Chapter 232: Jiedushi, Spare My Life!

How would Fang Chongyong solve the problem of unpaid military pay for the Longyou border army?

The answer is: he had no way to solve it!

Other than Brother Ji, no one had a way.

Or it could be put this way: not only could Fang Chongyong not just bury his head and solve the matter, he also had to request instructions in the morning and report back in the evening, letting Brother Ji know the situation in Longyou at the first opportunity.

If Fang Chongyong, having merely been appointed Acting Jiedushi, could solve the problem of unpaid military pay in Longyou, then what would happen if he later led the border army in rebellion?

If one person possessed that much power, which emperor could tolerate it?

Unless it was someone like Emperor Xian of Han! But Brother Ji, with his extremely strong desire for power, certainly could not tolerate it.

Sitting in the signing room of the Longyou Jiedu Office, Fang Chongyong calmed down and thought about his mission and the problems he faced. He found that what he needed to handle came down to just two words.

Maintaining stability!

It meant exactly what it said: maintaining stability in the Longyou region, including the stability of military administration and border defense.

The seat Fang Chongyong now occupied had, just a few days ago, been Du Xiwang's. Now, looking at the financial and provisions ledgers on the desk, as well as that pile of official seals and fish tallies in the wooden box, Fang Chongyong felt his scalp go numb.

"Maintaining stability" sounded simple in words, but doing it was hard. A great pile of matters with a thousand threads each—he was still considering where best to begin.

"Judge Cen, this Jiedushi has an important matter to entrust to you."

Fang Chongyong said softly to Cen Shen, who sat across from him with head bowed, flipping through the ledgers, and waved him over.

"What instructions does Jiedushi Fang have?"

Cen Shen leaned in and asked in a low voice.

His heart was already in his throat, because Fang Chongyong's current situation was not good, and he had also taken on a huge blame. Though given the imperial favor Fang Chongyong carried, breaking free of the predicament would not be difficult, afterward he would inevitably be looked down upon by the Son of Heaven, and his future official career would be cause for concern.

As a trusted subordinate, Cen Shen of course did not want Fang Chongyong to suffer great misfortune.

"Take my handwritten letter and go to Lanzhou to find Wang Sili, the Inspector of Lanzhou. When I served as Inspector of Shazhou back then, I had ties with him. Now that I am Acting Jiedushi of Longyou, Lanzhou falls under my jurisdiction in name, and he will give me this face."

Fang Chongyong pulled out from his sleeve a letter written not long ago and handed it to Cen Shen.

If the present time were the mid-to-late Tang, Fang Chongyong certainly could not handle the problem this way. But in the Tianbao era, under the afterglow of the High Tang, the transfer of officials and commanders across regions was smooth, without such sharply defined factional divisions.

In other words, even if Shi Siming were transferred right now to serve under Fang Chongyong, the court could accomplish it with perfect ease, and the Pinglu Jiedushi An Lushan would have no way to refuse—unless he rebelled outright right now.

Of course, whether it could actually succeed depended on what Brother Ji was thinking.

Wang Sili's transfer from Military Commissioner of the Doulu Army to Inspector of Lanzhou was also entirely a normal transfer, purely coincidental.

At this moment, the importance of Fang Chongyong himself controlling a network of connections became apparent. Having served as Inspector of Shazhou in Hexi for four years, he had made the acquaintance of many figures in both military and political circles. In ordinary times nothing showed, but at a critical moment he would discover that he had old acquaintances everywhere!

Cen Shen sighed in admiration inwardly, took the letter, crossed his hands in a salute, and said, "This humble official will depart shortly. Does Jiedushi Fang have any further instructions?"

Cen Shen understood very well in his heart that as a trusted subordinate, if it were merely a matter of running an errand to deliver a letter, there was absolutely no need for him to make the trip in person.

"After Wang Sili has read the letter, you will, in your capacity as Jiedu Judge of the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army, take over Lanzhou's treasury and handle the handover with Xue Shangtong's people. Have Wang Sili purchase those ten thousand sheepskins.

As for the rest, I am giving you a brocade pouch. Open it only after you arrive in Lanzhou. Do not open it early, understand?"

Fang Chongyong said with a solemn expression, and as if performing a magic trick, produced from his sleeve a small cloth pouch with its opening sewn shut in crooked stitches, apparently containing a sheet of paper inside.

