Chapter 331: Not Missing Those Three Melons and Two Dates

In the diplomatic history of the Great Tang, using a "silver bullet offensive" to bribe foreign officials is basic practice and not worth mentioning.

Well, there's no need to ask who did it; just ask who didn't. Because giving and receiving gifts—or what is called bribery—is basically an unwritten rule in diplomacy. It's just a dirty job that can't be put on the table, nothing more to say.

Gao Xianzhi led the Great Tang's "Heavenly Troops" to help some Tufuluo tribes vie for power and to subdue other tribes. Who would believe that he and Bian Lingcheng benefited from not seizing the Tufuluo envoys?

Probably even their subordinates don't believe it.

If they don't take them, the Tufuluo envoys can't be at ease either.

At this moment, Gao Xianzhi and Bian Lingcheng stared at each other, both with awkward expressions, not knowing why Fang Chongyong raised this issue. Of course, the matter can't be brushed aside, because if Fang Chongyong summons those Tufuluo envoys and asks a few casual questions, the truth will be clear.

This matter can't be hidden, so there's no need to utter the insulting phrase "no gift confiscated".

Leaving aside what Gao Xianzhi is thinking, just speaking of Bian Lingcheng, he hasn't been short of Fang Chongyong's "filial respect".

Bian Lingcheng was puzzled: if one can give a gift, one can receive one; what does Fang Chongyong's relentless pursuit of the gift‑receiving matter signify?

"Ambassador Fang, actually, this isn't bribery; it's just a matter of reciprocal courtesy."

Bian Lingcheng sneered in defense.

Accepting money to get things done and exchanging favors are often the same actions, just interpreted differently. Bian Lingcheng and Gao Xianzhi received the Tufuluo envoys' gold, and that is a rock‑solid fact.

But whether this is money for services or a favor exchange probably depends on how Fang Chongyong interprets it. If Fang Chongyong writes a memorial back to Chang'an reporting to Ji Ge, claiming Bian Lingcheng and Gao Xianzhi conspired, distorted the imperial decree, and acted wilfully,

it doesn't need to be spelled out clearly; a slight hint will do, and later it will likely be enough for the two to share a pot of wine—if they survive, they'll still have to shed a layer of skin!

Gao Xianzhi knew he was tongue‑tied, helplessly looking at Bian Lingcheng, still unsure how to explain to Fang Chongyong. He was convinced that this Western Regions strategic ambassador was deliberately picking a fight, yet the other side seized this tiny thread and flatly refused to discuss whether launching troops into Tufuluo was feasible.

Leaving other matters aside, just tell me whether you took a bribe! Clarify the gift‑receiving issue before discussing anything else.

Fang Chongyong's angle of attack is anything but blunt!

"Inner Attendant Bian is swift on his feet and endures hardship, but he has read few stories from antiquity to the present, so he oversimplifies the matter of receiving gifts.

Haven't you heard in the Book of Later Han about the Fifth Lord refusing to accept a thousand‑mile horse? Today, the Fifth Qi in the court is still his descendant. Since the Fifth Lord could refuse a thousand‑mile horse, your acceptance of Tufuluo's gifts is therefore justified, right?

Enough, this ambassador has been traveling day and night for days, and is indeed a bit weary now, about to rest.

Whatever major matters you two have, let's postpone them until tomorrow.

"The Anxi Army is the saint's troops, obeying the saint's commands. Deploying forces to Tufuluo is a matter of great significance; it cannot be decided by private dealings between the two of you."

Fang Chongyong said indifferently, waved his hand, and then walked out of the room on his own.

After he left, Gao Xianzhi and Bian Lingcheng stared at each other, both sensing trouble. This Ambassador Fang truly spoke with hidden meaning; what game is he playing?

"Inner Attendant Bian, how do you think this matter should be handled…?"

Gao Xianzhi asked softly.

The gifts have been taken; returning them is difficult. Moreover, to whom they should be returned is also an issue.

