Chapter 322: If You Don't Serve the Guests, You End Up as the Dish

The next day, Fang Chongyong led He Changqi and several trusted generals into Iwu City, and at the city gate met the Izhou Prefect Yuan Guangting who had come to greet them, immediately walked over, clasped his hand tightly, laughed heartily, and introduced to those around, "In the past, Lord Yuan was only a town commander guarding Jiaocheng in Liangzhou; today he has risen to become Izhou Prefect."

He Changqi and the others were dumbfounded; Fang Chongyong's connections in the northwest were truly unbeatable, able to pull acquaintances out of thin air, and they were all high officials of the region.

Although Yuan Guangting wore the robes of a civil official, he still carried himself like a military commander, full of vigor, and clasped his fists to salute Fang Chongyong, saying, "I did not expect Jiedushi Fang to personally arrive in Izhou; now I can rest much easier."

He was about to mention the welcome banquet, but Fang Chongyong quickly reminded him, "Three days from now a grand feast will be held at Puli Sea; Governor Yuan, the Izhou Registrar, and the Izhou Sima must attend in person. The Iwu City envoy will not enter."

Yuan Guangting nodded slightly; such occasions are official receptions, nothing more to discuss, just as many of their words now cannot be spoken openly.

"He Laohu, go back and issue the orders; this Jiedushi has three new military decrees."

First, no one in the army may leave the main camp without orders. Those who leave the camp without cause start at fifty military sticks, and anyone who enters Iwu City without permission shall be beheaded.

Second, the quartermaster responsible for procuring grain, fodder, and transport supplies, when buying locally, must pay with cash, transact at market price, and may not use authority to suppress prices.

If buying from the government, give to Prefect Yuan; if buying from the common folk, give to the common folk, and must ensure no deception of young or old.

Third, if troops unintentionally trample crops in the fields during marching, they must pay compensation; those who deliberately trample shall be beheaded.

Fang Chongyong gave He Changqi a briefing, then spoke openly in front of Yuan Guangting, the Izhou Registrar, and the Izhou Sima, without any hesitation.

In fact, it could be seen as deliberately saying it for those two to hear.

Sure enough, Yuan Guangting and the others, with faces full of admiration, saluted Fang Chongyong's troops, saying, "Jiedushi Fang's army truly is a civilized and mighty force!"

Their last trace of worry vanished; those present such as He Changqi and Guan Chongsi also felt their reputation shining and felt especially proud inside.

"Hey, then why is this the Jiedushi's army? It belongs to the saint's imperial guard."

The saint spreads the royal way in the Western Regions, and Izhou is a blessed land of the Tang where households are registered and people live in harmony; how could we let the Izhou people see the Anxi Expeditionary Force as if they were seeing bandits?

Face is given by others, but the cheek is lost by oneself.

Fang Chongyong waved his hand indifferently and continued, "This envoy will now lead the troops to Puli Sea; you may take your leave, no need for a grand send‑off. Please be sure to attend the banquet at Puli Sea two days later."

Yuan Guangting and the others bowed again, seeing Fang Chongyong and his men depart into the distance.

When the party had gone far, He Changqi, still mounted on his horse, gave Fang Chongyong a thumbs‑up and said, "Jiedushi, your performance just now was excellent; even this lowly officer almost believed it."

"Acting?"

Fang Chongyong was taken aback; he hadn't been acting at all.

"Indeed, when you issued the orders just now, your face was truly imposing and righteous!"

He Changqi chuckled.

Nima! I'm being serious, alright!

"I'm really telling you to go deliver the orders!"

Fang Chongyong laughed and scolded.

"Jiedushi Fang, if we do it this way, the brothers will find it hard to think. Since we marched out, they've been like birds that have faded, eating sand for so long; aren't they just looking to relax?"

Guan Chongsi, standing nearby, added.

"A small lack of patience disrupts great plans!"

"This principle still needs this Jiedushi to teach you! Everyone, open your eyes wide and watch carefully!"

Fang Chongyong rebuked the generals in a word, spurred his horse forward, and galloped ahead, too lazy to waste words with these clumsy fellows.

Practice is the sole test of truth; reality will educate these people, and merely talking now is useless.

……

Puli Sea, in Fang Chongyong's previous life, was called Bali Kun Lake, a tourist spot in Hami, Xinjiang. In midsummer, its lake and mountain scenery are especially enchanting.

During the Tang dynasty, it was a freshwater lake, but over a thousand years later, due to ongoing environmental degradation, it had become a saline lake where only algae survive. Reaching this place requires climbing a mountain; its altitude is considerably higher than the surrounding area.

Puli Sea stretches dozens of kilometers in length, over twenty kilometers in width, its area is undeniably large, and its water is clear, almost endless to the eye.

