Chapter 162: Speaking the Truth, No One Believes

The offices of the Tang Southern Directorate's Sixteen Guards are inside the imperial city north of Chang'an, neighboring many court offices.

After being brought here by the fierce Jinwu Guard soldiers, Fang Chongyong was placed under house arrest in a detention room of the Jinwu Guard office.

However, he was not at all panicked; on the way here he had already figured out many things and roughly guessed why he had been arrested.

"I never expected we would meet again in this way, a second time on the same day."

Seeing the familiar face, Fang Chongyong sighed with emotion.

The person before him was none other than Zhang Shougui's eldest son, the young master Zhang Xiancheng, sitting on a hu stool and looking at him.

"Yes, I didn't expect it either. I thought it would take some time to find you."

Zhang Xiancheng sighed; he also did not want to take risks, and he knew this venture was a big gamble, but compared to the huge profits, these risks were tolerable.

He waved his hand at the Jinwu Guard's halberd officer beside him, who acted as if he weren't there, turned and left on his own, seemingly unwilling to get involved.

"Where is the ledger of the Shazhou Caravan?"

Zhang Xiancheng got straight to the point.

Hearing this, Fang Chongyong was startled; he never imagined that this man had brought him to the Jinwu Guard for interrogation over the Hexi smuggling affair.

He had thought it was a dispute over examination fraud.

"If I said I burned it, would you believe me?"

Fang Chongyong smiled and replied in question.

"You are a smart person, just like me.

If it were me, I would not burn it; I would keep it for self-protection.

So I believe you would certainly not burn it either."

Zhang Xiancheng said this with great conviction, full of confidence.

He believed that over these years Fang Chongyong must have gained a lot from Hexi, and that money could not possibly be kept at home or buried somewhere.

Therefore, this wealth must exist in the form of shares within the Shazhou Caravan.

It cannot be seen, yet it truly exists; one routinely draws dividends from it.

Thus, a core ledger recording the accounts is an essential item.

"I intend to manage the Hexi business affairs; I need not spell it out. I know, and I know you know.

My father could assign me to Hexi as a border commander, or make me a prefect, even the governor of Shazhou.

We could split those shares fifty-fifty; how does that sound?

Give me half of those shares, and you take the dividends from the remainder.

You would not lose out, since I would manage the business and give you dividends monthly or semi-annually.

You are no longer in Hexi, Liangzhou, or even Shazhou; your words there carry no weight, you have no power to manage the accounts, and no one will listen to you.

But I have the capability, or rather my father does.

Some of my father's trusted aides are still in Hexi, controlling part of the military and civil administration.

I can help my father manage the accounts; in effect, you would receive the portion of money you currently cannot obtain at all.

This would be good for both of us.

You would take half of the dividends, so it would not be siphoned off by those in Shazhou, nor would it be wasted.

They call you the Hexi Qilinzi; I think I could also earn a more illustrious title.

Look, I have not moved against you—I have not married into the Wang family ahead of you, nor taken your beautiful concubine, nor done anything to you at all.

All I want is the ledger of the Shazhou Caravan!

It's not much to ask, is it? That thing you can't control anyway; I'm just helping you, right?

Zhang Xiancheng offered what he thought were superior terms.

These words were truly frank and straightforward, completely unguarded, as if laying bare his heart and guts.

Yet his question left Fang Chongyong utterly bewildered!

What the heck is this all about!

Fang Chongyong completely failed to understand what this young master Zhang was thinking.

Did he think he was so greedy that everyone else had to be the same?

Can the money of the Shazhou Caravan just be grabbed? Would taking it provoke no envy? Could one still come bouncing back to Chang'an alive after taking it?

Worse still, Fang Chongyong has been telling this young master Zhang the truth—that he took not a single coin—so why does nobody believe he has been doing unpaid labor for years?

If it weren't for his refusal to take money, how could it be that every time he led troops to kill and plunder or guard the trade routes, so many ruffians would willingly gather around him to protect him?

If he were attached to that money, he might well have died on some expedition; once a person is dead, what's the point of playing with external possessions?

"Um, to be frank, in the Shazhou Caravan I am merely a manager and organizer; I actually take not a single coin, and I have no shares whatsoever.

When I relinquished the post of governor of Shazhou, I burned the main accounts; specifically, the smuggling affairs in Hexi have nothing to do with me anymore."

