Chapter 383: The Bigger the Storm, the Pricier the Fish

Inside the great hall of the Stone Kingdom's royal palace, Fang Chongyong gathered the generals together to discuss how to respond to the Great Satians' envoy seeking peace.

It is now clear that the Great Satians are at an absolute strategic disadvantage and lack the ability to launch a counterattack, at least for the next two years.

Therefore, Fang Chongyong and his men are not very worried about a surprise raid by the Great Satians, and this point has almost become consensus.

But the Great Satians' inability to strike does not mean they cannot defend their old stronghold in Central Asia!

Mulu City is where the Black‑clad Great Satians' "Black Banner Army" rose to power, and the Black Banner Army is the absolute force that placed Abbas on the throne and reshaped the world!

The Tang army fights in Anxi, Kushan and other places north of Kang State, a difficulty far less than crossing the desert to the west bank of the Wu Hu River and then pressing deeper into the barren lands.

To outsiders, Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya is merely a plaything of Fang Chongyong, its rarity even less than that of the five‑colored parrot that can mimic speech!

The brother of this plaything was slain by the Great Satians, and it was because this stubborn fool insisted on demanding that the Great Satians dispatch troops to battle the Tang army; the Great Satians killed him to curry favor with the Great Tang.

Hence, whether to "storm the crown in a fit of rage for a beloved woman" is open to discussion. If Fang Chongyong were to force it, it would likely sow discord among his subordinates.

Rest assured, I'm already too lazy to trouble myself, but I'm glad to see it succeed.

However, he quickly regained his composure, because within the Wei family's network, sheltering a single person is far too easy, even though making Wei Jian start a new ordeal again is as hard as scaling the heavens!

One can only say that what has already happened cannot be hypothesized.

Fang Chongyong explained to the crowd.

"You go then; I won't do anything, nor will I tell anyone. You can go look for other princes; perhaps it will be useful, perhaps not."

Who would believe that!

Yet the aura on Wei Jian truly makes him look like a Taoist priest.

Li Chang's expression remained calm as he asked.

The winter here is not warm; to be precise, the nights are a bit cold. And the desert west of Anxi in winter is not as oppressively hot as at other times.

Wang Nande, Duan Xiushi and the others all shook their heads and sighed silently, their meaning already crystal clear.

In other words, by lying low by day and traveling desperately by night, it is possible to cross that desert and reach Mulu City.

"What do you think?"

Fang Chongyong sighed and retorted, "Do you think this so‑and‑so, the Prince of the Stone Kingdom, should die?"

Fang Chongyong looked around at the generals and asked, his demeanor suggesting he was ready to act.

Of course, if they knew that Fang Chongyong had already sentenced this prince to death in his heart, they would inevitably eliminate him. It's also possible that they might actually spare him, who knows.

Feng Changqing raised an unusual question.

So that's how it is!

He Changqi patted his chest and said, "Jiedushi, shall we charge again?"

You say the Great Satians' envoy crossed the desert along an almost straight path; that's understandable, otherwise they couldn't have arrived so quickly.

With our aid, the prince can ascend to the ninety‑fifth tier without trouble!

If we let him die, he cannot live!

Without our consent, without a trial for the Stone Kingdom's prince and without the proper legal code, the Great Satians actually killed him.

Li Chang sighed, his expression still calm as he retorted.

Just as those present were about to defend themselves, Fang Chongyong continued, "But the Prince of the Stone Kingdom must be killed by us!"

That's a bit excessive!

"Do you share He Laohu's view?"

Feng Changqing clasped his fists in salute and said.

He Changqi stepped forward to break the stalemate and said.

Fang Chongyong gave no answer, looking to the others and asking.

Because the bigger the storm, the pricier the fish!

If we want these people to heed our grand reasoning, we cannot proceed without swords clearing the way.

Wei Jian wore a bitter expression; the years he has endured lately are truly unbearable to recall.

So do whatever you need to do; there's no need to summon me.

After Li Chang moved in, he spent his days roaming the Huashan area, dressing himself as a Taoist; though the days were boring, he lived carefree and at ease.

"Alright, Pure Heaven Daoist, what is the purpose of your coming to see me this time?"

"You know the Son of Heaven cannot tolerate me, so you came to find me, right?"

"Prince, you are a clever man.

In Chang'an, in border towns, in Henan, we have our people!

Conversely, as long as we don't get lost, traveling from Mulu City to Sa Mo Jian City poses no problem either.

Li Chang's face turned pale with shock; he never expected that Wei Jian, exiled to Lingnan, was still alive and had even returned to Guanzhong!

It seems the Stone Kingdom's holy woman's bedside skills still need improvement; Fang Chongyong's mind is clear and does not mix official matters with personal affairs.

