Chapter 343: Marching Ten Thousand Miles to War Machines

In the northwest of Jinman City, the seat of Tingzhou, there is a lush pasture where many livestock are raised; each year it can supply the Northern Court Protectorate's army with thousands of horses. These horses are more than enough for their own use and can also be sent back to Hexi, Longyou and other regions.

In the later years of the Wu Zhou, the court formed a modest border army here, called the "Candle Dragon Army", later renamed the Vast Sea Army, which is the predecessor of today's Vast Sea Army (later it also incorporated many Uighur tribal cavalry).

So where does the name Vast Sea come from?

During the Zhenyuan era, Li Tai organized and compiled the "Geographical Gazetteer", which contains a record about the Vast Sea:

Vast Sea, also called Shanghan Gan Fan. According to the "Geographical Gazetteer": it is a small sea, located northwest of the Great Dune of Liushā, a few hundred li northwest of the Luo and Tujue, and 5,300 li south of Chang'an. The Qin built the Great Wall, passing through this southern sea, stretching east and west across the Xiongnu; several rivers flow into this sea, notably the Luo River, Xiling River, and Jin River. The Northern Court has a town called Vast Sea, from which the name is taken.

Obviously, the Vast Sea of the Northern Court refers to Lake Baikal.

At this moment, Fang Chongyong watched squad after squad of majestic cavalry enter the temporary encampment, marked by heavy wagons and ropes, and he nodded approvingly.

Not bad, full of vigor!

He turned to Deputy Protector Fu Meng Lingcha beside him and smiled, "Deputy Protector Fu Meng, you are also the Vast Sea Army's envoy; you have no objections to this contest, do you?"

Familiar with Fang Chongyong's usual routine, Fu Meng Lingcha clasped his fists in salute and said, "Ambassador Fang, you are too modest; as for elite troops, they should be bold in public battles and ashamed of private fights. Your proposal that the expeditionary army and the Vast Sea Army each send fifty men for cavalry and archery drills fits my wishes."

"Of course, after the battle we will select two thousand elite cavalry from the Vast Sea Army to serve as the vanguard of the Anxi expeditionary force; the minor skirmish earlier will be settled with a few blows."

As the saying goes, you don't know each other until you fight—hahaha.

Fang Chongyong planted his hands on his hips, laughed heartily, clearly in high spirits.

Fu Meng Lingcha glanced at Anaya, who was sitting nearby watching the cavalry formation; although she wore a hat and veil, her fiery figure could not be concealed, and the wheat‑colored hair peeking from under the hat made it clear she was not a Central Plains woman.

"Ambassador Fang, today's drill involves a bunch of rough men fighting while a young lady watches from the side; is that not a bit improper?"

Fu Meng Lingcha leaned in and whispered,

"The army has its own rules; if you strip this young lady in the commander's tent at night, no one will intervene! After all, you are the Western Regions Expeditionary Ambassador! You do have that privilege."

"But bringing your own concubine to watch the drills is beyond the line; what do you think the camp is for?"

"Well, you can't put it that way. If Deputy Protector Fu Meng only looks at her appearance, she is indeed just a beautiful young lady. But consider her status, and that's a different matter."

Fang Chongyong chuckled, recalling last night's amorous escapade; the brief parting felt like a fresh marriage, the dry wood turned to blazing fire, and his heart swelled with delight.

"What do you mean by that?"

Fu Meng Lingcha was bewildered by Fang Chongyong.

In fact, it was just a trivial matter; he only said it offhand.

As long as Anaya doesn't step forward to comfort the Tang soldiers or anything, everyone can pretend not to have seen it. In fact, Fang Chongyong only needed to make a casual laugh to brush it off; there was no need to babble with so much nonsense.

"She is the court's newly appointed Stone Kingdom sovereign, the new governor of the Dawan Command. Of course she is qualified to come here and witness the might of our Tang army!"

Fang Chongyong pointed at Anaya and said,

What?

Fu Meng Lingcha thought he had misheard.

"Ambassador Fang just said she is the new Stone Kingdom sovereign? The new governor of the Dawan Command?"

"Exactly, Ambassador."

Fang Chongyong spoke shamelessly.

Fu Meng Lingcha instantly lost any interest in the ridiculous drill; his eyes widened as he asked, "She is the Stone Kingdom sovereign, so what about the current sovereign of the Stone Kingdom?"

"Oh, you mean that poor fellow, of course he abdicates in favor of the worthy."

Fang Chongyong waved his hand nonchalantly.

Can we still play like this?

Fu Meng Lingcha looked at Fang Chongyong with a puzzled gaze, silent; whether he would get an explanation depended on Fang Chongyong.

"This person truly has Stone Kingdom royal blood. I'm not joking."

Fang Chongyong argued slyly.

In fact, the statement wasn't entirely false; by seniority, the current Stone Kingdom sovereign would be Anaya's distant uncle—just a bit distant.

But this claim couldn't fool Fu Meng Lingcha, who was well acquainted with Western Regions customs.

