Chapter 275: Defeating Magic with Magic

The Minister of Revenue was assassinated and died! And it happened in Chang'an, under the eyes of the public, on the bustling Zhuque Street!

The suspect identified the mastermind behind the plot as Right Prime Minister Li Linfu, and the orchestrator of the assassination as Hexi Jiedushi Fang Chongyong!

Such a thing, no matter which dynasty it occurs in, is eye‑catching and absurd.

Even someone uneducated, with a tiny world view, can easily judge that this is a clumsily crude frame‑up!

Not to mention Pei Kuan is already near seventy and could die at any moment; Li Linfu has no reason to murder him on the street.

Even if an assassination were truly intended, a passerby could casually bump into Pei Kuan, and might easily cripple the elderly Minister of Revenue in one blow.

Let alone Li Linfu's status and skill; he has a hundred ways to eliminate Pei Kuan, depending only on the price. If nothing works, he can simply exile him as a regional official and wait for him to die.

Under the Hexi Jiedushi, there are many battle‑proven Qiu Ba troops; picking a few assassins from them is easy, and he need not personally orchestrate—just a word and someone will act for him.

He could even hire a professional killer who "takes money to avert disaster."

Pei Kuan's assassination looks like a deliberate trap, shifting the blame onto Li Linfu and Fang Chongyong, while the true mastermind's real purpose remains far from revealed.

However, this assassination does contain some "coincidences" that are not mere chance.

First, when Pei Kuan was killed, Fang Chongyong was within a few zhang and even witnessed the entire stabbing.

Is this a coincidence, or did Fang Chongyong, as the orchestrator, observe on site to confirm?

Second, in recent days Fang Chongyong has been in frequent contact with Li Linfu. On the day of the incident, Fang Chongyong was still discussing Jiaozi matters with Li Linfu's eldest son Li Xiu at the Apricot Blossom Tower.

Was the conversation between Fang Chongyong and Li Linfu truly only about Jiaozi, with no talk of assassination?

Third, after the assassin identified the "real culprit" he committed suicide, becoming a dead testimony. No matter how Fang Chongyong and Li Linfu defend themselves, the assassin's testimony will not change, and the blame is nailed down solidly. If the true culprit cannot be found, future histories may record Li Linfu and Fang Chongyong as the real assassins of Pei Kuan.

When Fang Chongyong was at a relay station outside Jingyuan County and was caught up by Bian Lingcheng, he looked utterly bewildered upon learning the matter.

He took a deep breath and asked:

"The inner attendant of Bian says this case involved someone receiving orders from the Right Prime Minister, commanding a subordinate assassin to kill Pei Kuan, right?"

After hearing Bian Lingcheng's description, Fang Chongyong didn't know how to explain in detail to the other side.

If a matter has too many flaws, there's no way to begin discussing it.

It's like Bian Lingcheng pointing at Fang Chongyong and calling him a mother panda from over a thousand years in the future.

Should he argue that he's not a panda, or claim he's not from a thousand years later, or perhaps prove he's not a mother?

When a proposition contains too many fallacies, there's no need for explanation or sarcasm.

"Alas, Jiedushi Fang, this matter—don't say I don't believe it— even a sage would think it's nonsense.

Yet a sage has his own authority; assassinating the Minister of Revenue is a provocation

and framing Jiedushi Fang and the Right Prime Minister also provokes the sage.

Regardless, this incident makes the sage feel insulted; there must be an explanation. If Jiedushi Fang does not return to Chang'an, he may be secretly criticized by petty people.

Moreover, there's a minor matter that is very detrimental to Jiedushi Fang."

Seeing Fang Chongyong hand over a stack of Jiaozi, Bian Lingcheng calmly pocketed them and lowered his voice.

"What matter?"

Fang Chongyong asked in a deep voice, thinking to himself that this was bad.

"The assassin still carried a Border army identification badge. He belonged to the Doulu army. I recall the Doulu army was deployed in Hexi Shazhou."

"This unit, Jiedushi Fang, should have been familiar with it when he served as governor of Shazhou, right?"

Bian Lingcheng's tone left Fang Chongyong feeling helpless.

The Border army soldiers' ID cards have almost no anti‑counterfeit technology, and even obtaining an 'original' version is not difficult.

What Fang Chongyong knows is that in his previous life, substituting for others to attend university was commonplace. If a schemer wanted to frame someone, using a Qiu Ba from Hexi as an assassin is just basic practice!

This is like Fang Chongyong easily finding a sharp soldier from the Hebei Border army, assassinating a court official in Chang'an, and then framing An Lushan.

Fang Chongyong cannot control minds; the Doulu army had seven thousand soldiers, how could he ensure each one's absolute loyalty, even to the extent of selling their children without regret?