"Perhaps we should delay this matter a bit longer?"

In the great hall, everyone wore different expressions, wanting to speak yet unsure how, making the atmosphere briefly awkward. Many things were understood by all, but voicing them risked taboo, which was sometimes quite troubling.

"Jiedushi, since your last visit to the Stone Kingdom's palace, when you intimidated the nobles of the surrounding minor states, they have voluntarily contributed large amounts of grain and supplies to support our campaign. Now those provisions are stored in the granaries of Zhezhi City."

Fang Chongyong pointed to the wooden box on the table before him and asked.

This is the part where we see the guests off.

Upon hearing this, the others finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Moreover, the Great Satians' envoy arrived so effortlessly and swiftly, and that Prince of the Stone Kingdom managed to flee from Kang State to the deep desert on the west bank of the Wu Hu River.

"With careful planning, we're not going to a suicide mission. This time we must go light‑armed; everything to bring and everything to leave behind must be prepared in advance."

Fang Chongyong waved his hand grandly to declare the meeting adjourned, knowing many would submit suggestions privately.

Li Chang asked helplessly, for he had already guessed the other's intention.

That day you had the chance to kill the Son of Heaven, but you didn't, and that really got us badly screwed over."

Where the enemy can go, we too can go. This is a seasonal route, and no small number of Hu merchants know the way. It can be traveled during the period from November to February of the following year.

"What am I supposed to say to you all?"

Li Chang shook his head, refusing Wei Jian in a very subtle manner.

Killing this former Prince of Shiguo means we will reward the friends who cooperate with us and punish the enemies who work against us.

Wei Jian said this with great nonchalance.

Having said that, Li Chang stood up and made a gesture of invitation.

Doesn't that seem strange?"

If we were truly to openly take up arms against the Son of Heaven, ten of me wouldn't be enough for him to cut down.

So all these people are watching to see whether we can fight our way out. If we can fight our way out and return to Shiguo with large numbers of captives, wealth, books, and other goods, then our management of this region will be more assured, and more people will proactively cooperate with us.

Hearing this, Wei Jian knew that winning over the Crown Prince was already a lost cause. The person before him was still alive in body, but his heart was already dead.

"Prince Shou truly has a noble man's forgetfulness. Having become the Crown Prince, you no longer recognize this former Minister of Justice and Transport Commissioner."

It wasn't that he didn't want to read, but rather that Brother Ji had instructed him to "pray devoutly."

Haven't you already been exiled to Lingnan?

Even if his sister sleeps with me, it won't change anything."

He Changqi and the others privately all thought the Arabs' blade struck well; otherwise, this prince would still have been a strong contender as heir to Shiguo, and coupled with Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya's pillow talk, it was highly likely that this fellow would fare even better than before in the future.

Right now it happens to be December. Taking advantage of this timing, one trip there and back, three months is enough! We won't seize territory; we'll just give the Arabs a brutal beating. Take as much as we can—craftsmen, women, books, wealth over there, whatever there is, grab it and leave.

Seeing that no one dared to speak, Fang Chongyong answered his own question:

Mount Hua was regarded by Brother Ji as his "natal mountain," and he attached great importance to it, allocating funds every year for the renovation of the Daoist temples there. The foremost temple on Mount Hua was the West March Temple. This temple was located ten li below Mount Hua, five li east of Huayin.

To say it again, she's just a woman from Shiguo. That petty business below the waist—playing around is fine, bringing her back to Chang'an is fine too, neither is any great matter.

Looking at the somewhat familiar middle-aged "Daoist priest" before him, Li Chang asked in puzzlement, "May I ask who you are..."

I believe we can try crossing the great desert and launching a surprise attack on the Arabs' lair, the city of Mulu.

By then, the situation west of the Onion Range will be very unfavorable for the Arabs!

Li Chang didn't care at all, or rather, having come to Mount Hua and left that prison-like Eastern Palace, he was actually more at ease.

It's worth a try."

"For the Jiedushi to mobilize troops over a woman, and against an opponent like the Arabs no less—I and the officers attending this meeting here may not have any particular thoughts, but as for the brothers below, it's uncertain what they'll think.

"I want to tell Daoist Friend Jingtian that it was just me being bored and looking for some amusement.

Wei Jian looked deeply at Li Chang, then nodded slightly and said, "The Crown Prince's character is noble and pure, indifferent to fame and fortune, truly admirable. Crown Prince, please take care. I only hope that when the wind runs high and the waves surge in the future, the Crown Prince can turn peril into safety."