In the Western Regions, city‑states are commonplace, and various 'direct royal lines' are as numerous as fish crossing a river, let alone any notion of 'royal blood.'

For example, the Anxi Tang general Bai Xiaode is a direct descendant of the Kucha Kingdom's royal family. Hundreds of years ago, during the Han, members of the Kucha royal line adopted the surname Bai, a lineage that persisted for centuries. Does that mean Bai Xiaode's status is so noble that he can stir up trouble in the Western Regions?

In theory it seems possible, but in reality it is as hard as scaling heaven.

The so‑called 'princes' and 'princesses' of the Western Regions outnumber even the princes of Saudi Arabia in Fang Chongyong's past life!

"Ambassador Fang, state affairs are no child's play. As the Deputy Protector of the Northern Court, I would like to see the court's commission; that request is not unreasonable, is it?"

Fu Meng Lingcha's tone suddenly became serious.

"Alas, I originally wanted to give Deputy Protector Fu Meng a surprise, but now it seems I have to open the box."

Fang Chongyong sighed wistfully, then pulled a small roll of yellow silk from his sleeve and handed it to Fu Meng Lingcha.

It bore the seal of the Western Regions Expeditionary Ambassador, the seal of Border Commissioner Lingcheng, the seal of the Secretariat, and even the imprint of the Jade Seal! It was an unmistakably authentic imperial edict!

But the content was absurd.

It declares that the Stone Kingdom sovereign's family has shown disrespect to the sage, and therefore all their posts within the Dawan Command are revoked, to be succeeded by the orphaned princess of the Stone Kingdom, Anaya. The Western Regions Tang army must ensure this newly appointed governor assumes command immediately.

"I wrote this last night; my handwriting is still acceptable, you know. In my youth I studied under the famous scholar‑official He Zhizhang, the Grand Scholar He."

Fang Chongyong spoke with a smug tone, leaving Fu Meng Lingcha momentarily stunned.

The Emperor and central officials affix all the seals to the edict, and then the specialist overseeing the Western Regions can, upon arrival, "act at will." This is a "little secret" that everyone sees through but never mentions, a tacit rule forced by practical necessity.

For instance, when the Tang army reaches a border area and discovers a tribe friendly to the Great Tang, they need to confer a title on the tribe's leader, then lead them to fight another tribe—doesn't that plot sound familiar?

However, these locations are thousands of li from Chang'an; by the time the border army sends a messenger back, the court deliberates, and another messenger returns to inform the Tang commander: "All right, the Son of Heaven approves the conferment; the edict is here."

By then the daylilies would have rotted!

The battlefield changes in an instant; by then that tribe might have already defected to the enemy!

Thus such sealed "imperial edicts" are not only required but are supplied wholesale by the court. After the border commander dispatches the edict, the supervising officer reports back for confirmation—a classic case of "getting on the carriage first, buying the ticket later."

Fu Meng Lingcha understood the rule, but he couldn't grasp why Fang Chongyong treated it so frivolously. Was it merely to win a smile from a beautiful woman, to play at the "flaming beacon" game with the lords?

It's to let you board first and get a ticket later; it's not to let you get into bed first, stop fooling around!

Fu Meng Lingcha was instantly at a loss between laughing and crying; this Ambassador Fang really knows how to stir things up. He appointed his concubine of Western Regions descent as Grand Governor of the Dawan Command, which will probably drive the Stone Country's ruler mad!

"Ambassador Fang, if this imperial decree reaches the Stone Country, they will surely rebel. Do you really want to take this step?"

Fu Meng Lingcha asked in a deep voice.

"Hehe, Deputy Protector Fu also said that it is the Stone Country's ruler who intends to rebel; it's not that Tang is the one attacking the Stone Country.

If they rebel first, then it's not Tang that is being impolite first."

Fang Chongyong let out two cold chuckles.

If you resist, it shows you have martial skill; if you don't resist, I will make you feel extreme pleasure!

Hearing this, Fu Meng Lingcha suddenly understood.

Fang Chongyong isn't trying to give the Stone Country face; he's constantly testing the limits of the Stone Country's royal family!

Today we strip the current ruler's family of power; they won't resist.

Alright, tomorrow it'll be the current ruler's daughter sleeping with Fang Chongyong to seek mercy.

If they still don't resist, we'll keep raising the stakes until they do.

As soon as they start resisting, that's a rebellion, and the Tang army will have a pretext to send troops.

This move—how to put it—truly clever!

Fu Meng Lingcha began to understand why Fang Chongyong takes so many twists.

Establishing another 'Stone Country ruler' separates the Stone Country's elite from its people, a classic 'court the majority, crush the minority' tactic.

The Stone Country's common folk would think: the Tang army is only here to deal with the ruler's clique, just to replace the ruler. Once they're dealt with, they won't bother us. If the ruler orders us to fight to the death, we'd just lie low and slack off—why should we risk our lives for the ruler?

