Chapter 201: Gao Shang

The name Binzhou was relatively unfamiliar, because it had only been renamed in the thirteenth year of the Kaiyuan era.

Its original name was Binzhou, in use continuously since the Western Wei, and could be called illustrious, with records dating back to the pre-Qin era.

The "Odes of Bin" from the "Fifteen States' Airs" in the Classic of Poetry refers to this very place of Binzhou, depicting the production and daily life of the ancient people of Bin.

This place had since ancient times been a vital route from Chang'an to Longxi.

The southern gateway of Binzhou was called Bin Gate, a village that resembled more of a market town. A court-managed relay station was stationed here, responsible for receiving passing officials. The station was named after the place, simply called "Bin Gate Station."

As an Investigating Censor with "low rank but heavy authority," and a central court official at that, Fang Chongyong naturally would not go without relay station attendants to receive him upon arriving at Bin Gate Station.

He ate the finest food and stayed in the finest guest room. Though Bin Gate Station was not large in scale, they served Investigating Censor Fang Chongyong with the utmost attentiveness.

After a night's rest from the journey, Fang Chongyong called over a station attendant to question him when he came to the station's hall to eat the next day.

"What errand does Censor Fang have?"

The gaunt station attendant before him rubbed his greasy hands on his clothes, his face full of smiles, and asked warmly.

"No rush. Sit down and share some flatbread with me. We can talk while we eat."

Fang Chongyong pointed to the seat beside him and said.

"I couldn't, I couldn't! Censor Fang, what status is yours — for me to do that... it wouldn't be proper."

This station attendant was overwhelmed by the unexpected favor, seemingly startled.

Fang Chongyong nodded slightly and did not insist. He picked up a flatbread from the plate on the table, handed it to the attendant, and said, "I'm treating you. Just take it."

"Oh? Alright, alright."

This station attendant, whose name Fang Chongyong did not even know, stood deferentially at his side, took the flatbread, and said in a low voice, "Whatever Censor Fang wishes to ask, I will speak without reservation."

Bin Gate Station was located in Xinping County, Binzhou, and the county seat was also the prefectural seat of Binzhou. The place rumored to have coal deposits, however, was not in Xinping County, but south of the county seat of Sanshui County, north of the Jing River, with the two places separated by the Jing River.

After making a few inquiries upon arriving here yesterday, Fang Chongyong felt that opening a coal mine would not be as simple as he had imagined.

"Does Censor Fang care for the Baiji flatbread from the station?"

The station attendant asked softly, holding the Baiji flatbread in his hand but not daring to eat it in front of Fang Chongyong.

In the Tang dynasty, distinctions between superior and inferior were strict and hierarchy was rigid. At any meeting, a ranking of high and low would be established without ambiguity. Interactions between superiors and subordinates, between colleagues — all operated according to an unwritten but smoothly functioning set of "unspoken rules" based on the degree of difference in status.

Non-rotating officials were worth less than dogs before rotating officials; officials posted outside the capital stood a head shorter than capital officials; and among officials of the same rank, those who entered service through hereditary privilege stood half a head shorter than those who passed the imperial examinations.

And an Investigating Censor in the localities could punch an Inspector and trample a County Magistrate. Dealing with a station attendant was often just a matter of a single word — not only did they have the county officials by the throat, but they were also the "immediate authority." The operation of relay stations likewise fell within the "investigation" purview of an Investigating Censor, so it was not hard to understand why this attendant was trembling before Fang Chongyong.

Many of the cultural dregs from Fang Chongyong's previous life in Japanese society had been brought over from the Tang dynasty, localized in Japan, and passed down from generation to generation as "family heirlooms."

For instance, this custom of comparing status and rank whenever any two people met — Japan had "surpassed the master from whom it learned."

"This Baiji flatbread is excellent. It would be more than good enough to sell in a shop in Chang'an. Go ahead and eat. I don't like formality."

Fang Chongyong waved his hand and said.

Seeing how gaunt this station attendant was, one could tell his daily meals were not very good. The Baiji flatbread he had just eaten was crisp on the outside and flaky inside, leaving a lingering fragrance on the lips and teeth — truly excellent.

