Chapter 263: Five Years of Liao Peace

"Do you think this Jiedushi can't pry open your mouth?"

In a cell of a dungeon inside Liangzhou city, Fang Chongyong stared at the Arab slave trader kneeling on the ground. He crossed his arms and, at leisure, stood before him.

He looked down in a victorious posture.

Unexpectedly, the slave trader pressed his palms together, closed his eyes, knelt and began chanting in Arabic, his attitude very devout, muttering something under his breath.

"What is he saying?"

Fang Chongyong asked the Western Regions translator who had come from Suie City.

"Jiedushi, it's better not to translate; they're prayers asking the True Lord to punish the Great Tang, etc. Translating them would be disrespectful to the Jiedushi."

The translator, fluent in six languages, said with a troubled expression.

The white‑clad Great Abbasid, in its early Kaiyuan interactions with the Great Tang, once nearly caused Ji Ge to lose his temper for violating Tang etiquette.

Thinking of that, Fang Chongyong said to He Changqi standing beside him, "Send him on his way, make it quick and clean."

One who seeks benevolence receives benevolence; for those who are intent on death, Fang Chongyong has always respected their wishes.

"Jiedushi, we haven't gathered any information; wouldn't killing him be too easy on him?"

He Changqi retorted, a little unwilling.

"Don't worry; he still has a large number of slaves, some of whom are probably spies of the Black‑clad Great Abbasid. When the time comes, gathering them for questioning will be the same."

Fang Chongyong said indifferently.

The slave trader before him would rather recite scripture than utter a word; Fang Chongyong even worried the man might deliberately feed false information, so it would be better to kill him outright.

"Here, I, the junior officer, will take care of it now."

He Changqi crossed his arms and saluted.

Stepping out of the foul‑smelling dungeon, the blazing sun was harsh; Fang Chongyong couldn't help but shield his forehead with his hand, blocking the glare.

The north‑west climate differs quite a bit from Chang'an. Here it is already "summer"; marching in the desert by day is an indescribable torment, as if one's whole body were soaked in a steamer.

Conversely, the period from early autumn this year to spring next year is the optimal time to dispatch troops to the Western Regions.

Before that, Jiaozi must be issued to replace the silk of previous years, gathering provisions from the Hexi region. These supplies are to be marched to Western Prefecture's Gaochang County (Turpan), the former Gaochang Kingdom!

After the whole army refits in Western Prefecture, it will continue carrying provisions to the Anxi Protectorate's seat at Kucha (Kuqa), where it will join the border troops of the Anxi Protectorate, then reorganize and select elite expeditionary forces!

Only upon reaching Kucha does the true Congling campaign begin.

If intelligence from the western side of Congling favors deployment, the expeditionary army will move to Shule Town (Kashgar) to await orders, not far from Greater and Lesser Boli.

Along this route, the Great Tang army must not only cross deserts but travel an immense distance. Though the terrain is mainly desert, plains, and some mountains, the local customs are exceedingly complex.

The Western Regions comprise over a hundred kingdoms, each city a sovereign state. Their economies rely on desert oases, water is scarce, populations thin. Each nation has its own customs, peoples, and languages; a change of locale can mean a completely different culture.

Yet a Western Region kingdom's population may not surpass that of a single Tang county.

When the Tang army passes through, it resembles the description in Journey to the West: each region requires manpower and supplies from that locale. Using the limited main Tang forces, they absorb the armies of Western Region states like a rolling snowball, then engage the Tubo in battle at Lesser Boli west of Congling!

After crossing Western Prefecture, the army's logistics heavily depend on the support of these small Western nations. Thus, the campaign against Greater and Lesser Boli tests the Tang commander's diplomatic skill.

The Tang army must cut a path with swords, but cannot rely on swords alone. Securing and exchanging political benefits is a profound art. When the decisive battle begins, it will be the Tang forces and the co‑opted Western vassal troops confronting the Tubo army and their controlled Western vassals.

It's not merely a matter of comparing one's own strength.

