Chapter 224: Withered Vine, Old Tree, Dusk Crow

"Sage, your humble servant earnestly requests that the portrait of the Prince of Bohai Commandery be entered into the Lingyan Pavilion!"

After Yang Qixuan bowed and paid his respects, he presented the memorial he had long since prepared with both hands, handing it to Gao Lishi, who had already understood the situation and stepped forward to receive it.

A trace of emotion finally appeared on Li Longji's calm and unruffled face. The wrinkles on his forehead relaxed slightly.

"Your memorial is vague and unclear, and We do not understand its meaning."

Li Longji said this while flipping through the memorial, playing dumb while knowing full well.

In Fang Chongyong's previous life, Li Longji had been enfeoffed as the Prince of Linzi in his youth; but in this life, before he ascended the throne, he was instead enfeoffed as the Prince of Bohai Commandery.

Therefore, the entry of the Prince of Bohai Commandery into the Lingyan Pavilion carried an extremely special political significance, and could not simply be dismissed as the emperor joining in the fun at the Lingyan Pavilion.

In any case, the matter was simply this: hang a portrait of Li Longji in his youth wearing a prince's robe in the Lingyan Pavilion, and that would be that. This was not the crux of the issue, nor was it difficult to accomplish.

How the imperial court's leadership would characterize this matter, and how it should be interpreted—that was the core task.

Yang Qixuan was Li Linfu's son-in-law. Li Linfu was simply using his mouth to say what he wanted to say but could not state openly.

At this very moment, everyone in the Purple Radiance Hall—whether they were in the know or not—held their breath and quieted their hearts to listen to what Yang Qixuan would say.

"During the Wu Zhou era, the court's governance was benighted and the people could not live in peace.

In those days, the Prince of Bohai Commandery had no choice but to step forth and set things right. His great service to the state merits entry into the Lingyan Pavilion.

As for the fact that the Prince of Bohai Commandery of those years later became the present Sage, this does not diminish the Prince of Bohai Commandery's merits from that time.

To hear the Dao in the morning and die content in the evening—this matter has been delayed for so many years, and it is time to make amends.

I beg the Sage to examine this clearly, and I beg the lords of the court to judge with discernment."

Remonstrance Consultant Yang Qixuan suppressed the intense discomfort in his heart, went against his conscience, and flattered wildly, without the slightest attempt at concealment.

Once these words were spoken, let alone the courtiers who had not been informed beforehand, even Li Linfu standing to the side was momentarily stunned.

This son-in-law of his, Yang Qixuan, was handling things a bit too crudely!

Even if he had received the Sage's implicit instruction to explain it this way, this fellow could have phrased it more tactfully! Who flatters so bluntly, without the slightest disguise!

Li Longji also found it hard to keep a straight face, momentarily embarrassed and unsure of what to say.

After all, he could not very well say: We deserve such an honor, and you courtiers have owed Us an accounting for all these years!

"Presumptuous! Utter nonsense! Withdraw at once!"

Before Li Longji could speak, Gao Lishi could not help but step forward and rebuke him.

Yang Qixuan withdrew sheepishly into the ranks of the officials, stealing a somewhat guilty glance at Li Linfu.

He saw only his father-in-law's knife-like gaze, looking as though it wished to hack him into pieces. Yang Qixuan's heart immediately pounded with anxiety, and his earlier smugness vanished without a trace!

Li Linfu felt deeply vexed in his heart as well.

Someone as sharp and quick-witted as Fang Chongyong would indeed be ideal, but he simply could not get his hands on him! So he had no choice but to work with whatever materials he had and push forward a good-for-nothing like Yang Qixuan.

As things stood, there was no turning back. Li Linfu felt he had no choice but to step forward himself!

"Sage, your humble servant believes that although Physician Yang's words may seem to be grandstanding, ever since the Kaiyuan era, the lords of the court, under the Sage's leadership, have devoted themselves to diligent governance. Today our Great Tang is renowned across the four seas and suppresses the eight directions—this too is an indisputable fact.

