Chapter 290: So Humble It Makes One's Heart Ache

Before the Qinzhengwubenlou in Xingqing Palace, Fang Youde removed his rain cloak, handed it to a eunuch for safekeeping, then walked into the first-floor hall and stood motionless, like a sculpture.

Very soon, Gao Lishi hurried downstairs. The moment he saw Fang Youde, he grabbed him by the elbow, leaned in close, and whispered, "Regarding the matter of An Lushan, the Sage will ask you about it shortly—answer carefully."

"In a moment, I will suggest that the Sage hand over military authority of the Divine Strategy Army to you. Do not decline."

Fang Youde nodded at Gao Lishi and said.

"How can this be done?"

Gao Lishi was greatly startled and stopped in his tracks, unwilling to go upstairs any further.

"If you do not take it, this divine instrument will change hands! How can you refuse!"

Fang Youde said in a deep voice, his tone carrying an irresistible, murderous severity!

"Sigh, let us go up and face the Sage first, then we shall talk!"

Gao Lishi sighed deeply and went upstairs on his own.

The two arrived at the imperial study. Gao Lishi stopped outside the door and did not enter, looking at Fang Youde and gently shaking his head.

Fang Youde walked into the imperial study and saw Brother Ji, clad in an ochre-yellow dragon robe, standing with his back to him—naturally, the expression on his face could not be seen. But judging from Brother Ji's expression and demeanor during their previous meetings, the other man's mood at this moment must be very poor.

Gao Lishi dismissed the eunuchs and palace maids in the study, carefully closed the door, and stood watch outside without leaving for even a step.

"Quanzhong, do you know your crime?"

Brother Ji turned around and questioned with a calm expression, looking at Fang Youde who was bowing in salute, as if trying to read his intentions from that placid face.

"In reply to the Sage, your subject is guilty, and has come specifically to request resignation from the post of Grand General of the Divine Strategy Army."

Fang Youde presented his official hat with both hands, then set it on the ground.

Now it was Brother Ji's turn to be unsettled! He had only meant to bluff Fang Youde—he never expected the other man to be serious!

"Quanzhong, back when We were still a Commandery Prince, you were already at Our side attending to Us. Even if you killed An Lushan, We would not blame you.

He was but a mixed-blood barbarian—how could he ruin decades of bond between ruler and minister such as you and Us!"

Brother Ji stepped forward and gripped Fang Youde's hand tightly, speaking with an agitated expression.

If Fang Youde were found to have killed An Lushan, and he himself had not reported it, that would be one thing.

But if the other man voluntarily confessed before being found out, that was an entirely different matter.

Many times, with the very same matter, what the ruler cares about is merely the minister's attitude—not the matter itself.

"Sage, forgive me. Your subject investigated An Lushan in private; the evidence of his rebellion is conclusive. But before your subject could slay this traitor with his own hands, he had already been killed.

Your subject investigated in private for five years without informing the Sage—this is deceiving the sovereign, and is your subject's crime.

The evidence of An Lushan's rebellion is here. Your subject has not falsely accused him; this man deserved death a thousand times over. I beg the Sage to examine clearly.

The Sage need not feel regret over the death of a traitorous scoundrel. Even if he had not died, your subject would sooner or later have slain this traitor with his own hands."

Fang Youde pulled out from his chest an object wrapped in oil paper, which appeared to be a stack of papers. He handed it to Brother Ji, then retreated to his original position, maintaining his bowing salute.

An Lushan was beheaded by He Changqi; indeed, Fang Youde had been at the scene but had not had time to cut off An Lushan's head, and An Lushan had indeed done some things plotting rebellion. So at this moment, Fang Youde's eyes were earnest and sincere, and he himself did not feel he had lied.

He simply had not told the whole truth.

"Such a thing! An Lushan actually plotted rebellion!"

Brother Ji plopped back down onto the dragon throne, then shook his head helplessly as his emotions surged, setting the oil-paper bundle aside without even wanting to look at it.

"We do not permit you to resign. You shall continue to serve as Grand General of the Divine Strategy Army!"

Brother Ji slapped the desk and said with resounding force.

"Sage, your subject has followed at the Sage's side since childhood. Decades have passed; the Sage has already achieved great success and renown, while your subject is tired.

