Chapter 360: Rabbit's Death, Fox's Sorrow

"Jiedushi, these women truly are noblewomen of the Stone Kingdom, hmm, they once were."

"They were all sold by Gao Xianzhi to slave traders, and were taken here."

"Those slave traders are indeed just slave traders."

"After a round of investigation and interrogation, Feng Changqing meticulously recounted the whole story to Fang Chongyong."

"Are you sure? Could they not be spies sent by the Abumuslin, masquerading as slave traders to gather Tang army intelligence while operating here under the guise of slave traders?"

"Fang Chongyong asked in disbelief."

"Hearing this, Feng Changqing truly didn't know what to say. Was this Western Regions Strategic Ambassador overly suspicious, or did he simply assume that what he could handle, others could as well?"

"Feng Changqing said with absolute certainty:"

"Jiedushi, they truly aren't secret spies. Our men are being worn out to death; if there were Dashi spies, they'd have confessed long ago."

"With so many people, not every one can withstand interrogation, right?"

"Now none of them admit anything; even after being beaten to the brink of death, they all insist that Gao Xianzhi sold these noblewomen to them, at ten bolts of silk per woman."

"They are truly just slave traders; on this side of the Western Regions, there are far too many such people."

"Alright, then that's that."

"Fang Chongyong waved his hand, somewhat disheartened."

"Jiedushi, these slave traders should naturally be dealt with, but what should be done with those Stone Kingdom noblewomen?"

"Feng Changqing lowered his voice to ask, confident that the resourceful Western Regions Strategic Ambassador before him understood exactly what he was asking."

"Send them to Bagua City and settle them properly."

"Fang Chongyong didn't want to cause any secondary harm, but this was clearly not the answer Feng Changqing expected."

"Jiedushi, you are lofty and virtuous, and I, your subordinate, greatly admire you. But since the campaign began, the army has already"

"perhaps we should award these Stone Kingdom noblewomen to meritorious men, to soothe the troops' hearts. The campaign has been long; the soldiers all desire a wife to warm their beds—it's human nature."

"Feng Changqing suggested calmly. He was thinking entirely from Fang Chongyong's perspective; now those soldiers were howling for women to vent their lust, and granting the Stone Kingdom noblewomen to the meritorious would further boost morale."

"Very well, first let those meritorious soldiers select these young noblewomen and settle the matter. But the good deed should be carried out after we return victorious; for now, send these Stone Kingdom noblewomen back to Bagua City. You handle this personally."

"Fang Chongyong chuckled."

"Rewarding captured beauties to meritorious soldiers is appropriate; it has always been done that way. However, the army must not tolerate lewdness—this is a principle."

"If the soldiers are preoccupied with women, they cannot give their full effort on the battlefield."

"If we open the channel of rewarding beauties during campaigns, those soldiers will spend all day neglecting duties, chasing women everywhere. They will claim any captured woman is a slave and demand a reward; over time, that would become untenable."

"Jiedushi, is this a mere wishful thinking?"

"You can think that way; the military discipline must not break, for if it does, we cannot restrain the troops."

"Fang Chongyong removed the smile from his face and said seriously."

"At that moment, a personal guard hurried into the command tent and whispered, \"Jiedushi, Zhang Tongru requests an audience, saying it's urgent. \""

"Urgent matter?"

"Fang Chongyong was taken aback, unable to understand why Zhang Tongru, who had meticulously handled every logistical detail and was supposed to be on duty in Yizhou overseeing grain transport, would come to the front lines!"

"Let him in."

"Fang Chongyong nodded slightly."

"Soon, Zhang Tongru was brought into the command tent. Upon meeting him, Fang Chongyong saw the former aide of An Lushan, his clothes tattered like a beggar's, yet the cut of an official robe was still discernible. He was dust-covered, hair disheveled, his face both dirty and"

"It seemed the long trek had been truly arduous."

"Sit down, and tell me the matter at your leisure."

"Fang Chongyong gestured to the seat opposite him."

"Feng Changqing hurriedly poured a glass of clear water for Zhang Tongru."

"Zhang Tongru didn't hesitate; he drained the glass in one gulp, then exhaled, regaining a bit of vigor."

"Jiedushi, a major incident occurred. The Right Prime Minister's son-in-law, Yang Qixuan, was assassinated!"

"Zhang Tongru said gravely, which made Fang Chongyong look rather puzzled."

"Li Linfu's son-in-law being assassinated—what does that have to do with me, the Western Regions Strategic Ambassador?"

"Fang Chongyong had no reply; he had never even met Li Linfu's daughter, okay? The son-in-law's death is just that—dead!"

"And then?"

"Fang Chongyong asked with a helpless expression."

"\"Ah?"

"Oops, I, your humble servant, forgot to mention."