In the desert‑filled Izhou, having such a natural high‑land lake is truly surprising. It has also become a natural military camp: abundant water, plentiful fish and shrimp, lush aquatic plants, and its elevated position offers significant strategic military value.

Camping here allows a clear view of the lower‑lying Izhou City and the nearby oasis farmlands. Since the Tang captured Izhou, this has continuously been the base of the Iwu army, unchanged.

Thus it is evident that Fu Menglingcha's series of arrangements were indeed well‑meaning, stationing the Anxi Expeditionary Force in the best part of Izhou. Of course, this may also be because he knew Fang Chongyong would soon lead the Guest Troops away from Izhou, perhaps even out of the jurisdiction of the Northern Court Protectorate.

Guests do not stay long, so the host naturally will not be stingy, offering the best of his home to share. If Fang Chongyong were to keep his troops stationed in Izhou permanently, Fu Menglingcha would likely adopt a different attitude.

Bali Kun Lake is formed by natural springs flowing in from all sides; as Fu Menglingcha noted, one mountain spring there has especially sweet water, so Fang Chongyong specifically ordered his command tent to be set up near that spring for convenient water access.

That evening, standing beside the mountain spring, Fang Chongyong placed his hands behind his back, watching the beautiful desert spring scenery of midsummer while contemplating future strategies.

He Changqi, Duan Xiushi and others were dispatched on business; the young officer now responsible for their escort is one of the few selected from Chang'an at the founding of the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army, and has now risen to become one of its Ten Generals.

Why was he assigned as the escort?

Because of seniority! Yes, exactly seniority… In the Tang era, when basic loyalty could be assured and individual abilities were roughly equal, many times it was simply seniority that allowed one to climb to the middle ranks of the army!

When the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army was first formed with only a handful of men, this fellow was selected; later, as the army expanded, those originally chosen, provided they were not despised, all rose in rank as the army swelled.

However, Fang Chongyong did not know his name, only that the young man's surname was Che, the same character as "car."

"Jiedushi Fang, this mountain spring is called Han Gu Spring, it has quite a background."

From behind Fang Chongyong came the voice of General Che, sounding very youthful.

"Oh? That's somewhat interesting. You're from Guanzhong; how would you know this spring?"

Fang Chongyong suddenly became interested; something he didn't know, yet a Ten General beside him actually knew!

"Replying to the Jiedushi, this lowly officer learned it from reading."

General Che replied, lowering his head slightly and crossing his hands in a bow, somewhat embarrassed.

"Hey, no need to be formal; then tell me, what's the story behind Han Gu Spring?"

Fang Chongyong asked with genuine interest.

"In the reign of Emperor Xuan of Han, there was a remarkable woman named Feng Liao in the Central Plains, who married far away to Wusun, served the state, repeatedly resolved conflicts, spread Han culture, and even at nearly seventy she would not cease her efforts."

Later generations, to commemorate her, named the finest spring of Puli Sea 'Han Gu' in her memory.

Of course, this is merely the opinion of this lowly officer's family.

Having finished, General Che wore a look of lingering curiosity, as if he still had more to say.

Fang Chongyong gave a slight nod and laughed, "Continue, you're an old brother now, you know the temperament of this Jiedushi."

"Very well, Jiedushi, then I will dare to speak."

I, the junior officer, believe that the methods the Jiedushi employs in Yi Prefecture are all strategies for lasting peace, deeply thoughtful and not inferior to the sages; victory is foreseeable.

The Jiedushi intends to strengthen the Tang frontier defenses, so everything is purposeful.

As the saying goes, seeing a leopard through a cave reveals a spot. The Jiedushi mourns the people and punishes crimes, acting in some matters and refraining in others; I deeply agree.

The Jiedushi's ambition is certainly not in burning, killing, or looting.

A commander possesses five virtues: wisdom, trustworthiness, benevolence, courage, and strictness.

Persuading the Northern Protector is called wisdom; keeping the main army out of Yiwu is called trustworthiness; caring for the brave Yiwu troops is called benevolence; the expeditionary force committing no slightest offense is called strictness.

Now, Jiedushi only needs to lead the expeditionary force bravely into Xiaoboli, fulfilling all five virtues, sweeping the Western Regions with great success.

Che Shi Jiang spoke at length, summarizing in four words: Jiedushi is supreme!

Damn, this horse‑riding flattery is skillful! Though it's flattery, it's substantive!

Fang Chongyong couldn't help but scan Che Shi Jiang, instantly noticing that this young officer was strikingly handsome, exuding a scholarly aura, quite different from ordinary soldiers.

He had only known the surname Che before and never the given name, so he cleared his throat lightly and asked, "Um, are you Che…"

"I am named Che Guangqian, from Wugong, Shaanxi, among the first to join the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army; I studied poetry as a child, now skilled with bow and horse, and am utterly loyal to the Jiedushi."

