Chapter 205: Very Interesting, Yet Very Boring

Fang Chongyong had no reason to stay in Sanshui County for a long time.

After handling the "official horse loss case" and confirming that the three former Qiu Ba horse thieves had been sentenced to exile, Fang Chongyong rode back to Chang'an without delay.

Well, aside from hearing that Prince Shou had become Crown Prince and now held a "half divine artifact," everything in Chang'an was as usual, with songs and dances flourishing no less than before.

Back home, after a hurried wash, he didn't even have time to "train" with Wang Yunxiu and Anaye in bed; like a battlefield, Fang Chongyong organized the documents on the Binzhou coal mine in his study, then rushed to the residence of Li Linfu in Pingkang Lane.

It was already curfew, so Fang Chongyong obtained a temporary pass from the patrolling Jinwu Guard to enter Pingkang Lane. When he saw Li Linfu, he found that the Tang Right Prime Minister seemed troubled, remaining silent for a long while.

"Right Prime Minister, is there any unspeakable secret?"

In the cramped, oppressive little study of Li Linfu's house, Fang Chongyong asked cautiously.

"Eh? No, no, you're overthinking. This time you come to see me, what is it for?"

Li Linfu asked with a smiling face.

"After my investigation, the difficulty of burning firewood in Chang'an can be solved, but it requires extracting stone coal in Binzhou."

Fang Chongyong saluted Li Linfu with a hand‑cross, then handed over the document he carried for Li to review.

To Fang's surprise, Li Linfu didn't even look at it, casually set it aside while rubbing his wrist, and laughed, "With such eager service, what benefit do you seek? I recall this doesn't seem to be your official duty."

Benefit?

Fang Chongyong was startled, then saluted, "It's merely a matter of convenience; I never thought of any benefit. The follow‑up still requires the Right Prime Minister to lead, so I have no merit to claim."

Hearing this, Li Linfu looked incredulous and retorted, "You don't actually think that by facilitating stone coal extraction in Binzhou and supplying it to Chang'an, the capital's people will be grateful, do you?"

"Right Prime Minister, I have not thought that way."

Fang Chongyong said honestly.

Li Linfu nodded slightly, then sighed,

"It's good you haven't thought that way.

You think this Prime Minister didn't know about the Binzhou stone coal pit? I have known for a long time. It's not that it shouldn't be done, but that it truly cannot be; even if we did, the loss would outweigh the benefit.

Transporting Binzhou stone coal to Chang'an would certainly ease the capital's fuel shortage. Yet such a thing won't be used by sages or high officials, and ordinary people may not afford it.

Even if the common folk could afford it, they'd only worry about having enough money to buy stone coal, not where it comes from.

The stone coal trade isn't something you can handle; sages, imperial clan members, and powerful nobles will all take a cut to profit, leaving no room for you.

Moreover, an abundance of stone coal would drive charcoal prices down.

Many woodcutters who earn a living by making charcoal would see their income worsen as charcoal sells cheaper, possibly leading to broken families and death.

Privately they would curse you to die a bad death, never thanking you for finding stone coal in Binzhou.

Even so, do you still wish to push this matter forward?

Li Linfu patted the document Fang Chongyong had written and asked,

"Right Prime Minister, the trees around Chang'an are certainly insufficient. Promoting stone coal burning for the people is the inevitable trend; please see through it."

Fang Chongyong respectfully bowed to Li Linfu and said,

"Hmm, I understand. What is your plan?"

Li Linfu asked with interest.

"Right Prime Minister, I think as follows.

In winter the Jing River freezes, halting transport. In spring, summer and autumn the river flows freely, allowing stone coal collection in Binzhou and the establishment of a regular storehouse in Chang'an to stockpile large amounts of stone coal.

During those three seasons, ordinary Chang'an residents have no heating need, and the surrounding firewood is sufficient.

When winter arrives, the court can release the stored stone coal, stabilizing charcoal prices in Chang'an, thereby filling the shortage."

After hearing Fang Chongyong's presentation, Li Linfu nodded slightly, already agreeing with the suggestion. Directly replacing charcoal and firewood with stone coal wouldn't work, but using a regular storehouse—mining in spring, summer, autumn and releasing in winter to stabilize prices—indeed minimally disrupts the current system.

It also makes control easier.

"Hmm, not bad. Since that's the case, what difficulties remain?"

Li Linfu squeezed his own shoulders and asked,

"Right Prime Minister, the biggest difficulty is road construction.

From the stone coal extraction site to the Jing River ferry, a small hill blocks the way; a dedicated transport road to the ferry is needed, then water transport to the outskirts of Chang'an.

Moreover, mining the pit requires building shafts, all demanding massive manpower."

