Chapter 285: Hosting a Banquet, Beheading, Taking Them In as Dogs

The Military Commissioner of Hexi and the Military Commissioner of Pinglu, due to a personal grudge, were going to set up a wrestling platform on Zhuque Avenue outside the Imperial City for a bout of sumo!

This news spread throughout Chang'an like it had grown wings, like a virus or plague, causing a massive uproar!

Strange things happen every year, but this year there are especially many!

In the past, for this kind of ridiculous nonsense, the officials of the Censorate would at least have a few words to say, submit a memorial or something.

Yet this time, this lot all collectively fell silent.

If any official still could not see the hidden trickery in this sumo match, then they had no business remaining in officialdom — they would be better off going home to farm.

Tomorrow was the day of the wrestling platform. After curfew, officers of the Jinwu Guard organized men to build the platform, working through the night without stopping. This sumo platform was not just a matter of laying down a few wooden planks — they also had to build elevated stands for the "referees" and honored guests to observe from, so the workload was by no means small!

Night had already fallen. In the Fang family residence in Yongji Ward, the women had all gone to sleep. Fang Chongyong had stopped his sumo practice and was pacing alone in the courtyard under the night sky, pondering his strategy for tomorrow.

Taking the platform for a sumo match — this was both an "exhibition match" and a "fighting match." The only thing to guard against was accidentally beating An Lushan to death, or being accidentally beaten to death by An Lushan.

There was a rumor that the last time An Lushan personally took the field to kill enemies was ten years ago!

His strongest skills were not killing and fighting, but scheming and foreign languages.

That's right — foreign languages.

An Lushan was a rare high-level translation talent, fluent in at least six languages! His specialty was doing business, especially shady business. Many of the dirty jobs of raiding and pillaging were dispatched to his fellow townsman Shi Siming to carry out.

An Lushan, perhaps because he was fat and could take a beating, was by no means very strong in combat! Fang Chongyong suspected that the one who was truly formidable on the battlefield was Shi Siming.

Moreover, the biggest spectator behind this sumo match was the Son of Heaven of the Great Tang, the master of Chang'an: Brother Ji.

What did he want?

Fang Chongyong clasped his hands behind his back, pondering Brother Ji's needs in his heart.

First was control, second was vanity, and last was face.

The two great Military Commissioners, by Brother Ji's design, were irreconcilable enemies — this was control.

On the sumo platform, two high officials fighting each other to the death like wild beasts — this was vanity.

Before the eyes of all Chang'an, presenting a "splendid" performance — this was face.

Brother Ji really was despicable!

Fang Chongyong thought bitterly. But even if this man deserved to die, right now he still had no choice but to rely on him.

Life is like a play, all depends on acting skill. Many plays are not something you can simply refuse to perform.

Tomorrow Fang Chongyong would join An Lushan to stage a grand play for Brother Ji to watch, for the Great Tang's aristocrats to watch, for the people of Chang'an to watch.

And then each would get what they needed!

As for any secret dealings to befriend An Lushan, exchanging favors and the like — forget even thinking about it. Brother Ji, that old coin, was deeply calculating. He would probably soon elevate An Lushan to power, letting this fat man concurrently hold the Military Commissioner post of two northeastern commands.

Only then could he rest easy while he himself led troops to sweep across the Western Regions!

The more Fang Chongyong thought about it, the more he felt that the tide of history was unstoppable. The scene of vigorous vitality and all things competing to flourish seemed to unfold before his eyes.

In his previous life, many scholars believed that the Military Commissioners of the Tianbao era held military, political, personnel, and financial power all in one hand, which led to the later warlord separatism.

But looking at it now, the situation was slightly different from what one might imagine — the cause and effect were completely reversed.

Rather than saying the Military Commissioners were grabbing power, it was better to say that the Great Tang had stationed heavy troops on the borders, forcing the administration and finances of border prefectures and counties to prioritize serving the military! To be stripped away from the central fiscal system!

This process was passive, yet its effects and impact were far more terrifying than Military Commissioners actively seizing power!

A power-grabbing Military Commissioner could be dismissed by the court, but the trend of border commands breaking away from the center could be stopped by no one!

After Fang Chongyong took up the post of Military Commissioner of Hexi, he committed no overstepping actions, nor did he actively form factions for personal gain. Yet the military, administrative, and financial powers of the border command came into his hands of their own accord. The goods and wealth of the prefectures and counties under his control were not sent to Chang'an at all.