Fang Chongyong spread his hands helplessly and said.

"Well, I know you'll eventually say that; such a huge, continuous fortune is naturally tempting, so it's not strange that you wouldn't speak of it."

Zhang Xiancheng clasped his hands before Fang Chongyong in a salute, then leisurely continued:

"Here nothing is lacking; you can think it over slowly, farewell.

By the way, I can also tell you that Zheng Shuqing is done for, the Right Chancellor may also struggle to keep his position; many officials in Chang'an will face great calamity this time, so staying here to avoid disaster is not a bad thing.

I don't want to fall out with you; this could be mutually beneficial.

I want to regain control of these shares; that is no simple matter.

I may have no merit, but I have put in hard work; what could be impossible about our cooperation?

After throwing out a veiled threat, he saw Fang Chongyong still slowly shaking his head, a helpless smile on his face.

Zhang Xiancheng thought the other side was reluctant to give up those huge benefits, so he disappointedly shook his head, walked out of the Jinwu Guard office at a leisurely pace, and then exhaled a foul breath.

Hexi, trade route, smuggling, a strong army. This road holds far too many profits; whether the world remains stable or suddenly descends into chaos, it is worth adventurers testing the waters.

He thinks Fang Chongyong not giving up the shares that have become "non‑redeemable" is simply human nature.

Because with these, as soon as Fang Chongyong becomes a high official again in Hexi, he can cash them out immediately. So his stubborn refusal to hand them over is understandable.

If it were him, he would be reluctant too.

It will take some time to get what I want from this person.

And some patience.

He has many ways to try, after all his father is the Left Prime Minister. If Fang Chongyong proves truly obstinate, only unsavory methods remain, and he does not wish to go that far.

Zhang Xiancheng feels that the world's great turmoil is not far off; many subtle signs already show the times worsening.

He wants huge wealth not for indulgence, but so that the riches and connections can become whatever he needs when the time comes!

As for why he does not use hard tactics against Fang Chongyong now, Zhang Xiancheng believes cooperating will yield better results. The shares are split half‑and‑half; his father the Chancellor's son will become an official in Hexi, so Fang Chongyong must smooth relations and act as a go‑between, even if only for the money they hold.

His father Zhang Shougui first secures advantage at court, then maneuvers himself to become a high official in Hexi, and finally controls this smuggling trade route!

This is the future path Zhang Xiancheng has plotted for himself.

Why someone like Fang Chongyong would go mad and sit the imperial examinations baffled Zhang Xiancheng, but it does not stop him from sneering at it!

A true man should strive upward; there's no reason to hide like a turtle.

After Zhang Yanei left, the Sige of the Jinwu Guard who had just been there walked in again, expressionless, staring at Fang Chongyong while standing guard.

"Brother, how much is the monthly salary?"

Fang Chongyong asked curiously, and, being naturally familiar, struck up conversation with the Sige.

"One year's salary is 60 shi, not counting miscellaneous allowances—just enough to get by."

The man said calmly.

The Sige is an eighth‑rank official; barely enough to survive in Chang'an, let alone support a whole family.

This young aristocratic scion, lacking spirit, probably won't get far; the noble families are vast and have many abandoned children. Being tossed into the Jinwu Guard to pass the time is typical.

"This milky‑white jade from the Western Regions can fetch about five hundred guan at a pawnshop in Chang'an's East Market; it was given to me by a senior.

Take this jade to Mount Zhongnan and find General Gao Lishi, hand the jade to him.

Just say the four words 'Chang'an's richest man'; that will suffice. If he returns the jade to you after the matter is settled, the jade will be yours.

If he does not return the jade, then go straight to the Fang Residence in Yongjia Lane and ask my wife for five hundred guan as payment, okay?

I believe you're not the only one on duty here. Even if I don't pick you, I'll pick someone else just the same.

Hearing that, the Sige didn't hesitate, slipped the jade into his chest, bowed to Fang Chongyong and said, "I'll set out at once, Lord Fang, any other orders?"

Seeing his tone warm up, Fang Chongyong thought for a moment, waved the Sige over, and lowered his voice: "I miss those young ladies; could you fetch one for me to relieve my boredom?"

The Sige, slightly startled, also lowered his voice and asked, "What kind of lady does the Lord want—Han or Hu? What age, status, any body‑type requirements? Need talent? Is one enough?"

You seem to know a lot!

