Chapter 389: The Unspoken Secret

Inside the study of the Stone Kingdom's royal palace in Zhezhi City, He Changqi kicked the rope‑bound Liu Xixian to the ground. Two personal guards, one on each side, seized his arms and held him down so he could not move.

"Kneel and be honest!"

He Changqi berated Liu Xixian.

"You have the guts to kill Ye Ye!"

Liu Xixian shouted at Fang Chongyong, who was leisurely sitting at the table reading a map, showing no fear of death at all. As for He Changqi, a "dog relying on his master's power," he couldn't even be bothered to look at him.

"This Jiedushi heard that, at the relay station you shouted you wanted to spar with me, right?"

Fang Chongyong didn't even lift his head and asked slowly.

"So what! A respectable Jiedushi actually lets his subordinates disguise themselves as bandits, raid the relay station, and kill an imperial official!"

"Despicable, shameless!"

Liu Xixian kept up his insults, never backing down.

He Changqi tried to give him a slap, but Fang Chongyong waved his hand lightly. Such posturing was meaningless; if he really wanted, he could just stab him to death.

"He Laohu, since he wants to spar one‑on‑one with this Jiedushi, you should spar with him."

Liu Xixian said timidly.

After a incense‑stick's worth of time, Liu Xixian was knocked to the ground, his whole body twitching. He Changqi also took two punches to his face, but his skin was thick, so he was fine.

In truth, he understood he couldn't do those things. One person's power is tiny; great deeds require many capable people working together.

"They march thousands of miles; none of them doesn't cut through thorns, face knife mountains and fire seas without blinking, fighting fiercely on the battlefield."

"Uh…"

Fang Chongyong's barrage of questions left Liu Xixian speechless. Indeed, as the other said, he truly knew nothing!

"I don't know."

Fang Chongyong pointed at He Changqi, Che Guangqian, Wang Nande and others in the study, and continued:

"This Jiedushi sees you as a man, so here's a chance for you."

Fang Chongyong stepped forward, staring at Liu Xixian.

"You've cut down more people than the chickens you've killed!"

"Some have trekked thousands of miles on reconnaissance, and many horses have died from exhaustion!"

"You came from Chang'an, yet you don't even know what the Great Arabs look like; with just an imperial edict, you intend to quietly claim their achievements as your own."

At the end, Fang Chongyong's tone rose sharply, filled with anger and reproach!

"Then do you know, west of Congling, which countries have which kings, nobles, or big‑bearded merchants?"

"How many private troops each has, the size of their territories, local specialties, population, arable land, and road connections?"

"Which places are impassable in winter or summer, where rivers or springs exist—you should know all that, right?"

"We faced tens of thousands of Great Arab troops; five thousand of us dared a reckless charge and still won decisively. Can you? Do you dare?"

…

"We have come here to maneuver and dominate, making every nation revere the Great Tang as a father, and allowing every Tang subject to hold their heads high. Can you achieve that?"

Hearing this, He Changqi and the others lifted their heads proudly; the last shred of shame in their hearts vanished completely.

Fang Chongyong set the map down and asked Liu Xixian.

"So, you, and that Minister of War Zhang Ji who was already killed by stray arrows, you have neither ability nor merit, and you don't understand the local customs, geography, or terrain."

"One‑on‑one, fight until he concedes."

Che Guangqian stepped forward and untied Liu Xixian. He moved his limbs and asked Fang Chongyong, "Jiedushi, what are the rules?"

"Where is this something he can actually do? His stubbornness is just a desperate struggle."

"Look at them."

Fang Chongyong pointed at He Changqi and said.

Then he stared at Liu Xixian with an unfriendly gaze.

"Therefore, the one who can bring all these capable people together must be even more powerful, of a higher rank."

Liu Xixian felt a sudden jolt in his heart, noticing He Changqi flashing a grim smile at him.

"Someone nicknamed 'Tiger' is bound to be a tough opponent in a duel."

Liu Xixian glanced at Fang Chongyong, initially wanting to say something, but then thought there was nothing to say.

Liu Xixian forced himself and said.

"I can't say it well; I haven't had a chance to try."

He figured that if he demanded a one‑on‑one spar with Fang Chongyong, being killed by those people wasn't impossible.

