Chapter 324: No Organization, No Discipline

Looking down at the stands, the Yiwu army's three hundred mounted infantry, when the distance to the enemy cavalry was only three arrow lengths, began to dismount, form ranks, and set up formation. This was a drill simulating mounted infantry being ambushed by enemy cavalry.

However, before the Yiwu infantry's formation was complete, the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army's cavalry charged recklessly, both sides wielding wooden staffs, trading blows. The cavalry lost its speed, and the Yinqiang Xiaojie cavalry simply dismounted to fight on foot.

Dust and smoke rose instantly, and cries and the sounds of fighting erupted, but it was impossible to see what was actually happening.

It must be said that the Yinqiang Xiaojie side was the more reckless. According to basic light cavalry tactics, they could fire a volley of arrow‑heads‑less arrows and then withdraw, lure the dismounted infantry to chase forward, and once their formation was scattered, turn the horses around for a final charge, pulling back and forth to the limit.

After several cycles, the mounted infantry was exhausted, leaving only the cavalry's inevitable counter‑kill.

But the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army did not employ any tactics; they simply chose to fight hard!

Seated on the viewing platform, Fang Chongyong watched the chaotic scene, propping his chin up in a thoughtful pose.

The pull‑and‑drag tactic of light cavalry was not invented by the Mongols, but they used it best. The Tang army was extremely confident in its own strength, and in actual combat placed more emphasis on morale and equipment; moreover, Tang cavalry armor weighed about fifteen kilograms, making it impossible to perform the Mongols' flashy maneuvers.

The Yinqiang Xiaojie cavalry's relentless advance was the norm of this era, or rather the rule born of survival of the fittest.

Soon, the training ground beneath the platform was littered with the wailing of the fallen, mostly Yiwu soldiers. Yiwu army officer Dai Xiuyan's face turned an extreme shade of pallor; the elite troops he had selected proved so easily defeated.

He had intended to show off, but ended up looking foolish.

In fact, the Yinqiang Xiaojie cavalry was also forced to halt; the Yiwu infantry were basically beaten to the ground after being dismounted by the enemy!

"The Yiwu army's strength is decent; victory and defeat are common in warfare. Officer Dai, do not take it to heart; this is merely a drill."

Seeing Dai Xiuyan's displeased expression, Fang Chongyong waved his hand indifferently and said,

"I am alarmed! We must train the troops in the army with utmost rigor!"

Dai Xiuyan quickly bowed and apologized, fearing Fang Chongyong would find an excuse to make his life difficult.

"Those are matters for later. This envoy has other business, so I will not accompany Officer Dai to observe the ceremony. Farewell."

Fang Chongyong gave a slight smile, greeted, turned, and left. The goal had been achieved, so there was no need to continue probing.

However, just as he returned to the Anxi Expeditionary Army's main camp and the commander's tent, he saw Wang Nande, the commander of the 'Signal Flag' camp, rush in and, after saluting Fang Chongyong, reported:

"Jiedushi, we marched out to Xizhou without incident. After resupplying in Xizhou and continuing west toward the Anxi Protectorate garrison, we were blocked at Yanqi Town east of Kucha by the Anxi border troops."

"Yanqi Town? Is that near Fish Sea?"

Fang Chongyong asked back directly; he vaguely recalled traveling there in a past life when it bore the same name. He remembered a vast lake with beautiful scenery, unlike any desert, leaving a deep impression.

At that time, the Tang called that lake 'Fish Sea'.

"Replying, Jiedushi, that is indeed the case. However, we never reached Fish Sea; we were stopped while holding a position at Zhang San City. I have investigated the situation in Xizhou, so I returned to hand over the map and notes to the Jiedushi."

Wang Nande pulled a booklet from his chest and handed it to Fang Chongyong.

The troops of the Anxi Protectorate actually gave Fang Chongyong no respect!

Well, actually this is quite normal, because Wang Nande is not Fang Chongyong; in theory, they are peers within the Tang army. Without a transfer order, he ran into another's garrison for reconnaissance, so being stopped is entirely normal.

