Chapter 388: Jiedushi Fang Cannot Bear the Sight of Blood

Inside the stone palace hall of Zhezhi City, Fang Chongyong looked at the three men designated A, B, and C sent by the court before him—he recognized none of them, and they hadn't even introduced themselves!

He couldn't help feeling somewhat uneasy in his heart.

The young, powerfully built stalwart man A—hmm, this was probably a military general sent to the Western Regions to counterbalance Wang Zhongsi.

Exuding the air of a rough soldier through and through.

The middle-aged man B, wearing a purple official robe and looking rather refined—hmm, this was probably a civil official, likely from the court's central administration.

The young man C, short in stature, with a soft, effeminate face, dressed in palace attire—hmm, this went without saying, he was certainly a palace eunuch.

"Lord Fang, is it convenient to receive the edict now?"

The young eunuch asked softly, glancing at He Changqi and the others in the hall.

"Eh, what kind of talk is that from the palace attendant?

All these generals are the purple-gold beams and white-jade pillars of our Great Tang—why should they be kept away when the edict is proclaimed?

And so Zhang Ji, who came from a imperial son-in-law background and held the position of Vice Minister of War, became a candidate who met all the necessary conditions.

Fang Chongyong pointed at the two men behind Zhang Ji and asked.

Dismissing him from the post of Hexi Jiedushi, with Li Guangbi taking over.

Originally, Brother Ji wanted Wang Zhongsi to serve as the Western Regions Grand Commissioner, but the court believed that the newly appointed Hexi Jiedushi Li Guangbi was Wang Zhongsi's trusted confidant—practically a son without blood ties.

That eunuch said sheepishly, having already noticed that Fang Chongyong's subordinates were glaring at their party with man-eating eyes.

With deep connections in the central administration.

Fang Chongyong said with a smile, showing not the slightest indignation at being dismissed, his attitude exceedingly modest and amiable.

And Brother Ji clearly accepted the court's recommendation.

Fang Chongyong waved his hand, and the generals immediately fell quiet.

Che Guangqian stepped forward, blocking the three men and challenging them: "Are you three not going to introduce yourselves? Who knows whether you're forging an imperial edict!"

Fang Chongyong said casually, as if he hadn't a trace of calculation in him.

"..."

Simply put, Zhang Ji would serve as the Western Regions Grand Commissioner; as a civil official, he would only set policy, while Wang Zhongsi would be his deputy, responsible for warfare and military affairs, without interfering in civil administration.

Zhang Ji said with a smile; as for that unremarkable eunuch, he was ignored outright—Zhang Ji couldn't even be bothered to introduce him.

Hearing this, He Changqi and the others were on the verge of erupting on the spot, just waiting for Fang Chongyong to give the order!

If this man before them was the Western Regions Grand Commissioner, then what was Fang Chongyong?

Seeing Fang Chongyong command a hundred followers with a single call, Zhang Ji frowned in considerable displeasure.

What they feared most was Fang Chongyong suddenly lashing out; now that everything was proceeding normally, it couldn't be better.

"How about this—I'll first arrange lodging for you gentlemen at the relay hostel. After handing over military affairs today, tomorrow I shall, as the imperial edict states, lead the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army and set out. How does that sound?"

"Proclaim the edict."

Then who would honor the merits of these generals of theirs?

"Everyone, quiet down."

If Wang Zhongsi served as the Western Regions Grand Commissioner, his authority would still be too great. Better to have Wang Zhongsi serve as deputy, with a civil official of standing taking the principal post.

"Your humble servant receives the edict."

Effective immediately, lead all units of the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army back to Chang'an, and assume the post of Deputy Commander of the Divine Strategy Army.

Zhang Ji, stern and unsmiling, read the edict in a calm tone, and then felt an inexplicable pressure wash over him from within the hall.

"I will return to Chang'an to report to the Sage, and will not remain here."

Fang Chongyong said with a calm expression, not a trace of anger visible on his face.

"General Fang, this is Liu Xixian, who will serve as the Military Commissioner of the Hezhong Protectorate. The court is establishing the Dawan Army in the Stone Kingdom, and he will be its first Military Commissioner. Before Vice Protector Wang (Wang Zhongsi) arrives, he will temporarily act as overseer of local military affairs."

All rewards and commendations would be discussed after returning to Chang'an for a face-to-face audience with the Sage.