Now the Divine Strategy Army has become a hot potato that every faction of powerful nobles in Chang'an scrambles to win over. Your subject is not skilled at handling such matters, and worries that one careless move in the future may ruin his good name in his later years.

Therefore, your subject wishes to yield the post of Grand General of the Divine Strategy Army, and hopes that Gao Lishi may serve concurrently.

Each command of the Divine Strategy Army has only three thousand men. Even if the commanding officer of one or two commands is occasionally bought off or won over, they surely could not stir up much trouble.

Your subject's mind is made up to leave. I only wish to be free of office and live in leisure at home. I beg the Sage to grant this."

Fang Youde knelt on the ground and pleaded.

"Sigh, what are you making Us do!"

Brother Ji lamented with aching heart. After hearing that the evidence of An Lushan's rebellion was "conclusive," he had cast the man entirely out of his mind!

He was but a mixed-blood barbarian, and a dead one at that—why think of him?

"Sage, though our Great Tang has many worthy talents, only Gao Lishi seeks no retreat and is loyal without equal.

Even your subject must consider his family and dependents, and falls far short of him. Now the backbone of the Divine Strategy Army is already formed; the rest is not worth mentioning. If your subject continues to serve as Grand General, it will only put the Sage in a difficult position, and make things difficult for your subject as well.

I beg the Sage to think thrice and fulfill your subject's name of loyalty and righteousness."

Fang Youde prostrated himself on the ground and performed the great ceremony of full-body prostration.

Having said all this, Brother Ji did not know how to persuade him further. Forcing him to stay was certainly possible, but the Grand General of the Divine Strategy Army was the most critical post in Chang'an, bar none.

If someone else were put in to slack off, a major incident would surely occur!

"Go home for now and await reassignment. Allow Us to think it over before saying more."

Brother Ji waved his hand somewhat helplessly.

"Thank you, Sage!"

Fang Youde bowed and then turned to leave, without lingering for a moment. The official hat of the Grand General of the Divine Strategy Army still sat on the ground, looking very conspicuous.

Before long, Gao Lishi walked in carefully, bowed to Brother Ji, and asked, "Does the Sage have any instructions?"

"Burn this. The matter of An Lushan is no longer under investigation."

Brother Ji pointed at the oil-paper bundle Fang Youde had delivered and said. The thing was now sitting on the desk, just like An Lushan's severed head.

"Sage, would you not take a look before deciding…"

Gao Lishi asked somewhat hesitantly.

"Quanzhong would not betray Us, but that does not mean he would not use public office to settle a private grudge."

Burn these pieces of evidence, and I can ensure he has no selfish motives."

Brother Ji gave a long sigh and said that he could not rule out the possibility that Fang Youde was using the sacrifice of his own official position and duties to eliminate certain people he could not stand.

Brother Ji was not worried about him rebelling, yet he could not tolerate being led by the nose by someone else.

"By the way, Quanzhong has resigned from the post of Grand General of the Divine Strategy Army and recommended you as the new Grand General of the Divine Strategy Army. What do you think of this matter?"

Brother Ji looked at Gao Lishi and asked in puzzlement.

"Sire, this must absolutely not be done! Have you not heard the tale of the Ten Attendants of the former dynasty?"

Gao Lishi did not even think about it and dropped to his knees directly before Brother Ji!

Eunuchs were already active by the emperor's side; if they also meddled with military power, sooner or later a 'cockless Zhao Gao' would emerge!

"The matter of the various princes colluding with An Lushan, I have seen it all with my own eyes.

Quanzhong's words are not without reason."

Brother Ji stepped forward and helped Gao Lishi to his feet, sighing with some helplessness:

"Nowadays many people worry that I will suddenly depart from this world, so they are unwilling to give their all, harbor unfathomable intentions, and leave themselves a way out.

Go talk to Quanzhong in a bit and see how he wants to step down. I cannot let a loyal official be left idle at home at will—that would cause turmoil in the court and also invite speculation from busybodies.

I do not want to see these troublesome affairs."

"What the Sire says is extremely right."

Gao Lishi bowed and said, without saying whether he would accept the post of Grand General of the Divine Strategy Army or not.

Brother Ji's worries were not without reason. Fang Youde was an absolutely loyal confidant; if he simply retired to his hometown and stayed idle at home, how would outsiders view it?