One must admit, the mastermind behind this is extremely malicious.

This kind of 'baseless' scheme, when placed on anyone, is frightening.

"Inner attendant, let's return to Chang'an now.

The Jiedushi will go straight to Xingqing Palace to see the sage."

Fang Chongyong gave a slight nod, saying nothing pretentious nor defensive.

"Jiedushi Fang, you need not worry. This matter is clearly a smear, and the Jiedushi will surely remain unharmed."

"The sage only ordered me to retrieve Jiedushi Fang, with no other instructions."

Bian Lingcheng comforted Fang Chongyong, saying

Fang Chongyong sighed. The influence of many matters does not lie in their right or wrong.

Fang Chongyong sighed; many events' impact does not lie in the rightness or wrongness of the events themselves.

Riding his horse, he galloped toward Chang'an, calculating how to respond.

When others frame you, self‑defense is useless. Only by muddying the waters can one escape like taking a chestnut from the fire.

In other words, the only thing that can defeat magic is magic itself!

Fang Chongyong already had a decision in his heart.

In the Qinzhengwubenlou imperial study of Xingqing Palace, Tang Emperor Li Longji, with a stern face, was leaning on the bed, gazing at the tea stove where Gao Lishi was brewing tea not far away. On the soft mat before him, Li Linfu, Zheng Shuqing, Fang Chongyong, and others were kneeling.

In the imperial study of Qinzhengwubenlou within Xingqing Palace, the Tang Emperor Li Longji wore a stern expression, leaning on his bed, staring at the tea furnace where Gao Lishi was brewing tea nearby. On the soft mat before him knelt Li Linfu, Zheng Shuqing, Fang Chongyong and others.

"Let's all talk about it—how should we properly settle the matter of Pei Kuan?"

Ji Ge said, somewhat wearily, let out a long sigh, feeling thoroughly fed up.

Ji Ge directly skipped the link of "right and wrong" in the matter, then took "proper settlement" as the core task in handling the problem. This seems somewhat unbelievable, but upon careful thought, it's just a natural progression.

It's obvious that Ji Ge really dislikes being made a fool of, especially knowing he's being played with yet still has to respond, and following the schemer's pace makes him even more annoyed.

The matter of Pei Kuan being appointed as the Hebei inspection envoy was entirely due to Li Linfu's efforts.

Even Pei Kuan himself was aware of this; it wasn't a life‑or‑death power struggle, but under Ji Ge's watch both sides kept it to a minimum.

Pei Kuan still held the regional supervisory authority, while Li Linfu obtained control of the Ministry of Revenue, preparing to issue Jiaozi next. With no external interference, future fund allocations of the Ministry will cooperate with Jiaozi issuance.

Pei Kuan merely, knowing the situation, gave up his position!

At this point, what would Li Linfu gain by killing Pei Kuan?

Ji Ge rose through power struggles, securing the throne after multiple successful coups; could he fail to see these patterns?

The mastermind's smug scheme is about to be exposed!

"Sage, one can be a thief for a thousand days, but there is no thousand‑day defense against thieves."

The mastermind is audacious beyond belief; if not dealt with thunderously, another Pei Kuan may appear soon.

Ask the court officials how they should conduct themselves, and how the Sage should conduct himself?

Rectifying the source and returning justice to Minister Pei is also a necessary remedial measure.

Fang Chongyong was the first to speak.

"Hmm, indeed, what Fang Guozhong said is spot on."

Ji Ge leaned on the couch, propping his chin with one hand, and asked, "Who do you think is the biggest suspect in this matter?"

If there is even a theoretical chance that Li Linfu killed Pei Kuan, then Fang Chongyong killing Pei Kuan would be sheer nonsense! Ji Ge knows well that the mastermind pulled Fang Chongyong into this to muddy the waters and conceal the true purpose!

Everyone knows Fang Chongyong is innocent, but involving him muddies Chang'an's political situation, making the underlying logic of the incident twisted and hard to discern.

The mastermind's real purpose would thus be cleverly concealed.

It's like a Western Regions merchant buying large quantities of silk in Chang'an's Western Market; his intention is easy to guess—surely to ship them back to the Western Regions for sale.

But if that merchant also purchases spices coming from the Western Regions while buying silk, his intention becomes harder to guess.

"Sage, I think this was orchestrated by Pinglu Jiedushi An Lushan. Apart from him, no one benefits from Pei Kuan's assassination."

Fang Chongyong dropped a bombshell!

Would that… work?

Li Linfu, beside Fang Chongyong, raised an eyebrow and twitched his face, but said nothing, instead bowing his head in silent thought.

However, Zheng Shuqing, the Minister of the Great Justice Temple, couldn't help reminding Fang Chongyong:

"Jiedushi Fang has been away from Chang'an for a long time; his recent hurried arrival may mean he still doesn't know the case."

