Chapter 308: Absurd and Ridiculous Events, Yet Emerging in the Great Tang Dynasty

Fang Youde led more than ten thousand troops of the Divine Strategy Army, marching rapidly to Tianshui City; after resupplying the baggage there, he took the official road straight to a pass northwest of Chang'an and set up camp on the outskirts of Li Quan County.

From here, heading southeast leads directly to Chang'an City.

And departing from Li Quan County, following the Jing River northwest through a canyon, one reaches Binzhou (Binzhou City, Shaanxi Province), which is currently occupied by rebel forces!

Binzhou straddles both banks of the Jing River; the coal mine where the incident occurred and Sanshui County lie east of the river, while Binzhou's prefectural seat, Xinping County, is west of the river. Surrounded by mountains and rivers, the terrain is highly complex.

Now, in early summer, the Jing River has swollen dramatically; the water is too deep to wade through, which also poses a certain difficulty for the siege.

Planning the campaign against Binzhou—how to advance, how to defend, how to besiege, and when to act—are all tests of the commanding general's leadership.

Fang Youde kept his troops stationed at Li Quan without moving, ordered the border commander Cheng to return to Xingqing Palace and report to the Son of Heaven! He then petitioned the court to dispatch civilian laborers from within Chang'an to transport grain supplies to the Divine Strategy Army's main camp outside Li Quan County.

Because the enemy situation was unclear, Fang Youde did not rashly advance. This battle is no small matter; a victory would be fine, but a defeat would be disastrous, and the situation could become unmanageable!

Binzhou is unlike other places; it is truly too close to Chang'an!

This Kitan slave uprising and seizure of the city indeed slaps Ji Ge in the face, but there is a sliver of luck in the misfortune: the only route from Binzhou to Chang'an, or the sole path the troops there can take, is to follow the Jing River southward to Chang'an.

To the north are only mountains, offering no viable passage, which objectively hinders the rebels' expansion.

Of course, this means that for Fang Youde to capture Binzhou, the only possible route is northward along the Jing River; there is no room for any surprise attack.

That night, Fang Youde personally received a shipment of military provisions from Chang'an, inspected and counted them himself, and upon returning to his command tent, he discovered an elderly man in an unremarkable white brocade robe sitting at a desk, apparently leafing through a stack of maps.

"Sage! How did you come to the main camp? In case…"

Fang Youde was startled, his face turning pale, and hurriedly knelt on one knee to pay his respects.

"Quan Zhong, I am staying in Xingqing Palace, and my heart is truly uneasy.

Being in the camp would be better."

Ji Ge let out a long sigh, helped Fang Youde to his feet, and said helplessly:

"What a ridiculous and absurd affair, emerging in the Great Tang Dynasty. I had only just received envoys sent by Wang Zhongsi to Chang'an to present captives, and the campaigns in Longyou were also fought with great flair. Yet Binzhou, so close at hand, gives me such a blow!

How can this be? Absolutely impossible! I will have those rebels' bodies torn to pieces!"

Ji Ge cursed his mother under his breath, then grudgingly lifted a military baton from the weapon rack. Feeling it too heavy, he silently returned it to its place, though a flush of color was hard to conceal on his face.

"Sage, do not let your dragon body become enraged; I, your humble minister, already have a complete strategy for defeating the enemy—capturing Binzhou will not be a problem."

Fang Youde spoke very conservatively, daring not to speak recklessly.

His words, however, left Ji Ge feeling unusually displeased!

"Strategy? Do we still need a strategy to kill those dog pups?"

"I order you to lead the troops in a forceful assault on Binzhou tomorrow!"

Ji Ge's chest rose and fell erratically as he spoke, clearly agitated.

Logically, he should have stayed dutifully in Xingqing Palace awaiting news. In reality, however, Ji Ge's heart was filled with great anxiety.

He feared that Fang Youde might lose, and also feared that if the enemy won, a 'seizing the moment' could lead to supporting a certain prince to force the palace, causing this old emperor to abdicate.

One could say that the Kitan slave upheaval exposed the true nature of Ji Ge to the power brokers within Chang'an.

Now he is nothing more than an old man who is virtually without support, whom no one can trust, and no one dares to believe.

Who can guarantee that this Kitan incident is not backed by some prince behind the scenes?

Who can also assure that these Kitan are truly slaves, and not deliberately lying in wait, secretly training elite troops in Binzhou?

In Ji Ge's view, the safest place in the Guanzhong region now is the Divine Strategy Army's main camp! Elsewhere, there is the possibility of troublesome subjects harming me.

Not the Divine Strategy Army's main camp at Xuanwu Gate in Chang'an, but the main camp where Fang Youde's elite Divine Strategy troops are stationed.

In fact, to prevent the Divine Strategy Army from becoming the next Dragon Martial Army, half of each of its units are deployed separately.

There are even several thousand troops deployed in the three cities of Heyang, serving as a de facto defense and surveillance of Luoyang!

By dispersing half of them, it prevents a scenario where a commander is bribed, then drags his colleagues into stirring trouble to 'purge the court'.