I fear that even officials who still had some degree of loyalty, upon seeing Fang Youde's fate, would breed second thoughts or even immediately switch sides!

Brother Ji had been immersed in the arts of power for decades and had long since reached perfection—how could he possibly make such a low-level mistake?

As for letting Gao Lishi serve as Grand General of the Divine Strategy Army... aside from Gao Lishi, did Brother Ji have any other choice?

Even Fang Youde worried about the tale of three men making a tiger; could other generals withstand others' constant slander?

Gao Lishi naturally had also figured this out. His earlier modest refusal was merely a matter of routine. If he had not declined, Brother Ji would instead have suspected why he was so eager!

"Go after one shichen. First, go deal with this thing."

Brother Ji pointed at the 'evidence' Fang Youde had sent and said.

……

Although the request was to go to the Fang residence after one shichen, Gao Lishi waited until evening before going, so that it would appear the Sire was 'not in a hurry.'

Upon meeting, Gao Lishi was led by Fang Youde into the study for a detailed discussion.

After the two took their seats at the desk, Gao Lishi let out a long breath and asked:

"The Sire had me come ask you what kind of sinecure you want. If you simply retire to your hometown in commoner's clothes, outsiders will think the Sire is cold and lacking in human decency, or they will believe you committed some monstrous crime that made the Sire furious beyond restraint.

As they say, going up the mountain is easy but coming down is hard; sometimes stepping down is not so easy either! You must consider the Sire's difficulties.

That said, I still do not understand—how could you just quit being the Grand General of the Divine Strategy Army just like that?"

Gao Lishi looked thoroughly puzzled, unable to figure out what Fang Youde was thinking. But from past experience, Fang Youde handled matters with great foresight and never acted blindly; he believed this time would be the same.

"My son is already the Grand Commissioner for the Western Regions, with over a hundred thousand troops he can mobilize. If I remain in the position of Grand General of the Divine Strategy Army, how will outsiders view me, how will the various princes view me?

This is merely me fearing the reins of power and protecting myself. If I truly continued in the position of Grand General of the Divine Strategy Army, it would not be far from the extermination of my entire clan."

Fang Youde said with a calm expression.

Gao Lishi nodded slightly; he agreed with this view as well. Fang Youde's explanation was quite close to his own estimate.

The Fang father and son—one family with two Military Commissioners, one commanding border forces and one commanding the imperial guards. Right now the Sire was not overthinking it, and things appeared fairly stable. But if the Sire grew suspicious in the future, it would be hard to say how he would handle it.

When that time came, it would ultimately be unavoidable—the fish dies and the net tears, the hound is boiled once the hare is caught!

Now that Fang Youde was stepping down, his son was still holding the line. This was actually only human nature, and it also showed that the father and son truly had no intention of rebelling.

"Be that as it may, let us set aside the matter of the Divine Strategy Army.

Are you just going to step down like this and no longer be an official? At the very least there should be a superficial promotion masking a demotion, no? Otherwise, how will the Sire command the respect of the masses?"

Gao Lishi smiled bitterly in helplessness.

Brother Ji did not care now who lived or died, but he could not stand outsiders saying he was bad at this or bad at that!

"Bianzhou is a node on the canal, extremely strategic, yet its defenses are unusually weak—a major hidden danger.

If you truly want to return me a favor, then recommend me to serve as Military Commissioner in Bianzhou. A thousand troops under my command will suffice. I will not interfere with civil administration on ordinary days, nor will I serve as Inspector of Bianzhou.

I have already thought of the name for this Military Commissioner—let it be called the Xuanwu Army Military Commissioner.

I will not involve myself in governance either; all my skills lie in killing on the battlefield. In my free time I will train troops for the Sire, and once they are well trained I will send them to the Divine Strategy Army as manpower, saving you the worry."

A Military Commissioner with a quota of a thousand troops? And established at a canal node? With a jurisdiction of just one prefecture?

Gao Lishi recalled that the canal laborers in Bianzhou alone numbered in the tens of thousands. A quota of a thousand troops, a recruitment base of a mere single prefecture—even the Sire would probably be too embarrassed to issue an imperial edict for it.

Because it was simply too embarrassing!

Fang Youde did not care about face, but Brother Ji still cared about face!

"Quanzhong, your desire to step down is well-intentioned, but you are thinking far too simply.