Current evidence shows the assassin came from Hexi, possibly a Western Regions barbarian.

An Lushan… has nothing to do with it. Jiedushi Fang's earlier comment was a bit reckless.

Old Zheng desperately hinted that Fang Chongyong should speak and act cautiously!

Ji Ge also frowned slightly, his expression displeased.

His main displeasure stemmed from the fact that, although he had imagined many possibilities, none involved a border Jiedushi sending assassins to Chang'an to target central officials.

Mainly because such a thing is too fantastical.

Chang'an is a massive city with several palaces. Not only are affairs complex, but the population is huge. To assassinate a specific court official on the street in such a vast city is as hard as finding a stone in the ocean, even more so than finding a needle.

"Fang Guozhong, why do you think it's An Lushan rather than Huangfu Weiming?"

Ji Ge waved his hand to signal Zheng Shuqing to stop the chatter and asked Fang Chongyong a crucial question.

Upon hearing that, Li Linfu realized Ji Ge was not being foolish and could not be easily fooled.

One should know that Hebei has two Jiedushi; it's not An Lushan's one‑man rule! Even if a Jiedushi also serves as a Dao Cǎifǎng Official, it doesn't necessarily fall to An Lushan. Risking such a high‑profile assassination of a senior court official, yet not being sure the reward stays within his own family.

Is there anyone in the world so foolish?

Li Linfu felt there must be something fishy about this.

"Because the Sage would not let Huangfu Weiming concurrently serve as Hebei Dao Cǎifǎng Official. If Pei Kuan were to be assassinated, to keep administration smooth, the Sage would likely have the Hebei Cǎifǎng position concurrently held by Pinglu Jiedushi An Lushan."

Fang Chongyong crossed his arms and saluted Ji Ge, saying.

Ji Ge was momentarily at a loss for words.

The young Western Regions diplomatic envoy before him spoke so reasonably that this Tang Emperor could not refute him!

Why can't Huangfu Weiming be appointed Hebei Dao Cǎifǎng Official?

That is Ji Ge's manipulative tactic—smelly in scent, fragrant in taste, not to be aired openly.

Because once Huangfu Weiming receives this post, after his term ends and he returns to Chang'an to report, he will enter the 'Prime Minister preparation circle'.

Next, Huangfu Weiming only needs to serve as an official in the central administration and wait for Ji Ge to promote him to Prime Minister!

Having served in the Six Ministries or the Secretariat, having been a supervisory official centrally or locally, and having been a Jiedushi regionally—these roughly constitute the necessary qualifications for a Tang Prime Minister.

Of course, the only sufficient condition is Ji Ge's personal trust and promotion.

The Huangfu family has some connections with Li Heng's family, and Huangfu Weiming's elder sister was a princess favored during Ji Ge's Longqian era. Thus, if Huangfu Weiming rises to general or minister, he naturally becomes a 'blue‑chip' that the princes vie to court.

Ask how Ji Ge could possibly let him become Hebei Cǎifǎng Official; compared with Huangfu Weiming, An Lushan's 'advantages' are far greater!

Barbarians cannot become Prime Minister; it's the ceiling of Tang political design.

No matter how An Lushan maneuvers, he cannot rise from border commander to Prime Minister. If Pei Kuan cannot alone become Hebei Cǎifǎng Official, then using that post to 'reward' An Lushan becomes a logical step.

Fang Chongyong's argument was truly incisive.

Ji Ge crossed his arms and fell silent, pondering.

Although Fang Chongyong made a sound argument, he still could not persuade this all‑controlling Emperor.

For a regional Jiedushi, obtaining the Cǎifǎng post isn't really essential, as long as they're not aiming for the Prime Ministership.

Even if a Jiedushi does obtain it, it merely adds a decorative flourish, especially from a barbarian Jiedushi's perspective.

If An Lushan truly intends to eliminate Pei Kuan and then 'temporarily assume the role', he could simply wait until Pei Kuan moves to Hebei and then use minor means to cause Pei Kuan's 'ill death'.

After all, Pei Kuan is already near seventy! Removing such an elderly, frail man would hardly warrant such a grand scheme, sending assassins under the Emperor's very nose?

Ji Ge thought Fang Chongyong's words were somewhat alarmist, but he remained cautious and did not state whether An Lushan was indeed suspect.

"Fang Guozhong, when Pei Kuan was assassinated, I immediately cleared your suspicion. Do you know why?"

Ji Ge looked at Fang Chongyong and asked.

"Your Saint, because I have served in border towns for many years, I have not explored all the streets of Chang'an City, and cannot be familiar with every affair inside the city; how could I possibly locate a high‑ranking court official dressed in civilian clothes?"