"Never seen."

"There are no rules; each relies on their own skill. If you can, kill He Laohu, and this Jiedushi will have no objections."

Fang Chongyong asked again.

Liu Xixian spoke frankly.

"He Laohu, you help him up."

The latter was speechless, and the study fell into a terrible silence.

"Have you ever seen a Great Arab?"

"You aren't despicable, you aren't shameless, right?"

"You thief! How dare you bring up despicable shamelessness before this Jiedushi!"

"Who are the scum crawling like flies, and who are the pillars defending the nation? Don't you have any sense at all?"

"Are you blind, or are you pretending you can't tell right from wrong!"

"Tell me, are you stupid or evil!"

After saying this, Fang Chongyong sat back in his original seat, and the other generals all retreated to his side to watch, looking as though they were anticipating a good show.

He Changqi reluctantly helped Liu Xixian to his feet; he had not gone all out just now, since Fang Chongyong had given instructions beforehand.

Otherwise, beating Liu Xixian to death would have been more than easy enough.

Liu Xixian struggled to stand upright and looked at Fang Chongyong, asking gravely, "May I ask what opportunity the Jiedushi is offering?"

"This Jiedushi will ask one question first.

Is Zhang Ji your father-in-law, your benefactor, your adoptive father, your maternal uncle, or what?

Which is it?"

Fang Chongyong asked with a puzzled expression.

Liu Xixian shook his head and said, "This low officer hasn't been under him for long — it was simply a matter of humble origins seeking a future. He isn't anything to this low officer."

With his life on the line, Liu Xixian spoke the unvarnished truth.

In fact, there were many grassroots officers like Liu Xixian within the Tang army; they were generally skilled in archery and horsemanship, and literate. These men would occasionally encounter opportunities, suddenly promoted by superiors who appreciated them, entering the fast track for advancement.

Che Guangqian was a very obvious example, and Li Guangbi was another such case.

Those who were promoted, in order to climb higher and repay the grace of recognition, would naturally serve as their benefactor's running dogs and hounds, attending to them before the saddle and behind the horse.

It was likewise a case of rising together and falling together.

"Very well then. This Jiedushi now orders you to write a memorial, informing the court in detail of exactly what happened.

As for how to write it specifically, do you need me to teach you?"

Fang Chongyong stared fixedly at Liu Xixian and asked.

Hearing these words, Liu Xixian was first bewildered; he thought and thought, then suddenly saw the light, and immediately said in a deep voice:

"When our party arrived at Zhezhi City, the main force of the Anxi Expeditionary Army had already set out and was not in the city.

That night at the relay station, we were attacked by unidentified bandits.

This low officer barely escaped after a desperate fight, sustaining minor injuries, but the entire mission party unfortunately perished.

This low officer had no choice but to wait at Zhezhi City for the Tang army to return, and write this letter to the court reporting the specific circumstances."

"General Liu's prospects are limitless — better to seize the day than pick a date; write the memorial down right now.

This Jiedushi specially grants you permission to use my desk to write this memorial."

Fang Chongyong pointed at the desk behind him and said.

At this moment, Liu Xixian's face alternated between green and white; he could already feel the contempt of the many generals around Fang Chongyong.

But he had no choice, because Zhang Ji was already dead! Following a dead man to the grave, showing loyalty to a dead man, was utterly meaningless!

If he didn't find a new backer, then even if Fang Chongyong let him go, he would face frenzied retaliation from Zhang Ji's faction!

There was no reason.

Ask, and the answer was displaced anger — Zhang Ji was dead, so how could Liu Xixian not die!

Those in power in Chang'an all held similar notions.

This Lord Fang, by contrast, was decisive in killing, ruthless in action, and advanced step by step with careful calculation!

He was more than just a little bit stronger than Zhang Ji!

This was likely the greatest and most important decision of his life!

"Brush and ink are here."

Feng Changqing placed the already-prepared brush and ink on the desk, then withdrew to one side. Everyone's gaze was fixed dead on Liu Xixian.

If he showed the slightest thing amiss, he would likely perish here in an instant.

Liu Xixian swallowed, organizing his words in his head. Fortunately, he had studied a bit as a child and was not an illiterate brute. At this moment his mind was racing, and he even felt quite a bit cleverer than usual!