Fang Chongyong stammered, "My lady is the legitimate daughter of the Hedong Military Governor; just bring her here to keep me company. The rest are just jokes."

Unexpectedly, upon hearing that, the Sige looked as if he'd seen a poisonous beast and hurriedly waved his hand, saying, "That really can't be done; it could cost a life! The higher-ups strictly forbid the Lord from meeting family members. If it's a woman from Pingkang Lane for a little fun, that would be permissible."

He fled the detention room like a rat, leaving only Fang Chongyong behind.

"Over at the Jingzhao Prefecture, it seems something big is about to happen."

"This official matter is tangled with private interests; it looks hard to resolve."

Fang Chongyong sighed softly, lamenting that now people truly cannot control their fate in the jianghu.

Now there is no turning back from the Left Prime Minister's faction; he must jump without reservation onto the Right Prime Minister Li Linfu's ship.

"I hope Old Zheng is alright; if it were me, I'd probably concentrate all resources on the Jingzhao Prefecture."

He shook his head helplessly; as long as that piece of jade, which Ji Ge awarded years ago for the Sandzhou military merit, is delivered to General Gao Lishi, the matter will be settled.

Had he not taken a single coin from the Hexi smuggling, he would have stood in an invincible position then, quietly watching the street dogs of Chang'an tear and gnaw in the mud pits.

……

Chang'an is vast, and there are many law‑enforcement agencies.

In the feudal capital, everything essentially revolved around the emperor's needs; the trusted troops around each emperor often changed dramatically.

In other words, which army stands by the emperor depends largely on the ruler's personal preference.

Even within a few years, a change of emperor can cause huge shifts; the previously favored troops being disbanded is commonplace.

However, from early Tang until before the Ganlu Temple Incident in mid‑late Tang, the Jinwu Guard's core structure changed little, only shrinking in size due to the collapse of the Fubing system.

Most of its members were privileged youths of Chang'an who gilded their positions, with virtually no combat ability; it had become a ceremonial unit and a quasi‑military force handling patrols and public order.

Overall, the Jinwu Guard still followed the Tang bureaucracy's performance‑management habit: one department in charge, others assisting, some functions lacking, and law‑enforcement remained flexible.

During the Tianbao period, the Jinwu Guard was mainly responsible for the following duties.

First, guarding the imperial palace; Jinwu Guard soldiers were organized into "teams" and patrolled and stood watch inside and outside the palace.

The palace here includes the Daming Palace and Chang'an Palace City, but not the Xingqing Palace where Ji Ge resides, because Ji Ge only trusts the Longwu Army and distrusts the Jinwu Guard, which has become a sieve infiltrated by various forces.

Ji Ge's overall attitude toward the Jinwu Guard is one of disdain.

Besides that, the Jinwu Guard also serves as one of the armed forces protecting the emperor, handling security during travels, and guarding temporary palaces, carriages, and sedan chairs. As in the previous point, during the Tianbao era the Jinwu Guard was merely a token force, and Ji Ge delegated these duties to the Longwu Army.

However, the Jinwu Guard's surveillance of officials at all levels and monitoring of high‑ranking court officials remained unchanged, because Ji Ge also guards against assassinations or coups. An extra pair of eyes adds safety, similar to the Jin Yi Guard, though far less professional and with far fewer personnel.

All these duties were undisputed in Fang Chongyong's previous life and belong to the Jinwu Guard's core business.

Now the crucial question arises: does the Jinwu Guard actually police Chang'an beyond the imperial city itself?

The answer is both yes and no.

The statement sounds odd, yet it matches the concrete situation of Chang'an at that time and aligns with the national condition of a collapsed Fubing system.

Because the Jinwu Guard counts the yamen staff as part of its numbers, its total strength is only about a thousand men—still stronger than the Qian Niu Guard's under six hundred.

The situation is akin to asking whether a person who enters a buffet actually eats or not.

If eaten, then specifically which dish was eaten?

How much of the eaten dishes was eaten again?

Similar questions are actually unknown variables; they cannot be summarized merely by saying 'ate a buffet', and need to be analyzed case by case.

The statement that the Jinwu Guard has great authority is also correct, but, like the previous reasoning, one cannot use 'great authority' to summarize what the Jinwu Guard needs to do.

Because the greater the authority, the greater the execution pressure. This also needs to be managed, that also needs to be managed; the imperial city also needs to be managed, the outer city also needs to be managed; streets also need to be managed, city gates also need to be managed—should we expand this thousand-strong establishment severalfold?