Since Ban Chao's Han‑dynasty pacification of the Western Regions, this strategy has become a well‑established rulebook. The Western Regions remain an arena of continual contest among powers.

Walking toward the Hexi Jiedushi Office, he pondered the Western Regions deployment. Fang Chongyong finally realized he had oversimplified frontier expansion; the Western Regions game differs from merely guarding the Longyou frontier against the Tubo.

The difference is, in fact, huge!

Just as he reached the Jiedushi Office, he saw a eunuch‑like figure who seemed to have been waiting there for a long time, glancing left and right.

The person before him was an old acquaintance of Fang Chongyong, the border envoy Bian Lingcheng, who often delivered messages to the frontier.

Upon meeting, Bian Lingcheng burst into laughter, came over and warmly saluted Fang Chongyong, "Lord Jiedushi Fang, I have waited for you so bitterly; the Saint has issued an edict, a good thing, a very good thing."

"Another edict?"

Fang Chongyong feigned a trembling reverence, then opened the imperial edict, stared at it for a while, and immediately furrowed his brows in silent contemplation.

His mood was clearly not as optimistic as Bian Lingcheng claimed.

"One million bolts of silk from Luoyang and the Two Huais are already en route; in a few days they will be stored in Liangzhou's treasury for military supplies.

They also serve as the capital for issuing Jiaozi.

Moreover, the Saint has appointed you as the Western Regions Strategic Envoy; besides commanding the Hexi border forces, the troops of the Four Towns of Anxi also fall under your jurisdiction.

The Saint is eager to know how the Jiedushi's Jiaozi shop is faring in detail.

Please, Jiedushi, be sure to write a memorial, which I will take back to the Saint."

Bian Lingcheng lowered his voice.

"Western Regions Strategic Envoy?"

At that moment, Fang Chongyong suddenly recalled Yuan Chonghuan of the 'Five‑Year Pingliao' campaign.

The emperor provided ample funds and troops. With such strong backing, if results aren't spectacular, what will happen is obvious even to a child.

Not to mention the whole family being wiped out; at the very least, exile to Lingnan.

And that one million bolts of silk, though seemingly vast, constitute the capital for issuing 'gold‑standard' paper money!

It can be understood that Ji Ge lent Fang Chongyong one million bolts of silk, ensuring he can issue at least one million Jiaozi as a guarantee.

Any surplus military supplies or rewards are for Fang Chongyong to handle; Ji Ge only cares about the outcome.

Essentially, it's using deposit interest as military funding—a truly stingy practice!

Of course, regardless, there is at least a 'guarantee fund' stationed in the bank as a safety net, so Jiaozi won't plunge into madness from the start.

If Jiaozi can survive ten or eight years, Fang Chongyong remains confident, provided Ji Ge doesn't meddle and the court doesn't replace the overseers.

"Understood."

Fang Chongyong gave a slight nod, went to the Jiedushi Office study, and swiftly drafted a memorial detailing his plan to campaign against Lesser Boli, including required troops, costs, duration, marching routes, and so forth.

He also rewrote the matters concerning Jiaozi, naturally covering the encryption of Jiaozi materials, secrecy of craftsmanship, and so on.

After all this was written, Bian Lingcheng was already in the Jiedushi's study, waiting for a full hour!

"Bian Neishi can just take the memorial back."

Fang Chongyong read the draft memorial over and over, felt there was no major problem, then placed it into a bamboo tube, sealed it with red lacquer, and handed it to Bian Lingcheng.

Suddenly, Fang Chongyong saw Bian Lingcheng slightly frown, and instantly understood. He produced a woodblock‑printed document with a face value of 5,000 bolts of silk.

"This thing is called a draft; it can later be exchanged for Jiaozi.

Bian Neishi should keep it on his person and need not show it. Once the Jiaozi Money House in Chang'an opens, this draft can be exchanged for 5,000 Jiaozi.

A certain association will issue an identical document here in Liangzhou, send it to Chang'an, and when the two documents are combined, they can be used to claim Jiaozi settlement.

