Chapter 385: No Turbulence

"Today, I, this ambassador, on behalf of the Sage and on behalf of Great Tang, hereby confer upon you the title of Governor of the Great Wàn Commandery and Queen of the Stone Kingdom."

Inside the main hall of the Stone Kingdom palace in Zhezhi City, Fang Chongyong stepped forward and, before the Tang generals, the surviving local magnates, and the envoys of the Western Region minor states, handed the conferment document to Anaya, who sat on the throne.

According to protocol, Anaya should receive the edict while kneeling. But Fang Chongyong, feeling for his woman, did not want her to kneel before the public, so he devised a ceremony for her to receive the edict while seated.

That could be called "adapting to local customs."

"How shall we proceed?"

Anaya whispered, her voice audible only to her and Fang Chongyong.

Although her veil‑covered face still appeared composed, her hands trembled with urgency. Those beautiful, large eyes kept flashing glances, almost pleading.

Will these people clash with the native inhabitants of the Stone Kingdom?

Fang Chongyong was more concerned about: which prince are the Youzhou faction actually backing?

His original intention was to let Kang Kingdom handle the trouble itself, acting as Great Tang's proxy to show off a bit. He wanted the kings of these Western Region minor states to see that mixing with Great Tang meant nine meals a day!

"Everyone, all the conferment ceremonies are concluded. Subsequent administrative affairs and personnel appointments will be issued directly from the royal palace to the Prime Minister's Office."

"Not serious; it's merely precautionary."

It amounts to forcibly creating a sizable military garrison hierarchy in the Stone Kingdom!

That woman, aside from medical skills, knows nothing else! She clearly taught for such a long time last night!

"The ambassador's admonition is correct, so we ask the ambassador to advocate for Kang Kingdom; without Tang troops, we cannot defeat the Great Food people."

"And the effect of spinning a story naturally cannot compare to having relevant people actually do it."

Using the Stone Kingdom as a testing ground, Fang Chongyong has already implemented a series of new policies, the foremost being the "Abolition of Slavery and Equal Land Distribution"!

Indeed, it means cutting down the slaves that almost every household in the Stone Kingdom possesses!

Not only must the face be veiled, but the veil also displays extremely intricate and pretentious patterns.

Nevertheless, this several‑thousand‑strong force easily handles the Kang Kingdom expeditionary troops abroad, let alone by surprise attack!

After Fang Chongyong finished speaking, seven old aristocrats of the Stone Kingdom stepped forward in the main hall and received the "Commission" he handed them.

Anaya sighed.

"Otherwise, what? Do you still intend to lay eggs here?"

Anaya's expression stiffened as she recited mechanically. The crowd in the main hall wanted to laugh but dared not, so they had to accompany this Western Region campaign ambassador in this absurd drama!

Then why support Anaya instead of finding a more suitable "proxy" locally?

"Dealing with these cats and dogs, you are all outmatched; I, the ambassador, now deeply doubt whether you can control Kang Kingdom!"

"We are all officials of Great Tang, regard Great Tang as father, and forever guard the frontier."

Yesterday he received a letter sent by a trusted aide of Pei Min from Youzhou; the letter, besides informing that Pei Xiu bore a son to Fang Chongyong and intends to return with the child to the Pei ancestral residence in Chang'an, also contained a major piece of news!

Huangfu Weiming appears to have ulterior motives! He is actively purging dissent within the Youzhou armies! It seems he intends to support a prince's ascension!

It turns out that downstream of the Wu Hu River (which flows northward from the south into the Salty Sea) lies a Western Region minor state called the Fire Seeking Kingdom.

After Fang Chongyong placed the imperial edict into Anaya's hands, he turned and said to the assembled in the main hall, "The conferment ceremony is complete; let the Stone Kingdom Prime Minister step forward to receive the queen's investiture."

At this moment she felt extremely uneasy; not only was performing this play before a crowd awkward, but even her ceremonial robes—adorned in gold and silver, glittering—made her uncomfortable.

His real purpose was simply to tell everyone west of Congling: the current Stone Kingdom political situation is merely a temporary transition. The Stone Kingdom queen is only a provisional title; my beloved consort will ultimately leave the Stone Kingdom with me back to Great Tang!

This person is a genuine Stone‑surname aristocrat.

The border troops have begun to side with the prince; this is certainly not a good omen, but a sign that civil war is brewing.

Crush the local great landlords and grant benefits to the common folk and lower classes.

Fang Chongyong walked over, wrapped his arms around Anaya's slender waist, and whispered in her ear.

If only twelve people remain, then Fang Chongyong will have to create a "Twelve Sages" instead.

Anaya, somewhat embarrassed, asked, while Fang Chongyong's hands kept fidgetily roaming over her body.

