Chapter 376: I Don't Eat Beef

Looking at the complex expressions on the faces of the crowd below the steps, Fang Chongyong couldn't help but give himself a mental thumbs‑up.

The Western frontier petty‑state nobles who came here all wore looks of relief. They had personally tasted the joy of surviving a calamity and deeply felt the overwhelming majesty of the Great Tang.

Feng Changqing wore a stern face, fetched a table from somewhere, and had the Western frontier nobles line up one by one for registration. Those nobles, usually swaggering and living comfortably at home, now queued as quietly as quails, not daring to even pass gas.

Afraid the other side wouldn't write down their names.

If their names aren't recorded, once they pass through this gate their status becomes that of a slave—who could bear that!

Now their lives are in the hands of the Anxi Expeditionary Force, or more bluntly, in Fang Chongyong's hands.

Even if Fang Chongyong now demanded that they surrender all their assets and turn their beautiful wives and concubines into playthings for Tang soldiers, they would have no choice but to comply.

Because the situation outweighs individuals, the Tang army's combat power is unmatched—a indisputable powerhouse.

And the strong can dispose of the weak at will; that is the era's prevailing theme.

The Stone Kingdom nobles watching from afar felt a swirl of emotions.

Gao Xianzhi had seized most of their liquid wealth, leaving only the land and houses that could not be moved.

Now these assets can be reclaimed—how exhilarating! They already imagine that soon Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya will return to the Stone Kingdom as a nominal queen. Given her "big‑chested, brainless" makeup, she would be a total puppet, free to babble nonsense.

Then the Stone Kingdom's great authority will fall into the hands of these nobles, and future days will be richer than before.

As a key node on the overland Silk Road, the Stone Kingdom's thriving trade will fill these nobles' coffers to the brim.

Seeing the scene calm down, Fang Chongyong finally drifted into the crowd, walking while loudly proclaiming:

"Is there anyone here who has embraced Islam? This ambassador thinks these people are likely insiders for Abu Muslin. If anyone is willing to step forward, the Tang army will escort them to Wooden Deer City, and this ambassador will certainly not make things difficult for them."

If such a person exists, step forward on your own; don't let this ambassador have to act personally.

Afterwards, if anyone is discovered, I will send their whole family to heaven to serve the deity.

Fang Chongyong walked while observing the crowd and found that the queued Western frontier nobles showed no sign at all—they simply didn't care about what he said. At that moment, Fang Chongyong instantly understood what was going on.

The believers must already be the administrators pre‑appointed by Abu Muslin in each country and city. The nobles before him from Kang Kingdom, Shi Kingdom, Cao Kingdom and other Western frontier states were originally unwilling to cooperate with Abu Muslin, or were the reluctant double‑crossers forced to ride the fence.

The truly devout nobles could never voluntarily walk into this trap!

Fang Chongyong felt as if he had just winked at a blind man.

As expected, it was Kang Suobo who stepped forward to report: "Angel, those people didn't even dare to come today. Please have the Tang army send troops around the various states to quell any possible rebellion."

"Please, Angel, be our arbiter!"

In an instant, people were kneeling all over the ground.

They, the Western frontier nobles, aren't looking for Fang Chongyong to make decisions; they want him to lead the way!

Whether the Tang army or the Great Abbasid army arrives, these Western frontier states must provide supplies, feeding and even pay for the garrison troops.

If those who don't show up this time refuse to contribute money or effort, the cost will have to be split evenly among everyone. The saying "the dead Taoist doesn't die, the poor Taoist does" applies everywhere.

"Fine, fine, that's only natural."

Fang Chongyong laughed heartily, then adopted a serious tone and said:

"But actually, this ambassador wants to know one thing: when Abu Muslin came, you cooperated with him without pretense; this ambassador heard that the momentum was tremendous at the time."

You not only contributed money and grain, but also sent troops as support, as if giving them wings. Did you truly have no part in any of this?

Now you flippantly claim it has nothing to do with you, and expect this ambassador to act as if nothing happened—are you treating me like a three‑year‑old child to be fooled?

Fang Chongyong asked calmly.

The kneeling Western frontier nobles went into a frenzy of kowtowing and begging for forgiveness, both voice and tears.

Many among them had escorted Abu Muslin's caravans, and some even offered their household slaves as private troops to Abu Muslin, performing military tasks that didn't require combat.

Such as feeding horses, hauling provisions, making rations, and so on.

"Feng Canjun, later take them to the side hall, interrogate each individually and record their statements, letting them confess who cooperated with Abu Muslin."

"Reporting someone earns merit and can grant immunity. If you wish to offset a crime with merit, then stop hiding it."

After Fang Chongyong finished speaking, he noticed some of the kneeling people looking around dishonestly.

He inwardly sneered: indeed, human baseness is incorrigible. When facing a tiger, you don't need to outrun the tiger; you only need to run faster than your companions.