Finishing the memorial in one go, he carefully handed it to Feng Changqing. The latter read and reread it, shook his head slightly, then passed it to Che Guangqian, who was the most literary among the generals, for review.

Che Guangqian read it and couldn't help shaking his head either; he leaned close to Fang Chongyong and whispered a great deal, pointing here and there, seemingly complaining that Liu Xixian's memorial was poorly written and needed this or that polish.

"Never mind — written this way, it's authentic enough.

General Liu, just press your handprint on the memorial.

Oh, right — trouble yourself to copy out another version.

This Jiedushi would also like to take one home to admire your masterpiece. Sorry for the trouble!"

Fang Chongyong gave Liu Xixian a heh-heh smile; though it bore no visible threat, it made the latter's hair stand on end and sent a chill down his spine.

"No trouble at all, no trouble at all — this low officer will write it right now, right now."

Liu Xixian forced a smile, with not a shred of luck left in his heart.

Seeing Liu Xixian honestly copying out his own memorial, Fang Chongyong finally said with deep significance:

"General Liu, you think you're good at fighting?

What good is being good at fighting? Out in the world, you need power and you need backing.

Otherwise, why could Zhang Ji keep you firmly under his thumb? Wasn't it because he was an imperial son-in-law, the son of Zhang Shuo!

To stand against such things, you need brothers at your side to back you up.

With this Jiedushi's so many brothers beating on you alone, what good is your ability to fight?

To accomplish great deeds, it all depends on brothers working together with one heart, going in together.

All on your own, a lone rider, you can accomplish nothing.

Follow this Jiedushi from now on, and you'll have brothers backing you — then naturally you'll be able to achieve great things.

Do you understand this principle?"

Fang Chongyong seemed to be reasoning with Liu Xixian, yet also seemed to be emphasizing to all the generals present the importance of uniting and supporting one another.

"Understood, understood — of course this low officer understands."

Liu Xixian put on a fawning smile, nodding like a shrimp.

The memorial's contents were not lengthy to begin with, and he finished transcribing it in no time, handing the original to Fang Chongyong and pressing his handprint onto the transcribed copy.

Having done all this, Liu Xixian still felt that this world was extraordinarily unreal!

Not only was it absurd, but it was absurd in such a matter-of-fact way.

Was Zhang Ji a good person?

In a certain sense, he was a textbook villain—just the fact that he stole others' military merits was disgusting enough.

Then was Fang Chongyong a good person?

It seemed not, either. Enduring silently and striking back in one fell swoop, he was more like a butcher who killed without blinking an eye.

Yet Fang Chongyong was also a great meritorious minister who expanded the Great Tang's territory! Could you call him a bad person?

This world was truly so complicated!

Liu Xixian felt as though he had been given a lesson.

"Adjutant Feng, arrange for General Liu to be lodged."

Fang Chongyong waved his hand, signaling Liu Xixian that he could leave.

Only then did the latter feel as though he had been granted a great pardon. He had never imagined that he, who already had one foot through the gates of hell, would miraculously survive.

Of course, staying alive required paying a price. Having boarded this pirate ship today, getting off it in the future would be no easy matter.

Judging from the way Fang Chongyong's group did things, they were clearly not easy to deal with, and even harder to fool.

"This subordinate takes his leave, takes his leave."

Liu Xixian bowed respectfully to Fang Chongyong and followed Feng Changqing out.

After he left, He Changqi asked with a face full of dissatisfaction, "Jiedushi, why keep this fellow? If he lets the matter slip, won't we be in trouble?"

"You don't know a damn thing! If Liu Xixian tells the truth to the Zhang clan, will the Zhang clan let him off? Will the court let him off?

The memorial he wrote just now—does it count as deceiving the sovereign? You think the Son of Heaven doesn't care about face!"

Fang Chongyong asked in return.

Hearing these words, He Changqi and the others looked at one another in dismay. They finally understood why Fang Chongyong had instructed them to be sure to leave one person alive.

Jiedushi Fang handled matters with truly watertight precision!

Without Liu Xixian as a "witness," then whether or not Fang Chongyong had done this deed, the Anxi Expeditionary Army could not have shaken off the connection. Because whether it was the court or Brother Ji, both needed an "explanation."

