Chapter 355: Sword Pointing at Shattered Leaves

Under the glow of the oil lamp, Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya, wearing white silk pajamas that revealed her fair, fragrant shoulders, sat on the bed. She slightly raised her chin, her gentle eyes full of provocation, like a noble beauty stepping out of a painting.

Besides her beauty, she also possessed an air of nobility in every gesture.

She stared straight at Fang Chongyong as he entered the bedroom, then lightly patted the bed beside her with her small hand.

Meaningful.

Although Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya hadn't said a word, it seemed no further explanation was needed.

"Dear, won't you come over and sit?"

Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya saw Fang Chongyong staring at her without moving for a long time, and she retorted in a frivolous tone: "At this point, what are you pretending for? Get on with it already!"

Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya secretly vowed that tonight she would conquer this man on the bed, making him unable to resist her.

"Actually, I think you should look at this first before saying anything."

Fang Chongyong stepped forward, took out a piece of paper from his sleeve, and handed it to Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya.

"Don't I even have a piece of paper that's important?"

Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya muttered indifferently, while extending her pale, delicate small hand to take the paper. Then she lifted the oil lamp on the dressing table and began reading what was written on the paper.

Almost in an instant, Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya's hand holding the lamp stand trembled so much she could barely hold onto anything.

The ease on her face, accompanied by a faint pride, completely vanished at that moment.

All that remained was endless panic!

"This, this… Dear, why are you making me look at this? It's utterly baffling."

Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya took a deep breath, feigning calm as she asked. But her constantly trembling body betrayed her true thoughts.

After all, she was still a girl in her early teens; how could she hide her feelings? Fang Chongyong secretly felt regret.

"Let me tell you a story."

Fang Chongyong moved a stool and sat opposite Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya.

He didn't care whether she agreed or not, and began speaking on his own:

"Once upon a time, in the Western Regions there was a small state that maneuvered between two great powers. No need to ask which two—they were the Han and the Xiongnu."

"One day, a certain Han general coveted the small state's wealth, so its king, for the sake of national survival, bribed that general."

"But he was refused, because that Han general wanted more than just a trifle; what he wanted, the king could not afford."

"So the king sent his eldest son to seek aid from the Xiongnu, and sent his daughter to find a Han high official who could restrain that general and ask for help."

"Yet his daughter failed to understand her father's pain. Having spent many years in the Western Regions and witnessed many storms, the king naturally knew that appealing to Han officials would be futile."

"These officials all protected one another; no one would dare to uphold justice for a small Western Regions state and offend the Han emperor and his colleagues."

"His true hope lay only in his eldest son bringing reinforcements; as for his daughter, he merely wished she could live a peaceful, prosperous life, free from wandering amid war."

"Yet his foolish daughter believed she could sway with her sleeves, striving to use her beauty like a courtesan to bribe Han high officials in bed, hoping to alter Han's policies and strategies in the Western Regions."

"In the end, she realized all her efforts were in vain."

Before Fang Chongyong could finish, Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya let out a high-pitched shriek and bellowed at him: "Ahhhhhhh! Don't say another word! I forbid you to say more!"

She stood on the bed planks, covered her head with both hands, then made meaningless gestures, seeming mad.

Dreams are like beautiful bubbles—bright and colorful in appearance, but even a needle‑point touch can burst them.

With a pop, it vanished, leaving only endless emptiness.

Fang Chongyong well understood her mood at that moment, and simply watched her hysterical frenzy in silence, neither mocking nor intervening.

For people and things that posed no threat to him, Fang Chongyong always granted them the utmost tolerance and understanding.

Soon enough, Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya wore herself out, weakly kneeling on the bed with her hands over her face, sobbing softly in waves.

"Fatherly love is always silent and great; children often struggle to grasp their fathers' pain. When you one day understand your father's hardship, this silent love will become a precious treasure in your life."

Having said that, Fang Chongyong took off his own cloak, wrapped it around the cool‑clad Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya, and quietly withdrew from the room.

Like a wounded little beast, leave her some space to lick her own wounds.

After stepping out, Fang Chongyong couldn't help but sigh softly. Not taking advantage of her vulnerability to do something lewd gave him a hint of pride.

……

"Asleep?"

In the bedroom, Anaye pretended to be reading medical texts while casually asking.

"I don't know; she should be asleep now."

"I showed her a letter, and she broke down."

Fang Chongyong said this nonchalantly, as if speaking of a trivial matter rather than the fact that tonight he could easily possess a peerless beauty.

Seeing Fang Chongyong's unruffled demeanor, Anaye leaned in and whispered: "Dear, what are you up to? Tonight should be the time to get things done, yet you're leaving her hanging? By the way, what does that letter say?"