Very quickly, after recording the identity information, Feng Changqing escorted those people away, leaving only the Stone Kingdom nobles in the main hall.

These people had just been idly watching like onlookers, savoring the drama. After realizing Fang Chongyong wouldn't do anything to them, they lowered their guard toward this "benevolent" Great Tang Western Frontier ambassador.

"Everyone, Gao Xianzhi seized many of your belongings; this ambassador is aware of that.

However, I don't know exactly what he took. Now those treasures are piled in the palace's storeroom; you must identify which belong to the Stone Kingdom's king and which are yours.

So, follow this ambassador to the palace storeroom and retrieve what rightfully belongs to you."

Fang Chongyong gave a bright smile, waved his hand toward the palace storeroom, and said:

Hearing this, the Stone Kingdom nobles' faces lit up with joy. Such a boon was as hard to find as a lantern in the dark.

Yet under Fang Chongyong, He Changqi, Che Guangqian, Wang Nande and the others were indifferent, seeming to think it was no big deal.

He Changqi led a contingent of Yinqiang Xiaojie Army troops to blaze the trail, while Fang Chongyong followed with the local Stone Kingdom nobles; along the way he chatted amiably with everyone, showing no official airs.

As the palace storeroom doors swung open, the dazzling jewels and gold inside nearly blinded everyone's eyes!

Golden Buddha statues, golden masks, golden oil lamps, and countless varied golden ornaments piled high!

Sapphires, rubies, emeralds, lapis lazuli, and azurites—collectively called "Sese"—were boxed in neat rows. Small loose gems could be picked up everywhere in the storeroom, as if they were worthless.

As for the gold and silver coins from West Asian states, and the Tang dynasty's Kaiyuan Tongbao and various minted silver ingots, there were plenty, also stacked haphazardly.

There were also assorted gem‑set swords and sabres, tossed on the ground like trash. Their scabbards and hilts were dust‑covered, and no one knew whether the blades themselves remained sharp.

In any case, no one would take them into battle.

As for the ordinary weapons, they were probably all swept up by Abu Muslin to arm his own troops. The "mountains of arms" that Gao Xianzhi described turned out to be nothing for Fang Chongyong to find.

"Everyone, search for your own lost items; this ambassador will no longer stand in your way.

You have half an hour, measured by the hourglass outside. After half an hour the storeroom doors will open; just exit with the treasures.

This ambassador is sincere; please choose carefully and without worry.

After saying that, Fang Chongyong whispered a few words to Che Guangqian beside him, then called the officers and soldiers of the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army to leave the treasury, and then locked the door from the inside.

After the Tang army left, the Stone Country nobles could hardly believe their eyes!

Fang Chongyong actually left just like that with his subordinates! They were not on site to supervise!

Looking at the various gems and gold illuminated by the torchlight.

These people glanced at each other, exchanging looks, each seeing greed in the other's eyes!

Anyway, many of the owners of these stolen goods had already been killed by Gao Xianzhi, so they are all "ownerless items".

Even the Stone Country royal family, apart from the prince who fled to Mulü, only has Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya, who often visits Fang Chongyong's bedchamber.

She knows nothing!

This Ambassador Fang surely can't tell whose belongings are whose, which means, now… the feast has begun!

Simultaneously, inside the palace treasury, almost everyone began stuffing the gems from the boxes into the pockets of their sleeves, frantic for fear of being slower than others.

These people let loose, taking as much as they could. When the pockets on their robes couldn't hold more, they even rolled up their robes to keep stuffing gems!

Most of these Stone Country nobles wore greedy smiles, caring nothing about decorum! In the treasury, they packed as many treasures as possible without even inspecting them, let alone checking whether they were taken by Gao Xianzhi.

In fact, most of the wealth here belongs to the Stone Country royal family; ordinary Stone Country nobles could not possibly have so much gold and gems, especially of such fine quality!

But now, these people even stripped off their outermost robes, using them as cloth bags to wrap the gems, then tied the "bag" directly to their chests.

Afraid of losing out if they took too little!

Only a handful carefully selected the precious items that Gao Xianzhi had snatched from them, showing no false modesty at this "feast".

Time passed bit by bit, and the gold, gems, and other valuables in the Stone Country palace treasury dwindled at a visible rate.

These usually pampered nobles unleashed great fighting spirit. If they were made to carry food elsewhere, they'd soon be sore and unable to walk, but now they take as much as they can, not fearing the weight.

Even if exhausted to death, these greedy Stone Country nobles will haul the palace's wealth home! The hardship lasts only a moment, and the riches will sustain them for decades.

Who wouldn't fight tooth and nail for it!

Half an hour later, the treasury doors of the Stone Country palace opened, and long‑awaited sunlight fell on the nobles' faces.

Excitement, joy, fatigue, lingering desire—various expressions appeared on their faces like a magic trick.