The two would keep each other in check, to prevent the frontier army generals from growing too powerful.

Fang Chongyong respectfully received the edict, and the eunuch and the military general behind Zhang Ji couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

"Insolent! I am the Vice Minister of War and the newly appointed Western Regions Grand Commissioner, Imperial Son-in-Law Zhang Ji! How could I forge an edict! What absurdity! Stand down at once!"

"Dismiss Fang Chongyong from the post of Western Regions Grand Commissioner, to be succeeded by Zhang Ji.

The middle-aged civil official rebuked Che Guangqian.

Setting aside allegiances, the court's move could indeed be called "deep scheming and careful calculation."

"Are these two also to take up positions in the Hezhong Protectorate?"

The eunuch glanced at the middle-aged civil official, and only after seeing him give a slight nod did he step forward to prepare to proclaim the edict.

The generals had long been displeased with the high-and-mighty demeanor of these three men, A, B, and C!

"Hold on!"

In any case, the Western Regions Grand Commissioner was an assignment, and it should have been held by a civil official to begin with.

Since the palace attendant has come to proclaim the edict, the entire army will know of it—just speak freely."

He was a civil official, came from the Ministry of War, and was Brother Ji's son-in-law. More importantly, he was the second son of Zhang Shuo, and had good relations with both Li Shizhi and Fang Guan.

Since he was being so gracious, Zhang Ji naturally couldn't refuse such a request.

This imperial son-in-law who served as the court's Vice Minister of War also clasped his hands in salute to Fang Chongyong and said: "So be it, then. General Fang becoming a great general of the imperial guard and returning to Chang'an—I suppose I should offer my congratulations."

"We are all working for Great Tang; there's no need for such formality."

Fang Chongyong said with an indifferent wave of his hand, appearing exceedingly magnanimous—not as if he were putting on an act!

Zhang Ji was very satisfied with his knowing his place, and left the Stone Kingdom palace with Liu Xixian and that young eunuch who wouldn't even give his name.

After he left, He Changqi immediately stepped forward, pulling at Fang Chongyong's sleeve and pleading: "Jiedushi, we fought our way across a thousand li, braving the wind and sleeping in the open—it was truly no less than climbing a mountain of blades! And now the court sends people to pluck the fruit, when they don't even know what the Arabs look like!"

"Jiedushi, this is far too unfair! With such tremendous merit, it would be one thing not to reward you, but how could they outright dismiss you?"

Wang Nande was also indignant. From the time the army set out from Hexi to west of the Congling Mountains, he had made no small contribution. With Fang Chongyong dismissed, these generals of the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army naturally could not guarantee that their battle merits would be honored one hundred percent.

It was even very likely that they would be casually brushed off.

"Jiedushi, we still need to fight for this! How can the court treat meritorious officials so harshly?"

Che Guangqian spoke up to persuade him.

"Jiedushi!"

"Jiedushi!"

"Jiedushi!"

The generals all gathered around, clearly none of them willing to see their previous battle merits erased.

"Adjutant Feng, show them the merit register."

Fang Chongyong instructed Feng Changqing, who had been standing silently behind him all along.

"Yes, Jiedushi."

Feng Changqing picked up the merit register from the desk, opened it, and presented it to each of the generals in turn for their inspection.

"Sigh, to be honest, I had already reported most of these merits before. Only those from the recent battle have not been reported.

But the court seems to have other ideas and has not honored them.

Now that I have been dismissed, I'm afraid your merits can no longer be honored. I can only offer my apologies here.

I have let you down, let down the soldiers who bled on the battlefield!"

Fang Chongyong said with a sigh, wringing his wrists in regret.

"Jiedushi, actually... this matter is hard to handle if you say it's hard, but if you say it's easy, then it's truly very easy."

Che Guangqian leaned in and said in a lowered voice. Everyone looked at him, knowing that this man always had the most crafty ideas on ordinary days.

"Oh? Then tell us, how is it easy?"

Fang Chongyong suddenly grew interested and asked without changing his expression.

"Jiedushi, generals, actually we all know that here in the Stone Kingdom, and even in the other small Western Region nations, there are many great aristocrats and great Hu merchants who are extremely dissatisfied with our abolition of slavery!

None of you would deny this, right?"

Che Guangqian looked around at everyone and asked.

"Indeed so."