"Sage, the Divine Strategy Army has only just arrived at Li Quan, and the march has been rapid all the way; the soldiers have not yet rested.

Attacking Binzhou directly like this—might it be too hasty?"

Fang Youde forced himself to ask.

"Urgent? Of course I am urgent! But not overly so!

That rebel force is like a mouse droppings in a bowl of porridge, making me feel nauseous!

Like a splinter in the eye, a thorn in the flesh!

If possible, I would like to lead troops tonight to retake Binzhou!

Quan Zhong, prepare yourself; tomorrow we will dispatch troops to Binzhou.

Within three days, I want to see the heads of those thieves. This battle will leave no survivors; all involved shall be killed.

Ji Ge, wilfully flicking his sleeve, turned around and faced away from Fang Youde.

At this moment, Fang Youde suddenly could comprehend the feelings of Gao Xianzhi and Feng Changqing from his previous life.

Helplessness, panic, despair, and even a tinge of wanting to cry but unable to, wanting to laugh yet daring not to—an indescribable mix of sorrow and humor.

The An Lushan Rebellion erupted suddenly, causing panic throughout the court and the realm, with military deployments in disarray and countless other chaos.

The current Kitan slave revolt in Binzhou is a perfect 'teacup' version of the An Lushan Rebellion.

Dealing with such a small situation poses no problem for Fang Youde. Yet the phenomenon reflected by this minor incident is strikingly real.

So real that it leaves him both laughing and crying!

That emperor truly is 'this emperor'.

Even without An Lushan, without Yang Guozhong, even without Yang Yuhuan, his imperial habits remain unchanged.

At this moment, Fang Youde feels an unprecedented sense of powerlessness.

It is also his first time feeling that Fang Chongyong sees more openly, more insightfully, more deeply, farther, and more accurately than himself!

Seeing Ji Ge's impatient expression, Fang Youde quickly lowered his head, crossed his hands in salute and said, "Then I will go prepare."

"Hmm, go ahead; I am waiting for you in your command tent."

Ji Ge said expressionlessly, looking obviously displeased.

……

"In Guanzhong Binzhou, Khitan slave forces seized the prefectural seat and even built some kind of Great Zhou?"

He Changqi rubbed his round head, somewhat unable to believe that the secret letter delivered from the Hexi Imperial Secretariat inside Chang'an truly contained factual content.

Fang Chongyong's trusted aides stared at each other in the Hexi Jiedushi's study, and for a moment none could speak.

Nima, just a few Khitan captives, could still turn the tables?

"You can't refuse to believe; this matter is indeed true."

Fang Chongyong said with a speechless expression.

Guanzhong has enjoyed endless peace and revelry for too long, losing all vigilance. That a group of Khitan slave coal miners could succeed truly slapped Ji Ge hard.

"Speaking of it, the Binzhou coal mine was originally surveyed in person by someone. It could be said that destiny was at work; I didn't expect that this Jiedushi originally intended to benefit the people of Chang'an, letting them burn more coal and less charcoal, and cut fewer trees.

I didn't expect that these people would just throw in over ten thousand Khitan slaves, and also be lax in prevention and crude management."

Fang Chongyong couldn't help but vent.

The Chang'an authorities, especially in Binzhou, were far too careless in managing the coal mines, purely to exploit the lives of slaves, treating them as consumables without any concealment.

If Fang Chongyong were to handle this matter, it would certainly be far more meticulous.

Labor dispatches would need to be organized, performance evaluations set up, and even in a few idle years they'd arrange things like Guanzhong household registrations. There's no lack of methods, yet they still force slaves into rebellion.

The officials in Binzhou are truly a bunch of dog‑brained idiots.

The more they dig, the more they take; being squeezed like slaves, they can never have any initiative.

In the end those Khitan did little and got nothing to eat, and the authorities harvested little coal; it's a classic double loss! Holding a golden hen and not knowing how to lay eggs, they are a bunch of fools!

Fang Chongyong internally vented about those bird‑brained people of Binzhou, set the letter in his hand aside and said:

"In the short term this matter doesn't affect us much, but its long‑term detrimental impact cannot be ignored. The Sage may become more suspicious and harsher in the future; you all must be mentally prepared.

When the cunning rabbit dies, the running dog is cooked.

The day we pacify the Western Regions will be when we are reassigned by the Sage, a time of overt promotion and covert demotion. A single slip could bring danger to our lives.

Are all of you mentally prepared?"

Fang Chongyong looked around at the crowd and asked, his words already rather blunt.

In fact, whether it's the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army or the Hexi Border Army, the commanders within these forces have also considered matters concerning Ji Ge's aftermath.

No one is a pure big scapegoat.

Because a fact is plainly evident: everyone knows the structure of the Tang border armies has essentially been set and cannot be drastically altered.

Even disbandment is not ruled out!

That means the current border‑army positions are each a fixed slot; they cannot be added. One must leave for another to take the place.

Then who steps down, and who steps up?

This question requires asking a nation and a person.

The so‑called nation is Tubo, and the person is Ji Ge; the two can decide the fate and promotion of Tang border generals.