"Zhang Tongru slapped his forehead; having rushed here in a flurry, he had"

"This Jiedushi Fang, fighting on the front lines, could not possibly"

"\"The Right Prime Minister ordered the closure of the Hexi Inspection Bureau's Jiaozi Exchange, dismissed Yan Zhuang and Cen Shen, sent them back to Liangzhou, and reappointed officials of the Inspection Bureau."

"Then the Right Prime Minister sent his son-in-law, who had already"

"The purpose was to take over the issuance rights of Hexi Jiaozi."

"Previously, the issuance rights of Henan Jiaozi in Luoyang had been directly controlled by the court, using Chang'an-printed notes, with Luoyang issuing Henan Jiaozi."

"The Right Prime Minister then wanted to adopt a similar model in Hexi."

"As a result, when Yang Qixuan's contingent crossed the Wulan Bridge, just a step away from Liangzhou, the bridge collapsed. Everyone in the group fell into the Yellow River; when the bodies were recovered, none survived—they all drowned."

"Later, An Zhongzhang, Deputy Military Commissioner of the Red Water Army in Liangzhou, sent someone to Yizhou to find your humble servant, asking the Jiedushi how to handle the matter."

"Your humble servant speculates that Yang Qixuan was likely killed by someone from the An clan, executed very cleverly."

"The Chang'an Jiaozi is on the brink of collapse; although the court's reforms for Jiaozi have not yet been issued, preparations are now in full swing."

"Many matters require the Jiedushi to personally go to Liangzhou to resolve."

Zhang Tongru spoke in one breath, feeling his body was about to give out. Seeing him in that condition, Feng Changqing poured him a glass of water and couldn't help glancing at Fang Chongyong.

The Western Region Strategic Ambassador didn't seem as simple as he appeared.

"Has court affairs already deteriorated to this extent?"

Fang Chongyong showed a puzzled expression; Li Linfu's manner of eating was really unsightly, and he was still trying to get a free ride!

Reclaiming the minting authority, opening two side accounts to share the load as a firewall—does that count as reform completed?

I have to admit, Li Linfu's ideas are rather idealistic.

That's Li Linfu for you: helping Ji Ge created a path dependency; he never wants to think hard about sweeping reforms, only to patch up the old stalls.

"Oh, that's not the limit; the court does have other ways.

After succeeding Yang Qixuan as Minister of Revenue, Liu Yan proposed using the empire's salt as collateral to issue new Jiaozis. Starting this autumn, the court began collecting a salt tax from salt merchants and further reduced the proportion of land tax, labor tax, and tribute.

In my humble understanding, it means instituting a salt tax and issuing new Jiaozis guaranteed by that tax, using salt to preserve value.

However, the Sage did not approve the memorial; the Sage believes the people should not bear the salt tax. The Right Prime Minister also thinks it is too radical and unsuitable.

Zhang Tongru said, a bit confused and bewildered.

Liu Yan's reform is radical—reclaiming the issuance right of Hexi Jiaozi—does that make it any less radical?

Zhang Tongru couldn't grasp the Right Prime Minister's logic.

I must say, Liu Yan does have a few tricks; even though Zhang Tongru isn't very versed in this, he knows the move is definitely effective!

First, tying tax to salt expands the taxable population. No matter whether your household spans fertile fields or not, you still have to consume salt.

Second, this cleverly solves the shortage of collateral for Jiaozis, even directly linking tax, salt, and Jiaozis together.

Finally, and most importantly, it does not disrupt the current pattern of multiple Jiaozis coexisting in separate regions within Great Tang.

Fang Chongyong nodded slightly and said, "The court does have capable people, but the Sage has his concerns, and the Right Prime Minister has his. They could never agree to such a reform."

The land, labor, and tribute system is the "ancestral law"; the powerful elites rely on its loophole to annex land. If the court adopts a strategy of combining salt tax with Jiaozis, it would greatly weaken, even abolish, that system.

Although this law cannot stop the elites from continuing land annexation, it can greatly increase the cost of doing so.

Liu Yan's policy—actually getting it implemented now—is a nightmare; it has already touched the elites' cake.

Ji Ge is old and lacks energy, having to spar wits and courage with these disgusting, sky‑rising, repulsive elites.

Living a few more years to maintain the prosperous Tang scenery—doesn't that sound fine?

Probably Li Linfu shares the same thought, believing that as long as he controls the issuance right of Hexi Jiaozi, there's no need to go through Liu Yan's series of policy upheavals.

Once the upheaval succeeds, he's just a Right Prime Minister with nowhere to rise. If the upheaval fails, Ji Ge will use him as a pawn to protect his own position.

Fang Chongyong, imagining himself in Li Linfu's position, estimates that Li would probably be unable to stir things up; what's the point, they're all already people who have entered the Lingyan Pavilion.

