Chapter 190: To Cut the Grass, One Must Remove the Roots

The Ten Kings Residence lies on the east side of the Imperial City, in Yongfu Ward.

The "Hundred Grandsons Courtyard" where the imperial clan's grandsons reside is located in Xingning Ward, south of Yongfu Ward.

Both wards cover a large area and are classified as "Super‑large Wards." If a house‑raid were ordered, the small number of people would make it difficult.

When he served as Inspector in Shazhou, Fang Chongyong carried out many house‑raids. Those mansions were modest, and the targets were merely Hu merchants and the like. After raiding such houses, the spoils were confiscated, and Fang Chongyong felt nothing.

Clearly, this raid on Li Heng's residence is entirely different.

"General Fang, how should we handle this raid?"

The middle‑aged general beside Fang Chongyong lowered his voice and asked. The two rode side by side, followed by five hundred Dragon Martial Army elite soldiers, all armed to the teeth. Today not a single ghost was seen on Chang'an's streets; the well‑informed citizens of Chang'an spread rumors of the rebellion as if it were divine.

Both the East and West markets have shut their doors; who would wander around for no reason?

The speaker is Zhang Feng, second son of Zhang Lingxin. All five Zhang brothers serve in the Dragon Martial Army, truly a full‑blown "father‑and‑son on the battlefield" unit.

When it comes to house‑raids, Zhang Lingxin worries that Fang Chongyong might "settle personal grudges" or cause chaos, so he sends his second son along—both to help keep the troops in check, since Fang is unfamiliar with the Dragon Martial Army detachment, and also to keep an eye on him.

"How to play it? What does that even mean? Is there such a saying?"

Fang Chongyong asked with a puzzled expression.

"The Ten Kings Residence is crowded and chaotic; during our raid, some may be skimming the bottom, which is quite possible.

So if we lose control, we might end up cutting down anyone whose hands or feet aren't clean.

Or perhaps a family in the Ten Kings Residence lost something precious; or a lady ran off with a servant and hasn't been found—both are possible."

Zhang Feng hinted quite bluntly.

His remark had become an outright "explicit" statement.

Regardless of the era, house‑raiding is the ultimate privilege. When the emperor lacks funds to reward meritorious officials, he often lets them raid the homes of condemned officials, taking whatever they wish and settling old scores.

Is it only Li Heng's belongings we can seize at the Ten Kings Residence?

Obviously not.

As long as one is bold, anything in the Ten Kings Residence can be taken!

Even Zhang Feng saw that after Li Heng's rebellion, every prince will have to crawl on their tails; their chances of rising have been infinitely compressed!

Even if the mansion is looted by the Dragon Martial Army, would they dare to shout? Dare they?

If such a stray dog doesn't seize the chance to strike twice, how can they live up to the Dragon Martial Army uniform they wear?

"So raiding a house really means you can do whatever you want."

Fang Chongyong rocked his horse, chin propped on his hand, deep in thought. He had heard that Li Heng's eldest son Li Yun's primary wife, the Shen lady, and his concubine, the Dugu lady, are both exceptionally beautiful.

Unfortunately, none of that concerns me. Many powerful men meet their downfall over lower‑body affairs, and Fang Chongyong is too lazy to deal with such nonsense.

"That's exactly the point—it's all about doing whatever you want."

Zhang Feng smiled ambiguously and said.

"The Loyal Prince's household, especially the women, must not be neglected.

After the raid, these people should be sent to the Sage for counsel.

In short, whatever the Sage commands is the best way to handle it."

Fang Chongyong whispered to Zhang Feng.

"…General Fang, aren't you taking a few back to have some fun yourself?

The women inside the Ten Kings Residence are famously moist and supple!"

Zhang Feng stared in bewilderment and retorted.

He knew the other could understand what he meant.

Yet Zhang Feng never expected Fang Chongyong to say he'd send Li Heng's women to Xingqing Palace!

Fang Chongyong refused; how could he, who came along, be so bold to demand?

Fang Chongyong declined, making the matter difficult to handle!

"General Fang, beauties are rare; after this village, there'll be no such shop."

Zhang Feng suggested reluctantly.

He now feels an itch down below and wants to find a moist princess to settle the matter!

"The Sage is the true master of Chang'an; we are merely his errand‑runners, and must not reverse the order.

If the Sage doesn't pick, how can we?"

"Hey, that's not what I mean—please don't misunderstand."