Cen Shen's face showed a strange expression. He helplessly took the cloth pouch, tucked it into his sleeve, and gave a slight nod without speaking.

"What do you think of the various armies' ledgers?"

Fang Chongyong asked with a long sigh.

The two of them had just been taking turns examining the ledgers submitted by the military commissioners of the various Longyou armies, which recorded in detail the personnel rosters of each army, as well as military pay, provisions, income, and expenditures.

"On the surface there appear to be no problems. The headcount and provisions expenditures all match up. But whether there are actually any problems is still hard to say; it would require inspection within the military camps."

Cen Shen had not spotted any problems, but... the Longyou border army had been owed pay for years, so drawing pay for nonexistent soldiers was inevitable. There was nothing to discuss—it was simply an objective law. The question was how much phantom pay had been drawn.

When the court failed to provide military pay on time, the various armies of the border commands had to winnow out a number of the old and weak in reality, while keeping the headcount on the rolls unchanged.

In this way, the impact of the court's delayed pay could be mitigated to a certain extent.

This was only human nature—policies from above, countermeasures from below.

"Go tell He Changqi to come here and place himself at my disposal. Then you set out for Lanzhou. Do not delay."

Fang Chongyong sighed, feeling deeply that the office of Jiedushi was truly not easy to hold—glorious only on the surface, while in practice, when executing administrative duties, the constraints and restrictions encountered were enormous.

It now appeared that the Jiedushi governed the military commissioners of the various armies and the Inspectors of the prefectures and commanderies under his jurisdiction, but to a certain extent, the means of control were all indirect influence; it was not a matter of being able to do whatever one wanted.

Take the position of military commissioner, for instance: after the An-Shi Rebellion it evolved into the Military Affairs Commissioner, directly in charge of troops. By the late Tang and Five Dynasties period, the Military Affairs Commissioner was essentially a "Jiedushi-in-waiting." Many internal upheavals within the regional commands were fomented by Military Affairs Commissioners, who had closer relationships with the rank and file.

Jiedushi of civil-official origin were frequently reduced to figureheads by Military Affairs Commissioners.

Judging from Geshu Han sending Guan Chongsi to Chang'an to demand military pay, the military commissioners of the various armies were by no means soft persimmons to be squeezed at will.

Before long, He Changqi arrived at the signing room and asked the moment they met: "Jiedushi, are we going into the various army camps now to seize people?"

Hearing this, Fang Chongyong was covered in black lines. This fellow was very reliable in getting things done, but his mouth was truly reckless! He dared to say anything!

"Call up those brothers of the Yinqiang Xiaojie who came with us this time. We go to the Lintao Army main camp right now!"

Fang Chongyong stood up and said calmly, entirely lacking any heroic or martial bearing.

He Changqi's flattery had landed on the horse's leg instead. He could only withdraw awkwardly. Before long, their party had already exited the Jiedu Office gate and headed straight for the Lintao Army main camp outside Shanzhou City!

……

In the Longyou region, concentrating an army of over ten thousand soldiers, along with seven or eight thousand military horses, into a single main camp was a very foolish thing to do! At the slightest rustle of wind, a camp stampede could easily occur.

Setting aside everything else, if a large army were piled together, just the manure from over ten thousand men and over seven thousand horses alone would be hard to deal with!

Therefore, whether it was the Heyuan Army or the Lintao Army, they were all dispersed and garrisoned in units of "camps" around their stations, while the military commissioner was on duty in semi-permanent fortifications that had been built and continuously renovated and expanded over many years.

Although the Longyou border army was broadly owed back pay, the Lintao Army, as the absolute main force, was fully equipped and fully staffed, with military pay issued on time. In other words, the Lintao Army was currently very calm internally, completely unconcerned about the other armies making trouble over pay, and would certainly not step forward to "share a common hatred" and pressure the Jiedushi!

So after seeing Fang Chongyong solidly catch this huge pot of blame, Gai Jiayun, the Military Commissioner of the Lintao Army, felt that the matter of making up the back pay had nothing whatsoever to do with him anymore.

He was now the Acting Military Commissioner of the Lintao Army, planning to be formally confirmed in the position after the next Jiedushi took office, which would not cause any waves at all.

Still less did he need to look to Fang Chongyong's expression.

Of course, Gai Jiayun also knew that those earlier little maneuvers had offended Fang Chongyong quite badly.

But so what?

Gai Jiayun thought that Fang Chongyong was now like a mud Buddha crossing a river, barely able to protect himself; could he still have the energy to look for a quarrel with him?