Recall that in those days, Emperor Taizong had the twenty-four meritorious ministers of the Lingyan Pavilion, and later added Wei Zheng, who used others as a mirror. Yet since the Kaiyuan era, the meritorious deeds of the many civil officials and military generals have gradually faded from memory. It is indeed necessary to add some new meritorious ministers to the Lingyan Pavilion, so as to demonstrate that the torch of our Great Tang's sovereigns and ministers is passed from generation to generation.

Your humble servant believes that the matter of adding new meritorious ministers' portraits to the Lingyan Pavilion can indeed be brought before the court for discussion. However, it has come up rather suddenly today, which is not very convenient. It can be discussed another day."

Li Linfu said this unhurriedly.

Because his son-in-law had failed to deliver and no one was there to play the straight man for him, Li Linfu said everything in one breath—what should and should not be said. In short, it came down to one sentence: he too agreed with reopening the Lingyan Pavilion, and if there was to be any discussion, it could only be about the details!

"What Genü says is reasonable."

Li Longji nodded slightly and said.

Perhaps feeling that the timing was not yet ripe, Li Longji added: "This matter shall be discussed again at the next court assembly."

Seeing that his objective had been achieved, Li Linfu withdrew gracefully into the ranks of the officials. From the corner of his eye, he saw Left Chancellor Li Shizhi looking at him with a gaze of astonishment and disbelief. He could not help but suppress the cold sneer in his heart, keeping it from showing on his face.

Reopening the Lingyan Pavilion and increasing the number of meritorious ministers within it—how to put it, many in the court had actually been hoping for this. It was just that this matter might shatter the golden signboard of the Lingyan Pavilion, and would be of no benefit to the nation as a whole.

But for certain political factions, this was not the case.

For instance, if Brother Ji wanted to add Zhang Jiuling, then the officials of the Literary Faction in the court—certain people in the Hanlin Academy, for example, or someone like Zhang Jiuling's brother Zhang Jiugao, who served as prefect in Luoyang—would not stand up to oppose it.

Was this not also Brother Ji's way of consolidating the court's strength?

Therefore, faced with a situation where the Sage was secretly pushing this forward and the courtiers were happy to see it happen, going with the flow was the only kingly way.

Otherwise, one could do as Zheng Shuqing had done: before this matter came to one's attention, preserve oneself wisely and make a getaway. Otherwise, as long as today's court assembly passed, even if you resigned from office, it would still count as disrespect toward the Sage and a deliberate attempt to embarrass him!

Yes or no—one had to take a stand. Even if a certain central official were already lying in a coffin waiting to die, before dying he would still have to give the Sage an attitude!

"Military Commissioner of Youzhou, Niu Xianke, is gravely ill and unable to attend to affairs. He has submitted a memorial requesting to resign.

Who in the court can replace Niu Xianke?"

Li Longji suddenly raised the second major topic of the day.

An Lushan was thriving in his post as Military Commissioner of Pinglu, massively expanding his troops and horses, and frequently launching attacks from the border garrisons, penetrating deep into Khitan territory to capture prisoners. Although this greatly intensified ethnic tensions along the Great Tang's northern frontier, the Great Tang's sovereigns and ministers, from top to bottom, did not consider this to be any kind of mistake.

Since the Khitan people would not submit, beating them into submission would do. There was no need for pacification.

Niu Xianke had served as Military Commissioner in Youzhou, and in recent years had focused mainly on resting and rebuilding. His battle record was far less dazzling than An Lushan's, even appearing incompetent and mediocre.

Therefore, there had long been voices in the court hoping that after Niu Xianke stepped down, the court would grant the post of Military Commissioner of Youzhou to An Lushan, which would help with the management of the border garrisons.

It must be said that this suggestion, if viewed purely from the perspective of border defense, was indeed an excellent move in keeping with the times. The defense zones of the Military Commissioner of Youzhou and the Military Commissioner of Pinglu partially overlapped, and frequently required the exchange of intelligence, even joint coordinated military operations.

Having the troops and horses of both garrisons under one person's command could indeed, to the greatest extent possible, prevent a situation like the Yingzhou Rebellion of the late Wu Zhou era from arising in the north.