What can a thousand men do? How could the Sire possibly issue such an absurd imperial edict? A force of a thousand men only counts as a garrison post!

But this matter is not difficult to arrange. I will speak to the Sire—you can take these three thousand men to manage the canal laborers; the Sire will not object."

Gao Lishi smiled, clearly because the price Fang Youde had offered was far too humble.

It was like Fang Chongyong's previous life, when a company's HR asked a new employee about salary expectations. His mental benchmark was ten thousand, but the employee quoted three thousand, and then said the salary did not even need to be paid—it could be lent to the company as working capital for turnover.

This kind of employee made one's hair stand on end! From any angle!

"That will do, but it absolutely must not exceed three thousand men. A standard army of our Tang border forces has roughly over four thousand men. If the troop count exceeds one army, it would be counterproductive."

Fang Youde pleaded.

Gao Lishi thought it over and realized that Brother Ji might actually grant a quota equivalent to a standard border army—roughly over four thousand men.

"You want the sage to establish a Pingwu Garrison in Bianzhou, just overseeing one prefecture, not handling administration, only retaining the title of military governor, right?"

Gao Lishi summed up Fang Youde's demand: simply put, it was to kick him to Bianzhou to deal with those boatmen, have the prosperous Bianzhou support an army of no more than three thousand, and not interfere in Bianzhou's daily administration.

Put another way, it was to establish a small army with the power to manage the grain transport hub, with finances and logistics in the court's hands, merely called the title of military governor.

A loyal dog, the request is really so humble! So humble it makes one's heart ache!

This is still the result after my own "salary raise".

If Ji Ge really only gives Fang Youde a thousand troops, he might well be bullied by Bianzhou's local forces!

At this moment, Gao Lishi felt a surge of sorrow like a rabbit's death mourning a fox.

"Yes, Bianzhou has no warfare; once the troops are trained, I will send them to Chang'an to join the Divine Strategy Army, then recruit a new batch of soldiers."

Fang Youde said solemnly.

"Ah, ah! Quan Zhong! Why do you do this to yourself! The sage would not go so far as to treat a loyal subject so harshly!"

Gao Lishi grabbed Fang Youde's hand, almost unable to hold back his tears.

"Just let the sage know my meaning. If the sage lets me go without office, light and free, that would be best. But no matter what, do not assign me more troops!"

Fang Youde reminded Gao Lishi, saying:

"Understood. Since my authority and position are gone, I will certainly speak well of you several times before the sage, and have him bestow some residences and fields."

Gao Lishi firmly patted Fang Youde's arm, comforting him, saying:

He then rose and took his leave.

……

"Ah, the floating bridge—after all, it's not a solution!"

Fang Chongyong stood on the city wall of Wulan Pass, arms crossed, looking at the surging, rolling Yellow River waters below, muttering to himself.

In fact, the bridge-building technology on the Yellow River during the Tang dynasty had already seen a profound transformation from floating bridges to wooden bridges. The core of the technology lay in needing several high-density "anchor weights" sunk into the riverbed to stabilize the bridge piers' foundations.

In the early Kaiyuan era, the Yellow River floating bridge outside Puzhou had already been rebuilt as a wooden bridge, operating for several decades, greatly enhancing the connection between Guanzhong and Hedong.

The key to achieving this accomplishment was that the Tang dynasty, mobilizing the nation's strength, cast four thousand-catty iron oxen, four thousand-catty iron men, plus accompanying iron bases, Seven Stars Northern Dipper pillars, and so on.

Using these as counterweights for anchorage, replacing the previously common wooden piles, ensures the bridge's foundation is stable. Moreover, the easily damaged deck can be replaced at any time, even annually!

Should we pick a good spot near Wulan Pass and then build a sturdy wooden bridge here?

This is a task where sharpening the knife does not delay the woodcutting.

Fang Chongyong fell into deep thought.

But where would the iron come from? Surely we can't say it's transported from Guanzhong?

Wulan Bridge is the lifeline of the official road, vital for the western expedition. If mishandled, even a minor natural disaster could sever the connection between Guanzhong and Hexi, and then serious trouble would ensue!

Suddenly, Fang Chongyong thought of a good place where he could obtain sufficient iron! Moreover, this place is not only nearby, but the road is also easy to travel!

End-of-month plea for votes.

(End of chapter)