a family banquet.

Through the grandeur of a family banquet, the dishes, or even the number of servants, outsiders could judge whether this official's household was striving upward or had already fallen into decline! Whether the members of this household were united as one or riven with conflict.

Then they would, based on their own observations, determine what strategy to adopt when interacting with this household in the future.

If a marriage alliance was to be made, then with which member, and what was the character of the person entering into the marriage.

If they discovered that this household was gold on the outside but rotten within, then they would keep a respectful distance and gradually drift apart.

If they discovered that this household had enormous potential and great prospects, then they must strengthen their contact and interact frequently.

A "little" family banquet was no less than a deep audit of a household's social network—how could that be a simple matter?

And for outsiders attending someone else's family banquet, they too had to carefully observe every detail of the banquet and strictly restrain their own words and conduct.

While you are scoring others, others are scoring you! Face is given by others, but embarrassment is brought upon yourself!

Of course, there were exceptions.

For instance, some officials in sinecure posts were genuinely poor; when they invited friends or colleagues to their residence for a family banquet, it would be just a bowl of rice, a small plate of pickled vegetables, and a cup of unfiltered wine—nothing more. Their friends and colleagues did not regard the modesty as anything shameful and paid no mind to those empty formalities.

But clearly, Li Linfu was certainly not that kind of person. The Right Chancellor had to have the dignity befitting a Right Chancellor! Therefore, the family banquet of the Right Chancellor's household would also inevitably carry profound political significance! Whom to invite and whom not to invite, how to arrange the seating order—all of it demanded great care.

Humans are social animals, expressing social status through social attributes. Everything about a family banquet was a projection of Li Linfu's social standing—no sloppiness could be permitted.

Before long, Fang Chongyong was led by a servant to the study, where he saw Li Linfu working at his desk.

His desk was covered entirely with papers—not to mention a family banquet, there was not so much as a single snack or pastry in sight. This Right Chancellor of the Great Tang seemed to be in much the same state at home as he was at the yamen!

"The Left Chancellor has already planned that, two days from now, he will organize certain plaintiffs who have failed to get results from filing complaints at the Jingzhao Prefecture yamen over the past five years to go over there and file official complaints—at least fifty cases a day.

If Zheng Shuqing cannot handle them, or handles them poorly, then Zhang Yi, the Vice Censor-in-Chief, will throw his support to the Left Chancellor and simultaneously impeach Zheng Shuqing for neglecting public duties and for lazy and idle governance.

How do you think this should be handled?"

Li Linfu asked without lifting his head.

Fang Chongyong was curious about what the Right Minister of the Great Tang was so busy with—it was not as if he were busy plotting a rebellion! Why did he still have to handle official business after returning home?

Seeing that Young Master Fang was not speaking at all, Li Linfu assumed he had frightened the other party and quickly pointed at the cushion before him in a gentle tone, saying, "Sit down and just speak casually."

The Chinese language is vast and profound; things called "casual" are often far from "casual," and one has no choice but to be fully on guard to deal with them.

"To answer the Right Minister, this matter has no solution.

It is a cold case from years past; the witnesses and physical evidence have long since become unrecognizable. Even with the aid of ghosts and spirits, it would be difficult to sort out the rights and wrongs of that year. In military strategy, this is called the enemy's strength. In any case, to handle this kind of matter, one must play to one's strengths and avoid one's weaknesses. Confronting it head-on yields twice the effort for half the result, and is inadvisable."

Fang Chongyong did not say what to do, but analyzed the nature of the incident, implicitly hinting: this matter cannot be resisted head-on!

"Well said!"

Li Linfu set down his brush and sighed softly:

"So many people around this minister, and none of them have gotten to the point. Instead, it is you, an outsider, who sees things clearly.

But this minister already knows all of this. Though it is indeed so, it is of no help in resolving the matter. This minister is now asking you: how should it be handled?"

"Do not handle it."

Fang Chongyong clasped his hands in salute and said.

"What do you mean by not handling it?"

Li Linfu continued to ask. Both of them were smart men, so naturally their words could not be understood at their most superficial meaning.

"As far as I know, Prefect Zheng's official reputation does not seem to be particularly good.

Since that is the case, it would be better to thicken one's skin. As long as I am not anxious, the ones who are anxious will be others.

The Jingzhao Prefecture yamen has been sloppy in its work for a long time—it is not a matter of just a day or two. When I was in Chang'an back in the day, I often heard of the Jingzhao Prefecture yamen's notorious reputation. Among the Jingzhao prefects who held office without doing their duty, Prefect Zheng would truly not be the only one.