Fang Chongyong smiled and handed the draft in his hand to Bian Lingcheng.

"Can this piece of paper be exchanged for 5,000 bolts of silk?"

Bian Lingcheng was overjoyed, took the draft with an incredulous look, and asked.

"That's right, exactly so."

Fang Chongyong nodded slightly and said.

"This… this thing is so convenient!"

Bian Lingcheng said gratefully, then leaned close to Fang Chongyong, lowered his voice, and reminded him:

"The Sage recently appointed the Crown Prince as Mayor of Jingzhao, Prince Yong as Magistrate of Chang'an County, Prince Ying as Magistrate of Wannian County, apparently to set them against each other. Meanwhile, the family of Princess Du, the Crown Princess, has been entirely exiled to Lingnan.

Many central officials in Chang'an seem eager to pick sides and form factions. I cannot discern the Sage's true intention; Jiedushi Fang should be cautious.

Another elder Jiedushi Fang has now been dispatched by the Sage to Huaxian to train the Divine Strategy Army; he probably does not yet know this matter.

"Having received the money, of course it must be sold well." Bian Lingcheng couldn't help but tell Fang Chongyong about the latest political changes in Chang'an.

"Is Yang Xing, the illegitimate son of the Lady of Guo State, perhaps the Sage's dragon blood?"

Fang Chongyong pretended to ask casually.

Bian Lingcheng shivered in fear, then grasped Fang Chongyong's wrist with both hands, nervously saying, "Such matters must not be spoken carelessly or spread outward."

He did not state it outright, but his words were suggestive enough to almost confirm the rumor.

"Bian Neishi, after you return to Chang'an, after some time you can petition the Sage to be dispatched to Hexi, and accompany the army far into the Western Regions as a Supervising Officer.

The wind in Chang'an is rising; being abroad can avoid disaster."

Fang Chongyong grasped Bian Lingcheng's cuff, said calmly.

"I understand, thanks for Jiedushi Fang's reminder."

Bian Lingcheng took the bamboo tube, thanked him profusely, and left the Hexi Jiedushi's office.

After he left, Fang Chongyong finally leaned against the study couch, utterly exhausted and unwilling to move. Though he hadn't done any physical work lately, he just wanted to rest and slack off. When one's mental energy is constantly drained, one likewise becomes too tired to act.

Fang Chongyong began to let his thoughts wander.

According to traditional experience in Shazhou, Brother Ji's one million bolts of silk will first go to Liangzhou's treasury, then be transported from Liangzhou to Shazhou.

Once the silk reaches Shazhou's treasury, according to Great Tang's "Silk Restriction" policy, the silk becomes capital flow for the He Di Warehouse. Through loaning, the silk is lent to locals, who then sell the silk to Western Region merchants in exchange for seeds, farming tools, and other necessities.

On the repayment day, locals bring harvested grain to the He Di Warehouse; the authorities use the grain for military supplies, completing a basic economic cycle.

Now that Jiaozi exist, the silk will be stored in the relevant treasuries of the five Hexi prefectures, and locals will be issued Jiaozi, or a half‑Jiaozi half‑silk payment. This method promotes Jiaozi circulation at the societal level.

The economy of the five Hexi prefectures is too small, requiring continual "opening of gates" toward the Western Regions, activating the money‑printing machine for quantitative easing.

"Finally received the appointment as the Western Regions Strategic Ambassador."

Lying on the couch, Fang Chongyong couldn't help but sigh wistfully.

Can issuing Jiaozi save Great Tang?

The answer is no; even a nuclear‑powered money‑printing machine couldn't.

However, in the early stage of Jiaozi issuance, it can function like the Song dynasty's "Qingmiao loans", partially postponing social crises.

As for how societal conflicts will erupt more violently in the future, the downward trend cannot be halted by Fang Chongyong.

In fact, during the mid‑late Tang, Great Tang's currency underwent massive liquidity expansion through the implementation of the Two‑Tax Law, increasing societal circulation in an attempt to rescue the declining state.