"As far as we know, Ambassador Fang is highly skilled in social etiquette and knows how to conduct himself. His words just now surely hide ulterior motives.

How about this: Vice Protector Gao should find a trustworthy and clever staff officer to consult.

Our minds are quite chaotic right now."

Bian Lingcheng offered Gao Xianzhi a rotten idea.

Upon hearing this, Gao Xianzhi's handsome face instantly relaxed from tension. He lightly nodded and said, "Indeed, within the bureau there is a person who is consistently resourceful; this Protector should go ask him."

……

"Ten places I send people, nine turn away; my hometown a thousand miles away returns empty."

"The harsh frost of last night pierced the bones; who remembers the lofty hall yet to clothe?"

In a courtyard within the inner city of Yiluo City, Li Qijun, who had just returned to Guizi Town, sat in the yard admiring the moon and reciting poetry. A cup of wine went down, and the melancholy filling his chest was about to overflow, evoking sighs.

This poem was composed when he sought a patron after passing the imperial examination, and the verses are full of the sorrow of unrecognized talent.

Of course, that's all in the past.

No one expected that after Li Qijun passed the imperial examination, his fortunes turned, and he gradually rose to become the Circuit Judge of the Anxi Protectorate. Although this position is an external appointment with a modest rank, it wields great real power locally, easily influencing civil and military affairs in Anxi.

Why did Li Qijun become successful? The Great Tang has countless talented people; why did his fate suddenly change?

Because Li Qijun earned the favor of a member of the Li Tang royal clan, namely Prince Xin'an Li Yi's eldest son, Li Xian.

Indeed, he is also Anaye's elder half‑brother.

This was also one reason Li Qijun agreed to follow Li Siyie in signing that "oath of allegiance". If he truly didn't want to sign, stopping Fang Chongyong's scheming might be impossible, but there is still a way for him to extricate himself.

Reflecting on his career, Li Qijun realized a key insight: talent alone only grants the "necessary skills" to play the officialdom game.

Not every capable person can rise; one must have a guide, a powerful patron to cling to, to obtain a ticket into the game.

The ability to play the game is important, but the most crucial thing is the ticket!

Without eligibility, no matter how much innate talent you have, you can only watch from the sidelines! Ten years of hard study is nothing compared to a benefactor's single night of aid—that's the cold, harsh reality.

"Uncle, Vice Protector Gao and Inner Attendant Bian have arrived."

A young man, bearing some resemblance to Li Qijun, approached and whispered to him. He was named Li Shudu, the son of Li Qijun's elder brother, who had come to Guizi Town to assist him.

That's how big families work: once they produce an official of note, that person will lift up his nephews and cousins, taking every opportunity to send them out for experience.

Thus over time, the offspring of official families have far greater ability and connections than those from common families. Those who can take the imperial examinations prepare for them with patronage all the way; those who cannot enter through exams rely on family influence to secure positions.

Therefore, the descendants of bureaucrats remain bureaucrats; officialdom is a hereditary profession. Even if officials and their families idle at home, they will not till the fields nor hustle in the market like merchants or laborers.

This situation has a specific term: nurturing prestige.

"Excuse me for a moment, please step aside."

Li Qijun gently waved his hand and said to Li Shudu.

Soon, Gao Xianzhi and Bian Lingcheng arrived together, led by Li Shudu into the courtyard. Under the torchlight, neither had a smile, and both even looked somewhat sorrowful.

After Li Shudu stepped back, Li Qijun pointed at the modest dishes on the simple table in the courtyard and laughed, "I just have leftovers; I'm embarrassed to invite Vice Protector Gao and Inner Attendant Bian to sit, so perhaps we should just have some wine."

"Judge Li, no need for wine; this isn't a place for conversation. Let us discuss in the study,"

Bian Lingcheng said solemnly, his expression stern.

Seeing the two's grave expressions, Li Qijun also suppressed his smile, gave a slight nod, ordered a servant to clear the courtyard dishes, and led Gao Xianzhi and Bian Lingcheng into the study.