But that did not mean the person who cooked the food could eat similar things, let alone the station attendants who swept floors and fed horses.

"Censor Fang, just ask away."

This station attendant nodded gratefully and began wolfing down the food.

"Here in Binzhou, does anyone use coal for burning fires and heating?"

Fang Chongyong asked casually.

Hearing this, the station attendant swallowed the Baiji flatbread in his mouth, wiped the crumbs from his lips with his sleeve, and said:

"Coal?

To be honest with Censor Fang, I can't speak for elsewhere, but south of Binzhou are great mountains, thickly covered in lush trees. Across the Jing River are also great mountains, and getting firewood to the ferry crossing takes no effort — more than enough for one's own burning needs.

Binzhou itself doesn't have many people. Even charcoal-selling woodsmen, after felling trees and burning them into charcoal, ship it to Chang'an for sale. Who would go looking for coal?"

Seeing that Fang Chongyong was easygoing and put on no official airs, the station attendant began chatting freely, clearly unimpressed by the word "coal."

Xinping County seat, which was also the prefectural seat of Binzhou, was built on a flat stretch of land recessed into the mountains south of the Jing River. Many gorge roads led south to Yongshou County, forming a plain terrain surrounded by mountain valleys.

Overall, the terrain in this area was small plains plus mountain valleys and gorges. Wherever the nearby villagers went, they could just chop some firewood on the mountain and be done with it — there was no urgency to find alternative energy sources at all!

In other words, firewood was completely worthless here. What this place lacked was not firewood, but the means to transport firewood away!

Seeing Fang Chongyong remain silent, the station attendant said quietly, "If Censor Fang wishes to do some sightseeing nearby, there is a fine destination."

"Oh? What might that be about?"

Fang Chongyong asked in puzzlement.

"Back then, Emperor Taizong defeated Xue Ju's great army at the Battle of Qianshuiyuan. The Qianshuiyuan battlefield is several dozen li northwest from the ferry crossing here along the Jing River.

And the place where Emperor Taizong stationed his troops back then was right here in Binzhou.

At the foot of the mountain not far north and west of Bin Gate Station, there is Yingfu Temple, built by Emperor Taizong to commemorate the soldiers who fell in the great battle at Qianshuiyuan.

Censor Fang could go and pay respects."

The station attendant suggested softly.

A capital official wandering about locally was called "neglecting official duties," but a capital official paying respects to Emperor Taizong's relics in the localities — that was called "spiritual civilization building"!

Fang Chongyong understood the implication, chuckled, and shook his head, "I'll go when I have time. That said, does no one in Binzhou really use coal?"

"Indeed no one does, at least not here in Xinping County."

The station attendant nodded with great certainty and said.

"Understood."

Fang Chongyong nodded slightly and waved his hand, signaling the attendant to leave.

His inquiries just now were actually meant to confirm whether the coal mine shaft had already been illegally excavated by local villagers. As long as the locality lacked fuel, such a thing would surely happen, and the coal dug out would certainly circulate and be consumed in the surrounding area.

The station attendant's certain answer made Fang Chongyong breathe a sigh of relief. As long as no one had illegally excavated the mine shaft, that was fine. What he feared was that illegal digging would damage the geological structure around the shaft, which would then require great effort to repair.

After finishing his breakfast of Baiji flatbread, minced mutton, pickled vegetables, and millet porridge, Fang Chongyong set off alone for Yingfu Temple, not far from here.

Finding coal was of course very important, but in the Great Tang, political correctness came first!

When the capital officials came on official business to the prefecture near Qianshuiyuan, they didn't even pay respects at the monument to the soldiers who fell after Emperor Taizong's bloody campaign, nor did they behold Taizong's "great achievements"—a politically costly oversight!

A light carriage and retinue arrived at the temple built against the mountain, and Fang Chongyong was stunned by the majestic grandeur before him. The caves were hewn into the cliff, stone statues carved, more than a hundred caves densely packed, arranged in an orderly fashion along a three‑dimensional cliff face stretching several hundred meters.

Anyone with claustrophobia would likely faint on the spot!