After all, Chang'an has 108 wards; even if each ward were allocated only five people on average, that would already occupy 540 people.

Then leave another 500 people in detachments to patrol the imperial city, and this still doesn't count those permanently stationed near the city gates.

So even thinking with your toes, you know how much exaggeration there is in the ancient texts' records of the Jinwu Guard's mighty deeds.

Moreover, there is another issue.

Within Chang'an city, the Jinwu Guard is responsible for patrolling the streets, while the Jingzhao Prefecture office is also responsible for public security in all parts of Chang'an city except the imperial city, Xingqing Palace, and Daming Palace, and even includes the suburbs and surrounding prefectures and counties.

So if a problem arises somewhere, who listens to whom?

Will the people from the two sides get into a fight?

Will there be internal strife?

In a situation where their duties overlap, when Jingzhao Prefecture personnel on patrol encounter Jinwu Guard personnel, what should be done? One cannot possibly say that the same matter should be handled simultaneously by both agencies.

Thus from this point one can see that ancient Chinese feudal rulers had already thoroughly studied organizational science.

The Jinwu Guard has enforcement authority but lacks 'deployment authority.'

The Jingzhao Prefecture office has 'deployment authority' but lacks an enforcement force, or only has those petty clerks conscripted for corvée labor, serving as temporary workers for public security enforcement.

Between the two, each has its own deployment, and they mutually check each other, so neither can dominate.

Simply put, the Jingzhao Prefecture has authority (although this authority is basically unusable), to mobilize the prefectural troops, militia, and the Sixteen Guards of the Southern Directorate including the Jinwu Guard, deploy them somewhere in Chang'an city, and carry out public security tasks.

For example, if someone is found plotting rebellion in a ward! Then mobilizing these troops is the authority of the Jingzhao Prefecture magistrate. Likewise, this authority is subject to conditions, requires approval, and has boundaries.

However, the Jingzhao Prefecture itself has weak rapid-response capability, and it does not itself control a formed military or quasi-military unit; this is one reason why such matters are not recorded in historical sources. It is also why the Jingzhao Prefecture magistrate feels stifled, having been replaced fifteen times in ten years, with many central agencies able to step on them at any time, and even many nobles not taking them seriously.

It has strong theoretical authority, but lacks smooth execution channels in reality.

Now Zheng Shuqing is facing such a problem.

At this very moment, outside the gate of the Jingzhao Prefecture office, a crowd of 'ordinary commoners' has gathered, all of them victims of the old cases that have piled up over the years in the Jingzhao Prefecture.

Of course, they did not come voluntarily; rather, dog-touts gave them money, saying that causing a disturbance would earn them cash.

The more days they cause a disturbance, the more days they get paid, settled daily!

"Dog officials, get out!"

"Dog official Zheng Shuqing, who occupies a position without doing any work, get out!"

Shouts of anger came from outside the gate in waves, frightening Zheng Shuqing behind the door into a shudder.

"Don't open the door; opening it would be falling into a trap!"

Zheng Shuqing shouted at the bailiffs holding sticks, preparing to open the door to drive away the crowd.

At this moment, the Jinwu Guard who should have been patrolling the surroundings were as if they had just lost their parents and had to rush home to mourn— not a trace of them could be seen.

Given how few Jinwu Guard there are and how many affairs there are in Chang'an city, it's only normal that no one would be near the Jingzhao Prefecture office for a while, right?

It's not at all surprising that this scene appears before one's eyes; in fact, Zheng Shuqing knows exactly how the forthcoming plot will unfold. The dog-touts mixed in the crowd, namely the desperadoes found by Zhang Shougui, already plan to take advantage of the chaos to assault and kill court officials, then fabricate an 'official‑civilian clash.'

It is estimated that a supervisory censor has already prepared a strongly biased indictment accusing Zheng Shuqing of abusing force.

As soon as blood is seen at the scene, it will be immediately sent to the sovereign's hands; in the end the matter will only grow larger.

However, knowing how the opponent's plot will unfold is one thing; being able to handle it well is another matter entirely!

Zheng Shuqing's situation can now be summed up in four words: helpless and at a loss.

Take a good look at that passage about the Jinwu Guard; it won't be said for nothing, as it will have major relevance later on.

(End of chapter)