"You don't get it; the Sage is also human, lacking family affection, pitied for being born into the imperial house."

"Letting those daughters‑in‑law and grand‑daughters‑in‑law, who should be imprisoned or exiled, chat with the Sage about household matters—what's wrong with that?"

"Some families already have lovely wives and beautiful concubines; why stir up this excitement? Unnecessary, completely unnecessary."

Fang Chongyong waved his hand indifferently and said.

"Tiger‑father, dog‑son type—people of the Zhang clan shouldn't be befriended."

"Otherwise they might drag you down later!"

Fang Chongyong made a silent judgment in his mind.

The troops arrived before the Ten Kings Residence gate and saw the garrison treating it as a major threat, having set up roadblocks at the entrance. The eunuch Li Jingzhong, whom Fang had met before, was directing the soldiers to arrange defenses.

It was unclear whether they were defending against the chaotic forces of Wu Zhiyi or the imperial army.

"Dragon Martial Army, clear the roadblocks!"

Fang Chongyong turned and dismounted, shouting at Li Jingzhong.

"Slow…slow…—hold back."

Li Jingzhong stepped in and said to Fang Chongyong:

"I am Li Jingzhong, envoy of the Ten Kings Residence; without the Sage's command, why are you here?"

"Is there an imperial edict or not? Bring it out and let me see it!"

He was putting up a tough front while inwardly wavering, entirely forcing himself to hold the scene together.

Li Jingzhong could more or less guess the current situation. He simply knew he was very likely going to die, and unwilling to accept it, he was merely making a deathbed struggle.

"Li Heng has committed rebellion, and the evidence is conclusive. We are acting under orders to raid his household and arrest his family. If you know what's good for you, clear the way, or else you'll be treated as rebel accomplices!"

Fang Chongyong shouted loudly. These words were not meant for Li Jingzhong, but for the guards of the Ten Princes' Residence, arrayed in defense outside its gates.

"Is there an imperial edict or not! Bring out the edict! Without an edict, I absolutely will not let you into the Ten Princes' Residence!"

Li Jingzhong hollered in a shrill, drake-like voice.

"Enough of your noise! I'd say you're Li Heng's accomplice!"

Fang Chongyong drew his Gale Phantom Blade and slashed at Li Jingzhong's neck!

Squelch—blood splattered everywhere, staining the black Dragon Martial Army robe on his body.

"Li Jingzhong, Commissioner of the Ten Princes' Residence, assisted Li Heng in rebellion, and the evidence is conclusive. He was still obstructing the Dragon Martial Army's raid, his crime is unpardonable, and for the Sage's sake I had no choice but to execute him as a warning to others.

Which of you is also an accomplice? Step forward and speak."

Fang Chongyong pointed his blade at the assembled guards of the Ten Princes' Residence and asked.

No one answered. The guards voluntarily opened a path, silently moved aside the barricades, and chose to stand to one side watching the spectacle.

Even the Commissioner of the Ten Princes' Residence had been killed. Either this man who struck would be beaten to death afterward, or he would be promoted and grow rich.

But either way, this kind of affair was not something these salted fish earning only four shi a month could interfere with.

Four shi of rice a month—what can you do with that? Is it worth risking your life?

"General Fang, that was the Commissioner of the Ten Princes' Residence! You just killed him just like that?"

Zhang Feng looked at the blood-soaked Fang Chongyong and exclaimed in a hushed voice. He had served in the Dragon Martial Army for years and seen plenty of ruthless men, but rarely one as bloodily decisive and unreasonable as Fang Chongyong.

Let alone one who was still bouncing with vitality and living quite comfortably.

"Just a dog. Killing him is killing him—what's the big deal?

Li Heng has rebelled. Could the Commissioner of the Ten Princes' Residence, Li Jingzhong, have known nothing? He must be an accomplice!

Did he think he could still live? I merely helped the Sage clean house a little early."

Fang Chongyong spat onto Li Jingzhong's corpse and said dismissively.

At a juncture like this, someone actually jumps out to block the way—and a eunuch at that. If you don't kill this kind of person, are you saving them for the New Year?

Fang Chongyong was very clear: if he did not kill someone at the gate of the Ten Prices' Residence to establish authority, the nearly ten thousand palace attendants and guards inside could easily cause trouble if they harbored ill intentions!

Ten thousand people—if they banded together, these five hundred raiders wouldn't even be worth a glance. Without a ruthless hand, he couldn't keep the situation under control!