However, this time Gai Jiayun miscalculated!

When Fang Chongyong arrived at the Lin Tao army main camp with a few Yinqiang Xiaojie Army warriors, unhindered, Gai Jiayun, whose heart was boundlessly reckless, was actually drinking from a big bowl and eating large pieces of meat inside the military tent!

"Gai, the army commissioner, this Jiedushi asks you: drinking in the army without cause—what crime is that?"

Inside the Jiedushi's tent, Fang Chongyong stared at Gai Jiayun, his face stern, and asked.

With a leg of mutton in his hand, Gai Jiayun was suddenly at a loss for words, not knowing how to answer the question.

Whether a senior army commander drinking in the army without cause is a crime or not depends on whether a major incident occurs, whether it delays a great affair.

If no major incident happens, then it's nothing at all; even if reported, no one will intervene, and Shangguan will at most give a few verbal warnings.

But if a disaster does occur, the culprit should flee quickly, because the lightest punishment still starts with beheading! It could easily bring ruin to one's family.

Gai Jiayun felt that the current situation was Fang Chongyong using a chicken feather as a command arrow.

Of course, standing his ground was impossible.

Gai Jiayun placed the leg of mutton on the table, wiped his oil‑slicked hands on his uniform, and sneered, "I was just about to drink, but haven't had the chance yet."

He was simply speaking nonsense outright; in this era that cares little for a chain of evidence, Fang Chongyong would find it hard to stir any trouble over this matter!

Indeed, I was drinking in the army, but what can you do to me?

Gai Jiayun was truly brazen.

In fact, when Du Xiwang served as Jiedushi, the Longyou army commanders often drank in the army, and Du Xiwang never spoke of enforcing military law or anything like that!

The Longyou border garrison was weary, and with no wars these years, lax thinking among army commanders was normal. Though Du Xiwang was a Jiedushi, he couldn't force them to drink water with a bull's brain! He could only turn a blind eye.

The goal was simply to avoid incidents; nothing else could be controlled.

Isn't there a Tang poem that says: "Grapes and fine wine in a luminous cup, wanting to drink, the pipa urges instantly"; what business is drinking in the army?

Gai Jiayun's triumphant demeanor seemed to treat it as nothing at all.

"Chief Secretary He, where are you!"

Fang Chongyong shouted loudly!

The shout was deafening! It startled Gai Jiayun so much that his wine was half‑wasted.

A middle‑aged man in a green official robe, without armor, entered the camp tent, saluted Fang Chongyong with a hand‑cross, and said, "Chief Secretary is here, Jiedushi, what orders do you have?"

The Chief Secretary arrived so quickly because Fang Chongyong had summoned him when leaving the city. When the Jiedushi inspected the camp, the Chief Secretary, as his subordinate staff, had to obey orders and be ready at a moment's notice.

Even if Fang Chongyong was only acting as a proxy, his words were still military orders!

"Chief Secretary, drinking in the army without cause—what crime? Tell General Gai."

Fang Chongyong pointed at Gai Jiayun and said to the Chief Secretary beside him.

The Chief Secretary stared, eyes widened in disbelief at Gai Jiayun, then glanced at the stern‑faced Fang Chongyong, silently lamenting inside.

Conflicts like this are the main reason the Longyou Jiedushi often also serves as the Lin Tao army commissioner.

If one person holds two posts, such trouble wouldn't arise. In Longyou, when commanders of other armies cause trouble, it's the Lin Tao army commissioner, with the Lin Tao army's personal troops from the Jiedushi's office, who personally goes to the camp to arrest them!

As a result, now the Longyou Jiedushi and the Lin Tao army commissioner are not the same person, so the unwritten rule collapses!

The clash between adjudication and enforcement is a problem hard to resolve!

"Drinking in the army without cause… if it delays a major affair, execution on the spot."

The Chief Secretary whispered.

He didn't say what would happen if the drinking caused no trouble, because offenses were too many. If they tried to pick a typical case, no senior or deputy commander in the Longyou armies could escape.

Gai Jiayun fell silent; with the Jiedushi's Chief Secretary present, his bluster would easily become fodder for gossip. Silence was the best strategy.

Gai Jiayun could not believe that Fang Chongyong, as a temporary Jiedushi, would dare, over a minor matter of army drinking without serious consequences, to eliminate a Lin Tao army commissioner of the Longyou main border forces!