Even if Fang Chongyong were a hundred times unwilling, the wealth of the five prefectures of the Hexi Corridor — even including nearby prefectures and commanderies such as Lanzhou — would all converge on Liangzhou, and the accounts would be sent here too.

Because the accounts always followed the wealth.

In fact, transporting these goods to the treasuries in Guanzhong was not only a long journey with enormous losses, but also not worth the massive mobilization of resources.

The local money and grain were already insufficient to supply the border army — how could they possibly feed back to the center in the form of taxes?

Because they had to supply tens of thousands of elite border troops, the prefectures and counties under the Military Commissioners' jurisdiction could only fend for themselves. And the court, to accommodate this situation, had no choice but to devolve financial authority to the local level, stipulating that the prefectures of the border commands need only supply the border army, without having to report everything to the court.

This situation, in truth, forced the Military Commissioners to take over administrative authority. Even if a Military Commissioner did not want to manage affairs, the administration still had to be attached to the Military Commissioner's office, and required dedicated personnel to manage it.

Over time, the center's control over the border commands would inevitably weaken, and sooner or later, political maneuvering would be needed to counterbalance the growing power of the Military Commissioners.

For example, right now!

Fang Chongyong felt the ruthless political machinations emanating from Brother Ji and could not help but feel a chill down his spine. At the same time, he was helpless against the tide of history.

Fang Youde's "ancestral home" was Shazhou Dunhuang, so Fang Chongyong was about to lead troops on a distant campaign to the Western Regions. An Lushan came from a tribe near the cities of Hebei, so he had now become the Military Commissioner of Pinglu.

Brother Ji's political machinations all went with the flow of the times. Now the high commands of the three northwestern and two northeastern military commands were hostile to each other, and everything was within his control.

What was more, Chang'an was about to issue jiaozi, and the central treasury would gain enormous liquidity. The reserve effect would begin to kick in, the curse of deflation that had shackled the Great Tang's economic development would be temporarily lifted, and the Great Tang would transition from a period of economic decline into one of comprehensive prosperity.

Various low-interest loans would spring up like bamboo shoots after rain. The grain in the aristocrats' granaries and the silk in the treasuries would enter circulation on a large scale to release currency. To unleash productive forces, the central government's low-interest loans would also ensure that the common people at the bottom would not lack the wealth needed to meet basic living expenses.

Fang Chongyong believed that with Li Linfu's wisdom, he would not do something so beneficial yet costless.

After all, if people died, money became worthless paper, and debts became uncollectible.

The chains locked onto the poor would probably loosen somewhat for a time. The aristocrats and wealthy households would lend them money to spend, at extremely low interest, with the debt repayment period extended far into the future — casting a long line to catch a big fish!

And the wealth plundered from the Western Regions, combined with the ample military funds brought by issuing jiaozi, would allow the Great Tang's border army to perform with divine valor, continuing to expand the Great Tang's territory.

More local collaborators from surrounding regions would yearn for the prosperous Great Tang, actively seeking to submit and attach themselves, taking pride in becoming subjects of the supreme celestial empire.

Driving north to expel the Khitan, conquering west to defeat the Tibetans, projecting power across the Western Regions — barring any accidents, all of these would come to pass as a matter of course.

With such achievements, Brother Ji would likely place himself on par with the divine, growing so arrogant as to be blind to everything!

Under Brother Ji's rule of "governing through non-action," Li Linfu, with a flush central treasury, would have even more "policy weapons" in hand, and the Great Tang would enter an unprecedented era of super prosperity.

No preceding feudal dynasty had ever seen such a thing, and succeeding ones would likely find it very difficult as well.

In this situation, even if Taizong were reborn, he would have to kneel and sing a song of submission.

And then every stratum of the Great Tang, from top to bottom, would begin to thoroughly eat the food of tomorrow to fill the belly of today!

The backlash of the reserve effect would arrive on some future day! And the entire social hierarchy of the Great Tang, already accustomed to moving from one boom to the next, would all plunge into an endless abyss!

It is easy to go from frugality to luxury, but hard to go from luxury to frugality — such is human nature!

By then, rebels dissatisfied with reality yet supportive of the Tang will be spread across the land; everyone will be mired in past prosperity, unable to free themselves, vainly attempting to restore the deformed glory of yesteryear, and then, in the pursuit of that bygone illusion, sink and collapse step by step!

When you live by the sword, sooner or later you pay the price! Happiness beyond what one can bear will only bring death faster and sooner!

"Brother Ji, oh Brother Ji, you absolutely must not die too early."