If one had to describe a characteristic of Tang architecture, it would simply be "grand"!

Palaces were huge, houses were huge, streets were wide, and the caves were carved as large as possible—everything was built on a massive scale!

According to the abbot of Yingfu Temple, the site is divided into five sections: the Great Buddha Cave, the Thousand Buddha Cave, the Arhat Cave, the Zhangba Buddha Cave, and the Monk Quarters Cave.

Entering the largest of these caves, Fang Chongyong saw a ten‑zhang tall seated Amitabha Buddha carved inside. On the backlit side of the Great Buddha was an inscription reading "Made in the second year of Zhenguan, Tang Dynasty, November 13."

On the surface, this appears to be a Buddhist temple erected by Emperor Taizong years after the war to commemorate the fallen soldiers of the Battle of Qianshuiyuan.

But Fang Chongyong privately speculated that, given Li Erfeng's penchant for grand self‑praise, this costly temple was likely built mainly to showcase his own achievements in founding the Great Tang.

In the first year of Wude, Li Erfeng may have missed the fallen soldiers of Qianshuiyuan, but the temple was constructed many years later—how much sentiment or guilt remained in his heart then?

The two battles of Qianshuiyuan saw an initial defeat followed by victory; the first catastrophic loss claimed thirty‑thousand soldiers, far from an invincible record.

Emperor Taizong also needed a cover‑up.

Moreover, the crown prince during the Wude period was Li Jiancheng, the Battle of Qianshuiyuan occurred in the first year of Wude, while the temple was built in the second year of Zhenguan. At that time Li Erfeng had been emperor for only two years and urgently needed to "display achievements" to legitimize his succession.

In the financially strained early years of Zhenguan, Li Erfeng erected such a massive temple and used the pretext of honoring the fallen to win the troops' loyalty.

His political skill was indeed worthy of the title "heroic ruler."

As for anything else, Fang Chongyong could not think of more. Once anyone attains that position, they become a cold political machine, no longer in control of themselves.

"The offerings to the dead are really made for the living to see."

Gao Shang expanded Yingfu Temple, Empress Wu expanded Yingfu Temple, and Ji Ge likewise expanded Yingfu Temple—all in the name of political correctness.

Gazing at the towering stone Buddha with no one around, Fang Chongyong couldn't help but murmur.

The stringent order of Tang politics was far more terrifying than any Tang history he had read in his previous life; being inside it forced one to obey the mechanisms of Tang feudal governance.

Even Li Longji, who was not particularly Buddhist, felt compelled to expand Yingfu Temple to showcase achievements. This shows their motive was not the Buddha but the banner of the Taizong lineage!

Fang Chongyong despised such massive construction that ignored the people's livelihood, yet he understood the feudal rulers' original intent. Many vulgar practices, even in his past life, were commonplace, so he could not demand too much of the ancients.

Just as he reached the temple gate, Fang Chongyong noticed the monks casting strange glances at him, intermittently eyeing the merit box placed at the entrance.

It seemed to say, "Are you leaving without contributing a single cent?"

After pondering, Fang Chongyong unfastened the jade pendant that Ji Ge had presented him during the rescue, handed it to the abbot, and said, "A gift bestowed by the saint, offered to the Buddha."

"Not allowed! Benefactor, you must not."

The abbot turned pale with shock, hurriedly refused, and had two monks move the merit box out of Fang Chongyong's sight so it wouldn't be an eyesore.

"What, does the abbot look down on the present saint?"

Fang Chongyong asked, his expression unanticipated.

"No, no. Benefactor, do not joke. Please leave at once."

The abbot of Yingfu Temple gave a wry smile and escorted the quarrelsome Fang Chongyong out of Yingfu Temple.

The Buddha is in heaven, the temple is on earth.

The Buddha belongs to the spiritual realm, the temple to the worldly.

The Buddha can eat, drink, and sleep not, but the monks still must eat, drink, and relieve themselves.

The money in the merit box would largely remain under the monks' control. Though Fang Chongyong bravely offered the saint's imperial gift, they dared not accept it; even if they did, they could not sell it or pass it on. If the matter were exposed, it would become a huge trouble!