The situation at the Anxi Protectorate is completely different from the three northern frontier prefectures; it is far more complicated there.

The Tang army's inspections at each checkpoint are also much stricter!

"You've worked hard, go rest. The situation in Anxi isn't urgent; the Jiedushi will handle it in due time."

Fang Chongyong gave a slight nod and said.

Seeing Wang Nande hesitate, he asked curiously, "Anything else?"

"Replying, Jiedushi, I heard some troubling rumors on the road; I am anxious."

Wang Nande's face showed difficulty as he said,

"For example?"

"Deputy Protector Gao Xianzhi has been gathering supplies and making dry rations, reportedly preparing to lead troops to Shule Town, Damanzhou (Kashgar, Xinjiang), intending to…"

Wang Nande didn't know how to continue, as he had only heard it second‑hand.

"And then?"

Fang Chongyong's heart sank, his expression darkening instantly.

The cautious cooperation of Meng Lingcha gave him the illusion that the western frontier commanders were relatively easy to deal with.

But in reality it was not so.

Many western frontier commanders probably felt Fang Chongyong's arrival was stealing a peach that should have been theirs, resisting overtly or covertly, playing tricks. Within the Anxi Protectorate's forces, there are likely many such people.

Whatever mischief Gao Xianzhi is planning this time, it is a blatant snub to Fang Chongyong.

The matter may not end up huge, but this trend must not persist!

"I have heard that a Tufuluo envoy paid tribute, and the emperor returned some gifts. Gao Xianzhi intends to lead his troops to escort the Tufuluo envoy back to Tufuluo with the Tang gifts… This is a routine matter, but it is said that Gao Xianzhi now requires a large amount of supplies; the local Anxi treasury is insufficient, so he is seeking Hu merchants to purchase them."

"I thought this improper, so I immediately returned to inform the Jiedushi; the decision rests with the Jiedushi!"

Wang Nande clasped his fists and saluted, saying,

"Huh? Tufuluo?"

Fang Chongyong was startled, rummaging in his mind for where exactly this place was; he had only skimmed it before arriving, leaving a vague impression.

He vaguely recalled that Tufuluo lay not far west of Shule, seemingly in northern Afghanistan—a considerable distance indeed.

As for why the tribute matters did not pass through him, the Western Regions Envoy, it is because they fall under the basic jurisdiction of the Ministry of Rites' Honglu Temple. Tribute affairs are not directly under the Western Regions Envoy's purview.

In short: if you don't ask about it, we'll handle it ourselves; if you ask, I'll tell you what's going on, but we'll still do it.

Fang Chongyong didn't ask, so the Ministry of Rites officials deliberately stayed silent; the matter was completed 'silently' right under the Western Regions Envoy's very eyes.

Actually, Tufuluo is a region with a rather fragmented power structure, only nominally unified. Before the Arabs arrived, it was relatively pro‑Tang. But once the Arabs began meddling in the Western Regions, they started to play both sides.

During Emperor Gaozong's reign, the Tang swiftly established over a dozen protectorates here. In the Kaiyuan era, Ji Ge appointed the Tufuluo ruler Gu Du Lu Dun Da Du as the Yehhu of Tufuluo. Although nominally Gu Du Lu Dun Da Du governed Tufuluo, its total forces exceeded one hundred thousand.

On the surface, it appears to be a single feudal lord!

But!

Afghanistan, as everyone knows, is one mountain per tribe. Governance is devolved to the local level; the Yehhu does not hold authority over each area. Each valley has its own regime, mutually non‑interfering, and generally very loosely organized.

Otherwise Emperor Gaozong would not have established over a dozen du‑dufu here back then.

Now the various factions within Tufuluo have uncertain stances; facing threats from the Tubo, they might even side with them, ultimately opposing the Tang.

Thinking of this, Fang Chongyong also guessed what Gao Xianzhi was actually planning to do.

