Chapter 391: Not Riding in an Open-Top Vehicle

Yellow with white? Yellow containing white? Yellow tinged with white? Yellow covered with white? Yellow mixed with white?

Riding on a camel, Fang Chongyong searched his mind for words to describe the wondrous sight in the desert at this moment.

Fine snowflakes fell on the yellow sand, and distant clouds seemed like layers of mist, letting heaven and earth blend into a single line.

They added a touch of romantic color to the lifeless desert, making it seem as if one had entered a fantastical world.

It's snowing! It's actually snowing in the desert! And it's snowing white as far as the eye can see!

If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, Fang Chongyong would never believe that this "Sea of Death" desert could actually snow!

"Jiedushi, in such an arid desert, not even a single poplar can be seen, yet now it's snowing lightly—this is indeed quite rare.

"This weather has made our march much lighter. Jiedushi, this is a good omen!"

Che Guangqian rode forward on his camel, his face excited, and said to Fang Chongyong:

"Indeed so."

Che Guangqian calmly suggested:

Since defeating the Great Food Army of the Fire Seeking State, some soldiers in the Pacified West Expeditionary Army have already become reluctant to join the expedition.

Everyone likes wealth, especially the spoils earned through personal ability and military merit. It is not only a guarantee of livelihood, but also a supreme honor affirming oneself.

"Received the order, I will immediately pass it on!"

Suddenly, a shout of "Long live the Jiedushi!" came from the ranks!

"Long live the Jiedushi!"

Fang Chongyong shouted loudly!

"What orders does the Jiedushi have!"

They thought their merits were already enough; why not play it safe, keep their lives, and return home to live comfortably?

Fang Chongyong accepted advice readily and did not forcibly order conscription; he simply let the three thousand Yinqiang Xiaojie Army form the core, and additionally recruited three thousand warriors from the Pacified West Expeditionary Army, forming a six-thousand-strong raiding force.

"Long live the Jiedushi!"

"Jiedushi, wouldn't this be not too good?"

"The Great Food people can drag things out, but we cannot afford to."

"We only have six thousand men, and many brothers remain behind in Stone State, not joining the campaign."

Fang Chongyong let out a long sigh and fell silent.

"Where is the Assistant Commander Feng?"

His suggestion is actually quite interesting, for speed is essential in warfare, while maintaining condition is often the opposite.

Feng Changqing rode forward on his camel and asked:

Although the troops we brought on this expedition are indeed elite, they were also selected according to the principle of voluntary registration.

Fang Chongyong nodded, giving a noncommittal reply.

Now go inform all unit commanders that after capturing Wood Deer City, we will take one-third of all easily portable loot to reward them, and it can also be used for additional compensation of the wounded and fallen soldiers.

"After we divide the money, how will those brothers think of it?"

How to balance this degree between 'efficiency' and 'condition' becomes very important.

Fang Chongyong said loudly:

"Jiedushi, I believe that speed is essential in warfare; we should not rest now. We should take advantage of the snow and the high morale, and make a forced march all the way to Wood Deer City."

Che Guangqian asked somewhat doubtfully:

"Received the order!"

"A quick battle and quick decision are necessary!"

"What ideas do you have?"

Fang Chongyong pressed further, knowing that Che Guangqian would surely not just chat with him for no reason.

Conversely, if we want the troops to be in better condition when engaging the enemy, we must conserve stamina during the march.

This time they even rode no horses, switching entirely to camels. Each soldier rode one camel and led another camel carrying supplies—one person, two camels.

To create opportunities through flanking strikes, we must rush nonstop.

Feng Changqing received the order and departed; he will seek out the various unit commanders in the army to deliver the orders properly.

There is probably still a two-month window, after which this desert will become a dead land. This is likely the Pacified West Expeditionary Army's final battle, and also its most perilous.

Upon hearing this, Che Guangqian was stunned; he never expected that Fang Chongyong, who is usually restrained in bestowing rewards, would be so generous this time!

Che Guangqian was delighted; Fang Chongyong's words were reasonable, and he wholeheartedly agreed.

"As the Jiedushi, I just want those who did not participate in the battle to see how great their losses are!"

"As the saying goes, wealth and honor are sought in danger; the lads who go out to campaign are risking their lives. We fight bloody battles, while they loaf in Stone State—can a single reward win over their hearts?"

"If we give no preferential treatment to those who risk their lives, the Jiedushi would feel uneasy."

"These spoils will not be reported to Border Order Cheng, nor will they be entered into the merit register."

"Even if we sleep on the camels, we must not stop!"

"Pass my order: rest in place for half an hour, then after half an hour set out, rushing nonstop to Wood Deer City."

Fang Chongyong then smiled at Che Guangqian and said:

"Your idea gives me a chance to curry favor with you."

The troops immediately stopped to rest, many soldiers began eating dry rations, drinking water, and stretching their legs.

He understood in his heart that the situation was not as optimistic as Che Guangqian had said.