If a response must be made, one can adopt the tactic of stalling.

Open the great doors of the Jingzhao Prefecture yamen and let Prefect Zheng handle cases right at the entrance, to show that the Jingzhao Prefecture is going all out in handling cases. But cold cases are inherently difficult to handle, so if the Jingzhao Prefecture can handle them, it handles them; if it cannot, it stalls. In short, just make sure Prefect Zheng looks very busy.

If someone at court presses for answers, say the cases are being handled, and stall until His Sage Majesty returns to Chang'an. If pressed too urgently, one can make a counter-bet: whoever can handle it should step up and handle the cold cases; those who cannot should shut up.

His Sage Majesty has eyes and ears in Chang'an, so naturally he would not be unaware of such things."

Fang Chongyong spoke at length and with ease.

This move was to counter a "shoddy move" with a "shoddy move." As long as I have no shame, the ones who feel embarrassed will be others!

Upon hearing this, Li Linfu immediately clapped his hands and laughed aloud, "Brilliant!"

Yet in the next instant, his face fell and he asked in return:

"But do you think that everyone around Zhang Shougui is a bunch of useless drunkards and gluttons who cannot even handle this kind of matter?

Stalling for time is not without cost. The cost is that all the manpower of the Jingzhao Prefecture yamen will be tied up by these cold cases!

There are already very few people over there who can get things done. Once they are busy, if something major happens in Chang'an and the Jingzhao Prefecture yamen is needed to step forward, what then?"

"That would be the Left Minister's killing move, and I do not know what moves the Left Minister might have.

But reckoning it over and over, among the major court affairs in the near term, the only thing that could move His Sage Majesty is probably the imperial examination to be held right after His Sage Majesty's birthday.

I have heard that the Right Minister himself opposes this imperial examination. If some major incident occurs during it, then it would not be difficult to judge how His Sage Majesty would think."

Having said this, Fang Chongyong clasped his hands in salute to Li Linfu and said.

"The imperial examination?"

Li Linfu murmured to himself in contemplation.

One had to admit, Fang Chongyong's analysis was meticulous and airtight—truly worthy of being the key figure who had repeatedly helped Zheng Shuqing avert disaster!

Previously, Li Linfu had also held meetings with his trusted aides and analyzed everything, but they simply could not determine how Zhang Shougui's counterattack would begin!

The Jingzhao Prefecture yamen would absolutely be the first to be dealt with—this was something everyone agreed upon.

It was just that, apart from digging up those cold cases, there could not be any other moves. These shoddy moves were all standard tactics, and it was not the first time the Great Tang had encountered them since its founding. Whenever they wanted to take down a certain prefect or county magistrate, they liked to use the combination of "saturation attack with cold cases" plus the Censorate impeaching for lazy governance and dereliction of duty.

However, because Li Longji himself also despised the Jingzhao Prefecture yamen, he had not placed any hopes in the Jingzhao prefect either.

This was the so-called "no expectations, no disappointments." Brother Ji might even have a headache over where to find another "qualified lackey official" like Zheng Shuqing.

But if Zhang Shougui had his black-gloved operatives take action and engineer certain major cases that caused widespread social panic, then the ones who should step in would instead be the Jinwu Guard!

And during Li Linfu's regency, the Jinwu Guard followed Zhang Shougui's orders—this was also the system of checks and balances that Brother Ji had designed!

If Zhang Shougui stirred up trouble in Chang'an, not only would he fail to find fault with Zheng Shuqing, he would instead make the Jinwu Guard run themselves ragged! In the end, who would end up worse off was obvious without asking.

So for Zhang Shougui, deliberately manufacturing major cases would be nothing more than dropping a rock on his own foot. The imperial examination, on the other hand—if something went wrong there, Li Longji would believe it was inseparable from Li Linfu, who had opposed the examination beforehand.

The Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of Rites, and the Jingzhao Prefecture yamen were all Li Linfu's power base.

Moreover, the imperial examination was the court's fig leaf. Brother Ji was a man who cared about face; if this fig leaf were torn off, it would send him into a furious rage!

Li Linfu was startled with a sudden jolt, suddenly feeling that what Fang Chongyong had said was in fact highly actionable, and that Zhang Shougui's scheme might already be on its way!

Only, the imperial examination had not yet been held. How could a single move bring both the Jingzhao Prefecture and the Ministry of Rites to their knees?

Speaking too deeply to someone you barely know was a great taboo. Li Linfu swallowed the question he had almost failed to hold back, and immediately put on a smiling face.