Starting from Shule Town, they crossed the famous "Wakhan Corridor" of Fang Chongyong's previous life, entered northern Afghanistan, that is the Tuhuoluo border. There they surveyed the geography, subdued pro‑Tibetan forces within the Tuhuoluo Kingdom, and supported pro‑Tang forces.

Then they recruited local warriors as auxiliary troops, provided some logistics, and finally went all out to capture Xiao Bolu!

Of course, Gao Xianzhi could also choose to conduct a massive purge inside the Tuhuoluo Kingdom, then return to Shule to observe the aftermath, but how exactly he would do that remains unknown.

Frankly, this move cannot be called reckless; it actually aligns well with the Tang Dynasty's strategy for governing the Western Regions.

Though Tuhuoluo is poor, it still has soldiers to employ.

Subduing this place counts as finding a foothold west of Congling, allowing the next phase of the campaign. Among the Western Regions' states, Tuhuoluo's mercenaries are still quite formidable.

The problem is that this time Gao Xianzhi used a "protect tribute" pretext to skirt the rules; the other side openly wants to claim military merit and become the Anxi "King of the Mountains," disregarding Fang Chongyong.

If Fang Chongyong cannot display authority this time, and the Western Regions are so vast, who will later take his role as Western Regions Envoy seriously?

Wang Nande felt something was off, but with his position he was powerless to stop it, so he hastily returned to report.

"Let's go, set out now; I must trouble you to accompany this Jiedushi for another trip to Kucha!"

Fang Chongyong let out a long sigh, feeling utterly disgusted inside.

He led Wang Nande out of the commander's tent and saw He Changqi playing "rock‑paper‑scissors" with Che Guangqian, playing with great enthusiasm. Fang Chongyong suddenly recalled the saying, "If you can get along with someone without any scheming and feel harmonious, then the other's emotional intelligence must far surpass yours."

Sure enough, He Laohu was being toyed with by Che Guangqian in circles without even realizing it.

"Take the elite formation‑breaking unit of the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army, and we'll head to Kucha right now!"

Fang Chongyong, his expression calm, ordered He Changqi.

"Isn't the main army going to Xizhou for refitting? Didn't you say we still need to forge some mountain‑climbing gear?"

He Changqi looked at Fang Chongyong with a startled expression and asked.

Xizhou is the former land of the Gaochang Kingdom, relatively productive and abundant in resources; the fields even commonly grow the famed "Gaochang cotton." After the Anxi Expeditionary Army reaches Xizhou, they must prepare a batch of cotton garments before daring to cross mountains without fearing the cold.

How could we rashly go straight to Shule in one go?

"That's for later; stop nagging, I'll tell you on the road."

Fang Chongyong couldn't help but scold, then headed straight toward the camp gate; he needed to greet Fu Menglingcha before leaving. Next, the main force of the Anxi Expeditionary Army will head to Xizhou, while he will go to Kucha to settle accounts with Gao Xianzhi.

……

Since Kaifeng County opened its port along the canal, commerce has flourished and the population has steadily increased. Thousands of canal workers and boatmen operate, and shops line both sides of the canal.

Now, after long years of peace, Bianzhou's farmland cannot sustain the surplus population, so many youths gather at the Kaifeng ferry to earn a living. Over time, various "guilds" gradually emerged.

Business guilds called "Shanghang"; unloading guilds called "Caohang"; and even a guild that uses people's money to avert disasters called "Da Hang."

Fang Youde, witnessing this odd situation, saw two different Da Hangs tangled over manpower and territory, collecting "security fees"; the locals have become accustomed to it.

Though Bianzhou is commercially prosperous and its agriculture is decent, beyond that there are few livelihoods; after all, this place is still not Chang'an! Hence the local customs are cunning, few are bold and fierce, and many are profit‑driven.

Don't be fooled by how fiercely the Da Hang members fight; it's all for money. People in the Da Hang join based on a "contract": today they linger here, tomorrow they might run across the river.

Men don't truly care about loyalty; they are loyal only because the price for betrayal hasn't been paid enough.