Fang Chongyong nodded. Those wretches had been forced by the Tang army to release their slaves—if they were willing in their hearts, that would truly be a ghost story!

Snatching food from others' mouths, don't expect those people to be grateful to you! There was nothing more to say about this!

"So, this lowly general is saying if—what if there were bandits who, taking advantage of the Tang army's empty defenses at night, raided the relay station, killed people and set fires to retaliate against the Tang army for abolishing slavery in the Western Regions.

That would be understandable too, right? There are always people in this world who, once their heads run hot, will take desperate risks.

And the Anxi Expeditionary Army, by that time, would have already headed south of the Oxus River to raid the Arabs' lair, completely unaware of this matter.

Speaking of it, it really would be quite regrettable."

Che Guangqian kept clicking his tongue and sighing, expressing endless pity and lament.

He Changqi and the others' eyes lit up, as if they had discovered a new continent, and they all looked at Che Guangqian with the kind of gaze one uses to look at a monster.

The bandits of the Western Regions were truly lawless!

They even dared to burn the Great Tang envoy's relay station to white ashes, then take advantage of the Tang army being away on campaign and unable to pursue them, and flee!

Truly too cunning!

Against these bandits, a heavy fist must be brought down!

"What do you think—are the bandits of the Western Regions rampant?"

Fang Chongyong looked around at everyone and asked.

"Jiedushi, rampant they absolutely must be, otherwise the court wouldn't need us to suppress bandits."

He Changqi said without any filter, just short of saying directly that he was preparing to become the "bandits'" leader and raid the court envoy's relay station tonight for a big job.

"Yes, ever since the abolition of slavery, the small nations of the Western Regions have had those who refuse to accept us."

"Right, right, right, these bandits are really fierce. The armies of every nation can't suppress them at all. They dare to do anything—killing people, setting fires!"

The generals chimed in one after another, as if not a single one of them felt that public order in the Western Regions was good.

Fang Chongyong looked at Che Guangqian. The latter understood and quickly dropped to one knee to request a mission: "Jiedushi, this lowly general is willing to go out of Zhezhi City tonight with General He to suppress bandits. I beg the Jiedushi to grant permission!"

"We are also willing to leave the city to suppress bandits. We beg the Jiedushi to grant permission!"

Everyone knelt in unison to request a mission.

Mm, the army's morale is usable!

Fang Chongyong's heart was greatly reassured.

"Would the court envoy be unsafe at the relay station?"

Fang Chongyong asked with a smile.

"Court envoy? What court envoy? Why does the Jiedushi say this?"

Che Guangqian feigned confusion and asked in return.

"Right, we're setting out for Mulu City tomorrow, we don't know anything about it."

He Changqi rubbed his round head and said.

Che Guangqian quickly corrected him: "General He, you remember it wrong. It's not setting out tomorrow—it's that a few days ago, we had already set out."

"Ah! Right, right, right, look at my memory! Hahahahaha!"

He Changqi laughed loudly, and the generals all laughed as well.

The Western Regions span ten thousand li of frontier—where is there a place that does not bury bones?

Since someone wanted to die, then they would just have to oblige them. Everyone went into battle with their heads strapped to their belts. If anyone wanted to snatch their merits, they'd have to ask whether the blades in their hands would agree.

At this moment, Fang Chongyong looked at the murderous Yinqiang Xiaojie Army generals around him, and sighed inwardly.

He finally understood somewhat why An Lushan, a man in the late stages of diabetes, still could not resist rebelling.

It was truly because he was not fighting alone!

And since he was not fighting alone, then naturally it was not his decision alone to make!

……

"Ambassador Zhang, I feel that something is not quite right."

Just after nightfall, in a certain guest room of the Shiguo post house, located in the outer city of Zhezhi City. Liu Xixian, born of the military ranks, powerfully built, and skilled in horsemanship and archery, said to Zhang Ji.

Under the firelight, his square face was filled with worry.

"Not quite right? What is not quite right?"

Zhang Ji asked with a curious expression; he felt things were quite right indeed.

Fang Chongyong had accepted the imperial edict without the slightest complaint and asked not a single superfluous question. This meant that the tactics their party had prepared in advance had no need to be deployed at all.

For instance, had Fang Chongyong refused to accept the imperial edict, Zhang Ji would immediately send a signal to the accompanying soldiers waiting in the royal palace to storm the great hall, seize power, and detain Fang Chongyong and the others.