However, unlike the famously law-abiding Niu Xianke, who had no powerful backing, An Lushan was not only of mixed-barbarian origin but also harbored great ambition and was not content with the status quo. Once he controlled two military towns in the north, no one knew whether the court would still be able to keep An Lushan in check.

"Fang Quanzhong is responsible for reorganizing the imperial army in Guanzhong and establishing the Divine Strategy Army to protect Chang'an's safety, so there is no need to speak of recommending him."

Li Longji delivered another blow.

Many courtiers who had been about to step forward and speak unconsciously withdrew the steps they had just been about to take. In fact, no one was more suited to the post of Military Commissioner of Youzhou than Fang Youde. Moreover, he had previously served there, making it a familiar path.

Whether in terms of personal ability, personal prestige, connections, or familiarity with military affairs, Fang Youde was the first choice for Military Commissioner of Youzhou.

He had previously rendered the merit of saving the sovereign's life, and he also enjoyed Li Longji's trust. Furthermore, it was impossible for him to collude with An Lushan.

But Li Longji had spoken: it was not that Fang Youde was unsuitable, but rather "I need him by My side to train the imperial guards!" That path was naturally blocked off!

"Your Majesty, Huangfu Weiming could go to Youzhou to replace Niu Xianke."

Li Shizhi stepped forward, clasped his hands in salute before Li Longji, and said.

He had taken over Zhang Shougui's duties, serving as Left Minister while concurrently holding the post of Minister of War. Huangfu Weiming had managed military agricultural colonies in the Longyou region with some success—at the very least, keeping the nearly hundred-thousand-strong army in Longyou from running short of rations was already quite remarkable.

It was just that Huangfu Weiming had no battle accomplishments yet, and whether he could hold his ground in Youzhou remained very much an open question.

The Youzhou region had been thrown into chaos by An Lushan's aggressive policies—Tang forces had to be ready for combat the moment they crossed the mountains north of Youzhou City. It truly would not do to have a general ignorant of military affairs and brimming with youthful vigor serve as Military Commissioner.

In fact, An Lushan had repeatedly petitioned to serve as Military Commissioner of Youzhou, expressing willingness to yield his current post as Military Commissioner of Pinglu, precisely because the former carried far greater weight than the latter!

The Pinglu Military Commissioner's jurisdiction had very limited economic strength and had to rely on continuous supplies from the court.

But the Youzhou Military Commissioner's jurisdiction connected on its south to the wealthy region of Hebei. Even without interference from the court, after taking the post of Youzhou Military Commissioner, An Lushan could find ways to "feed" himself, and would not even need to engage in the business of "reselling" Khitan slaves.

Li Shizhi's proposal to let Huangfu Weiming replace Niu Xianke as Youzhou Military Commissioner drew no one willing to stand up in opposition. Because if one opposed yet could offer no better plan, then An Lushan would inevitably serve as Military Commissioner of two garrisons.

If trouble arose in the future, no one would be able to bear that responsibility!

"What do all of you beloved ministers think?"

Li Longji asked with a smile.

"Your humble servant believes that Pei Min could serve as Vice Military Commissioner of Youzhou, Acting Commissioner, and Commander of the Jingsei Army."

Li Linfu stepped forward, clasped his hands in salute, and said.

He did not oppose letting Huangfu Weiming serve as Youzhou Military Commissioner, but he offered a "supplementary opinion": that Pei Min should be reassigned from Commander of the Longhua Army to Commander of the Jingsei Army, and concurrently serve as Acting Commissioner of Youzhou and Vice Military Commissioner!

Acting Commissioner was a provisional title established in the Tang dynasty when a Military Commissioner or Observation Commissioner's position was vacant. Simply put: if Huangfu Weiming could not attend to affairs due to illness, or was killed in battle, or was dismissed by the court, then Pei Min, as Acting Commissioner, could directly exercise the powers of Military Commissioner.

Until the next Youzhou Military Commissioner assumed authority!

There were already examples of Military Commissioners falling in battle in the early Kaiyuan years, so the emergency policy of "Acting Commissioner" was carried out by the Tang central administration with the utmost seriousness—it was by no means dispensable. Of course, if the Military Commissioner could exercise authority normally, then the Acting Commissioner was merely Acting Commissioner, with no powers above anyone else.