She knew Fang Chongyong was someone who could hold his composure, but this had nothing to do with that. Anyway, there's no escaping it—might as well get it over with; why be so coy? Behaving like that is unacceptable.

"Take a look at this—it's one of the copied duplicates, prepared to have Bian Lingcheng send someone to return it to Chang'an."

Fang Chongyong produced, as if by magic, from his sleeve a copy of the letter Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya had written to her father, merely tucked inside a memorial.

Anaye opened the paper and saw that, in Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya's tone, it advised her father and elder brother to seek aid from the Black‑clad Dashi, repel the Tang, and restore the Stone State. Although a copy, its content was still enough to make one's heart pound.

This is no harmless little butterfly, but a colorful poisonous snake that will bare its fangs at the slightest inattention!

Anaye admitted she had somewhat underestimated this distant female cousin of hers.

"Hehe, I thought you were using your power to force that little slut to submit, but actually she's calculating on a major Tang defeat to lure the Black‑clad Dashi for revenge."

"If that day ever comes, you'll surely be dealt with by Ji Ge. That little slut deserves to die!"

Anaye asked, both worried and indignant, feeling that this wild woman Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya was truly delusional.

"Who says otherwise? So I showed her my own masterpiece, and she completely collapsed."

Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya still harbors unrealistic fantasies about restoring the state; it's necessary to make her face reality.

"It's better to hurt now than to go mad later."

Fang Chongyong helplessly shook his head and said.

A person is valuable for having self‑awareness; many matters cannot be muddled through carelessly.

Fang Chongyong knew that Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya had just been betrayed by the Stone Nation envoy corps, her nation shattered and family lost, so her heart surely craved support. At this moment, if he didn't produce that letter but instead played the warm gentleman, uttering false kindness and sweet words, then hugging her and cherishing her, he would surely enjoy this woman's wholehearted service.

Eat until not a single bone fragment remains!

But what about afterward? Could he just toy with this woman and then hand her over to someone else, ending it all? Giving her away would be fine, but if she stays by his side, Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya cannot entertain a second thought.

In the future, this obsessive woman might inadvertently realize her scheme is terribly childish and that someone has already seen through and deceived her.

She might even act like an idiot, like a prostitute, wholly pleasing the man in bed for the sake of the so‑called plan, only to have him see through her.

Would this woman become angry and ashamed, perhaps falling into a dark abyss?

Would she forever remember the hatred of her nation's ruin and transfer it onto Fang Chongyong, who deceived and violated her?

It must be said, this possibility not only exists but is considerable. Anyway, one cannot expect a smile to erase old grudges.

Rather than planting a huge landmine for oneself, having to guard against a backstab at night, it's better to tell the truth outright.

That's what they call: no guilty deeds by day, no fear of ghosts knocking at night!

Fang Chongyong also isn't truly lacking women!

"Since ancient times beauties love heroes, yet heroes are exceedingly indifferent."

Anaye couldn't help but indulge in a pretentious verse, and it's unclear whether Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya is lucky or unlucky to be tangled with Fang Chongyong, this abnormal monster.

So those clichéd tropes all fail!

"I have so many under my command, tens of thousands of soldiers' lives. Since I brought them to the Western Regions, I must safely bring them back to our town.

Because a woman would put them in danger, I could not do such a thing.

Moreover, you are also in the army, by my side. Compared with you, Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya is insignificant; why should I care about the lingering resentment in her heart?"

Fang Chongyong said solemnly.

He is now the Western Regions Strategic Ambassador; the extension and management of the Great Tang's western frontier lie entirely in his hands.

His every move now will profoundly affect the border situation of Great Tang's northwest for the coming decades.

With such great authority, could he be so dazzled by a beautiful Western Regions princess that he becomes immobilized?

If that were true, it would be the greatest absurdity under heaven! He would even look down on himself!

Fang Chongyong feels deep contempt for those lecherous fools who freeze in place upon seeing a beauty.

"Back in the Hexi region, a single phrase 'Lord Fang' was more useful than any words. I told you this as a joke, yet you called it establishing credibility; honesty and keeping promises are the foundation of one's conduct."

"Now it seems Alang's words were not empty. You are a person who accomplishes great deeds; even without your father's status, you will eventually make a name for yourself."

Anaye sighed appreciatively, resting her head on Fang Chongyong's shoulder.

This time she finally understood what Fang Chongyong's "controlled release" meant. Whether it was frightening Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya in the bedroom before, or now "treating with courtesy," Fang Chongyong's mastery of hearts has become very natural and mature.

Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya possesses beauty but cannot wield any strategic strength. It seems the beauty trap is not universally effective.

Anaye, while reflecting, lay exhausted beside Fang Chongyong, slowly drifting to sleep with a serene smile.