"Sigh, today there was supposed to be a family banquet, but because of these official affairs, this minister cannot enjoy his food!

Someone, prepare the dishes! This minister wishes to drink and converse merrily with General Fang!"

Li Linfu laughed heartily and ordered the servants to serve the food. Then he led Fang Chongyong to a private room, screened off on all sides with folding screens, though many gaps had been left.

Fang Chongyong looked around, feeling that it would be very easy for someone to hide behind these screens and eavesdrop on his conversation with Li Linfu.

After the two took their seats, Fang Chongyong pulled a small booklet from his sleeve and handed it to Li Linfu, saying:

"The business over in Hexi has brought His Sage Majesty substantial profit. At the same time, it has stabilized the border army and the border garrison.

The accounts are fake, but the work itself is real."

Fang Chongyong clasped his hands in salute to Li Linfu and said.

"Mm, understood."

Li Linfu casually set the booklet aside, looking unconcerned.

Now it was Fang Chongyong's turn to be surprised! A matter that he considered life-or-death, and Li Linfu actually treated it with such dismissive indifference?

Seeing Fang Chongyong's "shocked" expression, Li Linfu then said with a look of satisfaction:

"Matters concerning the Sage must not be managed, must not be asked about, and it is best to pretend not to know."

He nodded slightly and continued with approval, "What I want is merely an attitude, not details. Your attitude satisfies me greatly."

"The Right Chancellor honors me with his generous regard."

Fang Chongyong said with a deep bow.

"Mm."

Li Linfu casually held that booklet over the candle flame to ignite it, then said nonchalantly, "There is nothing more to do with Hexi now."

Seeing this, Fang Chongyong was profoundly shaken inside!

That booklet was, in theory, crucial evidence that could bring down Zhang Shougui!

Li Linfu actually burned it without even looking at it?

"I know that the affairs of Hexi have always been connected to Zhang Shougui behind the scenes. After all, he rose from the post of Military Commissioner of the Jiankang Army, so it is no surprise that he has connections in Hexi.

I had already investigated much of this long ago. One more bit of news from you is not too much, and its absence would do no harm.

Right now I only want to know why, after returning to Chang'an, you did not go to the Left Chancellor's residence but came to me instead."

Li Linfu asked with narrowed eyes, his tone gradually growing serious.

"Because the Left Chancellor did not invite me, whereas the Right Chancellor did."

Fang Chongyong said with a serious expression.

Whoever invites me, I go to them. This sounded like child's play, but as Li Linfu carefully chewed over the subtlety within, he felt it held profound meaning!

"Mm, let it be thus: redo the accounts of the four Hexi prefectures and send them here to you for review. Once you find no issues, send them to the Department of State Affairs and hand them to the Ministry of Justice for auditing.

As for the previous problem, that minor official is called Yang Yan, correct? Have him take the blame on grounds of incompetence, and never appoint him to office again in the future."

In a few words, Li Linfu decided the fate of many people in Hexi, the rod raised high but brought down gently.

His casual words here alone determined whether certain people across the five Hexi prefectures would live well, win promotion and wealth, flee to the Western Regions, or even lose their heads!

Such was the power of the Right Chancellor of the Great Tang! Invisible and intangible, yet omnipresent!

Power! Authority! Dominion!

Whether a great man stands tall and unyielding depends on precisely this!

Fang Chongyong took a deep breath. He could now state with certainty: Li Linfu, who acted decisively and treated Brother Ji's affairs as his own, would surely prevail in the struggle against Left Chancellor Zhang Shougui.

It was only a matter of time, and whether the process would be smooth or brutal.

Just seeing that Li Linfu was willing to let pass the chance to use this matter to take down a political rival, simply out of fear of touching Brother Ji's interests, showed that he would certainly have the last laugh!

In Chang'an's dragon's pool and tiger's den, brute strength is useless, and a heart full of fervor is useless too. To survive, one can only rely on one's wits!

"Now that official business is concluded, we may speak freely of private matters. Come, come, come, eat, eat."

Li Linfu pointed at the dazzling array of dishes on the table and said to Fang Chongyong.

Looking at the size of the table, it seemed there was room for two more people. Fang Chongyong asked in puzzlement, "This family banquet has only one guest?"

"What need is there for so many people? It is just like when you read military strategy on ordinary days. Do not the military texts say, 'Troops need not be many but must be elite'?"

Li Linfu said with profound meaning.

Fang Chongyong suddenly felt a chill down his back. He looked around, feeling as though someone was secretly watching from somewhere.

(End of this chapter)