Fang Chongyong saluted and said,

"Manpower, that's a bit tricky… The sages will expand Xingqing Palace next year, expand Huaqing Palace again, and enlarge the scale of textile color service to produce fine cloth for palace use. I'm afraid there won't be much colored labor left for road and shaft construction.

This… is rather tight."

After speaking, Li Linfu fell silent, feeling the matter rather thorny.

For him, as long as the task doesn't interfere with Ji Ge's affairs, it can be carried out smoothly.

If it does impede Ji Ge's needs, then this matter must be postponed, giving Ji Ge priority.

"How about this: Youzhou is sending five thousand Khitan captives to Chang'an; let those captives build roads and move earth.

I hear that mining stone coal is also hard work; once the road is ready, let those people mine the stone coal."

Li Linfu said while swiftly scanning the document Fang Chongyong wrote, then stamped his private seal on it.

"Send it to the Ministry of Works; let the officials of the Yu Department examine whether the shaft can be opened. If feasible, the Ministry of Revenue will fund it, and the rest is none of your concern."

"It's getting late; I need to rest,"

Li Linfu bluntly issued a dismissal.

"I take my leave."

Fang Chongyong respectfully saluted and then left Li Linfu's residence.

After exiting Pingkang Lane, he looked up at the moon‑bright, sparsely starry night and couldn't help sighing.

Sure enough, Li Linfu knew about the stone coal pit.

He had also considered the plan to mine stone coal for Chang'an.

Fang Chongyong had been wondering why such an obvious solution hadn't been proposed by any official in the vast Chang'an.

Sure enough, the government's inaction has deep‑rooted causes.

Although this matter could solve Chang'an's energy crisis, it may not benefit Li Linfu, the Right Prime Minister of the Great Tang. Forcing it forward brings no advantage to Li Linfu's official interests.

High officials of the court are not short of that basket of coal; why would they undertake such thankless tasks?

In the end, bringing coal to Chang'an and opening a coal trade route is both a fascinating and a "very uninteresting" affair.

For the officials handling it, doing it is worse than not doing it.

They can neither earn the common people's gratitude nor control this major business that affects Chang'an's livelihood. Those who voluntarily handle such a name‑ and profit‑free task are the true fools!

Would a pork eater ever thank the butcher for slaughtering the pig?

Would a customer at the meat shop thank the butcher for killing the pig?

Why do we do such thankless work?

Never mind, as long as one's conscience is clear.

"In life, one inevitably does a few foolish things."

Fang Chongyong muttered to himself and walked toward his own residence in Yongjia Lane.

Two freshly washed, charming young women lay on the bed, awaiting his comfort.

After being busy and tired outside, going home to relax with one's wife is the normal rhythm of life.

…

The weather in Chang'an grew colder, and Gao Shang's heart grew colder as well.

Since following Fang Chongyong to Chang'an, he has been placed by Fang to share a courtyard with a down‑and‑out official named Yang Yan. Their dwelling was arranged by the high court official, Deputy Imperial Censor Zheng Shuqing. Every day officials bring rice and vegetables; the meals include both greens and meat—neither sumptuous nor meager.

But Gao Shang never even sees Zheng Shuqing's face, and refuses to speak with the perpetually stern Yang Yan.

Yang Yan, who almost daily settles accounts for Zheng Shuqing, is also too lazy to talk with Gao Shang, who looks handsome and even a bit slick; the two are the type who dislike each other at first sight.

However, such days did not last long; ten days later, on a bright sunny morning, Fang Chongyong arrived at Gao Shang's residence and led him out the door.

"If you are to have an audience later, remember to look more and speak less."

Fang Chongyong said to Gao Shang in a deep voice.

"Audience?"

Gao Shang was startled; hadn't they agreed to recommend him to Prince Yong? Why now go straight to see the Emperor?

He realized that what Fang Chongyong promised and what they were about to do were completely different matters.

"Yes, we are heading to Xingqing Palace right now."

Fang Chongyong nodded slightly and said.

"Alright."

Gao Shang wore an anxious expression, had to follow closely behind Fang Chongyong, worrying about what misfortune might follow.

At the gate of Xingqing Palace, Fang Chongyong simply greeted the standing guard and led Gao Shang inside; the scene left Gao Shang astonished.

This is Xingqing Palace, the residence of the Sage! To be able to walk in after a simple greeting proves the saintly favor is flourishing!

Gao Shang felt a mix of anxiety and excitement, worrying that Fang Chongyong might recommend him to become a eunuch in the palace, yet secretly hoping for good fortune in the upcoming audience.

Outside Huake Xianghui Tower, the duty eunuchs had been transmitting messages for a while. Soon, Gao Lishi descended at a leisurely pace, and after seeing Fang Chongyong, led him to the first‑floor hall of Qinzhengwubenlou—a place that had been unsealed but that Ji Ge never usually visited—for a talk.

As for Gao Shang, he could only wait outside, having no right to enter.