Many times, human life is as thin as paper. Once you've lost the prevailing tide, any random wave can drown you. Instead of pursuing the big picture, Li Jingzhong fixated on trivial details—his death was by no means unjust.

"Everyone behave yourselves. The residence of the former Prince of Zhong—everything inside belongs to the Sage.

Those family members will also become the Sage's servants!

Don't touch what you shouldn't touch! Otherwise, don't blame me for showing no mercy!"

Leading his team to the gate of Prince Zhong's residence, Fang Chongyong shouted at the top of his lungs. He did not go in himself but stood at the entrance, letting Zhang Feng lead the team inside to search.

When it comes to raiding households, everyone's hands are pitch black.

Seeing a pretty girl—even if you can't take her away, finding a deserted spot to have a taste and get a round in, that's not an unspoken rule but an open one, a perk for the man leading the team. At the very least, copping a feel and a kiss—probably every soldier participating in the raid would want his turn.

Fang Chongyong had no desire to get no meat yet come away stinking!

Cries, shouts, and sounds of beating soon came from within the courtyard.

Li Heng's several sons, by rights, all lived in the Hundred Grandsons' Court, attended by dozens of servants. But Fang Chongyong guessed that at this juncture, Chang'an was gradually descending into chaos. Li Heng's rebellion had been premeditated long ago; he couldn't possibly have left his inner quarters unprepared.

So it was obvious that his heirs should all be staying inside the heavily guarded Ten Princes' Residence. Meanwhile, the Hundred Grandsons' Court had poor defenses—several dozen thieves could loot it in one wave. Li Heng couldn't possibly leave his several grown sons unattended!

Before long, Zhang Feng walked out with a grave expression and leaned close to Fang Chongyong, speaking in a low voice:

"All of Li Heng's family members are here, except for the Princess Consort Shen, wife of the eldest son Li Shu, and also... the one-year-old legitimate eldest grandson Li Shi.

According to the servants, everyone in Li Heng's household is here. The Hundred Grandsons' Court is empty."

Zhang Feng was full of fire too. They could have caught everyone in one net, and one actually got away!

"Who is Shen's father?"

Fang Chongyong asked in a low voice.

How should I know?

Zhang Feng wanted to defend himself, but seeing dark clouds all over Fang Chongyong's face, he immediately swallowed his words.

"Then... I'll go ask the servants of Li Heng's household."

Zhang Feng said awkwardly.

"Mm. Once you find out, assign me a hundred Dragon Martial Army soldiers.

Shen is a mere woman. Without reliable people to protect her, even the escorting servants could harbor dark designs and swallow her whole, skin and bones! Even if she barely sets out on the road, she'd easily attract covetous eyes along the way.

The only ones who can be trusted are Shen's own family! Go ask quickly—delay means trouble!"

Fang Chongyong said urgently.

If he remembered correctly, this Shen was the Empress Ruizhen of history in his past life. And that infant barely one year old was the later Emperor Dezong of Tang, Li Shi!

If you don't pull up the roots when cutting the weeds, they'll grow again when the spring wind blows. This was no time for womanly mercy!

A figure like this, and the legitimate eldest grandson at that—Fang Chongyong absolutely could not let him go.

Just as he was thinking these jumbled thoughts, Zhang Feng hurried out of the courtyard and bowed with hands crossed, saying:

"I found out. Shen's father is Shen Yizhi, a Director of the Court of Judicature and Revision (that is, a Tingwei).

His home is in Xuanyang Ward, just south of Pingkang Ward! The imperial court's central offices are already on holiday, so Shen Yizhi should be at home."

"Good. Take all of Li Heng's family members to the Dragon Martial Army garrison. Don't do anything with them for now. I'll lead troops to the Shen household right now to make the arrest."

After saying this, Fang Chongyong turned and walked away!

Whether Lady Shen and one-year-old Li Shi were at the Shen household, Fang Chongyong did not know; he was simply taking a gamble.

Viewed from the perspective of human nature, this matter was indeed very cruel.

But isn't there a saying that goes: to be merciful to your enemies is to be cruel to yourself.

Sentimental weakness will not do.

Fang Chongyong would not commit the error of "sentimental weakness" simply because a widow and orphan were pitiable. If Fang Chongyong pitied Lady Shen and Li Shi, and something happened to him in the future, who would pity him?

There's more today—cast your votes for me.

(End of this chapter)