"Jiedushi, do you have no objections? If Hexi Jiaozi is taken away, the logistics of the Anxi Expeditionary Army will be cut off!

The court printing money—everyone knows there's no bottom line!"

Zhang Tongru said rather urgently.

"If the Right Prime Minister doesn't stand down, he'll be the one who dies next, not his son‑in‑law.

This Jiedushi doesn't need to do anything."

Fang Chongyong waved his hand and said.

He knows clearly that as long as he doesn't nod, and as long as this Anxi Expeditionary Army doesn't return to Liangzhou and remains beyond the Right Prime Minister's control, Li Linfu won't be able to pull any tricks.

Without troops, one cannot reclaim the minting right; that's an iron rule.

This probing by Li Linfu was probably just a stone‑throwing to test the waters. His plan was likely to create some stir first, then negotiate interests with the local forces in Liangzhou, and finally draft a charter acceptable to both sides.

After a brief contemplation, Fang Chongyong guessed Li Linfu's intention.

The Great Tang Right Prime Minister isn't stupid. He only didn't expect the reaction in Hexi to be so fierce—refusing to reason at all, not even willing to negotiate!

The habit of the Qiu Ba group is to kill people first before discussing matters.

Since the dead can't speak, whatever they say is final. Those guys never play any scheming games with Li Linfu.

Don't ask; if you do, it's just a matter of whose fist is bigger.

Seeing Fang Chongyong's calm demeanor, Zhang Tongru was dumbfounded.

This Jiedushi Fang, upon hearing the news, shouldn't he be incensed and rush back with troops to defend the throne?

So why does he act as if nothing happened?

"Jiedushi, you mean I should just go back like this?"

Zhang Tongru asked in disbelief.

"How about this: I'll draft a letter, you take it to An Zhongzhang. Actually it's not a big deal; the Right Prime Minister will compromise."

Fang Chongyong called Feng Changqing beside him to prepare brush and ink, and then, in front of Zhang Tongru, wrote a letter.

In the letter, he "persuaded" the people of the An clan in Liangzhou not to deliberately oppose the court. He also said the court's current policies are unstable, so they need not be too surprised; any policy requires long‑term practice and adjustment, and patience is all that's needed.

To sum up in two words: survive!

After the ink dried, Feng Changqing sealed the letter and handed it to Zhang Tongru. The latter said no more, rested a night in the camp, prepared dry rations and water, and set out again for Liangzhou.

After Zhang Tongru departed, Feng Changqing finally asked with puzzlement, "Jiedushi, was it not proper for a subordinate like me to hear those recent confidential matters?"

"No problem; you're my confidant. Remember not to spread this, or people will die."

Fang Chongyong patted Feng Changqing's shoulder, subtly hinting a remark without showing emotion.

"Understood, understood."

Feng Changqing's back was already damp with cold sweat; he felt he had just heard something extraordinary, so he dared not think about it in detail.

The more he pondered, the more he sensed that the Western Region Strategic Ambassador before him was not simple.

……

The Great Tang Right Prime Minister Li Linfu has not had smooth days lately.

He ordered people to dig a massive pond at his home, moving many trees, flowers, and grasses, and even ruining the original layout of the houses.

But Li Linfu didn't care about this trivial matter; as long as Ji Ge needed it, he would obey.

This Great Tang Right Prime Minister was troubled by another matter!

He plotted against the Hexi merchants, met a strong backlash from the border troops, and even lost a son‑in‑law who served as Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Revenue because of it!

If it weren't for Yang Qixuan's loss, how could Liu Yan have become the new Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Revenue?

"Right Prime Minister, these are all the turtles I gathered from across the country; they're all here."

A household slave, with a flattering smile, pointed at the various turtles in the pond and said.

"Hmm, not bad."

Li Linfu nodded slightly, very satisfied.

At that moment, a small turtle crawled out of the pond, clamped its jaws onto Li Linfu's boot and wouldn't let go, greatly irritating the Great Tang Right Prime Minister!

"Right Prime Minister, don't blame me; this is a hawk‑beaked turtle, very aggressive. The golden‑line turtle over there is more docile. And that small one, called the six‑line grass turtle, is also gentle and doesn't bite."

The household slave, terrified and sweating, threw the "out‑of‑touch" turtle at Li Linfu's feet back into the pond.

"Later, take these turtles to the Prosperous Celebration Palace; understand? The ones that like to bite also have to be sent there."

Li Linfu said sternly,

"I understand, I understand, please rest assured, Right Prime Minister."

At that moment, the gate‑keeping household slave reported, "Right Prime Minister, Deputy Minister Liu Yan wishes to see you."

"Fine, take him to the study to wait; I'll be there shortly."

Li Linfu shook his head helplessly.

Liu Yan is capable at handling affairs, but his ability as an official is lacking; his eyesight and strength are poor.

(End of chapter.)