……

Though awaiting Feng Changqing's news, Fang Chongyong still dispatched Wang Nande with five thousand troops, stationing them south of the Ili River Valley, encamped on the Tekesi River bank beyond a mountain.

Tekesi, a Mongolian term meaning "river abundant with wild goats," was still unnamed then. During the Western Han, this area was the grazing ground of the Xiongnu, Da Yuezhi, and Wusun peoples.

This region was extremely difficult to utilize given ancient productive capacities.

On one hand, it could provide a sizable pasture for nomads to thrive, and this area is the only non‑desert region in the Western Regions.

On the other hand, the meadow lies in a valley between two mountains, lacking any strategic depth; the local pasture cannot sustain a self‑defending tribe, nor is there condition for agriculture.

Thus it became a leaf caught between great powers' contest. It cannot be defended, the grazing land is insufficient, and there is no condition for settled farming.

The valley's natural conditions fall far short of the Ili River Valley; a large army could not sustain itself there long term. Nevertheless, Fang Chongyong still had to dispatch a force there for early warning and rapid response.

Because it lies just a stone's throw from Suie Town's Hot Sea (the vast Iseke Lake); cavalry could reach it in two days and one night.

The scent of war no longer needs to be sought; it is almost upon us.

Ten days later, Feng Changqing finally rushed back in a blaze of anxiety and brought explosive news:

The Ten-surname Khan unilaterally placed him under house arrest, but a leader named Yibo of a Tujie tribe unit, admiring Great Tang's splendor, slipped away Feng Changqing while the Khan was inattentive.

Before leaving, he also provided enough drinking water and dry rations; otherwise, Feng Changqing definitely couldn't make his way from Suie Town back to the Ili River Valley.

"The Ten-surname Khan is so bold, daring to detain a Tang envoy?"

Inside the main hall of the Bagua City Government Office, Fang Chongyong wore a look of disbelief as he looked at Feng Changqing and asked.

The brilliance of the flourishing Tang border towns cannot be likened to the frequent concessions of the Song era, when someone like Qiu Ba held no standing.

The Tujie tribe has passed its golden age and now merely clings to survival in a corner; yet it still has such audacity?

"Ambassador Fang, initially the Ten-surname Khan indeed gave the envoy a warm reception."

However, when the envoy voiced the ambassador's demands, especially suspecting collusion with the Great Arab Kingdom, the Ten-surname Khan, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, became furious and ordered the envoy's house arrest.

He said not a single extra word, so the envoy now cannot comprehend what actually happened.

But according to the people sent by Yibo, the Tujie tribe indeed has ties with the Great Arab Kingdom. Ambassador Fang, you may not know, that although the Stone Nation appears a small Western Regions state, its royal family has been part of the Western Turkic aristocracy for decades, and its origins share some links with the Tujie tribe.

Gao Xianzhi's actions in the Stone Nation have made many similar forces worry that they might become the next Stone Nation.

Feng Changqing laid out everything he knew, prompting He Changqi and others in the hall to murmur in amazement.

I must say, on the western frontier, the local customs and geostrategic situation here differ far too much from the Central Plains!

As everyone knows, there is no so‑called reproductive isolation between peoples of different races. In the western regions, bloodlines are even more blurred to the point of being unrecognizable.

The origins of the Turkic peoples are also complex, including Xiongnu, Sogdians, Tiele, and many others. They organize by tribe, constantly annexing and reorganizing. Often, a nomadic group that appears under a different name in the histories is merely a newly named reassembly after the original steppe power fragmented.

People are still those same people!

Their heritage is even older, yet also more vague and hard to discern.

"Transmit my orders: today the entire army marches out. Now is the time to test your routine readiness; in two hours, I, the envoy, expect to see the marching troops set out!"

He Laohu, have the scouts ride swift horses to deliver orders to Wang Nande, who is stationed at the southern camp, telling him to act as the marching vanguard and set up camp on the southern shore of Hot Sea (Lake Iseik), awaiting the arrival of the main army.

If any marauding cavalry from the Shi Division comes to provoke, kill them outright; no need to send anyone back to request instructions!

Fang Chongyong's expression grew calm as he issued the command.

"Understood!"

All the generals clasped their fists and saluted, saying the Khan of the Ten Surnames was so arrogant that they could no longer tolerate it; such rogue double‑crossers must be dealt with!

Fang Chongyong stepped out of the main hall of the prefectural office and found a gale raging outside. The deep‑autumn wind had already begun to bite to the bone.

"Marching ten thousand li to the battlefield, crossing passes as if flying."

"The northern wind sounds like golden clappers, cold light shines on iron armor."

"Generals die after a hundred battles, heroes return after ten years."

"The grand spectacle finally begins."

Watching the courtyard's gale swirl dead leaves, Fang Chongyong folded his arms and couldn't help reciting verses from *The Ballad of Mulan*.

(End of chapter)