However, as long as private ownership exists and the state still relies on private‑sector organizational methods for production, practices akin to robbing Peter to pay Paul will never cease.

In other words, as long as there is an emperor, there will be no nation that does not eventually fall.

Fang Chongyong also understood that whatever he does, even if Brother Ji could become a wise ruler in an instant, it would only postpone the decline of the flourishing Tang, buying a day at most.

He recalled the "grain formula" from his previous life.

If a country does not lack grain, then when it imports grain, the price of grain is inversely proportional to the amount of international grain it can purchase; the more grain bought, the lower the price.

If a country lacks thirty percent of its grain, then when international grain supplies cannot meet demand (including malicious embargoes), the country's grain price will soar infinitely until more than thirty percent of its population starves.

And not only does the grain price rise by thirty percent.

The same principle applies: no matter how Tang twists and turns, whether by cracking down on the wealthy or increasing monetary liquidity, the living must eat.

Great Tang has over sixty million people to sustain; before Jiangnan was heavily developed, before fertilizers existed, before seed improvement reached standards, the land's bearing capacity easily reached its limit.

When that point arrives, unrest will inevitably occur, reducing population pressure through massive mortality.

Then a political‑economic rebalancing will follow.

Just as Fang Chongyong's mind was wandering, the study door was knocked. He opened it and saw, to his surprise, the Red Water Army envoy Guo Ziyi!

"Guo the envoy is not in the Red Water Army's main camp; what official business brings you to Liangzhou City?"

Fang Chongyong smiled and asked.

Guo Ziyi let out a long sigh and said:

"Many soldiers in the Red Water Army come from the Huihe tribe. Liangzhou is prosperous; they do not wish to be relocated to ShuoFang or Hedong, preferring to stay in Liangzhou.

"The troops also resent the relocation orders; I, the junior officer, have come to consult Jiedushi Fang on how best to resolve this."

Guo Ziyi felt a bit embarrassed.

"This matter is not difficult, but I do not govern with a harsh approach, and have earned the troops' hearts; I also do not wish to clash with the rank‑and‑file. Therefore I seek your intercession to minimize the number of soldiers swapped in the first batch of the Red Water Army."

Naturally, the fewer the better.

"This is the Sage's intention; this Jiedushi is also powerless to help."

"Of course. If Guo the military envoy does not wish to serve as the Chishui Army's envoy, then this Jiedushi can take on the role as well."

Fang Chongyong wore a smile, but his expression was inscrutable, and Guo Ziyi could not read his thoughts.

Guo Ziyi then showed a troubled expression and said, "Jiedushi, the Uighur cavalry holds considerable power locally; they are somewhat uneasy about the relocation. If the court forces it forward, your servant fears they will resist discipline."

"If you think it's difficult, then don't handle it; let this Jiedushi take care of it."

The Sage has just exiled the crown princess's family to Lingnan; after all, that's the crown prince!

Guo the military envoy wondered, "If the Sage becomes angry, would it be hard to deal with a few Uighur cavalry units?"

Fang Chongyong forced a smile, his expression insincere, and asked, looking at Guo Ziyi.

"Then… please let Jiedushi Fang also serve as the Chishui Army's envoy; your servant has already boasted before them and now has no face to remain in this position any longer."

Guo Ziyi crossed his hands in a bow and said, lowering his head, he dared not look at Fang Chongyong.

"Give me the Chishui Army's seal and fish token; tomorrow this Jiedushi will personally deal with these troublemakers."

Fang Chongyong extended a hand to Guo Ziyi and said.

"Um… very well."

Guo Ziyi reached out, drew the Chishui Army's seal and fish token from his waist, and presented them with both hands to Fang Chongyong. From that moment, he began serving as the Chishui Army's deputy envoy.

"General Guo, go ahead; regarding the Chishui Army, this Jiedushi will give them an answer tomorrow."

Fang Chongyong gave a slight nod, his face calm, as if it did not concern him.

(End of chapter)