Now is different from before; our supplies are cut off. If we cannot take Wood Deer City, even if we find water locally, being unable to enter the city makes supply a problem.

"Long live the Jiedushi!"

Shouts in the army shook the heavens, and many soldiers picked up the military band's big drums and began to beat them!

"This Jiedushi will count to several tens. Anyone still wailing like they're at a funeral gets ten military strokes!"

Fang Chongyong ordered Feng Changqing beside him with a dark expression.

"Jiedushi, the soldiers' joy is beyond words. Their devotion to you comes from the bottom of their hearts.

The eunuch monitor isn't here, so this kind of clamoring does no real harm."

Feng Changqing chuckled.

Mulu City was the Arabs' lair — there was bound to be no shortage of good things inside! Being able to privately take a share that wouldn't be counted toward battle merits — what could be more satisfying than that?

Never mind the soldiers — even Feng Changqing himself felt thoroughly satisfied!

"Save your energy for killing the enemy. We haven't even breached Mulu City yet — what's there to be so happy about! Go pass the order already!"

Fang Chongyong snapped irritably. Damn it, popping champagne at halftime — what the hell was that about!

The clamor was suppressed, but morale rose at a visible pace. He Changqi deliberately ran back from the very front of the column to ask Fang Chongyong: "Jiedushi, is what you said true? Can we really take spoils privately?"

"This Jiedushi never said you could take spoils privately. I said that after they're turned in, they'll be distributed uniformly with no record kept."

Fang Chongyong patiently corrected He Changqi's bullshit interpretation.

His order was entirely different from privately taking spoils.

Privately taking spoils was the single worst habit on the battlefield — bar none!

If privately taking spoils were permitted under military law, then who would fight to the death in future battles?

Everyone would choose to scavenge for spoils — safe, and you could stuff yourself fat!

How could an army like that still fight?

"Heh, it's all about the same, close enough.

Jiedushi, you're really looking out for the brothers!"

He Changqi gave Fang Chongyong a thumbs up and said.

"Don't you go weak in the knees in this battle."

Fang Chongyong warned He Changqi with a stern face.

"Rest assured, Jiedushi. Just watch this lowly general be the first to scale the walls and break the city."

He Changqi patted his chest and made a guarantee.

"Go. Take your men and clear the path ahead."

Fang Chongyong said in a low voice, raising his hand impatiently.

Seeing him this serious, He Changqi put away his smile as well, cupped his fists in salute, and rode his camel toward the front.

For this surprise raid, the Tang army had entirely abandoned horses, whose endurance in the desert was extremely poor, and chosen camels instead — steady and with excellent stamina. The advantage was solving the supply problem: camels carried loads well, endured hunger and thirst, and there was no worry about them dropping dead in the desert.

But this choice also had an obvious downside.

Neither the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army nor any other unit of the Anxi Expeditionary Force was skilled at fighting atop camels. So when the Tang army met the Arabs face to face in close combat, their equipment might not necessarily give them any advantage.

After all, in the Western Regions, horses were the most important piece of equipment there was!

This was a difficult choice of "weighing two evils and picking the lesser one."

The more Fang Chongyong thought about it, the more he felt Che Guangqian's judgment was correct.

The secret to this battle was speed! Because this desert dead-end route still had quite a few merchants traveling it, especially in winter. The Arabs in Mulu City could easily deduce from the cutoff of merchants — since nearby Anxi had already been sealed off by the Tang army for secrecy — that the Tang army would soon launch a major military operation.

Thus speed became one of the keys to victory — perhaps even the only one. By the time the Arabs opened their eyes and found the Tang army already beneath the walls of Mulu City, that would be the ideal outcome!

At this thought, Fang Chongyong issued an order to Feng Changqing: "Pass on my military order — move out, we leave now!"

"Order received!"

Feng Changqing said nothing, and didn't even ask Fang Chongyong why he was setting out immediately after giving the soldiers only the time it takes one stick of incense to rest.

As the military order was issued, the Tang army column heading to raid Mulu City began to move. Riding his camel, Fang Chongyong felt as though two little people were arguing in his head.

One of them said: "This battle is unnecessary. Hurry back to Chang'an to make preparations for the coming chaos — that's what's real. If this battle is lost, everything won before will be vomited right back up. Why bother?"

The other one said: "This battle can at least win ten years of peace. We've already come all this way — are we really going back with regrets?"

The two little people were duking it out, neither giving an inch!

"Sigh!"

Fang Chongyong let out a breath, shook his head, and dispelled the stray thoughts from his mind.

Even if they took Mulu City, then what?

That wasn't a place the Great Tang could hold. This expedition was nothing more than a swaggering walk to bring glory to one's ancestors.

After this battle ended, the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army would still be recalled to Chang'an, the Anxi Expeditionary Force disbanded, command transferred, and then Jiedushi Fang's era in the Western Regions would come to a close.

Within the Great Tang, there were still countless contradictions and troubles. Fang Chongyong knew he couldn't avoid these messes — no matter what, he would have to face them.