After the three of them sat down, Bian Lingsheng was unreserved and directly repeated Fang Chongyong's words to Li Qijun, not missing or altering a single character.

Repeating superiors, even the emperor's exact words, is a basic skill for palace eunuchs; those who cannot remember or recite accurately are eliminated by the cut‑throat palace environment, leaving only the "speed‑recording kings".

Bian Lingsheng is one of the best among them.

After hearing Bian Lingsheng's account, Li Qijun fell into silence, a swirl of emotions in their heart, and did not utter a word for a long while.

A Qiu Ba and an eunuch—still can't grasp the cultured man's subtle, veiled "self‑referential talk".

Li Qijun couldn't help but think that the Ambassador Fang, who is now "overseeing the whole situation" inside Yiluo Lu City, truly is a marvelous person of both wisdom and bravery, though his flirtatious glances were wasted on a blind man.

If Bian Lingsheng and Gao Xianzhi didn't come to consult me right now, they'd surely have no clue what Fang Chongyong's words actually mean.

"Judge Li, what exactly does Ambassador Fang mean?"

Gao Xianzhi asked impatiently.

"Vice Protector Gao, don't be hasty; Ambassador Fang's meaning is quite clear—just look at the story of Fifth Lun in the Book of Later Han. Please sit down, and I will explain in detail."

Seeing Gao Xianzhi so eager to stand, Li Qijun quickly waved a hand and said,

After the two opposite parties had calmed down, Li Qijun then explained:

"The matter of Fifth Lun refusing the thousand‑mile horse is not about him rejecting the gift; it's about what follows.

Ambassador Fang deliberately omitted the aftermath, hoping Vice Protector Gao and Inner Attendant Bian could work it out themselves."

"What are the 'aftermath' things?"

Bian Lingsheng asked in puzzlement; serving beside the emperor, he naturally understood that such implied meanings must be fully grasped.

Otherwise, in serious cases, it could leave one without a place to be buried!

But Bian Lingsheng is just an eunuch; he knows nothing of those classic stories. Though he's not unlearned, he's certainly not like Fang Chongyong, a "cultural yin‑yang person" who knows every allusion and strings his words together like a chain.

"Fifth Lun refused the thousand‑mile horse, and shortly thereafter encountered a related incident involving the gift‑giver. Though he indeed did not accept the horse, he was still deeply impressed by the giver and sensed the giver's flattering goodwill.

In the end, he made a concession, issuing a decision favorable to the gift‑giver.

Thus Fifth Lun reflected that although the gift was returned, the giver still indirectly achieved his aim. That is the subtlety of gift‑giving: whether the recipient accepts the gift or not, as long as the intention is conveyed, the goal is met.

The intrinsic value of the gift matters not; what matters is who gave it, to whom, and what intention was expressed."

Li Qijun spoke fluently.

So that's how it is!

Bian Lingsheng and Gao Xianzhi are not idiots; after hearing Li Qijun's explanation, they fully understood the matter.

Since ancient times, gift‑giving in Chinese society has been a profound art, never merely a matter of paying money for services.

The Tufulu envoy's gift to Bian Lingsheng and Gao Xianzhi not only signals a request for assistance but also draws a private bond with the two. Otherwise, couldn't they just present the gift to the Tang Emperor directly? Why the extra step?

Giving the gift to Gao Xianzhi and Bian Lingsheng is simply the principle that "a county official is inferior to a current overseer." It's not complicated, indeed not at all.

Moreover, the connections forged by gift‑giving are reciprocal, not one‑sided.

In the future, should the Tang need anything, a single command from Gao Xianzhi—provided it doesn't conflict with the Tufulu tribe's own interests—will have Tufulu mercenaries obey his orders.

That is a hidden political resource, not to be taken lightly.

After the Anshi Rebellion, Guo Ziyi cultivated a drinking friendship with the Uyghur Ye Hu. That friendship later proved useful in the "single rider retreat to the Uyghurs" affair. Hence, many times the cards in hand are neither good nor bad; it depends only on how and when they are used.