Let alone mobilizing or training troops.

To understand this by the rule of "a will automatically taking effect" from Fang Chongyong's previous life was quite apt.

In other words, Li Linfu did not agree with letting Huangfu Weiming serve as Youzhou Military Commissioner, but clearly he also did not want An Lushan to hold two garrison commissions alone, so he could only apply a "small patch."

"If so, then let Huangfu Weiming proceed to Youzhou to take up his post, with Pei Min serving as Vice Military Commissioner and Acting Commissioner."

Li Longji said, full of weariness. He was now very lax about court affairs, and would almost only voice opinions on major personnel appointments.

"Oh right, Fang Chongyong is currently on his way to take up his post in Longyou, so let him serve as Longyou Acting Commissioner."

No one could figure out what this Tang Emperor was thinking. Li Longji suddenly uttered a decision that left all the ministers speechless and choked up.

So much so that they did not even know how to go about opposing it.

Official appointments in the Tang dynasty were all a series of combined punches, only able to exert real power when used together. Sometimes, if just one piece was missing from this combination, the official in question could not get anything done.

For example, the combination of "Vice Minister of Revenue + Salt and Iron Commissioner + Transport Commissioner" was held by high officials managing the court's finances from the mid-Tang onward.

Where there was Salt and Iron, there had to be Transport—only thus could the court's salt and iron tax revenues be collected. If one were given the Salt and Iron Commissioner post but not the Transport Commissioner post, then that official could very well be tormented mercilessly by a Transport Commissioner belonging to a rival faction at court!

The post of Acting Commissioner was the same, analogous to an "estate heir"!

If it was not preceded by titles such as "Commander of Such-and-Such Army, Vice Military Commissioner," then it was merely a pure title—one could not mobilize a single soldier in a border garrison.

Li Longji appointed Fang Chongyong as Longyou Acting Commissioner yet added no other titles. This appointment could no longer be described with the word "child's play"—it had reached the point where even those who opposed it could not be bothered to open their mouths.

To oppose it would have no actual effect anyway, since this post could not produce any effect either. Opposing this appointment would only offend Fang Youde and Fang Chongyong, father and son, and in a completely meaningless way at that.

Not to oppose it, on the other hand, felt like an insult to one's own intelligence.

"Your Majesty… the post of Acting Commissioner alone, given to Fang Chongyong, serves no purpose.

Either grant him the additional titles of Vice Military Commissioner of Longyou and Commander of the Lintao Army, or simply do not give him the Acting Commissioner post at all.

We beseech Your Majesty to retract this decree."

Li Shizhi was an honest man. The words none of the ministers at court were willing to say, he said them.

Faint sounds of quiet laughter from certain people could be heard within the Zichen Hall.

It was an unspoken rule, after all—everyone understood it in their hearts, and saying nothing was best. But now that someone had said it out loud, it made Li Longji's handling of the matter seem improper.

Was Li Longji deliberately making a monkey of people, or was he inadvertently making a monkey of people?

Was he deliberately taking advantage of Fang Chongyong's youth and ignorance of affairs, or had he inadvertently overlooked Fang Chongyong's unfamiliarity with the unspoken rules of officialdom?

The ministers in Zichen Hall looked at one another. Fortunately Fang Youde was not present, otherwise he would likely have been embarrassed enough to prostrate himself in gratitude and decline.

The peculiarity of the Acting Commissioner lay in the fact that even if the Military Commissioner could not attend to affairs, the Acting Commissioner only served in a temporary capacity. Without appointment from the court, the person holding the Acting Commissioner post could not automatically become the next Military Commissioner.

In other words, if something happened to the incumbent Military Commissioner, the Acting Commissioner would temporarily take over the duties. Once the next Military Commissioner arrived and took up the post, the Acting Commissioner would very likely continue serving as Acting Commissioner!

Whatever official title one held before, one would still hold afterward—equal to having done all that work for nothing!

And as long as the Military Commissioner came to no harm, the Acting Commissioner's authority would never be "activated."

What was the point of such an appointment?

