Chapter 353: No One in One

Zhezhi City, among the Western Regions states west of Congling, is a preeminent metropolis; its walls stretch dozens of li, concentrating most of Stone Nation's wealth, which has amassed considerably over time. In fact, Stone Nation has long been called Zhezhi by the Central Plains, and this city has a great reputation.

The history of Zhezhi is far older than the name Stone Nation!

At this moment, Gao Xianzhi sits on the Stone Nation king's throne, surveying the palace hall with its Byzantine architectural style, and glancing at the gems set into the armrests, feeling a silent contempt.

Damn, they actually set gems into a stone seat; they'll have to chisel it out and take it later.

The barbarians are clueless; if they made a dragon throne of agarwood and set these gems on it, the whole chair would be worth a fortune!

The king of a petty Western Regions kingdom is no better; he's nowhere near as carefree as the commander of the Western Regions Tang army.

"Deputy Protector Gao, the Western Regions Grand Envoy has sent someone with a military order for your review."

The deputy commander Xi Yuanqing handed a fire‑sealed sheepskin pouch to Gao Xianzhi for inspection, then stepped aside.

Frankly, Xi Yuanqing thought Gao Xianzhi's current actions were a bit "overly bold." But given that they had already reaped ample benefits along the way, the gems in Stone Nation's treasury were too many for their pockets to hold! Thus the entire army had no complaints and saw no risk.

Anyway, if any trouble arises, Gao Xianzhi will take the blame at the front.

"Alright, take two thousand men and tomorrow head east along the river to assault Dalosi City. Once captured, set up camp here."

Gao Xianzhi slipped the order sent by Fang Chongyong into his sleeve, then, with a light smile, said to Xi Yuanqing.

This expedition is going smoothly; even the biggest concern is no longer an issue. Not only did Fang Chongyong not hold him accountable for looting Zhezhi City, he also granted him full authority to handle Stone Nation affairs unilaterally!

This authority is substantial; it means Gao Xianzhi's unilateral handling of Stone Nation's spoils is now "legitimized."

He had originally left Dalosi City untouched to give Fang Chongyong some credit, but he didn't expect this Western Regions Grand Envoy to be so magnanimous.

"Having captured members of the Stone Nation royal family, how should we deal with them? No need for me to elaborate, right?"

Gao Xianzhi asked calmly.

Xi Yuanqing nodded slightly and said, "I will see to it that nothing slips through."

Those who steal money are always guilty of a thief's conscience, unable to face creditors with a clear mind.

The Stone Nation royal line perished in war, which means everything in Zhezhi City's treasury is now "ownerless."

If the treasure has no owner, then naturally "the virtuous may claim it"!

"Alright, select the finest and most dazzling items from the treasury and send them to the Northern Court, so Envoy Fang can inspect whether Stone Nation's gems are truly all hype."

Gao Xianzhi waved his hand nonchalantly, looking as if he were already the ruler of the Western Regions.

"Understood, sir!"

Xi Yuanqing strode out of the magnificent Stone Nation palace, glanced back at the towering citadel, and felt a flood of emotions.

People say a man without crime who holds a jade is still guilty; if you lack the ability to defend a city, why build it so grand and fine?

Now it's as they wished; everything becomes cheap for others!

On the street, a squad of Qiu Ba was binding a dozen young women with rope, marching them toward the outer camp. He frowned, about to reprimand them, but suddenly recalled that he had slept with a beautiful Stone Nation woman just two days earlier.

Honestly, her figure was truly graceful. While she resisted, she muttered incomprehensible Turkic words; yet her body honestly complied. The contrast made her genuinely stunning.

Xi Yuanqing sighed, having fed himself well, he knew he must also see his brothers fed, lest later who would serve them at the saddle and reins?

He rudely waved his hand at the grinning Qiu Ba who approached, signaling them to scram!

Having taken Stone Nation in one swift push, the Tang army's morale had already scattered; the Qiu Ba were all thinking of returning quickly to Kuizhi Town for comfort. If another mishap occurred, how should they respond?

Xi Yuanqing shook his head helplessly, and walked toward the city gate, planning to reorganize his troops before marching east to Dalosi City.

After this battle, he could haul back the mountain of Stone Nation's treasures. Only upon returning to his own town would the spoils be safely secured.

……

Outside Bagua City in the Ili River Valley, Fang Chongyong personally sowed winter wheat in the fields. With him as a model, there was never a shortage of laborers.

Now, inspired and yearning for Tang household registration, many peoples of the Western Regions have come to settle in Bagua City. Fang Chongyong lets them enter the city, arranging dwellings, using labor in lieu of relief to build houses and repair roads. Simultaneously, he distributes land here, fifty mu per person, registering households uniformly, employing the military garrison system common in the Hexi region.