Fang Chongyong smiled, stepped forward, surveyed the disheveled Stone Country nobles, and asked, "Gentlemen, have you finished selecting your own treasures?"

He seemed not a bit displeased, causing everyone present to breathe a sigh of relief.

This Great Tang Western Regions Campaign Ambassador truly is a great person! So generous!

Who would have thought that Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya, that flirt, is so lucky, clinging to such a big tree—surely her future will be comfortable. In their eyes, compared with Gao Xianzhi, Fang Chongyong is like a deity sent from heaven to grant benefits!

That's more than enough!

"Done selecting, done selecting, we're all done."

A plump‑faced, middle‑aged Hu merchant laughed, his tone much more casual than before, apparently no longer fearing Fang Chongyong.

"Then what about you?"

Fang Chongyong looked at the others and asked.

"We're also done selecting, done."

Many people echoed, and the palace treasury was filled with a lively atmosphere.

"Once you're done, stand over there; this noisy chaos isn't proper, I still have something to say."

Fang Chongyong pointed to a wall just outside the palace treasury and said,

Seeing no one move, Fang Chongyong laughed and shook his head: "If this ambassador wanted to snatch your treasure, I'd just act now; no need to waste so much idle effort playing with you."

Hearing this, the crowd finally relaxed and instinctively stood by that wall.

"Place the treasures you selected at your feet; no hidden stash, and don't mix them with others'."

The ambassador will search by lottery; anyone caught hiding even a single gem will have their whole family killed.

The Great Tang will not tolerate being deceived!

Fang Chongyong folded away his smile, speaking seriously.

These Stone Country nobles vaguely sensed something was off but couldn't pinpoint it, so they placed all the treasures they had taken in front of themselves, spaced a little apart from others.

Snap!

Fang Chongyong snapped his fingers; He Changqi led dozens of Yinqiang Xiaojie Army soldiers, bearing horned crossbows, encircling the groups, ready to shoot the opponents at the Jiedushi's command.

"Everyone, don't panic; this ambassador bears no ill will."

Seeing the crowd stir, Fang Chongyong waved his hand.

He Changqi and his men only lowered their horned crossbows, but did not lift the semicircular encirclement, still blocking the people against the wall.

"Che Guangqian, begin!"

Fang Chongyong ordered Che Guangqian beside him.

"Very well, Jiedushi! I will begin at once!"

Che Guangqian ran off, quickly fetched two Yinqiang Xiaojie Army soldiers, and brought a delicate "balance scale", which the Stone Country king uses for weighing gems in transactions, reputedly very precise.

After Che Guangqian placed a small wooden box on it, the scale immediately tipped to one side.

He had the scale moved before the first Stone Country noble, and placed the gems, golden masks, and other items from the noble's feet onto the opposite side of the scale one by one. Soon the side with the wooden box rose high, while the other side was pressed down firmly by the treasure, with no wobble at all.

Because those treasures were far heavier than the wooden box!

Che Guangqian quickly stepped aside, and He Changqi, without hesitation, stepped forward, grabbed the Stone Country noble's hair, and slashed his neck!

Instantly, blood sprayed in all directions!

All the Stone Country nobles were terrified by this scene.

"Gentlemen, the wooden box contains the head of an Abumuslin person."

If the treasures you selected do not exceed this weight, you may take all of them away.

If it exceeds, then those treasures are the price for your heads.

Don't be nervous, the ambassador says what he does; as long as the scale isn't overweight, I guarantee you'll be fine.

Fang Chongyong said with a calm expression.

Such an important matter, why are you only saying it now!

Angel! Why is this? I don't accept it!

One person shouted loudly, and in the blink of an eye was shot by the Tang army's crossbow bolts into a hedgehog.

Seeing this, the Stone Country nobles wanted to flee, but they saw the soldiers under He Changqi's command, the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army, again raising their horn bow crossbows, aiming at them!

The ambassador, representing the Great Tang and the sage, sincerely wishes to cooperate with honest and trustworthy Stone Country nobles, to jointly revive this country, so that the peoples of all lands west of Congling may receive the benefits of development.

Today, the ambassador is selecting such people. Unfortunately, human greed is insufficient to swallow an elephant. While the ambassador is still here, someone dares to plunder the Stone Country treasury; once the ambassador leaves Stone Country, wouldn't someone then proclaim themselves king?

Those who do not know the times, their death is not worth pity.

Anyway, the ambassador has already given you the opportunity; if you can't seize it, I am also helpless. Using treasures weighing as much as a human head to buy your lives, the ambassador has already been sincere, right?

Fang Chongyong looked innocent, spread his hands to the pallid Stone Country nobles, then coldly said to Che Guangqian: 'Continue, every treasure each person picks out must be weighed, not a single gem may be missed!'

Having said that, he turned and left, unwilling to watch the impending bloody and cruel scene.

(End of chapter)