Certain quick-witted ministers realized what this meant: was it not somewhat akin to "during the transition period between Military Commissioners, I'll let you lad have a taste of power at the border garrison"?

Something along those lines.

"I have my own reasons for making this appointment. There is no need for the Left Minister to make such a fuss over nothing.

The appointment of court officials does not necessarily have to serve a practical function."

Sure enough, Li Longji said dismissively, not even bothering to explain. He himself treated the matter as a joke, and had no intention whatsoever of pursuing Li Shizhi's insubordination.

……

Fang Chongyong knew nothing of the series of messy affairs that had taken place in Chang'an. In fact, even if he had known, there was nothing he could have done.

Better not to know—his mind would be more at ease.

When Fang Chongyong's party departed from Qinzhou (Tianshui) and headed for Weizhou, they passed through Luomenchuan, located along the post road. In the history of Fang Chongyong's previous life, during the Dazhong era of the Tang dynasty, the Tibetan general Lun Kongre had gathered his forces at Luomenchuan to attack the Tang—evidence enough of this place's strategic importance.

This was the only route to Longyou. According to the Tang dynasty's post road planning, there should have been a relay station here called "Luomen Station," yet they found no operational station anywhere nearby.

There was only what seemed to be the "ruins" of Luomen Station, abandoned for several months or perhaps over a year. On the plaque hanging between two wooden poles outside the courtyard, the characters "Luo" and "Station" appeared faintly legible, though the writing had grown blurred beneath the wind and rain.

The post station's gate stood wide open; in fact, there was hardly any gate to speak of, because even the door planks had been torn off and carried away by someone. In early spring, weeds overran the courtyard, and the yellow earthen walls still bore the mottled marks of time.

If anyone said this place was a haunted house, Fang Chongyong would believe it! Even the furnishings inside are worse than those of a legendary haunted house!

"Is this a post station?

"You can't call it Luomen Station and just take away the door planks, can you?"

Pei Xiu asked in disbelief.

She, this clueless one, rarely asks a question of such quality.

It's hard to imagine that a post station of the Tang dynasty could have something like Fen Shui Station, which contains three large dining halls, can accommodate hundreds of residents, and even has over a hundred post horses; its scale is not inferior to that of a small town.

But right before us is Luomen Station, empty inside, with even its door planks torn away!

"The last time you went hunting, you caught some rabbits and cured the meat, right? Now's the perfect time to use it. Tonight we'll stay here; later we'll light a fire in the courtyard."

Fang Chongyong ignored Pei Xiu and instead gave an order to He Changqi.

"We'll spend the night here."

Pei Xiu glanced at the dusky sky, then heard the crows cawing nearby, and couldn't help but shrink his neck.

"What's there to fear? I follow Fang Jiedushi; down below Yangzhou City I slaughtered the rebels until the moat ran red, and I felt no fear. What's so scary about these?"

He Changqi sneered at Pei Xiu, then led Guan Chongsi and the others off to get busy.

"The farther west we go, the more desolate it becomes."

Pei Xiu couldn't help but sigh; he'd grown too weary to argue with He Changqi.

"Compared to the Tibetans, this amounts to nothing."

Fang Chongyong spoke solemnly to Pei Xiu. After saying that, he took out the black flail hanging from his waist and casually picked up a small stone from the ground.

He pointed at a nearby branch and said, "I can break that, believe it or not?"

"Just keep boasting; there's no way swinging something like that could hit, it's not archery."

The shallow-minded Pei Xiu snorted dismissively.

"Heh."

Fang Chongyong gave a cold laugh, casually flicked the black flail, and the stone flew out, snapping the thin branch not far away, leaving Pei Xiu greatly astonished.

"Every Tibetan basically has this skill. To them it's as easy as eating and drinking—do you think the Tibetans are fearsome or not?"

Fang Chongyong said calmly to Pei Xiu.

"Um, why don't you send someone to take me back to Chang'an?"

Pei Xiu asked with some worry, lowering his head guiltily.

Fang Chongyong waved a hand, too lazy to waste more words on him.

"We've come all this way; there's no reason to turn back for Chang'an."

(End of chapter)