Regardless of talent, by bloodline this person is both "Successor": descended from the former Stone Kingdom royal house;

and also "Initiator", overturning Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya's family's cavalry‑carriage nose governance, which counts as a final blow to the "Stone Kingdom rebellion".

However, things still took an unexpected turn.

When the battle report arrived at the Stone Kingdom palace, Fang Chongyong could hardly believe his eyes!

In other words, the Stone Kingdom's rebellion against Great Tang and alignment with the Great Food were due to the former royal house's perverse policies and a faction of greedy Stone Kingdom aristocrats. Now those have been dealt with, and the Stone Kingdom enjoys clear skies again!

Anaya, expressionless, handed the pre‑written conferment document in her hand to her "distant uncle", whom she met for the first time today.

Simply put, all future issues of the Stone Kingdom are not matters between some other party and Great Tang, but challenges the Stone Kingdom must face on its own development.

"Whatever, anyway... it will surely be a spectacular battle."

Fang Chongyong shouted with a strained face, almost bursting into laughter.

The two entered the bathing greenhouse, and Anaya cooed, "Aren't you coming to help? Why are you just standing there!"

"I can't quite say why, but I always feel that if I'm gone, you'd be pitiful, so perhaps..."

After the Kang Kingdom troops cleared the Great Food remnants in Anxi, Guishuang and other places, they became complacent.

"Why me?"

Perhaps the battle that crushed the Great Food main force was too shocking, perhaps the Tang army's displayed combat power was too terrifying; in any case, setting aside the already occupied Stone Kingdom, the other Western Region minor states, including Kang Kingdom, all welcomed and supported Fang Chongyong's "limited conciliation" strategy.

"You all shall henceforth assist the Prime Minister, handle Stone Kingdom affairs, and step forward to hear the investiture."

Seeing that nothing went awry, Fang Chongyong couldn't help but sigh in relief; noticing Anaya still dazed on the throne, he inadvertently patted her shoulder.

A flash of cold light flickered in Fang Chongyong's eyes and vanished.

From now on, whoever supports the Tang army the most and shows the greatest obedience will become the next Stone Kingdom king!

Everyone's chances are equal! Of course, this requires concrete actions to prove one's loyalty!

With this bait and fragrant baobab, Fang Chongyong no longer worries about the Stone Kingdom aristocrats secretly uniting to resist the Tang army.

All of this is merely posturing, serving no purpose at all.

Fang Chongyong shook his head and said.

A large portion of the fertile lands confiscated from the old aristocrats of the Stone Kingdom, Fang Chongyong had allocated for the equal-land distribution and abolition-of-slavery movement, distributing these lands to slaves for their use with compensation.

At this moment, Fang Chongyong finally understood the misery of the American military advisors in South Vietnam back in the day.

The answer was certain, but that was not a problem Fang Chongyong needed to concern himself with.

Using it on me is a bit like winking at a blind man."

Though she said this, she still warmly wrapped her arms around Fang Chongyong's neck and offered up a fragrant kiss. After their lips parted, Fang Chongyong then sat on the edge of the bath pool, letting Anaye sit on his lap.

Of course, the liberated slaves had to be able to speak Chinese and identify themselves as subjects of Great Tang. While distributing the land, Fang Chongyong also registered them under the Great Tang household status of "retainer."

Strictly speaking in terms of status, Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya was Fang Chongyong's female slave!

Overall, Fang Chongyong's plan for managing the lands west of Congling was proceeding quite smoothly.

"What devilish scheme are you thinking up again?"

Applying both grace and authority, with military force as backing, implementing a policy of limited conciliation. By giving cooperators certain sweeteners and cracking down on those who did not cooperate, to build a broader alliance.

This was what Fang Chongyong thought, and also what he did.

Brother Ji had more than ten adult imperial princes—this answer was truly hard to guess! Fang Chongyong felt that from now on, it was time to prepare for the worst.

Fang Chongyong asked in a deep tone.

Compared to the Tang army, these people naturally did not constitute much of a threat.

"Can we withdraw now?"

Anaye asked in a low voice, looking as though she still had not had enough.

This was actually the same principle as blindfolding a donkey, then dangling a carrot in front of it to make the donkey grind grain.

Fang Chongyong sighed softly, without explaining why he did not support Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya, who on the surface had a closer relationship with the Stone Kingdom royal house.

Anaye leaned close to Fang Chongyong's ear and whispered, her breathing growing erratic.

"How do you feel today?"

……

Of course Fang Chongyong would not use such a method to curry favor with his own woman.

Fang Chongyong retorted in exasperation.

"That serious?"

Kang Posuo pleaded.

If Great Tang's little brother could not fight, people would think that perhaps Great Tang could not fight either. This matter was not big when you called it big, but it was not small either—it needed to be taken seriously.