Fang Chongyong's establishment of farms and a city here was unexpected by the Anxi expeditionary troops, yet they bore no complaints, because the "state lands" they cultivated were owned entirely by them.

The local government recruited civilians to farm here; a portion of the land tax they paid went to them. Of course, there was a time limit, not an endless inheritance model.

Since there are benefits, naturally there is enthusiasm.

Fang Chongyong works the fields himself, though his technique is poor and requires rework. Yet with a commander leading, the farming proceeds more easily; it's not that his labor is lacking.

The farms near Bagua City progressed orderly until that day when a sudden strong wind blew, the weather clearly cooled, and it was already deep autumn.

Fang Chongyong stopped "showing off" in the fields and returned to his office to plan how to execute the next strategic step.

The Ili farms serve two purposes: first, to shift the Tang army's logistical line to the edge east of Suie Town, saving at least eight to nine hundred li of transport; second, to pacify certain forces, such as the Black‑clad Dashi, the remnants of the Turkic cavalry stationed at Suie, and some nomadic groups.

These are the preparatory tasks of the second phase of Fang Chongyong's Western Regions strategy.

Just as he was marking the map, He Changqi entered the study with a worried expression and whispered to Fang Chongyong:

"Jiedushi, Che Guangqian sent a report saying Gao Xianzhi has already taken Dalosi City; he personally witnessed the Tang army burning, killing, and looting inside."

It is said that Gao Xianzhi's subordinate, Xi Yuanqing, secretly captured the Stone Nation royal line, slaughtered them almost entirely, and announced publicly that they died in the fires of war.

But it seems the Stone Nation prince escaped beforehand and wasn't captured; could this affect the Jiedushi's plan?

Gao Xianzhi truly is ruthless and black‑hearted!

Fang Chongyong felt a pang of emotion, yet simply waved his hand lightly: "Never mind, pretend we don't know; for now everything remains under control."

Fang Chongyong knew the scheme he had set up was not foolproof; in truth it was merely a proactive plan based on prediction.

If Gao Xianzhi remains invincible, marching thousands of li, crossing mountains, and continues to pillage Stone Nation, exhausting local goodwill, he could still crush the Black‑clad Dashi's army of over a hundred thousand.

Then he truly deserves to become the ruler of the Western Regions.

When that day comes, the reputation spread about Fang Chongyong, the Western Regions Grand Envoy, will be that of a coward who only farms in Ili and never fights.

A living, trembling, death‑fearing clown!

Then, without needing Brother Ji's orders, Fang Chongyong would even write a memorial to request his own removal, handing the overall affairs to Gao Xianzhi!

Indeed, virtue not matching position inevitably brings retribution; better to know the situation and leave early than wait for others to oust you.

The concerns of He Changqi and the others actually stem from this.

Their worry arises because they do not understand what Stone Nation's stance toward the Black‑clad Dashi truly signifies.

The Stone Kingdom is the eastern gateway of the Black‑clad Great‑Word Huoluo Shan Province, a fengshui treasure land abundant in resources and wealth; such superior geography is rarely seen in the Western Regions.

Gao Xianzhi's behavior is like setting fire inside a household's courtyard—any homeowner with a bit of strength could not stand by and do nothing.

The Great‑Word kingdom has just undergone a massive Shia uprising; the White‑clad Great‑Word retreated to Spain, while the Black‑clad Great‑Word seized power. It is precisely the time to make a name for itself and undertake a great undertaking.

How could they possibly let this once‑in‑a‑thousand‑years opportunity slip away?

Rather than saying the Black‑clad Great‑Word intends to "oversee the grand affairs" for the Stone Kingdom's royal family, it is better to say that the other side gave them an excellent pretext to meddle in the Western Regions. Gao Xianzhi's actions have made the small states west of Congling tremble, and they believe the Black‑clad Great‑Word will have plenty of allies.

This is the basis on which Fang Chongyong judges that Gao Xianzhi will meet his downfall in the Stone Kingdom. Of course, no one would believe this if spoken now.

Seeing He Changqi still wearing a worried expression, Fang Chongyong helplessly asked, "Do you want to be the mantis or the sparrow?"

"Jiedushi, who would want to be the mantis that gets dealt with?"

"But Gao Xianzhi has almost finished the act, so what are we still performing?"

He Changqi asked helplessly.

Fang Chongyong waved his hand and said:

"Gao Xianzhi's troops, when they arrived, came with light carts and a small retinue, only carrying dry provisions. Their route crossed towering mountains, and the roads were extremely rugged and difficult to travel."

"However, on the way back, the gold, silver and jewels seized from the Stone Kingdom are very heavy; they certainly cannot be shouldered or hand‑carried while climbing mountains, so they must return the same way to Kuizi Town, right?"