Che Guangqian quickly pledged loyalty.

Is this flattery? No, it's merely currying favor with one's direct superior, matters of life and death in the army.

He feels no shame at all.

In this era, a soldier need only heed two things: kill the enemy, and not be killed by the enemy.

All actions revolve around these two.

And fostering good relations with one's direct superior clearly provides better cover at critical moments, thereby increasing one's survival odds, doesn't it?

Thus Che Guangqian is crystal clear inside, knowing what he should and shouldn't do.

Fang Chongyong gave a composed slight nod; the name sounds a bit feminine, no wonder it hadn't been heard before. This fellow usually keeps a low profile yet constantly observes and thinks. Indeed, the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army hides dragons and crouching tigers.

No wonder he stood out from the Shence Army; Fang Chongyong recalls he hadn't selected many people back then.

"Is your family's ancestor the one…"

Fang Chongyong showed a dawning expression, but Che Guangqian forced a wry smile, "Yes, colleagues say he was a firefly catcher."

The Che Yin in the idiom "Che Yin catches fireflies" is their ancestor.

It caused a sensation then, but now the trope is outdated. Especially in the eyes of the Qiu Ba, having time to not study but catch fireflies for lanterns is just idling.

It belongs to the typical aristocratic stratagem art.

It's merely scholars' self‑admiration; others, who would truly think this is serious business?

All this was the era's way of crafting a "studious" persona, deliberately creating an "intangible heritage"! Similar tales include "lying on ice to seek carp" and "drilling a wall to borrow light."

Poets like Du Fu might relish bragging about this, but the Qiu Ba in the army wouldn't care whether your ancestors caught fireflies!

"Tonight there's a banquet; come stand beside me and pour wine. Keep your mouth shut, ears up, watch carefully and learn well."

Fang Chongyong patted Che Guangqian's shoulder earnestly and said,

"Thank you, Jiedushi, for the cultivation!"

Che Guangqian was overjoyed; he hadn't expected a chance to enter the army's core circle to arrive so suddenly!

In his view, He Changqi fights fiercely, but beyond warfare, he's somewhat… no, rather quite rough.

…

Just after night fell, the senior officers of the Yiwu army—including the military envoy and deputy envoy, as well as Deputy Protector Fu Menglingcha, Ma Lin and others from the Northern Protectorate—gathered in the command tent where Fang Chongyong was.

Everyone spread a blanket on the ground and sat. The so‑called banquet consisted merely of seasonal fruits from Yi Prefecture and sliced lamb, roasted and sprinkled with coarse salt.

The wine was purchased from a nearby market in Yiwu city, of rather average quality.

Because today's gathering was not for the purpose of eating.

"When I, the ambassador, lived back in my hometown, I heard a saying: those who are not guests become the dishes."

"I wonder what you all think?"

Fang Chongyong lifted his wooden cup but refused to drink, instead scanning the crowd with interest and asking,

Everyone present wore a thoughtful expression.

Only He Changqi blurted out, "The Jiedushi's words are truly simple and clear; if you don't sit at the table, you'll naturally become someone else's plate, as the saying 'the weak are meat for the strong' goes."

Man is the cutting board, I am the fish meat; this is easy to understand.

What is puzzling is why Fang Chongyong chose to say this now.

It invites further contemplation.

"Jiedushi Fang, those seated are rough men; if you have anything, just say it directly."

Fu Menglingcha laughed awkwardly.

"Our Tang seeks to practice the royal way in the Western Regions, turning this vast land into a realm of harmony. Only…"

Fang Chongyong paused, seeing everyone's gaze on him, then gave a slight smile and continued,

"Only that the Western Regions' grain, water, mineral deposits, and wealth are limited. Some take more, some inevitably take less. Even the Tang cannot treat everyone equally, right? The limited land cannot sustain the endless peoples of all tribes."

Moreover, there are many small states in the Western Regions; some have already become Tang prefectures, their people now Tang subjects.

Some have yet to be registered as households, and some small states flip allegiance between Qin and Chu, harboring ulterior motives.

The Tang's benevolence is selective, biased. It only bathes in certain places, on those who respect the Tang and are willing to serve it.

"Gentlemen, do you agree?"

Fang Chongyong said calmly.

These words are already quite blunt.

Those willing to stand with the Great Tang can take a seat at the table and get a share.

Those unwilling to stand with the Great Tang, well, sorry—they can only become dishes on the table.

Because the resources of the Western Regions are limited.

Everyone inside the commander's tent slightly changed expression, showed a thoughtful look, and pondered the intent behind Fang Chongyong's words.

(End of chapter)