The hot‑potato Fang Chongyong tossed out, they truly could not take.

"By the way, do you have any idle monks in your temple?"

As he left Yingfu Temple, Fang Chongyong casually asked the abbot beside him.

"If the benefactor says there are, then there are; if the benefactor thinks there are none, then there are none."

The abbot answered enigmatically, as if speaking a riddle.

"Hmm, good, I'll remember that."

Fang Chongyong gave a slight nod, pressed his palms together in a bow to the abbot, then turned and left.

Riding nonstop to Binzhou Prefectural Office, he presented his identification documents and a map from the Ministry of Works. Binzhou Prefect Li Qiwu warmly received Fang Chongyong and hosted a banquet for him.

"Quick, quick, quick—offer a toast to Censor Fang."

At the banquet, the already inebriated Li Qiwu said to a young man beside him.

"I, Gao Shang, humbly offer a cup to Censor Fang, to welcome him."

Gao Shang walked up to Fang Chongyong, respectfully lifted his cup, and drained the fine wine in one gulp.

"Gao Shang?"

Fang Chongyong propped his chin thoughtfully, feeling that the name was rather bold!

One may not be particularly noble, but can at least give oneself a lofty name.

Thinking of this, Fang Chongyong laughed, "Lord Li comes from the imperial clan, yet I cannot even recommend a minor post for you. I am merely an eighth‑rank minor official; why are you so eager to toast?"

Fang Chongyong gave a half‑smile, looked at him, and had no intention of raising his cup.

Seeing Gao Shang being challenged, Li Qiwu casually defended him, saying:

"Hey, Censor Fang, your words are off. Who doesn't know that Censor Fang is a favorite of the saint? His rescue earned him a bright future. One day he'll be ennobled and become a minister—being an investigating censor is just a stepping stone. How could there be room for a great deity like you?"

"This senior staff officer now serves as the prefectural clerk; he is truly capable, and being a clerk underutilizes him. If Censor Fang has connections, why not speak flattering words before the saint?"

So it's about seeking office by flattering the right people!

Fang Chongyong instantly grasped how this differed from Hexi; he still wondered why Li Qiwu was making such a grand display.

Unlike the remote, information‑starved Shazhou, Binzhou is a prefecture near Chang'an, with lightning‑fast news. Any stir in Chang'an City is felt here instantly; a swift horse can make a round trip in a day!

The Fang father and son rescued the sovereign; Loyal Prince Li Heng plotted rebellion; Zhang Shougui was dismissed as chancellor; the Longevity Prince Li Chang was installed as crown prince, and so on. A recent series of major political events exploded in impact, exciting the political beasts that sensed the scent.

When someone falls into misfortune, someone else naturally benefits. Amid the great reshuffling of court power, some will inevitably seize the opportunity.

Li Qiwu, as an imperial clansman serving as an externally posted regional governor and also entering office through hereditary privilege, would naturally recommend his own people to the central secretariat, thereby paving the way for his own return to the central secretariat.

These are just ordinary human feelings in officialdom; bluntly put, they're basic operations.

Noticing Gao Shang making eyes at him, Fang Chongyong burst out laughing and said:

"We're eating right now, so let's just talk about romance and poetry."

"After the banquet ends, come see me alone, and bring your writings."

Fang Chongyong waved his hand, indicating Gao Shang should return to his seat. Such things are just "going along with local customs."

Suddenly, Fang Chongyong recalled a joke from officialdom years ago.

This story is about an official named Linghu Chao, who, together with his friend Gao Shang who was living in his household, engaged in some amorous play with a certain concubine and got her pregnant, not knowing who the father was.

As a result, the matter was exposed in a memorial by his own father, Fang Youde, causing that scholar Gao Shang to suffer terribly, to the point that he couldn't even take the imperial examinations.

Could that Gao Shang be the very person before us?

Fang Chongyong suddenly became very curious.

Tang dynasty officials really know how to have fun!

There's still another chapter tonight; I looked up a lot of material yesterday but didn't have time to update, so I postponed it to today.

(End of chapter)