Fang Chongyong had always believed that a purely high-pressure policy, purely using force, could hardly guarantee lasting peace and stability in a region.

Fang Chongyong employed different methods for people of different social strata.

"Yes indeed—sensational, with no ceiling and no floor."

The so-called "Seven Sages" were the seven people among the original Stone Kingdom aristocrats who had passed his "test"—that's right, only seven people remained.

Everyone said in unison.

Fang Chongyong lowered his voice and said.

Why did Fang Chongyong not elevate Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya?

That was because Great Tang had to punish the rebels, so this branch of the old Stone Kingdom royal house to which she belonged all had to be settled accounts with.

"If you put Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya through such an ordeal, she will certainly be willing to take a blade for you in the future.

"We respectfully send off the Imperial Envoy and the Queen."

The brocade robe worn on the outside was very loose, while the clothing underneath was very form-fitting. Her upturned, round buttocks were tightly wrapped by the garment, quite uncomfortably.

Because the Huangfu family itself had deep connections in Chang'an—one of Brother Ji's consorts in his younger days was a woman of the Huangfu family.

Anaye could not help but complain.

"If one day I sent away all the other women in the household, divorced Wang Yunxiu, and kept only you to wait for death with me, would you be willing to die together with me?"

Anaye kissed Fang Chongyong's forehead while shedding tears and nodding.

"We are all subjects of Great Tang, regarding Great Tang as our father, forever guarding the frontier."

Anaye in particular had little desire for power; making such a grand display just to hear a bang and win a woman's favor was completely meaningless.

What do you think?"

"Let the Seven Sages step forward to receive the Queen's appointment."

She roughly tore off her veil and tossed it casually to the ground. She also casually threw the gold-and-silver-adorned brocade robe, covered in gleaming metal leaves and dead heavy, onto the wooden table.

According to his plan, he would give the aristocratic strata of the Stone Kingdom and the Kang Kingdom a blood transfusion. Support the "pro-Tang faction," purge the "Abbasid faction," win over the "neutral faction," and suppress the "fence-sitting faction."

Ambushed by the Abbasids at night, a crushing defeat! The King of the Kang Kingdom barely escaped with his life, fleeing back to the city of Samujian!

"My lord, let me bear you a child."

Anaye buried Fang Chongyong's head in her chest, both hands kneading his hair, and asked softly.

Anaye was startled; she rarely heard Fang Chongyong speak so seriously.

Ever since the main Abbasid army led by Abu Muslim was completely annihilated, the Abbasid forces in places like Parthia had retreated north into the Huoxun Kingdom to regroup.

The close-fitting gauze dress she wore underneath was the one thing she could not take off no matter what—too tight.

She could not take it off by herself; someone else had to help.

A middle-aged man with a rather shrewd-looking face stepped forward—he was some sort of... distant uncle of Anaye, not too far removed in blood relation.

The price was mandatory military service for Great Tang!

"Enough, go back and wait for news. This Grand Envoy will handle this matter!"

It was when the reward seemed close at hand yet remained forever out of reach that people were willing to exert great effort. Once they actually got a taste of it, they would grow slack and unwilling to work hard.

Otherwise, the hard-won deterrent would once again be called into question.

By now, quite a few Tang army generals have left the great hall; in fact, everyone knows what this performance is about—just a decent cover-up.

It is several hundred li from Anxi, requiring crossing a great desert.

Then where did this army that defeated Kang come from?

Pei Min bluntly asked Fang Chongyong which prince he was willing to support, and also asked his opinion on Li Linfu's assassination.

It's obvious what's going on with Ji Ge; the sighted bureaucratic elite can see it clearly. The tiger's might remains, but only its skin is left.

These people mostly come from aristocratic families, with extensive connections and well-informed. They are already thinking about an escape route. Surely we can't say that if Ji Ge dies one day, they'll still be unprepared?

The great turmoil is already brewing; don't look at Fang Chongyong today just going through the boring 'rubber stamp' procedure, busy as can be. Actually, his mind is all on how to reply to Pei Min.

I didn't expect to miss nine meals; instead, I got nine beatings, taking a barrage of face-to-face attacks!

The Kang army suffered a major defeat up front, embarrassing Fang Chongyong; the next step is to send troops to Mulu City, obviously needing to first pull out this nail of Huoxun State.

"You are the only choice; otherwise I will have to make up a story."

"I always feel that this queen of mine is a redundant person."

If not for confiscating property and reducing to slavery, they'd be laughing; how could there be justification for supporting them as agents?

Fang Chongyong took the paper with the battle report from the desk, held it up and waved it, then said helplessly to the Kang Poluo who had come seeking aid.

There's nothing else; you may leave. The queen still has other matters to attend to.

Fang Chongyong sighed, waved his hand impatiently, and said.

In warfare, indeed only doing it oneself personally is reliable.

(End of chapter)