"Therefore, Gao Xianzhi's party must first head east to Baishui City, then to Dalosi, and then to Suiye Town to rendezvous with us."

"Do you think the Black‑clad Great‑Word will not attack them during this march?"

"Previously they traveled with dry provisions, coming and going like the wind, able to run whenever they wanted. Now dragging big carts, can they still escape?"

Fang Chongyong, with a cold smile, retorted:

"Military doctrine says: avoid its sharp edge, strike its lethargy!"

"It is clearly written in the military texts!"

"The Black‑clad Great‑Word's cavalry is not slow either. Departing from the Anxi Kingdom, reaching Zhezhi City of the Stone Kingdom does not take much time."

"They hadn't come before because the timing hadn't arrived and they refused to mobilize, not because they were constantly on the road. If the Black‑clad Great‑Word's cavalry truly arrives, it will be as fast as lightning, the march speed beyond imagination!"

"Fang Chongyong believes that the army of the Black‑clad Great‑Word Huoluo Shan Province is likely already fully mobilized, just waiting to deploy!"

"Those people do not lack the knowledge to exploit this perfect timing; they are waiting for the moment when Gao Xianzhi and his Anxi army are most exhausted and most complacently careless before striking a killing blow!"

"Throughout the ages, when armies return with plundered treasures, it is also the most dangerous and most susceptible to ambush."

"The closer Gao Xianzhi gets to that lofty pinnacle, the nearer he comes to an irreversible cataclysm."

"Jiedushi, you mean we should be hunters when the sparrow snatches the mantis?"

He Changqi gestured a few times at Fang Chongyong.

"This Jiedushi did not say that; everything is your speculation."

Fang Chongyong snorted twice, neither confirming nor denying.

Suddenly, from the corner of He Changqi's eye a purple silhouette appeared outside the doorway. He then gave Fang Chongyong an ambiguous smile, clasped his fists, and said, "Jiedushi, it seems that the saintess has come again to ask for training; I will not stand in the way here. I will drive out the idle people in the courtyard; do whatever you need, Jiedushi."

After speaking, He Changqi left through the study's back door like a transparent person, not meeting the Zoroastrian saintess at all.

"Come in, the wind outside is strong!"

Fang Chongyong called out at the door.

Upon hearing this, the half‑closed door was pushed open, and Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya, clad in a purple brocade robe, entered with a conflicted expression, knelt on a cushion, and saluted Fang Chongyong, saying, "I collided with Ambassador Fang that day; I come today to apologize, please do not mind."

She still had tear stains on her face, clearly not coming merely to apologize.

"Never mind, they're just minor matters.

What business does the saintess have in coming to see this ambassador today?"

Fang Chongyong pretended to be clueless while understanding, and asked,

Actually, I just wanted to ask...

Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya bit her lip and continued, "I just want to ask… Was Dalosi City really captured by Gao Xianzhi? My family all died in the war, is that true?"

"Yes, but not entirely."

Fang Chongyong rolled up the map in his hand, set it aside, and said solemnly,

"What does 'not entirely' mean?"

Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya's eyes flashed with a gleam.

"Your family almost perished in the war, that's true, but your elder brother seems to have escaped a disaster, and now his whereabouts are unknown."

Fang Chongyong's expression remained calm.

"That… is truly wonderful."

Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya let out a sigh, as if a heavy burden was lifted.

"Now you have no home to return to, wandering around is not a problem. How about this: this ambassador will send someone to take you to Chang'an, into the imperial palace, to accompany the saint—"

"Since you hate Gao Xianzhi, perhaps with the saint's power you could even take revenge."

"Of course, if you are willing to be my concubine, I will accept. But expecting me to retaliate against Gao Xianzhi because of you is impossible."

"This ambassador can toy with you as easily as turning a hand, but there is no need; do you understand what I mean?"

Fang Chongyong smiled and asked,

"No need, I would like to cool down, thank you for your kindness, Ambassador Fang."

Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya forced a smile, walked to Fang Chongyong's side, bowed and kissed his cheek.

She leaned close to Fang Chongyong's ear and whispered,

"Ambassador Fang, you are truly gentle with women; whenever you want me to attend you, just send someone to inform."

"This comes with no other conditions, just like the day I saw you and your favorite concubine, I saw everything."

"What she can do, I also can."

After speaking, Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya lifted her skirt and floated away like a butterfly.

After she left, Fang Chongyong touched the side of his face that had just been kissed, helplessly shaking his head and chuckling: "When the beauty trap loses its stratagem, all that remains is the beauty throwing herself into your arms—how many clever people there are in the world!"

(End of chapter)