Earning merit by fighting Tubo and getting promoted, or advancing through Ji Ge's divine favor, both paths are quite precarious.

This is why the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army is now in demand: they are the Emperor's personal troops, elite, and being closer to the Emperor means more opportunities for promotion.

In a local border town, even if someone can tear a tiger apart, without a Jiedushi's recommendation or appreciation for promotion, that person would spend their whole life wrestling tigers in the mountains!

If you want to earn military merit, you must have merit first!

Reality is that cruel.

And Ji Ge is already over sixty, which makes all border generals unconsciously gravitate toward the local Jiedushi. Because compared to an emperor who might die at any moment, the Jiedushi seen daily is more reliable!

Not to mention that Fang Chongyong is now briefing his staunch confidants; even if he gathered the senior officers of the Chishui Army and delivered a similarly veiled argument, it would be flawless!

"Jiedushi Fang, when the cart reaches the mountain there will be a road. The Sage has imperial edicts, and the border town has its own countermeasures.

For example, if the Tubo attack, the Sage cannot easily replace the Jiedushi.

If the Tubo remain idle, we can force them to move."

Zhang Tongru, who had recently pledged allegiance, calmly persuaded.

"The 'nurture the bandits, respect yourself' routine?"

Fang Chongyong muttered to himself, gave a slight nod without confirming.

"I think Jiedushi Fang might be thinking too far ahead. Nowadays the Tang's civil unrest is just emerging; in the future it may not give the Sage a chance to cause trouble.

As long as Jiedushi Fang seizes the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army, he will stand on invincible ground."

Masked Duan Xiushi spoke.

Fang Chongyong couldn't help but glance again at the 'masked man', and had to admit the remark was strikingly spot‑on!

In fact, today he was merely giving his confidants a precautionary jab; the matter wasn't as urgent as he claimed.

Duan Xiushi believes the Tang has already shown signs of chaos, perhaps because he spent several years as a slave and attendant in Shazhou, tasting human suffering. Those who have never toiled at the bottom of society always think the nation is peaceful until one day they face cataclysm!

People struggling at the bottom often have a keener insight into the state of the world! Duan Xiushi's intuition is correct, and from his words it's clear he is not a brute but very meticulous.

"The expedition to the Western Regions was proposed by this Jiedushi to the Sage.

In fact, if we don't march to the Western Regions, we must face Tubo.

If Tubo remains idle, the Sage will strip us of authority.

The main purpose of this move is, in fact, to avoid the political vortex of Chang'an and build strength while heading to the Western Regions.

These matters, this Jiedushi told you earlier, are also your chance for promotion.

For this expedition, you must be wholehearted, united in purpose. I have a pledge here; everyone, sign it."

Fang Chongyong pulled a large sheet from his chest and placed it on the shared table before everyone.

He Changqi picked it up and saw the six‑character heading "Brotherhood Oath of the Righteous Society".

"The people of the various prefectures of Hexi generally like to form associations to handle affairs. For repairing canals there is a canal association, for weaving there is a weavers' association, and even those who worship Buddha have a Buddhist association."

"Now this Jiedushi also set up an association, called the Brotherhood Righteous Society."

"Once on the battlefield, they are brothers."

"Sharing life and death, never abandoning each other, sharing benefits, sharing responsibilities, looking out for one another."

"Even if, this Jiedushi says even if one day we need to purge the ruler's side, brothers must plunge their daggers into each other's ribs for their fellow brothers!"

"This oath, you all think there's no problem, right?"

Fang Chongyong looked around at the crowd, his eyes like lightning, imposing without anger.

"Hey, I thought it was something else!"

"Following the Jiedushi Fang, you can eat nine meals a day!"

"Come on, come on, let me be the first to sign!"

He Changqi signed his name on that paper without a second thought, without even reading the details of the covenant.

"He was afraid that if he read it he wouldn't dare to sign!"

"Duan Daipeng, how about you?"

Fang Chongyong looked at the masked Duan Xiushi and asked.

"I owe my present status entirely to Li Longji's grace; what is there that I cannot sign?"

Duan Xiushi didn't even think, just signed his name.

With these two taking the lead, everyone signed their names on the covenant, firmly boarding the pirate ship.

"From today on, there is only one road to the dark end; we share honor and share loss."

Fang Chongyong collected that large paper, smiling as he said:

"This paper is only so that when the world falls into chaos in the future, we can feel at ease with each other. In times of prosperity, you won't feel any difference, but once chaos erupts, the brothers you can rely on will be your support and your brothers."

"The night is deep; go rest now."

After finishing the "serious business," Fang Chongyong also breathed a sigh of relief and continued to address the crowd: "The army is preparing to set out for Sha Prefecture to prepare camels; if you still have unfinished matters in Liang Prefecture, hurry up and take care of them."

Hearing this, everyone rose and left.

They felt nothing while sitting, but after leaving the study door of the Hexi Jiedushi's office, a blast of cold night wind made everyone's minds suddenly clear, and they felt a wave of lingering fear.

Listening to this Jiedushi Fang's tone, it seems he has everything under control. Now it's easy to join the pirate ship, but later it will be hard to get off.

(End of chapter)