The truth of the matter was, on the contrary, the least important thing.

If no one could be found to take the blame, then it could only fall on Fang Chongyong; whether or not he did it would no longer need to be investigated.

But with Liu Xixian, a party involved, writing a memorial back, the situation was completely different.

His memorial would point out a "clear" direction.

If Liu Xixian said it was bandits who did it, then it was bandits who did it; if he said the Anxi Expeditionary Army had already set out and departed from Shiguo, then they had already departed.

In short, no one's words were as effective as the testimony of a party involved!

This was tantamount to muddying the waters.

So no matter how the court suspected, with a "strong witness" insisting on one story, this matter would only be left to fade away!

If they said it was bandits, then it was bandits. Otherwise, who could bear the responsibility of forcing a border army into rebellion!

He was merely a Vice Minister of War. Without Zhang Ji, there would be someone else. Perhaps many people would automatically rise one rank in office thanks to the position Zhang Ji vacated—would they not secretly be grateful to this group of "bandits"?

Did they really think many people mourned Zhang Ji and sought justice for him? Once a man is dead, then he has nothing!

The most unfortunate one was instead Liu Xixian, who had survived. The Zhang clan had suffered such a great loss, and those people would not spare him. In the end, Liu Xixian would have no choice but to seek Fang Chongyong's protection to preserve himself.

Otherwise, with the world so vast and enemies on all sides, it would truly be more straightforward to just end it all! Unless his brain had been caught in a door, how could Liu Xixian possibly inform on them?

He Changqi asking this question fully exposed his intelligence.

"Jiedushi, you're still the formidable one. Some Minister of War, some imperial son-in-law—it's all just the same thing!"

He Changqi's clumsy flattery actually reflected the unanimous thought of all the generals.

The high officials of Chang'an were truly not much! One slash of the blade and the blood sprayed—no one's neck turned out to be as hard as iron!

"This is what you don't understand. Actually, those official lords of the central court are still quite formidable on their own main battlefield.

It's us, on the other hand, who would have nowhere to use our full strength in a place like that.

They shouldn't have imagined the border garrisons to be like Chang'an. The Western Regions are not their stage."

Fang Chongyong let out a long sigh and spoke. In truth, he was not as relaxed as he appeared at this moment.

Judging from Zhang Ji's aggressive arrival this time, Fang Chongyong reckoned that the aftermath of Li Linfu's assassination had already arrived, and would continue to persist.

The court was entering a period of turmoil, and its impact would also affect the border garrisons.

The Yinqiang Xiaojie Army's return to Chang'an was already a foregone conclusion. This night raid on the relay station was merely to ensure that the previous military merits could be cashed in, and to remove the constraints on his father-in-law Wang Zhongsi.

For Fang Chongyong himself, the direct benefits were not many.

But for the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army, the impact could not be underestimated. Beyond ensuring the military merits were cashed in, it was more a demonstration of cohesion and execution.

All the generals knew that Fang Chongyong, their "boss," would stick up for them. And the emperor himself, at a critical moment, was of no use at all.

After today, the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army would officially become Fang Chongyong's domain of absolute authority! Everyone now shared a common "secret that must not be spoken"!

Regardless of personal relationships, in the army, all muzzles must point outward together!

"Everyone disperse. Tomorrow we set out for Mulv City.

This battle shall establish peerless merit and vindicate our Yinqiang Xiaojie Army!

Those who offend the mighty Han, though far away, shall be punished.

This is to tell the Arabs that as long as they dare provoke us again, even if they flee to Persia, flee to Baghdad, we can pursue them there!

And to make those eminent lords of the court, such as Zhang Ji and his ilk, dare not underestimate us again, or play tricks with our military merits!

Gentlemen, encourage yourselves! Face is all carved out with a blade!"

Fang Chongyong shouted loudly to all the generals.

Kill! Kill! Kill!

He Changqi and the others shouted in unison, the atmosphere in the study reached a fever pitch.

However, at that moment, the five-colored large parrot behind Fang Chongyong suddenly shouted in a voice like a duck's broken gong: "Do it yourself! Do it yourself!"

(End of chapter)