Grass, what was all this hard work even for!

Fang Chongyong suddenly realized that, without knowing it, he had walked onto this road of no return — completely opposite to his original idea of lying low until he died a natural death!

"Jiedushi, according to the intelligence this lowly general has gathered, the area around Mulu City has long been developed into a network of irrigated farmland crisscrossed by waterways, producing abundant grapes and wheat.

A place like this certainly couldn't have deep trenches and high ramparts. As long as they haven't adopted a scorched-earth policy, there definitely won't be a shortage of food. Jiedushi, you planned for the worst before the battle, but the actual situation is very likely not that dire."

Seeing Fang Chongyong's grim expression, Che Guangqian thought he was worried about the battle situation, so he rode his camel over and offered an explanation.

"It's not about Mulu City."

Fang Chongyong waved his hand lightly, not wanting to explain what he was worried about.

What he worried about was only Chang'an — only that emotionless "sage" who loved to stir up trouble.

……

Inside the main hall of Huaqing Palace, Brother Ji wore an expressionless face as he watched a middle-aged man leading a "demon-expelling" troupe of twelve young boys, and for a moment didn't quite know what to say.

These thirteen people all wore ferocious masks and bizarre outfits — no two masks or garments were exactly the same.

You could even say their appearances varied wildly, with enormous differences!

The adult is called "Exorcist", while the twelve children are called "Twelve Divine Beasts".

This ritual originated in the Shang dynasty; in the original ritual, the Exorcist was not a personal name but an official post specialized in exorcising ghosts, and was the leader of the Twelve Divine Beasts.

Later, after the ritual spread from the official to the folk, the Han dynasty's end added the "Twelve Beasts Eat Ghosts Song", which is the prototype of the ritual to be performed now.

The Twelve Divine Beasts here are mythical beings that are both righteous and wicked, and their reputation is mixed.

The entire ritual is divided into three parts: chant, dance, and plague expulsion.

The chant is a performance that is neither fully singing nor fully speaking. The Exorcist chants first, then twelve boys follow by singing the "Twelve Beasts Eat Ghosts Song".

Next is the dance, named "Exorcist and Twelve Beasts Dance", expressing the Exorcist's suppression of the Twelve Beasts' evil side.

Finally comes the plague expulsion; amid people's shouts and drumbeats, they go to every place needing exorcism, performing the expulsion of evil and ghosts.

Throughout the process, the Exorcist and the "Twelve Divine Beasts" wear masks. These masks look ferocious, even more like ghosts than ghosts themselves, giving a sense of "fighting poison with poison".

For some reason, Ji Ge feels a strong sense of discomfort toward this group before him.

"In such a big Chang'an, can't we find anyone else?"

Ji Ge frowned slightly, somewhat dissatisfied, and asked Gao Lishi a question. He obviously was extremely dissatisfied with the appearance of this "exorcism team".

"Your Majesty, it's because I, your servant, have not handled affairs well..."

Gao Lishi felt wronged and didn't know what to say, so he bowed and apologized. Time is pressing, the task is heavy, and secrecy is required; just being able to find someone is already not bad!

Seeing Gao Lishi's already white hair, Ji Ge also felt a softening of heart, feeling helpless.

He let out a light sigh, waved his hand, and said: "Forget it, these people will do. What preparations are needed for the exorcism?"

"I have asked; nothing is needed, only that Your Majesty follow behind the exorcism team later."

"Now we can begin."

Gao Lishi said cautiously, fearing to anger Ji Ge.

"Then let's begin."

Ji Ge nodded slightly; he too sought peace of mind, actually not expecting these "unorthodox methods" to have any effect.

Following Gao Lishi's command, the Exorcist and the "Twelve Divine Beasts", as if possessed by ghosts, began shaking their heads and swaying, muttering words outsiders couldn't understand.

Then the "Twelve Divine Beasts" surrounded the Exorcist in the middle, singing and chanting while dancing.

Those strange movements, coupled with the ferocious masks worn on their faces, look evil no matter how you look at them.

Just as Ji Ge stared blankly, the Exorcist suddenly flung out a "willow-leaf blade" from his sleeve!

Its blade streaked like a meteor, straight toward Ji Ge's face!

Fortunately, Ji Ge had practiced polo in his youth, his skill was quite good, and his reflexes were not bad either.

In the flash of lightning, he slightly turned his head, narrowly dodging the flying blade.

Seeing this, Cui Qianyou, responsible for guarding the hall, shouted at the Shen Ce Army soldiers guarding the hall: "Quick, protect the emperor!"

He shouted while rushing to Ji Ge's front, drew his saber, and deflected the flying blade shot by the Exorcist!

At this point the enemy had exhausted their tricks; the twelve boys nimbly drew their Tang blades from their boots, masks still on, and surged forward with fierce momentum toward Ji Ge!

Gao Lishi's heart gave a thump, and he was instantly terrified, losing his composure.

(End of chapter)