This reasoning has taken deep root in Bianzhou.

Because of the court's misgovernance, the canal administration is understaffed; the Water Supervision Office has just over a hundred officials to manage hundreds of thousands of rivers nationwide, and all governance remains on paper, merely talk.

Fang Youde previously didn't know, but now, having witnessed the chaos at Bianzhou's ferry, he understands that Emperor Taizong's "reducing officials and policies" essentially amounts to laissez‑faire.

Stepping on a watermelon rind, you slide wherever you end up.

"Ah Lang, aren't you a Grand General? Round up these people and make them soldiers!"

On the canal bank, Fang Laique suddenly pointed at the group of laborers who had finished work and were heading home, and said.

"Hmm, indeed."

Fang Youde nodded slightly, his face thoughtful.

The next day, he went to the Bianzhou prefectural office, arrogantly demanding that the Bianzhou Inspector Xue Jiangtong build him an office for the Military Governor of the Xuanwu Army.

Fang Youde now counts as someone who entered the Lingyan Pavilion! Which local official would dare slight him!

Coming from a "Inspector family," Xue Jiangtong dared not delay; he issued a "forced demolition order" for the houses around the office, ordering the locals to vacate within three days or face demolition. Of course, he also earmarked a plot in Kaifeng city of the prefecture for those people to rebuild their homes.

As for construction funds, sorry, there are none, because this demolition isn't for officials' livelihood but a "government" matter.

Tang law stipulates that officials who demolish others' houses and build their own must compensate money and land, but it never says the government must pay for land when it builds an office. Reallocating a plot in the city for those people to rebuild is already a generous imperial favor; if dissatisfied, they can petition the court in Chang'an.

Moreover, to save face for Fang Youde, Xue Jiangtong specially constructed a ferry on the Yellow River bank, allowing Fang Youde to "organize" a navy as the Xuanwu Army, which serves as the training base for the canal inspection and enforcement unit.

He also allocated a dedicated fund from canal tax revenue for Fang Youde to recruit soldiers, setting the strength at three thousand, at a recruitment standard of fifty strings per person, with ample funding disbursed monthly and paid off within a year.

Before the office was even built, Fang Youde posted a recruitment notice for strong youths in front of the Bianzhou prefectural office.

Because the pay was generous, countless applicants came. However, when Fang Youde displayed the Xuanwu Army's military law and regulations, most of the applicants immediately left.

"Article One: Those who join the Xuanwu Army must be tattooed on the face; once a day as a soldier, they may never quit for life."

"Article Two: Victorious commanders who die shall have all officers above the squad leader be beheaded; defeated commanders who retreat shall have all officers below the squad leader be beheaded; any commander who loses his troops shall be executed without mercy!"

"Article Three: The Military Governor and the troop commanders share meals, housing, and salary; military merit is not graded, and rewards are based solely on merit."

"..."

Reading these hair‑raising military laws, the young men who hoped to join the Xuanwu Army for easy gains instantly fled.

Many wondered: Bianzhou isn't a frontier town, nor is there any war to fight; is it really necessary to make the military law so harsh?

Yet soon, under the astonished gazes, one after another burly, strong men clenched their teeth and entered the Bianzhou prefectural office to take part in the "interview" hosted by Military Governor Fang Youde of the Xuanwu Army.

Nowadays the fields can no longer sustain the surplus population; although the Xuanwu Army's military law is perverse, their salaries… are truly excessive!

Heavy rewards always produce brave men; this holds true in any era.

With the Xuanwu Army established, news of open recruitment spread, attracting youths from Bianzhou and even neighboring prefectures.

Fang Youde selected three thousand robust men, then cut two thousand of them, breaking the remainder into squads of a hundred stationed at various canal ferry points, assigned to the prefectural offices and not part of the Xuanwu Army's establishment. The remaining thousand became Xuanwu soldiers; from them he chose three hundred of the most valiant to form an elite battalion.

Named: Kong He.

(End of Chapter)