Regardless of the card, having it in hand means it is certainly not wasted; that is the principle of giving.

Let alone when it is stolen by others.

Now the problem facing Gao Xianzhi and Bian Lingsheng is: regarding Western Region military affairs, is Gao Xianzhi's word as binding as nine tripods? Is he the one overseeing the whole picture? Or does Inner Attendant Bian, the eunuch supervising the troops, have the final say?

The answer is clearly not so!

"You two accept gifts—what position have you placed our man in?"

"Is the title of Western Regions Strategic Ambassador merely decorative?"

"Will the future Tufulu tribes recognize only Vice Protector Gao and not Ambassador Fang?"

"Since my words are ineffective, let the Western Regions Strategic Ambassador be taken by you, Vice Protector Gao; may I now return to Chang'an?"

In that case, the nature of the problem becomes serious.

This is not a question of accepting gifts nor of whether to dispatch troops to Tufulu; it is a question of who will command the Western Region's military affairs!

The core attribute of power is whose orders are obeyed! There is no room for compromise on this matter!

Does Fang Chongyong lack the three melons and two dates the Tufulu envoy brings? What he cares about is that his authority must not be challenged!

Deploying troops to Tufulu, or even to Xiaoboli, is not beyond negotiation.

But it must be Ambassador Fang who orders the deployment, who receives the envoy's gift, and who takes the largest portion.

If Fang Chongyong does not take it, Gao Xianzhi and Bian Lingsheng cannot take it!

Moreover, the two may not simply hand the gift to Fang Chongyong; the Tufulu envoy must, in front of the Anxi military‑civil official, personally deliver the heaviest portion of the gift into Fang Chongyong's hands.

The gift must be delivered, the proper words spoken, the ceremony performed, and the procedure carried out.

Only then can the matter be considered properly handled.

With this prerequisite, the Anxi army's deployment to Tufulu can be placed on the table for discussion.

Without this prerequisite, the deployment issue becomes like water supply on odd days stopped, even days intermittent, with a Sunday maintenance report! As long as Fang Chongyong holds the Western Regions Strategic Ambassador post for a single day, there will never be a reliable signal!

In short, Fang Chongyong will never rashly issue a command to send troops to Tufulu. Anyone who dares to prepare secretly will be met with a strict, by‑the‑book punishment, making examples of a few typical cases.

Fang Chongyong raced through night from Yizhou to Guizi Town, swallowing sand along the way, all for the sake of the very word "authority"!

Li Qijun has a deep understanding of this; Ambassador Fang endured many hardships, eating simple meals and sleeping exposed along the way—was he coming to Guizi Town to watch Gao Xianzhi flaunt his power before him and then be sidelined?

Gao Xianzhi and Bian Lingsheng, both recipients of the gift, are the bewildered officials, while outsider Li Qijun sees it all clearly. Fang Chongyong is giving Gao Xianzhi and Inner Attendant Bian face, already approaching the matter with great sincerity.

If the two do not grasp the stakes, they will later be dealt with by Fang Chongyong—no one can blame the ruthless Western Regions Strategic Ambassador. They were given face, but they themselves lost it.

"Vice Protector Gao, Inner Attendant Bian, I must speak frankly: this matter cannot be handled improperly.

The reason Ambassador Fang did not speak plainly was to save you both face, not to tear the façade and leave you unable to step down.

Tomorrow I will act as go‑between, invite Ambassador Fang to a meal, you both attend, and also summon the Tufulu envoy; I believe resolving this will not be difficult."

Li Qiyun bowed to Gao Xianzhi and the others and said.

Then, I have already thanked Judge Li.

Gao Xianzhi and Bian Lingcheng wore bitter smiles, returning Li Qiyun's salute and saying, "We have to give back the gifts we received; after living several decades, this is probably the first time."

After the two took their leave and departed, Li Qiyun slipped out quietly, using the darkness as cover, heading toward the separate residence where Fang Chongyong lived.

(End of chapter)