At that time, Fang Chongyong was surrounded by his trusted generals, while his personal guards on duty were instead few in number. Zhang Ji believed it was not without opportunity.

Fortunately, Fang Chongyong knew his place and avoided everyone tearing up face.

This proclamation of the edict was even smoother than the best situation they had anticipated.

"Ambassador, do you not find it overly smooth?

You must know, they previously earned many military merits in the Western Regions.

Anyone whose merits were stripped would be unwilling to accept it. How could anyone accept it as readily as Fang Chongyong?

Even if he wanted to agree, his subordinates would not agree!"

Liu Xixian said with some urgency. He had followed Zhang Ji all the way to stay at the post house, and the more he thought about it, the more something felt wrong.

Far from the emperor, could someone who could hold down the fort in the Western Regions be a pushover?

Only these lord officials in Chang'an felt good about themselves, believing that with an imperial edict in hand, all was well.

"Heh, you are overthinking it.

Great Tang has a million mighty soldiers. What waves could Fang Chongyong make? Could he possibly dare to rebel?

Hahahahahaha!"

Zhang Ji could not help stroking his long beard and laughing aloud.

"Fire! Fire!"

Suddenly, someone in the courtyard shouted.

Zhang Ji was startled and hastily pulled open the side room's sliding door, only to be met head-on by an arrow that struck him squarely in the shoulder!

"Ambassador, get back!"

The fiercely brave Liu Xixian drew his horizontal saber and, with quick eyes and steady hands, deflected the rain of arrows with the blade. He pulled Zhang Ji back, overturned a table, and took cover behind it.

Thump-thump-thump-thump-thump-thump!

Several arrows pierced through the table, leaving arrowheads exposed on the other side.

Liu Xixian breathed a sigh of relief. The table was thick enough after all—at least he would not immediately be shot dead by the volley of arrows.

"Fang Chongyong! He dares to mutiny!"

Zhang Ji gnashed his teeth in hatred, not knowing whether it was from pain or from shock that Fang Chongyong actually dared to mutiny, dared to send soldiers to besiege and kill the envoy sent by the court to deliver the imperial edict!

Zhang Ji was still Vice Minister of War, and had even married a princess!

How dared Fang Chongyong!

"Fire! Put out the fire!"

"Fire! Put out the fire!"

The sounds of firefighting came from afar, drawing nearer.

Yet from the corner of his eye, Zhang Ji saw that everywhere in the courtyard there were people shouting about putting out the fire while simultaneously setting fires everywhere. Anyone they saw from the mission's escort and attendants, they cut down with a single stroke.

They carried either horizontal sabers or horn-bow crossbows—not a single one carried a water bucket to fight the fire.

"Ambassador, follow me and fight our way out! We cannot stay in this building!"

Liu Xixian shouted to Zhang Ji.

The fire outside was growing ever larger. If they could not break out, staying here was nothing but waiting for death.

If not shot dead, they would be choked to death by the thick smoke!

"Good, good, good. I'll trouble General Liu to lead the way!"

Zhang Ji said somewhat weakly. The arrow wound on his shoulder left him nearly unable to muster any strength. He was, after all, merely an official who could write essays; not fainting from the pain already showed formidable endurance.

Liu Xixian dragged Zhang Ji into the courtyard. Sure enough, it was chaos here—timber ignited by fire oil everywhere, corpses scattered across the ground, and waves of scorching heat in the air.

Liu Xixian's heart sank. Fang Chongyong's crew did things watertight; they probably never intended to let them walk out of the post house alive in the first place.

Just then, a volley of arrows rained down. Liu Xixian deflected the arrows with his horizontal saber. He suddenly remembered that he was not acting alone, and turned his head to look—Zhang Ji had taken over a dozen arrows and was already dead beyond any doubt.

It was over!

Liu Xixian was frightened out of his wits, on the verge of total despair.

Zhang Ji was his only backer, his sole guarantee for making his mark in the Western Regions. Now that Zhang Ji was dead, even if he survived, what could he do?

"Fang Chongyong! You rat! Have the guts to come out and fight your grandpa with real blades and real spears!"

As though giving up entirely, Liu Xixian plunged his horizontal saber into the sand, plopped down on the ground, and roared toward the post house gate!

(End of this chapter)