Looking at the full moon in the sky, Fang Chongyong murmured to himself. If Brother Ji passed away during the Tang's most prosperous era, that would be letting him off far too easily!

Fang Chongyong felt that Heaven should not be so blind.

As for having single-handedly unleashed the beast called jiaozi, Fang Chongyong was likewise helpless.

Tang society was fierce and uninhibited, both cultured and martial, its extravagance laced with an irrepressible aggressiveness — this was the prevailing tide of the times that the Tang people had forged with their own hands.

If they had turned inward like the Song or Ming dynasties, they could certainly have extended the Tang's lifespan and delayed its decline. Yet the Tang temperament was to rather live boldly and die standing, than kneel and scrape out a meager existence!

This was their life's choice! Fang Chongyong respected their decision.

"Heaven and Earth are ruthless, and treat all things as straw dogs.

Since everyone must die sooner or later, one might as well live wildly before death comes!"

Fang Chongyong said with a carefree smile. Caring only that one once possessed, not caring about forever — this too was a kind of free-spirited attitude toward life.

When death comes, just kick your legs and enjoy yourself; eighteen years later you're a hero again — there's nothing wrong with that.

……

"Lishi, who do you think will win this wrestling match?"

On the tower of the Imperial City, Brother Ji leaned against the parapet, pointing at Fang Chongyong and An Lushan preparing to fight on the arena below, and asked Gao Lishi beside him.

"To answer Your Majesty: the one who wins is a standing loser, the one who loses is a lying loser. The only true winner is Your Majesty alone."

Gao Lishi flattered him without batting an eye.

"You're getting slicker by the day, too."

Brother Ji laughed heartily without turning his head, his eyes fixed intently on the arena below. He knew that barring any surprises, An Lushan would certainly lose.

The arena was surrounded by crowds, three layers deep inside and out, and some people had even climbed onto nearby ward walls to watch. The arena was at least one story tall, and people standing hundreds of meters away on Zhuque Avenue were gazing from afar.

Officials coming to blows over beautiful women was common enough, but two Jiedushi setting up an arena for a wrestling match — now that was a first!

"The wrestling match begins!"

Just then, Zheng Shuqing atop the high platform shouted at the top of his lungs!

The moment his words fell, Fang Chongyong charged forward with a swift stride, executing a famous Tang Fist technique called "Fierce Bull Charging the Crown," and slammed shoulder-first straight into An Lushan's shoulder blade!

This blow, with a running start, was delivered with his full strength!

An Lushan's several-hundred-jin body seemed to recoil on its own, flying through the air for several meters before crashing to the ground, and then he passed out!

Mouth foaming, completely unconscious! He showed no sign whatsoever of getting up!

Huh? That was way too weak!

Having delivered a ferocious blow and temporarily drained of strength, Fang Chongyong was dumbfounded!

The onlookers around were stunned!

Brother Ji on the Imperial City tower, ready to enjoy the spectacle, was stunned!

He passed out from a single charge — was he made of paper?

Everyone was baffled by An Lushan's "weakness."

Some suspected that with Fang Chongyong's training since childhood combined with innate divine strength, defeating an enemy in one move was perfectly normal; others suspected that An Lushan had overindulged in wine and women, hollowing out his body, and was merely puffily fat.

Only Fang Chongyong himself knew that given An Lushan's physique, he absolutely should not have been unable to rise after taking a single blow from Tang Fist!

Unless he simply did not want to get up.

Fang Chongyong narrowed his eyes at An Lushan lying motionless on the ground, a trace of gloom flashing across his face.

"I declare Fang Chongyong the victor!

Bring two medical officers to take Jiedushi An down for treatment."

Zheng Shuqing atop the high platform shouted, and gave Fang Chongyong a strange look.

The latter noticed his gaze, but since it was inconvenient to talk, he could only sigh helplessly.

Damn it, he'd fallen for An Lushan's trap!

Fang Chongyong stood on the arena with an awkward expression, fists clenched tight and teeth itching with resentment, silently cursing himself for still being too young.

How could someone who had climbed from the bottom to the position of Jiedushi possibly be a fool?

If he had figured this out sooner, why would he have spent these three days training in Tang Fist and wrestling? Carpe diem before heading to Hexi was the way to go. He should have just stayed in bed, ravishing Dugu Yao senseless, releasing his desires upon that lovely beauty.

Maybe this bout of passionate effort would have gotten her pregnant with his child, continuing his bloodline.

Either way, he wouldn't have lost out!

Why waste time cramming for a wrestling match at the last minute! All he had to do was play along with An Lushan's act!