Essentially, this move isn't about winning hearts; it's about preventing the Stone Country's ruler from rallying the populace.

This political maneuver, combined with the Tang army's ferocious combat power, becomes the left and right hand of the Western Regions expedition.

"Deputy Protector Fu should understand now, right?"

Fang Chongyong looked at the cavalry that had finished forming and was about to begin the drill, and asked.

"Replying, Ambassador Fang, the junior general has already understood."

Fu Meng Lingcha clasped his fists in salute and said, adding in his mind: "Sure enough, you know how to play the game; no wonder you became the Western Regions strategic ambassador."

Fang Chongyong's endless daring tactics made Fu Meng Lingcha and his like feel inferior.

"Woo!" "Woo!" "Woo!" "Woo!" "Woo!"

A bleak horn sounded, and the fifty-cavalry squads selected from each army stepped out of the great formation, spaced two arrow lengths apart, and formed instantly.

Fang Chongyong, holding an iron horn, strode to the front of the troops and raised the horn, shouting:

"The rules are simple: anyone who falls from their horse forfeits and may not remount; weapons are wooden staffs and bows.

The arrows have their tips removed but contain white ash; those hit will have a white spot on them.

After the battle, we count the number of riders on each side and the arrow points. Each person has ten points; each hit deducts one point, and falling from the horse resets to zero.

Got the rules? The match starts after one incense stick burns!

Casualties are inevitable in battle; after the contest, this ambassador will not hold anyone accountable for accidental killings. You are all elite—just give your all, regardless of life or death, and each follow your destiny.

Having said that, Fang Chongyong walked straight toward the viewing platform.

The various disputes between the two armies in Tingzhou are to be settled by this battle—revenge for grievances, revenge for resentment. If you lose or even die, it's simply because your skill is inferior.

If the opponent uses plain wooden staffs and arrows without tips to kill you, don't blame them for being ruthless; after all, with your tactics you'd die on the battlefield anyway, so better to die now and suffer less.

"Deputy Protector Fu, what do you think of the rules?"

Returning to the viewing platform, Fang Chongyong looked at Fu Meng Lingcha and asked.

"Ambassador Fang is here to resolve the conflict; you can decide, the junior general has no opinion."

Fu Meng Lingcha replied with an embarrassed expression.

What else could he say? They've already finished speaking!

"By the way, Ambassador Fang, why don't we see General He today?"

Fu Meng Lingcha suddenly noticed something odd: Fang Chongyong's personal troop captain was missing. He Changqi's distinctive round head had always been conspicuously noticeable, always a reference point beside Fang Chongyong.

"Hahaha, those lowly soldiers must have run off somewhere to mess around, watching the drill, watching the drill."

Fang Chongyong, feeling uneasy, pointed at the two groups ready to fight ahead and said, without answering Fu Meng Lingcha's question.

Just as the two were speaking.

Boom!

The two cavalry units suddenly surged forward and collided!

"Real men use staffs to beat down drowning dogs! Only women would use soft, tipless bows and arrows!"

Fang Chongyong's supposedly simple rules instantly fried the brains of those lowly soldiers.

Both groups shared the same thought: as long as the opposing side has no riders left, doesn't that mean we've won? Who cares about the ball!

Both sides simultaneously threw their bows and crossbows to the ground, spurred their horses, and charged at the opponent, clearing the way with staffs.

The scene turned gruesome and bloody in an instant; the first wave of impact saw many riders fall.

Among the Western Pacify Expeditionary Force, one man was extraordinarily valiant, cutting through the Han Sea Army like a spear. The Han Sea cavalry in front of him were swept off their horses by his staff. His brute force was terrifying, virtually unstoppable.

Fu Meng Lingcha, watching from a short distance, frowned slightly; the more he looked, the more he thought this man resembled He Changqi.

Fu Meng Lingcha glanced at Fang Chongyong beside him and couldn't help a light sigh.

This Ambassador Fang, his words and actions are methodical; he seems easy to deal with.

But he does seem to have a very strong competitive spirit!

Afraid his lowly soldiers couldn't beat the Han Sea Army, so he sent his own personal troop captain up?

Fu Meng Lingcha suddenly felt he was being too honest, since he could also send his own personal troops!

As expected, in less than the time it takes for a incense stick to burn, the Han Sea Army's fifty cavalry were struck down to the ground, wailing.

However, the Anxi Expeditionary Army side didn't go up to kick a drowning dog; they were shameless, but Fang Chongyong still cared about face. If you win, don't go up and spit— that's too low class.

"Hahaha, this is what we call 'no fight, no acquaintance.' The contest ranks second, friendship first. Where in the army is there an overnight grudge? That's how it is, Fu Meng, Deputy Protector."

Fang Chongyong smiled and said.

"Yes, yes."

Fu Meng Lingcha, already numb, said insincerely, too lazy to say anything more.

The two stepped forward, helped those Qiu Ba lying on the ground to stand, gave them a proper consolation, and the grudge between the two armies was, in this way, brought to a close.

(End of chapter)