That's not establishing authority; that's courting death.

"He Laohu, bring this imperial edict to General Gai so he can have a good look."

Fang Chongyong pulled a roll of yellow silk from his sleeve cuff, along with the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army's golden fish talisman, and handed both to the nearby He Changqi.

Under Gai Jiayun's startled gaze, He Changqi stuffed the edict into his chest, placed the fish talisman on the table, then stared wide‑eyed at Gai Jiayun, his face arrogant.

Gai Jiayun unfolded the silk, read ten lines at a glance, and was so shocked that he could not utter a single word for a long while.

The edict stated that Fang Chongyong, as the military commissioner of the Imperial Guard's Yinqiang Xiaojie, could freely select elite troops from the Longyou armies—regardless of rank, ethnicity, or age; in short, whatever Fang Chongyong decided could be transferred.

In short, Fang Chongyong need not argue with Gai Jiayun over punishing his drinking. By using the edict and that fish talisman, he could transfer Gai Jiayun into the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army as a direct subordinate in his office!

Your archery is superb?

You're very capable in combat?

Are you an enemy of ten thousand men?

If your command is firm, do you possess strategic foresight?

Very well, from today onward, you are a trusted Imperial Guard beside the Son of Heaven, a core member of the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army!

What? You say you know nothing?

Then what merit or ability makes you the Lin Tao army commissioner?

In his mind a fierce clash, Gai Jiayun realized that Fang Chongyong seemed able to deal with him at will, using his authority effortlessly and without obstruction.

Of course, having power is one thing; being able to wield it is another. For instance, Gai Jiayun could argue that the Lin Tao army is confronting Tubo, military affairs are urgent, the commissioner has no time, and request another suitable person as an excuse to deflect.

But such a refusal would undeniably be a wild slap in the face of the Chang'an Son of Heaven; the consequences would certainly not be pleasant! If this situation could be avoided, Gai Jiayun would never have acted arrogantly!

Thinking of this, Gai Jiayun instantly wilted, no longer the hard‑hearted, fearless man he had been.

If Fang Chongyong truly forced him into the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army, the joke would have gone too far!

"Please, Jiedushi Fang, lift your noble hand; we can discuss this, we can discuss this."

Gai Jiayun's face turned gloomy as he pleaded, cold sweat covering his forehead, his tone meek and submissive, like a daughter‑in‑law tormented for years by a mother‑in‑law.

Seeing Gai Jiayun submit so quickly, Fang Chongyong was also somewhat surprised.

He still thought this one would spar with him and could hold out longer; how could he submit so quickly?

Fang Chongyong gave He Changqi a glance; the latter instantly snatched the imperial edict and fish token from Gai Jiayun's hand, then strode to Fang Chongyong's side, returned the items with both hands, and looked at Gai Jiayun with a smug expression.

But Fang Chongyong was not as overbearing as He Changqi; he walked to Gai Jiayun's side, pulled the recommendation letter that Du Xiwang had written from his sleeve cuff, handed it to Gai Jiayun, and said with a smiling grin:

"Du Jiedushi, before falling into a coma, also feared an accident might befall him; to avoid delaying Lǒngyòu's important affairs, he left a letter.

In the letter he wholeheartedly recommended you as the next Lǒngyòu Jiedushi.

You are not his confidant, yet he esteems you so much; Du Jiedushi truly is a good man, selfless and admirable!

I came today not to investigate General Gai's drinking, such a trivial matter.

But to inform you, General, that I will submit a memorial to the court, have the Sage issue an edict, and appoint you as the new, official Lǒngyòu Jiedushi.

General Gai, you really shouldn't decline.

Hearing this, Gai Jiayun was terrified to death! He hurriedly grabbed Fang Chongyong's sleeve, and, disregarding his rank, burst into tears and said:

"Fang Jiedushi, tell me what you want me to do, just give the order!

If you want me to go east, I won't go west. If you want me to deal with someone, I will act on it at once!

I truly cannot serve as this Lǒngyòu Jiedushi!

Standing nine chi tall, strong and mighty, an unrivaled rider and archer, Gai Jiayun now wept like a child before Fang Chongyong.

"All this is for the court; why are you, General Gai, crying so loudly? There's a way to talk it out, there's a way!"

Fang Chongyong smiled, helped Gai Jiayun to his feet, patted the dust off his body, and said.

Present the edict!

(End of chapter)