Fang Chongyong cursed wildly in his heart, played for a fool by fat An, his intestines green with regret.

It was all an act. Brother Ji had them put on a show, so An Lushan used the fastest, most cost-effective method to finish the performance, while simultaneously signaling his displeasure — a statement that couldn't be spoken openly during negotiations.

That way, Brother Ji would know on one hand that An Lushan would obediently follow his orders, and on the other, from An Lushan's subtle attitude, know that this man was not someone to be casually pushed around and bullied.

If the fight on the arena had dragged on, would An Lushan, as the dignified Jiedushi of Pinglu, truly disregard his status and perform like a monkey show to entertain the common folk of Chang'an?

Did those people even deserve it? Going through the motions was enough — did they really think a Jiedushi was some petty official! An Lushan now held high office and was by nature proud and arrogant, a man of ruthless methods. Dancing the Hu Xuan for Brother Ji alone was acceptable; dancing for the people of Chang'an was absolutely out of the question!

At this thought, Fang Chongyong felt none of a victor's joy. An Lushan's skill at playing dumb was top-notch; now everyone thought Fang Chongyong was a young tough guy who defeated his enemy in one move, and in the future he would surely be flattered to death by all sides, hoisted over a fire to roast!

A massive loss!

And An Lushan's real battle was about to begin. Having finished this performance, when An Lushan next faced Brother Ji, he should be able to smoothly obtain what he wanted.

Winning first doesn't make you the champ; winning last is what truly crushes the competition!

Fang Chongyong walked off the arena somewhat dispiritedly, and amid the crowd's ceaseless cheers, headed on his own toward Yongji Ward.

This round, he had lost, becoming a prop for An Lushan to show off with.

Forget it, better to go home and sleep with the girls, see if he could make up for it a little.

Fang Chongyong thought resentfully, his mood rotten to the extreme.

……

"Lord An's combat skills aren't quite up to par — knocked down in a single move. Zhen is truly disappointed!"

Inside the imperial study of the Qinzhengwubenlou in Xingqing Palace, Brother Ji had Gao Lishi brew tea while smilingly teasing An Lushan.

"This humble subject is ashamed, truly ashamed."

An Lushan prostrated himself and bowed to Brother Ji as he spoke.

He said he was ashamed, but in his heart he was smug to the extreme. It was rare to get one over on Fang Chongyong, and he felt immensely pleased with himself.

"A military governor commanding frontier garrison troops indeed has no need to personally take the field and slay enemies. Your abilities — Zhen trusts them."

Brother Ji nodded slightly and said, offering An Lushan a few words of comfort.

Then the two fell into a silence, with only the bubbling sound of the tea stove boiling water drifting over.

"In Pei Kuan's case, Zhen feels there are still some mysteries left unresolved, and Zhen has already had Zheng Shuqing, Chief Minister of the Court of Judicature and Revision, keep watching it."

"Yingzhou has many affairs, and it is not convenient to detain you, beloved subject, in Chang'an. In a couple of days, return to Yingzhou and attend to military matters."

Brother Ji waved his hand grandly, letting An Lushan breathe a sigh of relief.

"Many thanks for Your Sage Majesty's grace!"

An Lushan performed a full prostration before Brother Ji.

Suddenly, Brother Ji seemed to recall something. Putting away his smile, he asked, "Zhen has other use for Huangfu Weiming. Who do you think should be transferred to be Military Governor of Fanyang?"

"This humble subject believes... it would be best for this humble subject to take the post. Just find someone to replace this humble subject as Military Governor of Pinglu."

An Lushan crossed his hands in salute and suggested.

"Mm, why is that?"

Brother Ji asked, playing dumb while knowing full well.

"To answer Your Sage Majesty, the tribes near this humble subject's city are right around Youzhou. This humble subject can rally them to defend the frontier, at no extra cost to the court!"

An Lushan spoke bluntly, like a simple honest fellow.

"What you say is not without reason."

"Let it be thus: you shall be transferred to Military Governor of Fanyang, and concurrently hold the post of Military Governor of Pinglu for the time being."

"Once Zhen finds a suitable candidate, Zhen will send him to Yingzhou to take up the post. The affairs in Yingzhou — you manage them on Zhen's behalf for now."

Brother Ji laughed dismissively.

"Many thanks, Your Sage Majesty! This humble subject will certainly guard the frontier garrisons for Your Sage Majesty, and not let those northern barbarians cause trouble!"

An Lushan kowtowed with an excited expression, bowing so hard he left a red mark on his forehead!

(End of this chapter)