Fang Chongyong said with a wry smile.

Ji Ge smiled and nodded, clearly agreeing with Fang Chongyong's assessment.

The most easily overlooked fact in this assassination case is that Pei Kuan traveled light, dressed in civilian clothes, and was almost in a "stealth" state!

To accurately assassinate Pei Kuan under such circumstances requires a highly capable logistical support team that can maintain continuous surveillance on Pei Kuan and is intimately familiar with the streets of Chang'an City.

Otherwise, a lone assassin would not even know where Pei Kuan is, whether he has gone out, or if he has guards, making it impossible to carry out the killing.

Fang Chongyong has been back in Chang'an for only a day or two; how could he have the ability to plot such a scheme!

That is the main reason Ji Ge excludes Fang Chongyong as a suspect.

Now, this reason, like a boomerang, can also be placed on An Lushan.

Nowadays An Lushan is far away in Hebei, completely clueless about the situation inside Chang'an City, even less informed than Fang Chongyong. This Hu‑person Jiedushi doesn't even know whether it is raining outside Chang'an City!

If he sends people to Chang'an to assassinate a high‑ranking court official, how large a team would be needed to support them from behind?

Sending a single assassin makes secrecy easy, but the method of killing can almost only be a home intrusion; killing on the street is virtually impossible.

If many people are sent to assassinate, they could maintain a long‑term stakeout on Pei Kuan. That would indeed raise the success rate, but it also risks exposure over minor incidents, making the assassination too risky and the team's withdrawal from Chang'an afterward very difficult.

After Pei Kuan was attacked, the Jinwu Guard sealed all the city gates, requiring searches for anyone entering or leaving. Ordinary civilians needed a document from the head of their neighborhood ward to leave the city; officials required a departure document issued by the supervising office.

If An Lushan dispatches such a large assassin team, how could they escape?

In short: Ji Ge believes that what Fang Chongyong cannot accomplish, An Lushan cannot either!

"Tomorrow, I will go to the Dali Temple to file a report, accusing the Pinglu Jiedushi An Lushan of sending assassins to kill the Minister of Revenue Pei Kuan and then framing me.

This is to set the record straight and give Minister Pei a just outcome.

I ask the Saint to adjudicate for me, issue an imperial edict ordering An Lushan to come to Chang'an, to the Dali Temple, and confront me in person."

Fang Chongyong knelt before Ji Ge and performed a full‑body prostration.

Now, not only Ji Ge but even Li Linfu, who had been playing dead nearby, became unsettled!

"Fang Jiedushi, the truth of Pei Kuan's assassination is already known to all court officials and the Saint. It certainly has nothing to do with you."

"Fang Jiedushi truly has no reason to contend with An Lushan; the Western Regions military affairs are more urgent, as they concern border defense!"

Li Linfu, standing aside, tried to persuade, and it was hard to tell whether he was mediating or fanning the flames.

Of course, a Jiedushi being reported and denounced is more common than a chicken's feathers; it is one of the hallmarks of the Great Tang, and even cats and dogs would not find it strange.

In earlier years, the Jian'nan Jiedushi Wang Yu was impeached, and the impeacher was the Jian'nan Training Officer Zhang Choujian Qiong. This person now replaces Wang Yu as the Jian'nan Jiedushi, truly a local mess.

Moreover, Fang Chongyong's father‑in‑law Wang Zhongsi is even more frequently the target of complaints, and in this regard can be described as thoroughly scandalous.

Earlier this year, a batch of new military equipment that should have been sent to Longyou ended up in Yingzhou. Wang Zhongsi submitted a memorial impeaching An Lushan, and Ji Ge gave him fifty lashes each, ending the matter.

Fang Chongyong firmly asserts that An Lushan is the mastermind behind Pei Kuan's assassination; this move may not solve the cold case and could instead lead to a 'dog‑biting‑dog' outcome.

Not only can it not wound An Lushan, it may leave him disgraced, because even if Fang Chongyong does nothing, he can clear his suspicion; is it worth clashing with An Lushan?

That is the kind of battle that can at best end in a draw, and may even result in defeat.

"That's fine then."

Ji Ge nodded slightly and said to Li Linfu:

"Ge Nu, draft a document to inform An Lushan to return to the capital to report his duties, without mentioning Pei Kuan's matter.

If An Lushan refuses to come to Chang'an, execute his entire clan."

He glanced at Fang Chongyong and casually ordered, "Guozhong, do not rush back to Liangzhou; help the Right Prime Minister with the matter of the remittance, a sharpened blade does not delay the wood‑cutting."

Li Linfu noticed that Ji Ge's attitude toward Fang Chongyong seemed much better than before, felt strange, but only offered a respectful salute with crossed arms, saying nothing superfluous.

(End of chapter)