Wei Jian did not deny it, but nodded and said, "If Li Heng had your wits, we would have won back then. As for the current situation of the Son of Heaven, I think the Crown Prince understands it best. After all, to make the news of the Son of Heaven's illness fly everywhere, you, Crown Prince, truly went to great pains."

Fang Chongyong waved his hand, signaling Feng Changqing to speak quickly and not beat around the bush!

"Understood, Jiedushi. Some days ago, when I went north of Kangguo to survey the terrain, I inquired about something.

"Crown Prince, could it be that you truly cannot see what the situation will be like in the future?

The Sage can no longer suppress the various princes contending for the throne. Once his condition worsens, it will be the time of turmoil in the capital region.

"The people of the Western Regions have not yet submitted, and many are worried that the Arabs will make a comeback.

When two nations clash, any inconspicuous matter may conceal a deep scheme. The Arabs perhaps believe that because Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya is now Fang Chongyong's mistress, if the Prince of Shiguo returns to ascend the throne, he is very likely to change his stance and stand on the side of the Great Tang.

He had already put it quite politely; the others were probably cursing even more viciously in their hearts.

Of course, no matter what they thought, it was Fang Chongyong who made the final decision.

With these supplies, it was enough to launch an expedition on the scale of ten thousand men.

Let's disperse for now. Think over your strategies yourselves and just tell me privately."

……

My blade has never been dull!"

Having said that, Fang Chongyong drew the Gale Phantom Blade and flourished it with a flourish.

"Let's all speak up. How should we deal with this head?"

Fine, he was just short of saying he would serve as the vanguard of the forward army and lead the way at the front.

If we want to eliminate someone, even a Chancellor, it's no more than a turn of the hand!

You and I might as well address each other as Daoist friends, regardless of seniority."

Some even said you died a stranger in a foreign land!"

"Life and death are fated, wealth and honor are in Heaven's hands, that's all."

By then the Crown Prince will inevitably bear the brunt! To put it bluntly, when that time comes, whether the Crown Prince can even keep his life will be hard to say!

Please believe, Crown Prince, that we have the strength to escort and protect you, to cut through thorns and brambles.

"I believe that not only should he die, but his crimes are monstrous. If he fell into my hands, I'd find every possible way to do him in. That is the most basic attitude.

In reality, they just wanted to keep him raised as a useless person.

But this place was obviously not somewhere Li Chang could reside, unless one day he ascended the throne as emperor, then perhaps it would be acceptable.

A person whose heart has already died can never be propped up again. No matter how surpassing his wisdom, no matter how kingly his bearing.

But when the Prince of Shiguo fled in exile, what support did he have?

The armies of Kangguo have all now dispatched troops toward Kushan, Anxi, and other places! Who else would dare support this Prince of Shiguo in "restoring his nation"?

"Speak, don't hold anything back."

"Now, I, Wei, have already taken religious vows, with the Daoist name Jingtian. The Crown Prince is also a lay disciple of Daoism, and has been placed under house arrest here by the Son of Heaven, akin to taking vows.

Li Chang was half-believing, half-doubting this. A person who had narrowly escaped death and had even participated in rebellion was actually claiming he had taken religious vows.

"If we let him live, he cannot die.

Although the Western Peak Temple cannot be lived in, it is still possible to reside in the White Cloud Palace of his aunt, Princess Golden Immortal. This Ji Ge's maternal younger sister, the elder sister of Princess Yuzhen, had died over ten years ago, and the White Cloud Palace has remained vacant ever since.

That person performed a clasped‑fist salute to Li Chang, and only then did Li Chang realize who the person before him was!

"Wei Jian! It's really you!"

In Lingnan, where the mountains are high and the emperor far away, find a corpse to substitute, a person lives on, their old identity disappears, they take on a new Daoist identity; for the Wei clan of Jingzhao, who wield immense power, it's practically too easy!

This is a challenge to our authority! Unacceptable!

I think this is where the Arabians' scheming lies. If they were sincere, they could have sent back the Prince of Shi State; why would they have killed this person first?"

That day, Li Chang finished his routine "homework," which was to go to the Western Peak Temple at the foot of the mountain to give Ji Ge a blessing. When he returned to the White Cloud Palace that evening, Cheng Yuanzhen secretly brought a Daoist to Li Chang's presence, then stood guard in the separate courtyard, not allowing anyone to approach.

Wei Jian has already made his words clear!

"Even if we win, even if we ascend to the supreme position, what would it matter?"

But to have the soldiers of the three armies avenge this woman's brother, crossing the great desert and risking their lives in a sneak attack.

Li Chang shook his head, not wanting to say more.

Wei Jian gave him a respectful salute, then immediately turned and left.

Since the best option won't work, we can only settle for the second best.

(End of chapter)