"You want to recommend someone for a position? It can't be that extreme, can it?"

After the two took seats in the hall, Gao Lishi's face turned oddly pale as he looked at Fang Chongyong, asking somewhat bewildered.

"Yes, I heard General Gao is about to receive the emperor at any moment, and his household is unattended and chaotic. This time, I, a subordinate, went to Binzhou and saw this person—quick‑witted, exceptionally learned, and sharing the same surname as General Gao."

"Thus I recommend him to General Gao to oversee the household and manage affairs. If General Gao has no use for him, assigning him to serve in the Tenth Prince's residence would also be fine."

Fang Chongyong performed a respectful bow and said.

"What does that mean?"

Gao Lishi fell into thought, then gently gestured, indicating that Fang Chongyong should bring Gao Shang into the hall.

After Gao Shang entered, Fang Chongyong immediately stepped outside and closed the door.

"Are you called Gao Shang?"

Gao Lishi asked in a deep voice.

"Replying to General Gao, I am Gao Shang."

"Hmm, we do share the same surname."

Gao Lishi thought for a moment and decided to test Gao Shang.

"There is a wealthy household whose master is already elderly, yet has not decided which son will inherit the estate.

Later, he decides that a certain son will inherit the estate in the future, but does not wish to hand over the business to him now.

If you were that master, how would you handle this family matter?"

Gao Lishi asked with an inscrutable smile on his face.

"Replying to General Gao, if I were the master of that wealthy household, I would tell the other son that I think it would be fine to hand the estate to him in the future, and then assign some minor household matters to this son to manage."

"Then the household servants would be unable to unite and overthrow the master; instead, they would split into two factions led by the two sons, engaging in open and covert struggles."

"The master could then mediate the conflicts, comfortably perched like on a fishing platform, and until his natural death, eventually entrust the estate to one of them."

Gao Shang said calmly.

"Isn't that just like the story of the late emperor at Xuanwu Gate?"

Gao Lishi retorted coldly.

Hearing this, Gao Shang cautiously explained: "The master usually teaches his children to be fraternal and respectful; how could there be an Xuanwu Gate incident?"

"Hmm, well said. Let Censor Fang take you back; this general still has to serve the Sage."

Gao Lishi stood up directly and walked out the door, giving Gao Shang no face at all, too lazy to even put on a show!

Gao Shang stared fixedly at Gao Lishi's back, clenched his fists tightly, finally took a deep breath, and suppressed the anger in his chest.

He secretly swore that if he ever rose to prominence, he would make this old dog look bad!

But for now, the priority is to lie low; a true man who can endure can achieve great undertakings!

Gao Shang walked out of the main hall on the first floor of So line: Qinzhengwubenlou with a calm expression, saw Fang Chongyong, and clasped his hands in salute, saying: "General Gao said I may go home and wait for news."

"Just like that?"

Fang Chongyong looked doubtful.

Gao Shang replied helplessly: "Indeed, that's exactly how it is."

"Alright then."

Fang Chongyong gave a noncommittal slight nod, then took Gao Shang and left the Palace of Flourishing Celebration.

After they left, at the corridor of the Hall of Blossoming Radiance, Li Longji held a brazier filled with charcoal, watching the retreating backs of Fang Chongyong and Gao Shang on the street, and asked Gao Lishi: "What did that person say?"

"I asked around indirectly, and that person said, when two sons fight, their father mediates in the middle, helping whichever is weaker."

Gao Lishi said without changing his expression.

Hearing this, Li Longji nodded slightly, thought, and said: "We can recruit this person, send him to …… whoever's place, then have him stir up conflict between him and the Crown Prince. First let him serve in your residence to observe."

"Who?"

Gao Lishi asked doubtfully.

"Hmm, Prince Yong."

Li Longji waved his hand casually and said, not taking it seriously.

As long as we pick one of his sons to face off against Crown Prince Li Chang in a contest, anything else doesn't matter; anyone will do. However, Prince Yong usually behaves frivolously, has a violent temper and is relatively simple-minded, making him easiest to fool and manipulate.

Naturally, choosing him is the most suitable.

"I'll go handle this right away."

Gao Lishi clasped his hands in salute and said.

"Wait, how's the matter concerning Guozhong going? Looking for coal."

Ji Ge suddenly remembered and asked about this.

"Your Majesty, the Right Chancellor has reported on this; it's underway, but we won't make it this year. Next winter, the common folk of Chang'an should be able to use coal."

Gao Lishi spoke frankly.

"Hmm, Guozhong is still diligent in his duties; then let's confer the title of Heralded Lady upon his wife, make her a commandery princess—anyway he once held a fourth-rank post."

Li Longji said offhandedly. Besides, titles aren't worth anything—have as many as you like.

In this regard, he has always been generous.

(End of chapter)